Patent ID: 6067691
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: E04B,E04C,E04F,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
An adjustable clip for mounting sheet material to any of a plurality of different structural members, each of the plurality of different structural members having any of a plurality of different thicknesses throughout a range of thicknesses, said clip comprising:a body having an approximately rectangular cross section defined by four approximately planar side walls, wherein a first side wall forms a first body panel defining a first approximately planar sheet-mounting surface having a width for mounting sheet material thereon, and a second side wall defines a body engaging surface engagable with any of said structural members; anda spring arm projecting laterally from said body including a first arm panel defining an additional approximately planar sheet-mounting surface substantially located within a plane approximately parallel to the plane of said first approximately planar sheet-mounting surface, said first arm panel having a first arm panel width equal to at least the width of the first approximately planar sheet-mounting surface;said spring arm including a second arm panel having a second arm panel width equal to at least seventy-five percent (75%) of said first arm panel width;said second arm panel including a distal end having an arm engaging surface engagable with any of said structural members, and an upturned portion turning upwardly and approximately away from the body engaging surface of the body to facilitate gripping and adjustment of the position of the arm engaging surface relative to the body engaging surface, said arm engaging surface being movable relative to said body engaging surface to define any of a plurality of different width gaps between said arm engaging surface and said body engaging surface, wherein the plurality of different width gaps define a range of widths at least equal to said first arm panel width;said first arm panel defining a first approximately planar corner region;said second arm panel defining a second approximately planar corner region with a line of bending formed between said first and second planar corner regions, and said second corner region and respective second arm panel being oriented at an acute angle relative to said first corner region and respective first arm panel;said second corner region being movable relative to said first corner region about said line of bending to correspondingly adjust said angle defined between said first and second corner regions and set said arm engaging surface relative to said body engaging surface to define any of a plurality of different width gaps between said arm engaging surface and said body engaging surface corresponding to the plurality of thicknesses of the structural members, wherein the plurality of different width gaps define a range of widths at least equal said first arm panel width.