Abstract:
A clip operable to secure panels of sheet material includes a generally H-shaped unit having pair of opposed arms separated by a central beam forming a pair of aligned receptacles, each operable to receive a panel therein. At least one of the arms includes biasing members operable to apply pressure to the panels inserted into the receptacles. The clip secures adjacent panels together in edge-to-edge orientation such that the panels are coplanar. Panels utilized with the clip include sheets of building material such as plywood, drywall, and roofing materials.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/051,419, filed 8 May 2008 and entitled “Clip Device,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a clip device that connects adjacent panels of sheet material together. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The roof of a structure is typically formed by mounting panels onto a truss and then applying a set of shingles to the panels. The panels used—plywood, particle board, etc., are subject to warping; consequently, roofing clips are utilized to limit the movement of the panels. Specifically, clips are positioned between the adjacent panels to align the panels and maintain them in a planar relationship. Conventional clips are small, fixed structures formed from metal or wood. The clips typically include a planar base and U-shaped portions extending from each surface of the base. In use, adjacent panels are slid into each U-shaped portion, securing the panels together. Conventional clips, however, suffer from several disadvantages. First, the clips have fixed dimensions and thus only accommodate panels of a corresponding thickness. If other sheet thicknesses are desired, the operator must either utilize appropriately-sized clips, or use ill-fitting clips, which invites shifting between the panels. Second, the clips do not accommodate the expansion and contraction panels during the change of the seasons. Therefore, over time, fixed clips may not adequately secure adjacent panels together during the lifetime of the structure. 
         [0004]    It is desirable to provide a clip that securely connects adjacent sheets of material together, adjusts to fit between building materials of varying thicknesses, accommodates for sheet expansion and contraction, and installs easily. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The clip of the present invention has a generally H-shaped configuration configured to secure together two panels of sheet material in edge-to-edge orientation. The clip includes a pair of opposed generally parallel arms secured to and separated by a central beam. This structure forms a pair of open receptacles or cavities, each operable to receive a panel therein. At least one of the arms includes resilient biasing members operable to apply pressure to retain the panels inserted into the receptacles. The clip serves as a connector securing successive or adjacent panels such that the retained panels are generally coplanar. The biasing members, moreover, resiliently flex to accommodate panels of various sizes, as well as to accommodate expansion and contraction of the panels. Opposing surfaces of each biasing member and the opposite arm may include raised ribs which are urged against the retained panel to increase the local applied pressure and thereby enhance non-slip panel engagement. The panels typically utilized with the clip include sheets of building material such as plywood, drywall, and other roofing materials. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of a clip device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front plan view of the clip of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the clip device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the clip device shown to  FIG. 1   
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top perspective view of a clip device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective view of a clip device in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front plan view of the clip device shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top perspective view in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side elevation view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
       [0015]    Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate views of a clip device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the clip device  10  includes a beam or brace  100  extending from a first or lower arm  105  to a second or upper arm  110 . The beam  100  may be in the form of a rod centrally disposed on and perpendicular to each of the arms  105 ,  110 . The ends of the beam  100  terminate at respective arms  105  and  110  so as to position the arms in spaced, generally parallel relation. With this configuration, a structure defining a first or left panel receptacle  115  and a second or right panel receptacle  120  is formed. Each receptacle  115 ,  120  is contoured to receive the edge of a respective panel of building material such as drywall, plywood, etc. In this manner the panels are engaged substantially edge-to-edge, separated by beam  100 . 
         [0017]    Beam  100  may possess any dimensions suitable for its described purposed. For example, the height of the beam  100  may be selected to provide the desired height for each receptacle  115 ,  120 . The beam  100 , furthermore, may possess any thickness operable to provide a desired level of lateral spacing between adjacent panels of sheet material. By way of example, the beam  100  may possess a width of ⅛ inch to provide an expansion gap between the aligned pieces sheet material. The beam  100 , moreover, may taper inward proximate its lower and upper ends (i.e., toward the first  105  and second  110  arms) to create a central bow or bulge  125 . Providing this bow  125 , where the beam is wider at its center than at its edges, assists in air circulation between the adjacent panels of building material. 
         [0018]    Arms  105 ,  110  are configured to capture the edge portion of a panel within each receptacle  115 ,  120 . The first arm  105  may include a generally planar element or plate oriented generally transverse to the beam  100  and having a first terminal end  130  and a second terminal end  135 . The beam  100  may be centrally disposed along on the first arm  105  such that it divides the arm into left and right portions which are mirror images of each other. The first arm  105  may possess a generally uniform thickness; alternatively, as illustrated, each end  130 ,  135  of the first arm  105  may taper downward, away from the second arm  110 . For example, the ends  130 ,  135  may taper at an angle of approximately 3° to provide a greater receptacle opening, as well as to provide a ramp operable to guide/direct the edge of a panel into a receptacle  115 ,  120 . 
         [0019]    Similarly, the second arm  110  may include a generally planar element or plate oriented generally transverse to the beam  100 . The second arm  110 , furthermore, includes a third terminal end  140  and a fourth terminal end  145 . The beam  100  may intersect the second arm  110  at its center, creating left and right mirrored portions. With this configuration, the first and third ends  130 ,  140  define the mouth of the first receptacle  115 , while the second and fourth ends  135 ,  145  define the mouth of the second receptacle  120 . As with the first arm  105 , the second arm  110  may have a consistent thickness, or may taper at its ends  140 ,  145  (e.g., at a 3° angle) to provide a wider receptacle opening, as well as a ramp that guides the sheet toward the receptacle  115 ,  120  as it is inserted therein. 
         [0020]    One of the arms  105 ,  110  may further include a resilient biasing member operable to apply a biasing force onto the panel inserted into a receptacle  115 ,  120 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the second arm  105  includes a first resilient biasing member  150  and a second resilient biasing member  155 . Each biasing member  150 ,  155  may be in the form of a tongue or paddle resiliently movable with respect to the second support arm. Specifically, each biasing member  150 ,  155  may be in form of a generally planar paddle having a proximal end  160  serving as a pivot edge and a distal end  165 . Each biasing member  150 ,  155  may further include a notch or groove  167  at its proximal end  160  configured to enhance the flexing/pivoting ability of the biasing member. By way of example, the notch may have a depth equally to no more than about half the thickness of the biasing member  150 ,  155 . 
         [0021]    The proximal end  160  of the biasing member  150 ,  155  may be coupled to second arm  110  at a point inset from its respective end  140 ,  145 . That is, each biasing member  150 ,  155  may be set inboard along the second arm  110  (and not at the ends of the arm). The biasing member  150 ,  155  may incline in the direction of beam  100 , positioning the distal end  160  of the tongue within the receptacle  115 ,  120 . The proximal end  160  of each biasing member  150 ,  155 , moreover, pivotably flexes from its normal position (indicated by arrow R ( FIG. 2 )) when a force is applied thereto. For example, the biasing member  150 ,  155  may be pivoted from its normal position to a position in which the paddle is generally coplanar with an aperture  175 A,  175 B formed into the second arm  110 . Once released, the resilient nature of the biasing member causes it to return to its normal position. 
         [0022]    Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , the distal end  165  of each biasing member  150 ,  155  may further include a hub  210  defining a generally flat shoulder  220  operable to contact the sheet material. When the biasing member  150 ,  155  is in its normal position, the shoulder  220  may be generally parallel to the surface of the first arm  105 . The shoulder  220  provides an area of increased surface, increasing the frictional force the biasing members  150 ,  155  apply to the panels. 
         [0023]    The dimensions of the clip device  10  may be any suitable for its described purpose. It is important to note that the first arm  105  may possess dimensions that differ from that of the second arm  110 . By way of example, the first arm  105  may have a length greater than that of the second arm  110  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0024]    The operation of the device is as follows. A first panel of sheet material (e.g., a piece of plywood, roofing material, etc.) is axially inserted into the first receptacle  115  (between first  130  and third  140  ends). As the first panel is inserted, it drives the first biasing member  150  resiliently upward from its normal position, toward the second arm  110 . The first panel is inserted into the first receptacle  115  until it contacts the beam  100 . The resilient biasing member  150  attempts to return to its normal position, engaging the first panel and applying pressure thereto, securing it within the receptacle. 
         [0025]    Then, a second panel of sheet material is axially inserted into the second receptacle  120  (between second  135  and fourth  145  ends). As the second panel is inserted, it drives the second biasing member  155  upward from it normal position, toward the second arm  110 . The second panel material is inserted into the second receptacle  120  until it contacts the beam  100 . As with the first biasing member  150 , the resilient second biasing member  155  attempts to return to its normal position, applying pressure to the second panel. 
         [0026]    Once both panels of sheet material are inserted, the adjacent panels are aligned such that they are generally coplanar. The clip device  10 , moreover, secures the panels such that relative movement of the panels is prevented. The biasing members  150 ,  155 , in addition to applying a frictional force to each panel, accommodate panels having varying thickness. That is, panels having a thickness substantially smaller than the height of the receptacle  115 ,  120  may be securely contained by the clip device  10  because the biasing members  150 ,  155  extend a predetermined distance within the receptacles  115 ,  120  to secure the panel therein. By way of example, a panel of sheet material having a range of thicknesses of 7/16 of an inch, 15/32 of an inch, and ½ of an inch may be secured utilizing a single clip device  10 . This avoids the need to coordinate the size of the clip with the thickness of the panel, as is the case with conventional clips. 
         [0027]    In addition, the biasing members  150 ,  155  accommodate the expansion and contraction of the sheet material. That is, as the panels contracts/expands (with temperature changes, for example), the angle of inclination of the biasing members  150 ,  155  changes, maintaining contact with the panels throughout the expansion/contraction. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a clip device  50  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, the grooves  167  have been omitted. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a clip  60  in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, the arms  105 ,  110  are no longer oriented parallel to each other. Instead, each end of the second arm  110  slants downward from the beam  100 . In addition, the hub  210  formed along at the distal end of each biasing member has been omitted. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which an array of several raised ribs  300  is formed on the interiorly facing surface of arm  105 . Ribs  300  are longitudinally spaced from one another and each extends along the entire width of arm  105 . Another array of several raised ribs  310  is defined on the interiorly facing surface of each of biasing members  150 ,  155 . Ribs  310  are longitudinally spaced from one another and each extends along the entire width of its biasing member. The mutually facing arrays of ribs serve an anti-slip or friction producing function to minimize inadvertent relative movement between the retained panels and inadvertent removal of a retained panel from the clip. The ribs, as shown, have a sawtooth transverse cross-section with one side oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface from which it is raised, and the other side oriented at an angle to that surface so as to converge at an apex intersection edge with the perpendicular side of the rib. The apex edge configuration concentrates the compression force acting to retain the panels in the receptacle. It should be noted, however, that the rib cross-sectional configuration need not be sawtooth and may, in some instances, may have a rounded edge so as to minimize penetration into the surface of the retained panel. 
         [0031]    The material forming the clip device  10  is not particularly limited. By way of example, the material may be a thermoplastic resin including, but not limited to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; polyvinyl chloride; polypropylene (e.g., polypropylene, talc-filled polypropylene, calcium filled polypropylene, and polypropylene copolymers); polyethylene (low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)); polyamide, polyester; and polycarbonate. The clip  10  may be formed utilizing injection molding, co-injection molding, profile extrusion, ram extrusion versus injection molding or co-injection molding, or computer controller cutting or building process such as machines using computer numerical control (CNC), and selective laser sintering (SLS), stereolithography (SLA). The clip device  10  is preferably a unitary (one-piece) structure requiring no assembly after being unitarily formed. 
         [0032]    While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It is to be understood that terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “side”, “height”, “length”, “width”, “upper”, “lower”, “interior”, “exterior”, and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration.