Abstract:
A four-plate mold assembly for producing a single-piece biasing clip. The four plate sections include a lower plate with a cavity to form the lower clip member; an upper plate with a cavity to form the upper clip member; and two intermediate plates in between the upper and lower plates which are separable from each other defining a parting line. 
     The clip is a single-piece biasing clip adapted to receive and retain a garment hanger in a rod space of the and to receive and retain wearing apparel. 
     Making the single-piece clip comprises placing all plate sections together, introducing molten material to the mold assembly, and allowing it to harden. After it has hardened, the upper plate is removed exposing the top clip member, followed by removal of each intermediate plate to expose the bottom clip member. The clip is then removed from the bottom plate.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This subject matter of this disclosure relates to an improvement in injection molding, and more particularly to the mold assembly component, a single-piece clip assembly produced therefrom, and the novel process involved in the production. 
         [0004]    Conventionally mold assemblies and typical mold design for injection molding requires a core [male] and cavity insert [female] for the finished injection-molded part. Generally core and cavity inserts form the actual surfaces of the finished injection-molded part. The core and cavity conform to the shape of the finished part with allowance for shrinkage as the molded part cools. The core and cavity inserts are forced together by a mold press prior to casting a part. After the part is cast and has cooled sufficiently, the press separates the core and cavity inserts to release the finished part. 
         [0005]    The complete injection-mold assembly is a movable framework that holds the core and cavity inserts in the molding press and allows the mold to open and close. It also supports the systems that feed molten material to the mold cavity and supply coolant to remove heat from the mold. 
         [0006]    In designing the core and cavity inserts parting lines between the core and the cavity must be carefully selected and designed so that the surfaces have no draft angle or ability to lock in the mold. This capability enables designers to correct molded-part models before giving them to tool designers. 
         [0007]    The more complex the finished part, the more complex the design for the mold assembly. A single mold-assembly currently does not exist to make a clip with an upper section and a lower section, a biasing means, an openable and grip-capable mouth at one end with pressing means at the other end for opening the mouth. To make such a clip, generally the process requires two mold assemblies; one for the upper section and one for the lower section. This is following by manual inclusion of a biasing member to connect the two sections. 
         [0008]    The mold assembly component of the present disclosure contemplates a single mold assembly component to produce such a clip. Additionally, the process of manufacture for the clip and the finished clip are equally novel and form essential components of this disclosure. The terms used herein as front, rear or back, top, and bottom are relative terms used for administrative clarity to assist in describing relative location of structure and are not terms of limitation inasmuch as the mold assembly component may be rotated 180° thereby making the front the back and the back the front. It may be turned upside-down thereby making the top the bottom and the bottom the top. 
         [0009]    The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the subject matter of this disclosure. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the subject matter of this disclosure. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed subject matter of this disclosure in a different manner or by modifying the subject matter of this disclosure within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the subject matter of this disclosure may be had by referring to the summary of the subject matter of this disclosure and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The above-noted problems, among others, are overcome by the subject matter of this disclosure. Briefly stated, the subject matter of this disclosure contemplates a mold assembly component for producing a single-piece biasing clip. The mold assembly component having four plate sections: a first lower base plate with a cavity to form the lower clip member; a second upper base plate with a cavity to form the upper clip member; and two intermediate plate sections, alignable and separable from each other defining a parting line, in between the first base plate and the second base plate. A flow channel is defined at the parting line which facilitates flow of molten material between the first and second base plates and forms the connecting tab for the two clip members. 
         [0011]    The clip formed is a single-piece biasing clip adapted to receive an external rod-like object, such as a garment hanger, in a rod space of the clip to be held on the rod-like object and to receive externally attached wearing apparel. 
         [0012]    The process of making the single-piece clip comprises 
         [0013]    placing all plate sections together, introducing molten material for producing a finished product from the mold assembly component, and allowing the molten material to harden. After the molten material has hardened, the upper base plate is removed exposing the top clip member, followed by removal of the first intermediate plate and the second intermediate plate thereby exposing the bottom clip member. The clip is then removed from the bottom base plate. 
         [0014]    The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the subject matter of this disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood so the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the subject matter of this disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures and methods for carrying out the same purposes of the subject matter of this disclosure. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the subject matter of this disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the subject matter of this disclosure, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the mold assembly component. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the mold assembly component and product clip. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the second base plate of the mold assembly component. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top plan detailed view of the second intermediate core section. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  as taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  is an front elevation view of the second intermediate core section. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  as taken on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4  is bottom plan detailed view of the second intermediate core section. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is bottom plan detailed view of the first intermediate core section. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  as taken on line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  is an rear elevation view of the first intermediate core section. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  as taken on line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 7  is s top plan detailed view of the first intermediate core section. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is top plan view of the first intermediate core section and the second intermediate core section abutting each other. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is bottom plan view of the first intermediate core section and the second intermediate core section abutting each other. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the clip. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a end view of the clip as taken on line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a detailed side elevation view of the stop plate of the second clip member of the clip. 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a detailed front elevation view of the stop plate of the second clip member of the clip. 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is an exploded side view of the clip with the bias component detached. 
           [0032]      FIG. 17 , as taken on line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 , is a plan view of inner side of the lower clip member. 
           [0033]      FIG. 18 , as taken on line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 16 , is a plan view of inner side of the upper clip member. 
           [0034]      FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the clip. 
           [0035]      FIG. 20 , as taken on line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 , is a cut-away view of the clip. 
           [0036]      FIG. 21 , as taken on line  21 - 21  of  FIG. 19 , is a cut-away view of the clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , reference character  10  and  100  generally designates a mold assembly component and clip constructed therefrom in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject matter of this disclosure. For administrative clarity, the mold assembly component  10  is shown to produce only one clip  100 . It must be understood that the mold assembly component  10  may be one of many such individual assemblies on a single molding apparatus capable of producing multiple clips  100  during one cycling process. 
         [0038]    This assembly  10  has a first base plate  12 , a second base plate  18 , and two intermediate plate sections; a first or front section  16  and a second or rear section  14 . As addressed earlier, the terms front and rear as used herein are relative terms and used for administrative clarity, not by way of limitation. The “front” could be the rear and the “rear” could be the front. These are merely labels assigned to facilitate understanding. 
         [0039]    The two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  are placed on top of the first base plate  12  and are mated with each other defining a parting line  17 . The two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  are wedge-shaped and as illustrated herein slope downward from the rear of the second intermediate plate section  14  to the front of the first intermediate plate section  16  defining an angled plane  37  ranging from approximately between 10° to approximately 45°. Next, and basically in the direction of Arrow A, a wedge-shaped second base plate  18  is placed on top of the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16 . 
         [0040]    As will be described later, this wedge-shape acts to create a better bias component for the product single-piece clip  100  but the respective plates need not bear any angle or be wedge-shaped. The rod space  190  of the produced clip  100 , when an external rod is placed therein [to be described in detail later], forces the mouth of the clip  100  into a biasing closed mode. The wedge-shaped component plates, however, is the preferred embodiment. 
         [0041]    In this regard, the top of the second base plate  18  is basically parallel to the first base plate  12  whereas the underside of the second base plate  18  slopes upward from the front to the rear in a matching angle to the angled plane  37 . More details on the cavities and cuts in the first base plate  12 , the second base plate  18 , and the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  will follow later to fully describe how the clip  100  forms. 
         [0042]    After the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  are placed on the first base plate  12  and the second base plate  18  is placed on the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16 , a molten material is introduced into the mold component assembly  10  through an entry port  11 . As illustrated here, such port  11  is in the bottom or first base plate  12  but could also be on any other section of the mold component assembly  10 . 
         [0043]    The molten material will flow into the entry channel  13  and enter and fill the first cavity space  31  and spaces in the two intermediate plate sections; said spaces to be detailed later. The molten material will then traverse the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  through a flow channel  41  formed in these two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  and enter and fill the second cavity space  81  on the underside of the second base plate  18  [illustrated in  FIG. 3 ]. In the process of flow all cuts which form the spaces for molten material in the respective intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  and the flow channel  41  will fill with molten material to produce the clip  100 . 
         [0044]    After all the spaces of the mold assembly component  10  have filled with molten material, the molten material will be cooled and the part produced thereby, clip  100 , will be removed. First in this process is the removal of the second base plate  18  in the general direction of Arrow B. The second intermediate plate section  14  is moved in the general direction of Arrow C. Because of the preferred wedge shape of the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16 , removal in this direction is easily facilitated. 
         [0045]    The process here may now take two separate directions. In one process, the terminal point [front] of the first intermediate plate section is  16  lifted in the general direction of Arrow D thereby lifting and slightly dislodging the clip  100  held in the first base plate  12 . The first intermediate plate section  16  may then be removed in the general direction of Arrow F and the clip  100  easily removed from the first base plate  12 . To assist in this procedure, the rear end of the clip  100  may be depressed in the direction of Arrow E. 
         [0046]    In a second process, after removal of the second intermediate plate section  14  as described above, the clip  100  may be depressed in the direction of Arrow E thereby opening the front side [mouth] of the clip  100  causing it to move away from the first intermediate plate section  16  whereupon the first intermediate plate section  16  may be removed in the general direction of Arrow F and D in that order or Arrow D and F in that order. This leaves the clip  100  seated and fully exposed in the first base plate  12  for easy removal therefrom. 
         [0047]    The cavity space  31  in the first base plate  12  has two upraised side ridges  38 A/B approximately parallel to each other connected at one end by a similarly upraised end ridge  34 . The end ridge  34  may be frontward of the parting line  17  as illustrated in this figure or may be rearward of the parting line  17 . In either event the end ridge  34  should be in communication with the flow channel  41  previously mentioned and later to be fully described and the backplate  41 A in such a fashion as to form the first arm  181 , the second arm  121 , and the connecting tab  141  of the clip  100  as later described in detail. 
         [0048]    These side ridges  38 A/B and end ridge  34  form a component of the clip  100  and one element of its biasing component. The end ridge  34  aids and facilitates the flow of molten material to, in, and through the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  and to and in the second base plate  18 . 
         [0049]    The height of the ridges  34 ,  38 A/B, should be as high as the cut forming the cavity in the first base plate  12  is deep. This is necessary to form the opening  123  about the second arm  121  in the second clip member  112  which forms the biasing components of the clip  100  all of which is described later. 
         [0050]    The under side of the second base plate  18  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . It has virtual mirror-image side ridges  48 A/B and end ridge  44  as of the respective ridges of the first base plate  12 . Reference character X generally designates the flow of molten material into and around the second base plate  18 . A flow space  43  is defined by the end ridge  44  and the parting line  17 . A similar flow space  23  is defined in the first base plate  12 . 
         [0051]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4 through 11 , the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16 .  FIG. 4  is the second intermediate plate section  14  as viewed from its top side. As viewed here, the rear, upper end of the slope, is at the top of the illustrated drawing and the front is at the bottom of the illustrated drawing. There is a recess  25  on the front end of the second intermediate plate section  14  with a back plate  41 A. 
         [0052]    A tapered cut  84  is on each outer side of the recess  25 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , this tapered cut  84  begins at the top and tapers and extends downward. The tapered cut  84  does not extend and cut completely through the second intermediate plate section  14 . This, when filled with molten material, will form a portion of the clip  100  [i.e., the extension  184  of the pivot plate  182  as shown in  FIGS. 16 through 18 ]. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a longer tapered cut  22  which begins at the bottom of the second intermediate plate section  14  and tapers and extends upward but not cut completely through the second intermediate plate section  14 . This, when filled with molten material, will form a different portion of the clip  100  [i.e., the stop plate  122  of the second clip member  112  shown in  FIGS. 14 through 18 ]. 
         [0054]    Reference character  28  is the angled cut in the tapered cut  22  which will form the angle  128  of the stop plate  122  and reference character  26 , after mating with tapered cut  24  of the first intermediate plate section  16 , is the step cut for the tapered cut  22  which forms the step  126  of the stop plate  122 . This configuration makes the formed stop plate  122  wider than its extension  126  [ FIGS. 14 and 15  refer] and also facilitates removal of the clip  100  formed. 
         [0055]    Similar figures are presented for the first intermediate plate section  16  in  FIGS. 7 through 9 .  FIG. 7  is a view from the under side [bottom] of the first intermediate plate section  16  with the top of that drawing representing the front of the first intermediate plate section  16  and the bottom of that drawing representing the rear of the first intermediate plate section  16 . 
         [0056]    The projection  45  on the rear of this first intermediate plate section  16  aligns with the recess  25  of the second first intermediate plate section  14 . The cut-out  41 B in that projection from each end section forms the flow channel  41  previously mentioned which permits the flow of molten material between and for all the mold-assembly component parts and forms the connecting tab  141  for the first and second arms  181 ,  121  of the clip  100 . 
         [0057]    In  FIG. 8 , the under side [or bottom] of the first intermediate plate section  16  is at the top of the drawing and the upper side [or top] of the first intermediate plate section  16  is at the bottom of the drawing. The tapered cut  24  on each side of the projection  45  begins wider at the bottom of the first intermediate plate section  16 , tapers toward the top of the first intermediate plate section  16 , but does not extend to or past the top of the first intermediate plate section  16 . The tapered cut  24  terminates at approximately mid-point of the depth of the rear of the first intermediate plate section  16 . As earlier described, this tapered cut  24 , when filled with molten material, forms the extension  124  of the stop plate  122  on the second clip member  112  of the clip  100 . 
         [0058]    A longer tapered cut  82  begins at the top of the first intermediate plate section  16  [ FIG. 8 , bottom of the drawing] and tapers as the cut extends to and through the bottom of the first intermediate plate section  16 . This longer tapered cut  82 , when mated with the tapered cut  84  on the second intermediate plate section  14  and filled with molten material, forms pivot plate  182  and extension  184  on the first clip member  118  of the clip  100 . An angled cut  88  of longer tapered cut  82  angles upward and frontward and will form the angle  188  of the pivot plate  182 . 
         [0059]    Similarly as in the stop plate  122 , the pivot plate  182  is wider than its extension  184  forming a step  186  from the step cut  86  formed by the mating of the second intermediate plate section  14  and the first intermediate plate section  16 . This width differential facilitates removal of the finished clip  100  from the mold assembly component  10 . 
         [0060]    Transverse cuts  27  on the under side of the first intermediate plate section  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 7  form the teeth  127  at the mouth on the second clip section  112  of the clip  100 . Transverse cuts  87  on the upper side of the first intermediate plate section as illustrated in  FIG. 2  form the teeth  187  at the mouth on the first clip section  118  of the clip  100 . These transverse cuts  27 ,  87  are positioned such that the teeth  127 ,  187  formed will be in peak and valley communication with one another; i.e., the tooth projection of teeth  187  [peak] will strike the valley [space between the two teeth  127  on the second clip member  112 . 
         [0061]    The respective teeth  127 ,  187  of the clip  100  may be transverse to the sides of the clip  100  [i.e., relatively perpendicular thereto], or may be approximately parallel thereto, or form any angle relationship thereto. The cuts  27 ,  87  forming these teeth  127 ,  187  will be created in the respective plate as required for this purpose. The clip  100  may also be fashioned without teeth  127 ,  187  and accordingly, cuts  27  and  87  will not be formed in the respective plate. 
         [0062]      FIGS. 10 and 11  represent the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  mated and illustrates more clearly the flow channel  41  so created by such mating.  FIG. 10  is a top plan view of these two intermediate plate sections and  FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of these two intermediate plate sections. The top of the drawing of  FIG. 10  represents the rear and the bottom represents the front. In  FIG. 11 , the top of the drawing represents the front and the bottom of the drawing represents the rear. 
         [0063]    In  FIG. 10 , tapered cut  84  aligns with longer tapered cut  82 . Tapered cut  84  is narrower than longer tapered cut  82  as represented in that figure by reference character  86 . This narrowing will form the step  186  between the pivot plate  182  and its extension  184 . The joining of the projection  45  of the first intermediate plate section  16 , with its cut-out  41 B, into the recess  25  of the second intermediate plate section  14 , more clearly illustrates the formed flow channel  41 . 
         [0064]    In  FIG. 11 , tapered cut  24  aligns with longer tapered cut  22 . Tapered cut  24  is narrower than longer tapered cut  22  as represented in that figure by reference character  26 . This narrowing will form the step  126  between the stop plate  122  and its extension  124  on the second clip member  112  of the clip  100 . 
         [0065]    As molten material enters the first base plate  12  and fills the various voids and spaces produced by the above-described cuts, it will enter the second base plate  18  through this flow channel  41  and fill thereat the various cavities and voids produced by the above-described cuts in the first base plate  12 , the second base plate  18 , and the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  to form a single-piece, biasing clip  100  as illustrated in  FIGS. 12-21 . 
         [0066]    The clip  100  has a first clip member  118  [illustrated as the top member] and a second clip member  112  [illustrated as the bottom member]. As discussed earlier, the reference to top and bottom are only for administrative clarity and not by means of limitation as, if the clip  100  is turned over, the bottom physically becomes the top and the top becomes the bottom. The terms front and rear for the clip  100  are also relative and relate to the mold-assembly component  10 ; i.e.,  FIG. 2  illustrates the clip  100  removed from the mold-assembly component  10  with the mouth of the clip  100  with the teeth  127 ,  187  at the front of the mold-assembly component  10 . Consequently, for reference purposes the rear or back of the clip  100  is the pinching end of the clip  100 . 
         [0067]    The first clip member  118  of this clip  100  is formed from the entry channel  81  and the side ridges  48 A/B and end ridge  44  of the second base plate  18 . These components of the second base plate  18  also form the first arm  181  on the first clip member  118  and the slot or space  183  around the first arm  181 . As so formed and configured, the first arm  181  is flexible and moveable up and down like a spring-board. 
         [0068]    The second clip member  112  of this clip  100  is formed from the entry channel  31  and the side ridges  38 A/B and end ridge  34  of the first base plate  12 . These components of the first base plate  12  also form the second arm  121  on the second clip member  112  and the slot or space  123  around the second arm  121 . As so formed and configured, the second arm  121 , like its counter-part first arm  181 , is flexible and moveable up and down like a spring-board. 
         [0069]    The angled plane  37  as earlier described for the second base plate  18  and the two intermediate plate sections  14 ,  16  create a clip  100  with the first clip member  118  bearing the same angle as the angled plane  37  relative to the second clip member  112 . 
         [0070]    The first arm  181  is attached to the second arm  121  by a connecting tab  141 . The combination of the first arm  181 , connecting tab  141 , and second arm  121 , and because of the spring-board effect of the respective arms and angled plane, forms a biasing component for the clip  100  which, as described briefly earlier, is made more forcefully biased by insertion of an external rod [such as a garment hanger] into the rod space  190 . 
         [0071]    This configuration allows a user to pinch the rear ends of the first clip member  118  and the second clip member  112  towards each other which in turn causes the mouth to open, expose the teeth  127 ,  187  thereat, and when the pinch is released, for the mouth to close and the teeth  127 ,  187  to grasp and hold an external object [such as a garment]. 
         [0072]    The second clip member  112  has two stop plates  122  on each side of the space  123 , each of a predetermined height. The stop plates  122  project up toward the first clip member  118 . One side of the stop plate  122  has an extension  124  which projects toward the mouth of the clip  100 . The opposite side of the stop plate  122  has a downward angle  128  projecting toward the rear of the clip  100 . The extension  124  has a height which is approximately 40% to 60% of the height of the stop plate  122 . 
         [0073]    The width of the stop plate  122  is greater than the width of the extension  124 . The stop plate  122 , its angle  128 , its extension  124 , and the respective width differences between the stop plate  122  and its extension  124  are formed by cuts  22 ,  26 , and  28  of the second intermediate section  14 , and cut  24  of the first intermediate section  16  as earlier described.  FIGS. 14 and 15  detail the width differences between the stop plate  122  and its extension  124  wherein said differences in width define a step  126  thereat.  FIG. 15  also illustrates the tapering structures of the stop plate  122  and its extension  124  relative to the tapered cuts which produced the stop plate  122 , extension  124 , and the step  126 . 
         [0074]    The first clip member  118  has two pivot plates  182  on each side of the space  183  each of a predetermined height. The pivot plates  182  project down toward the second clip member  112  and are in relative alignment with, and off-set from, the stop plates  122  as best illustrated in  FIG. 20 . The pivot plates  182  are virtually similar in structure as the stop plates  122 . 
         [0075]    One side of the pivot plate  182  has an angle  188  which angles upward and forward toward the mouth of the clip  100 . The opposite side of the pivot plate  182  has an extension  184  projecting toward the rear of the clip  100 . The extension  184  has a height which is approximately 40% to 60% of the height of the pivot plate  182 . 
         [0076]    The width of the pivot plate  182  is greater than the width of the extension  184 . The pivot plate  182 , its angle  188 , its extension  184 , and the respective width differences between the pivot plate  182  and its extension  184  are formed by cuts  82 ,  86 , and  88  of the first intermediate section  16 , and cut  84  of the second intermediate section  14  as earlier described.  FIGS. 14 and 15 , though of the stop plate  122 , are representative of the pivot plate  182  width in relation to its extension  184  thereby defining a step  186  thereat. 
         [0077]    Given the angled plane of the first clip member  118  to the second clip member  112  as formed by the wedge-shapes of the second base plate  18  and the two intermediate sections  14 ,  16 ; and the bias component  181 ,  141 ,  121 ; the clip  100  in a static or neutral mode has its mouth, with teeth  127 ,  187 , in a nearly closed or gripable position, which is further enhanced by insertion of an external rod into the rod space  190 . 
         [0078]    As the rear ends of the respective clip members  112 ,  118  are pinched together, the mouth will open. The pivot plates  182  move toward the second clip member  112  and, as they strike the second clip member  112 , the mouth opens. The pivot plates  182  and stop plates  122  act as a pivot point or fulcrum for the first clip member  118 . Consequently, the closer the rear ends of the clip members  112 ,  118  are moved toward one another, the wider the mouth opens. 
         [0079]    The bias component  121 ,  141 ,  181  exerts a resistance to the opening of the mouth biasing it to close as enhanced by the insertion of an external rod into the rod space  190 . Therefore, when the pinching force on the rear ends of the clip members  112 ,  118  is released, the mouth closes and the teeth  127 ,  187  grip and hold an external object [such as an object of clothing] introduced therein by a user. 
         [0080]    A unique feature produced by this mold-assembly component  10 , the molding process, and the finished clip  100  is a rod space  190  as illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 16  in phantom line and shown in  FIG. 19 . This rod space  190  is created by the juxtaposition of the pivot plates  182  and its extensions  184  to the stop plates  122  and its extensions  124 . With the mouth completely closed, the rod space  190  is virtually eliminated. 
         [0081]    The rod space  190  is created by the movement of the rear ends of each clip member  112 ,  118  away from each other in the direction of Arrows G as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The greater the distance, the larger the rod space  190  and the greater is the biasing or closing force of the mouth. The function of the rod space  190  is to receive and retain a rod-like object such as a clothes hanger [not illustrated]. A user may wish to hang slacks or a skirt on a hanger but in such a manner as not to fold or wrinkle the garment. The use of the clip  100 , or two or more for better holding, facilitates such a need. 
         [0082]    The user would insert the clip  100  from its mouth onto the rod of the hanger. This is followed by separating the rear ends of each clip member  112 ,  118  away from each other [Arrows G] thereby creating and exposing the rod space  190 . The rod component of the hanger is slipped into the rod space  190  after which the user releases the rear ends of the clip members  112 ,  118  causing the respective extensions  124 ,  184  to bear down on the hanger and retain the hanger therein. 
         [0083]    The potential rod space  190  of the clip  100  may be made larger by decreasing the height of each respective extension  124 ,  184  in the molding process. This of course also entails modifying the respective cuts  24 ,  84  in the respective intermediate sections  16 ,  14 . 
         [0084]    The present disclosure includes that contained in the present claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although the subject matter of this disclosure has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts and method steps may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure should be determined not by the embodiment[s] illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 
         [0085]    Applicant[s] have attempted to disclose all the embodiment[s] of the subject matter of this disclosure that could be reasonably foreseen. It must be understood, however, that there may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications to subject matter of this disclosure that remain as equivalents and thereby falling within the scope of the subject matter of this disclosure.