Dampening clip assembly

A dampening clip assembly may include a spring mount, a clip member, and a sealing member. The spring mount may include a base, a piston cylinder extending from the base and defining an interior cavity, a mounting surface having a passage formed therethrough, and a spring positioned between the base and the mounting surface. The clip member is secured to the spring mount and configured to retain a tube. The clip member includes a piston extending from a main body. The piston may be disposed within the interior cavity of the piston cylinder. The sealing member may be secured to a portion of the piston, and forms a fluid-tight seal between the piston cylinder and the piston.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to clip devices commonly found in automobile applications, but may also be used in various other applications, as well. Further, embodiments of the present invention particularly relate to a spring-biased dampening clip assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various systems within an automobile, such as fuel pumps, braking systems, HVAC, and the like, produce vibrations during operation. Excessive vibrations during operation of the automobile may be annoying to an operator. Moreover, the vibrations may produce enough vibratory energy and force to damage components within the automobile. For example, excessive vibrations may produce sufficient resonance within the automobile to dislodge particular components from one another (e.g., rattling fasteners loose, and the like).

Single-piece molded leaf and helical type spring clips and two piece overmolded clips have been used within automobiles to connect various components together. Leaf-spring clips are used mainly to resist rattles between clips and the vehicle chassis. These clips, however, are susceptible to allowing rigid parts of clips to abut, grind, or otherwise encounter a part of the chassis whereby vibratory energy may be translated. When helical spring clips are subjected to a resonant frequency, these clips may actually vibrate to a greater degree than that initially caused by the component, such as a pump.

Thus, a need exists for a clip assembly that dampens vibratory energy caused by proximate components. Further, a need exists for a dampening clip assembly that effectively minimizes or negates any vibratory energy transmitted to the dampening clip assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a dampening clip assembly configured to dampen vibrations within a structure, such as an automobile chassis. The dampening clip assembly may include a spring mount, a clip member, and a sealing member, such as, for example, an elastomeric O-ring. The spring mount may include a base having a fluid channel, a piston cylinder extending from the base and defining an interior cavity in fluid communication with the fluid channel, a mounting surface having a passage formed therethrough, and a spring positioned between the base and the mounting surface. Lateral wings, which may be configured to prop the base away from a structure (such as an automobile chassis) to which the dampening clip assembly secures, may be integrally formed with the base. The spring is configured to exert a resistive force into the mounting surface when force is exerted into the mounting surface, thereby compressing the spring.

The clip member is secured to the spring mount and configured to retain a tube. The clip member includes a piston extending from a main body, such that the piston passes through the passage formed through the mounting surface and is disposed within the interior cavity of the piston cylinder. The piston is configured to move through the interior cavity so that when the clip member is moved toward the base, the piston moves toward the base and forces fluid within the interior cavity through the fluid channel. The piston may include a post extending from the main body, and a stud at a distal end of the post. The post may include a channel that retains the sealing member. The clip member may also include a securing clip integrally connected to the main body through a hinge, wherein the clip member is configured to retain the tube between the securing clip and the main body.

The sealing member may be secured to a portion of the piston. As such, the sealing member forms a fluid-tight seal between the piston cylinder and the piston.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates an isometric lateral view of a clip member10according to an embodiment of the present invention. The clip member10includes a main body12integrally connected to a securing clip14through an integrally formed hinge16. The main body12includes a central block18having lateral, lower, and upper walls20,22, and24, respectively. A tubular channel26is formed through the upper wall24and is configured to receive a tube (not shown). The hinge16extends from an upper portion of one of the lateral walls20and allows the securing clip14to pivot between open and closed positions in the directions of arc A. A securing slot28is also formed through an end of the upper wall24that is opposite the hinge16. The securing slot28is configured to receive and snapably, latchably, or otherwise removably retain a reciprocal structure, such as a tab29, of the securing clip14.

Spring mount retaining clips30extend downwardly from each lateral wall20. The spring mounting retaining clip30include legs32having ramped ends34configured to snapably, latchably, or otherwise secure into reciprocal openings formed in a spring mount (shown, for example, inFIG. 2).

A piston36extends downwardly from the lower wall22of the main body12. The piston36includes a post38that is integrally formed with a stud39having a recessed channel40. As shown inFIG. 1, the radial cross-section of the stud39may be larger than the radial cross-section of the post38. The recessed channel40is configured to retain a sealing member42, such as a elastomeric, rubber, foam, or other such O-ring.

As mentioned above, the securing clip14is integrally connected to the main body12through the hinge16. The securing clip14includes an engageable surface44integrally formed with a tube-retaining surface46. A tubular channel48is formed through the tube-retaining surface46and is configured to cooperate with the tubular channel26of the main body12to secure a tube therebetween. The securing tab29includes a ramped end52that extends downwardly from the tube-retaining surface46and is distally located from the hinge16. The securing tab29is configured to snapably secure into the securing slot28of the main body12.

In order to secure a tube within the clip member10, the tube is positioned within the tubular channel26of the main body12. The tubular channel26may be configured to snapably engage the tube. The securing clip14is then pivoted into a locking position in the direction of arc A′. During this motion, the ramped end52of the tab29enters the securing slot28and passes over an edge54within the securing slot28. Once the ramped end52of the tab29passes over the edge54, the tab50snapably secures into the securing slot28by way of a ledge55of the tab29abutting against a ledge56within the securing slot28. Thus, the clip member10may retain and isolate a tube on or within an automobile.

FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate an isometric lateral view and an isometric top view, respectively, of a spring mount60according to an embodiment of the present invention. The spring mount60includes a base62integrally formed with downwardly-angled wings64at either lateral side. A securing post66extends downwardly from the base62and includes barbs68configured to snapably secure the post66, and therefore the spring mount60, into a structure, such as an automobile chassis.

A cylinder70extends upwardly from the base62. The cylinder70defines a piston cavity72. A channel74extends through the base62into the piston cavity72, thererby allowing fluid communication (such as air) from the piston cavity72through the base62.

An annular mounting member or surface76is integrally connected to an upper surface of the base62through a coiled spring78. As shown inFIG. 3, in particular, the annular mounting member76is concentrically positioned around the cylinder70. The annular mounting member76includes a mounting ring80defining a central passage82. Clip slots84are formed through the mounting ring80and are configured to receive and retain the spring mounting clips30of the clip member10(shown inFIG. 1).

FIG. 4illustrates an isometric lateral view of a dampening clip assembly86according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dampening clip assembly86includes the clip member10secured to the spring mount60. The spring mounting clips30are snapably secured into the clip slots84of the annular mounting member76, thereby securing the clip member10to the spring mount60. Additionally, the piston36is positioned within the piston cavity72(shown inFIG. 3, for example) such that the sealing member42(shown inFIG. 1), which radially extends from the stud39(shown inFIG. 1), sealingly engages an inner surface of the cylinder70(shown inFIG. 3, for example). The sealing engagement between the sealing member42and the cylinder70ensures that fluid may only be pushed downwardly through the channel74(shown inFIG. 3) formed through the base62instead of escaping upwardly past the sealing member42and the stud39.

While the clip member10and the spring mount60are shown and described as separate and distinct components, the clip member10may alternatively be integrally formed with the spring mount60. For example, the clip member10and the spring mount may be integrally molded as a single unit.

FIG. 5illustrates a lateral elevation view of the dampening clip assembly86, whileFIG. 6illustrates a cross-sectional view of the dampening clip assembly86through line6-6ofFIG. 5. Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the dampening clip86may be secured to a structure88, such as an automobile chassis, through the securing post66securing into a reciprocal opening90formed through the structure88. The barbs68of the securing post66securely retain the spring mount60, and therefore the dampening clip assembly86to the structure88. The wings64of the base62prop the base62up over the structure88so that the base62does not contact the structure88. Thus, there is a small amount of surface area over which vibratory energy may be translated from the dampening clip assembly86to the structure88, or vice versa.

The piston36is positioned within the piston cavity72defined by the cylinder70such that the stud39and the sealing member42sealingly engage an inner surface of the cylinder70. Fluid, such as air, underneath the piston36within the piston cavity72may pass from the piston cavity72through the fluid channel74formed through the base62of the spring mount60, and out of the dampening clip assembly86through passages94formed through securing post66.

When a force, such as vibratory energy, is exerted into the dampening clip assembly86in the direction of arrow B, the coiled spring78may compress and move in the same direction, while at the same time exerting a resistive force in the opposite direction. The sealing member42also creates a resistive force as a result of friction or engagement with the interior wall of the cylinder70. Fluid, such as air, with the piston cavity72may be forced downwardly by the corresponding movement of the stud39and sealing member42through the piston cavity72. Because the sealing member42forms a seal with the interior wall of the cylinder70, fluid is not able to escape past the piston in the direction of arrow C. Instead, fluid is forced downwardly in the direction of arrow B as the sealing member42and the stud39move downwardly in the same direction. That is, as the mounting ring80and the clip member10are moved downwardly in the direction of arrow B, the piston36forces fluid within the piston cavity72through the channel74of the base62, and out of the dampening clip assembly86through the passages94formed through the securing post66. The resistive force exerted by the coiled spring78acts to prevent the clip member10from abutting the base62and/or the structure88.

When the energy is no longer applied to the dampening clip assembly86, the energy stored in the compressed coiled spring78is released, and the spring extends back to its at-rest position, thereby pushing the mounting ring80and the clip member10upwardly in the direction of arrow C. As such, fluid may be drawn back into the piston cavity72as the stud39and the sealing member42retreat upwardly in the direction of arrow C.

The dampening clip assembly86may be tuned to a frequency range of vibrations caused by a component, such as a pump. The size (e.g., length and diameter) and shape of the dampening clip assembly86may be varied to dampen forces in the frequency range. The dampening clip assembly86acts to slow down vibrations through the motion of the coiled spring78. That is, the coiled spring78resists the downward motion of a force exerted into the dampening clip assembly86. The coiled spring78, as discussed above, ensures that the clip member10, and therefore a tube within the clip member10, returns to its equilibrium position after energy exerted into the dampening clip assembly86diminishes.

Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a clip assembly that dampens vibratory energy caused by proximate components. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide a dampening clip assembly that effectively minimizes or negates any vibratory energy transmitted to the dampening clip assembly.