NETTING GRIPPING CLIPS

A gripping clip, preferably formed of plastic material, the clip for receiving edge portions of netting or tarp, with a hinged interlock between two mating halves of the clip to receive and grip the netting or tarp. More specifically, the clips are formed of two connected part, joined together by a hinge and by interlocking features. The clip includes a top connected to a base with a hinge, the base has a set of posts extending from the base and the top has a set of post-holes. The top interlocks to the base, with each post of the base received into a post-hole. The netting seats on the clip base, with each post extending through the netting, and the netting retained between the top and base of the clip. The clip also includes a hole to receive a snap-link for attachment to a support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention pertains to gripping “clips” preferably formed of plastic material, the clips for receiving edge portions of a netting and more particularly to the two-part hinged interlocking of such clips, which can receive and grip the netting. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved two-part hinged clip for gripping netting or tarps, where the clip's parts join together by a hinge and with the aid of interlocking post-and-hole features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to net gripping devices. Nets are used in modern crop cultivation, such as orchards, vineyards, berry and vegetable growing sites, for shade, weather protection, and to shield the crop from birds. Typically, the netting is draped over supports or trellises and affixed to the supports by “tie-downs” along the edges of the netting. The tie-downs can include straps, wires, cables, or strings. Additionally, grommets can also be sewn into or alternatively pressed into the netting, often along fabric edges of the netting. The tie-downs can then be threaded through the grommets, to prevent the tie-downs from ripping out of the netting.

Agricultural labor is increasingly expensive and difficult to acquire. Shortages in harvesting laborers, with needs for increased efficiency requires that even simple equipment or implements used on the farm orchard or vineyard be redesigned or re-engineered to improve their operation, often to perform a multiple of tasks more efficiently than current devices and practices.

The present invention provides an improved netting clip, especially for use in agricultural operations. Additionally, the following disclosure of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Reference characters included in the above drawings indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as discussed herein. The description herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and the description herein is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. It should be understood that the above listed figures are not necessarily to scale and may include fragmentary views, graphic symbols, diagrammatic or schematic representations. Details that are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention by one skilled in the technology of the invention, or render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a gripping clip, preferably formed of a plastic material, the gripping clip for receiving an edge portion of a netting material. The gripping clip may simply be referred to herein as a “clip.”FIGS. 1 through 3show a preferred embodiment of the clip10having features according the present invention, withFIG. 1illustrating the clip in an open-clip position12, the clip having a clip top16connected to a clip base17with a clip hinge18connecting the clip top to the clip base. The two-part, hinged clip is formed of a substantially flat material19, such as a thermal form-able resin, a thin plastic sheet or strip, or optionally a metal.

Most preferably, the clip10may be any resilient plastic material, and preferably a thermoplastic material, such as a polystyrene or a polyethylene. Fibrous materials can also be used for the clip, or incorporated into a plastic to form the clip, such as a wood or mineral fiber. Additionally, the clip material can be recycled or recyclable. Also alternatively, the clip can be a biodegradable, or water soluble material, or include any other material known to a person skilled in the art of plastic article manufacture. Advantageously, the clip of the present invention can be formed of a softer or more flexible rubber containing, or a rubber-like material.

Preferably, each clip10of the present invention is formed by a conventional thermal injector or thermal press, to produce the clip in a single piece that includes the clip top16connected to the clip base17by the clip hinge18. This thermal injection manufacturing process is preferable in that it allows the clip to be formed from a wide variety of materials, as discussed above.

The clip top16mates to the clip base to grip a netting material20, as shown inFIG. 3, with the use of the clip hinge18to position the clip in a closed-clip position22. The clip top has a clip top face23, and the clip base has a clip base face24that matches up to the clip top face when the clip is in the closed-clip position, with the netting material held between the clip top and the clip base.

Interlocking the clip top16to the clip base17is accomplished by a set of multiple posts25that extend from clip face base24of the clip base, as shown inFIG. 1, with each post26in the set of multiple posts, receivable into a post-hole27in the clip top. As preferred, eight posts are included in the clip base, spaced apart as shown inFIG. 1. However, any number of the posts at any spacing could be utilized for the set of multiple posts, depending on the overall size desired for the clip, and the strength of the grip needed for gripping the netting material20. It is conceived that as few as two posts could serve to grip a certain netting material, while up to twenty posts could be used in a closely spaced pattern for gripping other conventional netting material, if desired.

Most preferably, each post26of the set of multiple posts25terminates with a post point29, that is able to penetrate the netting material, as shown inFIG. 2. The netting material20seats upon the clip base face24of the clip base17, with each post extending through a gap in the netting30. More generally, the netting material is any bird netting, shade netting, weather netting, or potentially a tarp, especially when the tarp includes a netting reinforcement, where each post26of the set of multiple posts can penetrate through the tarp with a minimum of tearing beyond any hole made in the tarp by the set of multiple posts.

Also preferably, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, each post-hole27in the clip top16includes a countersunk hole opening37surrounding each of the post-holes to better receive each post26of the set of multiple posts25, as the clip hinges on the clip hinge18to the closed-clip position22. As shown inFIG. 3, each countersunk hole opening surrounds each of the post-holes on the clip top face23.

To best operate the clip10, it is preferred that the clip hinge18has a hinge length40, which is the distance the clip top16is separated from the clip base17, and that the hinge length is approximately equal to or slightly greater than a post length41, which is the distance each post26of the set of multiple posts25extends from the clip base, as shown inFIG. 1. A most preferred hinge length is approximately 1.3 cm (0.5 in) for use with each post having the post length of approximately 1.0 cm (0.39 in).

An additional gripping feature in a preferred clip10of the present invention is a central rib44in the clip base face24of the clip base17, as shown inFIG. 1. The central rib preferably mates with a central channel46in the clip top face23of the clip top16, also shown inFIG. 1. Most preferably, the central rib is received into the central channel and adds gripping power to the clip when the netting material is received within the clip, and the clip is then snapped to the closed-clip position.

The clip10of the present invention greatly reduces the potential of the netting material20ripping out or tearing away from the tie-down or tie elements employed to secure the netting to any supporting structure. Each post26of the multiple of posts25is received into the post-holes27grip the netting material as shown inFIG. 3, with the hinged closure of the clip able to be reopened to the open clip position12, if desired. With this feature, the clip can be reused, or the netting material is re-purposed after its use in the clip is no longer desired.

An additional preferred feature of the clip10is shown inFIG. 3, with a snap-link50received into the clip. A top link-hole56can be included in the clip top16, and a base link-hole57can be included in the clip base17, as shown inFIG. 1. The snap-link is a standard type of carabineer or clasp with a spring gate59, as is a well-known hardware item. The snap-link can be threaded through the clip when the clip is in the closed clip position, as shown inFIG. 3. Any multiple of the gripping clips can be attached to a support60with the snap-link. The support can be any conventional type of supporting trellis, frame, support, pole, or stake as employed to support the netting material.

The terms “approximately” or “approximate” are employed herein throughout, including this detailed description and the attached claims, with the understanding that is denotes a level of exactitude commensurate with the skill and precision typical for the particular field of endeavor, as applicable.

In compliance with the statutes, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features and process steps. While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in different forms, the specification illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and the disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. Those with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other embodiments and variations of the invention are possible, which employ the same inventive concepts as described above. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except by the following claims, as appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.