Crate spring clip fastener

A spring fastener clip for affixed crate panels together, which includes a pair of spaced apart panel bridging arms connected at a top to a pair of cleat bridging arms in the shape of a number 7. Extending downwardly from free ends of the cleat bridging arms first cleat end fingers, and extending between the first cleat end fingers is a bridge section. Extending forwardly of the bottom ends of the panel bridging arms are second cleat end fingers. An engagement pocket section extends rearwardly in the direction of the panel bridging arms and downwardly away from the cleat bridging arms. The engagement pocket section extends. The engagement pocket section provides an engagement for a prying tool that can be inserted into the engagement pocket when the spring fastener clip is in the process of and completely affixed to crate panels.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to clip fasteners for use with crates and boxes in wide use for shipping and storage made up of panels of plywood or other materials to which are attached wooden cleats around the peripheral edges thereof, wherein the edges of the panels are held together with spring clip fasteners. More particularly, the spring clip fasteners of the invention include an easy attachment and removal feature which does not compromise the securement of the spring clips to the panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,897 to Highley discloses two different embodiments of spring clip fasteners that can be used to hold together panels of plywood with peripheral wooden cleat to assemble a box, which clip fasteners can be removed to allow the box panels to be reused. Customarily the cleated panels are arranged to form a box, being held together by means of nails or staples passed through the plywood and cleats or adjacent panels, sometimes also with hinges and catches to form a door section. Among other problems with nailing the panels together to form a crate or box. Highley notes that nails can damage the panels, do not form strong boxes, take time to install, and impede the ability to easily open a box or crate to inspect the contents.

However, while the clip fasteners of Highley may be effective at holding box panels together once installed, they can be difficult to fit onto box panels and even more difficult remove once affixed. There accordingly remains a need for improved clip fasteners that both provide effective securement of box panels and also are quick and easy to install and remove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a spring fastener clip to affix crate panels together. The spring fastener clip comprises a pair of spaced apart wire wall sections, each section having a panel bridging arm with two ends, a cleat bridging arm extending at an angle less than 90 degrees from the first end of the panel bridging arm, a first cleat end finger extending at an angle from a free end of the cleat bridging arm, and second cleat end finger extending at an angle from the second end of the panel bridging arm; a bridge section extending between the pair of first cleat end fingers; and an engagement pocket section extending between ends of the pair of second cleat end fingers not connected to the panel bridging arms, which engagement pocket section at least partially extends rearwardly and downwardly from an imaginary vertical plane and horizontal plane that passes through the ends of the pair of second cleat end fingers, which engagement pocket provides an engagement for a prying tool that can be inserted into the engagement pocket when the spring fastener clip is in the process of and completely affixed to crate panels.

In another embodiment the invention provides a spring fastener clip for affixing crate panels together, the spring fastener clip formed of a single piece of bent spring wire, the spring fastener clip comprising a pair of spaced apart panel bridging arms, each having two ends, a pair of cleat bridging arms, each cleat bridging arm extending at an angle less than 90 degrees from a first end of each of the panel bridging arms, a pair of first cleat end fingers, each first cleat end finger extending at an angle from a free end of each of the cleat bridging arms, and a pair of second cleat end fingers, each second cleat end finger extending at an angle from the second ends of each of the panel bridging arms; a bridge section that extends between ends of pair of first cleat end fingers not extending from the cleat bridging arms; and an engagement pocket section that extends between ends of the pair of second cleat end fingers not connected to the panel bridging arms, which engagement pocket section at least partially extends rearwardly in the direction of the panel bridging arms and downwardly away from the cleat bridging arms, wherein the engagement pocket section provides an engagement for a prying tool that can be inserted into the engagement pocket when the spring fastener clip is in the process of and completely affixed to crate panels.

These and other features of the invention are described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning first toFIG. 1there is shown a perspective view of a box10formed by securement of a series of box panels, namely a top panel12A, front panel12B, a first end panel12C, a rear panel12D, a second end panel12E, and a bottom panel12F. An exemplary embodiment of fastener clips150of the invention are shown used to hold the panels12A-F together. For example, the first end panel12C is formed of a sheet of material16such as plywood or waferboard, and has wooden cleats18,20,22,24attached around its perimeter. The front panel12B has a sheet of material30with exterior cleats32,34,36, and38, and interior cleats40(seeFIG. 2). Likewise, the top panel12A has a sheet of material50with wooden cleats52,54,56,58attached around its perimeter.

FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view through view lines2-2ofFIG. 1and shows the intersection of a first end panel12C and the front panel12B of the box10. The cleat20of the first end panel12C has a top surface60, a bottom surface62, an inside edge64and an exterior edge66. The panel16has an exterior edge70and an interior surface72and an external edge74. The cleat20attached with its exterior surface64against the top surface70of the panel and with its exterior edge66flush with the external edge74of the panel16. The cleat20attached with its exterior surface64against the top surface70of the panel and with its exterior surface66flush with the external edge74of the panel16. The cleat32of the front panel12B has a top surface80, a bottom surface82, an inside edge84and an exterior edge86. The panel30has an exterior surface88and an interior surface90and an external edge92. The interior cleat40of front panel12B has an exterior edge42and a bottom surface44, which interior cleat40is affixed to the interior surface90of the panel30and its external edge42is spaced away from the external edge92of the panel30a distance equal to the thickness of the panel16and thickness of cleat20of the first end panel12C. Thus, when the first end panel12C and front panel12B are engaged together, the top surface60of end panel12C will be flush with the external edge92and exterior edge86of the front panel12B.

FIG. 3Ais a cross-sectional view through view lines4-4ofFIG. 1and shows an exemplary embodiment of a fastener clip150of the invention ofFIGS. 5A-Din the process of being installed to secure two box panels12A and12B together, andFIG. 3Bis a front view of same.FIGS. 4A and 4Bare similar toFIGS. 3A and 3Bbut show the fastener clip150as completely installed. Box panel12B has a sheet of material30with a wooden cleat38attached thereto. The cleat38has a top surface100, an inside edge102, and an outside edge104. The outside edge104of the cleat38is flush with a perimeter edge106of the sheet30. Box panel12A has a sheet of material50with a wooden cleat54attached thereto. The cleat54has a top surface108, an outside edge110, and an inside edge112, and the cleat54has its outside edge110flush with a perimeter edge114of the sheet50. When the box panels12A and12B are arranged, the top surface100of the cleat38of box panel12B is flush with the outer perimeter edge114of the sheet50and the outside edge110of the cleat54of box panel12A. The embodiment of fastener clip150will now be described with reference toFIGS. 5A-D.

InFIGS. 5A-D, there are shown respectively, a front right perspective view, a rear right perspective view, a right side view, and a bottom view of the first embodiment of fastener clip150of the invention. The fastener clip150can preferably formed of high strength spring steel wire or rod which is bent to the final shape during the manufacturing process. The fastener clip150has a pair of spaced apart panel bridging arms152A and152B. Continuing at upper bends172A and172B of the panel bridging arms152A and152B are a pair of spaced apart cleat bridging arms154A and154B. The spaced apart cleat bridging arms154A and154B are set off at an angle α relative to the panel bridging arms152A and152B, where angle α is less than 90 degrees and preferably between about 85 and 75 degrees, and more preferably about 80 degrees in the uninstalled state of the fastener clip150. As formed, the panel bridging arms152A and152B and the cleat bridging arms154A and154B are laid out in the form of a number 7. Thus, when the fastener clip150is fully installed, the 80 degree angle α will stretch out to become the 90 degree angle of the corner of the crate and a spring force will be exerted by the spring fasteners150to secure together the box panels12A and12B. The cleat bridging arms154A and154B have a length that is matched to the width of the cleat54so that the cleat bridging arms154A and154B will snuggly ride on the outside surface108of the cleat54, as shown inFIG. 4A. At distal bends174A and174B of cleat bridging arms154A and154B are first cleat end fingers156A and156B. The first cleat end fingers156A and156B are set off by an angle γ from the cleat bridging arms154A and154B, respectively. The angle γ can be around 90 degrees but can be somewhat less, e.g., 80 to 85 degrees, so that when the fastener clip150is installed, there is an additional spring force exerted on the cleats. The cleat end fingers156A and156B have a length that is preferably slightly less than a thickness of the cleat54so that the cleat bridging arms154A and154B will be able to fully ride on the outside surface108of the cleat54(seeFIG. 4A). Indeed, the cleats30and54are typically made with widely available lumber such as nominal 1″×3″ lumber, which has an actual size of ¾″×2½″. Extending between distal bends176A and176B of the first cleat end fingers156A and156B are bridge pieces158A and158B, respectively. The bridge pieces158A and158B can extend straight across and between the bends176A and176B so that when the fastener clip150is fully installed, the bridge pieces158A and158B will ride flat against the inner edge112of the cleat54. The bridge pieces158A and158B can be separated by a break160located where the two ends of the single piece of spring wire forming the fastener clip150intersect. Continuing from lower bends170A and170B of the panel bridging arms152A and152B are a pair of second cleat end fingers168A and168B, respectively. The second cleat end fingers168A and168B are set off by an angle ß from the panel bridging arms152A and152B, respectively. The angle ß can be around 90 degrees but can be somewhat less, e.g., 80 to 88 degrees, so that when the fastener clip150is installed, there is an additional spring force exerted on the cleats. The parallel wire sections are comprised of first cleat edge fingers156A and156B, cleat bridging arms154A and154B, panel bridging arms152A and152B, and second cleat end fingers162A and162B, respectively, and preferably lie on parallel planes and can have their respective wire sections spaced apart equally. So far, the fastener clip150as described is similar to the fastener clips of U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,897 to Highley. What makes the fastener clip150of the invention unique and a big improvement are its second cleat end fingers bridging sections164A and164B. Rather than extending straight across between bends168A and168B of the second cleat end fingers162A and162B, respectively, each of the second cleat end fingers bridging sections164A and164B are angled down and out from their bends168A and168B and away from a horizontal plane H and a vertical plane V, respectively, and intersect at a generally V-shaped bend166. As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the thusly embodied V-shaped second cleat end fingers bridging sections164A and164B provide an engagement pocket P underneath and extending away the inner edge102of the cleat38and the panel30. This engagement pocket P is available for a user of the fastener clips150to insert a prying tool, such as the end of a flat end screwdriver, to pull down the second cleat end fingers162A and162B of the fastener clips150as its goes from partially installed state ofFIGS. 3A and 3B, to the completely installed state ofFIGS. 4A and 4B, where the cleat end fingers162A and162B will bear against the inner edge102of the cleat38of the panel12B, while the second cleat end fingers bridging sections164A and164B provide an engagement pocket P underneath and extending away the inner edge102of the cleat38and the panel30. Although a flat end screwdriver or other prying device can be used to help install a conventional fastener clip of the prior art, such prior art fastener clips do not provide any sort prying tools engagements as their bridge pieces are flat and ride on inner edges of their respectively installed cleats, in the same manner that the bridge pieces158A and158B of the present fastener clip150ride on the inner edge112of the cleat54without any prying tool engagements being created. Thus, with current fastener clips, users often struggle to grasp a pulling end of the fastener clip when installing it on box panels. This problem is compounded further when a user wishes to remove fastener clip, because when current fastener clips are fully installed, there is no prying tools engagements that will allow a user to reliably engage a prying tool to remove the clip in a slip free manner. Indeed, even if a prying tool can be engaged to remove a tool, sometimes the prying tool slips off the fastener clip and the fastener clip goes flying. Since the fastener clips can be under quite a bit of tension, flying fastener clips can be a problem. Also, users sometimes need to resort to digging the prying tool into the material of the cleats in order to get under the fastener clip to allow for installation and removal. This takes additional time and effort. In contrast with these problems associated with prior art fastener clips, the fastener clip150of the invention will allow reliable and safe installation and removal of the fastener clips150.

Turning next toFIGS. 6A-D, there are shown respectively, a front right perspective view, a rear right perspective view, a right side view, and a bottom view of the second exemplary embodiment of fastener clip250of the invention. The fastener clip250, like the fastener clip150ofFIGS. 5A-Dcan preferably formed of high strength spring steel wire or rod which is bent to the final shape during the manufacturing process. Like the fastener clip250ofFIGS. 5A-D, fastener clip250has a pair of spaced apart panel bridging arms252A and252B. Continuing at upper bends272A and272B of the panel bridging arms252A and252B are a pair of spaced apart cleat bridging arms254A and254B. The spaced apart cleat bridging arms254A and254B are set off at an angle α relative to the panel bridging arms252A and252B, where angle α is less than 90 degrees and preferably between about 85 and 75 degrees, and more preferably about 80 degrees in the uninstalled state of the fastener clip250. Thus, when the fastener clip250is fully installed, the 80 degree angle α will stretch out to become the 90 degree angle of the corner of the crate and a spring force will be exerted by the spring fasteners250to secure together the box panels12A and12B (not shown). At distal bends274A and274B of cleat bridging arms254A and254B are first cleat end fingers256A and256B. The first cleat end fingers256A and256B are set off by an angle γ from the cleat bridging arms254A and254B, respectively. The angle γ can be around 90 degrees but can be somewhat less, e.g., 80 to 85 degrees, so that when the fastener clip250is installed, there is an additional spring force exerted on the cleats. The cleat end fingers256A and256B have a length that is preferably slightly less than a thickness of the cleat54so that the cleat bridging arms254A and254B will be able to fully ride on the outside surface108of the cleat54(in the same manner as the fastener clip150ofFIG. 4A). Extending between distal bends276A and276B of the first cleat end fingers256A and256B are bridge pieces258A and258B, respectively. The bridge pieces258A and258B can extend straight across and between the bends276A and276B so that when the fastener clip250is fully installed, the bridge pieces258A and258B will ride flat against the inner edge112of the cleat54. The bridge pieces258A and258B can be separated by a break260located where the two ends of the single piece of spring wire forming the fastener clip250intersect. Continuing from lower bends270A and270B of the panel bridging arms252A and252B are a pair of second cleat end fingers268A and268B, respectively. The second cleat end fingers268A and268B are set off by an angle ß from the panel bridging arms252A and252B, respectively. The angle ß can be around 90 degrees but can be somewhat less, e.g., 80 to 88 degrees, so that when the fastener clip250is installed, there is an additional spring force exerted on the cleats. The parallel wire sections are comprised of first cleat edge fingers256A and256B, cleat bridging arms254A and254B, panel bridging arms252A and252B, and second cleat end fingers262A and262B, respectively, and preferably lie on parallel planes and can have their respective wire sections spaced apart equally by distance “d”. So far, the fastener clip250as described is the same as fastener clip150ofFIGS. 5A-D. What differentiates the fastener clip250from fastener clip150is that instead of having second cleat end fingers bridging sections that are in the shape of a V, a single semi-circular extending loop section266is located between the bends268A and268B. The single semi-circular extending loop section266is angled down and out from their bends268A and268B and away from a horizontal plane H and a vertical plane V, respectively. As with the embodiment of the fastener clip150shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the thusly embodied single semi-circular extending loop section266provides an engagement pocket P underneath and extending away the inner edge102of the cleat38and the panel30. This engagement pocket P is available for a user of the fastener clips250to insert a prying tool, such as the end of a flat end screwdriver, to pull down the second cleat end fingers262A and262B of the fastener clips250as its goes from partially installed state ofFIGS. 3A and 3B, to the completely installed state ofFIGS. 4A and 4B, where the cleat end fingers262A and262B will bear against the inner edge102of the cleat38of the panel12B, while the single semi-circular extending loop section266provides an engagement pocket P underneath and extending away the inner edge102of the cleat38and the panel30. Although a flat end screwdriver or other prying device can be used to help install a conventional fastener clip of the prior art, such prior art fastener clips do not provide any sort of prying tools engagements as their bridge pieces are flat and ride on inner edges of their respectively installed cleats, in the same manner that the bridge pieces258A and258B of the present fastener clip250ride on the inner edge112of the cleat54without any prying tool engagements being created. Thus, with current fastener clips, users often struggle to grasp a pulling end of the fastener clip when installing it on box panels. This problem is compounded further when a user wishes to remove the fastener clip, because when current fastener clips are fully installed, there is no prying tools engagements that will allow a user to reliably engage a prying tool to remove the clip in a slip free manner. Indeed, even if a prying tool can be engaged to remove a tool, sometimes the prying tool slips off the fastener clip and the fastener clip goes flying. Since the fastener clips can be under quite a bit of tension, flying fastener clips can be a problem. Also, users sometimes need to resort to digging the prying tool into the material of the cleats in order to get under the fastener clip to allow for installation and removal. This takes additional time and effort. In contrast with these problems associated with prior art fastener clips, the fastener clip250of the invention will allow reliable and safe installation and removal of the fastener clips250.

Turning lastly toFIGS. 7A-D, there are shown respectively, a front right perspective view, a rear right perspective view, a right side view, and a bottom view of the third exemplary embodiment of fastener clip350of the invention. The fastener clip350, like the fastener clip150ofFIGS. 5A-Dand250ofFIGS. 6A-D, can be preferably formed of high strength spring steel wire or rod which is bent to the final shape during the manufacturing process. Like the fastener clip150ofFIGS. 5A-D, fastener clip350has a pair of spaced apart panel bridging arms352A and352B. Continuing at upper bends372A and372B of the panel bridging arms352A and352B are a pair of spaced apart cleat bridging arms354A and354B. The spaced apart cleat bridging arms354A and354B are set off at an angle α relative to the panel bridging arms352A and352B, where angle α is less than 90 degrees and preferably between about 85 and 75 degrees, and more preferably about 80 degrees in the uninstalled state of the fastener clip350. Thus, when the fastener clip350is fully installed, the 80 degree angle α will stretch out to become the 90 degree angle of the corner of the crate and a spring force will be exerted by the spring fasteners350to secure together the box panels12A and12B (not shown). At distal bends374A and374B of cleat bridging arms354A and354B are first cleat end fingers356A and356B. The first cleat end fingers356A and356B are set off by an angle γ from the cleat bridging arms354A and354B, respectively. The angle γ can be around 90 degrees but can be somewhat less, e.g., 80 to 85 degrees, so that when the fastener clip350is installed, there is an additional spring force exerted on the cleats. The cleat end fingers356A and356B have a length that is preferably slightly less than a thickness of the cleat54so that the cleat bridging arms354A and354B will be able to fully ride on the outside surface108of the cleat54(in the same manner as the fastener clip150ofFIG. 4A). Extending between distal bends376A and376B of the first cleat end fingers356A and356B are bridge pieces358A and358B, respectively. The bridge pieces358A and358B can extend straight across and between the bends376A and376B so that when the fastener clip350is fully installed, the bridge pieces358A and358B will ride flat against the inner edge112of the cleat54, in the same manner as the fastener clip150. The bridge pieces358A and358B can be separated by a break360located where the two ends of the single piece of spring wire forming the fastener clip350intersect. Continuing from lower bends370A and370B of the panel bridging arms352A and352B are a pair of second cleat end fingers368A and368B, respectively. The second cleat end fingers362A and362B are set off by an angle ß from the panel bridging arms352A and352B, respectively. The angle ß can be around 90 degrees but can be somewhat less, e.g., 80 to 88 degrees, so that when the fastener clip350is installed, there is an additional spring force exerted on the cleats. The parallel wire sections are comprised of first cleat edge fingers356A and356B, cleat bridging arms354A and354B, panel bridging arms352A and352B, and second cleat end fingers362A and362B, respectively, and preferably lie on parallel planes and can have their respective wire sections spaced apart equally by distance “d”. So far, the fastener clip350as described is the same as fastener clip150ofFIGS. 5A-Dand fastener clip250ofFIGS. 6A-D. What differentiates the fastener clip350from fastener clip150is that instead of having second cleat end fingers bridging sections that are in the shape of a V, a rectangular extending loop section380is located between the bends368A and368B. The rectangular extending loop section380includes straight sections382A and382B that extend from the bends368A and368B. Spanning distal ending bends384A and384B of the straight sections382A and382B is a catch bar386. As with the embodiment of the fastener clip150shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the thusly embodied rectangular extending loop section380provides an engagement pocket P underneath and extending away the inner edge102of the cleat38and the panel30(not shown.) This engagement pocket P is available for a user of the fastener clips350to insert a prying tool, such as the end of a flat end screwdriver, to pull down the second cleat end fingers362A and362B of the fastener clips350as its goes from partially installed state ofFIGS. 3A and 3B, to the completely installed state ofFIGS. 4A and 4B, where the cleat end fingers362A and362B will bear against the inner edge102of the cleat38of the panel12B, while the rectangular extending loop section380provides an engagement pocket P underneath and extending away the inner edge102of the cleat38and the panel30. Although a flat end screwdriver or other prying device can be used to help install a conventional fastener clip of the prior art, such prior art fastener clips do not provide any sort prying tools engagements as their bridge pieces are flat and ride on inner edges of their respectively installed cleats, in the same manner that the bridge pieces358A and358B of the present fastener clip350ride on the inner edge112of the cleat54without any prying tool engagements being created. Thus, with current fastener clips, users often struggle to grasp a pulling end of the fastener clip when installing it on box panels. This problem is compounded further when a user wishes to remove fastener clip, because when current fastener clips are fully installed, there is no prying tools engagements that will allow a user to reliably engage a prying tool to remove the clip in a slip free manner. Indeed, even if a prying tool can be engaged to remove a tool, sometimes the prying tool slips off the fastener clip and the fastener clip goes flying. Since the fastener clips can be under quite a bit of tension, flying fastener clips can be a problem. Also, users sometimes need to resort to digging the prying tool into the material of the cleats in order to get under the fastener clip to allow for installation and removal. This takes additional time and effort. In contrast with these problems associated with prior art fastener clips, the fastener clip350of the invention will provide reliable and safe installation and removal of the fastener clips350from crate panels.

The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention.