Abstract:
A locking structure for the removable attachment of listing beads to structures comprising an upholstery clip that is provided with a clip base with attached counterpoised clip arm assemblies and a key assembly. The clip arm assemblies are constructed and arranged of legs and hooks and the key assembly is provided with a neck and a key. The clip arm assemblies have a narrow gap between the hooks to receive a listing and attached material. The upholstery clip removably engages with a hard anchor base that is attached to a rigid surface. The hard anchor base is provided with a receiving slot that is sized to removably receive and engage the key of the upholstery clip. The key assembly is inserted into the receiving slot and rotated through ninety degrees of motion to a locking position and is held in position by at least one detent.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/901,545, filed Nov. 8, 2013, entitled UPHOLSTERY CLIP FOR REMOVABLE ATTACHMENT TO RIGID SURFACES, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to upholstery attachment mechanisms and similar resilient structures and, more particularly, but not limited, to removable upholstery clips for automotive applications. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Current fabric trim covers (upholstery), such as those used in vehicles, often carefully sculpted and shaped to produce a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing effect. As such, the fabric (typically cloth, vinyl or leather with an appropriate backing material) is secured at many locations along its surface to a resilient or flexible backing that defines the cushioned substrate of the upholstered item (for example, a seat bottom, cushion, back or headrest). The substrate is typically constructed from a resilient material. This resilient/flexible material can be synthetic foam (for example polyurethane and/or isocyanate-based foam) or another cushioning material, such as traditional rubberized horsehair, hog hair, and the like. In general, the close-fitting appearance of the upholstery to the substrate requires that the fabric be tacked down to the substrate at any intermediate dips, Vees or trenches in the surface. Otherwise, the fabric will tend to billow or “tent” at these non-planar surface features. 
         [0004]    Traditional methods for tacking down trim covers at trenches entail the use of a plastic bead along the inner side of the trim cover. This bead is often located at an inner seam that is a sewn or welded, or otherwise adhered, joint between fabric pieces. Likewise the foam substrate includes an exposed metal wire that may be molded into the substrate along a trench in its surface during its construction. So-called “hog-rings,” consisting of bendable metal ringlets, are then secured to both the plastic bead and the metal wire. These rings are each applied by a tool, such as a hog-ring gun from a supply of wire. As each hog ring is secured, it forms an immovable, permanent joint between the fabric and the substrate. Clearly, this permanent joint is difficult to repair if needed and requires significant skill to create in the first place. In addition, this method of seat cover attachment leads to the development of injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome in employees who operate the hog ring tool over an extended period of time. Finally, the use of metal components may be undesirable where the seat includes electrical heating elements due to the metal&#39;s predisposition to conduct both heat and electricity. 
         [0005]    More recently, trim covers have been secured to resilient substrates using detachable connections that allow repairs to be effected and are often more-easily applied without the used of highly skilled labor. In one example, one side of a hook and loop fastener is attached to a trench in the resilient substrate. The inner surface of the trim cover carries the opposing side of the fastener. This approach is reliable, but expensive, in terms of material wasted and consumed to attain a secure fit. It also requires a rather large-width trench to be formed in the resilient substrate to ensure a sufficient area of engagement between fastener sides. 
         [0006]    Another recent approach involves the used of a series of clips that are molded into the trench as a foam substrate is manufactured and designed to secure a listing bead that is sewn or otherwise attached to the inside surface of the upholstery fabric—typically along a seam line. A version of this structure, and other prior art attachment mechanisms, are described in U.S. Published Patent Application US/2003/0215601 A1, entitled ATTACHMENT DEVICE, dated Nov. 20, 2003, by Peede, et al. the teachings of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference as useful background information. As described, each clip includes a pair of outwardly facing (with respect to the trim-cover-facing surface of the substrate) legs that together form a female projection with a pair of upper hooks or barbs that face toward each other, thereby defining a top-end funnel, leading into a cavity. The barbs define a narrow gap therebetween. This gap is smaller in width than the width of the cavity. The material and relative thickness of the legs is such that the barbs can be spread elastically apart so that an appropriately sized listing bead can pass between the legs to be thereafter trapped in the cavity against outward movement by the sprung-back barbs. In this case, the cylinder is a covered plastic or metal bead attached to a seam between two trim cover fabric pieces. 
         [0007]    Improvements on such a clip design are provided in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,099,837 B2, entitled LOW-PROFILE UPHOLSTERY CLIP FOR ATTACHING A BEAD TO A FOAM SUBSTRATE, by Santin, et al., the teachings of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference as useful background information. This clip and others contemplated in the prior art are adapted for embedding in the foam substrate, using the cured foam as an adhesive substance. However, many seat parts to which the upholstery may be adhered (e.g. a raised seat bolster) can be generally hard or rigid in surface characteristics. Thus, the use of a foam-seated clip is inappropriate in such areas. 
         [0008]    Accordingly it is desirable to provide a clip that is adapted for placement on hard or rigid surfaces. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a clip that enables attachment of a listing bead or similar structures to a region having a hard or rigid underlying surface. The clip should be removably attachable to such surfaces and should be firmly mounted in place once the listing bead is attached. A removable upholstery clip according to an illustrative embodiment is defines a clip base with attached counterpoised clip arm assemblies and a key assembly. The clip arm assemblies are constructed and arranged with legs and hooks, and the key assembly is provided with a neck and a key. The clip arm assemblies are constructed and arranged to create a narrow gap between the hooks. The upholstery clip removably engages with a hard anchor base that is attached to a rigid surface. The hard anchor base is provided with a receiving slot that is sized to removably receive and engage the key of the upholstery clip. The key assembly is inserted into the receiving slot and rotated through ninety degrees of motion to a locking position. A pair of detents are constructed and arranged on the bottom of the receiving slot such that the key, when rotated ninety degrees, is removably captured and locked. The clip is constructed to removably engage a web having a listing along an edge. The clip is constructed and arranged of a unitary molded polycarbonate or other similar material. As the listing along the edge is pushed against the gap between the hooks, the hooks are urged apart and the legs flex outwards so as to admit the listing into a cavity between the clip arm legs. When the listing has passed the hooks and is inside the cavity, the legs rebound and the hooks act as barbs to retain and lock the listing and attached web material. The dimensions of the clip can be varied depending on the material to be attached and the tension on the clip. The receiving slot can define at least one of a diamond shape, an elongated elliptical shape or an elongated shape. Once the listing is engaged into the clip the linear configuration of the listing prevents the clip from rotating from the lock position there for preventing premature removal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary upholstery clip for removable attachment to rigid surfaces, according to an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the illustrative upholstery clip and a fragment of a base for the clip, according to the illustrative embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the illustrative upholstery clip engaged with and locked into the base, according to the illustrative embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the upholstery clip, according to the illustrative embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the upholstery clip, according to the illustrative embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of an exemplary upholstery clip having a key with an elongated elliptical shape, according to the illustrative embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of an exemplary upholstery clip having a key with a diamond shape, according to the illustrative embodiment; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a view of a plurality of clips employed in securing a tarp to a boat, according to a further embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows an upholstery clip  100  for removable attachment to rigid surfaces removably engaged with and locked into a hard anchor base  102  that is in turn mounted and secured to a seat bolster  104 . This clip is a locking structure that attaches material (for example, a seat cover) to another structure (for example, a seat frame). A portion of web  106  having a listing  108  along an edge is captured and retained by the clip  102 . The web material can be a natural, synthetic or blended material. In an illustrative embodiment, the listing  108  is formed of a metal or elastomeric polymer and the web  106  is a non-woven material. The clip  100  and clip base  102  create a removable attachment for seat material to the structure of the seat. In the illustrative embodiment, the seat is a vehicle seat. In other embodiments, the seat can be a piece of furniture for non-vehicular uses, for example, a couch. A plurality of clips  100  and bases  102  can be arranged so as to attach the perimeter of the seat cover to the supporting structure of the seat. The anchor base  102  is a rigid and hard structure that can be formed of the same material as the clip  100 . By way of a non-limiting example, the anchor base  102  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as being provided with an “L” shape with a vertical wall  170  and a horizontal wall  171 . The vertical wall  170  is provided with reinforcement structures  172  and a notch  172 . The inner portion of the anchor base  102  is provided with an engaging structure  174  that can interface with structures located in the interior or on the exterior surface of the seat. In other embodiments, the size, number, dimensions and shapes of the engaging structures can vary, as well as the inclusion and geometry of the notch, depending on the desired application of the clip and the resultant shape of the anchor base to provide stable attachment of a plurality of clips to a seat or other structure. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a view showing the upholstery clip  100  positioned above a portion of the base  102 . The clip  100  is comprised of a clip base  120  having two counterpoised upright clip arm assemblies  130  extending from a generally planar clip base  120  and a key assembly  140  located below the base. Each discrete clip is a unitary structure, with the clip arm assemblies  130 , clip base  120  and key assembly  140  being molded together as a single unit. Each clip arm assembly  130  is comprised of a hook  132  and a leg  134 . The material and relative thickness of the legs  134  is such that the hooks  134  can be spread elastically apart so that an appropriately sized listing (not shown) can pass between the legs to be thereafter trapped in the cavity  136  against outward movement by the sprung-back hooks. In general, the clip material should be durable, capable of withstanding reasonable levels of heat and pressure and flexible so as to provide a springy material. 
         [0021]    The clip includes a base  120  having a relatively thin cross section and an increased surface area adapted to act as a stable support against the anchor base  102 . The key assembly  140  is comprised of a neck  142  and a key  144 . The neck  142  connects the key  144  to the clip base  120 . In the illustrative embodiment, the neck is cruciform in profile. In other embodiments, the neck  142  can have a profile that is rectilinear or circular in profile. The neck  142  is depicted as having supports  144  arranged between the ribs  146  that provide a resistance against torsional forces. The neck  142  should have sufficient thickness and width to endure ordinary stresses during its lifecycle. 
         [0022]    The clip  100  attaches to the hard anchor base  102  by removable insertion of the key assembly  140  into a receiving slot  150  that is a through-hole in the anchor base  102 . The shape of the receiving slot  150  is constructed and arranged to receive the key assembly  140  and is sized appropriately to provide passage of the key assembly with obstruction or impingement. The ends  152  of the slot  150  are shaped to match the key  144 . A circular well  154  located at and around the midpoint of the slot  150  is sized to provide for rotation of the neck  142  when engaged in the slot. A pair of detents constructed on the bottom surface of the anchor base  102  are located on either side of the slot  150  at the well  154  such that when the key is inserted through the slot and the clip is rotated 90 degrees, the detents “capture” the key  144  and form a removable locked and fully engaged structure. Note that the detents secure the clip rotatably while the listing is attached. The orientation and expanse of the listing maintains rotational stability once a seat cover is fully secured. Thus, the detents can removably apply pressure to the clip. Alternatively, the detents can be arranged with a depth and/or geometry that provides permanent or semi-permanent attachment of the clip. 
         [0023]    The arm assemblies  130  each include a hook  132  that together help to guide and/or funnel the listing into the gap  135  and into the cavity  136 . In addition, the hooks  132  each define an inner shoulder  133  that restricts outward movement of the listing, or other member, once it is forcibly inserted through gap  135 . The elasticity of the legs  134  provides for a first small movement of the respective inner shoulders  133  away from each other so that the width of the gap is momentarily increased to accommodate the insertion of the listing and then a second small movement of the inner shoulders towards each other to return to their original orientation and original gap width. 
         [0024]    The rotation of the clip  100  when the key assembly  140  is inserted into the receiving slot  150  of the anchor base  102  to lock the clip is depicted in  FIG. 3 . The rotation passes through an angular movement having a degree of rotation θ of approximately 90 degrees. In other embodiments, the degree of rotation θ can be greater or lesser. When the clip has been rotated to 90 degrees, the key  144  is removably captured by the detents  156 . The completed insertion of the clip  100  into the anchor base  102  and locking engagement of the clip  100  with the anchor base  102  creates an attachment for securing the web  106  into the clip  100 . The material of the web  106  is pulled taut and the listing  108  is forced into the clip gap  135 , causing the arm assemblies  130  to open and then close to capture the listing and secure the attached web  106 . When locked in place, the bottom base surface  302  of the clip  100  is in contact with the top surface  304  of the anchor base  102 . The detents prevent counter-rotation and misalignment. A plurality of more than one clip can be presented in an array to removably hold a segment of web material. To remove the material, an upward force is applied in a vector away from the clip  100 . This causes the listing to come in contact with the bottom of the hooks, in turn causing the clip arms  130  assemblies to flex outward and the gap to widen, releasing the listing. The clip  100  can be removed and/or replaced by removing the listing and rotating the empty clip 90 degrees. This aligns the key with the receiving slot and provides removal of the key and neck from the anchor base. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  depicts the relative dimensions of the clip  100 . The overall clip height CH from the bottom base surface  302  to the top of the hook  132  is approximately 10 mm. The height ILH of the legs  134  along the inside surface next to the cavity  136  is approximately 5 mm. The height LH from the base  120  to the top of the hook  133  is approximately 8 mm. The gap  135  has a width GW of approximately 1.5 mm. The cavity  136  has a top width TCW of approximately 5 mm and a bottom cavity width BCW of approximately 3 mm. The width HW of each hook  132  is approximately 5 mm. The overall clip width OCW from one outermost hook edge  402  to the other is approximately 13 mm. The clip base height BH is approximately 1.5 mm. The neck height NH is approximately 2.5 mm. The key height KH is approximately 1 mm. The overall clip height OCH from key to the hooks is approximately 14 mm. The neck width NW is approximately 4 mm. The key length KL is approximately 8 mm and the base width BW is approximately 11 mm. In other embodiments, the size and width can vary for use with various fabrics and fabric thickness, as well as the tensions on the web. 
         [0026]    The length CLL of the clip arm assemblies  130  is approximately 8 mm, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The base length BL is approximately 15 mm. The key width KW is approximately 4 mm. 
         [0027]    As depicted above, the illustrative key  144  is rectilinear in shape. In other embodiments, a key  601  can have an elongated elliptical shape, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The corresponding receiving slot in the anchor base has a similar shape. 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  depicts a further embodiment having a key  701  with a diamond shape. In other embodiments, the key and slot can define another elongated rate. 
         [0029]    It is contemplated that the illustrative clips can be clips can be arranged on a roll or strip and individually removed for assembly such as detailed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,091,184, entitled FESTOONED TRIM CLIP SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING FESTOONED CLIPS TO A SUBSTRATE by Santin, et al. 
         [0030]    The clips can be used to removably secure tarps on equipment or vehicles, for example, boats.  FIG. 8  is an exemplary embodiment showing a boat  800  with a tarp  802  partially attached. The edge  804  of the tarp is provided with a beaded listing  806  that can removably engage the clips  808  in the manner described above. Clip  810  has locked a portion of the listing. The clips are arranged with sufficient spacing so as not to interfere with various features along the side of the boat, for example, a cleat  812  and an oarlock  814 . The anchor bases with receiving slots can be attached to the boat (for example, with screws and/or adhesives) or formed into the boat itself during the manufacturing process. Alternatively, the clips can be arranged along a mast or jib boom for receiving the edges of a removable sail cover. The clips can be mounted onto motorcycle sidecars or other vehicles that have a removable covering (trucks, all terrain vehicles, open cockpit aircraft, watercraft, and the like. It is further contemplated that the material being attached can be transparent. For example, removable side curtains on a vehicle. 
         [0031]    The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. For example, the clip can be used to secure upholstery coverings to living room furniture or other household furniture. The placement and spacing between clips can vary. Arrangements of clips on a frame structure can provide a temporary structure for use as a greenhouse or garden house with removable panels for easy assembly and disassembly. The clips are removably secured so that they can be removed and damaged or replacement covering material substituted. The clips can be used to mount canopies or tenting. Different materials and the stresses upon the clips can increase the dimensions and thicknesses of the clips. The anchor base can be a formed structure that is part of the underlying structure. The material of the clip and anchor base can be a polycarbonate or other similar material. More generally, as used herein the directional terms, such as, but not limited to, “up” and “down”, “upward” and “downward”, “rearward” and “forward”, “top” and “bottom”, “inside” and “outer”, “front” and “back”, “inner ” and “outer”, “interior” and “exterior”, “downward” and “upward”, “horizontal” and “vertical” should be taken as relative conventions only, rather than absolute indications of orientation or direction with respect to a direction of the force of gravity. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.