Abstract:
A universal metal stud clip is a support mechanism for securing one or more electrical boxes or other construction components to metal construction elements such as metal studs. The opposed spring arm design permits the clip to be oriented in any useful way and frictionally secured to metal studs of varying dimensions. Metal stud clips include one or more pair of resilient arms to frictionally engage metal studs. Using two or more pair of resilient arms provides a very stable attachment to the metal stud.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS 
     The inventions described below relates to the field of electrical construction components and more specifically to clips for securing electrical boxes to metal construction studs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS 
     Conventional wood frame construction techniques are often adapted to metal frame construction. The technique of nailing an electrical box to a wooden stud does not translate well to metal frame construction. 
     SUMMARY 
     A universal metal stud clip is a support mechanism for securing one or more electrical boxes or other construction components to metal construction elements such as metal studs. The opposed spring arm design permits the clip to be oriented in any useful way and frictionally secured to metal studs of varying dimensions. Metal stud clips include one or more pair of resilient arms to frictionally engage metal studs. Using two or more pair of resilient arms provides a very stable attachment to the metal stud. 
     A metal stud clip includes two parallel flanges that permit attachment of one or more electrical boxes on each side of a single metal stud at the same height, or a known offset. This simplifies subsequent construction tasks such as hanging sheetrock. Additionally multiple boxes on a single clip may permit separate circuits to be collocated and secured to a single clip. 
     A clip for securing one or more electrical boxes to a metal stud includes a generally rectangular plate having two pair of opposed edges, two generally parallel flanges, each flange having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the proximal edges of the flanges joined to the plate, each flange joined along one edge of a pair of the two pair of opposed edges, two or more resilient arms formed from each of the two generally parallel flanges, each resilient arm of a flange having a proximal end and a distal end and forming an opposing pair of resilient arms with a resilient arm from the generally parallel flange, the proximal end of each resilient arm hingably formed from the flange near the distal edge of each of the two generally parallel flanges, with the distal end of each resilient arm inclined toward the plate, and one or more engagement arms formed from each of the two generally parallel flanges, the proximal end of each engagement arm hingably formed from each flange adjacent its proximal edge, with the distal end of each resilient arm inclined toward the generally parallel flange. 
     A universal metal stud clip includes a generally rectangular plate having two pair of opposed edges, a first and a second generally parallel flanges joined to the plate, each flange joined along one edge of a pair of the two pair of opposed edges, the combination of the first and a second flanges and the plate partially enclosing an engagement area, two or more pair of resilient arms formed from a portion of each of the first and a second flanges, each resilient arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each arm of a pair of resilient arms forming a hinge within the flange near the distal edge of each of the two generally parallel flanges, with the distal end of each resilient arm inclined toward the plate. 
     A universal metal stud clip may include a rectangular plate having two pair of opposed edges, a first and a second generally parallel flanges joined to the plate, each flange joined along one edge of a pair of the two pair of opposed edges, the combination of the first and a second flanges and the plate partially enclosing an engagement area and two or more pairs of opposed arms for engaging a metal stud extending into an engagement area. Each flange may also include two or more channels and a locking arm for removably securing an electrical box to the universal metal stud clip. A suitable electrical box may include a tab corresponding to each channel on the metal stud clip and a slot for engaging the locking arm to secure the electrical box to the metal stud clip. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a universal metal stud clip. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cutaway side view of the clip of  FIG. 2  taken along line A-A. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a universal metal stud clip securing an electrical box to a metal stud. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a universal metal stud clip for removably engaging an electrical box. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the clip of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a back view of the clip of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the clip of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of an electrical box for removably engaging the universal metal stud clip of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a universal metal stud clip for removably engaging an electrical box. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the clip of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a back view of the clip of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the clip of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is an isometric view of an electrical box for removably engaging the universal metal stud clip of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , metal stud clip  10  includes a generally rectangular plate  12  joining first flange  14  and second flange  16 . First flange  14  and second flange  16  each have a proximal and distal edge,  14 P and  14 D,  16 P and  16 D respectively. First flange  14  and second flange  16  are generally perpendicular to plate  12  and the proximal edge of each flange,  14 P and  16 P, joins plate  12  along corners  17  and  19  respectively forming a generally C-shaped channel and an engagement area  20  between the first and second flanges  14  and  16 . Plate  12 , first flange  14  and second flange  16  also include at least one attachment hole such as attachment holes  22  or holes  23  for securing any suitable element such as an electrical box to clip  10 . 
     A portion of each flange is cut, stamped or otherwise separated to form at least three pairs of arms for frictionally engaging a metal stud or other construction element. One or more pair of arms may be arranged in opposing pairs such as opposed arm pair  24 A and  24 B, and opposed arm pair  26 A and  26 B. Opposed arm pairs are hinged within the flanges near distal edges  14 D and  16 D of each flange. Engagement arms such as engagement arms  27 A and  27 B are also oriented within each flange in opposition, however, engagement arms are hinged near the proximal edge of each flange,  14 P and  16 P respectively, with the engagement arms extending up and away from plate  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , distal ends  28  and  30  of each resilient arm such as resilient arms  24 B and  26 B are square cut perpendicular to the primary axis of the arm such as axes  29  and  31  of resilient arms  24 B and  26 B respectively. The configuration of each arm end results in two generally parallel straight edges such as edges  33  and  35 . Distal ends of resilient arms such as distal ends  28  and  30  may be straight as distal end  28 , of may be curved such as distal end  30 , or any suitable combination. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , plate  12  may include one or more ribs such as ribs  36 . Ribs such as ribs  36  may be arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plate edges where the flanges are joined. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a universal metal stud clip such as clip  10  may engage any suitable metal building component such as metal stud  38 . Each resilient arm is compressed to its respective flange enabling metal stud  38  to be frictionally engaged. One or more electrical boxes such as electrical box  39  and or electrical box  40  may be secured as discussed above, to clip  10  and thus also engaged to metal stud  38 . 
     In  FIGS. 6 through 9 , metal stud clip  50  includes a generally rectangular plate  52  joining first flange  54  and second flange  56 . First flange  54  and second flange  56  each have a proximal and distal edge,  54 P and  54 D,  56 P and  56 D respectively. First flange  54  and second flange  56  are generally perpendicular to plate  52  and the proximal edge of each flange,  54 P and  56 P, joins plate  52  along corners  57  and  59  respectively forming a generally C-shaped channel and an engagement area  60  between the first and second flanges  54  and  56 . Plate  52 , first flange  54  and second flange  56  also include at least one attachment hole such as attachment holes  62  or holes  63  for securing any suitable element such as an electrical box to clip  50 . Alternatively, first flange  54  may include two or more opposing channels such as first channel  64  and second channel  66  for engaging a suitable electrical box such as electrical box  68  of  FIG. 10 . 
     A portion of each flange is cut, stamped or otherwise separated to form at least two pairs of arms for frictionally engaging a metal stud or other construction element. One or more pair of arms may be arranged in opposing pairs such as opposed arm pair  69 A and  69 B, and opposed arm pair  71 A and  71 B. Opposed arm pairs are hinged within the flanges near distal edges  54 D and  56 D of each flange. For each flange that includes channels for securing an electrical box, a locking arm such as locking arm  72  is included, and the locking arm is hinged near the proximal edge of each flange such as proximal edge  54 P. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , electrical box  68  includes two or more tabs such as tabs  73 A and  73 B suitable for engaging channels  64  and  66  of universal metal stud clip  50 . As tabs  73 A and  73 B slide into channels  64  and  66  resilient locking arm  72  engages locking slot  74 . To disengage electrical box  68  from universal metal stud clip  50 , resilient locking arm  72  is separated from locking slot  74  and electrical box  68  is slid relative to universal metal stud clip  50  along engagement axis  75 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11 through 14 , in an alternate configuration, universal metal stud clip  80  includes engagement tabs  82  and  84  as well as resilient locking arm  85 . Electrical box  86  includes two or more channels such as channels  87 A and  87 B suitable for engaging tabs  82  and  84  of universal metal stud clip  50 . As channels  87 A and  87 B slide into tabs  82  and  84  resilient locking arm  72  engages locking slot  88 . To disengage electrical box  68  from universal metal stud clip  50 , resilient locking arm  85  is separated from locking slot  88  and electrical box  86  is slid relative to universal metal stud clip  80  along engagement axis  89 . 
     Thus, while the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of the appended claims.