Abstract:
A product package clip has cooperating locking tabs and openings which facilitate secure assembly of the clip and resistance to forces imposed by mishandling during shipment.

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to fastener clips for product packaging. In particular, this invention is an improvement over the clips shown and described in Khachadourian et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,153 and Liverman et al U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,406, owned in common with the invention described here, to which the interested reader is referred, and which are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure. 
         [0002]    As the prior art clips have been widely and successfully used, efforts have been made to assure that product packages secured together by such a clip will remain securely assembled. That has been done heretofore by providing a latch structure which engages one of a plurality of pivoting legs as the clip is installed. In the previously patented clip, the engagement is between a single projection or “tooth” of the latch member and a cooperating ledge or notch formed in one pivoting leg (See Column 2 of the &#39;153 patent, beginning at line 54 and Column 2 of the &#39;406 patent, beginning at line 30). 
         [0003]    The clips of the prior patents were originally developed for packages which were expected to be handled in palletized systems. In such an application, the clips are at least somewhat protected against being grossly mishandled and the imposition of destructive forces. However, the applications for the clips have broadened into use in packages of smaller sizes (although sometimes of greater weight for the size of the package) which are handled in small parcel shipping modes where mishandling is much more likely and happens much more frequently. In these newer uses, clips have been found to be missing from delivered packages or broken due to the stress imposed on the latch mechanism. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    With the foregoing as background, the present invention provides a latching mechanism which is much more secure than the mechanism heretofore disclosed and used. In particular, the latch mechanism is now formed using a locking plate with at least one through hole or opening into which locking tabs are trapped. This more positive lacking provides advantages of reducing clip failure during handling. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Some of the purposes of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the clip in accordance with this invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from above of the clip of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view from below of the clip of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention here described while still achieving the favorable results of the invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention. 
         [0010]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , an apparatus  10  is shown which is an improvement over the clips of the prior patents incorporated by reference into this disclosure by the provision of a more positively locking latch mechanism. More particularly and as with the clips of the prior patents, the apparatus has a socket body  12  having a planar portion  13 , a thin walled protuberance  15  formed integrally with the planar portion and a plurality of leg portions  18 ,  19 ,  20  formed integrally with the protuberance  15  and hingedly connected thereto at an end location adjacent the planar portion. It may be noted that secure fastening of a package can be obtained by having the two side legs  18 ,  19  hinged and a fixed portion be provided as the element indicated at  20  and bearing locking tabs as described hereinafter. The apparatus  10  has a plug body  28  having a planar portion  29 , a thin walled protuberance  30  formed integrally with the planar portion and configured to enter into the socket body, and a latch member  26  formed integrally with the planar portion  29 . As with the device of the teachings here incorporated by reference, the plug body protuberance engages the socket body leg portions upon insertion into the socket body, rotating the leg portions to extend outwardly from the socket body protuberance and lock together two pieces of a product package into which the apparatus is inserted as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0011]    In accordance with an important feature of this invention, the latch member or locking plate  26  has at least one locking opening  28  (and preferably a plurality of such openings, as the two shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) formed therein. These openings receive, during closure of the clip as suggested in  FIG. 1 , cooperating tabs  29  ( FIG. 3 ) formed on a hinged leg which is pushed toward the extended position by the insert of the plug body. That is, when the clip  10  is assembled with packaging, the locking plate  26  pushes the leg which carries the locking tabs through ninety degrees of motion until the tabs engage the openings and the clip is locked into position. The dimensions of the elements may be adjusted to affect the rigidity of the locking plate and the amount of force required to open and close the latch mechanism. 
         [0012]    Preferably, and in accordance with this invention, the clip is formed by molding a plastic material. As indicated, the present invention contemplates that the socket and plug bodies may be formed integrally one with the other as in the case of the prior patent disclosures. In this case, the bodies are hingedly connected along one side edge of the planar portions, as shown. 
         [0013]    In the drawings and specifications there has been setforth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are used, the description thus given uses terminology in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.