Abstract:
A fastening clip includes a main body defining a through hole, a flange radially extending from the main body, a first clipping member hinged on the main body, a latching mechanism extending from the clipping member and including a first latching portion, and a second clipping member hinged on the main body and including a second latching portion. The clip has a first position, in which the first and second clipping members can extend out of the main body, and a second position, in which the first and second clipping members are received in the main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to packaging, and more particularly to a fastening clip and package using the clip. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional method for receiving a product  1  in a conventional package  2  is shown. However, it can be inconvenient to move the product into or out of the package  2  if the volume or weight of the product is significantly high. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a conventional package and product. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a fastening clip in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another perspective. 
         FIG. 4  is an inverted view of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section taken along a line V-V of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but shows the fastening clip clipping. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded, isometric view of a package in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the package using the fastening clip of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a fastening clip in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , but viewed from another perspective. 
         FIG. 10  is an inverted view of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a fastening clip  3  is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. While clip  3  is plastic formed by injection molding, those having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that a variety of materials can be utilized while remaining within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The clip  3  includes a main body  10 , a first clipping member  20 , a second clipping member  30 , and a latching mechanism  40 . 
     The main body  10  includes a vertical first wall  11 , a second wall  12  opposite and parallel to the first wall  11 , a vertical third wall  13  connected between corresponding ends of the first and second walls  11 ,  12 , and a vertical fourth wall  12  opposite to the third wall  11  and connected between corresponding ends of the first and second walls  11 ,  12 . The main body  10  defines an opening  100  surrounded by the four walls  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 . The opening  100  is configured for receiving the first clipping member  20 , the second clipping member  30 , and the latching mechanism  40 . A flange  15  extends perpendicularly from the top ends of the walls  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 . An edge of the flange  15  is located along an ellipse. Each of the first and second walls  11 ,  12  defines two breaches, with each receiving an elastic piece  16  that extends from the main body  10 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a released clip  3  in a released state. The first clipping member  20  includes a first leg  21  perpendicularly hinged on the first wall  11  of the main body  10 , and a first foot  22  extending perpendicularly down from a distal end of the first leg  21 . 
     The second clipping member  30  includes a second leg  31  perpendicularly hinged on the second wall  12  of the main body  10 , and a second foot  32  extending perpendicularly down from a distal end of the second leg  31 . Two latching holes  33  are defined in the second leg  31 . The second leg  21  is aligned with the first leg  31 . 
     The latching mechanism  40  includes a board extending perpendicularly up from the first leg  21  of the first clipping member  20 , two latching tongues  43  extending from the free end of the board, and a release tab  41  attached to a side of the board. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 7 , clip  3 , in accordance with the disclosure, holds multiple bodies of a package together. The package includes a lower body  5  for supporting a product to be packaged, and an upper body  5  for covering the product. The upper body  5  is rectangular and has no bottom plate, while the lower body  7  is rectangular and has no top plate. In order to clip the two bodies  5 ,  7  together, through holes  6 ,  8 , approximately the size of the perimeter of the four walls  11 ,  12 ,  13   14  of the main body  10  are defined in the side plates of the lower and upper bodies  5 ,  7 . One of the bodies  5 ,  7  is received in the other. The walls  11 ,  12 ,  13   14  are then placed into the through holes  6 ,  8 . Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the latching mechanism  40  engages clip  3  to couple the two bodies  5 ,  7  of the package. 
     When the clip  3  is engaged, the first leg  21  and the second leg  31  hingedly rotate approximately 90°, and the first foot  22  and the second foot  32  extend from the main body  10  in a perpendicular fashion. Since the span of the extended feet  22 ,  32  now exceeds that of the through holes  6 ,  8  in the lower and upper bodies  5 , 7 , the feet  22 ,  32  and the flange  15  sandwich the corresponding side plates of the lower and upper bodies  5 ,  7 , thereby securely attaching the package. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the clip  3  engages, the latching mechanism  40  rotates the first leg  21 , wherein the latching tongues  43  touch, then impel the second leg  31 . The first and second legs  21 ,  31  impel the corresponding elastic pieces  16 . The elastic pieces  16  are deformed and put pressure on the latching tongues  43  via the second leg  31 . The latching tongues  43  extend into the latching holes  33 . The elastic pieces  16  restore to cause the clip  3  to snap shut with a distinctive sound. The sound is an indicator that the clip  3  has been secured at the clipping state. The engagement between the latching tongues  43  and the latching holes  33  maintains the clipping state of the clip  3 . 
     Clip  3  remains closed until release tab  41  is withdrawn. This causes the latching tongues  43  to disengage from the latching holes  33 , thereby allowing latch mechanism  40  to slide back. 
     During packaging, the product is initially put into the lower body  5  and then covered by the upper body  7 . Subsequently, the clips  3  couple bodies  5  and  7  together. Thus, the product is securely received in the package. The use of clips  3  in the packaging process allows convenient placement and extraction of the product. Moreover, the clips  3  are reusable. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10 , a fastening clip  9  is provided in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure, differing from the first as follows. 
     Latching mechanism  90  of the clip  9  defines two grooves  93  in a free end of the board, and two blocks  83  extend from the second leg  80  of the clip  9 , each including a curved guide surface  831  and a latching protrusion  833 . The free end of the board of the latching mechanism  90  engages the guide surfaces  831  until the latching protrusions  833  are seated in the corresponding grooves  93 . 
     Further, two protrusions  95  extend from the free end of the latching mechanism  90  of the clip  9 , with two grooves  85  correspondingly defined in the second leg  80 . The protrusions  95  can engage the grooves  85  to further reinforce the fastening. 
     Also, two bars  87  extending from the second leg  80  of the clip  9  can fix the latching mechanism  90  thereon to prevent excessive rotation of the latching mechanism  90 . 
     A plurality of bar-shaped protrusions  68  also extends from the first and second legs  70 ,  80  corresponding to the elastic pieces  66 , enabling elastic pieces  66  to further deform when engaging with the legs  70 ,  80 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.