Patent Publication Number: US-6667002-B1

Title: Method for molding a swivel hinge

Description:
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/276,035 filed Mar. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,458, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/004,432, filed on Jan. 8, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,242, entitled “One-Piece Swivel Clip”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains to a swivel hinge for a clip including a base member with an initially integrally molded swivel member. Common molding windows are configured in the swivel hinge to provide internal gates to fill both members during the molding process. The internal gates are broken prior to use to allow the swivel member to rotate with respect to the base member. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the prior art, swivel hinges for clips are frequently molded as three separate pieces—a base element, a swivel element and a hinge pin—which are assembled after molding. Similarly, some designs include a strap hinge with secondary retention features, such as banana prongs, which may result in a larger clip than desired. However, it may be desired to provide swivel hinges with greater strength and reusability than has been typical with some of the prior art designs. For instance, snap fit designs typically require a high insertion force to maintain a marginally acceptable retention force. 
     Examples of prior art in this field include U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,245 to Suzuki et al. entitled “Wireless Harness Retainer Clip”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,794 to Saito entitled “Rod Holder”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,228 to Kennedy entitled “Adjustable Mounting Bracket”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,951 to Bodle et al. entitled “Zero Free-Play Joint for Deployable Space Structures”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,864 to Orson, Sr. entitled “Spring Operated Clip”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,192,441 to Batts entitled “Clamp Construction for Article Hangers”; U.S. Pat. No. 2,556,491 to Lorenzo entitled “Clamping Cam Lug for Electrical Connections”; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,475 to Durant entitled “Clamp”. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a swivel hinge for a clip which is initially molded as a single piece. 
     It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a swivel hinge for a clip with simplified assembly. 
     It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a swivel hinge for a clip with increased strength. 
     It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a swivel hinge for a clip with increased reusability. 
     It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a swivel hinge for a clip which results in a clip of compact design. 
     It is therefore a final object of this invention to provide a swivel hinge for a clip with low manufacturing and assembly costs. 
     These and other objects are attained by the present invention by providing a swivel hinge for a clip wherein the base member and the swivel member are initially integrally molded. During the molding process, common molding windows are configured to provide internal gates to fill both the base member and the swivel member. After the molding process, the members are rotated to break the internal gates, thereby allowing the swivel action. 
     The base member typically includes the clip body and the swivel shaft, as well as the components to secure the base member to an external structure. The swivel member typically includes the clip lid, the swivel shaft bore and internal gates. Inwardly radially extending fingers, which thicken outwardly, are formed from the vestiges of the molding gates on the swivel apertures of the swivel element and serve to position the bore with respect to the swivel shaft on the base element. The swivel member generally cannot be removed from the base member without destroying the clip. Windows are used to form the swivel shaft and its accompany bore. A variety of window, shaft and gate configurations are possible. As axial clearance between both members is necessary for tooling, but undesirable once the clip is closed, ramps are formed on both members to eliminate this axial clearance as the clip closes. A cam on the swivel member is used to eliminate a similar front-to-rear tooling clearance, thereby reducing the ultimate loads on the swivel shaft. Stops are positioned on both member to limit the range of rotation of the swivel member with respect to the base member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the swivel hinge of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear plan view, partially in phantom, of the swivel hinge of the present invention in the closed position. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially in phantom, of the swivel hinge of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side plan view, partially in phantom, of the swivel hinge of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side plan view, partially in phantom, of a clip using the swivel hinge of the present invention, the clip being in an open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now for the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, one sees that FIGS. 1-4 are various views of swivel hinge assembly  10  of the present invention. Swivel hinge assembly  10  is incorporated into clip  100  as shown in FIG.  5 . Swivel hinge assembly  10  includes base element  12  and swivel element  14  in pivotable relationship to each other subsequent to initial integral molding and rotation as will be described hereinafter. It is envisioned that the configuration of the base element  12  and swivel element  14  may be reversed for some applications. 
     Base element  12  includes planar side supports  16 ,  18  which are parallel to each other and separated by interior horizontal support  20  and exterior vertical support  22 . As will be explained hereinafter, exterior vertical support  22  further serves as a reverse rotational stop. The terms “vertical” and “horizontal” apply to the orientation of swivel hinge assembly  10  shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Swivel shaft  24  is formed integrally upon interior horizontal support  20  and further includes axle ends  26 ,  28  which extend from planar side supports  16 ,  18 , respectively. 
     Swivel element  14  includes planar swivel bore supports  30 ,  32  in which swivel bores  34 ,  36 , respectively, are formed. Axle ends  26 ,  28  are journaled for rotation within swivel bores  34 ,  36 , respectively. As can be seen from the phantom portions of FIGS. 2 and 3, swivel bores  34 ,  36  are conically flared to an enlarged diameter at an exterior of swivel bore supports  30 ,  32  and include radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  (see FIG. 4) to engage axle ends  26 ,  28 . Radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  thicken in the outward direction as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. During the molding process, common molding windows are formed at the intersection of radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and axle ends  26 ,  28 , and the molding gates form radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 . This initially results in an integral piece. However, the molding gates are broken by rotating swivel element  14  with respect to base element  12  resulting in swivel hinge assembly  10  and clip  100 . The resulting radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  keep swivel bores  34 ,  36  centered on axle ends  26 ,  28 . The resulting swivel hinge assembly  10  generally cannot be disassembled without destroying swivel hinge assembly  10 . 
     Planar swivel bore supports  30 ,  32  are separated by planar support  46 . The central portion of planar support  46  includes inwardly protruding reverse rotational stop  48  to limit the range of motion of base element  12  with respect to swivel element  14 . In other words, when swivel element  14  is rotated to an open position, inwardly protruding reverse rotational stop  48  of swivel element  14  abuts exterior vertical support  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the portion of planar swivel bore support  30  radially outward from swivel bore  34  and adjacent to planar support  46  is thickened thereby forming camming wall  50  to eliminate fore/aft tooling clearance and reducing the ultimate loads on swivel shaft  24 . Similarly, as shown on FIG. 3, swivel element axial ramps  52 ,  54  are formed on the interior of planar swivel bore supports  30 ,  32 , respectively, somewhat adjacent to planar support  46 . Swivel element axial ramps  52 ,  54  face base element axial ramps  56 ,  58  which are formed on planar side supports  16 ,  18 , respectively. This ramp configuration provides the necessary axial clearance between base element  12  and swivel element  14  for tooling in a relatively open position of base element  12  and swivel element  14 , but eliminates this axial clearance in a relatively closed position of base element  12  and swivel element  14 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a typical clip  100  which can be formed using swivel hinge assembly  10 . However, those skilled in the art will realize that many different designs are possible. Planar side supports  16 ,  18  of base element  12  join vertical wall  60  which is integral with tubular engaging portion  62  which is adjacent to tubular engaging portion  64 , both tubular engaging portions  62 ,  64  having circular sections greater than 180° in order to engage a tube or similar device (not shown). Detent aperture  66  is formed adjacent to tubular engaging portion  64  on upper surface  68 . Lower surface  70  includes tree fastener section  72  which is disclosed in allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/028,889, filed on Feb. 24, 1998, entitled “Tree Fastener with Split Wings”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Tree fastener section  72  is typically used to engage clip  100  to an aperture (not shown) in a fixed structure element (not shown). Front surface  67  of base element  12  further includes fin  69  for stabilizing clip  100  and, optionally, for engaging an edge of a sheet metal structure (not shown). 
     Swivel element  14  includes two tubular engaging portions  74 ,  76  with circular sections which are less than 180°, and which, in the closed position of clip  100 , align with tubular engaging portions  62 ,  64 , respectively, to form 360° tubular engaging sections. Swivel element  14  further includes detent hook  78  which engages detent aperture  66  when clip  100  is in the closed position. 
     Clip  100  is initially molded in an integral configuration in a relatively open position, with common molding windows formed at the intersection of radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and axle ends  26 ,  28  of swivel shaft  24  and molding gates forming radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 . The molding in a relatively open position allows for the necessary axial clearance between base element  12  and swivel element  14  for tooling. 
     To install clip  100 , swivel element  14  is rotated with respect to base element  12  thereby breaking the molding gates and leaving radially inwardly extending fingers  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  as vestiges. Clip  100  is typically installed by inserting tree fastener section  72  into aperture (not shown) of stationary structure (not shown). Tubular devices (not shown), such as cables, are inserted into tubular engaging swivel portions  62 ,  64 . Swivel element  14  is then swiveled to a closed position so that tubular engaging portions  74 ,  76  align with tubular engaging portions  62 ,  64 , respectively, and detent hook  78  engages detent aperture  66  thereby engaging the tubular device. 
     Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.