Patent Publication Number: US-8118188-B2

Title: Fastening clip and package using the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to a copending U.S. patent application, titled “FASTENING CLIP AND PACKAGE USING THE SAME”, with the application Ser. No. 12/211,817, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to packaging and, more particularly, to a fastening clip and a package using the clip. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a typical method for receiving a product  1  in a typical package  2  is shown. However, it can be inconvenient to put the product in, or take it out of, the package  2  if the product  1  is bulky or heavy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a typical package for a 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-sectional view taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  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. 7  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but shows the fastening clip in a clipping state. 
         FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but shows the fastening clip to be released from clipping. 
     
    
    
     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  and  12 , and a vertical fourth wall  14  opposite to the third wall  13  and connected between corresponding ends of the first and second walls  11  and  12 . The main body  10  defines an opening  100  surrounded by the four walls  11 ,  12 ,  13 , and  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 , and  14 . The edge of the flange  15  is substantially ellipse-shaped. Each of the first and second walls  11  and  12  defines two cutouts, each for receiving an elastic piece  16  that extends from the main body  10 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 5 , which 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 . Two bar-shaped protrusions  28  extend from a bottom of the first leg  21  corresponding to the elastic pieces  16  of the first wall  11 . 
     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 . The second leg  31  is aligned with the first leg  21 . Two bar-shaped protrusions  38  extend from a bottom of the second leg  31  corresponding to the elastic pieces  16  of the second wall  12 . Two latching holes  33  are defined in the second leg  31  between the protrusions  38 . 
     The latching mechanism  40  includes a board extending perpendicularly up from the first leg  21  of the first clipping member  20 . A tab  42  extends perpendicularly from a free end of the board. Two latching blocks  43  extend from the tab  42  corresponding to the latching holes  33  of the second leg  31 . A release tab  50  is hinged on the free end of the tab  42 . A tongue  52  extends from a top end of the release tab  50 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , clip  3 , in accordance with the disclosure, holds multiple bodies of a package together. The package includes a lower body  7  for supporting a product to be packaged, and an upper body  5  for covering the product. The upper body  5  is substantially a cuboid-shaped box and has no bottom plate, while the lower body  7  is substantially a rectangular tray and has no top plate. In order to clip the two bodies  5  and  7  together, through holes  6  and  8 , which are sized to fit the clip  3 . One of the bodies  5  and  7  is received in the other and the through holes  6  and  8  are aligned to each other. The clip  3  is then placed into the through holes  6  and  8 . Referring also to  FIG. 7 , the latching mechanism  40  is pushed down to spread the two feet  22  and  32 , thus put clip  3  in a clipping state by engaging the clip  3  with the bodies  5  and  7  and coupling the two bodies  5  and  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  and spread in opposite directions. Because the span of the spreaded feet  22  and  32  now exceeds that of the through holes  6  and  8  in the upper and lower bodies  5  and  7 , the feet  22  and  32  and the flange  15  sandwich the corresponding side plates of the lower and upper bodies  5  and  7 , thereby securely attaching the package. 
     When the clip  3  turns from the released state to the clipping state, the latching mechanism  40  rotates the first leg  21 , wherein the latching blocks  43  touch, then impel the second leg  31 . The first and second legs  21  and  31  impel the corresponding elastic pieces  16 . The elastic pieces  16  become deformed and apply pressure on the latching blocks  43  via the second leg  31 . The latching blocks  43  extend into the latching holes  33 . The elastic pieces  16  restore to cause the clip  3  to snap. The engagement between the latching blocks  43  and the latching holes  33  maintains the clipping state of the clip  3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , clip  3  remains closed until the release tab  50  is operated to rotate relative to the tab  42  of the latch mechanism  40 . This causes the latching blocks  43  to disengage from the latching holes  33 , thereby allowing the latch mechanism  40  to rotate back. When the release tab  50  is operated, a free end of the release tab  50  is turned upwards, the tongue  52  impels the second leg  31  to rotate toward the second wall  12 , and the protrusions  38  impel the corresponding elastic pieces  16  to further deform. At the same time, a corresponding reaction force causes the latch mechanism  40  to drive the first leg  21  to rotate relative to the first wall  11 , and the protrusions  28  impel the corresponding elastic pieces  16  to further deform. Thus, the latching blocks  43  can disengage from the latching holes  33 . Then, the release tab  50  is pulled upward to drive the latch mechanism  40  to further rotate back, thereby releasing the clip  3 . 
     During packaging, a product is initially placed into the lower body  7  and then covered by the upper body  5 . 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. 
     Further referring to  FIG. 3 , two protrusions  45  extend from the free end of the board of the latching mechanism  40 , with two grooves  35  being correspondingly defined in the second leg  31 . The protrusions  45  can engage with the grooves  35  to further reinforce fastening when in the clipping state. Referring to  FIG. 7 , a support cantilever extends from the second leg  31 . The extending direction is aligned with, and opposite to, the second foot  32 . When the first and second clipping members  20  and  30  rotate and achieve the clipping position, the support cantilever  39  supports the free end of the board of the latching mechanism  40  to prevent the latching mechanism  40  from further rotating due to undesired external forces. 
     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.