Patent Publication Number: US-2022235808-A1

Title: Clip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application serial number 2021-008556, filed Jan. 22, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a clip. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a clip for attaching an attaching article or component (e.g., an automobile interior part such as a lamp unit) to an object member (e.g., a ceiling panel of a vehicle), and relates to an attachment structure of the attaching article to be attached to the object member. 
     A known clip may be configured to attach a lamp unit (an attaching article) to a ceiling panel of a vehicle (an object member). In particular, the clip may include a vertically elongated elastic base portion connected to a front end portion of a substrate (bezel) of the lamp unit at a proximal end thereof. The clip may also include an engagement (head) portion flexibly connected to a distal end of the base element via an arcuate neck portion. The clip may be formed into a U-shape as a whole. The engagement portion may have an inclined surface and a hook-shaped engagement surface continuous with the inclined surface. 
     In order to attach the lamp unit to the ceiling panel, first, a rear end portion of the lamp unit may be hooked on a periphery of an attaching hole formed in the ceiling panel. Thereafter, the lamp unit may be rotated about the rear end portion thereof, so as to be pressed into the attaching hole. As a result, the clip may be introduced into the attaching hole while the base portion is flexed backward (inward) due to the inclined surface of the engagement portion contacting the periphery of the attaching hole. When the engagement portion clears or passes through the periphery of the attaching hole, the base portion may be flexed or restored forward (outward), so that the engagement surface of the engagement portion engages the periphery of the attaching hole. Thus, the lamp unit may be attached to the ceiling panel by the clip. 
     Generally speaking, in order to fit the engagement surface of the engagement portion in attaching holes of various sizes (i.e., in order to absorb variations in size of the attaching hole), it is necessary to increase a flexing range of the base portion of the clip. In the known clip, in order to increase the flexing range of the base portion of the clip, it is essential to increase a height of the clip (the base portion). However, the lamp unit for the vehicle may generally be subject to space restrictions. Therefore, the height of the clip can only be within a limited range. That is, the height of the clip cannot be unrestrictedly increased. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved clip. 
     SUMMARY 
     For example, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a clip for attaching an attaching article to an object member may include an engagement claw. The engagement claw may be configured to engage an attaching hole formed on the object member. The clip may also include a slide body configured to retainably hold the engagement claw on the attaching article and configured to slide the engagement claw with respect to the attaching article so as to project and retract the engagement claw. The clip may further includes an elastic body configured to apply a restoring force to the engagement claw when the engagement claw slides from a projected state to a retracted state with respect to the attaching article. The elastic body may be structured so as to return the engagement claw toward the projected state. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, the elastic body may be a pantograph type elastic body. Further, a first axis of the attaching hole and a second axis of the pantograph type elastic body may be configured to be parallel to each other. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, an attachment structure of an attaching article may be configured to attach an object member. In the attachment structure, the attaching article is retainably provided with an engagement claw configured to engage an attaching hole formed on the object member and configured to project and retract with respect to the attaching article. The engagement claw is configured to be introduced into the attaching hole while retracting. The retracted engagement claw projects due to a restoring force of an elastic body and engages a periphery of the attaching hole. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a clip and a lamp unit according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a condition before the clip is attached to the lamp unit. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the clip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the clip shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the clip shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the clip shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the clip and the lamp unit, which illustrates a condition in which the clip is attached to the lamp unit. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the lamp unit and attached clip shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a process for attaching the lamp unit to a ceiling panel using the clip. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a clip and a lamp unit according to a second embodiment, in which the clip is integrated with the lamp unit. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the lamp unit with the clip shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a process for attaching the lamp unit to a ceiling panel using the clip. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a clip and a lamp unit according to a third embodiment, in which the clip is integrated with the lamp unit. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the lamp unit with the clip shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 17  is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a process for attaching the lamp unit to a ceiling panel using the clip. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed representative embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in  FIGS. 1 to 17 . 
     A first detailed representative embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 9 . The first embodiment may be directed to a clip  3  that is configured to be attached to an interior part or lamp unit  2  (which are embodiments of an attaching article) in order to attach the lamp unit  2  to an attaching hole  10  formed on a ceiling panel  1  (which is an embodiment of an object member) and having a central axis H 1  (which is an embodiment of a first axis). Further, a longitudinal or front-back direction (forward and backward directions), a lateral direction (rightward and leftward directions), and a vertical direction (upward and downward directions) described herein are with reference to  FIG. 1  and are only for the purpose of convenience. These directions are not intended to limit the disclosure. 
     The clip  3  may be formed as an integrally formed article of a rigid synthetic resin, e.g., polypropylene (PP). As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the clip  3  may include an engagement body  30 , a slide body  33 , an elastic body E, and a plate-shaped clip base  37 . The clip base  37  may be oppositely positioned behind the engagement body  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the engagement body  30  may include a wedge-shaped engagement claw  31  projecting forward. The engagement body  30  may also include a vertical wall portion  32  formed on a lower end  31   b  of the engagement claw  31  and extending downward therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the slide body  33  may include a pair of elongated slide plates, i.e., an upper slide plate  34  (which is an embodiment of a first slide plate) formed on an upper end  31   a  of the engagement claw  31  and a lower slide plate  35  (which is an embodiment of a second slide plate) formed on a lower end of the wall portion  32 . The upper and lower slide plates  34 ,  35  may be positioned parallel to each other. The upper slide plate  34  may horizontally extend backward (in a direction opposite to a projecting direction of the engagement claw  31 ) from the upper end  31   a  of the engagement claw  31 . Conversely, the lower slide plate  35  may horizontally extend backward from the lower end of the wall portion  32 . Further, the upper slide plate  34  may have a rib  34   a  formed on a widthwise central portion of an upper surface thereof, the rib  34   a  extending along such surface. Further, the upper slide plate  34  may have an engagement projection  34   c  formed on a lower surface of a rear end  34   b  thereof. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the elastic body E may substantially be positioned between the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35 . As shown in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 , the elastic body E may include a pair of horizontally arranged V-shaped compressible or elastic elements  36 , each having bent portions  36   a.  The elastic elements  36  may be laterally and oppositely arranged. The elastic elements  36  may be connected to each other at their first and second ends  36   b,    36   c  (embodiments of which are front and rear ends) via the engagement body  30  and the clip base  37 , respectively. The elastic elements  36 , along with the engagement body  30  and the clip base  37 , may be positioned and structured so as to be formed into substantially a rhomboid shape that is laterally largely projected. In particular, the first ends  36   b  of the elastic elements  36  may be connected to the wall portion  32  of the engagement body  30 , while the second ends  36   c  of the elastic elements  36  may be connected to the clip base  37 . Thus, the elastic body E may be formed as a horizontally arranged pantograph type elastic body having a vertical central axis H 2  (which is an embodiment of a second axis), a longitudinal central axis H 3 , and a lateral central axis H 4 . As a result, the elastic body E may horizontally expand and contract back and forth while laterally moving the bent portions  36   a  of the elastic elements  36  toward and away from each other along the axis H 4 . As a result, the elastic body E may horizontally and elastically move (slide) the engagement body  30  (and accordingly the engagement claw  31 ) back and forth. Therefore, the axis H 4  may be referred to as an elongation direction of the elastic body E. Further, the vertical central axis H 2 , the longitudinal central axis H 3 , and the horizontal central axis H 4  of the elastic body E may respectively be referred to as a vertical central axis, a longitudinal central axis, and a lateral central axis of the clip  3 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the clip  3  may be configured such that the engagement projection  34   c  formed on the rear end  34   b  of the upper slide plate  34 , the clip base  37 , and a rear end  35   a  of the lower slide plate  35  are arranged in this order toward the engagement claw  31  along the longitudinal central axis H 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lamp unit  2 , to which the clip  3  is to be attached, may include a lamp body  20  and a cover lens  27 . The lamp body  20  may include a rectangular plate-shaped base or substrate  21 , a substantially rectangular partially opened casing  24  (which is an embodiment of a first casing) formed on a rear or inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21 , and a rectangular open-ended casing  26  (which is an embodiment of a second casing) formed on the first casing  24 . Further, the cover lens  27  may be attached to the substrate  21  so as to cover an outer surface  21   a  of the substrate  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the substrate  21  may have a clip attachment P positioned on a front end (which is an embodiment of a first end) thereof. In particular, the clip attachment P may be formed on the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21  and may be configured such that the clip  3  may be attached thereto. The clip attachment P may include a lower attachment portion  22  (which is an embodiment of a first attachment portion) that is configured to (longitudinally) slidably receive the lower slide plate  35  of the clip  3 . The clip attachment portion P may also include an upper attachment portion  25  (which is an embodiment of a second attachment portion) that is configured to (longitudinally) slidably receive the upper slide plate  34  of the clip  3 . The lower attachment portion  22  may include a pair of elongated guide rails  22   a  (which is an embodiment of side walls) formed on the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21 . The guide rails  22   a  may have an L-shaped cross section. The guide rails  22   a  may be laterally and oppositely positioned at a predetermined interval. The guide rails  22   a  thus positioned may allow the lower slide plate  35  of the clip  3  to slide therealong, so that the lower slide plate  35  may be introduced into the lower attachment portion  22 . Further, the guide rails  22   a  may effectively prevent the lower slide plate  35  of the clip  3 , once it has been introduced into the lower attachment portion  22 , from disengaging therefrom in a vertical direction. This may be due to their special shape, i.e., the L-shaped cross-section. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower attachment portion  22  may include an elongated slide guide member  21   c  (which is an embodiment of a slide guide portion) formed on the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21 . The slide guide member  21   c  may be positioned between and parallel to the guide rails  22   a.  The slide guide  21   c  may be structured such that the lower slide plate  35  of the clip  3  smoothly slides along the guide rails  22   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper attachment portion  25  may include a pair of elongated guide rails  25   a  (which may be an embodiment of side walls) formed on an upper surface  24   a  of the first casing  24 , the guide rails  25   a  having an L-shaped cross-section. The guide rails  25   a  may be laterally oppositely positioned at a predetermined interval. The guide rails  25   a  thus positioned may allow the upper slide plate  34  of the clip  3  to slide therealong, so as to allow the upper slide plate  34  to be introduced into the upper attachment portion  25 . Further, the guide rails  25   a  may effectively prevent the upper slide plate  34  of the clip  3 , once it has been introduced into the upper attachment portion  25 , from disengaging from the upper attachment portion  25  in the vertical direction, at least in part due to their special shape, i.e., the L-shape in cross section. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the guide rails  25   a  may be configured to form a longitudinally elongated guide space  25 e between upper longitudinal end surfaces thereof. The guide space  25 e may be configured such that the rib  34   a  formed on the upper slide plate  34  of the clip  3  may slidably fit therein. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper attachment portion  25  may include elongated slide guide members  25   b  (which may be an embodiment of a slide guide portion) respectively formed on inner vertical surfaces of the guide rails  25   a.  The slide guide members  25   b  may be structured to allow the upper slide plate  34  of the clip  3  to smoothly slide along the guide rails  25   a.    
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 8, and 9 , the upper attachment portion  25  may include an elongated flexible strip  25   c  formed on the second casing  26 . The elongated flexible strip  25   c  may longitudinally project forward from the second casing  26 . The flexible strip  25   c  may include an engagement projection  25   d  formed on a proximal end thereof. The engagement projection  25   d  of the flexible strip  25   c  may be configured to engage the engagement projection  34   c  formed on the upper slide plate  34  of the clip  3 , so as to prevent the upper slide plate  34  of the clip  3  from being disengaged from the upper attachment portion  25  in a longitudinal direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 8, and 9 , the clip attachment P may further include a transversely elongated vertical contact wall  24   b  (which is an embodiment of a stopper or attachment base) formed on the first casing  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the contact wall  24   b  may be configured to contact the clip base  37  of the clip  3  once the clip  3  has been attached to the clip attachment P. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 8, and 9 , the substrate  21  may be provided with an engagement strip  23  positioned on a rear end (which is an embodiment of a second end) thereof. In particular, the engagement strip  23  may be formed on the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21 . The engagement strip  23  may be configured to be hooked on a periphery of the attaching hole  10  formed on the ceiling panel  1  when the lamp unit  2  is to be attached to the ceiling panel  1 . 
     Further, the lamp unit  2  may further include a lamp, such as an LED lamp, a circuit board, and various electric devices, such as a switch (not shown), that are disposed in the first casing  24  and the second casing  26 . 
     Next, a method of attaching the clip  3  to the lamp unit  2  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8 . First, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the clip  3  may be positioned opposite to the lamp unit  2  while the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  are respectively and longitudinally aligned with the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22  of the clip attachment P. Thereafter, the clip  3  may be pressed toward the clip attachment P. As a result, the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may respectively be introduced and/or inserted into the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22 . This may be done while the flexible strip  25   c  is flexed due to contact of its engagement projection  25   d  with the engagement projection  34   c  formed on the upper slide plate  34 . At this time, the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may respectively be guided by the guide rails  25   a  formed on the upper attachment portion  25  and the guide rails  22   a  formed on the lower attachment portion  22 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , when the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  are further inserted into the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22 , the engagement projection  34   c  of the upper slide plate  34  may travel over the engagement projection  25   d  of the flexible strip  25   c  and the flexible strip  25   c  may be elastically restored. As a result, the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may respectively be slidably coupled to the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22 . In this configuration, the elastic body E may be positioned in parallel with the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20 . Further, in such a coupling condition, the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may respectively be prevented from being decoupled or removed from the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22 . This may be at least in part due to the interference of the engagement projection  34   c  of the upper slide plate  34  with the engagement projection  25   d  of the flexible strip  25   c.  That is, the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may respectively be unremovably and/or retainably coupled to the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22 . As a result, the elastic body E may be held on the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21 . In other words, the engagement body  30  (and accordingly the engagement claw  31 ) connected to the elastic body E may be retainably attached to and/or held on the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20 , so as to slide (project and retract) with respect to the lamp body  20 . 
     Thus, the clip  3  may be attached and/or connected to the clip attachment P of the lamp unit  2  via the slide body  33  (which may include the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35 ), such that the elastic body E (which may include the elastic elements  36 ) is horizontally directed. That is, the clip  3  may be attached to the lamp unit  2  in such a manner that the elastic body E may horizontally expand and contract back and forth within a plane parallel to the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20 . Accordingly, the engagement claw  31  (and the engagement body  30 ) may project and retract between a projected state and a retracted state with respect to the lamp unit  2 . Further, the clip  3  thus attached may be prevented from being detached and/or removed from the clip attachment P. This is at least in part because the slide body  33  may be retainably coupled to the clip attachment P. That is, the clip  3  (which may include the engagement claw  31 ) may be retainably attached to the lamp unit  2  via the slide body  33 . 
     Next, a method of attaching the lamp unit  2  to the ceiling panel  1  using the clip  3  will be described, with reference to  FIG. 9 . First, the lamp unit  2  provided with the clip  3  may be positioned below the ceiling panel  1 . Subsequently, as shown by a dashed-dotted line in  FIG. 9 , the engagement strip  23  formed on the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20  may be hooked on the periphery of the attaching hole  10  of the ceiling panel  1 . As such, the periphery of the attaching hole  10  may be positioned between the engagement strip  23  and the substrate  21 . 
     Thereafter, as shown by a dashed two-dotted line in  FIG. 9 , the lamp unit  2  may be rotated upward about the engagement strip  23 . This may be done until the engagement claw  31  contacts a lower edge  13  (which is an embodiment of an outer edge) of the periphery of the attaching hole  10 . Subsequently, the lamp unit  2  may be simply pushed upward toward the ceiling panel  1 . Consequently, the engagement claw  31  (and accordingly the engagement body  30 ) may be pressed backward (leftward in  FIG. 9 ) by the lower edge  13  of the periphery of the attaching hole  10 . This also causes the clip base  37  to be pressed toward the contact wall  24   b.  As a result, the engagement claw  31  may move backward and while it is being rotated upward. The engagement claw  31  moves backward while compressing the elastic body E (not shown in  FIG. 9 ). At this time, the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may respectively be introduced further into the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22 . Thereafter, when the engagement claw  31  clears the lower edge  13  of the attaching hole  10 , the engagement claw  31  may move upward along an inner surface  11  of the periphery of the attaching hole  10  with the elastic body E being compressed. 
     When the engagement claw  31  passes through the attaching hole  10 , the engagement claw  31  may be pressed forward (rightward in  FIG. 9 ) by an elastic or restoring force of the elastic body E. This causes the engagement claw  31  to move or project forward with respect to the lamp body  20 . As a result, the engagement claw  31  may elastically engage an upper edge  12  (which is an embodiment of an inner edge) of the periphery of the attaching hole  10 . The engagement of the engagement claw  31  may cause the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20  to be pressed to the ceiling panel  1  (the state of which is shown by a solid line in  FIG. 9 ). That is, the clip  3  may engage the ceiling panel  1  in a condition in which the periphery of the attaching hole  10  is clamped between the engagement claw  31  and the substrate  21 . Thus, the lamp unit  2  may be attached to the ceiling panel  1  using the clip  3 . 
     Further, in order to remove or detach the lamp unit  2  from the ceiling panel  1 , the wall portion  32  of the engagement body  30  may be simply pressed backward against the restoring force of the elastic body E. This may be done until the engagement claw  31  disengages from the upper edge  12  of the periphery of the attaching hole  10 . This may allow the lamp unit  2  to be rotated downward about the engagement strip  23 . Thus, the lamp unit  2  may be detached from the ceiling panel  1 . 
     According to the embodiment, the clip  3  may be attached to the lamp unit  2  such that the elastic body E may horizontally expand and contract within the plane parallel to the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20 . Therefore, a flexing range of the elastic body E (including the elastic elements  36 ) can be increased without increasing a height of the clip  3  (in particular the height of the elastic body E). Additionally, the restoring force of the elastic body E may be changed without needing to substantially increase the overall height of the clip  3  (i.e., in order to change an engagement force of the engagement claw  31 ). 
     Further, according to the above embodiment, the clip  3  may be attached to the clip attachment P of the lamp unit  2  in a condition in which the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  formed on the engagement body  30  may respectively be slidably coupled to the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22 . The upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may be slidably coupled while respectively being guided by the guide rails  25   a  formed on the upper attachment portion  25  and the guide rails  22   a  formed on the lower attachment portion  22 . Therefore, when the elastic body E expands and contracts, the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  may smoothly slide back and forth, so that the engagement body  30  may linearly move back and forth with the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35 . As a result, the engagement claw  31  of the engagement body  30  may reliably engage the periphery of the attaching hole  10 . Additionally, the engagement claw  31  may be structured such that it may be optionally disengaged from the attaching hole  10 . 
     Next, a second detailed representative embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 13 . Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment may be directed to a clip  103  that is configured to be attached to an interior part or lamp unit  102  (which is an embodiment of an attaching article) in order to attach the lamp unit  102  to an attaching hole  10  formed on a ceiling panel  1  (which is an embodiment of an object member). However, the clip  103  of this embodiment is different from the clip  3  of the first embodiment in that the clip  103  of this embodiment may be configured to be integrated with the lamp unit  102 . Further, because the second embodiment relates to the first embodiment, only the structure and elements that are different from the first embodiment will be explained in detail. Elements of the first and second embodiments that are substantially the same will be identified by the same reference numerals and a detailed description of such elements may be omitted or simplified. 
     In the clip  103  of this embodiment, the slide body  33  of the first embodiment may be replaced with a slide body  33 ′ of the second embodiment. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 11 , unlike the slide body  33  of the first embodiment, the slide body  33 ′ of the second embodiment omits a rib  34   a  and an engagement projection  34   c  formed on an upper slide plate  34  of the slide body  33 ′. Further, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the elastic body E may be slightly modified. For instance, while the first ends  36   b  of the elastic elements  36  may be connected to the wall portion  32  of the engagement body  30 , the second ends  36   c  of the elastic elements  36  may not be connected to each other. In particular, unlike the first embodiment, the clip base  37  may be omitted in the second embodiment. 
     Furthermore, in the lamp unit  102  of this embodiment, the clip attachment P of the first embodiment may be replaced with a clip attachment P′ of the second embodiment. The clip attachment P′ the second embodiment may be different from the clip attachment P of the first embodiment in that the clip attachment P′ of the second embodiment may include an upper attachment portion  125  (which is an embodiment of a second attachment portion) and a lower attachment portion  122 , instead of the upper attachment portion  25  and the lower attachment portion  22  of the first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the upper attachment portion  125  of this embodiment may include a guide plate  28 , instead of the pair of guide rails  25   a  described in the first embodiment. The guide plate  28  may be horizontally formed on the second casing  26 , so as to overhang the upper surface  24   a  of the first casing  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the guide plate  28  may include an elongated slide guide portion  28   a  formed on a lower or inner surface thereof. Further, the flexible strip  25   c  formed on the second casing  26  of the first embodiment may be omitted from the upper attachment portion  125  of the second embodiment. Conversely, the lower attachment portion  122  of the second embodiment may have substantially the same structure as the lower attachment portion  22  of the first embodiment. Further, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the contact wall  24   b  formed on the first casing  24  of the first embodiment may be omitted from the clip attachment P′ of the second embodiment. 
     As previously described, the clip  103  of the second embodiment may be configured to be integrated with the lamp unit  102 . In particular, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the second ends  36   c  of the elastic elements  36  may be configured to be integrally connected to the first casing  24 . That is, unlike the first embodiment, the elastic body E of the second embodiment may be directly held on the substrate  21 , while the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  are partially introduced into the upper attachment portion  125  and the lower attachment portion  122 . Thus, the clip  103  may be retainably attached to the clip attachment P′ of the lamp unit  102  via the elastic body E. Further, similar to the first embodiment, the elastic body E may be formed as a horizontally arranged pantograph type elastic body. Accordingly, it may be configured to horizontally expand and contract back and forth in a condition in which the clip  103  is attached to the clip attachment P′. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the lamp unit  102  provided with the clip  103  may be attached to the ceiling panel  1  using the clip  103  in substantially the same manner as the lamp unit  2  of the first embodiment. 
     According to the above embodiment, the clip  103  may have substantially the same function as the clip  3  of the first embodiment. In particular, similar to the clip  3  of the first embodiment, a flexing range of the elastic body E of the second embodiment can be increased without increasing a height of the clip  103  (including the height of the elastic body E). Additionally, the restoring force of the elastic body E may be changed with increasing the height of the clip  103 . 
     Next, a third detailed representative embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14 to 17 . Similar to the second embodiments, the third embodiment may be directed to a clip  203  that is configured to be attached to an interior part or lamp unit  202  (which is an embodiment of an attaching article) in order to attach the lamp unit  202  to an attaching hole  10  formed in a ceiling panel  1  (which is an embodiment of an object member). Further, similar to the clip  103  of the second embodiment, the clip  203  of the third embodiment may be configured to be integrated with the lamp unit  202 . Further, because the third embodiment relates to the second embodiment, only the structures and elements that are different from the second embodiment will be explained in detail. Elements of the second and third embodiment that are substantially the same will be identified by the same reference numerals and a detailed description of such elements may be omitted or simplified. 
     In the clip  203  of this embodiment, the slide body  33 ′ of the second embodiment may be replaced with a slide body  33 ″ of the third embodiment. In particular, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the slide body  33 ″ of the third embodiment may be different from the slide body  33 ′ of the second embodiment in that the lower slide plate  35  of the slide body  33 ″ of the third embodiment may be elongated backward so as to have substantially the same length as the upper slide plate  34 . 
     Conversely, as shown in  FIG. 14 , in the lamp unit  202  of this embodiment, the first casing  24  may be longitudinally shortened. The shortened first casing  24  may be provided with an attachment bracket  224  formed thereon and projecting forward therefrom. Further, the clip attachment P′ of the second embodiment may be replaced with a clip attachment P″ of the third embodiment. The clip attachment P″ of the third embodiment may be different from the clip attachment P′ of the second embodiment in that the clip attachment P″ of the third embodiment may include an upper attachment portion  225  (which may be an embodiment of a second attachment portion) and a lower attachment portion  222 , instead of the upper attachment portion  125  and the lower attachment portion  122  of the second embodiment. In particular, as shown in  FIGS. 15 to 17 , unlike the second embodiment, the upper attachment portion  225  and the lower attachment portion  222  of the third embodiment may respectively be positioned above and below the attachment bracket  224 . Further, as will become apparent from comparing  FIG. 15  with  FIG. 11 , the upper attachment portion  225  of the third embodiment may substantially have the same structure as the upper attachment portion  125  of the second embodiment. However, the lower attachment portion  222  of the third embodiment may be different from the lower attachment portion  122  of the second embodiment in that the pair of guide rails  22   a  are omitted. 
     Similar to the clip  103  of the second embodiment, the clip  203  of the third embodiment may be configured to be integrated with the lamp unit  202 . In particular, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the second ends  36   c  of the elastic elements  36  may be configured to be integrally connected to the attachment bracket  224 . That is, similar to the second embodiment, the elastic body E of the third embodiment may be directly held on the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20 , with the upper slide plate  34  and the lower slide plate  35  being partially introduced into the upper attachment portion  225  and the lower attachment portion  222 . Thus, the clip  203  may be attached to the clip attachment P″ of the lamp unit  202  via the elastic body E. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the lamp unit  202  may be attached to the ceiling panel  1  using the clip  203  in substantially the same manner as the lamp unit  102  of the second embodiment. 
     According to the above embodiment, the clip  203  may have substantially the same function as the clip  103  of the second embodiment. In particular, similar to the clip  103  of the second embodiment, a flexing range of the elastic body E can be increased without increasing a height of the clip  203  (the elastic body E) of the third embodiment. Additionally, the restoring force of the elastic body E of the third embodiment may be changed without increasing the height of the clip  203 . 
     Naturally, various changes and modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, in the first embodiment, the clip  3  is attached to the lamp unit  2  by the slide body  33 . That is, the clip base  37  is not connected to the lamp unit  2 . However, the clip base  37  may be connected to the lamp unit  2 , so that the clip  3  is securely connected to the lamp unit  2 . Further, in the second and third embodiments, the second ends  36   c  of the elastic elements  36  are integrally connected to the first casing  24  or the attachment bracket  224 . However, the second ends  36   c  of the elastic elements  36  may be connected to the first casing  24  or the attachment bracket  224  using screws, rivets, or other such fasteners, as necessary. 
     Further, in the embodiments, the pantograph type elastic body is used as the elastic body E. However, the elastic body E may be various other types of elastic bodies, provided that such elastic bodies may be arranged so as to horizontally expand and contract within the plane parallel to the inner surface  21   b  of the substrate  21  of the lamp body  20 . 
     Representative examples of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Only the claims define the scope of the claimed disclosure. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the foregoing detail description may not be necessary to practice the disclosure in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe detailed representative examples of the disclosure. Moreover, the various features taught in this specification may be combined in ways that are not specifically enumerated in order to obtain additional useful embodiments of the present disclosure.