Patent ID: 8236080

Claim:
A ratchet clip for lockably and releasably closing a first housing member onto a second housing member, comprising: an elongated retention member secured to said second housing member and having a plurality of teeth forming a series of pockets and ridges; an elongated rocker member having a pivot pin formed integrally as a unitary one piece component with said rocker member, said pivot pin portion of said rocker member pivotally secured to said first housing member, aligned to engage said retention member and operable between an engaged and a released position, said rocker member having: a latching member sized, configured and positioned to lockably engage into said pockets inhibiting movement of said latching member in an opening direction relative to said retention member; and a spring biasing said rocker member to lockably releasably engage said retention member preventing movement in an opening direction of said rocker member relative to said retention member; wherein said teeth are configured to permit said latching member to slide over said teeth in a closing direction relative to said retention member while said spring biases; and wherein said rocker member is operable to overcome biasing of said spring, permitting said rocker member to disengage said latching member, allowing said latching member to slide freely relative to said retention member; a pair of support ribs secured to said first housing member in spaced parallel relationship, each support rib having a pivot hole, said ribs spaced apart to receive said rocker member therebetween, said pivot pin having opposing ends received into said pivot holes and connected to said support ribs through gates; wherein said pivot pin is formed integrally as a one-piece component with said rocker member and with said first housing member and said support ribs; wherein said gates can be later broken to permit said pivot pin to rotate in said pivot holes.