Patent ID: 8276853

Claim:
A suspension system for maintaining an air brake hose of a vehicle at a predetermined height above a supporting road bed structure, the suspension system comprising a suspension strap having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being affixable to the vehicle, the suspension strap having an attachment portion located at the second end portion of the suspension strap, and a first releasable clip for connecting the suspension strap to an attachment fitting of the air brake hose, the first releasable clip having a first end and a latching end, a pair of flexibly resilient elongated arms extending away from the latching end of the first releasable clip to the first end of the clip, the arms being joined by a return portion at the first end of the first releasable clip, the pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm, the first arm at the latching end of the first releasable clip having a latching member for interlocking engagement with the second arm when desired, the latching member having an interlocking end portion for engaging the second arm, the latching end of the clip being operative when the latching member is latched to the second arm for engaging along the latching member a portion of the suspension strap used to suspend the air brake hose of the vehicle above the road bed structure and for maintaining the portion of the suspension strap between the first arm and the second arm, and a retainer located on the first releasable clip somewhere between the return portion at the first end of the first releasable clip and the latching member at the latching end of the first releasable clip, the retainer creating a confinement area between itself and the return portion of the first releasable clip when the latching member is latched to the second arm, the retainer being operative when the latching member is latched to the second arm for maintaining a portion of the attachment fitting of the air brake hose within the confinement area and out of position in which loading of the clip by the air brake hose is exerted laterally of the arms of the first releasable clip, the retainer comprising portions of the first and second arms resiliently touching one another between the return portion at the first end of the first releasable clip and the latching member at the latching end of the first releasable clip.