US2217781A - Attaching clip for metal moldings - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 15, 1940. w. R. WILEY ATTACHING CLIP FOR METAL MOLDINGS Filed Nov. 2, 1935 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I I 3.217381 I v ATTACHING our roe METAL MOLDINGS William R. Wiley, Detroit, Mich. Application November 2, 1935, Serial No. 47,999

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a metallic clip for effecting the attachment of sheet metal beading or molding to a sheet metal panel, as in automobile body and door construction work, and

has for its object an improved organization of parts by means of which such molding may be,

quickly, effectively and accurately positioned on the flat or curved panel. Such parts it is of course desirable to have wholly out of sight in the completed construction, and yet it is equallyessential that the attachment be capable of rapid installation and be as permanently firm as though the molding and the metal panel were soldered or otherwise metallurgically integrated. The same principle of the frictionally interlocked engage-- ment of parts of the, unitary and slightly resilient clip with the juxtaposed molding strip and supporting panel prevails as to each of the slightly variant embodiments of my invention herein disclosed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 .is a perspective of a molding strip positioned on a panel and with one form of holding clip in position thereon, the latter being shown in phantom. c

Figure 2 is a sidesectional elevation'of that one of the embodiments of my invention which is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional end view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown. I

Figure 4 is a side sectionalelevation of a molding strip and panel piece, with a slightly modified form of clip shown in relation thereto. V

Figure 5 is a cross sectional end view of this modified form, taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

Figure 6 is a 'sidesectional elevational view of a slightly further modified form of clip shown in relation-to a molding strip and panel.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional end view taken along the line -1-1 of Figure 6, and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

in Figures 1, 2 and 3. A represents a sheet metal body or door panel, upon which the fixed posttioning of the molding B is desired. This molding, it will be noted, has inturned flanges C, and

Referring first to the form of clip illustrated the panel A is preparatorily apertured, as at D,

at suitable intervals, for the engagement of the panel-clinching portions therethrough. These clips are stamped out from resilient sheet metal and contoured so that the top portion is roughly semi-circular; from about 4 to 7 inclusive.

of the several clips the center portion depend the panel-engaging legs or' branches E and I, while extending longitudinally on either side therefrom, and similarly curved at their tops, are U-shaped branches G and H. All of these parts are united by the 5 central web J. The curvature and size of this top portion and of the curved branches G and H is slightly greater than the distance between the opposing inturned edges C'of the molding piece, but so' slightly greater that they can .be 1 easily forced therebetween, The resiliency of the metal is such, however, that immediately upon the passage of the curved branches G and H between the moulding edges 0, their tips spring slightly outward against the webs of the inturned 15 molding edges C, so that thereafter these curved head portions of the clips are firmly lodged within the dome portion of the molding, though capable of being slid therealong. p I

The depending legsor branches E and F each 20 preferably have their marginal ore-lateral edges outwardly bent, as at E and F, as well as being preferably slightly narrowed in breadth at the points E and F These latter points represent the approximate position of the panel A rela- 25 tively to the clips when the molding is firmly seated against the surface of the panel A. The outwardly turned edges E and F of the legs E and F, during their passage through the hole in the panel, have not only frictionally engaged 34) the surrounding metal of the panel A, but have both dug thereinto slightly, the panel being of softer metal than the clips, and have in many cases found minute irregularities in the supposedly circular contour of the holes D, so that 35 additional holding or clinching results. As soon, however, as the legs E and F have been-driven sufficiently through the hole D the shoulders E and F atthe top of the flanged edges of these depending" portions E and F have slipped under the remote. surface of the panel A. and, cooper-:- atively with the edges of the panel holes D, have resulted in a clinching of the clip and its attached molding piece firmly against the outer surface of the panel A, so firmly indeed that it is quite onnecessary that the lower ends' of the legs or branches E and F be thereafter bent to positions of parallelism with theplane of the panel A.

The modified form of clip illustrated in Figures similarly 'an integral resilient 50 stamping, involves the union of the panel-engaging legs or branches M and N at their lower ends. as at 0, but the resiliency of the clip web or body as a whole is such that the molding stripsinbent edges C are resiliently and marginally en- 55 l gaged by the top portions P and Q respectively of the legs M and N. As in the case of the form of clip first described, these two portions P and Q (Figures 4 and 5) are normally slightly N engage frictionally against the metal of the panel surrounding the hole D in the same manner as before, and by the provision of bent portions at the top of the branches S and R these resilient legs" or branches when passed to the desired depth or degree will thus anchor themselves in desired elevational relation to the plane of the panel,

due to the engagement of these bent portions against the panel metal edges surrounding the hole D.

It will be noted that the head portions P and Q of the clip illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 extend practically to engagement with the top or interior domed surface of the molding clip, the

slight space shown thereabove in Figure 4 actu-' ally representing the immediate center portion ,of the space enclosed by the molding strip wall,

which, of course, tapers off in each direction from the center, so thatits interior surface is engaged thereby in the position of the top portions P and Q illustrated in Figure 5. Such a construction lends itself particularly to the assemblage of the molding strip and panel in which a relatively the same manner as the tongues R and Sin the form last previously described in interlockingly' small aperture is provided in the panel and where the clips arefirst inserted therein and then the molding strip flanges C are thereafter pressed over the resiliently held heads P and Q. In case, however, an appreciably larger hole is made in the panel than is necessary for the entrance of the resilient legs M and N of the clip therethrough, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 at T, I find it unnecessary to cause the head portions, as V and Y, to. be of such height that they will engage the top of the molding strip. The resiliency of the clips web is, however, such that when the branches X and Z'ar'e compressed, the heads V and Y may be passed between the molding strip flanges C and their tips V and Y will interlock thereover and hold the head portions of the clip from withdrawal from the interior of the molding strip. The tongues W function in engaging with their inbent tips W' against the rear or rear inner surface of the panel, thus effecting a resilient draw in the other direction from that exerted by the flared points V and Y previously described.

What I claim is:

1. A snap fastener installation comprising a plane surfaced apertured support, a hollow supported member having inturned flanges and a one-piece metal double stud fastener adapted to be snapped into an aperture of said support and the interior of the supported member, the part of said fastener extending beyond the support .on the side of the supported member lying wholly within said member and engaging the inturned flanges thereof permitting a flush contact between the plane surface of said support and the flanges of said supported member, said part engaging each of said inturned flanges only at points widely spaced lengthwise of the supported member.

2. A snap fastener installation comprising an apertured metal support, and a hollow channelshaped molding strip having inwardly turned flanged edges, a double-ended fastener of one piece folded metal construction having a yieldable portion inserted in the aperture of said support and snapped into locking engagement with a surface thereof, the remainder of said fastener extending beyond the opposite face'of said support being wholly confined within the molding and presenting pairs of independent yieldable portions widely spaced endwise of the molding and snapped into engagement with the molding flanges;

3. A snap fastener installation comprising an apertured channel-shaped molding st'rip having inwardly turned flanged edges, 'a double ended fastener of one piece folded metal construction having converging portions inserted in the aperture of said support, said converging portions having cam surfaces engaging the under surface of said support at the margin of said aperture whereby said snap fastener is snapped into' looking engagement with said support, the remainder of said'fastener extending beyond the opposite. face of said support, being wholly confined within the molding and presenting pairs of independently yieldable. portions widely spaced endwise of the molding and snapped into engagement with 'the molding flanges.

4. A, snap fastener installation comprising an apertured metal support and a hollow channelshaped molding strip having inwardly turned 'flangededges, a double ended fastener of one piece folded metal construction having a yield able portion inserted in the aperture of said support and snapped into locking engagement with asurface thereof, the remainder of said fastener extending beyond the opposite face of said support and comprising a portion extending longitudinally with respect to said hollow channelshaped molding strip, said longitudinally extending portion having adjacent each end thereof a pair of, downwardly extending snap fastener portions independently yieldable. and snapped into engagement with the molding flanges to secure the molding in position with respect to said support.

WILLIAM R. WILEY.

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