Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Illionis Tool Works, Inc.

Thomas A Benoit

David A Shereyk

Brian R Peek

Kileean E Bell

Mark Owen Lepper

Kenneth Roger LeVey

Charles P Meyer

Jeffrey M Stupar

Joseph J Bella

William J Olson

Christopher Michael Pangallo

Mark J Kwilosz

Richard A Koscik

James E Marion

Eric J Kato

Ronald K Wilson

Gene R Harris

A connector is provided. The connector includes a post defining a first side, a second side, and a first end. The connector further includes a stationary wing formed on the first side of the post and extending away from the first side of the post. The stationary wing is inflexible relative to the post. The connector further includes a flexible wing attached to the second side of the post adjacent to the first end and extending away from second side of the post. The flexible wing is configured to flex relative to the post.

Systems and methods for a connector

Connector

A tube clip assembly incorporating a base having at least one tube support cradle and a displaceable lid adapted to be secured in overlying relation to the base to retain a tube in substantially stationary relation within the tube support cradle. Flexible arms are disposed on either side of the tube support cradle. The flexible arms are adapted to compressively engage the tube when the lid is closed such that a portion of the arms may bite into the tube thereby resisting both axial and rotational movement of the tube.

Tube clip assembly

A tube retention block assembly having a support body incorporating one or more tube support passageways of discontinuous character extending across the support body. A displaceable retaining yoke member is adapted for insertion into a slot disposed transverse to the tube support passageways. The retaining yoke member includes one or more engagement cradles adapted to at least partially surround and lock in place tubes extending through the tube support body.

Tube holding block assembly

A holding clip for tubes, hoses and the like has a pocket and deflectable arms protecting an entrance to the pocket. The arms extend one past another and interdigitate one with another. The arms deflect outwardly in response to force exerted thereagainst from outside of the pocket and interengage one against another to resist force exerted thereagainst from within the pocket.

Holding clip

A retainer for holding nuts, bolts and other components includes a pocket configured for retaining a portion of the component and having an entrance opening for insertion of the component into the pocket. A deflectable blocking element is disposed in the opening and yields to insertion pressure, allowing the component to enter the pocket. A tether secured near the distal end of the blocking element resists deflection of the blocking element in response to withdrawal force applied to a component in the pocket.

Tethered retainer assembly

A vibration damping clip of rigid material in which a softer lining is formed on the holding part of the clip including through an aperture in the holding part so that the lining is physically locked thereto. A similar lock is provided at an entrance or lead-in to the substantially annular holding portion of the clip.

Vibration damping clip

A clip device is disclosed for removably securing a tube, such as an air conditioning condenser tube, to a bracket, such as a radiator bracket, which includes a slot. The clip includes an annular body having a first and a second edge, the body defining an opening for the removable reception therein of the condenser tube. The body includes a flexible arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the arm defines a tooth which lockingly cooperates with the slot. The arrangement is such that the condenser tube passes through the opening of the body and then the body is further moved axially along the condenser tube so that the bracket extends through the opening and next, the body is rotated about the condenser tube such that the tooth engages the slot for removably securing the condenser tube to the bracket.

Clip device

A clip assembly configured for attachment to an axially elongated tubular member in a manner limiting movements of said clip assembly relative to the elongated member is disclosed. The clip assembly includes a hollow sleeve configured to fit about and grippingly engage an outer lengthwise portion of the elongated tubular member and a clip having a fastening portion and an attachment portion. The fastening portion of the clip is configured to attach the clip to a support. The attachment portion of the clip includes first and second sections which combine with each other to define an opening for accommodating and compressing the hollow sleeve therebetween. The sleeve and attachment portion of the clip are provided with cooperating instrumentalities which relate to each other after said sleeve is inserted and compressed between the first and second sections of the attachment portion of the clip to limit movement between the sleeve and clip thereby providing a positive locating feature between the sleeve, the clip, and the elongated member.

Clip assembly with positive locating features

A fiber optic lighting system connector for coupling a fiber optic cable to another fiber optic cable, or a light source, or a light fixture. The connector includes a sleeve member having a plurality of resilient fingers and an axial bore for receiving a fiber optic cable end portion. A cap is non-threadably coupled to the sleeve member and movable axially about the resilient fingers between first and second positions to constrict the resilient fingers about a fiber optic cable end portion or conductor member for axial retention thereof in the axial bore. The resilient fingers preferably include first and second recesses in corresponding side portions thereof, and a tooth disposed between and offset from the first and second recesses.

Fiber optic lighting system connector

The clip of the present invention includes a plurality of internally threaded legs which form an aperture for receiving an externally threaded stud or similar structural device. A moveable circular collet is attached to a plunger and travels from a pre-driven position wherein the collet is substantially free from engagement with the internally threaded legs and allows for flexure of the internally threaded legs and a fully driven position wherein the collet engages the internally threaded legs in a locked position, inhibiting flexure and engaging the externally threaded stud.

Locking clip with moveable collet

An article with a tethered prong fastener having a first stem protruding therefrom, wherein the first stem has a distal end portion with a first resilient arm extending divergently outwardly therefrom and back toward the article, and a first flexible tether coupling the first resilient arm to the first stem. The first resilient arm is flexible inwardly toward the first stem and subsequently flexed back outwardly away from the first stem, whereby the first flexible tether member limits outward deflection of the first resilient arm away from the first stem, thereby improving fastening performance thereof without interfering with the inward flexing of the resilient arm. The tethered prong fastener is configurable as a clip useable for engageably retaining elongate body members, as a w-prong fastener fastenable through an opening in a workpiece, and as a spacing member useable for engaging and retaining first and second workpieces in spaced relation.

Article with tethered prong fastener

A fastener assembly for engagement with an aperture in an article including a fastener having at least a shank, a head at a first end of the shank and a resilient retaining member along the shank for releasably retaining the fastener to the article after insertion of at least a portion of the retaining member within the aperture, and an engagement member for compressing the retaining member prior to insertion within the aperture and contact of the retaining member with the article, and for preventing compression of the retaining member by the article about the aperture.

Fastener assembly with compression member

A fastener including a body portion having a head member and a shank member integrally formed with one side of the head member, the head member including a central aperture and at least one flexible engagement member intergrally formed with the head member opposite the shank member and extending intothe aperture a predetermined distance, the shank member including at least two substantially resilient leg member each having a conically shaped interior surface which oppose each other forming a tapered axial bore through the shank member tapering away from and in cooperative alignment with the aperture and a drive pin having a predetermined length and cross-sectional configuration for complementary engagement with the aperture, flexible engagement member, axial bore and leg members, the drive pin icluding at least a first concave longitudinal channel formed along its length and extending into the drive pin which includes at least a first lateral ramp member extending across the width of the first channel for cooperative engagement with the flexible engagement member so that upon insertion of the drive pin through the aperture the first ramp member engages and outwardly flexes the flexible engagement member to enable passage of the first ramp member thereby, the engagement member thereafter being releasably locked behind the first ramp member to restrict removal of the drive pin from the aperture of the head member.

Front mounted rivet with interlocked drive pin

An enclosed plastic screw grommet includes a head flange and a shank portion. The head flange is provided with four radially extending U-shaped slots so as to permit flexing upon insertion into a panel, thereby reducing the force needed. The shank portion includes two sets of opposed ramps formed on its outer surface and which are disposed in an offset relationship with respect to each other to thereby accommodate a variety of panel thicknesses.

Growing community of inventors

Bourbannais, IL, United States of America

Thomas A Benoit