A locking clip for locking an elongate piece to a structure has a first portion forming an aperture in a first plane for receiving a rod, tube or other elongate workpiece. The first portion has a first lock portion and an attachment member. The locking clip also has a second portion having an inside surface and a free end. The second portion is connected to the first portion via a hinge for movement (i.e., movement of the second portion of the locking clip relative to the first portion) in a second plane from a closed position to an open position. The second portion also has a second lock portion and a positioning pin extending inwardly from the inside surface. The second portion is lockable in the closed position by engagement of the first and second lock portions with each other.
1. A locking clip for holding an elongate piece to a structure, comprising in combination:
a first portion comprising:
a first aperture in a first plane for receiving an elongate piece, and
a first lock portion;
an attachment member, integral with the first portion; and
a second portion comprising:
an arm with an inside surface and a free end,
a second lock portion, and
a positioning pin extending inwardly from the inside surface of the arm, the arm being connected to the first portion via a hinge for movement in a second plane from an open position to a closed position, wherein the second portion is lockable in the closed position by engagement of the first and second lock portions with each other.
2. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is unitary with the arm of the second portion.
3. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the first lock portion comprises an axial extension of the first portion, and the second lock portion is unitary with the arm of the second portion and configured to lockingly engage the axial extension.
4. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the hinge is a living hinge unitary with both the first portion and the second portion of the locking clip.
5. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first locking portion and the second locking portion comprises a hook.
6. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is circumferentially closed.
7. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is a cylindrical aperture.
8. The locking clip of claim 7 , wherein the inside surface of the arm of the second portion is arcuate and in the closed potion is cylindrically aligned with the first aperture.
9. The locking clip of claim 7 , wherein the attachment member is unitary with the first portion.
10. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the second lock portion is located at a free end of the arm of the second portion.
11. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the second plane is substantially parallel to the first plane.
12. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the arm of the second portion in the closed position is adjacent to the first aperture.
13. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the arm of the second portion is releasably lockable in the closed position.
14. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the positioning pin is configured to engage an opening in an elongate piece received by the first aperture.
15. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the second lock portion is remote from the hinge.
16. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member extends outwardly from the first portion.
17. The locking clip of claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises a second aperture in a third plane.
18. The locking clip of claim 17 , wherein the first aperture, the second portion in the closed position, and the third aperture cooperatively form a cylindrical channel of substantially uniform inside diameter.
19. A locking clip assembly comprising, in combination:
a support structure;
an elongate piece; and
a locking clip comprising:
a first portion comprising:
circumferentially closed apertures in spaced parallel planes, the elongate piece extending through the apertures, and
a first lock portion;
an attachment member extending from the first portion into the support structure;
a second portion unitary with the first portion and comprising:
an arm having an inside surface and a free end,
a second lock portion, and
a positioning pin extending inwardly from the inside surface; and
a living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion remote from the free end of the arm, for movement of the arm from an open position to a closed position in a plane parallel to the spaced parallel planes of the apertures,
wherein the second portion is lockable in the closed position by engagement of the first and second lock portions with each other.
20. The locking clip of claim 19 , wherein the first lock portion extends axially from the first portion and the second lock portion is a hook capable of lockably engaging the axial extension when in the closed position.
21. The locking clip of claim 19 , wherein the second portion is releasably lockable in the closed position by engagement of the first and second lock portions.
22. A locking clip for holding a towel bar to a seat track of an automobile seat, comprising:
a plastic first portion comprising:
first and second closed cylindrical apertures in spaced parallel planes for receiving an elongate piece, and
a first lock portion;
an attachment member unitary with the first portion and extending outwardly from the first portion for attachment to a seat track;
a plastic second portion unitary with the first portion and comprising:
an arcuate arm having an inside surface and a free end,
a second lock portion located at the free end, and
a positioning pin extending radially inwardly from the inside surface of the arm to be received by an opening in an elongate piece extending through the apertures of the first portion; and
a living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion remote from the free end, for movement of the second portion in a plane parallel to and between the first and second apertures of the first portion, from an open position to a closed position,
wherein the second portion is lockable in the closed position by engagement of the first and second lock portions to each other.