Gripping Clip and Mounting Apparatus Using Same
A clamp clip adapted to grip an item, such as a planar sheet. The clamp clip may have pincers adapted to open and close in a scissors like fashion. The clamp may be used with a tripod or a monopod, and in some embodiments a tripod with flexible legs utilizing ball and socket joint connectors which, when interconnected, form a flexible assembly. The ball and socket joint connectors may utilize an over-molded strip around the outside of the connector to facilitate in their use for gripping when wrapped around objects.
1 . A clamp clip comprising:
a clamp body, said clamp body comprising:
a first arm;
a second arm, said second arm pivotally attached to said first arm; and
an interface clip, said interface clip attached to said first arm, said interface clip adapted to be clipped into a mating clip receiver.
2 . The clamp clip of claim 1 further comprising:
a first pincher attached to said first arm; and
a second pincher attached to said second arm.
3 . The clamp clip of claim 2 further comprising a spring, said spring adapted to hold said first pincher against said second pincher.
4 . The clamp clip of claim 3 further comprising:
a first jaw attached to said first pincher; and
a second jaw attached to said second pincher.
5 . The clamp clip of claim 4 wherein said first jaw is pivotally attached to said first pincher, and wherein said second jaw is pivotally attached to said second pincher.
6 . The clamp clip of claim 4 wherein said interface clip is removably attached to said first arm.
7 . An apparatus comprising
a body portion;
a plurality of flexible legs, said flexible legs comprising a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said body portion;
an interconnect portion connected to said body portion;
a clip receiver; and
a removably attached clamp clip , said clamp clip comprising:
a clamp body, said clamp body comprising:
a first arm;
a second arm, said second arm pivotally attached to said first arm; and
an interface clip, said interface clip attached to said first arm, said interface clip adapted to be clipped into said clip receiver.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of flexible legs comprises a plurality of connectors, said connectors comprising:
a connector body, said connector body comprising:
a first end portion;
a second end portion; and
a longitudinal axis extending from said first end portion to said second end portion;
a socket engaging end surface at said first end portion, said socket engaging end surface being the external surface at said first end portion; and
an internal socket receiving cavity at said second end portion.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said connector body further comprises a gripping portion, said gripping portion co-molded to said connector.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said gripping portion comprises a rubberized compound.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said gripping portion comprises a circumferential ring co-molded into the outer surface of said second end portion of said connector body.
12 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said clamp clip further comprises:
a first pincher attached to said first arm; and
a second pincher attached to said second arm.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said clamp clip further comprises:
a first jaw attached to said first pincher; and
a second jaw attached to said second pincher.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first jaw is pivotally attached to said first pincher, and wherein said second jaw is pivotally attached to said second pincher.
15 . The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said interface clip is removably attached to said first arm.
16 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said clamp clip further comprises:
a first pincher attached to said first arm; and
a second pincher attached to said second arm.
17 . The clip of claim 16 further comprising:
a first jaw attached to said first pincher; and
a second jaw attached to said second pincher.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said first jaw is pivotally attached to said first pincher, and wherein said second jaw is pivotally attached to said second pincher.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said interface clip is removably attached to said first arm.