A clip comprising a pair of jaws each having an axially extending pressure surface, and resilient hinge arms hinged together from which the jaws are cantilevered for movement between a closed position in which the pressure surfaces are in facing opposition and an open position, and latch means for retaining the jaws closed. When the jaws are moved towards their closed position with a suitably thick object disposed therebetween, they will initially contact the object at a point and then rotate about that point, causing the hinge arms to stretch and thereby increase the spacing between the pressure surfaces, whereby they may be closed with a strong and relatively uniform clamping pressure about the object.
1. A clip comprising in combination
first and second jaws each extending in an axial direction between opposed ends, said jaws being structured to be relatively stiff;
said jaws each having a pressure surface extending between said ends for contacting and applying a pressure to an article disposed therebetween;
jaw mounting means comprising a pair of similar, elastically resilient spring arms rooted to respective ones of said jaws at one said end and cantilevered therefrom, and a hinge element interconnecting said spring arms at the distal end thereof;
wherein said spring arms extend convergently from said jaws towards said hinge element;
said mounting means permitting the free rotation of said jaws about said hinge element between a first, closed position wherein said jaws are in opposition and spaced apart by a predetermined distance, and further permitting the pivoting action of said jaws under the influence of a closing force applied thereto remote from said mounting means, about an article having a thickness greater than said predetermined dimension when disposed therebetween, which serves to induce a tension in said spring arms and concomitantly to increase the spacing between said pressure surfaces; and
means for retaining said jaws closed about said article with said spring arms under said induced tension, to thereby clamp said article between said jaws.
2. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining means is a latch means.
3. A clip as defined in claim 2 wherein said latch means comprises a pair of spring arms rooted to the ends of respective ones of said jaws opposed to said mounting means.
4. A clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said jaws have a reinforcing rib extending therealong.
5. A clip as defined in claim 2 wherein said mounting means and said latch means each include cooperating means to restrict the relative lateral movement of said jaws.
6. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring arms include a non-linear portion.
7. A clip as defined in claim 6 wherein said non-linear portion is an elbow.
8. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said jaws have a hollow U-shaped cross section.
9. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said hinge element is a living hinge.
10. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein there is a substantial symmetry at least in said mounting means.
11. A clip as defined in claim 1 formed as a thermo-plastic moulding.
12. A clip as defined in claim 1 formed as a one piece thermo-plastic moulding.