Granted Patent B2

US 12,568,934 · App. 18/492,971 · Granted Mar 10, 2026

Inventor: Norman M. Hill (Bothell, WA)

A01K27/001A01K29/005

Abstract

Claims (70)

1 . A clip for securing a locating device relative to an item comprising:

a base portion;

a plurality of claw portions, where each of the plurality of claw portions extends from the base portion; and

an attachment chamber defining a first portion and a second portion; wherein

the first portion of the attachment chamber is sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the locating device;

the second portion of the attachment chamber is sized and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the item;

the claw portions are sized, dimensioned, and supported by the base portion such that

at least two of the plurality of claw portions are spaced from each other to define at least one longitudinal gap, and

the at least one longitudinal gap is not enclosed by the at least two of the plurality of claw portions defining the at least one longitudinal gap;

the at least one longitudinal gap is sized and dimensioned such that the item may be displaced through the at least one longitudinal gap between the at least two claw portions;

the plurality of claw portions are spaced from the item when the item is arranged within the second portion of the attachment chamber,

the claw portions are configured to engage the locating device when the locating device is arranged within the first portion of the attachment chamber, and

with the item arranged within the second portion of the attachment chamber and the locating device within the first portion of the attachment chamber, the locating device is capable of engaging the item such that the item engages the base portion to inhibit movement of the locating device and the item relative to the clip.

2 . A clip as recited in claim 1 , in which at least one of the plurality of claw portions is resiliently deformable.

3 . A clip as recited in claim 1 , in which at least a portion of the base portion is resiliently deformable.

4 . A clip as recited in claim 1 , in which:

at least one of the plurality of claw portions is resiliently deformable; and

at least a portion of the base portion is resiliently deformable.

5 . A clip as recited in claim 1 , in which the base portion comprises:

at least one longitudinal bridge portion; and

at least one lateral bridge portion.

6 . A clip as recited in claim 5 , in which at least one of the at least one longitudinal bridge portion and the at least one lateral bridge portion is deformable.

7 . A clip as recited in claim 6 , in which at least one of the plurality of claw portions is resiliently deformable.

8 . A clip as recited in claim 5 , in which:

the at least one longitudinal bridge portion is resiliently deformable;

the at least one lateral bridge portion is resiliently deformable; and

at least one of the plurality of claw portions is resiliently deformable.

9 . A clip as recited in claim 1 , in which at least one base opening is formed in the base portion.

10 . A clip as recited in claim 1 , in which:

each of the plurality of claw portions comprises a proximal portion connected to the base portion and a distal portion; and

at least an inner surface of each of the example claw portions is curved from the proximal portion through the distal portion such that the distal portion at least indirectly faces the proximal portion.

11 . A method of securing a locating device relative to an item comprising the steps of:

providing a clip comprising a base portion, at least one pair of claw portions extending from the base portion, an attachment chamber defining a first portion and a second portion, and a longitudinal gap extending between the at least one pair of claw portions, where the at least one pair of claw portions extends from the base portion such that

at least two of the plurality of claw portions are spaced from each other to define the longitudinal gap,

the longitudinal gap is sized and dimensioned such that the item may be displaced through the longitudinal gap between the at least two claw portions, and

the longitudinal gap is not enclosed by the at least two of the plurality of claw portions defining the longitudinal gap;

arranging the item between the at least one pair of claw portions such that the item is displaced through the longitudinal gap and into the second portion of the attachment chamber; and

with the item arranged within the second portion of the attachment chamber, arranging the locating device within the first portion of the attachment chamber;

configuring the at least one pair of claw portions to engage the locating device when the locating device is within the first portion of the attachment chamber such that the locating device engages the item and the item engages the base portion to inhibit movement of the locating device and the item relative to the clip.

12 . A method as recited in claim 11 , in which at least a portion of one of the claw portions is resiliently deformable.

13 . A method as recited in claim 11 , in which at least a portion of the base portion is resiliently deformable.

14 . A method as recited in claim 11 , in which the step of providing the clip comprises the step of forming the base portion to define:

at least one longitudinal bridge portion; and

at least one lateral bridge portion.

15 . A method as recited in claim 14 , in which at least one of the at least one longitudinal bridge portion and the at least one lateral bridge portion is deformable.

16 . A method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:

forming at least one base opening in the base portion; and

applying pressure to the locating device through the item to remove the locating device from the first portion of the attachment chamber.

17 . A locating system comprising:

an item;

a locating device;

a clip comprising

a base portion,

at least one pair of claw portions extending from the base portion,

a longitudinal gap extending between the at least one pair of claw portions, and

an attachment chamber defining a first portion and a second portion; wherein

the at least one longitudinal gap is not enclosed by the at least two of the plurality of claw portions;

at least a portion of the item is displaced between the at least one pair of claw portions through the longitudinal gap and into the second portion of the attachment chamber;

at least a portion of the locating device is arranged within the first portion of the attachment chamber;

with the locating device arranged within the first portion of the attachment chamber, the claw portions engage the locating device to inhibit movement of the locating device relative to the clip; and

with the locating device arranged within the first portion of the attachment chamber and the item arranged within the second portion of the attachment chamber, the locating device engages the item such that the item engages the base portion to inhibit movement of the item and the locating device relative to the clip.

18 . A locating system as recited in claim 17 , in which at least one base opening is formed in the base portion.

19 . A locating system as recited in claim 17 , in which the base comprises:

first and second longitudinal bridge portions;

first and second lateral bridge portions; and

first and second pairs of claw portions.

20 . A locating system as recited in claim 19 , in which:

first and second longitudinal bridge portions are resiliently deformable; and

first and second lateral bridge portions are resiliently deformable; and

the first and second pairs of claw portions are resiliently deformable.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (27)