초록 ▼

Reliable and durable tether clips that continue to tether two panels together while allowing for a controlled displacement between the two panels in response to a predetermined force are disclosed. The tether clips according to the present invention include a first retaining means near a first end t

Reliable and durable tether clips that continue to tether two panels together while allowing for a controlled displacement between the two panels in response to a predetermined force are disclosed. The tether clips according to the present invention include a first retaining means near a first end that is adapted to be securable to a first panel, a second retaining means that is engageable with the second panel and limits the relative separation between the panels, and a releasable fastener means intermediate the first and second retaining means that normally maintains the two panels in a closed configuration relative to one another but that releases at least one of the panels relative to the other panel in response to a predetermined force tending to separate the panels.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A tether clip for fastening a first panel relative to a second panel, the first panel having a first opening and the second panel having a second opening, the tether clip comprising:a first retaining means adapted to be securable to the first panel, said first retaining means comprising: a should

1. A tether clip for fastening a first panel relative to a second panel, the first panel having a first opening and the second panel having a second opening, the tether clip comprising:a first retaining means adapted to be securable to the first panel, said first retaining means comprising: a shoulder; a first body portion projecting from a first side of said shoulder and having an end distal from said shoulder, said first body portion having a first longitudinal axis; and a first pair of resilient snap legs attached to said first body portion proximate said end of said first body portion distal from said shoulder; a second retaining means that is engageable with the second panel and limits the relative separation between the first and second panels; and a releasable fastener means intermediate said first and second retaining means and being adapted to be releasably engageable with the second panel, said releasable fastener means being adapted to normally maintain the first and second panels in a closed configuration relative to one another, and wherein said releasable fastener means releases the second panel in response to a force tending to separate the first and second panels that is greater than a first predetermined value, said releasable fastener means comprising: a second body portion projecting from a second side of said shoulder and having an end distal from said shoulder, said second body portion having a second longitudinal axis in line with said first longitudinal axis; and a second pair of resilient snap legs attached to said second body portion proximate said end of said second body portion distal from said shoulder, each of said second pair of resilient snap legs having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said second pair of resilient snap legs being attached to said second body portion proximate said proximal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs, wherein said second retaining means comprises: a third pair of resilient snap legs attached to said releasable fastener means proximate said proximal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs, said third pair of snap legs extending away from said shoulder in a fork-like manner, each of said third pair of snap legs having a terminating end located distally from said releasable fastener means, and each of said third pair of snap legs being provided with a snap hook near said terminating end thereof. 2. The tether clip according to claim 1, wherein each said snap hook comprises:a catch surface extending from a respective one of said third pair of resilient snap legs, said catch surface being substantially perpendicular to said respective one of said third pair of resilient snap legs; and a ramp surface extending from said catch surface to said terminating end of said respective one of said third pair of resilient snap legs such that each said snap hook has a semi-arrowhead profile. 3. The tether clip according to claim 2, wherein a portion of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs extends from proximate said proximal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs generally in a direction toward a plane coincident with said second side of said shoulder and diverging away from said second longitudinal axis, andwherein each of said second pair of resilient snap legs has a surface portion proximate said distal end thereof that converges toward said second longitudinal axis with decreasing distance from said second side of said shoulder, wherein when said releasable fastener means is secured to the second panel at least a portion of the second panel proximate the second opening is captured between at least a portion of said shoulder and said surface portion proximate said distal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs to thereby secure the second panel to the first panel in the closed configuration, and wherein said surface portion proximate said distal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs cooperates with the portion of the second panel proximate the second opening to bend said second pair of resilient snap legs toward said second longitudinal axis to thereby allow the second panel to be released from said releasable fastener means when said releasable fastener means is initially secured to the second panel and then a force tending to move the first and second panels apart and of a magnitude greater than said first predetermined value is applied. 4. A tether clip system for fastening a first panel having a first opening in a closed configuration relative to a second panel having a second opening, the tether clip system comprising:a receptacle adapted for mounting to the second opening in the second panel; and a tether clip comprising: a first retaining means adapted to be securable to the first panel, said first retaining means comprising: a shoulder; a first body portion projecting from a first side of said shoulder and having an end distal from said shoulder, said first body portion having a first longitudinal axis; and a first pair of resilient snap legs attached to said first body portion proximate said end of said first body portion distal from said shoulder; a second retaining means that engages with said receptacle when said receptacle is mounted to the second panel, said tether clip is mounted to said first panel, and the first and second panels are in an open configuration relative to one another, in order to limit the relative separation between the first and second panels; and a releasable fastener means adapted to releasably engage said tether clip to said receptacle when said receptacle is mounted to the second panel, said tether clip is mounted to said first panel, and the first and second panels are in a closed configuration relative to one another, said releasable fastener means being adapted to normally maintain the first and second panels in a closed configuration relative to one another wherein said receptacle is also in a closed position relative to said tether clip, and wherein said releasable fastener means allows said receptacle to be released from its closed position relative to said tether clip in response to a force tending to separate the first and second panels that is greater than a first predetermined value, said releasable fastener means comprising: a second body portion projecting from a second side of said shoulder and having an end distal from said shoulder, said second body portion having a second longitudinal axis in line with said first longitudinal axis; and a second pair of resilient snap legs each attached at a proximal end thereof to said second body portion proximate said end of said second body portion distal from said shoulder, wherein said second retaining means comprises: a third pair of resilient snap legs attached to said releasable fastener means proximate said proximal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs, said third pair of snap legs extending away from said shoulder in a fork-like manner, each of said third pair of snap legs having a terminating end located distally from said releasable fastener means, and each of said third pair of snap legs being provided with a snap hook near said terminating end thereof. 5. The tether clip system according to claim 4, wherein each of said first pair of resilient snap legs has a proximal end and a distal end, each of said first pair of resilient snap legs is attached to said first body portion proximate said proximal end of each of said first pair of resilient snap legs, and each of said first pair of resilient snap legs extends from said proximal end thereof generally in a direction toward a plane coincident with said first side of said shoulder and at least in part diverging away from said first longitudinal axis.6. The tether clip system according to claim 5, wherein each of said first pair of resilient snap legs has at least one notch provided proximate said distal end of each of said first pair of resilient snap legs, wherein when said first retaining means is secured to the first panel at least a portion of the first panel proximate the first opening is captured between at least a portion of said shoulder and said notch in each of said first pair of resilient snap legs to thereby secure the tether clip to the first panel.7. The tether clip system according to claim 4, wherein each of said second pair of resilient snap legs has a distal end in addition to said proximal end thereof, each of said second pair of resilient snap legs is attached to said second body portion proximate said proximal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs, and a portion of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs extends from proximate said proximal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs generally in a direction toward a plane coincident with said second side of said shoulder and diverging away from said second longitudinal axis.8. The tether clip system according to claim 7, wherein each of said second pair of resilient snap legs has a surface portion proximate said distal end thereof that converges toward said second longitudinal axis with decreasing distance from said second side of said shoulder, wherein when said releasable fastener means is secured to said receptacle at least a portion of said receptacle is captured between at least a portion of said shoulder and said surface portion proximate said distal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs to thereby secure the second panel to the first panel in the closed configuration, and wherein said surface portion proximate said distal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs cooperates with said at least a portion of said receptacle to bend said second pair of resilient snap legs toward said second longitudinal axis to thereby allow the second panel to be released from said releasable fastener means when said tether clip is mounted to the first panel, said receptacle is mounted to the second panel, said releasable fastener means is initially secured to said receptacle with the first and second panels in said closed configuration, and a force tending to move the first and second panels apart and of a magnitude greater than said first predetermined value is applied.9. A tether clip for fastening a first panel relative to a second panel, the tether clip comprising:a first body portion having a first longitudinal axis; a second body portion having a second longitudinal axis in line with said first longitudinal axis, said second body portion having an end distal from said first body portion, said first body portion having an end distal from said second body portion; a first pair of resilient snap legs attached to said first body portion proximate said end of said first body portion distal from said second body portion, said first pair of resilient snap legs being adapted to be securable to the first panel; a second pair of resilient snap legs attached to said second body portion proximate said end of said second body portion distal from said first body portion, each of said second pair of resilient snap legs having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said second pair of resilient snap legs being attached to said second body portion proximate said proximal end of each of said second pair of resilient snap legs, said second pair of resilient snap legs being adapted to be releasably engageable with the second panel, said second pair of resilient snap legs being adapted to normally maintain the first and second panels in a closed configuration relative to one another, and wherein said second pair of resilient snap legs release the second panel in response to a force tending to separate the first and second panels that is greater than a first predetermined value; and a third pair of resilient snap legs each extending from proximate said proximal end of a respective one of said second pair of resilient snap legs, said third pair of resilient snap legs extending away from said first body portion in a fork-like manner, each of said third pair of resilient snap legs having a terminating end located distally from said second body portion, and each of said third pair of resilient snap legs being provided with a snap hook near said terminating end thereof, said third pair of resilient snap legs being engageable with the second panel to limit the relative separation between the first and second panels when the first and second panels are in an open configuration.