초록 ▼

A clip system for use with tarps and other flexible sheet material. The system includes first and second parts that are rotatably mounted so as to be free to twist independently of one another, in response to wind or other forces. The first part may be a clip body having jaws for gripping a tarp or

A clip system for use with tarps and other flexible sheet material. The system includes first and second parts that are rotatably mounted so as to be free to twist independently of one another, in response to wind or other forces. The first part may be a clip body having jaws for gripping a tarp or other flexible sheet material, and the second part may be an attachment fitting for engaging an article separate from the tarp. There may be a series of different attachment fittings that are interchangeably mountable to the clip body, such as a hook, a screw-on fitting for attachment to a bottle that forms a weight, or a fitting for attachment of a strap or shock cord, for example. The two pieces may be joined by a male coupler and a female receptacle that receives the coupler in locking engagement. The male coupler may have a plurality of resiliently flexible legs with beveled end surfaces that flex inwardly to pass through the opening of the female receptacle. The legs then snap back outwardly so that undercut surfaces on the ends of the legs engage the receptacle to prevent separation of the pieces. The coupler and receptacle may further include cooperating annular surfaces that form a bearing interface for rotation of the parts.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A clip system for use with flexible sheet material, said clip system comprising:a clip body comprising:first and second jaw members at a first end of said clip body;a live hinge that joins said first and second jaw members at a base end of said body;means for adjusting a gap b

What is claimed is: 1. A clip system for use with flexible sheet material, said clip system comprising:a clip body comprising:first and second jaw members at a first end of said clip body;a live hinge that joins said first and second jaw members at a base end of said body;means for adjusting a gap between said jaw members so as to selectively grip and release said sheet material therein, said means for adjusting said gap between said first and second jaw members comprising:a finger-operated screw adjustment mechanism comprising a screw member having a threaded shaft section in engagement with at least one of said jaw members, said screw member spanning said jaw members at a location intermediate distal ends of said jaw members and said live hinge at said base end of said body;said first and second jaw members being angled together distally so that in response to tightening of said screw member said jaw members first come into contact at distal tips thereof, and being formed of resiliently flexible material so that in response to continued tightening of said screw member after first coming into contact at said distal tips said angled jaw members collapse resiliently so as to flatten out into a substantially parallel orientation against one another; anda first coupling portion at a second, generally opposite end of said clip body; andat least one attachment fitting comprising:a second coupling portion at a first, generally opposite end of said attachment fitting; andan attachment portion at a second, generally opposite end of said attachment fitting for engaging an article separate from said sheet material;said first and second coupling portions rotatingly mounting said attachment fitting to said clip body so that said attachment fitting and clip body are free to twist independently of one another about an axis of rotation aligned generally from said first end of said clip body to said second end of said attachment fitting.