Tether clip

Abstract

Panel fasteners or tether clips are disclosed that 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.

1 . A tether clip for holding a first panel in close proximity to a second panel until a load exceeding a predetermined threshold and tending to separate the first and second panels is applied between the first and second panels, and to thereafter limit the relative separation between the first and second panels, the tether clip comprising: 
 first retaining means adapted to be securable to the first panel;    second retaining means that is engageable with the second panel and limits the relative separation between the first and second panels;    releasable fastener means located intermediate the first and second retaining means, the releasable fastener means being adapted to releasably engage the second panel in order to maintain the first and second panels in a closed configuration relative to one another, the releasable fastener means being designed to 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 flexible section extending from said releasable fastener means to said second retaining means, the flexible section having a cross section that is wider in a first dimension than it is in a second perpendicular dimension such that said flexible section flexes easily in a direction defined by said second dimension and is relatively stiff in a direction defined by said first dimension.    
   
   
       2 . The tether clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, wherein the tether clip has a longitudinal axis defined with said flexible section in an un-flexed condition, and wherein said first retaining means comprises: 
 a first pair of resilient snap legs attached to a first body portion located intermediate said releasable fastener means and said first retaining means, said first pair of resilient snap legs is attached to said first body portion proximate an end of said first body portion distal from said releasable fastener means, 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,    each of said first pair of resilient snap legs has a lateral extension attached to its distal end, each said lateral extension has a release tab attached thereto, wherein squeezing each said release tab toward said longitudinal axis of the tether clip releases said first pair of resilient snap legs from the first panel.    
   
   
       3 . The tether clip according to  claim 2 , wherein said distal end of each of said resilient snap legs is provided with a notch.  
   
   
       4 . The tether clip according to  claim 3 , wherein each said lateral extension is attached to said distal end of each of said resilient snap legs over said notch, each said lateral extension extends away from said longitudinal axis of the tether clip in a direction approximately perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said tether clip, a portion of the first panel proximate the first opening being captured intermediate at least a portion of each said lateral extension and said notch of a respective one of said pair of resilient snap legs when the tether clip is secured to the first panel.  
   
   
       5 . The tether clip according to  claim 4 , wherein each said lateral extension has an end distal form said respective one of said pair of resilient snap legs, each said release tab is attached to each lateral extension at said end of each said lateral extension that is distal from said respective one of said pair of resilient snap legs, and each said release tab extends toward said second retaining means in a direction approximately parallel to said longitudinal axis of the tether clip.  
   
   
       6 . The tether clip according to  claim 5 , further comprising a shoulder located intermediate said releasable fastener means and said first retaining means, said first body portion being attached to said shoulder at one end thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The tether clip according to  claim 6 , wherein 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 shoulder and at least in part diverging away from said longitudinal axis of the tether clip.  
   
   
       8 . The tether clip according to  claim 7 , wherein said notch of each of said first pair of resilient snap legs is provided with a step to allow said first retaining means be securable to panels of different thickness.  
   
   
       9 . The tether clip according to  claim 8 , wherein scalloping is provided on either side of said flexible section, said scalloping tending to further thin said flexible section in said second dimension and thus aid in the flexing of said flexible section in said second direction.  
   
   
       10 . The tether clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, and wherein said flexible section of the tether clip conforms closely in size and shape of its cross section to the size and shape of the second opening in the second panel to help guide the separation of the panels by limiting the displacements allowed during deployment by aligning said flexible portion properly, and wherein the relative movement of the first and second panels can be guided by the relative stiffness of said flexible section in said first direction.  
   
   
       11 . The tether clip according to  claim 9 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, and wherein said releasable fastener means comprises: 
 enlarged bodies on either side of said flexible section; and    at least one relief slot provided intermediate said enlarged bodies.    
   
   
       12 . The tether clip according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said enlarged bodies has a gradual transition leading to the normal cross section of said flexible section in the direction of said second retaining means to ease initial engagement of said releasable fastener means to the second panel, and wherein each of said enlarged bodies has an more abrupt transition in the direction of said first retaining means, whereby the installation efforts of said releasable fastener means is lower than the disengagement efforts.  
   
   
       13 . The tether clip according to  claim 12 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, and wherein said second retaining means comprises: 
 a flared and twisted barbed end portion wherein said barbs flex inward and pass through the second slot in the second panel during installation, and said barbs are free to return to their original configuration and provide retention behind the second panel once said barbs have passed through the second opening in the second panel.    
   
   
       14 . The tether clip according to  claim 12 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, and wherein said second retaining means comprises: 
 an arrow-shaped head with a smaller neck than the main body of said flexible section thereby creating a gap between said barbs of said arrow-shaped head and said flexible section, said gap between said barbs of said arrow-shaped head and said flexible section being approximately the same width as the thickness of the second panel to thereby facilitate insertion of the arrow-shaped head through the second opening of the second panel.    
   
   
       15 . The tether clip according to  claim 2 , wherein said lateral extensions are provided with resilient spring members such that upon installation of the tether clip these spring members exert a constant load keeping said resilient snap legs tightly against the first panel to thereby reduce Buzz, Squeak, and Rattle concerns.  
   
   
       16 . The tether clip according to  claim 1 , wherein scalloping is provided on either side of said flexible section, said scalloping tending to further thin said flexible section in said second dimension and thus aid in the flexing of said flexible section in said second direction.  
   
   
       17 . The tether clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, and wherein said releasable fastener means comprises: 
 enlarged bodies on either side of said flexible section; and    at least one relief slot provided intermediate said enlarged bodies.    
   
   
       18 . The tether clip according to  claim 17 , wherein each of said enlarged bodies has a gradual transition leading to the normal cross section of said flexible section in the direction of said second retaining means to ease initial engagement of said releasable fastener means to the second panel, and wherein each of said enlarged bodies has an more abrupt transition in the direction of said first retaining means, whereby the installation efforts of said releasable fastener means is lower than the disengagement efforts.  
   
   
       19 . The tether clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, and wherein said second retaining means comprises: 
 a flared and twisted barbed end portion wherein said barbs flex inward and pass through the second slot in the second panel during installation, and said barbs are free to return to their original configuration and provide retention behind the second panel once said barbs have passed through the second opening in the second panel.    
   
   
       20 . The tether clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the first panel has a first opening and the second panel has a second opening, and wherein said second retaining means comprises: 
 an arrow-shaped head with a smaller neck than the main body of said flexible section thereby creating a gap between said barbs of said arrow-shaped head and said flexible section, said gap between said barbs of said arrow-shaped head and said flexible section being approximately the same width as the thickness of the second panel to thereby facilitate insertion of the arrow-shaped head through the second opening of the second panel.