Clip anchor connector

Abstract

A system for attaching a facing product to a concrete substrate includes (a) a facing product having a front face and a back surface, the facing product being configured for attachment with a clip connector; and (b) at least one clip anchor connector having an anchoring portion for embedding in the concrete substrate, a spine, and a head portion configured and dimensioned to engage a convexity, recess or opening in the facing product. The spine is longitudinal and has a first end and opposite thereto a second end. The anchoring portion of the clip is positioned at one of said first and second ends. The engagement portion is positioned at the end of the spine opposite that of the anchoring portion and has at least one laterally extending wing configured to engage a convexity, recess or opening in the facing product member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clip anchor connector comprising:
 a) a longitudinal spine having a first end and opposite thereto a second end,   b) an anchoring portion at one of said first and second ends, the anchoring portion being configured to entrap the clip anchor connector in a concrete substrate   c) an engagement portion at the other of said first and second ends, said engagement portion having at least one laterally extending wing configured to engage a convexity, recess or opening in a facing product member.   
     
     
         2 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the clip anchor connector is fabricated as an integral single piece member of resilient metal or plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the engagement portion includes two oppositely extending lateral wings, each wing including a horizontal first portion and a second portion attached to the horizontal first portion at a first bend. 
     
     
         4 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 3  wherein the engagement portion further includes a hook portion connected to the second portion at a second bend. 
     
     
         5 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 3  wherein the first bend is at an acute angle. 
     
     
         6 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 3  wherein the first bend is at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         7 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the first bend is at a right angle. 
     
     
         8 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the head portion is T-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the anchoring portion is Y-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the anchoring portion is L-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the anchoring portion is T-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the anchoring portion is V-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the anchoring portion is at least partially circular in shape. 
     
     
         14 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the spine includes first and second spine portions movable between a resiliently biased first position wherein the first and second spine portions are at an angled V-shaped configuration, and a second position wherein the first and second spine portions are in a parallel configuration in an adjacent abutting relationship. 
     
     
         15 . The clip anchor connector of  claim 1  wherein the engagement portion comprises a lateral wing portion and an angled-in hook portion connected to the lateral wing portion. 
     
     
         16 . A system for attaching a facing product to a concrete substrate comprising:
 a) a clip anchor connector comprising:
 i) a longitudinal spine having a first end and opposite thereto a second end, 
 ii) an anchoring portion at one of said first and second ends, the anchoring portion being configured to entrap the clip anchor connector in a concrete substrate, and 
 iii) an engagement portion at the other of said first and second ends, said engagement portion having at least one laterally extending wing configured to engage a convexity, recess or opening in a facing product member; and, 
   b) a facing product member having a front face and a back surface, the facing product member being configured with at least one convexity, recess or opening adapted to receive the engagement portion of the clip anchor connector.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the facing product comprises terra cotta, clay, ceramic or glass fiber reinforced cement elements. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the engagement portion of the clip anchor includes two oppositely extending lateral wings, each wing including a horizontal first portion and a second portion attached to the horizontal first portion at a first bend. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein engagement portion further includes a hook portion connected to the second portion at a second bend. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the anchoring portion is Y-shaped, L shaped, T-shaped or V shaped.