Radiator Tube Combo Clip

Abstract

A support for tube-and-fin assemblies in a radiator comprising a single support which is securable to multiple tube-and-fin assemblies in a single row and which is interlockable with respect to similar supports interconnected with rows of tube-and-fin assemblies in front of and/or behind that row.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A support for supporting tube-and-fin assemblies of a radiator comprising:
 a support having a central spine having two opposed sides, the central spine having at least one female connector formed on one side thereof and at least one male connector formed on the opposite side thereof, wherein the male connector includes a lobed head shaped to be engagingly received by a corresponding female connector and the female connector includes a lobed recess shaped to engagingly receive a lobed head of a corresponding male connector, wherein the support is shaped such that when the support is engaged with a corresponding support at least two tube-and-fin assemblies of a radiator are clamped therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising at least one laterally extending wing formed on at least one side of the central spine, the wing shaped and sized to slide between adjacent fins on tube-and-fin assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The support of  claim 2  wherein the wing is broadest closest to the spine and tapers outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . The support of  claim 1  further comprising longitudinally extending sidewalls extending along at least one side of at least one of the female connectors. 
     
     
         5 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the support is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the support is formed of metal. 
     
     
         7 . The support of  claim 1  wherein the width of the central spine may be varied to vary the spacing between individual rows of tube-and-fin-assemblies and the width of the connectors may be varied to vary the spacing between tube-and-fin assemblies in the same row. 
     
     
         8 . A radiator for an internal combustion engine comprising:
 a plurality of tube-and-fin assemblies assembled in a radiator in at least two rows;   at least two supports for interconnecting at least two tube-and-fin assemblies in a first row to at least two tube-and-fin assemblies in a second row, each support comprising a central spine having two opposed sides, the central spine having at least one female connector formed on one side thereof and at least one male connector formed on the opposite side thereof, wherein the male connector includes a lobed head shaped to be engagingly received by a corresponding female connector and the female connector includes a lobed recess shaped to engagingly receive a lobed head of a corresponding male connector, the supports shaped such that when the first support is engaged with the second support the first and second rows of tube-and-fin assemblies are clamped therebetween.   
     
     
         9 . The radiator of  claim 8  further comprising at least one laterally extending wing formed on at least one side of the central spine of at least one of the supports, the wing shaped and sized to slide between adjacent fins on tube-and-fin assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . The radiator of  claim 9  wherein the wing is broadest closest to the spine and tapers outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . The radiator of  claim 8  wherein at least one support further comprises longitudinally extending sidewalls extending along at least one side of at least one of the female connectors. 
     
     
         12 . The radiator of  claim 8  wherein at least one support is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The radiator of  claim 8  wherein at least one support is formed of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The radiator of  claim 8  wherein the width of the central spine of at least one support may be varied to vary the spacing between individual rows of tube-and-fin-assemblies and the width of the connectors on at least one support may be varied to vary the spacing between tube-and-fin assemblies in the same row. 
     
     
         15 . A radiator for an internal combustion engine comprising:
 a plurality of tube-and-fin assemblies assembled in a radiator in at least two rows;   at least two supports for interconnecting at least two tube-and-fin assemblies in a first row to at least two tube-and-fin assemblies in a second row, each support comprising a central spine having two opposed sides, the central spine having a plurality of female connectors formed on one side thereof and a plurality of male connectors formed on the opposite side thereof, laterally extending wings formed on at least one side of the central spine, the wing shaped and sized to slide between adjacent fins on tube-and-fin assemblies, and longitudinally extending sidewalls extending along both sides of the female connectors, wherein the male connectors include lobed heads shaped to be engagingly received by the corresponding female connectors and the female connectors include lobed recesses shaped to engagingly receive the lobed heads of the corresponding male connectors, the supports shaped such that when the first support is engaged with the second support the first and second rows of tube-and-fin assemblies are clamped therebetween.   
     
     
         16 . The radiator of  claim 15  wherein the wings are broadest closest to the spine and taper outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         17 . The radiator of  claim 15  wherein the supports are integrally formed. 
     
     
         18 . The radiator  claim 17  wherein the supports are formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         19 . The radiator of  claim 18  wherein the plastic material is nylon. 
     
     
         20 . The radiator of  claim 17  wherein the supports are formed from metal.