Mechanical Connector, Two Part Connector and Muntin Clip for Providing a Frictional Engagement

Abstract

The present application provides a mechanical connector adapted for coupling to a mating element, as part of muntin clip or a two part connector. The mechanical connector includes a body having at least one surface adapted for engaging a reciprocal surface of the mating element, wherein the at least one surface of the body of the mechanical connector slides across and frictionally engages the reciprocal surface of the mating element across a predefined distance during the coupling and decoupling of the mechanical connector relative to the mating element. The mechanical connector further includes one or more protruding elements, coupled to the at least one surface of the body of the mechanical connector, which extend in a direction toward the reciprocal surface of the mating element during engagement of the at least one surface of the mechanical connector with the reciprocal surface of the mating element, where the protruding elements is attached to the at least one surface at a first end of the protruding element and being free at the second end of the protruding element, and where the protruding element can separately flex along the length of the protruding element toward each of multiple directions including opposite directions. When the mechanical connector engages and slides relative to the mating element, the one or more protrusions are caused to flex in a direction that is substantially opposite a direction of the movement of the mechanical connector relative to the mating element along at least a portion of the predefined distance.

1 . A muntin clip adapted for coupling a muntin bar to a window sash, the muntin bar being a tubular member with one or more open ends and a sidewall extending around the open end, the sidewall of the tubular member having a front and a back and two oppositely facing and spaced apart sides coupled between the front and the back, the muntin clip comprising:
 a base adapted for attaching to the window sash;   a body, which extends from the base, and is adapted in a direction of insertion to extend into one of the open ends of the tubular member of the muntin bar for coupling thereto; and   one or more protruding elements coupled to the body, which extend in a direction that includes a component that is perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the body into the tubular member, and which are adapted for separately flexing in at least opposite directions; and   wherein when the muntin clip is inserted into the tubular member, the protruding elements of the muntin clip engages the sidewall of the tubular member and is caused to flex in a direction that is substantially opposite a direction of movement of the muntin clip relative to the tubular member.   
     
     
         2 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the one or more protruding elements are coupled to the body of the muntin clip via a branch. 
     
     
         3 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the branch extends in a direction that includes a component that is perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the body into the tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the branch extends in a direction that is opposite the direction of insertion of the body as the body extends into the tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein, when the muntin clip is inserted into the tubular member, the branch extends toward a respective one of the sides of the sidewall, and the branch is biased in an angled fashion toward one of the front or the back of the sidewall away from a center of the respective side. 
     
     
         6 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the direction of extension of the branch being biased in an angled fashion toward one of the front or the back of the sidewall away from the center of the respective side includes a bias toward a corner of the tubular member formed from the front or the back of the sidewall joining the respective side of the sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the protruding member is a blade having an attachment edge, which is coupled to the body, and a free edge, where the free edge is adapted to flex in one of two opposing directions. 
     
     
         8 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the protruding member is a filament having an attachment end, which is coupled to the body, and a free end, where the free end is adapted to flex in one of multiple directions, at least some of which are opposing directions. 
     
     
         9 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the protruding member at least begins the process of changing direction of flexing during a change of direction of movement between insertion and extraction of the muntin clip relative to the tubular member. 
     
     
         10 . A muntin clip in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein during a change in direction of the flexing of the protruding element, the interaction between the protruding element and the sidewall of the tubular member includes an increase in the friction therebetween. 
     
     
         11 . A mechanical connector adapted for coupling to a mating element, the mechanical connector comprising:
 a body including at least one surface adapted for engaging a reciprocal surface of the mating element, wherein the at least one surface of the body of the mechanical connector slides across and frictionally engages the reciprocal surface of the mating element across a predefined distance during the coupling and decoupling of the mechanical connector relative to the mating element; and   one or more protruding elements, coupled to the at least one surface of the body of the mechanical connector, which extend in a direction toward the reciprocal surface of the mating element during engagement of the at least one surface of the mechanical connector with the reciprocal surface of the mating element, where the protruding elements is attached to the at least one surface at a first end of the protruding element and being free at the second end of the protruding element, and where the protruding element can separately flex along the length of the protruding element toward each of multiple directions including opposite directions; and   wherein when the mechanical connector engages and slides relative to the mating element, the one or more protrusions are caused to flex in a direction that is substantially opposite a direction of the movement of the mechanical connector relative to the mating element along at least a portion of the predefined distance.   
     
     
         12 . A mechanical connector in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the one or more protruding elements are tension devices structured so as to be biased toward an unflexed position. 
     
     
         13 . A mechanical connector in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein, when the at least one surface of the body of the mechanical connector engages the reciprocal surface of the mating element, the resulting spacing between the mechanical connector and the mating element within which the one or more protruding elements are located during movement across the predefined distance causes the relative movement between the mechanical connector and the mating element to resist changes in the direction. 
     
     
         14 . A mechanical connector in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more protruding elements are adapted to engage a reciprocal surface of the mating element, which has two surfaces that come together to form a corner having a path along which a protruding element that has flexed can extend. 
     
     
         15 . A mechanical connector in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical connector is a male connector which includes a body that is adapted to insert at least partially into a mating element that includes an opening coupled to an internal space that can receive at least a portion of the body of the mechanical connector. 
     
     
         16 . A mechanical connector in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical connector is a female connector which includes an opening coupled to an internal space that is adapted to receive within the space through the opening at least a portion of a body of the mating element. 
     
     
         17 . A two part connector comprising:
 a first connector part having a body including at least one engagement surface;   a second connector part having a body including at least one engagement surface, the second connector part being selectively coupled to the first connector part, where the engagement surface of the first connector is adapted to interact with the engagement surface of the second connector across a predefined distance when the first connector part is being coupled or decoupled relative to the second connector part; and   wherein at least one of the first connector part and the second connector part includes one or more protruding elements, which are coupled at a first end of the protruding element to a respective one of the engagement surfaces of the first connector part and the second connector part, have a second end opposite the first end that extends toward the engagement surface of the first connector part and the second connector part that the corresponding first end of the protruding elements are not attached, and are adapted to flex along their length between the first end and the second end toward each of multiple directions including opposite directions; and   wherein when the engagement surface of the first connector interacts with the engagement surface of the second connector, the one or more protrusions are caused to flex in a direction that is substantially opposite a direction of the movement of the first connector relative to the second connector along at least a portion of the predefined distance.   
     
     
         18 . A two part connector in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein both the first connector part and the second connector part include one or more protruding elements. 
     
     
         19 . A two part connector in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the first connector part includes a square body and the second connector part includes a side wall sized and shaped to extend around the square body forming an internal space having at least a first opening through which the square body of the first connector can be received. 
     
     
         20 . A two part connector in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the first connector part and the second connector part maintain their relative position when coupled in absence of an external force being applied through a friction fit.