Removable tie-down clip and method of making same

Abstract

Single-piece clips for securing objects to surfaces by insertion through a gap or channel in the surface such as, for example, outdoor decking comprised of spaced-apart planks. The clips include a head, legs and feet properly dimensioned to prevent the clip from being pulled out once positioned. The head provides an aperture to which object fasteners/connectors can be attached, while the legs and feet provide three-dimensional stabilization preventing an object so connected from being displaced.

1 . A clip for securing objects to a surface formed of spaced-apart surface members of substantially uniform thickness, comprising: 
 a head defining a substantially contiguous aperture adapted to receive connectors to an object and having a maximum dimension greater than the spacing between the surface members;    a pair of legs extending from the head, the legs each dimensioned to fit in the spacing between the surface members and to traverse the thickness of the surface members; and    a pair of feet one each extending from each one of the pair of legs, the feet diverging in opposite directions to a distance greater than the spacing between the surface members.    
   
   
       2 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the legs are substantially co-planar with the head.  
   
   
       3 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the legs are angled with respect to an imaginary plane including the head.  
   
   
       4 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the feet are substantially co-planar with the head.  
   
   
       5 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the feet are angled with respect to an imaginary plane including the head.  
   
   
       6 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the head, the pair of legs and the pair of feet are formed in a single element.  
   
   
       7 . The clip of  claim 6 , wherein the single element comprises a wire.  
   
   
       8 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the legs are spring-loaded to separate from one another so as to each engage an opposing surface member.  
   
   
       9 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of each leg is twisted about a corresponding part of the other leg.  
   
   
       10 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the head is formed in a shape selected from the group consisting of rings, ellipsoids, and multi-sided shapes.  
   
   
       11 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the element is composed of a high-strength, corrosion-resistant material.  
   
   
       12 . The clip of  claim 11 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, brass, aluminum, and plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the clip is composed of a spring-tempered material.  
   
   
       14 . The clip of  claim 13 , wherein the legs are compressible to a position within the spacing between the surface members such that the feet diverge in separate planes substantially parallel to a plane including the head.  
   
   
       15 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the feet diverge in substantially straight, diametrically opposed directions.  
   
   
       16 . The clip of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the feet terminates in a feature pointing back in the general direction of the head.  
   
   
       17 . The clip of  claim 16 , wherein the feature is a tyned or beveled end.  
   
   
       18 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the feet diverge in a curve-like geometry.  
   
   
       19 . The clip of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the feet terminates in a feature pointing back in the general direction of the head.  
   
   
       20 . The clip of  claim 19 , wherein the feature is a tyned or beveled end.