Muntin bar clip

Abstract

A clip for attaching a tubular muntin bar to a spacer frame provider is disclosed. The clip has a plate with a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge. The first and second edge are connected by first and second side edges and have an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface has a bar plug that extends outwardly from the inner surface of the plate. The plate has a pair of flexible fasteners extending from the outer surface of the plate and the fasteners are positioned between a first tab at one edge of the outer surface of the plate and a second tab at the opposite end edge of the outer surface.

1 . A clip for attaching a tubular muntin bar to a spacer frame provider comprising a plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, said first and second edge being connected by first and second side edges and having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface having a bar plug that extends outwardly from the inner surface of said plate, said plate having a pair of flexible fasteners extending from the outer surface of said plate, said fasteners being positioned between a first tab at one edge of the outer surface of said plate and a second tab at the opposite end edge of the outer surface.  
   
   
       2 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are flexible and move in the direction perpendicular to the said first and second edge.  
   
   
       3 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of each said fastener bears against an inner surface of a flange on a space frame provider.  
   
   
       4 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein said fastener has a first end secured to said outer surface of said plate and a second end opposite said first end of said fastener.  
   
   
       5 . The clip according to  claim 4 , wherein said fastener has a first section extending outwardly from said plate and a second extending from said first section in a direction generally parallel to said plate and ending in said second end.  
   
   
       6 . The clip according to  claim 5 , wherein the second section of said fastener has an A-shaped tip at its end.  
   
   
       7 . The clip according to  claim 6 , wherein the tip of said clip is deflected as said clip is inserted into a space frame provider and said tip returns to its undeflected position after the clip is inserted into said frame thereby retaining said clip in said frame.  
   
   
       8 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein said tabs extend outwardly from the outer surface of the plate.  
   
   
       9 . The clip according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a space between the tip of the fastener and the outer surface of the intermediate plate.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for connecting a muntin bar to a space frame provider comprising: 
 an plate with an inner and an outer surface a first end and a second end;    a first and second tab extending from the outer surface of the plate;    one or more fasteners projecting from the outer surface of said plate;    a bar plug which extends from the inner surface of said plate;    and a plurality of lateral ribs which extend from the sides of said bar plug comprising a tip and a base, said base extending from said bar plug.    
   
   
       11 . The clip according to  claim 10 , wherein said bar plug further comprises an upper cross member, said upper cross member having a top surface and a bottom surface and a first and a second end.  
   
   
       12 . The clip according to  claim 11  wherein said cross member provides a friction fit with one or more of the interior walls of a muntin bar.  
   
   
       13 . The clip according to  claim 12 , wherein said cross member further comprises a first and a second lateral edge at said first and second ends, said first and second lateral edges being narrower at said top surface of said cross member.  
   
   
       14 . The clip according to  claim 13  wherein said flexible fasteners are positioned between said tabs.  
   
   
       15 . The clip according to  claim 14  wherein said tabs are positioned adjacent to said first and second edges of said plate.  
   
   
       16 . The clip according to  claim 15  wherein said tabs and said fasteners are spaced apart.  
   
   
       17 . The clip according to  claim 12 , wherein said lateral ribs and said cross member frictionally engage one or more inner surface walls of a muntin bar when said bar plug is inserted into the muntin bar.  
   
   
       18 . The clip according to  claim 14 , wherein said tabs are adapted to be received by a channel on a space frame provider.  
   
   
       19 . The clip according to  claim 10  wherein said flexible fasteners have a generally S shape.  
   
   
       20 . The clip according to  claim 19  wherein one end of said S curve shape of said fastener is secured to said outer surface of said plate by means of a protrusion from said outer surface of said plate and the other end of said S curve shape is free.  
   
   
       21 . The clip according to  claim 20  wherein the S curve of said fastener is generally parallel to the outside surface of said plate.  
   
   
       22 . The clip according to  claim 10  wherein said tabs protrude from the outer surface of said plate in a direction transverse to the direction of the bar plug.  
   
   
       23 . The clip according to  claim 20  wherein said tabs have a semicircular cross section.  
   
   
       24 . The clip according to  claim 20  wherein said tabs have a rectangular cross section.  
   
   
       25 . The clip according to  claim 10  wherein said flexible fasteners are positioned between said tabs.  
   
   
       26 . The clip according to  claim 25  wherein said tabs are positioned adjacent to said first and second ends of said plate.  
   
   
       27 . The clip according to  claim 26  wherein said tabs and said fasteners are spaced apart.