Sliding Member Bollard Bracket

Abstract

A hanging clip system includes a clip having a head portion having first and second legs extending from the head portion. Each of the first and second legs includes an outwardly extending flange having a convexly curved upper surface and a flat surface facing away from the head portion. A gap between the first and second legs defines an angle created during a molding process so that the first and second legs can be elastically deflected toward each other to provide a biased condition of the legs. A frame member includes opposed inwardly curving arms which define a cavity adapted to receive the flanges of the clip and inner opposed walls which define a channel adapted to receive the legs.

1 . A clip, comprising:
 a head portion having first and second legs extending from the head portion;   each of the first and second legs including an outwardly extending flange having a convexly curved upper surface and a flat surface facing away from the head portion;   a through-aperture created in the head portion; and   a gap between the first and second legs defining an angle created during a molding process so that the first and second legs can be elastically deflected toward each other to provide a biased condition of the legs.   
   
   
       2 . The clip of  claim 1 , further including a neck positioned between the head portion and the extending flanges defining a first junction with the head portion and a second junction with the extending flanges. 
   
   
       3 . The clip of  claim 2 , wherein the neck is a smooth curved surface. 
   
   
       4 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is approximately 8 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than 8 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is greater than 8 degrees. 
   
   
       7 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second legs extends beyond the head portion when viewed from above the head portion. 
   
   
       8 . A clip, comprising:
 a homogenous body created of a polymeric material including:
 a head portion having first and second legs extending from the head portion; 
 each of the first and second legs including an outwardly extending flange having a convexly curved upper surface and a flat surface facing away from the head portion; 
 a gap between the first and second legs defining an angle created during a molding process so that the first and second legs can be elastically deflected toward each other to provide a biased condition of the legs; and 
   a neck positioned between the head portion and the extending flanges defining a first junction with the head portion and a second junction with the extending flanges, with the neck defining a smooth curved surface.   
   
   
       9 . The clip of  claim 8 , further including a through-aperture created in the head portion. 
   
   
       10 . A hanging clip system, comprising:
 a clip including:
 a head portion having first and second legs extending from the head portion; 
 each of the first and second legs including an outwardly extending flange having a convexly curved upper surface and a flat surface facing away from the head portion; 
 a gap between the first and second legs defining an angle created during a molding process so that the first and second legs can be elastically deflected toward each other to provide a biased condition of the legs; and 
   a frame member including:
 opposed inwardly curving arms which define a cavity adapted to receive the flanges of the clip; and 
 inner opposed walls defining a channel adapted to receive the legs. 
   
   
   
       11 . The clip system of  claim 10 , wherein in an installed condition the first and second legs of the clip are slidably received into the frame member with the first and second legs positioned in parallel with the channel and with the flanges also in parallel with the channel and free of the inner opposed walls of the cavity such that the clip can freely slide within the cavity. 
   
   
       12 . The clip system of  claim 11 , wherein in an engaged condition the clip is re-oriented approximately 90 degrees from the installed condition until the convexly curved upper surfaces of the flanges frictionally contact the inward facing walls of the arms within the cavity to frictionally lock the clip within the frame member. 
   
   
       13 . The clip system of  claim 12 , wherein contact between the flanges and the inward facing walls of the arms creates a displacement of the clip until the flat surfaces frictionally contact cavity facing surfaces of outwardly directed portions of the opposed walls. 
   
   
       14 . The clip system of  claim 13 , wherein a frictional contact occurs between the first and second legs and the walls by elastic deflection of the first and second legs creating a biasing force. 
   
   
       15 . The clip system of  claim 10 , wherein the clip further includes a neck separating the head portion from the first and second legs operating to promote a rotational sliding contact surface with free ends of the arms to promote axial rotation of the clip. 
   
   
       16 . The clip system of  claim 10 , wherein the clip further includes a through-aperture created in the head portion adapted to receive a hanging member. 
   
   
       17 . The clip system of  claim 10 , wherein the frame member defines mirror image halves rotated about a vertical centerline and further rotated about a horizontal centerline, providing equal and opposed ones of the cavity and equal and opposed ones of the channel, such that the clip can be received in either of the opposed ones of the cavities and channels. 
   
   
       18 . A method for releasably coupling a clip to a frame member, the clip having a head and first and second legs extending from the head each including an outwardly extending flange having a convexly curved upper surface and a flat surface facing away from the head, and a frame member having a longitudinal channel and a cavity parallel to the channel and arms having inward facing walls, the method comprising:
 slidably inserting the first and second legs of the clip into the frame member with the first and second legs positioned parallel to a channel of the frame member and with the flanges also parallel to the channel;   longitudinally slidably moving the clip to a desired position along the channel;   axially rotating the clip approximately 90 degrees to elastically deflect the legs toward each other by contact with walls of the channel until the convexly curved upper surfaces of the flanges frictionally contact the inward facing walls of the arms within the cavity.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising controlling a curvature of each of the arms to be equal to a curvature of the convexly curved upper surfaces of the flanges. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising varying a curvature of each of the arms to differentiate the curvature of the arms from a curvature of the convexly curved upper surfaces of the flanges. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising inserting a hook member or loop of wire through an eyelet of the head to hang the frame member from a wall or support surface.