I. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to manually operated clips and similar temporary clamping devices. More specifically, the invention relates to a reusable installation tool formed with a plurality of longitudinally interconnected clip modules which is adapted for joining laid-together portions of heat recoverable sheet material.
II. Description of the Prior Art:
A wide variety of manually operated spring clamping devices adapted for particular applications are known in the prior art. The use of such a device to temporarily clamp laid-together portions of dimensionally heat unstable polymeric sheet material during the application of heat to join the clamped portions of the material is believed by applicants to be heretofore unknown. Such a use in conjunction with the formation of a wrap-around closure member is disclosed in a concurrently filed U.S. patent application entitled "Method for Forming a Closure Using Heat Recoverable Sheet Material", U.S. Ser. No. 750,976 filed Dec. 15, 1976. This application is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference. Of the clamping devices known in the prior art, none are particularly well adapted for this new use.
One embodiment of the invention relates to improvements in a clip described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,474,102 issued to Leon H. Ashmore on Nov. 13, 1923, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.