What are Spring Clips and Their Types?

When people discuss “spring clips,” they’re usually referencing what’s actually a Terry clip. These useful devices all operate with the concept of allowing the user to quickly snap a cylindrical object in or out of a spring clip without worrying about procedures or steps, just simply inserting or snapping to keep harnessed, or pulling free.

A spring clip is a universal tools holder, fast and effective. It is very common to see spring clips on tool boards keeping hammers and screwdrivers organized, right where they’re needed.

The original use for a spring clip was to keep a pump secured to a bicycle frame: Purely clever engineering, designed and adapted for innumerable uses ever since.

Most spring clips are of the concept of a single-piece, self-retaining fasteners, not constrained in use by fitting hardware like screws or rivets. Instead, spring clips are designed to constrict, holding firmly into the mounting hole, or along the edge of a panel, using spring tension as a self holding feature.

Their design allows for these to not be shaken loose by vibration, and the self-holding element also allows for a more natural reaction to slight misalignment or fit variability.

Generally speaking, spring clips are constructed of steel with carbon content between 0.50 and 0.80 percent; the presenting hardness is generally +/— hardening to around Rockwell C 45 through C 50, which is a good balance point hard and soft structure presenting bending strength and flexibility.

The amount of springiness can be manipulated, depending upon the amount of resistance for the given steel width and thickness, based upon the weight or amount of weight to hold in place.

In the case of the Terry clip, it can be described as a strip of springy sheet metal, (usually steel) cold bent into a specific shape, which has a flat base (with provision for semi permanent mounting) and bent in a curve from each end to the intersection of each shape at the top.

Those curves are what hold the cylindrical object, and the opening guide the object in, without precision consideration for insert, because the Terry clip is forgiving and will grip the object that is pushed inside.

It should also be noted that “spring clip” is different from other fasteners, and there is a range of similar clips from a range of spring clip types, and only one style the Terry spring clip.

Types of Spring Clips

1. Transistor Clips (Gull Wing Clips).

These clips are made with sheet metal and are usually secured onto a printed circuit board with screws. The primary purpose of the clips is to hold a transistor tightly against a heat sink and increase contact so heat transfer is more effective.

2. R-Clips (R-Pins).

Visualize these as spring like pins with a cool trick: there’s a straight section, which we pushed through a hole in the shaft, and the other end comes around in a bend to form a ring at the top. Once the pin is pushed through, the bent section snaps around the shaft and holds it in place.

When it’s time to remove the pin, stick your finger through the ring and pull and it’s gone. R-clips are handy in situations where you might want to hold on to or let go of parts quickly.

3. Linchpin.

Linchpins function much like R-clips, except that with the linchpin, there is a separate ring that attaches at the end to a straight pin, rather than a wire that has been bent.

You use the linchpin by putting the pin through the hole in the shaft, and then you fold the ring over so that there is a lock on it.

The ring is attached to the pin with a hinge so it always hangs either open or closed, making them easy to use. One thing to keep in mind is that unlike R-clips, the linchpins work best on the end of the shaft. The R-clips can be positioned anywhere on the shaft

4. Spring Hose Clamps.

These hose clamps are designed for attaching hoses to spigots. They function like jubilee clips but are far quicker to put on and take off.

The clamps are smaller than the pipe they are intended for, when they are relaxed. To fit, just squeeze the handles together, the clamp widens to allow fitting over the hose and when they are released the clamp returns to its original size, tightening onto the hose.

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