I need a replacement for broken C clips on TV trays

Ginger
by Ginger
The replacement plastic clips on our older style metal TV trays are no longer available through Cosco and Samsonite. We have a few broken ones and would like to know if there a way to fashion a home made replacement? Thanks!
  18 answers
  • Vinod R Vinod R on Oct 23, 2016
    Remove one of the plastic clips and try outlets selling plastic and industrial parts/ molds. Chances are you will find them!
    • See 1 previous
    • Meredyth Meredyth on Jul 19, 2020

      IKR? I’ve considered selling strange an unobtainable items too. Do you know where I can purchase a pressure valve for a 1 gal lawn and garden sprayer?

  • Alp11606608 Alp11606608 on Oct 23, 2016
    You can buy at hardware store little metal 'thingies' that I think are used to hold pipes. One end has a screw hole, the other is rounded & should fit over the leg part of your tray. I use them for various things. The open end you can get in various sizes. Hope this helps
  • Joy13145255 Joy13145255 on Oct 23, 2016
    Can you use binder clips? Cheap and fast.
  • Kim Kim on Oct 23, 2016
    Yeah I could use a couple of these also!
  • Sophia,M.,McConnery Sophia,M.,McConnery on Oct 23, 2016
    The other option is to buy at the dollar store those rain gutter clips for Christmas lights!
  • Sandra Kight Sandra Kight on Oct 23, 2016
    Try SUGRU. Moldable glue. Amazing stuff.
  • Connie Broussard Richard Connie Broussard Richard on Oct 23, 2016
    Our wood TV trays metal clips broke. My Hubby created these clips. We are still using the TV trays and they are 34 years old! In the second picture you will see that he used half a wooden clothes pin to secure it inside the clip he built.
  • Mlou Mlou on Oct 23, 2016
    You can try with "broom" clips at the hardware store. They a tension type and should work. The tighter you attach them, the tighter the clip.They are very inexpensive.
  • Hil12836252 Hil12836252 on Oct 23, 2016
    clean it up and paint it or I left my old vintage one as is and hang it and use it for a magnet post it board.
  • Nancy Nancy on Oct 23, 2016
    Try gluing magnets in the place of the clips. They should "lock" on to the metal legs.
  • Rose Elley Rose Elley on Feb 15, 2017

    We need replacement C-clips for our table trays also. We could use 16. Would not mind buying extras at this point. We have 4-table trays with 4-clips each.

  • Stephen Trenta Stephen Trenta on Jul 17, 2017

    A friend of mine came to me with this same issue, for these same clips. I was able to successfully model and 3D print the clips, and my friend said they work perfectly! I will soon post the model on Thingiverse.com if you have a 3D printer, and if not, I will try to post the model on Shapeways.com as well. Shapeways is a web service that 3D prints models and sells them to an end user. I will post links to both when I can. Thanks!

    • See 5 previous
    • Knavekid Knavekid on Nov 27, 2021

      I ended up printing my clips using this modification of your design:

      https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4545154


      I print with PLA which is much stiffer than the original material. According to the author of the modified part, the opening was enlarged and the hole position adjusted to better fit the Cosco tray. I will use these stiffer PLA clips on the "permanent" side of the tray as it is harder to snap in and out compared to the original.

  • Karen Karen on Jul 17, 2017

    Stephen, what a GREAT thing you are doing ... thanks!

  • Karen Karen on Jul 17, 2017

    I had the thought ... if there's anything left of the clips, perhaps using a bit of non-slip material, glued onto the tray legs, would enable the clip to hold?

  • Jack Jack on Jan 22, 2018

    Just bought these and they work pefectly. Get CLP-3/4, the 3/4" size. http://www.downwindmarine.com/Holding-Clips-Beckson-Clipper-Clip-p-90890514.html

  • Stephanie Stephanie on Jan 22, 2023

    Thanks for all the links and suggestions. I’m sure many can be used. My TV trays are metal. The ones on there now are held in place with small metal nail/grommets. How should I attach the new ones?