- 1 FERRULE CLIP Technical Field This invention relates to a two-piece ferrule clip for attaching a conduit or a pipe to a supporting surface. 5 Background Conventional ferrule clip systems consist of a cylindrical ferrule body that insulates a conduit conveying hot fluids such as hot water from a supporting wall. The ferrule body typically includes a centrally located recess for receiving a length of the conduit. After passing the conduit through the recess of the ferrule body, a metallic clip is used for lo surrounding the outer wall of the cylindrical ferrule body and clamping the ferrule body onto the supporting wall. The ferrule body acts as an insulating spacer whilst the metallic clip attaches the spacer and the conduit to the wall. A common way of attaching the conduit to the ferrule body is to use a two-part metallic clip that surrounds an outer wall of the ferrule body and attaches to the wall by 15 fasteners such as bolts. A bolt or a nut is used to fasten the two parts of the metallic clip with each other. One of the shortcomings of the prior art is that positioning the metallic clip around the ferrule body and simultaneously attaching the metallic clip to the wall is cumbersome and requires precise adjustment of the ferrule body before attaching the clip. The 20 ferrule body often slides downwards while installation is carried out on vertical pipes extending along a wall. It would therefore, be advantageous to provide a ferrule that ameliorates at least some of the above shortcomings of the prior art. Summary 25 In an aspect, there is provided a ferrule for attaching a conduit to a supporting surface, the ferrule comprising a first part that interlocks with a second part to define a collar that embraces the conduit; and a mounting portion integrally formed with at least one of the first part or the second part for attaching said at least one of the first part or the second part to the supporting surface. 4577174_1 (GHMatters) P93866.AU 7/08/13 -2 Preferably, the first part and the second part interlock with each other by a dovetail projection and groove arrangement. 5 Preferably, the interlocked parts have an outer wall spaced away from the collar to define an insulating chamber. Preferably, at least one of the mounting portions comprises a mounting plate for engaging the supporting surface and an opening in the mounting plate for receiving a 10 fastener to fasten said at least one of the first part or the second part to the supporting surface. Preferably, each of the first part and the second part comprises injection moulded polypropylene. 15 Preferably, the ferrule comprises two mounting portions, a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, wherein the first mounting portion is integrally formed with the first part and the second mounting portion is integrally formed with the second part and wherein each of the two mounting portions attach the first part and the second 20 discrete part to the supporting surface. Preferably, the first and second parts interlock into each other when the first part and second part are moved relative to each other along a length of the conduit to interlock into each other. 25 Preferably, the collar portion defines a recess for receiving and supporting an outer wall of the conduit. Preferably, the locking rib is located at a first peripheral edge portion of the first part 30 and the locking channel is located at a peripheral edge of the second part. Preferably, the insulating chambers are defined by internal walls located between the outer wall and the collar of the said at least one of the first part or the second part. 4577174_1 (GHMatters) P93866.AU 7/08/13 -3 Preferably, the insulating chambers are defined by a first set of internal walls and a second set of internal walls, the first set of internal walls extending radially and outwardly from the collar portion to the outer wall of the discrete part and the second set of internal walls intersecting the first set of walls thereby defining the insulating 5 chambers. Preferably, softening temperature of the injection moulded material is at least 1500C and more preferably at least 1600C. 10 Preferably, ignition temperature of the injection moulded material is at least 3500C and more preferably at least 3600C. Description of Drawing Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the apparatus and 15 method as set forth in the Summary, specific embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a ferrule-clip in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 20 Fig 2 is a perspective view of a ferrule-clip in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description 25 Referring to Figure 1, a ferrule in the form of a combination ferrule-clip 10 made of injection plastic is shown. The ferrule 10 is cylindrical in shape and comprises of two discrete pieces including the first ferrule piece 12A and the second ferrule piece 12B. The cylindrical ferrule-clip 10 includes an outer wall 17 that is spaced away from an inwardly located collar 11. The collar 11 comprises a collar portion 1 1A forming an 30 arcuate periphery of the first ferrule piece 12A and a second collar portion 11 B forming an arcuate periphery of the second ferrule piece 12B. Mounting portions in form of mounting plates 14A and 14B are provided for mounting the ferrule pieces 12A and 12B on a supporting surface such as a supporting wall. The 4577174_1 (GHMatters) P93866.AU 7/08/13 -4 mounting plates 14A and 14B are integrally formed with the first ferrule piece 12A and the second ferrule piece 12B respectively. Each of the ferrule pieces 12A and 12B are also adapted to inter-lock into each other. 5 The ferrule pieces 12A and 12B are provided with an inter-locking mechanism that enables the ferrule pieces 12A and 12B to inter-lock into each other. The inter-locking mechanism comprises a locking rib (15A, 15B) and a dovetail socket in the form of a locking channel (16A, 16B) that are provided in each of the ferrule pieces 12A and 12B. 10 In a typical installation, one of the ferrule pieces for example the front ferrule piece 12A is positioned by an installer to surround an outer wall portion of a conduit C with the collar portion 1 1A of the ferrule piece 12A. After receiving the conduit in the collar portion 1 1A, the ferrule piece 12A is fastened to the supporting wall by fastening the 15 mounting plate 14A to the supporting wall by using one or more fasteners such as screws that pass through screw opening 19 provided on the mounting plate 14A. After attaching the first ferrule piece 12A to the supporting wall, the second ferrule piece is 12B is interlocked into the first ferrule piece 12A. During an interlocking operation, the second ferrule piece 12B is positioned so that the second collar portion 11 B receives 20 the conduit C. The second ferrule piece 12A is then moved along the length of the conduit C to position the second ferrule piece 12A so that the locking rib 15A provided on the fixed first ferrule piece 12A slides into the locking channel 16A of the second ferrule piece 12A. The locking channel 16A is in the shape of a dovetail slot and therefore provides a one-way interlocking mechanism that prevents the interlocked 25 ferrule pieces 12A and 12B from being accidentally unlocked from each other while an installer commences attaching the second ferrule piece 12B on the supporting surface. Once, the second ferrule piece 12B is inter-locked into the first fixed ferrule piece 12A, the second ferrule piece 12B is also attached to the supporting surface by fastening the mounting plate 14B to the supporting wall. The inter-locking configuration of the 30 ferrule pieces 12A, 12B and the integral mounting plates 14A, 14B provide a combination ferrule-clip that has a simple self-locking mechanism that helps in securing the combination ferrule-clip onto the pipe easily in one easy action thereby allowing the installer to free up their hands to make position adjustments of the ferrule pieces 12A, 12B or even carry out other activities such as finding screws or tools etc. 35 4577174_1 (GHMatters) P93866.AU 7/08/13 -5 Advantageously, the combination ferrule-clip 10 also insulates the outer walls of the conduit C from the supporting surface. Such an insulating feature is often helpful in preventing heat losses from the conduit to the supporting surface. The outer cylindrical wall 17 of the ferrule pieces 12A and 12B is spaced away from the inner collar portion 5 11 of the ferrule. Typically the collar portion 11 contacts the outer wall of a conduit C. However, provision of an insulating space 13 between the inner collar portion 11 and the outer cylindrical wall 17 assists in insulating the outer wall of the conduit C from the supporting surface. A plurality of insulating chambers 14 is located in the insulating space 13. Each of the insulating chambers 14 is defined by internal ferrule walls 23 10 that are located in the insulation space 13. In the preferred embodiment the insulation chambers 14 are defined by internal annular walls 25 that are intersected by radially extending internal walls 27. The insulation chambers 14 in the preferred embodiment use air as an insulation medium. However, selected insulating materials may also be introduced into the insulating chambers 14. Advantageously, annular walls 25 and 15 radial walls 27 also improve mechanical strength of the ferrule pieces 12A and 12B by supporting the outer cylindrical wall 17. Referring to Figure 2, a second embodiment of the ferrule in the form of a combination ferrule-clip 100 made of injection plastic is shown. The ferrule 100 comprises of two 20 discrete pieces including the first ferrule piece 112A and the second ferrule piece 112B. The ferrule-clip 100 includes an outer wall 117 that is spaced away from an inwardly located collar 111. The collar 111 comprises a collar portion 111A forming an arcuate periphery of the first ferrule piece 1 12A and a second collar portion 11 B forming an arcuate periphery of the second ferrule piece 112B. 25 Mounting portions in form of mounting plates 114A and 114B are provided for mounting the ferrule pieces 112A and 112B on a supporting surface such as a supporting wall. The mounting plates 114A and 114B are integrally formed with the first ferrule piece 112A and the second ferrule piece 112B respectively. 30 Each of the ferrule pieces 112A and 112B are also adapted to inter-lock into each other. The ferrule pieces 112A and 112B are also provided with an inter-locking mechanism that enables the ferrule pieces 112A and 112B to inter-lock into each other. Each of the ferrule pieces 112A and 112B comprises locking teeth 115A, 115B 35 and dovetail sockets in the form of a teeth receiving slots 116A, 116B. Whilst this 4577174_1 (GHMatters) P93866.AU 7/08/13 -6 embodiment illustrates the provision of two locking teeth on each of the ferrule pieces 112A and 112B, the scope of the disclosure is not limited by the number of locking teeth provided on each ferrule piece. 5 In a typical installation, one of the ferrule pieces for example the front ferrule piece 1 12A is positioned by an installer to surround an outer wall portion of a conduit C with the collar portion 111A of the ferrule piece 1 12A. After receiving the conduit in the collar portion 11 A, the ferrule piece 1 12A is fastened to the supporting wall by fastening the mounting plate 114A to the supporting wall by using one or more 10 fasteners such as screws that pass through screw opening 119 provided on the mounting plate 114A. After attaching the first ferrule piece 112A to the supporting wall, the second ferrule piece is 112B is interlocked into the first ferrule piece 112A. During an interlocking operation, the second ferrule piece 112B is positioned so that the second collar portion 111 B receives the conduit C. The second ferrule piece 112A is 15 then moved along the length of the conduit C to position the second ferrule piece 112A so that each of the two locking teeth 115A provided on the fixed first ferrule piece 112A slide into the correspondingly positioned locking sockets 116A. The locking teeth and locking socket therefore provide a one-way interlocking mechanism that prevents the interlocked ferrule pieces 112A and 112B from being accidentally unlocked from each 20 other while an installer commences attaching the second ferrule piece 112B on the supporting surface. Advantageously, each ferrule piece 112A and 112B are provided with detents 122 and 124 on their respective side walls 132 and 134. The detents 122 and 124 are provided for receiving an installer's fingers and thereby assist in gripping the ferrule pieces 1 12A and 112B at the time of installation. 25 Once, the second ferrule piece 112B is inter-locked into the first fixed ferrule piece 112A, the second ferrule piece 12B is also attached to the supporting surface by fastening the mounting plate 1 14B to the supporting wall. The inter-locking configuration of the ferrule pieces 1 12A, 112B and the integral mounting plates 1 14A, 30 114B provide a combination ferrule-clip that has a simple self-locking mechanism that helps in securing the combination ferrule-clip onto the pipe easily in one easy action thereby allowing the installer to free up their hands to make position adjustments of the ferrule pieces 12A, 12B or even carry out other activities such as finding screws or tools etc. 35 4577174_1 (GHMatters) P93866.AU 7/08/13 -7 Advantageously, the combination ferrule-clip 110 also insulates the outer walls of the conduit C from the supporting surface. Such an insulating feature is often helpful in preventing heat losses from the conduit to the supporting surface. The outer cylindrical wall 117 of the ferrule pieces 11 2A and 11 2B is spaced away from the inner collar 5 portion 11 of the ferrule. Typically the collar portion 111 contacts the outer wall of a conduit C. However, provision of an insulating space 113 comprising injection moulded plastic between the inner collar portion 111 and the outer cylindrical wall 117 assists in insulating the outer wall of the conduit C from the supporting surface. Whilst, the other alternative insulating materials may also be introduced in the insulating space 113. 10 Whilst, the invention is not limited to any specific ways or methods of manufacturing the combination ferrule-clip, the combination ferrule-clip 10 is manufactured by an injection moulding process and comprises injection moulded polypropylene. Using polypropylene is advantageous because the softening temperature of polypropylene is 15 higher than 1600C. As a result a polypropylene ferrule-clip 10 does not soften when fluids such as hot water is conveyed in conduits at temperatures of approximately 500C to 700C. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such 20 reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary 25 implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 4577174_1 (GHMatters) P93866.AU 7/08/13