AU663650B2

AU663650B2 - Clamp for elastic cords

Info

Publication number: AU663650B2
Application number: AU60758/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Martin Reinbach
Original assignee: Hella Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Hella Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1993-06-03
Filing date: 1994-04-29
Publication date: 1995-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-29
Also published as: AU6075894A

Description

Li C I C C tc 663650

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): HELLA-AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED A.C.N. 004 516 947 Invention Title: CLAMP FOR ELASTIC CORDS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 1111 IL~I I

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*1#1 .111 I ICC I cC Ii C cC I CC C C~ for joining or securing elastic cords which when stretched, thin significantly.

It is known to provide clamps for elastic cords and the like but such clamps are either complicated and expensive or inefficient in that the thinning effect of the cord enables the cord to be pulled out of most known fittings.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fitting which is simple to use, economical to produce and which is capable of retaining an elastic cord when such cord is placed under tension.

According to the invention, a clamp for elastic cords comprises a first member adapted to receive a cord or cords and a second member adapted to clamp said cord or cords and being insertable in said first member, said second member being progressively inserted into said first member Stogether with said cord or cords as tension applied thereto causes said cord or cords to reduce in cross-section, said second member being lockable in said first member when r fully inserted and said first and second members being adapted to retain therein said cord or cords of reduced cross-section.

:1 Preferably said first member is tapered internally from the end in which said second member is inserted thereby causing said second member to maintain its clamping effect on the cord or cords as they reduce in cross-section due to tensioning or elongation thereof.

Further, the second member is also preferably provided internally with a plurality of small spikes or needle-like projections which pierce the surface of said cord or cords thereby preventing said cord or cords from pulling out of said clamp.

While reference is made to a cord or cords it will be understood that the invention is applicable to a single cord or multiple cords.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention and in which: Figure 1 is an illustration of one applicatinn of a clamp according to the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 15 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an outer casing of the clamp; i' Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clamping insert in its closed position; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the clamping insert in S 25 its open position.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings, a clamp for a pair of elastic cords is comprised of a casing 10 of oval cross-section and a clamping insert 11 adapted to be inserted and retained in said casing 10. As will be seen from Figures 2 and 6, the l 35 insert 1 is provided with a pair of opposed tapered lugs 12 which, when the insert is fully retained in the casing engage holes 13 in the casing I0 thereby locking the I s Additionally, as will be seen from Figures 2 and 7, the inner surface of the insert 11 is provided with a plurality of small spikes or needle-like projections 14 of progressive depth from the front to the rear of the insert.

These spikes engage and bite into the surface of the cord thereby preventing any slipping or length-wise creeping of the cord in the insert when the cord is stretched and/or relaxed.

In the embodiment of Figs 8 and 9 the casing 30 is provided with a flap 31 or the like by which the casing can be stitched, riveted or otherwise secured to sheet material 32 15 such as a cover for a utility, truck, boat tonneau or the like. In all other aspects the casing and insert are as previously described.

IThe insert 11 is formed from two halves connected by a membrane 20 and the tapering of the insert facilitates easy feeding of the assembled insert and cord into the casing.

*t G The casing is formed with a longitudinal groove 33 in each side wall. These grooves accommodate the membrane 20 i according to which side of the insert is uppermost.

In order to retain the elastic cord in the clamp, the cord is first passed through the casing 10 as shown in Figure 1 and the insert 11 is then applied to the cord by closing -it to locate the two parts of the cord 15 in passages 16, 17, formed by closing the insert as shown in Figure 6. The insert 11 with the cord 15 now placed therein is inserted narrow end first into the larger end 18 of the casing and tension applied to the cord in the direction of arrow A causes the insert and cord to be drawn progressively into the casing 10. This may be achieved by inserting a screwdriver for example in the loop and pulling the loop in the direction of arrow A and the screw-driver in the opposite I"s ^sr^ As the tension is applied to the cord, the cord is stretched, resulting in its decreasing in cross-section thereby enabling the insert to be drawn further into the casing 10, and being progressively forced onto the cord by the internal taper of the casing until the insert 11 is fully inserted in the casing and the lugs 12 engage in the holes 13 of the casing. The tapering effect on the insert also causes the spikes or projections 14 to bite into the cord 15 and to prevent it from slipping or being pulled out of the insert.

When the insert 11 is fully retained in the casing its 15 cross-section has been reduced correspondingly with the reee cross-section of the cord, thus maintaining a tight clamping effect on said cord.

Whilst the drawings and foregoing description relate to a looped single cord, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to a single or multiple elastic cords and the cross-section of the clamp is determined by the thickness or cross-section of the cord to be retained.

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Claims

1. A clamp for elastic cords comprising a first member adapted to receive a cord or cords and a second member adapted to clamp said cord or cords and being insertable in said first member, said second member being progressively inserted into said first member together with said cord or cords as tension is applied thereto causes said cord or cords to reduce in cross-section, said second member being lockable in said first member when fully inserted and said first and second members being adapted to r: retain therein said cord or cords of reducedcross-section.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first s 15 member is tapered internally from the end in which the second member is inserted whereby said second member is caused to maintain its clamping effect on said cord or c cords as they reduce in cross-section due to tensioning or 20 elongation thereof. 1

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said second member is provided with a plurality of needle-like projections which pierce the surface of said cord or cords Cc C: as said member is clamped thereon.

4. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said second member is formed from two halves connected along one side by aaBmra0%M', said second member tapering from one end thereof to the other, said narrower end being insertable in said first member. A clamp as claimed in claim 4 wherein said first member is provided internally with a longitudinal groove along each side wall whereby said 'ease of said second member is accommodated. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first member has a pair of opposed holes in/eopend bothC walls and said second member has an outstanding lug on each of its tep ~nd beotte walls whereby when said second member is fully inserted in said first member the said lugs engage the said holes and prevent withdrawal of said second member.

7. A clamp as claimed in any said first members is formed with a one wall whereby said member can be material. preceding claim wherein flap as an extension of attached to another o CL 0L 0 0 EC .rc r. .4*4 Sn, 4*4*i S. S *4 0

8. A clamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 29TH DAY OF APRIL 1994 HELLA-AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By Their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia 8 ABSTRACT This invention relates to a clamp for an elastic cord which as it stretches, reduces in diameter. The cord is clamped in an insert which is slightly tapered whereby as the insert is drawn into a casing by tension applied to the cord, it is progressively forced onto the cord. The insert has a plurality of small needle-like projections which pierce the surface of the cord and prevent withdrawal of the cord from the clamp. V V 44*4 I C I. C *tl a{ 6ta- r« ;i li i