DE29818201U1 - Clamping device - Google Patents

Description

"Clamping device"

The invention relates to a clamping device, in particular a clamping device comprising a base body with a clamped goods storage section for storing the clamped goods, a clamping means which, in a loading position, enables the supply of the clamped goods to the clamped goods storage section and, in a fixing position, prevents the removal of the clamped goods from the clamped goods storage section.

Such devices are used, for example, in restaurants and hotels to hold newspapers, brochures, etc. together so that customers or visitors can read them without the individual pages getting mixed up in their order or lost.

In such clamping devices known from the prior art, a base body is connected in a hinge-like manner to a clamping part, whereby the clamped item can be inserted into the gap between these two parts and, in order to fix it, the clamping part is folded around the hinge bearings, thereby fixing the clamped item between the clamping part and the main body.

The disadvantage of this state of the art is that sufficient hold of the clamped material is only guaranteed if the clamped material has a thickness for which the clamping device was designed. Thicker clamped material cannot be held because it is no longer possible to fix it in the clamped state, and thinner clamped material falls out of the clamping device. Sometimes the support surfaces for the clamped material are provided with retaining pins, but this leads to damage to the clamped material.

The invention is therefore based on the object of eliminating this disadvantage and providing a clamping device that reliably holds the clamped material in the clamping device regardless of its thickness, in order to thus offer a wide range of applications for the clamping device.

This object is achieved for a clamping device of the type mentioned above in that the clamping means comprises at least one spring element and/or a rope-shaped element.

The clamping device according to the invention has the advantage that due to the spring element, different thicknesses of clamped material can be securely fixed in the clamping device without the clamped material being damaged. The same effect can be achieved by the clamping means comprising a rope-shaped element, with additional means being provided to relax the rope-shaped element in order to thereby enable the supply of clamped material, as well as means for tensioning the rope-shaped element in order to thereby fix the clamped material to the clamping device. Folded sheets of paper can already be held securely with such a device, with the spring element or the rope-shaped element pressing the paper sheet approximately with the fold to the clamping device and thereby the left and right halves of the paper sheet (or sheets of paper) remain freely movable - for example to enable a newspaper to be turned over. To support or better hold the clamped material, a receiving opening can be provided in the clamped material storage section, into which the clamped material can be inserted.

According to a preferred embodiment, the base body is elongated and the at least one spring element and/or the rope-shaped element, which acts as a clamping part of the gill means, can be brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the base body in a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base body. In this case, in particular

for secure clamping of clamped material with a folding point, the receiving opening and the clamping part lie one above the other in the fixing position of the clamping means, whereby the folding point is then arranged in the receiving opening of the base body.

In particular for the secure clamping of sheet-shaped clamping material, i.e. clamping material without a fold, the receiving opening and the clamping part are arranged next to each other on the circumferential surface in the fixing position of the clamping means.

In order to increase the application area of the clamping devices according to the invention, it can be provided that means for fixing and/or guiding the clamping part, at least in the tensioned state, are provided on the base body, wherein the means enable a change in the relative arrangement of the receiving opening and the clamping part in the fixing position of the clamping means. As a result, sheet-shaped clamping material with and without a fold point can be securely clamped using one and the same clamping device.

The base body of the clamping device can have a cavity, wherein a part of the clamping means can be arranged in this cavity. This can be the at least one spring element and/or at least a part of the rope-shaped element.

In a variant that is particularly simple in terms of manufacturing technology, the clamping part is formed by a spring element that can be tensioned and relaxed by being manually connectable and detachable to at least one means for fixing the clamping part, for example a projection or a recess.

In more complex manufacturing designs, the clamping device can also have a

Spring element tensioning device. In a particularly advantageous variant, the

Spring element tensioning device an actuating element that can be operated manually from outside the base body, which is coupled to at least one of the means for fixing the clamping part and by actuating which the transition from the loading position to the fixing position of the clamping means and vice versa can be carried out. In this case, the actuating element can be actuated against the spring force of a spring element. In addition, locking means can be provided that fix the spring element in the loading state. In this embodiment, the clamping device can be operated like a ballpoint pen, i.e. after the actuating element is pressed for the first time, the spring element is tensioned and a clamping part connected to the actuating device is relaxed. This makes it possible to insert clamped items into the clamping device. Pressing the actuating element again leads to a relaxation of the spring element and a tensioning of the clamping part, whereby the clamped item is fixed to the clamping device.

In an alternative embodiment, the base body comprises two main parts that can move relative to one another and are arranged in such a way that a receiving opening for the clamped item is formed between them. The at least one spring element is operatively connected to the two main parts in such a way that its spring force presses one main part against the other main part, thereby reducing the receiving opening. To enlarge the receiving opening, such a clamping device advantageously has at least one opening element with which the two main parts can be moved apart against the spring force of the at least one spring element. Elements with a wedge shape are particularly suitable as the opening element, with the wedge then being driven between the two main parts of the base body to open it.

In a further development of this embodiment, the first main part can be fixedly connected to a first outer boundary wall of the base body and the second

Main part can be movably arranged between the first and a second outer boundary wall of the base body.

According to a further essential aspect of the invention, the clamping device, in particular the base body and/or the actuating element and/or the opening element, has at least one connecting element to which an accessory can be attached. In a corresponding manner, the invention comprises accessories that have at least one connecting element that is suitable for establishing a connection with at least one connecting element of the clamping device according to the invention.

Accessories that can be considered include a handle, a label part, a hanging loop and elements that allow a clamping device equipped with one of these to be hung up in a conventional filing cabinet. Eyelets or an element with holes that allow the clamping device to be placed in a conventional filing cabinet can also be considered as accessories.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

In the following, embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. They show:

Fig. la shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention ;

Fig. 1b shows a second embodiment which, compared to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1a, is supplemented by a receiving opening;

Fig. Ic the embodiment according to Fig. Ib with offset

Arrangement of receiving opening and clamping part;

Fig. Id shows a further embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention in plan view with the clamping part omitted and in cross-sectional view;

Fig. Ie shows a further embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention with a projection for hanging the clamping part;

Fig. If the embodiment according to Fig. Ie supplemented by a
receiving opening;

Fig. Ig the embodiment according to Fig. Ie with offset
Arrangement of receiving opening and clamping part;

Fig. 2a shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention, which comprises a spring element tensioning device;

Fig. 2b the embodiment according to Fig. 2a with additional receiving opening;

Fig. 2c the embodiment according to Fig. 2b, in which the clamping part and the receiving opening are arranged offset from one another;

Fig. 2d a variant of an embodiment with
Spring element tensioning device;

Fig. 3a shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention
Clamping device in which the clamping of a
rope-shaped element that acts as a clamping part,
is effected by means of a rotating element;

Fig. 3d the embodiment according to Fig. 3a supplemented by a receiving opening;

Fig. 3c the embodiment according to Fig. 3b with offset arrangement of receiving opening and clamping part;

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment with an advantageous design of the spring element;

Fig. 5a shows a further embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention with a two-part base body, wherein the two main parts of the base body are prestressed against each other by spring elements;

Fig. 5b shows a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5a;

Fig. 6a shows a further embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention in which the outer walls of the base body are arranged stationary relative to one another;

Fig. 6b shows a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6a and

Fig. 7 various accessories for use with at least one clamping device according to the invention.

Fig. la shows a clamping device 10 according to the invention with a base body 12 and a schematically shown spring element 14, which is opposite a clamped goods storage section 13 of the base body 12. The spring element 14 is connected to plugs 16, 18 attached to the ends of the base body 12. To clamp the clamped goods, one of the two plugs 16, 18 is removed from the base body, whereby the spring element 14 is removed from the base body. In a next step, sheet-like material, for example a newspaper or the like, is placed on the base body.

The previously removed plug 16 or 18 is then reconnected to the base body 12, whereby the newspaper is clamped to the base body 12 by the spring element 14. The newspaper is preferably oriented so that in the fixed state the spring element rests on the fold of the newspaper. The base body 12 and the plugs 16, 18 have connecting elements 20, 22, 24, 26, which can be connected to accessories that are described in more detail in connection with Figure 7. A wide variety of materials can be considered for the base body and the plugs, in particular metals, wood and plastics. The surface of the base body 12 and/or the plugs 16, 18 can be designed differently depending on the application, for example printed, rubberized, gold-plated, etc. The spring element 14 shown schematically can be designed as a spiral spring, steel bow spring, milled spring, plastic spring, as an elastic plastic rope, as a rope-spring combination, etc.

Fig. 1b shows a further development of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1a, in which a receiving opening 28 is provided, which is arranged directly under the spring element 14 in its fixing position. This embodiment offers the advantage that, for example, in the case of clamped material with a fold, the fold can be introduced into the receiving opening 28, which ensures that, for example in the case of a newspaper, the individual newspaper sheets do not slip against each other, but rather maintain their congruent alignment in an aesthetically pleasing form.

Fig. Ic shows a modification compared to the embodiment according to Fig. Ib. Here, the receiving opening 28 is arranged offset from the spring element 14 on the peripheral surface of the base body. This offers the possibility, especially in the case of sheet-like material without a fold, of clamping it securely in the clamping device 10 according to the invention. For this purpose, the material to be clamped is introduced into the receiving opening 28,

the part of the clamped material protruding from the receiving opening is brought into contact with the base body 12 and then
the spring element 14 is fixed to the clamping device. How
The spring element 14 is shown both on the plug 16 and
also attached to the plug 18. This offers the advantage that
by turning the plugs 16, 18 relative to the base body 12
the position of the spring element 14 relative to the receiving opening 2 8 can be varied depending on the intended use.

Fig. Id shows a cross-sectional view and a top view
a clamping device according to the invention, wherein in the
The spring element has been omitted from the top view. In this variant, the spring element is in an opening 3 0 on the
Base body 12 is suspended and can be used to switch between loading and
Fixing position of the spring element to change back and forth, in
an opening 32 at the front end of the end element 18 can be hung up and out.

Fig. Ie shows an embodiment without end elements, in which for fixing the spring element, for example a
Rubber, a projection 34 on one end face 3 6 of the
base body is provided.

The variants according to Fig. If and Fig. Ig are in turn supplemented by a receiving opening 28, which is designed according to the arrangement shown in Fig. If
shown variant directly below the spring element 14, according to the variant shown in Fig. Ig laterally to the
Spring element 14 is arranged offset.

Fig. 2a shows a further embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention, a variant in which the base body 12 is at least partially hollow. A plug 18
has a diameter that is smaller than the
Inner diameter of the hollow base body 12. To
To bring the clamping device 10 into the loading position, the
Plug 18 in axial direction manually with pressure against a
(not shown) spring element arranged in the hollow body

This relaxes a rope-shaped element 38 acting as a clamping part on the outside of the base body, so that the clamped item can be inserted into the space between the rope-shaped element 38 and the base body 12. If the pressure is removed from the plug 18, the spring element (not shown) pushes the plug back into its original position, whereby the rope-shaped element 38 is tensioned and the clamped item is thus clamped firmly to the base body 12. Figures 2b and 2c show variants of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2a, which are supplemented by a receiving opening 28. While in the variant according to Fig. 2b the receiving opening 2 is located below the rope-shaped element 38, in the embodiment according to Fig. 2c the receiving opening 28 and the rope-shaped element 38 are arranged next to one another on the circumferential surface of the base body 12.

In a modification of the embodiments shown in Figs. 2a to 2c (not shown), the base body can be designed without a cavity. A spring element is arranged between the base body and a closure element in a cavity of the closure element.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2d, the total length of the clamping device remains constant regardless of whether it is in the loading position or in the fixing position. The base body 12 has a slot 40. A rope-shaped element 38 is attached at one end to the base body 12 and at its other end to an actuating element 42. The actuating element 42 protrudes partially from the base body and can therefore be actuated by an operator against the spring force of a spring element 14. When pressure is applied to the actuating element 42, the spring element 14 is tensioned, while the rope-shaped element 38 fixed in the actuating element 42 moves in the slot 40 towards its other end. This relaxes the rope-shaped element 38 and enables the loading of clamped goods. In a particularly

In an advantageous further development, locking means can be provided which enable the arrangement to be fixed in the loading position. The clamping device can therefore be operated in the manner of a ballpoint pen, i.e. by applying pressure to the actuating device 42 for the first time, the arrangement locks into the loading position. After the clamped item has been loaded, the actuating device 42 is again subjected to pressure, whereby the locking means release the actuating element 42 again and this is returned to its starting position by the spring element 14.

Fig. 3a shows a variant in which a rope-shaped element 38 is attached with one side via a guide eyelet 44 in the base body 12 to a sliding element 46 arranged movably therein. The base body 12 has a recess 48 from which a knurled rotation element 50 is arranged so that it can be operated from the outside. By rotating the rotation element 50, the sliding element 46 can be moved in the base body 12 and the rope-shaped element can thereby be tensioned or relaxed. The variants shown in Figures 3b and 3c are in turn supplemented by a receiving opening 28 in a different orientation to the rope-shaped element 38. In an alternative not shown, the sliding element 46 can be moved by hand in the base body using a sliding button connected to it. The base body has a slot through which the sliding button protrudes.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 4 has a spring element 14 which is pivotally attached to a closure element on the one hand and can be connected to a closure element on the other hand on the opposite end face, preferably in a recess provided therein for fixing clamped items. A central part 14' of the spring element 14 running parallel to the surface of the base body 12 ensures that the clamped item rests flat on the base body 12. This embodiment can also be expanded to include a receiving opening

can be supplemented, whereby the receiving opening can be arranged below the spring element section 14' or offset therefrom.

The variant according to Fig. 5a has a base body that comprises a first main part 54 and a second main part 56. Between the two main parts there is a receiving opening 28 into which the clamped goods can be inserted. The two main parts 54 and 56 are pre-tensioned by spring elements 58, 60. Two wedge-shaped opening elements 62, 64 can be driven by hand between the two main parts 54, 56 and cause the main parts 54, 56 to be pressed apart against the tensile force of the spring elements 58, 60. In this position it is possible to insert the clamped goods into the receiving opening 28. In order to fix the clamped goods between the two main parts 54, 56 the opening elements 62, 64 are then retracted back into their starting position. Both the main parts, shown as an example for main part 54, and the opening elements 62, 64 can have connecting elements 64, 66, 68 for accessories.

Fig. 5b shows a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5a with differently designed and arranged spring elements 58', 60'.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6a, the base body has an upper boundary wall formed by a first main part 54a and a lower boundary wall 54b, which is integrally connected to the upper boundary wall. Within the U-shaped cavity formed thereby, a second main part 56' is movably connected to the first main part 54a via spring elements 58'' or 60''. Opening elements 62, 64 are again provided for moving the main parts 54a and 56a apart. Guide elements 70 or a guide slot 72 can be provided for the opening elements 62, 64.

The variant shown in Fig. 6b has differently designed and arranged spring elements 58'' and 60''.

Fig. 7 shows a wide variety of accessories that can be used with at least one device 10 according to the invention. For this purpose, they are equipped with connecting elements 79 that can be coupled with the connecting elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 64, 66, 68 of a clamping device according to the invention. Wire eyelets 76 can, for example, be inserted into the connecting elements 20, 22, 64, 66 designed as openings, which makes it possible to file a clamping device according to the invention in a conventional file folder. Alternatively, elements 78 labeled with advertising or other information, for example, can be inserted into the openings 20, 22, 64, 66. Other accessories, particularly for insertion into the openings 24, 26, 68, include a handle with and without labeling 80a, 80b, a loop 82 and connecting elements 83 with a support section 94, which enable a clamping device according to the invention to be hung in a conventional hanging file. For the arrangement or storage of several clamping devices according to the invention, connecting elements as designated in Fig. 7 with the reference number 86 or 88 can be considered. If the accessory 88 is rotatably mounted in the center, for example, a rotating file can be realized in this way. The individual connecting elements 79 can also be angled (in the illustration according to Fig. 7 in the direction of the image plane).

Claims (29)

Christian Bär Josef Hällmayer New utility model application Attorney file: 24875/se:la "Clamping device" Claims: 1. Clamping device comprising: a base body (12) with a clamped goods storage section (13) for storing the clamped goods; a clamping means which, in a loading position, enables the clamped goods to be fed to the clamped goods storage section and, in a fixing position, prevents the clamped goods from being removed from the clamped goods storage section, characterized, that the clamping means comprises at least one spring element (14; 58; 60; 58'; 60'; 58''; 60''; 58'''; 60''') and/or a rope-shaped element (38). 2. Clamping device according to claim 1,
characterized, that the clamped goods storage section (13) has a receiving opening (28) into which the clamped goods can be inserted. 3. Clamping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (12) is elongated and a clamping part of the clamping means, which can clamp the clamped material to the base body, can be brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the base body in a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base body. 4. Clamping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving opening (28) and the clamping part in the • ·* · · ft· Fixing position of the clamping device lie on top of each other. 5. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receiving opening (28) and the clamping part are arranged next to one another on the peripheral surface in the fixing position of the clamping means. 6. Clamping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping part comprises the at least one spring element (14; 58; 60; 58'; 60'; 58''; 60''; 58'''; 60'''). 7. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the clamping part comprises the rope-shaped element (38). 8. Clamping device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that means (16; 18; 44) for fixing and/or guiding the clamping part at least in the tensioned state are provided on the base body, the means enabling a change in the relative arrangement of the receiving opening (28) and the clamping part in the fixing position of the clamping means. 9. Clamping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (12) has a cavity and a part of the clamping means is arranged in the cavity of the base body. 10. Clamping device according to claim 9, characterized in that the element of the clamping means arranged in the cavity of the base body comprises at least one spring element (14) and/or at least a part of the rope-shaped element (38) is. 11. Clamping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping part is formed by a spring element (14) which can be tensioned and relaxed by being manually connectable and detachable to at least one means (32; 34) for fixing the clamping part. 12. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it further comprises a spring element tensioning device. 13. Clamping device according to claim 12, characterized in that the spring element tensioning device comprises an actuating element (18; 42) which can be operated manually from outside the base body and which is coupled to at least one of the means for fixing the clamping part and by the actuation of which the transition from the loading position to the fixing position of the clamping means and vice versa can be carried out. 14. Clamping device according to claim 13, characterized in that the actuating element (18; 42) can be actuated against the spring force of a spring element (14). 15. Clamping device according to claim 14, characterized in that locking means are provided which fix the spring element in the loading state. 16. Clamping device according to claim 12, characterized in that the spring element clamping device is a the base body comprises a manually operable actuating element (50), in particular a rotation element, by the actuation of which the clamping part, in particular in the form of a rope-shaped element (38), can be tensioned and relaxed. 17. Clamping device according to claim 2,
characterized, that the base body comprises two main parts (54, 56, - 54a, 56a) which are movable relative to one another and are arranged in such a way that the receiving opening (28) for the clamped material is formed between them. 18. Clamping device according to claim 17,
characterized, that the at least one spring element (58; 60; 58';60';58'';60'';58'''; 6O ⁷ '') is operatively connected to the two main parts in such a way that its spring force presses one main part against the other main part in order to thereby reduce the receiving opening. 19. Clamping device according to claim 18,
characterized, that it comprises at least one opening element (62; 64) in order to move the two main parts (54, 56; 54a, 56a) apart against the spring force of the at least one spring element in order to thereby enlarge the receiving opening. 20. Clamping device according to claim 19,
characterized, that the at least one opening element has a wedge shape. 21. Clamping device according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that that the first main part is fixedly connected to a first outer boundary wall (54a) of the base body and the second main part (56a) is movably arranged between the first and a second outer boundary wall (54b) of the base body. 22. Clamping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body and/or the actuating element and/or the opening element has at least one connecting element (20, 22, 24, 26, 64, 66, 68) to which an accessory part can be attached. 23. Accessory for a clamping device according to claim 22, characterized in that that it has at least one connecting element (79) which is suitable for establishing a connection with at least one connecting element (20, 22, 24, 26, 64, 66, 68) of the clamping device. 24. Accessory according to claim 23,
characterized, that it comprises a handle (80a, 80b). 25. Accessory according to claim 23,
characterized, that it has a labeling part (80b, 78). 26. Accessory according to claim 23,
characterized, that it comprises eyelets (76) or an element having holes which enable the clamping device to be placed in a conventional file folder. 27. Accessory according to claim 23,
characterized, that it comprises a suspension loop (82). 28. Accessory (86; 88) according to claim 23, characterized, that it comprises several connection elements (79) so that several clamping devices according to claim 22 can be coupled thereto. 29. Accessory (84, 86) according to claim 23, characterized in that it has a support section (94) which enables it to be hung in a conventional hanging file.