EP0942176B1

EP0942176B1 - Wire mesh assemblies

Info

Publication number: EP0942176B1
Application number: EP99301623A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David John Sawyer
Original assignee: Bekaert Handling Ltd
Current assignee: Bekaert Handling Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-12
Filing date: 1999-03-04
Publication date: 2002-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-04
Also published as: EP0942176A2; GB2335949B; EP0942176A3; ATE229129T1; GB9904828D0; GB9805160D0; DE69904253D1; GB2335949A

Abstract

1. A kit for forming wire mesh assemblies comprises a plurality of wire mesh panels (20) all formed with a uniform size mesh (22) adjacent their edges, together with a plurality of clips (21) each of which comprises a strip of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a width akin to the mesh size and having a central transverse hinge portion (23), two outer transverse hinge portions (24) that are separated from the central hinge portion by planar intermediate portions (25) each of a length to span at least one mesh, and end portions (26), the intermediate portions and their respective adjacent end portions having mutually-engageable fastening means (27, 28) to enable the outer hinge portions (24) to be secured round mesh wires (29) spaced from edge wires (30) of adjacent panels (20) between which is disposed the central hinge portion (23). Various modified forms of clip are also described and claimed per se. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to wire mesh assemblies, such as wire baskets or trays, formed by connecting together panels of wire mesh, see for example DE 36 34543 or GB 2 314 833.
One object of the present invention is to provide a kit consisting of a plurality of wire mesh panels and a plurality of readily applicable clips, requiring no tools or but few normal household tools, such as pliers. The invention also includes the form of clip and also assemblies formed from wire mesh panels and clips in accordance with the invention.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the kit comprises a plurality of wire mesh panels all formed with a uniform size mesh adjacent their edges, together with a plurality of clips each of which comprises a strip of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a width akin to the mesh size and having a central transverse hinge portion, two outer transverse hinge portions that are separated from the central hinge portion by planar intermediate portions each of a length to span at least one mesh, and end portions, the intermediate portions and their respective adjacent end portions having mutually-engageable fastening means to enable the outer hinge portions to be secured round mesh wires spaced from edge wires of adjacent panels between which is disposed the central hinge portion.
The flexibility of the central hinge portions of the clips enables a pair of mesh panels held together by two or more clips to be set at any plane angle to each other, but in many instances the angle will be 90°, and/or for the clips to be applied to a pair of mesh panels disposed in a common plane, e.g., on an assembly table.
The mesh size may be uniform throughout the whole of each mesh panel, but the invention is applicable as long as at least the size of mesh along the edges of each and every mesh panel is uniform. Likewise a single gauge of wire may be used throughout each and every mesh panel, or a heavier gauge of wire may be used alternatively or additionally along the edges of the panels. However, if a uniform mesh size is used throughout each and every panel, a mesh panel can be connected at an intermediate position to another mesh panel, as well as edge to edge
The clips may also be used with panels consisting of sheets of material, rigid or flexible, with pairs of wires along one or more edges of each of the panels, or with a combination of such panels with wire mesh panels.
The central hinge portion may be disposed outwardly or inwardly with respect to any angle made between an adjacent pair of panels.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a clip for use in joining wire mesh panels together comprises a strip of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a width akin to the mesh size and having a central transverse hinge portion, two outer transverse hinge portions that are separated from the central hinge portion by planar intermediate portions each of a length to span at least one mesh, and end portions, the intermediate portions and their respective adjacent end portions having mutually-engageable fastening means to enable the outer hinge portions to be secured round mesh wires spaced from edge wires of adjacent panels between which is disposed the central hinge portion.
The mutually-engageable fastening means may be of the male-and-female snap-fastening type, so as to be disengageable when an assembly formed from wire mesh panels and clips in accordance with the invention is to be dismantled or modified. Thus the male part may be a rib with a bead-like head, and the female part a pair of ribs with mutually facing beads between which the head of the male part snaps into place when the end portion is pressed towards the respective intermediate portion. Clips with such snap-fastening means may be used as catches, enabling a panel secured only along two opposite edges to be released at one edge and swung open about the clips at the opposite edge.
The end portions may be of such a length from the respective outer hinge portions as to be able to extend over the respective edge wires of adjacent panels, and may even have curved edges to embrace the edge wires. Pairs of mutually-engageable fastening means may be provided between each intermediate portion and its corresponding end portion to lie one alongside an edge wire and the other alongside the adjacent parallel wire of the same panel.
To afford greater flexibility, the outer hinge portions and/or the central hinge portion may be made thinner. Alternatively, the central hinge portion may be provided with a curvature or bends to predetermine an angle between adjacent panels.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a clip for use in joining wire mesh panels together is formed of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a length exceeding twice the mesh pitch and a width akin to the mesh width, each end of the clip being bifurcated about the mid-plane over a length exceeding the mesh pitch and extending from a part-cylindrical inner end adapted to fit closely round an edge wire of one of a pair of mesh panels to claws adapted to embrace the first mesh wire parallel to that edge wire.
The material between the part-cylindrical inner ends of the bifurcations may be made hollow or thinner, or otherwise adapted to form a hinge, or bent, to enable a pair of wire mesh panels to be connected together at a plane angle to each other; and the claws may be provided with mutually-engaging fastening means, e.g., of the male-and-female snap-fastening type as described above.
A number of embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figures 1a and 1b show a pair of wire mesh panels included in a kit for forming wire mesh assemblies;
Figures 1c and 1d are diagrammatic elevations of a pair of clips included in the kit for forming wire mesh assemblies;
Figure 2 shows the clips of Figures 1c and 1d connecting together the wire mesh panels of Figures 1a and 1b;
Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal edge elevation of one of the clips of Figures 1c and 1d;
Figure 4 is an elevation of the right hand side of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a part-sectional elevation showing the clip of Figures 3 and 4 connecting a pair of wire mesh panels;
Figures 6 to 10 all correspond to Figure 5 but show modifications of the clip form;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation of another form of clip in accordance with the invention shown connecting together a pair of wire mesh panels;
Figure 12 is an edge elevation of the clip of Figure 11; and
Figures 13 and 14 correspond to Figure 12 but show modified forms of the clip.
Referring to Figures 1a to 1d, a kit consists of a plurality of wire mesh panels 20 and a plurality of readily applicable clips 21. The panels are all formed with a uniform size mesh 22 adjacent their edges, and the clips each comprise a strip of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a a width akin to the mesh size and have a central transverse hinge portion 23, two outer transverse hinge portions 24 that are separated from the central hinge portion by planar intermediate portions 25 each of a length to span at least one mesh, and end portions 26, the intermediate portions and their respective adjacent end portions having mutually-engageable fastening means 27, 28 to enable the outer hinge portions 24 to be secured round mesh wires 29 spaced from edge wires 30 of adjacent panels 20 between which is disposed the central hinge portion 23, as shown in Figures 2 and 5.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the mutually-engageable fastening means 27, 28 are of the male-and-female snap-fastening type, so as to be disengageable when an assembly formed from wire mesh panels 20 and clips 21 is to be dismantled or modified; thus the male part 27 is shown as being a rib with a bead-like head, and the female part 28 formed by a pair of ribs with mutually facing beads between which the head of the male part snaps into place when the end portion 26 is pressed towards the respective intermediate portion 25.
In Figures 5 to 7 the central hinge portion 23 is disposed outwardly with respect to the angle made between the adjacent pair of panels. The end portions 26 are of such a length from the outer hinge portions 24 as to be able to extend over the respective edge wires 30 of the adjacent panels, and in Figure 6 the end portions have curved edges 31 to embrace the edge wires, while in Figure 7 the central hinge portion 23 is moulded so as to embrace the edge wires 30.
In Figure 8 the central hinge portion 23 is disposed inwardly with respect to the angle made between the adjacent pair of panels, in consequence of which the edge wires 30 are spaced farther apart than in Figures 5 to 7 and the intermediate and end portions 25, 26 respectively are longer than in Figures 5 to 7.
In Figure 9 the spacing of the edge wires 30 is similar to that in Figure 8 but the central hinge portion 23 is disposed outwardly with respect to the angle made between the adjacent pair of panels.
In Figure 10 the end portions 26 are very short and the central hinge portion 23 is flanked by integral curved projections 32 hooking round the edge wires 30.
To afford greater flexibility, the outer hinge portions 24 and/or the central hinge portion 23 may be made thinner (not shown). Alternatively, the central hinge portion 23 may be provided with a curvature or bends (not shown) to predetermine an angle between adjacent panels.
In Figures 11 and 12 an alternative form of clip 33 is formed of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a length exceeding twice the mesh pitch of the wire mesh panels 20, each end 34 of each clip being bifurcated over the mid-plane over a length exceeding the mesh pitch and extending from a part-cylindrical inner end 35 adapted to fit closely round an edge wire 30 to claws 36, 37 adapted to embrace the first mesh wire 29 parallel to that edge wire. The claws 36, 37 are provided with mutually-engaging fastening means of the male-and-female snap-fastening type as described in relation to the clips 21. As particularly seen in Figure 12 the material 38 between the part-cylindrical inner ends 35 is made thinner to form a hinge. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 13, a hollow 39 may be provided between the part-cylindrical inner ends 35.
The clip 33X shown in Figure 14 has the overall thickness maintained across the portion 40 of the material between the part-cylindrical inner ends 35, so that the clip can be used to connect a pair of adjacent panels in a common plane.

Claims

A kit for forming wire mesh assemblies comprising a plurality of wire mesh panels (20) all formed with a uniform size mesh (22) adjacent their edges, together with a plurality of clips (21) each of which comprises a strip of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a width akin to the mesh size and having a central transverse hinge portion (23), two outer transverse hinge portions (24) that are separated from the central hinge portion by planar intermediate portions (25) each of a length to span at least one mesh, and end portions (26), the intermediate portions and their respective adjacent end portions having mutually-engageable fastening means (27, 28) to enable the outer hinge portions (24) to be secured round mesh wires (29) spaced from edge wires (30) of adjacent panels (20) between which is disposed the central hinge portion (23).
A kit as in Claim 1, characterized in that the mesh size is uniform throughout the whole of each mesh panel (20).
A kit as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that a single gauge of wire is used throughout each and every panel (20).
A kit as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that a heavier gauge of wire is used along the edges of the panels (20).
A wire mesh assembly formed from a kit as in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the central hinge portion (23) of each clip is disposed outwardly with respect to any angle made between an adjacent pair of panels (20).
A wire mesh assembly formed from a kit as in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the central hinge portion (23) of each clip is disposed inwardly with respect to any angle made between an adjacent pair of panels (20).
A clip (21) for use in joining wire mesh panels (20) together, the clip comprising a strip of substantially non-elastic flexible material of a width akin to the mesh size and having a central transverse hinge portion (23), two outer transverse hinge portions (24) that are separated from the central hinge portion by planar intermediate portions (25) each of a length to span at least one mesh, and end portions (26), the intermediate portions and their respective adjacent end portions having mutually-engageable fastening means (27, 28) to enable the outer hinge portions (24) to be secured round mesh wires (29) spaced from edge wires (30) of adjacent panels (20) between which is disposed the central hinge portion (23).
A clip as in Claim 7, characterized in that the mutually-engageable fastening means (27, 28) are of the male-and-female snap-fastening type.
A clip as in Claim 8, characterized in that the male part (27) is a rib with a bead-like head, and the female part (28) is a pair of ribs with mutually facing beads between which the head of the male part (27) snaps into place when the end portion (26) is pressed towards the respective intermediate portion (25).
A clip as in any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the end portions (26) are of such a length from the respective outer hinge portions (24) as to be able to extend over the respective edge wires (30) of adjacent panels (20).
A clip as in Claim 10, characterized in that the end portions (26) have curved edges (31) to embrace the edge wires (30).
A clip as in any one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that pairs of mutually-engageable fastening means (27, 28) are provided between each intermediate portion (25) and its corresponding end portion (26) to lie one alongside an edge wire (30) and the other alongside the adjacent parallel wire (29) of the same panel (20).
A clip as in any one of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the outer hinge portions (24) are made thinner than the central hinge portion (23).
A clip as in any one of Claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the central hinge portion (23) is made thinner than the outer hinge portions (24).
A clip as in any one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the central hinge portion (23) is provided with a curvature or bends to predetermine an angle between adjacent panels (20).
A clip (33) for use in joining wire mesh panels (20) together, the clip comprising substantially non-elastic flexible material of a length exceeding twice the mesh pitch and a width akin to the mesh width, each end (34) of the clip (33) being bifurcated about the mid-plane over a length exceeding the mesh pitch and extending from a part-cylindrical inner end (35) adapted to fit closely round an edge wire (30) of one of a pair of mesh panels (20) to claws (36, 37) adapted to embrace the first mesh wire (29) parallel to that edge wire.
A clip as in Claim 16, characterized in that the material (38) between the part-cylindrical inner ends (35) of the bifurcations is made thinner to form a hinge.
A clip as in Claim 16, characterized in that a hollow (39) is provided in the material between the part-cylindrical inner ends (35) of the bifurcations to form a hinge.
A clip as in Claim 16, characterized in that the material between the part-cylindrical inner ends (35) of the bifurcations is bent.
A clip as in any one of Claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the claws (36, 37) are provided with mutually-engaging fastening means (27, 28).