EP3900880A1 - Device for fitting a steel spring clip for holding a cable or a tube on the edge of a sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for placing a spring steel clip (10) for retaining a cable or a tube on an edge of a sheet. According to the invention, the device (1) comprises a body (2) extending along a longitudinal axis with a first end (3) provided with a striking zone (31) and a second magnetized end (4) provided with 'a holding face (43) of the clip (10), flat and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and having a surface between 15 mm ² and 350 mm <sup> 2 </ sup>.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of spring steel clips for holding a cable or a tube on a sheet edge, such as a flange edge of a metal beam for example.

Prior art

The type of staple (10) concerned comprises, in general and with reference to the figure 1 , a body (11) made from a metal lamella folded in the shape of a C with an opening (12) restricted to receive and hold the tube or cable, and a folded end (13) on itself in the shape of a U to come and engage in force on the edge of the sheet.

In order to engage the aforementioned staple on a sheet metal edge, it is known from the state of the art to hold the staple with the fingers and to use a hammer to strike the base of the U-shape of the staple. In view of the relatively small dimensions of the clip, this method requires a certain dexterity, proves to be often complex to carry out, impractical, and potentially dangerous given the risks of hitting your fingers with the hammer.

The present invention has set itself the objective of remedying these drawbacks in a simple, safe, efficient and rational manner.

Disclosure of the invention

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to remedy the aforementioned problems by providing a device for placing a spring steel clip for holding a cable or a tube on a sheet edge, which is simple and practical to use, while avoiding the risk of injury to the user.

To this end, according to the invention, the device comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis with a first end provided with a striking zone and a second magnetized end provided with a face for holding the clip, flat and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and having an area between 15 mm ² and 350 mm ² .

In this way, the device according to the invention makes it possible to be able to position the clip on an edge of a sheet without risking hitting one's fingers with the hammer. The clip is held at the end of the device by the magnetic field, in a stable manner with the base of the U-shaped clip resting against the holding face of the device, since said holding face is flat. and has an area between 15 mm ² and 350 mm ² . The user therefore stably positions the clip on the holding surface and strikes with the hammer at the opposite end. The fact that the retaining face is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and that it has an area of between 15 mm ² and 350 mm ² , makes it possible to effectively transfer the striking force of the hammer to the clip. The operation is performed in a safe manner since the operator holds the body of the device in the manner of a chisel, and the striking zone is remote from the holding face of the staple.

The retaining face of the device may have any suitable shape, be it circular, oval, square, hexagonal, or any other geometric shape capable of keeping a planar section of the clip in contact.

According to a particular embodiment, the second magnetized end comprises a magnet, for example cylindrical, itself forming the retaining face.

According to another embodiment, the second magnetized end comprises a housing containing a magnet, closed at least in part by the holding face, the magnetic field of said magnet acting through the holding face. In particular, the power of the magnet and the thickness of the holding face are adapted so as not to hinder the action of the magnetic field.

Preferably, the retaining face at least partially closing off the housing is made of plastic and has a thickness of approximately 1 mm, or even less. For example, the body of the device, or at least the retaining face is made of plastic and is preferably molded around the magnet.

Overmolding keeps the magnet at the end of the device. The retaining face closing off the housing may have a central opening opening onto the magnet and a peripheral rim ensuring that the magnet is held in position. The opening of the retaining face makes it possible to improve the efficiency of the magnetic field.

According to a preferred embodiment, the retaining face is circular and has for example a radius of between 2.5 mm and 10 mm, for example 5 mm.

Preferably, the striking zone of the first end is convex, in particular in the opposite direction of the magnetized end to improve the effectiveness of the strike while ensuring less degradation, for example compared to a first end provided with a flat strike zone.

Preferably, the body is perforated, for example by means of openings or lumens made in the body, preferably oblong in shape, in order to lighten the device, possibly with better mechanical resistance to striking and a reduction vibrations generated by the strike.

Advantageously, the body is in the form of a rod having for example an ergonomic lateral surface comprising, from the first end towards the second end, at least three annular beads defining between them hollow shapes, thus ensuring better grip. hand of the device, more secure and efficient.

In practice, and in no way limiting, the body of the device preferably extends over a length of 15 cm to 20 cm.

Preferably, the body has a constant or ringed cross section.

The body is for example in a substantially cylindrical shape, but can also have a different shape, such as for example a rod of section transverse oval, square, hexagonal, or any other geometric shape without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the body is made of plastic, or any other suitable material.

The various embodiments described above can be taken alone or in combination, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Description of figures

• [ Fig. 1 ] the figure 1 is a schematic representation illustrating, side view, a spring steel clip intended to be fitted with the device according to the invention.
• [ Fig. 2 ] the figure 2 is a schematic representation illustrating, in side view, a first configuration of a device for placing a clip according to the invention.
• [ Fig. 3 ] the figure 3 is a schematic perspective representation of a device similar to that of the figure 2 .
• [ Fig. 4 ] the figure 4 is a schematic representation illustrating, in longitudinal section, a second configuration of a device for placing a clip according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to figures 2 and 3 , the invention relates to a device (1) for placing a spring steel clip for holding a cable or a tube on a sheet edge, such as a flange edge of a beam for example.

With reference to the figure 1 , the type of staple (10) concerned comprises, in general and with reference to the figure 1 , a body (11) made from a metal lamella folded in the shape of a C with an opening (12) restricted to receive and hold the tube or cable, and a folded end (13) on itself in the shape of a U to come and engage in force on the edge of the sheet.

The device (1) comprises a body (2), for example in the form of a rod with a length of between 15 cm and 20 cm, comprising a first end (3) with a domed striking zone (31), and a second end (4) magnetized.

The second magnetized end (4) comprises a housing (42) containing a magnet (40), closed at least in part by a retaining face (43) of the clip, circular, flat and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis along which the body (2) extends. The magnetic field of the magnet (40) acts through the holding face (43) to be able to hold the clip (10) stably for its positioning and engagement around a sheet edge.

In particular, the user positions the clip (10) in a stable manner on the holding face (43) and strikes the opposite striking zone (31) with a hammer. In practice, the base of the U-shape of the clip (10) is positioned in abutment against the retaining face (43). The fact that the retaining face (43) is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis makes it possible to efficiently transfer the striking force of the hammer to the clip (10). The operation is performed in a safe manner since the operator holds the body (2) of the device in the manner of a chisel, and the striking zone (31) is remote from the holding face (43) of the clip.

The retaining face (43) has an area of between 15 mm ² and 350 mm ² , or for example a radius of about 2.5 mm to 10 mm. The retaining face has a reduced section relative to the body (2) so as to define a frustoconical end (4). The retaining face (43) also has a central opening (44) opening onto the magnet (40), which appears more clearly on the figure 3 . The central opening (44) has for example a circular shape.

According to a first configuration, and according to the figures 2 to 4 , the body (2) has a substantially cylindrical shape and a constant cross section, see figures 2 and 3 , or periodic / annealed, see figure 4 . The body (2) is also perforated to lighten the device (1) and possibly improve its mechanical properties. The body (2) has slots (21) of oblong shapes regularly distributed between the first end (3) and the second end (4).

According to a second configuration, and with reference to the figure 4 , the body (2) consists of cylindrical portions (22) of constant cross section, between which are defined annular beads (23). The cylindrical portions (22) and the annular beads (23) are arranged alternately, to define an ergonomic surface and allow a more secure and efficient grip.

In the embodiment of the figure 4 , the second perforated end (4) has a longitudinal reinforcement core (45).

In practice, whatever the configuration envisaged, the body (2) is for example preferably made of plastic by injection and overmolding around the magnet (40) to keep it in position at the level of the second end (4). In this configuration, the retaining face (43) is overmolded around the magnet (40).

It is of course obvious that one or more of the distinct characteristics of these two configurations can be considered to form another hybrid configuration, without departing from the scope of the invention since it is obvious with regard to the knowledge of those skilled in the art and configurations shown.

It emerges from the foregoing that the invention indeed provides a device (10) for placing a spring steel clip (10) for holding a cable or a tube on a sheet edge, which is simple and practical to use, while avoiding the risk of injury to the user.

Claims (10)

Device (1) for positioning a spring steel clip (10) for retaining a cable or a tube on a sheet edge, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a body (2) extending along a longitudinal axis with a first end (3) provided with a striking zone (31) and a second magnetized end (4) provided with a retaining face (43) of the clip (10), flat and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, and having an area of between 15 mm ² and 350 mm ² . Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second magnetized end (4) comprises a magnet (40) itself forming the retaining face (43). Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second magnetized end (4) comprises a housing (42) containing a magnet (40), closed at least in part by the retaining face (43), the magnetic field of the magnet (40) acts through the retaining face (43). Device (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the retaining face (43) is molded around the magnet (40). Device (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the holding face (43) has a central opening (44) opening onto the magnet (40) and a peripheral rim ensuring that the magnet (40 ). Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the retaining face (43) is circular. Device (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the retaining face (43) has a radius of between 2.5 mm and 10 mm. Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the striking zone (31) of the first end (3) is convex. Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) is perforated. Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) is in the form of a rod having an ergonomic lateral surface comprising, from the first end (3) towards the second end, at least three beads (23) annulars delimiting hollow shapes between them.

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