FR2505419A1 - U-METAL CLIP - Google Patents

Abstract

METAL U-SHAPED STAPLES FOR FIXING CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS ON THE EDGE OF A SUPPORT PLATE, CONSISTING OF A SPACER PART AND TWO CLAMP LEGS, AT LEAST ONE OF THESE CLAMP BRACKETS CONTAINING THE TONGS OCCURRENCE APPLIED AGAINST THE RETAINING FLANGE UNDER THE ACTION OF A TIGHTENING FORCE. THE TIGHTENING TABS 6 ARE MADE IN ONE BY FORMING THE ENDS OF THE LEGS 4 AND 5 ANGULARLY FOLDED AT A RIGHT ANGLE IN RELATION TO THE TIGHTENING TABS, AND AT A DISTANCE FROM THESE CLAMPING TABS SUCH AS THE TAPPING TABS 6, IN POSITION OF TIGHTENING, MEET THE SURFACE OF THE FLANGE 7 AT AN "ALPHA" ANGLE AS IT IS LOCATED, TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE FRICTION RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE TIGHTENING SIZE 9 AND THE RETAINING FLANGE 7, IN THE FIELD OF SELF-LOCKING INDESSERRABLE. THE PRESENT INVENTION APPLIES IN PARTICULAR TO THE FIXING OF SHEETS, TUBES OR MOLDINGS.

Description

The present invention relates to a

  U-shaped metal flange for fastening construction elements

  on a retaining flange, this retaining flange in front of

  be considered in this case quite generally

  The metal clip consists of a spacer strip and two clamping tabs which are able to deform elastically and which grip the retaining flange, at least one

  of these clamping lugs, which in this case

  gates applying against the restraining flange under the

  tightening force and provided with folded sides in

  the opposite direction to the restraining flange, made

  from it by forming under conditions such that

  these clamping tabs deform elastically oblique-

  towards the rear in the opposite direction to the direction of

mation.

  Such metal staples are de-

  I have known, for example from British Patent GB 780 445.

  They are mainly used to secure building elements or functional elements on a

  support plate, under conditions such that it is difficult

  to separate them later The elements of

  truction or the functional elements in question are in general

  with a flange or a corresponding bank, which is provided for that purpose, and which is clamped and immobilized by

  tightening in position, at the same time as the retaining flange.

  But metal staples can also be used

  as anchoring feet for other retaining members such as for example clamps for cables, in which case the hook portion is directly formed by forming integral with the portion constituting the retaining member, and is made of one piece with it, but these staples may also be provided with retaining shoulders, or the like, additional, and are

  in this case used for example in the self-construction

  mobile device for attaching trim strips to

  protruding body edges.

In all these cases of use, the

  clamping force is produced or obtained by the elastic cedar

  ticks and tongues

  clamping edges with the folded edges

  currency pushed back over a certain distance above the retaining flange.

  here, under the effect of the clamping force produced by the

  elastically in question, penetrate more or less strongly in the surface of the retaining flange, and cause, in doing so, striations and scratches clearly visible This phenomenon

  constitutes, it is conceivable, a particular disadvantage

  when dealing with painted parts or having been subjected to any other surface treatment, since these scratches favor the superficial attack of the surface, and thus become the starting point

  localized undesirable corrosions.

  The present invention therefore proposes to confer on the metal clip presented at the beginning of this description a configuration such that when this staple is pressed into position by pressure, it is avoided as much as possible to scratch the application surface, and this without

  however, to give up the clamping force and to re-

necessary attire.

  This objective is mainly realized by the fact that the elastic tensioning tabs

  at the ends of the clamping flanges folded into

  substantially at right angles to them, are

  formed by shaping them in accordance with

  such a distance from these legs as these tongues of

  They take their clamping position on the surface of the flange by approaching it at an angle such that it is situated, taking into account the frictional resistance between the clamping side and the retaining flange, in the area of the flange.

automatic blocking.

  Thanks to the configuration of the elastic clamping tongues according to the present invention, it is then necessary to implement a very weak force

  application to slide the clamping sides of the

  on the flange of the support plate, since the clamping tongues, when the elastic cedar is produced, have to overcome a considerably lower bending strength than is the case for the clamping lugs in the clamping position on the other hand, the elastic tongues play, by the self-locking locking effect they exert, the role of true rigid support points between the clamping lugs and the retaining flange, so that the force This is mainly determined by the flexural strength of the clamping lugs and the spacer bar that connects them.

  this effort is then exerted

  to shoot then we only increase the force of

  of the latter, because the elastic tongues of

  age, because of the self-indestructible

  they determine, to move from their weakly

  backward in a position that will move closer and closer to the vertical, thereby repelling

  clamping tabs to the outside, so that these

  still exert additional tightening force, in particular

  agreement with the elastic cedar put into play.

  staple, the only force to overcome is the resistance

  bending of the connection between the elastic tongues

  clamping points and the clamping brackets, whereas, for

  lock in position of the clip, the tabs

  clamping bands serve as points of support and the

  resistance to bending of the staple in its entirety (ie the two clamping lugs and the spacer part which

connects them) produces its effect.

  Following another feature of the

  The invention provides the clamping tongues with a slight

  elastic cedar yield by giving them at the level of the connection zone a width which is substantially only

  half of that at the clamping side.

  It is furthermore advantageous for the effect that the invention

  proposes to give to the staple, that part of the languet-

  tightened outward in front of the service side.

  rage is removed from it substantially at right angles, because this prevents the elastic tongue can

  swing or rotate around the link area.

  The attached schematic diagram illustrates

  by means of an embodiment, the present invention

  its mode of action, which we shall give

  in the following a more detailed description The differences

  The following diagrams show respectively: Figure 1 A side view of the U-shaped clip.

  Figure 2 The same staple, seen from

  Figure 3 A wholesale representation

  clip, which illustrates the mode of action of the languet-

  (a) before fitting the staple to a retaining flange, (b) once it has been fitted, and (c) when trying to remove the staple fitted on the

retaining flange.

  Figure 4 An example of a practical application of the clamping principle in the case of a cable clamp

  Figure 5 Another example of an application

  tightening principle in the case of a mounting clip.

  the use of a trim strip to protect edges or edges, and

  Figure 6 Another example of use

  for attaching trim strips to the frame

windshield.

  The metal clip illustrated in these

  different figures consists of a part forming a spacer

  se (1) and two clamping tabs capable of yielding or deforming elastically (2) and (3) which, at their level

  ends (4) and (5) are folded outwards in

  substantially at a right angle At the angularly folded ends (4) and (5) are respectively

  two clamping tongues (6), made integral with each other by means of

  mage, and which are cut in the angularly folded ends (4) and (5) and in a portion of the clamping lugs (2) and (3), and which yield elastically obliquely

  towards the rear, in the opposite direction to the direction of

  mation. The clamping tongues (6) are, at their free ends (8) curved substantially

  at a right angle in the opposite direction to the direction of

  and rest against the retaining flange (7) by their

  clamping sides (9) (Figure 3b).

  The clamping tongues (6) are furthermore substantially aligned at right angles to the clamping tabs (2) and (3) or slightly inclined towards the rear, and integral by forming the edge of the folded ends (4). and (5) substantially at the marked area (10), and this by a connecting portion having a relatively small section, whereby the clamping tongues (6) yield elastically substantially at this connection area. (> O) because of the

  reduced flexural strength which characterizes it

  As shown in Figure 2, this is achieved in a way that

  re easy by the simple fact that the clamping tongues (6) are, at the level of the connection zone (10) substantially less than half as wide as at their ends li

bres (8).

  The connection zone (I 0) between the clamping tabs (6) and the angularly-folded ends of the tabs (4) and (5) is provided at a distance "a 'from the clamping tabs (2) and (3). such that the clamping tongues (6) meet, in the clamping position, the surface of the retaining flange (7) at an angle 'alpha', which angle is, taking into account the frictional resistance between the c 8 tee (9) and the retaining flange (7) in the

  self-indestructible blocking domain This "alpha" angle

  in the case of a painted surface, do not exceed

  the flange (7) 8 with respect to the vertical.

  FIGS. 3 a-c illustrate in a particularly explicit manner the mode of action of the tabs of

  self-locking clamps (6) Figure 3 shows the

  free metal graft, before it is fitted onto the retaining flange (7) The clamping tongues (6)

  in this case (for reasons inherent in

  manufacture) only slightly inclined towards the rear

  re, and the gap "1" between the clamping sides (9) oppo-

  is a little smaller than the thickness "d" of the flange of

restraint (7).

  Figure 3b shows the tabs of

  tightening (6) in the retracted position after the

  staple, and whose sides (9) are in contact with

  the retaining flange (7) at an angle "alpha" which is less than

  As a result of the stiffness of the "alpha" angle and the frictional resistance, a self-locking locking effect is obtained, which makes the clamping tongues

  (6) can only be moved in the direction

  read by the arrow "A", and not in the opposite direction

(arrow "B").

  FIG. 3c shows the behavior of the clamping tongues (6) when the staple, in the direction marked by the arrow "B", is exerted on the staple.

  to remove it from its fitting position:

  gates take a vertical position and the leg of

  ge (3) opens or spreads over the angular end

  folded (5) in the proportion "a" and correspondingly

  with this spacing, the clamping force exerted by the

  clamping bracket (3) necessarily increases in proportion.

  The free end (8) folded at a right angle prevents in the oc-

  currence that the clamping tongues (6) still

  further ahead under the Connection Mone (10).

  Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the main

  eg the action of the self-locking clamping tabs

  (6), using different examples of practical realization.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a cable clamp which comprises, coming from forming, a stirrup

  clamping device (11) secured at the end (5)

  folded withdrawal of the clamping lug (3) In the present embodiment, the lower clamping lug (2) is produced without a clamping tab (6).

  may be provided in addition, in the case where their

  would be essential to produce the force of ser-

  rage. FIG. 5 illustrates the conditions under which a ridge or edge protector profile (12) can be mounted and fixed in position, without the risk of damage to the paint coating, by means of a trim strip staple having tongues (6) arranged according to the present invention on a flange

  bodywork representing in this case the flange (7).

  In the application illustrated by the

  6, it is a fastening clip of the trim strip attached to a T-bolt, which is provided with tabs of

  clamping device (6) according to the invention, and which serves to fix in position

  a trim strip (13) with its retainer blade (7) in the frame (14) of a windshield (15) in a

  such case it is less a question of protecting the coating of

  To facilitate the assembly of the trim strip (13) compared with the conventional claw fastening The head (17) of the T-bolt (16) further increases the clamping effect in this way. U-shaped staple, considered as a whole, can no longer yield elastically, only then can it make the clamping lug (3) protruding

  above the head of the T-piece (17).

R e v e N d i c t i o N s

  U-shaped metal staples for the final

  construction elements on a retaining flange or

  the edge of a support plate, consisting of a part

  trestle and two clamping tabs enclosing the retaining flange and capable of yielding elastically, at least one

  these clamping lugs comprising in this case tongues

  against the retaining flange under the action of

  a clamping force, and provided with folded sides in the di-

  IO opposite rection to the retaining flange, made integral with it by forming under conditions such that these clamping tongues yield elastically obliquely rearward in the opposite direction to the direction of the fitting of the clip, S écaract é Seen

  the clamping tongues (6) are made

  by forming ends of the legs (4 and 5) angularly

  folded substantially at right angles to the clamping tabs (2 and 3), and at a distance from these clamping tabs (2 and 3) such that the clamping tongues (6), in the clamping position, meet the surface of the flange (7) at an angle "alpha" as it is, taking into account the frictional resistance between the clamping side (9) and

  the retaining flange (7) in the area of the self-locking

indesserrable.

  2 Metal clip according to the claim

  1, characterized by the fact that the clamping tongues (6) have a width at the connection zone (10) that is substantially half that smaller than that

  they present at the clamping side (9).

  3 Metal clip according to the claim

  1 or 2, characterized by the fact that languets

  (6) are cut and formed from the

clamping tabs (2 and 3).

  4 Metal clip according to one of the

  claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the former

  free end (8) of the clamping tongue (6) folded outwards at the clamping side (9) is moved away from

  it is substantially at right angles.