GB1575084A - Supporting device - Google Patents

Description

(54) SUPPORTING DEVICE (71) We, NORMAN HARRY MILNES and BARRY DOVE trading as NORBAR PRECISION MOULDINGS, of Wharfe Bank, Tadcaster, West Yorkshire, LS24 9AN, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to devices for supporting elongate members such as pipes (such as central heating pipes and hot and cold water pipes), tubes, conduits and cables.

A known supporting device or clip for supporting elongate members comprises a small plate which is screwed into a wall or other surface against which the elongate member is to be located. The device also includes a top piece which locates over the elongate member and is screwed on both sides of the elongate member to the plate.

Another known device comprises a single member which may be screwed into a wall.

The member is shaped so as to grip an elongate member which has been pushed into engagement therewith.

The first of the above-mentioned known devices results in the secure fixing of the elongate member to the wall but is inconvenient to use in that the elongate member has to be held in place while the top piece is screwed into engagement with the plate.

The second mentioned known device is more convenient to use but results in a less secure fitting of the elongate member to the support device.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable, the device comprising a base member made of reslient plastics material and being securable to a wall or other surface and having a recess, the recess adapted to positively locate and retain the elongate member by snap action, the base member being provided with two apertures located on opposite sides of the recess, and the device also including a top member made of reslient plastics material and having a central portion for location over the recess of the base member and having two lugs with enlarged heads, the lugs being positioned on opposite sides of said central portion and so that the top member is a push fit into locking engagement with the base member with each lug being located in a respective aperture, the recess of the base member and the central portion of the top member together defining a space with a circular crosssection.

Preferably the recess of the base member has a cross-section which is greater than semi-circular but less than circular. Accordingly an elongate member may be pushed into the recess by deforming slightly the material of the base member around the top of the recess. The deformed material then returns to its original position when the elongate member is pushed home.

Preferably the lugs and apertures are positioned such that, when the top member is locked onto the base member, the lugs are concealed.

Preferably the enlarged head of each lug is provided with one or more shoulders which may be pushed through the aperture so as to lie behind one or more respective flanged sides of the aperture.

The plastics material from which the base and top members are made should preferably have a high strength to weight ratio but be sufficiently resilient to be deformed slightly and then returned to its original shape under the conditions mentioned above.

The material should preferably be non-corrosive and should preferably have a wide temperature tolerance. A particularly preferred material is polypropylene which may be either normal or flame retardant. Polypropylene fulfils the requirements mentioned above and is a reasonably cheap material.

Other possible materials which might be utilised in devices in accordance with the present invention are polyvinylchloride and plastics of the ABS type.

A device in accordance with the present invention is very convenient to use when installing piping or cables. Each device is only a single screw fixing. To support, for instance, a pipe on a wall it is merely necessary to fix the base members of the required number of supporting devices to the wall by means of screws. The pipe can then be pushed into position on these members and will be held thereby. Having located the pipe in the desired position the top members can then be snapped home over their respective base members and the pipe will be secured permanently in position.

A device in accordance with the present invention may also be used to locate an elongate member such as a length of pipe in a secure position while the elongate member is being measured or having some other operation performed on it. For instance it may be held sufficiently securely to be cut or otherwise shaped. During such procedures it will only be necessary to use say two or more base members. Having carried out such operations the elongate member may then be- fixed permanently in position in the above described way.

The top member is such that- it may be locked in position over the base member by simple hand pressure. Thus no- tools are needed and no additional screws or screwing operations are necessary.

A device in accordance with the present invention may be designed so that, when in use, there are few places where dust or extraneous matter can collect.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a device in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the device of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 3 is the top plan view of the device of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, a device in accordance with the present invention comprises two parts, a base member 1 and a top member 3. The two parts are each made out of polypropylene and are intended to be fitted together in the manner shown in the drawings so as to support a pipe or other elongate member within an aperture 5 defined by base member 1 and top member 3.

Base member 1 is formed with a large central recess 7 having a cross section which is part circular, being greater than semicircular but less than circular. This recess forms part of the aperture 5. A hole 9 extends from the bottom of recess 7 to the bottom surface of the member and is intended to accommodate a screw for fixing the base member to the wall or another surface. Screw hole 9 is countersunk at 11.

Between end walls 13 and 17 of base member 1 and the sides of recess 7 there are spaces 19 and 21. The spaces 19 and 21 are each open at the bottom and at the top there are apertures 23 and 25, each aperture being defined by side walls 27 and 29, one of the end walls 13 or 17 and the circular side wall 31 of recess 7. End walls 13 and 17 and the circular side wall 31 of recess 7 and each provided with an inwardly directed flange 33, 35 so that the aperture 23 is narrower than the space 19 immediately below the aperture.

Top member 3 comprises a central part circular member 37 and two oppositely disposed side members 39 and 41. The top member 3 - is shaped so as to fit over base member 1 and when fitted together central portion 37 completes aperture 5 so that the resultant aperture has a circular cross section. Each of the side portions 39 and 41 is provided with a lug 43, 45. Each lug 43, 45 has a relatively narrow neck portion 47 which connects an enlarged end portion 49 to the respective side portion 39 or 41. Each enlarged head portion 49 is shaped so as gently to taper from a curved end to its widest part where it meets neck portion 47.

Thus the head portion 49 is stepped back at each side where it meets neck portion 47.

In use the base member 1 may be screwed into a wall or other surface by means of a screw located in screw hole 9. A pipe or other elongate member may then be pushed into recess 5 the sides of the recess deforming slightly to accommodate the pipe and then returning to their original position once the pipe has been fully located in the recess. Other base members 1 may be located in the wall so that two or more such base members may locate the pipe. When the pipe is positioned by means of the base members, each fixing may be made more or less permanent by pressing a top member 3 into position over the base member.

This is achieved by locating the top member with its lugs 43, 45 over the respective apertures 23, 25- in the base member and then pushing the top member in a direction towards the base member so that the en larged head portions 43, 45 - of the lugs pass through the respective apertures 23, 25. In so doing the flanges 33, 35 and the walls of the base member may be deformed slightly to allow the enlarged head portions to pass through. Having passed through the base member then recovers its original shape and the device is then as shown in the drawings. It will be seen that the enlarged head portions are now locked in position within spaces 19 and 21 due to the engagement between the stepped portions of the enlarged head portions and the flanges of apertures 23 and 25. It is virtually impossible to remove the top member from the base member without damaging the device.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable, the device comprising a base member made of resilient plastics material and being securable to a wall or other surface and having a recess, the recess adapted to positively locate and retain the elongate member by snap action, the base member being provided with two apertures located on opposite sides of the recess, and the device also including a top member made of resilient plastics material and having a central portion for location over the recess of the base member and having two lugs with enlarged heads, the lugs being positioned on opposite sides of said central portion and so that the top member is a push fit into locking engagement with the base member with each lug being located in a respective aperture, the recess of the base member and the central portion of the top member together defining a space with a circular cross-section.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the recess of the base member has a crosssection greater than semi-circular but less than circular.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the lugs and apertures are positioned such that, when the top member is locked onto the base member, the lugs are concealed.

4. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein each enlarged head is provided with one or more shoulders which may be pushed through the aperture so as to lie behind one or more respective flanged sides of the aperture.

5. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base and top members are both made of polypropylene.

6. A device according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

7. A device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the drawings. It will be seen that the enlarged head portions are now locked in position within spaces 19 and 21 due to the engagement between the stepped portions of the enlarged head portions and the flanges of apertures 23 and 25. It is virtually impossible to remove the top member from the base member without damaging the device. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable, the device comprising a base member made of resilient plastics material and being securable to a wall or other surface and having a recess, the recess adapted to positively locate and retain the elongate member by snap action, the base member being provided with two apertures located on opposite sides of the recess, and the device also including a top member made of resilient plastics material and having a central portion for location over the recess of the base member and having two lugs with enlarged heads, the lugs being positioned on opposite sides of said central portion and so that the top member is a push fit into locking engagement with the base member with each lug being located in a respective aperture, the recess of the base member and the central portion of the top member together defining a space with a circular cross-section.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the recess of the base member has a crosssection greater than semi-circular but less than circular.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the lugs and apertures are positioned such that, when the top member is locked onto the base member, the lugs are concealed.

4. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein each enlarged head is provided with one or more shoulders which may be pushed through the aperture so as to lie behind one or more respective flanged sides of the aperture.

5. A device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base and top members are both made of polypropylene.

6. A device according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

7. A device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.