GB1587388A

GB1587388A - Clips

Info

Publication number: GB1587388A
Application number: GB442078A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GAUKROGER J
Current assignee: GAUKROGER J
Priority date: 1978-05-25
Filing date: 1978-05-25
Publication date: 1981-04-01

Description

.(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CLIPS (71) I, JAMES GAUKROGER, of Field Farm, East End, Witney, Oxfordshire, a British subject, 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 a structure comprising at least one clip having a slot in which an edge of a sheet is received and gripped.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure, comprising: (a) at least one clip, the or each said clip being constituted by a respective resilient strip having: (i) an S-shaped portion with first and second ends thereof, opposed faces of that portion providing said strip with two oppositely directed slots, and (ii) a tab portion projecting transversely from said first end, said tab portion being of size to enable at least part of said tab portion to be locatable in a said slot of another said clip; and (b) a sheet having an edge thereof received in a said slot and resiliently gripped therein, which slot either contains or does not contain at least part of a said tab portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a clip suitable for use in constructing a structure according to said first aspect of the present invention, said clip being constituted by a respective resilient strip having: (i) an S-shaped portion with first and second ends thereof, opposed faces of that portion providing said strip with two oppositely directed slots, and (ii) a tab portion projecting transversely from said first end, said tab portion being of size to enable at least part of said tab portion to be locatable in a said slot of another said slip, said tab portion being apertured.

Said S-shaped portion can have two Ubends respectively comprising corresponding ones of said slots, the depth of each said U-bend measured from the mouth of its said slot being at least five times the distance between opposed said faces of that slot.

Said second end portion can project transversely from said S-shaped portion.

At least one said end can be chamfered or rounded at its edge.

In said first aspect of the present invention, said tab portion is preferably apertured, as is the case in said second aspect of the present invention. Said apertured tab portion can have an aperture through which a peg or pin can pass. Said aperture is preferably located in said tab portion. A ground peg can pass through said aperture.

Preferably, said strip is of uniform crosssection substantially throughout its length.

Preferably, said strip is made of spring steel.

Said strip can be a weatherproofed strip, for example be zinc coated spring steel.

At least one said face of a said slot can directly contact a said sheet.

A said slot containing an edge of a said sheet can also contain at least part of a said tab portion.

If desired, the general outline of said sheet can be planar or have curvature. Said sheet can have a plain cross-section, for example in the case of flat sheet. Said sheet can have an undulating cross-section, for example a box-section sheet or a corrugated sheet. The undulations, normally provided by alternating parallel crests and troughs, impart to the undulating sheet an enhanced flexibility in one plane and increased rigidity in a plane perpendicular to that plane.

When a said sheet is a said box-section sheet or a said corrugated sheet, the said clip receiving that sheet can hold in place the edge portion of that sheet which portion extends parallel to the directions in which the crests of that sheet extend, or said clip can grip the edge portion of that sheet which portion extends perpendicularly to the crests of that sheet. In the latter case, the side-toside width of a said slot can be greater than the width of the valley floor of the sheet, so that the grip of the clip is achieved by engagement of parallel corner edges at the sides of that slot with converging side walls of the valley. Both a said clip and its received said sheet can be flexed slightly by the grip so that the grip is less susceptible to effects of vibration.

At least one said sheet can be a plastics sheet, for example a polyvinylchloride sheet.

At least one said sheet can be a glass sheet.

At least one said sheet can be fibreboard.

It will be appreciated that a said structure according to the first aspect of the present invention can have different said sheets, for example some plastics sheets and some glass sheets.

It will be appreciated that the ability of two said clips to cooperate together, as mentioned in features (ii) of said first and second aspects of the present invention, can enable two said sheets to be held at right angles to each other or in other transverse relationship.

One example of a said structure is a cloche. Another example of said structure is a cold frame. A further example of said structure is a greenhouse. It will be appreciated that a said structure could have for example straight walls and a roof, or curved wall corners.

A said structure can be provided in an assembled or knock-down form, for example as a kit of parts.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view, from above, of one embodiment of a clip; Figure 2 is an under-view of the clip shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the clip shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side section showing how the clip of Figures 1 to 3 can grip in two positions of use represented by Figures 4a and 4b respectively; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a frame made from corrugated and box-section plastics sheets held together and to the ground by clips and pegs; Figure 6 shows how two clips are used, in combination to provide an anchorage for securing frame roof sheets to side walls of the frame shdwn in Figure 5;; Figure 7 shows how two clips are used, in combination, to provide an anchorage for securing roof sheets to an end wall of the frame shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 shows how access is obtained to a portion of the frame shown in Figure 5; Figure 9 shows hdw the clips can be used to extend the height of the walls of the frame shown in Figure 5, and in dotted outline how the walls can be stiffened by screwing or nailing the clips to a batten extending beneath them and which may provide part of a skeletal frame of a lean-to greenhouse or other structure which may be self-supporting; and Figures 10 to 12 show two forms of tunnel cloche made from corrugated plastics sheets held to the ground by the clips and pegs having end-walls held in place by the clips.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a clip 1 made from zinc plated spring steel strip 1/32 inch thick. It is of serpentine shape when viewed from one side, providing an S-shaped portion 2 and a tab portion 3. The width of the strip is uniform except at its ends where the corners of the strip are chamfered as shown at 4. The end portion of the strip providing the tab 3 is apertured at 5 and the opposite end-portion 6 is turned over slightly as shown in Figure 1.

The S-shaped portion 2 provides two oppositely directed slots or U-bends 7 and 8, respectively, each flanked by two of the three sections 9, 10 and 11 of the strip which may be parallel but preferably diverge slightly towards the U-bends they flank. The sections 9, 10 and 11 serve to grip members which are to be held by the clip as shown in Figures 4a and 4b.

Figures 4a and 4b show a sheet 12 of undulating cross-section, which may, for example be corrugated or of box section, viewed at right angles to the direction in which each corrugation extends. Valleys or troughs are formed between the corrugations and each has convergent sidewalls 13. The width of the strip from which the clips are made corresponds approximately to the width of the valley in the centre third of its depth. Thus when the clip is in one of its two mounted positions shown in Figures 4a and 4b, one of the three sections 8, 10, 11 lies in a valley of the sheet and its square cut side edges 14 grip the convergent side walls of the valley. This grip is maintained by the inherent resilience of the material of the clip and by the engagement of the adjacent one of the three sections 9, 10, 11 with the opposite face of the sheet. The sheet illustrated is made of transparent polyvinylchloride which is fairly soft, but there is no reason why the sheet could not be flat and made of a different material such as glass or fibreboard.

In Figure 4b, clip 1 is shown holding a tab 31 of a second clip 11 (only partly illustrated) in addition to the sheet 12. The dimensions of the U-bend are such that it may be used to hold together contiguous overlapping portions of two identical sheets 12, if desired.

Figure 5 shows a cold frame 20 made from overlapped sheets of transparent polyvinyl chloride. The sidewalls are made of corrugated section sheets 18" X 3' which overlap one another and have vertical cor-, rugations. Clips 1 are used to hold the sheets together at the regions of their overlap and also to-secure the bottom edges of the sheets to the ground. This latter is achieved by arranging the clips so that their tabs 3 extend horizontally outwards at ground level and then using steel pin pegs 22 passing through the apertures 5 to anchor the clips 1 to the ground.

In this instance the frame has a roof 23 made from strips of overlapping corrugated sheeting 24. The corrugations each extend from side-to-side of the frame and project outwardly beyond the tops of the frame sidewalls 25 as shown in Figure 6. Two clips 1, 11 are used in combination, in the manner illustrated in Figure 4b, to attach the roof sheets to the tops of the sidewalls. One clip 11 is arranged to grip the upper portion of sidewall and to have its tab 31 extending horizontally outwards from the top of the sidewall. The other clip 1 simultaneously grips an edge portion of the roof sheet and clamps to its underside the tab 31. The tap 3 of the clip 1 projects downwards as shown in Figure 6 to provide a convenient finger grip to enable the clip to be quickly disconnected from the clip 11.

In the frame shown in Figure 8, one of the roof sheets 241 is shdwn being removed to provide access to the frame interior. This is achieved by removing the three clips 1 holding down each end. The roof sheet 241 may then be replaced, but displaced laterally, to provide a slot instead of an overlap between two roof sheets, in order to provide ventilation for the frame.

Figure 8 shows how the ends of the roof sheets are held. Here, again, two of the clips in combination are used. One clip, 11, is attached to the crest of a wall undulation so that its tab 31 extends outwards, and the other clip 3 is arranged to receive the endedge of the roof sheet 24 and to clamp against its underside the tab 31. The end-edge of the roof sheet can only be inserted into the U-bend of the strip 1 when inclined to the horizontal. It is then flexed downwards on the top of the frame by the clip combinations used to attach its side edges to the frame sidewalls. In this way the clip combinations are stressed by the natural resilience of the roof sheet and are less likely to vibrate free over a prolonged period.

It will be observed from Figures 5 and 8 that the corners of the frame are provided by flexing the sidewalls into a bend and holding the shape of the bend by the ground anchorages provided by the bottom set of clips 1 and the pegs. If the frame however, is to stand on a hard floor such as concrete, it is not convenient to use ground pegs. In this case, the franie is construction by forming initially two roof sections, fitting in two opposite side walls and inverting the frame to thereafter insert the remaining corner walls. The required tending of the corner walls to fit with the side walls is thus facilitated.

Figure 9 shows how the clips 1 can be used to increase the height of the sidewalls or to attach two sheets 30, 31 together in overlapping relationship, such as on a roof, so that the troughs of one sheet 30 form continuations of the troughs of the other sheet 31. The clips are arranged so that their tabs 3 extend in one direction and the adjacent U-bends grip the upper portion of the lower sheet 30. The upper sheet 31 is then located so that its lower edge is gripped in the second U-bend of the clip 1. If it is required to stiffen or to support the two sheets in the vicinity of their overlap, a wooden batten beam 33 may be arranged to have the tabs 3 of the clips 1 screwed or nailed to it by means of their apertures.

Figure 10 shows how a tunnel cloche of any length may be made with undulating sheets, end sheets, and clips 1. The cloche comprises sheets 36 of corrugated transparent flexible material bent into an arch and having clips 1 spaced along their parallel ground engaging edges. Each clip 1 is arranged with its tab 3 extending horizontally outwards from the cloche at ground level. The edge of the sheet is located in the U-bend of the clip remote from the tab 3 so that it is trapped firmly in the U-bend by the resilience of the sheet when flexed into the tunnel shape. The tabs 3 are each anchored by steel pins or pegs passing through their apertures.

The ends of the cloche are provided by semi-elliptical plates 40 which may also be of transparent plastics material. Each plate 40 is shaped to overlap the end edge of the tunnel cloche sheet 36 and has three rectangular spaced rebates 41 cut in its marginal edge each sized to be slightly larger than the width of a corresponding clip 1. Each plate 40 is held in position by three clips 1 which are arranged in the rebates 41 so that their tabs 3 project towards one another over the exposed or outer surface of sheet 40 and their U-bends remote from tabs 3 receive the marginal end-edges of the sheet 36. To extend the tunnel cloche a second identical sheet can be arranged to overlap the sheet 40 so as to provide an effective continuation of it.

Figure 11 shows a second form of tunnel cloche providing ventilation, as desired, in the way shown in Figure 12.

The tunnel cloche shown in Figures 11 and 12, which may be of any length, has its sides each formed from a number of corrugated sheets cut into two pieces lengthways and arranged with their crests extending horizontally and overlapping one another at their ends as is clearly apparent in Figure 12. Alternate - sheets overlie the adjacent sheets at both ends so that they can be lifted away for ventilation purposes as illustrated in Figure 12. Each of the sidewall sheets, reference 50, is about 3 feet long and 15 inches wide and its bottom edge is anchored to the ground in the region of its overlap with the neighbouring clip by a clip 1 as is described with reference to Figure 10.

The ends of the cloche are closed in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figure 10.

As is apparent from Figure 11, the upper edges of the sidewall sheets lie in respective slots of a line of top clips 1 which are identical to those already described. The top clips are located at the vicinity of the overlap of the side sheets so that one of its U-bends receives the overlapping portions of two sheets on one side of the cloche while the other U-bend of the clip receives the overlapping parts of the two sheets on the other side of the cloche.

Figure 11 shows the cloche closed with the top edges of the sheets of the two sidewalls held in overlapping relationship by the top clips 1.

If the cloche is to be ventilated, one or more of the sidewall sheets overlapping the neighbouring sidewall sheets is removed from the U-bend of the top clips holding it in position, and held in the position shown in Figure 12. A small post may be inserted in the ground on each side to prevent the sidewall sheet from flapping, as is shown at 52. The bottom edges of the sidewall sheets remain trapped in the ground clips 1 so that the sheet can be replaced in the position shown in Figure 11.

The cloche shown in Figures 11 and 12 can be ventilated along its entire length by arranging for the sidewall sheets which are capable of being moved into the ventilation positions, in staggered formation along the length of the cloche on both sides of it.

From the above description it will be appreciated that a clip has been devised which is versatile in that it can be used alone or in combination with an identical clip to perform a wide range of attachment functions. Although the above description of the accompanying drawings is with reference to horticultural enclosures, it will be recognised that the present invention has general application to structures where there is a requirement to assemble them quickly from relatively few components.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A structure, comprising: (a) at least one clip, the or each said clip being constituted by a respective resilient strip having: (i) an S-shaped portion with first and second ends thereof, opposed faces of that portion providing said strip with two oppositely directed slots, and (ii) a tab portion projecting transversely from said first end, said tab portion being of size to enable at least part of said tab portion to be locatable in a said slot of another said clip; and (b) a sheet having an edge thereof received in a said slot and resiliently gripped therein, which slot either contains or does not contain at least part of a said tab portion.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said S-shaped portion has two Ubends respectively comprising corresponding ones of said slots, the depth of each said U-bend measured from the mouth of its said slot being at least five times the distance between opposed said faces of that slot.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said second end portion projects transversely from said S-shaped portion.

4. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one said end is chamfered or rounded at its edge.

5. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said tab portion is apertured.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein said tab portion has an aperture through which a peg or pin can pass.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein said aperture is centrally located in said tab portion.

8. A structure as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein a ground peg passes through said aperture.

9. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said strip is of uniform cross-section substantially throughout its length.

10. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said strip is made of spring steel.

11. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said strip is a weatherproofed strip.

12. A structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein said weatherproofed strip is zinc coated spring steel.

13. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one said face of a said slot directly contacts a said sheet.

14. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a said slot containing an edge of a said sheet also contains at least part of a said tab portion.

15. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the general outline of said sheet is planar.

16. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the general outline of said sheet has curvature.

17. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said sheet has a plain cross-section.

18. A structure as claimed in any one of

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. sheets at both ends so that they can be lifted away for ventilation purposes as illustrated in Figure 12. Each of the sidewall sheets, reference 50, is about 3 feet long and 15 inches wide and its bottom edge is anchored to the ground in the region of its overlap with the neighbouring clip by a clip 1 as is described with reference to Figure 10. The ends of the cloche are closed in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figure 10. As is apparent from Figure 11, the upper edges of the sidewall sheets lie in respective slots of a line of top clips 1 which are identical to those already described. The top clips are located at the vicinity of the overlap of the side sheets so that one of its U-bends receives the overlapping portions of two sheets on one side of the cloche while the other U-bend of the clip receives the overlapping parts of the two sheets on the other side of the cloche. Figure 11 shows the cloche closed with the top edges of the sheets of the two sidewalls held in overlapping relationship by the top clips 1. If the cloche is to be ventilated, one or more of the sidewall sheets overlapping the neighbouring sidewall sheets is removed from the U-bend of the top clips holding it in position, and held in the position shown in Figure 12. A small post may be inserted in the ground on each side to prevent the sidewall sheet from flapping, as is shown at 52. The bottom edges of the sidewall sheets remain trapped in the ground clips 1 so that the sheet can be replaced in the position shown in Figure 11. The cloche shown in Figures 11 and 12 can be ventilated along its entire length by arranging for the sidewall sheets which are capable of being moved into the ventilation positions, in staggered formation along the length of the cloche on both sides of it. From the above description it will be appreciated that a clip has been devised which is versatile in that it can be used alone or in combination with an identical clip to perform a wide range of attachment functions. Although the above description of the accompanying drawings is with reference to horticultural enclosures, it will be recognised that the present invention has general application to structures where there is a requirement to assemble them quickly from relatively few components. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A structure, comprising: (a) at least one clip, the or each said clip being constituted by a respective resilient strip having: (i) an S-shaped portion with first and second ends thereof, opposed faces of that portion providing said strip with two oppositely directed slots, and (ii) a tab portion projecting transversely from said first end, said tab portion being of size to enable at least part of said tab portion to be locatable in a said slot of another said clip; and (b) a sheet having an edge thereof received in a said slot and resiliently gripped therein, which slot either contains or does not contain at least part of a said tab portion.

18. A structure as claimed in any one of

claims 1 to 16, wherein said sheet has an undulating cross-section.

19. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein said sheet is a plastics sheet.

20. A structure as claimed in claim 19, wherein said plastics sheet is a polyvinylchloride sheet.

21. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein said sheet is a glass sheet.

22. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein said sheet is fibreboard.

23. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, when a cloche.

24. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, when a cold frame.

25. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, when a greenhouse.

26. A structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein said clip is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

27. A structure as claimed in claim 1, substantiallly as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

28. A structure as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 6- of the accompanying drawings.

29. A structure as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

30. A structure as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

31. A structure as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A structure as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

33. A structure as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 11 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A structure as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.

35. A clip suitable for use in constructing a structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34, said clip being constituted by a respective resilient strip having: (i) an S-shaped portion with first and second ends thereof, opposed faces of that portion providing said strip with two oppositely directed slots, and (ii) a tab portion projecting transversely from said first end, said tab portion being of size to enable at least part of said tab portion to be locatable in a said slot of another said clip, said tab portion being apertured.

36. A clip as claimed in claim 35, wherein said S-shaped portion has two Ubends respectively comprising corresponding ones of said slots, the depth of each said U-bend measured from the mouth of its said slot being at least five times the distance between opposed said faces of that slot.

37. A clip as claimed in claim 35 or 36, wherein said second end portion projects transversely from said S-shaped portion.

38. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 35 to 37, wherein at least one said end is chamfered or rounded at its edge.

39. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 35 to 38, wherein said tab portion has an aperture through which a peg or pin can pass.

40. A clip as claimed in claim 39, wherein said aperture is centrally located in said tab portion.

41. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 35 to 40, wherein said strip is of uniform cross-section substantially through out its length.

42. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 35 to 41, wherein said strip is made of spring steel.

43. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 42, wherein said strip is a weatherproofed strip.

44. A clip as claimed in claim 43, wherein said weatherproofed strip is zinc coated spring steel.

45. A clip as claimed in claim 35, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings. ~~~