GB2044336A

GB2044336A - Pneumatic Suction Fasteners

Info

Publication number: GB2044336A
Application number: GB7915677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TSAI TSUNG HSIN
Current assignee: TSAI TSUNG HSIN
Priority date: 1979-03-07
Filing date: 1979-05-04
Publication date: 1980-10-15

Abstract

This invention relates to a clamping device comprising a clamping member (3) with a plurality of spaced suction pads (1) attached thereto. The clamping member can be elongate in which case the device is particularly adapted for clamping an electrical plug in its socket, as shown. Alternatively the clamping member may, for example, be in the form of a continuous or discontinuous lamina of material, such as a net, with a plurality of suction pads spaced about its periphery. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Clamping Device This invention relates to a clamping device and particularly to a clamping device which operates by means of suction.

According to the present invention there is provided a clamping device comprising a clamping member with a plurality of spaced suction pads attached thereto, whereby the suction pads may be fixed in spaced array to a surface and an article may be restrained relative to that surface by the clamping member engaging the article in overlying manner between the suction pads. The suction pads may be of any known type and if a perfect vacuum is obtained under the pad a clamping force 1 3.67or2 kg. will be obtained by each pad, where 1 3.6 is the atmospheric pressure in kg/cm2 and r is the radius of the pad. If required each suction pad may have a stud on its external face (i.e. the face not engaged by the surface) which can be manually engaged to facilitate removal of the pad from the surface.

The clamping member may be rigid or flexible and, in one embodiment of the device, is elongate with a suction pad at each end. The elongate clamping member may be used for retaining a single article on the surface, such as for example an electrical plug in its socket-the suction pads will clearly engage the surface around the socket.

In the preferred embodiment of a clamping device for use with an electrical plug, the elongate clamping member has a substantially central laterally extending aperture therethrough, whereby when the clamping device is associated with the electrical plug means to retain the plug means in the corresponding socket the elongate clamping member can overlie the plug means with the electrical cable of the plug means extending through the aperture. Preferably the aperture is such as to permit the passage of the plug means therethrough in one orientation of the plug means relative to the aperture and to restrain such passage in another orientation of the plug means.

In another embodiment of the invention, the clamping member comprises a continuous or discontiuous lamina of material substantially around the periphery of which are spaced a plurality of the suction pads. Preferably the lamina of material is in the form of netting.

Various embodiments of clamping devices in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment: Figure 2 shows a second embodiment; Figure 3 shows a third embodiment, and Figures 4 and 5 show the first and second embodiments in use with an electrical plug.

Since industrial and commercial acitivities are rapidly advancing with each passing day, the living standard of the public has been substantially elevated; in an environment of high living standard, everything is required to be done in a swift, convenient and ideal way so as to keep up with this fast moving world.

In order to meet the modern living requirement, I have through repeated studies and experiments invented the present clamping device which has a very strong sucking force by means of the air-tight suction pads; therefore, it can be developed for many useful purposes. The structure, theory and characteristics of this invention are further explained in detail in the following paragraphs.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4 the clamping device shown therein is applicable to the general electric plug or wire to be fixed; an elongate clamping member 3 is provided between two suction pads 1, and in the centre of the member 3 there is an elongate hole 4 which can allow a plug to pass through it in one orientation, so as to fix the plug by attaching the pads 1 on a wall surface as shown in Figure 4, with the plug in a different orientation relative to the hole 4. Such a fixing method can prevent (1) the plug from becoming loose, (2) improper contact that may cause an accident and (3) from being pulled out of the socket by a young child; the aforesaid way of fixing the plug of an important power supply system is especially useful.

Figures 2 and 5 show another embodiment of this invention, which may also be applicable to an electric plug; it is formed by an elongate clamping strip 5 also with a suction pad 1 at each end.

Figure 5 shows one actual use of the said clamping strip, which can overlie an article to restrain it against a surface, for example, as shown, an electric plug in its socket. Alternatively it can overlie a bunch of electric wires to restrain them against a surface. The suction pads 1 can have a stud 2 on the back to facilitate manual removal of the pads from the surface.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of this invention in which the clamping member comprises a net 6; the net is made of material that is tough and flexible, and is illustrated with suction pads 7 (which may be the same as pads 1) at its corners, although they may also be provided along the edges. The said net device is useful as a cover for something; for instance, when carrying something on the roof or bonnet of a car.

Claims

1. A clamping device comprising a clamping member with a plurality of spaced suction pads attached thereto, whereby the suction pads may be fixed in spaced array to a surface and an article may be restrained relative to that surface by the clamping member engaging the article in overlying manner between the suction pads.

2. A clamping device as claimed in claim 1 in which each suction pad has associated therewith on its externai surface a stud to facilitate manual disengagement of the suction pad from the surface.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A Clamping Device This invention relates to a clamping device and particularly to a clamping device which operates by means of suction. According to the present invention there is provided a clamping device comprising a clamping member with a plurality of spaced suction pads attached thereto, whereby the suction pads may be fixed in spaced array to a surface and an article may be restrained relative to that surface by the clamping member engaging the article in overlying manner between the suction pads. The suction pads may be of any known type and if a perfect vacuum is obtained under the pad a clamping force 1 3.67or2 kg. will be obtained by each pad, where 1 3.6 is the atmospheric pressure in kg/cm2 and r is the radius of the pad. If required each suction pad may have a stud on its external face (i.e. the face not engaged by the surface) which can be manually engaged to facilitate removal of the pad from the surface. The clamping member may be rigid or flexible and, in one embodiment of the device, is elongate with a suction pad at each end. The elongate clamping member may be used for retaining a single article on the surface, such as for example an electrical plug in its socket-the suction pads will clearly engage the surface around the socket. In the preferred embodiment of a clamping device for use with an electrical plug, the elongate clamping member has a substantially central laterally extending aperture therethrough, whereby when the clamping device is associated with the electrical plug means to retain the plug means in the corresponding socket the elongate clamping member can overlie the plug means with the electrical cable of the plug means extending through the aperture. Preferably the aperture is such as to permit the passage of the plug means therethrough in one orientation of the plug means relative to the aperture and to restrain such passage in another orientation of the plug means. In another embodiment of the invention, the clamping member comprises a continuous or discontiuous lamina of material substantially around the periphery of which are spaced a plurality of the suction pads. Preferably the lamina of material is in the form of netting. Various embodiments of clamping devices in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment: Figure 2 shows a second embodiment; Figure 3 shows a third embodiment, and Figures 4 and 5 show the first and second embodiments in use with an electrical plug. Since industrial and commercial acitivities are rapidly advancing with each passing day, the living standard of the public has been substantially elevated; in an environment of high living standard, everything is required to be done in a swift, convenient and ideal way so as to keep up with this fast moving world. In order to meet the modern living requirement, I have through repeated studies and experiments invented the present clamping device which has a very strong sucking force by means of the air-tight suction pads; therefore, it can be developed for many useful purposes. The structure, theory and characteristics of this invention are further explained in detail in the following paragraphs. Referring to Figures 1 and 4 the clamping device shown therein is applicable to the general electric plug or wire to be fixed; an elongate clamping member 3 is provided between two suction pads 1, and in the centre of the member 3 there is an elongate hole 4 which can allow a plug to pass through it in one orientation, so as to fix the plug by attaching the pads 1 on a wall surface as shown in Figure 4, with the plug in a different orientation relative to the hole 4. Such a fixing method can prevent (1) the plug from becoming loose, (2) improper contact that may cause an accident and (3) from being pulled out of the socket by a young child; the aforesaid way of fixing the plug of an important power supply system is especially useful. Figures 2 and 5 show another embodiment of this invention, which may also be applicable to an electric plug; it is formed by an elongate clamping strip 5 also with a suction pad 1 at each end. Figure 5 shows one actual use of the said clamping strip, which can overlie an article to restrain it against a surface, for example, as shown, an electric plug in its socket. Alternatively it can overlie a bunch of electric wires to restrain them against a surface. The suction pads 1 can have a stud 2 on the back to facilitate manual removal of the pads from the surface. Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of this invention in which the clamping member comprises a net 6; the net is made of material that is tough and flexible, and is illustrated with suction pads 7 (which may be the same as pads 1) at its corners, although they may also be provided along the edges. The said net device is useful as a cover for something; for instance, when carrying something on the roof or bonnet of a car. Claims

3. A clamping device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the clamping member is flexible.

4. A clamping device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the clamping member is elongate and has a suction pad at each end.

5. A clamping device as claimed in claim 4 in which the elongate clamping member has a substantially central laterally extending aperture therethrough, whereby when the clamping device is associated with an electrical plug means to retain the plug means in the corresponding socket the elongate clamping member can overlie the plug means with the electrical cable of the plug means extending through the aperture.

6. A clamping device as claimed in claim 3 in which the clamping member comprises a continuous or discontinuous lamina of material and wherein a plurality of the suction pads are spaced substantially around the periphery of the lamina.

7. A clamping device as claimed in claim 6 in which the lamina of material is in the form of netting.

8. A clamping device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A clamping device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A clamping device substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A combination of an electrical plug means and a clamping device as claimed in claim 5 in which the aperture is such as to permit the passage of the plug means therethrough in one orientation of the plug means relative to the aperture and to restrain such passage in another orientation of the plug means.