GB2063350A

GB2063350A - Retaining elements

Info

Publication number: GB2063350A
Application number: GB8034116A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TUCKER Ltd PAUL
Current assignee: TUCKER Ltd PAUL
Priority date: 1979-10-26
Filing date: 1980-10-22
Publication date: 1981-06-03

Abstract

A retaining element has a shank portion 1, flexible barb means 3a and 3b and hook means 4 preferably in the form of a plate member defining slots 8. The element is preferably generally flat and preferably is made from synthetic plastics material by moulding. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Retaining elements The present invention relates to retaining elements.

According to the invention, there is provided a retaining element comprising an elongate shank portion having flexible barb means at one end and hook means at the other end.

Preferably, said hook means comprises a plate member extending from said other end of the shank portion, and defining at least one slot which is open at one end.

Preferably, the or each slot is defined between an edge surface of the plate member and a side surface of the shank portion, the open end of the slot being nearer than the closed end to said one end of the shank portion.

Preferably, said plate member is generally U-shaped, two slots being defined between edge surfaces of respective limbs of the U-shaped plate member and respective side surfaces of the shank portion.

Preferably, the plate member further defines at least one circular aperture, the or each slot extending from a said aperture.

Preferably, said plate member is articulated to said shank portion whereby it can pivot at least between a position in which the central plane of the plate member contains the longitudinal axis of the shank portion and a position in which said plane is perpendicular to said axis.

Said plate member may be hinged to said shank portion by means of a zone of weakness between the shank portion and the plate member.

Preferably, said barb means consists of at least one flexible member extending from the shank portion at an acute angle thereto towards said other end.

Preferably, two said flexible members are provided.

Preferably, said element is generally flat.

Preferably, said element is formed of synthetic plastics material.

The element may be formed by a moulding process.

Preferably, said one end is pointed.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of retaining element having a U-shaped plate member at its rear end; Figure 2 shows an alternative form of U-shaped plate member at the rear end of a retaining element; and Figure 3 shows two of the retaining elements according to Figure 1 secured in opposed walls of a cardboard box.

Figure 1 shows at substantially full size a plan view of a retaining element formed entirely in synthetic plastics material, preferably polypropylene, by moulding. An elongate shank portion 1 has a point at its front end 2, and barb means in the form of two barb-like flexible members 3a and 3b extending laterally and rearwardly from the shank portion in the vicinity of end 2. At its rear end, shank portion 1 carries a plate member 4 which is generally U-shaped and is articulated to the shank portion 1 by a hinge 5.

Preferably, the distance designated x in Figure 1 is at least half the distance designated y. Plate member 4 defines two circular apertures 7 from which extend respective slots 8 defined in each case between an edge surface of plate member 4 and a side surface of shank portion 1.

Figure 2 shows the right hand end of the shank portion 1 provided with an alternative form of plate member designated 6. As with the embodiment of Figure 1, the plate member 6 defines two circular apertures 7 from which extend respective slots 8 defined between, in each case, an edge surface of the plate member 6 and a side surface of the shank portion 1. Plate member 6 is generally circular in plan, and again is articulated to the shank portion 1 by a hinge 5.

Distance x in Figure 2 is preferably at least half the distance y in Figure 2.

In both illustrated embodiments, the retaining element may have a substantially constant thickness perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, for example 3 mm. It is also possible for the plate member 4 or 6 to be thinner than the remainder of the retaining element, for example to have a thickness of 1 mm. It will be appreciated that the retaining element, in either illustrated form, can be made in one piece by moulding in synthetic plastics material.

It will also be appreciated that the two forms of plate member 4 and 6 illustrated are by no means the only possible forms of plate member, and that other forms may be appropriate in certain circumstances.

Figure 3 shows two retaining elements as shown in Figure 1 disposed in opposed walls 7 and 8 of a cardboard box 10. To insert the retaining elements in the walls 7 and 8, the respective ends 2 of the two retaining elements have been forced through the cardboard walls 7 and 8 of the box until the plate member 4 at the rear end of each retaining element is articulated about its respective hinge 5 to a position in which the plane of the plate member 4 is perpendicular to the axis of the shank portion 1. This allows a close fitting cardboard lid to be placed over the box 10 without being obstructed by the plate members 4 which hook onto the outer surfaces of walls 7 and 8.An elastic band 9 is looped over the barb-like members of each retaining element as illustrated in Figure 3, and this elastic band acts to urge the respective plate members into contact with the outer surfaces of respective walls 7 and 8. The elastic band also provides an additional retaining means for holding contents of the box 10, for example cut flowers, in position.

Although not illustrated, it would be possible to construct the retaining element with the plate 4 or 6 disposed permanently with its plane perpendicular to the axis of the shank portion 1.

Where the plate 4 or 6 is to be articulated, the hinge 5 may be produced by thinning the plastics material somewhat to produce a zone of weakness.

The advantage of articulating the plate member 4 or 6 to the shank portion 1 is that the retaining element is easier to produce as a substantially flat article.

The reason for making dimension x in Figures 1 and 2 at least half the dimension y, is to ensure that the plate member 4 or 6 will pivot easily into contact with a cardboard surface such as 7 and 8 in Figure 3 when the retaining element is urged inwardly of the box by manual pressure and/or the force of the elastic band 9.

Where the end 2 is pointed, manual force may be used to penetrate a previously unperforated cardboard sheet. When end 2 is not pointed, the retaining element may nevertheless be used in situations where a cardboard sheet or the like has previously been provided with a suitable perforation. It will be appreciated that, owing to the flexibility of barb-like member 3a and 3b, they are able to flex easily towards, and if necessary into contact with, the shank portion 1 for ease of insertion. When inserted, removal is considerably more difficult since the flexibility is limited. As a result, removal is prevented by the members 3a and 3b acting as barbs.It will be realised that conventional barbs are substantially rigid, ease of insertion being achieved by flexibility of the material into which insertion is made whereas, in contrast, ease of insertion in the illustrated retaining elements is achieved by inherent flexibility of the barbs.

Either of the embodiments of retaining element illustrated may be used to suspend articles, for example pictures, from a wall or door of the type having a relatively thin skin secured to a frame. For example, walls are often made by securing respective outer layers of plasterboard to a wooden frame. A hole may be drilled through the outer skin and barbed end 2 of the retaining element inserted therethrough. The plate member 4 or 6 then functions as a double hook and a string or thread may be passed from one side of the plate member through one of the apertures 7 across the other side of the plate member and returned through the other aperture 7. It is not necessary, of course, to thread a string or thread through the holes, since access may be obtained by sliding the string or thread down the slots 8.Of course, it will be immediately apparent that other types of hook would be equally suitable. The advantage, however, of forming the hook as the plate member illustrated is that the whole retaining element is substantially flat and is easily manufactured by moulding from synthetic plastics material.

The retaining element may also be used in a similar manner to that described above in conjunctioil with support frames formed from angle members. Elongate angle member (having an L-shaped cross section) are often provided with a plurality of elongate slots for the purpose of bolting further angle members thereto. It is possible to utilise one of these elongate slots to receive the illustrated retaining element. By placing the end 2 through the elongate slot and rotating the element by 900, the barb-like members 3a and 3b act to prevent withdrawal of the retaining element from the slot. Objects may then be suspended from the hook formed by the plate member 4 or 6.

In both of the above described uses, it will be realised that the flexible members 3a and 3b function in the manner of barbs to prevent withdrawal of the shank portion from the hole drilled in plasterboard or the like or from the elongate slot in the angle member.

A further use envisaged for the retaining element is as follows. Commercial growers often utilise a pluraiity of plant pots irrigated from a common source of water passing down a plastics tube between the pots. Then, for each individual pot, a relatively narrow tube is taken from the main tube as a branch therefrom and is suspended above the respective pot. Either of the retaining elements illustrated provides a convenient support element for supporting these individual branch tubes in the vicinity of their respective pots.The end 2 of the shank portion may be pushed into the soil of a plant pot leaving the plate 4 or 6 and part of the shank portion 1 protruding above the surface of the soii. The individual narrow branch irrigation tubes, or spaghetti tubes as they are known, may then be inserted via respective slots 8 into respective apertures 7 and thereby held suspended above their respective pots. It will be apparent that one of the retaining elements illustrated will be sufficient for two pots, since it can support two of the irrigation tubes, provided the pots are sufficiently close together.

It will be appreciated that, although the barblike members 3a and 3b provide a better anchorage in the soil, they are not in fact essential, and a plane shank portion 1 would be adequate.

It is also possible to use either the embodiments of retaining element as illustrated as a hook in the growing of tomato and some other plants. Conventionally, tomato and some other plants are grown commercially by suspending from a horizontal wire several feet above the ground a plurality of vertically extending support cords to which the growing tomato and some other plants are secured. Respective support cords emerge from respective bobbins at or near the wire and are conventionaliy held onto the horizontal wire by metal hooks. It has been found that both embodiments of retaining element described and illustrated in this specification are suitable for holding the support cords onto the wire, the resilient member 3a and 3b being used as hooking members, and the support cord being hooked through the apertures 7 and secured thereto.

The retaining elements therefore provide relatively inexpensive and convenient hooks for the support cords.

Thus the retaining elements provide a multipurpose device for the commercial grower.

The invention also consists in any features of novelty, taken singly or in combination, of the retaining elements substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawing.

Claims

1. A retaining element comprising an elongate shank portion having flexible barb means at one end and hook means at the other end.

2. An element according to claim 1 wherein said hook means comprises a plate member extending from said other end of the shank portion, and defining at least one slot which is open at one end.

3. An element according to claim 2 wherein the or each slot is defined between an edge surface of the plate member and a side surface of the shank portion, the open end of the slot being nearer than the closed end to said one end of the shank portion.

4. An element according to claim 3 wherein said plate member is generally U-shaped, two slots being defined between edge surfaces of respective limbs of the U-shaped plate member and respective side surfaces of the shank portion.

5. An element according to any one of claim 2 to 4 wherein the plate member further defines at least one circular aperture, the or each slot extending from a said aperture.

6. An element according to claim 4 or 5 wherein said plate member is articulated to said shank portion whereby it can pivot at least between a position in which the central plane of the plate member contains the longitudinal axis of the shank portion and a position in which said plane is perpendicular to said axis.

7. An element according to claim 6 wherein said plate member is hinged to said shank portion by means of a zone of weakness between the shank portion and the plate member.

8. An element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said barb means consists of at least one flexible member extending from the shank portion at an acute angle thereto towards said other end.

9. An element according to claim 8 wherein two said flexible members are provided.

10. An element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said element is generally flat.

11. An element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said element is formed of synthetic plastics material.

12. An element according to claim 11 wherein the element has been formed by a moulding process.

13. An element according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said one end is pointed.

14. A retaining element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or to Figure 1 as modified in accordance with Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.