GB2081363A

GB2081363A - Resilient retaining clip for round bars

Info

Publication number: GB2081363A
Application number: GB8122443A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-08-09
Filing date: 1981-07-21
Publication date: 1982-02-17
Also published as: JPS5754712A; ES260222U; DE8021380U1; IT1168010B; ES260222Y; IT8123273A0; GB2081363B; JPH0256905U; JPH0312967Y2; FR2489442A1; IT8123273A1; FR2489442B1

Abstract

A resilient clip for securing pipes, cables, or other bar-shaped elements to a supporting sheet comprises a base plate (1) with an expanding rivet fixture, from which side walls (2) extend to form a holding space into which flexible retaining lugs (4) and supporting walls (8) extend in V-formation from the side walls, the free ends of the lugs and supporting walls engaging the outer surface of elements pressed into the holding space to act as retaining means. To secure very small bars a channel (10) is formed in the base plate at the bottom of the holding space. Optionally channels of part-cylindrical or V-shape section are described. A double clip is also described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Resilient retaining clip for round bars of variable diameter The invention relates to a resilient retaining clip for fixing round bars, particularly lines of tubing or cable of different diameters, on to supporting plates. The retaining clip substantially comprises two side walls which are interconnected by a base plate in a U-shape, with a flexible retaining lug moulded onto the free end of each wall, the lugs being directed substantially in a V-shape into the centre of the holding space, and two further flexible supporting walls, similarly directed downwardly in a V-shape from the upper part of the side walls and laterally bounding the holding space, the lower edges of the supporting walls ending substantially midway between the supporting edges of the retaining lugs and the base plate.

The flexible retaining lugs have the advantage that they can easily bend apart when a cable is pressed in, then spring back to their original position. Their contact edges are supported approximately radially on the generated surface of the cable and they are then loaded substantially in compression. This makes the retaining force of the clip considerably greater than the mounting force i.e. the force exerted to press in a round bar.

The cables are also clamped in securely from both sides by the flexible supporting walls, and these ~walls adapt themselves easily to the cable diameter in question.

Thus the retaining clip can indeed be used for a certain range of diameters. An unsatisfactory feature, however, is that with small cable diameters a large part of the holding space is not utilised, namely the space between the supporting edges of the retaining lugs and the base plate.

The invention aims to construct the retaining clip so as to obtain better utilisation of the holding space.

According to the invention this aim is achieved by providing a channel in the centre of the base plate parallel with the supporting and side walls, to give lateral support to the smallest round bar to be held.

This simple measure extends the field of application of the clip, enabling two thin cables to be held one above the other when required, provided that the two cables together are no thicker than the thickest allowable cable for the clip. The lateral supporting walls are at the same time used as retaining lugs for the bottom cable.

To ensure that the channel carries out its lateral supporting function reliably, it is extended far enough upwards to support the round bar over at least one quarter of its periphery.

Alternatively the wall of the channel may be formed by two inclined supporting surfaces arranged symmetrically with one another on the base plate, and together forming an aperture angle of approximately 90 , so that thin cables are held as in a so-called "prism". This type of channel formation is particularly suitable for making metal clips, since then only small lugs need be punched out of the base plate and bent upwards.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be explained in greater detail below. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clip according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof and in section through a receiving space of the clip shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows the clip mounted on a supporting plate, with two thin cables inserted, Figure 4shows the same mounted clip with a cable of medium diameter inserted, Figure 5 shows the same clip holding a cable of maximum diameter, and Figure 6 shows a different embodiment of a retaining clip according to the invention.

The retaining clips illustrated in the drawings are used to fix round bars, such as lines of tubing or cables of different diameters, on to supporting plates, for example metal sheets forming the bodywork of motor vehicles. In the cases illustrated the retaining clips are made of hard elastic plastic; however they may equally well be made of sheet metal.

The retaining clip shown in Figure 1 substantially comprises a base plate 1 and two side walls 2 connected to the base plate in a U-shape structure.

The free (upper) ends of the side walls have flexible retaining lugs 4 moulded onto them, and these are directed into the centre of the holding space 3 in a V-shape. The retaining lugs are brought towards one another, leaving a gap "s" which is smaller than the smallest existing bar diameter to be retained, in the centre of the holding space 3. When a round bar 5 is inserted, the retaining lugs 4 are pushed aside and spring back into their original position as soon as the bar 5 has passed the widened gap "s". The contact edges 6 of the retaining lugs 4 then rest on the generated surface of the bar 5 substantially radially thereof, so that it is virtually impossible for the cable 5 to come loose or spring out by itself (see Figures 3 to 5).

As a means of clamping in the round bars 5 securely even when they vary in diameter, two flexible supporting walls are additionally provided; these are directed downwardly, also in a V-shape, from the upper part of the side walls 2 and give lateral support to the round bar 5 which is pressed in. The lower edges 9 of the supporting walls 8 end approximately midway between the supporting edges 6 of the retaining lugs 4 and the base plate 1, and similarly form a gap "s". The wall thickness of the supporting walls 8 is desirably somewhat thinner towards the side wall than it is in the centre; this is so that the supporting walls can bend open more easily when the round bar 5 is pressed in, without exerting any pressure on the side walls 2.

In the centre of the base plate 1 and parallel with the supporting walls 8 and side walls 2 a partcylindrical channel 10 is provided, its curvature being substantially the same as that of the generated surface of the smallest diameter round 5 to be held in the clip. The channel 10 extends upwardly far enough for the bar 5 to be embedded in it over at least one quarter of its periphery.

As shown in Figure 2, an expanding rivet member 11 is moulded onto the side of the base plate 1, enabling the retaining clip to be fixed onto the supporting plate 12. Any other appropriate method, of course, be used for fixing the clip onto the supporting plate.

The various possible applications of the clip are illustrated in Figures 3 to 5. Figure 3 shows a clip filled with two thin cables, while a fairly thick cable only is held in Figure 4 and a cable of maximum diameter only in Figure 5.

In the double clip shown in Figure 6 the channel 10 in each clip part is formed by two flat supporting surfaces 13, which extend upwards from a meeting line on the base plate 1 and are substantially at right angles symmetrically with one another. In this way a lowermost tube or bar 5, shown in the left hand part of the double clip, is supported as in a prism. The double clip is equipped with two additional supporting walls 14 on each side, so that in this modified embodiment three thinner cables or one thinner and one thicker cable may equally be held one above the other.

Claims

1. A resilient retaining clipforfixing round bars, particularly but not exclusively lines of tubing or cable of different diameters, on to a supporting plate, comprising two side walls which are interconnected by a base plate in a U-shape structure, with a flexible retaining lug moulded onto the free end of each wall, the lugs being directed substantially in a V-shape into the centre of a holding space between the side walls, and two further flexible supporting walls, similarly directed in a V-shape from upper parts of the side walls and laterally bounding the holding space, the lower edges of the supporting walls ending substantially midway between the supporting edges of the retaining lugs and the base plate, wherein a channel for laterally supporting a small round bar at the bottom of the holding space is provided substantially in the centre of the base plate to lie parallel with the free edges of the supporting walls and the side walls.

2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein the channel is part-cylindrical in shape.

3. -A clip according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the channel is formed by two inclined supporting surfaces arranged on the base plate and together forming an included angle of substantially 90%

4. A clip according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wall thickness of the supporting walls diminishes from their free edges towards the side walls.

5. A clip according to any of the preceding claims for fixing round bars in parallel spaced apart re lationship having a plurality of spaced apart side walls extending from a common base plate to define a plurality of side-by-side holding spaces having flexible retaining walls and supporting walls extend ing into the holding spaced in V-shaped formation from the free ends of the side walls and the upper parts of the side walls respectively, a said channel being provided in the base plate at the bottom of each holding space.

6. A resilient retaining clip for fixing round bars on to a suport constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1-5, or 6 of the accompanying drawings.