GB2103269A

GB2103269A - Clamps

Info

Publication number: GB2103269A
Application number: GB08121155A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Mcgurk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-07-09
Filing date: 1981-07-09
Publication date: 1983-02-16

Abstract

A retention device for clamping articles such as the edge regions of sheets comprises a base member 13 mountable on a vertical support and an integral tongue 14 defining a cavity 15 within the base member and bounded outwardly by tongue 14. The cavity is deepest in an inner or upper end region and constricts by means of a sloping face 19 and a step 20 to a gap 16, which is of the same width as side slots 17. A freely movable spherical body 21 is held within the cavity and clamps an edge of a sheet such as 22 in the constricted portion of the cavity due to gravity. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Object suspension device This invention relates to a retention device for use in suspending objects or articles, such as materials in sheet form, or rod or bar shaped members.

In accordance with the invention a retention device comprises a frame having a semi-yieldable tongue having at least some resilience in a plane substantially parallel to the general plane of such first-mentioned, frame member, a cavity between such tongue and said first member which is generally wider at its extremity than at an outer end defined by a gap between the free end of the tongue and a body retained within the cavity which is freely movable within the cavity for clamping any member or material inserted into the cavity by gravity.

The freely movable member should be of such size as not to be able to escape through the gap.

The member may be a cylindrical, spherical or polygonal prism shaped member. Solids of rotation such as a cylindrical or spherical shape are preferred, most preferably spherical.

The cavity may be partially recessed into the first member, and be provided with open slide slots of the same width as the end gap, thereby retaining the body within the cavity against falling out of the sides of the cavity. The tongue is formed integrally with the first member at the end where it is attached thereto.

The cavity may have its maximum breadth at an end portion, a sloping surface in the first member narrowing the cavity towards the gap, and a shoulder defined in the first member near the free end of the tongue. In use the device is mounted on a support surface by a flanged recess or screws received in plugs in a wall or like upstanding support, or by magnetic tape on a suitable magnetic support plate or by an adhesive on the frame. This is accomplished so that the tongue is directed downwardly. An edge of an article to be suspended from the device is then inserted through the gap into the cavity so that the edge may be pushed between the tongue and the displaceable body. The resilience of the tongue clamps the article against the body, and the latter is constrained by gravity to rest between the tongue and the sloping surface, providing a wedging action due to the sloped surface.

An embodiment of the invention is now briefly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross sectional view of a device according to the invention and a view of the device in use.

As shown the device is secured to wall 10 by screws 11 passing through apertures in flanges 12. The device comprises a first member 13 in contact with the wall, and having an integral tongue 14 defining a cavity 1 5 within the member 13 and bounded outwardly by the tongue 14. The free end of the tongue 14 defines a gap 1 6, which is coplanar with side slots 1 7 between the side edges of the tongue and walls 1 8 formed by the member 13 bounding the cavity 1 5.

Cavity 1 5 comprises a widest upper end (in position of use), and a downwardly narrowing end defined by a sloping face 19 of the member 13, which terminates in a stop wall 20. Within the cavity 15 is a spherical body 21 which functions as a wedging member. When an edge of a sheet (such as a drawing or map for example) 22 is thrust into the cavity into the slot, between the body 21 and the tongue 14. The iatter has a measure of springiness or resilience and tends to grip the sheet against the body 21 which is gravity urged downwards into the narrowing lower end of the cavity.

The body may be cylindrical, or elipsoidal by way of permissible variation, or may be in the form of a polygonal (e.g. octagonal) prism. In transit resilience in the tongue holds the body from chattering in the frame cavity. After use the sheet may be withdrawn sideways from a spherical body, alternatively or additionally a sheet of thin material may be inserted in the cavity to reach the body and the display sheet is withdrawn first while the body is so retained.

1. A retention device comprising a base member, a tongue member having at least some degree of resilience disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the base member, and connected to the base member at one end of the tongue member, a cavity being defined between said tongue and said base member which is generaily deeper at an inner end of said cavity, adjacent the connection of said tongue to said base member and shallower at an outer end defined by a gap between the free end of the tongue and the base member, and a body retained within the cavity which is freely movable within the cavity for clamping any member of material which is inserted into the cavity, by gravity.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is partly defined by a recess in the base member, there being open side slots defined between the upper surface of the base member at the rim of the recess and the tongue member.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the freely movable body is of such dimensions as not to be able to escape through the gap.

4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said tongue member is formed integrally with the base member at the end where it is attached thereto.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the cavity has its maximum depth at an inner end portion, a sloping surface in the base member constricting the cavity towards the gap, and a shoulder or step defined in the base member adjacent the free end of the tongue defining the outer end of the cavity.

6. A device according to any preceding claim

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Object suspension device This invention relates to a retention device for use in suspending objects or articles, such as materials in sheet form, or rod or bar shaped members. In accordance with the invention a retention device comprises a frame having a semi-yieldable tongue having at least some resilience in a plane substantially parallel to the general plane of such first-mentioned, frame member, a cavity between such tongue and said first member which is generally wider at its extremity than at an outer end defined by a gap between the free end of the tongue and a body retained within the cavity which is freely movable within the cavity for clamping any member or material inserted into the cavity by gravity. The freely movable member should be of such size as not to be able to escape through the gap. The member may be a cylindrical, spherical or polygonal prism shaped member. Solids of rotation such as a cylindrical or spherical shape are preferred, most preferably spherical. The cavity may be partially recessed into the first member, and be provided with open slide slots of the same width as the end gap, thereby retaining the body within the cavity against falling out of the sides of the cavity. The tongue is formed integrally with the first member at the end where it is attached thereto. The cavity may have its maximum breadth at an end portion, a sloping surface in the first member narrowing the cavity towards the gap, and a shoulder defined in the first member near the free end of the tongue. In use the device is mounted on a support surface by a flanged recess or screws received in plugs in a wall or like upstanding support, or by magnetic tape on a suitable magnetic support plate or by an adhesive on the frame. This is accomplished so that the tongue is directed downwardly. An edge of an article to be suspended from the device is then inserted through the gap into the cavity so that the edge may be pushed between the tongue and the displaceable body. The resilience of the tongue clamps the article against the body, and the latter is constrained by gravity to rest between the tongue and the sloping surface, providing a wedging action due to the sloped surface. An embodiment of the invention is now briefly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross sectional view of a device according to the invention and a view of the device in use. As shown the device is secured to wall 10 by screws 11 passing through apertures in flanges 12. The device comprises a first member 13 in contact with the wall, and having an integral tongue 14 defining a cavity 1 5 within the member 13 and bounded outwardly by the tongue 14. The free end of the tongue 14 defines a gap 1 6, which is coplanar with side slots 1 7 between the side edges of the tongue and walls 1 8 formed by the member 13 bounding the cavity 1 5. Cavity 1 5 comprises a widest upper end (in position of use), and a downwardly narrowing end defined by a sloping face 19 of the member 13, which terminates in a stop wall 20. Within the cavity 15 is a spherical body 21 which functions as a wedging member. When an edge of a sheet (such as a drawing or map for example) 22 is thrust into the cavity into the slot, between the body 21 and the tongue 14. The iatter has a measure of springiness or resilience and tends to grip the sheet against the body 21 which is gravity urged downwards into the narrowing lower end of the cavity. The body may be cylindrical, or elipsoidal by way of permissible variation, or may be in the form of a polygonal (e.g. octagonal) prism. In transit resilience in the tongue holds the body from chattering in the frame cavity. After use the sheet may be withdrawn sideways from a spherical body, alternatively or additionally a sheet of thin material may be inserted in the cavity to reach the body and the display sheet is withdrawn first while the body is so retained. CLAIMS

6. A device according to any preceding claim having associated means for mounting the device on an upstanding support with a face of the base member opposite the tongue and cavity abutting the support, and the tongue directed downwardly.

7. A retention device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.