GB2119827A - A clip for retaining a planar constructional member in position - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clip 1 for retaining a plasterboard, for example, in position, the clip having a planar body portion 3 and opposite planar parts 4 and 5 at least one of which is defined by spaced parts 6. The clip may be made from a blank which is produced in an automated process for producing identical blanks in which the leading edge of one blank is complementary to the trailing edge of the preceding blank. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A clip for retaining a planar constructional member in position TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a clip for retaining a planar constructional member, such as a plasterboard for example for ceilings, in position.

BACKGROUND A planar constructional panel such as plasterboard generally has to be secured in position by the use of special nails which are difficult to insert, particularly in corners of rooms, and are expensive and are liable to damage the plasterboard.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the invention there is provided a clip for retaining a planar constructional member in position, comprising a substantially flat body position, first and second substantially planar members which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the thickness of a planar constructional member, which are substantially parallel and which extend in the same direction substantially perpendicularly away from the body portion, one of the planar members being defined by at least two spaced parts lying generally in the plane of the particular planar member.

It will be understood that the invention extends to a combination of a planar constructional member such as a plasterboard and a clip as hereinbefore defined.

Each planar members may be defined by at least two spaced parts lying generally in the plane of the particular planar member. This construction provides for a particularly positive seating of the constructional member in use.

The clip may include means for retaining the constructional member and clip together. This construction ensures that the constructional member does not unintentionally part from the clip in use.

The retaining means may comprise a tang protruding from the plane of a planar member towards the flat body portion. There may be a tang carried by each part of the planar member, where the planar member comprises at least two parts.

The clip may be made from a single piece of sheet or strip metal in a forming operation which may produce a plurality of planar blanks from which the clip, and clips identical to it, are produced. This provides for an automated production without wastage of metal. In particular, the blank may include at least one limb projecting in one direction and at least two limbs projecting in the opposite direction from the at least one limb, all the limbs lying substantially in the plane of the blank prior to forming to form the clips.

Three clips embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first clip: Fig. 2 shows' a top plan view of the clip of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 shows a front elevational view of the clip of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows a side elevational view of the clip of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a blank of sheet metal from which the clip of Figs. 1 to 4 is formed; and Figs. 6 and 7 shows respectively perspective views of second and third clips embodying the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 first of all, there is shown a clip 1 made from single blank 2 of sheet metal (Fig. 5) which is used to retain a planar constructional member in the form of plasterboard (not shown) in position on a ceiling. The clip 1 has a substantially flat body portion 3 and first and second substantially planar members 4 and 5 which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the plasterboard. The first and second planar members 4 and 5 are substantially parallel and extend in the same direction perpendicularly away from the body portion 3, the planar member 5 being the lower one in use. The planar member 4 is defined by two spaced parts 6 lying generally in the plane of the planar member 4.

The planar member 5 is defined by two spaced parts lying 7 generally in the plane of the planar member.

Each part 6 has retaining means in the form of an inclined tang 8 which is inclined out of the plane of the planar member towards the body portion 3 so that when a plasterboard is pushed into the gap between the planar members 4 and 5 the tang 8 grips into it and acts to prevent or hinder disassembly of the clip 1 and plasterboard.

The parts 6 each have a turned down lip 9 to provide a lead-in into the clip 1 for the plasterboard.

The body portion 3 includes a depending leg 10 which is situated centrally and has means in the form of holes 11 for receiving fixing devices such as screws or nails which are used to secure the clip 1 to a substratum such as a wall.

At the junction of each part 6, 7, 10 with the body portion 3 there is a radiused part 12 which strengthens the clip and obviates the formation of stress or shear cracks during forming.

In use the clip is mounted on a plasterboard, say, so that the planar members 4 and 5 embrace opposite major surfaces of the board with the free edge thereof butting against the inner (right hand as viewed in Fig. 4) face of the body portion 3. As many clips 1 as desired are mounted along the edge of the plasterboard, and the assembly is then offered up to the wall with the leg 10 of each clip 1 depending from the board and so that in position they lie against the wall. Nails or screws are then inserted through the holes 11 into the wall to hold the assembly in position.

The legs 10 are thus at 90 to the ceiling so formed.

The clip 1 is made from the blank 2 shown in Fig. 5, the parts 6 being turned upwardly about fold line 12 out of the plane of the Figure and the parts 7 being turned upwardly about fold lines 14 out of the plane of the Figure. The lips 9 are formed by turning down about fold lines 1 5. The holes are punched through the leg and the tangs are struck out of the parts 6. The advantage of a blank 2 of this form is that an automated process for production of blanks from sheet or strip metal can be utilised to produce identical blanks with little waste of metal saving the production of swarf.This is because the strip or sheet can be fed through a press or stamping machine, each stroke producing a blank 2, the material left on the sheet or strip between the parts 7 when they are formed forming the leg 11 of the next blank 2' and the rear (right hand) end of the parts 6 defining the free edge or end of the parts 7 of the next succeeding blank 2' to be formed. This is shown schematically in Fig. 5 by a dashed line, which represents the next succeeding blank 2'. Thus the leading edge of one blank 2' is complementary to the trailing edge of the immediately preceding blank 2. There is thus virtually no waste, which provides great economy of material and of energy in forming the blank 2, 2' etc.

Figs. 6 and 7 show modified blanks 100 and 200 respectively. Both are made in an automated process to form blanks similar to that described for Fig. 5 which are then folded about appropriate fold lines to provide the clips 100 and 200 respectively. In both cases there is virtually no waste of material.

The clip 100 has an upper (in use) planar member 101 formed by one part, with a tang 103, and the planar member 104 is defined by two parts 105. The body portion 106 has two depending legs 107, and fixing means in the form of three holes 108. The member 101 has a lip 109.

The clip 200 has a lower (in use) planar member 201 formed by one planar part and the planar member 202, the upper one as considered in Fig. 7 and in use is defined by two parts 203, each with a tang 204 and a lip 205.

The body portion 206 includes a central leg 207 which is aligned with the planar part 201 and which also has retaining means in the form of holes 208.

The clips 100 and 200 are used in a similar manner to that described for the clip 1.

It will be understood that the particular distance between the planar members 4,5, 101, 104, or 201, 202 will be varied in a particular clip depending on the thickness of plasterboard to be retained therein.

It will also be understood that in certain cases the clips may be mounted on a wall independently of a board, which is inserted therein thereafter.

The clips described and shown are also suitable for corner construction.

Claims (9)

1. A clip for retaining a planar constructional member in position, comprising a substantially flat body portion, first and second substantially planar members which are spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the thickness of a planar constructional member, which are substantially parallel and which extend in the same direction substantially perpendicularly away from the body portion, one of the planar members being defined by at least two spaced parts lying generally in the plane of the particular planar member.

2. A clip according to Claim 1, each of the planar members being defined by at least two spaced parts lying generally in the plane of the particular planar member.

3. A clip according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, including means for retaining the constructional member and clip together.

4. A clip according to Clairn 3, the means comprising a tang protruding from the plane of a -planar member towards the flat body portion.

5. A clip according to Claim 4, in which there is a tang carried by each part of the planar member where the planar member comprises at least two parts.

6. A clip according to any preceding claim made from a single piece of sheet or strip metal in a forming operation which produces a plurality of planar blanks from which the clip, and clips identical to it, are produced.

7. A clip according to Claim 6, the blank including at least one limb projecting in one direction and at least two limbs projecting in the opposite direction from the at least one limb, all the limbs lying in the plane of the blank prior to forming to form the clip.

8. A clip for retaining a planar constructional member in position, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

9. A combination of a planar constructional member such as a plasterboard and a clip according to any preceding ciaim.