GB2120512A

GB2120512A - Dismantlable clamp for securing together two parts of a horticultural cloche

Info

Publication number: GB2120512A
Application number: GB08215472A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Courtney Reynolds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-27
Filing date: 1982-05-27
Publication date: 1983-12-07
Also published as: GB2120512B

Abstract

A dismantlable clamp for securing together two sheets (3A, 3B) of a horticultural cloche at its apex, the clamp comprising a first plate (2) of substantially V-section for location along the apex of the cloche within the two sheets, a second plate (3) of corresponding section for location along the apex of the cloche outside the two sheets, and a spring clip (4) adapted to pass through the apex of the cloche and resiliently to engage with both plates as one is slid over the other, thereby to hold the plates in fixed inter-relationship, entrapping the cloche sheets between them. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION The separable apex clip Technical Field Clips or Clamps for the temporary attachment of separate pieces or parts together.

Purpose and Usage In the construction of those Horticultural Cloches consisting of two sheets of translucent material usually glass, placed together to form an inverted 'V' and know as 'Tent' cloches, the function of the clip is to firmly secure at the apex, and in the closed position, the two sides of the cloche, but to allow when required, each of access to the cloche interior and ease of construction of the cloches.

Mode To provide this requirement, it is necessary for any such apex clip to have the ability to release the secured parts either by a built-in releasing action of the clip itself or the clip itself being separable. The best considered solution is the Seperable clip composed of individual separate parts not permanently attached together or to each other, and consisting of an inner shaped plate (2) Fig. 2, and outer shaped plate (3) Fig. 2, and a finger hold sprung clip (4) Fig. 2.

Specification The separable apex clip, shown in it's assembled condition at it's application (1) Fig. 1, consists of an interior shaped plate (2) Fig. 2 the plate having angled sides conforming to the required angle of the cloche side walls, and having a hole positioned centrally across the width of the upper flat surface offset from the centre of the length of the plate, together with a matching exterior plate (3) Fig. 2, but this exterior plate being oversize to the interior plate by a distance sufficient to accept the cloche side walls between the angled sides of the plates, and having instead of a hole, a slot so positioned that when the shaped plates are in position one above the other, the hole in the interior plate is in line with the end of the slot in the exterior plate.

The interior plate and the exterior plate are gripped together, holding the cloche side walls between the angular sides of the plates, by a sprung clip (4) Fig. 2, this clip shaped to form a lower horizontal arm which locates through the hole in the interior plate, laying parallel and adjacent to the horizontal inside lengthwise surface of the plate, turns 90" to form a vertical stem of sufficient height to provide a reasonable finger hold, returning to the horizontal and running above the lower arm, descending vertically at a point roughly in line with the end of the lower arm, then turning 900 returns horizontally towards the stem forming an upper arm which terminates approximately at the stem.The distance between the upper and lower arms so formed being gauged to impart a measure of compression to the interior and exterior plates providing the necessary clamping action.

The specification describes the invention of a clip for securing the side walls of 'Tent' cloches, in their set positions, at the apex. Characterized in so much as the clip is a composite of individual parts none of which are permanently fixed together or to each other, which whilst in the assembled condition firmly grip the two sides of the tent cloche together at the apex between the interior and exterior plates of the clip, and the clip being of individual separable parts, will allow dismantling of the clip whilst the tent cloche is in it's set position and the clip in it's designated position in the apex of the cloche.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 24.6.83.

Superseded claims The claim.

New or amended claims: 1. A dismantlable clamp for securing together two parts of a horticultural cloche at its apex, the cloch being intended to be of the type where said two parts are respective sheets of material set in a substantially inverted "V" position, the clamp comprising a first plate of substantially V-section for location along the apex of the cloche within the two sheets, a second plate of corresponding section for location along the apex of the cloche outside the two sheets, and a spring clip adapted to pass through the apex of the cloche and resiliently to engage with both said plates as one is slid over the other, thereby to hold the plates in fixed inter-relationship, entrapping the cloche sheets between them.

2. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein said second plate is oversize as compared with said first plate by dimensions sufficient for the clamp to accept the two sheets of the cloche between the two plates thereof.

3. A clamp as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said first plate has a hole positioned centrally in its apex and offset from the centre of the length of the plate, this hole being for receiving a part of said spring clip, and wherein said second plate has an end slot in its apex so positioned that, when the two plates are positioned one above the other, the hole in said first plate is in line with the end of the slot in said second plate.

4. A clamp as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said spring clip is shaped to form a lower arm for location through the hole in said first plate to lie parallel to the apex of said first plate, the lower arm turning 900 to form a stem of sufficient height to provide a fingerhold, then turning 900 again to run parallel and above the lower arm, then turning 900 again downwardly, then turning 900 again to return towards the stem and forming an upper arm which is parallel to the lower arm, this upper arm terminating in the region of the stem, the arrangement being such that, when the clamp is assembled, the upper arm presses downwardly on the upper surface of said second

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION The separable apex clip Technical Field Clips or Clamps for the temporary attachment of separate pieces or parts together. Purpose and Usage In the construction of those Horticultural Cloches consisting of two sheets of translucent material usually glass, placed together to form an inverted 'V' and know as 'Tent' cloches, the function of the clip is to firmly secure at the apex, and in the closed position, the two sides of the cloche, but to allow when required, each of access to the cloche interior and ease of construction of the cloches. Mode To provide this requirement, it is necessary for any such apex clip to have the ability to release the secured parts either by a built-in releasing action of the clip itself or the clip itself being separable. The best considered solution is the Seperable clip composed of individual separate parts not permanently attached together or to each other, and consisting of an inner shaped plate (2) Fig. 2, and outer shaped plate (3) Fig. 2, and a finger hold sprung clip (4) Fig. 2. Specification The separable apex clip, shown in it's assembled condition at it's application (1) Fig. 1, consists of an interior shaped plate (2) Fig. 2 the plate having angled sides conforming to the required angle of the cloche side walls, and having a hole positioned centrally across the width of the upper flat surface offset from the centre of the length of the plate, together with a matching exterior plate (3) Fig. 2, but this exterior plate being oversize to the interior plate by a distance sufficient to accept the cloche side walls between the angled sides of the plates, and having instead of a hole, a slot so positioned that when the shaped plates are in position one above the other, the hole in the interior plate is in line with the end of the slot in the exterior plate. The interior plate and the exterior plate are gripped together, holding the cloche side walls between the angular sides of the plates, by a sprung clip (4) Fig. 2, this clip shaped to form a lower horizontal arm which locates through the hole in the interior plate, laying parallel and adjacent to the horizontal inside lengthwise surface of the plate, turns 90" to form a vertical stem of sufficient height to provide a reasonable finger hold, returning to the horizontal and running above the lower arm, descending vertically at a point roughly in line with the end of the lower arm, then turning 900 returns horizontally towards the stem forming an upper arm which terminates approximately at the stem.The distance between the upper and lower arms so formed being gauged to impart a measure of compression to the interior and exterior plates providing the necessary clamping action. CLAIMS The specification describes the invention of a clip for securing the side walls of 'Tent' cloches, in their set positions, at the apex. Characterized in so much as the clip is a composite of individual parts none of which are permanently fixed together or to each other, which whilst in the assembled condition firmly grip the two sides of the tent cloche together at the apex between the interior and exterior plates of the clip, and the clip being of individual separable parts, will allow dismantling of the clip whilst the tent cloche is in it's set position and the clip in it's designated position in the apex of the cloche. New claims or amendments to claims filed on 24.6.83. Superseded claims The claim. New or amended claims:

1. A dismantlable clamp for securing together two parts of a horticultural cloche at its apex, the cloch being intended to be of the type where said two parts are respective sheets of material set in a substantially inverted "V" position, the clamp comprising a first plate of substantially V-section for location along the apex of the cloche within the two sheets, a second plate of corresponding section for location along the apex of the cloche outside the two sheets, and a spring clip adapted to pass through the apex of the cloche and resiliently to engage with both said plates as one is slid over the other, thereby to hold the plates in fixed inter-relationship, entrapping the cloche sheets between them.

4. A clamp as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said spring clip is shaped to form a lower arm for location through the hole in said first plate to lie parallel to the apex of said first plate, the lower arm turning 900 to form a stem of sufficient height to provide a fingerhold, then turning 900 again to run parallel and above the lower arm, then turning 900 again downwardly, then turning 900 again to return towards the stem and forming an upper arm which is parallel to the lower arm, this upper arm terminating in the region of the stem, the arrangement being such that, when the clamp is assembled, the upper arm presses downwardly on the upper surface of said second plate and the lower arm presses upwardly on the inner surface of said first plate, thereby pressing the plates towards one another.

5. A dismantlable clamp for securing together two parts of a horticultural cloche at its apex, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.