GB2231634A - Tube support - Google Patents

Abstract

A tube support comprising a base (21) for attachment to a wall, ceiling or other support structure, an arcuate strap (22) which, in conjunction with the base (21), can encircle a tube to support the tube, the strap (22), at one end (32), being engaged with the base (21) for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis parallel to the plane of the base (21), and screw fixing means (23) for releasably securing the opposite end (33) of the strap (22) to the base (21). <IMAGE>

Description

TUBE SUPPORT This invention relates to a support for tubes, pipes, or the like, particularly, but not exclusively, metal conduit for electrical wiring.

Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrate a known form of tube support comprising a generally planar base 11 and a part circular strap 12 secured, in use, to the base 11 by first and second screws 13. The strap 12 has opposite, co-planar end regions through which the screws 13 extend, the end regions having key hole apertures therein to facilitate engagement of the strap with screws already in screw threaded engagement with the base 11.

When supports of the kind illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are supplied to a fitter the screws 13 are normally tightened to hold the strap 12 in place on the base 11.

Thus before the support can be used the fitter must slacken the screws 13 to permit removal of the strap 12 for fitting around a tube. The screws 13 are extremely short, and the material from which the base is pressed is thin. Thus when slackening the screws 13 it is quite usual for the screws to become detached from the base 11 and naturally they may be lost at this stage. If the fitter is working above ground level then considerable effort may be involved in retrieving lost screws.

Moreover, at this stage in the fitting the strap, the base, and often the screws are all separate components and must be manipulated while holding the tube in position. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tube support wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are minimised.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a tube support comprising a base for attachment to a wall, ceiling or other support structure, an arcuate strap which, in conjunction with the base, can encircle a tube to support the tube, the strap, at one end, being engaged with the base for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis parallel to the plane of the base, and screw fixing means for releasably securing the opposite end of the strap to the base.

Preferably the strap includes an integral tongue at each end thereof, said tongues being generally paralell, and said base having a transverse slot therein for receiving the tongue at one end of the strap, the engagement of the tongue in the slot providing the pivotal mounting of the strap relative to the base.

Desirably the tongue, where it protrudes from the rear of the base, is deformed to prevent withdrawal of the tongue from the slot.

Preferably said screw fastening means is a screw held captive on the tongue at said other end of the strap so as to be capable of angular, but not axial, movement relative to the strap, said screw being engageable in a screw threaded bore in the base.

In the accompanying drawings: Figures 1 and 2 are assembled, and exploded, perspective views respectively of a known tube support, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a tube support in accordance with a first example of the present invention, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the tube support in its normal, open configuration, Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the tube support of Figure 3 showing the components thereof disassembled, and Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to Figures 3, 4 and 5 respectively but of a tube support in accordance with a second example of the present invention.

Referring first to Figures 3, 4 and 5 it can be seen that the tube support comprises a base 21, a strap 22, and a strap retaining screw 23.

The base 21 is a planar, mild steel pressing formed from relatively thin mild steel which has been treated, for example galvanised, to minimise corrosion.

The base 21 comprises a planar wall 24 having an integral, upstanding peripheral flange 25, and in use the free edge of the flange 25 is seated against a wall, a ceiling, or other support structure to which the tube support is to be secured. The wall 24 has a centrally disposed, elongate slot 26 through which, in use, a securing screw extends to secure the base to the support structure. The elongate nature of the slot 26 permits adjustment of the position of the base relative to the support structure during fixing.

Spaced from one end of the slot 26 the wall 24 is formed with a plunged hole 27 the inner surface of which is screw threaded, and adjacent the opposite end of the slot 26 the wall 24 is formed with a narrow slot 28 extending transverse to the length of the slot 26.

The strap 22 is also a pressing formed from mild steel sheet which has been treated to minimise corrosion.

The strap 22 comprises a part circular (U-shaped) central portion 29 conveniently formed with a pair of spaced ribs 31 to strengthen and rigidify the arcuate portion of the strap. At its opposite ends the strap includes first and second integral, coplanar tongues 32, 33 the tongues 32, 33 extending in opposite directions. The width and length of the tongue 32 are reduced by comparison with that of the tongue 33 such that the tongue 32 can be inserted through the slot 28 of the base and will not protrude rearwardly from the base beyond the free edge of the flange 25. The tongue 32 is formed with an integral tang 34 which is pressed outwardly from the plane of the tongue 32 after insertion of the tongue 32 through the slot 28 so as to resist withdrawal of the tongue through the slot 28, and thus resist detachment of the strap 22 from the base.

The tongue 33 is formed with a centrally disposed aperture 35 through which the shank of the retaining screw 23 extends. The retaining screw 23 is captive in the aperture 35 in that the screw 23 can be rotated relative to the tongue 33, but cannot move axially relative thereto.

It will be recognised that the tongue 32 and slot 28 provide a hinge connection between the strap 22 and the base 21 whereby the strap 22 can pivot relative to the base 21 about an axis transverse to the length of the base 21 and parallel to the plane of the base 21. The range of permitted movement of the strap 22 relative to the base 21 is approximately 900 from the open position illustrated in Figure 4 where the strap extends outwardly from the base to the position illustrated in Figure 3 where the tongue 33 engages the outer face of the base and the strap and the base define an enclosure for encircling a tube. In the closed position the aperture 35 in the tongue 33 aligns with the hole 27 in the base 21 so that the shank of the screw 23 can be screwed into the threaded hole 27 in the base to retain the strap in its closed position.

It will be recognised that during use of the tube support illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 the support may be supplied to the fitter either in an open position or a closed position since even in the open position all three components of the tube support are secured to one another. For convenience however the support will be supplied in the closed position and the fitter will simply unscrew the screw 23 from the base 21 thus permitting the strap 22 to hinge to an open position.

The strap will not become detached from the base, and the screw 23 will not become detached from the strap. The fitter then positions the base 21 against the wall, if necessary with the tube which is to be supported lying within the U-shape of the strap 22, and secures the base to the wall (or other support structure). The fitter then hinges the strap 22 to its closed position and secures it in its closed position by engagement of the shank of the screw 23 in the threaded hole 27 of the base. The tube to be supported is thus encircled by the strap and the base, and the whole fitting operation can be accomplished without risk of losing any of the components of the tube support.

In the example of the invention illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 the basic components are similar to those described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 in that the tube support comprises a base 41, a strap 42, and a retaining screw 43. The strap 42 is shown as plain in Figures 6, 7 and 8 but it will be understood that if desired it can be formed with ribs as illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Similarly in the example of Figures 3, 4 and 5 the strap could be plain if desired.

In the example of Figures 6, 7 and 8 the screw 43 is not captive on the tongue of the strap 42, and instead the tongue 53 of the strap 42 has an open ended slot 55.

The slot 55 is open at its right hand end, and the slot 48 in the base 41 is extended by comparison with the slot 28 of the base 21 of Figures 3, 4 and 5, to extend into the flange 45 of the base and its left hand edge. The tongue 52 of the strap 42 does not have a tang equivalent to the tang 34 but such a tang could be provided if desired. The tongue 52 hinges in the slot 48 as described above with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5, but in order to move the strap 42 to its open position the screw 43 is slackened relative to the base 41 and the strap 42 is then slid bodily to the left, relative to the base 41, as permitted by the extension of the slot 48, sufficiently far for the open end of the slot 55 in the tongue 53 to clear the screw 43. Thereafter the strap 42 can be hinged to the open position leaving the screw 43 engaged with the base 41.Fitting of the support to a wall or the like is similar to that described with reference to Figures 3, 4, and 5 except that after hinging of the strap to its closed position the strap must be moved bodily to the right relative to the base to engage the tongue 53 beneath the head of the screw 43 whereafter the screw 43 is tightened to clamp the parts in position. As mentioned previously the tongue 52 can be provided with a tang to prevent withdrawal of the tongue 52 from the slot 48 if desired.

In the examples described above it is assumed that the support will be used in an orientation such that the strap hinges downwardly to its open position. It is to be understood however that the support can be used in other orientation, for example with the length of the base horizontal, or even inverted so that the movement of the strap to its open position is an upward movement. It may however, be preferably where appropriate to use the support in such a manner that the strap hinges downwardly to its open position since the strap can then locate the tube even though the strap is in an open position.

Claims (6)

1 A tube support comprising a base for attachment to a wall, ceiling or other support structure, an arcuate strap which, in conjunction with the base, can encircle a tube to support the tube, the strap, at one end, being engaged with the base for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis parallel to the plane of the base, and screw fixing means for releasably securing the opposite end of the strap to the base.

2 A tube support as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the strap includes an integral tongue at each end thereof, said tongues being generally parallel, and said base having a transverse slot therein for receiving the tongue at one end of the strap, the engagement of the tongue in the slot providing the pivotal mounting of the strap relative to the base.

3 A tube support as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said tongue, where it protrudes from the rear of the base, is deformed to prevent withdrawal of the tongue from the slot.

4 A tube support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said screw fastening means is a screw held captive on the tongue at said other end of the strap so as to be capable of angular, but not axial, movement relative to the strap, said screw being engageable in a screw threaded bore in the base.

5 A tube support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

6 A tube support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.