GB2241036A

GB2241036A - Attachment device

Info

Publication number: GB2241036A
Application number: GB9003388A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Boyett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-14
Filing date: 1990-02-14
Publication date: 1991-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-14
Also published as: GB9003388D0; GB2241036B

Abstract

An attachment device e.g. for attaching a lightning conductor (10) (or a pipe or electric cable) to a wall (11), has a first body part (13) adapted to receive (or integral with) the lightning conductor (10), and a second body part (14) which, in use, is received in an opening (15) in the wall (11) and is adapted to be expanded to grip an inside wall (16) of the opening (15), the first and second body parts (13, 14) being integrally formed or secured together by means of interengaging formations (not shown). The conductor (10) is retained in a recess (R) in the first body part (13) by means of a hinged retainer (21), snap-fitted onto the first body part (13). The second body part (14) is expanded by a screw (F) or a pin. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Attachment Device" Description of the Invention This invention relates to an attachment device and more particularly but not exclusively to an attachment device for attaching a lightning conductor to a support surface such as a wall. However the invention has other applications such as for example attaching a pipe or electrical cable or conduit to a support surface.

Presently it is known to secure a clip to a support surface by means of a wall plug which is inserted into an opening in the support surface and is expanded to grip an inside wall of the opening by introducing a screw which is received in a passage through the clip such that the clip is secured to the wall by the screw engaging with the wall plug.

It will be appreciated that using such known clips in this manner can be difficult in some situations, such as when a user is temporarily supported above the ground for example in a harness, because the operator needs first to drill the opening in the wall, then insert the wall plug, insert the screw through the passage in the clip, and screw the screw home. Then the article e.g. the lightning conductor has to be secured to the clip.

According to a first aspect of the invention, I provide an attachment device for attaching an article to a support surface, the device comprising a first body part adapted to receive, or being integral with, the article and Q second body part including a fixing member which in use, is received in an opening in the support surface and is adapted to be expanded to grip an inside wall of the opening to prevent withdrawal of the fixing member from the opening, the first and second body parts being integrally formed or secured together prior to use by means of interengaging formations of the first and second body parts.

Thus a user's task is considerably facilitated. The operator merely needs to provide the opening in the support surface, introduce the fixing member into the opening, and expand the member. Thereafter, where appropriate, the article can be received by the first body part of the device.

It will be appreciated that installation of e.g. a lightning conductor, using a device in accordance with the invention, is much faster and eosier than with using conventional clips.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second body parts are integrally formed conveniently by moulding e.g. in a suitable plastics material. The fixing member may comprise a wall plug and may have a surface configuration to facilitate gripping the inside wall of the opening when expanded.

In another embodiment the first and second body parts may be independently formed, for example by moulding in a suitable plastics material. In this event the second body part may include a head formation integral with the fixing member and the first body part may have a passage to receive the fixing member, the head formation of the fixing member cooperating with a formation surrounding the passage to prevent the second body part passing entirely through the passage thereby to secure the first and second body parts together prior to use. In this way, the first body part may be able to rotate relative to the second body part, which can be helpful on installation of the article, for suitably aligning the article and the attachment device.Again the fixing member may comprise a wall plug and may have a surface configuration to facilitate gripping the inside wall of the opening when expanded.

In each case it will be appreciated that whereas with prior arrangements clips have been held to a support surface by a screw passing through a passage of the clip into engagement with the wall plug, in an arrangement in accordance with the invention the first body part of the device which receives the article is held to the support surface by virtue of its connection with the second body part.

In an arrangement of the invention any suitable means to expand the fixing member may be employed. For example the fixing member may be expanded by means of a pin driven into the fixing member because the pin only needs to expand the first member and is not required to provide any resistance against separation of the first body part from the second body part.

A retaining means may be provided captively to retain the article received by the first body part. The retaining means may comprise a pair of resiliently deformable arms which may be integrally formed with the first body part, between which arms, the article is snap-interengoged. Preferably though the retaining means includes a retaining element which co-operates with the first body part to entrap the article between the retaining element and the first body part.

In one example, the retaining element is connected to the first body part by means of a hinge which, where the first body part and the retaining element are integrally moulded, may conveniently be provided by a web of material which permits of hinging of the retaining element between an open condition when the article may be received by the first body part and a closed condition when the article may be retained between the first body part and the retaining element.

Preferably the retaining element and the first body part have snapinterengaging formations to enable the retaining element lo be maintained in the closed condition.

Preferably the retaining element and the first body part have further co-operating formations so that in the event that the hinge connecting the retaining element and the first body part fails, for example as a result of severe weathering, when the retaining element is closed the retaining element remains in cooperation with the first body part with the article therebetween.

According to a second aspect of the invention, I provide an attachment device comprising a body part adapted to receive an article and a retaining element hinged to the body part and movable between an open condition when the article may be received by the body part or the retaining member, and a closed condition when the article is retained between the body part and the retaining element, the retaining element and the body part having first cooperating formations to enable the retaining element to be retained in the closed condition and second co-operating formations which in the event that the hinge connecting the retaining element and the body part fails, when the retaining element is closed, the retaining element remains in co-operation with the body part with the article therebetween.

The attachment device of the second aspect of the invention may have any of the features of the attachment device of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention I provide in combination a plurality of attachment devices according to the first aspect of the invention secured to a support and a lightning conductor received by the first body parts of the respective attachment devices and thereby being attached to the support by the attachment devices.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention we provide in combination a plurality of attachment devices according to the second aspect of the invention secured to a support and a lightning conductor received by the body parts of the respective attachment devices and thereby being attached to the support by the attachment devices.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE I is an illustrative side sectional view of an attachment device in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is an illustrative view of part of a building showing a lightening conductor attached to a wall by a plurality of attachment devices.

Referring to the drawings, a lightning conductor 10 is secured to a wall 11 of a building by a plurality of attachment devices indicated at 12.

Each of the attachment devices 12 comprises a first body port 13 and a second body part 14. The first body part 13 comprises a recess R in which in use, the lightning conductor lû is received. The second body part 14 comprises a fixing member which in the present example is formed integrally with the first body part 13, the first and second body parts 13, 14 being integrally formed by moulding in a suitable plastics material.

The fixing member 14 in use is received in an opening 15 provided in the wall 11 of the building, for example by drilling, and is expandable as hereinafter described, so as to grip and inside wall 16 of the opening IS. As shown in Figure I, the fixing member 14 is illustrated in its unexpanded condition.

The outer surface of the fixing member 14 is configured to provide a plurality of ribs 17 to facilitate gripping the inside wall 16 of the opening 15 when the fixing member 14 is expanded.

To expand the fixing member 14, an expansion member F is driven into the fixing member 14 through a passage 18 provided in the first body part 13.

In the example shown, the member F is a screw, but could comprise a pin e.g.

a nail or any other elongate fastening which is wider than a space provided for it within the fixing member 14 so that as the member F is driven home, the fixing member 14 expands.

The fixing member 14 is provided with a plurality of slits S along its length to facilitate its expansion.

Hinged to the first body part 13 by means of a web 20 of material, is a retaining element 21, the retaining element being movable from an open condition when the lightning conductor 10 can be inserted into the recess R, to the closed position as shown when the lightning conductor 10 is trapped between the retaining element 21 and the first body part 13 of the attachment device 12.

The retaining element 21 is retained in its closed position by means of a pair of co-operating formations of the retaining element 21 and the first body part 13, indicated at 22 and 23 respectively, which snap interengage as the retaining element 21 is moved to its closed position.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that if the attachment device 12 is subjected to severe weathering, there is the possibility of the web 20 which hinges the retaining element 21 to the first body part 13 failing.

To enable the retaining element 21 to be retained closed in this event, the retaining element 21 and first body part have a further pair of interengoging formations indicated at 24 and 25 respectively, which interengage as the retaining element 21 is moved to its closed position.

When the retaining element 21 is in its closed position, it would have to be prized open to release the snap-interengaging formations 22 and 23 before formations 24 and 25 can be released to allow the retaining element 21 to be removed.

Use of the attachment device 12 will now be described.

First, a user provides the opening 15 in the wall II of the building 10 conveniently by drilling.

Next, with the retaining element 21 in an open condition, the second body part 14 i.e. the fixing member is introduced into the opening 15 as shown in figure 1.

Next, the fastening F is used to expand the fixing member 14 so as to prevent withdrawal of the fixing member 14 from the opening 15.

Thus, with the attachment device 12 secured to the wall II, the lightening conductor 10 may then be received by the first body part 13 as indicated, and the retaining element 21 moved to a closed condition when the formations 22 and 23 will snap-interengoge.

It will be appreciated that the lightening conductor 10 will be attached to the wall by virtue of the connection between the first and second body parts 13 and 14 and not by the expansion member F which need not therefore provide any inherent resistance to the first body part 13 moving away from the wall II.

Thus, in a preferred arrangement, to facilitate the use of the attachment device 12, the member F is a pin which can be driven home rather than a screw as indicated which needs to be screwed home.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example in the embodiment described, the first and second body parts 13,14, are integrally formed by moulding in plastics material. In an alternative embodiment, the first and second body parts 13, 14 may be independently made and secured together prior to using the attachment device. For example, the first body part 13 may have a passage 18 and the second body part 14 may comprise a formation such as an enlarged head which head, when the second body part 14 is inserted into the passage 18 prevents the entire second body part 14 from passing through the passage 18.

The enlarged head of the second body part 14 may be accommodated by a suitable recess or other formation of the first body part.

Thus, when the fixing member is expanded, using a pin, screw or any other means for expanding the fixing member in the opening 15, the first body part 13 will be secured relative to the wall II by virtue of the interengagement of the enlarged head formation of the second body part 14 and the recess or other formation surrounding the passage 18 of the first body part 13.

In another arrangement an alternative means to web 20 for hinging the retaining element 21 relative to the first body part 13 may be provided, or the retaining element 21 need not be connected to the first body part 13 at all, as desired, prior to use.

Although in the example described, the attachment device 10 is made by moulding or forming in plastics material, the attachment device 10 could be moulded or formed in other materials or could be fabricated otherwise as desired.

In the example described, the recess R of the first body part 13 is of a shape generally corresponding to the shape of the lightning conductor 10 which in use, is received therein.

In another example, the recess R may be of an entirely different configuration to receive an entirely different shaped article such as a pipe, an electrical cable or conduit for examples only.

If desired, the retaining element 21 need not be provided at all, but some other means may be provided to enable an article to be retained by the first body part 13. For example, the first body part 13 may have a pair of resilient arms between which the article is snap interengoged, the resilience of the arms gripping the article and preventing it disengaging the first body part 13.

Alternatively, the first body part may have a formation which, when the attachment means is secured to the wall II, entraps an article between the formation and the wall.

Still further alternatively, the first body part of the attachment device may be an integral or separable part of an article which is to be attached to a wall II, or any other support, as desired.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. An attachment device for attaching an article to a support surface, the device comprising a first body part adapted to receive, or being integral with, the article and a second body part including a fixing member which in use, is received in an opening in the support surface and is adapted to be expanded to grip an inside wall of the opening to prevent withdrawal of the fixing member from the opening, the first and second body parts being integrally formed or secured together prior to use by means of interengaging formations of the first and second body parts.

2. A device according to claim I wherein the first and second body parts are integrally formed.

3. A device according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the fixing member comprises a wall plug and has a surface configuration to facilitate gripping the inside wall of the opening when expanded.

4. A device according to claim I wherein the first and second body parts are independently formed.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the second body Dart includes a head formation integral with the fixing member and the first body part has a passage to receive the fixing member, the head formation of the fixing member co-operating with a formation surrounding the passage to prevent the second body part passing entirely through the passage thereby to secure the first and second body parts together prior to use.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the first body part is able to rotate relative to the second body part.

7. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the fixing member comprises a wall plug and has a surface configuration to facilitate gripping the inside wall of the opening when expanded.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing member is expanded by means of a pin driven into the fixing member.

9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a retaining means is provided captively to retain the article received by, or integral with, the first body part.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the retaining means comprises a pair of resiliently deformable arms which are integrally formed with the first body part, between which arms, the article is snap-interengoged.

II. A device according to claim 9 wherein the retaining means includes a retaining element which co-operates with the first body part to entrap the article between the retaining element and the first body part.

12. A device according to claim I I wherein the retaining element is connected to the first body part by means of a hinge.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the hinge is Drovided by a web of material which permits of hinging of the retaining element between an open condition when the article may be received by the first body part and a closed condition when the article is retained between the first bode part and the retaining element.

14. A device according to any one of claims II to 13 wherein the retaining element and the first body part have snap-interengaqing formations to enable the retaining element to be maintained in the closed condition.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein the retaining element and the first body part have further co-operating formations so that in the event that the hinge connecting the retaining element and the first body part fails, when the retaining element is closed the retaining element remains in co-operation with the first body part with the article therebetween.

16. An attachment device comprising a body part adapted to receive an article and a retaining element hinged to the body part and movable between an open condition when the article may be received by the body part or the retaining member, and a closed condition when the article is retained between the body part and the retaining element, the retaining element and the body part having first co-operating formations to enable the retaining element to be retained in the closed condition and second co-operating formations which in the event that the hinge connecting the retaining element and the body part fails, when the retaining element is closed, the retaining element remains in co-operation with the body part with the article therebetween.

17. A device according to claim 16 having any of the features of the attachment device of claims I to 15.

18. An attachment device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. In combination a plurality of attachment devices according to any one of the preceding claims secured to a support and a lightning conductor received by the first body parts of the respective attachment devices and thereby being attached to the support by the attachment devices.

20. A combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

21. Any novel fature or novel combination of features as herein defined and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.