GB2272954A

GB2272954A - Lockable pipe holder

Info

Publication number: GB2272954A
Application number: GB9323017A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Boville
Original assignee: A Raymond SARL
Current assignee: A Raymond SARL
Priority date: 1992-11-28
Filing date: 1993-11-09
Publication date: 1994-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-09
Also published as: GB2272954B; ES1026150U; ITMI930814U1; ITMI930814V0; DE4240088A1; FR2698677B1; DE4240088C2; IT230664Y1; FR2698677A1; ES1026150Y; GB9323017D0

Abstract

Jaws (2, 3) are supported by hinges (4, 5, 6) which permit the jaws to move from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 to clamp a pipe (9). Even when the jaws (2, 3) are open, they do not extend over the sides of the supporting base (1), thereby permitting close positioning of adjacent pipe holders. <IMAGE>

Description

2272954 LOCKABLE PIPE HOLDER The invention relates to a lockable pipe

holder.

A known lockable pipe holder is illustrated in DE-A-3,642,958. The pipe holder shown in Figures 1 and 2 of this prior art document comprises socalled clamping jaws which receive the pipe and are half-ring shaped and at their middle outside areas are pivotably connected to the ends of a base member by thin connecting tabs. When unfolded, the two clamping jaws are upwardly open. When closed, the parts between the connecting tabs retract into the base member and the free ends of the clamping jaws are locked together. A disadvantage with this pipe holder is that, when open, the clamping jaws protrude above the base member and over each side by half the width of a jaw and therefore take up a great deal of space at the sides. If several pipe holders were to be placed side by side, these would have to be spaced widely apart because of the space requirement.

Figure 3 of DE-A-3,642,958 shows a further pipe holder, which, when open, keeps its jaws within the width of the base. However, the inner end of the upper jaw protrudes into the base over half way into the recess of the base and is then connected by means of a relatively short lower jaw to the lower part of the base. The inserted pipe is simply pressed against the interior curve of the jaws by an elastic holding tongue.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lockable pipe holder comprising: a base having a pair of arms which define a recess therebetween; and first and second clamping jaws connected by respective first and second hinges to the free ends of respective ones of the arms, and connected to each other by a third hinge positioned between the first and second hinges; the arrangement being such that, when the jaws are open, the second jaw substantially fills the mouth of the recess, the first jaw is generally transverse to the second jaw, and the sum of the distances between the first and third hinges and between the second and third hinges is greater than the distance between the f irst and second hinges; and the arrangement being such that, when the jaws are closed, the second jaw is positioned deeper in the recess than when the jaws are open, and the first jaw covers the mouth of the recess and is locked in position.

This construction enables the jaws, when open, to have a small overall width, and the pipe to be pressed against the second, lower jaw in a secure manner.

Preferably the first and second jaws include respective first and second latching hooks, and the second latching hook is positioned on the side of the second hinge remote from the recess and the gap between the second latching hook and the second hinge is shaped to receive the first latching hook for locking the first jaw in position when the first jaw is covering the mouth of the recess.

Preferably, the first jaw comprises (i) a main arm having the first hinge at one end and a length sufficient to cover the mouth of the recess when the jaws are closed and (ii) a side arm fixed at one end to the main arm, adjacent to the first hinge, and connected at the other end to one end of the second jaw, via the third hinge, the arrangement being such that pivoting of the main arm about the first hinge to cover the mouth causes the side arm to pivot the second jaw about the second hinge and thereby move the second jaw into the recess. This construction of the hinge connection between the jaws ensures that the mechanism for inward pivoting of the first jaw is effective in the narrowest of spaces.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

Fig. 1 shows a pipe holder in accordance with the invention and viewed from the front in the open receiving position, h p Fig. 2 shows the pipe holder fixed to a wall during insertion of a pipe, and Fig. 3 shows the pipe holder with the inserted pipe and closed clamping jaws.

The pipe holder shown in the drawings comprises an approximately half ring shaped base 1 of hard elastic plastics as well as two clamping jaws or fastening clips 2 and 3 integrally connected thereto for surrounding and holding a pipe 9. One of the two clamping jaws, designated 2, functions as a lower jaw and is formed as a half-ring and at one end is pivotably connected by means of a so-called f ilm hinge 4 to one end of the base 1. When the pipe holder is open, the clamping jaw 2 is arranged over and between the sides of the base 1 and, when it is closed, the clamping jaw 2 fully retracts into the recess of the base 1.

The other clamping jaw, designated 3, functions as an upper jaw and is pivotably connected by means of a film hinge 5 to the other end of the base. This jaw 3 serves to cover the clamping jaw 2 and, when open, protrudes away from the clamping jaw 2, whereas, when closed, it presses the pipe 9 firmly against the clamping jaw 2.

The clamping jaw 3 includes, adjacent to the film hinge 5, a short side arm 10 at approximately a right angle to the main part of the jaw 3. The arm 10 is connected at its free end to the free end of the clamping jaw 2 by means of a further film hinge 6.

The positions of the film hinges are selected so that the sum of the distances between the middle hinge 6 and the two outer hinges 4 and 5 is larger than the direct distance between the two outer hinges. In this way, the clamping jaw 3 retains itself in the open position and can only be pressed down to the closed position by overcoming a spring force. As this happens, the base 1 has to outwardly flex somewhat, whereas the clamping jaw 2 simultaneously flexes somewhat inwards at its ends.

The clamping jaw 3 has at its free end an inwardly pointing latching hook 8, whereas the clamping jaw 2 is provided, on its free end which protrudes above the side of the base 1, with a corresponding outwardly pointing latching hook 7. The distance "a" between this latching hook 7 and the film hinge 4 is conveniently dimensioned so that, when the clamping jaw 2 is pivoted downwards, the hook 7 is positioned above the end of the base 1 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the other hook 8.

In order for pipes with smaller diameters to be held between the jaws 2 and 3, there is on the clamping jaw 3 an inwardly facing holding tongue 11. A tongue end 12 is curved downwards and back towards the hinge 6 and presses on the pipe 9 from above when the pipe holder is closed.

In the above embodiment, the pipe holder is provided with a dowel-like anchoring portion 13 which, by way of illustration in Figs. 2 and 3, is pressed into a pre-bored hole 14 in a concrete wall 15.

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Claims

1. A lockable pipe holder comprising: a base having a pair of arms which define a recess therebetween; and first and second clamping jaws connected by respective first and second hinges to the free ends of respective ones of the arms, and connected to each other by a third hinge positioned between the first and second hinges; the arrangement being such that, when the jaws are open, the second jaw substantially fills the mouth of the recess, the first jaw is generally transverse to the second jaw, and the sum of the distances between the first and third hinges and between the second and third hinges is greater than the distance between the first and second hinges; and the arrangement being such that, when the jaws are closed, the second jaw is positioned deeper in the recess than when the jaws are open, and the first jaw covers the mouth of the recess and is locked in position.

2. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 1, wherein the clamping jaws are integral with the arms and the hinges are film hinges.

3. A lockable pipe holder according to claim I or 2, wherein the base comprises a generally U-shaped member, the arms of which function as the pair of arms.

4. A lockable pipe holder according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the arms and the jaws are resiliently deformable.

5. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 4, wherein the holder is made of plastics material.

6. A lockable pipe holder according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first jaw includes a first latching hook for locking the first jaw in position when the first jaw is covering the mouth of the recess.

7. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 6, wherein the second j aw includes a second latching hook arranged to latch with the first latching hook for locking the first jaw in position when the first jaw is covering the mouth of the recess.

8. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 7, wherein the second latching hook is positioned on the side of the second hinge remote from the recess and the gap between the second latching hook and the second hinge is shaped to receive the first latching hook for locking the first jaw in position when the first jaw is covering the mouth of the recess.

9. A lockable pipe holder according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first jaw comprises (i) a main arm having the first hinge at one end and a length sufficient to cover the mouth of the recess when the jaws are closed and (ii) a side arm fixed at one end to the main arm, adjacent to the first hinge, and connected at the other end to one end of the second jaw, via the third hinge, the arrangement being such that pivoting of the main arm about the first hinge to cover the mouth causes the side arm to pivot the second jaw about the second hinge and thereby move the second jaw into the recess.

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10. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 9, wherein the main arm is bowed away from the second jaw.

11. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the side arm is substantially perpendicular to the part of the main arm to which it is fixed.

12. A lockable pipe holder according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first jaw includes a flexible tongue positioned inwardly of the main arm for pressing a pipe against the second jaw when the jaws are closed.

13. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 12, wherein the tongue extends away from the first hinge, bends back on itself and, when the jaws are open, points towards the second jaw.

14. A lockable pipe holder according to claim 13, wherein the base of the tongue is fixed to the side arm and is spaced away from the main arm.

15. A lockable pipe holder according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second jaw comprises a main portion which is bowed into the recess and has the second and third hinges at respective ones of its ends.

16. A lockable pipe holder according to claims 8 and 15, wherein the second jaw includes an extension extending away from the main portion and the second hinge and towards the second latching hook.

17. A lockable pipe holder according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the base includes an anchoring portion which is insertable into a hole for fixing the position of the lockable pipe holder.

18. A lockable pipe holder substantially as herein described with reference to, or with reference to and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

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