GB2285480A

GB2285480A - Fasteners for sink units

Info

Publication number: GB2285480A
Application number: GB9500127A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Rees; Gary Francis Parker
Original assignee: Springfast Ltd
Current assignee: Springfast Ltd
Priority date: 1994-01-06
Filing date: 1995-01-05
Publication date: 1995-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-05
Also published as: GB2285480B; GB9400125D0; GB9500127D0

Abstract

A fastener for securing a sink unit (18) in a worktop (20) has a clip (1) for attachment to a stud (21) below the periphery of the unit and a hinged clamping member (6) which is tightened up against the underside of the worktop by a screw (7). This threads through the hinge pin (5) and when undone allows the clamping member (6) to swing back to an inoperative position where it will clear the edge of the hole in the worktop (20) as the unit (18) is lowered in. The stud (21) has a slot (22) formed in its side facing outwardly of the unit (18) and the clip (1) has a tongue (9) with barbs (10) that enters this slot and grips to hold the fastener to the stud. <IMAGE>

Description

ImDrovements relating to Fasteners This invention relates to fasteners. It is primarily concerned with fasteners for sinks or basins which are set down into an aperture in a worktop, the rim being a flange that rests on the periphery of the aperture and which is clamped in place by devices fitted underneath the sink or basin. It is a development of the fastener described in our Patent EP (GB) 0128772.

The fasteners described in that earlier Patent were designed for metal sinks which provide slim ribs or tags projecting downwardly and onto which the fasteners can clip.

However, plastic, resin and composite sinks are now becoming quite popular. These are generally thicker, and the provision of ribs or tabs like those on metal sinks is not really practical. If they are thin enough to be compatible with existing fasteners, they will generally not be strong enough. Therefore, the practice is to provide much thicker formations to which fastening devices can be screwed.

However, while this can secure a sink perfectly adequately, fiddling about with screws in cramped and confined spaces is awkward, time consuming and expensive. Also, screws fitting directly into the plastic, resin or composite material is not always satisfactory, and metal inserts often have to be provided, adding to the complexity and cost of the construction.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a fastener which should largely avoid these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a fastener comprising a clip, a clamping member hinged thereto, and means for adjusting the clamping member relative to the clip in a direction transverse to the hinge axis, wherein the clip has a barbed tongue projecting therefrom in a direction transverse to the adjustment direction and to the hinge axis.

Preferably, the clip will be of sheet metal, the tongue being struck out from the main body thereof and one or more barbs being struck out from the tongue. In the preferred form, to fit closely against the formations that are now usually provided below the rims of plastic, resin or composite sinks, the clip will be generally L-shaped, with the tongue projecting from about the mid-height of the upright portion in the opposite direction to the horizontal portion. The hinge will be at the free edge of the latter.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hinged fastener for sinks, Figure 2 is a front elevation of the fastener of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of a clip which is part of the fastener of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side elevation of the fastener cooperating with part of a sink.

The upper part of the fastener is a clip formed from a single substantially rectangular piece sheet of metal having a certain resilience and bent and cut in a manner described below.

In side view, the clip is generally L-shaped with the upright forming a main body 2 and sloping over the horizontal portion 3. This terminates at its free edge in a roll 4 turned down, under and back to form an almost complete tube. This receives a hinge pin 5 and the fastener is completed by a clamping member 6 hinged to this pin and adjustable by a screw 7 which passes up through the centre of the pin. A slot 8 in the roll 4 accommodates this screw and allows the relative hinging movement.

The main body 2 has a rectangular tongue 9 struck out and turned down to extend horizontally from about the midheight of the body 2 and in the opposite direction to the horizontal portion 3. Struck out of the tongue 9 in an upwards direction near its free edge and pointing back towards the main body 1 there are two barbs 10.

The clamping member 6 is similar to the one described in our Patent No. EP (GB) 0128772. It is generally L-shaped in side view with a stepped lower flange 11 having upturned corners 12 for engaging under the worktop. The upright portion comprises two fingers 13 which engage in diametral slots 14 in opposite ends of the hinge pin 5 and which pass freely through cut-outs 15 in the ends of the roll 4. The screw 7 has its head 16 engaging under a central lug 17 at the root of the flange 11, and extends upwardly, parallel to and mid-way between the fingers 13.

Referring to Figure 4, a sink 18 of moulded plastic, resin or composite material has a contoured rim 19 which sits on the periphery of an aperture in a worktop 20. There is a small gap between the edge of this aperture and the part of the sink that projects down into it. At intervals below the rim 19 there are integrally moulded, downwardly tapering studs 21 to which used to be screwed the other types of clamping devices which this fastener aims to replace. To accommodate it, into the sloping outer face of each stud 21 there is cut a horizontal slot 22.

For attachment of the sink, a clip as described above is offered up to each stud 21, the tongue 9 being inserted in the slot 22. The barbs 10 are forced downwards slightly and thereby provide a firm grip resisting removal. This fitting can be done before the sink is placed in the worktop, but the gap referred to above is such that it could be done after such placement. If done beforehand, the clamping member 6 can be swung back below the respective stud 21 so that it will not interfere with the lowering of the sink into the aperture. Once the sink is in place, the clamping member can be swung out again and screwed up to grip the worktop 20, substantially as described in Patent No. EP (GB) 0128772, although here the clamping member is not urged to the operative position automatically as the screw is tightened.

Claims

1. A fastener comprising a clip, a clamping member hinged thereto, and means for adjusting the clamping member relative to the clip in a direction transverse to the hinge axis, wherein the clip has a barbed tongue projecting therefrom in a direction transverse to the adjustment direction and to the hinge axis.

2. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the clip is of sheet metal, the tongue being struck out from the main body thereof, and one or more barbs being struck out from the tongue.

3. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the clip is generally L-shaped with the tongue projecting from about the mid-height of the upright portion in the opposite direction to the horizontal portion.

4. A fastener as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the hinge is at the free edge of the horizontal portion.

5. A fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.