GB2291460A - Clamping tubular members - Google Patents

Clamping tubular members Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2291460A
GB2291460A GB9411271A GB9411271A GB2291460A GB 2291460 A GB2291460 A GB 2291460A GB 9411271 A GB9411271 A GB 9411271A GB 9411271 A GB9411271 A GB 9411271A GB 2291460 A GB2291460 A GB 2291460A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
connecting member
adjustment
member according
arms
article
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9411271A
Other versions
GB9411271D0 (en
Inventor
Gregory John Mcdougall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
FINE PROJECTS Ltd
Original Assignee
FINE PROJECTS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by FINE PROJECTS Ltd filed Critical FINE PROJECTS Ltd
Priority to GB9411271A priority Critical patent/GB2291460A/en
Publication of GB9411271D0 publication Critical patent/GB9411271D0/en
Publication of GB2291460A publication Critical patent/GB2291460A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B7/00—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections
    • F16B7/04—Clamping or clipping connections
    • F16B7/044—Clamping or clipping connections for rods or tubes being in angled relationship
    • F16B7/048—Clamping or clipping connections for rods or tubes being in angled relationship for rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
    • A45D20/00—Hair drying devices; Accessories therefor
    • A45D20/04—Hot-air producers
    • A45D20/08—Hot-air producers heated electrically
    • A45D20/10—Hand-held drying devices, e.g. air douches
    • A45D20/12—Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands
    • A45D20/122—Diffusers, e.g. for variable air flow
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B2/00—Friction-grip releasable fastenings
    • F16B2/02—Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
    • F16B2/18—Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening using cams, levers, eccentrics, or toggles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
    • F16L37/02—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained only by friction of the parts being joined
    • F16L37/04—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained only by friction of the parts being joined with an elastic outer part pressing against an inner part by reason of its elasticity
    • F16L37/05—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained only by friction of the parts being joined with an elastic outer part pressing against an inner part by reason of its elasticity tightened by the pressure of a mechanical element
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
    • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
    • F16L37/10—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members using a rotary external sleeve or ring on one part
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
    • F16L37/22—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection is maintained by means of balls, rollers or helical springs under radial pressure between the parts

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Hair Curling (AREA)

Abstract

A connecting member comprising a housing 110 having a central aperture; a first means for securing the connecting member to a first article; and a second means peripherally disposed about the aperture for securing the connecting member to a second article not shown, the second securing means having a plurality of securing members 130 and means 140 for adjusting the relative positions of the securing members to secure the second article. Preferably, the adjustment means comprises a plurality of adjustment arms 160 the arms being fixedly attached at a first end to the inside of the housing and having securing members of one securing means attached at or near a second end of each arm; wherein the adjustment arms can be adjusted so that the securing members can secure articles of differing diameters. <IMAGE>

Description

A CONNECTING MEMBER This invention relates to a connecting member. In particular but not exclusively, this invention relates to a connecting member able to be adjusted to connect articles of differing widths.
Known connecting members do not efficiently allow for the connecting of articles of different widths in an adjustable fashion.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the above difficulty or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
According to the invention there is provided a connecting member comprising a housing having a central aperture; a first means for securing the connecting member to a first article; and a second means peripherally disposed about the aperture for securing the connecting member to a second article, the second securing means having a plurality of securing members and means for adjusting the relative positions of the securing members to secure the second article.
Preferably, the adjustment means comprises a plurality of adjustment arms the arms being fixedly attached at a first end to the inside of the housing and having securing members of one securing means attached at or near a second end of each arm; wherein the adjustment arms can be adjusted so that the securing members can secure articles of differing widths.
Preferably, the adjustment arms are adjusted by being moved towards or away from the centre of the aperture.
Preferably, the adjustment means further comprises adjustment members which cause the adjustment arms to move towards or away from the centre of the aperture.
Preferably, the housing comprises at least two parts rotatably attached to each other.
Preferably, the adjustment members are mounted on a first part and the adjustment arms are mounted on a second part of the housing.
Preferably, the adjustment members receive the second ends of the adjustment arms, and the adjustment members are inclined away from the first part of the housing to which they are attached so that turning the first part of the housing causes the second ends of the arms to follow the incline of the adjustment members, which incline urges the adjustment arms either towards or away from the centre of the aperture.
Preferably, each adjustment member is in the form of a ramp member having a serrated surface.
Preferably, each adjustment arm comprises a member having a shaped protrusion which is received by substantially correspondingly shaped recesses in the serrated surface of a respective ramp member to retain the adjustment arm in a selected position relative to the aperture and an engagement portion, for engaging the second article.
Preferably, the adjustment arms include means for engaging both an outside or inside surface of the second article.
Preferably, each engagement portion includes a clip to engage the second article.
Preferably, the engagement portion comprises a surface of the adjustment arm which abuts the outside surface of the second article.
Preferably, the surfaces are provided with a friction pad to engage the second article.
Preferably, the member is resilient.
Preferably, the housing of the connecting member is of hollow cylindrical form.
Preferably, the second article is a hair dryer and the first article is an attachment for a hair dryer. The first article may be made integral with the connecting member.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a connecting member of the invention in a first position.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a connecting member of the invention in a second position.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a first part of the connecting member of figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a second part of the connecting member of figure 1.
Figure 5 is an underneath view of the connecting member of figure 1.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an adjustment member of the connecting member of figure 1.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an adjustment arm of the connecting member of figure 1.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adjustment arm of the connecting member of figure 1.
Figure 9 is a side view of the first part of the connecting member of the invention.
Figure 10 is a side view of the second part of the connecting member of the invention.
Figure 11 is a side view of the connecting member of figure 1.
Figure 12 is a perspective view one embodiment of a hair dryer attachment having the connecting member of the invention attached to it.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a hair dryer to which the attachment of Figure 12 may be attached.
Referring to the drawings, the connecting member of the present invention is generally indicated at 100, and broadly comprises a cylindrical housing 110, surrounding an aperture 120, an adjustment means comprising adjustment arms 130 and adjustment members 140; and securing means comprising clips 150 (FIgures 5-ll), and rim 160.
The connecting member 100 is made up of two slidably engaging parts 170, 180 (Figures 3, 4 and 9all). The first part 170 comprises a ring 190, the adjustment members 140 extending axially from the ring and each having an arcuate engagement surface in the form of a rack 200 which extends radially inwardly. The adjustment members also have a base 210.
The second part 180 comprises a ring 220 having an annular shelf 230 depending therefrom for receiving the bases 210 of the adjustment members 140. The adjustment arms 130 are attached at attachment point 240 to the inside wall of ring 220. As best seen in Figure 7, the attachment arms comprise an extension 250 terminating at the apex 260 of the obtuse angle x that the arm makes with itself. The angle a substantially corresponds to the shape of each of the recesses 195 in the rack 200. The arm then bends back upon itself to form a surface 270 and then extends axially to form clips 150. The arms 180 are formed of a resilient material, such as sheet steel, and are biased towards the position shown in Figure 4, that is, with the apex 260 abutting the inside wall of the ring 220.
When assembled (Figures 1, 2, S and 11) the first and second parts slidably, rotatably engage each other in a click-stop manner. The adjustment members 140 in the first part 170 of the connecting member fit inside the ring 220 of the second part 180 of the connecting member are received by shelf 230, and are positioned behind the adjustment arms 130 so that each of the apexes 260 of the adjustment arms are received in one of the recesses 195 of rack 200 in each adjustment member 140. The rings 160, 190 of first part 170 sit on top of ring 220 of second part lib0. When assembled the clips 150 extend downwardly from the arms 130 to protrude from the bottom of the housing 110.
Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, it can be seen that by virtue of the slidable rotatable engagement between the first and second parts of the connecting member 100, rotation of the first part relative the second part (or vice versa) will result in the moving of the apexes 26 from recess to recess of rack 200. As the arms 130 are attached to the housing 110 and the members 140 are curved radially inwardly, a circle (see ghost lines in Figures 1 and 2) drawn inside the housing including surfaces 270 of arms 130 will increase or decrease in diameter depending on which recesses 195 are receiving the apexes 260. Thus, a circle (not shown) drawn to include the clips 150 will also increase or decrease in diameter depending on which recesses 195 are receiving apexes 260 when the two parts 170, 180 are rotated relative to each other.
Clips 150 are able then to clip on to articles of differing diameters. Similarly, surfaces 270 are able to press or grip onto articles of different diameters. To assist in the pressing or gripping of surfaces 270 around an article, surfaces 270 may be provided with a rubber friction pad 280 (Figure 8) or some other suitable gripping assistance means.
A particularly suitable application of the connecting member of the invention is in the area of hair drying technology. In professional use a hair dryer 290 may be fitted with one of a number of attachments 300 for directing, diffusing, slowing or cooling down the air coming from the hot air dryer. The problem often is, however, that in a professional salon there may be many brands of hair dryers, not all of which will properly fit the attachments which may be available. Thus to enable all the attachments in a salon to be fitted to all the hair dryers, the attachments may be fitted with a connecting member of the invention. The attachment suitably fits over rim 160 of the connecting member.As the vast majority of professional hair dryers are provided with an inner lip 310 on the nozzle 320 of the dryer 290, the clips 150 can conveniently be clipped onto the lip 310 in the nozzle 320 of the hair dryer.
To secure the connecting member to the hair dryer, the connecting member should first be in the position shown in Figure 2 so that the clips may fit inside the nozzle of the hair dryer. Once positioned inside the nozzle the connecting member may be moved to the position shown in Figure 1 to move the clips away from the centre of the connecting member until they sit flush against and over the lip 310.
Alternatively, the nozzle 320 could be placed into the connecting member which would then be adjusted until surfaces 270 or pads 280 are flush against the outside of the nozzle.
The above describes a preferred embodiment of the invention variation and modifications in which may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the accompanying claims, for example: The connecting member may be arranged to have clips extending in both axial directions; alternatively the invention may be provided with two connecting members, with the two first parts attached to each other so that clips extend from either end of the housing and surfaces are available within either end of the housing for adjustahly connecting the connecting member to two articles. The housing may have a non-cylindrical outer shape, provided the first and second parts are still able to rotate relative to each other.
The adjustment arms and members may be any suitable complementary shape.
The connecting member may be provided with any suitable number of adjustment members and corresponding adjustment arms.
The adjustment members and adjustment arms may be on the outside surface of the housing.
The adjustment members need not be arcuate but may be of any other suitable shape.

Claims (8)

1 A connecting member comprising a housing having a central aperture: a first means for securing the connecting member to a first article; and a second means peripherally disposed about the aperture for securing the connecting member to a second article, the second securing means having a plurality of securing members and means for adjusting the relative positions of the securing members to secure the second article.
2 A connecting member according to Claim 1 wherein the adjustment means comprises a plurality of adjustment arms, the arms being fixedly attached at a first end to the inside of the housing and having securing members of one securing means attached at or near a second end of each arm; and wherein the adjustment arms can be adjusted so that the securing members can secure articles of differing widths.
3 A connecting member according to Claim 2 wherein the adjustment arms are adjusted by being moved towards or away from the centre of the aperture.
4 A connecting member according to Claim 3 wherein the adjustment means further comprises adjustment members which cause the adjustment arms to move towards or away from the centre of the aperture.
5 A connecting member according to any preceding claim wherein the housing comprises at least two parts rotatably attached to each other.
6 A connecting member according to Claim 5 wherein the adjustment members are mounted on a first part and the adjustment arms are mounted on a second part of the housing.
7 A connecting member according to Claim 6 wherein the adjustment members receive the second ends of the adjustment arms, and the adjustment members are inclined away from the first part of the housing to which they are attached so that turning the first part of the housing causes the second ends of the arms to follow the incline of the adjustment members, which incline urges the adjustment arms either towards or away from the centre of the aperture.
8. A connecting member according to Claim 4, 6 or 7 wherein each adjustment member is in the form of a ramp member having a serrated surface.
9 A connecting member according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 or 6 to 8 wherein each adjustment arm comprises a member having a shaped protrusion which is received by substantially correspondingly shaped recesses in the serrated surface of a respective ramp member to retain the adjustment arm in a selected position relative to the aperture and an engagement portion, for engaging the second article.
10 A connecting member according to any one of Claims 2 to 4 of 6 to 9 wherein the adjustment arms include means for engaging both an outside or inside surface of the second articles.
11 A connecting member according to Claim 10 wherein each engagement portion includes a clip to engage the second article.
1 2 A connecting member according to Claim 11 wherein the engagement portion comprises a surface of the adjustment arm which abuts the outside surface of the second article.
1 3 A connecting member according to Claim 12 wherein the surfaces are provided with a friction pad to engage the second article.
14 A connecting member according to any preceding claim wherein the member is resilient.
1 5 A connecting member according to any preceding claim wherein the housing of the connecting member is of hollow cylindrical form.
16 A connecting member according to any preceding claim integrally formed with the first article.
17 A hair dryer and hair dryer attachment connecting member according to any preceding claim.
1 8 A connecting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
1 9 A hair dryer and hair dryer attachment in combination with a connecting member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
GB9411271A 1994-06-06 1994-06-06 Clamping tubular members Withdrawn GB2291460A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9411271A GB2291460A (en) 1994-06-06 1994-06-06 Clamping tubular members

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9411271A GB2291460A (en) 1994-06-06 1994-06-06 Clamping tubular members

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9411271D0 GB9411271D0 (en) 1994-07-27
GB2291460A true GB2291460A (en) 1996-01-24

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ID=10756243

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9411271A Withdrawn GB2291460A (en) 1994-06-06 1994-06-06 Clamping tubular members

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2291460A (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2335286A (en) * 1998-03-12 1999-09-15 Alvis Logistics Limited Mechanically coupling and optically aligning remotely operated device
US8141858B2 (en) 2007-11-29 2012-03-27 Prosurgics Limited Clamp
FR3008609A1 (en) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-23 Daniel Levasseur SAFETY BIT FOR CANE, AND ROD COMPRISING SUCH A TIP

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB683698A (en) * 1949-11-14 1952-12-03 Air Service Training Ltd Improvements in pipe couplings
GB876216A (en) * 1958-08-25 1961-08-30 Jack & Heintz Inc Couplings for fluid pipe lines
GB1167680A (en) * 1967-07-31 1969-10-22 Kupex Ag Hose Coupling
GB2063352A (en) * 1979-10-31 1981-06-03 Jani Jack Ltd Clamp for telescopically slidable elements
GB2158865A (en) * 1984-05-03 1985-11-20 Richard Henry Johnson Lockable telescopic members
GB2275747A (en) * 1993-03-04 1994-09-07 Dril Quip Inc Wellhead connector

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB683698A (en) * 1949-11-14 1952-12-03 Air Service Training Ltd Improvements in pipe couplings
GB876216A (en) * 1958-08-25 1961-08-30 Jack & Heintz Inc Couplings for fluid pipe lines
GB1167680A (en) * 1967-07-31 1969-10-22 Kupex Ag Hose Coupling
GB2063352A (en) * 1979-10-31 1981-06-03 Jani Jack Ltd Clamp for telescopically slidable elements
GB2158865A (en) * 1984-05-03 1985-11-20 Richard Henry Johnson Lockable telescopic members
GB2275747A (en) * 1993-03-04 1994-09-07 Dril Quip Inc Wellhead connector

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2335286A (en) * 1998-03-12 1999-09-15 Alvis Logistics Limited Mechanically coupling and optically aligning remotely operated device
GB2335286B (en) * 1998-03-12 2002-09-11 Alvis Logistics Ltd Mechanical coupling assembly
US8141858B2 (en) 2007-11-29 2012-03-27 Prosurgics Limited Clamp
FR3008609A1 (en) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-23 Daniel Levasseur SAFETY BIT FOR CANE, AND ROD COMPRISING SUCH A TIP
FR3008608A1 (en) * 2013-07-22 2015-01-23 Daniel Levasseur SAFETY BIT FOR CANE, AND ROD COMPRISING SUCH A TIP

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9411271D0 (en) 1994-07-27

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)