GB2337077A

GB2337077A - Mounting clip

Info

Publication number: GB2337077A
Application number: GB9823124A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Frank Gill
Original assignee: GLYNWED ENGINEERED PRODUCTS LI
Current assignee: GLYNWED ENGINEERED PRODUCTS LI
Priority date: 1998-05-27
Filing date: 1998-10-23
Publication date: 1999-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-23
Also published as: GB2337077B; GB9823124D0; GB9811243D0

Abstract

A mounting clip for fitting into an elongate groove in a structural component of a building e.g. a floor or ceiling slab so as to form a suspension clip for ancillary components such as electrical conduits and false ceiling panels.

Description

-I- MOUNTING CLIP 2337077 This invention relates to a mounting clip for

fitting in an elongate groove in a structural component of a building, and particularly (though not exclusively) to such a clip for mounting in an elongate groove in the underside of a floor/ceiling slab so as to form a suspension clip for ancillary components (eg electrical conduits, pipe runs for sprinkler systems and false ceiling panels) to be suspended therefrom.

In the formation of floor/celing slabs, it is known to use pressed metal decking to form a mould onto which concrete can be poured to form a cast slab. After the concrete sets,' a composite deck/concrete slab is formed. The deck serves the dual purpose of a) acting as a mould and b) providing tensile reinforcement to the concrete slab by being bonded to the underside of the slab. In addition, it is usual to form parallel elongate grooves in the underside of the metal decking. Such grooves normally have narrow mouths or entrances and the width of the grooves increase depthwise ie measured from the entrance of the groove.

With this shape of groove, specially designed mounting clips can enter the mouths of the grooves and be manipulated or adjusted to an anchored position from which they may be used to mount ancillary components. Some of the ancillary components which are suspended from the grooves in the slabs may be relatively heavy eg pipe runs of a sprinkler system, in which case the fixing of the clips must be sufficiently strong a) in their own construction and b)in their securement against the walls of the grooves.

The walls of the groove are defined by the metal decking and typically may be of dovetail shape. Resistance to outward deformation of the walls is borne by the concrete material which is cast onto the decking and, subject to suitably robust design of the clips, relatively_heavy loads can be borne reliably. However, other ancillary components are relatively lightweight eg suspended ceiling panels which form a false ceiling. In this case, the clips do not need to be so strong and can be made relatively cheaply from simple pressed metal fabrication.

Many existing mounting/suspension clip designs rely on quite complicated procedures for assembly with the grooves in the decking. These include use of threaded rods, threaded fasteners and expanding heads or wedges. This requires time for assembly and care and attention to achieve reliable anchorage.

The present invention has therefore been developed primarily for use in connection with low duty load applications. It seeks to provide a simple, easily fabricated mounting clip which may be more easily manipulated within the grooves in order to take up a reliable anchorage position.

According to the invention there is provided a mounting clip for fitting in an elongate groove of a structural component of a building in order to mount an ancillary component on the structural component, wherein:

the groove has a base, opposed side walls and an entrance mouth which is narrower than, the spacing apart of the side walls at least at portions of the side walls adjacent to said entrance mouth; the clip is insertable through said entrance mouth and is adjustable in order to take up an anchored mounting position in which the clip is engageable with said side walls or said portions of the side walls adjacent to said entrance mouth, and comprises:

a one-piece fabrication which is resiliently deformable between a compressed groove-entering position and an expanded anchoring position within the groove; a main portion which is generally U-shaped having a base and a pair of first opposed legs projecting from the base; a pair of second opposed legs, each integrally connected to a respective one of said first pair of legs, said first and second pairs of legs capable of being resiliently pressed together to reduce the width of the clip (when viewed in a direction parallel to the general plane of the clip) thereby to take up the compressed groove-entering position; and shaped contact edges on said.legs to permit rotation of the clip (eg through approximately 90') after insertion of the clip in the compressed groove-entering state through the mouth of the groove so that the legs can undergo resilient expansion to the anchoring position within the groove and into engagement with the side walls thereof.

The mounting clip of the invention may be simply fabricated eg of thin metal bent into the required shape. It may be easily manipulated by finger action (a) to be entered into the groove in the compressed state and (b) to be rotated so that the legs can subsequently expand to the anchoring position.

The expansion of the legs gives increased resistance to any turning moment which might be applied to the clip in use. The turning moment might otherwise dislodge the clip from the groove.

In a preferred form, the clip is generally Y-shaped. In the uncompressed state of this embodiment, the pair of first opposed legs are substantially non-divergent (ie extend parallel) from the base, whilst the pair of second opposed legs are divergent. Preferably, the tail end portion of one of the pair of second opposed legs is adapted to permit entry of that tail end portion into the mouth of the groove in the compressed groove-entering state of the clip. The tail end may be a substantially U-shaped tail end portion, the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the base portion of the clip. In the compressed groove-entering state, the substantially U- shaped tail end portion is inserted in the mouth of the groo ve whereafter the clip is rotated (typically through approximately 900). This step of the anchoring operation therefore represents a hook-type action after which the clip is released into the uncompressed, anchoring position. Upon expansion within a dovetail-shaped groove (after rotation through approximately 900 from the groove-entering position), this embodiment is particularly effective in gripping_.the side walls of the groove and in resisting any forces or turning moments tending to dislodge the clip from the groove.

The base of the main (U-shaped) portion preferably serves as the connection point for any ancillary component to be connected to the clip. In a preferred low load application, the clip may serve as a suspension clip from which components (eg light-weight ceiling panels may be suspended). For this purpose, a simple metal wire may be typically attached at the base and at its other end be connected to part of a support frame of the panel.

In a particularly preferred application of the invention, a metal decking is used having dovetail-shaped grooves, in which the side walls taper substantially uniformly in width, as they approach the mouth entrance of the groove.

The contact edges of the legs and/or the tail end portion preferably have matching profiles to the side walls so as to provide a reliable anchoring position against the side walls. Preferably the side walls and contact edges of the legs have a complimentary dovetail configuration. Evidently, application of a withdrawal force to the clip (eg a downward force) when it is used as a suspension clip, will force it into progressively tighter engagement with the side 1 walls as the clip moves downwardly towards the mouth entrance.

In a further aspect of the invention, a mounting clip as hereinbefore defined is used for fitting in an elongate groove in a structural component of a building. The preferred embodiment comprises a mounting clip which takes the form of a suspension clip which may be fitted into an elongate groove in the underside of a floor/ceiling slab and from which ancillary building components may be suspended. Examples of suspended ancillary components which may be contemplated include electrical conduits, pipe runs for sprinkler systems, and preferably low load duty applications, such as suspension wires for suspending light weight ceiling' panels to form a false ceiling.

In a yet further aspect the present invention provides a kit comprising a clip as hereinbefore defined and a structural component of a building, preferably a floor or ceiling slab.

A preferred embodiment of mounting clip according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures la to 1d show successive stages in assembly of a mounting clip according to the invention to a mounting groove formed for example in a structural building component; Figure 2 illustrates different views of a mounting clip.

Figure 1 shows successive stages in the assembly of a mounting clip into an elongate groove in the underside of for example a combined ceiling/floor slab formed from a composite metal deck and cast concrete slab moulded thereon.

A number of grooves (designated in Figure 1 in an unspecific configuration 13) may be formed in the underside of, for example, a corrugated metal deck. Each groove 13 has a base 14, opposed side walls 15, and a narrowed mouth entrance 16. As can be seen in Figure 1, the entrance 16 is narrower than the spacing apart of the side walls 15, at least at portions of the side walls adjacent to the entrance mouth. This enables the mounting clip to be securely anchored in position within the groove 13, as will be described in more detail below.

The mounting clip is designated generally by reference 17. It comprises a one piece fabrication which is resiliently deformable between a compressed groove-entering state as shown in Figure la, and an expanded anchoring position within the groove as shown in Figure ld. In an uncompressed state, the clip 17 has a generally U-shaped main portion 18 having a base 19 and a pair of first opposed legs 20 projecting from the base. Each of a pair of second opposed legs 21 is integrally connected to each of a respective first opposed leg 20.

The first and second pairs of legs 20 and 21 are capable of being resiliently pressed together by finger manipulation into the compressed state as shown in Figure la. This reduces the width of the clip 17, when viewed in a direction parallel to the general plane of the clip, whereby to adopt the compressed groove-entering state. Figure 1b shows the insertion of the clip 17 through the narrow mouth 16 and into the groove 13. This is achieved by tilting the clip so that the substantially Ushaped tail end portion 22 may be "hooked" into the mouth of the groove. This is then followed, upon partial entry, by rotation of the clip through approximately 900, as shown in Figure lc.

The rotation of the clip is permitted, by provision of specially shaped contact edges on the legs 20 and 21 and on the tail end portion 22 whereby rotation of the clip within the mouth of the groove is permitted.

once the approximately 900 rotation has been completed, the contact edges of the legs then lie alongside the tapering side walls 15 of the groove 13, as shown in Figure ld_.

Simultaneously, by reason of resilient energy stored within the clip, the legs 20 and 21 expand perpendicularly to the groove 13. This gives increased resistance to any possible turning moment which might be applied to the clip during use, which might otherwise dislodge the clip from the groove.

The base of the main portion 18 of the clip 17 serves as the connection point for any ancillary component to be connected to the clip.

The preferred application of the invention is to a metal decking in which the grooves 13 are dovetail shaped, and which taper substantially uniformly ie narrow in width, as they approach the mouth entrance 16 of the groove 13. The side edges of the legs 20 and 21 have matching profiles so a s to be reliably anchored in position against the side walls. Evidently, if the clip is inserted deeply into the groove 13, there may initially be some clearance between the side edges of the legs 20 and 21 and the side walls 15, but progressive application of a withdrawal force to the clip will force it into progressively tighter engagement as it moves downwardly towards the mouth entrance 16. Therefore, the greater the load applied in service to the clip, the more reliable will be its anchorage in position.

Figure 2 shows different views of the mounting clip in detail.

1

Claims

CLAIMS:

A mounting clip for fitting in an elongate groove of a structural component of a building in order to mount an ancillary component on the structural component, wherein: the groove has a base, opposed side walls and an entrance mouth which is narrower than the spacing apart of the side walls at least at portions of the side walls adjacent to said entrance mouth; the clip is insertable through said entrance mouth and is adjustable in order to take up an anchored mounting position in which the clip is engageable with said side walls or said portions of the side walls adjacent to said entrance mouth, and comprises: a one-piece fabrication which is resiliently deformable between a compressed groove- entering position and an expanded anchoring position within the groove; a main portion which is generally U-shaped having a base and a pair of first opposed legs projecting from the base; a paLr of second opposed legs, each integrally connected to a respective one of said first pair of legs, said first and second pairs of legs capable of being resiliently pressed together to reduce the width of the clip (when viewed in a direction parallel to the general plane of the clip) thereby to take up the compressed groove-entering position; and shaped contact edges on said legs to permit rotation of the clip (eg through approximately 900) after insertion of the clip in the compressed groove-entering state through the mouth of the groove so that the legs can undergo resilient expansion to the anchorIng position within the groove and into engagement with the side walls thereof.

-g-
2. A mounting clip as claimed in claim 1 fabricated of thin metal.
3. A mounting clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, capable of manipulation into the groove by finger action.
4. A mounting clip as claimed in any preceding claim which is generally Yshaped.
5. A mounting clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pair of first opposed legs are substantially non-divergent from the base.
6. A mounting clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said pair of second opposed legs are divergent.
7. A mounting clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tail end portion of one of the pair of second opposed legs is adapted to permit entry of that tail end portion into the mouth of the groove in the compressed groove entering position.
8. A mounting clip as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tail end portion is a substantially U-shaped tail end portion, the axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the base portion of the clip.
9. A mounting clip as claimed in either of claims 7 or 8 wherein the contact edges of the legs and the tail end portion have matching profiles to the side walls.
10. A mounting clip as claimed in claim 9, wherein the side walls and contact edges of the legs have a complimentary dovetail configuration.
11. A mounting clip as claimed in any preceding claim which in use is forced into progressively tighter engagement with the side walls as a withdrawal force is applied to the base of the mounting clip.
12. Use of a mounting clip as claimed in any preceding claim for fitting in an elongate groove in a structural component of a building.
13. Use as claimed in claim 12 for fitting in an elongate groove in the underside of a floor or ceiling slab.
14. Use as claimed in either of the two preceding claims 12 and 13 for suspending an ancillary building component.
15. Use as claimed in claim 14 wherein the ancillary building component is an electrical conduit or a suspension wire.
16. A kit comprising a mounting clip as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11 together with a structural component of a building.
17. A kit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the structural component is a floor or ceiling slab.
18. A method for fitting a mounting clip as claimed in claim 8 in an elongate groove in a structural component of a building, said method comprising: compressing said first and second pairs of opposed legs whereby to reduce the width of the clip to take up the compressed grooveentering position; inserting the substantially Ushaped tail end portion in the mouth of the groove; rotating the clip through approximately 9C; releasing said first and second opposed pairs of legs whereby the first and second pairs of legs undergo resilient expansion to the anchoring position; and optionally attaching an ancillary component to the base of the main portion.