GB2425146A

GB2425146A - Insulation retaining clip

Info

Publication number: GB2425146A
Application number: GB0515274A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Charles Brindle
Original assignee: BRINDLE ENTPR Ltd
Current assignee: BRINDLE ENTPR Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-26
Filing date: 2005-07-26
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-26
Also published as: WO2007012901A1; GB2425146B; GB0515274D0

Abstract

An insulation retaining clip (10) for use on a structure (21) to be insulated and having a surface (22) and raised members (23) projecting from the surface over which sheet form insulating material (20) is placed. The retaining clip is generally U-shaped and has a base portion (11) and opposed spring arms (13, 14) that extend from the ends of the base portion to locate around the sides of the raised members and hold the insulating material to the structure. The base portion is not linear and has a central region (11a) and two side regions (11b) formed at a slight angle to the central region. The clip of the present invention can be used to securely but releasably hold sheet like insulating material to an above ground pool, greenhouse or conservatory.

Description

Insulation Retaining Clip The present invention relates to an insulation

retaining clip and in particular to an insulation retaining clip for use with above ground swimming pools.

Above ground swimming pools are popular due to their ease of installation and low set up cost comparable to fully installed pools. Such above ground pools, whether directly heated or benefiting from solar heating, are subject to heat loss and it is therefore advantageous to provide insulation over the primary area of loss. This primary area of loss is through evaporation from the surface of the water which is tackled by providing an insulating cover over the top of the pool. The next largest loss of heat is through the side walls of the pool and it has been suggested that these should also be insulated. To this time however no convenient or cost effective mechanisms have been provided for the attachment of insulating material to the sides of such above ground pools, and the present invention aims to address this problem.

Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided an insulation retaining clip for use on a structure to be insulated said structure having a surface and raised members projecting from the surface over which insulating material in sheet form is placed, the retaining clip having opposed spring arms that locate around sides of the raised member to hold the insulating material to the structure.

The clip needs to have a shape that matches or closely conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the raised members, which are often in the form of elongate bars, projecting from the surface of the structure to be insulated.

Generally the clips are U-shaped. This includes clips able to accommodate a raised member of generally rectangular or generally curved crosssection.

For a rectangular bar the clip could be generally 3 sided and define a base portion with two spring arms extending therefrom around the sides of the raised bar. For a curved bar the clip might have a matching or complimentary curved profile with the spring arms linked together.

The clip of the present invention can be used to attach planar or sheetlike insulating material to a variety of structures including in particular above ground swimming pools. Such above ground pools comprise an open topped tank with side walls, the side walls being generally flat but usually having raised vertical bars to provide reinforcement to the structure. The present invention may also be used to attach insulating material to other appropnate structures such as greenhouses or conservatories. With greenhouses and conservatories the glass panels are connected to a support structure which often has raised bars between the panes. The clips may be attached over or around the raised bars to connect the insulating material.

Preferably, the clips are formed from a strip of metal bent to the correct profile. Moulded plastics material can also be used to form the clips.

The present invention also provides the use of a generally U-shaped clip to connect sheet-like insulating material to an above ground pool.

The clip may also be used as discussed above for connecting insulating material to other structures such as greenhouses and conservatories, but it has been found to be particularly advantageous for above ground pools. Also the clip may be used to attach a variety of flexible sheet material to structures. The term insulation material as used herein encompasses both material intended to keep heat in but also material to keep heat out. Such heat excluding materials could include shading material that (in particular on greenhouses and conservatories) is used to reduce internal heat build up caused by solar radiation.

In order that it may be better understood, but by way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more details, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a clip according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of an above ground pool to which insulating material has been attached using a clip as shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the clip holding insulating material onto the pool.

As is best shown in Figure 1, the clip of the present invention is generally U-shaped and is generally referred to by reference numeral 10. The clip 10 comprises a base portion 11 from the ends of which opposed spring is arms 13 and 14 extend. The base portion is not linear, but has a central region 11 a and two side regions 11 b, which side regions are formed at a slight angle to the central region. In the relaxed configuration the spring arms are not parallel but converge as they extend from the base portion 11. When the clip is in use, as discussed in more detail below, the spring arms are forced apart against the resilience of the material from which the clip is formed, such that they become generally more parallel in arrangement. The side regions 11 b also move into a slightly less angled (i.e. straighter) configuration to the central region 11 a of the base portion 11. Lateral tabs 17 extend from the free ends 16 of the spring arms 13 and 14 at approximately 90 to the appropriate spring arm 13, 14. The clip 10 is constructed from any appropriate material, however moulded plastic or a bent spring steel strip are particularly convenient for manufacturing appropriate clips.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3 the clip 10 is used to connect insulating material 20 to the side of an above ground pool, which is generally indicated 21. The above ground pool 21 comprises a side waIl 22 which, given the circular nature of the pool, is curved. At intervals around the side wall 22 raised reinforcing bars, such as that numbered 23, are provided.

These, with the lip 24, provide structural strength to the overall pool 21.

A sheet of insulating material 20 is passed around the pool 21 and this lies against the side wall 22 and passes over the raised reinforcing bars 23.

Only a small portion of this is shown in Figure 2 but one can see the way in which the sheet of insulating material passes around and over the reinforcing bars. The nature of the insulating material 20 is not part of the scope of this invention and the clips may be adapted to accommodate almost limitless varieties of planar or sheet-like insulating material as long as this will conform to the shape of the bars. At present insulating material usually takes the form of plastics material sheets with a cellular structure trapping air pockets. Such material has a sufficient degree of flexibility to both accommodate the curve and variety and shape of pools, as well as passing closely around the raised reinforcing bars 23, whilst still exhibiting good thermal insulation.

When the insulating material 20 has been placed over the reinforcing bar one or more clips 10 are placed over the insulating material 20 around the reinforcing bar 23. The base portion 11 bears against the insulation adjacent the outermost surface of the reinforcing bar and the spring arms 13 and 14 bear upon opposite lateral portions of the raised reinforcing bar 23. The tabs 17 bear upon the insulating material overlying the side wall adjacent to the raised reinforcing bar 23.

Attachment of the clip 10 to the raised reinforcing bar 23 simply requires the spring arms to be flexed outwardly to a sufficient degree to pass around the sides of the reinforcing bar, the clip being pushed on until the base portion 11 and/or the tabs 17 abut respectively the material covering the reinforcing bar 23 and/or the side wall 22 and prevent further movement. The resilient deformation of the spring arms 13 and 14 ensures that sufficient clamping action occurs around the reinforcing bar to prevent accidental removal of the clip and/or insulating material.

In general a plurality of clips would be provided for each elongate reinforcing bar around the pool 21. The present invention provides a simple and cheap mechanism for the attachment of insulating material to the outside surfaces of an above ground pool or other structure. What is more, the present invention does not in any way damage the structure to which it is attached so it can be removed as desired without structural or visual impairment to those parts previously insulated.

Clearly the clip shown in the embodiment described above is intended for attachment to a generally three-sided rectangular reinforcing bar. The configuration of the clip is designed to spread the pressure exerted on the raised bar, which may not be designed or able to withstand a large lateral compressive force. In respect of a three-sided bar the clip may be designed to place most pressure on the areas of the bar, which may be hollow, best able to withstand it. For example the three-sided clip may be adapted such that much of the compressive force is born at the corner regions of the bar.

The present invention is equally applicable to different shapes and modification of the clip to accommodate such different shapes falls within the scope of this application. The load dissipation characteristics of different clips could be determined for such other shaped bars to ensure maximum strength of retention with minimum damaging or misplaced compressive force on the bar.

Claims

Claims 1. An insulation retaining clip for use on a structure to be

insulated said structure having a surface and raised members projecting from the surface over which insulating material in sheet form is placed, the retaining clip having opposed spring arms that locate around the sides of the raised bars to hold the insulating material to the structure.
2. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in claim 1, in which the clip is generally U-shaped.
3. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the spring arms have free ends and lateral tabs are formed at the free ends, which lateral tabs bear on the surface of the structure to hold insulating material thereagainst.
4. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the raised members are elongate bars.
5. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the clip is adapted to locate around a raised member of generally rectangular cross-section.
6. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of claims I to claim 4, in which the clip is adapted to locate around a raised member of generally circular cross-section.
7. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the structure to be insulated is an above ground pool.
8. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, in which the structure to be insulated is a greenhouse, or conservatory.
9. Use of a generally U-shaped clip to connect sheet like insulating material to an above ground pool greenhouse or conservatory. K C(

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9. A clip as claimed in claim I and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrate in the accompanying drawings.

10. Use of a generally u-shaped clip to connect sheet like insulating material to an above ground pool.

Amendmeiits to the claims have been filed as follows ms C' 1. An insulation retaining clip for use on a structure to be insulated said structure having a surface and raised members projecting from the surface over which insulating material in sheet form is placed, the retaining clip being generally U-shaped and having a base portion, opposed spring arms that are linear in a relaxed state and which extend from the ends of the base portion to locate around the sides of the raised members and hold the insulating material to the structure, wherein the base portion is not linear but has a linear central region and two linear side regions each of which are independently formed at a slight angle to the central region.

2. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the spring arms have free ends and lateral tabs are formed at the free ends, which lateral tabs bear on the surface of the structure to hold insulating material thereagajns 3. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of the Preceding claims in which the clip is adapted to locate around a raised member in the form of an elongate bar.

4. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of the Preceding claims, in which the clip is adapted to locate around a raised member of generally rectangular cross-section.

5. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of claims I to claim 3, in which the clip is adapted to locate around a raised member of generally circular cross-section.

6. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which clip is adapted to hold insulating material to the sides of an above ground pool.

7. An insulation retaining clip as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the clip is adapted to hold insulating material to a greenhouse or conservatory.

8. A clip as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrate in the accompanying drawings.