GB2457135A

GB2457135A - Device for forming bends in pipe or conduit

Info

Publication number: GB2457135A
Application number: GB0802036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Haslam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-05
Filing date: 2008-02-05
Publication date: 2009-08-12
Also published as: GB0802036D0

Abstract

A device for forming bends in plastic pipes and conduit includes a plastic section 1, a padded section 2, an interchangeable former 9, for shaping plastic pipe or conduit 6, and straps 4, to temporarily attach the device to the leg of the user. Alternatively, the former may be built into the plastic section and is, therefore, not interchangeable. A release button (10) may be depressed to force a spring (14) against its biasing a locking tab (11) into a receiving aperture (13), to release the former 9 (figure 7 - not shown).

Description

1 2457135

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR FORMING

The present invention relates to a device for forming bends, and in particular but not exclusively, for forming bends in plastic pipe or plastic conduit.

Plastic pipe and conduit is widely used in the construction industry, and ever more so in today's ever increasing need for low cost, short duration contracts.

When plastic pipe and conduit is being installed to carry water or cables, it is a fact that the pipe and conduit will need to be bent to suit the surface of floors, walls and ceilings it is to be fixed to. This will require various angles of bends to be formed including 90 degree, 45 degree, dog leg type bends and other angles to suit the required circumstance.

Plastic pipe and conduit comes in different sizes, usually 15mm and 22mm for pipe used to carry water, 20mm and 25mm for conduit used to carry cables.

At present the task of forming these bends in the plastic pipe and conduit is carried out using a bending spring. This spring is put inside the pipe or conduit, in order to stop the pipe or conduit from collapsing when forced into a bend. The spring is placed into the pipe or conduit where the bend is required, and then the pipe or conduit is bent into the desired angle. This is done by placing it on or around the knee and using the knee as a pivot point, and also to aid in the shaping of the bend. The pipe or conduit is physically bent around the knee by compressing and pulling the pipe or conduit with both hands.

This technique has been used across the industry for many years, however this technique has its draw backs in that the knee is used as the former to bend the pipe or conduit around and subsequently can become sore. If one is carrying out many bends, it is possible that the knee can become bruised and swollen.

There are some manufactured type bends available which can save some of the manual bending, but these are costly and not always suitable for the circumstance.

The need for manually made bends is always going to be required, and this technique continues to be used.

When a metal type pipe or conduit is being installed, a pipe or conduit vice is used to hold the pipe or conduit in place, and is bent with the aid of a bar with a roller on, to force the pipe down, and a former for the pipe or conduit to be shaped around.

However this would be impractical and unsuitable for plastic pipe and conduit for a number of reasons; firstly, plastic pipe and conduit will not stay at the angle it has been formed into immediately, and requires some adjustments after its initial forming.

This means it would have to be taken out of the pipe vice and put back in until the desired angle is achieved. By simply having the pipe or conduit in hand, one can look at the angle quickly and make minor adjustments more effectively and more efficiently; secondly, the roller would crush and break the plastic pipe and conduit; and thirdly, the major benefit of using plastic pipe and conduit is for the ease and speed of installation, therefore cutting overall costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for forming bends in plastic pipe or conduit, which can be temporarily attached to the knee, with a former or formers of particular size to suit incorporated, that will protect the knee from the pressure of the pipe or conduit that is being bent, whilst the former allows the pipe or conduit to be shaped around it. The former or formers may have markings on which show the angle in degrees to which the pipe or conduit is to be formed into. Once the task is complete the device may be easily removed, thus resulting in a device in which the same quick installation times are kept, whilst providing an easy to fit, portable plastic pipe or conduit former, with the benefit of protecting the knee from any damage.

With such a device it is possible to attach it meTely by placing it on or around the knee and using the straps to fix it in place. The straps can be held together by means of a buckle or Velcro or other similar means, making it quick and easy to put the device on and take off. The pipe or conduit is simply placed into the curved former on the pad, at the desired point at which the bend is required, and then the pipe or conduit is pulled and bent around this former in order to form the bend. The pipe or conduit can quickly be checked for the correct angle and then put back into the former to adjust as necessary, with no time being wasted. By using such a device the pipe or conduit has been formed into its desired shape and angle, without the pressure and damage being sustained to the knee and surrounding area.

In accordance with the present invention, a device for forming bends in plastic pipe or conduit comprises of, a pad for protecting the knee, with a former or formers for bending the pipe or conduit around, which is or are attached to the pad, or a former that is interchangeable to suit different diameter of pipe or conduit, that allows the pipe or conduit to be shaped up to an angle of 90 degrees, and straps to attach the pad around the leg.

Preferably the device will have a plastics based section at the front, ergonomically designed to be worn on and around the knee, incorporating a horizontal 90 degree curved former or formers, with a padded section at the back of the plastic section, to protect the knee. This padded section could be made from a foam or sponge type material or similar, designed to take the pressure and force of the pipe or conduit that is being formed in the former, and subsequently cushion the knee area.

In one embodiment the device comprises a "knee pad" with a curved former incorporated at the front with straps to attach it around the leg.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig 1, is a perspective view of an embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention; and Fig 2, is a side elevation of the device of Fig 1; and Fig 3, is a top elevation of the device of Fig I with a plastic pipe or conduit shown; and Fig 4, is a perspective view of a variation of the device of Fig 1, with an interchangeable former; and Fig 5, is a side elevation of the device of Fig 4; and Fig 6, is a top elevation of the device of Fig 4; and Fig 7, is a cross sectional view of the interchangeable former of the device of Fig 4.

A device for forming bends in plastic pipe and conduit, such as that used in the construction industiy to carry water and cables, that can be temporarily attached to the leg comprises of:-A plastic (or similar) based section 1, with a padded section 2, behind the plastic section 1, with a curved former 3, for shaping pipe and conduit 6, straps 4, to affix around the leg using Velcro or buckles (see Fig's 1 and 3) In Fig 3, the device is shown with a plastic pipe or conduit 6, being placed in the former 3, and then being bent 8, around the former 3, into the desired angle 5. When the desired angle 5 is achieved and any adjustments made, to remove the device, the straps 4 are undone, and the device is removed.

In Fig's 4, 5 and 6, a variation of the device is shown in a perspective, side and top elevation, with an interchangeable former 9, which has locator tabs 12, and a locking tab 11, in order to be secured and attached to the plastic section 1, with the receiving aperture 13. To release the interchangeable former 9, from the plastic section 1, the button 10, is depTessed allowing the locking tab 11, to be released from its receiving apertures 13, thus allowing the former 9, to be removed.

In Fig 7, the interchangeable former 9, is shown in more detail. The locking tab 11, is held in place mechanically by means of a spring 14, which forces the locking tab 11, upwards in the receiving aperture 13, locking it in place. When it is desired to remove the interchangeable former 9, the release button 10, is depressed forcing the spring 14, downwards, allowing the locking tab 11, to release from the receiving aperture enabling the former 9, to be pulled away and removed from the plastic section 1.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments