GB2588698A - Retainer - Google Patents

Retainer Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2588698A
GB2588698A GB2001726.5A GB202001726A GB2588698A GB 2588698 A GB2588698 A GB 2588698A GB 202001726 A GB202001726 A GB 202001726A GB 2588698 A GB2588698 A GB 2588698A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
eye region
retainer
retainer according
reinforcing element
stiffening rib
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB2001726.5A
Other versions
GB2588698B (en
GB202001726D0 (en
Inventor
Mottram Christopher
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.)
Scolmore International Ltd
Original Assignee
Scolmore International 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 Scolmore International Ltd filed Critical Scolmore International Ltd
Publication of GB202001726D0 publication Critical patent/GB202001726D0/en
Publication of GB2588698A publication Critical patent/GB2588698A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2588698B publication Critical patent/GB2588698B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/30—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings
    • H02G3/32—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings using mounting clamps
    • 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
    • F16B13/00—Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose
    • F16B13/02—Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose in one piece with protrusions or ridges on the shaft
    • F16B13/025—Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose in one piece with protrusions or ridges on the shaft of rolled sheet material
    • 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
    • F16B2/20—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
    • 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
    • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
    • F16L3/02—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing
    • F16L3/04—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing and pressing it against a wall or other support
    • 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
    • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
    • F16L3/08—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
    • 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
    • F16L3/00—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets
    • F16L3/08—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
    • F16L3/12—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
    • F16L3/127—Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing and extending away from the attachment surface
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/26—Installations of cables, lines, or separate protective tubing therefor directly on or in walls, ceilings, or floors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/30—Installations of cables or lines on walls, floors or ceilings
    • 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
    • F16B2/06—Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening external, i.e. with contracting action
    • F16B2/08—Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening external, i.e. with contracting action using bands

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)

Abstract

A retainer 10 (e.g. for securing a cable or pipe to the wall of a building) comprises a pair of limbs 11 which extend from and are integral with an eye region 12, each said limb comprising a plurality of barbs 20 in use for engaging with the wall of a bore in a support structure, said retainer being formed from sheet material and the eye region comprising a stiffening rib 15 at a portion of the eye region between portions 13 of the eye region from which the limbs extend and said stiffening rib extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 16 of the eye region. Aspects include the stiffening rib provided at an inward facing surface of the eye region or comprising a reinforcing element. The provision of a reinforcing rib, whether formed by a stamping operation or by provision of a reinforcing element provides a retainer having a better retention capability and increases the resistance of the limbs to movement in a direction towards one another.

Description

RETAINER
This invention relates to a retainer and in particular to a retainer for securing an article to a support structure.
The invention relates in particular, though not exclusively, to a retainer for securing a cable or pipe to the wall of a building.
More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a retainer for securing an article to a support structure which has been drilled or otherwise provided with a retention bore, typically a blind bore, to receive part of a retainer.
It is well known to provide a retainer in the form of a cable clip that comprises two retention limbs that extend from and are integral with an interconnecting eye region that in use extends around and thereby retains the cable against a support structure, The two limbs typically are formed with serrations, known also as barbs, projections or teeth, which project outwards for contacting and frictionally engaging with the wall of a retention bore defined by a support structure. For providing frictional engagement the two limbs typically are resiliently biased away from one another to bear against the wall of the retention bore.
That resilient bias may be provided by the material of the eye region. However there is a problem that that region of the retainer, particularly if formed simply from sheet metal, may not provide a sufficient bias force for ensuring that the retainer cannot readily become displaced.
One proposal for addressing that problem is to provide each limb with one or more resilient formations that bear against the other limb thereby to more firmly urge the limbs away from one another.
Another proposal has been to provide the limbs with stiffening ribs that are of a T shape in cross section and with the stem section of the T shape lying outwards of the limb, facing in a direction opposite to the direction of the other limbs. A portion of that stem section of each limb is formed integral with a respective section of the eye region from which the limb extends and thereby in part resists deformation of the eye region and corresponding movement of the limbs towards one another.
A disadvantage of the aforedescribed constructions is that they are relatively expensive to manufacture. The present invention seeks to provide a retainer with is economic to produce whilst also providing good ability to be retained in the retention hole of a support structure.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a retainer comprising a pair of limbs which extend from and are integral with an eye region, each said limb comprising a plurality of barbs in use for engaging with the wall of a bore in a support structure, said retainer being formed from sheet material and the eye region comprising a stiffening rib at a portion of the eye region between portions of the eye region from which the limbs extend and said stiffening rib extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the eye region.
The eye region may comprise two part-cylindrical portions interconnected by a central portion at which at least a part of the stiffening rib is located. The central portion may be a substantially flat portion.
The retainer may be formed by stamping of sheet material, typically sheet metal such as spring steel. A suitable the thickness for the sheet material will depend at least in part on the size of the retainer but typically for a retainer for securing a cable or pipe to the wall of a building will be in the range 0.25mm to 1.0mm, for example a thickness of 0.5mm A stamping operation may be employed to deform part of the eye region material thereby to create a stiffening rib.
The stiffening rib may be provided at an inward or an outward facing surface of the eye region. Advantageously it is provided at an inward facing surface thereby in use potentially to restrain sliding moment of a cable or the like through the retainer.
A stamping operation may be employed to form the barbs of the limbs.
A said stamping operation or a subsequent operation may deform the eye region material to result in the material for the limbs being positioned such that the two limbs extend in a generally similar direction away from the eye region but diverge away from one another with increasing distance from the eye region. The retainer may be shaped by a method that comprises the step of plastic deformation of sheet material such as spring steel.
A stamping operation may be employed to cause some barbs or at least one barb of a limb to extend outwards in a direction different from that of other barbs or at least one barb of that limb.
Although a stamping operation is economic for forming the stiffening rib, the invention does not exclude the formation of a reinforcing rib by securing a reinforcing element to the eye region, preferably at a position central between the two limbs, for example by means of adhesive or spot welding.
The reinforcing element may be provided as an alternative or in addition to a stiffening rib formed by stamping.
If the eye region is provided with a stiffening rib by securing a reinforcing element to the eye region, the reinforcing element may be of a material and or a thickness different from that of the material of the eye region to which it is secured. Thus the reinforcing element may have a thickness or other dimension greater than that of the eye region and or the retention limbs thereby permitting the eye region and retention limbs to be of a thinner material than would be necessary if no reinforcing element is provided.
Accordingly whereas a retainer devoid of a reinforcing element may be required to have a thickness of, for example, 0.5mm, if the retainer is provided with a relatively stiff reinforcing element a thickness of 0.35mm may be sufficient for the eye region and the retention limbs.
A reinforcing element may be secured to at least one of an outward and an inward facing surface of the eye region.
A reinforcing element may be secured to the eye region by, for example, use of rivets, spot welding or adhesive.
A reinforcing element may be secured to the eye region by a means, such as rivets or a high temperature resistive adhesive, whereby the retainer is be suitable for use in applications for which fire resistance is desired.
A reinforcing element may be of a substantially rectangular shape. A reinforcing element may have a dimension less than that of the eye region as considered in a direction parallel with an imaginary axis about which the two retainer limbs are pivotable relative to one another. Thus, for example, as considered in said direction the reinforcing element may have a dimension between 25% and 75% of the dimension of the eye region.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a retainer in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an eye region of the retainer; Figure 3 is a perspective view of pad of the inward facing surface of the eye region of the retainer of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the limbs of the retainer, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a retainer in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of pad of the inward facing surface of the eye region of the retainer of Figure 5; Figures 7a and 7b show width variations of the reinforcing element of Figure 5, and Figures 8a and 8b show thickness variations of the reinforcing element of Figure 5.
A retainer 10 comprises two limbs 11 interconnected by an eye region12.
The eye region comprises two part cylindrical portions 13 and an integral interconnecting portion 14.
The retainer is of sheet metal of 0.5mm thickness and has been formed by a stamping operation which depresses part of the interconnecting portion 14 and neighbouring regions 19 of the part cylindrical portions inwardly to provide a stiffening rib 15 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 16 of the eye region 12. In this embodiment the sheet metal of the retainer is spring steel.
Each limb 11 extends from a respective one of the part cylindrical portions furthest from the interconnecting portion and is formed with a series of barbs 20 along each edge 21,22. At one of the edges 21 some 20a of the barbs are bent to extend at right angles to the plane of the limb and the barbs 20b. The barbs 20a are orientated to extend from an outer surface 24 of the limb, thus extending in a direction away from the other limb of the pair.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention a retainer 30 (see Figures 5 to 8) comprises retention limbs 30, 31similar to those of the first embodiment but the eye region 33 is stiffened by a reinforcing element 34 instead of a reinforcing rib formed by a stamping operation.
The reinforcing element 34 is secured to the eye region 33 by a pair of rivets 35 but in a modified construction (not shown) it may be secured in position by spot welding or by means of adhesive.
The reinforcing element 34 may be formed of the same material as that of the eye region and retention limbs, typically a spring steel, but it need not be of spring steel and may for example be mild steel.
The reinforcing element may have a width greater than that shown in Figure5 (see Figures 7a and 7b). The reinforcing element may have a thickness greater than that shown in Figure 5 (see Figures 8a and 8b).
From the foregoing it will be understood that the provision of a reinforcing rib, whether formed by a stamping operation or by provision of a reinforcing element, provides a retainer having a better retention capability than an otherwise similar retainer devoid of any such reinforcing rib. Notably the reinforcing rib serves to increase the resistance of the limbs to movement in a direction towards one another.

Claims (19)

  1. Claims.1. A retainer comprising a pair of limbs which extend from and are integral with an eye region, each said limb comprising a plurality of barbs in use for engaging with the wall of a bore in a support structure, said retainer being formed from sheet material and the eye region comprising a stiffening rib at a portion of the eye region between portions of the eye region from which the limbs extend and said stiffening rib extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the eye region.
  2. 2. A retainer according to claim 1 wherein the eye region comprises two part-cylindrical portions interconnected by a central portion at which at least a part of the stiffening rib is located.
  3. 3. A retainer according to claim 2 wherein the central portion is a substantially flat portion.
  4. 4. A retainer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stiffening rib is provided at an inward facing surface of the eye region.
  5. 5. A retainer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the two limbs extend in a generally similar direction away from the eye region but diverge away from one another with increasing distance from the eye region.
  6. 6. A retainer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one barb of a limb extends outwards in a direction different from that of one or more other barbs of that limb.
  7. 7. A retainer according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising material shaped by a stamping operation.
  8. 8. A retainer according to claim 7 and comprising sheet metal, such as spring steel, shaped by a stamping operation.
  9. 9. A retainer according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the material of the retainer has been subject to plastic deformation.
  10. 10. A retainer according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising sheet material shaped by a stamping operation and having a thickness in the range 0.25mm to 1.00mm.
  11. 11. A retainer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the stiffening rib has been formed by stamping of the material of the eye region.
  12. 12. A retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the stiffening rib comprises a reinforcing element secured to the eye region of the retainer.
  13. 13. A retainer according to claim 12 wherein the reinforcing element is of a material and of a thickness different from that of the material of the eye region to which it is secured.
  14. 14. A retainer according to claim 13 wherein the reinforcing element has a thickness greater than the material of the eye region to which it is secured.
  15. 15. A retainer according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the reinforcing element is secured to the eye region by at least one of rivets, spot welding and adhesive.
  16. 16. A retainer according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the reinforcing element is of a substantially rectangular shape.
  17. 17. A retainer according to any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein the reinforcing element has a dimension less than that of the eye region as considered in a direction parallel with an axis about which the two retainer limbs are pivotable relative to one another.
  18. 18. A retainer according to claim 17 wherein, as considered in the direction of said axis, the reinforcing element has a dimension between 25% and 75% of the dimension of the eye region.
  19. 19 A retainer according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and comprising the combination of a stiffening rib formed by stamping and a reinforcing element secured to the eye region of the retainer.
GB2001726.5A 2019-11-01 2020-02-07 Retainer Active GB2588698B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1915943.3A GB201915943D0 (en) 2019-11-01 2019-11-01 Retainer

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202001726D0 GB202001726D0 (en) 2020-03-25
GB2588698A true GB2588698A (en) 2021-05-05
GB2588698B GB2588698B (en) 2022-06-01

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GBGB1915943.3A Ceased GB201915943D0 (en) 2019-11-01 2019-11-01 Retainer
GB2001726.5A Active GB2588698B (en) 2019-11-01 2020-02-07 Retainer

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB1915943.3A Ceased GB201915943D0 (en) 2019-11-01 2019-11-01 Retainer

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE6912883U (en) * 1969-03-29 1969-10-02 Kabel Metallwerke Ghh DEVICE FOR INSERTING AN ELECTRICAL CABLE IN A FIXED ENCLOSURE WITH RELIEF
US3737128A (en) * 1971-10-20 1973-06-05 Fastway Fasteners Cable support clip
GB2148441A (en) * 1983-10-12 1985-05-30 Ivan Bach Clamp for tubes, wires and cables
FR2760054A3 (en) * 1997-02-26 1998-08-28 Johann Fiala Dowel clip for securing cables
EP1998421A2 (en) * 2007-05-29 2008-12-03 Orshall Verksted AS Mounting clip device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE6912883U (en) * 1969-03-29 1969-10-02 Kabel Metallwerke Ghh DEVICE FOR INSERTING AN ELECTRICAL CABLE IN A FIXED ENCLOSURE WITH RELIEF
US3737128A (en) * 1971-10-20 1973-06-05 Fastway Fasteners Cable support clip
GB2148441A (en) * 1983-10-12 1985-05-30 Ivan Bach Clamp for tubes, wires and cables
FR2760054A3 (en) * 1997-02-26 1998-08-28 Johann Fiala Dowel clip for securing cables
EP1998421A2 (en) * 2007-05-29 2008-12-03 Orshall Verksted AS Mounting clip device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2588698B (en) 2022-06-01
GB201915943D0 (en) 2019-12-18
GB202001726D0 (en) 2020-03-25

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