IE894021A1 - A carrier - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a carrier and in particular to a bendable substantially U-shaped carrier for use in forming an edge protector trim strip adapted to be clamped and supported on the edge of a structural body flange to enclose and trim the flange.

According to the invention there is provided a carrier blank for use in forming an edge protector strip comprising: a continuous wire which is bent to provide looped ends at the longitudinal edges of the carrier blank joined by spaced-apart lengths of wire extending transversely of the carrier blank, and a plurality of strands of material extending longitudinally of the carrier to maintain the transverse lengths of wire in spaced-apart relationship.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the strands are selectively knitted with the wires to maintain the spaced relationship of the transverse lengths of wire. - 3 In one embodiment of the invention the transverse lengths of wire may be bent to form a carrier of substantially U-shape in transverse cross section, each transverse length of wire forming a base portion and a pair of side flanges which are joined by substantially right angle corners. Preferably the strands of material extend longitudinally along the base and side flanges only to leave the corners of the U-shape free of strands .

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention at 10 least one strand is provided along each looped side marginal edge of the carrier blank. Preferably at least two strands are provided along the side marginal edges of the carrier blank. Preferably the edge strands are associated to form at least two grouped edge strands. Preferably the strands are forced together by a knitting process to form the grouped edge strands .

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the wire is a metallic wire. The strands may be of any suitable material such as a fabric material.

The invention also provides a carrier formed by bending the carrier blank according to the invention into a substantially U-shape in transverse cross section. - 4 The invention also provides an edge protector comprising a carrier according to the invention coated with an elastomeric material.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of forming 5 an edge protector trim strip comprising the steps of: forming a wire carrier blank according to the invention, bending the wire carrier blank into a substantially Ushape in transverse cross section, and coating the carrier with flexible resilient elastomeric 10 material.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof give by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the carrier blank 15 according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view on an enlarged scale of a carrier formed from the carrier blank of Fig. 1. - 5 Referring to the drawings there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a carrier blank indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for forming a carrier as illustrated in Fig. 2 which is used in forming an edge protector trim strip which is adapted in use to be clamped and supported on the edge of a structural body flange to enclose and trim the flange.

The carrier blank 1 comprises a continuous wire which is bent to provide looped ends 3, 4 at the longitudinal edges of the carrier blank 1 which are joined by spaced-apart intermediate lengths of wire 5 extending transversely of the carrier blank 1. A plurality of strands of material 10 extend longitudinally of the carrier and are selectively knitted with the transverse lengths of wire 5 to maintain the spaced relationship between the transverse wires 5. At least two strands 11, 12 are provided adjacent the side marginal edges of the carrier blank 1, the adjacent strands 11 or 12 are associated to form at least two grouped edge strands. For example, each pair of strands 11, 12 may be forced together by a knitting process to form the grouped edge strands.

Each of the intermediate wire portions 5 comprises a base portion 15 and a pair of side flanges 16, 17 which are bent to form a carrier of substantially U-shape in transverse cross section as illustrated in Fig. 2. - 6 It will be noted that the strands 10, 11, 12 are selectively knitted only on the base 15 and side flanges 16, 17 of the carrier so that the corners of the carrier are free of strands so that the strands are not damaged during the bending of the carrier blank into the substantially U-shaped carrier illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the carrier is bent U-shaped illustrated in Fig. 2, it is then coated with a flexible, resilient elastomeric material which extends to cover the inner and outer sides of the carrier and the edges of the carrier flanges. The coating material is also formed at the inner side of the carrier flanges 16, 17 with resilient and compressible fins which extend longitudinally of the carrier and project obliquely inwardly of the carrier and towards the base 15 thereof. The fins are adapted to contact and engage with oppositely directed side faces provided on the edge of a structural body flange to resist removal of the edge protector trim strip from the body flange by compressive wedging engagement.

The invention provides an improved carrier blank, carrier and edge protector trim strip which is easily processed and is not easily damaged in manufacture or use. - 7 Many variations on the specific embodiment of the invention described will be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (15)

1. A carrier blank for use in forming an edge protector strip comprising: a continuous wire which is bent to provide looped 5 ends at the longitudinal edges of the carrier blank joined by spaced-apart lengths of wire extending transversely of the carrier blank, and a plurality of strands of material extending longitudinally of the carrier to maintain the

2. A carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strands are selectively knitted with the wires to maintain the spaced relationship of the transverse lengths of wire. 15

3. A carrier as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the transverse lengths of wire may be bent to form a carrier of substantially U-shape in transverse cross section, each transverse length of wire forming a base portion and a pair of side flanges which are joined by substantially right angle corners. - 9

4. A carrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the strands of material extend longitudinally along the base and side flanges only to leave the corners of the U-shape free of strands .

5. Transverse cross section. 5 5. A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one strand is provided along each looped side marginal edge of the carrier blank.

6. A carrier as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least two strands are provided along the side marginal edges of the

7. A carrier as claimed in claim 6 wherein the edge strands are associated to form at least two grouped edge strands.

8. A carrier as claimed in claim 7 wherein the strands are forced together by a knitting process to form the grouped 15 edge strands.

9. A carrier blank as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wire is a metallic wire. 10. Forming a wire carrier blank as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, bending the wire carrier blank into a substantially U-shape in transverse cross section, and coating the carrier with flexible resilient 15 elastomeric material.

10. A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the strands are of a fabric material. -loll.

11. A carrier blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. 10 carrier blank. 10 transverse lengths of wire in spaced-apart relationship.

12. A carrier formed by bending a carrier blank as claimed in any preceding claim into a substantially U-shape in

13. An edge protector comprising a carrier as claimed in claim 12 coated with an elastomeric material.

14. A method of forming an edge protector trim strip comprising the steps of:

15. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. dk\SPE15\10607com.f13