NL2005012C2

NL2005012C2 - Pipe clip.

Info

Publication number: NL2005012C2
Application number: NL2005012A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jan Walraven; Marek Juzak
Original assignee: Walraven Holding Bv J Van
Priority date: 2010-07-01
Filing date: 2010-07-01
Publication date: 2012-01-03

Description

P30274NL00/CHO Title: Pipe clip.

The present invention relates to a pipe clip according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a pipe clip is known for example from EP 1195548. The known pipe clip has a second flange with a plastic retaining shoe arranged on it. The retaining shoe comprises a slot, which is arranged in correspondence with the slot in the second flange, and which 5 narrows to a width that is smaller than the diameter of the shank of the screw. The narrowing slot can be expanded upon passing through the shank of the screw.

The present invention has for an object to provide an alternative pipe clip.

This object is achieved by a pipe clip according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the retainer element comprises at least one barrier member which (at least partly) blocks the 10 introduction opening of the slot, said barrier member being adapted to swivel away when the shank of the male fastening element is pressed against it upon introduction of the shank into the slot and to block the introduction opening when the shank has been moved further into the slot in order to retain the shank in the slot.

According to the invention the barrier member moves in a swivelling manner with the 15 shank of the male fastening member in the introduction direction until the shank passes the barrier member.

In one preferred embodiment the barrier member extends across the introduction opening of the slot, the barrier member in an unloaded state being biased in said position across the introduction opening and, in use - upon introduction of the shank -, said barrier 20 member swivelling away to allow the shank to be inserted into the slot. The barrier member swivels back to the unloaded state when the shank has moved beyond the free end of the barrier member, whereby it blocks again the introduction opening of the slot.

In another preferred embodiment the retainer element comprises a turnstile element with a plurality of barrier members, which turnstile element is rotatably mounted on the second 25 flange and rotates when the shank of the male fastening element is pushed against it. The barrier member that is pushed by the shank swivels away. Thereby the turnstile element will rotate and the successive barrier member of the turnstile element will be positioned in a blocking position in the introduction opening of the slot.

Further preferred embodiments of the pipe clip according to the invention are laid down 30 in the dependent claims 3-9 and 11 -15.

The invention will be elucidated in the following description with reference to the drawings, in which: -2-

Fig. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of pipe clip with a retainer element according to the invention in an open state,

Fig. 1a shows a clip half of the pipe clip of Fig. 1,

Fig. 2 shows the pipe clip of Fig. 1 upon closing, 5 Fig. 3 shows the pipe clip of Fig. 1 in a closed state,

Fig. 4 illustrates in a perspective view the action of the retainer element of the pipe clip of Fig. 1 during closing of the pipe clip,

Fig. 5 shows in a perspective view the retainer element of Fig. 4 in a closed state,

Fig. 6 shows in a perspective view an alternative retainer element, 10 Fig. 7 shows in a perspective view yet another alternative retainer element,

Fig. 8 shows a pipe clip half of a pipe clip with another embodiment of a retainer element according to the invention,

Fig. 9 shows the pipe clip half with the retainer element of Fig. 8 in a disassembled state,

Fig. 10 illustrates an intermediate stage during assembly of the retainer element of Fig. 9 15 on the pipe clip half, and

Fig. 11 illustrates a further intermediate state during assembly of the retainer element of Fig. 9 on the pipe clip half.

Figs 1 -3 show a pipe clip 1. The pipe clip 1 comprises a substantially angular metal clip 20 body which is constituted by two clip halves 2 and 3. The second clip half 3 may have a nut (not shown) attached to the metal clip half body, for coupling the pipe clip to a threaded rod which on its turn is fixed to another support structure, e.g. a wall, a ceiling or a mounting rail. The nut is preferably welded to the clip half 3 which is common in the field of pipe clips.

The first pipe clip half 2 has on one end a radial outwardly extending flange 7 and on the 25 other end a radial outwardly extending flange 8. The second pipe clip half 3 has on one end a radial outwardly extending flange 9, which in a mounted state (see Fig. 3) opposes the flange 7 of the first clip half 2 and on the other end a radial outwardly extending flange 10 which opposes the flange 8 of the first clip half 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the pipe clip shown in Fig .1 the flanges 9 and 10 of the 30 second clip half 3 are each provided with a threaded hole 11 and 12 respectively. In these threaded holes 11 and 12 tightening screws 21 and 22 are screwed in the mounted state of the pipe clip 1.

In the flange 7 of the first clip half 2 an oblong hole 13 is provided, of which the longitudinal axis extends in the radial direction. In use the shank 21a of the tightening screw 35 21 connected to the flange 9 of the second clip half 3 extends through the oblong hole 13. When the tightening screw 21 is screwed into the threaded hole 11 in the flange 9, the head 21b of the screw 21 will eventually engage the upper side of the flange 7 and tighten the two -3- flanges 7 and 9 towards each other. The oblong shape of the hole 13 provides some clearance to allow the manipulation of the first clip halve 2 with respect to the second clip half 3 in order to arrange the pipe clip around a pipe (not shown).

In the other flange 8 of the first clip half 2 a slot 14 is provided. The slot 14 extends 5 substantially in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the pipe clip 1 and is open at one end. The slot opens up at an introduction opening 14a in a lateral edge 15 of the flange 8 (see Fig. 1a). The open end of the slot 14 allows the lateral introduction of a shank of a screw in the slot 14 after the pipe clip 1 has been arranged around a pipe (cf. Figs 2 and 3).

On the flange 8 with the slot 14 a retainer element 16 is arranged. The retainer element 10 16 in the preferred embodiment is a plastic part which is preferably made by means of injection moulding.

The retainer element 16, which is separately shown in Fig. 5, comprises a shoe 17 with an upper wall 17a and a lower wall 17b. The lower wall 17b is in the assembled state of Figs 1-3 located at the side of the flange 8 which faces the flange 10 of the second clip half 3. 15 The upper wall 17a is located at the opposite side of the flange 8. The upper and lower walls 17a, 17b are interconnected at the side edges by side walls 17c, 17d. Thus a sleeve is formed which can be slided over the flange 8 to couple the retainer element 16 with the flange 8 as is shown in Figs 1 - 3.

The retainer element 16 comprises a generally L-shaped member 18 which has a first 20 leg 18a and a second leg 18b. The first leg 18a and second leg 18b are interconnected by an angled portion which forms a resilient hinge 18c between the two legs. The second leg 18b is connected to the shoe 16 by a second hinge 19. The second hinge 19 is a resilient hinge. The second leg 18b extends in the assembled state in the unloaded state along the end edge of the flange 8 and along the slot 14 as can be seen in Figs 1 and 3. The first leg 25 18a extends transverse thereto and is located across the introduction opening 14a of the slot 14. The first leg 18a constitutes a barrier member that blocks in the assembled state the introduction opening of the slot 14 as can be seen in Figs 1 and 3.

In use - upon introduction of a shank 22a of the screw 22 into the slot 14 (see Fig. 2) -the shank 22a pushes from the outside on the first leg 18a. Thereby the first leg 18a swivels 30 inside as is indicated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 2. This movement is counteracted by the biasing force of the resilient hinge 18c between the first leg 18a and the second leg 18b. In reaction to the deformation of the L-shaped member at the hinge 18c, the second leg 18b is pushed outside which is also indicated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 2. The second leg 18b swivels around the resilient hinge 19. The swivelling movements of the first and second legs 18a and 18b are in 35 opposite direction and are indicated by the double arrows 40 and 41 in Fig. 4. The combined movement of the two legs 18a and 18b results in that the shank 22a of the screw 22 can pass into the slot.

-4-

After the shank 22a has passed along the first leg 18a, it will spring back to the unloaded state (Fig. 3) due to the resiliency of the hinges 18c and 19.

The retainer element 16 includes a stop 20 which blocks a swivelling outward movement of the first leg 18a when it is in the unloaded state. The first leg 18a abuts with an end 5 portion this stop 20. Under normal conditions this prevents that the shank 22a can be withdrawn from the slot 14 again.

In Fig. 6 a variation is shown of a retainer element. This retainer element 66 is essentially the same as the retainer element 16 of Fig. 5. However this retainer element 66 has two L-shaped members 68 which are located one above the other, such that in the 10 assembled state, one can move above the flange 8 and the other can move below the flange 8.

In Fig. 7 yet another variation of the retainer element is shown. The retainer element 76 again is essentially the same as the retainer element 16 in Fig. 5. However in this embodiment the retainer element has two barrier members 78, one above the other, which 15 extend across the introduction opening 14a of the slot 14. The barrier members 78 are connected to a common hinge member 71 on one end and abut in an unloaded state a stop 72 with their opposite end. The hinge member 71 is connected to a second leg 73, which at its end remote from the hinge member 71 is connected by a hinge 74 to the shoe 75.

The retainer elements 66 and 76 function essentially the same as the retainer element 20 16. For a description on their working reference is made to the above description of the retainer element 16.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a pipe clip half 2 with a different embodiment of a retainer element according to the invention is shown. The retainer element is in Figs. 8 and 9 indicated with reference numeral 80. The retainer element 80, which is preferably made of plastics 25 material, comprises a shoe 81 with an upper wall 81a and a lower wall 81b. The lower wall 81 b is in the assembled state located at the side of the flange 8’ which faces the flange 10 of the second clip half 3. The upper wall 81 a is located at the opposite side of the flange 8’. The upper and lower walls 81a, 81b are interconnected at the side edges by side walls 81c, 81 d. Thus a sleeve is formed which can be slided over the flange 8’ to couple the retainer 30 element 80 with the flange 8’ (see also Figs 10 and 11).

The retainer element 80 comprises a turnstile element 82 with a plurality of barrier members 83. The turnstile element 82 comprises a wheel with spoke-like barrier members 83. The turnstile element 82 is rotatably mounted on the second flange 8’ and rotates when the shank 22a of the screw 22 or another male fastening element is pushed against one of 35 the barrier members 83. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8 the turnstile element 82 has two of such wheels with spoke-like barrier members 83, one on each side of the flange 8’. These wheels are interconnected by a common rotation spindle 86. The rotation spindle 86 extends -5- in the assembled state through recesses 87 in the upper and lower walls 81a, 81b of the shoe 81 and through a recess 14b in the flange 8’ that adjoins the slot 14. Instead of two wheels it would be conceivable to have only one wheel. Also the shape of the wheels could be different from what is shown in Fig. 8-11.

5 The retainer element 80 comprises one or more latch members 84, which engage the turnstile element 82 and which allow rotation of the turnstile element 82 in one direction, corresponding to the introduction direction of a shank 22a in the slot 14, and block the rotation of the turnstile element 82 in the opposite rotational direction.

Figs 10 and 11 illustrate the assembly of the retainer element 80 on the flange 8’ until 10 the assembled state of Fig.8 is achieved.

Claims

A pipe bracket for attaching a pipe to a wall, ceiling or other support surface, the pipe bracket comprising a substantially annular pipe bracket body which surrounds the pipe to be mounted in use and has a first and a second flange which are used towards each other in use drawn by means of a male fastening element with a shank and a head, wherein the first flange has an associated female fastening element, via which the male fastening element is connected to the first flange, and wherein the second flange has a slot with an insertion opening in a side edge of the second flange for receiving the shaft of the male fastening element in a lateral direction, wherein a retaining element is arranged on the second flange, characterized in that the retaining element comprises at least one closing member which (at least partially) has the insertion opening of the slot, the closing member being adapted to pivot away before the shaft of the male fastening element is pressed against it when the shaft is inserted into the slot and to block the insertion opening to hold the shaft in the slot when the shaft is moved further into the slot.

2. Pipe bracket according to claim 1, wherein the closing member extends over the insertion opening of the slot, the closing member being forced in an unloaded state with pretension into the position over the insertion opening and wherein, in use - when inserting the shaft - , the closure member moves away to allow the shaft to be inserted into the slot.

3. Pipe bracket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the closing member has a resilient reset hinge at an end around which it pivots, whereby the closing member is moved to the position over the insertion opening in an unloaded state.

The pipe bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises an L-shaped member with two legs, the first leg being the closing member and extending over the insertion opening and the second leg extending substantially along the slot, a first resilient reset hinge is arranged between the first leg and the second leg so that the first leg is moved in an unloaded state with bias in the position over the insertion opening.

5. Pipe bracket as claimed in claim 4, wherein the resilient hinge between the first and the second leg is integrally formed with the first and second legs.

6. Pipe bracket as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the second leg, at the end remote from the first leg, has a second resilient reset hinge that is coupled to the second flange so that during use - when the shaft 10 is inserted into the insertion opening of the slot - the first leg pivots around the first hinge in a direction of rotation and the second leg pivots in an opposite direction of rotation relative to the second hinge.

7. Pipe bracket as claimed in any of the claims 2-6, wherein the retaining element comprises a stop, wherein the closing element rests against the stop in the unloaded state.

8. Pipe bracket as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining element comprises a shoe arranged on the second flange, wherein the closing element is in an integral part of the shoe.

9. Pipe bracket as claimed in claim 8, wherein the shoe comprises an upper wall and a lower wall which are located on opposite sides of the second flange, and which upper wall and lower wall are mutually connected by one or more side walls which extend one or more edges of the second flange.

10. Pipe bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises a turnstile element with a plurality of closing members, which turnstile element 30 is rotatably mounted on the second flange and rotates when the shaft of the male fastening element is pressed against it.

11. Pipe bracket as claimed in claim 10, wherein the turnstile element is arranged so that it can only rotate in one direction, which direction corresponds to the direction of introduction of the shaft into the slot.

12. Pipe bracket as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the retaining element comprises a locking element which engages the turnstile element and which allows rotation of the turnstile element only in one direction, which direction corresponds to the insertion direction of a shaft in the slot, and the rotation of the shaft 5 blocks the turnstile element in the opposite direction of rotation.

A pipe clip according to any of claims 10-12, wherein the turnstile element comprises a rotation axis that extends through a recess in the second flange.

The pipe bracket according to claim 13, wherein the recess meets the slot in the second flange.

15. Pipe bracket as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the retaining element is made of plastic material, preferably by means of injection molding. 20 25 30