NL2022976B1 - Saddle clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

Saddle clamp for a pipe, in particular a feed pipe for electrical wiring, cable or a water pipe, comprising a base, at least two clamping jaws extending from the base, together with the base forming a substantially U-shaped receiving space for a pipe extending in a longitudinal direction, a coupling pin directed from a first side of the base perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the direction in which the clamps extend, comprising, seen in the direction from the point of attachment on the base outwards, at least one thickening or outwardly staggered part, a coupling slot provided at a second side opposite to the first side of the base and extending along the longitudinal direction of the base, comprising at least one thickening or inwardly staggered part as seen from the outside of the base, wherein the coupling slot is adapted to receive a coupling pin of an identical clamping saddle and the coupling pin has an extreme that extends further from the base than the remaining part of the coupling pin and that the coupling slot has an extreme which extends deeper into the base than the remaining part of the slot, the extreme of the coupling slot being arranged for receiving an extreme of the coupling pin of an identical clamping saddle.

Description

Saddle clamp The present invention relates to a saddle clamp, for a pipe or cable, in particular a feed pipe for electrical wiring or a water pipe.

Clamps are known in the art for fixing pipes and cables to a support. Omega-shaped metal ones that are put over the pipe to be fixed and are screwed onto a support are known in the art, but plastic U-shaped ones that are mounted before the pipes are placed have become common in the meantime as well. The latter ones are referred to as saddle clamps and provide the option for the pipe to be clicked into the saddle after mounting the saddle. Often, multiple pipes are placed next to each other. In that case, the saddles need to be placed next to each other as well, and preferably at equal distances, both for a neat result, and to have straight and parallel pipes. Some of the saddle clamps are therefore provided with means for mutual attachment. These means comprise for instance coupling pins and coupling slots, dimensioned for mutual coupling with respective coupling slots and coupling pins of identical saddle clamps. The coupling pins and slots are often form-fitting and have for instance a mushroom-shaped cross section, that allows to slide them into each other in their length directions. In order to align adjacent saddle clamps, the slots may be open at only one side, and closed at the other side, wherein the closure forms a stop. A disadvantage of these saddle clamps is that a second saddle clamp can only be added to a first saddle clamp from one side, which may not always be convenient. The form-fitting pins and slots have the additional disadvantage that they can only be coupled in a direction parallel to their length, which is also the length direction of the pipe to be held by the saddle clamp. The materials the clamps are made of do not allow mutual coupling in a sideways direction. For flexible pipes, often provided with ribbons, yet different clamps exist. These are U- shaped clamps again, often provided with a nail for mounting them to the substrate. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that these different types of clamps cannot be coupled in order to mount different types of pipes next to or behind each other with the same type of clamp.

It is a goal of the present invention to take away at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art or to provide a useful alternative to the state of the art. The invention thereto proposes a saddle clamp for a pipe or a cable, in particular a feed pipe for electrical wiring or a water pipe, comprising a base, at least two clamping jaws extending from the base, together with the base forming a substantially U-shaped receiving space for a pipe extending in a longitudinal direction, at least one coupling pin directed from a first side of the base perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the direction in which the clamps extend, comprising, seen in the direction from the point of attachment on the base outwards, at least one thickening or outwardly staggered part, a coupling slot provided at a second side opposite to the first side of the base and extending along the longitudinal direction of the base, comprising at least one thickening or inwardly staggered part as seen from the outside of the base, the coupling slot is adapted to receive a coupling pin of an identical clamping saddle, wherein the coupling pin has an extreme that extends further from the base than the remaining part of the coupling pin; and that the coupling slot has an extreme which extends deeper into the base than the remaining part of the slot, the extreme of the coupling slot being arranged for receiving an extreme of the coupling pin of an identical clamping saddle.

In the following, the longitudinal direction of a saddle clamp according to the invention is the longitudinal direction of the pipe that can be clamped by said saddle clamp. The saddle clamp according to the invention provides the advantage that it can be slid into a similar saddle clamp with a movement in the longitudinal direction of the pipe, and the extremes of the coupling pin and the coupling slot form a locking mechanism that indicates when to coupled saddle clamps are correctly aligned. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one coupling pin has a smaller cross section than the coupling slot. This allows to mount the saddle clamp to an identical saddle clamp from a sideway direction as well, since the smaller cross-section of the coupling pin allows the coupling pin to move when it is forced into the coupling slot. The fact that the saddle can be connected to an identical one in both the direction in which a pipe can be clamped in the saddle and perpendicular thereto is beneficial when mounting pipes and provides more freedom in a working order for craftsmen.

In yet a further embodiment, the coupling slot extends over the full width of the saddle clamp. That is: it has openings in both ends thereof. This offers the advantage that two identical saddle clamps can be coupled in the longitudinal direction of a pipe they can clamp from both sides. Independent on the direction in which they are coupled, the extremes of the coupling pin and the coupling slot form a locking mechanism that indicates when to coupled saddle clamps are correctly aligned. In a further embodiment, the extreme of the coupling pin is movable in the longitudinal direction. This makes it easier to couple a saddle clamp according to the invention with an identical saddle clamp, since by moving it in the longitudinal direction, the extreme of the coupling pin projects less then when it extends straight. Once it reaches the extreme in the coupling slot, it has room to extend straight again, and it clicks into the extreme of the coupling slot.

A second advantage and goal of this feature is that it makes the saddle clamp according to the invention compatible with saddle clamps according to the state of the art, with the same dimensions, but lacking the extremes of the coupling pin and slot. The movement of the extreme of the coupling pin allows it to be housed in a saddle clamp according to the state of the art.

For this purpose, the extreme of the coupling pin may be coupled to a flexible part of the coupling pen. The flexibility may preferably be caused by a material property of the saddle clamp, but other ways to obtain it, like a local weakening, are possible too.

In a further embodiment, the saddle clamp according to the invention comprises multiple parallel coupling pins, or one coupling pin with multiple branches. In these embodiments, only one pin or branch needs to comprise an extreme.

In order to keep coupled saddle clamps connected to each other, in the saddle clamp according to the invention the at least one thickening comprises a barb. Such barb provides the possibility to click two adjacent saddle clamps against each other.

In embodiments with multiple parallel coupling pins, or multiple branches have barbs that project in different directions. This leads to a firmer connection that prevents easy loosening of saddle clamps when the saddles are mutually twisted, for instance during mounting of pipes or tubes.

In order to facilitate the placement and in particular the coupling of multiple saddle clamps according to the invention, the saddle clamp may be provided with at least one engagement area for a finger.

The engagement area may be a canting or a recess or a combination of both, and may be formed such that it can be easily gripped by a pair of fingers.

In certain embodiments, at least one of the clamping jaws may comprise a notch, for engaging and locking a corrugated pipe.

The notch may be dimensioned such that it cooperates with a predetermined corrugated (often referred to as flexible) tube or pipe, and it may be positioned preferably at the distal end of the clamping saws with respect to the base.

The coupling pin may further be tolerable about its length axis.

This allows coupling of the saddle pin according to the invention to saddle pins according to the state of the art.

The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following figures.

Herein: - Figure 1 shows a perspective view on a saddle clamp to the invention; - Figures 2a-f show views from different sides on a saddle clamp according to the invention; - Figure 3 shows a side view on a number of coupled saddle clamps according to the invention; and - Figures 4a, b show alternative embodiments of a saddle clamp according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view on a saddle clamp according to the invention.

The figure shows a saddle clamp 1 for a pipe 2, comprising a base 3, two clamping jaws 4, 5 extending from the base 3, together with the base 3 forming a substantially U-shaped receiving space for a pipe 2 extending in a longitudinal direction L, three coupling pins 6 directed from a first side of the base 3 perpendicular W to the longitudinal direction W and perpendicular to the direction H in which the clamps 4, 5 extend, comprising, seen in the direction from the point of attachment on the base 3 outwards, thickenings, formed by barbs 7, 8, 9. The saddle clamp 1 further comprises a coupling slot 10 provided at a second side opposite to the first side of the base and extending along the longitudinal direction of the base, comprising at least one thickening 11 or inwardly staggered part as seen from the outside of the base.

The coupling slot 10 is adapted to receive a coupling pin 6 of an identical clamping saddle. The coupling pin 6 has an extreme 12 that extends further from the base 3 than the remaining part of the coupling pin 6, and the coupling slot 10 has an extreme 13 which extends deeper into the base than the remaining part of the slot 10, the extreme 13 of the coupling slot being 5 arranged for receiving an extreme of the coupling pin 6 of an identical clamping saddle.

Figures 2a-f show views from different sides on a saddle clamp according to the invention. Besides the elements already shown in figure 1, it becomes clear from in particular 2b and 2e that the coupling pins 6, each have a smaller cross section than the coupling slot 10. The coupling slot extends over the full width of the saddle clamp. The extreme 13 of the coupling pens 6 is movable in the length direction. The parallel coupling pens 6, or multiple branches have barbs 7, 8, 9 that project in different directions, in particular opposite directions. The saddle clamp is provided with two engagement areas 14 for a finger, for connecting multiple saddle clamps according to the invention. The saddle clamp furthermore comprises means for connecting it to a support, in the embodiment shown formed by a through hole 15, for receiving a screw. The clamping jaws 4, 5 further comprise a notch 16, for engaging and locking a corrugated pipe.

Saddle clamp according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling pin is tolerable about its length axis. Figure 3 shows 5 saddle clamps according to the invention, mutually coupled.

Figure 4a shows a detall of a first alternative embodiment 17 of a saddle clamp according to the present invention, having a base 23, from which a coupling pin 18 extends, with a first barb 19 and a second barb 21, each at different sides of the extreme 20. When coupling the saddle clamp 17, the coupling pin rotates about its central axis 22. Figure 4b shows yet another embodiment of a saddle clamp 26 according to the invention, having a coupling pen 24, that comprises an outwardly staggered part 25, that performs the same function as the barbs 7, 8, 9, 19 and 21 from figures 1-4a.

Claims (10)

Conclusions Clamping saddle for a pipe, in particular a lead-through pipe for electrical wiring, or a water supply pipe, comprising: - a base; At least two clamps extending from the base, forming together with the base a substantially U-shaped receiving space for a longitudinally extending tube; - At least one coupling pin extending from a first side of the base transversely to the longitudinal direction and to the direction in which the clamps extend, comprising, as viewed in the direction from the point of attachment to the base outwards, at least one bead or one outward-facing offset; - A coupling slot provided in a second, opposite side of the base on the first side, extending over the longitudinal direction of the base, comprising at least one thickened or inwardly directed offset, viewed from the outside of the base, The coupling slot is adapted to receive a coupling pin of the same clamping saddle and the coupling pin is adapted to receive in a coupling slot of the same clamping saddle; characterized in - That the link pin has an extremity that extends further from the base than the remainder of the link pin; and - That the coupling slot has an extreme that extends deeper into the base than the remainder of the slot, the extreme of the coupling slot being adapted to receive an extreme of the coupling pin of the same clamping saddle, whereby the extreme of the coupling slot is coupling pin is movable in the longitudinal direction. The clamping saddle of claim 1, wherein the extreme is connected to a flexible portion of the coupling pin. Clamping saddle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one coupling pin has a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the slot. Clamping saddle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling slot extends over the entire length of the clamping saddle. Clamping saddle as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, comprising several parallel coupling pins or one coupling pin with several extensions. Clamping saddle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickening of the coupling pin comprises a barb. Clamping saddle according to claims 5 and 6, wherein different coupling pins or suckers have barbs that run in opposite directions. Clamping saddle according to any one of the preceding claims, provided with at least one gripping surface for a finger, for the purpose of fastening several clamping saddles according to the invention together. A clamp saddle according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the clamps or the base includes a cam for engaging and locking a corrugated tube. Clamping saddle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling pin is twistable about its longitudinal axis.