US20090265896A1

US20090265896A1 - Band clip for cashing

Info

Publication number: US20090265896A1
Application number: US12/439,671
Authority: US
Inventors: Jong Man Beak
Original assignee: OCC ST Co Ltd
Current assignee: OCC ST Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-11
Publication date: 2009-10-29
Also published as: JP2010503809A; WO2008032974A1; DE112007002166T5

Abstract

A band clip for binding a pipe includes a fastening band and a holder buckle. The pipe can be bound safely and conveniently in a one-touch process of simply pulling the fastening band, with a fastening portion gradually curved inward against protruding and opened insert sections of the holder buckle without having to perform cumbersome and difficult actions of inserting the fastening band into a hole of the holder buckle, so that a process of binding the pipe can be carried out easily and safely even in hostile environments. The fastening band is first caught by the latch protrusion while passing through the holder buckle when fastened around the pipe, and then caught again by the binding-fixing lugs, and thus can be double-bound to the holder buckle easily and stably without having to use a tool.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a band clip for binding a pipe, which is fastened around the pipe to fixedly bind the pipe, and more particularly, to a band clip for binding a pipe, by which the pipe can be bound safely and conveniently using a one-touch process of simply pulling a fastening band, with a fastening portion gradually curved inward against a holder buckle, without having to perform cumbersome and difficult actions of inserting the fastening band into a hole of the holder buckle.
2. Description of Related Art
Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
Various types of band clips are used to connect and bind various pipes and hoses. Such a band clip basically includes a band, which is fastened around an object, such as a pipe or a hose, and a buckle through which the band is pulled and fixedly bound around the object.
For example, a heat insulating lining and a heat insulating sheath are attached to a pipe in order to cover the outer surface of the pipe. For this purpose, band clips are fastened around the pipe at a predetermined interval in the length direction of the pipe, in order to fixedly bind the heat insulating lining and sheath to the pipe.
FIGS. 21 to 23 illustrate an example of a band clip 110 that is generally used to bind a protective casing to a pipe. Referring to FIGS. 21 to 23, a fastening band 130 is wound around a pipe 140, to which a heat insulating lining 142 and a heat insulating sheath 144 are attached, and a fastening-insert end 132, as one end of the fastening band 130, is inserted into and pulled out of a band receiver 128 of a holder buckle 120, which is integrally combined with the opposite end of the fastening band 130. Then, the fastening-insert end 132 of the fastening band 130 is pulled in the opposite direction around the band receiver 128, and then band-fixing sections 122, protruding from the holder buckle 120 at both sides of the fastening-insert end 132, are perpendicularly pressed and bent, thereby fixedly binding the band clip 110 to the pipe 140.
In a process of binding the conventional band clip 110, in order to insert the fastening-insert end 132 of the fastening band 130 into the band receiver 128 of the holder buckle 120 and then pull the fastening-insert end 132 out of the band receiver 128, a worker must grasp the holder buckle 120 with one hand and the fastening-insert end 132 of the fastening band 130 with the other hand. However, the procedure of inserting the fastening-insert end 132 of the fastening band 130 into the band receiver 128 of the holder buckle 120 requires concentration and is considerably annoying. Accordingly, binding a large number of band clips makes the worker tired and thus degrades workability.
Furthermore, when the fastening-insert end 132 of the fastening band 130 is pulled and folded back around the band receiver 128, as shown in FIG. 22, the bottom of the holder buckle 120, which is bent from both sides and integrally combined to a fixing-bending end 136 of the fastening band 130, is easily spread. This consequently degrades the product lifetime and may accidentally cut a worker's hand.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems with the prior art, and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a band clip for binding a pipe, by which the pipe can be bound safely and conveniently using a one-touch process of simply pulling a fastening band, with a fastening portion gradually curved inward against protruding and opened insert sections of a holder buckle without having to perform cumbersome and difficult actions of inserting the fastening band into the hole of the holder buckle, so that a process of binding the pipe can be carried out easily and safely even in hostile environments.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a band clip for binding a pipe, in which a fastening band is first caught by a latch protrusion while passing through a holder buckle when fastened around the pipe and then caught again by binding-fixing lugs, and thus can be double-bound to the holder buckle easily and stably without having to use a tool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Solution

In order to realize the aforementioned objects, there is provided a band clip for a pipe, which includes a fastening band having a fastening-insert end, an insert guide section connected to the fastening-insert end and gradually curved inward, a fixing-folding end, which is the end opposite the fastening-insert end, and a band-winding protrusion projecting from the fixing-folding end to a predetermined height; and a holder buckle fixedly pressed against the bottom of the fixing-folding end of the fastening band. The holder buckle has band insert sections protruding from both side edges of a main portion thereof and band-binding protrusions projecting from both sides of the outer end thereof to a predetermined height. The band insert sections bent inward to define a slit between the band insert sections allow passage to the fastening-insert end of the fastening band. The band-binding protrusions bent inward onto the fastening band, which is passed through the band insert sections and folded in the opposite direction, thereby fixedly press the fastening band against the holder buckle.
Preferably, the fastening band has buckle-fastening holes formed in the fixing-folding end thereof, on both sides of the band-winding protrusion, and the holder buckle has band-supporting protrusions projecting from a band-fixing body. The band-supporting protrusions fit into the buckle-fastening holes of the fastening band, thereby integrally engaging the holder buckle with the fastening band. The fastening band may further have a strength-enhancing protrusion extending along a longitudinal direction thereof and located in a central portion of the insert guide, adjacent to the fastening-insert end.
Preferably, the band insert sections of the holder buckle have an inclined configuration so that one portion, which is adjacent to the band-winding protrusion of the fastening band, protrudes higher than the opposite portion, which is adjacent to the band-binding protrusions of the holder buckle.
In order to realize the aforementioned objects, there is provided a band clip for a pipe, which includes a fastening band having a band body, a fastening-insert end disposed at one end of the band body, an insert guide section connected to the fastening-insert end and gradually curved inward, a fixing-folding end disposed at the opposite end of the band body, a band-winding protrusion projecting from the fixing-folding end to a predetermined height, a latch protrusion projecting upward from a central portion of the fixing-folding end, and a plurality of latch grooves formed in a portion of the band body that is adjacent to the insert guide section to catch the latch protrusion, thereby first fixing the band clip; and a holder buckle fixedly pressed against the bottom of the fixing-folding end of the fastening band. The holder buckle has band insert sections that protrude from both side edges of a main portion thereof and are bent inward. Band-binding protrusions project from both sides of an outer end thereof to a predetermined height. Regarding the binding-fixing lugs, each project inward from each of the band-binding protrusions in order to allow the band body of the fastening band, which is passed through the band insert sections, to be folded in the opposite direction, thereby second fixing the band clip.
Preferably, the fastening band further has a strength-enhancing protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and located in a central portion of the insert guide, adjacent to the fastening-insert end, and the latch grooves are D-shaped to easily receive and securely hold the latch protrusion on the fixing-folding end.
Preferably, the fastening band further has a strength-enhancing protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and located in a central portion of the insert guide adjacent to the fastening-insert end. The band insert sections of the holder buckle are sloped upward from the band-binding protrusions, each of the band insert sections having a strength-enhancing protrusion in a configuration similar to the strength-enhancing protrusion of the fastening band. The strength-enhancing protrusion of the band insert section is formed by being pressed and extended in the longitudinal direction of the band insert section.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the band clip for binding a pipe of the present invention as set forth above, the band clip includes the fastening band and the holder buckle. A process of binding the pipe can be safely and conveniently carried out in a one-touch process of simply pulling the fastening band against the holder buckle without having to perform cumbersome and difficult actions of inserting the fastening band into a hole of the holder buckle. Since a worker can bind the band clip around the pipe using only one hand, the process of binding the pipe can be carried out easily and safely even in hostile environments, for example, in the case where the worker must climb on a ladder or the pipe.
In conventional band clips, a fastening band and a holder buckle are fabricated separately and assembled together onsite by cutting the fastening band to a length appropriate for a pipe. However, since the length of the fastening band can be set according to the specification of the pipe, the band clip of the present invention can be used in an assembled state, with a fastening band that satisfies the specification of the pipe already combined with the holder buckle, thereby greatly improving economic efficiency.
Moreover, the fastening band is first caught by the latch protrusion while passing through the holder buckle when fastened around the pipe, and is then caught again by the binding-fixing lugs, and thus can be double-bound to the holder buckle easily and stably without requiring the use of a tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a band clip for binding a pipe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a fastening band of the band clip according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating deployed and erected states of a holder buckle of the band clip according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 to 9 are perspective views illustrating a one-touch binding usage of the band clip according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is fastened, tightened and bound around the pipe.

FIGS. 10 to 12 are perspective views illustrating another usage of the band clip according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which long nose pliers are used to wind and finish the fitting end of the band clip, which is fastened around the pipe.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fastening band of a band clip for binding a pipe according to a practical embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views illustrating deployed and erected states of a holder buckle of the band clip according to the practical embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 16 to 20 are perspective views illustrating a double-binding usage of the band clip according to the practical embodiment of the present invention, in which the band clip, fastened around the pipe, is first caught and fixed by a latch protrusion and is caught again by binding-fixing lugs as the fastening band passes through the holder buckle.

FIGS. 21 to 23 are perspective view illustrating the usage of a conventional band clip, which is fastened, tightened and bound around a pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of a band clip for binding a pipe according to the present invention will be described in detail with respect to components and functions thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. The pipe bound with the band clip of the present invention is a pipe that is covered with a heat insulating lining and a heat insulating sheath.
In FIGS. 1 to 12, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a band clip for binding a pipe, FIG. 2 specifically illustrates a fastening band 10 of the band clip, and FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a deployed state of a holder buckle 20 of the band clip, prior to being engaged with the fastening band 10, and an erected state of the holder buckle 20.
FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate the usage of the band clip of the present invention. That is, an insert guide portion 12, which is disposed adjacent to the fastening-insert end 11 of the fastening band 10 and is gradually curved inward, is inserted into an insert slit between band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, so that opposite ends of the insert guide sections 12 protrude from both ends of the holder buckle 20. Then, the fastening band 10 is pulled in the opposite direction around the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20. Next, the band-binding protrusions 21 of the holder buckle 20 are folded onto the fastening band 10. According to these procedures, the band clip of the present invention can be simply bound around the pipe 30 in a one-touch operation.
In the drawings, the reference numbers 31 and designate a heat insulating lining and a heat insulating sheath, which cover the pipe 30, respectively.
In addition, FIGS. 10 to 12 illustrate another usage of the band clip of the present invention. That is, a portion of the fastening-insert end 11 of the fastening band 10, which is extended out of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, is cut from the remaining portion of the fastening band 10. The remaining portion of the fastening band 10 is finished using a separate tool, such as long nose pliers 40. That is, the remaining portion of the fastening band 10 is wound outside a band-winding protrusion 15 of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, as shown in FIG. 11. As an alternative, the remaining portion of the fastening band 10 is folded in the direction opposite the band insert sections 22, to be finished as shown in FIG. 12.
As mentioned above, the band clip of the present invention can be easily bound around the pipe 30 in a one-touch operation. That is, the fastening band 10 is simply placed against the holder buckle 20 and is then pulled in order to fixedly bind the band clip to the pipe 30. It is not necessary to perform the difficult task of inserting the fastening band 10 into a hole of the holder buckle 20. In addition, the configuration of the fastening band 10 is improved, so that the fastening band 10 can be easily inserted into the holder buckle 20.
The fastening band 10 has a fixing-folding end 14, which is fixedly coupled on a band fixing body of the holder buckle 20. At the other end of the fastening band 10, the insert guide section 12 is placed at a predetermined distance from the fastening-insert end 11, and is gradually curved inward. The band insert sections 22 are protruded upward from middle portions of side edges of the holder buckle 20, and are bent inward to define the slit in the middle thereof. Thus, the insert guide section 12 is not inserted into the band insert sections 22 as if inserted into a hole, but can be moved down through the slit in the middle of the band insert sections 22 and then pulled in the longitudinal direction.
That is, since the insert guide section 12 is gradually curved inward from a position that is on the order of 5 cm from the fastening-insert end 11, the insert guide section 12 can be easily moved down and pulled through the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20. In addition, the length of an end portion on the order of 5 cm is a suitable length for a worker to easily grasp the end portion or to wind the end portion with the long nose pliers 40 if necessary.
Buckle-fastening holes 16 are formed in the fixing-folding end 14 of the fastening band 10, on both sides of the band-winding protrusion 15, which protrudes to a predetermined height, and band-supporting protrusions 23 extend upward from two portions of a band-fixing body 24 of the holder buckle 20. The band-supporting protrusions 23 can be fitted into and fixedly pressed against the buckle-fastening holes 16, so that the fixing-folding end 14 of the fastening band 10 can be integrally engaged over the band-fixing body 24 of the holder buckle 20 in a correct and stable fashion. Thus, the fastening band 10 can be fixedly pressed against the holder buckle 20.
In particular, in the fastening band 10 of the present invention, a strength-enhancing protrusion 13 is preferably located in a central portion of the insert guide section 12, extending along the length of the fastening band 10. The strength-enhancing protrusion 13 may be formed by pressing the strip-shaped fastening band 10. With the strength-enhancing protrusion 13, the insert guide section 12 of the fastening band 10 can stably maintain a narrow shape, and can easily and correctly move through the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20.
The holder buckle 20 is fixedly pressed against the bottom of the fixing-folding end 14 of the fastening band 10, and the band insert sections 22, protruding from both side edges of a main portion of the holder buckle 20, are bent inward and shaped to define the slit so that the fastening-insert end 11 of the fastening band 10 can pass through the slit. The band-binding protrusions 21, protruding from the holder buckle 20 on both sides of an outer end thereof to a predetermined height, are bent inward onto the fastening band 10, which is passed through the band insert sections 22 and folded in the opposite direction, to fixedly press the fastening band 10.
In particular, the band-supporting protrusions 23 protruding from the two portions of the band-fixing body 24 of the holder buckle 20 are fitted into and fixedly pressed against the buckle-fastening holes 16. The band insert sections 22, protruding from both side edges of the main portion of the holder buckle 20, are bent inward to define the uniform slit in the middle of the band insert sections 22. The insert guide section 12 can pass through the slit of the band insert sections 22 while being inserted longitudinally and pulled laterally. The band insert sections 22 are preferably sloped at a predetermined angle so that the front end of the band insert sections 22, adjacent to the bend-binding protrusions 21, protrudes less than the rear end of the band insert sections 22, adjacent to the band-winding protrusion 15 of the fastening band 10.
That is, the front end of the band insert sections 22, adjacent to the bend-binding protrusions 21, forms a relatively lower gap, but the rear end of the band insert sections, adjacent to the band-winding protrusion 15 of the fastening band 10, forms a relatively higher gap. Thus, in a pipe binding process, the insert guide section 12 of the fastening band 10 easily passes through the front end of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, and in a state where the fastening band 10 has passed through the band insert sections 22 to a predetermined extent, the insert guide section 12 can be easily and correctly folded back around the rear end of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle.
In other words, in the holder buckle 20 of the band clip of the present invention, the band insert sections 22, protruding from both side edges of the main portion of the holder buckle 20 to a predetermined height and bent perpendicularly, have an inclined configuration owing to the different height between the front end and the rear end thereof, so that the fastening band 10 can be easily and stably fastened. In particular, the band-winding protrusion 15, having a predetermined height, is placed under the rear end, which protrudes higher than the front end of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, so that the same gap can be maintained in the rear end as in the front end. As the fastening band 10 is inserted through the front end and is pulled out through the rear end of the holder buckle 20, the fastening-insert end 11 of the fastening band 10 is directed upward due to the configuration of the band insert sections 22. Accordingly, the worker can grasp and fold back the fastening-insert end 11 of the fastening band 10 in the opposite direction around the rear end of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20.
Alternatively, the fastening band 10 can be cut relatively short using a separate tool such as the long nose pliers 40. Then, the remaining portion of the fastening band 10 can be wound around the band-winding protrusion 15 thereof instead of around the band-binding protrusions 21 of the holder buckle 20. The band-winding protrusion 15 of the fastening band 10 is aligned with the rear end of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, which is integrally coupled with the fastening band 10, to afford a better aesthetic appearance. This also allows the remaining end of the fastening band 10 to be more easily and correctly wound using the long nose pliers 40.

MODE FOR INVENTION

The present invention can be realized as a practical embodiment as shown in FIGS. 13 to 20, which afford a more improved structure. FIG. 13 illustrates a fastening band 10 corresponding to the major length portion of a band clip for binding the pipe of the present invention. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate deployed and erected states of the holder buckle 20 as a gripper of the band clip, and FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate a double-binding usage of the band clip of the present invention, in which the band clip is fastened around a pipe 30.
In the drawings, the reference numbers 31 and designate a heat insulating lining and a heat insulating sheath, which cover the pipe 30, respectively.
In the band clip according to the practical embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 16 to 20, a latch protrusion 17 protruding from one end of the fastening band 10 is caught a first time by one of the latch grooves 18 of a band body 19 of the fastening band 10 as the fastening band 10 passes through the holder buckle 20. When the fastening band 10 is pulled again in the opposite direction around band insert sections 22 protruding from the main portion of the holder buckle 20, the band body 19 can be fixed a second time by binding-fixing lugs 26 projecting inward from band-binding protrusions 21 at both edges of the holder buckle 20. Accordingly, the worker can manually fasten the band clip of the invention around the pipe 30 in a simple and stable fashion without having to use a separate tool.
That is, when fixedly fastening the band clip of the invention around the pipe 30, the fastening band 10 and the holder buckle 20 can be first bound with (or latched into) each other around the pipe 30 in a one-touch operation of merely pulling the fastening band 10 with respect to the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, without having to insert the fastening band 10 into the hole of the holder buckle 20. In the state where the first binding is enabled between the fastening band 10 and the holder buckle 20, when the band body 19 of the fastening band 10 is pulled in a direction opposite the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, the band body 19 of the fastening band 10 can be fixed a second time to both band-binding protrusions 21 of the holder buckle 20 in a simple fashion.
The fastening band 10 has a fixing-folding end 14 that is fixedly coupled to a band fixing body 24 of the holder buckle 20. At the other end of the fastening band 10, an insert guide section 12 is placed at a predetermined distance from a fastening-insert end 11, and is gradually curved inward. The band insert sections 22 protrude upward from middle portions of side edges of the holder buckle 20 and are bent inward to define the slit in the middle thereof. Thus, the insert guide section 12 is not inserted into the band insert sections 22 as if inserted into a hole, but can be moved down through the slit in the middle of the band insert sections 22 and can then be pulled in the longitudinal direction. That is, since the insert guide section 12 is gradually curved inward from a position on the order of 5 cm from the fastening-insert end 11, the insert guide section 12 can be easily moved down and pulled through the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20.
Buckle-fastening holes 16 are formed in the fixing-folding end 14 of the fastening band 10, on both sides of the band-winding protrusion 15, which protrudes to a predetermined height, and band-supporting protrusions 23 extend from two portions of a band-fixing body 24 of the holder buckle 20. The band-supporting protrusions 23 can be fitted into and fixedly pressed against the buckle-fastening holes 16, so that the fixing-folding end 14 of the fastening band 10 can be integrally engaged over the band-fixing body 24 of the holder buckle 20 in a correct and stable fashion. Thus, the fastening band 10 can be fixedly pressed against the holder buckle 20.
In particular, in the fastening band 10 of the present invention, a strength-enhancing protrusion 13 is preferably located in a central portion of the insert guide section 12 and extends along the length of the fastening band 10. The strength-enhancing protrusion 13 may be formed by pressing the strip-shaped fastening band 10. With the strength-enhancing protrusion 13, the insert guide section 12 of the fastening band 10 can stably maintain a narrow shape and be easily and correctly passed through the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20.
The latch grooves 18 are formed at a predetermined interval in a portion of the band body 19 adjacent to the insert guide section 12, and the latch protrusion 17 protrudes upward at a predetermined angle from the fixing-folding end 14, where the buckle-fastening hole 16 is formed, so as to latch into and be fixedly caught by one of the latch grooves 18. Accordingly, when the fastening band 10, fastened around the pipe 30, is pulled in the opposite direction around the holder buckle 20, the latch protrusion 17 of the fixing-folding end 14 can be latched and first fixed by the latch groove 18 of the band body 19. Therefore, it is structurally convenient and safe for the worker to perform the second process of binding the fastening band 10 around the pipe 30.
The holder buckle 20 is fixedly pressed against the bottom of the fixing-folding end 14 of the fastening band 10, and the band insert sections 22 protruding from both side edges of a main portion of the holder buckle 20 are bent inward and shaped to define the slit so that the fastening-insert end 11 of the fastening band 10 can pass through the slit. The band-binding protrusions 21 protruding from both sides of the outer end of the holder buckle 20 are bent inward onto the fastening band 10, which is passed through the band insert sections 22 and folded in the opposite direction, to fixedly press the fastening band 10. Furthermore, the binding-fixing lugs 26 are formed to project inward from the band-binding protrusions 21 at both edges of the holder buckle 20
In particular, the band-supporting protrusions 23 protruding from the two portions of the band-fixing body 24 of the holder buckle 20 are fitted into and fixedly pressed into the buckle-fastening holes 16. The band insert sections 22 protruding from both side edges of the main portion of the holder buckle 20 are bent inward to form the uniform slit in the middle of the band insert sections 22. The insert guide section 12 can pass through the slit of the band insert sections 22 while being inserted longitudinally and pulled laterally. The band insert sections 22 are preferably sloped at a predetermined angle so that the front end of the band insert sections 22, adjacent to the bend-binding protrusions 21, protrudes less than the rear end of the band insert sections 22, adjacent to the band-winding protrusion 15 of the fastening band 10.
That is, the front end of the band insert sections 22, adjacent to the bend-binding protrusions 21, forms a relatively lower gap, but the rear end of the band insert sections, adjacent to the band-winding protrusion 15 of the fastening band 10, forms a relatively higher gap. Thus, in a pipe binding process, the insert guide section 12 of the fastening band 10 easily passes through the front end of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle 20, and in a state where the fastening band 10 has passed through the band insert sections 22 to a predetermined extent, the insert guide section 12 can be easily and correctly folded back around the rear end of the band insert sections 22 of the holder buckle.
In other words, in the holder buckle 20 of the band clip of the present invention, the band insert sections 22 protruding from both side edges of the main portion of the holder buckle 20 to a predetermined height and bent perpendicularly have an inclined configuration owing to the different heights between the front end and the rear end thereof, and thus the fastening band 10 can be easily and stably fastened. At the same time, prior to the final binding of the pipe 30 by the latch protrusion 17 formed in the end of the fastening band 10 and the latch groove 18 formed in an intermediate portion, the fastening band 10 and the holder buckle 20 can be conveniently bound with each other a first time, thereby binding the pipe 30.
In a state where the first binding is enabled by the latch protrusion 17 and the latch groove 18 of the fastening band 10, the worker can pull again the fastening-insert end 11 of the fastening band 10 in the opposite direction around the band insert sections 22, thereby finally binding the fastening band 10 with the holder buckle 20. As the binding-fixing lugs 26 of the band-binding protrusions 21 of the holder buckle 20, projecting inward toward each other, are placed on sides of the band insert sections 22, the band body 19 of the fastening band 10 can additionally and securely maintain the second binding state without the use of a tool.
Similarly to conventional band clips, an unnecessary portion of the band body 19 of the fastening band 10, which is finally bound by the band-binding protrusions 21 of the holder buckle, can be clearly cut from the remaining portion of the band body 19 using a separate tool, such as long nose pliers, as shown in FIG. 3 e. In some cases, after the fastening band 10 is finally double bound, even though the unnecessary portion of the fastening band 10 may not be cut off, the band clip of the present invention can maintain a structurally simple and stable binding state for the pipe 30.
Preferably, in the present invention, the insert guide 12 of the fastening band 10 of the band clip is gradually curved inward onto the fastening-insert end 11, which is also terminated with a gradually curved portion, and the band-binding protrusions 21 of the holder buckle 20 are terminated with a curved portion. This can enhance structural stability in the grasping and folding actions of the worker. Furthermore, the inclined height of the band insert sections 22, which is not adopted in the conventional band clips, facilitates the insertion and/or the passage of the fastening band 20 while ensuring that the fastening band 10 is more easily and stably folded when pulled in the opposite direction.
Furthermore, in the fastening band 10 of the band clip of the present invention, the latch grooves 18 are formed in a plural number at a predetermined interval in the band body 19 adjacent to the insert guide 12, which is gradually curved inward. The latch grooves 18 are preferably D-shaped, so that they can easily receive but securely hold the upwardly-extending latch protrusion 17 of the fixing-folding end 14. Similar to the strength-enhancing protrusion 12 projecting from the center of the insert guide 12 of the fastening band 10, a strength-enhancing protrusion 25 is formed by pressing in each of the band insert sections 22, which extend upward from the middle portions of side edges of the holder buckle 20 to a predetermined height. The strength-enhancing protrusions 25 can structurally enhance the endurance of the band insert sections 22, which have an open or incised configuration and thus are apt to easily collapse compared to other components.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the band clip for binding a pipe of the present invention, as set forth above, the band clip includes the fastening band and the holder buckle, and the pipe can be bound safely and conveniently in a one-touch process of simply pulling the fastening band with a fastening portion gradually curved inward against protruding and opened insert sections of the holder buckle, without having to perform cumbersome and difficult actions of inserting the fastening band into a hole of the holder buckle, so that a process of binding the pipe can be carried out easily and safely even in hostile environments. Furthermore, the fastening band is first caught by the latch protrusion while passing through the holder buckle when fastened around the pipe, and is then caught again by the binding-fixing lugs, and thus can be double-bound to the holder buckle easily and stably without having to use a tool.

Claims

1. A band clip for a pipe, comprising:

a fastening band having a fastening-insert end, an insert guide section being connected to the fastening-insert end and being gradually curved inward, a fixing-folding end at an opposite end of the fastening-insert end, and a band-winding protrusion projecting from the fixing-folding end to a predetermined height; and

a holder buckle fixedly pressed against a bottom of the fixing-folding end of the fastening band, wherein the holder buckle has band insert sections protruding from both side edges of a main portion thereof and band-binding protrusions projecting from both sides of an outer end thereof to a predetermined height, the band insert sections bent inward to define a slit between the band insert sections to allow passage to the fastening-insert end of the fastening band, the band-binding protrusions bent inward onto the fastening band, the fastening band being passed through the band insert sections and folded in an opposite direction, thereby fixedly pressing the fastening band against the holder buckle.

2. The band clip according to claim 1, wherein the fastening band has buckle-fastening holes formed in the fixing-folding end thereof, on both sides of the band-winding protrusion, and

wherein the holder buckle has band-supporting protrusions projecting from a band-fixing body, the band-supporting protrusions fitting into the buckle-fastening holes of the fastening band, thereby integrally engaging the holder buckle with the fastening band.

3. The band clip according to claim 1, wherein the fastening band is further comprised of a strength-enhancing protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and located in a central portion of the insert guide, adjacent to the fastening-insert end.

4. The band clip according to claim 1, wherein the band insert sections of the holder buckle have an inclined configuration so that one portion adjacent to the band-winding protrusion of the fastening band protrudes higher than an opposite portion adjacent to the band-binding protrusions of the holder buckle.

5. A band clip for a pipe, comprising:

a fastening band having a band body, a fastening-insert end disposed at one end of the band body, an insert guide section being connected to the fastening-insert end and being gradually curved inward, a fixing-folding end disposed at an opposite end of the band body, a band-winding protrusion projecting from the fixing-folding end to a predetermined height, a latch protrusion projecting upward from a central portion of the fixing-folding end, and a plurality of latch grooves formed in a portion of the band body adjacent to the insert guide section to catch the latch protrusion, thereby first fixing the band clip; and

a holder buckle fixedly pressed against a bottom of the fixing-folding end of the fastening band,

wherein the holder buckle is comprised of band insert sections protruding from both side edges of a main portion thereof and being bent inward, band-binding protrusions projecting from both sides of an outer end thereof to a predetermined height, and

wherein binding-fixing lugs, each project inward from each of the band-binding protrusions in order to allow the band body of the fastening band, which is passed through the band insert sections, to be folded in an opposite direction, thereby second fixing the band clip.

6. The band clip according to claim 5, wherein the fastening band further comprising:

a strength-enhancing protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and being located in a central portion of the insert guide adjacent to the fastening-insert end,

wherein the latch grooves are D-shaped, receiving and securely holding the latch protrusion on the fixing-folding end.

7. The band clip according to claim 5, wherein the fastening band further comprises a strength-enhancing protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and located in a central portion of the insert guide adjacent to the fastening-insert end,

wherein the band insert sections of the holder buckle are sloped upward from the band-binding protrusions, each of the band insert sections having a strength-enhancing protrusion in a configuration similar to the strength-enhancing protrusion of the fastening band, the strength-enhancing protrusion of the band insert section formed by pressing and extending in a longitudinal direction of the band insert section.