WO1989004428A1

WO1989004428A1 - A device intended for attachment to the outer surface of a cylindrical object

Info

Publication number: WO1989004428A1
Application number: PCT/SE1988/000600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pauli Vuorenmaa
Original assignee: Pauli Vuorenmaa
Priority date: 1987-11-05
Filing date: 1988-11-07
Publication date: 1989-05-18
Also published as: US5046695A; FI902203A0; EP0408553A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which is intended to be fitted to the external surfaces of a cylindrical object (2). The device comprises an internal tubular member (3) and an external tubular member (4), each of which has a respective axially extending opening (5 and 6) for the passage of the cylindrical object (2). The internal member (3) has a conically narrowing peripheral surface (7) and an inner surface whose shape coincides approximately with the peripheral surface of the cylindrical object (2). The external member (4) has a corresponding, conically shaped inner surface (8). By displacing the two members (3, 4) axially in relation to one another, the device will be firmly clamped onto the cylindrical object (2). The device can be used to clamp cloth or fabric (1) to a tubular stand or like frame structure (2). The device can also comprise suspension means and/or connecting means, such as hooks and lugs.

Description

A device intended for attachment to the outer surface of a cylindrical object

The present invention relates to a device intended for attachment to the outer surface of a cylindrical object in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1.

5 There is often found a need to secure articles to and/or hang articles on tubular or rod-like cylindrical objects. The word cylindrical as used here shall be interpreted in its widest meaning, and can be understood to refer to any configuration from triangular, square and pentagonal to a

• ^~ multi-sided, circular-cylindrical, elliptical, pear-shaped or irregular shape. In the case of leisure boats for instan¬ ce, it is sometimes desired to attach articles to the pul¬ pit of the boat or vessel, or to the guard rail supports or stanchions attached thereto. This applies to both the hori- 5 zontal and vertical parts of the pulpite and also to other parts thereof. For instance, it is sometimes desired to attach to the pulpit a flag pole holder. Similarly, there is a need in shops which sell wearing apparel to attach ele¬ ments to tubular stands from which clothes, garments, etc. 0 are normally hung. It is also necessary to be able to con¬ nect the tubular members of tubular stands and like struc¬ tures together when erecting such stands.

To such ends there have been proposed fastener devices which 5 include a conical sleeve or socket which is locked firmly with the aid of conical wedge .means. One drawback with fastener device of this kind is that the sleeve must be fitted from one end of the rod or tubular member, which is not always possible or desirable. Consequently, in order to ° enable attachements to be fitted from one side of the rod or tubular member, there have been proposed devices in which the sleeves are provided with an axially extending side opening and a screw for clamping the sleeve in position. One drawback with devices of this kind is that they are unneces¬ sarily bulky and the outwardly projecting screws present obstacles on which things can be caught and snagged. Fur- thermore, such clamping screws will either afford a poor attachment, with the risk of the sleeve sliding along the rod or tubular member, or will dig into the rod or tubular member and cause indents, scratches and/or outwardly projec¬ ting burrs thereon, which cannot always be accepted.

Other examples of areas in which it may be desired to attach articles to rod-like or tubular supports include road works, building work and the winter storage of leisure boats, where it is. sometimes desired to attach a tarpaulin to the tubular members of the tarpaulin support frame. At present, the eye¬ lets provided along the sides of the tarpaulin are used to this end. This method, however, leaves large areas of the tarpaulin unsecured and does not enable the tarpaulin to be tensioned satisfactorily, and consequently large surface areas of the tarpaulin are left free to move under the influence of wind. When the wind blows, the tarpaulin will thus bulge inwardly and outwardly within the confines of its attachment points, in other words a given point on the tar¬ paulin is able to move through some distance before being brought to a halt. The larger the free surface area, the longer the aforesaid distance and the greater the braking force on the tarpaulin, i.e. the higher the stresses genera¬ ted on the eyelets and the tarpaulin material.

Consequently, constructions have been proposed which lack the provision of eyelets and which enable the tarpaulin to be stretched more rigidly so as to leave much smaller, free¬ ly movable surfaces and therewith reduce the wear and tear on the tarpaulin fabric. CH 599 7^7 teaches an attachment device made of an elastic or resilient material and intended for attaching fabric cloth to a cylindrical rod. This known device comprises two mutually opposing legs and an interme¬ diate web, said legs having a springiness which allows the legs to be forced apart and to spring back when said force is removed. The device is intended to be forced down over a fabric cloth and an underlying rod, so as to peg the cloth to the rod. Located on the web of the device is a ring which facilitates removal of the device and which enables the device to be secured with a cord, for instance on an anchor¬ ing element mounted on one end of the rod.

One drawback with this known fastener device is that its fastening ability is limited by the elasticity of the device and the fastener is readily dislodged when subjected to powerful forces, e.g. strong winds. Furthermore, the known fastener device cannot be used to anchor a fabric drape stand with the aid of bracing wires. Such wires have a ten¬ dency to pull the fastener devices loose when subjected to tension. The known fastener device is also made of a poly¬ meric material. All polymeric materials tend to age to a greater or lesser extent with time, and will sooner or later lose their mechanical strength, so as to break or loosen under very small tension forces or strain.

It is also known to secure a fabric cloth, by cauUing the cloth firmly in a channel or groove with the aid of some suitable matter or elongated rubber strips. An examp¬ le of this method is found described and illustrated in DE 2 5^7 599, which teaches a hollow profile of round or triangu¬ lar cross-section which has an axially extending opening into which two edges of a cloth are intended to be inserted and there caulked securely with the aid of an elastic or resilient member, e.g. a soft rubber profile, such as to produce a joint connection.

0ne drawback with fastener devices of this kind is that the task of caulking the rubber profile or like means into said channel is both time consuming and difficult to achieve, inter alia because it must be inserted along the whole length of the channel. Removal of the rubber profile or like means from the channel, for the purpose of detaching the fastener device, can also be difficult and may even be hazardous to the cloth. This drawback is particularly mani¬ fest when the profile has aged and begun to disintegrate.

One object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved device of the aforementioned kind which is intended to be applied externally to a cylindrical object, which is not encumbered with the aforesaid drawbacks, which can be fitted and removed quickly and easily, which has an uncom¬ plicated construction and can be readily manufactured at low costs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fabric cloth fastening device which will enable the cloth to be secured realiably to a cylindrical object and to remain se- cured even when the cloth or the actual device is subjected to strong tension forces, and which will ensure reliable attachment of the cloth after a long period of use, irre¬ spective of any aging of the polymeric material from which the device is made. A further object in this respect is to provide a fastener device which can be removed from the cylindrical object with fabric material seated thereon, without risk of damage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener device for securing, e.g., a fabric cloth to a tubular stand, said device also including means for attaching bra¬ cing wires'- to such a cloth-draped stand.

These objects are achieved by means of the device according to the invention having the characterizing features set forth in the characterizing clause of the main claim. When securing fabric cloth, for instance a tarpaulin, with the aid of the inventive device, it is possible to clamp firmly any part of the tarpaulin whatsoever along,- for instance, a tubular member, therewith obviating the depen- dency on attachment at those locations at which the perma¬ nent eyelets are situated. Similarly, the device can be used as an eyelet, which can also be placed at any selected posi¬ tion on the tarpaulin and equally as easily detached there¬ from and moved to another location on the tarpaulin. When the inventive device is used as an eyelet, the rod-like mem¬ ber or tubular member used in conjunction therewith will suitably have a length which is adapted to the length of the internal and external tubular part.

A fastener device constructed in accordance with the inven¬ tion and having an outer metal part and an inner part made of a polymeric material will provide positive attach¬ ment, even should the polymeric material age and crack or likewise disintegrate, while still enabling the device to be readily dismantled without risk of damage.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a number of non-limiting exemplifying embodi¬ ments thereof and with reference to the accompanying draw- ings, in which

Figure 1 illustrates an inventive device clamped firmly around a cloth and a circular-cylindrical object;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive device;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 3, taken on the line A-A; Figure 5 is an alternative embodiment of the device, which includes a hook for hanging purposes; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 5, taken on the line B-B;

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively two views of two mutually connected outer, tubular parts in accordance with the inven- tion, these parts together forming a tie or cross coupling for tubular stands for example;

Figure 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive device intended for attachment to the external surfaces of a square object; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device illustra¬ ted in Figure 9, taken on the line C-C; and

Figure 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment intended for attachment to a wall structure.

A device intended for securing fabric cloth 1 securely to the outer surfaces of a circular-cylindrical object 2 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The fastener device comprises an internal, tubular part 3 and an external, tubular part -i, the longitudinally extending openings 5 and 6 of each of which extend along the whole length of respective tubular members 3, 4. The inter¬ nal tubular member 3 has a conical peripheral surface 7 and an inner diameter which coincides approximately with the outer diameter of the cylindrical object 2. The outer tubu- lar part 4 has a conical inner surface 8, the conicity of which coincides approximately with the conicity of the peri¬ pheral surface 7 of the internal tubular member. The fabric cloth 1 can be clamped firmly between the internal tubular member 3 and the cylindrical object 2, by relative axial displacement of the external and internal tubular members 4 and 3 respectively.

The members 3, ** can be loosened one from the other, and therewith also the fabric cloth 1, by moving the tubular members relative to one another in the opposite direction. The internal tubular member 3 is preferably made of an elas¬ tic or resilient material which exhibits a high degree of friction, for instance rubber or a soft plastics material. The external tubular member 4, on the other hand, should be rigid so as not to gape excessively when in its clamping position, and may be made, for instance, of metal or plastics material. In order to prevent relative displacement of the tubular members 3, 4 in their clamping positions, the exter¬ nal tubular member 4 may be provided with a hole 12 through which a locking pin 13 can be inserted. The length of the locking pin 13 will be sufficient to enable the pin to enter the internal tubular member 3 and therewith lock the members 3, 4 together. The opening 6 in the external tubular member 6 will suitably have a width 9 which is at least equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical object 2. This will enable the external tubular member 4 to be fitted over the cylindrical object 2 at any location whatsoever therealong, therewith obviating the need of fitting said member from one end of the object 2. This will afford an obvious advantage when the cylindrical object 2 concerned is a long tube form¬ ing part of a tubular stand and having its ends connected to other stand components.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the internal and external tubu- lar members 3 and 4 of the inventive device can be provided with connecting means 15 effective to prevent said members from becoming separating from one another when not in use. The length of this connecting means will be such as to en¬ able the members 3, 4 to be moved apart to an extent which will enable said members to be detached from or clamped firmly around the cloth 1 and the cylindrical object 2. This connecting means 15 may, for instance, be a length of cord which is attached at one end to the external tubular member 4 and at its other end to the internal tubular member 3. An alternative embodiment of the inventive device is illu¬ strated in Figures 3 and 4. In the case of this embodiment, the peripheral surface 7 of the internal tubular member 3 is provided with sawteeth-like serrations 10. The conical inner

5 surface 8 of the external tubular member 4 is similarly pro¬ vided with sawteeth-like serrations 11 which co-act with the serrations 10 in a manner to lock the members 3 and 4 when occupying their clamping position. The external tubular mem¬ ber 4 is also provided with a lug 14 to which, for instance,

10 a tarpaulin cord can be fastened. This enables the inventive device to be used for bracing purposes or as an eyelet, and the device can be readily moved to any selected location on the tarpaulin. In this case, the cylindrical object 2 should be somewhat longer than the internal tubular member 3.

15

In the case of the Figure 3 embodiment, the external tubular member 4 is also provided with ridges 16, which are effec¬ tive in stiffening the member 4 so as to render it more difficult for the member to gape when clamped firmly around

20 the internal member 3, i.e. so that the opening in said mem¬ ber 4 cannot be widened. These ridges or ribs 16 also serve to enhance the grip when manipulating the external member for clamping purposes or to separate the members 3 and 4. As will be seen from Figure 4, the edges of the opening 5 of

25 the internal member 3 are advantageously rounded so as to reduce possible damage to the cloth.

As an alternative method of manufacture, the internal and external tubular members 3 and 4 may be cast from a plastics

30 material, and then preferably from mutually different plas¬ tics material, so that said members will obtain mutually different properties, as earlier mentioned. The members 3 and 4 may be cast or moulded so as to form the connecting means 15 simultaneously therebetween. The internal tubular

35member 3 may also be moulded in a manner such as to obtain greater elastic properties in the region thereof located nearest the cloth 1 and more rigid properties in the region thereof nearest the external tubular member 4, or may be produced from two mutually different materials having mutu¬ ally different degrees of hardness on the outside and in- 5 side.

The angle formed by the mutually locking surfaces of an inventive device with the surface of the tubular or rod-like object is of great significance. The most suitable angle can

10 vary in dependence on the composition of the material in the external and the internal tubular members. When the external tubular part is made of metal and the inner tubular part is made of plastics, e.g. polyurethane, particularly favourable clamping conditions are obtained at an angle of 2.5^*-3.5^*,

15 especially about 3^*. At an angle of 2^* or less, it is dif¬ ficult to separate one member from the other when wishing to remove the device. At an angle of 4.0^* or tbereabove, the two members will loosen readily from one another and it then becomes necessary to provide the members with barbs 10,

20 11, in the manner illustrated in Figure 3.

The inventive device has the following modus operandi. When wishing to secure a cloth 1 onto a cylindrical object 2, the internal tubular member 3 is first fitted over the cloth 1,

•25 which in turn surrounds the cylindrical object 2, by widen¬ ing the opening 5 of the member 3. The external tubular mem¬ ber 4 is then fitted over the cloth 1, and the cylindrical object 2, through the agency of the opening 6 in said member 4. The external member is fitted at a location remote

30 from the internal tubular member 3. The external tubular member 4 is then moved towards and over the internal tubular member 3, until desired clamping of the cloth 1 is achieved. The members 3 and 4 can then be locked together with the aid of a locking pin 13, or alternatively such locking is achie-

35 ved automatically, optionally with the aid of the serrations 10 and 11. The reverse procedure is undertaken when wishing to loosen or remove the device. 10

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the use of the inventive device for securing elements to a cylindrical object without simul¬ taneously clamping a fabric cloth thereto. Similarly to the aforedescribed device, the device of Figures 5 and 6 inclu-

5 des an internal tubular member 3 and an external tubular member 4. The difference in this case is that the external tubular member 4 of the Figure 5 and 6 embodiment is provi¬ ded with a hook 17 on which different objects can be hung. In this case, the hook 17 is a separate part which is atta-

10 ched to the external tubular member 4 by means of a screw 18. The screw extends through the hook 17 and is screwed into a hole in the outer tubular member 4. The depth of the hole and the screw 18 may have a length such as to ensure that the screw will enter the internal tubular member 3 and

15 therewith lock the external and internal tubular members 3, 4 together. Naturally, the book 17 may, instead, be an inte¬ gral part of the outer tubular member 4, in a manner similar to the lug 14 of the Figure 3 embodiment.

20 The hook can be replaced with other attachment devices, for example a lamp bracket, a flower pot holder, a lug, a U-sha¬ ped or ring-shaped support bracket for, e.g., a clothes rod etc. The clothes rod will then rest in the ϋ or is inserted into the ring. In order to prevent the clothes rod from sli-

25 ding in its axial direction, the rod can be locked with the aid of a screw which passes through the U or the ring and then into the rod. Alternatively, the U or the ring can be provided with a vertically extending wall which forms a rod stop located slightly within the U or the ring.

30

As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, a further external tubu¬ lar member ^'4b can be attached to the external tubular member 4a, instead of the hook 17. The two tubular members 4a, 4b can be bolted or welded together, or mutually secured in

35 some other suitable manner, at a suitable angle from 0" to 360^°. In use, each external tubular member will be provided with a respective internal tubular member 3, in the afore- described manner. It is thereby possible, for instance, to construct tubular stands and frame structures with the aid of said tubular members, these members forming cross-tie connections between the various tubes of the stand. These couplings can be used, for instance, in the erection of clothes racks in shops and the like, erection of scaffolding and the like.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a device which is adapted for attachment to an elongated object 2c of square cross sec¬ tion. Naturally, in this case the internal and external tubular members 3c, 4c will also have a square cross-sectio¬ nal shape. The external tubular part 4c may be provided with an attachment plate 19 provided with holes 20 in which other elements can be attached. Similarly to the proceeding embo¬ diments, the internal tubular part 3c has wedge-shaped axially extending section surfaces and the inner surface of the external tubular member will subtend the same angle with its longitudinal axis as the outer surface of the internal tubu¬ lar member subtends with its longitudinal axis.

In each of the aforedescribed embodiments, the longitudinal¬ ly extending openings or slots 5, 6 of the internal and external tubular members 3, 4 coincide. When the device is used for suspension means and not for clamping a cloth to an elongated object, the parts 3, 4 may, however, be positioned in any desired manner relatively to one another, for instan¬ cesuchthat the side opposite the opening 5 ofthe internalmember 3will cover the opening 6 of the external member 4.

The inventive device may also be used as a suspension fit¬ ting for, e.g., mounting a pipe onto a wall, in the manner illustrated in Figure 11. In this case, the external tubular mernber 3 is provided with an attachment plate 19 and the internal tubular member 4 is fitted so as to cover the ope- ning 6. The internal member will suitably comprise a hard plastic material or will be made of a metal which is more elastic or more readily deformed than the external member 4, so that it can be knocked into a locking position while pre- ferably being bent simultaneously to a certain extent in order to obtain an increased embracing angle. The part of the external member 4 located opposite the opening 6 may be provided with an inwardly projecting shoulder 21, in the manner shown in broken lines, having an axial-parallel in- wardly turned surface intended to form an abutment surface for a rod or a tube 2 attached to the wall-mounted device.

In the aforegoing, devices have been described which are intended for attachment to a circular-cylindrical object or an object of square cross-section. It will be understood, however, that the cross-sectional shape of the object may equally as well be triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal and up to multi-sided cross-sections, and also of irregular cylind¬ rical shape. All that is required in such cases is to adapt the shape of the internal and the external tubular members to the cross-sectional shape of the object concerned. For instance, the inventive device can even be used with diffe¬ rent types of beams, such as I-beams and U-beams, and for different profile shapes extruded in aluminium.

Neither is it necessary in the case of an internal tubular member having a cornered cross-sectional shape, for instance a square shape, for all four sides of the component to have wedge-shaped longitudinal section surfaces. If desired, only one side, for instance, may be given a wedge-shaped cross- sectional surface while the remaining sides have rectangular cross-sectional surfaces. Of course, this will impair the gripping action against the tubular or rod-like object. In the case of an inventive device provided with an attachment plate 19, the distance between the object 2 and the abutment surface of the attachment plate 19 will be constant and pre- cisely defined when the parts of the members 3, 4 located nearest the plate are rectangular, i.e. axially parallel with the cylindrical object 2.

Similarly, a screw or bolt can be used instead of the lock¬ ing pin 13. If a bolt is used, it may be necessary to provi¬ de the internal tubular member 3 with a hole. The provision of a hole is not necessary when using the locking pin 13 or the screw, since these elements are so pointed as to be self-penetrating into the internal tubular member 3.

Claims

1. A device intended to be fitted externally to a tubular or rod-like cylindrical object (2, 2c) and having a longitudi¬ nally extending opening through which the cylindrical object can be inserted or removed, characterized in that the device comprises an internal tubular member (3, 3c) and an external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) both of which are provided with a longitudinally extending opening (5 and 6 respecti¬ vely) which extend along the whole length of respective mem¬ ber (3, 3c; 4, 4a, 4b, 4c); in that the internal tubular member (3, 3c) has an outer peripheral surface (7) whose circum¬ ference decreases in one longitudinal direction of said member, and an internal surface whose shape corresponds at least approximately to the shape of the cylindrical object (2, 2c); and in that the outer tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) has an internal surface (8) whose circum erence decreases correspondingly in the longitudinal direction of said member at those parts thereof which are intended for abutment with said outer peripheral surface (7) j said mem¬ bers (3, 3c; 4, 4a, 4b, 4c) being intended to be fitted over said cylindrical object (2, 2c) and then displaced axially relative to one another, the inner surface of the internal member (3, 3c) in the combined position of said members being pressed lockingly against the cylindrical object (2, 2c) and optionally against a cloth (1) located on the out- side of said object.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the outer peripheral surface (7) of the internal tubular member (3, 3c) and corresponding parts of the inner surface (8) of the external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) intended for abut¬ ment with said peripheral surface (7) taper conically or pyramidally along at least a part of its periphery and/or length and therewith form a given angle with the peripheral surface or geometric centre axis of the cylindrical object (2, 2c), said angle preferably lying within the range of 2"-4", particularly within the range 2.5^*-3.5^*, and especi¬ ally about 3^*.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal tubular member (3, 3c) is made of an elastic material.

4. A device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the axial opening (6) of the external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) has a width (9) which is at least equally as large as the smallest width of the cylindrical object (2, 2c).

5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, cha¬ racterized in that the peripheral surface (7) of the inter¬ nal tubular member (3, 3c) has saw-tooth serrations (10); and in that the inner surface (8) of the external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) is provided with barbs or saw-tooth serrations (11) which co-act with the firstmentioned serra¬ tions (10) so as to mutually lock the two members in one longitudinal direction when the two members (3, 3c, 4, 4a, 4b, 4c) are in contact with one another.

6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, cha¬ racterized in that the external tubular member (4) is provi¬ ded with a through-passing hole (12) into which a locking pin (13) can be inserted to an extent such that the pin (13) will protrude into the internal tubular member (3, 3c), said members (3, 3c, 4, 4a, 4b, 4c) being therewith mutually locked in their respective fastening positions.

7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, cha- racterized in that the external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b,

4c) has at least one attachment means, such as a lug (14), a hook (17) or an attachment plate (19) for instance, from which or to which lines and/or other articles can be hung or attached, and/or by m.eans of which the device can be secured.

8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, cha¬ racterized in that the external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) and the internal tubular member (3, 3c) are mutually connected by means of a flexible connecting means (15).

9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, cha¬ racterized in that two external tubular members (4a, 4b) are mutually connected to form a coupling intended for use when coupling together two tubular or rod-like cylindrical objects (2, 2c) .

10. Use of the device according to one or more of Claims 1-9 for securing a cloth (1) over a stand or frame structure constructed from cylindrical objects (2, 2c) or for provi¬ ding an attachment point or suspension point for said cloth, without needing to form boles in said cloth, characterized in that the cloth is placed against a cylindrical object (2, 2c), optionally forming part of a stand or frame structure, and caused to partially embrace said cylindrical object; in that the internal tubular member (3, 3c) and the external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) are fitted over the cloth (1) and the cylindrical object (2, 2c), the narrower end of the internal tubular member (3, 3c) being directed towards the wider end opening of the external tubular member (4, 4a, 4b, 4c); and in that the tubular members are displaced axially in relation to one another until, when brought together, they are lockingly pressed one against the other and therewith locklngly press the cloth (1) against the cylindrical object (2, 2c).