WO2008140300A1

WO2008140300A1 - Pipe clip

Info

Publication number: WO2008140300A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/000114
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Van Walraven
Original assignee: Starquick International Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-11
Filing date: 2008-04-28
Publication date: 2008-11-20
Also published as: NL1033834C2; EP2158424A1

Abstract

A pipe clip (1) for the attachment of a pipe or similar to a supporting surface (8) comprises a base part (2) designed to attach the pipe clip to the supporting surface. The base part bears two pivoting connecting portions (6) located at a distance from each other and with substantially parallel pivoting axes. Each of the pivoting connection portions connects a clip segment (4,5) of the pipe clip to the base at a distance from the end (42, 52) of the relevant clip segment. The end of the clip segments remote from the base plate are provided with closure members (44, 54) to connect the ends of the clip segments when the pipe clip is closed. An interspace (7) is present between the ends of the clip segments closest to the base plate. An open cavity (21) is provided in the base part, which is open on the side facing the clip segments and which is defined by a circumferential wall (22) and bottom (23) opposite the open side. An opening (24) is provided in the bottom of the cavity to pass through a fastening element to attach the pipe clip to the supporting surface, which fastening element is located in the barrel of a nail firing gun.

Description

Pipe clip.

The invention relates to a pipe clip for the attachment of a pipe or similar to a supporting surface, comprising a base part designed to attach the pipe clip to the supporting surface, said base part bearing two pivoting connecting parts located at a distance from each other with substantially parallel pivoting axes, wherein each of the pivoting connecting parts connects a clip segment of the pipe clip to the base part, wherein the ends of the clip segments remote from the base part are provided with closure members to connect said ends of the clip segments when the pipe clip is closed, and wherein an interspace is present between the ends of the clip segments closest to the base part.

A pipe clip of this type is known. CH 598528, filed in the name of EgIi Fischer, shows such a plastic pipe clip, wherein on inserting a pipe between the pipe clip segments the pressure exerted by the pipe on the ends of the pipe segments closest to the base part and the leverage action in relation to the pivoting connecting parts swivel the ends provided with closure members towards each other so that they can be connected to each other. A wide variety of pipe clips of this type are available on the market.

In the past pipe clips of this type were usually attached by a screw or similar to a wall or supporting surface. To this end the base part was provided with an opening to run through the screw. It is known that pipe clips are now also attached to a supporting surface using a nail firing gun, also referred to as a gas nailer or nail gun, whereby a nail or other pin-shaped fastening element is fired through the opening in the pipe clip's base part into the supporting surface using, for example, gas pressure.

A pipe clip is known which is manufactured by the Apolo Company and marketed under the Abranyl® Trak brand name. This known pipe clip is adapted for attachment using a nail firing gun. To this end a plate in the base part is provided with a fastening opening and the ends of the clip segments closest to the base are provided with a recess which forms a forward-facing open admission gap, where the barrel of the nail firing gun is slid into by making a sideways movement, i.e. in an axial direction. Sliding the barrel sideways into the clip pushes the clip segments apart to create space to place the barrel perpendicularly on the plate with the fastening opening. Next the base part is placed against the supporting surface and a nail or similar is fired through the base part using gas pressure.

The invention intends to provide an alternative for the aforementioned type of pipe clip. According to the invention this objective is achieved by a pipe clip according to the preamble of claim 1 , characterized in that an open cavity is provided in the base part, which is open on the side facing the clip segments and which is defined by a circumferential wall and a bottom opposite the open side, wherein an opening is provided in the bottom of the cavity to pass through a fastening element to attach the pipe clip to the supporting surface, which fastening element is located in the barrel of a nail firing gun, wherein the cavity is configured to accommodate the barrel of the nail firing gun such that the circumferential wall surrounds the barrel.

According to the invention, in use the barrel, or at least an end portion thereof, is inserted through the clip segments from above and into the cavity. The pipe clip is then placed against the supporting surface and the fastening element is fired through the opening in the base part into the supporting surface whereby the pipe clip is fixedly attached to the support surface. Since the circumferential wall surrounds the barrel this guarantees that the fastening element is fired perpendicularly or virtually perpendicularly into the supporting surface.

The circumferential wall preferably engages the barrel in a clamping manner. A certain degree of resistance is encountered on withdrawing the barrel from the cavity as a result of the clamping action on the barrel. This resistance results in a tensile force on the pipe clip that is substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface and which advantageously enables the fitter to immediately determine whether the fastening to the supporting surface is sufficiently sturdy. In another preferred embodiment the inner surface of the cavity's circumferential wall is provided with a ring-shaped projection so as to engage the barrel of the nail firing gun in a clamping manner. This clamping action advantageously enables the fitter to immediately determine whether the fastening to the supporting surface is sufficiently sturdy.

The invention is explained in more detail on the basis of the following drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of a pipe clip in an open and unloaded state,

Fig. 2 is a front view of the pipe clip in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 is a top view of the pipe clip in Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a side view of the pipe clip in Fig. 1 , Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the pipe clip in Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is the same view in cross-section as in Fig. 4, wherein the barrel of a nail firing gun is inserted in the pipe clip.

Fig. 1-7 show a pipe clip 1 which in a preferred embodiment is manufactured from plastic using injection-moulding. The pipe clip 1 has a base part 2 with a bottom face 27 that can be placed on a supporting surface 8, for example a wall. Two upright arms 3 are provided on base part 2 on the side opposite the bottom face 27. The ends of the upright arms 3 remote from the base plate 2 are each connected to a clip segment 4 and 5 respectively by means of a pivoting connection 6. The pivoting connections 6 each define a pivoting axis for the clip segments 4 and 5 respectively, which pivoting axes are substantially parallel to the axial direction of the pipe or tube to be inserted in the pipe clip. Consequently in Fig. 2 the pivoting axes are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

Clip segments 4 and 5 each have an end 41 and 51 respectively closer to the base part 2 and an end 42 and 52 respectively remote from the base plate 2. Clip segments 4 and 5 respectively have a contact surface 43 and 53 respectively for the pipe (not shown) that is part of a cylindrical surface. The hinge connections 6 are located at a distance from the ends 41 and 51 respectively closer to the base part. The ends 42 and 52 remote from the base part 2 are each provided with closure members, in particular hook members 44 and 54 respectively, which on closing the pipe clip 1 around a pipe engage in each other to connect the clip segments 4 and 5 to each other and thereby hold the pipe clip closed around the pipe. Obviously it is very well possible to make use of closure members of types other than the type shown here.

An interspace 7 is present between the ends 41 and 51. The embodiment show here has an interspace 7 that is in part formed by circle-segment shaped recesses 71 in the ends 41 , 51 of the clip segments 4, 5. These recesses 71 are introduced to provide space for the barrel of a nail firing gun such as a gas gun or nail gun as explained later. The circle-segment shape is symmetrical to a plane designated with A-A in Fig. 3 that is perpendicular to the axial direction and, when viewed from an axial direction, extends through the centre of pipe clip 1. This recess can also have a shape other than a circle segment. However, the recess is preferably shaped such that the barrel of the nail firing gun is enclosed in the transverse direction to an extent that prevents the barrel from slipping sideways or adopting an inclined position with respect to the base surface 27. However, it is conceivable that pipe clips, in particular, which are suitable for pipes of larger diameters are not provided with recesses 71 since the interspace 7 is then large enough to permit typical nail firing gun barrels to pass through in the absence of the recesses 71.

The base part 2 is provided with a cavity 21 which is open towards the clip segments 4, 5, which cavity is defined by a circumferential wall 22 and a bottom 23 opposite the open side of the cavity 21. A fastening opening 24 is provided in the bottom 23 of the cavity 21 to run through the fastening element. The fastening opening 24 offers the possibility of attaching pipe clip 1 to a supporting surface 8, for example a wall. In the embodiment shown here the opening 24 is in the form of a slot. The cavity 21 is designed to accommodate the end portion of a barrel 10 of a nail firing gun. The circumferential wall 22 then preferably engages the barrel 10 of the nail firing gun in a clamping manner by means of a ring-shaped projection 25 on the inner surface of the circumferal wall 22. Particular preference is given to a design wherein the circle-arc shaped edges of the recesses 71 in the end parts 41, 51 are adapted to engage the barrel 10 of the nail firing gun in a clamping manner, or in any case surround the barrel 10 with a small clearance. The barrel 10 is then aligned by the edges of the recesses 71 and the circumferential wall 22 of the cavity 21 , which advantageously guarantees that the barrel 10 is substantially perpendicular to the bottom face 27 and the supporting surface 8 and thereby prevents the fastening element from being fired into the supporting surface 8 at an angle and, possibly, rebounding from the supporting surface 8.

In the open and unloaded state the closure members 44, 54 provided on the ends 42, 52 of the clip segments 4 and 5 are located at a distance from each other such that the barrel 10 of the nail firing gun can be inserted between them. If so required, when the interspace between the ends 42, 52 is insufficient to allow the barrel 10 pass through, it is also possible to push the barrel 10 downwards through the said ends 42, 52 so as to push the relevant ends 42, 52 apart and enlarge the interspace.

In the embodiment shown here the front and rear sides of the base part 2 are provided with slots 26 to accommodate the flanges of a C-shaped channel. In addition, coupling members 28 can be provided in the sides of the base plate 2 to install a number of pipe clips 1 alongside each other and couple them together. The advantage of the embodiment of the pipe clip 1 shown here is that it is suitable for universal applications. For example, the pipe clip 1 can be attached to a supporting surface 8 in a 'conventional' manner using a screw passed through the slot-shaped opening 24 and fixed into a supporting surface 8. The slot shape of the opening 24 helps position the pipe clip 1 relative to the screw. However, and as described above, the pipe clip 1 is designed for fastening using a fastening element, for example a nail, that is fired through the opening 24 into the supporting surface 8 using a nail firing gun. In addition, the pipe clip 1 can also be slid onto a channel rail. It is also possible to use an adapter described in EP 1229282 that is coupled to the base plate 2 by passing a type of bayonet-coupling structure through the opening 24 to mount the pipe clip 1 on a C-shaped channel. Moreover, a number of pipe clips 1 can be linked together using the coupling members 28.

Pipe clip 1 is advantageously placed with the bottom face 27 of the base part 2 on a substantially horizontal surface, after which the fitter inserts the barrel 10 of the nail firing gun from above the pipe clip 1 between the clip segments 4 and 5 and into the cavity 21. In contrast to Apolo's known Abranyl® Trak pipe clip, whereby the fitter slides the barrel into the clip from the side, the fitter does not need to hold the pipe clip 1 to fit it onto the barrel 10. Consequently this invention enables the fitter to continue to hold the relatively heavy nail firing gun with both hands, thereby providing easier handling of the tool. Once the pipe clip 1 has been fitted to the barrel 10 the fitter can use the nail firing gun to position the bottom face 27 against the supporting surface 8 and attach the pipe clip 1. The clamping action ensures that the recoil of the barrel 10 will not cause it to jump out of the cavity 22. Next, the barrel 10 can be pulled out of the cavity 22. Since the circumferential wall 22 and, in particular, the projection 25 engages the barrel 10 in a clamping manner the fitter encounters a resistance that results in tensile force on the pipe clip 1 and the attachment. This immediately enables the fitter to determine whether the pipe clip has successfully been attached to the supporting surface 8.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A pipe clip for the attachment of a pipe or similar to a supporting surface, comprising a base part designed to attach the pipe clip to the supporting surface, said base part bearing two pivoting connecting parts located at a distance from each other with substantially parallel pivoting axes, wherein each of the pivoting connecting parts connects a clip segment of the pipe clip to the base part, wherein the ends of the clip segments remote from the base part are provided with closure members to connect said ends of the clip segments when the pipe clip is closed, and wherein an interspace is present between the ends of the clip segments closest to the base part, characterised in that an open cavity is provided in the base part, which is open on the side facing the clip segments and which is defined by a circumferential wall and a bottom opposite the open side, wherein an opening is provided in the bottom of the cavity to pass through a fastening element to attach the pipe clip to the supporting surface, which fastening element is located in the barrel of a nail firing gun, wherein the cavity is configured to accommodate the barrel of the nail firing gun such that the circumferential wall surrounds the barrel.

2. A pipe clip according to claim 1 , wherein in the open and unloaded state said interspace between the ends of the clip segments closest to the base part is of a distance sufficient to insert the barrel of the nail firing gun from the top of the pipe clip and insert it in the cavity in the base part.

3. A pipe clip according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in an open and unloaded state the distance between said ends of the clip segments provided with the closure members is sufficient to allow the barrel of a nail firing gun to pass through between them.

4. A pipe clip according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of said interspace between the ends of the clip segments closest to the base part is formed by recesses provided in the ends of the clip segments closest to the base part.

5. A pipe clip according to claim 4, wherein said recesses in the end of the clip segments closest to the base part are symmetrical with respect to a plane which extends perpendicular to the axial direction and, when viewed from an axial direction, through the centre of the pipe clip.

6. A pipe clip according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each of said recesses has a circle- segment shape.

7. A pipe clip according to claims 4-6, wherein the edges of said recesses are designed to engage the barrel of the nail firing gun in a clamping manner.

8. A pipe clip according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity in the base part is shaped such that the circumferential wall of the cavity engages the barrel of the nail firing gun in a clamping manner when said barrel is accommodated within the cavity.

9. A pipe clip according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner surface of said cavity's circumferential wall is provided with a ring-shaped projection so as to engage the barrel of the nail firing gun in a clamping manner.

10. A pipe clip according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said opening to pass through a fastening element is slot-shaped.

11. A pipe clip according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said base part is provided with slots to accommodate the flanges of a C-shaped channel.

12. A pipe clip according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe clip is made in one piece of plastic, for example, by injection-moulding.