WO2019238282A1

WO2019238282A1 - Conduit clip

Info

Publication number: WO2019238282A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/056351
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Ruddick; Stephen Bianchi
Original assignee: D-Line (Europe) Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-15
Filing date: 2019-03-13
Publication date: 2019-12-19
Also published as: GB2574671A; GB201809861D0

Abstract

A conduit clip (100) for securing a conduit for a surface, includes an attachment portion (102) having means for attaching the conduit clip to the surface; a conduit-restraining portion (104), wherein the conduit- restraining portion is bendable to form a conduit-restraining channel which is defined at least by the conduit-restraining portion and the attachment portion.

Description

CONDUIT CLIP

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a conduit clip for securing a conduit, pipe or cable to a surface such as a wall or ceiling.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known that cable conduits, and other similar types of piping often need to be secured to walls. At present, this is most often achieved by using saddles or cleats, which consist of a piece of metal which is bent to provide two flat or substantially flat sections, each having a hole formed therein, and a central section which is curved (usually elongated semi-circular) . In order to secure a conduit to a surface, the conduit must be held against the surface, the curved section of the saddle placed over it, and then secured to the wall by passing e.g. nails or screws through the holes in the flat sections. This requires that the conduit be in place inside the saddle during installation of the saddle, and therefore often can be a relatively difficult operation. Often the curved section is secured to the base at two points, with the base needing to be secured to the surface also so sometimes requiring total of three fixings to install a conduit, cable or pipe support. Furthermore, due to the presence of the flat sections of the saddle, which extend outwards from the ends of the curved section, these saddles are unsuitable for securing conduits in narrow spaces. Even in the case of saddles which have only a single flat section, these issues remain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly speaking, the present invention addresses the issues set out above by providing a conduit clip which can be secured to a wall or other surface before insertion of the conduit or cable.

Specifically, the present invention achieves this by providing a conduit clip for securing a conduit to a surface, the conduit clip including :

an attachment portion having means for attaching the conduit clip to the surface, and

a conduit-restraining portion,

wherein the conduit-restraining portion is bendable to form a conduit-restraining channel which is defined at least by the conduit-restraining portion and the attachment portion. In use, conduit clips of the present invention are secured to a surface such as a wall or a ceiling via the means for attaching.

Once the conduit clip is secured to the surface, the conduit may be held in place over the attachment portion, and the conduit

restraining portion may be then be wrapped around the conduit in order to hold it in place. The conduit is thereby contained within the conduit-restraining channel defined by the attachment portion at the surface-side, and the conduit-restraining portion in front. As will be evident, conduit clips according to the present invention are far easier to install than the known saddles, taking

approximately half as long to install.

The conduit-restraining portion is preferably rectangular or substantially rectangular, defining a longitudinal axis. The conduit-restraining portion is preferably at least twice as long (in the direction of the longitudinal axis) as the attachment portion. More preferably, the conduit-restraining portion is at least three times as long as the attachment portion.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the conduit restraining portion is preferably less resistant to bending than the attachment portion of the conduit clip. To achieve this, in some embodiments, the conduit-restraining portion may be narrower than the attachment portion, may be made of thinner material than the attachment portion, may be made of more flexible material than the attachment portion, or may have one or more holes formed therein, in order to reduce the total width of material at a given point along its length. The increased bendability of the attachment portion may be achieved in one or more of the ways outlined in the previous sentence. In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, the conduit-restraining portion includes a hole which is elongate in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the conduit restraining portion. Preferably, said hole is at least 50% as long as the conduit-receiving portion. More preferably, said hole is at least 60% as long as the conduit-receiving portion. More

preferably, said hole is at least 70% as long as the conduit receiving portion. More preferably, said hole is at least 80% as long as the conduit-receiving portion. More preferably, said hole is at least 90% as long as the conduit-receiving portion. By having a single, elongate hole, rather than a plurality of e.g. transverse holes, the conduit-restraining portion has the same bendability along the whole length of the hole. This means that the conduit restraining portion is able to bend smoothly along its whole length, to give a slicker finish, rather than to form a plurality of vertices. Such a hole is preferably at least 50% as wide as the conduit receiving portion. More preferably, the hole is at least 60% as wide as the conduit receiving portion. More preferably, the hole is at least 60% as wide as the conduit receiving portion.

More preferably, the hole is at least 70% as wide as the conduit receiving portion. More preferably, the hole is at least 80% as wide as the conduit receiving portion. More preferably, the hole is at least 90% as wide as the conduit receiving portion.

The conduit-restraining portion is preferably plastically

deformable, i.e. is capable of retaining its shape when bent to form the conduit-restraining channel .

The means for attaching the conduit clip to the surface is

preferably in the form of a hole formed in the attachment portion, through which a fastener such as a screw or nail can be secured.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the conduit clip further includes locking means for securing the conduit-restraining portion in place when it has been bent to form the conduit

restraining channel. In preferred embodiments, the locking means includes a locking tab and a corresponding slot, arranged to receive the locking tab when the conduit-restraining portion is bent to form the conduit-restraining channel. Specifically, the conduit clip may further include a locking portion having a locking tab, and the conduit restraining portion may include a slot configured to receive the locking tab. In such embodiments, the locking portion is preferably connected to a first end of the attachment portion, and the conduit-restraining portion is preferably connected to a second end of the attachment portion, the first end being opposite or substantially opposite from the second end. In alternative

embodiments, the locking portion may have the slot formed therein, and the conduit-restraining portion may include the tab. In particularly preferred embodiments, the conduit-restraining portion may include a plurality of slots. In this way, the conduit clip can be used to securely secure conduits or cables having a range of diameters. In some embodiments, the conduit-restraining portion may include two slots, three slots, four slots, five slots, six slots, seven slots, or eight or more slots.

In embodiments of the invention in which the locking means includes the locking tab and slot, the tab is preferably bendable into a position where it cannot be removed from the slot. In this way, the conduit-restraining channel formed by bending the conduit

restraining portion around the conduit may be secured closed, in order to prevent the conduit from escaping. In order to improve the ease with which the locking tab may be bent back, the locking portion or conduit-restraining portion (wherever the tab is located) may include a neck or narrow portion adjacent to the locking tab, facilitating easier bending.

The conduit clip of the present invention is preferably formed from a single piece of material. In other words, the conduit-restraining portion, the attachment portion and optionally, the locking portion are integrally formed with each other. The single piece of material is preferably a metal such as steel, preferably high-performance steel .

The conduit clip of the present invention is preferably provided in a partially assembled form. Specifically, one or both of the conduit-restraining portion and the locking portion are angled relative to the attachment portion. The plane of the conduit restraining portion is preferably angled at about 135°outwards, relative to the plane of the attachment portion. The same applies for the locking portion, but angled in the opposite direction. In alternative embodiments, the angle may take other values. For example, the angle may be 100° to 150° outwards, more preferably 110° to 145°, and most preferably 120° to 140°.

In some embodiments of the present invention, there may be an intermediate curved portion between the planar (or substantially planar) conduit-receiving portion and the attachment portion, and/or between the locking portion and the attachment portion. Such intermediate curved portions may curve inwards before extending outwards into the plane of the locking portion or conduit

restraining portion. Put differently a plane defined by a distal portion of the conduit-restraining portion may be at an obtuse angle, e.g. about 135°, relative to a plane defined by the

attachment portion, and optionally a proximal portion of the conduit-restraining portion which is directly adjacent to the attachment portion may be at an acute angle, e.g. about 45°, relative to a plane defined by the attachment portion. And,

similarly, a plane defined by a distal portion of the locking portion may be at an obtuse angle relative to a plane defined by the attachment portion, and optionally a proximal portion of the locking portion which is directly adjacent to the attachment portion may be at an acute angle with a plane defined by the attachment portion.

The inward curving portions thus formed give rise to a narrowed portion of the conduit-restraining channel when it is formed by bending the conduit-restraining portion around a conduit, in use.

In preferred embodiments, the inward curving portions each form a seat on which the conduit rests. In other words, when the conduit it is in place, the inward curving portions cause it to be spaced from the inner surface of the attachment portion by, for example, around 3 mm. The narrowed neck portion also helps to pinch the conduit in order to keep it still, thus enabling it to be held in place while the conduit-restraining portion is being wrapped around the conduit .

Further optional features of the invention are set out below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows a conduit clip.

- Figs. 2A to 2F show a series of installation steps for the

conduit clip.

- Figs. 3A and 3B show closer views of the fully installed

conduit clip.

- Fig. 4 shows an adjustable conduit clip having a plurality of fixing positions.

- Figs. 5A to 5C show a series of installation steps for the

adjustable conduit of Fig. 4.

- Figs. 6A and 6B show possible dimensions of the fixing

positions .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows an example of a conduit clip 100, according to the present invention, in a configuration in which it is not bent around a conduit. The conduit clip 100 includes, broadly, attachment portion 102, conduit-restraining portion 104, and locking portion 106, which are formed integrally with each other from a single piece of high-performance steel. Attachment portion 102 includes a substantially square shaped portion of material having formed therein an elongate hole 108, through which a fastener such as a nail or a screw may be inserted. The attachment portion 102 has a width of 15mm, and the elongated hole has a diameter of 5.7mm.

Conduit-restraining portion 104 is connected to end 102b of

attachment portion 102. At the proximal end 104a of the conduit restraining portion 104 is curved portion 110. The part of inwardly curving portion 110 which is closest to end 102b of attachment portion 102b forms an acute angle with the plane defined by the attachment portion 102. The conduit-restraining portion 104 then opens out into the planar rectangular portion 111 which in this example is 50 mm long and 20 mm wide. The angle which this portion 111 makes with the plane defined by the attachment portion 102 is obtuse to aid insertion of a conduit into the clip 100. An elongate hole 114 is formed within the conduit-restraining portion 104. The hole 114 means that the conduit restraining portion 104 is easier to bend around a conduit. A transverse slot 119 is formed at the distal end 104b of the conduit-restraining portion 104, the purpose of which is discussed in more detail later.

Locking portion 106 is connected to end 102a of attachment portion 102. At its proximal end 106b, the locking portion 106 includes a curved portion 112, which forms an acute angle with the plane defined by the attachment portion 102. Locking portion 106 then opens out into the substantially planar portion 113, the plane of which is at an obtuse angle relative to the plane defined by the attachment portion 102. As before, this aids insertion of a conduit into the clip 100. Locking portion 106 includes at its distal end 106b a locking tab 118, which in the example shown, is 12 mm in width. At the centre of the locking portion 106 there is a narrowed portion or neck 120. In the same way as the elongate hole 114 increases the ease with which the conduit-restraining portion 104 may be bent, the neck 120 means that the locking tab 118 can more easily be bent back on itself.

Figs. 2A to 2F illustrate the installation of the clip 100. In Fig. 2A, the clip 100 is shown as it would appear when secured to the wall or other surface. In Fig. 2B the conduit 200 is placed inside the clip 100, and in Fig. 2C conduit-restraining portion 104 is wrapped around the conduit 200. In Fig. 2D, the slot 119 in the conduit-restraining portion 104 passes over the locking tab 118. Then, in Fig. 2E, with the locking tab 118 passed through the slot 119, the locking tab 118 is bent downwards into the position shown in Fig. 2F such that the conduit-restraining portion 104 and the attachment portion 102 define a conduit restraining-channel 122, which is locked shut. Figs. 3A and 3B show closer views of the arrangement of Fig. 2F. In particular, these illustrate how the conduit 200 rests on the seats formed by the curved portions 110 and 112, in order to achieve the clearance 124. Figs. 3A and 3B differ only in the material from which the conduit 200 is made, and highlight the neat resulting configuration. Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of an adjustable conduit clip according to the present invention, demonstrating the four possible fixing positions. Figs. 5A to 5C show the clip in use, and Figs. 6A and 6B show examples of the dimensions which the clip can take. The structure is similar to those of the previous drawings and so won't be described in detail again here. The presence of a plurality of slots on the conduit-restraining portion giving far greater

versatility represents a great advantage over the single-slot version .

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All references referred to above are hereby incorporated by

reference .

Claims

1. A conduit clip for securing a conduit, pipe or cable to a

surface, the conduit clip including:

an attachment portion having means for attaching the conduit clip to the surface;

a conduit-restraining portion,

wherein the conduit-restraining portion is bendable to form a conduit-restraining channel which is defined at least by the conduit-restraining portion and the attachment portion.

2. The conduit clip of claim 1, wherein the conduit-restraining portion is less resistant to bending than the attachment portion .

3. The conduit clip of claim 2, wherein:

the conduit-restraining portion is narrower than the attachment portion;

the conduit-restraining portion is made of thinner material than the attachment portion;

the conduit-restraining portion is made of more flexible material than the attachment portion; and/or

the conduit-restraining portion has one or more holes formed therein.

4. The conduit clip of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the conduit restraining portion includes a hole which is elongate in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the conduit-restraining portion .

5. The conduit clip of claim 4 wherein the elongate hole is at least 50% as long as the conduit-restraining portion.

6. The conduit clip of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the elongate hole is at least 50% as wide as the conduit-restraining portion .

7. The conduit clip of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the

conduit-restraining portion is plastically deformable.

8. The conduit clip of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the

means for attach the conduit clip to a surface is a hole formed in the attachment portion, through which a fastener can be secured.

9. The conduit clip of any one of claims 1 to 8, further

including locking means arranged to secure the conduit

restraining portion in place when it has been bent to form the conduit-restraining channel .

10. The conduit clip of claim 9, wherein the locking means includes a locking tab and a corresponding slot, arranged to receive the locking tab when the conduit restraining portion is bent to form the conduit-restraining channel.

11. The conduit clip of claim 10, further including a locking portion including the tab, and wherein the conduit-restraining portion includes a slot configured to receive the locking tab.

12. The conduit clip of claim 11, wherein the conduit

restraining portion includes a plurality of slots each

configured to receive the locking tab.

13. The conduit clip of claim 12, wherein the plurality of slots includes three or more slots.

14. The conduit clip of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the locking portion is connected to a first end of the attachment portion, and the conduit-restraining portion is connected to a second end of the attachment portion, the first end being opposite from the second end.

15. The conduit clip of any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the locking portion includes a neck, which is narrower than the locking tab.

16. The conduit clip of any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the locking portion, attachment portion, and conduit

restraining portion are integrally formed.

17. The conduit clip of any one of claims 1 to 16, the

conduit clip being formed from a single piece of material.

18. The conduit clip of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the conduit clip is formed from metal.

19. The conduit clip of claim 18, wherein the metal is steel.

20. The conduit clip of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein a plane defined by a distal portion of the conduit-restraining portion is at an obtuse angle relative to a plane defined by the attachment portion.

21. The conduit clip of any one of claim 20, wherein a

proximal portion of the conduit-restraining portion which is directly adjacent to the attachment portion is at an acute angle with a plane defined by the attachment portion. #

22. The conduit clip of any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein a plane defined by a distal portion of the locking portion is at an obtuse angle relative to a plane defined by the attachment portion .

23. The conduit clip of any one of claim 22, wherein a

proximal portion of the locking portion which is directly adjacent to the attachment portion is at an acute angle with a plane defined by the attachment portion.