Attachment device for elongate objects

An attachment device including an anchoring unit having at least two gripping members ( 9, 22, 37 ) and a receiving member ( 10, 26, 35 ) with openings ( 14, 28, 36 ) for guiding the gripping members ( 9, 22, 37 ), a mounting rail ( 2, 20 ) with a mounting opening ( 3 ) limited on its opposite sides by longitudinal walls ( 4 ), with the longitudinal walls ( 4 ) being provided on its adjacent to each other sides with retaining projections ( 5, 21, 40 ) that are engaged, in a locking position of the device, at least partially by corresponding gripping members ( 9, 22, 37 ) in a directions transverse to a longitudinal direction of the mounting rail ( 2 ); and a bolt ( 7, 33 ) for connecting an attachable object to the anchoring unit ( 1 ).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of an attachment device according to the present invention, which is shown i FIGS. 1 - 3 , includes an anchoring unit 1 having at least two, movable relative to each other and preloaded against each other, gripping members 9 . The anchoring unit 1 further includes a mounting rail 2 having a mounting opening 3 limited, on its opposite sides, by longitudinal walls 4 . The longitudinal walls 4 have, on their adjacent inner sides, retaining projections 5 . The retaining projections 5 are engaged from behind, in the locking position E, shown in FIG. 2 , at least partially by respective gripping members 9 of the anchoring unit 1 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction L of the mounting rail 2 . For securing an object (not shown), the anchoring unit 1 has a bolt 7 with an outer thread 7 a which is connected with a receiving member 10 having a plurality of openings 14 through which the gripping members 9 are extendable. The receiving member 10 has a U-shaped cross-section with the legs being formed by two anchoring walls 11 which extend parallel to the retaining projections 5 and abut the same in the locking position E. The gripping members 9 are L-shaped and are connected with each other by a U-shaped spring stirrup 12 . To insure an easy insertion of the receiving member 10 into the mounting opening 3 , the gripping members 9 have each a guide ramp 13 . The gripping member 9 has, in the region of its gripping finger 9 a, a V-shape, as particularly shown in FIG. 3 . The V-shaped formation increases stiffness of the gripping member 9 and, in particular, of its gripping finger 9 a, on one hand, and, on the other hand, the V-shaped formation provides edges that cooperate with a mating toothing 16 provided on the retaining projections 5 . Another embodiment of the attachment device according to the present invention, which is shown in FIGS. 4 - 5 , includes a mounting rail 20 provided with retaining projections 21 which are engaged from behind by gripping members 22 in the locking position E. The attachment device, which is shown in FIGS. 4 - 5 , is formed as an angular attachment device. The device includes two anchoring units 23 , 24 connected with each other by an angular element 25 . The gripping members 22 are preloaded against each other by a spring member 27 , as particularly shown in FIG. 5 . The gripping members 22 are guided by a receiving member 26 . The gripping members 22 extend through openings 28 in the receiving member 26 and extend with their webs 30 in the recesses 29 in the receiving member 26 . The foregoing elements provide for a hinged connection of the gripping members 22 with the receiving member 26 . The receiving member 26 has further an inner thread 31 on its side adjacent to the angular element 25 . The angular element 25 has a through-bore 32 for receiving a bolt 33 with a head 34 . The bolt 33 has an outer thread corresponding to the inner thread 31 of the receiving member 26 . The bolt head 34 serves as a torque transmitting element for securing the inventive attachment device. For a preliminary attachment, a spring member 34 a is provided between the head 34 and the angular element 25 . A third embodiment of the attachment device according to the present invention which is shown in FIGS. 6 - 8 , includes a receiving member 35 and two gripping members 37 extending through the openings 36 formed in the receiving member 35 . The two gripping members 37 cross each other about a common axle 38 about which the gripping members 37 pivot relative to each other. A torsional spring 39 , which is supported on the axle 38 , preload the gripping members 37 against each other in the direction of retaining projections 40 , as shown in FIG. 7 . FIG. 8 shows the gripping member 37 having toothing 41 in its region that engages the retaining projection 40 . In the locking position E, the region with the toothing 41 engages from behind the retaining projection 40 . The toothing 40 increases the holding value of the attachment device as the toothing 41 increases friction between the retaining projection 40 and the gripping member 37 . In its center, the gripping member 37 has a through-opening 42 through which a bolt 43 , which is secured on the receiving member 35 , extends. Though the present invention was shown and described with references to the preferred embodiments, such are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not be construed as a limitation thereof, and various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, not intended that the present invention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present invention includes all variations and/or alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.