Plastic pipe clip

A plastic pipe clip includes a slitted annular body having a through slit to allow receiving a pipe in the annular body. The pipe clip includes pair of mounting flanges integrally formed on the annular body on an opposite side of the annular body as the side where the slit is located. The mounting flanges each having a support surface and at least one mounting hole adapted to mount the pipe clip to a support structure. The mounting flanges are arranged and configured to be pinched together so as to open the slit on the opposite side of the annular body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to plastic pipe clips. In particular it relates to pipe clips comprising a slitted annular body having a through slit to allow receiving a pipe in the annular body and a pair of mounting flanges integrally formed on the annular body. The mounting flanges each have a support surface and at least one mounting hole adapted to mount the pipe clip to a support structure, such as a stub-out bar as is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,791 B2. Pipe clips of this type are for example known as Holdrite® suspension clamp series and Holdrite® standard clamp series. The flanges on these Holdrite® clips are formed adjacent the slit in the annular body. A disadvantage of these known pipe clips is that a user needs two hands to open them to be able to arrange the pipe clip on the pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention relates to a plastic pipe clip comprising a slitted annular body having a through slit to allow receiving a pipe in the annular body, and a pair of mounting flanges integrally formed on the annular body on an opposite side of the annular body as the side where the slit is located, the mounting flanges each having a support surface and at least one mounting hole adapted to mount the pipe clip to a support structure. The mounting flanges are arranged and configured to be pinched together so as to open the slit on the opposite side of the annular body. The flanges can be pinched by one hand. Therefore the pipe clip according to this aspect of the invention allows a single handed installation by the user on the pipe. This is contrary to the pipe clips known from the prior art mentioned above. The pipe clips according to this aspect of the invention thus provide a more convenient installation compared to the known pipe clips.

In a possible embodiment of the pipe clip a hinging zone is formed in the annular body between the flanges. This hinging zone may facilitate the opening of the pipe clip such that the pipe clip can more easily be installed on the pipe single handed.

In a possible embodiment the flanges are formed as ears extending from the annular body. These ears provide a sufficient length and thus lever which allows an easier pinching together of the flanges and thereby opening of the pipe clip upon installation on a pipe.

In a possible further embodiment the annular body has opposite axial ends and the support surface of the mounting flanges lies in the same plane as one of the axial ends of the annular body. Thus said one of the axial ends and the support surface of the flanges can be arranged against a common plane surface of a structural member such as profiled section elements or beams.

In a possible embodiment a second pair of mounting flanges is integrally formed on the annular body on either side adjacent the slit and extending from the annular body, the mounting flanges of the second pair each having a support surface and at least one mounting hole adapted to mount the pipe clip to a support structure, wherein the flanges of the second pair have a support surface which is perpendicular to a support surface of the flanges on the opposite side of the annular body. The second pair of mounting flanges makes the pipe clip more versatile to use. The pipe clip can be used to either install pipes that run perpendicular to the plane of the surface where the flanges of the first pair are mounted to, or to install pipes parallel to the plane of the surface the flanges of the second pair are mounted to.

In a possible embodiment the flanges of the second pair and the annular body define an omega shape seen in a front view in the axial direction of the annular body.

In a possible embodiment the annular body has a closure mechanism adapted to maintain the annular body closed at the slit. This may in particular facilitate maintaining the annular pipe clip body closed in an embodiment of the pipe clip that does not have the second pair of flanges, or in the event that the pipe clip does have the second pair of flanges, but these flanges ore not mounted to a mounting structure such as a profiled section element. The closure mechanism may comprise snap connection members or may comprise a hook closure.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a plastic pipe clip comprising a slitted annular body having a through slit to allow receiving a pipe in the annular body. The plastic pipe clip according to this aspect furthermore comprises a pair of first mounting flanges integrally formed on the annular body on an opposite side of the annular body as where the slit is located, and a pair of second mounting flanges integrally formed on the annular body flanking the slit and extending from the annular body, the first mounting flanges having mounting holes adapted to mount the pipe clip to a support structure, the second mounting flanges having mounting holes adapted to mount the pipe clip to a support structure. The first flanges have respective first support surfaces to be positioned against a support structure and the second flanges have respective second support surfaces to be positioned against a support structure, wherein the first support surfaces define a first plane and the second support surfaces define a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are perpendicular to each other. The first and second mounting flanges make the pipe clip versatile to use. The pipe clip can be used to install pipes that run perpendicular to the plane of the surface where the second flanges are mounted to, or the pipe clip can be used to install pipes parallel to the plane of the surface the first flanges are mounted to.

In a practical embodiment the second flanges and the annular body may define an omega shape seen in a front view in the axial direction of the annular body and the first flanges may be formed as ears extending from the annular body.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a plastic pipe clip comprising a slitted annular body having a through slit to allow receiving a pipe in the annular body, and a pair of mounting flanges integrally formed on the annular body, the mounting flanges each having a support surface and at least one mounting hole adapted to mount the pipe clip to a support structure. The pipe clip according to this aspect furthermore comprises a separate annular insert part adapted to be inserted in the annular body and having a through slit to receive a pipe in the annular insert part. The annular body has axial grooves on a radially inner side thereof, said grooves extending in an axial direction of the annular body, and the insert part has axial splines on a radially outer side adapted to be received in the grooves. The configuration of a pipe clip and an insert part allows the use of one clip body which may be used for a certain pipe diameter, and which may be combined with an insert adapted for use with a pipe of a smaller diameter. There may be several insert parts with different inner diameters available for combination with the annular clip body, to make the pipe clip suitable for different pipe diameters.

In a possible further embodiment according to this aspect of the invention the splines and the grooves have a dovetail shape. This allows an interlocking coupling in the radial direction of the annular clip body, whereas the insert part can be inserted in the axial direction of the annular clip body if necessary.

In a possible further embodiment according to this aspect of the inventions the annular insert part and the annular body have a locking formation to interlock the insert part and the annular body in an axial direction when the insert part is inserted in the annular body. The interlocking formation secures the insert part in the annular clip body in the axial direction whereby the insert part and the interlocking formation can be handled as a unit without the risk that the insert is lost during installation works. The respective locking formations of the insert part and the annular body may be formed diametrically opposite the respective slits of the insert part and the annular body.

The different aspects of the invention mentioned in the above may also be combined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG. 1a plastic pipe clip1is shown, which pipe clip1may be made by injection moulding or another suitable forming process. The pipe clip1includes an annular clip body2which has a generally circular cross section. A longitudinal through slit3is formed in the annular body2, wherein the longitudinal slit3extends from one axial end to the other axial end of the annular body2. The annular clip body2is at least partially flexible such that it can be bent open to open the longitudinal slit3.

The pipe clip1furthermore has two flanges4formed in one piece with the annular body2and extending therefrom. The flanges4are formed as ears. The flanges4each have two mounting holes5through which fastening elements such as screws can pass. The flanges4have a support surface6which is on the rear side in the view ofFIG. 1. The support surface6is flush with one of the head ends of the annular body2, such that the support surfaces6and the head end can rest against a flat surface of a support structure and fixed thereto by screws or other fastening means.

The pipe clip2is of a symmetric design in that it has a plane of symmetry that extends through the slit3and through a centre axis of the annular body2. The flanges4are arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry and on an opposite side of the annular body2than where the slit3is located. This design makes it possible to pinch the flanges4together, whereby a portion2A of the annular clip body2located between the flanges4and opposite the slit3is elastically deformed and serves as a hinge portion and whereby the slit3is spread open so as to allow insertion of a pipe in the clip body2in the transverse direction of the pipe. The elongate ear shape of the flanges4increase the lever arm for pinching the flanges together, thereby facilitating that the flanges4may be pinched together by one hand only. The opening of the pipe clip to arrange it over a pipe by pinching the flanges4is somewhat comparable to the working of a clothes-peg or clothes-pin.

The inner surface2B of the annular clip body2is smooth. However this inner surface may be provided with a rough surface or with ribs or the like to enhance the grip of the pipe clip1on the pipe. The annular clip body2has an inner diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the pipe it is intended for.

InFIGS. 2-5another embodiment of a plastic pipe clip according to the invention is shown. This pipe clip, indicated by reference numeral11, includes an annular clip body12. In analogy with the embodiment ofFIG. 1it has a longitudinal through slit13formed in the annular body12. The annular clip body12is at least partially flexible to be able to open the longitudinal through slit13.

Furthermore, the pipe clip11has a pair of first flanges14which in location and shape are similar to the flanges4of the pipe clip1ofFIG. 1, i.e. the first flanges14are arranged on an opposite side of the clip body12than the location of the slit13and are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry28that extends through the slit13and which is indicated inFIG. 4by a dashed line. The flanges14have a support surface16which is shown in the view ofFIGS. 3-5. The support surface16is flush with one of the head ends19of the annular body12, such that the support surfaces16and the head end19can rest against a flat surface of a support structure and fixed thereto by screws or other fastening means.

The flanges14have mounting holes15; in the particular embodiment shown in the figures each flange14has a pair of holes15. The mounting holes15can be used to pass a screw or other suitable fastening element through to fix the pipe clip11to a support structure (cf.FIG. 6).

A difference with the embodiment ofFIG. 1is that the pipe clip ofFIGS. 2-5has a pair of second flanges17. These second flanges17extend in a tangential direction of the annular clip body12at the location of the slit13. Thus, in other words, the second flanges17are connected to the annular body adjacent the slit13and extend in a tangential direction away from the slit13. The second flanges17and the annular clip body12are furthermore connected by a web18which provides rigidity to the pipe clip11. A support surface20of the web18lies flush with the head end19of the annular clip body12and the support surface16of the first flanges14as is best visible inFIG. 3. The second flanges17have a support surface21(cf.FIG. 6) which is facing away from the annular clip body12. The support surface21of the second flanges17is perpendicular to the support surface20of the web18and the support surface16of the first flanges14as is best visible inFIG. 3. A mounting hole29is formed in each one of the second flanges17.

InFIGS. 2 and 3is shown that the pipe clip11includes an annular insert22. The annular insert22is a separate part which may be assembled with the annular clip body12. The annular insert22may be made of the same material as the annular clip body12, but may also be made of a different material, e.g. a material providing a better grip or having better vibration insulating properties. The material must at least flexible such that the annular insert22is conveniently elastically deformable.

The annular insert22has a through slit24. The annular insert22is at least partially flexible such that the insert22can be deformed and the slit24can be widened such that the insert22can be arranged over a pipe just like the clip body12. The annular insert22can be inserted in the axial direction in the annular clip body12. The annular insert part22is formed with longitudinal splines23distributed over the outer surface of the insert part22. The splines23have a dovetail shape, seen in cross section. The annular clip body12has complementary grooves25, thus also having a dovetail shape. InFIG. 4the pipe clip11is shown without the insert part22. In this figure the grooves25are visible and indicated. The splines23can be inserted in the grooves25from one head end of the pipe clip11. The assembled state is shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The pipe clip11can be used with an insert part22to hold a pipe having a smaller diameter. When the insert22is omitted the pipe clip11can be used to hold a pipe with a larger diameter. The configuration of the pipe clip11and an insert part22allows the use of one clip body12which may be used for a certain pipe diameter, and which may be combined with an insert part22adapted for use with a pipe of a smaller diameter. There may be several insert parts22with different inner diameters available for combination with the annular clip body12, to make the pipe clip suitable for different pipe diameters.

InFIGS. 4 and 5the pipe clip11is shown in which the insert part22is omitted. As is illustrated inFIG. 5the flanges14can be pinched together, whereby a portion12A of the annular clip body12located between the flanges14and opposite the slit13is deformed and serves as a hinge portion and whereby the slit13is spread open (indicated by reference numeral13′) so as to allow insertion of a pipe in the clip body2in the transverse direction of the pipe. The opening of the pipe clip11to arrange it over a pipe by pinching the flanges14is comparable to the working of a clothes-peg or clothes-pin. In that regard the first flanges14preferably have a sufficient length to provide a sufficient lever arm facilitating the single handed operation of the pipe clip11during installation on a pipe.

The slit24in the insert part22may be aligned with the slit13in the annular clip body12as is shown inFIG. 8. In such a configuration the pipe clip11including the insert22may be opened as a cloth-pin or cloth-peg by pinching the first flanges14together, as is described in the above in relation toFIG. 5. This allows the pipe clip11including the insert22to be placed on a pipe. Although not shown in the figures, the insert part22may also have a hinging line opposite the slit24to make the spreading of the slits24and13easier during installation.

Another option is to misalign the slit24in the insert part22and the slit13in the annular clip body12as is shown inFIG. 9. In this configuration the insert part22and the annular clip body12may be arranged transversely over the pipe separately after which they are assembled by inserting the insert22in the annular clip body12in the axial direction. In this configuration the insert part22functions as a locking means to maintain the annular clip body12closed around the pipe.

The insert part22is provided on an outer surface with a locking member and the annular clip body12is provided with a locking member on the radial inner surface to cooperate with the locking member of the insert part22to interlock the insert and the annular clip body12in the axial direction. In a particular embodiment, the inner side of the annular clip body12is provided with a small ramp26from either head end towards the centre, seen in axial direction. In the mentioned axial centre an intermediate space is formed between the ramps26. The insert part22has a transverse ridge in the middle extending in the tangential direction between two splines23. The ridge moves over one of the ramps26when the insert part22is inserted in the annular clip body12until it reaches the axial centre portion, which is when the insert part22is fully inserted in the annular clip body12. When it reaches the axial centre portion it snaps into the intermediate space between the two ramps26and the insert22is locked in the annular clip body12. The pipe clip11including the insert22can now be handled as a unit to arrange it around a pipe and mount it to a support structure. The ramps26only have a moderate height such that if necessary, the insert part22may still be removed from the annular clip body12.

FIG. 6shows a pipe clip11in which the insert part22is omitted. The pipe clip11is arranged around a pipe30. The pipe clip11is mounted to a structural element31having holes32in a wall portion33thereof. The support surfaces16of the flanges14are arranged against the wall portion33and for fastening the pipe clip11to the structural element31, a screw34, for example a self-tapping screw34, is passed through one of the holes15in the flange and screwed into one of the holes32in the wall portion33. Both flanges14are fastened to the structural element31in this way.

FIG. 7illustrates another way to mount the pipe clip11to a structural element35. The second flanges17are placed with their support surface21on a wall portion37of the structural element35and are mounted thereto by means of screws38passing through the mounting holes29in the flanges17. The screws38may be self-tapping screws, which are screwed in small screw holes39in the wall portion37of the structural element35.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate that the pipe clip11can be used in a versatile way to fasten a pipe30in a variety of ways to structural members. Even if the flanges14may not be used to fasten the pipe clip11to the structural member as is shown inFIG. 7, they may advantageously be used as pinching means to open the slit13(cf.FIG. 5) to allow placement of the pipe clip11on the pipe30. The advantage is that by the flanges14, and also the flanges4in the embodiment ofFIG. 1, the pipe clip1and11, respectively, may be opened by using one hand only and then be placed on the pipe30.

On the head end surface19of the annular clip body12a number of studs40,40A,41,42is formed, which studs40,40A,41,42are distributed over the circumference, as is illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 10. The embodiment of the pipe clip shown inFIG. 3has six round studs40, whereas the embodiment ofFIG. 10has four round studs40and two studs40A with an oblong shape.

InFIGS. 11-13is illustrated how the studs40,40A,41,42may aid in fixing the pipe clip11in a sturdy manner to a structural member31or44. InFIG. 11is shown how the pipe clip11is fastened to the structural member31as is also shown inFIG. 6. Visible inFIG. 11is that the pipe clip11, which is fixed by the first flanges14to a wall portion33, rests with the studs40A and42on the edge of the structural member between the wall portion33and another perpendicularly adjoining wall portion. These studs40A and42resting on the edge provide additional support for the pipe. Moreover the studs40A and42assure that the annular clip body is not deformed at the hinge portion12A and the pipe clip11is difficult to open when mounted.

In the example ofFIGS. 12 and 13is illustrated how the pipe clip11is attached to a flat wall of a structural member44, wherein the annular clip body12is positioned in front of a hole45in the wall. The studs40A rest on the edge of the hole45as is visible inFIG. 13. Which provides additional support for the pipe received in the pipe clips11and also resists spreading apart of the clip halves.

InFIG. 14is shown a further embodiment of the pipe clip11as is shown inFIG. 3. In this embodiment the annular clip body12has a hook closure46at the slit13, which hook closure46is encircled inFIG. 14. The hook closure46may be closed in a snapping manner and maintains the annular clip body12closed after the clip body is arranged around the pipe. Thus even if the pipe clip11is attached to a structural part by means of the flanges14, the annular clip body12is firmly held in a closed position by the hook closure46.

The plastic pipe clips1and11may be made from several suitable plastics materials, such as a polypropylene (PP) or a polyamide (PA). Preferably an injection moulding process is used to manufacture the pipe clips in large numbers. The insert parts22may be made of the same material as the annular clip body, but may also be made of a material with a different, desired property. It may for example be made of a better vibration insulating material than the clip body12is made of.