CLAMPING DEVICE

Abstract: A clamping device which may be used as a clothes peg. The device comprises two portions (12 and 14) which have hubs (18) joined together to form the device. The portions have ribs (20) and peaks (22) which face one another and the portions (12 and 14) define a peripheral space S about the device. The ribs (20) and peaks (22) assist in gripping clothing (50) when the clothing is clamped to a line (100) by the device.

Description: » - 1 - CLAMPING DEVICE 5 This invention relates to a clamping device and in particular, but not exclusively to a clothes peg for clamping clothes to a clothes line. Many different varieties of clamping type clothes pegs have been proposed. However, most if not all of those 10 clothes pegs require the clothes peg to be oriented in a particular manner in order to clamp washing to a clothes line. That is, the clothes pegs normally have a clamping portion and opposite the clamping portion a part which is held or manipulated by a user's fingers to insert the clothes peg onto 15 a line or to open a clothes pegs to enable it to be inserted onto the line. The object of this invention is to reduce the amount of orientation which is required to enable the clamping device to clamp an article to a line. The invention provides a clamping device having a first portion and a second portion, wherein substantially all of the periphery of the first and second portions define a space therebetween so that the clamping device can be inserted onto a line by enabling the line to pass into any part of said space. Since substantially all of the periphery of the two portions define a space, the clamping device can be inserted on a line in any orientation provided that a portion of the space generally faces the line. The provision of the two members which define the space about their periphery enables the clamping device to be picked up with the index finger resting in the space or beside one of the portions and with the clamping device supported by the thumb and second finger. When the clamp is picked up in this manner it can be inserted onto a line without any further orientation since a portion of the space will be able to face the line when the clamping device is brought adjacent to the line. The portions can be connected together by making them integral with one another. However, preferably the portions are initially separate and joined together by adhesive or the like. Preferably at least one of the portions has a plurality of protrusions past which the line must travel when the clamping device is inserted onto the line. The protrusions assist in retaining articles, such as clothing, on the line. Preferably, both of the portions have protrusions and the portions are oriented such that the protrusions on one portion are arranged between protrusions on the other portion and some of the protrusions are of such a size so that some of the protrusions on one portion extend to about the protrusion on the other portion. Preferably, the two portions include hubs which are adhered to one another to form the clamping device. Preferably the plurality of protrusions include a plurality of ribs which extend radially outwardly from the hubs and a plurality of peaks which are arranged about the periphery of the portions. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a clamping device embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one portion of the clamping device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the clamping device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view of the device clamping clothing to a line; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows how the clamping device is held to locate it on a line. With reference to the drawings the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in conjunction with the clamping device used as a clothes peg. However, it should be understood that the clamping device could have applications other than for clamping clothes to a clothes line. With reference to the drawings the clothes peg 10 comprises two identical portions 12 and 14 which are dish shaped and have their concave surfaces 14a and 12a facing away from one another. The portions 12 and 14 are preferably circular in shape as is best seen in Figures 2 and 4. Arranged at the centre of each of the portions 12 and 14 on their convex surfaces 12b and 14b is an integral hub 18. - 4 - The portions 12 and 14 may be formed by moulding from suitable resilient plastics material. The portions 12 and 14 are both provided with a plurality of projections which project outwardly of the convex surface 12b and 14b so that the projections of one portion are directed to and face the other portion. The projections preferably comprise a plurality of ribs 20 which extend radially outwardly from the hubs 18 and a plurality of peaks 22 which are arranged adjacent to the periphery of the portions 12 and 14. The ribs 20 on each portion extend approximately half way to the periphery of the portions 12 and 14 and are in line with the peaks 22. In order to form a completed clothes peg two of the identical moulded portions are adhered together by adhering their hubs 18 together by suitable adhesive, sonic welding or any other suitable process. Prior to welding the identical portions 12 and 14 are oriented such that the ribs 20 and peaks 22 on one portion are spaced between ribs 20 and peaks 22 of the other portion. That is, the ribs 20 and peaks 22 are arranged such thate they intermesh between ribs 20 and peaks 22 on the other portions. The peaks 22 are of such a size that the peaks of portion 12 extend to be about level with the peaks of portion 14 to assist in gripping an article of clothing 50 held to a clothes line 100. When the two portions 12 and 14 are adhered together a space S which extends for 360° about the clothes peg 10 is defined between the periphery of each of the portions 12 and 14. As an alternative to adhering the portions 12 and 14 together, the portions 12 and 14 could be moulded as an integral unit or if moulded separately could be fastened together by providing intermeshing members or the like on the hubs 18. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show how the clothing 50 can be clamped to the clothes line 100. The clothes peg 10 is generally picked up from a pile of clothes pegs with the index finger arranged in the space S or beside one of the portions and the thumb and second finger supporting the clothes peg as is shown in Figure 7. When the clothes peg is picked up in - 5 - this manner it can be easily brought adjacent to the clothes line 100 so that the space S faces the clothes line 100 without any further orientation of the clothes peg. The clothes peg 10 can then be inserted over the clothes line 100 so that the line 100 first is forced past the peaks 22 at the periphery of the portions 12 and 14 and depending on the thickness of the clothing to be clamped the peg 10 can be pushed such that the line 100 is securely held between the ribs 20 or can be located intermediate of the peaks 22 and ribs 100 if the clothing 50 is thicker. As the line 100 passes the peaks 22 the portions 12 and 14 adjacent the peaks 22 are deformed by being forced outwardly in the direction of arrows A to enable the line to move passed the peaks. Once a line has passed the peaks the resiliency of the plastics material from which the peg is formed merely allows the portions to return to their usual position and the peg 10 is therefore* prevented from merely falling off the line by virtue of the peaks 22 and the clamping engagement of the members 12 and 14 which holds the clothing 50 onto the line 100. In an alternative embodiment the portions 12 and 14 could be rigid and the peaks could be made of softer deformable resilient material so that they deform as the line moves past them. As noted above and as shown in Figure 5, if the clothing 50 is relatively thin the peg 10 may be pushed so that the line 100 is received between the ribs with the clothing 50 securely clamped between the line 100 and the ribs 20. The peaks will also serve to hold the clothing securely in the line. However, if the clothing 50 is relatively thick as is shown in Figure 6, the peg 10 need only be pushed so that the line 100 is intermediate the peaks 22 and the ribs 20 so that the clothing 50 is clamped between the surfaces 14b and 12b of the portions and the line 100 and once again, is also held securely on the line by the peaks 22. The clamping device of this invention therefore provides a device which can be inserted onto a line whilst reducing the need of a user to orient the clamping device into a particular orientation. The shape of the clamping device - - according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, lends itself to gripping in the manner shown in Figure 7 so that once the clothes peg is picked up it is automatically oriented so that it can be located on a clothes line without any need to further orient the clothes peg as is the case with conventional pegs which have an engaging end and a gripping end.

Claims: THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A clamping device having a first portion and a second portion, wherein substantially all of the periphery of the first and second portions define a space therebetween so that the clamping device can be inserted onto a member to be clamped by enabling the member to pass into any part of said space. 2. A clamping device according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the portions has a plurality of protrusions past which the line must travel when the clamping device is inserted onto the member. 3. A clamping device according to Claim 2, wherein both of the portions have protrusions and the portions are oriented such that the protrusions on one portion are arranged between protrusions on the other portion and some of the protrusion are of such a size so that some of the protrusions on one portion extend to be about level with some of the protrusions on the other portion. 4. A clamping device according to Claim 1, wherein the two portions include hubs which are adhered to one another to form the clamping device. 5. A clamping device according to Claim 4, wherein preferably the plurality of protrusions include a plurality of ribs which extend radially outwardly from the hubs and a plurality of peaks which are arranged about the periphery of the portions. 6. A clamping device according to Claim 1, wherein used as a clothes peg. 7. A clamping device having a first portion and a second portion coupled together by connecting means, the two portions defining a space about said connecting means, the periphery of the first and second portions defining the boundary of a continuous opening into said space so that the clamping device can be inserted onto a member by enabling the member to pass through any part of said opening and into said space. 8. A clamping device according to Claim 7, wherein the first and second portions are integral with one another and the connecting means is an integral connection between the portions or the connecting means comprises a connecting member on each portion which are connected together. 9. A clamping device according to Claim 6, where the member is a clothes line. 10. A clothes peg having two portions coupled together, each portion having a periphery and the periphery of each portion defining a peripheral space therebetween, at least one of said portions having at least one protrusion which extends towards the other portion and wherein said clothes peg is insertable onto a line by allowing the line to enter any portion of said space and move past said at least one protrusion by deforming one or both portions or said at least one protrusion so that clothing can be clamped to the line between the portions, the at least one protrusion and the line.

Inventors: FRIES STEPHEN, FRIES, STEPHEN
Applicants: FRIES STEPHEN, FRIES, STEPHEN
Application year: 1986
Main classification: F16B2
IPC codes: D06F55