PIPE-CLIP

Abstract: Pipe-clip, comprising an annular clip body formed from a flexible strip (1), the ends of which are provided with flanges (3, 2). One of these flanges has a threaded opening for the shaft of a clamping bolt (8). At the transition between the clip body and this flange a weakening or bending line (9) is formed, which allows a resilient pivoting movement of the flange relative to the clip body. The second flange (2) has a slot (4) extending radially outwardly relative to the clip body and merging into the terminal edge of said flange, the said flange is integrally and rigidly formed with said strip (1). When closing the annular clip body (1) round a pipe - which causes the two flanges to move one towards the other - the bolt (8) threaded in said first flange (3) will first, while causing said flange (3) to turn, tilt outwardly and will then, while said first flange (13) is resiliently turning back, enter with its shaft in the slot (4) of said second flange (2).

Description: The invention relates to a pipe-clip, comprising an annular clip body formed from a flexible strip, the ends of which are provided with flanges, one of which having a threaded opening for the shaft of a clamping bolt and the second flange having a slot extending radially relative to the clip body and merging into the terminal edge of said flange, said second flange being integrally and rigidly formed with said strip, while the connection between said first flange and the strip is such, that when closing the annular clip body round a pipe- which causes the two flanges to move one towards the other - the bolt threaded in said first flange will first, while causing said flange to turn, tilt outwardly and will then, while said first flange is resiliently turning back, enter with its shaft in the slot of said second flange. Such a pipe clip is known from DE-A-34 39 418. With this well-known pipe clip the first flange is forming a separate part, which has a substantially perpendicularly projecting tongue which extends through a slot at the respective end of said annular clip body and thus has a sort of hook connection with said clip body. A resilient lining of rubber is provided at the inner circumference of said clip body, tending to press the projecting tongue of the flange against the inner surface of the annular clip body so as to cause said flange to take its normal position (radially extending from the annular clip body). When this well-known clip is applied about the pipe to be fastened, the tongue will in the initial phase of the closing of the clip body - when there is still a rather large clearance between the annular clip body and the pipe - be permitted to turn inwardly against the pressure of said rubber lining so that the flange will be permitted to pivot relative to said annular clip body so as to enable the required tilting movement of the fastening bolt. As soon as the bolt head has passed the terminal edge of the second flange, the spring action of the rubber lining causes the tongue and the first flange to return to the starting position and the shaft of the fastening bolt will "snap" into the slot of the second flange. The advantage of a pipe clip of this type is that it may be simply applied onto the pipe to be fastened, whereby the preplaced fastening bolt will automatically enter into the fastening position. The forming of the first flange carrying the fastening bolt as a separate part, however, makes this well-known pipe-clip rather complicated and expensive, while the proper working of it is dependent on the use of a lining acting as a spring. The invention aims at removing this disadvantage. In accordance with the invention this aim is achieved in that the first flange is also integrally formed with said strip forming said annular clip body, whereby a weakening line or bending line is provided at the transition between the clip body and this flange which allows a resilient pivoting movement of the flange relative to the clip body. A so formed clip may be handled and mounted as simple as said well-known clip but is, in comparison therewith, substantially cheaper, because the annular clip body consists of one single piece and may be practically formed in one single machine course. Moreover the pipe-clip according to the invention operates in a reliable manner both with and without a lining. In a practical embodiment the weakening or bending line is formed by two cuts which extend, at the transition between clip body and flange, from the two edges of the strip inwardly. The invention will be hereinafter further explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the pipe-clip according to the invention and Fig. 2A-C show a cross-section through the pipe-clip of Fig. 1 in three subsequent phases of the procedure of closing the annular clip body round the object to be clamped. The pipe-clip shown in the drawing comprises an integrally formed annular clip body 1, which is formed from a slightly flexible strip, e.g. a thin spring bend. The ends of the annular pipe body are bent to first and second flanges 3 and 2 respectively. The second flange 2 has a radial slot 4 extending from the terminal end of said flange, while the first flange 3 is provided with a hole and a welded nut registering therewith for accommodating the threaded shaft 6 of a clamping screw 8, the head of which being indicated at 7. As seen in Fig. 1, a weakening line 9 is formed at the transition between the annular clamp body 1 and the flange 3, said line consisting of two cuts, each extending from a respective side edge of the strip. In this way a preferred bending line is obtained, about which the flange 3 may resiliently pivot. Fig. 2A shows the pipe-clip in a position around the object 10 (e.g. a pipe) to be clamped in a phase, in which the flange 2 abuts against the head 7 of the clamping screw 8 which has been screwed into the flange 3 in advance. Fig. 2B shows, how the clamping screw 8 is tilting outwardly as a result of the flanges 2 and 3 being moved one towards the other. It is clearly shown how the flange 3 has made a turning movement about the bending line 9 relative to the annular clip body 1. This tilting movement simplified in that the bolt head 7 is guided by the slightly diverging bent longitudinally edges 4a of the slot 4. As soon as the clamping screw head 7 has been moved into a position on the side of the flange turned away from the nut, the clamping screw 8 will snap with its shaft 6 into the slot 4, because the flange 3 will then be allowed to turn back to its position according to Fig. 2A. At last Fig. 2C shows the pipe-clip in the position, in which the annular clip-body 1 has been clamped, by tightening of the clamping screw 8, around the object 10.

Claims: 1. A pipe-clip, comprising an annular clip body formed from a flexible strip, the ends of which are provided with flanges, one of which having a threaded opening for the shaft of a clamping bolt and the second flange having a slot extending radially relative to the clip body and merging into the terminal edge of said flange, said second flange being integrally and rigidly formed with said strip, while the connection between said first flange and the strip is such, that when closing the annular clip body round a pipe - which causes the two flanges to move one towards the other - the bolt threaded in said first flange will first, while causing said flange to turn, tilt outwardly and will then, while said first flange is resiliently turning back, enter with its shaft in the slot of said second flange, characterized in that the first flange is also integrally formed with said strip forming said annular clip body, whereby a weakening line or bending line is provided at the transition between the clip body and this flange which allows a resilient pivoting movement of the flange relative to the clip body. 2. A pipe-clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the weakening or bending line is formed by two cuts which extend, at the transition between clip body and flange, from the two edges of the strip inwardly.

Inventors: VAN WALRAVEN, JAN
Applicants: J. VAN WALRAVEN B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16L3
IPC codes: F16L3, F16L33