PIPE-CLIP

Abstract: A pipe-clip, comprising an annular clip body (1) formed from a flexible strip, the ends of which are provided with flanges (2,3) adapted to be pulled together by means of a fastening screw and nut (5,6), in which one (2) of the flanges has an outwardly opening slot (4) adapted to laterally receive the shank (6) of the fastening screw (8). According to the invention the nut (5) is incorporated in an auxiliary part (9) that normally bears on that side of the second flange (3) which is turned away from the first flange (2), said auxiliary part (9) being fastened in such a way, that it may resiliently bend away from said second flange (3) through a certain angle about an axis located adjacent the transition between the annular clip body (1) and said flange (3), said second flange (3) having a slot-shaped passage opening (4) allowing an outward tilting movement of the fastening screw (8). When applying the annular clip body (1) around a pipe or similar article- (10) causing the two flanges (2,3) to move one towards the other - the screw (8) provisorily threaded into the nut (5) in the auxiliary part (9) carried by the second flange (3) will first - due to the first flange (2) pressing against the head of the screw (7) - tilt outwardly and then tilt back under spring action so that it shank (6) is entering into the slot (4).

Description: The invention relates to a pipe-clip, comprising an annular clip body formed from a flexible strip, the ends of which are integrally bent into flanges adapted to be pulled together by means of a fastening screw and nut, in which one of the flanges has an outwardly opening slot adapted to laterally receive the shank of the fastening screw whereas the nut is comprised in an auxiliary part that normally bears on the side of the second flange turned away from the first flange and that is fastened in such a way, that it may resiliently bend away from said second flange through a certain angle about an axis located adjacent the transition between the annular clip body and said flange, in such a way, that, when applying the annular clip body around a pipe or similar article - causing the two flanges to move one towards the other - the screw provisorily threaded into the nut supported by the auxiliary part will first - due to the first flange pressing against the head of the screw - tilt outwardly within a slot-shaped passage opening in said second flange and then tilt back under spring action so that its shank is entering into said outward opening slot. Such a pipe-clip is known from EP-A-188649. With this well-known pipe-clip the auxiliary part is a plate-like element which is integrally formed with the nut and which has a lip extending substantially under a right angle through a slot at the respective end of the annular clip body and thus having a sort of hook connection with the clip body. The annular clip body has on its inner side a resilient lining of rubber, which pushes the projecting lip of the flange against the inner side of the annular clip body and thus holds the second flange in its normal position (i.e. radially relative to the annular clip body). When applying this well-known clip around a pipe or similar article to be fastened, the lip may, in the initial phase when the annular clip body has a rather large clearance relative to the pipe yet - turn inwardly against the pressure of the rubber lining so that the flange is permitted to perform a certain pivoting movement relative to the annular clip body so as to allow the required tilting movement of the fastening screw to take place. As soon as the head of the screw will have passed the terminal edge of said first flange, the elasticity of the rubber lining causes the lip and thereby the second flange to return into its initial position, whereby the shank of the fastening screw will "snap" into the slot of said first flange. A disadvantage of this well-known pipe-clip is to be seen in that the correct functioning of it is dependent on the use of a resilient lining acting as a spring. The present invention aims at providing a pipe-clip of the type above referred to, which does not have the disadvantages of the well-known pipe-clip described hereinabove and the functioning of which is not dependent on the spring action of a lining within the clip body. The pipe-clip proposed by the present invention is characterized in that the auxiliary part consists of a thin piece of plastic material, provided with a recess for accommodating the fastening nut, said piece having integrally formed means constituted by either integrally formed lips with projecting fastening studs, which fit into corresponding holes in the second flange adjacent the transition to the clip body, or two integrally formed longitudinal edges facing one towards the other, which engage the longitudinal edges of said second flange, cuts starting from one end of the auxiliary part being provided to form a resilient tongue that comprises the recess for the nut. It is to be noted that DE-U-8806714 discloses a pipe-clip of the general type indicated hereinabove, with which the auxiliary part is in the form of a rather complicated spring clip for clamping the nut in a resilient manner against the outer face of the second flange, so that this pipe-clip is for its proper functioning neither dependent of the use of a resilient lining. The invention will be hereinafter further explained with reference to the drawings, in which two embodiments of the invention are shown. Fig. 1A and 1B show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view respectively of a part of a clip body of a pipe clip according to the invention in a first embodiment; and fig. 2A-c show side-, front- and plan views of a modification of the auxiliary part of fig. 1A-B. In the drawings 1 designates a portion of an integrally formed annular clip body that is made of a metallic strip which is not further shown and corresponds with the type of the annular clip body shown in EP-A-188649. The ends of the annular clip body are bent to form a first flange and a second flange. The first flange (not shown) is provided with a radial slot emanating from the terminal edge of said flange, while the second flange 3 is provided with a corresponding slot-shaped opening for accommodating the threaded shank of a fastening screw 8, the head of which is indicated at 7. In the embodiment according to fig. 1A-B the auxiliary part 9' consists of a thin piece of plastics material, provided with a recess 11 for accommodating the (e.g.) square nut 5' (fig. 1B). One end of the auxiliary part 9' of plastics material is provided with integrally formed lips 9'a having projecting fastening studs 9'b, which fit in corresponding holes 12 in the second flange 3 adjacent the transition to the clip body 1. It will be understood that upon assembling of the separate parts shown in fig. 1A the auxiliary part 9' will bear onto the lower side of the flange 3. It is shown in fig. 1B, how a clamping screw 8 provisorily screwed into the nut 5' sunk into the auxiliary part 9', may tilt outwardly by bending the auxiliary part 9' downwardly about a bending line through the fastening studs 9'b. As with the well-known pipe clip disclosed in EP-A-188,649, such an outwardly tilting movement will take place when the annular clip body 1 is clamped around a pipe (not shown). In the initial plan of the clamping procedure the first flange (not shown) engages the head 7 of the clamping screw 8 and urges the latter to tilt; as soon as the first flange has passed the screw head 7 of the clamping screw 8 will snap with its shank into the slot of the first flange and take an upright position relative to the two adjacent flanges. In the embodiment of fig. 2A-C, showing a modification of the auxiliary part of fig. 1A, B, the auxiliary part 9‴ formed of plastics material is provided with two integrally formed longitudinal edges 16, 17 facing one towards the other. These longitudinal edges may, in a similar way as described in connection with the embodiment according to fig. 1A, B, engage the longitudinal edges of the second flange 3. Also two cuts Z are provided, due to which a tongue 18 is formed, which comprises the recess containing the nut 5 and which may bend in the manner shown in fig. 5A so as to permit the screw 8 to tilt outwardly.

Claims: A pipe-clip, comprising an annular clip body (1) formed from a flexible strip, the ends of which are integrally bent into flanges (3) adapted to be pulled together by means of a fastening screw and nut (8, 5), in which one of the flanges has an outwardly opening slot adapted to laterally receive the shank of the fastening screw (8) whereas the nut (5) is comprised in an auxiliary part (9', 9‴) that normally bears on the side of the second flange (3) turned away from the first flange and that is fastened in such a way, that it may resiliently bend away from said second flange (3) through a certain angle about an axis located adjacent the transition between the annular clip body (1) and said flange (3) in such a way, that, when applying the annular clip body (1) around a pipe or similar article-causing the two flanges (3) to move one towards the other - the screw provisorily threaded (8) into the nut supported by the auxiliary part (9', 9‴) will first - due to the first flange pressing against the head (7) of the screw (8) - tilt outwardly within a slot-shaped passage (3a) opening in said second flange (3) and then tilt back under spring action so that its shank is entering into said outward opening slot, characterized in that the auxiliary part (9', 9‴) consists of a thin piece of plastic material, provided with a recess (11) for accommodating the fastening nut (5), said piece having integrally formed means constituted by either integrally formed lips (9'a) with projecting fastening studs (9'b), which fit into corresponding holes (12) in the second flange (3) adjacent the transition to the clip body, or two integrally formed longitudinal edges (16, 17) facing one towards the other, which engage the longitudinal edges of said second flange, cuts (z) starting from one end of the auxiliary part being provided to form a resilient tongue (18) that comprises the recess for the nut.

Inventors: VAN WALRAVEN, JAN
Applicants: J. VAN WALRAVEN B.V.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: F16L3
IPC codes: F16L3, E04D13