Holding device

Abstract: A device suitable for securing objects such as plant pot holders removably to a beam-like support comprises a strap (10) at least sufficient in length to embrace the support, means (18) to tighten the strap about the support and at least one coupling element (24) cooperative with the strap. The coupling element(s) (24) if separable from the strap (10) engage with the strap (10) over a sufficient length to limit circumferential swing of a secured object, for example by way of a buckle or a flat hook or plurality of hooks. The linkages of each coupling element (24) to the strap (10) and to the object are preferably mutually displaced such that the linkage to the object bears against the support and the force distorting the strap is thereby limited. Preferably the strap (10) is tightenable by a male screw (16) engaging with a rack of teeth (22) upstanding from its surface. Preferably the male screw (16) is disengageable and tapered and when in use is angled to the plane of the rack. The strap (10), screw (16) and coupling element (24) may be made of a plastics material such as a crystalline polymer containing fibrous reinforcement.

Description: THIS INVENTION relates to a holding device, particularly for securing a plant pot holder removably to a beam. My British patent 2146233 describes a plant pot holding bracket in the form of a flattened strap-like coil of resilient material the two ends of the coil overlapping, the outermost end of the coil being provided with a hole so that a screw attaches the bracket to a vertical surface so that the coil protrudes horizontally, into which a plant pot of a suitable size to cause it to fit snugly into the coil can be inserted from above. I have marketed this bracket in a modified form in which the screw hole is on a wall-fixing plate to which the coil is connected rigidly and detachably, namely by a dovetail and recess, at a point part-way along its length It is sometimes desired to secure a plant pot to a beam-like support, for example for a floral pattern effect or merely to cover a structure, such as a drainpipe, that is non-decorative. It is proposed in US-A-4076126 (Gilmour) to secure a merchandise display rack to a vertical pole by way of chains each guyed to the eye-hole of a support bracket formed with a slot through which passes the strap of a screw lock clip securing it to the pole. The display rack is readily taken down by unhooking, but the screw lock clip and support brackets require use of a tool for erection or dismantling and are normally left in position. It is proposed in US-A-2706023 (Merritt) to secure guy wires to a mast by way of metal angle clip members each formed in one arm of the angle with a hole for attaching a guy wire and in the other arm with a slot through which passes a worm-tightenable tension band. The worm screw can be actuated by a screwdriver or a finger piece, but the tangential position of the worm limits the span of the finger piece and makes its use impracticable for domestic or horticultural situations or for masts of substantial diameter. It is proposed in GB-A-2056541 (Wilkin) to make a worm-and-rack hose clamp from fibre-reinforced plastics material; and in US-A-3311959 a worm-and-rack hose clip uses a tapered screw to urge the threads of the screw into serrations cut into the strap of the clamp. US 4047268 (Buttriss) discloses a worm-and-rack clamp having a moulded plastics strap and bearing. The worm and bearing are cylindrical. Quick setting-up or dismantling is provided for by sloping the open end of the bearing and forming the worm with a tether at the end of which it can be lifted over the short side of the bearing and thus withdrawn from engagement with the strap. The worm is to be actuated by a screwdriver and allows insufficient space for a finger piece. ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION a strap (10,110), being optionally a strap assembly including other straps and/or strap extension pieces, and having a male end (20,120) and a female end (12,112) and tightening means to engage the male end (20,120) with the female end (12,112), the strap (10,110) being made of plastics material flexible but resistant to stretching and the tightening means comprising a male screw (116) housed in a bearing (14,114) at the female end (12,112) and engageable with a rack (123) on the strap (10,110) towards its male end (20,120); characterised in that: (a) the screw (116) is tapered and its axis and the axis of the bearing 114 are angled to the plane of the rack (123); and (b) the rack (123) is constituted by teeth formed on and upstanding from the surface of, the strap (10,110). The invention provides the combination of the device with one or more plant pot holders especially of the type in the form of a flattened strap-like coil of resilient material. It provides further a garden comprising a framework carrying a plurality of said combinations. The device is also useful for supporting other objects, for example lamps, notices, surveillance means and containers such as rubbish bins. Preferred forms of the invention take account of the special requirements of supporting plant pot holders. For example whereas a plant and its soil may not be heavy when first installed, the plant becomes heavier with growth and the soil with watering. As the stems of the plant lengthen, they will tend to lean over from vertical and interfere with those of neighbouring plants; this is especially noticeable when it is desired to support several plant pot holders side-by-side to the same vertical beam. Therefore the device preferably has at least one of the following features: (a) the strap has considerable width, for example at least 20%, in proportion to the diameter of the beam it is to embrace; and/or more than one strap is used to support each plant pot holder or the plant pot holders at the same level; (b) if the strap is wide enough, two or more tightening means' can be used side-by-side; (c) the strap is formed with or carries internal projections or friction surfaces capable of engaging with the surface of the beam to inhibit sliding thereon. At the same time the device preferably includes other features affording strength and convenience in use, as will appear from the ensuing description. Provision of a downward extension of the coupling element and/or positioning the linkage of the object below the linkage to the strap, is particularly advantageous. In a preferred strap the rack preferably occupies an axial portion of the strap, for example one-third to two-thirds of its width, and the outer portions of the strap are smooth. For better engagement with the male screw the face of the teeth is preferably concave. The teeth are preferably formed on the full thickness of the strap. The bearing which houses the male screw includes a guide channel for the strap, preferably profiled to relate to the upper and lower surfaces and edges of the strap and also to the sides of the rack. The bearing is preferably blind. It may be formed with an axial hole through which a tether for the screw may be inserted. Especially since the strap is made of a plastics material, the bearing is moulded integrally thereon. The male screw is preferably actuated by a butterfly nut which may, if desired, be separable therefrom and couplable by for example a spigot-and-socket mechanism. Actuation by butterfly nut is especially convenient in horticulture since it makes it unnecessary to use a tool, which might require more than two hands, an inconvenience and possible hazard if attempted from a ladder. The male screw may be formed with one or more sockets for engagement with the butterfly or other tool, and the socket and tool profiles may be designed to be uncommon, so as to make unauthorised removal of the device more difficult. The male screw is tapered inwardly from its actuation end and the bearing is correspondingly tapered. Its maximum diameter is suitably between 1.25 and 3.0 times its minimum diameter over 6 pitches and the ratio is correspondingly less over a smaller number of pitches. A tapered screw has an apparent disadvantage in that it cannot engage fully with the concave-faced rack teeth, when these are all equal in concavity; however, the tapered screw has the advantage that its axis is extra-tangential to the circle of the closed strap. Therefore the span of the butterfly nut can be greater than that of a tangential-axis screw as shown for example in figures 1-3 herein, and the purchase applied to it by fingers can be greater. A further advantage is evident in assembling the device about a support, in that, after pulling the strap through the guide channel and hand-tightening, there is substantially no slip-back on insertion of the screw. The strap may be formed integrally with at least one said coupling element, for example moulded thereon. However, for some uses it is more convenient that the strap and coupling elements be separable. This can be provided for by a linkage to the strap, such as a buckle through which the strap passes. There may be locating means such as guide holes or grooves. Each coupling element is typically slidable on the strap when not tightened. Alternatively the linkage may be a flat hook or plurality of hooks over and/or under the strap.There may be a frictional or mordant coupling. These arrangements apply equally to strap extension pieces. The effect of such a buckle or flat hook or plurality of hooks is to engage the coupling element with the strap over a sufficient circumferential length to limit circumferential swing of a secured object. The device is applicable particularly in the following situations: (A) vertical support (B) horizontal support, object in front of support (C) horizontal support, object on upper or lower quadrant of support (D) oblique support. The invention is illustrated but not limited by the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the device in the closed position about a vertical cylindrical beam; Figure 2 (which shares part of figure 1) is a plan view of the device in the open position; Figure 3 shows in elevation (a) strap and (b,c) an extension strap to be used in adapting the device to a beam of greater diameter. This figure also shows the coupling elements in elevation. Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative form of the strap of the device in the open position; Figure 5 shows (a) the strap in face elevation, (b) the strap in end section and (c) the blind bearing at its open end, in end elevation partly sectioned; Figure 6 shows a tapered screw to be used in conjunction with the strap; and Figure 7 shows in (a) elevation and (b) horizontal sectional plan a coupling element to be used in conjunction with the strap. In figures 1 and 2 strap 10 is formed with female end 12 on which is mounted bearing block 14 in which operates worm 16 actuated by butterfly 18, and male end 20 which is slotted obliquely at 22 (see figure 3). Bearing block 14 is distanced from strap 10 sufficiently to provide a guide channel affording a sliding fit of male end 20 and engagement of rack slots 22 with worm 16. Intermediate the ends of strap 10 are coupling elements 24, each moulded on strap 10 and providing a dovetail recess wider at the top 26 than at the bottom 28 and having jaws 30. Each coupling element 24 is formed with projections 32 to enhance tightening about the beam. In figure 3 (a) items 20 to 30 are as described with respect to figures 1 and 2, but the female end of strap 10 is shown without bearing block 14. The slots include, in addition to oblique rack slots, rectangular hole 34, the function of which will be described. In figures 3(b,c) items 20 to 30 are again as described with respect to figures 1 and 2, but the oblique-slotted portion of strap 10 is longer, hole 34 is not present and the end away from slots 22 is formed with slot 36 and hook 38. This extension strap is used by inserting male end 20 of strap 10 through slot 36 and engaging hook 38 into rectangular hole 34. It will be appreciated that variations on the embodiments shown in the figures are possible, for example: (a) if the intended support is not vertical, recesses 25 can be angled appropriately to strap 10; (b) instead of recesses 25, strap 10 could be formed with male dovetail members cooperative with recesses formed on the plant pot holder to be secured; (c) other coupling means could be used; (d) to limit downward displacement of the object, coupling elements 24 could be extended out of the plane of strap 10. This is described further below with respect to the coupling element 124 of figure 7. (e) the coupling elements 24 could be separable from strap 10; then strap 10 may be shaped so as to define coupling element positions. In figures 4 and 5 strap 110 has female end 112 and male end 120. Female end 112 carries blind bearing 114 in which is to operate conical screw 116 to be described. For much of its length from male end 120 strap 110 is formed with a rack 123 of upstanding broad teeth (of which only 4 are shown) angled to its axis. Blind bearing 114 is distanced from strap 110 by channel 115 permitting a sliding fit of the strap and guiding it by relation to its surfaces and edges and the side of rack 123 for engagement of the teeth thereof with the thread of tapered screw 116. The female end 112 of strap 110 may be formed with ribs to bridge the curvature of the support to which the strap is applied and thus ensure that rack 123 lies substantially flat when in engagement with screw 116. Intermediate its ends strap 110 is to carry coupling elements 124 to be described. In figure 6 tapered screw 116 is formed with a thread profiled to engage with rack 123 on strap 110. In the operation of strap 110, male end 120 thereof is led about a support and through channel 115 until rack 123 appears in blind bearing 114, then pulled through until hand-tight; now tapered screw 116 is inserted into blind bearing 114 - this involves substantially no slide-back of strap 110 - and turned by means of butterfly 118 until strap 110 is sufficiently tight about the support. Tapered screw 116 may be left in position, but alternatively, if desired, the male end 120 of strap 110 may be secured externally by any suitable means such as a pawl or wedge. Tapered screw 116 is then available to tighten another strap. In a further alternative, butterfly 118 may be separable from screw 116 but engageable with its threaded portion e g by spigot and socket, possibly with uncommon profile to inhibit tampering. If screw is to be tethered, it may be formed at its thread end with a thin axial rod terminating in a swelling and insertable through an axial hole in blind bearing 114. In figure 7 coupling element 124 includes a dovetail recess 125 similar to that shown in figures 1 and 2, that is, wider at the top 126 than at the bottom 128 and having jaws 130. However, it now includes also back plate 140 having a buckle portion 142 which, when in use, is positioned upwards of the recess portion. Back plate 140 is at 144 profiled concavely or ribbed in the same sense as the contour of a cylindrical support to which the device is likely to be secured. Buckle portion 142 is formed with openings 146 separated by crossbar 148. Coupling elements 124 are applied to strap 110 by leading the male end of strap 110 through openings 146, then through space 115 as described in the preceding paragraph. As shown, crossbar 148 is disposed behind the plane of buckle portion 142 and thus strap 110 lies in front of it and the weight of the coupling element and anything supported by it is carried by crossbar 148. It is likewise possible for strap 110 to be disposed forward of the plane of buckle portion 142, so that strap 110 lies in front of the outer bars 150 of buckle portion 142; this arrangement can carry a greater weight, provided the concavity or ribbing at 144 bridges the curvature of the support to which the strap is to be applied. In either such arrangement the buckle could be at the same level as the strap, provided the back plate includes a downward extension to bear on the support. Disposing the recess portion downwards of the buckle portion, or downwardly extending the back plate, limits the extent to which the weight of an object secured by my device can pull the upper edge of strap 110 away from the support. If the intended support is not vertical, the recess portion of coupling unit 124 can be angled appropriately to the buckle portion 142 thereof. In particular, if the support is to be horizontal and the object is to be secured in front of it, the coupling element will be generally tangential to the support and will preferably be displaced or formed with an extension in a generally tangential direction from the point of its attachment to the strap, with in either case preferably a perpendicular extension reaching back onto the strap. A suitable coupling element is based on figure 7(a) with its buckle crossbar turned through one right angle. If the object is to be held in the upper or lower quadrant of a horizontal support, the recess portion can be angled with a radial component to the surface of the support. If the device is to be used for an oblique support, the two portions of coupling element 124 can be at an appropriate angle. The two portions of coupling unit 124 could be mutually swivellable. Instead of the recesses shown, the coupling elements could be formed with male members cooperative with female recesses formed on the object to be secured. Other coupling means could be used. The coupling element, whether integral or separable, may be formed with a slot in which the loose end of the strap may be retained after tightening. In all the embodiments shown in the drawings sharp angles could of course be rounded. For supports of large diameter, as an alternative to using two straps in series, each strap could consist of a part having two female ends joined by a part having two male ends. The strap is made of a plastics material that is sufficiently flexible to be tightened about the profile of the intended support, yet sufficiently rigid and tough for a screw tightening mechanism. If desired, a hard plastics material could be used for the screw and a softer plastic for the coupling elements, if the beam is substantially non-circular in cross-section. Suitable plastics materials include crystalline polymers such as polypropylene, nylon, polyethyleneterephthalate, cellulose acetate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and acetal resin, for example "DELRIN" (RTM). There may be one or more fillers present, especially fibrous fillers at a concentration below that at which brittleness would set in. Use of plastics is advantageous in avoiding corrosion and in making the device available in a variety of colours, as well as facilitating repetition manufacture, in that the device or its parts can be made by injection-moulding. Use of a crystalline polymer has the advantage that a whitening becomes visible at full tightening and thus enables over-tightening to be avoided.

Claims: A strap (10,110), being optionally a strap assembly including other straps and/or strap extension pieces, and having a male end (20,120) and a female end (12,112) and tightening means to engage the male end (20,120) with the female end (12,112), the strap (10,110) being made of plastics material flexible but resistant to stretching and the tightening means comprising a male screw (116) housed in a bearing (14,114) at the female end (12,112) and engageable with a rack (123) on the strap (10,110) towards its male end (20,120); characterised in that: (a) the screw (116) is tapered and its axis and the axis of the bearing 114 are angled to the plane of the rack (123); and (b) the rack (123) is constituted by teeth formed on and upstanding from the surface of, the strap (10,110). A strap according to claim 1 in which the screw (116) is withdrawably insertable into the bearing (114) for engagement with the rack (123). A strap according to claim 2 in which the bearing (114) is formed with an axial hole through which a tether for the screw (116) may be inserted. A strap according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the teeth of rack (123) are open-sided and are formed on the full thickness of the strap (110). A strap according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the bearing (114) is distanced from the strap surface by a channel (115) permitting a sliding fit of the strap male end (120) and guiding it by relation to its surfaces and edges and the side of the rack (123) for engagement with the thread of the screw (116). A strap according to claim 5 in which the bearing (114) provides bearing surfaces on its strap side. A device for securing one or more objects such as plant pot holders removably to a beam-like support and which comprises: a strap (110) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least sufficient in length to embrace an intended support; and at least one coupling element ( 124 ) having linkage means (142) to cooperate with the strap and attachment means (125) for securing the object(s). A device according to claim 7 in which at least one coupling element ( 124 ) is separable from the strap (110). A device according to claim 7 or claim 8 in which: (a) the at least one coupling element ( 124 ) includes an extension member to extend downwardly from the linkage means (142) when the device is in use; and/or (b) the attachment means (125) is displaced from the linkage means (142) so as to be lower than the linkage means (142) when the device is in use: whereby the weight of the object to be secured can bear against the support and the forces that might distort the strap (110) are limited. A device according to claim 9 in which the linkage means by which the coupling element ( 124 ) cooperates with the strap is a buckle (142) and the attachment means (125) by which the coupling element ( 124 ) is to be attached to the object is a dovetail or dovetail recess. A combination of a device according to any one of claims 9 to 11 in which at least one plant pot holding bracket in the form of a flattened strap-like coil of resilient material is engaged with a coupling element ( 124 ).

Inventors: STEAD ANTONY GEORGE, STEAD, ANTONY GEORGE
Applicants: AGRIFRAMES LTD, AGRIFRAMES LIMITED
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A47G7
IPC codes: A47G7