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 (8) and nut (5), in which one of the flanges has an outwardly opening slot (4) adapted to laterally receive the shank of the fastening screw (8). According to the invention the nut (5) is incorporated in an auxiliary part (9) of metal that normally bears on that side of the second flange (3) which is 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, said second flange (3) having a slot-shaped passage opening (4) allowing an outwards 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 - tilt outwardly and then tilt back under spring action so that its shank is entering into the slot (4).

Description: The invention plates to a pipe-clip as defined in the first part of the claim. Such a pipe-clip is known from DE-U-8806714. auxiliary part with this well-known pipe-clip is in the form of a substantially U-shaped spring clip comprising a web and two legs extending therefrom and adapted to be slid from the radially outer end of the second flange of the pipe-clip inwardly onto said flange. One of the longitudinally slotted legs of the U shaped spring clip is substantially flat, whereas the second leg extends - from the web - first convergingly and then divergingly relative to the first leg. In one form of this well-known pipe-clip the U-shaped spring clip is mounted with its flat leg lying onto the second flange and facing towards the first flange, whereas the nut is pressed against the opposite side of the second flange by the bend between the converging and diverging portions of the second leg. The spring clip allows the nut to tilt about its radially inwardly located edge and about the bend between the converging and diverging portions of the second leg, thereby urging the clip legs to spread apart and permitting the clamping screw to tilt outwardly. In a second form of this well-known pipe clip the U-shaped spring clip has its flat leg on the side of the second flange that is turned away from the first flange. In this case the nut is captured between the (flat) outer side of the second flange on one hand and the flat leg of the spring clip on the other hand, whereas the second leg of the spring clip is positioned with said bend bearing on the inner side of the second flange and with the converging and diverging portions extending obliquely from said second flange inner side in opposite directions. In this case a tilting movement of the second spring clip leg, urging the two legs to spread apart, allows the nut and the flat leg to tilt about the radially inner edge of the nut and thereby permit the fastening screw to tilt outwardly. In both forms special retaining tongues are required to hold the clip and the nut in proper position. The present invention provides a pipe-clip of the type defined in the first part of the claim, which favourably distinguishes from the well-known pipe-clip, by the features mentioned in the characteristic clause of the claim. The invention will be hereinafter further explained with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the pipe-clip according to the invention in a first embodiment; fig. 2A-C show a cross-sectional view of the pipe-clip according to Fig. 1 in three successive stages of closing the annular clip body around the article to be fastened; fig. 3A and 3B show a side elevation and front elevation respectively of a modification of the auxiliary part of fig. 1 and 2A-C. The pipe-clip shown in fig. 1 and 2 has an integrally formed annular clip body 1 that is made of a metallic strip. The ends of the annular clip body 1 are bent to form a first and a second flange 2 and 3 respectively. The first flange 2 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 (not further shown) for accomodating the threaded shank 6 of a fastening screw 8, the head of which is indicated at 7. The nut 5 which cooperates with the screw 8, is fastened, e.g. by welding, to an auxiliary part 9 formed by a leaf spring, which part normally (fig. 1 and fig. 2A-B) bears onto that side of the flange 3 which faces away from said flange 2 and which has an end portion 9a bent at substantially right angles that is attached, e.g. by spot welding, to the clip body 1 at a location adjacent the flange 3. Fig. 2A shows the pipe-clip in a position around the article 10 (e.g. a pipe) to be fastened, in a stage, in which the first flange 2 abuts to the head 7 of the clamping screw that has been provisorily screwed into the nut 5 via the slot shaped opening in the second flange 3. Fig. 2B shows how the clamping screw 8 is tilting outwardly when the flanges 2 and 3 are moved towards one another. It is clearly shown that the auxiliary part 9 has turned away (against spring action) from the flange 3. This tilting movement may be enlightened by having the screw head 7 guided by the outwardly bend and slightly diverging longitudinal edges 4a of the slot 4. As soon as in this way the clamping screw head 7 has reached the side of the flange 3 turned away from the flange 2, the clamping screw 8 will snap with its shank 6 into the slot 4 as a result of the auxiliary part 9 being then allowed to return to its position shown in fig. 2A. At last fig. 2C shows the pipe-clip in the position, in which the annular clip body 1 has been clamped around the article 10 by tightening the clamping screw 8. In the embodiment of fig. 3A-3B the auxiliary part 9″, formed of a strip of spring steel has its longitudinal edges 13, 14 bent in such a way, that it may be slided onto the second flange 3, whereby the longitudinal edges 13, 14 engage those of the flange 3. The so formed auxiliary part 9″ is provided with two parallel cuts Y, which start from one end of the auxiliary part and terminate at a short distance (at X) from the other end. In this manner a resilient tongue 15 is provided, that carries the nut 5. Fig. 3A shows this tongue in its, against spring action, outwardly bend position corresponding to the tilted position of the screw 8.

Claims: A pipe-clip, comprising an annular clip body (1) formed from a flexible strip, the ends of which are bent into first and second flanges (2, 3) adapted to be pulled together by means of a fastening screw (8) and nut (15), said first (2) flange having an outwardly opening slot (4) adapted to laterally receive the shank (6) of the fastening screw (8), whereas the nut (5) is kept in place - on the side of the second flange (3) that is turned away from the first flange (2), by an auxiliary part (9, 9″) that is formed of a thin strip of spring steel, adapted to engage the second flange (3) and to elastically deform so as to allow the nut (5) to perform a tilting movement relative to said second flange (3), in such a way, that, when applying the annular clip (1) body around a pipe or similar article - causing the two flanges (2, 3) to move one towards the other - the screw (8) provisorally threaded into the nut (5) held by the auxiliary part (9, 9″) will first - due to the first flange (2) pressing against the head (7) of the screw (8) - tilt outwardly within a shot-shaped passage-opening in said second flange and then tilt back under spring action so that its shank (6) its enters into said outwardly opening slot (4), characterized in that said thin strip of spring steel is either formed to a substantially right angle (9), one leg of which is fastened to the clip body (1) with the bending line between the legs located adjacent the transition between the annular clip body (1) and said second flange (3) so as to allow the second leg, that freely faces the second flange (3) and carries said nut (5), to resiliently bend about said bending line or has its longitudinal edges (13, 14) bent in such a way that it may be slided onto the second flange (3), whereby the longitudinal edges (13, 14) of the strip (9″) engage those of the second flange (3), whereas the strip is provided with two parallel cuts (Y) which start at one end of the strip (9″) and terminate at a short distanoe from the other end, thereby forming a resilient tongue (15) that carries the nut (5).

Inventors: VAN WALRAVEN JAN, VAN WALRAVEN, JAN
Applicants: WALRAVEN J VAN BV, J. VAN WALRAVEN B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F16L3
IPC codes: E04D13, F16L3