Clamping element for a guide line

Abstract: Clamping element for a guide line, characterized in that it mainly consists of a body (9), which is provided with means (10) which make it possible for the body (9) to cooperate with a fixed support, and of a wire strain mechanism (11) which consists of a V-shaped seat (12) for the guide line (2) made of ribs (13) positioned at an angle.

Description: The present invention concerns a clamping element for a guide line, in particular for a rope, thread or such which is stretched so as to be able to carry out certain works, such as bricklaying, the alignment of roofings, the staking out of buildings, etc. In particular, the invention aims a clamping element which makes it possible to stretch a guide line between two fixed points. Clamping elements for a guide line are already known in various shapes and were described among others in US--A-2 544 645, US-A-2 834 112, US-A-3 183 595, FR-A-2 611 223 and DE-A-9202270. However, these known embodiments are disadvantageous in that either the fastening of the guide line is rather complicated or in that the fastening system used hereby has a complex construction. Further, a device is known from FR-A- 1 425 083 which makes it possible to fasten a rope onto it. However, the device described herein is specifically meant for applying a pull rope on an electric switch or also for fastening ropes on board of ships, and it is not suited as such as a clamping element for a guide line. Further, documents US-A-3 574 900 and US-A-3 812 811 disclose devices for fixing ropes on boats. These devices however are not apt for tensioning masonry guide lines. The invention aims a clamping element which does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages, and further is apt for tensioning masonry guide lines. The invention also aims to offer a clamping element which is very convenient, in other words with which a guide line can be very easily stretched between two fixed points and whereby said guide line can be moved and retensioned in a minimum amount of time. To this aim, the invention concerns a clamping element for a guide line, comprising a body which is provided with means which make it possible for the body to cooperate whith a fixed support, and a wire strain mechanism, characterized in that the wire strain mechanism consists of a V-shaped seat for the guide line made of ribs positioned at an angle; in that the clamping element is provided with a wire guide which provides for a reference plane, whereby this reference plane is situated at such a distance from a corresponding supporting surface of the clamping element, that between the reference plane and this supporting surface a seat is formed for a guide line; and in that said seat allows for crosswise movement of the guide line, i.e. sideward in respect to the longitudinal direction of the guide line. The clamping element according to the invention makes it possible for the line to be clamped as well as for the clamping element to be kept in place by the mere tensile force of the guide line. The wire strain mechanism provides for a self-clamping action. According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping element is made such that it can be fixed to the guide line at any place whatsoever, without touching the end of the guide line, such that for example a wound-up end does not need to be unwound. According to the invention the guide line is kept in place by means of said wire guide which does not only make sure that the line is in the right place as a guide line, but that it can also move freely in this place, in an upward and downward going movement, without making the clamping element shift, so that the guide line will always go back to the same position after it has been touched by the persons working alongside of it, as opposed to the existing clamping elements which shift when the guide line is touched. According to yet another preferred embodiment, the clamping element is provided with locking agents in the shape of one or several recesses via which the guide line can be led off. This makes it possible to fix the remaining end of a guide line in such a recess so as not to be hindered by the remaining end of the line which is not used, and to prevent this end from counteracting the good working of the clamping element on a windy day. Moreover, thanks to the presence of such a recess it is also possible to fasten two guide lines. In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiment is described, as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a guide line which is stretched by means of clamping elements according to the invention; figure 2 shows a view according to arrow F2 in figure 1; figure 3 shows a clamping element according to the invention in perspective; figure 4 shows a section according to line IV-IV in figure 3; figures 5 and 6 show views according to arrows F5 and F6 in figure 3; figures 7 and 8 show sections according to lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII in figure 4. As shown in figures 1 and 2, the invention concerns a clamping element 1 which makes it possible for a guide line 2 to be stretched between two fixed points 3 and 4. In the example shown, the fixed points 3 and 4 consist of upright struts 5 and 6, and the guide line 2 is meant for laying bricks 7 of a wall 8 to be erected alongside of it. For the stretching of the guide line 2, use can be made of two clamping elements 1 according to the invention. According to a variant, the guide line 2 can also be fixed with one end in a conventional manner, while it is fixed with its other end by means of a clamping element 1 according to the invention. As shown in figures 3 to 8, the clamping element 1 according to the invention mainly consists of a body 9, which is provided with means 10 which makes it possible for the body 9 to cooperate with a fixed support, for example the above-mentioned strut 5 or 6, and of a wire strain mechanism 11 which consists of a V-shaped seat 12 for the guide line 2, which is made up of ribs 13 positioned at an angle. The above-mentioned means 10 consist of supporting means which allow for a press-on action against a fixed support through the agency of the tensile force in the guide line 2. These supporting means preferably consist of at least one supporting surface 14 which extends diagonally on the clamping direction of the guide line 2. Preferably, however, the supporting means contain two supporting surfaces 14 and 15 which are placed perpendicular or almost perpendicular in relation to one another, such that the clamping element 1 can be placed against an angle, as schematically represented in figure 4. The angle A between the supporting surfaces 14 and 15 is preferably somewhat smaller than 90°, preferably 88°. Thus, a more stable positioning is obtained. For, since the angle A is smaller than 90°, the clamping element 1 cannot possibly tilt. The supporting surface 14, and possibly also the supporting surface 15, may consist of an antiskid surface, for example because it underwent a specific surface treatment, such as roughening, such that a possible sliding in relation to the profile 5 or 6, or in relation to any other support, is avoided. As shown in figures 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, the wire strain mechanism 11 is preferably provided with several pairs of ribs 13, such in order to obtain a better clamping. As represented in figures 7 and 8, the ribs 13 preferably have a triangular section. The tops of the ribs 13 may be whether or not slightly rounded. Further, the clamping element 1 is also provided with a wire guide 16 which provides for a reference plane 17 which determines the position of the guide line 2. The reference plane 17 extends transversely and is situated at such a distance from the supporting surface 15 that a guide line 2 with a conventional thickness fits precisely in between the reference plane 17 and for example the strut 6, such that the guide line 2 makes contact with the strut 6, but can still move freely sideways. This offers the advantage mentioned in the introduction that the clamping element does not shift when the guide line is touched and that the guide line always returns in the right position. Further, it can be provided with a wire feed-through duct 18 which preferably has a closed or almost closed periphery. According to the most preferred embodiment, the clamping element 1 is provided with means 19 which make it possible to simplify the application of the guide line 2 in the wire feed-through duct 18, whereas the coming loose if it is made difficult and/or is excluded. In the example shown, these means 19 mainly consist of a narrowing wire insertion duct 20 which, as represented in figure 5, opens into the wire feed-through duct 18 with its narrowest end, such that the guide line 2 must be drawn through this wire insertion duct 20 under low tension. The inlet 21 of the wire insertion duct 20 is hereby preferably chosen larger than the thickness of the guide line 2 which will be used, whereas the outlet 22 is chosen somewhat smaller than the thickness of the guide line 2. In order to further simplify the wire insertion, a slanted surface 23 can be provided which leads to the wire insertion duct 20. In order to further prevent the guide line 2 from coming loose, it is recommended to shift the wire insertion duct 20 sideways in relation to the centre of the seat 12. The above-described means 19 make it possible for the clamping element 1 to be fixed at any place of the guide line 2 without having to go via the end of the guide line 2. In order to prevent the guide line 2 from coming loose out of the wire strain mechanism 11, locking agents 24 can be provided at the free end of the guide line 2, which for example consist of one or several recesses 25 through which the guide line 2 can be led off. A variant of such a recess is schematically represented in figure 4 with reference 26. The overall construction of the clamping element 1 is preferably L-shaped. To this end, it has two parallel, L-shaped walls 27 and 28 with walls 29 and 30 situated perpendicular onto these at the interior angles, whose sides directed towards each other form the above-mentioned supporting surfaces 14 and 15. The above-mentioned V-shaped seat 12 is situated between the walls 27 and 28. The clamping element 1 is preferably made such that the above-mentioned wire guide 16 is situated at a crosscut end; that the wire feed-through duct 18 is situated behind the wire guide 16; that the wire strain mechanism 11 is situated behind the wire feed-through duct 18; that the wire guide 16, the wire feed-through duct 18 and the wire strain mechanism 11 are situated on one leg of the L-shape; and that the locking agents 24 are situated on the other leg of the L-shape. The seat 12 may be provided with bevels 31 which make it possible for the guide line 2 to be easily placed in this seat 12. The clamping element 1 is preferably made in one piece of synthetic material. The use and working of such a clamping element 1 can be easily derived from the figures. Most of all, the working becomes clear from figure 4. The guide line 2 is provided in the clamping element 1 as represented in figure 4. When a guide line 2 is applied, it is first fixed on one end. On the other end, the clamping element 1 is placed against the related fixed support, and one only has to exert a force F on the guide line 2. After it has been loosened, the guide line 2 will automatically secure itself in the V-shaped seat 12, through the agency of the tensile force in the guide line 2. Due to this tensile force, also the clamping element 1 is pressed against the fixed support and maintained there. The fact that the guide line 2 cannot come loose out of the wire feed-through duct 18 thanks to the means 19, offers the advantage that the clamping element 1 stays on the guide line 2, even when the clamping element 1 is being dropped. For the clamping element 1 usually cannot slide off of the guide line 2, since a spool 32, as represented in figure 2, or such, is provided at the end of the guide line 2. This offers the advantage that the clamping element 1 can be pulled up again with the guide line 2, such that for example a bricklayer does not have to come off his scaffold to pick up the clamping element 1. The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described by way of example and represented in the drawings; on the contrary, such a clamping element can be made in various forms and dimensions while still remaining within the scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.

Claims: Clamping element for a guide line, comprising a body (9) which is provided with means (10) which make it possible for the body (9) to cooperate with a fixed support, and a wire strain mechanism (11), characterized in that the wire strain mechanism (11) consists of a V-shaped seat (12) for the guide line (2) made of ribs (13) positioned at an angle; in that the clamping element is provided with a wire guide (16) which provides for a reference plane (17), whereby this reference plane (17) is situated at such a distance from a corresponding supporting surface (15) of the clamping element, that between the reference plane (17) and this supporting surface (15) a seat is formed for a guide line (2); and in that said seat allows for crosswise movement of the guide line (2), i.e. sideward in respect to the longitudinal direction of the guide line (2). Clamping element according to claim 1, characterized in that the above-mentioned means (10) consist of supporting means which allow for a press-on action against a fixed support through the agency of the tensile force in the guide line (2). Clamping element according to claim 2, characterized in that the supporting means consist of at least one supporting surface (14) which extends diagonally on the clamping direction. Clamping element according to claim 3, characterized in that the supporting means consist of two supporting surfaces (14, 15) which are placed perpendicular or almost perpendicular in relation to one another, such that the clamping element (1) can be placed against an angle. Clamping element according to claim 3, characterized in that the angle (A) between the two supporting surfaces (14, 15) is preferably somewhat smaller than 90° Clamping element according to any of claims 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that at least the surface (14) which extends diagonally on the clamping direction consist of an antiskid surface. Clamping element according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the ribs (13) have a triangular section. Clamping element according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is provided with several pairs of ribs (13). Clamping element according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it has a wire feed-through duct (18). Clamping element according to claim 9, characterized in that it is provided with means (19) which make it possible to simplify the application of the guide line (2) in the wire feed-through duct (18), whereas the coming loose of it is made difficult and/or is excluded. Clamping element according to claim 10, characterized in that the above-mentioned means (19) mainly consist of a narrowing wire insertion duct (20) which opens into the wire feed-through duct (18) with its narrowest end. Clamping element according to claim 11, characterized in that the inlet (21) of the wire insertion duct (20) is larger than the thickness of the guide line (2) which will be used, whereas the outlet (22) is smaller than the thickness of this guide line (2). Clamping element according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the wire insertion duct (20) is shifted sideways in relation to the centre of the V-shaped seat (12). Clamping element according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is provided with locking agents (24) at the free end of the guide line (2). Clamping element according to claim 14, characterized in that the locking agents (24) consist of at least one recess (25; 26) through which the guide line (2) can be led off. Clamping element according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is L-shaped, to which end it has two parallel, L-shaped walls (27, 28) with walls (29, 30) situated perpendicular onto these at the interior angles, and in that the above-mentioned V-shaped seat (12) is situated between the two first-mentioned walls (27,28). Clamping element according to claims 1, 9, 15 and 16, characterized in that the above-mentioned wire guide (16) is situated at a crosscut end; in that the wire feed-through duct (18) is situated behind the wire guide (16); in that the wire strain mechanism (11) is situated behind the wire feed-through duct (18); in that the wire guide (16), the wire feed-through duct (18) and the wire strain mechanism (11) are situated on one leg of the L-shape; and in that the locking agents (24) are situated on the other leg of the L-shape. Clamping element according to any of the above claims, characterized in that it is made in one piece of synthetic material.

Inventors: KRUYFHOOFT CHRISTINA, KRUYFHOOFT, CHRISTINA
Applicants: DEBERGH JEANINNE, DEBERGH, JEANINNE
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E04G21
IPC codes: E04G21