FLEXIBLE ATTACHMENT MEANS

Abstract: A flexible attachment means comprises a patch (10) of tape material securable by adhesive (11) to a host surface (14) of a sheet or other member, with a reinforcing member (13) between the layer (10) and the host surface (14). The member (13) is perforated and the layer (10) and/or surface (14) may be perforated for reception of a load bearing member (15) such as a cord, which is held by an enlarged part such as a knot (17).

Description: FLEXIBLE ATTACHMENT MEANS Field of the invention This invention relates to a flexible attachment means, particularly for attachment of load bearing members to sheets or like material. Background of the Invention There is a need for a means of securing, fixing or attaching loads to flexible surfaces or sheets which do not themselves have the inherent strength to withstand the initial shock, or accumulated stress of a point fixture of a load bearing member. At present, it is the practice to fold, layer, twist together, or gather in a bunch a substantial extent of the sheet, and to tie e.g. a cord about the thus formed mass, or to twist or bind the formed mass in coiled metal or plastic which grips or tightens onto the mass. Alternative methods include the use of sewn, welded etc. reinforcements, and eyelets. Bunching the sheet into a mass distorts the sheet and reinforcements or eyelets break away from the sheet due to changes in composition, deterioration or fatigue arising from shock, stress and exposure to weathering and/or chemical attack. Strips of a uniform tape may be used as a reinforcement of a part of a sheet, but do not allow for fixing of or penetration by a weight-carrying member without severe distress, distortion and tearing at the point of attachment. The use of an eyelet is limited by the correct pressure on the edge of the sheet at the point of fixing, and by the ability of the material to withstand piercing, compression and tearing stresses arising about the circumference of the perforation. Summary of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a means for attaching, fixing or securing a load bearing member to a surface particularly a sheet, so that the stresses arising from the load on the sheet are distributed in such a way that the strength of the sheet is not exceeded in the area of the point of attachment. According to the invention, an attachment means, for attaching a load bearing member to a host surface comprises a sheet-like piece having an extensive surface area, and a reinforcing member, the sheet-like piece being capable of being adhered to the host surface, with the reinforcing member between the piece and the host surface. The sheet-like piece may be a patch of a tape material, which is coated with adhesive on the surface of the tape material intended to contact the host surface. The piece may be supplied with the adhesive protected by a removable sheet of silicone or other release material. The reinforcing member may comprise a flat body, of any requisite shape, of a relatively strong and rigid material, and is preferably thicker than the material of the piece. The reinforcing member is preferably adhered to the tape material of the piece, and the attachment means may be manufactured and supplied as a continuous strip, having the reinforcing member extending longitudinally of the strip, with the tape being wider than the reinforcing member and extending to each side of the reinforcing member. In this embodiment, sections of requisite length may be cut off from the strip as required. The host surface to which the attachment means is to be adhered may be a surface of a solid body, or relatively thick member. Frequently, however, the host surface will be one face of a relatively thin sheet, such as a plastics film, or canvas for example. One or more apertures for passing of a part of a load bearing member may be provided in at least the reinforcing member. In most cases an aligned aperture will be also provided through the tape, and/or the host sheet. Where the load bearing member is the end of a cord or other line, the cord will usually pass through the host sheet, reinforcing member, and tape and be secured by a knot, or body secured to the cord end which is too large to pass through the aperture. The load bearing member may be a cable tie, comprising a flexible strip with a fastener for engaging the tie about a cable or pipe or the like. This strip may be threaded through a pair of apertures in the reinforcing member, and the loop formed may be exposed above or covered by the tape or host sheet. In a developed version, a long tie may be threaded through spaced pairs of apertures in a strap-shaped reinforcing member, and the reaches of the tie between the pairs of apertures may be tunnelled between the reinforcing member and either the tape layer or the host surface, through a zone not secured by adhesive. An arrangement of this kind can be used for securing bags to chutes for filling of the bags from the chutes, particularly for sterile or low hazard products or waste. In a further embodiment of the invention, the load bearing member may have a head which engages between the reinforcing member and the tape layer or host surface, the latter not being perforated, whilst a shank of the load bearing member projects through an aperture in the reinforcing member and the other of the host sheet or tape layer. In a further embodiment, the shank of the load bearing member may be formed integrally with, or adhered, mechanically fastened, or welded with the reinforcing member. The load bearing member may have a flexible mushroom head or other expansible part which can be pushed through the apertures in the reinforcing member and tape and/or host sheet. The attachment means may be supplied ready perforated for the envisaged use, or may be perforated on site using a suitable punch or other perforating tool. Description of the Drawings A number of embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an attachment patch according to the invention; Fig. 1a is a sectional view of the patch; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of modified embodiment of patch according to the invention in place on a sheet of host material and in conjunction with the use of a load bearing member; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the Fig. 2 embodiment; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a patch in use with a cable tie; Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of an elongate patch, which may be of considerable length; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a variant of the Fig. 5 embodiment wherein the cable tie does not penetrate the host material; Fig. 7 is a further sectional view of a second variant of the Fig. 5 embodiment wherein the cable tie does penetrate the host material; Fig. 8 is a cross-section of a further embodiment of patch which features use of a load bearing member which does not penetrate the host material; and Fig. 9 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 8, showing an alternative form of load bearing member which does not penetrate the host material. Description of Preferred Embodiments The attachment means according to the invention are generally speaking in the form of patches which are adhered to a host material so as to ensure an extensive area of contact and adhesion between the patch and the host material. Figs. 1 and 1 a show a basic simple form of patch, as supplied prior to application to a host material, and this comprises a pliable tape layer 10, with an adhesive coating 1 1 , which is protected by a release sheet 12. A disc or wafer 13 of a reinforcement material is sandwiched between the tape layer 10 and the release sheet 12. For use, the release sheet 12 is peeled from the adhesive 1 1 , and the patch is applied to a host material, sandwiching the reinforcement wafer 13 between the tape layer 10 and the host material. The wafer, and also the host material and/or the tape layer 12 may be perforated after attachment of the patch e.g. by a punch, for reception of a load bearing member, as will be further described below. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a modified embodiment of attachment patch, wherein the reinforcement wafer 13 is an elongate rectangular member extending from one edge to another of the patch. This patch may be provided as an elongate strip, from which pieces are cut to the required length. The patch is adhered onto a sheet of host material 14, and a retaining weight bearing element 15, in the form of a plastics strand, is passed through a hole 16 provided for example by punching through the host material 1 , reinforcement 13, and tape layer 10. The element 1 5 is retained in the hole 16 by means of a knot 17 provided in the projecting end of the element 15 after being passed through the hole 16. Fig. 4 illustrates, in cross-section, a further embodiment of patch adapted for use with a cable tie for example, differs from the Fig. 2 and 3 embodiment principally in that two holes, 18 and 19, are provided through the patch, reinforcement wafer 13, and tape layer 10. A cable tie 20, in the form of an elongate plastics strip is threaded through the holes 18, 19 so that a short loop 21 of the tie 20 is exposed above the tape layer 10, the remainder of the cable tie 20 being below the host material 14. The tie 20 has a connector 22, at one end to ' receive the other end of the tie, in known manner. In Fig. 5, a patch 100 is provided as an elongate strip, with a reinforcing member 1 13 extending lengthwise along the strip. The strip is provided with pairs of holes 1 18, 1 19 distributed along the strip. An elongate flexible element, such as a cable tie 120 as shown, or a cord, rope or other fixing member can be threaded through the holes 1 18, 1 19, usually, as shown, with the greater part of the element 120 within the patch and only short lengths looped through the holes. Figs. 6 and 7 show two alternatives. In Fig. 6 the cable tie tunnels between the reinforcement 1 13 and host material 1 14 between wiring through the holes 1 18, 1 19 and does not pass through the host material. Maintaining the integrity of the host material can be vital where it is necessary to maintain a seal, e.g. for a sterile enclosure or for chemical or other hazardous material. The tunnel is created by an adhesive-free zone. In Fig. 7 however, as in Fig. 4, the host material 1 14 is perforated and the element 120 is passed through it. Figs. 8 and 9 portray two embodiments wherein a load bearing element 215 penetrates a patch 200, but not a sheet of host material 214. In Fig. 8, an element 215 has a shank which passes through a hole 216 provided in a tape layer 210, and a reinforcement insert 213, and has a flat head 217 which is sandwiched between the insert 213 and the host material 214. In Fig. 9, the reinforcement insert 313 has an integrally formed projection 315 which forms the bearing member, the insert 313 being sandwiched between the tape layer 310 and the host material sheet 314. The surface 214, 314 may be of a body of substantial thickness rather than a sheet, as the load bearing member does not penetrate it. The load bearing members, such as 15 in Figs. 2 and 3 may comprise or be attached to securement members such as ropes, guys, stays and cables, hooks, etc., and ties such as 120 in Figs. 4 and 5 may be used for securing wrap-around or slip-on connections such as a sleeve or bag over a pipe or orifice. The range of possible uses includes the reinforcement or fixing of signs, banners, flags, boat covers, tarpaulin sheets, plastics sheeting of all kinds, tents, pond liners, aprons, sterile clothing and chemical, etc. hazard protection clothing, balloons, backdrops, screens, kites, mattress covers, packaging, casualty stretchers, flooring and roofing membranes, waste disposal bags (particularly for sterile or hazardous waste). Excellent reinforcement can, using the apparatus of the invention, be applied anywhere on a host surface. The reinforcement can be applied at any stage of manufacture or in use or during repair, and can replace more expensive eyelets, doubled edges, stitched edges, or fabric reinforcements. The use of the reinforcement allows cheaper film sheets to be used in place of coated textiles, and to be use * d in a range of emergency or temporary applications, such as for shelters, food stores, water carriers, slings and stretchers for example, and enables in some embodiments, a fixture for waterproof or sterile sheets without puncture or penetration of the host sur ace. Various tests have been carried out to measure the puncture resistance of sheets provided with attachment patches according to the invention, for example, field testing, e.g. by fixing sheets in an outdoor environment for extended periods, and hanging weights from the load bearing members, by reinforced eyelets. Also tests have been made with a tensile testing machine, by clamping the host sheet patch combination in a lower face, and a cable or cable tie load bearing member in a top jaw and separating the jaws at a rate of 300mm per minute, and the failure loading recorded. In all cases it was the host material which failed. Using 100 micron thickness polyethylene film and a 25mm reinforcing patch or strip with a 10mm hole, the following average failure loads were achieved: Unreinforced Reinforced Patch (Fig. 3) 30N 150N Tunnel (Fig. 6) 25N 165N All test, quantative and field, showed considerable improvements in the holding strength of the fixing using the reinforcement. Examples of materials which can be used include, but are not limited to, for the tape layer 10, etc.:- woven or nonwoven cloth or canvas; PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester foil, coated woven or nonwoven cloth or canvas, with acetate, cellulose, PTFE, or polyurethane coating, etc. Preferably a waterproofed cloth, e.g. canvas, is used for best tear resistance. The adhesive may be pressure-sensitive, hot-melt or solvent-activated adhesives based on, for example, an acrylic, silicone, natural rubber, phenolic, epoxy, or synthetic rubber. The reinforcement 13 may comprise a foil, of nylon, PVC, PTFE, polyester, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyurethane, acrylic, polystyrene, polycarbonate, ABS or the like. The combined thickness of the tape layer 10 and reinforcement 13 may be in the range of 0.5-1 .5mm.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . Attachment means, for attaching a load bearing member to a host surface, comprising a sheet-like piece (10) having an extensive surface area, characterised in that a reinforcing member (13) is located so that the piece ( 10) is capable of being adhered to the host surface (14) with the reinforcing member (13) between the piece (10) and the host surface (14). 2. Attachment means according to claim 1 wherein the piece ( 10) comprises a patch of tape material, coated with an adhesive (1 1 ) on the surface of the tape material intended to contact the host surface ( 14). 3. Attachment means according to claim 2 wherein the piece (10) is supplied with the adhesive (1 1 ) protected by a removable sheet (12) of releasable material. 4. Attachment means according to any preceding claim wherein the reinforcing member (13) comprises a flat body of a relatively strong and rigid material, which is thicker than the tape material (10). 5. Attachment means according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the reinforcing member ( 13) is equal to or thinner than the tape material ( 10). 6. Attachment means according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the reinforcing member (13) is adhered to the tape material (10). 7. Attachment means according to claim 6 which is manufactured and supplied as a continuous strip having the reinforcing member ( 13) extending longitudinally of the strip, the tape (10) being wider than the reinforcing member ( 13) and extending to each side thereof. 8. Attachment means according to any preceding claim wherein the host surface (14) is the surface of a solid body or relatively thick member. 9. Attachment means according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the host surface ( 14) is one face of a relatively thin sheet. 10. Attachment means according to any preceding claim wherein at least one aperture ( 16) is provided in at least the reinforcing member (13). 1 1 . Attachment means according to claim 10 wherein an aligned aperture is provided for each aperture ( 16) through the tape and/or the host sheet (14). 12. Attachment means according to claim 9 wherein the load bearing member ( 15) is an end portion of a cord or the like, passes through said apertures, and has a part or attachment of greater size than the aperture on the end thereof which is passed through the aperture. 13. Attachment means according to claim 10 wherein the load bearing member is a cable tie, comprising a flexible strip (20) and at least one pair of apertures is provided in at least said reinforcing member (13), said strip (20) being threaded through said apertures. 14. Attachment means according to claim 13 wherein said apertures pass through said reinforcing member^ 13), and at least one of the tape ( 10) or the host surface (14), the free ends of the cable tie being exposed. 15. Attachment means according to claim 13 wherein said reinforcing member (13) comprises an elongate strip, having spaced pairs of said apertures therealong, said cable tie (20) being threaded through said pairs of apertures, and tunnelling between said reinforcing member (13) and one of said host surface (14) or said tape (10), in an adhesive-free zone. 16. Attachment means according to claim 12 wherein the load bearing member (15) has a head which engages between the reinforcing member ( 13) and the tape layer (10) or host surface ( 14), whilst a shank of the member (15) projects through an aperture in the reinforcing member (13) and the other of said host sheet or tape layer. 17. Attachment means according to claim 1 wherein the shank of a load bearing member ( 15) is formed integrally with, or adhered, mechanically fastened or welded with the reinforcing member ( 13).

Inventors: GLASBY DAVID, JEFFERY DANIEL, MCCLURE MICHAEL, GLASBY, DAVID, JEFFERY, DANIEL, MCCLURE, MICHAEL
Applicants: GLASBY DAVID, JEFFERY DANIEL, MCCLURE MICHAEL, SCAPA GROUP PLC, GLASBY, DAVID, JEFFERY, DANIEL, MCCLURE, MICHAEL
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A44B13
IPC codes: A44B13, B29C65, B29C73, B31F5