GB2279694A

GB2279694A - Clip for retention of tubes or wires

Info

Publication number: GB2279694A
Application number: GB9412497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Dekle Bartholomew
Original assignee: Proprietary Technology Inc
Current assignee: Proprietary Technology Inc
Priority date: 1993-07-09
Filing date: 1994-06-22
Publication date: 1995-01-11
Also published as: ITMI941246A0; BR9402663A; DE4421634A1; ITMI941246A1; GB9412497D0

Description

7 2279694 CLIP FOR RETENTION OF TUBES OR WIRES This invention relates

generally to clips for retaining tubes or insulated wires and specifically to a clip having a localized narrow circumferential projection extending from within.an annular structure for locally deforming the outside wall of the tube or wire insulation.

Metallic or plastic clips are commonly used to retain tubes or insulated wires to one another or to a supporting structure. By way of example, these clips can be used to retain thin walled tubes in residential buildings, to retain insulated wires in aircraft, or to secure fuel line hoses in automotive vehicles. However, a common problem has been that these tubes or wires are able to move longitudinally within such clips. In general, clips can retain a tube or wire by placing the outside wall in shear relative to the clip, by applying frictional forces, or by applying inwardly directed compressive forces against the outside circumference of the tube or wire.

Most traditional clips or supports depend on friction or compression to retain tubes or wires. Frictional forces are dependent upon the frictional constant of the material, the force applied to the material and the area upon which the force is applied to. The frictional constant however, can vary greatly due to the ambient moisture, lubricants on the tube or wire, and the preference of many materials to creep under pressure. Three typical patents using frictional and compressive forces are: U.S. 3,128,073 entitled "Heat Compensated Support for an Elongated Element," issued to Berlyn on April 7, 1964; Great Britain 812,081 entitled "Improvements In or Relating to Pipe Supports," issued on April 15, 1959, and, Great Britain 858,273 entitled "A Support for Tying Together Adjacent Tubes," issued on January 11, 1961, all of which are incorporated by reference herewithin. However, none of the preceding patents depict deforming a portion of the outer surface of the tube or wire in order to increase the shear forces between the -clip and the tube or wire insulation. Furthermore, U.S. 4,930,733 entitled "Pipe Holders," issued to 1 1 Logsdon on June 5, 1990, discloses a pipe holder having a plurality of longitudinal sharp fins which attempt to secure a pipe by frictional engagement but not by locally deforming the pipe's outside surface; this patent is also incorpbrated by reference herewithin.

In accordance with the present invention, a clip has an annular structure With a circular aperture centrally located therewithin for receiving a tube or insulated wire. The circular aperture has an inside radial surface from which a narrow circumferential projection inwardly extends for applying a localized force upon an outer surface of the tube or wire such that a channel is created therein. This deformation creates sufficient shear forces -and a mechanical dovetail interlock thereby substantially limiting the tube or wire's ability to translate longitudinally. However, the deformation channel in the tube or wire insulation is not enough to substantially inhibit the internal passage of or electricity. Moreover, the localized forces provided by the circumferential projection are limited so as not to break through the outer surface. The clip of the present invention also has a lead-in orifice which severs a portion of the annular structure such that tubes or wires can easily be inserted therein.

Embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention clip; FIG. 2 is a perspective view shoWing a portion of the present invention clip with a tube inserted therein, taken from FIG. 1 within circle 2; i 1 3_ 1 FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the present invention clip in relation to a tube, taken from FIG. 1 at line 3-3; and FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention clip in relation to a tube, taken from FIG. 5 1 at line 3-3.

I The preferred embodiment of the present invention clip 11 serves to retain an elongated cylindrical member such as a tube 13 from traversing along its longitudinal axis in relation to clip 11 - Clip 11 also serves to retain two or more tubes 13 adjacent to one another. Referring to FIGS. I and 2, clip 11 is comprised of a planar base 15 with two rows of walls, 17 and 19, upstanding therefrom and facing parallel to one another. In the preferred embodiment, clip 11 is comprised of four annular structures 21, a pair of which are adjacent to one another in each wall, 17 and 19. Each annular structure 21 located within wall 17 has an axial centerline 20 aligned with that of another corresponding annular structure 21 located within oppositely facing wall 19.

Each annular structure 21 has a circular aperture 23 centrally located therewithin. Circular aperture 23 creates an inside radial surface 25 upon which is mounted a circumferential projection 27 extending inward therefrom. This can best be seen in FIG. 3. Circumferential projection 27 is relatively thinner in cross sectional width along its inside edge 29 as Compared to the cross sectional width of inside radial surface 25 of annular structure 21. Also, circumferential projection 27 preferably has a radius 28 of at least 0.006 inches smaller than the outside radius of engaged tube 13. Furthermore, circumferential projection 27 should be relatively quadrilateral in cross sectional shape such that corners 31 and 33, as well as inside edge 29, will act to deform a well defined radial channel 35 having a substantially square cross sectional shape within an outside surface 37 of tube 13. Corners 31 and 33 also act to create significant mechanical interlocking between clip 11 and tube 13. Therefore, tube 13 is placed in shear relative to Circumferential projection 27, thereby preventing tube 13 from moving along its longitudinal axis relative to clip 11. Nevertheless, circumferential projection 27 will not substantially deform inner wall 39 of tube 13 to the extent that fluid flow within tube 13 would be restricted. Moreover, a small radius may be required on corners 31 and 33 of circumferential projection 27 in order to prevent rupturing of the tube's outer surface 37. Alternatively, a plurality of circumferential projections 27 may be mounted upon each annular structure 21.

The material used for annular structure 21 must be less malleable than that used for tube 13. Furthermore, annular structure 21 is designed to have substantial hoop strength and adequate rigidity in order to create the necessary compressive forces such that circumferential projection 27 will deform outer surface 37 of tube 13. In the preferred embodiment, clip 11 can be made from an injection moldable glass-filled polymeric material or can be stamped from a metallic material. However, if clip 11 is injection molded, it is preferable to place circumferential projections 27 along the inboard sides 44 of each wall, 17 and 19, for ease in molding.

Another feature of the present invention clip 11 is that an orifice 41 is cut within a portion of annular structure 21 opposite from planar base 15.

This orifice 41 forms a pair of tapered edges 43 which are angled inward toward one another. Tapered edges 43 and orifice - 41 act as a lead-in for providing access to circular aperture 23 within annular structure 21. Tube 13 can thus be pressed against tapered edges 43 which will spread annular structure 21 temporarily open until tube 13 is received within circular aperture 23. Annular structure 21 will thereafter return to its predetermined positilon, thereby engaging and securing tube 13.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention clip 11 is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, inside radial surface 25 of annular structure 21 has a radial recess 45 centrally located therein. An independent ring 47 having a substantially quadrilateral cross sectional shape is mounted within radial recess 45. In this embodiment, clip 11 is preferably made from an injection moldable glass-filled polymeric material and ring 47 is preferably a metallic part which is insert molded within annular structure 21. As is illustrated here for exemplary purposes, ring 47 deforms an outside insulator around a 1 i wire 51 in a similar fashion to the preferred embodiment; a metallic or rubber tube can also be retained.

It will be appreciated that the clip of the present invention represents a significant quality improvement in securing and maintaining tubes or insulated Wires in a predetermined longitudinal position. While various specific embodiments of this clip have been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the present invention. For example, the annular structure may take a variety of external shapes in order to balance the required rigidity and hoop strength against the flexibility needed to insert a tube or wire. Furthermore, while various materials and processes have been disclosed in an exemplary fashion various other materials and processes may of course be employed. Moreover, any elongated cylindrical member, in addition to the disclosed tube and insulated wire examples, may be used in conjunction with the present invention clip. It is intended by the following claims to cover these and any other departures from these disclosed embodiments which fall within the true spirit of this invention.

6_

Claims

1. A clip for retaining an elongated cylindrical member comprising:

an annular structure with a circular aperture centrally located therewithin thereby creafing an inside radial surface, said inside radial surface having at least one narrow circumferential projection mounted thereupon and inwardly extending therefrom, said circumferential projection acting to retain said elongated cylindrical member in its installed longitudinal position by slightly deforming a radial channel within an adjacent outside surface of said elongated cylindrical member; and said annular structure having a lead-in orifice cut therein, said lead-in orifice being defined by a pair of tapered surfaces thereabout which are angled inward toward one another, whereby said elongated cylindrical member can be inserted through said lead-in orifice and received within said circular aperture.

2. The clip of Claim 1 wherein said circumferential projection has a substantially quadrilateral cross-sectional shape thereto, thereby creating a corresponding cross sectional deformation pattern within said radial channel of said elongated cylindrical member.

3. The clip of Claim 2 wherein said circumferential projection is a distinct member from sald annular structure, said circumferential projection being partially mounted within a recess formed in said inside radial surface of said annular structure.

4. The clip of Claim 3 wherein said annular structure is made from an injection moldable polymeric material and said circumferential projection is insert molded therein.

5. The clip of Claim 2 wherein saild circumferential projection is integral with said inside radial surface of said annular structure.

6. The clip of Claim 5 wherein said annular structure is comprised of a metallic material.

7. The clip of Claim 5 wherein said annular structure is comprised of an injection moldable polymeric material. 1

8. The clip of Claim 2 further comprising a pair of walls facing parallel to one another mounted on a planar surface and extending perpendicular therefrom, said pair of walls each containing at least one of said annular structures therein such that each of said annular structures has an axial center line aligned with another in the opposite of said pair of walls, each of said annular structures further having said lead-in orifice located in a portion of said annular -structure opposite to said planar surface.

9. The clip of Claim 8 wherein there are four of said annular structures, a pair of which are incorporated adjacent to one another into each of said pair of walls.

10. The clip of Claim 1 wherein said elongated cylindrical member is a hollow tube.

11. The clip of Claim 1 wherein said elongated cylindrical member is a wire encapsulated Within an insulative cover.

12. A clip substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.