AU610508B2

AU610508B2 - Improvements in and relating to clipping systems

Info

Publication number: AU610508B2
Application number: AU75556/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher George Edwards; David Earle Williams
Original assignee: Edwards and Williams Greenhouses Ltd
Current assignee: REDPATH PACIFIC Ltd
Priority date: 1987-07-10
Filing date: 1987-07-10
Publication date: 1991-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-10
Also published as: AU7555687A

Description

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C 0 M M 0,N W F, A'L T HI 6F A IT'S T R A L I A PATENT ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE .L D AT SUB-OFFICE 'I 8AUG 1987 Melq~bourne~ I Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: 4 7 o o 00 0 o .,Name of Applicant: a 0 0 0 00.

0 0 0 oo 0 0 0 00 0 000.

o o o oAdress of Applicant: EDWARDS WILLIAMS GREENHOUSES LIMITED 275A Oxford Street, Levin, NEW ZEALAND 0 0 00 0 f s i o oAddress for Service: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: 0 0 "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CLIPPING SYSTEMS" 0 0 0 0 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us .11

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-2c© £c te t C t e o e r ceo o c coo o os £0 0 o~et 00 o a 0 00oe 6 *0 So S* 9 o 00 00 o o 0 4 4 0 0 o o es 0 0 o a o o o a 00 0 0 00 e0 0 0 000 00 0 The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to clipping systems.

More particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a clipping system which may be used in holding a sheet material in place in a horticultural cover arrangement.

For the sake of simplicity, the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to that use of the present invention but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the engineering arts that the present invention can find applications wherever a sheet material is required to be secured whether to hold an edge thereof or to secure an intermediate portion thereof, e.g. for placing the material under tension.

15 An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a clipping system which can speedily and effectively provide for the engagement of an at least partially flexible sheet material.

Further objects of this invention will become 20 apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a clipping assembly for retaining flexible sheet material, the clipping assembly comprising: 25 a first elongate clip member having a channel extending along it, edges of the channel having inwardly turned lips extending toward but spaced apart from each other; and a second elongate clip member comprising a substantially flat connecting portion, connecting a top portion to a base portion such that a larger part of the top portion extends outwardly from a first side of the connecting portion and a smaller part extends outwardly from a second side of the connecting portion which said second side is opposite said first side, and a larger part of the base portion extends outwardly from the 910227,rshspe.00275556.spe,2 i. I -2asecond side and a smaller part of the base portion extends outwardly from the first side; the base portion being slidable in the channel beneath the lips of the first elongate clip member and of a width greater than the distance between the lips, with the larger part of the top portion, the first side of the connecting portion and the smaller part of the base portion forming a recess into which one of the lips is located when the second clip member is engaged within the channel of the first clip member.

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00 9 00 9 990 9 09 00 960 000040 0 0 00 a 0 0 00 0 0 9 0 V 0 0 64 9102Z7,rshspe.02,75556.spe,3 According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a cover assembly for retaining flexible sheet material, the cover assembly comprising: at least one pair of clipping assemblies as defined above with the respective clips thereof spaced apart one from the other and wherein a sheet of flexible sheet material is engaged with the respective clips to extend therebetween and wherein the respective supporting means enables the sheet of flexible material to be suspended as a desired height abova an area to be covered.

C, Further aspects of this invention which should be oo considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent 000 0 0 0 g 0a from the following description given by way of example of 000 0 o o°l possible embodiments thereof and in which reference is ooo 0 0 0o made to the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1: shows very diagrammatically a cover system according to one possible embodiment of the invention; 000 .o000 Figure 2: shows diagrammatically an enlarged view of 0000 oo° 20 one of the clips of Figure 1; oo0 Figure 3: shows the clip of Figure 2 as it engages with a portion of a sheet of an at least partially flexible material; Figure 4: shows very diagrammatically a side 9 0 cross-sectional view of the clip arrangement of Figure 3; Figure 5: shows diagrammatically a clip according to another embodiment of the invention; -3 rir /\1VL.

Figure 6: shows diagrammatically a clip of Figure 5 to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 7: shows diagrammatically a clip according to another embodiment of the invention and having an attachment arm; Figure 8: shows diagrammatically a clip.according to yet another embodiment of the invention and having a hooking means.

In one preferred use of the present invention a clipping system is required to suspend one or more sheets of an at least partially flexible material over a desired area to be covered. Such coverage can be required for a o oo variety of purposes, e.g. for protection against weather 0oo000o 00 So" or spraying of adjacent areas or to enhance the climatic 0 00 o° 0 conditions within the area covered for example.

0 00 o0 o° As shown in Figure 1, a plant 1, which may be one of a 00 o row or several rows of plants or an area of plants, of any size from small shrubs and plants to large trees, is shown covered over by a sheet of material 5 extending between a 00 S..o 20 pair of clipping systems 2 which hold the sheet of 0 0 0 o material 5 at a desired height above the plant 1. Each of 0o0o the clipping systems 2 is shown comprising a clip 3 of indeterminate length having an attachment means 8 therein 0. within which a support cable, wire or rope 7 can extend to 0 0 o o support the clips 3 at a desired height. The clips 3 are also shown comprising an edge portion 4 in which the sheet -4 4m S I material 5 can be secured by means of a clip assembly 6.

The clips 3 may be of any suitable material but generally could be provided as extrusions of plastics, aluminium or the like.

The sheet material 5 may again be of any suitable material being at least partially flexible so as to enable its engagement with the clips 3 but could for example be of plastics, such as P.V.C. or polyethylene, rubber or fabric (synthetic or natural) and could be coloured, opaque patterned or transparent. Furthermore, one or more apertures, vents or the like may be provided in the sheet omaterial 5 to allow water or air flow if desired.

oco Referring particularly to Figures 2 to 4 of the r 5 accompanying drawings, each of the clips 3 is shown having O 00 oat least one elongate aperture 8A therethrough. The .o aperture 8A may be of any size and dimension not necessarily square as shown, and through which a cable, wire, rope or the like 7 extends to support the clip 3 at 00 S000 a desired height.

0 00 0 The clip 3 is shown having inturned edges 9 and 11 0 00 S00 20 defining therebetween a channel 10 in the area 4 of the clip 3.

O 0o As seen in Figures 3 and 4 particularly, the sheet oo. material 5 can be positioned within the channel 10 so as 0 0 to extend over both of the edges 9 and 11. A locking strip 12 can be slidably inserted into the channel 10 to 0 s matrial5 t allw wter r ar flw i desred hold the sheet material 5 in place within the channel and a locking clip 13 may then be engageable with the locking strip 12 so as to hold the assembly in position and with the sheet material 5 under the desired tension extending between respective pairs of clips,3. The locking strip 12 and clip 13 may suitably be of at least partially flexible material such as a plastics material.

Preferably the clip 13 is a force fit into the strip 12 with the outer edge of the clip 13 being a close fit against the inside edge of the channel 10 and the sheet material 5 extending therearound.

While a substantially elongate clip 13 is shown, in 0 00 o practice the clip 13 could be much shorter and a plurality 0 0. of the clips 13 could be used spaced apart along the 0 o 0 0 o0 o length of the locking strip 12.

0 00 o a 0oo It is thus seen that in this use of the invention a 0 0 0 plurality of clipping means 2 can be supported in an area to be covered and one or more sheets of material 5 can 0o then be secured to the clips 3 of the clipping systems 2 Soo 0 *00 20 so as to cover over the desired area. The provision of 0 00 the apertures 8A within the clips 3 enable the clips 3 to 0 00 .oO a 0o 0 be readily supported by means of cables or wires, ropes or the like.

o o, 0o* Referring now to Figure 5 of the accompanying 0 "0 drawings, the same reference numerals as used previously have been retained. In this embodiment of the invention 6 the clip 3' is shown having a substantially circular aperture 81A through which a support cable, wire or rope 7' is shown extending. The clip 3' again is of indeterminate length and one or more could be provided along the length of the cable 7' in order to support a sheet of material The material 5' is show,,n positioned within a channel 101 provided in the clip A locking strip 12' is inserted into the channel 10' to hold the sheet material 5' in place, a locking clip 13' then being insertable on top of the locking strip 12' to hold the locking strip 12' and the sheet material 5' firmly in a C 0.

pos it ion. As previously mentioned, the locking clip 13' may suitably of an at least partially resilient material so that it can be forced into the locking strip 12' so 010 0that its outer edge 13A firmly engages with the material S09 as it passes around the inner edge of the channel at that point.

OD As seen in Figure 5 the inner edge of the flange 12' 09 of the locking strip engages against the back of the clip 13' biassing it inwardly, this bias being transmitted to the edge 13A.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein 0 0 section but has an elongate opening 14. This would follow clip 3 to be engaged with a cable or wire, rope or the like without the need to thread such cable wire or rope -7- I i through aperture 8A. It thus provides versatility of use.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein clip 3 has an attachment arm 15. Such an arm may be secured to an object such as the side of a greenhouse structure by means of fastening means 16 through aperture 17 thus enabling the clips 3 to be suitably supported.

Figure 8 shows yet another embodiment of the invention wherein attachment arm 15 terminates in a hooking means 18 adapted to be hooked over a cable, wire or rope or any suitably shaped standing object.

It will be appreciated that clips 3 having an aperture 8Amay be used in conjunction and/or interchangeably with coo o similar clips 3 having on openings 14 attachment arms o C° 00 or hooking means 18 to erect sheets of material 0 The clip assembly 3' of this embodiment of the

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A invention may again be formed from any suitable material and by any suitable process and may be for example a rigid plastics moulding.

Q.

As has been previously mentioned, while a particular S0 horticultural use of the present invention has been described, many other uses will be apparent such as in construction of buildings, covered frameworks and other Sa constructions.

2a Where in the aforegoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein 8 incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope as defined in the appended claims.

0 a o 0 o 00 000 0 0 00 a 0 00 000 a 00 00 0 as 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -9 f I

Claims

1. A clipping assembly for retaining flexible sheet material, the clipping assembly comprising: a first elongate clip member having a channel extending along it, edges of the channel having inwardly turned lips extending toward but spaced apart from each other; and a second elongate clip member comprising a substantially flat connecting portion, connecting a top portion to a base portion such that a larger part of the o top portion extends outwardly from a first side of the connecting portion and a smaller part extends outwardly 0 a 0o 0 from a second side of the connecting portion which said o o 0 o second side is opposite said first side, and a larger Soo 0part of the base portion extends outwardly from the 00 e second side and a smaller part of the base portion 00 064 extends outwardly from the first side; the base portion being slidable in the channel beneath the lips of the first elongate clip member and of o, a width greater than the distance between the lips, with 0 0 o0o the larger part of the top portion, the first side of the a connecting portion and the smaller part of the base 0 g00, portion forming a recess into which one of the lips is located when the second clip member is engaged within the channel of the first clip member. 00 oe 0 0 00 t

2. A clipping assembly as claimed in claim 1, further Sincluding supporting means adapted to enable the clipping assembly to be supported in a desired position.

3. A clipping assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supporting means comprises an aperture provided on the first elongate clip member and adapted to accommodate therein a support cable, wire or rope. 9 s RAZ0 6 91O227,rshspe.00Z7556.spe, A-r 0 U

4. A clipping assembly as claimed in any one of the t t a a a a 4: at. 4: at 1 4: 9~1 S a a a 4: e.g C a. 4:4: o @04 4: 0004(1 4: *0 I 04 4 0S a a 04 4: II A/r o~/ 910227,rshspe.002,'75556.spe, I1I 11 preceding claims, and further including a locking clip inserted into the channel over the second elongate clip member, when the first and second clip member are engaged one with the other.

A clipping assembly substantially as herein described, with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

6. A cover assembly comprising at least a pair of clipping assemblies as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective clipping assemblies thereof are spaced apart one from the other and wherein the sheet of flexible materials is engaged with the respective clipping assemblies to extend therebetween, and including supporting means enabling the sheet of flexible material to be suspended at a desired height over an area to be covered. 2 0 S ao00

7. A cover assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein each clipping assembly is provided with supporting means, each of which includes an aperture provided in the first elongate clip S0. member, with a cable, wire, or'-rope extending therethrough. 0 6

8. A cover assembly as claimed in either of claims 6 or 7, ooooon wherein the sheet of flexible material has water and/or air vents or apertures provided therein. 0 0 ro 0 0 9. 'A cover assembly substantially as herein described with Sreference to any one of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 24"ch day of January 1991 Edwards Williams Greenhouses Limited By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON S 910124,rshspe.002,75556spe,11 j l s 1 0