Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F55/00—Clothes-pegs
  • D06F55/02—Clothes-pegs with pivoted independent clamping members

Definitions

• This invention relates to clamping arrangements.
• Clamping means range from the simple paper clip, which relies on the pinching action of the temporarily separable elements of the clip to hold items together, to spring- loaded devices, which require force, assisted by leverage, to open clamping jaws against the restraining force offered by a torsion spring.
• clamps In application to holding clothes on a clothes line, clamps called “clothes pegs”, range from a simple one-piece V-shaped arrangement, whose jaws open against the restoring force offered by the flexible arms or splines of the peg as the peg is slipped over the clothes, to a three-piece arrangement, wherein two clamping jaws are moved apart by the application of opposing forces by the fingers of one hand, at the ends remote from the jaws, against the restoring action of a spring.
• the need to use the peg by sliding it over the clothes, or to operate the peg by pressing the ends remote from the gripping jaws means that, because such pegs are single- ended, when the peg is selected from a group of pegs by feel alone, time has to be spent selecting the correct end of the peg.
• there is an additional necessity for further manipulation of the peg if the peg has been picked up the wrong way around and not manipulated on first contact with the hand, in order to use it to clamp the clothing.
• the solution to this difficulty is to make the peg, double-ended.
• the new clamping means utilises a double fulcrum- pair principle, in which each fulcrum pair, serves both to grip the clothes or other objects e.g. when they are to be held on a line or a drying frame, etc., and to allow the fulcrums to be utilised for opening and closing the clamping means whilst gripping these objects. It also offers dual means for clamping clothes, etc., to one another, and for joining materials and objects together, to form structures, which can be readily dismantled. It thus affords means for implementing a new building or construction mechanism, which can be applied to toys and model construction, and to building of any kind, on any scale.
• the double-endedness is particularly useful for holding bed sheets, etc., in a spread out orientation, in order to assist drying, by using the Double-ended Peg (DEP) to clamp the edge of one sheet to the edge of an adjacent one.
• DEP Double-ended Peg
• the outer extremities of sheets or other materials to be dried can be pulled sideways, by clamping part of such extremity with one end of the DEP and clamping the other end of the DEP to the vertical line, or device.
• the DEP can also be used to suspend objects in a roughly vertical orientation such that the upper jaws of the DEP are clamped to the upper object whilst the lower jaws are clamped to the lower object.
• the DEP can also be used for clamping display card, signs, materials, or objects in general.
• restaurant menu cards could be mounted into one end of the DEP whilst the other end was utilised in attaching the card to an object on the table or wall, or the DEP could just be free-standing and hold two menu cards, etc.
• Another example is to use the DEPs to spread out flags or banners, or the like.
• the DEP can also be custom designed to blend in, with a restaurant environment. Novel arrangements of specially designed DEPs can be used for advertising products and/or to be sold as part of them, or with them. Such products could, for instance be toys, e.g. the elongated nature of the DEP could be utilised in a design imitating the appearance of, say, a crocodile or an alligator or a fish, or other things which have a length which is greater than their breadth, and the principles of the DEP can be incorporated into any other design.
• the DEP can also be utilised in holding Christmas, Birthday, or Greetings, cards together.
• Christmas cards in particular would benefit from assisted mounting.
• Such mounting could be, side by side on approximately the same level, or one above the other.
• an especially lightweight DEP e.g. made from low-density plastic or designed so as to be light in weight due to its hollow, or other, construction, would be particularly useful.
• the design would be such as to maximise frictional resistance by ensuring that a sufficiently large surface area of contact exists between the jaws of the DEP and the card, whilst ensuring, also, that the gripping strength does not damage the card.
• Figure 1 shows, in side-elevation, a conventional clothes peg of one-piece construction.
• Figure 2 shows, in side-elevation, a conventional clothes peg, of three-part construction
• FIG. 3 shows, in side-elevation, the conventional peg represented in Figure 2, but in its opened configuration
• Figure 4 shows, in side-elevation, the conventional peg represented in Figure 2, in use, in its closed configuration
• FIG. 5 shows, in perspective, double-ended clamping means, representing one variant of the invention, in its closed configuration
• Figure 6 shows, in side-elevation, a schematic representation of a variant of the double-ended clamping means shown in Figure 5, in its closed configuration
• Figure 7 shows, in side-elevation, a schematic representation of the double-ended clamping means shown in Figure 6, but in one of its two, opened configurations
• Figure 8 shows, in side-elevation, a schematic representation of the double-ended clamping means shown in Figure 7, but in the other, of its two, opened configurations.
• Figure 9 shows, in side-elevation, a stylised schematic representation of the double- ended clamping means shown in Figure 5
• Figure 10 shows, in side-elevation, a stylised schematic representation of the clamping means shown in Figure 9, in one of its two, opened configurations
• Figure 1 1 shows, in side-elevation, a stylised schematic representation of the double- ended clamping means shown in Figure 10, but in the other, of its two, opened configurations.
• Figure 12 shows, in side-elevation, double-ended clamping means containing means for ensuring that the jaws of the clamping means shown in Figure 9, remain in a closed configuration until forces are applied in opposing directions to the operating arms
• FIG. 13 shows, in side-elevation, the double-ended clamping means shown in Figure
• FIG. 14 shows, in side-elevation, the double-ended clamping means shown in Figure
• Figure 15 shows, in side-elevation, a variant of the double-ended clamping means incorporating an extension spring
• Figure 16 shows, in side-elevation, a variant of the double-ended clamping means incorporating a double-curved, S-shaped spring
• Figure 17 shows, in side-elevation, double-ended clamping means of three-part construction containing an insertable S-shaped spring
• Figure 18 shows an enlarged view of part of the diagram shown in Figure 17
• Figure 19A shows, in side-elevation, a double-ended peg (DEP) of one-piece construction.
• Figure 20A shows, in side-elevation, a double-ended peg (DEP) of one-piece construction, containing a feature which demonstrates a variation in its operating principles
• Figure 19B represents a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 19 A
• Figure 20B represents a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 20A
• Figure 21 A shows, in side-elevation, a DEP of two-piece construction
• Figure 22A shows, in side-elevation, the DEP of two-piece construction, shown in Figure 21 A, with the two pieces moved closer together.
• Figure 23A shows, in side-elevation, a DEP resembling the DEP of two-piece construction shown in Figure 21 A, but containing a change to its central mating sections so that the two pieces can be mated with one-another.
• Figure 24 A shows, in side-elevation, the DEP of two-piece construction, represented in Figure 23 A, with the two pieces interlocked with one-another against the restraining forces offered by the spring arms of the DEP so that they give rise to compressive forces at the jaws.
• Figure 21B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 21 A.
• Figure 22B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 22A.
• Figure 23 B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 23 A.
• Figure 24B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 24A.
• Figure 25A shows, in side-elevation, of a DEP, of two-piece construction, containing interlocking male and female, central sections.
• Figure 25B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 25 A.
• Figure 26A shows, in side-elevation, the DEP, of two-piece construction shown in Figure 25A, but with the two interlocking male and female, central sections, interlocked with one-another.
• Figure 26B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 26A.
• Figure 27A shows, in side-elevation, a DEP of two-piece construction, which resembles the DEP shown in Figure 25A but which contains a variation in the design of its central interlocking sections
• Figure 27B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 27 A
• Figure 28A shows, in side-elevation, a DEP that resembles the DEP shown in Figure 25 A, but which is of one-piece construction 0
• Figure 28B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 28 A
• Figure 29A shows, in side-elevation, the DEP represented in Figure 28A, in its interlocked configuration 5
• Figure 29B shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 29A
• Figure 30 shows, in side-elevation, a DEP of two-piece construction, which resembles the DEP represented in Figure 21 A, but which has interlocking channels formed in the 0 central interlocking sections of each piece
• Figure 31 shows, in side-elevation, the rear view of the DEP shown in Figure 30
• Figure 32 shows, a perspective view of the two pieces of the DEP shown in Figure 30, 5 and shows how the profiles of the interlocking channels change to their mirror image, halfway through the depth of the DEP
• Figure 33 shows a perspective view of the DEP represented in Figure 32, with the two pieces close together, ready to be interlocked with one-another 0
• Figure 34 shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 33, with the two pieces interlocked with one-another Figure 35 shows, in side-elevation, a DEP which resembles the DEP shown in Figure 30, but which has interlocking teeth formed on the mating faces of the channels of its central interlocking regions
• Figure 36 shows, in side-elevation, the rear view of the DEP shown in Figure 35
• Figure 37A shows, in side-elevation, an enlarged view of the central section of the DEP shown in Figure 35
• Figure 37B shows, in side-elevation, a rear view of the central section of the DEP represented in Figure 37A
• Figure 38 shows a perspective view of the DEP shown in Figure 35
• Figure 39 shows, in side-elevation, a DEP which resembles the DEP represented in Figure 22A, but which has more than one set of curved channels, for gripping clotheslines or objects, formed at each end
• Figure 40 shows a perspective view of the DEP represented in Figure 39
• Figure 41 A shows, in side-elevation, a single-ended peg (SEP) of two-piece construction, which contains operating parts which resemble those contained in the DEP represented in Figure 35
• Figure 4 IB shows a perspective view of the SEP represented in Figure 41 A
• Figure 42 shows, in side-elevation, an SEP, which resembles the SEP represented in Figure 41 A, but which has a variation in the design of its central interlocking sections, which are joined by means of a flexible loop
• FIG 43A shows, in side-elevation, the SEP represented in Figure 42, but with its central interlocking parts interlocked with one-another
• Figure 43B shows a perspective view of the SEP shown in Figure 43
• Figure 44 shows a perspective view of an SEP, which resembles the SEP shown in Figure 42, but which has no flexible loop joining the two central sections and has, instead, interlocking channels resembling those incorporated into the design of the SEP represented in Figure 41 A.
• Figure 45 shows a perspective view of an SEP, which resembles the SEP represented in Figure 44, but which has greater height.
• Figure 46 shows a perspective view of an SEP, which resembles the SEP represented in Figure 44, but which has flat-faced jaws in place of the curved jaws possessed by the latter SEP.
• Figure 47 shows a perspective view of an SEP, which resembles the SEP represented in Figure 46, but which has greater height.
• Figure 48 shows, in side-elevation, a DEP of two-piece construction, which resembles the DEP represented in Figure 22A, but which has an upper piece which has different dimensions from those of the lower piece.
• Figure 49 shows a perspective view of the DEP represented in Figure 48.
• Figure 50 shows a perspective view of a DEP, which resembles the DEP, represented in Figure 49, but which has mounting holes formed in its lower piece.
• Figure 51 shows a perspective view of a DEP which resembles the DEP represented in Figure 49 but which has upper, and lower, pieces, which are, respectively, shallower, and deeper, than the upper and lower pieces of the latter DEP.
• Figure 52 shows a perspective view of a DEP, which resembles the DEP, represented in Figure 21 A, but which has greater depth than that of the latter.
• Figure 53 shows a perspective view of a DEP, which resembles the DEP, represented in Figure 52, but which has greater depth than that of the latter.
• Figure 54A shows, in side-elevation, a DEP of two-piece construction, which resembles the DEP, represented in Figure 22A.
• Figure 54B shows a perspective view of three DEP's in use, holding display cards on a flat surface.
• a conventional clothes peg, 1, of one-piece construction has a shank, 2, and flexible splines, 3 A and 3B.
• the clothes In use, in holding clothing on a clothes-line, the clothes are placed on the line and the open end of the peg is slipped over them.
• a conventional clothes peg, 4, of three-part construction has a lower section, 5, and an upper section, 6, each held in contact with one-another by means of a torsion spring, 7, located within a cylindrical opening formed in the construction.
• the visible, front arm, 7 A, of the spring, 7, serves to apply an upward force, FI, to the lower section, 5, of the peg, at location, 8 A, where a right- angled extension of the spring, 7, fits into a groove formed in the lower section, 5, of the peg, 4.
• the arm, 7B, at the rear of the peg, 4 (which is only visible, in part, as its end) serves to apply a downward force, F2, to the upper section, 6, at location, 8B, where a similar right-angled extension to the spring, 1, fits into a groove formed in the upper section, 6, of the peg, 4.
• the two arms, 7 A and 7B, of the torsion spring, 7, therefore serve to hold the peg together.
• the forces, FI and F2 are derived from the restoring forces residing within the spring, 7, which has to be wound up slightly during the process of fixing it in place over the two sections, 5 and 6, of the peg, 4.
• the large hole, 9, and the small hole, 10 are formed from the combination of two semi-circular indentations formed in the lower and upper sections, 5 and 6, respectively, of the peg, 4, and serve to allow the peg to be placed on clothes lines having circular cross-sectional profiles of dimensions similar to those of the holes, 9 and 10, either on its own or when holding clothes to the line.
• the forces, AF5 and AF6, are opposed by spring forces, SF5 and SF6, respectively, (similar to F 1 and F2, respectively, see Figure 2) which are applied at locations, 8A and 8B, respectively (see Figure 2) by the spring, 7, whilst in compression.
• a double-ended peg (DEP) 12, has a lower section, 13, and an upper section, 14, which are in contact with one another at the apexes of the curved surfaces of curved protrusions, 13 A, 14 A, and 13B, 14B, respectively, on the main sections, 13 and 14, respectively.
• the application, by the fingers on one hand, of forces, AF7 and AF8, respectively, to each of the sections, 13 and 14, respectively, near their ends, along the directions, shown, approximately, by the arrows, will cause the DEP to open, with the points of contact of the protrusions, 13B and 14B, acting as fulcrums.
• a void, 12V exists between sections 13 and 14.
• Application of similar forces at the other end of the DEP will cause it to open at the opposite end.
• the lower section, 16, represents section, 13, in Figure 5, and the upper section, 17, represents section 14, in Figure 5, whilst protrusions, 16A, 17A, and 16B, 17B, represent, protrusions, 13 A, 14A, and 13B, 14B, respectively, shown in Figure 5.
• the void, 12V is represented by void, 15V
• protrusions, 16A, 17A, 16B and 17B are pointed, in order to demonstrate their function as fulcrums. Ideally, they would be curved, in order to prevent damage to clothing, etc.
• a stylised variant, 18, of the DEP, 15, represented in Figures, 6, 7, and 8 has a lower section, 19, and an upper section, 20, which are in contact with one another at points, 21 and 22, with a void, 18V, existing between sections, 19 and 20.
• a further stylised variant, 23, of the DEP, 18, shown in Figures 9, 10, and 1 1 has a lower section, 24, and an upper section, 25, which are in contact with one another at points, 26 and 27.
• An elastic band, 28, engages in grooves, 29 and 30, respectively, formed in lower section, 24, and in upper section, 25, respectively.
• the elastic band, 28, passes all of the way around the DEP, 23, and holds sections 24 and 25, together.
• the elastic band will hold the jaws of the DEP, 23, closed, over clothes, etc., when the clothes are placed at either, or both, ends.
• a double-ended peg, 31 A has a lower section, 32, and an upper section, 33, which are in contact at the points of contact, 34 and 35, respectively, of the curved surfaces of the two pairs of curved protrusions, 32 A, 33 A, and 32B, 33B, respectively, formed on sections, 32 and 33, respectively
• a void, 31AV exists between each of the sections, 32 and 33, and an extension spring, 36, is anchored at locations, 36A and 36B, whilst being free to extend within a cylindrical tunnel formed in each of the sections, 32 and 33
• the spring, 37 has loops, 37A and 37B, respectively, which are anchored to the lower and upper, sections, 32, and 33, respectively, along regions, 38A and 38B, respectively.
• the length of spring, 37 In order to ensure that the clothes, or other items to be held by the DEP, do not have to make contact with the spring, 37, the length of spring, 37, must be relatively short in comparison with that of the DEP, 3 IB. A balance has therefore to be struck between the relative dimensions of the joined sections, 32 and 33 (which are similar) and of the spring, 37. The greater the lengths of the loops of the spring, 37, the greater will be the leverage attained, about the bend in the loop, by the section of the DEP anchored to the appropriate loop.
• a DEP, 39 has a lower section, 40, and an upper section, 41, which are in contact along parallel lines whose ends, visible in the diagram, are represented by points 42 and 43.
• the sections, 40 and 41 form, when in contact, two pairs of large and small, holes, 9 A, 10 A, and 9B, 10B, respectively.
• a metal, or plastic, spring, 44 is located in a specially designed, contoured recess, formed in each section, 40 and 41, which forms voids, 39VA and 39VB, when it is inserted into both sections to hold them together.
• each loop of the spring, 44 engages in shaped tunnels, such that there are spurs, 47 and 48, respectively, in each section, 40 and 41, respectively.
• spurs, 47 and 48 can also act as fulcrums, during the DEP opening process, it is important to make the straight ends, 45 and 46, of the loops of the spring, 44, very strong along their anchorage regions, so that there is no tendency for them to bend about the ends of the spurs, whilst, due to the bends in the loops being elastic, there is every tendency for them to bend at the curves forming these loops in the S-shaped spring.
• This arrangement thus affords means for implementing the principles of the double- ended peg, in a three-part system using an insertable, S-shaped spring unit.
• a further variant of the design described with reference to Figures 16, 17 and 18, could be moulded, or otherwise formed, as a one-piece construction, from suitable plastic or other material.
• DEP can incorporate a Z-shaped spring, either inserted into, or moulded as part of, or otherwise formed as part of, the construction of the DEP.
• a DEP, 50 of one- piece construction, has fulcrums formed by the points of contact, 51, left, and 52, right, respectively, of the inner ends of the operating arms, 57, 58 (left) and 59, 60, (right) respectively, which can be compared, for position and function, with the points of contact, 26, left, and 27, right, respectively, of DEP, 23, shown in Figure 12.
• Spring loops, 53 (left) and 54 (right) can be compared, in function, with the elastic band, 28, shown in Figure 12, or with the spring, 36, shown in Figure 15.
• Spring arms, 53 AU (upper) and 53AL (lower) joined by spring loop, 53 serve to hold the left hand pair of jaws formed by clothes-line grippers (CLG's) 61 and 62, together, at point 51, whilst spring arms, 54AU (upper) and 54AL (lower) joined by spring loop, 54, serve to hold the right hand pair of jaws formed by line grippers, 63 and 64, together, at point, 52.
• Sections, 55 and 56, respectively, can be compared with sections, 25 and 24, respectively, of DEP, 23, shown in Figures 12, 13, and 14.
• Operating arms, 57, 58, left and 59, 60, right, allow opposing forces to be applied by the fingers, as already described with reference to earlier Figures.
• forces AF17, and AF18 can be applied as shown in Figure 19A, in order to open arms 57 and 58, and also at arms 57 and 58, respectively, in order to open arms 59 and 60, respectively, as already explained with reference to Figures 13 and 14, respectively.
• variants of the DEP can contain CLG's which have a shallower, curved cross-section, e.g. that of an ellipse, so that clothing, and other items, of various shapes and thicknesses, can be gripped by the DEP.
• DEP can have a whole range of differently shaped line grippers or they can either have no line grippers at all, or have them at one end of the DEP only.
• the jaws of the DEP can have flat, or round, contours, which act as fulcrums whilst also allowing flat objects such as paper or card, or other such objects and/or materials which have parallel, or roughly parallel, faces, to be gripped.
• the DEP can serve as a very effective office clip or clamp.
• the devices are better referred to as double-ended clips or clamps.
• the desired functional action of the DEP is to provide double-endedness, it is important that the flexibility of these curves is not so great that they bend, and therefore do not allow the arm, 59, to pull the whole of the line gripper, 63, together with the upper arm, 54 AU, of the right-hand spring loop, 54, when arm, 57, is pushed towards the horizontal centre-line of the DEP, 50, with point, 51, acting as a fulcrum.
• the space, 65 S, between this region and the outer, end-section, of arm, 54AU, provides the necessary flexibility at this point, when arm, 59, is pushed towards the horizontal centre-line (an imaginary line through points 51 and 52) of the DEP, 50, by the application of force AF18.
• arm, 59 is pulled upwards as a consequence of a downward force applied at arm, 57
• the space, 65S is reduced in size, and region, 65, touches the outer section of the arm, 54AU, thereby locking up, and preventing any flexure in this area.
• Region, 65 can also be formed for the remaining line grippers, 61, 62 and 64, and the same principles can be implemented by incorporating a similar design to the region immediately to the right of line gripper, 63, and to other such regions.
• An alternative to this method is to incorporate a reverse loop in the arm, 54AU, so that the action of applying a force, AF18, to arm, 59, in order to raise arm, 57, opens out this loop which is to the left of the line gripper, 63.
• Figures 19B and 20B show three-dimensional representations of the DEP's shown in Figures 19A and 20A, respectively.
• the DEP is either made from two similar pieces, where each part is held in contact with the other, by means of a strap and/or clamp and/or by means of interlocking joints in each part, or, alternatively, the DEP is made in just one piece, which may involve the interlocking of sub-parts of the construction, with one another.
• the gripping force existing at the jaws of the DEP is attained by designing each part so that fulcrums on either side of a mating central flange, are at a different horizontal level from that of the central flange itself. This ensures that when the two parts are in contact at their fulcrums, ready to be clamped or interlocked, the action of clamping, or interlocking, which has to be carried out against restraining forces offered by the spring arms of the loops which make up the DEP, gives rise to gripping forces at the jaws of the DEP. Spring tension can therefore be accurately controlled and internally adjusted, by design and/or by the incorporation of spacers, in special designs of DEP.
• the fulcrums which are on either side of the central interlocking region are moulded, or manufactured, so that they are in touching contact, but with an air gap between them, whilst the central flanges, which will eventually be in close proximity, are then at a prescribed distance from one-another.
• one central interlocking region is pressed towards the other central interlocking region by the application of opposing forces at the outer surfaces of the two regions, the two central pieces are ultimately locked into one another against the restraining forces applied by the spring arms of the loops which make up the DEP.
• This therefore gives rise to the desired gripping force at each pair of jaws, which can then be accurately controlled and adjusted, by design and/or by use of spacers.
• the method of achieving gripping, or clamping, strength itself offers further advantages in that by careful design of the two pieces, it is possible adjust the clamping strength to different values in the working product, as desired.
• the DEP is manufactured by joining two similar pieces to one-another. a whole range of different fastening devices in a wide range of materials, is available. These can merely clamp one piece to the other by gripping both pieces externally, or they can interlock them by utilising pre-formed holes or indentations in the surface of each part. Alternatively, by designing the two similar pieces so that they possess dovetail joints at the mating faces of their central flanges, it will be possible to slide one piece into the other. A yet further alternative, based on the interlocking of two different pieces, is to design one piece so that it has a male section which locks into a female section on the other, ideally in the region of the central flange of each.
• One of the crudest, but nevertheless still effective, methods, which has been used in our prototypes, is to use a nut, bolt, and washers, arrangement where the bolt passes through a hole in the central flange of both pieces with one part held firmly against the other, by means of a locking nut and washers.
• the two pieces could also be joined together by means of riveting techniques, or by locally heating the central flanges of both pieces so that they melt into one-another, and then cooling them; a particularly well established method of achieving this, is to use ultra-sound welding techniques.
• DEP can incorporate a male, threaded stud, on one piece, which screws into a female threaded stud-hole, on the other, where provision for final locking up, can also be made by incorporating ridges and channels into the design.
• a DEP, 66 comprises two similar half-pieces, 66U (upper) and 66L (lower) which are in contact at points, 51 (left) and 52 (right).
• Left, and right, half loops, 67L, and 67R, respectively, of upper piece, 66U, are joined by a central section, 66UC.
• left, and right, half loops, 68L, and 68R, respectively, of lower piece, 66L are joined by central section, 66LC. All other parts of the DEP, 66, are similar to those already described with reference to DEP, 50, shown in Figures 19A and 19B.
• DEP, 66A which resembles DEP, 66, already described with reference to Figures, 21 A and 22 A, now has the central sections, 66UC, and 66LC, containing dovetail joints formed at their mating surfaces, and that the two pieces, 66U and 66L are similar. This can be confirmed by rotating either piece through 180 degrees, in the plane of the paper.
• the end-face of the central section, 66UC, of the upper piece, 66U will need to be placed in contact with the end-face of the central section, 66LC, so that the two sets of dovetail joints are matched for joining.
• This can be achieved by use of a specially constructed jig comprising two parallel, and firmly fixed, vertical plates (at right angles to the plane of the paper on which the diagram is drawn) of width just less than the length of the flat outer surface of each central section, 66UC and 66LC, and taller than the depth of each piece 66U and 66L, and spaced at a distance equal to just greater than the thickness of the central section in its joined state.
• Two cylindrical rods of diameter equal to that of the circles formed by half-piece line grippers, 61 and 62, and 63 and 64, fixed to the jig, on either side of the vertical plates, can be used to guide, say, the lower piece, 66L, into the upper piece, 66U, whilst half-piece line grippers.
• 61 and 63, of upper piece, 66U are held in place by the rods, with the fingers and thumb of one hand pushing the arms 58 and 60, whilst the fingers and thumb of the other hand, push downwards on the central section, 66LC, of piece, 66L, so that it moves downwards and so that its dovetail sections lock into those of upper piece, 66U.
• a DEP, 69 resembles the DEP's already described with reference to Figures, 21A, 22A, 23A, 24 A, 2 IB, 22B, 23B, and 24B, but has an upper piece, 69U containing a central female section, 70C and a lower piece, 69L, containing a central male section, 71C, which engages with section, 70C. Also, its spring loops, 67L, 67R, 68L and 68R, and the arms, 53AU, 54AU, 53AL and 54AL, all have more curvature, representing, more closely, one definitive design for the DEP.
• Figure 27A shows, in side-elevation, a variant of the design shown in Figures, 25 A, 25B, 26A and 26B, in which the DEP, 69A, has more solid, central sections, and Figure 27B shows a three-dimensional representation of the DEP, 69A, shown in Figure 27A.
• a DEP, 69B resembles DEP's, 66, already described with reference to Figures, 21 A, 22 A, 2 IB, and 22B, but is in one piece, since central sections, 70C (upper) and 71 C (lower) are joined by means of flexible loops, 72L and 72R. Also, the spring loops, 67L, 67R, 68L and 68R, and the arms, 53AU, 54AU, 53AL and 54AL, have more curvature, representing, more closely, one definitive design for the DEP.
• the incorporation of the flexible loops, 72L and 72R allows the whole DEP, 69B, to be moulded or otherwise formed, in one piece, and prevents the upper piece, 69U, from moving in a direction at right angles with the plane of the paper i.e. in a direction which is at right angles with the side-elevation of the DEP, 69B, is shown in Figures 28A and 29 A.
• the simplest of these is a tie made from plastic, metal, or other suitable material, which can be wrapped around the central region between the flexible spring arms of the DEP, and locked, but a more elegant and satisfactory arrangement, involves the formation of interlocking teeth on each of the upper and lower pieces, of the DEP, so that the two pieces can be pushed together and hence locked in place.
• the method of interlocking, based on the formation of channels can be explained by considering the generation of three-dimensional representations of the outline shapes of the central sections of the front and mirror images of the front, of the DEP.
• FIG 30 represents a side-elevation of a DEP, 73, which is similar to DEP, 66, shown in Figure 21 A, with the exception of its central section, upper piece, 73UF has central section, 73UFC, and lower piece, 73LF has central section, 73LFC, where lower piece, 73LF, is similar to upper piece, 73UF, as can be seen by rotating upper piece, 73UF through 180 degrees, in the plane of the paper, about its geometric centre and displacing it vertically to the position occupied by piece, 73LF, shown in the diagram.
• FIG. 31 which represents a side-elevation of the rear face of DEP, 73, already described with reference to Figure 30, upper piece, 73UR has central section, 73URC, and lower piece, 73L has central section, 73LRC, where lower piece, 73LR is similar to upper piece, 73UR, as can be seen by rotating upper piece, 73UR through 180 degrees, in the plane of the paper, about its geometric centre and displacing it vertically to the position occupied by piece, 73LR, shown in the diagram.
• Figures 30 and 31 appear identical because Figure 31 represents the view of DEP, 73, from the rear, and it is to be appreciated that the cross-section changes to its mirror image, halfway through. This is made clearer by reference to Figure 32.
• Figure 33 which represents a perspective view, the upper and lower halves of the DEP, 73, are shown close to one another, ready to be interlocked.
• Figure 34 which represents a perspective view
• the two halves of the DEP, 73, shown in Figure 33 have now been interlocked with one another to give the operational configuration shown and that movement of one piece in relation to the other, in the x and y directions, is impossible.
• the identifying alphanumerics need not be referred to further, since they are identical with those already described with reference to Figures 30, 31, 32 and 33,
• DEP, 76 has upper piece, 76UF, containing central section, 76UFC, and lower piece, 76LF containing central section, 76LFC, where lower piece, 76LF, is similar to upper piece, 76UF, as can be seen by rotating upper piece, 76TJF, through 180 degrees, in the plane of the paper, about its geometric centre and displacing it vertically to the position of piece, 76LF, shown in the diagram.
• upper piece, 76UR has central section, 76URC
• lower piece, 76LR has central section, 76LRC, where lower piece, 76LR is identical with upper piece, 76UR, as can be seen by rotating upper piece, 76UR through 180 degrees, in the plane of the paper, about its geometric centre and displacing it vertically to the position occupied by piece, 76LR, shown in the diagram.
• Figures 35 and 36 respectively, thus show representations of the front, and rear, side- elevations, respectively, of the DEP, 76, in the same way that Figures 30 and 31, respectively, show representations of the front, and rear, side-elevations, respectively, of the DEP, 73.
• the central section, 76UFC, of the upper piece 76UF, of DEP, 76 has a male part, 77U, provided with teeth, 78U, on one side- face, and provided with a flat surface, 79U, on the side-face, which is parallel with this toothed face.
• a three-dimensional channel, 80U is formed by the space which exists between the toothed face, 78U, and the flat face, 81U, opposite the toothed face, 78U, where the flat face 81U, forms the inner extremity of side element, 82U, of central section, 76UFC.
• the central section, 76LFC, of lower piece, 76LF, of DEP, 76 has a male part, 77L, which is provided with teeth, 78L, on one side-face, and provided with a flat surface, 79L, on the other side-face, which is parallel with this toothed face.
• a three- dimensional channel, 80L thus exists between the toothed face, 78L, of male part, 77L, and the inner, flat face, 81L, of side element, 82L, of central section, 76LFC.
• side elements, 82U and 82L allows each of the pieces, 76UFC and 76LFC, to move sideways slightly, so that the teeth of the interlocking sections do not impede movement of one piece into the other, and so that, when each male part has reached the bottom of the tunnel in the other piece, the teeth engage with one another and are held in contact by the sideways force exerted by the side elements, 82U and 82L.
• the open, rectangular shaped channels, 83 and 84, respectively, thus receive side elements, 82L and 82U, respectively, and give rise to a continuous smooth surface consisting of pairs of faces, 85U, 85L, and 86U, 86L.
• Figure 38 shows a three-dimensional representation of DEP, 76, shown in Figure 35.
• a DEP, 88 resembles DEP, 66, already described with reference to Figures 21 A, 2 IB, 22A and 22B, but has three pairs of line grippers on either side of the central sections, 88UC (upper) and 88LC (lower). Left, and right, half loops, 89L, and 89R, respectively, of upper piece, 88U. are joined by a central section, 88UC, and left, and right, half loops, 90L, and 90R, respectively, of lower piece, 88L, are joined by central section, 88LC.
• Spring arms, 53AU and 53AL provide the gripping force which allows pairs of line grippers, 61, 62; 91, 92, and 95, 96, which are on the left hand side of DEP, 88, to function
• spring arms, 54AU and 54AL provide the gripping force which allows pairs of line grippers, 63, 64; 93, 94, and 97, 98, which are on the right hand side of DEP, 88, to function.
• Other parts are identical in function with those already described with reference to Figures 22 A and 22B. It can thus be readily seen how the DEP, 88, can provide means for clamping sets of cables to one another and that, by altering the relative sizes of the line grippers, different sizes of cable can be accommodated. It is important to note that either pair of jaws can be opened by moving one, or both, operating arms whilst the other pair of jaws remains closed around an object.
• Figure 40 shows a three-dimensional representation of the DEP, 88, described with reference to Figure 39 and the identifying alphanumerics are identical, so need not be referred to, further
• line grippers referred to with reference to Figures 39 and 40, could be designed so that ribbon cables could be held in them on either or both sides of the DEP and that any reasonable number of pairs of line grippers could be incorporated into the design provided, always, that the design was consistent with the correct operation of the DEP as already explained, and with not causing damage to the cables, etc., which it holds and makes tidy.
• a single-ended peg (SEP) 99 consists of an upper piece, 100, which is in contact with lower piece, 101, at fulcrums point, 102, and at gripping regions, 103, and 104.
• the arrangement is such that the piece, 100, can be joined to piece, 101, by means of interlocking regions, 105 (upper) and 106 (lower) which resemble central regions, 76UFC and 76LFC, respectively, of DEP, 76, already described with reference to Figures 35, 37A, 37B, and 38, where each region has sets of teeth which interlock with one another in the same way that the sets of teeth, 78U and 78L, of DEP, 76, interlock Spring arms 107 (upper) and 108 (lower) which resemble arms 53 AU and 53 AL, of DEP, 66, already described with reference to Figures 21 A, 2 IB, 22 A and 22B, serve to pull the two pieces, 100 and 101, towards one another when regions 105 and 106 are interlocked with one another, and curved line grippers, 109 (upper) and 110 (lower) serve to grip, for example, the clothes and clothes-line, inside the space, 111.
• interlocking channels not shown, resembling those having profiles, 73LFC and of its mirror image, already first described with reference to the DEP, 73, shown in Figures 30, 31, 32 and 33, are formed as part of the region behind the profiles of regions, 105 and 106, shown in Figure 41 A.
• Figure 41B shows a perspective view of SEP, 99, shown in Figure 41 A
• interlocking regions, 1 16 (upper) and 1 17 (lower) each have two sets of teeth, but instead of the channels already referred to with reference to Figure 41 A and 41B, flexible loop, 1 18, which joins upper piece, 1 16, with lower piece, 1 17, prevents depth-wise movement of one piece in relation to the other in a manner similar to that already described with reference to Figure 28A.
• Figure 43B shows a perspective view of SEP, 99A.
• an SEP, 1 19 resembles SEP, 99 A, shown in Figure 42, in that it has interlocking regions, 120 (upper) and 121 (lower) respectively, which are similar to regions 116 and 117, respectively, of SEP, 99 A, but it has no flexible loop, 118.
• the flexible loop, 118 has been replaced by the interlocking channels already referred to with reference to Figures 41 A and 41 B.
• the jaws, 122 (upper) and 123 (lower) are of a different shape, which is such that they are curved, in a similar a manner to that characteristic of pliers.
• Figure 45 shows a three-dimensional representation of SEP, 1 19A, which resembles SEP, 119, shown in Figure 44, but which has greater height.
• Figures 46 and 47 show three-dimensional representations of SEP's, 119B and 119C, respectively, which resemble DEP's, 119 and 119A, respectively, but which have flat-faced jaws, 124 and 125, respectively, whose faces are defined as 124F and 125F, which allow generally flat objects to be held in them
• Variants of these designs have the flat-faced jaws inclined at an angle with the horizontal such that when the jaws are opened to a predetermined distance apart, the flat faces are generally parallel with one another so that they can grip generally flat objects which correspond in thickness, to this distance apart.
• Other variants have stepped jaws, which enable the DEP to hold objects which vary in thickness.
• the central sections, 126UC (upper) and 126LC (lower) respectively can be compared with sections. 66UC and 66LC, respectively, of DEP, 66.
• This particular DEP is designed to provide means for holding objects whilst the lower piece, 126L, rests on a firm base, e.g. a workbench or desk, where the arrangement lends itself to easier operation of the arms, 57S and 59S, because the force required to open the jaws created by line grippers, 61, 62 (left) and 63, 64 (right) is downwards and hence assisted by the weight of the operator and gravity.
• Figure 49 shows a three-dimensional representation of a DEP, 126, shown in Figure 126.
• a DEP, 126 A, resembling DEP, 126, shown in Figures 48 and 49 has holes, 127 (left) and 128 (right) respectively, moulded, drilled, or otherwise formed, in the operating arms, 58 (left) and 60 (right) of the lower piece, 126L, so that the whole DEP, can be held firmly to the workbench or desk, etc., by means of nuts and bolts or studs, thereby enhancing its use in connection with the tasks already referred to with reference to Figures 48 and 49.
• the DEP Whilst smooth internal contours to the holes, 127 and 128, will allow the use of threaded, or partially threaded, bolts or studs, together with appropriate nuts, the provision of threads inside the holes will allow the DEP to be bolted to a larger and if desired, heavier, base plate, or directly to a custom designed, working base, having pre-drilled and threaded mounting holes. It is also possible for the DEP, 126 A, to be held to the workbench or desk, by means of custom designed adhesive systems, e.g.
• the protective cover on one side of a section of double-sided tape can be removed to allow it to be fixed to the underside of the lower piece, 126L, and where the protective cover on the other side of the tape can be removed when it is desired to fix the DEP, 126A, to a suitable supporting surface.
• a DEP, 127 has an upper piece, 127U, which resembles upper piece, 126U of DEP, 126, already described with reference to Figures 48 and 49, but which is shallower depth, and a lower piece, 127L, which resembles lower piece, 126L, of DEP, 126, but which is deeper in depth.
• the incorporation of magnetic, and/or magnetisable material into the design of the DEP's or their manufacture in magnetisable material, or anyway, magnetically attractable material, allows the DEPs to be used as a convenient device for assisting work on objects, or parts of objects, e.g. a ship, since, once located on the object, e.g. a ship's hull, inside or outside, tools or other objects/equipment can be held. For instance, paintbrushes could be temporarily clamped to the surface of a ship or bridge, whilst it is being painted
• DEP's could be used for working on and/or holding together, uninsulated wires, provided always, that the DEP's were of sufficient insulating strength and sufficiently safely designed and manufactured to allow safe use in this way.
• a DEP, 66A, resembling DEP, 66 is shown in three-dimensional form, and it can be seen that its depth is greater than that of DEP, 66, shown in Figure 21B
• Figure 53 shows, in perspective a variant of DEP, 66A, which has even greater depth, and this DEP can be used, for instance, for sealing bags or envelopes or holding papers, leaflets, etc., or as a general "desk-tidy"
• FIG. 54B which represents a perspective view
• three DEP's, 66R, 66S, and 66T which resemble DEP, 66, shown in Figure 54A, are shown holding display cards such that, DEP, 66R, holds page 128 of a display set containing pages, 128, 129, 130 and 131, DEP, 66S, holds page, 131 of this set as well as page 132, of a display set containing pages, 132, 133, 134 and 135, whilst DEP, 66T, holds page 135 of this latter set
• the bottom edges of the cards, and the flat bases of the DEP's all lie on a flat surface so that it can be readily seen, how any number of such display cards, which could, for instance, be Christmas, or Birthday, cards, can be held in stable equilibrium
• the functional features of the DEP can be part of a semi-permanent or permanent structure in which parts are removable or non-removable.
• the DEP can be used to hold a torch or lamp e.g. in a cave or mine, and in underwater applications where the material of construction would be such that it could withstand the ambient conditions.
• the DEP can also be used in a fishing environment where, for instance, a bell or lamp could be attached to one set of jaws, whilst the other set of jaws was used to attach the DEP. and hence the bell or lamp, to a fishing rod or other object, where the bell or lamp was used as a bite indicator or where the lamp was used for general lighting purposes.
• a DEP attached to a lamp or other indicating device could also be attached to a float.
• the DEP could also be used for attaching objects to a bicycle.
• the DEP can be used to hold chromatographic columns and other objects, in chromatographic equipment installations, where the ease of fitting and removal is important. Where temperatures above ambient, are to be encountered/tolerated, it is recommended that the DEP be designed so that it can withstand such temperatures; many application s for chromatography involve the use of e.g. nylon tubing and the DEP thus affords particularly useful means for fitting and removal of such tubing.
• the DEP will also be generally useful for holding pressure tubing, in installations involving the transportation of gases e.g. the distribution of gases in laboratories, whether permanent or mobile, and the holding of gas tubing on vehicles, etc. It can also be used for holding pipettes and general glass equipment/objects, or equipment/objects of other construction, in a laboratory environment.
• the DEP could also be used as part of a door hinge in a cupboard, or on other doors.
• the principles embodied in the DEP can be applied to equipment used to aid mountain climbing, camping, and caravanning. It can also be used to hold filmstrips and film processing materials during drying or processing.
• a further application for the DEP is as a hinge for holding together the parts of a clothes drying frame or any other whole frame or sub-frame or assembly. Here, each part of the frame is held in the jaws at one end of the DEP, and there can be as many DEP's as is required for stability.
• An extension of this concept is to use the principles of the DEP in a building system in which each DEP is designed so that it has modifications to its shape which allow one DEP to be interlocked with another.
• the formation of shaped raised areas on one side-face and the formation of shaped depressions on the other side-face will allow two or more DEP's to be interlocked with one another to make their use more versatile; they can and then be subsequently separated from one another, as desired.
• This interlocking can, of course, occur via any of the surfaces of the modified DEP and with careful design of the jaws, the ends or other parts of the operating arms of a DEP can be gripped by the jaws of another DEP, thus allowing walls, frameworks, etc., to be built thereby affording means for building new structures on any scale which can be dismantled as desired.
• Another application involves the use of the DEP's, or clamps/clips, to hold cables and wires, etc., where each pair of jaws can hold a single object or has sufficient capacity via its shape and design, to hold more than one object, e.g. in side-by-side, orientation.
• These methods of use allow application to, holding, HI-FI, hospital equipment, telephone, television, radio, general electrical and electronic, vehicle, aircraft, etc., cables or wires, to a secure location, or to one another.
• the DEP's are designed with proper insulation, they can be used for holding live cables, in experimental and control testing, etc., applications. They can also be used to enable one secure cable or wire, or object, to hold another cable or wire or object, to itself, e.g.
• a DEP can be used to allow that cable or object to keep another cable or object at the same safe distance from the hazard by allowing it to be attached to the cable or object by means of a DEP.
• the width or height of a single DEP or SEP can be increased as a consequence of combining DEP's and SEP's in these ways.
• the DEP's are designed to hold cables, wires, rope, string or cord, etc.
• the use of spacers when joining join the DEP's to one another provides means for maintaining a tidy arrangement where the cables, or wires, are, for instance, used on hospital equipment.
• Another application is for holding a writing implement on a telephone cable or handset or general piece of telephone hardware or computer hardware e.g. a laptop computer, or for example, for holding pages whilst entering details from them into a computer.
• the DEP can also be used to advantage in any equipment, which is involved in space exploration or occupation, where the need to secure objects and release them easily, is particularly important because of the lack of gravity.
• DEP DEP
• its jaws can grip such a cable without damage.
• Special designs of DEP can therefore hold ribbon cables, which are flat and wide in proportion to their height and telephone cables, which tend to have a flat contour with rounded sides.
• the DEP can be used in a skiing environment for use in holding, gloves or goggles, to ski sticks or clothing.
• the DEP can be used to hold cloths, etc., anywhere in any location where the cloth, etc., can be clipped via the DEP to another object or part of an object.
• the DEP can be used to attach lists, notes, etc., to a fridge.
• the DEP can also be used to hold photographs and pictures.
• the DEP also has general application in the office or home, when using a computer, or typewriter, or when reading a book or magazine, etc.
• the DEP can also be used to hold identity cards, etc., and ornaments/badges to clothing, e.g. a pocket or a tie, for conference and exhibition purposes, or for holding other objects attached to the body, or held on the body e.g. a rucksack.
• identity cards, etc., and ornaments/badges to clothing, e.g. a pocket or a tie, for conference and exhibition purposes, or for holding other objects attached to the body, or held on the body e.g. a rucksack.
• the incorporation of, for example, cylindrical shaped protrusions and circular depressions, on the jaws of the DEP, for example those resembling the shapes of the teeth of a ticket punch used for cancelling tickets, will allow easier fixing of e.g. conference badges, etc., to the lapel, etc., of a coat, where the existence of such shaped jaws at both ends of the DEP will allow easier fixing to both objects.
• the DEP can also be used to hold advertising material of any kind, e.g. in shops, restaurants, etc.
• the DEP affords convenient means for holding sheet, or book, music on music stands or on other objects, even musical instruments themselves, e.g. on a trumpet or clarinet, etc., and it can also be used to extend shelves or attach objects to shelves.
• the DEP also has applications in sailing where cords and ropes are handled and need to be releasablv secured.
• the DEP can also be used as an auxiliary aid to the use of clothes hangers and in a clothing environment in general
• a further use for the DEP is as part of a collection of custom designed DEP's, which constitute a tool rack. It can also be used to create or extend the cover from the Sun, afforded by a Sunblind, or to extend cover from any other source of radiation.
• the DEP be designed so that its surfaces have smooth contours. This can also be important for preventing damage to users, and to objects, which could come into contact with the DEP Such smooth contouring can also limit any tendency for DEP's to become tangled up with one another and with other objects or pegs, clips, etc.
• a yet further application for the DEP is for temporarily sealing packages or packets or bags of any kind. Permanent sealing is possible via use of designs of DEP, which utilise locking principles at one of the pairs of jaws
• the jaws of the DEP can be designed so as to allow their shape and size to be adjusted so that objects of varying size and shape, can be held by them.
• the jaws can, for instance, be designed so that they can hold objects of circular, or square, cross-section e.g. an umbrella or walking stick, to a secure location, or so that they can provide means of attachment of objects to such objects, or to other objects, for example, prams, pushchairs, etc.
• the DEP can also be designed so that the length of the central section is minimised so that the overall length of the DEP is thereby minimised.
• DEP can have their jaws shaped so that, with one jaw of a pair, flat, and the other, v-shaped, the closed arrangement produces a triangular shaped combination.
• the DEP could be designed so that auxiliary jaws could be fitted over the jaws of the manufactured product, so that the DEP could hold objects of particular sizes and/or shapes.
• connection is by means of two lengths of rubber or other flexible, tubing, where each length joins an adjacent arm of one of the two pegs.
• tubing is a tight fit onto each operating arm of the pair of pegs, the flexibility of the combined arrangement will allow the user to press inwards on the rubber tubing at points opposite to one another, between each operating arm.
• Variants of this principle involve specially constructed connectors which allow the two SEP's to be connected to one another whilst providing flexibility in operation and durability in use

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)

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• 1998
  • 1998-11-27 WO PCT/GB1998/003562 patent/WO1999028635A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-11-27 EP EP98955809A patent/EP1040279A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-11-27 GB GB9826020A patent/GB2331787B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-11-27 AU AU12532/99A patent/AU1253299A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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