GB2080875A - Resilient pipe clamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A resilient annular pipe clamp has at its ends oppositely disposed rows 8 and 9 of inter-engageable securing teeth. The two ends of the clamp are located by a rib 15 lying in a groove at 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Resilient pipe clip The invention relates to a resilient pipe clip for connecting two pieces by means of a connecting sleeve or for connecting a pipe to a fixed connection, for example in a domestic electrical appliance.

Various types of clips are known for such purposes (for example resilient clips, springtype clips, screw-type clips, etc).

In particular, a pipe clip of resilient type is known, which is substantially of annular shape, and whose ends are provided with respective oppositely disposed sets of teeth capable of engaging together in order to lock the pipe to be connected, each set of teeth comprising a series of teeth which are inclined in a transverse direction with respect to the plane of the clip and inclined in a radial direction with respect to said plane and in the opposite direction to the direction of closing the pipe clip.

Disengagement of the ends of such a pipe clip is effected by first moving one of the above-mentioned sets of teeth orthogonally with respect to the plane thereof, and then extracting it from the other end.

This type of clip is normally made of plastics material and is capable of ensuring an effective connection between pipes of relatively large diameters, while excluding the possibility of accidental disengagement of the respective ends thereof.

In addition, the clip in question is made of sufficient width to impart a sufficient degree of mechanical strength to the connection.

This fact gives rise to the disadvantage that it is not possible to use clips of the type whose width is less than a certain dimension, without detrimentally affecting the connection.

Such a situation may occur for example in a metal tub for clothes washing machines, which is provided with two short pipe connections for respectively connecting the flexible discharge conduit and the conduit for recirculating water to the tub, which connections are formed by flanging the edge of the respective hole provided in the tub, each of the connections being provided with a very narrow seat for mounting the pipe clip.

According to the present invention, there is provided a resilient pipe clip comprising a single substantially annular member, the ends of which are provided with oppositely disposed rows of teeth adapted to engage into each other and with a respective radial outwardly directed projection for coupling said rows of teeth, one of said ends being provided with an arcuate projection which is parallel to the respective row of teeth, the two ends being provided with a rib-and-groove connecting means extending circumferentially of the clip, to ensure guiding and fixing of the coupling.

As will be apparent from the following description, the invention can overcome the above disadvantage by providing a clip which is capable of ensuring effective connection for any pipe, even when the width of the clip is substantially reduced.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of the clip according to the invention, in the rest condition, and Figures 2 and 3 shows a side view of the clip on an enlarged scale, in section taken respectively along A-A and line B-B, in Fig.

1.

Referring to the drawings, the resilient pipe clip embodying the invention essentially comprises a single member 5 of annular shape, the ends 6 and 7 of which are provided with respective oppositely disposed sets of teeth 8 and 9 which are capable of engaging with each other (Fig. 1).

The set of teeth 8 has a series of teeth which are inclined in a radial direction with respect to the plane of the clip, said teeth being of straight profile in a transverse direction with respect to said plane.

The set of teeth 9 has a series of teeth which are inclined like the teeth of the set 8, in such a way that the two sets of teeth can be progressively engaged with each other simply by acting in the direction of closing the clip around the pipe to be connected (in the direction indicated by arrow C).

Conversely, the inclination of the teeth does not permit the sets of teeth to become disengaged from each other by acting in the opposite direction to the above-indicated direction.

The end 6 of the clip is also provided both with a central groove 10 which is formed along a given circumferential arc, and a radial projection 11 which is directed outwardly (see Fig. 2).

The other end 7 of the clip has a tongue portion 12 which is connected to the respective set of teeth 9 and which forms an inclined entry surface for engagement of the teeth 8.

The end 7 is provided with a radial projection 13 which is also directed outwardly and which is connected to an arcuate appendix or projection 14 which is formed parallel to the set of teeth 9.

As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the arcuate projection 14 is provided with an internal rib 15 which is formed along a given circumferential arc, and an external strengthening rib 18.

The internal rib 15 is arranged to co-operate with the central groove 10 of the set of teeth 8 whereby, when the respective teeth of the sets 8 and 9 of teeth are engaged with each other, the rib 15 and the groove 10 also definitively come into engagement with each other at the same time.

The pipe clip of the abovedescribed form may be of greatly reduced width and may be introduced into narrow seating locations for connecting pipes of various sizes.

The coupling means formed by the rib 15 and the groove 10 affords the double advantage of facilitating insertion of the teeth 8 and 9 for making the connection, and preventing disengagement thereof in service.

In this way, the clip may be used for example in a clothes washing machine, the metal tub of which is provided with two short connecting stubs for respectively connecting the flexible discharge conduit and the conduit for recycling water to the tub.

Each connecting stub is normally made by direct flanging of the edge portion of the respective hole in the tub, and is provided with a very narrow seat for receiving the pipe clip.

The conduit to be connected is therefore pushed onto the connecting stub and is clamped therearound by means of the present clip which in turn is housed in the abovedescribed receiving seat.

In order to achieve this result, the end 6 of the clip is introduced into the end 7 by manually moving the two projections 11 and 13 towards each other.

In consequence, the respective teeth of the sets 8 and 9 come into engagement with each other until they reach a position in which the clip is locked on the conduit, while the rib 15 is engaged in the groove 10. It will be seen at this point that, by virtue of the inclination of the teeth of the sets of teeth 8 and 9 and the interengagement between the rib 15 and the groove 10, the two ends 6 and 7 of the clip remain fixedly in engagement with each other without the possibility of their being able to become accidentally disengaged.

In the event that the ends of the clip are to be disengaged from each other, it is necessary first to lever up the elongate projection 14, using a suitable tool, and then to disengage the teeth 8 and 9. The external rib 18 imparts the required strength to the projection 14, in the event of the clip being repeatedly opened.

Obviously, the clip described can also be used to connect pipes of different sizes, by suitably varying the length of the annular member 5 and possibly the number of teeth of the sets of teeth 8 and 9.

In addition, for the purposes of the present invention, the system of inter-engagement between the two ends 6 and 7 of the clip according to the invention may also be of different forms, for example with the rib 15 being provided in the end 6 and with the groove 10 being provided in the end 7.

Claims (3)

1. A resilient pipe clip comprising a Single substantially annular member, the ends of which are provided with oppositely disposed rows of teeth adapted to engage into each other and with a respective radial outwardly directed projection for coupling said rows of teeth, one of said ends being provided with an arcuate projection which is parallel to the respective row of teeth, the two ends being provided with a rib#nd-grocwe connecting means extending circumferentially of the clip, to ensure guiding and fixing of the coupling.

2. A pipe clip according to claim 1, wherein said rib is provided on the inside of said arcuate projection which is externally provided with a further strengthening rib.

3. A pipe clip constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.