GB2344133A

GB2344133A - Fastenings

Info

Publication number: GB2344133A
Application number: GB9816429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shaun Timothy Pollard
Original assignee: APOLLO PLASTIC SYSTEMS
Current assignee: APOLLO PLASTIC SYSTEMS
Priority date: 1998-07-28
Filing date: 1998-07-28
Publication date: 2000-05-31
Also published as: GB9816429D0

Abstract

A fastening for securing an item to a tube includes a generally U-shaped component adapted to fit around the tube. The U-shaped component may include first (1) (13) and second (2) (14) parts each having an upstanding support (4,5) (15,16) slidably mounted relatively to each other so that they can occupy a first relative position where they grip the tube and a second relative position. A locking means (6,3) (20,21) is provided to retain the supports in their first relative position.

Description

FASTENINGS This invention relates to a fastening for attaching articles to tubes. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with fastenings for attaching auxiliary items such as rain covers, sun shades and the like to the tubular chassis of prams or push chairs. The present invention also relates to such auxiliary items incorporating a fastening.

Manufacturers of prams and pushchairs often provide, in addition to the basic pram or pushchair unit, matching auxiliary items which may be purchased subsequently and fastened to the chassis of the pram or pushchair. There is also a large independent aftermarket for items of this type, which typically include rain covers, sun shades, parasols, footwarmers and various small toys to amuse the occupant of the pram or pushchair.

These items are conventionally fastened to the pram or pushchair frame or chassis by means of clips which clamp around the tubes forming the frame or chassis of the pram or pushchair. Conventionally, the clamp forms an integral part of or is fastened to the auxiliary item so it cannot be removed. Frequently, however, conventional clamps do not grip the tube forming the chassis firmly enough and are prone to slipping or may be displaced when the pram is pushed over uneven ground because they provide insufficient grip on the tube. In addition, conventional clamps may wear and fail thereby rendering the auxiliary item useless since the means of attachment of the item to the pram is broken and cannot be replaced.

A typical design of conventional clip is indicated by design registration No. 2053693 which concerns a clip for attaching auxiliary articles to a pram. The clip is essentially formed of two parts of plastics material, each of which bears a shaped support, with each part being slidable with respect to the other part. The supports are shaped such that they are able to close around a large part of the outside of a tube of circular cross-section so as to engage and grip the tube. The first part of the clip has a flat portion of plastics material which has a support standing upright from the flat portion. The support is curved so as to be able to abut with and thus grip a part of the circumference of a tube when in use. A ratchet is provided on the same surface of the flat portion as the surface from which the support extends. The second part of the clip includes a portion which is able to slide in engagement with the flat portion of the first part and which also bears a support standing upright.

This portion has a tab to engage with the ratchet on the flat portion. The upright support of the second part also has a curved shape, so as to be able contact the outside of a part of a tube, and is curved in the opposite direction to the curvature of the upright support on the first flat portion. In use, the two parts of the clip may move freely together about a tube which is to be gripped, with the result that the two upright supports contact and grip opposite sides of the tube. The tab and ratchet prevent release unless the tab is raised from engagement with the ratchet.

The first and second parts of this clip are slidable with respect to each other and are engaged with each other by means of ratchet system which forms part of the sliding arrangement and which is effective to prevent separation of the two parts of the clip whether or not the clip is clamped around a tube. The ratchet, which is formed as part of the flat portion of the first part of the clip, engages with a flexible tab provided on the second part of the clip in a conventional manner. The two pieces of the clip may be freely slid in the direction towards one another so that the two upright supports approach one another.

However, the ratchet prevents separation of the two parts and the two upright supports may only be moved apart by disengagement of the tab from the ratchet.

One problem with this arrangement is that disengagement of the tab and ratchet is fiddly and therefore difficult to achieve when the user is distracted by the occupant of the pram or if the user's hands are cold or wet.

Another problem with the clip of this design is that the clip does not provide a very strong grip on the tube and is thus prone to slipping. In addition, it is only really suitable for tubes of a single diameter and it is not very effective at clamping different diameters of tubes, particularly tubes which have a radius that is larger than the radius of curvature of the two upright supports. Likewise, tubes which have a radius which is much smaller than the radius of the upright supports also cannot be effectively clamped.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above problems. In particular, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a fastening which is able to secure a range of diameters of tubes without slipping.

It is also an aim to provide a fastening which is quickly and easily releasable or engageable with a tube by the user. The fastening is also required to provide a secure and economical fixing to the tube.

In the case of the present invention, the fastening may be releasably secured to the auxiliary item so that in the event of failure of the fastening, the fastening may be simply replaced with another.

This avoids the need to throw away the auxiliary item, which may be expensive, just because of the failure or accidental breakage of the fastening. In the case of conventional auxiliary attachments, the clamp and the auxiliary item are often united permanently. of course, if desired by the manufacturer of the auxiliary item, the fastenings of the present invention may be permanently bonded to the auxiliary item.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening for engaging with a tube, the fastening comprising a first part which has a substantially flat portion bearing a shaped support which stands upright therefrom and which is shaped to contact part of the circumference of a tube, and a second part which bears a shaped support standing upright therefrom and which is shaped to contact another part of the circumference of the tube, wherein the second part is able to slide along the flat portion of the first part so that the spacing between the supports may vary, and wherein the second part is provided with a cam which is adapted to engage with and bear against the flat portion of the first part in one position of use so that the first and second parts are rendered immobile with respect to one another, and, in a second position of use, the cam does not engage with and bear against the flat portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the cam is adapted to bear on the opposite surface of the flat portion to that which bears the upright support. Preferably, the flat portion of the first part of the fastening includes a ratchet and the cam includes an abutment which can engage with the ratchet. In the first position of use, the abutment engages with the ratchet so as to prevent relative movement of the first and second upright supports. In the second position of use, the abutment on the cam is spaced apart from the ratchet and the first and second parts and hence the upright supports are able to move freely with respect to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the abutment on the cam comprises at least one indentation, for example one or more linear grooves in the cam surface which may engage with the grooves in the ratchet, or one or more protrusions on the cam surface, for example one or more splines arranged so as to cooperate with the grooves in the ratchet.

The fastening may be made of metal or plastics, and it is preferably made of plastics material.

Preferred plastics include polyamides such as nylon in view of their strength and toughness. Another suitable material is polycarbonate.

A fastening of this type is suitable for a wide range of different tube sizes. Typical tube sizes which may be used in conjunction with the various fastenings of the present invention are 10 to 40mm.

In a second aspect of the invention, the fastening is formed from a single piece of resilient material having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and bearing a lug for attachment to the auxiliary item. The U-shaped fastening may be made of metal or plastics material, and is preferably formed from plastics such as nylon.

The interior surface of the U-shaped fastening defines a region having a substantially oval crosssection. In use, the respective ends of the U-shaped fastening are sprung apart by pushing them over the tube to be clipped and then closed together once the tube is located in the inside portion of the clip due to the resilience of the material forming the fastening. The resilience of the walls of the U-shaped fastening causes the inside walls of the U-shaped fastening to bear on the tube thereby ensuring that the tube is gripped by the clip. The fastening is able to cope with a wide range of tube sizes, typically 10 to 40mm.

In an embodiment of this second aspect, the walls of the interior of the U-shaped clip define two distinct but slightly overlapping regions of substantially circular cross-section, with each region having a different radius of curvature. The circular regions overlap in that they partly intersect one another and the circular region furthest from the open ends of the U-shaped fastening has the smallest radius of curvature. The circular region closest to the open ends of the U-shaped fastening thus has the larger radius of curvature.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastening for engaging with a tube, the fastening comprising a first part which includes a substantially flat portion whose top surface bears a shaped support standing upright therefrom, the support being shaped to contact part of the circumference of a tube, and a second part which bears a shaped support standing upright therefrom, the support being shaped to contact another part of the circumference of the tube, wherein the second part is able to slide along the flat portion of the first part so that the spacing between the supports may vary, wherein the flat portion includes a slot so as to define two arms at the end of the flat portion remote from the support, each arm including a ratchet on the opposite side from the slot, and wherein the corresponding internal surfaces of the second part over which the ratchets on the arms may pass include ratchets adapted to engage with the ratchets on the arms of the first part.

In a preferred embodiment, the slot passes through the top surface of the flat portion in such a manner that the arms may be deformed towards one another in a direction which is transverse with respect to the top surface and. with respect to the support.

Preferably, the second part is disposed in the form of a box section surrounding the first part.

The slot provided in the flat portion of the first piece may pass part or all of the length of the flat portion between the end of the flat portion and the shaped support. The surface from which the shaped support protrudes and upon which the second piece of the fastening slides may be smooth to facilitate sliding when the ratchets are disengaged. The resilience of the material forming the fastening causes the ratchets on the two arms of the flat portion to bear against the corresponding ratchets on the inside of the second part of the fastening when the fastening is in use. When the distal ends of the two arms are pressed inwardly towards one another (thereby narrowing the slot) the ratchets on the first and second parts of the fastening disengage. The first and second parts of the fastening are then able to move with respect to one another.

The fastenings of the invention may include means to allow the fastening to be releasably joined with an auxiliary item for which the fastening is to serve as a means of retention attachment to a pram or other tubular article. Preferably, the means of joining the auxiliary item to the fastening is effected in such a way that the joint allows movement of the fastening relative to the auxiliary item, for example, for the purposes of adjustment. In such circumstances, the point of attachment of the fastening to the auxiliary item may include conventional means such as a ratchet or other friction means to allow adjustment and fastening. The point of attachment of the auxiliary item to the fastening is preferably at the distal end with respect to the upright support of the first part of the fastening.

The invention will now be illustrated by means of the following diagrams in which: Figure 1 illustrates a fastening gripping a tube in accordance with one aspect of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the fastening of Figure 1 in a first position of use.

Figure 3 is a side view of the fastening of Figure 1 in a second position of use.

Figure 4 illustrates the fastening of Figure 1 before attachment of an auxiliary item.

Figure 5 is a side view of a fastening according to another aspect of the invention.

Figure 6 is an embodiment of a fastening of the type shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 illustrates a fastening according to yet another aspect of the invention.

Figure 8 illustrates the first part of a fastening according to Figure 7.

Figure 9 illustrates the second part of a fastening according to Figure 7.

Figure 1 shows a clip comprising a first part 1 and a second part 2. First part 1 includes a flat portion 3 and a shaped support 4. Second part 2 includes shaped support 5 and a slot (not shown) at the base of shaped support 5 through which flat portion 3 may pass. Second part 2 also includes a hinged cam 6 which is actuated by means of lever 7, the cam being pivoted at the base of shaped support 5. In this arrangement, the cam 6 is on the opposite side of the slot from the shaped support 5. In a first position of use, as indicated in Figure 1, lever 7 is depressed so that it touches the upper surface of flat portion 3 and causes cam 6, which is eccentric, to bear on the surface of flat portion 3 so that the other surface of flat portion 3 bears against the slot. In this position of use, the positions of shaped supports 4 and 5 are locked relative to one another due to friction between flat portion 3 and the slot and thus firmly grip pipe 8.

Figure 2 shows the fastening of Figure 1 in a first position of use in which lever 7 is depressed such that it contacts part of one surface of flat portion 3 and causes eccentric cam 6 to engage with and secure flat portion 3. This may be regarded as the "closed"portion of the clip.

Figure 3 shows the fastening of Figure 1 in a second position of use in which lever 7 is raised and eccentric cam 6 does not bear on flat portion 3. Under these circumstances shaped supports 4 and 5 are able to move freely towards or away from one another in the direction shown by arrow A in the Figure. This may be regarded as the"open"position of the clip. Lever 7 moves in the direction indicated by arrow B in the Figure to open and close the fastening. Once tube 8 is in place with shaped supports 4 and 5 contacting the opposite sides of tube 8, lever 7 can be depressed so that it enters the first position of use as indicated in Figure 2. The tube 8 is then locked in place.

Figure 4 shows the fastening of Figure 1 which includes hole 9 in flat portion 3. Auxiliary items such as rain covers etc may be attached to the fastening via hole 9 in any conventional manner.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate another type of fastening in the form of a U-shaped piece of resilient material comprising arms 10 and 11 and lug 12 which includes a hole (not shown) for attachment to an auxiliary item. In Figure 5, the internal portion of the fastening which grips the clip is substantially elliptical, whereas in the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the interior portion comprises two intersecting circular regions which are designed so that the fastening may accommodate two different sizes of tubes.

Figure 7 shows a fastening according to another aspect of the invention which is formed from first part 13 and second part 14. First part 13 and second part 14 have shaped supports 15 and 16, respectively.

Second part 14 is able to slide on flat portion 17 of first part 13. Flat portion 17 includes groove 18 and arms 19. Squeezing the ends of arms 19 inwardly together in the direction of arrow C allows disengagement of ratchet 20 on first part 13 from ratchet 21 (shown in Figure 9) on the inside of second part 14 allowing first part 13 and second part 14 to slide relative to one another. Arms 19 defined by groove 18 in flat portion 17 are able to pass through an opening at the base of shaped support 16 as second part 14 slides along flat portion 17. In this manner, shaped supports 15 and 16 may be moved towards or away from one another in the direction shown by arrow D in the Figure.

Figure 8 shows first part 13 of the fastening of Figure 7 in isolation and Figure 9 shows second part 14 of the fastening of Figure 7 in isolation. Figure 9 shows ratchet 21 on the inside of the opening of second part 14.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A fastening for engaging with a tube, the fastening comprising a first part which has a substantially flat portion bearing a shaped support which stands upright therefrom and which is shaped to contact part of the circumference of a tube, and a second part which bears a shaped support standing upright therefrom and which is shaped to contact another part of the circumference of the tube, wherein the second part is able to slide along the flat portion of the first part so that the spacing between the supports may vary, and wherein the second part is provided with a cam which is adapted to engage with and bear against the flat portion of the first part in one position of use so that the first and second parts are rendered immobile with respect to one another, and, in a second position of use, the cam does not engage with and bear against the flat portion.

2. A fastening as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cam is adapted to bear on the opposite surface of the flat portion to that which bears the upright support.

3. A fastening as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the flat portion of the first part of thefastening includes a ratchet and the cam includes an abutment which can engage with the ratchet whereby, in the first position of use, the abutment engages with the ratchet so as to prevent relative movement of the first and second upright supports and, in the second position of use, the abutment on the cam is spaced apart from the ratchet.

4. A fastening as claimed in claim 3, wherein the abutment on the cam comprises at least one indentation.

5. A fastening as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one indentation is in the form of one or more linear grooves in the cam surface.

6. A fastening as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the ratchet includes one or more grooves for engagement with the indentation (s).

7. A fastening as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more protrusions are provided on the cam surface.

8. A fastening as claimed in claim 7, wherein the or each protrusion is in the form of a spline.

9. A fastening as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the ratchet includes one or more grooves for co-operation with the protrusion (s).

10. A fastening as claimed in any preceding claim which is formed of metal.

11. A fastening as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 which is formed of plastics material.

12. A fastening as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plastics material is a polyamide or polycarbonate.

13. A fastening for engaging with a tube, the fastening comprising a single piece of resilient material having a substantially U-shaped cross-section for accommodating the tube and bearing a lug for attachment to an auxiliary item.

14. A fastening as claimed in claim 13 which is formed of metal.

15. A fastening as claimed in claim 13 which is formed of plastics material.

16. A fastening as claimed in claim 15 wherein the plastics material is a polyamide.

17. A fastening as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the interior surface of the fastening defines a region having a substantially oval crosssection.

18. A fastening as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16 wherein the walls of the interior of the fastening define two distinct but slightly overlapping regions of substantially circular cross-section, with each region having a different radius of curvature, and the region furthest from the open ends of the U-shaped fastening having the smallest radius of curvature.

19. A fastening for engaging with a tube, the fastening comprising a first part which includes a substantially flat portion whose top surface bears a shaped support standing upright therefrom, the support being shaped to contact part of the circumference of a tube, and a second part which bears a shaped support standing upright therefrom, the support being shaped to contact another part of the circumference of the tube, wherein the second part is able to slide along the flat portion of the first part so that the spacing between the supports may vary, wherein the flat portion includes a slot so as to define two arms at the end of the flat portion remote from the support, each arm including a ratchet on the opposite side from the slot, and wherein the corresponding internal surfaces of the second part over which the ratchets on the arms may pass include ratchets adapted to engage with the ratchets on the arms of the first part.

20. A fastening as claimed in claim 19, wherein the slot passes through the top surface of the flat portion in such a manner that the arms may be deformed towards one another in a direction which is transverse with respect to the top surface and with respect to the support.

21. A fastening as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein the second part is disposed in the form of a box section surrounding the first part.

22. A fastening as claimed in claim 19, 20 or 21 wherein the surface from which the shaped support protrudes and upon which the second part of the fastening slides is smooth to facilitate sliding when the ratchets are disengaged.

23. A fastening as claimed in any preceding claim and including means to allow the fastening to be releasably joined with an auxiliary item for which the fastening is to serve as a means of attachment to a part of a pram or other tubular article.

24. A fastening as claimed in claim 23, wherein the means of joining the auxiliary item to the fastening is effected in such a way that the joint allows movement of the fastening relative to the auxiliary item.

25. A fastening as claimed in claim 23 or 24, wherein the point of attachment of the auxiliary item to the fastening is at the distal end with respect to the upright support of the first part of the fastening.

26. A fastening substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, Figures 5 and 6, or Figures 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.