DE9405363U1 - Holding clip - Google Patents

Description

KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Description:

The invention relates to a retaining clip for laying cables, hoses, pipes and similar strand material, with a receiving section for at least a first strand of material in a receiving space which is delimited by a base section, two side arms spaced apart from the base section and, for example, at least one locking arm which can be transferred from an open position to a closed position after the strand of material has been introduced into the receiving space, with at least one spring section branching off from one side arm which serves to support the strand of material from the inside against the locking arm or in the direction of the locking arm in the closed position, and optionally with an anchoring section preferably provided on the base section or on one of the side arms for mounting on a support surface.

Such retaining clips have proven themselves in practice. However, the invention aims to make them accessible for further use and to improve and expand their functionality.

This object is initially achieved with the invention, for example, in that the spring section can be deflected against its restoring force into a position in which it locks with its free end behind a locking edge while clamping another strand of material.

With the retaining clips of the known type mentioned at the beginning, it is only possible to securely hold material strands with a certain minimum cross-section when supported on the spring section, i.e. between the locking arm and the spring section, since otherwise the spring section cannot exert the required clamping effect. The invention proposal makes it possible

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

It is possible to transfer the elastic spring section into a position in which its free end engages behind a locking edge and in this locking position a strand of material, which can also have a smaller cross-section, is clamped between the spring section and the adjacent surface of the side arms and/or the base section. The smallest possible cross-section with which this other strand of material can be clamped within the retaining clip depends on the fastening point of the spring section, e.g. on one side arm, and the position of the locking edge, e.g. on the other side arm. If the spring section passes diagonally through the receiving space of the retaining clip in the locking position, it is possible, with an appropriate design of the spring section, to securely clamp strands of material with different cross-sections between the spring section and adjacent surfaces.

It is of course also possible to arrange the spring section and the locking edge at such a distance from the base section that material strands of the same or larger cross-section can be clamped below the spring section, i.e. between the spring section and the base section, than above the spring section. It is also conceivable to use the spring section to provide material strands of different properties above and below it, e.g.

to be divided into groups.

A retaining clip according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the spring section for receiving the first strand of material has a concave first curvature as seen from the closure arm such that the free end of the spring section can be moved freely past the locking edge without deformation, but stretches while clamping the other strand of material between itself and one of the side arms and/or in the base section in such a way that the free end of the spring section locks behind the locking edge.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

bar. The concave curvature serves in the conventional way to hold the first strand of material by deflecting the spring section against its restoring force, so that the first strand of material is pressed against or in the direction of the locking arm of the receiving section of the retaining clip and is thus held securely. However, if you want to clamp a strand of material, for example with a much smaller cross-section, in the receiving section of the retaining clip, this other strand of material is placed between the spring section and the base section and the spring section is pressed over the other strand of material. The curvature of the spring section is pressed flat so that the spring section, starting from one side arm, reaches such an effective length that it can snap into place with its free end under the locking edge on the other side arm. With this design of the spring section according to its arrangement and shape relative to the locking edge, it is thus achieved that the spring section can perform both its conventional function of clamping material strands between the locking arm and the spring section and its function of clamping material strands between the spring section and the base section.

The spring section preferably branches off from the end region of one side arm facing away from the base section, while the locking edge is preferably provided on the other side arm, preferably in the region near the base section. In this way, it can be ensured that other material strands of relatively small but also different cross-sections can be clamped under the spring section.

A simple manufacture of the retaining clip according to the invention and a stable function of the locking edge is achieved if this is formed by a rib on the inside of the other side arm. This rib can be attached to the corresponding

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

The edge end preferably has an undercut so that the free end of the spring section is securely held in its locking position.

In addition to the first curve of the spring section, which is flattened when strands of material are clamped between the spring section and one of the side arms and/or the base section, the spring section can have a further concave curve towards its end. This serves the purpose of receiving a further strand of material between the spring section and the locking arm next to the first material section.

The retaining clip according to the invention offers the possibility of accommodating an additional strand of material, e.g. with a relatively small cross-section, within the receiving section if, according to a further embodiment of the invention, a spring tongue for clamping this additional strand of material protrudes from the inside of the closure arm, preferably at an angle into the receiving space. When the closure arm is in the open position, the additional strand of material can be clamped between the mentioned spring tongue and the closure arm, regardless of the position, nature and shape of the spring section for securing the first strand of material, the other strand of material or the additional strand of material. The flatter the spring tongue protrudes from the closure arm into the receiving space, the smaller the cross-section can be under which the additional strand of material in question can still be reliably clamped between the closure arm and the spring tongue.

Due to the inclination of the spring tongue, a certain range of variation in the cross sections is possible.

The spring tongue can also have a concave curvature as seen from the locking arm to securely hold the additional strand of material in question.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

In the event that a first strand of material and a further strand of material with a relatively large cross-section are to be accommodated between the spring section and the locking arm, as well as a further strand of material with a relatively small cross-section between the locking arm and the spring tongue, it is advantageous for spatial reasons if the concave curvature of the spring tongue is provided in the area between the two curvatures of the spring section.

In this context, it may also be expedient for the spring tongue to be curved in an S-shape in its end region, so that the free end of the spring tongue can rest against the peripheral surface of the first material strand of relatively large cross-section.

For spatial reasons, it is further proposed that the spring tongue branches off from the free end of the locking arm in the opposite direction to the spring section.

In the event that the material strands are corrugated pipes, it is further advantageous within the scope of the invention if the side arms and/or the locking arm and/or the spring section and/or the spring tongue have retaining ribs on the inside and/or outside in or parallel to the clip plane. These retaining ribs can grip between the corrugations of the corrugated pipe in question, so that the corresponding material strand is securely fixed axially in the retaining clip.

To accommodate a material strand designed as a corrugated pipe even more securely, the side arms and/or the locking arm and/or the spring section of the spring tongue in the area of the holding ribs can be curved to match the contour of the respective material strand.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

According to the invention, the locking arm is expediently secured in its locking position in that the locking arm can be locked with its free end to the free end of the other side arm, e.g. via a locking connection.

With the help of a retaining clip according to the invention, even further strands of material can be easily mounted which no longer have space in the receiving section and/or which are to be moved later. For this purpose, it is provided that at least the base section is equipped with a channel-shaped passage for a cable tie. The retaining clip body and the cable tie thus form a structural unit which can be fixed at the corresponding points where the strands of material are to be guided. Regardless of whether or not strands of material already run in the receiving section of the retaining clip, one or more strands of material can be tied to the outside of the retaining clip using the cable tie.

In order for the cable tie to be securely held on the retaining clip body, it is proposed according to a further embodiment of the invention that knobs for the lateral guidance of the cable tie are provided on the outside of the side arms and/or the locking arm and/or the base section.

The anchoring section of the retaining clip according to the invention can , for example, have an expansion anchor, preferably with, for example, curved elastic contact wings for the mounting surface.

Such expansion anchors have proven to be effective for securing retaining clips. The curved, elastic contact surfaces can be securely attached to corresponding, more or less curved mounting surfaces.

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patent attorneys

The retaining clip according to the invention can preferably be made of one piece from plastic.

Further aims, features, advantages and possible applications of the invention emerge from the following description of embodiments based on the drawing. All described and/or illustrated features, either individually or in any combination, form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in individual claims or their reference to one another.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a retaining clip according to the invention, in which a single

first material strand of large cross-section is taken up,

Fig. Ix the detail "X" of Fig. 1,
20

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to that in Fig. 1, but with a single other strand of material of relatively small cross-section clamped in the shark clip and the locking arm open,
25

Fig. 2z the detail "Z" of Fig. 2,

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, in which a first material strand and a further material strand are arranged next to each other in the receiving section of the retaining clip.

a relatively large cross-section above the spring section and between the still open locking arm and the spring tongue protruding from it, an even further

KEIL & SCHAAFHAUS EN

PATENT ATTORNEYS

Material strand with a relatively small cross-section is clamped,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the locking arm closed in the meantime, and

Fig. 5 is a representation corresponding to Fig. 4, wherein a strand of material has additionally been secured to the outside of the receiving section of the retaining clip using a cable tie.

The retaining clip 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 has a receiving section 2 for at least one material strand M, M', M'', M''' in a receiving space 3. The receiving

T5 space 3 is delimited by a base section 4, two side arms 5, 6 projecting from the base section 4 at a distance from one another and a closure arm 7 when the latter has been transferred from the opening position shown, for example, in Fig. 2 into the closure position shown, for example, in Fig. 1, after one or more material strands M, M', M'', M''' have been introduced into the receiving space 3.

For mounting the retaining clip 1 on a support surface, it has an anchoring section 9 on the base section 4, which in the case shown consists of an expansion anchor 21 and curved elastic contact wings 22 for the mounting surface. The anchoring section 9 can, however, also be provided on one of the side arms 5, 6, for example.

According to Fig. 1, a first material strand M with a relatively large cross-section is supported against the restoring force on a spring section 8, which branches off from the area of the one side arm 5 facing away from the base section and receives the material strand M in a first concave curvature 12 as seen from the closure arm 7. Due to its

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

Due to its elasticity, the spring section 8 attempts to press the material strand M in the direction of the locking arm 7, where the first material strand M in the embodiment shown comes to rest against a spring tongue 15, which projects obliquely into the receiving space 3 from the free end of the locking arm 7 as long as it is not yet deformed (see Fig. 2). The spring tongue 15 also has a concave curvature 16, as seen from the locking arm 7, for the clamping reception of an even further material strand M''' of relatively small cross-section (see Fig. 3).

When the first material strand M of relatively large cross-section is received in the curvature 12 of the spring section 8 according to Fig. 1, after the closure arm 7 is closed, the spring tongue 15 is slightly flattened in the area of its curvature 16 by the attachment of the material strand M.

To secure the closure of the closure arm 7, a locking connection 17 is provided between its free end and the free end of the other side arm 6, which is preferably detachable so that the material strands M, M', M'', M''' can be removed from the retaining clip 1 if necessary and replaced with a new one if necessary.

From Fig. 1 it can be seen that after inserting a first material strand M with a relatively large cross-section into the curvature 12 of the spring section 8, which tends to press the first material strand M in the direction of the locking arm 7, the free end 10 of the spring section 8 can swing freely past a locking edge 11, which is provided at the lower end of a rib 13, which runs along the inside of the other side arm 6. From Fig. 1x the distance of the free end 10 of the spring section 8, which is due to the curved shape of the spring section 8, can be clearly seen. In this application, the spring

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

section 8 performs its conventional clamping function. However, it can be seen from Fig. 1 that the first material strand M must have a minimum cross-section so that it is reliably clamped between the spring section 8 and the locking arm 7 or the spring tongue 15.

If another strand of material M' with a significantly smaller cross-section is to be clamped into the receiving space 3, then, as shown in Fig. 2, it is guided into the receiving space 3 between the spring section 8 and the base section 4 and the spring section 8 is pressed downwards at its free end 10. The spring section 8 lies with its bulge corresponding to the concave curvature 12 against the other strand of material M', whereby the spring section 8 is flattened in the area of the curvature 12 and stretches accordingly. Due to the stretching, the free end 10 of the spring section 8 can now, as can be seen in particular from the detailed view of Fig. 2z, snap into place behind the locking edge 11 of the other side arm 6, which is further supported by the fact that the locking edge 11 has an undercut, as shown. In this way, the other material strand M' receives a secure clamping fit within the receiving space 3 despite its significantly smaller cross-section.

It can be seen from Fig. 2 that, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, a further strand of material M'' of relatively small cross-section could be clamped between the locking arm 7 and the spring tongue 15.

The spring section 8 has at its end a second concave curvature 14, as seen from the closure arm 7, which, as can be seen from Figures 3 to 5, serves to receive a further material strand M'' of relatively large cross-section, so that two such material strands M, M''

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

can be accommodated next to one another in the receiving space 3. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate that the concave curvature 16 of the spring tongue 15 comes to lie approximately between the two curvatures 12, 14 of the spring section 8, so that the further material strand M''' of relatively small cross-section, which was previously clamped between the locking arm 7 and the spring tongue 15, comes to lie in the free space between the two material strands M, M'' of relatively large cross-section after the locking arm 7 is closed. The free end of the spring tongue 15 has an approximately S-shape, so that its shape largely adapts to the surface shape of the two material strands M, M''.

In the event that the material strands M, M', M'', M''' are corrugated pipes, the side arms 5, 6 are provided on the outside, the closure arm 7 on the outside and inside and the spring section 8 on its side facing the closure arm 7 with holding ribs 18, whereby the holding rib 18 of the spring section 8 is divided into individual sections in order not to impair the flexibility of the spring section 8. These holding ribs 18 can engage in the spaces between the ribs of the material strands M, M', M'' designed as corrugated pipes.

The retaining ribs 18 on the outside of the side arms 5, 6 and the locking arm 7 are provided because, according to Fig. 5, a cable tie K can be assigned to the retaining clip 1, with the help of which further material strands of different cross-sections can be tied to the outside of the receiving section 2 of the retaining clip 1, as can be seen from Fig. 5. For this purpose, the base section 4 of the receiving section 2 of the retaining clip 1 has a channel-shaped passage 19 for receiving the cable tie K. It is thus held captive on the retaining clip body and

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

can be easily mounted at the specified locations. To ensure that the cable tie K does not slip off the side of the retaining clip 1, knobs 20 are provided on the outside of the free ends of the side arms 5, 6 and on the top of the locking arm 7 for the lateral guidance of the cable tie K.

It can be seen that the Helteclip according to the invention, which for the sake of simplicity is made from plastic in one piece, can be used in many different ways.

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

List of reference symbols:

I Retaining clip

2 Recording section

3 Recording room

4 Base section

5 a side arm

6 other side arm 7 locking arm

8 Spring section

9 Anchoring section

10 free end of the spring section

I1 locking edge

12 first curvature of the spring section

13 Rib

14 second curvature of the spring section

15 Spring tongue

16 Curvature of the spring tongue 17 Snap connection

18 retaining ribs

19 Implementation

20 studs

21 Expansion anchor 22 Wing

K Cable ties

M first material strand

M' other material strand

M'' additional material strand

M''' another strand of material

Claims (18)

- 14 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN PATENTANWÄLTE Protection claims: 1. Holding clip for laying cables, hoses, pipes and similar strand material, with a receiving section (2) for at least a first material strand (M) in a receiving space (3) which is formed by a base section (4), two side arms (5, 6) projecting from the base section (4) at a distance from one another and z. B. at least one closure arm (7) which can be transferred from an open position to a closed position after the material strand (M) has been introduced into the receiving space (3), with at least one spring section (8) branching off from one side arm (5) which serves to support the material strand (M) from the inside against the closure arm (7) or in the direction of the closure arm (7) in the closed position, and optionally with an anchoring section (9) preferably provided on the base section (4) or on one of the side arms (5, 6) for mounting on a support surface, characterized in that the spring section (8) can be deflected against its restoring force into a position in which it engages with its free end (10) behind a locking edge (11) while clamping another material strand (M'). 2. Retaining clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring section (8) for receiving the first material strand (M) has a concave first curvature as seen from the closure arm (7) such that the free end (10) of the spring element (8) can move freely past the locking edge (11) without deforming the latter, but stretches while clamping the other material strand (M') between itself and one of the side arms (5, 6) and/or the base section (4) in such a way that the free end (10) of the spring section (8) can be locked behind the locking edge (11). &igr;» · Keil&Schaafhausen PATENT ATTORNEYS 3. Retaining clip according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring section (8) branches off from the end region of the one side arm (5) facing away from the base section. 4. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking edge (11) is provided on the other side arm (6), preferably in the area near the base section. 5. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking edge (11) is formed by a rib (13) on the inside of the other side arm (6). 6. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spring section (8) has a second concave curvature (14) in its free end region as seen from the closure ring (7). 7. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a spring tongue (15) for clamping a further material strand (M'') of smaller cross-section protrudes from the inside of the closure arm (7), preferably obliquely into the receiving space (3). 8. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spring tongue (15) has a concave curvature (16) as seen from the locking arm (7). 9. Retaining clip according to claim 8, characterized in that the concave curvature (16) of the spring tongue (15) is provided in the region between the two curvatures (12, 14) of the spring section (8). - 16 - KEIL&SCHAAFHAUSEN PATENT ATTORNEYS 10. Retaining clip according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the spring tongue (15) is curved in an S-shape in its end region. 11. Retaining clip according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the spring tongue (15) branches off from the free end of the locking arm (7) in the opposite direction to the spring section (8). 12. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the side arms (5, 6) and/or the locking arm (7) and/or the spring section (8) and/or the spring tongue (15) have retaining ribs (18) running inside and/or outside in or parallel to the clip plane. 13. Retaining clip according to claim 12, characterized in that the side arms (5, 6) and/or the locking arm (7) and/or the spring section (8) and/or the spring tongue (15) are curved in the region of the retaining ribs (18) to match the contour of the respective material strand (M, M', M''). 14. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the locking arm (7) in its locking position can be locked with its free end to the free end of the other side arm (6), e.g. via a locking connection (17). 15. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least the base section (4) is equipped with a channel-shaped passage (19) for a cable tie (K). 16. Retaining clip according to claim 15, characterized in that on the outside of the side arms (5, 6) and/or the locking arm (7) and/or the base section (4) studs (20) 36 G 3 .. j ,.. _#: - 17 - Keil&Schaafhausen PATENT ATTORNEYS are provided for the lateral guidance of the cable tie (K). 17. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the anchoring section (9) has an expansion anchor (21), preferably with, for example, curved elastic bearing wings (22) for the mounting surface. 18. Retaining clip according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized by the one-piece construction made of plastic.