WO2001066992A1

WO2001066992A1 - Clips

Info

Publication number: WO2001066992A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/000887
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip Michael Stanley; Eric Reginald Weston
Original assignee: THREEWAY PRESSINGS Ltd; Weston Brenda Elizabeth
Current assignee: THREEWAY PRESSINGS Ltd; Weston Brenda Elizabeth
Priority date: 2000-03-04
Filing date: 2001-03-02
Publication date: 2001-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2002-09-04
Also published as: AU2001235823A1; GB0005167D0

Abstract

A clip comprising a first, generally Y-shaped member (30) and a second, cam-like member (33) is used to demountably secure a panel (40) in predetermined relationship with building components (41, 42). In use, wing portions (31, 32) on the Y-shaped member (30) engage holes in one component (41). The member (30) extends through the panel (40) and engages a further hole in a second component (42), the member (30) thereafter being held in position by the cam (33).

Description

CLIPS

This invention relates to clips and in particular to clips which are adapted, in use, to secure two or more panels (as hereinafter defined) to each other or to secure a panel (as hereinafter defined) to one or more building components (as hereinafter defined) .

Throughout the following description, the term "panel" denotes a generally planar structure, made of a rigid or a flexible material, which may be used in connection with a building, inter alia for the purpose of insulation, safety or decoration.

Moreover, throughout the following description, the term "building component" denotes a structural member in a building, such as, inter alia, a girder, a RSJ, a part of a frame, a joist or the like.

Thus, the panel may comprise a cladding panel, an insulating panel or a safety panel, especially a fire barrier. The present invention will be described herein with particular reference to clips for attaching fire barriers to each other or to a building component, although the invention is not to be construed as being restricted thereto.

Previously-available clips for securing fire barriers to building components have generally comprised nut-and-bolt assemblies or bolt- anchors. Fire barriers have hitherto been secured to each other by "stitching" with wire or the like.

The use of such known means of securing fire barriers in the required position is labour-intensive and, in the "stitching" together of two abutting fire barriers, inefficient. The applicant has devised clips which can be used, for example, to secure two fire barriers in edge-to-edge abutment, to secure a fire barrier to one or more building components, or to secure two fire barriers at approximately 90° to each other.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a clip for securing two or more panels relative to each other, the clip comprising a first, securing, member having one or more panel-engaging portions and a handling portion, together with a second, retaining, member adapted, in use, to co- operate with said first member and to retain said first member in position relative to said panels.

The first and second members may be formed separately relative to each other.

In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first, securing, member is formed into a generally W-shape, whereby the panel- engaging portions are constituted by the outer arms of the W and the handling portion is constituted by the central part of the W.

The second, retaining, member is formed into a generally open-dumbbell shape.

Each of the first and second portions may be made from a single piece of wire or the like and may be shaped by bending.

When two panels are to be secured together in edge-to-edge abutment by means of a W-shaped clip, the first, securing, member is passed through the space between abutting edges of the panels and is then rotated, by means of the handling portion, through about 90°. The securing member is then pulled towards the user (by means of the handling portion) , so that the panel-engaging portions pierce the material of the panels and extend outwardly therefrom towards the user. The second, retaining, member is then placed in co-operation with the first, securing, member so that the open portions of the dumbbell engage the outwardly-extending ends of the panel-engaging portions. Finally, the handling portion may be bent so as to engage the linear part of the -dumbbell so as to secure the clip in the required position relative to the panels.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first member comprises, for example, a metal pressing or plastics moulding and is of generally. Y-shaped section, having an outwardly-extending wing portion on each arm of the Y. Each said wing portion may be provided with one or more barbs to engage a building component.

Preferably, the stem of the Y is of generally planar configuration.

The second member comprises a cam (which may likewise be a metal pressing or plastics moulding) adapted, in use, to engage a hole provided in the stem of the Y. Preferably, several holes are provided, thus permitting the use of the clip at varying thicknesses of components /panels.

When the Y-shaped clip is used to secure a panel to a building component, the first member is passed through a hole provided in the building component so that the stem of the Y pierces the material of the panel and extends outwardly therefrom, the wing portions on each arm of the Y engaging the building component. The cam is then engaged with the first member and moved relative to the first member so as to secure the clip in the required position relative to the panel and to the building component. If required, a second building component may be placed over the panel, so as to be engaged by the first clip member, prior to the engagement of the cam. The clip therefore serves to hold, in the required position, a panel which is "sandwiched" between two building components.

Suitably, the building components may comprise planar metal strap or angled strap. The metal straps may be pre-drilled with one or more holes to receive the clips.

The holes may be of any convenient shape (e.g. rectangular) but preferably are castellate to provide more positive engagement with the arms of Y.

In the first and second preferred embodiments described hereinabove, the first and second members of the clips are separately formed relative to each other.

In accordance with the present invention, the first and second members may, alternatively, be integrally formed with each other.

Thus, in a third preferred embodiment, the first, securing, member is formed into a generally U-shape, whereby one arm of the U constitutes the panel-engaging portion and the other arm of the U is formed into an eye or the like, whereby said eye constitutes the second, retaining, member and the handling portion.

When a clip according to this third embodiment is to be used to secure two panels together in edge-to-edge abutment, the clip is held by the eye, the arm of the U distal'from the eye being passed through the material of the panels in the manner of a staple, prior to being secured (e.g. by bending) in the eye.

Suitably, a clip according to this third embodiment may be made from a single piece of wire or similar material.

In a fourth preferred embodiment, the clip comprises a single securing member having at least two panel-engaging portions, each panel-engaging portion being provided with means to retain the clip in engagement with the panels.

Suitably, the means to retain each panel-engaging portion in engagement with the panels may comprise one or more barbs.

Preferably, the securing member is of generally U-shaped section, each arm of the U constituting a panel-engaging portion.

The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings .

In the drawings (wherein like numerals denote like parts) :

Figure 1 is a view of a clip according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows, schematically, the clip of Figure 1 in use;

Figure 3A is an^' end view of one form of a clip according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3B is a side view of the clip of Figure 3A;

Figure 3C is a plan view of the clip of Figure 3A;

Figure 3D is a side view of a cam for use in operative connection with the clip of Figure 3 A;

Figure 3E is an end view of the cam of Figure 3D;

Figure 3F is a plan view of the cam of Figure 3D;

Figure 4 shows, schematically, the clip of Figures 3A to 3F in use;

Figure 4A is an end view of a second form of a clip according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4B is a side view of the clip of Figure 4A;

Figure 4C is a side view of a cam for use in operative connection with the clip of Figure 4A;

Figure 4D is an end view of the cam of Figure 4C;

Figure 4E is a plan view of the cam of Figure 4C;

Figure 4F is a plan view of a part of a building component, with holes to engage, in use, the clip of Figure 3 A or Figure 4A;

Figure 5 shows, schematically, the use of a clip as illustrated in Figures 3A to 3F or in Figures 4A to 4E; Figure 6 is a schematic view of a clip according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7A is a side view of a clip according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7B is an end view of the clip of Figure 7 A; and

Figure 8 shows, schematically, the clip of Figures 7 A and 7B in use.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the clip comprises a first member 10 which is generally W-shaped, having panel-engaging portions 11 and 12 and a handling portion 13 disposed centrally relative thereto. The clip further comprises a second member 20, of generally open-dumbbell shape. The use of the clip to secure panels 21 and 22 in edge-to-edge abutment is shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 3 A to 3F and 4 A to 4E, the clip comprises a first member 30 of generally Y-shaped section in which each arm of the Y is provided with an outwardly-extending wing portion 31 and 32 having barbs 31 A and 32A respectively. The clip further comprises a second member 33 which engages hole 34 in the first member and which, in cooperation with said first member, acts as a cam. The use of the clip to secure together a panel 40 and building components 41 and 42 is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 4F shows a building component 41 (which in the embodiment shown in Figure 4F comprises planar metal strap) . Holes 41A and 41B, of generally castellated shape, are provided to receive wing portions 31 and 32 in engagement.

In the clip shown in Figure 6, the securing member 43 is generally U- shaped and may conveniently be formed from a single piece of wire. The retaining member 44 is an eye formed at the end of one arm of the U.

Referring now to Figures 7A and 7B, the clip 50 is of generally U-shaped section, each arm of the U being provided with barbs 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56. The use of the clip, to secure together two panels 60 and 61 at substantially 90° to each other, is shown in Figure 8.

When used to secure panels (e.g. insulating panels) to building components (e.g. planar or angled metal strap) it is necessary to place the clips at a prescribed minimum distance apart. This can readily be achieved by locating the holes in the metal strap to be at the prescribed minimum distance apart, each hole thereby indicating the position of a clip. Clips according to the present invention will be visible on either side of the panel and therefore readily visually inspected in situ.

Finally, clips according to the present invention can readily be dismantled and removed from the panels or building components, thereby facilitating the re-use and/or re-cycling of the dismantled clips and/or panels and/or building components.

Claims

1. A clip for securing two or more panels relative to each other, the clip comprising a first, securing, member having one or more panel- engaging portions and a handling portion, together with a second, retaining, member adapted, in use, to co-operate with said first member and to retain said first member in position relative to said panels.

2. A clip according to Claim 1, in which the first and second members are formed separately relative to each other.

3. A clip according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the first, securing, member is formed into a generally W-shape, whereby the panel-engaging portions are constituted by the outer arms of the W and the handling portion is constituted by the central part of the W.

4. A clip according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the second, retaining, member is formed into a generally open-dumbbell shape.

5. A clip according to Claim 3 or 4, in which each of said first and said second members is made from a single piece of wire.

6. A clip according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the first, securing, member is of generally Y-shaped section, having an outwardly-extending wing portion on each arm of the Y.

7. A clip according to Claim 6, in which the second, retaining, member comprises a cam adapted, in use, to engage a hole provided in the stem of the Y.

8. A clip according to Claim 6 or 7, in which each of said first and said second members comprises a metal pressing.

9. A clip according to Claim 6 or 7, in which each of said first and said second members comprises a plastics moulding.

10. A clip according to Claim-7, 8 or 9, in which a plurality of spaced- apart holes is provided in the stem of the Y.

11. A clip according to any one of Claims 6 to 10, in which one or more barbs are provided on each said wing portion.

12. A clip according to Claim 1, in which the first and second members are integrally formed with each other.

13. A clip according to Claim 12, in which the first, securing, member is formed into a generally U-shape, whereby one arm of the U constitutes the panel-engaging portion and the other arm of the U is formed into an eye or the like, whereby said eye constitutes the second, retaining, member and the handling portion.

14. A clip according to Claim 12, comprising a single securing member having at least two panel-engaging portions, each said panel-engaging portion being provided with means to retain the clip in engagement with the panels.

15. A clip according to Claim 14, in which said means to retain the clip in engagement with the panels comprises one or more barbs.

16. A clip according to Claim 14 or 15, in which the securing member is of generally U-shaped section, each arm of the U constituting a panel- engaging portion.