GB2074013A - Cable or pipe brackets - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable comprises an elongage strap like member 5 for encircling the member to be supported and, located at, or near, opposite ends of said member 5, mating closure portions 23 and 29 which may be fastened together in a plurality of predetermined positions to provide a corresponding plurality of different sizes. The portions 23, 29 may be inclined as shown, or may be stepped (Figure 2, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to supporting devices This invention relates to devices for supporting elongate members such as pipes (for instance, central heating pipes and hot and cold water pipes), tubes conduits and cables.

A known supporting device is referred to as a cleat and includes a portion for embracing a short length of the elongate member, the cleat being provided with means, such as a screw hole, whereby the cleat may be secured to a fixed body, such as a wall, thereby securing or helping to secure the elongate member in the desired position. Such a cleat has its elongate member embracing portion shaped and dimensioned for a particular size pipe or other elongate member. Accordingly such cleats are manufactured and sold in a variety of different sizes and it is accordingly necessary for stocks of cleats of several sizes to be maintained by suppliers and users.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable, the device including an elongate member accommodating portion and located at or near opposite ends of said elongate member accommodating portion, mating closure portions which may be fastened together in a plurality of predetermined positions to provide a corresponding plurality of differently sized elongate member embracing portions.

Preferably one of said mating closure portions is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes and the other of said mating closure portions is provided with a hole which, when the mating closure prtions are mated, may be aligned with a selected one of the holes of the first-mentioned mating closure portion.

The aligned holes are such that a screw or other fastening element may be inserted to fasten the mated closure portions together. The holes on one or both closure portions may be threaded.

The device may be intended to be fastened to a suitable support structure such as a wall. For instance, the fastening element, such as a screw, used for fastening together the mating closure portions may also attach the device to the wall.

Alternatively the device may be formed so as to be separately attachable to an appropriate support structure. For instance, the device may be grooved so as to be held by an appropriately flanged support post.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of another device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a device in accordance with the present invention is a plastics moulding, the plastics material being polypropylene which is tough, flexible and resilient.

Device 1 includes a shaped strip 3 which is approximately 18mm wide and which has a curved portion 5 for accommodating an elongate member such as a pipe or cable. Integral with and upstanding from one end of strip 3 and curved portion 5 thereof, is an integral lug 7 having a hole 9 passing therethrough.

Lug 7 is formed centrally in strip 3 and rear face 11 of lug 9 is substantially parallel to straight portion 13 of strip 3. The opposite face 15 of lug 11 is inclined upwardly and rearwardly relative to face 11.

Straight portion 13 of strip 3 is also provided with an integral and upstanding lug 17. Lug 17 is larger than lug 15 but is provided with face 19 which is so angled relative to straight portion 13 of strip 3 asto form a surface suitable for mating with surface 15 of lug 7. Lug 17 is provided with three holes spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of lug 17, which axis runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of straight portion 13 of strip 3.

The arrangement is such that face 15 of lug 17 may be mated with face 19 of lug 17 and the lugs moved relative to one another until hole 9 is aligned with one of the three holes 21 of lug 19. Depending on which hole 21 is aligned with hole 9, the size of the pipe or cable accommodating portion formed by curved portion 5 of device 1 may be varied from a relatively large size (mating of hole 9 with the lower of holes 21) through an intermediate size (mating of hole 9 with the middle of holes 21) to a relatively small size (mating of hole 9 with the upper of holes 21). When the appropriate pair of holes are aligned a suitable fastening element, such as a screw or nail may be passed through the holes and if desired secured against any suitable support structure, such as a wall, located behind straight portion 13 of strip 3.

The curved end 23 of strip 3 is provided with a cutout portion located below lug 7 with the result that there are lateral tabs 25 and 27 which, when the device is in use, may locate neatly below the bottom surface 29 of lug 17, at least in one of the possible mating positions of the two lugs, and may locate alongside lug 17 in other mating positions.

The height of the device shown in the drawing varies from 46 to 51 mum depending on the particular pair of holes selected and the distance from front to back may correspondingly vary from 24 to 32mm.

The diameter of the pipe or cable accommodating portion is approximately 17,22 or 24mm depending on the pair of holes chosen.

As will be seen from the drawing, strip 3 is wider than lugs 7 and 17 and provides a firm and stable base for these lugs. In particular the width and thickness of straight portion 13 of strip 3 gives stability to the whole device when the device is in use and straight portion 13 is firmly secured to a support structure.

Referring to Figure 2, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is similar to that described above with reference to Figure 1 except that lugs 41 and 43 are provided with mating stepped profiles on their mating surfaces. As a result, there are three definite positions in which the two lugs 41 and 43 may be mated, each position resulting in the alignment of one of the holes 45 in lug 43 with hole 47 in lug 41. Thus the alignment of the required pair of holes is particularly simple and the correct alignment may be easily held in place before the screw or nail is inserted.

Claims (8)

1. A device for supporting an elongate member such as a pipe or cable, said device comprising an elongate member accommodating portion and, located at or near opposite ends of said elongate member accommodating portion, mating closure portions which may be fastened together in a plurality of predetermined positions to provide a corresponding plurality of differently sized elongate member embracing portions.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein one of said mating closure portions is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes, and the other of said mating closure portions is provided with a hole which, when the mating closure portions are mated, may be aligned with a selected one of the holes of said first mating closure portion.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said holes, when aligned, are adapted to receive a screw or other fastening element so as to fasten said mated closure portions together.

4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the device includes means whereby it may be attached to a support structure.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the attachment means is a screw hole.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the screw hole is provided by the aligned holes of said mating closure portions.

7. A device according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

8. A device for supporting an elongate member substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.