GB2435995A

GB2435995A - Clip having retaining wings

Info

Publication number: GB2435995A
Application number: GB0604902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Leslie Bilbie
Original assignee: WJ Furse and Co Ltd; Thomas and Betts International LLC
Current assignee: WJ Furse and Co Ltd; ABB Installation Products International LLC
Priority date: 2006-03-10
Filing date: 2006-03-10
Publication date: 2007-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-10
Also published as: GB0604902D0; GB2435995B

Abstract

A clip having a base portion 12, a spine 18 extending from the base portion 12, and a support portion for engaging an opening in a structure. The support portion comprises a pair of splayed locating wings 21, 22 extending from the spine 18 from a common axis, the spacing between the free ends of the wings 21, 22 being greater than the width of the opening. When one of the wings is inserted through the opening, the distance between the spine 18 and free end of the other wing is less than the width of the opening to enable both wings 21, 22 to be inserted through the opening by rotating the clip about or parallel to the common axis. The clip may be used to retain pipes or cables for services to the underside of metal decking.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CLIPS

The invention relates to clips, and more particularly but not exclusively to clips for use in the construction industry which engage the underside of a metal deck and allow other elements, apparatus or services (e.g. pipes or cables) to be suspended and supported below the metal deck.

Metal decking is normally formed with channels of dovetail shape, having a narrow entry slot or opening, and widening into the channel behind the slot. Various attempts have been made to provide clips which can be engaged easily and securely within the channels.

According to the invention there is provided a clip having a base portion, a spine extending from the base portion, and a support portion for engaging an opening in a structure and being supported by the structure when engaged with the material defining the opening, the support portion comprising a pair of splayed locating wings extending from the spine from a common axis, the spacing between the free ends of the wings is greater than the width of the opening, but the configuration being such that when one of the wings is inserted through the opening, the distance between the spine and the free end of the other wing is less than the width of the opening to enable both wings to be inserted through the opening by rotating the clip about or parallel to the common axis.

There is preferably subsequent rotation of the clip about the spine to the wings across the opening to retain the clip in place.

The wings may be planar and may be splayed at an angle between 45 and 90 .

The wing dimensions in a direction parallel to the common axis preferably expand in a direction away from the spine.

Each wing may have curved edge profiles for contacting, in use, material defining the opening. The wings may be generally semi-circular in shape.

The spine may be planar to form a web extending between the base portion and the wings. The spine is preferably parallel to the common wing axis.

The clip is preferably formed from a single elongate sheet formed to provide a wing at each end, spine portions next to the wings, and a central base forming portion.

The base portion is preferably formed with at least one hole engageable by members to be supported by the clip.

By way of example, one embodiment of a clip according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the clip of figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the clip of figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view along the lines IV-IV in figure 2; Figure 5 is a sectional view along the lines V-V in figure 2; Figure 6 is shown a blank for making the clip of figures 1 to 5; Figure 7 shows a first step of inserting a clip according to the invention with a dovetail channel in metal decking; Figure 8 shows a second insertion step; Figure 9 shows a third rotation step; and Figure 10 shows a final engagement position.

Figures 1 to 5 shown an embodiment of clip 11 according to the invention. The clip is made of sheet steel, or other formable but adequately strong material, formed from a blank 10 as shown in figure 6. The blank is conveniently formed from sheet steel by stamping.

The clip 11 has a base portion 12 of box section and formed with holes 13, 14, 15 which are engageable in use by members (e.g. bolts or hooks) to be supported by the clip.

From the base portion 12 extends a spine 18 in the form of a web extending upwardly (in use) from the base portion 12. The web forming the spine 18 consists of two flats 19, 20 from the blank 10. These flats 19, 20 may be spot welded or otherwise secured together after the clip 11 has been formed from the blank 10; the clip is essentially rigid, and not designed to deform in use.

Each flat 19, 20 extends into a wing 21, 22 respectively. The wings are generally semi-circular in shape, and are splayed (as seen best in figure 4) at an angle approaching 45 each with a total of about 90 between the wings. It will be appreciated that the particular angle is not absolutely critical, but constraints are imposed by the function of the clip, and how it engages a channel, as will be described with reference to figures 7 to below.

The clip 11 is designed to engage in and to be supported by metal decking 30, frequently found on the underside of floors, typically of concrete, in large buildings.

The metal decking 30 is profiled, and usually of steel, such that channels 31 of dovetail shape are formed at regular spacings. The metal decking 30 is embedded in concrete 32 during construction, the metal decking 30 forming part of the shuttering for the concrete.

The dovetail profiles ensure that the metal decking 30 cannot be detached from the concrete above it.

Thus dovetail shaped channels 31, facing downwards, are available for suspending services (cables, pipes etc) from the metal decking, and clip 11 provides a convenient and secure means to provide support for such services.

The clip 11 is engaged in the channel 30 first by aligning the plane of web spine 18 and the planes of the wings 21,22 to be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel 31. The wing 21 is then passed through opening 33 to the channel 31. As can be seen in figure 7, the extent of the wing 22 is such that the distance between the spine 18 and the free end of the wing 22 is less than the width of the opening 33, allowing the clip to he rotated about an axis at the end of the spine, where the wings 21 and 22 start.

The clip can then be inserted further into the dovetail channel 31, until the position shown in figure 8 is reached.

Once the clip has been inserted sufficiently into the channel 3 1, it is possible to rotate the clip about the longitudinal central axis of the spine through 90 . This moves the clip to the position shown in figure 9, with the spine extending across the channel opening 33. The clip 11 can then be lowered into contact with the walls of the channel 31 such that the wings 21 and 22 make contact on both sides thereof with the walls of the channel 31. It will be understood that there are four spaced apart points in total of contact between the wings 21 and 22 and the channel walls, and this provides a stable support.

The spacings between the free ends of the wings 21, 22 are greater than the width of the opening 33; thereby creating a safety feature, in that even with the clip 11 in an incorrect orientation about the spine axis, the clip cannot simply drop out of the channel 31.

Figures 7 to 10 show the clip 11 carrying a nut 40 and bolt 41 as an example of a member which can be suspended from the clip. Other members can be suspended from (for example, hooked on) the clip 11 as is commonly carried out in the construction industry.

It will be appreciated that the aforesaid description is by way of example only; modifications and alterations may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A clip having a base portion, a spine extending from the base

portion, and a support portion for engaging an opening in a structure and being supported by the structure when engaged with the material defining the opening, the support portion comprising a pair of splayed locating wings extending from the spine from a common axis, the spacing between the free ends of the wings being greater than the width of the opening, but the configuration being such that when one of the wings is inserted through the opening, the distance between the spine and free end of the other wing is less than the width of the opening to enable both wings to be inserted through the opening by rotating the clip about or parallel to the common axis.

2. A clip as claimed in claim I wherein rotation the clip about the spine locates the wings across the opening to retain the clip in place.

3. A clip as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein the wings are planar.

4. A clip as claimed in any one of claims I to 3 wherein the wings are splayed at an angle between 450 and 90 .

5. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the wing dimensions in a direction parallel to the common axis expand in a direction away from the spine.

6. A clip as claimed in any one of claims I to 5 wherein each wing has curved edge profiles for contacting, in use, material defining the opening.

7. A clip as claimed in claim 6 wherein the clips are generally semi-circular in shape.

8. A clip as claimed in any one of claims I to 7 wherein the spine is planar to form a web extending between the base portion and the wings. 7-,

9. A clip as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spine is parallel to the common wing axis.

10. A clip as claimed in any one of claims Ito 9 wherein the clip is formed from a single elongate sheet formed to provide a wing at each end, spine portions next to the wings, and a central base forming portion.

II. A clip as claimed in any one of claims I to 10 wherein the base portion is formed with at least one hole engageable by members to be supported by the clip.

12. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.