MXPA00001120A - Holding device - Google Patents

Abstract

A holding device comprising two clamping members (10, 11);a hinge portion (16);and a spring element (24);wherein all the aforesaid parts are integrally moulded from a plastics material and the spring element is connected to one of said clamping members by a mounting portion (25) of sufficiently small crosssection to enable the spring element to be moulded in a position in which apart from said mounting portion it is clear of said clamping members (10, 11), and thereafter can be moved about said mounting portion (25) to an operative position in which it spring biases the clamping members (10, 11) relative to one another.

Description

CLOSURE DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fastening device. The invention has been designed in relation to clothespins, although it will be appreciated that the invention is more widely applicable for fastening devices for other purposes, as described below. Garment clips are known which comprise two clamping clamping members and pivotally connected to each other and with a spring operable therebetween so as to cause the clamping portions of the clamping clamping members to be urged towards each other. , for fastening a textile article such as an article of clothing to a row of clothing by the fastener tightening a part of the article and the row of clothing between them. Conventionally, the clamping members have handle portions extending beyond the pivotal connection of the clamping members to each other in such a manner that when the handle portions are tightened and moved toward each other the portions of gags are moved away from each other to release an item from being held between them. Commonly, the clamping clamping members are made of a plastic or wood material, and both the connection of one to the other and the spring action are provided by a metal spring which engages. Such clothespins have the disadvantage of comprising separate components that have to be assembled in relation to one another, making them expensive to manufacture. A further known type of clothespins is integrally molded from a plastic material of resilient and suitably strong properties, and the elasticity of the material is relied upon to exert sufficient force between the jaw portions to be satisfactorily capable of holding an article therebetween. While this type of pliers can be economically manufactured, it has a disadvantage in that the techniques characteristically used in the manufacture thereof, by injection molding the plastic material, require a certain space to be provided between the jaw portions. The result is that the clothespin can not satisfactorily maintain an article whose size is less than the space between the jaw portions. In addition, the movement possibly of the jaw portions accommodating one another to hold a large article therebetween is limited. It has been proposed in EP-0228325-A, that a clothespin can be integrally molded from a plastic material and comprises two clamping clamping members each with a jaw portion and a handle portion, pivotally secured to a to the other by an integral hinge portion. A jump action between the clamping clamping members is provided by the spring tabs that exit the handle portions of the clamping clamping members and by bending back to the operative positions in which they bear against each other. Again, this clamp requires manufacturing operations in addition to the injection molding of its basic structure. Additional embodiments of the clothespins are described in GB-796846-A, when two interconnected bars or clamping members of plastic material are pivotally secured to one another by an integral hinge portion, while a jumping action it is provided by at least one member to a resilient member which is molded in one piece with at least one of the bars and is bent into a pr e-t position in which it is pressed. against the other bar, to complement the action of the integral hinge bridge. However, the configuration of the integral elastic members is such that they do not easily move to their positions p r e - t in s ons ons. In this way the clamps described are difficult to manufacture and do not have a satisfactory jumping action. ConsequentlyIt is an object of the present invention to provide an improved fastening device such as a clothespin, integrally molded from a plastic material but wherein the disadvantages described in the foregoing of the prior knowledge of the fastening devices are exceeded or reduced. In accordance with the present invention, a clamping device is provided comprising two clamping clamping members; a hinge portion; and a spring element; wherein all of the above parts are integrally molded of a plastic material and the spring element is connected to one of the clamping clamping members by a lifting portion of sufficiently small cross section to allow the spring element to be molded in a position in which separated from the mounting portion is spaced from the clamping clamping members, and therefore, can be moved around the mounting portion to an operative position in which the spring biases the clamping members of the clamping member. tighten in relation to each other. In a fastening device according to the invention, the following fabrication of the device, by, preferably, an injection molding process and an extraction of the device from the molding tool, the only additional manufacturing operation required is to move the molding element. spring by pivotal movement about its mounting portion from its position as it is molded to its operative position in which it is capable of operating as a spring between the clamping clamping members. No cutting operation, puncturing or the like are required, and the movement of the spring element to its operative position is facilitated by the reduced cross-sectional dimension of the mounting portion, i.e., the configuration of the mounting portion as a so-called "vital hinge". The displacement of the spring element from its initial position, as molded, to its operative position can be carried out by the automatic machinery or it can be carried out manually, for example, in the course of a packaging operation. Preferably each of the clamping clamping members of a device according to the invention is of the elongated configuration, comprising a jaw portion and a handle portion, with the hinge portion joining the two clamping clamping members generally in the middle region thereof between each of the jaw portions and the handle portion. The spring portion is preferably connected to one of the handle portions by its mounting portion in a remote position from the hinge portion. Preferably the spring element is located at the handle portion of the fastening member (other than that to which the spring element is integrally joined by its mounting portion), in a remote position from the jgaMfesgftSiMlJJ - & i ....-..., .jS & ^^ km6 ^ ¡^ hinge portion. The spring element may comprise a link portion which is arranged to link the handle portion of the other clamp clamp member and to retain its relative position thereto in use of the clamp device. Such a link portion may be planar, adapted to rest in face-to-face relationship with a substantially flat portion complementary to the other handle portion. Alternatively, or in addition, the linking portion of the spring element may cooperate with a formation in the other clamping clamp member to hold the spring element in its operative position relative thereto. Preferably such forming is replaced by a notch or recess formation in the handle portion, bondable by an end portion of the spring element and disposed in such a way that it exerts force by a spring element in use pushes the end portion into the notch or recess formation. The spring element and the clamping clamp member to which it is integrally connected by a mounting portion may also have co-operating formations to hold the spring element in relative position to the clamping clamp member if the mounting portion could for any reason fail . This could also be within the scope of the invention if some other joining techniques, for example, welding such as ultrasonic welding, would be used to hold the spring element in its operative position relative to one or both of the clamping members. of tightening after they have been moved in their operative position in relation to it. There may be stopping means for limiting the pivotal movement of the clamping clamping members relative to one another in the direction of moving the clamping portions thereof away from each other beyond a predetermined limiting position. Such tension means may be arranged by a splice which may be in the spring element. A preferred form of the spring element according to the invention is that of a generally V-shaped element, possibly with the two ends of the V-shaped element being curved in such a way as to diverge incr ectly from each other with an increased distance from where they are connected to each other. In this case, a free end of a limb is connected in one of the clamping clamping members by the mounting portion while the free end of the other limb links the other clamping clamping member when the spring element is in its position operative, while the connection between the ends of the spring element rests adrescansante to the hinge portion of the device. Although, as referred to in the above, the invention is mainly applicable to a fastening device which is a clothes peg, it is applicable to other fastening devices of similar analogous configuration. For example, clamping devices can generally be made according to the invention. One such clamping clamping device to which the invention is applicable is the so-called "crocodile clip" which is used to establish a temporary electrical connection with an electrical component or a device. In this case the device is required to be provided with a metallic or other electrically conductive element or elements to establish the electrical connection, for example, in the jaw portions of the clamping clamping members. A particular example of such use of a device according to the invention is in the high-strength connection clips as they are used to connect to the battery terminals in a vehicle engine by means of jump leads when the jump starts. vehicle whose battery is discharged. The invention allows enough force to be applied by the clip to ensure satisfactory electrical connection, but since the clip according to the invention is mainly plastic material it is unnecessary to provide an additional insulation cover as required with the metal clips. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of the fastening devices according to the invention, in the form of a clothes peg, in a first position in which you are being factories.

Figure 2 shows the clothes peg of Figure 1 in an operative position; Figure 3 is a view of a further embodiment of the clothes peg according to the invention. Figure 4 is a view like Figure 1 of still a further embodiment of the clothes peg according to the invention, in its condition as it is molded. Figure 5 is a view as in the figure 4, but with the clothespin in its operative condition. With reference mainly to the Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, these show a fastening device that is in the form of a clothespin. This comprises two clamping members 10, 11 of which the clamping clamp member 10 has a jaw portion 12 and a handle portion 13, while the clamping clamp member 11 has a jaw portion 14 and a portion 15 of clamp 15. handle. The limbs 10, 11 clamping clips are joined to each other by a hinge portion 16. The jaw portion 12 of the clamping clamp member 10 comprises three successive arcuate formations 17, 18, 19 as the hinge portion 16 approaches and the jaw portion 14 of the clamping clamp member 11 is provided with complementary arched formations, not referred In order to provide a total of three fastener formations for fasteners of different sizes between the jaw portions. At the remote grip ends 13,15 from the hinge portion 16 there are finger grip portions 20,21 respectively, which are toothed to assist in not slipping the grip and tighten thereto by the fingers of a user. The complete clothespin as described in this way is an integral component of a piece of hard and strong plastic material such as polypropylene or polyamide (for example "nylon" of suitable grade). It is made as an injection molding in, in a known manner, in a matrix having two halves of movable matrices towards and away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. It will be noted that over most of their lengths the clamping clamping members have portions 22,23 of relatively thin central fabric, to minimize the amount of material used as long as it does not impair the strength of the clothes clamp. The hinge portion 16 is sufficiently thin to allow pivotal movement of two clamping clamping members in relation to one another around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the pattern in the region of the center of the hinge portion. Adressting to the free end of the handle portion 13 of the clamping clip member 10, and below the clamping portion 20 thereto, there is a spring element indicated generally at 24. This is connected to the handle portion 13 by a portion 25 that is sufficiently thin to allow the spring portion 24 as an assembly to be relatively pivoted to the handle portion 13, followed by a spring portion 26 and a link portion 27. The spring portion 26 is a little arched in the configuration, while the link portion 27 has a flat face 28. Figure 1 shows the clothes clamp in the configuration in which it is manufactured by the injection molding process in which it is removed from the matrix. The illustrated position of the jaw portions 12, 14 of the clamping members untwist in relation to one another allow sufficient space therebetween for the formations 17, 18, 19 to be accurately molded, while the position of the spring element 24 away of the handle portion 15 of the clamping member 11 also allows accurate molding of the spring element. After being removed from the die the spring member 24 is pivoted about its mounting portion 25 to the surface 28 of the bond portion 27 that rests face to face with the face surface 29 of the handle portion 15. The geometry of the spring element and its position of connection to the handle portion 13 is such that its position is reached by an action on the center, so that when the coupling portion 27 has its surface 28 in face-to-face engagement with the surface 29, such position is retained. Then the spring portion 26 biases the handle portions 13, 15 away from each other and thus the jaw portions 12, 14 pivotally toward each other to hold an article or articles therebetween. Between the mounting portion 25 and the spring portion 26 there is a butt formation 30 arranged to abut the link portion 27 to act as a stopping means to limit the pivotal movement of the handle portions 13, 15 toward each other and thus limiting the opening of the jaw portions 12, 14. Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, this shows a further embodiment of the clothes peg according to the invention, whose main features are as described above and thus will not be described again. It is different from the embodiment of Figure 2 with respect to the configuration of the spring element thereof, indicated at 32, which instead of having a link portion as 27 have an end portion 33 with an end 34 a ch a ' f 1 ana do. The handle portion (35) of the clamp to which the spring element 32 does not attach has a notch or recess formation 36 with which the chamfered end 34 engages to hold the spring element 32 in its operative position ( shown in dotted lines in Figure 3) to which it is being moved from its position as it is molded, which is shown in the complete lines. The spring element 32 has a mounting portion 37 of small cross-sectional dimensions, to provide a "vital hinge" that allows easy movement of the spring element to its operative position. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, these show a further embodiment of clothespins according to the invention. As the embodiments described in the foregoing, the gripper comprises two limbs 110, 111 clamping clips with jaw portions 112, 114 and handle portions 113, 115. There is a hinge portion 116. The jaw portions define two formations 117, 118 fasteners for holding articles of different sizes and the handle portions have portions 120, 121 of concave tightening fingers respectively. In addition, as described in the foregoing, the clamping clamping members comprise finger portions extending perpendicularly with the portions 122, 123 of central tissue respectively thin. The clamping member 111 has a spring element indicated generally at 124 integral therewith, being connected to the clamping clamping member by a mounting portion 125 of the cross-sectional dimension sufficiently thin to constitute a "vital hinge". Adjacent to the mounting portion 125, the clamping member 111 has a recess formation 138 which faces the hinge portion 116. Although opposed to the recess formation 138, the clamping member 110 has a recess formation 139 that faces similarly toward the hinge portion 116. The configuration of the spring element 124 is generally V-shaped with two limbs 140, 141 which are curved such that they are increasingly inclined away from one another as they extend away from a U-shaped region 142 where they are joined. The ends of the limbs 140 on an edge 143 adjacent to the mounting portion 125, while the free end of the limb 141 is indicated at 144. The gripper is preferably made as an injection molding of a plastic material such as describes in the above. As a molding the spring element 124 is in the position shown in Figure 4 in which it is separated from its connection to the clamping member 111 by the mounting portion 125, spacing of clamping clamping members. Figure 5 shows the clothespins of Figure 4 in their useable condition, in which the spring element 124 is being positioned by pivoting it approximately to its mounting portion 125 in relation to the clamping member 111. In its operative position, the end 144 of the limb 141 is connected in the recess 139 of the clamping member 110, while the formation 143 at the end of the limb 140 of the clamping clamping member is at least partially disposed in the recess 138. of member 111 clamping clamp. The part 142 of the spring element rests adjacent to the hinge portion 116 and the limbs 140, 141 are substantially aligned compared to their molded conditions. In this way the spring element predisposes the handle portions 113, 115 of the clamping clamping members away from each other, and therefore the clamping portions thereof toward each other to clamp an article or articles between the clamping portions. gag portions. In the clothespins of Figures 4 and 5, the provision of the formations 138, 143 adjacent to the mounting portion 125 has the effect that even if the mounting portion 125 must fall on the spring element it is still retained in its operative position in the clothespin. Such failure could occur in the course of moving the spring element to its operative position or after prolonged use from the configuration of the spring element and the mounting portion is such that some folds of the mounting portion will occur when the clamp is operated. . This is within the broad scope of the invention if, after displacement of spring elements to their operative position, some technique for clamping or securing would be used between the spring element and the clamping clamping member to hold the element in its operative position. Such a clamping technique could be welded, for example by ultrasonic welding. The retention of the spring element in its operative position is thus ensured. In this way the invention provides a fastening device which can be easily manufactured as an integral molding of a plastic material with a spring means which can easily be brought into an operative position after the device is being molded. The clamping devices may be a clothes clamp as described in the previous one, although this to be appreciated that other clamping devices of similar or similar construction or intended for use may be provided in accordance with the invention. An example of particles of other fastening devices is a clip to stabilize an electrical connection, for example, a clip which is intended to stabilize an electronic connection with a terminal of a battery in a motor vehicle, for the purpose to start the vehicle by means of "jump direction" and the vehicle's battery is discharged.An additional example of a clip to stabilize an electrical connection is one for use in electric welding, to connect to a work piece. for this purpose it could, of course, be a little larger than a clothespin, and to stabilize the electrical connection to be able to have a support formation provided with an electrically conductive element or elements to which the connection can be made by an electrical wire of Such an electrically conductive element can, for example, comprise a copper element secured to the plastic device. or in the course of the injection molding process. Such a clip has the advantage of not requiring to be detachably provided with an insulating cover to pro-eger the different parts of its fastening formation. Still further examples of fastening devices that can be made in accordance with the present invention are clips of the type that are used in surgical procedures for various purposes. There are several different configurations of clips for specific uses, and if made in accordance with the invention, "single use" articles may be available providing in a sterile condition and discarded when used. Still a further possibility of the construction of fastening devices according to the invention is that reinforcing elements of metal or other materials can be incorporated into or attached to the devices. For example, reinforcing material elements pivoted together could be provided in the clamping clamping members in the vicinity of the hinge portion, to reinforce the hinge portion. A plastic filler fiber material can be used for the device as a whole. The features described in the foregoing description, or the following claims or the accompanying drawings express in their specific form or in terms of a meaning to perform the function described or a method or process to achieve the result described, as appropriate, it can, separately or in any combination of such characteristics, be used to carry out the invention in various forms thereof.

Claims (20)

1. A clamping devices comprising two clamping clamping members; a hinge portion; and a spring element; wherein all the aforementioned parts are integrally molded from a plastic material and the spring element is connected to one of the clamping clamping members by a mounting portion of sufficiently small cross section to allow the spring element to be molded in a position in which separated from the mounting portion is spaced from the clamping clamping members, then can be moved around the mounting portion to an operative portion in which this spring biases the clamping clamping members in relation to one another. the other.

2. Clamping device according to claim 1, wherein each clamping clamping member is of elongated configuration comprising a jaw portion and a handle portion, with the hinge portion attached to two clamping clamping members generally in half of the region thereof between each of the jaw portions and the handle portion.

3. Fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the spring portion is connected to one of the handle portions in a remote position from the hinge portion.

4. Fastening device according to claim 3, wherein the spring element comprises a spring portion and a coupling portion, the coupling portion being arranged to engage the grip portion of the fastener member other than that to which the spring element is attached. it is integrally joined, and to retain its position relative thereto in use of the fastener device.

5. Fastening device according to the indication 4, wherein the portion of the link is flat, to rest in a face-to-face relationship with a substantially flat face complementary to the other handle portion.

6. Clamping device of claim 4 or 5 wherein the linking portion of the "spring element cooperates with a formation in another clamping clamping member to hold the spring element in its operative position relative thereto.

7. The fastening device of claim 6, wherein the formation comprises a recess formation in the handle portion of another clamping clamping member, engageable by an external portion of the spring element ba or the force exerted by the spring element in use. .

8. Clamping device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the spring element and the clamping clamp member to which it is integrally connected comprises formations arranged to cooperate to hold the spring element in relative position to the clamping clamp member if the portion of clamping member assembly, could fail.

9. Clamping device according to any of the preceding claims comprising stopping means for preventing pivotal movement of the clamping clamping members relative to one another beyond a predetermined limiting position.

10. Fastening device according to claim 9, wherein the arresting means comprise a butt formation in the spring element.

11. Fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, which is a clothes peg.

12. Fastening device according to any of claims 1 to 10, which is an electrical connection fastener.

13. Clamping device according to claim 12, comprising at least one electrically conductive element in a jaw portion of a clamping clamping member.

14. Method of manufacturing a fastening device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising molding the device with the spring element thereof in the position in which it is cleared from the clamping clamping members, and then removing the device from a mold, which moves the spring element to the operative position.

15. Method according to claim 14, further comprising applying a joining technique between the spring element and at least one clamping clamping member after moving the spring element to its operative position.

16. Clamping device substantially as descd hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of the features descd herein and / or in the accompanying drawings.

18. Clamping device comprising two clamping clamping screws; a hinge portion; and a spring element; wherein all the aforementioned parts of the device are integrally molded from a plastic material and the spring element is connected to one of the clamping clamping members and has been molded in a position in which separate from the connection is spaced from the tightening clamping members and then moved around the connection to an operative position in which both of the clamping clamping members engage to provide a spring that biases the force therebetween; characterized in that the connection is provided by a "vital hinge" mounting portion of small cross section to allow the spring element to easily move from its molded position to its operative position.

19. Fastening device according to claim 18, further characterized in that the spring biases the force exerted by the spring element which is derived from the elastic deformation of the spring element when in its operative position as compared to, when in its position molded, and that none or substantially none of the springs bias the force resulting from the deformation of the mounting portion.

20. Fastening device according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the spring element is generally U-shaped comprising limbs extending from a joining region, the attachment region rests adjacent to the hinge portion of the device when the spring element is in its operative position and the limbs extend to engage the clamping clamping members in their spaced positions from the hinge portion.