U.S. patent application number 10/086677 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-19 for attachment element for elongate objects.
Invention is credited to Kluser, Remo.
Application Number | 20020130237 10/086677 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7676096 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020130237 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kluser, Remo |
September 19, 2002 |
Attachment element for elongate objects
Abstract
An attachment element having a holding part (1) securable to a
constructional component; and a connection part (2) adjoining the
holding part (1) outside of a projection plane of the connection
part (2) and extending perpendicular to a plane of the holding part
(1), intersecting same along its end side along which the
connection part (2) adjoins the holding part (1), with the
connection part (2) having a bottom (FT) and two resilient clamping
legs (3) projection from the bottom (FT) for receiving an elongate
object, and with the holding and connection parts forming a
one-piece member.
Inventors: |
Kluser, Remo; (Hinterforst,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP
875 Third Avenue
New York
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
7676096 |
Appl. No.: |
10/086677 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/316.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 5/0685 20130101;
F16B 2/245 20130101; F16L 3/13 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/316.1 |
International
Class: |
A47G 001/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 2, 2001 |
DE |
10110 123.6 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An attachment element for securing elongate objects to
constructional components, comprising a holding part (1) securable
to a constructional components; and a connection part (2) adjoining
the holding part (1) outside of a projection plane of the
connection part (2) and extending perpendicular to a plane of the
holding part (1), intersecting same along an end side thereof along
which the connection part (2) adjoins the holding part (1), the
connection part (2) having a bottom (FT) and two resilient clamping
legs (3) projecting from the bottom (FT) for receiving an elongate
object, and the holding and connection parts forming a one-piece
member.
2. An attachment element according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
(FT) of the connection part (2) is aligned with the holding part
(1).
3. An attachment element according to claim 1, wherein the clamping
legs (3) extend substantially perpendicular to the holding part
(1).
4. A method of producing an attachment element including a holding
part (1) securable to a constructional component, and a connection
part (2) adjoining the holding part (1) outside of a projection
plane of the connection part (2) and extending perpendicular to a
plane of the holding part (1), intersecting same along an end side
thereof along which the connection part (2) adjoins the holding
part (1), the connection part (2) having a bottom (FT) and two
resilient clamping legs (3) projecting from the bottom (FT), with
the holding and connection parts forming a one-piece member, the
method comprising the steps of stamping out of a sheet metal a
sheet blank having sections corresponding to holding and connection
parts; bending the sheet blank to form the attachment part.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the stamping-out step
comprises stamping out a T-shaped sheet blank.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the bending step includes
bending off opposite free ends (6, 7) of the T-shaped sheet blank
to form the clamping legs.
7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the stamping-out step
comprises stamping out an L-shaped sheet blank.
8. A method according to claim 6, comprising forming, in a free end
of the L-shaped sheet blank, a slot extending from a free end
surface of the free end up to a sheet section corresponding to the
holding part, and wherein the bending step comprises bending off of
sections located on opposite sides of the slot from a remaining
portion of the sheet blank to form the two clamping legs (3).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an attachment element for
securing elongate objects to constructional components and
including a holding part securable to a constructional component,
and a connection part adjoining the holding part outside of a
projection plane of the connection part and extending perpendicular
to a plane of the holding part, intersecting same along its end
side along which the connection part adjoins the holding part, with
the holding and connection parts forming a one-piece member.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Known, clip-like attachment elements are used for securing
elongate objects such as, e.g., electrical conductors, water hoses
and the like to constructional components.
[0005] These attachment elements have each a plate-shaped holding
part securable to a constructional component, e.g., with nails or
screws. The connection part, which is connected with the holding
part, serves for releasably connecting an elongate object with the
constructional component. German Publication DE 1775414 discloses
an attachment element having a holding part and an attachment part.
The plate-shaped holding part has a plurality of bores for securing
the holding part to a constructional component. The connection part
lies outside of a projection plane of the connection part and which
extends perpendicular to a plane of the holding part, intersecting
same along its end side along which the connection part adjoins the
holding part. The connection part has essentially a shape of a
hook.
[0006] The advantage of the known attachment element consists in
that the arrangement of the connection part relative to the holding
part permits to attach an object to a constructional component
without any difficulty by simply attaching the holding part to the
constructional component. This is because the connection part does
not prevent access to the bore in the holding part or does not make
the access completely impossible.
[0007] However, a drawback of the known attachment element consists
in that the object cannot be secured in any arbitrary mounting
position by the connection part, as the object first has to be
inserted into the hook-shaped connection part.
[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide an attachment element that can be economically produced
and, at the same time, provides for a simply attachment of an
object.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] This and other objects of the present invention, which will
become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a connection
part having a bottom and two resilient clamping legs projecting
from the bottom for receiving the object. The two resilient
clamping legs insure an easy insertion of an object. Further, the
two resilient clamping legs insure a substantially arbitrary
alignment of the receiving space formed by the two legs. This
insures an easy handling of the attachment element.
[0010] Advantageously, the bottom of the connection part is aligned
with the holding part, which insures a stable structure of the
attachment element.
[0011] The clamping legs advantageously extend substantially
perpendicular to the holding part, which permits to effect the
attachment process in one step. Thereby, it is possible,
simultaneously, to secure the attachment element to the
constructional component, on one side, and to insert an object
between the clamping legs, on the other side. Further, the
arrangement of the clamping legs insures a manual insertion of the
object therebetween.
[0012] Advantageously, each clamping leg has a substantially
M-shaped cross-section, which insures an optimal retention of an
object. However, dependent on the outer profile of an attachable
object, the clamping legs can have another cross-sectional shape
corresponding to the profile of the object.
[0013] For manufacturing the attachment element, advantageously, a
sheet blank is subjected to stamping and bending processes. These
processes provide for a time-saving and simple and, thereby,
economical manufacturing of the attachment element.
[0014] Advantageously, for forming the attachment elements,
T-shaped or L-shaped sheet blanks are used, which insures formation
of the attachment element by a very easy bending process. This
again contributes to an economical production of the attachment
elements.
[0015] When the attachment element is formed of a T-shaped sheet
blank, the bending step includes bending-off of opposite free ends
of the T-shaped sheet blank in order to form the clamping legs. By
forming the clamping legs by bending off opposite free ends of a
T-shaped sheet blank, a substantial economy of material is
achieved.
[0016] When the attachment element is formed of an L-shaped sheet
blank, there is formed in a free end of the L-shaped sheet blank, a
slot extending from a free end surface of the free end up to a
sheet section corresponding to the holding part, and bending off of
sections located on opposite sides of the slot from a remaining
portion of the sheet blank is effected to form the two clamping
legs.
[0017] When the L-shaped sheet blank is used for forming the
attachment element, both sheet sections, which correspond to
holding and connection part, respectively, have a shape of a
rectangle. This insures a material--saving manufacturing of the
attachment element.
[0018] The novel features of the present invention, which are
considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in
the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its
construction and its mode of operation, together with additional
advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments, when read
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The drawings show:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an attachment element for
elongate objects according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a sheet blank for forming the
attachment element according to the present invention and shown in
FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an attachment element for
elongate objects according to a second embodiment of the present
invention, and
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a sheet blank for forming the
attachment element according to the present invention and shown in
FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] An attachment element according to the present invention,
which is shown in FIGS. 1-4, has a plate-shaped part 1 securable to
a constructional component (not shown), and a connection part 2
adjoining the holding part 1 along an end side of the holding part
1. The connection part 2 adjoins the holding part 1 outside of a
projection plane of the connection part 2 which extends
perpendicular to the plane of the holding part 1 and interests the
same along the adjoining end side of the holding part 1. The
holding part 1 and the connection part 2 form a one-piece element.
The connection part 2 has a bottom FT and two clamping legs 3
extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the holding
part 1. The clamping legs 3 have each a substantially M-shaped
cross-section.
[0025] The holding part 1 has a bore 4 for securing the holding
part 1 to the constructional component. The holding part 1 has, in
the region of the bore 4, a cap-shaped bulging 5, with the bore 4
being located centrally with respect to the bulging 5.
[0026] FIGS. 1-2 show an embodiment of an attachment element formed
by bending of a substantially T-shaped sheet blank shown in FIG. 2.
The two opposite end sections 6 and 7 of the T-shaped sheet blank
form the two clamping legs 3.
[0027] FIGS. 3-4 show a second embodiment of an attachment element
according to the present invention which is formed of a
substantially L-shaped sheet blank. A free end 8 of the L-shaped
sheet blank has a slot 9 for forming the two legs 3. The slot 9 is
open at the free end of the sheet blank and extends longitudinally
over the entire length of the long leg of the L-shaped blank.
[0028] The attachment element is formed of a sheet metal, e.g., by
stamping and bending process. Firstly, a T-shaped and L-shaped
blanks are stamped out, respectively, for the attachment elements
according to the first and second embodiments.
[0029] In both sheet blanks, a bore 4 is formed in blank sections
corresponding to the holding part 1. In a further step, the
clamping legs-forming tabs 6, 7 and 10, 11, respectively, are so
bent that they acquire a substantially M-shaped cross-section,
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively. Finally, the tabs 6, 7 and
10, 11 are bent transverse to the bottom FT.
[0030] Though the present invention was shown and described with
references to the preferred embodiments, such are merely
illustrative of the present invention and are not to be construed
as a limitation thereof, and various modifications to the present
invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is,
therefore, not intended that the present invention be limited to
the disclosed embodiments or details thereof, and the present
invention includes all of variations and/or alternative embodiments
within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by
the appended claims.
* * * * *