GB2125477A

GB2125477A - Spring clip

Info

Publication number: GB2125477A
Application number: GB08321625A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth George Baker
Original assignee: L M PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: L M PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-08-14
Filing date: 1983-08-11
Publication date: 1984-03-07
Also published as: GB8321625D0

Abstract

A spring clip comprises two separate components 1, of spring metal or plastics material, each having a mounting part 2 and a resilient arm 3, the mounting parts being adapted for securing the components to a support for use and the arms defining together a socket to receive and grip an article. In the preferred form the arms are of wide V-shape so that the socket they define is of generally rhomboidal shape, and the mounting parts are formed with slots 4 for engagement by, for example, screws 10 to secure the components to the support whilst allowing some positional adjustment of the components relative to the screws before final fixing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spring clip This invention relates to a spring clip of the kind comprising a mounting by which the clip is adapted to be secured to support means for use, and a pair of resilient arms which project from the mounting and converge towards their outer ends such that they define together a socket in which a tool, implement, utensile or other article can be inserted and gripped to be held therein, their outer ends defining an expandible narrowed entry into the socket by way of which the article can be pushed into the socket. Such a spring clip is hereinafter referred to as "of the kind described".

Hitherto spring clips of the kind described have been made in one piece, commonly of a length of spring steel strip. Because of this one-piece construction they have been restricted, according to the sizes of the clips, in the sizes and types of articles which they can hold in use.

The present invention consists in a spring clip of the kind described comprising two separate components each of which has a mounting part and a resilient arm, the mounting parts of the components being adapted for securing the components to support means and the arms of the two components being arranged to define together the socket.

As the clip is in two parts it can be arranged to hold articles of various kinds and sizes because the components can be mounted on the support means with their arms at different distances apart and at various positions relative to one another.

Thus the socket they define is adjustable. The components may be mounted with their arms directly opposite one another at selected distances apart, or they may be mounted in staggered relationships.

The components may be made of spring metal, which may be plastics coated at least at the arms if desired, or the components may be made of a suitable plastics material.

The mounting parts may have holes in them for securing them to support means by screws, nails or rivets. Preferably they have slots in them for engagement by the fastenings so that they may be adjusted to some extent relative to the fastenings before final fixing.

For attachment of the clip on a peg board or like apertured support the mounting parts of the components may have tongues or hooks adapted to engage in apertures of the support.

The arm of each component preferably defines a V-shape, or a substantially V-shape, between the mounting part and the outer end of the arm.

The components are mounted for use with the hollows of the V-shapes of the two arms towards one another so that a socket of a generally rhomboidal shape is presented. With a socket of this form articles of cylindrical shape, or cylindrical parts of articles, are gripped by the arms at angularly spaced positions about their circumferences, which can provide a secure hold on the articles. The arms may be bowed to define together a socket of part-cylindrical or elliptical shape.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a spring clip in accordance with the invention.

The spring clip comprises two similar components 1 each made from spring steel strip.

Each component 1 has a flat mounting part 2 and an arm 3 which projects from one end of the mounting part. A slot 4 is pierced centrally in the mounting part, its longitudinal axis being directed towards the arm 3. The arm is bent to a wide Vshape. An inner limb 5 of the V-shaped arm adjacent to the mounting part 2 xtends at a large acute angle, for example of the order of 700, to the mounting part, and an outer limb 6 extends at an obtuse angle, for example of about 1400, to the inner limb. The extremity of the outer limb 6 is bent back at an obtuse angle, for example of about 1200, to the main part of the limb to form a short flange 7.The inner limb 5 and the main part of the outer limb 6 are of similar lengths, and the bend 8 between the main part of the outer limb and the flange 7 is disposed substantially opposite and parallel to the bend between the mounting part 2 and the inner limb.

For use the two components 1 are secured opposite one another by their mounting parts 2 on a suitable support, as indicated at 9 in the accompanying drawing, for example by screws 10 engaged in the slots 4 of mounting parts. As illustrated the components are mounted directly opposite one another but they may alternatively be mounted in a staggered relationship if that should be more convenient for an intended use of the clip. The components are mounted with the open sides of their V-shaped arms 3 facing and thus a generally rhomboidal socket 11 is defined which at first widens away from the mounting parts and then narrows towards the flanges 7 of the arms.The flanges 7 and the bends 8 between the flanges and the main parts of the outer limbs 6 of the two arms define a narrow, but resiliently expandible, entry 12 into the socket through which an article, as indicated at 13, can be pushed into the socket to be held by the arms.

The backs of the mounting parts 2 may be roughened, for example by means of serrations, to assist in restraining them from movement relative to the support when they are secured for use.

Alternatively or in addition for that purpose the backs of the mounting parts may have proturbances which are adapted to dig into the surface of the support as the mounting parts are secured to the support. For example, the slots 4 may be plunged so that their edges protrude from the backs of the mounting parts to dig into the surface of the support.

Several of the clips may be assembled together as a rack. The clips may be secured separately to the support. As an alternative the mounting parts of the clip components may be adapted to be received into a track or channel in a row with adjacent mounting parts in abutting engagement, or in abutting engagement with spacers interposed between them, such that only the mounting parts of some of the clips, those at the opposite ends of the row for example, need be secured by screws or other fasteningto the track or channel to retain all of the clips securely to the track or channel. For such an arrangement the track or channel conveniently has opposed or undercut flanges under which the side edge portions of the mounting parts engage, the arms of the components being narrower than the mounting parts, or there being notches between the mounting parts and arms, to allow for the engagement of the mounting parts under the flanges. Preferably the backs of the mounting parts and the web of the track or channel, or confronting surfaces of the mounting parts and flanges have serrations, or they are provided with complementary groove and rib formations, which interengage to assist in locating the mounting parts in positions to which they are moved along the track or channel prior to their being secured to the track or channel.

Claims

1. A spring clip of the kind described comprising two separate components each of which has a mounting part and a resilient arm, the mounting parts of the components being adapted for securing the components to support means and the arms of the two components being arranged to define together the socket.

2. A spring clip according to claim 1 wherein the components are made of spring metal.

3. A spring clip according to claim 2 wherein the components are plastics coated at least at the arms.

4. A spring clip according to claim 1 wherein the components are made of plastics material.

5. A spring clip according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting parts have slots in them for engagement by fastenings whereby the components are secured to the support means.

6. A spring clip according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting parts have roughened backs to assist in restraining the mounting parts from movement relative to the support means when they are secured for use.

7. A spring clip according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting parts have protuberances on their backs adapted to dig into the surface of the support means as the mounting parts are secured for use.

8. A spring clip according to claim 7 as dependent from claim 5 wherein the slots are plunged so that their edges protrude from the backs of the mounting parts.

9. A spring clip according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the mounting parts have tongues or hooks adapted to engage in apertures of the support means.

10. A spring clip according to any preceding claim wherein the arm of each component defines a V-shape, or a substantially V-shape, between the mounting part and the outer end of the arm, the components being adpated to be secured to the support means for use with the hollows of the V-shapes of the two arms towards one another such that the socket defined by the arms is of a generally rhomboidal shape.

11. A spring clip according to claim 10 wherein an inner limb of the V-shaped arm of each component adjacent to the mounting part extends at an angle of approximately 700 to the mounting part, and an outer limb of the V-shaped arm extends at an angle of approximately 1400 to the inner limb.

12. A spring clip according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the extremity of the arm of each component is bent at an obtuse angle relative to an adjacent limb of the V-shape of the arm.

1 3. In combination a spring clip as claimed in any preceding claim and a track or channel to which the components are attached by their mounting parts.

1 4. The combination according to claim 1 3 wherein the track or channel has opposed or undercut flanges under which edges of the mounting parts engage.

1 5. The combination according to claim 14 wherein the track or channel and the mounting parts have formations adapted to interengage to assist in locating the mounting parts in positions along the track or channel prior to their being secured to the track or channel.

1 6. A spring clip substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.