Abstract
The object of the invention is to provide a universally usable and cost-effective holding element. The holding element shall consist of components that allow for its modification and, in so doing, provide a wide range of holding element designs. The holding elements shall have a variable design and thus be useful for a wide range of applications.
The holding element according to the invention consists of at least one holding unit (1), consisting of at least two holding fingers (3) connected with each other on one side at a connecting point (2) and where at the connecting point (2) opposite the holding fingers (3) it has a fastening unit (10) or instead of the fastening unit (10) another holding unit (1) is arranged, where this holding unit (1) likewise consists of at least two holding fingers (3) connected on this side with each other at a connecting point (2) and all holding fingers (3) are preferably fitted with a spherical end (4).
Claims
1. A holding element, comprised of at least one holding unit (1), made up of at least two holding fingers (3) connected with each other on one side at a connecting point (2) and where at the connecting point (2) opposite the holding fingers (3) a fastening unit (10) is arranged or instead of the fastening unit (10) another holding unit (1) is arranged, where this holding unit (1) likewise consists of at least two holding fingers (3) connected on this side with each other at a connecting point (2) and all holding fingers (3) are preferably fitted with a spherical end (4).
2. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one holding finger (3) per holding unit (1) has a spherical end (4) and at least another holding finger (3.1) is designed without spherical end (4) and the holding fingers (3.1) without spherical end (4) have at least one plane contact face (11).
3. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening unit (19) is designed as suction cup, hook, eye, ring, loop, clip, screw clamp, clamps, magnet, hook-and-loop fastener, holding plate, click-on connector or screw connection.
4. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding unit (1) and the fastening unit (10) are designed detachable from each other.
5. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding elements consist of an elastic material.
6. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the spherical ends (4) are connected with the holding fingers (3) in a detachable manner.
7. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding fingers (3) exhibit bulges, having a round, triangular or square cross-section and a straight or curved shape, where the distance of the holding fingers (4) of a holding unit (1) between each other, starting from the connecting point (2), first becomes larger and then remains the same and then becomes smaller again.
8. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding unit (1) of a holding element has the same number of holding fingers (3) or a different number of holding fingers (3) and where the length of the holding fingers per holding unit (1) is equal but the other holding unit (1) has shorter or longer holding fingers (3).
9. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding units (1) are arranged opposite of each other or at an angle toward each other.
10. The holding element according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding fingers (3) of the holding unit (1) are arranged on the same plane or on different planes.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Advantageous design examples of the invention are explained in detail based on drawings.
[0030] The following is shown:
[0031] FIG. 1 a holding element designed as double clamp,
[0032] FIG. 2 a holding element designed as double clamp with different holding planes,
[0033] FIG. 3 a holding element with holding units arranged at angles,
[0034] FIG. 4 a holding unit with three holding fingers in top view, plugged onto a plate,
[0035] FIG. 5 a holding element with a holding unit of two holding fingers combined with a holding unit of three holding fingers.
[0036] FIG. 6 a holding element with two times three holding fingers on different planes,
[0037] FIG. 7 a holding element in top view with four holding fingers and objects introduced crosswise,
[0038] FIG. 8 a holding element in top view with four holding fingers and objects introduced in parallel and
[0039] FIG. 9 a perspective presentation of a holding element with two holding units featuring two and four holding fingers,
[0040] FIG. 10 a holding finger with bulges
[0041] FIG. 11 a holding element with suction cup,
[0042] FIG. 12 a holding element with threaded pin,
[0043] FIG. 13 a holding element with suction cup on one holding finger,
[0044] FIG. 14 a holding unit with four holding fingers in top view,
[0045] FIG. 15 a holding unit with five holding fingers,
[0046] FIG. 16 a holding unit with three holding fingers with a through hole with female thread in the area of the connecting point and
[0047] FIG. 17 a holding unit with three holding fingers with a through hole in the area of the connecting point.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a holding element designed as simple double clamp. The two holding units 1 each hold an object 5 with circular cross-section. Holding units 1 consist here each of two holding fingers 3, which are connected at the connecting point 2 with each other and here again also with the opposite holding element 1. Holding fingers 3 end with a spherical end 5. The object 5 is surrounded/enclosed each by holding fingers 3 and spherical ends 5. Here, holding fingers 3 of both holding units 1 are arranged on the same plane resulting in the position of the objects 5 on the same plane.
[0049] The figure descriptions below each emphasize the differences to the basic design described in FIG. 1 and therefore refer to them.
[0050] FIG. 2 shows a holding element designed as double clamp with different holding planes. The presentation of holding unit 1 shown at the left agrees with the holding unit 1 shown in FIG. 1. The holding unit 1 presented at the right is also identical with the holding units from FIG. 1. The difference is that the right holding unit is turned by 90 degree against the left holding unit 1. The holding planes are produced by the position of the holding fingers 3 toward each other. From the holding fingers 3 turned by 90 degree toward each other a rotation of the two objects 5 by 90 degree toward each other is produced.
[0051] In FIG. 3 a holding element with holding units 1 arranged at an angle toward each other is shown. The holding unit 1 shown below is shown at a right angle to the two opposing holding units 1 shown above. According to one design, holding units 1 may also be designed turned toward each other. Likewise, holding units 1 may be connected with each other at different points.
[0052] FIG. 4 shows holding unit 1 of a holding element with three holding fingers 3 from the top. Holding fingers 3, originating from the connection point, are arranged toward each other at an angle of 120 degree. Likewise, an object 5 clamped into the holding unit 1 is shown. In that object 5 rests on one side against two holding fingers 3 with spherical end and pressed against the same through its elastic design by the holding finger 3 arranged on the opposite side and shown below, there is an increased resistance against the turning of object 5 with reference to holding unit 1. It becomes apparent here that object 5 can be introduced into holding unit 1 in three different orientations.
[0053] In FIG. 5, a holding element with a holding unit 1 of two holding fingers 3 on the left side and one holding unit 1 of three holding fingers 3 at the right side is shown. This provides a perspective presentation of a holding element, consisting of a combination of the designs with two holding fingers 3 and three holding fingers, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.
[0054] FIG. 6 shows a holding element with three holding fingers 3 on both sides in a top view. For better distinction, holding fingers 3 and the spherical ends 4 are shown smaller in the background. Due to the different orientations of the holding fingers 3 in the foreground and in the background, the objects (not shown) can be aligned on different planes. Of course, the holding elements may be designed so that the holding fingers 3 have a different size regarding length and the spherical ends 4 may have a different size.
[0055] FIG. 7 shows a holding unit 1 with four holding fingers (cannot be seen) from the top. The objects 5 introduced between the holding fingers with the spherical ends are positioned here crosswise on top of each other in holding unit 1.
[0056] In FIG. 8, a holding unit 1 as known from FIG. 7 with four holding fingers 3 is shown. Here, the rod-shaped objects 5 are clamped in parallel between the holding fingers 3 with the spherical ends 4.
[0057] FIG. 9 shows a perspective presentation of a holding element with two holding units 1. The lower holding unit 1 comprises two holding fingers 3 with spherical ends 4. Holding fingers 3 are clamped here to a plate-shaped object 5, for example, a table top. The opposing four holding fingers 3 surround two objects 5 designed as round rods, arranged crosswise toward each other, as also shown in FIG. 7.
[0058] The holding fingers 3 may also have bulges distributed over their length, as shown in FIG. 10. These bulges allow for a certain engagement when pushing on the holding elements.
[0059] FIG. 11 shows a holding element with a suction cup 10 as fastening unit 10. The suction cup 10 is especially suitable to fastening the holding element through a vacuum to a smooth surface 12, such as to a wall tile. At the connection point 2 of holding fingers 3, 3.1 of the holding unit 1, they are connected with suction cup 10.
[0060] The two holding fingers 3, 3.1 of the holding element 1 have different designs. One holding finger 3 has a spherical end 4. The second opposite holding finger 3.1 is designed without spherical end 4 and forms, for example, a plane contact face 11 for object 5 to be held. By object 5 resting against the plane contact face 11, object 5 can be aligned. This design is therefore especially suitable for objects 5 with a two-dimensional boundary.
[0061] FIG. 12 shows a holding element with a threaded pin 10 as fastening unit 10. With the threaded pin 10, a screw connection for fastening to another component can be realized. For example, fastening with an anchor (not shown) in a wall is possible. Holding unit 1 is designed here with three holding fingers 3, 3.1 where the upper and lower holding fingers 3 have a spherical end 4 and the middle holding finger 3.1 is designed without spherical end 4.
[0062] In FIG. 13, a holding element derived from FIG. 11, with a suction cup 10 fastened to one holding finger 3, is shown. Thus, the connecting point 2 toward the fastening unit 10 is arranged on holding finger 3.1 without spherical end.
[0063] FIG. 14 shows a holding unit 1 with four holding fingers 3, 3.1 in top view. The middle holding finger 3.1 without spherical end is designed with triangular cross-section and plane contact faces 11. Here, the plane contact faces 11 allow for an alignment of objects 5 at an angle of 120 degree toward each other.
[0064] FIG. 15 shows a holding unit 1 with five holding fingers 3, 3.1. The centrally arranged holding finger 3.1 without spherical end features a square cross-section with corresponding plane contact faces 11. Thus, the objects 5 to be held can be arranged at an angle of 90 toward each other. Altogether four objects 5 are held here, where two objects 5 each are aligned in parallel toward each other.
[0065] In FIGS. 16 and 17, the holding units 1 in the area of the connecting point 2, that is, in the area of fastening of the holding fingers 3, feature a through hole 13, with or without thread, with a variety of different diameters. This through hole 13 may be used, on the one hand, to fasten holding unit 1 to objects 5, such as walls, boards, beams, etc. with screws or nails. With the design variant with a through hole 13 with female thread, object 5 may also have a threaded rod and thus enabling a secure connection. However, through hole 13 with female thread can also accommodate fastening elements such as hooks with a threaded end. In this case, holding fingers 3 with the spherical end 4 serve to fasten the holding unit 1 to an object 5 and, for example, the hook for hanging up objects.
[0066] However, it is also conceivable that two holding elements 1 according to FIG. 16 are connected with each other with a rod, featuring a matching thread on both ends for the threaded hole 13 thus forming one complete holding element with two holding units. The rod may also be designed here as telescopic rod or only as connecting pin with thread. However, this design can be used, for example, also as holding element on a ground anchor. For this purpose, the ground anchor only needs to have a matching threaded pin as connecting element to the holding element. A possible application would be, for example, a sprinkler system in the garden, that can be easily repositioned at a different location in the garden.
[0067] The figures presented show by way of example the manifold design variants of the holding elements and holding units and their diverse application options.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0068] 1Holding unit [0069] 2Connecting point [0070] 3Holding finger [0071] 3.1Holding finger without spherical end [0072] 4Spherical end, ball [0073] 5Object [0074] 6Holding element [0075] 10Fastening unit, suction cup, threaded pin [0076] 11plane contact face [0077] 12smooth surface [0078] 13Through hole, threaded hole
