Fixing apparatus and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a fixing (1) for securing an article (21) to a surface (19). The fixing comprising a coupling arrangement (3) for coupling the fixing to an article such as cabling. Elongate members (5) extend from the coupling arrangement and are moved together to insert the fixing into a cavity (17), and spring apart to retain the fixing in the cavity. The elongate members have resiliently deformable inner formations (9). The inner formations engage with one another and resiliently deform when the elongate members are brought together, thereby increasing the pull resistance of the fixing. The inner formations are inwardly extending branches each presenting a ramped surface oriented towards the distal ends (8) of the respective elongate member, assisting in coupling an article to the fixing.

Claims

1. A fixing for securing an article to a surface, comprising: a coupling arrangement; a first elongate member extending from the coupling arrangement and having a first proximal end and a first distal end; a second elongate member extending from the coupling arrangement and having a second proximal end and a second distal end, the first elongate member and second elongate member each being resiliently biased towards a position in which they are spaced apart from one another along at least a portion of a length of said first elongate member and a portion of a length of said second elongate member, the fixing having a resting state and a use state; said first elongate member having a first resiliently deformable inner formation in the form of a branch or an arm that extends inwardly from the first elongate member toward said second elongate member, said second elongate member having a second resiliently deformable inner formation in the form of a branch or an arm that extends inwardly from the second elongate member toward said first elongate member, the first resiliently deformable inner formation of said first elongate member positioned to engage with a portion of said second elongate member and resiliently deform upon engagement with said portion of said second elongate member, the second resiliently deformable inner formation of said second elongate member positioned to engage with a portion of said first elongate member and resiliently deform upon engagement with said portion of said first elongate member, the first resiliently deformable inner formation and the second resiliently deformable inner formation configured to apply an outward force to each of said first elongate member and said second elongate member when the elongate members are engaged in the use state, wherein the first resiliently deformable inner formation of said first elongate member presents a first ramped surface oriented towards the first distal end, and wherein the second resiliently deformable inner formation of said second elongate member presents a second ramped surface oriented towards the second distal end.

2. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the first resiliently deformable inner formation is spaced apart from the first proximal end and the first distal end, and wherein the second resiliently deformable inner formation is spaced apart from the second proximal end and the second distal end.

3. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the first elongate member is biased towards a position diverging away from the second proximal end; and wherein the second elongate member is biased towards a position diverging away from the first proximal end.

4. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the first inner formation extends inwardly away from the first distal end, and wherein the second inner formation extends inwardly away from the second distal end.

5. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of an outline of an inner formation is a cut-out from one of said first elongate member and said second elongate member and the inner formation is bent inwardly therefrom.

6. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the first distal portion is free of an inner formation and the second distal portion is free of an inner formation.

7. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the first distal portion has an inwardly curved portion or an inwardly kinked portion, and wherein the second distal portion has an inwardly curved portion or an inwardly kinked portion.

8. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the first elongate member has one or more of a barb or one or more of a projection extending outwardly, and wherein said second elongate member has one or more of a barb or one or more of a projection extending outwardly.

9. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a loop, extending from the proximal end of the first elongate member to the proximal end of the second elongate member.

10. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the first elongate member and the second elongate member and the coupling arrangement are formed from a single strip of material.

11. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the fixing is a cable clip.

12. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the fixing comprises or is substantially formed from a resilient material.

13. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is configured to retain at least one coupled member when the fixing is in a use state.

14. A fixing according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first resiliently deformable inner formation is positioned to engage with a portion of the second resiliently deformable inner formation.

15. A method of fixing an article to a surface, comprising the steps of; providing a cavity in a surface; providing a fixing having at least two elongate members extending from a coupling arrangement; the elongate members being resiliently biased towards a position in which they are spaced apart from one another along at least a part of their length; and the elongate members each comprising a resiliently deformable inner formation in the form of an inwardly extending branch or arm, the inner formations extending toward an adjacent elongate member, the fixing having a resting state and a use state; coupling an article to the fixing by introducing the article between the elongate members in a direction towards the coupling arrangement; thereby causing the article to ride up ramped surfaces of the inner formations oriented towards the distal ends of the elongate members; bringing the elongate members closer together and inserting the elongate members into the cavity; resiliently deforming when in the use state an inner formation which is spaced apart from a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate member, and thereby applying an outward force to the elongate members; and/or causing an outer conformable region to conform to inner surfaces of the cavity under the action of outward forces applied to or by the elongate members.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: coupling the article to the coupling arrangement before insertion of the elongate members into the cavity.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the article is a cable.

18. A method of making a fixing for securing an article to a surface, comprising the steps of: providing, a strip of resilient material; forming a coupling arrangement from a central portion of the strip; forming elongate members from end portions of the strip, the elongate members extending from the coupling arrangement and resiliently biased to be spaced apart from one another along at least a portion of their lengths; and forming a resiliently deformable inner formation from at least a part of a length of each elongate member; each inner formation optionally being spaced apart from a proximal end and a distal end of the elongate member, the fixing having a resting state and a use state; the inner formations extending toward an adjacent elongate member and positioned to engage therewith and resiliently deform, applying an outward force to the elongate members when the elongate members are brought together in the use state.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: cutting out at least a part of an outline of an inner formation from each elongate member; and bending each respective inner formation inwardly so as to form an inwardly extending branch or arm.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the outline of a side of the inner formation extends along the elongate member from the outline of an end of the inner formation, towards the distal end of the elongate member.

21. The method of claim 18, comprising bending the inner formations to form a ramp facing the distal ends of the elongate formations, or so that the ends of opposed inner formations are generally aligned.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Non-limiting example embodiments will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1A shows a side view of a fixing;

(3) FIG. 1B shows a side view of the fixing of FIG. 1A, with elongate members held together;

(4) FIG. 2A shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a fixing;

(5) FIG. 2B shows a side view of the fixing of FIG. 2A, with elongate members held together;

(6) FIG. 2C is a view of a face of an elongate member of the fixing of FIG. 2A;

(7) FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the elongate member of FIG. 2C;

(8) FIG. 2E is view of a face of an alternative embodiment of an elongate member;

(9) FIGS. 3(a)-3(d) show the steps of securing an article to a surface;

(10) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a fixing, positioned in a hole in a concrete surface;

(11) FIG. 5 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a fixing;

(12) FIG. 6 shows a side view of a still further embodiment of a fixing;

(13) FIG. 7 shows a side view of yet another embodiment of a fixing;

(14) FIG. 8 shows a side view of another embodiment of a fixing;

(15) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fixing; and

(16) FIG. 10 is a side view of another embodiment of a fixing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(17) FIG. 1A shows a side view of a fixing 1 (in the embodiment shown, a cable clip) for securing an article to a surface. The fixing has a coupling arrangement 3 and elongate members, legs 5, extending therefrom.

(18) The coupling arrangement is formed as a loop 3 extending between the legs 5. The loop is sized to receive one or more cables, conduits, pipes or the like, which may passed between the legs 5 and into the loop 3 to be coupled to the fixing 1 (generally in the direction A).

(19) The fixing 1 is shown “at rest”, i.e. in the configuration adopted in the absence of any externally applied forces or constraints. The elongate members 5 have proximal ends 7, adjacent to the coupling arrangement 3 and extend to distal ends 8. The elongate members 5 are resiliently biased towards the position shown in FIG. 1, in which they diverge from one another away from their proximal ends 7.

(20) An inner formation 9 extends or branches inwardly of each leg 5. The inner formations 9 are spaced apart from the proximal and distal ends 7, 8.

(21) The inner formations, in this case arms 9, are themselves resiliently deformable. Accordingly, when the legs 5 are squeezed together in use (as described in further detail below), the arms 9 contact one another and are deflected towards alignment with the legs.

(22) FIG. 1B shows the configuration of the fixing 1 when the legs 5 are squeezed together in this way. The resilient deformation of the arms 9 contributes to the biasing force urging the legs 5 apart. The relatively central position of the arms 9 ensures that the outward biasing forces applied by the arms is distributed along the legs 5 both proximally and distally of the arms 9.

(23) In the embodiment shown, the arms 9 engage with one another and are resiliently deformed. In other embodiments (not shown) the arms may be staggered, so as to engage with the adjacent leg when the legs are squeezed together.

(24) The distal portions 11 of the legs 5 are inwardly kinked, and transition to the regions proximal thereto via a ramp 13. Thus, when the legs 5 are brought together, the distal fixing is narrowest at it distal ends 7 and the distal regions 11 present an outwardly tapering wedge shape, to assist in insertion into a cavity (as described in further detail below). Additionally, the inner formations, arms 9, are spaced apart from the distal regions along the legs 5, and so do not impede bringing the distal ends together.

(25) The legs 5 are also provided with outwardly extending barbs 15. The barbs 15 are ramped away from the distal ends 7 and so add relatively little resistance to insertion of the legs 5 into a cavity, but act to catch against imperfections in a cavity wall and/or bite into a cavity wall, and resist removal of the fixing 1, as described below. The barbs 15 are positioned both proximally and distally of the arms 9, so that the outward forces applied by the arms in use are effectively transmitted to the barbs.

(26) FIG. 2A shows a side view of a fixing 500 for securing an article to a surface. Features in common with the fixing 1 are provided with like reference numerals, incremented by 500.

(27) The fixing 500 has a coupling arrangement 503 and elongate members, legs 505, extending therefrom. The coupling arrangement is formed as a loop extending between the legs 505. The loop is sized to receive one or more cables, conduits, pipes or the like, which may passed between the legs 505 and into the loop 503 to be coupled to the fixing 500 (generally in the direction A).

(28) The legs 505 of the fixing 500 comprise inner formations, in this case arms 509. The arms are themselves resiliently deformable, and are formed from cut out portions of a length of each of the legs, as described below. Accordingly, when the legs 505 are squeezed together in use (as described in further detail below), the arms 509 contact one another and are deflected towards alignment with the legs.

(29) Unlike the arms 9 of the fixing 1, the arms 509 extend towards one another, away from the distal ends 508 of the legs 505. Accordingly, they present ramped surfaces 510 oriented towards the distal ends 508. In use, when a cable is introduced in the direction a, it encounters and rides up the ramped surfaces 510, forcing the arms 509 apart. Thus, the cable does not “snag” against the arms and, moreover, when they spring back behind the cable they assist in retaining it in the loop 503. This can be of particular benefit for embodiments in which the loop is sized to receive more than one cable.

(30) FIG. 2B shows the configuration of the fixing 500 when the legs 505 are squeezed together, for example for insertion into a hole or when inserted in a hole. The resilient deformation of the arms 509 contributes to the biasing force urging the legs 505 apart, as discussed above in relation to FIG. 1.

(31) In the embodiment shown, the arms 509 are provided with an addition bent end portions 512 that are relatively parallel with one another when the fixing 500 is at rest. This assists the arms 509 engaging smoothly with one another the legs are squeezed together.

(32) The further features of the fixing 500 are as described above for the fixing 1, including the inwardly kinked distal portions 511, ramp 513 and outwardly extending barbs 515.

(33) The fixing 500 is formed from a strip of material, by bending and forming the strip of material in a suitable manner known in the art. In particular, the arms 509 and the barbs 515 are cut and bent away from the elongate members 505, typically by an automated press or stamp.

(34) FIG. 2C shows a view of the face of a leg 505. The dotted lines show the outlines of the barbs (dotted lines 515″) and arms (dotted lines 509″). In the embodiment shown, the arms 509 and barbs 515 are each cut out from an edge 516 of the legs 505. In alternative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2E (reference numerals incremented by a further 100), the arms 609 can be cut out from a face 618 of the legs 605.

(35) The outline of the side 509a of the inner formation 509 extends along the elongate member from the outline of the end 509b of the inner formation, away from the distal end of the elongate member. Accordingly, when the inner formation is bent inwardly as shown in FIG. 2D, it diverges from the elongate member away from the distal end 508 of the elongate member.

(36) FIG. 2D shows the elongate member 505 with the arm 509 having been bent inward, and the barbs 515 having been bent outward (typically stamped from a strip of material forming the fixing 500, in a single step).

(37) Use of the fixing 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3(a)-(d). FIG. 3(a) shows a hole 17 having been drilled in a surface 19 (e.g. a building wall). FIG. 3(b) shows a perspective view of the fixing 1 with a wire 21 been coupled to the coupling arrangement (loop 3), by insertion between the elongate members 5 in the direction A as described above with reference to FIG. 1. The fixing 1 is shown with the legs 5 squeezed together (as would typically be done between finger and thumb).

(38) The legs 5 are then inserted into the hole 17 (direction B, FIG. 3(c), in which the wire 21 is omitted for clarity.) As shown in FIG. 3(d), once the pressure holding the legs 5 together has been released, they spring apart and into engagement with the inside walls 18 of the hole 17. During insertion, the lip of the hole 17 and/or the walls 18 may slide against the ramp 13, the smooth transitional surface provided by the ramp thereby facilitating insertion of the fixing into the hole.

(39) There is insufficient space in the hole 17 for either the legs 5, or the resilient inner arms 9 to return to their “at rest” positions as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the arms 9 provide additional outward force of the legs 5 against the walls 18 of the hole 17.

(40) In practice, the inner walls of a drilled hole in typical building material such as concrete, brick, plaster board and the like will be uneven; as depicted in the perspective view of FIG. 4, showing a fixing 1′ in a hole drilled in concrete. The rough inner surfaces provide a footing against which barbs 15′ can grip.

(41) As also visible in FIG. 4, the legs 5′ (or indeed any elongate member) may optionally be curved, in this instance at a proximal region 23 to the coupling arrangement 3′, so as to increase the length of the elongate members 5 in contact with the walls of the cavity 17′ in which the fixing is placed.

(42) An alternative embodiment of a fixing 100 is shown in FIG. 5. Features of fixing 100 in common with fixing 1 are provided with like reference numerals, incremented by 100. The legs 105 of fixing 100 each have two inner formations, arms 109a and 109b. The inner formations are spaced apart from the proximal and distal ends 107, 108 of the legs 105.

(43) In the embodiment shown, the fixing 100 has barbs adjacent to each of the arms 109a, 109b, such that that the outward biasing forces applied by the arms are transmitted to the corresponding adjacent barbs.

(44) Another embodiment of a fixing 200 is shown in FIG. 6. Features of fixing 200 in common with fixing 1 are provided with like reference numerals, incremented by 200. The legs 205 of the fixing 201 have an inner formation in the form of an inwardly kinked portion 209. By virtue of the resilience of the legs 205 (and thus the inner formations 209), when the legs are brought together, the inner formations may be resiliently deformed and thus act to urge the legs apart, in the manner described above.

(45) Optionally, the barbs may be formed by cuts in the material of the legs, bent away from the outer face as shown. Thus, the entire clip may be formed from a single strip of a resilient material, such as spring steel.

(46) A still further embodiment of a fixing 300 is shown in FIG. 7. Features in common with the fixing 100 are provided with like numerals, incremented by 200. The fixing 300 is provided with a coupling arrangement in the form of a hook 304. An article such as cable, pipework or a frame can be coupled to the fixing by insertion generally in the direction C. The hook is formed from the same strip of resilient steel as the legs 305, and can be bent open so as to admit or remove the article. This arrangement enables an article to be inserted and removed from the coupling arrangement independently of securing the fixing arrangement to a surface.

(47) The distal portions of the legs 305 of the fixing 300 are inwardly curved towards their distal ends 307. When the legs are brought together, the distal portions together form a generally wedged shape, to assist in inserting the fixing into a cavity.

(48) Yet another embodiment of a fixing 400 is shown in FIG. 8. Features of the fixing 400 in common with the fixing 1 are provided with like reference numerals, incremented by 400. The elongate members, legs 405, are provided with outer conformable regions 431, glued to the outer surfaces of the legs. The outer conformable regions are in the form of elastomeric blocks. In other embodiments, alternative plastics materials may be used. For example, conformable regions formed from PTFE or any other suitable plastics material may be capable of plastically deforming in use, so as to conform to the inner surface of a hole.

(49) The legs also have ribbed outer surfaces 433, so as to increase the surface area of contact to the outer conformable regions. The ribs run perpendicular to the legs (i.e. into and out of the page, from the side view of FIG. 8), and so help to resist slippage between the elastomeric blocks 431 and the legs 405 when forces are applied along the legs, in use.

(50) In use of the fixing 400, when the legs 405 are resiliently biased apart towards the walls of a hold or other cavity, the elastomeric blocks conform to the inner surface of the cavity and so contribute to the pull resistance of the fixing.

(51) In alternative embodiments (not shown) the fixing may be provided both with resiliently conformable inner formations and deformable outer regions.

(52) Another fixing 700 is shown in FIG. 9, in a hole 17 of a surface 19. The fixing 700 has legs 705 having inner formations (arms) 709 formed by a stamp, and extending inwardly from the legs 705. The legs are attached to a coupling arrangement 704, in the form of a disc, having an aperture 704a therethrough. The arms and legs function a described above to retain the fixing in the hole.

(53) The aperture is sized to threadably receive a screw 721 therethrough, such that the screw can pass between the legs 705 and the arms 709. The arms, and thus also the legs are then urged further apart by the screw 721, increasing the force of the legs and barbs 715 against the inside walls of the hole 17.

(54) The fixing can be used to screw an article such as an electrical junction box, to the surface.

(55) Anther fixing 800 is shown in FIG. 10. Features in common with the embodiment of FIG. 2A are provided with like reference numerals, incremented by 300. Each elongate member 805 has an inner formation 809, 801 extending inwardly from and proximally from the distal end 808 of the elongate member.