ZA200810150B - Fastening device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a fastening device.

In one application of a device according to the present invention, it may be used to fasten or mount cables, cable trunking or electrical or plumbing conduit to a supporting surface, such as a wall.

Currently, so-called saddles are commonly used to fasten cable trunking or conduits to a wall. A conventional saddle has a curved, partially round section with holed tags projecting from it. The curved section is located over the trunking or conduit and the tags are secured to the wall or other surface by means of nails, screws or the like passing through the holes. In the case of square section trunking or conduit, the curved saction is . replaced by a rectangular section.

A practical requirement of this type of device is that the saddle have a size matching that of the trunking or conduit in order to grip it firmly and prevent it from slipping longitudinally. This in turn means that one size or shape of saddle cannot readily be used to mount trunking or conduits of different : size or shape.

It is an objective of the invention to provide a versatile fastening devive which addresses this shortcoming of the conventional saddle.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening device comprising a one-piece, elongate strip of bendable metal having: - a first portion with a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, elongate slots formed therein, the slots extending in a direction transverse to the length of the strip and each slot having a width exceeding the thickness of the strip, - a second portion extending lengthwise from the first portion and being in the form of an elongate tongue having a width less than the length of a slot in the first portion; and - a hole in the strip between the slots and the tongue, wherein the strip can be bent into a loop and the tongue passed through a selected slot and thereafter bent over on itself tc maintain the loop.

The strip may be of galvanised mild steel or stainless steel, typically with a thickness of 0.5mm.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a composite i fastening device comprising a plurality of fastening devices as summarised above, the strips of the fastening devices being connected end to end with one another by passing the tongue of one strip through a slot in the first portion of the next strip and bending the tongue back on itself.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of securing a cable or conduit to a supporting surface, the method comprising the steps of securing the fastening device summarised above to the supporting surface by means of a fastener passing through the hole, locating the cable or conduit adjacent the strip of the fastening device,

bending the strip into a loop around the cable or conduit, passing the tongue of the strip through a selected slot in the first portion of the strip and bending the tongue back on itself in order to grip the cable or conduit and secure it to the supporting surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fastening device according to this invention;

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 bent into a loop;

Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 fixed to a wall;

Figure 4 shows how the device of Figure 1, fixed to the wall as shown in Figure 3, can be used to fasten a conduit to the wall;

Figure 5 shows a view in the direction of the arrow § in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 shows how two similar devices 10 can be connected end to end to one another to form a longer fastening device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The fastening device 10 seen in Figure 1 is in the form of an elongate strip 12 of galvanised mild steel or stainless steel, typically having a thickness of 0,5mm. The strip has a first, wider portion 14 with an end 16. A series of spaced apart, parallel, elongate slots 18 is formed in the portion 14. As illustrated, the slots extend at right angles to the length of the strip 12.

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The strip 12 also has a narrower second portion 20, in the form of an elongate tongue, which extends longitudinally from the portion 14. The width 22 of the second portion is slightly less than the length 24 of a slot 18 in the first portion. The second portion terminates at a tapered tip 26.

A round hole 28 is formed in the first portion between the slots 18 and the second portion 20.

It will be understood that the device 10 can be formed by a punching operation performed on a sheet or strip or mild steel. The initial sheet or strip may be galvanised or the individual fastening devices 10 may, after punching, be galvanised.

Figure 2 shows how the strip 12 can be bent into a round loop, with the tip 26 of the second portion 20 being fed through a slot 18 and with the second portion thereafter being folded and bent back on itself. It will be understood that by selecting the slot through which the tip 26 is passed and/or by oo varying the degree to which the portion 20 is pulled through the selected slot, it is possible to vary the diameter of the loop which is created. It will also be understood that with the second portion bent back tightly on itself as illustrated, the diameter of the loop is set and it is not possible to return the device to its original, straight shape as illustrated in Figure 1 without first bending the folded over end of the second portion up in such a way that it can be passed back through the selected slot. !

Figures 3 to 5 show the device 10 fixed to the surface of a wall 30. This is achieved by means of a screw 32 which passes through the hole 28 into a wall plug 34 located in a hole 36 drilled in the wall. Instead of a screw, a concrete or masonry nail or other fastener may be passed through the hole 28 and into the wall to anchor the device 10 in position.

With the device 10 fixed to the wall, it may be used to fasten a conduit 38 to the wall as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This is achieved by locating the conduit 38 against the device, bending the portions 14 and 20 around the conduit, feeding the tip 26 of the portion 20 through a selected one of the slots 18, pulling the portion 20 firmly through the slot so that the conduit is tightly encircled and embraced, and finally bending the portion 20 back on itself, as described previously, in order to lock the device onto the conduit and hence to anchor the conduit securely to the wall.

It will be appreciated that the thin gauge of the strip 12 and its resultant pliability enable it to be bent tightly around a conduit, or any other object which is to be fastened to the wall, virtually irrespective of the shape of the object. The device may for instance be used to mount square or other section conduits or other objects to the wall, or to any other supporting surface on which the device is fixed. It will also be understood that the device may be used to fasten cables having different cross-sectional shapes directly to the wall or other surface.

The illustrated device 10 is extremely versatile. It may for instance be used to tie together a bundle of loose wires, ropes or the like. This would again be achieved by forming the strip 12 into a tight loop around the bundle. The device might also be used, in the manner of a jubilee clip, to construct a flexible tube, for example the end of a hosepipe, around a rigid nozzle or the like. It will be understood that in this case, the second portion 20 must be pulled very tightly through the selected slot 18 in order to generate a sufficiently strong constricting force.

In situations where the device is to be used to embrace an object of small transverse dimension, for example a cable of relatively small diameter, it would be possible to cut the portions 14 and 20, transversely as required, to suit the size of the object. This is illustrated by way of example by the lines 40 in Figure 1. Cutting of the portions could for example be carried out using metal shears, side cutters or tin snips.

In situations where the device is to be used to embrace an object having a circumference greater than the length of the device 10, two or more similar devices can be connected together end to end. As shown in Figure 6, this can be achieved by feeding the tip 26 of one device through a slot 18 in another identical device, then feeding the tip back through another slot and bending it back tightly on itself. The result is a fastening device 42 which is approximately twice as long as a single device but which can be used in a similar way. The double feed arrangement of the tip 26 provides particularly secure anchorage of the portion 20 with little chance of slippage. This feed system may also be used in the formation of the loops in the earlier examples.

In a typical example suitable for conduit or cable fastening duties, the device 10 may have the following dimensions: overall length 145mm width of portion 14 16mm width of portion 20 8mm length of slot 18 9mm width of slot 18 2mm diameter of hole 26 4mm.

Claims (1)

1. cL LL A fastening device comprising a one-piece, elongate strip of bendable metal having: - a first portion with a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, elongate slots formed therein, the slots extending in a direction transverse to the length of the strip and each slot having a width exceeding the thickness of the strip, - a second portion extending lengthwise from the first portion and being in the form of an elongate tongue having a width less than the length of a slot in the first portion; and - a hole in the strip between the slots and the tongue, wherein the strip can be bent into a loop and the tongue passed through a selected slot and thereafter bent over on itself to maintain the loop.

   2. A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein the strip is of galvanised mild steel.

   3. A fastening device according to claim 2 wherein the strip has a thickness of

   0.5mm.

   A fastening device according to claim 1 wherein the strip is of stainless steel.

   5. A composite fastening device comprising a plurality of fastening devices according to any one of the preceding claims, the strips of the fastening devices being connected end to end with one another by passing the tongue of one strip through a slot in the first portion of the next strip and bending the tongue back on itself.

   6. A method of securing a cable or conduit to a supporting surface, the method comprising the steps of securing a fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 to the supporting surface by means of a fastener passing through the hole, locating the cable or conduit adjacent the strip of the fastening device, bending the strip into a loop around the cable or conduit, passing the tongue of the strip through a selected slot in the first portion of the strip and bending the tongue back on itself in order to grip the cable or conduit and secure it to the supporting surface.

   7. A fastening device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   Dated this 28" day of November 2008 Spoor & Fisher Applicant's Patent Attorneys