Pipe clamp

• US 5,016,843 A
• Filed: 05/08/1990
• Issued: 05/21/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canplas Industries Limited (Aliaxis SA)
• Original Assignee: Canplas Industries Limited (Aliaxis SA)
• Inventors: Ward, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN SHUE, ALVIN C
• Application Number:
  US07/522,398
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 248/68.1, 248/74.2
• US Class Current: 248/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/04 and pressing it against a wall or other support
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/06 with supports for wires

Abstract

A clamp is disclosed for securing pipe to a surface. The clamp comprises a body for retaining the pipe therein. The body has at least two ends and at least one of the ends is securable to the surface by a fastener. In one embodiment, the ends are in the form of outwardly extending flanges with preformed holes for fastening. The body also includes a clasp which is adapted to releasably secure an electrical wire to the clamp. In one embodiment the clasp is a resilient cantilever having a rest position and being biased towards said rest position upon being displaced therefrom.

Claims

1. A clamp for simultaneously securing a pipe to a surface and releasably securing at least one following electrical wire, said clamp comprising:

a u-shaped body for retaining said pipe therein, said u-shaped body in cross-section having a semi-circular portion, ending in two straight portions having opposed outwardly extending feet, the length of each straight portion being at least equal to the radius of the semi-circular portion, said straight portions and said feet forming L-shaped ends for securing said body to a surface,

said body having reinforcing ribs and opposed material saving openings and a clasp disposed in one of said openings said clasp comprising a resilient cantilever having a profile corresponding to the profile of the u-shaped body, whereby in a rest position said cantilever is coincident with said u-shaped body, within said opening, and in a displaced position said cantilever is displaced outwardly from said opening and is biased towards said rest position, said clasp including a first protrusion extending outwardly from said clasp and outwardly from an outer surface of said u-shaped body said first protrusion allowing said clasp to be manually actuable from said rest position to said displaced position and means for retaining said electrical wire between said clasp and said u-shaped body said retaining means comprising a second protrusion adjacent a free end of said cantilever and projecting inwardly generally towards a centre of said u-shaped body and a relieved portion extending past said second protrusion in said reinforcing ribs to retain said wire between said clasp and said u-shaped body, both the first and second protrusions extending beyond the profile of the u-shaped body when the cantilever is in the rest position,

said clamp, in use retaining said pipe within said u-shaped body, securing said pipe to a surface and releasably securing and at least partially strain relieving said following wire between said clasp and said outer surface of said u-shaped body.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clasp includes a stiffening ridge located adjacent a fixed end of said cantilever for enhancing the tendency of the clasp to return to its rest position.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2 wherein said stiffening ridge is located on an outer face at a fixed end of said cantilever, said stiffening ridge forming part of the junction of the cantilever and the clamp body, and being compressed when said clasp is actuated to said displaced position.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 3 wherein said body has a smooth interior surface.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 1 or 3 wherein said cantilever has a thickness lesser than that of the clamp body and is curved inwardly for at least a portion of its length.

6. A clamp as claimed in claims 1 or 3 wherein said body and said clasp are integrally molded from a flexible resilient plastic material.