Retaining member

• US 7,658,350 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. K.G. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. K.G. (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Bauer, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): WUJCIAK, ALFRED J
• Application Number:
  US10/767,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20040188570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 248/65, 248/67.7, 248/68.1, 248/74.2, 248/316.1, 248/316.7, 244/58, 244/62, 245/31, 24/16.R, 24/17.R
• US Class Current: 248/65
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/223 each support having one transverse base for supporting the pipes F16L3/23, F16L3/237 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/035 in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4465 Integrally combined, independently operable, diverse clasps, clips, or support-clamps

Abstract

A retaining member for holding and supporting an elongated element from a support includes a base portion and a holding portion. The base portion is attachable to the support. The holding portion is connected to the base portion and has a recess for holding the elongated element therein. The recess includes a tubular portion and a plurality of spaced ribs extending radially inwardly from the tubular portion to have different radial heights.

Claims

1. A retaining member for holding and supporting an elongated element from a support, said retaining member comprising:

a base portion attachable to the support; and

a holding portion connected to said base portion and comprising a recess for holding the elongated element therein, said recess comprising;

a tubular portion; and

a plurality of spaced ribs extending radially inwardly from said tubular portion to have different radial heights,

wherein;

said ribs comprise at least one first rib having a first radial height and a plurality of second ribs having a second radial height smaller than the first radial height;

said holding portion further comprises an elongated slot for allowing insertion of the elongated element into said recess via said elongated slot; and

said elongated slot has opposite elongated edges extending in an axial direction of said tubular portion and said first rib is spaced, in a circumferential direction of said tubular portion, from each of the edges of said elongated slot by at least one of said second ribs; and

further comprising a further holding portion connected to said base portion and comprising a further recess for holding another elongated element therein, said further recess having a smooth inner surface free of ribs or teeth; and

wherein said holding portions are positioned on opposite sides of said base portion.

2. The retaining member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ribs are elongated in a circumferential direction of said tubular portion.

3. The retaining member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base portion is made of a harder plastic material and said ribs and said tubular portion are made of a softer plastic material.

4. The retaining member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said elongated ribs describe circular or helical curves.

5. The retaining member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ribs are disposed at a uniform spacing in an axial direction of said tubular portion.

6. The retaining member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ribs include first ribs having a greater radial height and second ribs having a smaller radial height, and wherein said first and second ribs are alternatingly arranged in an axial direction of said tubular portion.

7. The retaining member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ribs include first ribs having a first radial height and second ribs having a second radial height smaller than the first radial height, and wherein a first width of said first ribs at tops thereof is smaller than a second width of said second ribs at tops thereof.

8. The retaining member as claim in claim 7, wherein the first radial height of said first ribs is greater than the first width at the tops of said first ribs.

9. The retaining member as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second radial height of said second ribs is smaller than the second width at the tops of said second ribs.

10. The retaining member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second ribs are elongated in the axial direction of said tubular portion, and alternatingly arranged in the circumferential direction of said tubular portion with a uniform spacing.

11. The retaining member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second ribs are elongated in the axial direction of said tubular portion and alternatingly arranged in the circumferential direction of said tubular portion, and wherein said alternatingly arranged ribs include at least three said first ribs and at least three said second ribs.

12. The retaining member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding portion includes at least three said first ribs two of which are arranged along the edges of said slot.

13. The retaining member as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first width of said first rib at a top thereof is smaller than a second width of said second ribs at tops thereof.

14. The retaining member as claim in claim 13, wherein the first radial height of said first rib is greater than the first width at the top of said first rib.

15. The retaining member as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second radial height of said second ribs is smaller than the second width at the tops of said second ribs.

16. The retaining member as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top of said first rib describes a convex curve and tops of said second ribs describe concave curves.

17. A retaining member for holding and supporting an elongated element from a support, said retaining member comprising:

a base portion attachable to the support; and

a holding portion connected to said base portion and comprising a recess for holding the elongated element therein, said recess comprising;

a tubular portion; and

a plurality of spaced ribs extending radially inwardly from said tubular portion to have different radial heights, wherein

said ribs comprise at least one first rib having a first radial height and a plurality of second ribs having a second radial height smaller than the first radial height;

said holding portion further comprises an elongated slot for allowing insertion of the elongated element into said recess via said elongated slot;

said elongated slot has opposite elongated edges extending in an axial direction of said tubular portion and said first rib is spaced, in a circumferential direction of said tubular portion, from each of the edges of said elongated slot by at least one of said second ribs; and

said base portion is made of a harder plastic material and said first and second ribs are made of a softer plastic material; and

further comprising a resilient contact element adapted to bear against a surface of the support when said base position is attached to the support, said resilient contact element being made from the same plastic material as said first and second ribs.

18. In combination,

an elongated element;

and

a retaining member for holding and supporting said elongated element from a support, said retaining member comprising;

a base portion attachable to the support; and

a holding portion connected to said base portion and comprising a recess holding the elongated element therein, said recess comprising;

a tubular portion; and

a plurality of spaced ribs extending radially inwardly from said tubular portion, said ribs including at least a first rib having a first radial height and at least a second rib having a second radial height smaller than the first radial height;

wherein said elongated element is resiliently supported in said recess by said first rib to be radially spaced from said second rib and said tubular portion, said first rib being elastically deformable to allow said elongated element to come to rest on said second rib without allowing said elongated element to contact said tubular portion and said base portion; and

further comprising;

a support to which said base portion is attached; and

a resilient contact element that bears against the support and spaces said base portion from said support;

wherein said base portion is made of a harder plastic material whereas said first and second ribs, said tubular portion and said resilient contact element are made of a softer plastic material.

19. A retaining member for holding and supporting an elongated element from a support, comprising:

a base portion attachable to a support;

a first clamping member connected to the base portion and comprising an elastically expandable cup having a single curved wall and an insertion slot adapted to have a first elongated element inserted therethough;

an injected molded non-rigid plastic lining injected molded into direct contact with the single curved wall of the expandable cup and configured to receive the elongated element therein, the lining comprising;

a plurality of first and a plurality of second spaced ribs extending radially inwardly from the lining, each of the first plurality of ribs being arranged beside one of the plurality of second spaced ribs, each of the plurality of first ribs being longer and thinner than each of the plurality of second ribs and having a greater overhang than each of the plurality of second ribs, whereby each of the first plurality of ribs extends further toward a center of the lining than each of the plurality of second ribs, each of the plurality of first ribs being configured to have a lower spring constant, to be more sensitive to mechanical loads and exhibit a smaller self-centering action than each of the second plurality of ribs.

20. A retaining member as claimed in claim 19, wherein the clamping member is made of a rigid material.

21. A retaining member as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first plurality of ribs are each longer and narrower than the second plurality of ribs and configured to be deflected during the insertion of the elongated element into the lining to the degree they bear, at least temporarily, on the second plurality of ribs.

22. A retaining member as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least the deflection of the plurality of first ribs provides an acoustical isolation effect between the elongate element and the support.

23. A retaining member as claimed in claim 19, wherein in the case of a force being exerted by the elongate element on the plurality of first ribs and the plurality of second ribs, the plurality of second ribs are configured to be deflected to a lesser degree than the plurality of first ribs and therefore absorb a larger amount of the force than the plurality of first ribs.

24. A retaining member as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of second ribs are configured to act as rigid stops.

25. A retaining member as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a second clamping member comprising an unlined expandable cup having a smooth inner surface, an insertion slot adapted to have a second elongated element inserted therethrough, and a clamping tongue arranged within the unlined expandable cup.