US 2010/0320335 A1 · Air hose support clip to prevent lateral loading

Abstract

Apparatus for suspending a device such as the end of a depending air brake hose from a railcar. A flexible strap of a synthetic resin such as moldable polyurethane is suspended from the railcar body, for example, by attachment to an apertured fitting on the railcar coupler. Elongated resilient wire clips are provided to attach the free end of the air hose. The wire clips are generally configured with a latching end including interlocking end portions for connection to the strap through a selected attachment aperture, a pair of flexibly resilient, elongated manually compressible elongated arms extending away from the latching end portions and a return portion joining the arms. The clip is further provided with a retainer operative when the arms are interlocked for maintaining the attachment aperture fitting within the confines of the return portion and out of position in which loading of the clip is exerted laterally of the clip arms. In a preferred embodiment, the clip is provided with a bend in its first arm operative to promote optimum point-loading of the clip, and this embodiment of the clip is particularly useful with a chain suspension strap.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An assembly for maintaining the end of a vehicle air brake hose at a predetermined height above the supporting road bed structure, the hose having a coupling member with a fitting having an attachment aperture at its free end, the assembly comprising a flexible strap having a first end affixed to the vehicle and a second end, at least one attachment aperture spaced towards the second end and a releasable clip having a latching end including interlocking end portions for connection to the strap through the attachment aperture, the clip further having a pair of flexibly resilient, elongated arms extending away from the latching end, the arms being joined by a return portion, the return portion being insertable through the attachment aperture of the air hose coupling member, the clip having a retainer operative when the interlocking end portions are latched for maintaining the attachment aperture fitting within the confines of the return portion and out of position in which loading of the clip by the coupling member is exerted laterally of the clip arms.

A clip for interconnection with an attachment portion of a suspension strap used to suspend an air brake hose of a vehicle above a road bed structure, the clip having

a first end and a latching end,
a pair of flexibly resilient elongated arms extending away from the latching end of the clip to the first end of the clip,
the arms being joined by a return portion at the first end of the clip,
the pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm,
the first arm at the latching end of the clip having a latching member for interlocking engagement with the second arm when desired,
the latching member having an interlocking end portion for engaging the second arm,
the latching member having a strap engaging portion for engaging an attachment portion of the suspension strap, the strap engaging portion of the latching member being located between the interlocking end portion of the latching member and the first arm at the latching end of the clip short of the latching member,
the strap engaging portion of the latching member and the first arm short of the latching member forming an acute angle therebetween operative when the interlocking end portion of the latching member engages the second arm for positioning the suspension strap to rest where the strap engaging portion of the latching member meets the first arm short of the latching member.

5 more elements

An assembly for maintaining an air brake hose of a vehicle at a predetermined height above a supporting road bed structure, the assembly comprising

a suspension strap having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being affixable to the vehicle,
the suspension strap having an attachment portion located at the second end portion of the suspension strap, and
a first releasable clip for connecting the suspension strap to an attachment fitting of an air brake hose, the first releasable clip having
a first end and a latching end,
a pair of flexibly resilient elongated arms extending away from the latching end of the first releasable clip to the first end of the clip,
the arms being joined by a return portion at the first end of the first releasable clip,
the pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm,
the first arm at the latching end of the first releasable clip having a latching member for interlocking engagement with the second arm when desired,
the latching member having an interlocking end portion for engaging the second arm,
the latching member having a strap engaging portion for engaging the attachment portion of the suspension strap, the strap engaging portion of the latching member being located between the interlocking end portion of the latching member and the first arm at the latching end of the first releasable clip short of the latching member,
the strap engaging portion of the latching member and the first arm short of the latching member forming an acute angle therebetween operative when the interlocking end portion of the latching member engages the second arm for positioning the suspension strap to rest where the strap engaging portion of the latching member meets the first arm short of the latching member.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Air hose support clip to prevent lateral loading

Life of this patent

Air hose support clip to prevent lateral loading

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31