Pipe clip

#This invention is concerned with a pipe clip for securing a pipe in position in the locality of a screw-threaded stud or other projection comprising means for retaining the clip on the stud and means for retaining a pipe on the clip.

#Pipe clips are known of a kind which is molded in one piece of plastic material and has a body portion with a bore through it of a diameter to be frictionally received over a threaded stud, the threaded stud indenting the wall of the bore to resist withdrawal of the clip, thus to provide the stud-retaining means, and which is also shaped with a part cylindrical recess of a diameter similar to the pipe and of more than 180.degree. arc, thus to leave an opening of less than 180.degree., say 160.degree., through which the pipe can be forced so that it seats in the recess.

#In using a pipe clip of the kind just referred to, it may be found that the clip, if it can sufficiently easily be pushed on the stud, may be insufficiently firmly secured to it, and that, if the walls of the recess are rigid enough to hold the pipe sufficiently firmly, excessive pressure (such as might damage the pipe) may be required to insert it. Moreover, release of a pipe held on such a clip, if it is sufficiently firmly retained, may be difficult.

#A pipe clip according to the invention and illustrative thereof by way of example is shown in central longitudinal section in the accompanying drawing.

#The illustrative pipe is adapted to receive two pipes of equal diameter, but the invention is also applicable to clips for receiving only one pipe clip or two pipes of different size. It is molded in one piece of resilient plastic material, for examle nylong or acetal resin, and comprises two parts, a body portion 10 and a locking portion 12 joined by a frangible annulus 14. The body portion 10 has a bottom face 16 to engage a support from which a threaded studs projects upwardly. The face 16 is recessed at 18 to accommodate any material around the foot of the stud (which may have a flange welded to the support).

#Two relatively stiff resilient arms 20, 22 stand upwardly, one from each end of the body portion. Located centrally between the arms 20, 22 is a boss 24 with a cylindrical bore 26 of slightly larger diameter than the stud so as freely to accommodate it. Around the mouth of the bore 26 is the frangible annulus 14.

#Viewed in plan (not shown) the outline of the body portion is substantially rectangular and the arms 20, 22 lie parallel to each other. Each arm 20, 22 is shaped on the inside to provide a recess 28, 30 respectively. From the walls of the recess, two resilient flaps 32 project arcuately to provide resilient support for a pipe as shown in phantom line at 34 in the drawing. The pipe 34 is retained by engagement of an inwardly projecting lip 36 on the arm at one side of the opening of the recess and the shoulder 38 on a resilient finger 40, 42 upstanding, one at each side, from the boss 24. The fingers 40, 42 are flexible, much more so than the relatively stiff arms 20, 22. With the fingers 40, 42 in their unflexed condition, the pipes 34 are retained in the recesses 28, 30 by the lips 36 of the arms 20, 22 and the shoulders 38 against the resilient flaps 32. The pipes are thus protected against undue effects of vibration. Entry of a pipe into the recess (or exit from it) is facilitated by the flexibility of the fingers 40, 42.