Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~036325
This invention relates to a clamping device for use
in holding two members together and, particularly, to a device -
for clamping a lid to a container.
The invention is intended to simplify the manufacture
of devices of this nature while providing a simple and in-
expensive detachable or non-detachable device capable of
supplying relatively large forces to the members to be clamped.
The present invention may be broadly described as a unitary
plastic clamping strap, comprising: a head molded at one end
thereof, a tongue at the other end thereof having stop latches
disposed on the edges of the tongue, an elongated body portion
interconnecting the head and the tongue, the head having a
pair of transversely spaced side walls extending in a normal
direction with respect to the body portion, a first set of
transversely extending, spaced bridge elements interconnecting
the side walls, a second set of transversely extending, spaced ~ :
bridge elements interconnecting the side walls, the second set
being spaced from the first set in the normal direction and
being flush with the body portion, the bridge elements of the
sets being formed so as not to overlap one another in the
normal direction, the side walls and the first and second sets
of bridge elements defining a longitudinally extending channel
for receiving the tongue, channel saw teeth formed on each side ~
wall in the channel extending in a normal direction, a channel -
saw tooth being disposed adjacent each bridge element of each
` set, the channel saw teeth and the tongue stop latches being
adapted for locking interconnection with one another when the -
tongue is inserted into the channel. ;~
` These and other features of the invention will become
clear in the following description of the preferred embodiment
of the invention where reference is made to the appended drawings
wherein:
Figure 1 is an elevational view partially in section of
the clamping device;
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Figurc 2 i~ a top plan vicw of thc locking mcans;
Fi~urc 3 is a hottom plan view of the locking means;
Figure 4 i8 a side view of the clamping device;
Figure 5 is a view of the tongue portion showing
the locking barbs;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clamping device
in engagement with a lid and container; and
Figure 7 is a view showing the manner in which the
device may ~e released.
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Wi~h reference to Figure 1, numeral 1 designates
a clamping body having a locking means ~ and a tongue portion
2. The tongue portion extends from one end of the body portion
and is formed with barbs or teeth 3 adapted for engagement
in the locking means 4.
The body portion 1 is an elongated member having a
U-shaped cross-section defined by a pair of spaced walls 11
and a bridge wall member 12. The space defined by walls 11
and 12 define a rim or projection receiving space 21 into which
the rim or projection of a container and its lid are inserted
prior to clamping as will become apparent in due course. For - -
increased stiffness of body portion 1, a stiffening rib 10 ex-
tending longitudinally of body 1 is provided. The device is
preferably formed of a thermoplastic injection mouldable
synthetic material for resiliency and strength.
Locking means 4 will now be described. It is provided
with first and second sèts of spaced bridge elements 6 and 7,
respectively, spaced from one another in order ~o provide a
tongue receiving space 23 (Figure 4) which has a height 26 only
slightly larger than the thickness 25 of the tongue 2.
The first and second sets of bridge elements 6 and 7
extend transversely of the longitudinal axis 14 of the body 1 ~-~
and are connected at Lheir ends to a pair of s~aced depending
walis 5which for all intents and purposes are extensions of
spaced walls 11. The upper surface 19 of elements 7 are flush
with upper surface 22 of wall 12 as shown in Figure 1. As
further shown in Figure 1, each element of one set is positioned
between two bridge elements of the other set except for the
elements at the ends of the locking means 4.
Walls 5 are formed with locking projections 8 and 9 -
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in the tongue receiving space 23. Projections 8 are positioned
along wall 5 and immediately below ~Figure 1) each element 6,
whereas ,each projection 9 is positioned immediately above an
element 7. All of the pro~ections are formed with camming
surfaces 34 and locking surfaces 35. Surfaces 35 are substantial-
ly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of body 1 and are
adapted to lockingly engage surfaces 13 of barbs 3 which will ~ , -
be described below.
Projections 9 may be extended downwardly ~Figure 1) ~ ~ ,
into the rim receiving space 21 to permit smoother introduction
of the rim into the space while also tending to reduce frictional
resistance during insertion thereof. As shown in Figure 3, the
portions of projections 9 in space 21 are designated by numeral
24 and are arcuate in shape.
The tongue portion 2 of the device will now be des-
cribed with reference to Figures 1 and 5. Tongue 2 is fixed
;or connected to the body 1, as shown in Figure 1, with its
low~r or bottom surface 28 substantially flush or level with
the upper surface 22 of bridge wall 12. The tongue thickness
25, as previously mentioned, is slightly less than the height
26 of the tongue receiving space 23. Barbs 3 are inclined at
an acute angle to the longitudinal axis 14 of the device and
positioned along the side edges of the tongue. Each barb is
formed with a locking surface 13 adapted for locking engagement
wit~ surface 35 of the projections 8 or 9 of locking means 4.
Locking surfaces 13, as with locking surfaces 35, are substantial-
ly at right angles to the axis 14 of the device.
With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the method of use
and operation will now be described. Both lid 15 and container
16 are each provided with a rim or projection which are introduced
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into the rim receiving space 21 by wrapping the device around
the rims. The end of tongue 2 is then introduced tangentially
into the tongue receiving space 23 in the direction of arrows
30 and 32 and inserted therethrough until shoulder 27 of body
1 abuttingly engages the end face of the locking means 4 and
the locking surfaces 13 of each barb 3 engages a locking surface
35 of a projection 8 or 9. If the length of the body and lock- -
ing means together is less than the circumference of the con-
tainér, the device will be subjected to tensile forces which
will be transmitted to the lid 15 and container 16 as a radial
compressive force. The direction of this force is indicated
by arrow 31 in Figure 1. Thus, it can be seen that in the manner
just described, the device clamps and holds the lid 15 to the
container 16. It will be understood that the device is not -
limited to holding a lid to a container but,rather, may be used
to hold any two or more members in the manner described.
From the oregoing description, it will be appreciated
that the device is of non-detachable form. The device may be
converted to a detachable form by cutting ~he locking means 4
along line a-b as shown in Figure 6, using a knife 38. Thus,
the set of bridge elements 6 may be pivoted along line c-d and
by pulling the tongue in the direction of arrow 29 in Figure 7,
the tongue will come out of locking engagement with the locking
means. Obviously, if the tongue is not pulled, the tensile force
to which the device is subjected while in the locked position,
will serve to maintain the device in that position.
The device may be formed in a two part injection mould,
doing so without the use of side slides. With this proCedure, a
portion of barbs 3 and a set of bridge elements may be formed by
the upper half of the mould while the remainder of the device is
formed by the lower half of the mould. The two halves are inter-
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connected during the ig~ib~ procedure. In this manner no
overlapping occurs and, thus, no lateral i~nition is necessary.
In the same ignition process, the side parts of the closure
and the device are also produced.
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