Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02458044 2004-02-20
Spring clamp with hook
The invention relates to a spring clamp having a
clamping mouth with two clamping jaws which are spring-
s loaded toward one another by the force of a spring and
are formed by arms which are connected to one another
in an articulated manner at the one end, and the other
ends of which form actuating sections which can be
moved toward one another in order to open the clamping
mouth, the two abutting clamping jaws, together with
the articulation pin of the arms, defining a reference
plane. A hook may be arranged at the free end of one
actuating section.
A spring clamp without a hook is disclosed in
DE 200 Ol 498 U1.
Spring clamps with hooks are disclosed in US 1 468 884
and FR 1 325 394. In these documents, the hook can be
used in order to suspend the spring clamp with hook, so
that the clamping mouth of the latter projects downward
in order for something to be clamped firmly thereon.
The spring clamps disclosed in these documents are also
suitable, in principle, for being fastened somewhere by
way of the clamping mouth, so that something can be
hung on the hook. This functions, however, only in a
horizontal position of the reference plane formed by
the two abutting clamping jaws together with the
articulation pin of the arms.
It is an object of the invention to develop a spring
clamp with hook of the generic type in a functionally
advantageous manner.
The object is achieved by the invention stated in the
claims, Claim i, first and substantially, providing
that the angle bisector between the two actuating
sections is inclined at approximately 90° to the
reference plane. This allows more ergonomic handling.
CA 02458044 2004-02-20
It is further provided that the hook is mounted such
that it can be pivoted about an axis arranged at the
end of the actuating section. It is possible then for
the hook to be pivotable about an axis located
substantially parallel to the reference plane. It is
advantageous if the hook is arranged in a releasable
manner on the actuating arm. The preferred bayonet
connection allows the hook to be removed, and refitted,
in a material-preserving manner. The spring clamp
according to the invention may thus also be used
without hooks, or it is possible for hooks of different
sizes or shapes to be combined with the spring clamp.
It is further advantageous if the hook, when pivoted
in, is located in a parallel position in relation to
the actuating section. In a pivoted-out position, the
hook then extends in the imaginary line of extension of
the actuating section carrying it. The two actuating
sections of the arms form grip zones, which are
oriented away from one another in each case and may be
covered with a soft-plastics material. The mutually
facing inner sides can assume a parallel position in
relation to one another when the spring clamp is open.
The hook, when pivoted in, is preferably located in a
pivot-in space which is arranged at the inner side of
the actuating section carrying it. The hook may be
open. It is also possible, however, for the hook to be
closed, or to be capable of being closed, by a closure
in the manner of a snap hook. A closure tongue which is
urged by a spring into the closed position is provided
for this purpose. This closure tongue may have a
curvature which is oriented in the direction of the
inside of the hook. If the journal which mounts the
hook projects from the end of the inner side of the
actuating section carrying it, its end surface may form
a stop against which, in the open position, a mating
stop of the other actuating section contacts. It is
provided that the angle bisector between the two
actuating sections, this angle bisector running through
CA 02458044 2004-02-20
- 3 -
the articulation pin, is located approximately
perpendicularly to the reference plane. The spring
clamp can then be used in the manner of a pistol grip.
The hook here is arranged on the actuating section
which is located in the flat of the hand of the person
actuating the spring clamp with hook. The actuating
section which is located opposite the latter actuating
section is rooted in the region of the clamping mouth.
This actuating section is grasped by the fingers. The
soft-plastics grip zone which is positioned in the flat
of the hand is longer than the soft zone which is
grasped by the fingers. The hook can be pivoted through
360° about its bearing journal. The hook may also be
pivotable about its axis which runs perpendicularly to
this axis. According to a further variant of the
invention, it is provided that the axis of rotation
about which the hook is arranged in a rotatable manner
on one of the arms runs parallel to the reference
plane. An axial extension of the hook is preferably
mounted by a retaining bracket which is arranged on the
inner side of one arm. As a result, the axis of
rotation of the hook is located almost in the reference
plane. The axial extension of the hook is snapped into
a bearing recess of the retaining bracket. For this
purpose, the retaining bracket has a snap-action
opening, through which the neck of the axial extension
has to penetrate.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be
explained hereinbelow with reference to attached
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the
invention in elevation,
Figure 2 shows the exemplary embodiment according to
Figure 1 in the open position,
CA 02458044 2004-02-20
- 4 -
Figure 3 shows the exemplary embodiment according to
Figure 1 with the hook pivoted out,
Figure 4 shows the rear view of the exemplary
embodiment according to Figure 1 with the
hook pivoted in,
Figure 5 shows an illustration according to Figure 4
with a modified hook pivoted out,
Figure 6 shows an illustration according to Figure 4
with the hook removed,
Figure 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the
invention in elevation,
Figure 8 shows a cross section through the exemplary
embodiment according to Figure 7,
Figure 9 show's a section along line IX-IX in Figure 7,
and
Figure 10 shows a section along line X-X in Figure 7.
The clamp has a clamping mouth. This clamping mouth is
formed by two curved clamping sections of in each case
one arm 3. The one end of the clamping section carries
in each case one clamping jaw 2, these being pressed
against one another by means of a spring (not
illustrated). The other ends of the clamping sections
meet in the region of an articulation pin 5, about
which the two arms can be pivoted when the two
actuating sections 4 are moved toward one another. The
clamping mouth 1 then opens.
The two clamping jaws 2 clamped against one another
form, together with the articulation pin 5, a reference
plane E.
CA 02458044 2004-02-20
- 5 -
The end of one arm 3 carries a U-shaped hook 6. The two
arms 3 may each be produced as an injection molding, a
holder for the hook 6 being molded on one arm. The hook
6 may likewise be produced as an injection molding. In
the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Figures 1 to 5, the angle bisector between the two
actuating sections 4, which can be gripped by the
actuator's hand, runs approximately transversely to the
reference plane E, which is defined by the separation
plane of the two clamping jaws located one upon the
other and also by the articulation pin 5. The angle
bisector G thus runs at right angles to this reference
plane. For this purpose, the arm 3 which has the
actuating section 4 which is located in the flat of the
user's hand is curved. The arm 3 which has its
actuating section 4 grasped by the actuator's fingers,
in contrast, is Y-shaped. The grip zone 15, formed by a
soft-plastics layer, of the Y-shaped arm 3 is shorter
than the grip zone 15 of the curved arm 3.
The two mutually facing inner sides 15 of the two
actuating sections 4 form a pivot-in space 17 for a
hook 6. The hook 6 can be pivoted about a journal 12
disposed at the free end of the actuating section 4 of
the curved arm.
The pivot axis A, which is defined by the journal 12,
runs at an angle [3 of approximately 70° in relation to
the angle bisector G. The pivot axis A is located
perpendicularly to the inner side 16 of the actuating
section 4 which carries the journal 12. In the pivot-
out position, the hook 6 thus forms a 180° extension of
the actuating section 4 (see Figure 3).
As can be seen from Figures .4 and 5, the width of the
U-shaped hook h~ is greater than the width of the grip
zone 15.
CA 02458044 2004-02-20
- 6 -
It can be seen from Figure 5 that the hook 6 can be
pivoted about a pivot pin 20. The pivot axis B defined
by the latter is located perpendicularly to the pivot
axis A, which is defined by the journal 12.
The hook 6 has two legs forming a U-shape. The leg 7 of
the U is configured to be longer than the leg 9 of the
U, and the resulting hook opening can be closed by
means of a closure tongue 18. This closure tongue 18 is
resiliently mounted in the direction of its closed
position and thus forms a carabine-hook closure. The
closure tongue 18, furthermore, is curved towards the
inside of the hook. The closure tongue 18, in addition,
has an end hook by means of which it enters into an
opening of the leg 9 of the U-shape.
The particular arrangement of the two actuating
sections 4 with the clamping mouth 1 of the exemplary
embodiment illustrated in exemplary embodiments* 1 to 6
gives this spring clamp a novel method of actuation. It
can be held in the manner of a pistol grip.
The arms 3 have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile and
consist of plastics material. The hook 5 also consists
of plastics material.
As can be gathered from Figure 6, the hook 6 can be
separated from the clamp. The clamp is connected to the
hook 6 via a mushroom-shaped pin 20, which can be
clipped into a corresponding pocket of the hook.
In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Figures 7 to 10, the hook & likewise has an opening
which is closed by a tongue 18. The tongue 18 is
integrally formed with the material ~f the hook 6 and
forms a film hinge 22. The hook 6 has an axial
* Translator's note: * Figures
CA 02458044 2004-02-20
-
extension with a round section 26, which is followed by
a neck 24 of reduced cross-section, on which a
circular-disk end section 23 is seated.
The axial extension is mounted in a retaining bracket
21 of an actuating section 4 of one arm 3. The
retaining bracket 21 here is located in the region of
the inner side 16 of the actuating section 4, that is
to say between the two arms. The arrangement of the
axial extension at the retaining bracket 21 is achieved
in the manner of a snap-action connection. For this
purpose, the retaining bracket 21 has a snap-action
opening 25, through which the neck 24 can be snapped
in. The positively locking axial securing action takes
place with the aid of the circular end section 23 and
of the round section 26. In the case of this exemplary
embodiment, the axis of rotation of the hook 6 runs
parallel to the connecting line E.
