Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Annularly closable band and use thereof
The invention relates to an annularly closable band for
encircling one or more articles according to the preamble of
Claim 1 and to the use of a corresponding band as a
protective cover for a component of a dispensing device.
Annularly closable bands for encircling articles are known
from prior public use. Cable ties, which are used to encircle
and optionally hold together a plurality of cables, may be
mentioned by way of example. A cable tie generally consists
of a band having a closure head at one end and a plurality of
latching elements distributed along the band. In order to
close the cable tie, one end of the band is guided through
the closure head and the closure head is latched with the
latching elements. A disadvantage of such cable ties is that
the closure head, which is intended to receive one end of the
band, is comparatively voluminous. Even if the projecting end
of the band is cut off after latching, at least the closure
head projects outward. This impairs handling, since the cable
tie can catch on other articles by way of the projecting
housing. This may possibly result in the cable tie being
stripped or torn off the encircled articles again.
The invention is based on the object of providing an
annularly closable band of the type mentioned at the
beginning, which is distinguished by good handling.
This object is achieved by a band having the features of
independent Claim 1. Advantageous developments of the
invention are defined in the dependent claims.
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First of all, a number of terms used in the context of the
invention will be explained.
A band according to the invention is annularly closable, that
is to say it is transferable from an open state to a closed
state and has an annular geometry in the closed state. The
annular shape may be preferably a circular shape. However,
other annular geometries, for example an ellipse, are
likewise within the scope of the invention. A band according
to the invention is used to encircle one or more articles. It
has an inner side, which is designed to face the article or
articles to be encircled. The inner side is thus the side
that is directed radially toward the inside (with respect to
the annular geometry) in the closed state of the band.
Located opposite the inner side is the outer side of the
band, which is directed radially toward the outside in the
closed state.
A band according to the invention comprises two end regions,
which can be made to overlap one another in order to close
the band. The end regions have corresponding closing
elements, which are designed to be brought into engagement
with one another such that the band has a substantially
smooth outer circumferential surface in the closed state.
The invention has recognized that corresponding closing
elements, which are designed to be brought into engagement
with one another such that the band has a substantially
smooth outer circumferential surface in the closed state,
result in improved handling of the band. In the context of
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the invention, a substantially smooth outer circumferential
surface means an outer circumferential surface which is
substantially free of projections, steps and similar
structural elements, which can result in the closed band
catching on other articles. The band according to the
invention can have gaps in the outer circumferential surface
in the closed state, for example in the region in which the
closing elements engage in one another. However, the
indentations of the gaps do not provide or only provide a
very small contact surface, which does not generally result
in the closed band catching on other articles.
The dimensions of the closing elements may be coordinated
with one another, in order that the band has a substantially
smooth outer circumferential surface in the closed state.
Preferably, the closing elements can be brought into
engagement with one another in a form-fitting manner.
Advantageously, the closing elements are designed to prevent
a relative movement of the end regions in the circumferential
direction and axial direction when the closing elements are
in engagement with one another. The expression "relative
movement" denotes a movement of one end region relative to
the other end region. In the context of the invention, the
expressions "circumferential direction" and "axial direction"
relate to the closed state of the band, wherein the
expression "axial direction" denotes the direction parallel
to the outer circumferential surface of the band and
transverse to the circumferential direction.
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In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the direction in
which the closing elements can be brought into engagement
with one another differs from the main direction of loading
of the end regions. This has the effect that the article or
articles encircled can be held together better. The
expression "main direction of loading of the end regions"
denotes the direction of the net load that acts on the end
regions during normal use in the closed state of the band.
The net load results from the sum of all the forces that act
on the end regions during normal use of the band in the
closed state, wherein the gravitational force remains
disregarded. The main direction of loading can differ for the
two end regions. The direction in which the closing elements
can be brought into engagement with one another then
preferably differs from the main direction of loading of each
of the two end regions.
Preferably, the direction in which the closing elements can
be brought into engagement with one another differs from the
circumferential direction. In the context of the invention,
it is particularly preferred for the closing elements to be
able to be brought into engagement with one another in the
radial direction. The expression "radial direction" relates
to the closed state of the band in the context of the
invention.
Advantageously, the band according to the invention can be
closed and opened again easily. Such a band is easily
exchangeable and can be reused. In a preferred embodiment of
the invention, the force required to close the band is less
than the force required to open the band.
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Advantageously, at least one of the closing elements
comprises at least one latching element, wherein the latching
element is arranged preferably on the inner side of the band.
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In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the
closing elements each comprise a plurality of protrusions and
cutouts which extend in the axial direction and are spaced
apart from one another, said protrusions and cutouts being
formed such that the protrusions of one closing element can
be brought into engagement with the cutouts of the other
closing element. The cutouts and protrusions may be
coordinated with one another in terms of their dimensions
such that the band has a substantially smooth outer
circumferential surface in the closed state. Advantageously,
the protrusions are arranged on the outer side of one end
region and on the inner side of the other end region.
Advantageously, at least one end region of the band comprises
at least two closing elements that are spaced apart from one
another in the circumferential direction, it being possible
for each of said closing elements to be brought into
engagement with a corresponding closing element of the other
end region in order to close the band, such that optionally
at least two closed states with different inner radii of the
band can be obtained. In this embodiment of the invention,
different closed states of the band with different inner
radii can be obtained. This makes it possible to enclose in a
form-fitting manner different articles with different outer
radii adapted to the respective inner radii of the band.
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Between the at least two closing elements that are spaced
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apart from one another in the circumferential direction, at
least one predetermined breaking point may be provided, which
makes it possible to break off the projecting part of the end
region such that a substantially smooth outer circumferential
surface is obtained.
A band according to the invention may have an anti-twist
means. Preferably, the anti-twist means is arranged such
that, in the closed state of the band, it is spaced apart
from the end regions of the band at least by 90 .
Particularly preferably, the anti-twist means is arranged
such that it is located substantially opposite the end
regions in the closed state of the band. An advantageous
anti-twist means has at least one, preferably two,
protrusions arranged on the inner side of the band, it being
possible for said protrusions to interact with structural
elements of the article to be encircled, in order to prevent
twisting of the band. The structural elements may be for
example cutouts. It is likewise possible for the anti-twist
means to have one, preferably two, cutouts arranged on the
inner side of the band, it being possible for said cutouts to
interact with structural elements of the article to be
encircled, in order to prevent twisting of the band. In this
case, the structural elements of the article to be enclosed
may comprise protrusions.
Advantageously, the band is produced from an elastic
material. A preferred material is plastics material.
Provision can be made for the extent of the band in the axial
direction to be greater than the inside diameter of the band
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in the closed state. Alternatively, the extent of the band in
the axial direction can also be smaller than the inside
diameter of the band in the closed state.
The invention has furthermore recognized that a band
according to the invention can be used as a protective cover
for a component of a dispensing device. Preferably, the
component may be a breakaway coupling of a dispensing nozzle.
Such breakaway couplings are generally protected by plastics
sleeves, which are basically tubular workpieces which are
fitted over the breakaway coupling. The sleeves may be color-
coded, for example in order in this way to identify the fuel
to be dispensed by the dispensing nozzle. If such a sleeve
has to be exchanged, for example because it is damaged or
because a differently colored sleeve is intended to be
installed, first of all the connection between the dispensing
nozzle and the hose has to be severed, in order that the
sleeve can be stripped off. On account of the associated
introduction of air into the dispensing system, such a
procedure generally entails renewed calibration of the
dispensing device. This is complicated and costly.
The invention has recognized that a band according to the
invention can be used as a protective cover for a
corresponding breakaway coupling. The band can be exchanged
comparatively easily without the connection between the
dispensing nozzle and the hose having to be severed.
Consequently, renewed calibration is not necessary. The band
according to the invention thus acts as an exchangeable
sleeve.
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In principle, all of the embodiments already described above
of the band according to the invention can be used as a
protective cover. Reference is expressly made to the above
statements in the context of the use.
In the context of the use according to the invention,
particular preference is given to an embodiment of the band
in which the closing elements each comprise a plurality of
protrusions and cutouts which extend in the axial direction
and are spaced apart from one another, said protrusions and
cutouts being formed such that the protrusions of one closing
element can be brought into engagement with the cutouts of
the other closing element. The cutouts and protrusions may be
coordinated with one another in terms of their dimensions
such that the band has a substantially smooth outer
circumferential surface in the closed state. Advantageously,
the protrusions are arranged on the outer side of one end
region and on the inner side of the other end region.
Provision may be made for the extent of the band in the axial
direction to be greater than the inside diameter of the band
in the closed state. Advantageously, the band is made of an
elastic material, preferably of plastics material. The band
used according to the invention may have color coding.
Preferably, the dimensions of the band are coordinated with
the dimensions of the component of the dispensing nozzle.
Particularly preferably, the band used according to the
invention is dimensioned such that it encircles the component
in a form-fitting manner in the closed state. A preferred
component in the context of the invention is a breakaway
coupling of a dispensing nozzle.
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Alternatively, the invention also makes it possible to fasten
a sleeve, which consists of a plurality of elements that can
be joined together, or a corresponding protective cover to a
component of a dispensing device by means of one or more
bands according to the invention. The sleeve may consist for
example of two half shells which are held together by two
bands according to the invention and are fastened to a
component of a dispensing device, for example a breakaway
coupling, by means of these bands. Such a sleeve can likewise
be exchanged easily, in that the bands are opened and the two
half shells of the sleeve are removed. Severing of the
connection between the dispensing nozzle and the hose does
not have to take place for this purpose. The necessity of
recalibration of the dispensing device is dispensed with. The
use of one or more bands according to the invention for
fastening a sleeve, which consists of a plurality of elements
that can be joined together, to a component of a dispensing
device is thus likewise within the scope of the invention. A
preferred component is a breakaway coupling of a dispensing
nozzle. In principle, all of the embodiments already
described above of the band according to the invention can be
used for fastening the sleeve. Reference is expressly made to
the above statements in the context of the use.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described by
way of example in the following text with reference to the
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1: shows a first embodiment of a band according
to the invention having an anti-twist means.
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Fig. 2: shows a second embodiment of a band according
to the invention in three views, specifically
a cross section (a), an oblique plan view of
the band in the open state (b), and a plan
5 view in the closed state (c).
Figure 1 shows an annularly closable band (1) for encircling
one or more articles, having an inner side (2), which is
intended to face the article or articles to be encircled and
10 is directed radially toward the inside. The outer side (3) is
located opposite the inner side (2). The band (1) has two end
regions (4, 5), which can be made to overlap one another in
order to close the band. End region (4) has closing elements
(7, 8), which are designed to be brought into engagement with
the corresponding closing element (9) of the end region (5)
such that the band has a substantially smooth outer
circumferential surface in the closed state. The closing
elements (7, 8, 9) are designed to prevent a relative
movement of the end regions (4, 5) in the circumferential
direction and axial direction when the closing elements (7,
8, 9) are in engagement with one another. The dimensions of
the closing elements (7, 8) are coordinated with the
dimensions of the closing element (9), with which they can be
brought into engagement in a form-fitting manner. The closing
elements (7, 8) are designed as latching elements on the
inner side (2) of the band (1) and can be brought into
engagement in the radial direction with the closing element
(9) such that the closing elements (7, 8) each latch with the
closing element (9). The two closing elements (7) and (8) are
spaced apart from one another in the circumferential
direction and can be brought into engagement with the
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corresponding closing element (9) such that optionally two
closed states of the band, which each have different inner
radii, can be obtained. Between the closing elements (7) and
(8), a predetermined breaking point (13) is provided, which
makes it possible to break off a part of the end region (4)
such that a substantially smooth outer circumferential
surface is obtained for the second closed state with a
smaller inner radius.
The band in Fig. 1 has an anti-twist means (10), which
comprises two protrusions (11, 12) which are arranged on the
inner side (2) of the band (1) and are spaced apart from the
end regions by more than 900 in the closed state of the band.
Figure 2 shows an annularly closable band (1) for encircling
one or more articles, having an inner side (2), which is
intended to face the article or articles to be encircled and
is directed radially toward the inside. The outer side (3) is
located opposite the inner side (2). The band (1) has two end
regions (4, 5), which can be made to overlap one another in
order to close the band. End region (4) has corresponding
closing elements (7, 8, 9), which are designed to be brought
into engagement with one another such that the band has a
substantially smooth outer circumferential surface in the
closed state.
As is shown in particular in the plan view of the band in the
open state in Fig. 2 (b), the closing elements (7, 8) each
comprise a plurality of protrusions (6a) and cutouts (6b)
which extend in the axial direction and are formed such that
the protrusions of one closing element can be brought into
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engagement with the cutouts of the other closing element. The
protrusions and cutouts are coordinated with one another in
terms of their dimensions such that the band has a
substantially smooth outer circumferential surface in the
closed state.
Figure 2 (c) shows the band in the closed state. Although the
band has gaps in the outer circumferential surface in the
region in which the closing elements engage in one another,
the outer circumferential surface is substantially smooth. It
has no protrusions, steps and similar structural elements
which may result in the closed band catching on other
articles.
The band shown in Fig. 2 is produced from an elastic plastics
material and dimensioned such that it can encircle a
conventional breakaway coupling of a fuel dispensing nozzle
in a form-fitting manner in the closed state.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention that is not
illustrated in the drawing provides for a protective cover
for a component of a dispensing device, said protective cover
consisting of two elements that can be joined together (for
example a plastics sleeve composed of two half shells), to be
fastened to the component by means of two bands according to
the invention. In this case, the bands are basically formed
in the manner shown in Fig. 1, although an anti-twist means
is dispensed with. In an alternative exemplary embodiment,
the bands have an anti-twist means, as shown in Fig. 1, and
at least one element of the protective cover comprises
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structural elements which can interact with the anti-twist
means in order to prevent twisting of the bands.
