A connection and support device

Abstract

A connection and support device 99 comprises holders 1, 2 for elongate pipe members, the holders spaced apart by a spacer 3. The spacer provides a fixed spacing distance and arrangement between the pi

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connection and support devices in particular a device suited to holding a plurality of pipes in a fixed arrangement. Background In many societies across the world there is an increasing prevalence of pipes as more and more improvements are accomplished on building stock. Particularly in larger or commercial properties, there may be a proliferation of piping in a particular location, and it can become unsightly, difficult to manage, install and identify particular pipes. Prior Art CN 203 189 879 (WANG) discloses a pipe clamp which comprises a pipe clamp body. The pipe clamp body is of a double pipe clamp structure which is composed of a plurality of single pipe clamps, wherein each pipe clamp is provided with an annular clamping part and a pipe clamp support. The annular clamping part is used for fixing a pipe, an opening is formed in the annular clamping part, a check wedge is arranged on the end portion of the opening, the opening of each pipe clamp is arranged outwards, and the pipe clamp support is fixedly arranged in the middle of the double pipe clamp structure. According US 2003 0 025 048 discloses a multiple-tube clamp comprising; first and second opposed, elongated half-clamps each having a plurality of mutually spaced-apart, inwardly-curved, essentially hemi-cylindrical guides, each adjacent guide pair being joined together by an integral medial portion, each medial portion of said first halfclamp mating with a medial portion of said second half-clamp when said half-clamps are brought together in a clamping configuration, thereby forming a series of axially parallel, spaced-apart, hollow cylindrical guides, within each of which a single tube can be maintained in a fixed position, each pair of opposed medial portions having a pair of exposed tabs and a pair of exposed slots, each tab engaging a slot when the halfclamps are brought together in the clamping configuration, thereby providing a weldable junction at each tab-slot interface for physically unifying both half-clamps. US 4 202 520 (LOOS et al) discloses a modular support assembly apparatus for supporting a plurality of elongated tubes in spaced vertical and / or horizontal relationship to each other which comprises a plurality hollow, molded, modular elements having apertures in the wall portions thereof, wherein said apertures are aligned with identical apertures in another adjacently positioned modular support element, said adjacent elements being adapted to rigidly attach to one another by fastening means transversing said apertures, each said modular support element having four flat rigid external planar surfaces positioned to form three right angles and a concave cylindrical external wall surface portion connecting two of said four planar surfaces having its concave shape formed to engage not more than one-quarter of the circumference of said elongated tube supported thereby. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a connection and support device comprising a plurality of holders for elongate pipe members, the holders spaced apart by a spacer, wherein the spacer provides a fixed spacing distance and arrangement between the members, and wherein the holders comprise discontinuous arms with a closure means, the arms arranged to close the holder around a cylindrical pipe member and the closure means reversibly arranged to hold the arms closed. In this way a plurality of pipe members or pipes may be held in a fixed arrangement, and / or supported, for example so as to reduce the number of fixings required and / or ensure neatness and / or ease of installation in relation to surrounding structures. In some embodiments of the device the pipe members are held along parallel axes. In some embodiments of the device the spacer extends along an orthogonal axis to the axis of one or more of the pipes in use. It may be envisaged that if the holders are arranged to hole the pipes parallel to a first axis, the spacer may be arranged along a second axis that is orthogonal the first axis. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a first arm associated with the spacer, which may be a continuation of the spacer, or permanently or semipermanently connected thereto. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a second arm arranged to displace so as to allow entrance of the cylindrical pipe member. The second arm may comprise a part of the closure means, and may be envisaged to be hinged to the first arm in some embodiments. In other embodiments the second arm may be wholly displaceable from the first arm. In still further embodiments the device may comprise a plurality of displaceable parts, which may be wholly or partially displaceable so as to open the closure means, for example two hinged jaws, hinged from the spacer. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises one or more living hinge, which may provide easy and cost effective manufacture as well as a flexible and reliable means to open the closure means. In some such embodiments of the device the living hinge is spaced from one or more of the ends of the arms, such that there is greater flexibility in its operation and / or a wider opening for the closure means. In some embodiments of the device the holders describe different diameters, for example standard pipe size diameters such as 15mm, 18mm or 22mm. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a clip closure means, which may allow for the closure means to be simply clipped into place over the pipe member when in the holder. It may be envisaged that such a clip means may be easily reversible if needed. For example in some embodiments of the device the closure means comprises a rebated access. In this way a user may be enabled to place their fingertip, fingernail or small tool end, into the rebate so as to dislodge the clip means or displaceable arm for opening the closure means. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a resiliently deformable clip closure means, and / or the device itself or one part thereof may be envisaged to be formed in resiliently deformable material, such that deformation may enable entrance of the pipe member into the holder. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises an arm that describes an internal cylindrical form having a segment length of over 180 degrees, for example wherein the edges of an entrance to the holder may be envisaged to displace or deform and / or may comprise a rounded or tapered entrance. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described byway of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with the closure means closed; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, with closure means opened; and Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the connection and support device 99 according to the present invention generally comprising a plurality of holders 1,2 for elongate pipe members (not shown), the holders spaced apart by a spacer 3, wherein the spacer provides a fixed spacing distance and arrangement between the members, and wherein the holders comprise discontinuous arms 8,6 with a closure means 4, the arms arranged to close the holder around a cylindrical pipe member and the closure means reversibly arranged to hold the arms closed. With particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises two different holders 1,2, having arms describing two different diameters, so as to suit relative arrangement, support and connection of two different diameter lengths of pipe. The holders comprise a fixed arm 8 and a displaceable arm 6. For a first of the holders the fixed arm describes an internal surface that is a short cylindrical segment extending along a first axis. The second of the holders describes an internal surface that is a short cylindrical segment extending along a third axis. The two holders are thereby adapted to hold two pipe lengths that extend in parallel axes. The spacer thereby extends in a second axis, orthogonal the first axis and third axis. The spacer is in a fixed relationship with the holders; wherein the embodiment is formed as a single moulding or casting, for example in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The spacer narrows central between the holders; and comprises a substantially planar form with two plates 12 and an intermediate stepped deviation 10 equidistal the holders and extending along the first axis. On the plates there is an embossed identification 9 of the holder diameter. The plates further comprise spines 11 extending along the second axis. The holders’ fixed arms 8 define a cylindrical segment that has a segment size of over 180 degrees, such that in order for a pipe of the same diameter to fit into the fixed arm, the fixed arm needs to be flexed open a little. In this way the fixed arm 8 may be envisaged to be resiliently deformable, wherein the plate of the spacer supports a segment of 90 degrees, such that the remainder of the fixed arm is enabled to flex as required. The fixed arm has two sections extending in an arcuate manner away from the spacer in opposing directions. The displaceable arm 6 is hinged at a living hinge 5 to the fixed arm near the end of a first section of the arm sections. The living hinge 5 comprises a rectangular panel of thin material joining the displaceable arm and fixed arm proximate their ends, such that the ends are free to meet independent to the living hinge. The displaceable arm 6 is a short cylindrical segment with a living hinge end and a distal hook end 41. At the distal end of the fixed second arm section there is a catch 42 formed of a castellated transverse form. The hook end of the displaceable arm is provided with a reduced depth castellated hook, with a transverse bar adapted to deformably displace into a transverse trough in the fixed arm’s catch. The fixed arm catch further comprises an upstanding transverse lip, which resiliently clips around the transverse bar of the hook end of the displaceable arm. The catch further includes a rebate 7 so as to allow a user to grip under the hook 41 to dislodge it as necessary. In this way a pipe may be received in the fixed arm, and will be held there whilst the displaceable arm is clipped onto and over the pipe to form the closure means. The other holder is used in the same manner so as to support and hold two parallel pipes in a fixed arrangement. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A connection and support device for use in managing and identifying particular pipes in a building, the device comprising a plurality of holders for elongate pipe members, the holders spaced apart by a spacer wherein the spacer narrows centrally between the holders, wherein the spacer provides a fixed spacing distance and arrangement between the members, and further wherein the spacer comprises an intermediate stepped deviation, and wherein the holders comprise discontinuous arms with a closure means, the arms arranged to close the holder around a cylindrical pipe member and the closure means reversibly arranged to hold the arms closed.

2. The connection and support device of clams 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate stepped deviation is positioned equidistal the holders.

3. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, wherein the pipe members are held along parallel axes.

4. The connection and support device of claim 3, wherein the intermediate stepped deviation extends parallel with the parallel axes of the pipe members.

5. A connection and support device according to claim any preceding claim, wherein the spacer extends along an orthogonal axis, wherein said axis is orthogonal to the parallel axes of the pipes.

6. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, wherein a first arm is associated with the spacer.

7. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, wherein a second arm arranged to displace so as to allow entrance of the cylindrical pipe member.

8. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, comprising a living hinge.

9. A connection and support device according to claim 8, wherein the living hinge is displaced from ends of the arms.

10. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, wherein 5 the holders describe different diameters.

11. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, wherein the holders comprise clip closure means.10 12. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, whereinthe holders comprise resiliently deformable clip closure means.

13. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure means comprises a rebated access.1514. A connection and support device according to any preceding claim, wherein an arm describes an internal cylindrical form having a segment length of over 180 degrees.

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