Hinged Pipe Clip Structure for Compact Support Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe clips are difficult to attach to a support in a flexible manner and have relatively large sizes, making them cumbersome for use.
Innovation Solution
A pipe clip design featuring two clip segments connected by a hingeable section with outwardly extending flanges and alignable holes, allowing for easy attachment to a support using a fastener element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the pipe clip uses a base part construction with pivot joints made from different material, then the pipe clip provides structural stability, but the pipe clip becomes relatively large in size and difficult to attach to supports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hingeable section directly into the clip segments by forming it from the same material, eliminating the need for separate pivot joints made from different materials. This integration reduces the overall size while maintaining structural stability through the unified construction of the clip segments and hingeable section.
Solution Approach 2:
The hingeable section serves multiple functions: it provides the pivot joint functionality for opening and closing the clip segments, maintains structural stability, and enables compact positioning of the connection sections. By making the hingeable section from the same material as the clip segments, it also serves as both a functional joint and a structural component.
2Ease of operation
If the pipe clip uses a base part construction with separate pivot joints, then the pipe clip provides hingeable functionality, but the attachment process becomes relatively difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The hingeable section is pre-formed as an integral part of the clip segments during manufacturing, with the connection sections positioned in advance. This preliminary positioning allows the installer to simply open the clip segments, position them around the support, and close them, eliminating the need for complex assembly of separate pivot joints during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe clip is divided into two clip segments connected by the hingeable section, allowing independent movement and positioning of each segment. This segmentation enables easy opening and closing actions during installation, making the attachment process simple and quick while maintaining structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pipe clip connection sections are positioned away from the hingeable section, then the pipe clip can enclose the support, but the overall device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning connection sections far from the hingeable section to achieve support enclosure, the patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the connection sections close to the hingeable section. The clip segments are designed to wrap around the support by rotating at the hingeable section, achieving enclosure through the hinge action itself rather than through extended connection section positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a pipe clip for attaching a pipe or a similar object to a support, the pipe clip comprises two clip segments which are connected to each other by means of at least one hingeable section of the pipe clip, wherein each end of the two clip segments remote from the at least one hingeable section comprises a connection section which connection sections are configured to be connected with each other for connecting the pipe clip around a pipe or a similar object.