This invention relates to an assembly which includes a first member and a second member mounted for relative rotational movement and clip device for releasably securing the first and second members against the relative rotational movement. The invention extends to a clip device per se and a method using the clip device.

It is known to secure a nut in position on a bolt by means of a pin which engages in an aligned pair of grooves in the nut and bolt. For example G.B. 35192 (Harrington) discloses a nut and bolt, each of which have longitudinally extending grooves, the nut, furthermore, having one or more locking holes which pass obliquely through the nut from one end face thereof to one of the sides. Locking is effected by means of a split pin, staple or the like having two limbs, one of which is inserted in the registering grooves of the nut and bolt and the other of which is passed through the oblique locking hole until the end thereof protrudes from the side of the nut, whereupon this end is clinched against the side of the nut. G.B. 377076 (Kennedy) discloses a nut and bolt, each having axial grooves which extend across their respective threaded portions. ith the grooves on the nut and bolt aligned, one end of a locking wire is passed down the hole defined by the aligned grooves and is bent over the top of the nut, so as to lie along-side a face of the nut, the extreme end of the wire then being turned under a shoulder formed towards the base of the nut. G.B. 673011 (Barnby) discloses a nut and bolt, each having axially extending grooves across the threads thereof. With the grooves in the nut and bolt aligned, a tapered key is inserted into the hole defined thereby and this is driven home. A small length of the tapered key

extends from each opposite end of the nut/bolt arrangement and these ends are cranked off centre so as to secure the tapered key in position.

The securing devices described above must, in each case, be cranked or otherwise bent into position. The device may be released by bending the cranked portion of the device out of position. Over a period of time, the securing device will become weakened and will eventually fail.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate some of the problems associated with known devices.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an assembly comprising:

a first member having at least one axially extending groove;

a second member mounted for rotational movement relative to said first member and having at least one axially extending groove which is arranged to be aligned with said groove in said first member; and

a clip device arranged to releasably secure said second member against said relative rotational movement, said clip device comprising a substantially straight portion engaged in aligned grooves in said first and second members, and said clip being resilient in part so that, in the assembly, it adopts a position in which disengagement of said substantially straight portion from said aligned grooves is restricted.

Preferably, a portion of the clip device is urged in a direction which is transverse to, more preferably substantially radial to, the rotational axis of said second member, so as to adopt a position in which disengagement of said substantially straight portion from said aligned grooves is restricted. Preferably, in the assembly, said portion of said clip is positioned adjacent an abutment surface which serves to restrict disengagement of said clip device from engagement with said first and second members. Said abutment surface is preferably provided by the second member.

Preferably, the first and second members have a plurality of axially extending grooves arranged to be aligned with one another.

Preferably, the clip device comprises two substantially straight portions which are disposed in a first plane, each substantially straight portion being engaged in an aligned pair of axially extending grooves in the first and second members.

Preferably, the clip device includes an intermediate portion which extends between said substantially straight portions and which extends out of said first plane.

Said first member is preferably a shank, suitably of a bolt. The shank preferably is externally threaded. The second member is preferably arranged to rotate around the first member and is preferably ring-shaped. Most preferably, where the first member is a bolt, the second member is an internally threaded nut.

Where the first member is externally threaded, preferably each axially extending groove is substantially

as deep as the threads and extends across the threads. Preferably, the first member has only two axially extending grooves which are preferably diametrically opposite one another.

Where the second member is an internally threaded nut, preferably each axially extending groove is substantially as deep as the threads and extends across the threads. Preferably, the second member has an even number of axially extending grooves which number may be up to ten, is preferably up to eight and, more preferably, is up to six. Preferably, the grooves are equidistantly spaced around the threaded region of the nut.

The grooves in the first and/or second members are preferably of circular or part circular cross-section.

Where the first and/or second members are threaded members, preferably, the aligned axially extending grooves have a width which is less than about five times, more preferably about twice, the distance between adjacent threads.

As aforementioned, said clip device is resilient in part. Where the clip device includes two substantially straight portions as described above, preferably, said two substantially straight portions are resiliently mounted and adapted such that when engaged in an aligned pair of axially extending grooves they are under stress. Preferably, when engaged in an aligned pair of axially extending grooves, the straight portions of the clip device exert an outwardly directed force, with one straight portion exerting a force in an opposite direction to the other straight portion. Such an arrangement may serve to restrict disengagement of said substantially

straight portions from said aligned grooves. Suitably, when the clip device is not engaged in said grooves, the straight portions diverge slightly relative to one another, preferably, with free ends of the straight portions being furthest spaced from each other.

Where the clip device includes an intermediate portion, preferably, the intermediate portion is arranged (preferably inherently) to serve to restrict disengagement of said substantially straight portion(s) from said aligned grooves. For example, the intermediate portion may be arranged to abut a surface of said second member which surface is arranged to exert a force on the clip device in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which said substantially straight portion(s) may be removed from said aligned grooves. The intermediate portion may abut said surface either at all times when the clip is engaged in said axially extending grooves, or after slight axial movement out of said axially extending grooves. Where the first and second members are a bolt and nut respectively, said surface is preferably obliquely inclined to the axis of the nut. The surface may comprise one or more of the nut flats. The intermediate member is preferably arranged to resiliently engage said second member, to restrict axial movement of the clip device. In this case, preferably, the intermediate member (and, therefore, the clip device) is held in position, to some extent, by means of a spring force.

Preferably, the intermediate portion extends around a part of the second member. Preferably, a first part of the intermediate portion extends substantially tangentially to the rotational axis of the first and/or second members. Where the second member is a nut, preferably, the first part extends substantially parallel

to a flat face of the nut. The first part of the intermediate portion preferably restricts axial movement of the clip device as aforementioned, to some extent.

Preferably, when provided and when each substantially straight portion of the clip device is engaged in aligned grooves, the first part of the intermediate portion is disposed substantially opposite to the free ends of the clip device. Preferably, the intermediate portion extends from each substantially straight portion in a direction which is perpendicular to the first plane.

Preferably, the length of each substantially straight portion of the clip device is less, preferably only slightly less, than the axial depth of the second member.

The clip device is preferably made of wire or bar, preferably from a single piece thereof. The wire or bar is preferably inherently resilient. The clip device is preferably a unitary member.

The first and/or second members may be of any diameter. The diameter of the first member may be in the range 5mm to 200mm. Preferably, the diameter is in the range 5mm to 100mm. More preferably, the diameter is in the range 5mm to 50mm. Preferably, the internal diameter of the second member is in the ranges mentioned for the first member.

The clip device is preferably re-usable. The clip device is preferably resiliently deformable. Thus, when not engaged in said aligned grooves, the clip device may be in one configuration, when engaged therewith it may be in another configuration and the clip device being resiliently deformable between the configurations.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a clip device for releasably securing a second member in position relative to a first member, the clip device comprising a substantially straight portion arranged to be releasably engaged in aligned axially extending grooves in first and second members, and said clip device being resilient in part and arranged such that when the substantially straight portion is engaged in said aligned grooves, the clip device adopts a position in which disengagement of said substantially straight portions from said aligned grooves is restricted.

The clip device may be as described in any statement herein.

The invention further extends to a method of securing a second member as described in any statement herein in position relative to a first member as described in any statement herein using a clip device as described in any statement herein, the method comprising the steps of engaging a substantially straight portion of the clip device in aligned axially extending grooves in the first and second members and allowing the clip device to adopt a position in which disengagement of said substantially straight portion from said aligned grooves is restricted.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bolt;

Figure 2 is an end view (from the right hand end) of the bolt of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a nut;

Figure 4 is an end view of the nut of Figure 3 threaded on the bolt of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of clip;

Figure 6 is an end view of the clip of Figure 5 engaged with the nut and bolt of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the arrangement of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a further side elevation of the arrangement of Figure 6, rotated through 90° relative to the orientation shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an end view of the arrangement of Figure 6, but showing an alternative clip; and

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the arrangement of Figure 8.

The bolt 2, shown in Figures 1 and 2, is of conventional form in that it has a head 4 and an externally threaded shank 6. The shank 6, however, has two diametrically opposed, axially extending grooves 8 which are cut across the threaded region 10 of the bolt. The grooves 8 are of part circular cross-section and extend along the extent of the shank 6.

The nut 20, shown in Figure 3, is of conventional form, in that it is hexagonal, has six flat, circumferentially disposed, external faces 22 and has an internal threaded region 24. However, the nut 20 includes

six equidistant, axially extending, circumferential grooves 26 which are cut across the threaded region 24 of the nut. The grooves 26 are of part circular cross- section and extend along the axial extent of the nut.

The respective grooves 8, 26 in the bolt 2 and nut 20 are arranged such that, with the nut threaded on the bolt, diametrically opposed pairs of grooves 26 in the nut may be aligned with the grooves 8 in the bolt, as shown in Figure 4, thereby to define two uninterrupted axially extending, circular cross-section passageways 28.

The clip 30, shown in Figure 5, comprises two, spaced apart, straight leg portions 32 which are opposite one another and which are in a single plane. The leg portions 32 have free ends 34. The leg portions 32 diverge slightly relative to one another, towards the free ends 34. At ends opposite the free ends 34 and continuous therewith, the clip 30 includes a convoluted intermediate portion 36. The intermediate portion 36 extends out of the plane of the leg portions 32 and comprises two transverse portions 38 which are attached to and continuous with, the top of the leg portions 32; two longitudinal portions 40 which extend downwardly from the transverse portions 38 in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of extent of the leg portions 32; and a joining portion 42 which extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of extent of the leg portions 32 and which serves to join the longitudinal portions to one another.

The clip 30 may be made of steel wire or bar and is preferably resilient.

The clip 30 may be used to secure the nut 20 in a predetermined position on the bolt 2, as follows. With the nut at the required level on the shank of the bolt so as to secure parts of a work piece 60 (Figures 7 and 8) together, respective free ends 34 of the clip 30 are inserted into the passageways 28 defined by the aligned grooves 8, 26 in the bolt and nut respectively. The straight leg portions 32 extend within the passageways 28 until the transverse portions 38 abut the upper surface of the nut. It will be appreciated that when so disposed, the leg portions 30 are parallel to one another having being resiliently urged into this position during insertion. The longitudinal portions 40 of the clip abut one side flat face 22 of the bolt, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, and the joining portion 42 abuts another flat face 22. More particularly, the nut 20 has bevelled edges 52 at each vertex of one hexagonal face of the nut and, during insertion, the clip is resiliently deformed slightly so that the joining portion 42 of the clip 30 may nestle underneath these bevelled edges. When in this position, the clip 30 is in a substantially relaxed state. Referring to Figure 7 , the joining portion 42 nestles underneath, to some extent, the bevelled edges identified as 52a and 52b.

It should be noted that, with the clip 30 in the position shown in Figures 6 to 8, the clip is restricted from moving out of position due to the resilience of the leg portions 32 which are under slight stress when in the passageways 28 (since the leg portions are inherently divergent) and, therefore, they tend to apply a lateral force on the outer edge of each of the passageways. Furthermore, the clip is restricted due to its resilient engagement underneath the bevelled edges 52a, 52b. The clip, therefore, is unlikely to be displaced due to

vibration or torque forces acting upon it. It may, however, be removed and re-used by being levered from position.

It will be noted that the nut 30 includes six grooves 36. This allows the nut to be secured in many positions, each spaced one sixth of a turn apart. In some applications, it may be desirable to provide greater of fewer grooves.

The arrangement of Figures 9 and 10 is the same as described in the previous figures, except that clip 30 is replaced with a clip 70. The clip 70 includes a resilient coiled portion 72 instead of the straight transverse portion 38 shown in Figure 5. The provision of the coiled portion 72 may provide the clip 70 with greater overall resilience and may be used particularly, although not exclusively, for relatively large nuts and bolts.

The reader\'s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and

drawings) , may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s) . The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) , or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.