Improvements in Securement Devices for Lightning Conductors

The invention relates to devices for securing a lightning conductor strip to a surface. Such devices often take the form of clips, comprising base and cap elements, which are fixable to a surface to secure a lightning conductor strip against a surface.

Clips suitable for such a purpose are well known in the art and are manufactured for a variety of conductor strips. Lightning conductors come in a range of widths. For each width of conductor, a particular size of clip must be manufactured and stored, and be available on site for an installer.

According to the invention there is provided a device for securing a lightning conductor strip to a surface comprising: a base element securable to a surface; and a cap element for securement to the base element to retain the conductor strip between the base and the cap to secure the conductor to the surface in use, the base element being adjustable in order to accommodate different conductor sizes.

The base element may comprise a plurality of segments pivotally connected to each other such that a dimension of the base element is adjustable in length by aligning the segments at different orientations relative to each other.

Preferably, each base segment comprises a pivot hole and the base element is securable to the surface by fixing means passing through the pivot hole, the fixing means providing, in use, a pivot about which the segments can be aligned at different orientations relative to each other in order to adjust the length of the base element.

The fixing means may be a screw and fixing the length of the base element and securing the base element to the surface is achieved by driving the screw Into the surface to secure the base element thereto.

Preferably, the base element comprises at least two fixing holes with which to attach the cap element.

The base element may further comprise a support portion disposed on one or more of the base segments for contacting the edges of the conductor, in use, such that the conductor is secured within the base element.

Each support portion preferably extends above the plane of each base segment.

Each support portion may comprise a support surface for retaining the conductor in use, the support surface having a first portion lying in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the base segment, such that the conductor is supported by the first portion when the base element is at its maximum length, and a second portion lying obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the base element, such that the conductor is supported by the second portion when the base element is at a length smaller that its maximum length.

Preferably, the first portion of the support surface lies normal to the dimension of the base segment and the second portion lies at about 40 degrees to the normal.

The cap element may have a raised spacer portion on one face to enable the clip to accommodate two different conductor thicknesses by positioning alternative faces adjacent to the conductor.

One base segment may include at least one rib and another base segment may include at least one grove whereby each rib is configured to engage with a grove for positioning the segments at a given angular orientation relative to each other.

By way of an example, the embodiment of a clip according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Figure 1 (A-C) shows an embodiment of the present invention in use, when the base element is at its maximum length.

Figure 2 (A-D) shows details of two base segments which make up a base element.

Figure 3 (A-D) shows the base element, retaining different conductor widths.

Figure 4 (A-C) shows an embodiment of the present invention in use, when the base element is at a length shorter than its maximum length.

Figure 5 (A-B) shows details of a cap element according to the present invention.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure IA, a base element 10 of a clip for retaining a lightning conductor to a surface comprises two base segments 12, 13 which are pivotally connected to each other by a fixing means 14 engaging each of the base segments. The fixing means 14 serves to attach the base element 10 to a surface and retain the base segments 12, 13 at a particular angular alignment with respect to each other. In this embodiment, the fixing means is a screw (not shown), but any other suitable means of fixing the base element 10 to a surface may be provided. Optionally, the screw has retainer parts situated between the head of the screw and the threaded portion, such that the base segments are attached to the screw and retained between the head and the retainer parts. The base element 10 is formed from a metal, such as brass, to provide good strength and durability, but other materials may be used, for example, a plastics material.

The base element 10 has two threaded fixing holes 15 engageable by screws 18 to attach a cap element 16 shown in Figure IB. The cap element 16 comprises fixing holes 17 through which screws 18 pass to secure the cap 16 to the base 10, as shown in Figure 1C. As is also shown in Figures IB and 1C, a space portion 19 is provided on the lid to display or indent a logo, although this may be omitted.

Figures 2A - 2D show the base segments 12, 13 of the base element 10 in greater detail. The fixing holes 15, shown in Figures 2B and 2D, extend through the body of the base segments such that, screws 18 can be engaged through the cap element 16 and secured in threads provided in the fixing holes 15. Pivot holes 24, 25 are provided in the base segments and engaged by the fixing means 14 which, in this embodiment, is a retaining screw (not shown) to enable the base element 10, in its entirety, to be attached to a surface. This feature allows alignment of the base segments 12, 13 before or after the base element 10 is secured to a surface, whilst also maintaining the orientation of the base segments 12, 13 when in use. Pivot hole 25 includes a countersunk portion 26, configured to accept a countersink screw.

Support portions 20 are provided on the base segments 12, 13 to contact the sides of a conductor and retain it within the base element 10. As is shown more clearly in Figure 2A and 2B, these support portions 20 comprise a support surface 21, having a first portion 22 lying in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the base segment 12, 13 and a second portion 23 lying obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the base segment. As shown in Figures 2B and 2C, the support portions 20 extend above the plane of the base segments 12, 13.

As shown in Figure 3A, when the base element 10 is at its maximum length, the first portions 22 of the support surfaces contact the sides of the conductor to retain it within the base element 10. Here, the second portions 23 of the support surfaces are not in contact with the conductor. When adjusting the length of the base element 10 to accommodate a narrower conductor strip, the alignment of the base segments 12, 13, with respect to each other, is adjusted by pivoting the base segments about the fixing means 14. The result of this is shown in Figure 3B, wherein the longitudinal axes of the base segments 12, 13 lie approximately perpendicularly and the distance between the support portions 20 of the base element is reduced. As can be seen, the second portions 23 of the support surfaces, lying obliquely to the longitudinal axes of the base segments, are in contact with the sides of the conductor and retain it within the base element 10. Here, the first portions 22 of the support surfaces are not in contact with the conductor.

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To adjust the alignment of the base segments 12, 13 with respect to each other, the segments 12, 13 are pivoted around the fixing means 14 which is engaged through each pivot hole 24, 25. The clip could be fixed to a surface prior to adjustment, or adjustment could be made before the clip is fixed.

In this particular embodiment, two conductor widths can be accommodated in the base element 10 by adjusting the alignment of the base segments 12, 13 until one of the portions 22, 23 of each support surface 21 contacts the sides of the conductor.

Additionally, as can be seen in Figures 3C and 3D, a conductor can be retained within the base element 10 even if its width does not permit contact by the first 22 or second 23 portions of the support surface 21. hi this embodiment, the first portions 22 of the support surfaces 21 are configured to contact the sides of the widest conductor and the second portions 23 of the support surfaces 21 are configured to contact the sides of the narrowest conductor. A conductor having a width between that of the widest and narrowest conductors would be contacted by portions of the support surfaces 21 situated in between the first and second portions 22, 23 and retained within the base element 10.

Optionally, a third portion of the support surface, lying at a different oblique angle to that of the second portion, could be provided to contact the sides of a third conductor. If more than two portions are provided, the first portion, lying normal to the longitudinal axis of the base segment and configured to contact the widest conductor, should be situated at one end of the support surface and the second portion, lying at the shallowest oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the base segment and configured to contact the narrowest conductor, should be situated at the opposite end of the support surface. The additional portion, lying at a steeper oblique angle to second portion, should be situated between the first and second portions. Any. additional portion should be situated such that all portions between it and the first portion have a steeper oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the base segment and all portions between it and the second portion have a shallower oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the base segment.

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In this particular embodiment, the second portion 23 lies at an angle of 37 degrees to the normal of the longitudinal axis of the base segment, but this could be steeper or shallower depending on the width of the narrower conductor.

Figure 4A shows the base element 10 configured to retain a conductor when its length is shorter than its maximum length. The longitudinal axes of the base segments lie approximately perpendicularly and the conductor is contacted by the second portions 23 of the support surfaces. Figure 4B shows the cap element 16 which is secured to the base element 10 by screws 18, engaged through the fixing holes 17, 15 of the cap and base elements respectively. This is shown in Figure AC.

Figure 5A shows the cap element 16 in greater detail. The cap element 16 may be provided in different widths such that an appropriate size of cap can be attached to the base element 10 according to the size of conductor being supported. Alternatively, a single cap with a number of fixing holes, positioned at a variety of different separation distances, could be provided. In this embodiment, the separation of the fixing holes 17 on the cap corresponds to the separation of fixing holes 15 on the base element.

Figure 5B shows a side view of the cap element 16 comprising a spacer portion 27 raised above the plane 28 of the cap. This spacer portion 27 enables two different thicknesses of conductor to be accommodated in the clip by positioning alternative faces adjacent to the conductor. When the spacer portion 27 is positioned facing away from the conductor, the clip can accommodate a conductor thickness approximately equal to the extension of the support portions 20. When the spacer portion 27 is positioned adjacent to the conductor, the clip can accommodate a thinner conductor.

One base segment may include a raised rib adjacent to the pivot hole and the other base segment may include a grove configured to. engage with -the rib. The grove-and/or-rib may be provided in particular configurations such that when they are engaged, the base segments are aligned at a particular orientation with respect to each other.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made to the embodiment described, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.