| 1. | A sliding clip for lining plates such as standing seam roofing or wall plate, comprising an anchor part (1) arranged to be fastened to a support by fastening means (3a, 3b), and a sliding part (2) which is carried by the anchor part (1) and arranged to be attached to the lining plates, characterized in that the anchor part (1) has at least one through hole (la, lb, lc) for at least one fastening means (3a, 3b), and in that one end of said fastening means (3a, 3b) is preinserted into a corresponding hole (la, lb, lc). |
| 2. | A sliding clip according to claim 1, characterized in that said fastening means consist of at least one preinserted nail or screw. |
| 3. | A sliding clip according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of said holes (la, lb, lc) comprises a substantially round center opening and slots (4) extending radially therefrom, the number of slots preferably being three and the slots being symmetrically arranged around the center opening. |
| 4. | A sliding clip according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchor part (1) has a) a single centrally located through hole (lc) having a fastening means carried thereby, or b) a through hole (la, lb) at each end and optionally a central through hole (lc), a fastening means being carried by each of the holes at each end (la, lb) and optionally a fastening means in the central hole (lc), or only one fastening means in the central hole (lc). |
| 5. | A sliding clip according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said center opening in the through holes (lalc) of the anchor part (1) has a size which is sufficient for receiving and retaining the points of the fastening means (3a, 3b) during transportation, storage and handling, possibly in cooperation with the inner part of said slots (4). |
| 6. | A sliding clip according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding part (2) is slidingly arranged in the anchor part (1) at a side edge (5, 5a) thereof, and in that the sliding connection is such that the lower edge (5) thereof is located below the plane (Id) of the main surface of the anchor part (1). |
| 7. | A sliding clip according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower edge of the sliding part (2) is Ushaped and runs in a matching upside down U formed by one side edge of the anchor part (1). |
| 8. | A sliding clip according to claim 7, characterized in that the Ushaped bottom (2a) of the sliding part is sliding in a complementary bend of the side edge (at 5) of the anchor part (1) which is located below the main plane (Id) of the anchor part (1). |
| 9. | A sliding clip according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the material in the anchor part (1) will be pressed towards the connection between said part and the gliding part when the fastening means (3a, 3b) are driven into the support. |
| 10. | A sliding clip according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the preinserted fastening means consist of nails and/or screws. |
Technical field The present invention relates to fastening of lining plates such as standing seam roofing or wall plate. More specifically the invention relates to an improved sliding hold-down clip, i.e. a device which interconnects such plate with the support while allowing for movements.
Background of the invention Several embodiments of sliding clips are known, the common feature of which is that they comprise an anchor part to be fastened to the support and a sliding part to be attached to the standing seam of the plate. As the denotation indicates the sliding part is movably carried by the anchor part so that the sliding clip permits movements, for example heat movements of a tin roof.
Tin roofs and the like are also subjected to great forces by e.g. the influence of wind. Therefore, the sliding clips do not only have to allow for said heat movements, but they also have to stand the great tensile forces which they are subjected to by wind forces. According to the present standards ("HUSAMA") a sliding clip has to have a breaking strength of at least 1000N. However, the fact that a sliding clip meets this requirement on breaking strength does not mean that it maintains its functionality after having been subjected to such load, and it is expected that the requirements in a near future will become more severe, also requiring maintained functionality after such load. It is easily seen that the requirement that the sliding part of the sliding clip has to be movable relative to its anchor part contradicts the high strength requirements (a stationary clip made of one piece of material can be given the required strength without any greater difficulties), especially since it is desirable to give the clip as small dimensions as possible for convenience in the installation thereof.
Sliding clips according to US 4,514,952, SE 7802814-9 and SE 8803988-8, are available on the market. The two first mentioned, which have a transverse slot at the joint between the anchor part and the sliding part, have been tensile tested at 1000N; in such testing the clips were not broken, but they were defor- med to such a degree that their functionality was lost after the tensile testing. The embodiment of the invention which is described below and shown in the enclosed drawings, did not only remain unbroken after corresponding tensile
testing but it also maintained its functionality. The clip according to SE 8803988-8 is basically a conventional sliding clip which can be converted into a stationary clip in that the sliding part has a tongue with a hole, which tongue can be folded down onto the support and be secured by means of a nail through the hole in the tongue.
In short, the development in this field of technology has mainly been concentrated on improving the strength of the sliding clip, but the very mounting or installation of the clip on the support has been given less attention. At present this is done by fastening the sliding clip by means of two (usually) nails or screws. Since the mounting requires a great number of sliding clips it is essential, both for time and industrial hygiene reasons, that the sliding clips have as low weight as possible and that the fastening by means of nails or screws is as simple as possible.
Object of the invention It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a sliding clip of the above indicated type which is simple to install.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sliding clip which maintains its functionality after high tensile stress.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a sliding clip which can be made more light-weight than the known sliding clips, with maintained or improved functionality.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding clip of the indicated type which can be converted into a stationary clip by means of a simple hammer blow. These and other objects and advantages will be explained further in the following description and the drawings.
Summary of the invention The above indicated objects are according to the invention obtained in that the novel sliding clip has been given the characterizing features which appear from the appended claims and which will be explained further in the following. In one aspect the invention thus provides a sliding clip of the indicated
type, the anchor part of which has one or more pre-inserted fastening means such as screws or nails to be fastened to the support. This simplifies the installation work considerably. A special embodiment of this aspect of the invention makes it possible to countersink the fastening means in the anchor part, as is desirable. In another aspect the invention provides a sliding clip which can be made of thinner - and consequently more light-weight-material than the known sliding clips, while maintaining its resistance to tensile forces and ability of allowing for heat movements. In a special embodiment of this aspect of the invention the sliding clip has a special design of the gliding connection between the anchor part and the sliding part, resulting in a stable and very low attachment point between said parts. The low attachment point in turn makes it possible to reduce the width of the upper portions of the sliding part, thereby reducing the weight thereof. It also facilitates the working of the material on folding. This embodiment does not have any weakening horizontal slots in the connection between the anchor part and the sliding part, as is the case in several of the most common sliding clips on the market and in the patent literature. Because of this design the novel sliding clip can be given a smaller width, for a given amplitude of sidewards movement, than the previously known sliding clips.
In a still further aspect the invention provides a special design of the anchor part and its connection to the sliding part, said design preventing the points of the or each pre-inserted fastening means from obstructing and making the folding of the seem more difficult.
Short description of the drawings The enclosed drawings show the following: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the sliding clip according to the invention, without any pre-inserted screws or nails. Figure 2 is a top plan view of part of the sliding clip shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 1 but having two screws pre-inserted into the anchor part.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken through the mid-portion of the sliding clip shown in Figure 3.
Description of preferred embodiments A few presently preferred embodiments of the sliding clip according to the invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which the anchor part of the sliding clip is designated by 1 and its sliding part by 2. It has for a long time been known to the person skilled in the art how this type of sliding clip would be installed in its environment, i.e. between a support and, for example, a standing seam roof cover plate; therefore, these parts are not shown in the drawings.
According to one aspect of the invention the anchor part 1 has holes la, lb for receiving pre-inserted screws or nails 3a, 3b. The holes la, lb are preferably located at the ends of the anchor part 1, with one screw or nail 3a and 3b respectively in each hole. According to the invention a further hole lc may be provided at the midportion of the sliding clip, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1. Together with a corresponding screw or nail (not shown), the middlehole lc can in certain cases be used as a supplement to the screws la, lb, but in other instances this single screw/nail may be sufficient, in which case the holes la, lb and the corresponding fastening means 3a, 3b can be omitted. When testing the sliding clip shown in the drawings it has surprisingly been found that it meets all of the above indicated requirements as to strength and functionality at a load of 1000N, the sliding clip only being insignificantly deformed even when it is fastened to the support by means of only one single, centrally located fastening screw.
In the preferred embodiment the holes la - lc comprise a smaller center hole and several slots 4 extending radially outwards from the center hole. The size of the center hole is sufficient for the hole to be able to receive the points of the fastening means during transportation, storage and handling, possibly in co¬ operation with the inner part of the slots. The slots 4 are preferably arranged symmetrically around the center hole. As shown there are preferably three symmetrically arranged slots 4, but a different number of slots can be used, for example four slots. When screwing/hammering the fastening means 3a, 3b into the support, the material between the slots 4 will be pressed down¬ wards/outwards, whereby material also will be pressed towards the connection between the anchor part and the sliding part. As will be explained further below,
this offers further advantages, in addition to the fact that the fastening means will be countersunk.
In the preferred embodiment of the sliding clip according to the invention the sliding part 2 is slidingly received in the anchor part 1 at a side edge thereof; it is especially preferred that the sliding connection is so designed that the lower edge 5 thereof is located below the plane Id of the main surface of the anchor part 1. By such depression 5 an essential advantage can be achieved, viz. that the screws 3a, 3b will not be obstructed by the support when downfolding the seam together with the upper portion of the sliding part 2. It is also preferred that the opposite side edge of the anchor part is located under the main surface of the anchor part, for example by nicking at the side edge portion le of the anchor part by, for example, an angle about 30°.
The very sliding connection between the anchor part 1 and the sliding part 2 can be designed in several ways, of which the presently preferred one is shown in the drawings. In this embodiment the lower edge of the sliding part 2 is bent to a substantially normal U (shown at 2a) which runs in a matching upside down U formed by corresponding bending of one side edge of the anchor part 1 (at 5a). The "U bottom" of the sliding part 2 slides in a complementary "U bottom" shaped bend of the side edge of the anchor part (at 5), said latter bend forming the above mentioned depression extending below the main plane Id of the anchor part. For preventing unintentional sliding of the sliding part 2a away from the anchor part 1, the U profile of the anchor part may be squeezed at its ends, as is indicated by depressions 6. However, this is not necessary in most cases because the above mentioned flowing of material when tightening the screws 3a, 3b will strengthen the structure and may also fill possible gaps between the horizontal and vertical parts of the anchor part.
The specifically shown engagement between the anchor part 1 and the sliding part 2 also makes it very easy to convert the sliding clip into a stationary clip; one simply tightens the seam between the anchor part 1 and the sliding part 2, e.g. by means of a hammer.
The invention is not intended to be restricted to the embodiments which have been specifically described and shown in the drawings, but many modifica¬ tions and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.