Device for laying and fixing pipes for various circuits, domestic or industrial
The invention concerns a device comprising a profiled section A made of plastic material with a base plate (2) whereof the reverse side is equipped with means for adhesive fixing (3) against a wall and the face is provided with elastically deformable wings defining in pairs longitudinal troughs (5) with C-shaped cross-section, arranged projecting and transversely spaced apart from one another, at least one of the wings of each trough being integral with the base plate and made of the same semirigid material. The base plate (2) is divided into sections by cleavable or precut transverse lines, coincident with transverse grooves (21) provided in the trough (5), to form in the profiled section independent laying supports. A finish profiled section made of plastic material B provided with snap-on fixing means on the trough (5), is longitudinally cleavable to cover one or several laying supports and the associated pipes (6).
The invention relates to a laying and fixing system for pipes of various circuits, domestic or industrial.
It therefore relates to pipes for heating, hot and cold water supply, and all other fluid circuits as well as pipes for the protection of electrical circuits or signal-transmission circuits. During the construction of a network of pipes, it is necessary to preform each pipe on site and preposition it before fixing it in place definitively. These operations then have to be repeated for each pipe or conduit.
This preparation is time-consuming for the metal or plastic pipes which are bent on demand, but also pipes made up of straight lengths connected by T or C fittings attached by welding, brazing or adhesive bonding.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTDocuments FR 1 319 291, FR 2 568 730 and BE 571 724 disclose moldings or ducts formed from a continuous profile comprising a fixing mounting plate with a flat back covered by an adhesive layer and at least two opposing flexible wings defining a closed C, these wings being able to be pushed apart elastically to allow the insertion of one or more conductors into the cavity which they form. In document FR 2 568 730 the profile may comprise several juxtaposed receiving cavities that can be separated at the time of laying, while in document BE 571 724 the duct comprises one or two juxtaposed and inseparable cavities formed by C-shaped wings, that is to say having separated edges.
In shape and structure, these ducts for electrical conductors are unsuitable for laying more rigid, heavier pipes of larger transverse dimensions than the conductors and in particular would be unable, by the force of the adhesive alone, to ensure permanent fixing of one or more pipes having a greater mass per unit length. Furthermore, with visible pipes, these supports would form an aesthetically unpleasing system requiring complementary means to conceal them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTaking ducts for electrical conductors as a starting point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing duct for pipes that simplifies the pipe installation process, and reduces laying time and costs while doing away with any finishing operation for pipes that remain visible.
The invention therefore relates to a duct comprising a plastic profile with a mounting plate whose back is supplied with an adhesive fixing means for fixing it to a wall and whose front is provided with elastically deformable wings in pairs defining a longitudinal cavity for receiving and retaining an elongate body.
According to the invention, the deformable wings are those of longitudinal open C-section gutters projecting from the front of the mounting plate and separated transversely from each other by a gap E, at least one of the wings of each gutter being molded integrally with the mounting plate and made of the same semirigid material, while, on the one hand, the said mounting plate of the profile is divided into sub-lengths by breakable or precut transverse lines coinciding with transverse slots formed through the gutters, in order to form independent ducts in this profile and on the other hand, the system also comprises a plastic finishing profile which, having fixing means for clipping it onto the gutters or pipes, can be cut to length to cover one or more ducts and the associated pipes, along a rectilinear part of laid, fixed pipes.
Thus, when the pipes have been formed to shape, that is to say bent and formed or cut into straight sub-lengths, they are put in position by clipping onto them sub-lengths of duct and pressing the back of these sub-lengths, their peel-off film having first been removed, onto the wall, to which they can later be fixed by other mechanical means, such as screws or equivalent. When all the pipes are laid and fixed and require concealing, the finishing profile is cut into straight sub-lengths, by straight or oblique cuts, and is clipped onto the installation. In this way, a single finishing sub-length conceals from view one or more ducts and the pipes contained inside them.
By this means all the laying operations are effected faster than by the traditional method and the resulting installations are more finished and more aesthetically pleasing.
In one embodiment, at least one longitudinal gutter, of smaller internal diametrical dimension than the pipe gutters, project from the mounting plate into the gap E between two pipe gutters to accommodate and retain an insulated conductor of a circuit for the transmission of electrical or optical signals.
In another embodiment, the finishing profile comprises, projecting from its back, various longitudinal open C-section gutters, each able to receive and retain an insulated conductor, for the transmission of electrical or optical signals, that fits in the gap E between the pipe gutters of the duct.
Each of these two provisions enables the pipe ducts or the finishing profile to be used for laying and retaining a variety of conductors. This is particularly beneficial when it comes to electrical or optical circuits which may be added well after the pipes have been installed, as it saves making chases in the walls, or using other contrivances to conceal these conductors in a habitable room where for example pipes have been laid along the baseboard or cornice and concealed by a finishing profile.
Other features and advantages will emerge from the following description referring to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of examples, a number of embodiments of the duct according to the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 9 to 12 are sectional side views of other embodiments of the system,
FIGS. 14 to 18 show other embodiments of the system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In
In this space, the mounting plate 2 comprises one or more breakable longitudinal lines 7 consisting of a reduction in the thickness of its component material, and/or consisting of precuts (not shown). It also comprises breakable transverse lines 11 that are also formed by a thinning of the material or by a precut, and coincide with slots 21 running through the gutters 5 all the way to the mounting plate 2. In practice the spacing P from each breakable line and slit 21 to the next is about 10 centimeters.
The profile A is accompanied by a finishing profile B made of a semirigid or flexible plastic and intended to form a cap to conceal the ducts and pipes.
When constructing a hot and cold water supply system with two pipes, as shown in
The adhesive layer 3 has sufficient holding power to keep the lengths of piping in position while the installer continues laying out the rest of the installation, for example fitting the tee joints 8 of the circuit branch consisting of two lengths of pipe 9 installed for example in a length T3 of the support profile.
If need be, for example if the two pipes have to follow different paths, the profile A of the duct is divided lengthwise into two independent elements by separating it along one of its breakable longitudinal lines 7.
Once all or part of the installation is in position, final fixing of the pipes is carried out by means of staples, collars, screws or any other means known to the installer. At this point the profile B is cut into covering sub-lengths C1, C2 and C3 so that they will cover a straight section of the laid pipe network, that is the supports T1, T2 and T3 and the pipes projecting from them.
The profile B entirely conceals the whole installation from view and forms a whole but does not detract from the appearance of the room in which it is laid, and even allows it to be run against the walls, along the baseboard or cornice, and if necessary to be run around window frames and doorframes.
The embodiment shown in
This
In the embodiment shown in
The number of pipe gutters 5 carried by any one support may of course be other than two, and may be one, three or four, for example, depending on the application.
In the same way the inside diameter D of each gutter 5 or 5a varies as a function of the application, i.e. washing, heating, carrying industrial fluids. However, for ordinary applications the inside diameter D, in
In
The liner 20 could have four housings if given a second straight bar perpendicular to the first straight bar.
Although not shown in the drawing, it is envisioned that each wing of the gutter 5 be able to slide relative to the mounting plate 2. This enables the angle of the pipe to be adjusted so that a slope can be given to a drain pipe.
Notice that the mounting plate 2 can also be reinforced by a rigid plate embedded within it or may contain any insert that allows its final fixing such as wall plugs. As shown in
In the embodiment of
This figure also shows that in order to avoid retention of condensation, at least one of the wings 5i of each gutter 5 is pierced with holes 34 set out lengthwise at a regular pitch that is a submultiple of the pitch P at which the breakable lines 11 of the profile are set apart.
In
In
With this arrangement it is possible, once the pipe network has been installed, to use the circuit described by the installation to install other electrical conductors added as the home expands its systems, e.g. telephone cable, computer cable, loudspeaker wires, computer-television link etc, and this without having to do anything more than remove and refit the finishing profile 13g on the duct sub-lengths.
In the variant shown in
Similarly, the gutters for conductors can carry fixed or flashing hanging lights visible through the material of the finishing profile.
Whatever its embodiment, the duct according to the invention saves the user having to prepare the positioning of various pipes and conduits, and in particular avoids the need to fix in wall plugs, screw lugs or collars at the same time as he is shaping the pipes, so that there is a considerable reduction in the amount of time required for installation.
Another advantage is that the duct can be used without any special skill or any special tool, all that is required being a hammer to cause its adhesive bonding to the wall and some sort of cutting blade to cut it into longitudinal sub-lengths or independent elements.
In the more elaborate embodiments, comprising means for retaining conductors and molded finishing profiles, the system according to the invention can be surface-mounted and may or may not follow the outlines of window or door frames. Furthermore, it is envisioned that the finishing profile 13 be equipped with clips 58 with elastically deformable wings that fit directly onto pipes 6 in order to conceal the latter.
Another possibility is to place a layer of insulating material in the system to insulate the pipes 6.
Moreover, the system can be clipped unobtrusively to a pipe 6 or can be clipped to the collar holding this pipe in position.
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A laying and fixing system for pipes of various circuits, comprising:
- a plastic profile with a mounting plate having a front and a back;
- an adhesive fixing means on the back of the mounting plate for fixing the profile to a surface;
- elastically deformable wings in pairs on the front of the mounting plate defining a longitudinal cavity for receiving and retaining an elongate body;
- wherein the deformable wings are generally longitudinal open C-section gutters projecting from the front of the mounting plate and are separated transversely from each other by a gap;
- wherein at least one of the wings of each gutter is molded integrally with the mounting plate and made of a same semi-rigid material;
- wherein the mounting plate of the profile is divided into sub-lengths by breakable or precut transverse lines coinciding with transverse slots formed through the gutters so as to form independent ducts in the profile,
- the system further comprising a plastic finishing profile having fixing means for clipping it onto the gutters, wherein the finishing profile can be cut to length to cover one or more ducts and the associated retained elongate bodies along a rectilinear part of said laid, fixed elongate bodies.
19. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the openings of the gutters of the profile open laterally toward a longitudinal edge of the mounting plate.
20. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising open C-shaped liners, each capable of being inserted in one of the gutters to reduce an inside diameter of the gutter for accommodating an elongate body.
21. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising H-shaped liners, each capable of being inserted in one of the gutters to reduce an accommodating diameter of the gutter and to retain the elongate body having a smaller cross section where the elongate body comprises an insulated conductor for transmission of electrical or optical signals.
22. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising at least one longitudinal gutter of smaller internal diametrical dimension than the C-section gutters, wherein the smaller longitudinal gutter projects from the mounting plate into the gap between the C-section gutters to accommodate and retain an insulated conductor of a circuit for the transmission of electrical or optical signals.
23. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein one of the wings of a pair is not molded integrally with the mounting plate and is connected to a lug that is parallel to the mounting plate, able to slide relative to the mounting plate, and is engaged by means that fasten the lug to the said mounting plate, in any position near or far from the other wing.
24. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 23, wherein each wing of one of the gutters is able to slide relative to the mounting plate.
25. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the wings of each of the gutters are provided on edges thereof with spurs, teeth or equivalent means able to engage with complementary spurs on edges of clips for securing contents of the gutters.
26. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the finishing profile includes a U-shaped cross section and comprises elastically deformable wings and means for clipping the wings onto outer wings of two outermost gutters of the duct.
27. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the finishing profile includes an L-shaped cross section and comprises, projecting from a web, an elastically deformable longitudinal rib and a wing, both provided with a clip-fastening spur able to engage respectively with wings of one of the gutters.
28. The laying and fixing device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the finishing profile comprises, projecting from a back thereof, various longitudinal open C-section gutters, each able to receive and retain a conductor for transmission of electrical or optical signals, that fit in the gap E between the gutters on the mounting plate.
29. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a longitudinal partition running alongside a wing of the finishing profile to delimit an open channel for receiving at least one insulated conductor for transmission of electrical or optical signals.
30. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the finishing profile comprises zones for positioning or fixing an electrical device, the zones being closed by thin covers of breakable material.
31. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the mounting plate of each duct is pierced by holes for the passage of sleeves or wall plugs working in conjunction with final fixing screws.
32. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fixing mounting plate of each duct is bordered by two lateral flaps for fixing temporarily to perpendicular surfaces, each of the flaps comprising on a back an adhesive layer protected by a peel-off film.
33. The laying and fixing system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the profile includes a partition parallel to the mounting plate containing pipe fixing member retention means.
34. The laying and fixing device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the pipe fixing member retention means each have a T-shaped foot engaging in an oblong hole formed in the surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 20, 2003
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2005
Inventors: Fabien Cacciani (Oullins), Michel Hoffmann (Chasselay)
Application Number: 10/502,433