Signals and indicators – Bells – Tube or rod type
Utility Patent
1999-02-08
2001-01-02
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Bells
Tube or rod type
C116S141000, C084S403000
Utility Patent
active
06167832
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chime tubes held at their nodal points are typically struck on their exterior to emit sound. The usual manner of supporting such tubes in vertical position is to provide a hanger cord secured at its upper end to a fixed member and extending vertically down to some form of connection at its lower end with the tube. They may also be held in a horizontal position with the cord stretched horizontally between fixed points.
The connection between the hanger cord and the chime tube has taken many forms in the prior art. Cylindrical plug elements have been forced into the ends of cylindrical chime tubes for connection to hanger cords. U.S. Pat. No. 1,813,171, for example, discloses one form of such a plug element force-fitted into the upper end of a chime tube. Other means for connecting hanger cords to chime tubes include holes or indentations formed in the chime tube wall, one form of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,820,431. Variations include the drilling of holes through opposite sides of the chime tube at its nodal point and insertion of the hanger cord through the holes so that two runs of the cord extend upwardly on the outside of the chime tube to the point of suspension. It is also known to insert an expansion spring of small diameter through the opposed holes in the chime tube with the hanger cord secured to the mid-point of the spring.
Also of interest in the prior art are chime tube configurations which include stiffening elements having equally circumferentially spaced legs inserted within the chime tube at suitable levels for stiffening or solidifying the tubes. One form of this design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 485,542. They function to control the pitch of emitted sound and not for attachment of hanger cords.
It is the general purpose of the present invention to provide an improved form of connection between the interior of a chime tube and a central hanger cord by which the chime tube is supported. This is to be done without in any way altering the structure of the chime tube by drilling of holes or forming of indentations or otherwise. In addition, the connector of the invention is to be separately insertable so that it can be easily placed at the nodal point of the chime tube if desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention an elongated chime tube is supported by a coaxial hanger cord. The connector between the cord and the chime tube includes a resilient clip element slidably inserted within the chime tube and having at least two legs extending equidistantly from a central point of connection with the cord. The legs of the clip element have a straight line length greater than the inside radius of the chime tube before insertion and bend to grip the inside of the chime tube after insertion.
In a preferred form of the invention the legs of the clip element are of outwardly curved configuration even prior to insertion and are bent still more when inserted in the chime tube. The clip element may comprise three legs equally spaced circumferentially and may include a central hole through which the hanger cord is secured. Both the chime tube and the clip element may be of metal. The chime tube in which the clip element is located may be vertical or non-vertical including horizontal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 485542 (1892-11-01), Harrington
patent: 527488 (1894-10-01), Gerry
patent: 1813171 (1931-07-01), Klein
patent: 2249381 (1941-07-01), Gustafson
patent: 2278126 (1942-03-01), McMullen
patent: 2820431 (1958-01-01), Lescher
patent: 2859469 (1958-11-01), Stockdale
patent: 4306620 (1981-12-01), Fromius
patent: 5660376 (1997-08-01), West
patent: 524194 (1921-05-01), None
Brown, Esq. Charles J.
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
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