Saint-gobain Performance Plastics Rencol Limited

Christopher Mark Needes

Andrew Robert Slayne

Marcus Baker

A fastener () in the form of a strip () of material in the form of a ring which in plan view is profiled to conform to an annular gap (H) between a first component (A) bounded by the fastener () and a second component (B) bounding the fastener (); the ring member having ends providing a gap (G) in plan view; the strip of material having a first side () and a second side (); and having a series of integral fingers (-) spaced along the length of the ring and projecting, in plan view, outwardly from the ring whether from the first side (), the second side (), or both sides thereof. In a further version the ring includes a further series of discrete projections formed integrally from the strip and lying around the ring member in between members of the series of fingers.

Fastener

An apparatus is shown which comprises first and second mating components with a force limiter located between them. The force limiter includes a band of resilient material, with protrusions therealong, and a slip element. The band and the slip element are secured to the first mating component with the band arranged to apply a radial force against the slip element so as to press it against the second mating component. The frictional force between slip element and the second mating component is insufficient to separate the slip element and the band from the first mating component, so any slipping that occurs between the mating components happens at the boundary of the slip element and the second mating component. A desired slip force can be obtained by choosing a slip element with an appropriate coefficient of friction, rather than by varying the dimensions of the components.

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Bristol, United Kingdom

Christopher Mark Needes