AU2005201707A1

AU2005201707A1 - An Adjustable Support

Info

Publication number: AU2005201707A1
Application number: AU2005201707A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Ritchie
Original assignee: Mcgrogan Kenneth John
Current assignee: Mcgrogan Kenneth John
Priority date: 2005-04-22
Filing date: 2005-04-22
Publication date: 2006-11-09
Also published as: NZ546490A

Description

Name of Applicant

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Robert Ritchie 29 Kremzow Road, Brendale, Queensland, 4500, Australia Robert Ritchie CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia An Adjustable Support Actual Inventor Address for Service: Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to the applicant: 2

O

o This invention relates to apparatus for supporting a secondary structure an adjustable distance from a primary structure. In particular, the invention is directed to a support member for adjustably supporting a pergola above a roof truss.

BACKGROUNDART

Australian patent no. 707335 discloses a support member for supporting an appendant structure, such as a pergola, from the roof trusses of an Sexisting roof. The support member enables the pergola to be supported above the In lower portion of the existing roof, to thereby obtain the required height or head O 10 clearance below the pergola. The spacing of the pergola above the existing roof also allows ventilation between the pergola and the roof The known pergola support member comprises a first attachment portion which, in use, is fixed to one of the roofing beams, and a second attachment portion which, in use, supports the pergola. Typically, the second attachment portion supports a bearer beam which forms part of the pergola structure and supports the other pergola roof members. The known support member also comprises connecting means extending between the first and second attachment portions. The connecting means is adapted to extend through the roof cladding, and comprises at least two elongate detachable parts. Typically one part is a threaded tube or sleeve, and the other part is a length of threaded rod which is received within the tube or sleeve. The rod is threaded into the tube by relative rotation of the rod and tube about their common axis.

Although the support member of Australian patent 707335 provides a simple and useful solution to the problem of supporting a pergola from an existing roof, it has some disadvantages. First, it is difficult, if not impossible, to adjust the height of the pergola relative to the existing roof structure once the first and second attachment portions have been connected to their respective members. The length of the support member must therefore be set accurately beforehand. Moreover, since at least two support members are normally used to support the pergola bearer, their lengths and the connection of their respective first attachment portions to the respective roof trusses must be carefully set so that the bearer beam is at the desired height and inclination when mounted to the second attachment portions.

o Secondly, it is difficult to tell by visual inspection what length of threaded rod is received within the threaded tube. There should always be at least a predetermined minimum length of threaded rod within the tube to ensure that the pergola is securely connected to the existing roof.

It is an aim of this invention to provide an improved support member 17- which overcomes, or ameliorates the above described disadvantages, or which at least provides the consumer with a useful choice.

tfl SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one broad form, the invention provides support apparatus for supporting a secondary structure from a primary structure by an adjustable distance, the support apparatus comprising: an elongate member having a first threaded end adapted to be threaded into a first attachment member operatively connected to the primary structure, and a second threaded end adapted to be threaded into a second attachment member operatively connected to the secondary structure; characterised in that the first threaded end is threaded in the opposite sense to the second threaded end.

The term "threaded in the opposite sense" is intended to mean that the first and second threaded ends of the elongate member are of different handedness, i.e.

one has a left hand thread and the other has a right hand thread. In this manner, when the elongate member is rotated with its respective ends threaded into the first and second attachment members, the distance between the first and second attachment members is varied.

Preferably, a formation is provided on the elongate member between its ends, to facilitate the engagement of a spanner or similar tool with the elongate member. Typically, the formation is a nut fixed to the elongate member, e.g. by welding.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elongate member is formed from two threaded portions (of different handedness), threaded into opposite sides of the nut, and fixed thereto by welding.

o Advantageously, a lock nut is also threaded onto the elongate member.

Once the height has been adjusted to the desired extent, the lock nut is threaded into abutment with the nut on the first or second attachment member to prevent any further ci inadvertent rotation of the elongate member.

The secondary structure is typically a pergola, and the primary structure is a roof. The support member is used to support a bearer beam of the pergola at a distance above a roof truss of the roof. In use, two or more support members may be o used to support the bearer beam above respective roof trusses.

In The first attachment member may suitably comprise a metal plate o1i which is adapted to be fixed to a roof truss, e.g. by bolting. A first nut is fixed to the plate, e.g. by welding, orientated such that the axis of the nut is parallel to the plane of the plate.

The second attachment member is used to support the pergola bearer beam or other secondary structure in use. The second attachment may suitably comprise a metal portion, such as an angle section, on which the bearer beam or other secondary structure is supported. A second nut is fixed to the second attachment member, e.g. by welding. The elongate member has its first and second ends threaded into the first and second nuts, respectively.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of support apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the support apparatus of Fig. I in use.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in Fig. 1, support apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention comprises an elongate member in the form of a threaded rod (Although the whole rod 10 is shown threaded in Fig. 1, it is only necessary for the opposite ends to be threaded). One threaded end of the rod 10 is adapted to be o threaded into a nut 11 or equivalent which is fixed, e.g. by welding, to a first attachment member in the form of a metal plate 12. The opposite end of the threaded cr4 rod 10 is adapted to be threaded into another nut 13 or equivalent which is fixed, e.g.

ci by welding, to a second attachment member which is in the form of an angle section 14.

The threads at the opposite ends of the rod 10 are of different handedness, i.e. one is a left hand thread, and the other is a right hand thread. Thus, o when the rod 10 is threaded into the nuts 11, 13 and rotated, the distance between the in nuts 11, 13, and hence the distance between the attachment plate 12 and the angle section 14, will vary accordingly.

The rod 10 can be formed from two lengths of threaded rod, I Oa, l Ob which are threaded in opposite senses. The adjacent or opposed ends of the portions 1 Qa, l0b are threaded into opposite sides of a nut 15, and then welded thereto to fix the nut 15 rotationally relative to the rod 10. The nut 15 serves to facilitate the rotation of the rod 10 by a spanner or similar tool. However, alternative means may be provided to facilitate rotation of the rod 10 by a tool. For example, two parallel flat portions can be milled into opposite sides of the rod 10, to enable the rod to be operatively engaged by a spanner.

The rod 10, nuts 11, 13,15 and attachment members 12,14 are made of steel or other suitable material.

The support apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 is particularly, but not solely, suitable for supporting a pergola structure above the lower portion of an existing roof. As shown in Fig. 2, the plate 12 is mounted to a roof truss 20 (or other roof support member). The plate 12 is suitably fixed to the truss 20 by bolts passing through apertures in the plate 12. Preferably, at least one of the bolts passes through a nail plate 21 of the truss 20, for added strength. The lower end of rod 10 is threaded into the nut 11I fixed to the plate 12. The nut 11 has an axis which is parallel to the plane of the plate 12, so that the rod 10 will be orientated in a substantially vertical plane.

The upper end of the rod 10 is threaded into the nut 13 which is fixed to the angle section 14. A lock nut 16 may be threaded onto the upper portion of the rod 10 beforehand, for the purpose described below.

o Two or more of the support assemblies are fixed to respective roof trusses at spaced locations. A bearer beam 22 is then supported on the angle sections r 14 of the respective support assemblies. The pergola joists and other components (not shown) can then be mounted to the bearer beam 22.

Each support assembly can be adjusted to set the pergola bearer beam 7 22 at the desired height relative to the roof truss 20, and to ensure that it is level or at some other desired inclination. The nut 15 of the respective support assembly is oengaged by a spanner and the rod 10 is rotated. Since the attachment plate 12 is fixed In to the truss 20, rotation of the rod 10 will cause the attachment member 14 supporting the bearer beam 22 to move either up or down, depending on the direction of rotation of the nut Once the desired height has been achieved, the locking nut 16 is rotated to engage the upper nut 13 and thereby fix the assembly against height changes. Although the locking nut 16 is desirable, it is not necessary for the operation of the invention.

The described support apparatus has several advantages including: it can be easily adjusted in use; it allows for infinite adjustment over a range of heights; it can be manufactured easily and economically from commonly available components; it is robust and able to support the weight of the pergola.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

For example, the rod 10 may comprise a plain cylindrical rod, having only its end portions threaded in opposite senses.

Although the support assembly of the present invention has been described with particular reference to its application in supporting a pergola above a roof, it can also be used for other building applications, such as suspending a secondary structure below a primary structure.

Claims

1. Support apparatus for supporting a secondary structure an adjustable distance from a primary structure, the support apparatus comprising: an elongate member having a first threaded end adapted to be threaded into a first attachment member operatively connected to the primary structure, and oa second threaded end adapted to be threaded into a second n attachment member operatively connected to the secondary structure; characterised in that the first threaded end is threaded in the opposite sense to the second threaded end.

2. Support apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a formation on the elongate member intermediate the first and second threaded ends thereof for facilitating the engagement of a spanner with the elongate member.

3. Support apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the formation is a nut.

4. Support apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongate member is formed from two portions threaded into opposite sides of the nut.

Support apparatus as claimed in preceding claim, further comprising a lock nut threaded onto the elongate member.

6. A support assembly for supporting a secondary structure an adjustable distance from a primary structure, the support assembly comprising: a first attachment member adapted to be connected to the primary structure; a second attachment member adapted to be connected to the secondary structure; and an elongate member having 0 a first threaded end operatively threaded into the first attachment member, and a second threaded end operatively threaded into the second attachment member; characterised in that the first threaded end is threaded in the opposite sense to the second threaded end.

7. A support assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a in formation on the elongate member intermediate the first and second threaded ends 0 O 10 thereof for facilitating the engagement of a spanner with the elongate member.

8. A support assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the formation is a nut.

9. A support assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elongate member is formed from two portions threaded into opposite sides of the nut.

A support assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a lock nut threaded onto the elongate member.

11. A support assembly as claimed in any one of claims 6 to wherein each attachment member comprises a nut fixed to a plate-like portion so that the axis of the nut is parallel to the plane of the plate-like portion.

12. A building construction comprising a secondary structure supported an adjustable distance from a primary structure by a support assembly, the support assembly comprising a first attachment member connected to the primary structure; a second attachment member connected to the secondary structure; and an elongate member having a first threaded end threaded into the first attachment member and a second threaded end threaded into the second attachment member; o characterised in that the first threaded end is threaded in the opposite sense to the second threaded end.

13. A building construction as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a formation on the elongate member intermediate the first and second threaded ends thereof for facilitating the engagement of a spanner with the elongate member.

14. A building construction as claimed in claim 13, wherein the 0 formation is a nut.

A building construction as claimed in claim 14, wherein the elongate member is formed from two portions threaded into opposite sides of the nut.

16. A building construction as claimed in any one of claims 12 to further comprising a lock nut threaded onto the elongate member.

17. A building construction as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein each attachment member comprises a nut fixed to a plate-like portion so that the axis of the nut is parallel to the plane of the plate-like portion.

18. A building construction as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the primary structure is a roof truss, and the secondary structure is a pergola.

19. A pergola support assembly for supporting a pergola above a roof truss, the support assembly including a first attachment member connected to the roof truss in use, the first attachment member comprising a metal plate-like portion adapted to be fixed to the roof truss and a first nut fixed to the plate-like portion; a second attachment member supporting the pergola in use, the second attachment member comprising a metal portion on which the pergola is adapted to be 0 0 ci ci ci supported and a second nut fixed to the metal portion; and an elongate member having a first threaded end threaded into the first nut and a second threaded end threaded into the second nut; characterised in that the first threaded end is threaded in the opposite sense to the second threaded end so that the distance between the first and second attachment members can be varied by rotation of the elongate member. Support apparatus for supporting a pergola from a roof truss, the support apparatus being substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 22nd day of April 2005 ROBERT RITCHIE By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.