AU2010249225A1

AU2010249225A1 - An Adjustable Base Assembly for an Upstand

Info

Publication number: AU2010249225A1
Application number: AU2010249225A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alan Brownbill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-08
Filing date: 2010-12-08
Publication date: 2012-06-28

Abstract

Abstract An adjustable base assembly for an upstand, the assembly including a base member having a substantially planar lower abutment surface and mounting an upstand, the base member having at least one attachment to mount the base member 5 relative to a surface, and at least one adjustment mechanism including a threaded opening through the base member and a threaded member with a free end, rotation of the threaded member adapted to expose the free end of the threaded member below the lower abutment surface.

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Invention Title: An Adjustable Base Assembly for an Upstand Applicant: Danielle Tiffany Brownbill The invention is described in the following statement: 2 An Adjustable Base Assembly for an Upstand Field of the Invention. The present invention relates to generally to mounting means for posts and the like and particularly to an adjustable base assembly for an upstand. 5 Background Art. A variety of mounts of posts and similar art known in the art. The simplest is a plate with one or more openings which is simply placed over a threaded fastener extending from the mounting surface and then a nut or similar is used to attach the plate to the surface. 10 A similar mechanism may be used for mounting glass clamps to a surface for mounting a glass fence panel. Conventional clamps hold the glass panel in a rigid arrangement which will does not allow adjustment of the inclination of the panel once inserted into the receiving slot. This creates an onus on the installer of the post or clamp to ensure that 15 the posts or clamps are installed with great precision and as a misalignment of the receiving slot of a clamp for example, can cause deviation in inclination of the opposite edge of the panel which is related to the degree of misalignment of the receiving slot. For example, a 50 misalignment of the receiving slot in a clamp with a 20 panel which is 1.5 m in height can results in a deviation of the top edge of the panel of approximately 13 cm. If adjacent clamps are misaligned, a marked decrease in the aesthetics of a fence or balustrade will occur as the top edges of the panels will not be aligned with one another. It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to 25 herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country. Summary of the Invention. The present invention is directed to an adjustable base assembly for an upstand, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned 30 disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. With the foregoing in view, the present invention in one form, resides broadly in an adjustable base assembly for an upstand, the assembly including a base member having a substantially planar lower abutment surface and mounting an 3 upstand, the base member having at least one attachment to mount the base member relative to a surface, and at least one adjustment mechanism including a threaded opening through the base member adapted to receive a threaded member with a free end, rotation of the threaded member adapted to expose the free end of the threaded 5 member below the lower abutment surface. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention resides broadly in an adjustable base assembly for an upstand, the assembly including a. a base member having a substantially planar lower abutment surface and mounting an upstand, the base member having 10 a. at least one attachment to mount the base member relative to a surface, and b. at least one adjustment mechanism including i. a threaded opening through the base member and ii. a threaded member with a free end, 15 rotation of the threaded member adapted to expose the free end of the threaded member below the lower abutment surface. The assembly of the present invention includes a base member having a substantially planar lower abutment surface and mounting an upstand. Preferably, the base member is a planar plate. Typically, the planar plate will extend on more than 20 one side of the upstand and preferably, will extend on all sides of the upstand. The plate may have an engagement with the upstand or there may be an attachment portion to attach or mount the upstand to, or relative to the base member. There are a variety of manners in which the base member may mount the upstand. These include for example an opening through the base member in order to receive 25 the upstand and the upstand can be provided with a flange in order to be clamped between the base member and a mounting surface. Alternatively, the base member may be attached directly to the upstand such as by welding the two together for example. Any attachment means to attach or mount the upstand, whether 30 permanently or not, to or relative to the base member can be used. The invention also includes an attachment in order to mount the base member relative to a surface. Any attachment mechanism can be used. Typically however a releasable mounting mechanism will be preferred. One particularly 4 preferred form of attachment is to provide an opening through the base member through which a fastener is received. The preferred fastener is a threaded fastener, such as a bolt or similar. Typically, when mounting devices such as present invention, a bolt or 5 similar threaded member is at least partially embedded into the mounting surface and protrudes from the surface. A nut is typically engaged with the bolt in order to clamp the base member therebetween. Normally, more than one attachment fastener will be provided. Depending on the configuration of the base member, at least one fastener will be 10 provided on each lateral side of the upstand. The present invention may also include a mounting shim located between a lower surface of the base member and the mounting surface. The mounting shim will preferably provide a bracing surface against which the free end of the threaded adjustment members of the invention can abut to prevent damage to the 15 surface which may lead to loosening of the assembly relative to the mounting surface. Also, if the mounting surface is not unitary or of the mounting surface is soft, for example if the mounting surface is of wood or concrete for example, the rotation of the threaded adjustment members may grind away portions of the surface or otherwise create an opening in the surface which will decrease the adjustability of 20 the upstand, and also mean that the upstand can move and will not be retained in its intended position. Typically, the mounting shim will be a flat plate. Normally the plate will be of metal or similar. Openings will normally be provided in order to allow collocation of the mounting shim with the base member. Typically, the mounting shim 25 will be sized and shaped to correspond with the base member. The present invention also includes at least one adjustment mechanism including a threaded opening through the base member adapted to receive a threaded adjustment member with a free end. Preferably, more than one threaded member and opening will be provided. 30 Typically, at least two threaded members and openings will be provided and according to the most preferred embodiment, at least two threaded members and openings will be provided on each side of the upstand. In this configuration, one threaded member and opening is typically provided on either side 5 of the mounting fastener used to mount the base member relative to the mounting surface. Typically there will be a threaded opening and a threaded member for each opening. Normally, the threaded member will be a grub screw or similar. 5 Typically, the threaded member will be elongate and will be without an enlarged head portion. Normally however, the threaded member will have a shaped drive end. Typically, the length of the threaded member will be approximately equal to the thickness of the base plate or it may be shorter than the base plate is thick. A threaded member which is longer than the base plate is thick is less preferred. This 10 means that when not required for adjustment, the threaded member can be housed in the threaded opening without exposing either the free end below the base plate or the upper end above the level of the upper surface of the base plate. As mentioned above, the threaded member will preferably have a shaped drive end. Typically, the shaped drive end will be provided to engage tool or 15 similar to rotate and the threaded member. Normally a shaped opening will be provided into one end of the threaded member. The adjustment members can be used in combination to adjust the orientation of the upstand in any required angle in any direction. When used together, the adjustment members can also be used to raise and lower the upstand 20 perpendicularly to the mounting support. Typically however this adjustment can only be made over relatively small distances. In use, the base member will be mounted relative to the mounting surface using the mounting fasteners which are not fully tightened. Small adjustments to the angle of the upstand can then be made using the adjustment members and by 25 rotation of the threaded members to expose a portion of the threaded member below the lower surface of the base member which in turn angles the upstand. Once the angle is correct, the mounting fasteners can be tightened to fix the upstand in position. Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the 30 scope of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings. Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 6 Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a flat post with adjustable base assembly according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an axonometric view of a glass clamp or spigot with adjustable base assembly according to a second preferred embodiment of the present 5 invention. Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a square post with adjustable base assembly according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is an axonometric view of a round post with adjustable base assembly according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 10 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable base assembly for an upstand 10 is provided. In the illustrated embodiments, the upstand is a simple post 10. As illustrated, the assembly includes a base member 11 having a 15 substantially planar lower abutment surface and mounting a post 10. The base member 1 1 has a pair of attachments to mount the base member 11 relative to a surface, and four adjustment mechanisms including a threaded opening 12 through the base member I I and a corresponding threaded member 13 with a free end 14, rotation of the threaded member 13 adapted to expose the free end 13 of the threaded member 20 13 below the lower abutment surface of the base member 11. As illustrated, the base member 11 is a planar plate extending on more than one side of the upstand 19 and in some embodiments such as the circular embodiment in Figure 4, extending on all sides of the upstand 10. The base member 11 of the illustrated embodiments is attached 25 permanently to the upstand by welding the two together. The invention also includes an attachment in order to mount the base member 11 relative to a surface. The illustrated form of attachment is to provide an opening 15 through the base member 11 through which a threaded rod 16 is received. Typically, when mounting devices such as present invention, a bolt or 30 similar threaded rod 16 is at least partially embedded into the mounting surface and protrudes from the surface. A nut 17 is typically engaged with the bolt in association with a washer 18 in order to clamp the base member 11 therebetween.

7 The illustrated embodiment of the present invention also includes a mounting shim 19 located between a lower surface of the base member 11 and the mounting surface. The mounting shim 19 provides a bracing surface against which the free end 14 of the threaded adjustment members 13 can abut to prevent damage to 5 the surface which may lead to loosening of the assembly relative to the mounting surface. The illustrated mounting shim 19 is a flat plate of metal or similar. Openings are provided in order to allow collocation of the mounting shim 19 with the base member. Typically, the mounting shim 19 is sized and shaped to correspond with 10 the base member 11. As illustrated, at least two threaded adjustment members 13 and openings 12 are provided on each side of the upstand 10. In this configuration, one threaded member 13 and opening 12 is provided on either side of the mounting fastener 16 used to mount the base member 11 relative to the mounting surface. 15 The threaded member 13 illustrated is a grub screw or similar. Typically, the threaded member 13 will be elongate and is without an enlarged head portion. Normally however, the threaded member 13 has a shaped drive end. The shaped drive end including a shaped opening into one end of the threaded member 13 is provided to engage a tool or similar to rotate and the threaded 20 member 13 In use, the base member 11 is mounted relative to the mounting surface using the mounting fasteners 16 which are not fully tightened. Small adjustments to the angle of the upstand 10 can then be made using the adjustment members 13 and by rotation of the threaded members 13 to expose a portion of the threaded member 13 25 below the lower surface of the base member I1 which in turn angles the upstand 10. Once the angle is correct, the nuts 17 of the mounting fasteners 16 can be tightened to fix the upstand 10 in position. In the present specification and claims (if any), the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated 30 integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present 8 invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations. 5 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications 10 within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand, the assembly including a base member having a substantially planar lower abutment surface and mounting an upstand, the base member having at least one attachment to mount the base 5 member relative to a mounting surface, and at least one adjustment mechanism including a threaded opening through the base member adapted to receive a threaded member with a free end, rotation of the threaded member adapted to expose the free end of the threaded member below the lower abutment surface.

2. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand, the assembly including a base 10 member having a substantially planar lower abutment surface and mounting an upstand, the base member having at least one attachment to mount the base member relative to a mounting surface, and at least one adjustment mechanism including a threaded opening through the base member and a threaded member with a free end, rotation of the threaded member adapted to expose the free end of 15 the threaded member below the lower abutment surface.

3. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base member is a planar plate attached to the upstand.

4. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in either claim I or claim 2 wherein the base member is a planar plate adapted to engage the upstand. 20

5. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one attachment is an opening through the base member through which a fastener is received.

6. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including a mounting shim located between a lower 25 surface of the base member and the mounting surface.

7. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in claim 6 wherein one or more openings are provided in the mounting shim in order to allow collocation of the mounting shim with the base member.

8. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in any one of the 30 preceding claims wherein at least two threaded members and threaded openings are provided on opposed sides of the upstand. 10

9. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least two threaded members and threaded openings are provided on each opposed side of the upstand.

10. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in any one of the 5 preceding claims wherein each threaded member is elongate and without an enlarged head portion.

11. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each threaded member has a shaped drive end.

12. An adjustable base assembly for an upstand as claimed in any one of the 10 preceding claims wherein the threaded member is no longer than approximately equal in length to the thickness of the base plate.