AU2013101357B4 - Brick wall clip - on anchor - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosed brick wall clip-on anchor comprises a single strand of spring-wire or narrow strip formed generally into the shape of-the keyboard "curly bracket" or "brace"( }), with the center point elongated and turned up to form a supporting hook and each "curly end" exaggerated to form approximately semicircular hooks. The proportions are such that the end hooks can be stretched apart and located in the upper and lower raked mortar recesses of a brick providing a retaining clamp action on the- brick.

Description

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT

BRICK WALL CLIP-ON ANCHOR

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me.

I

2013101357 10 Oct 2013

BRICK WALL CLIP-ON ANCHOR

In the Field of providing anchors For the attachment of brackets and the like to brick walls, the traditional method is to use countersunk inserts. For many light-duty, noneritical applications, that method is “over-kill “andhas various drawbacks; The fitting of such inserts involves toe use of tools , skill, time and leaves the wall permanently defaced.

This problem has been addressed by others and three different existing solutions will be described as a way of typifying the existing art;

The first example is marketed as BRICK CLIP!®, (US Patent 4337915). This is essentially a clip made from a strip of fiat spring- steel bent at each end to form hooks which are able to lock into the top and bottom (raked) mortar recesses of an individual brick of the wall. The clip has tabs pressed outwards to facilitate the hanging of items such as pictures, plants, Christmas lights etc. ft is low cost, easy to apply and remove and doesn’t damage the wall

The second example is marketed as Bracketmaster®, (e.g. Australian PCT 749827). This is essentially a hinged system of two rigid members, one end of each member locating in the top and bottom (raked) mortar recesses of a brick. One member extends outwards to provide a hanging support for an object such as a pot plant The weight of the object acts through the extended member as a lever to provide a tight clamping action on the brick via the hinge system. It is more expensive than the BRICK CLIP® , but is very easy to mount or remove and doesn’t damage the wall. It does, however, rely on the weight of the hung abject to achieve clamping pressure and assnch is not suitable for totally horizontally-acting loads.

The third example is subject of Australian fonovation Patent No.2004 101030.

This device comprises spring wire which is typically wound as a single-turn flat spring with the start and finish of the loop projecting tangentially in almost opposite directions with each projection terminating tangentially into an approximately semicircular hook in the same plane as the central loop but facing away from it, proportioned such that the hooks can be stretched apart and located in the upper and lower (raked) mortar recesses of a brick. The central loop, itself, becoming the attachment hole for the object to be supported;

This third type has advantages over the first two types such as low material cost, ease of manufacture, high attachment tolerance and strong, multi-direction holding power.

However, a distinct limitation of this third type is that it is equipped only with a closed “eye” for the attachment of objects. In many applications, this closed eye has to be complimented by the addition of an interposing tie oropen hook.

For example, most pictures, plaques, clocks, tools, decorations, electric cords etc. cannot be directly attached to a closed eye.

It is the object of this invention to retain the advantages of the third type, but to provide it with an open hook instead of a closed eye.

2013101357 10 Oct 2013

TJeneraJ Description.

The disclosed brick wall clip-onanchor comprises a single strand of spring wire or narrow strip formed generally into the shape of the keyboard “curly braekef ’ or “brace” ()), with the center point elongated and turned up to form a supporting hook and each “curly end” exaggerated to form an almost semicircular hook. The proportions are such that the end hooks can be stretched apart and located in the upper andlower (raked) mortar recesses of a briek providing a prevailing elamp action on the brick.

Design Considerations.

Proportions: It is desirable that the relaxed distance between the upper and lower hook points of the anchor is designed to be less than the face height of the brick to a degree that ensures an adequate prevailing clamp action, taking into account the dimensional tolerance expected for the brick. For example, for brick face heights ranging from 72mm to 78mm, an anchor using 1.6mm diameter spring steel wire, worked well with a designed hook-point spacing of 66mm, The extension capability from 66mm Tothe maximum brick height of 78mm was derived partly from The shape of the center hook zone and partly by having the long “arms” of The anchor not directly inline, but preset with an internal angle-of approximately 150 degrees. The extension from 66mm to the minimum brick height of 72mm still ensured a good prevailing clamping action.

Shape of end (clamping) hooks: The main considerations here are that the hook must fit into The raked mortar space (which maybe only Smmhigh) andbe able to reach at

Shape of center (support) hook zone: The center hook is preferably a semicircular extension of the top “arm” and be in the same plane as the end (clamping) hooks. To complete the rest of the construction, the support hook must now double back on itself. This may be achieved in two different ways:

(A) Preferably, foe doubling back occurs in foe same plane as foe first part of foe hook, creating an outer hook approximately concentric withThefrist (B) The doubting back occurs in a plane at 90 degreeslo plane of the first part of foe book and then run parallel with it. There is a slight advantagein doing this as the overall height of foe hook zone is less than in (A), However, this method requires production equipment capable of bending in two different planes. This may be a restricting factor.

Having completed foe center support hook by either method (A) or (B), foe material must foenbe folded in foe same plane as foe hooks to become foe lower arm which then extends to become foe lo wer support hook, a mirror image of foe top hook.

Shape of material cross section: This is preferably round because it is economical and easy to work with. Apart from that, nothing precludes foe use of a rectangular or even fiat strip. Flat strip restricts foe center hook zone to method (A) above.

2013101357 10 Oct 2013

Material:

Preferably, the anchor would be made from stainless or galvanized spring steel wire, appropriately heat-treated.

Method of attaching and detaching anchor from a brick wall:

With the designs so far described, the best method of attaching is to hold the anchor by the center support hook, locate the top clamping hook in the upper mortar recess and push the anchor back towards the wall. This increases the internal angle between foe arms of the anchor, which increases foe separation of foe support hooks and allows the bottom hook to be located in the lower mortar recess. However, if the face height of the particular brick is too great, further extension of foe anchor may be required; with foe assistance of pliers or any device that can pull on the lower hook, (For example, the end of a spare anchor.) Detaching an anchor will usually require similar assistance to extend the anchor.

Special design for attachment without tool-assista ncc:

(It is emphasized that foe “tool-assistance” referred to above, is a very minor issue.) However, extra extensibility can be incorporated in the design of foe anchor by forming a “zig-zag” spring in the lower arm between the center hook and the bottom clamping hook. The “zig-zag” needs tobein a planeat 90 degrees to the plane of thehooks so that it sits flat against fee brick when foe anchor is attached. This “zig-zag ’’should need only one loop to the left and one loop to the right to provide sufficient extensibility, dependi ng on the length of the arms of the “zig-zag” itself.

Note that foe extra material and operations will certainly add to foe production cost of such an anchor. In addition, such an anchor does not facilitate very flat packaging as is otherwise the case. This can increase packaging and posting costs in some circumstances. Overall, a special design such as this is considered to be a non-preferred embodiment of this invention.

2013101357 10 Oct 2013

The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of the embodiments of the invention of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brick wall clip-on anchor of the type having the “doubling back” oflhe center (support) honk (1) made inlhe same plane as the first part of tor center hook and also the outerclampir^ books) (2). That is, the axis of the arc (X3-X4) made when doubling back, is parallel to the axis of the arc of the hook (X1-X2). In the relaxed condition (as shown), the upper and lower arms (3) are inclined with an internal angle, typically about 150 degrees.

Figure 2 shows the same anchor as in fig. 1 attached to abrick wall with the outer hooks(2) located in the raked mortar recesses (4). In this attached condition, toe arms (3) are now approximately in a straight line and a degree of separation (4) has occurred between the inner and outer parts of the center hook (T).

Figure 3 Shows the type of anchor having the doubling back of the center hook made in a plane at 90 degrees to the plane oftoe hooks. That is, the axis of the arc (Y1-Y2) is at 90 degrees to the axis of the arc of the hook (X1-X2); In the relaxed condition (as shown), the doubling back does not increase the depth of toe center hook as occurs in Fig.1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an anchor made from flat strip (5), rather than wire. As can be seen from a side view, the bending contours are the same as the wire type in Fig.1.

Figure Sis aperspective view of an anchor similar to those shown in Fig; 1 or Ftg;3 but having an extra “zig-zag” spring (6) folded into the lower arm. The plane of this “zig-zag” is at 90 degrees to the plane of thehooks. That is the axis of folding the “zig-zag” (YI-Y2) is at 90 degrees to toe axis of the arc of the hook (XI-X2).

2013101357 23 Jan 2018

Claims (4)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A brick wall clip-on anchor of which the material is a single strand of round or rectangular spring wire formed generally into the shape of the keyboard curly bracket or brace (}) with the doubled-back centre point elongated and turned up to form a supporting hook and each curly end exaggerated to form an approximately semicircular hook, all bends occurring in the same plane, and in the relaxed condition, having the long arms of the bracket formed not directly in line with each other, but with an included angle on the side opposite to the centre supporting hook of typically, 150 degrees and with the dimension between the points of the end hooks being typically 84 percent of the brick height, such angle and dimension being configured commensurate with the overall elastic properties of the anchor specifically to enable the end hooks to be stretched apart by hand and located in the upper and lower mortar recesses of a brick without exceeding the elastic limit, thereby providing a prevailing clamp action on the brick.
2. 2. A brick wall clip-on anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is a flat strip.
3. 3. A brick wall clip-on anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the doubling- back of the centre point elongation occurs in a plane at 90 degrees to the plane of the hooks.
4. 4. A brick wall clip-on anchor as claimed in claims 1 and 3 wherein a zig-zag shaped flat spring is formed in the arm between the centre support hook and the lower clamping hook with the plane of the flat spring being at 90 degrees to the plane of the hooks.

   ANTHONY DAVID MOSES 21 JANUARY 2018

   2013101357 10 Oct 2013