AU2017100567A4 - A Connecting Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting assembly includes an elongate connector body that defines a slotted toggle passage extending transversely through the connector body, and two opposed, slotted carrier openings opening into the toggle passage. A toggle plate is positioned in the toggle passage, the toggle plate having two opposed coaxial protrusions received in respective carrier openings, the toggle passage being configured to accommodate the toggle plate substantially within the connector body in an inoperative position and the carrier openings being configured to accommodate movement of the protrusions as the toggle plate is displaced between an operative position in which at least one portion of the toggle plate extends from the connector body and the inoperative position.

Description

1 2017100567 18 May 2017

A CONNECTING ASSEMBLY

Field of the Invention

This specification relates to a connecting assembly for connecting articles to various substrates and to a method of connecting articles to various substrates.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, there is provided a connecting assembly that includes: an elongate connector body that defines a slotted toggle passage extending transversely through the connector body, and two opposed, slotted carrier openings opening into the toggle passage; and a toggle plate positioned in the toggle passage, the toggle plate having two opposed coaxial protrusions received in respective carrier openings, the toggle passage being configured to accommodate the toggle plate substantially within the connector body in an inoperative position and the carrier openings being configured to accommodate movement of the protrusions as the toggle plate is displaced between an operative position in which at least one portion of the toggle plate extends from the connector body and the inoperative position.

The connector body may be generally cylindrical and may define an axial passageway that opens at a proximal end of the connector body.

The toggle plate may have major flat sides and may be arranged in the toggle passage to be displaced between the operative and inoperative positions in a plane that is generally parallel with the major flat sides.

The connecting assembly may include a fixing member that is detachably connected to the connector body for fixing articles to the connector body in a releasable manner.

According to one aspect, there is provided a rail assembly that includes: an elongate rail; two connector assemblies that are mountable on respective ends of the rail, each connector assembly including: an elongate connector body that defines a slotted toggle passage extending transversely through the connector body, and two opposed, slotted carrier openings opening into the toggle passage; and a toggle plate positioned in the toggle passage, the toggle plate having two opposed coaxial protrusions received in respective carrier openings, the toggle passage being configured to accommodate the toggle plate substantially within the 2 2017100567 18 May 2017 connector body in an inoperative position and the carrier openings being configured to accommodate movement of the protrusions as the toggle plate is displaced between an operative position in which at least one portion of the toggle plate extends from the connector body and the inoperative position.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a steel rope with connecting assemblies on respective ends of the rope.

Figure 2 shows the metallic rope of figure 1 extending between and attached to a substrate of, for example, a wall or a post.

Figure 3a shows a plan view of a connecting assembly. Figure 3b shows a terminal face of the connecting assembly. Figure 3c shows a side view of the connecting assembly. Figure 3d shows a three-dimensional view from a proximal end of the connecting assembly. Figure 3e shows a three-dimensional view from a distal end of the connecting assembly.

Figures 4a to 4e show the views of the connecting assembly of figure 3 with a toggle plate in an inoperative configuration.

Figure 5a shows a three-dimensional view of the connecting assembly with the toggle plate in an inoperative position being introduced through an aperture in a wall that defines a substrate. Figure 5b shows a plan view. Figure 5c shows a side view.

Figures 6a to 6c show the views of the connecting assembly of figure 5 with the toggle plate in an operative configuration fixing the assembly to a substrate.

Figure 7 shows the connecting assembly with an example of a fixing member prior to being attached to the connecting assembly.

Figure 8 shows the connecting assembly of figure 7 with the fixing member attached to the connecting assembly.

Description of embodiments

In figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a railing assembly. The railing assembly 10 includes two connecting assemblies 100 engaged with, or fastened to respective fixing members 17. The fixing members 17 are fixed to respective ends of a steel or wire rope 11. Each connecting assembly 100 has a connector body 102 attached to a threaded fixing member 17 of a wire rope 11. The connector bodies 102 are fixed to respective fixing members 17. The fixing members 17 each have a ferrule 19 that is swaged or otherwise fixed to an associated end of the wire rope 11. A shank 21 extends from the 3 2017100567 18 May 2017 ferrule 19. The shank 21 has a threaded portion 8 so that it can be threaded into one of the respective connector bodies 102. Instead of using the fixing member 17, the wire rope 11 can be swaged to the connector body 102. In that case, the wire rope 11 could include a turnbuckle, or the like, to tighten the wire rope 11.

The connector body 102 has a distal end portion 110 that is inserted through a hole in an article, such as a wall of a railing post 6. A proximal end portion 112 is detachably fixed to the fixing member 17. To that end, the proximal end portion 112 is internally threaded so that the threaded portion 8 of the shank 21 can be screwed into the proximal end portion 112. Thus, the wire rope 10 for a balustrade or any other suitable connecting member can interconnect the posts 6 as shown in figure 2.

The connecting assembly is shown in more detail in figures 3 and 4.

The connector body 102 is generally elongate and cylindrical, with the end portion 110 closed to define a stop for a toggle plate 104. The connector body 102 defines an internally threaded cylindrical passage 108 that opens at the proximal end portion 112 and terminates at the distal end portion 110. Detail of this can be seen in figures 3d and 4d. A slotted passageway 105 extends transversely through the body 102. The slotted passageway 105 has a transverse profile that is elongate along a longitudinal axis of the body 102. A distal end of the transverse profile is generally aligned with a proximal end of the portion 110.

The connecting assembly 100 includes a toggle plate 104. The passageway 105 is configured so that the toggle plate 104 can be fully received within the passageway 105, as shown in figure 4. The toggle plate 104 can be manoeuvred within the passageway 105 to move into an operative positon, as shown in figure 3. Thus, the passageway 105 is dimensioned according to a length of the toggle plate 104 in an inoperative position, as shown in figure 4. The body 102 defines two opposed, slotted carrier openings 107 in a plane generally perpendicular to the passageway 105. The carrier openings 107 also have a transverse profile that is elongate along the longitudinal axis of the body 102.

The toggle plate 104 has a pair of opposed, major flat sides 103. As can be seen in the drawings, the passageway 105 and the carrier openings 107 are configured so that the toggle plate 104 can be displaced in a plane that is generally parallel to the flat sides 103.

As can be seen in the drawings, the toggle plate 104 is elongate so that, when it is manoeuvred or manipulated into the operative position, portions of the toggle plate 104 extend from the body 102.

Two opposed, coaxial, cylindrical protrusions or projections 106 of the toggle plate 104 are positioned in respective openings 107. The openings 107 are dimensioned so that, when the 4 2017100567 18 May 2017 toggle plate 104 is manoeuvred into the operative position, the toggle plate 104 can slide to bear against an internal surface of the distal end portion 110, that serves to stop the toggle plate 104.

The toggle plate 104 is generally flat and has a trapezoidal shape with a proximal major side being longer than a distal major side. One minor side is generally flat while an opposite minor side is generally arcuate. When the plate 104 is rotated into the inoperative position, the arcuate minor side can slide against the distal end portion 110, resulting in the displacement of the plate 104 into the passageway 105. This facilitates manipulation of the plate 104 into the inoperative position prior to inserting the body 102 into a hole.

The coaxial protrusions 106 on both sides of the toggle plate 104 constrain the toggle plate to linear displacement in line with the openings 107 towards and away from the distal end portion 110. Thus, a combination of the protrusions 106 and the openings 107 allow rotation and limited linear movement of the toggle plate 104. When the toggle plate 104 moves from the inoperative position as shown in figure 4 to the operative position as shown in figure 3, the cylindrical coaxial protrusions 106 slide and rotate within the openings 107 and vice versa.

In the inoperative position of the toggle plate 104, the toggle plate 104 is substantially received within the passageway 105 and the protrusions 106 are positioned at or near distal ends of the openings 107. In this inoperative position, the connecting member 100 can be introduced into the hole 4 of a corresponding size, as shown in figure 5. When the body 102 is introduced into the hole 4 along a full axial length of the passageway 105, then the toggle plate can move from an inoperative position as shown in figure 5 to an operative position as shown in figure 6. This can be done by an installer jiggling the body 102. As soon as a portion of the toggle plate 104 extends from the body 102, the body 102 can be pulled back, causing the toggle plate 104 to move into the position shown in Figure 6. As the fixing member 107 is threaded further into the body 102, the tension in the wire rope 11 causes the toggle plate 104 to bear against an inner surface of the wall 6 to retain the toggle plate 104 in its operative position, inhibiting withdrawal of the connecting assembly. In this condition, an internal surface of the distal end portion 110 bears against the toggle plate 104. As a result, a shearing force is set up in the toggle plate 104 and not in the protrusions 106. It will readily be appreciated that the toggle plate 104 can withstand significantly greater shearing force than the protrusions 106, or a pivot pin if the toggle plate 104 were pivoted to the body 102. The reason for this is that the shearing force can be borne by an entire width of the toggle plate 104. As can be seen in figure 3, the toggle plate 104, in its operative position, is optimally oriented to bear such shearing forces. 5 2017100567 18 May 2017

The toggle plate 104 can be shaped, and the protrusions 106 positioned, so that the toggle plate 104 is encouraged to move into the operative position under gravity due to an offset position of a centre of gravity of the toggle plate 104.

In various embodiments, the movement of the toggle plate 104 from the inoperative to the operative positions can be actuated by the fixing member 17 or 27 (Figure 2), having the threaded portion 8, when screwed into the internally threaded passageway 108 of the body 102.

An alternative fixing member 27 is shown in figures 7 and 8. The fixing member 27 includes a circular ring 29 to which a wire rope or some other component can be attached by a knot or any other suitable attachment method. Alternatively, a hook can be attached to the circular ring 29.

In this case, the fixing member 27 includes a shank 31 that extends from the ring 29. The shank 31 defines the threaded portion 8 that can be threaded into the passageway 108. A particular advantage of the connecting assembly 100 can be illustrated by reference to Australian patent number 2004222810 granted to Combined Metal Fabrication Pty Ltd (“Patent’ 810”). In that patent, there is described a toggle pin having an elongate main body portion with two ends. One end is provided with a passageway that extends at least partially through the main body portion and which is open at the one end such that a line member can pass into the passageway and be connected to the toggle pin. The other end is provided with a toggle plate, the toggle plate being pivoted to the main body portion in such a manner that the toggle plate can move between an unlocking position where the toggle plate is substantially in line with the main body portion and a locking position where the toggle plate substantially at right angles to the main body portion.

In Patent ‘810, the toggle plate is pivoted to the main body portion. Thus, any force applied to the toggle plate because of a tightening of a wire rope, for example, is, of necessity, translated into a shearing force exerted on the “pivot pin 15” described in Patent ‘810. This is illustrated in figure 2 of Patent ‘810.

The connecting assembly, on the other hand, as described above, is configured so that, when the toggle plate 104 is in the operative position, the force applied to the toggle plate 104 because of a tightening of a wire rope, for example, is translated into a shearing force exerted on the toggle plate 104 by the distal end portion 110 and not on a pivot pin. As a result, the connecting assembly 100 can withstand significantly greater force than would be the case in which the toggle plate 104 was pivoted to the body 102 with a pivot pin and without the benefit of the distal end portion 110 taking a load. 2017100567 18 May 2017 6

The connecting assemblies 100 can be used for tensioning the wire rope 11 or some other tie member connected between two of the connecting assemblies 100 or between one of the connecting assemblies 100 and some other component. It will be appreciated that relative rotation of the connector body 102 and the fixing members 17 can result in the tensioning of the tie member. In the case where two connecting assemblies are used, the threads on one fixing member 17 and its corresponding connector body 102 can be opposite to those on the other fixing member and its corresponding connector body 102. As a result, the tie member can be tensioned without having to twist the tie member. This ability to tension the tie member is not ca

In use, the fixing member is attached to the connector body 102. Then, the toggle plate 104 is manoeuvred into its inoperative position. The connector body 102 is inserted into a hole defined in the component or article to which the connecting assembly 100 is to be connected. The connector body 102 can then be jiggled so that the toggle plate 104 is displaced into its operative position. In the embodiments described above, the shank 21 can be threaded into the connector body 102 to set up a tension in the wire rope 11, for example. This causes the distal end portion 110 to urge the toggle plate 104 against a distal or internal surface of the component or article, such as a railing post.

In the specification, the word “distal” refers to a position that would be further from an installer than a position referred to as “proximal”. For example, in use, the distal end portion 110, when manipulated into position, is further from the installer than the proximal end portion 112.

It will readily be appreciated that the connecting assembly 100 can be used in a wide variety of applications not limited to those shown in the accompanying drawings. The connecting assembly 100 is particularly useful for connecting articles or components to an object in which it would not be easy to obtain access to a distal side of the object. The fact that the toggle plate 104 is effectively retained in position by a body of material defining the distal end portion 110 can result in a connecting arrangement that has a structural integrity exceeding that of a nut and bolt arrangement. Thus, for example, with the railing assembly 10, it is possible for an installer to set up a tension in the wire rope 11 that may be limited only by a structural integrity of the railing posts spanned by the wire rope 11.

Throughout the specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the term “comprising” and variants thereof such as “comprise” or “comprises” are to be interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers. 2017100567 18 May 2017 7

It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for description and should not be regarded as limiting. The described embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims (5)

1. Claims

   1. A connecting assembly that includes: an elongate connector body that defines a slotted toggle passage extending transversely through the connector body, and two opposed, slotted carrier openings opening into the toggle passage; and a toggle plate positioned in the toggle passage, the toggle plate having two opposed coaxial protrusions received in respective carrier openings, the toggle passage being configured to accommodate the toggle plate substantially within the connector body in an inoperative position and the carrier openings being configured to accommodate movement of the protrusions as the toggle plate is displaced between an operative position in which at least one portion of the toggle plate extends from the connector body and the inoperative position.
2. 2. The connecting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector body is generally cylindrical and defines an axial passageway that opens at a proximal end of the connector body.
3. 3. The connecting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toggle plate has major flat sides and is arranged in the toggle passage to be displaced between the operative and inoperative positions in a plane that is generally parallel with the major flat sides.
4. 4. The connecting assembly as claimed in claim 1, which includes a fixing member that is detachably connected to the connector body for fixing articles to the connector body in a releasable manner.
5. 5. A rail assembly that includes: an elongate rail; two connector assemblies that are mountable on respective ends of the rail, each connector assembly including: an elongate connector body that defines a slotted toggle passage extending transversely through the connector body, and two opposed, slotted carrier openings opening into the toggle passage; and a toggle plate positioned in the toggle passage, the toggle plate having two opposed coaxial protrusions received in respective carrier openings, the toggle passage being configured to accommodate the toggle plate substantially within the connector body in an inoperative position and the carrier openings being configured to accommodate movement of the protrusions as the toggle plate is displaced between an operative position in which at least one portion of the toggle plate extends from the connector body and the inoperative position.