AU2020101463A4

AU2020101463A4 - Road Anchor

Info

Publication number: AU2020101463A4
Application number: AU2020101463A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Vincent Michael Ruffino
Original assignee: Diablo Asset Holding Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Diablo Asset Holding Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-23
Filing date: 2020-07-23
Publication date: 2020-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-23

Abstract

A road anchor (10) comprising a shaft (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (15) such that the first end (14) is to be inserted into a hole drilled into a 5 road surface. A first thread (16) is provided extending from the first end (14) to a location between the first end (14) and the second end (15) and a second thread for receiving a nut extends from the second end (15) to a location between the second end (15) of the shaft (12) and the first thread (16). The first thread (16) extends around the shaft (12) in a first rotational direction and the 10 second thread (18) extends around the shaft (12) in a second rotational direction, opposite to the that of the first thread (18). The crest of the second thread (18) is rounded to aid in removing the road anchor (10) from resin within the drilled hole. 15 1/2 0)0 Ir-U LO4 IrU-

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION For an Innovation Patent

Invention title:

"Road Anchor"

Applicant:

Diablo Asset Holdings Pty Ltd

Associated provisional applications:

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

"Road Anchor"

Field of the Invention

[001] The present invention relates to an anchor for securing items to road pavement and other ground foundations.

Background to the Invention

[002] A range of objects such as posts, barriers and signs are commonly secured to road surfaces. Many of these objects are only required for a limited time period, such as during a construction project, after which they need to be removed. A common method of temporarily securing objects to the road surface is by an anchor inserted into a hole drilled into the road which is filled with resin. While such anchors hold the object down effectively, they are generally difficult to remove. It is common to simply cut off the top of the anchor and leave the remainder in the road when the object is no longer required. This can result in a relatively time-consuming process for removing objects bolted to the road.

[003] The present invention relates to a road anchor having features aimed at allowing easier removal from the road when the road anchor is no longer required.

Summary of the Invention

[004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a road anchor comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end such that the first end is to be inserted into a hole drilled into a road surface; a first thread provided extending from the first end to a location between the first end and the second end, the first thread extending around the shaft in a first rotational direction; and a second thread for receiving a nut extending from the second end to a location between the second end of the shaft and the first thread, the second thread extending around the shaft in a second rotational direction, opposite to the that of the first thread and a crest of the second thread being rounded.

[005] Preferably the first thread comprises a left hand thread and the second thread comprises a right hand thread.

[006] Preferably the first thread has a pitch greater than the first thread.

[007] Preferably the shaft includes a central portion having no thread defined between the inner ends of the first and second threads.

[008] Preferably the shaft is provided with a flange located at the inner end of the second thread such that a nut may be rotated onto the second thread until the nut engages against an end surface of the flange.

[009] Preferably the length of the second thread is greater than the height of the nut such that the second thread may receive two nuts.

[010] Preferably the length of the second thread is less than the height of two nuts such that a second nut sits proud of the second thread.

[011] In a preferred embodiment, the first thread has a thread count of 3 to 5 TPI.

[012] In one embodiment, the first thread has a thread count of 4 TPI.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[013] The invention will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the following drawings:

[014] Figure 1a is a side view of a road anchor in accordance with the present invention;

[015] Figure 1b is an end view of the road anchor of Figure 1a;

[016] Figure 1c is a perspective view of a nut for use with the road anchor of Figure 1a;

[017] Figure 2a is a side view of the road anchor of Figure 1a with the nut attached; and

[018] Figure 2b is an end view of the road anchor of Figure 1a with the nut attached.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[019] Referring to Figures, there is shown a road anchor 10 comprising generally a shaft 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 15. The shaft 12 comprises generally an elongate cylindrical member formed from a suitable material, such as a metallic material. The shaft 12 is provided to be received within a drilled hole within a road surface such that the first end 14 is received into the hole and the second end 15 protrudes above the road surface such that the second end 15 is connectable to an object to be secured to the road surface.

[020] The shaft 12 includes a first thread 16 and a second thread 18. The first thread 16 extends from the first end 14 to a location between the first and second ends 14 and 15. The second thread 18 extends from the second end of the shaft 12 to a location located between the second end 15 of the shaft 12 and the inner end of the first thread 16. A central portion 22 having no thread is thereby defined between the inner ends of the first and second threads 16 and 18.

[021] The second end 15 of the shaft 12 is to be received through an aperture in an object to be secured to the road surface. A nut 20 is provided to be engaged onto the second thread 18. The nut 20 includes an internal thread to engaged with the second thread 18 of the shaft 12. The nut 20 may comprise a standard type nut, such as a metric or imperial nut of nominal size. In one embodiment, the nut 20 may comprise an M20 or M24 nut.

[022] The first thread 16 is provided extending around the shaft 12 in a first rotational direction. The second thread 18 extends around the shaft 12 in a second rotational direction, being opposite to the first rotational direction. The first thread 16 in the embodiment shown is a left-handed thread and the second thread 18 is a right-handed thread.

[023] The first thread 16 has a pitch greater than the second thread 18. The first thread 16 comprises a left-hand thread and may have a thread count of 3 to 5 TPI. In one preferred embodiment, the first thread 16 has a thread count of 4 TPI. Further, the crest of the first thread 16 is rounded.

[024] The shaft 24 is provided with a flange 24 located at the inner end of the second thread 18. The flange 24 is provided such that the nut 20 may be rotated onto the second thread 18 until the nut 20 engages against an end surface of the flange 24.

[025] The length of the second thread 18 is greater than the height of the nut such that the second thread 18 may receive two nuts 20. The length is less than the height of two nuts 20 such that second nut 20 sits proud of the second thread 18. The second thread 18 may have a length of twice the height of the nut minus around 5-10% of the nut height.

[026] In use, the first end 14 of the shaft 12 is inserted into a hole drilled into a surface of the road. A suitable resin is injected into the aperture and the road anchor 10 inserted and left in place until the resin has cured. The resin thereby sets around the first thread 16 and engages with the shaft 12 to secure the shaft 12 to the road surface. The second end 15 of the shaft 12 protrudes above the road surface and can engage through an aperture in an object to be secured to the road surface. The object may be secured to the road anchor 10 by securing one or more nuts 20 onto the second thread 18.

[027] When the object is no longer required on the road surface, it may be disconnected from the road anchor 10. Due to the use of the wider first thread 16 having rounded crests, application of sufficient torque to the shaft 12 will break the bond between the shaft 12 and the thread 16 and the resin, allowing the road anchor 10 to be removed.

[028] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A road anchor comprising: a shaft having a first end and a second end such that the first end is to be inserted into a hole drilled into a road surface; a first thread provided extending from the first end to a location between the first end and the second end, the first thread extending around the shaft in a first rotational direction; and a second thread for receiving a nut extending from the second end to a location between the second end of the shaft and the first thread, the second thread extending around the shaft in a second rotational direction, opposite to the that of the first thread and a crest of the second thread being rounded.

2. A road anchor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first thread comprises a left hand thread and the second thread comprises a right hand thread.

3. A road anchor in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the first thread has a pitch greater than the first thread.

4. A road anchor in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft includes a central portion having no thread defined between the inner ends of the first and second threads.

5. A road anchor in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft is provided with a flange located at the inner end of the second thread such that a nut may be rotated onto the second thread until the nut engages against an end surface of the flange.

6. A road anchor in accordance with claim 5, wherein the length of the second thread is greater than the height of the nut such that the second thread may receive two nuts.

7. A road anchor in accordance with claim 6, wherein the length of the second thread is less than the height of two nuts such that a second nut sits proud ofthe second thread.

8. A road anchor in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first thread has a thread count of 3 to 5 TPI.

9. A road anchor in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first thread has a thread count of 4 TPI.

Diablo Asset Holdings Pty Ltd by its Patent Attorneys Armour IP