AU605173B2

AU605173B2 - Tube holding means

Info

Publication number: AU605173B2
Application number: AU78259/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Laurence Gooden
Original assignee: Playquip Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Playquip Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1986-09-11
Filing date: 1987-09-10
Publication date: 1991-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-10
Also published as: AU7825987A

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALI Patents Act 1952-1969 f) j aM COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number Lodged Complete Application No. Specification Lodged Published Priority: 'Related art: This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing d O 03

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Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT ANDREW LAURENCE GOODEN 65 Deloraine Road, Ascot Park, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia ANDREW LAURENCE GOODEN Care of COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 Qomplete Specification for the invention entitled: "TUBE HOLDING MEANS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 j L

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ICITJi*~-+-rri--- i~iP~io~~u i 2 This invention relates to tube holding means.

The invention has particular application to playgrounds but it is not intended that the invention should be necessarily limited to this application.

In playgrounds it is necessary to provide from time to time attachment for horizontal members relative to vertical supporting posts.

While this can be achieved in many different ways including simply mutually cutting apertures through the respective members and 1u. placing a bolt therethrough, for commercial manufacture and supply of such devices, it has been found important to reduce the time necessary for such erection techniques, but further to provide that some of the equipment from time to time can be easily adjusted and extended and furthermore can be made in such a way that not only can it be economically manufactured and supplied but that it can be safe in use and of elegant appearance.

o Ns an example of such a unit, reference is made to the disclosure in °o000, Australian Patent Application No. 12033/83 in the name of Kilgore 00 Corporation and entitled "Play Structure and Coupling Unit Therefor".

23. The difficulty with such an arrangement is that in using such a device for assembly, there have to be three separate bolts which are accessed and tightened which is both time consuming and contributes to a higher expense as well as providing an appearance which is complicated because of the need for access to each of the three tightening bolts.

In accord with these objects, there is proposed in this invention a holding arrangement including two elements joined together by a pivotal connection, the first of the elements including a socket, and means extending through the socket adapted to effect clamping 3 action between the respective elements while also providing for securing engagement of arl ember _.'a-h-the socket.

It will now be seen that what is being proposed is a single means such as a single bolt which combines the functions of both holding cross members as well at the same time effecting the clamping action.

In preference, the two elements are secured at one end by the mutually engaging pivotal connection and have an internal shape adapted to encompass with clamping effect a post which could be ".oo1. expected to transversely extend past each of the elements in the o°°o direction which is parallel to the pivotal axis joining the two ooo 0 0 elements, and there being means at the other end of each of the 0 o 0 0o o elements providing for the clamping enclosure effect.

0 0 0 0 000 In preference, the socket is of cylindrical shape with an axis that has an orientation transverse to the pivot connection, the socket having 00 outwardly extending open end adapted to receive therein the end of 0 0 00 a pipe.

0 o 0 So 0o0 In preference, the means extending through the socket adapted to 0o o o effect a clamping action; comprises a bolt having at one end a head and at the other end a screw threaded shank, and a nut screwable engaging said screw threaded shank, the bolt engaging through an aperture the second of the elements and having its head adapted to engage any pipe within the socket.

The invention can be better understood when referred to a preferred embodiment which shall now be described with the assistance of drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofl a holding arrangement according to the preferred embodiment showing in dotted outline a vertical post 1~1_ and a horizontally supported tube as might be typically supported in an application for playground equipment; FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the rear side of the device as shown in Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a further perspective view from the opposite side as shown i in Fig. 1; il FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the device as shown in Figs.

:i1, 2 and 3 showing, however, an interconnected tube; and

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i oooo o o 0 0oo oo FIG. 5 is the same view as in Fig. 4 with the interconnected tube 19. removed.

0 00 Referring in detail to the drawings, the holding arrangement 1 includes two elements 2 and 3 which are secured at end 4 by a plurality of fingers interconnecting with pin 5 the respective ends of o0 the elements 2 and 3 providing for pivotal freedom of these.

0'15. The inner sides of the elements 2 and 3 shown at 6 and 7 are each 0O, shaped so as to be of semi-cylindrical shape and thereby together provide a confining shape to act in a clamping manner to engage around and clamp thereby a post of generally cylindrical shape.

0 0 S At the further end of the respective elements 2 and 3 there is provided in respect of element 2 a socket 8 the location and orientation of which is such that it is of generally cylindrical shape with the axis passing somewhat midway through the semi-circular shape of the inner surface 6 of the element 2 and being perpendicular to any axis defined by the circular shape constrained between the elements 2 and 3 and also the pivot axis of pin The generally bulbous shape of the end of element 2 containing the socket shape 8 is such as to provide for both sturdy support for a L pipe 9 and also to provide for rounded edges such as at 10 and also to provide for sufficient thickness as with aperture 11 whereby to have the head 12 of a bolt totally recessed and therefore not available for accidental engagement by children that might play upon the equipment.

To secure the holding arrangement 1 in position, there is provided a bolt 13 which has its head at 12 but which will then engage through an aperture in the tube 9 passing fully through apertures at 14 in the end of element 2 and aperture 15 in the end of element 3 and having 10. a screw threading nut 16 also located within recessed aperture 17 ooao 00 a whereby to provide a clamping effect as well as holding in tight and .oo concealed location the end of tube 9.

o o o o o o o o a 0 0 In use, a holding arrangement as described can be quickly located in position by locating this over an end of a post such as a vertical post o0 located within the ground and it can then be readily positioned wherever is appropriate and provide a support for a transverse pipe 000 or other member which will be fitted within the socket.

ooo 0 000 o o An aperture through the pipe transverse to its elongate direction will ordinarily have to be drilled although there are other alternative 00 26. shapes such as a slot that can be used to provide for interlocking engagement but such that in every case a single tightening of the one 0,o bolt will provide for mutual securement of both the transverse pipe and the clamping engagement on a vertical post.

0*4(c In practice, such an arrangement will be used to connect a plurality of transverse structural members relative to vertical posts, for instance in the construction of playground equipment, and there is accordingly in respect of a vertical post at least one such holding arrangement secured by clamping engagement to the post and holding a transversely orientated pipe which hits an end within the socket of the holding arrangement which has an aperture therethrough Lnd a bolt mutually engaging the pipe while at the 1 same time holding in clamping engagement the elements forming the holding arrangement.

The invention can also therefore reside in a holding arrangement with features described or in the combination of such a holding arrangement where it is supporting horizontal rods or tubes with respect to vertical posts.

4000 C0 00 o o 0 0 o 0 oo o 0 0 04 0 a 0 1 Oc< r I -i -r

Claims

1. A holding arrangement including two elements joined together by a pivotal connection, a first of the elements including a socket, and means extending through the socket adapted to effect a clamping action between the respective elements while also providing for e. o e e I "r ZD securing engagement of anIm mber -p ta E the socket.

2. A holding arrangement as in claim 1 further characterised in that the socket ef is cylindrical shape with an axis that has an orientation transverse to the direction of the axis of the pivot 0 connection of the two elements.

3. A holding arrangement as in either of claims 1 or 2 further 000 characterised in that the socket being of cylindrical shape has an outermost open end adapted to receive a pipe therein, and whereby a bolt can mutually engage through such pipe and engage with screw threaded elements, the second element.

4. A holding arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims S0 further characterised in that the two elements are secured at one end by mutually engaging parts connected to provide the pivotal connection.

5. A holding arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the means extending through the socket adapted to effect a clamping action, comprises a bolt at least one end nf which includes a thread and a nut engaging on the thread.

6. A holding arrangement as in the last preceding claim wherein the said means extending through the socket are further characterised wherein the bolt engages through an aperture in the second of the elements and has a head adapted to engage an3 pipe within the socket. L 8

7. A holding arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims in which there is at least one vertical post, a holding arrangement as characterised in any one of the preceding claims engaging with clamping engagement the vertical post, and a horizontal pipe supported by engagement within the socket.

8. A holding arrangement substantially described in the specification with Soo reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. DATED this 26th day of September 1990. o ANDREW LAURENCE GOODEN By his Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO 0 0 c o I c L-_e r