AU705040B2

AU705040B2 - Wedging trifacial sleeve for attaching various appliances to stellate pickets.

Info

Publication number: AU705040B2
Application number: AU11413/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Fowler Hart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-25
Filing date: 1995-01-24
Publication date: 1999-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-24
Also published as: AU1141395A

Description

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s I; WEDGING TRIFACIAL SLEEVE FOR ATTACHING VARIOUS APPLIANCES TO STAR PICKETS i SThis invention relates to improvements in devices which attach to, or are attached to "star pickets".

(For clarification: Pickets commonly known as "star pickets" may be described as trihedron, Y section, stakes with radially projecting fins, u-ually stel, generally used as pales or stakes as in fencing supports or sign standards) This invention is substantially a sleeve incorporating a combination of particular iI shapes, designed to fit over the upper end of a star picket and by design allows J clearances for tolerating mushroom burrs or similar distortions at the upper edge of the picket while maintaining the ability to wedge lock onto the picket.

S10 This device with its combination of particular shapes which allow it to be firmly G attached to the upper portion of a star picket, is used as a fastener segment or attachment devise when its particular shapes are used in combination with other :K .and additional useful shapes which together form a useful appliance which may be •B attached to a star picket. This invention is a common method of attaching a variety of appliances to star pickets when its principles and features are embodied in or combined with the design of the appliance.

In prior art, attachments to star pickets have been undertaken with nuts and bolts, t screws, twisted wire, and the like. As opposed to a flat bar or rectangular sectional pale or picket, the Y section shape of star picket, with its lack of an exposed flat side, tends to be a'difficult object on which to comfortably mount many accessories. The use of a snug fitting sleeve, whether round, square, or other common sectional Sshapes, as an aid in mounting appliances such as signs, flags or delineative reflectors is hampered by the mushroom burrs generally found on top edges of star pickets which are formed as are result of the hammering on the top of the picket 4 25 \during implantation. An oversized sleeve which could be slipped over the burrs L S ould remain too loose on the picket to be practical without the added assistance of ungainly bolts, clamps, screws, etc. A

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S. B -2- WEDGING SLEEVE FOR ATTACHING VARIOUS APPLIANCES TO PICKETS This invention relates to improvements in devices attachable to a picket, post or the like of the type which, in cross-section, is of Y-shape or three-armed stellate form and which, for brevity, is referred to herein as a "stellate picket".

Stellate pickets have a Y-shape or three-armed stellate cross-section as a result of having three longitudinal fins which, edge-wise, extend radially from a common centre region. The fins usually are substantially uniformly disposed with respect to each other, giving rise to a symmetrical stellate form.

Known attachments to stellate pickets have been undertaken with nuts and bolts, screws, twisted wire, and the like. As opposed to a flat bar or rectangular sectional pale or picket, the Y-section shape of a stellate picket, with its lack of an exposed flat side of sufficient width, tends to be a difficult object on which to comfortably mount many accessories. The use of a snug fitting sleeve, whether 15 round, square, or other common sectional shapes, as an aid in mounting appliances such as signs, flags or delineative reflectors is found effectively to be hampered by mushroom burrs generally found on top edges of stellate pickets which are formed as a result of the hammering on the top of the picket during implantation. An oversized sleeve which could be slipped over the burrs would remain too loose on the picket to be practical without the added assistance of ungainly bolts, clamps, screws and the like.

A study of the typical burrs on the top edges of stellate pickets which have been distorted by being hammered during installation shows that most of the mushrooming or top flaring takes place near the outer edge of the fins of the picket. That is, the outer top points of the radially projecting fins of the stellate picket suffer more punishment and flaring than does the centre region. This finding has been a major consideration in the development of the present invention.

"T~e invention provides a device, attachable to a suitably dimensioned elongate picket, post orthe like of the type which, in transverse cross-section, is ,of Y-shaped, three-arm ste!latefrm nd which is defined by three longitudinal fins extending edge'se from a common longitudinal centre-region (herein 1K61"

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a; *i a -3referred to as a "stellate picket"), wherein the device includes or comprises a sleeve which defines a longitudinal passage opening at one or each of longitudinally opposite ends of the sleeve; the sleeve has a peripheral wall which is tri-lobular in transverse cross-section and which defines three longitudinal side walls and a respective longitudinal bead between successive side walls; each side wall in tranpverse cross-section has a concave external face and a convex internal face and each bead in transverse cross-section is rounded so as to be externally convex and internally concave whereby said passage has a general transverse cross-sectional form which approximates to that of a stellate picket; and wherein the sleeve has a plurality of formations consisting of protuberances or mounds each on an internal face of at least one wall section; whereby the sleeve is able to be releasably attached to a suitably dimensioned stellate picket by an end of the stellate picket being received into the passage via the one end of the sleeve, with clearance in said passage accommodating burrs caused by hammering said end of the picket, and by at least one fin of the stellate picket tnen being frictionally engaged by said formations.

The tri-lobular sectional shape of the sleeve in this invention is some-what triangular, but with concave faces and rounded beads. In use, each of the three side walls extends across respective faces of two successive fins of the star picket, while the rounded beads provide adequate roominess for the typically anticipated burrs.

Additionally, in the design of the sleeve there most preferably are two formations, as protuberances or mounds jutting inward from the inside faces, in positions opposing one another, so as to frictionally engage opposite faces of at least one fin of the stellate picket. The opposing formations serve as restrictions between which a fin of a stellate picket must pass as the sleeve is being forced down over the picket. The wedging between these restricting formations locks the device to the picket with a pinch grip. The grip is in a relatively central area of the picket where the wedging formations are least likely to be in conflict with the mushroom burrs during assembly or disassembly.

Theformations as described are herein illustrated are typical in size, shape and location but in some instances, thse formations may be laterally widened or j

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-m -4longitudinally elongated to cause more or less friction in the grip and to generate more or less pressure in the grip. This invention in some versions may use only one wedge formation on one inside face for engaging one face of a fin or may in another instance utilise opposing formations on respective inside faces for one, two or all three fins. Varied design configurations such as these, let it be known, remain the same invention with the same fundamental principles, substance and essence.

Removal of the sleeve, although difficult enough to deter vandals, can be accomplished by pounding upward on the one end of the sleeve of the device.

With this invention, appliance of many shapes and purposes can be quickly and easily attached to stellate pickets without the use of nuts and bolts, screws, or wire or the like. Thus, while the device may comprise a sleeve, it also may for example include a sleeve which is attached to another component. Examples of other components are shown in the drawings.

To describe this invention in greater detail, and to assist in better S" understanding, reference will now be made to the accompanying illustrations.

S" In the drawings: *I Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of an undistorted metal stake 1, commonly know as a star picket, but referred to herein as a stellate picket.

S "20 Figure 2 illustrates typical burrs 2 which have developed on two of the projecting fins 3 of the picket.

Figure 3 illustrates typical burrs 2 accumulated on the outer tips of all three of this picket's fins.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, in cross section view, how a sleeve 4 according I 25 t t the invention easily fits over the stellate picket 1 with our without mushroom burrs 2. As seen in these figures, the sleeve 4 has a some-what triangular, trilobular cross-sectioral form, to dfin a passage which approximates to the 0 cross-sectional shape of picket 1. Thus, sleeve 4 has three side-walls each of which has a concave extemal face and a convex internal face; with successive side walls joined at adjacent edges thereof by a respective rounded bead c apex Swhich is convex externally anr concave intemally. Asa consequence, burrs 2 are able to be accommodated within the passage defined y sleeve 4.

Jr Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sleeve 4 according to the invention fitted over a section of stellate picket 1 to illustrate the general configuration of the I semi-matching shapes.

Figure 7 is a side view of the sleeve 4 of Figure 6, showing a formation or sleeve 4 and are juxtapositioned with Figure 7 to help the understanding of the differing cross-sectional shapes of sleeve 4 above, through and below the wedge mound.

Figure 11 is an end view of the sleeve 4 of Figure 6 with the sleeve 4 attached to the stellate picket 1 and illustrating how the wedge mounds 6 press inward on either side of a fin 3 of picket 1, causing a wedge effect which locks the sleeve 4 on the picket 1.

Figure 12 is a frontal, part sectional, view of the sleeve 4 of Figure 6 surrounding a section of stellate picket 1, the front rounded cusp has been cut away to better illustrate the wedging or pinching effect of the formation of the wedge mound 6 on the fin 3 of picket 1.

Figure 13 depicts a variety of appliances utilising this invention wherein the invention and it's particular shapes are incorporated along with the other useful shapes to form each appliance. A sign holder, reflective delineators, a plaque S 20 holder and a pennant holder are typical examples of appliances which may utilise this invention by combining it into their over all shapes and designs.

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Claims

6- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A device, attachable to a suitably dimensioned elongate picket, post or the like of the type whici, in transverse cross-section, is of Y-shaped, three-arm stellate form and which is defined by three longitudinal fins extending ed 6 wise from a common longitudinal centre-region (herein referred to as a "stellate picket"), wherein the device includes or comprises a sleeve which defines a longitudinal passage opening at one or each of longitudinally opposite ends of the sleeve; the sleeve has a peripheral wall which is tri-lobular in transverse cross- section and which defines three longitudinal side walls and a respective longitudinal bead between successive side walls; each side wall in transverse cross-section has a concave external face and a convex internal face and each bead in transverse cross-section is rounded so as to be externally convex and internally concave whereby said passage has a general transverse cross- sectional form which approximates to that of a stellate picket; and wherein the o. sleeve has a plurality of formations consisting of protuberances or mounds each on an internal face of at least one wall section; whereby the sleeve is able to be releasably attached to a suitably dimensioned stellate picket by an end of the stellate picket being received into the passage via the one end of the sleeve, with 20 clearance in said passage accommodating burrs caused by hammering said end of the picket, and by at least one fin of the stellate picket then being frictionally engaged by said formations. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the s!eeve is an attaching and i q supporting portion which is surmounted by, and made integral with, another S 25 portion which is a broad blade or paddle-line shape onto which may be fixed a S" sign, a displayed notice, a reflector or reflective material, or an emblem. 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is an attaching and supporting portion which is surmounted by, and made integral with, another £portion which is as a mast which extends longitudinally from the other end of the sleeve to provide means ontowhich a sign panel may be attached and/or which extends the heightof the picket 3 4 p ^aM<S En3A (i" 13 Wll'& O .b 3' :i Tr I-: I I; d o: I i i r I~ i j..l o 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is an attaching and supporting portion which is surmounted by a closed upper end, whereby the sleeve is able to function as a cap which may be used as a guard or protective device covering sharp top edges of the stellate picket. 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is the attaching and supporting portion which is surmounted by, and made integral with another portion which is a cylindrical or box section cup able to be used as a socket for supporting additional accessories. 6. A device according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED: 16 March, 1999 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: JAMES FOWLER HART *9 *0 a $*e a a a a I A I~ ir, :a 7~_k -I i~ a-;1 ;QI ii iilli.i I I "li~ i i ''li a c a $E 'a a O:i4"