AU727461B2

AU727461B2 - Support for upright member

Info

Publication number: AU727461B2
Application number: AU10034/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Matthew Telford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-10
Filing date: 1997-01-03
Publication date: 2000-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-09
Also published as: AU1003497A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT 0

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0* 0

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Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: JAMES MATTHEW TELFORD JAMES MATTHEW CLAPHAM Mr J M Telford Mr Mrs G Brazina 4/15 Earle Lane Toowong, Old. 4000

AUSTRALIA

SUPPORT FOR UPRIGHT MEMBER Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: SlUppoRT_IR_.U.PRIGHTMEJB Elblh OY'__en_ncYv.t_.n The following invention relates to a support for an upright member. More particularly, though not exclusively, the Invention relates to a support adapted to brace a fence post, telegraph pole or the like.

Disclosure of the Invention There is disclosed herein an apparatus for supporting an upright member which extends at least in part from a ground surface or the like, comprising: a first .elongate rigid member having first and second ends, connection means disposed at said first end for attachment to said upright member at a position thereon spaced above said ground surface, a second elongate rigid member having one end hingedly/lockably attached to said second end of said first elongate member, and a distal end adapted for engagement with said ground surface, and a flexible tension member adapted to extend between said distal end of said second elongate member, or a portion of the second elongate member thereby, and said upright member at a position thereon nearby or adjacent to said ground surface.

Preferably, said connection means comprises a U-shaped lug adapted to extend into parallel holes formed in said upright member, said U-shaped lug being adapted to be received within slots formed in said first end of said first elongate rigid member.

Alternativel', said connection means might comprise a plate adapted to be received within a substantially horizontal cut in said upright member, said plate being adapted for attachment to said first end of said first elongate rigid member.

Preferably, at the distal end of said second elongate member there is provided a transverse T section rigidly attached thereto, said T section being adapted for ground engagement.

Preferably, said flexible tension member comprises a chain adapted to extend about the base of said upright member.

Preferably, said second and first elongate members are mutually interconnected by hinge means, said hinge means being adapted to lock the two elongate members such that their respective longitudinal axes are slightly angularly offset from one another.

Preferably, said hinge means further comprises locking means to secure said members in a locked position.

Brief Description of the iDrawing A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a support for an upright member, Fig. 2 Is a schematic perspective view of a T piece, Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of an upright member and Interengagement means, Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are schematic views of alternative engagement means, Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are schematic elevational, end elevational, perspective and detailed views of a hinge assembly, Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view of an upright engagement means interconnecting a fence post and an elongate member, Fig. 13 is a schematic inverted plan view of a region of a lower leg having a chain attachment means therein, Fig. 14 shows an end elevational and plan view of a rubber or plastic plug to be inserted at P in Fig. 3, and Fig. 15 Is a schematic perspective view of an alternative hinge.

20 Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a support 10. Support 10 is located adjacent to an upright post which may be a fence post, telegraph post or any other form of upright member requiring stabilisation.

Support 10 comprises a first elongate member ii hingedly attached at 30 to a second elongate member 12. Members 11 and 12 are typically galvanized steel square section although any form of rigid material may be adopted. At the lower end of second member 12, a T piece 13 is attached by way of welding or otherwise.

30 At the upper end of the first elongate member 11 one of a variety of lugs 16 and 17 may be utilised for attached to post 15. At the lower end of the second elongate member 12, a chain 14 is attached and extends to the base of the post A particular type of T piece 13 is depicted in Fig. 2. The T piece is typically formed of galvanized steel plate and comprises an eye 18 to secure chain 14, and engagement tabs 19 for affixing by bolts or the like to elongate member 12. Elongate member 12 would also extend through aperture 20 formed in the T piece 13.

4- Various forms of upright 15 may be supported by the apparatus herein. For example, a bracket 15 depicted in Fig. 3 may surround a post and is formed from a plurality of co-extensive U channels bolted together. Bracket 15 can be made up in components to serve as a pivot point on a steel pipe post for 1 to 4 stays. The U channels comprise outward flanges 42 having holes therethrough through which a bolt may extend for attachment of alternative lug 21.

The lug 17 depicted in Fig. 4 comprises a flat plate having a pair of upwardly extending flanges 22 having holes 23 formed therein. Flat plate 17 may extend into a horizontal slot which is cut into the side of a wooden upright 15. The holes 23 may receive a bolt which would also extend through holes in the upper end of first elongate member 11.

With fence uprights formed of star section as indicated at 15 in Fig. 7, a variety of alternative lugs may be utilised. The lug depicted in Fig. 5 is of galvanized bent sheet section and comprises a slot 25 to slide over one branch of the star section 15. A bolt or pin or the like may aid in securing lug 24 to the upright 15. A pair of slots 26 may cooperate with rod 27 to attach to the first elongate member 11. An "alternative arrangement is depicted in Fig. 6 wherein rather than the provision of slots, a pair of holes 23 is provided.

S"The hinge arrangement 30 may be any form of hinge arrangement but might typically be that as depicted in Figs. 8 to 11 or 15. The hinge would comprise a pivot axis/hole 31 to receive a rod. Holes 31 would be provided in respective upstanding tabs 43 which would be formed integrally with or attached to hinge 30. Extending downwardly from hinge is a flange 33 having a bolt hole 32 extending therethrough. In order to secure hinge 30 to the intermediate end of either elongate member 11 or 12, tabs 34 are provided. The pin 35 located in holes 31 might be of the type depicted in Fig. 11. That is, a pin 35 may be received within a spacer 36 and held therein by knurl 37.

An alternative engagement lug 16 is depicted in Fig. 12 cooperating with post 15 and upper elongate member 11. As can be seen, a pair of holes 44 are drilled into the side of post 15 and might preferably extend slightly upwardly into the post so as to allow good drainage therefrom.

Lug 16 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending portions 38 which turn upwardly into respective upward sections 39 which are mutually interconnected in a U formation. The interconnecting section is received within slot 41. Lateral transfer of elongate member 11 is prevented by 5 interengagement of abutment 40 with the respective upwardly extending portions 39.

In Fig. 13 there is shown the underside of the lower leg 12. The leg 12 has a stengthening plate welded or otherwise affixed thereto and adjoining a cruciform section pressed out for retention of a chain. Once the chain is located within the cruciform section 45, and typically toward the plate 45, the plug 47 as depicted in Fig. 14 may be inserted in the region indicated by P. Such a form of chain affixing is an alternative to that depicted in Fig. 1.

In use, the first and second elongate members would firstly be unfolded from a folded end to end configuration to an outwardly extended configuration. The appropriate lug would be attached to the upright depending on the type used. The support may then be placed into the position depicted in Fig. 1. The chain 14 would be wrapped about the .15 base of post 15 and bolted. Now that the approximate length of chain is determined, the elongate members may be hinged down at which point one or-two links may be taken up from chain 14 so as to render the distance *between the base of post 15 and T piece 13 marginally smaller than previously. At this point, an upward force may be applied to the region 20 of hinge 30 so as to once again render the two elongate members essentially colinear. As an alternative to the hinge direction depicted, the hinge may be arranged to allow the two elongate members to swing upwardly or to either side. The two elongate members may be over-centred. The over-centre operation takes place because of the relationship of the pivot points and the hinge point. Vis:- the slotted joint to the bracket at the post, the lateral member on the ground plane, and the offset hinge joint between the members. The position of the chain on the lower member not only provides a portion of the chain tensioning mechanism, but also provides a couple that unloads the hinge joint when erected (so both members are coaxial/colinear and the bolt(s) fitted). A bolt may be applied through holes 32 in hinge Accordingly, elongate members 11 and 12 will be under compression whereas chain 14 will be under tension. A downward force is thus applied by T piece 13 to the ground surface. A rock or plate may be placed below T piece 13 to increase stability. Furthermore, the T piece 13 may be pinned or otherwise secured to the ground.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope (30092000)2 of the present invention. For example, any form of hinge arrangement that provides a slight overcentreing effect as described above may be adopted. Similarly, any form of post engagement lug arrangement may be utilised.

Clarification of Operation and Function An initial assessment of the "Quickstay" system would lead to the view that a simple triangulation is in place.

However, this is only part of the equation. On closer examination it will be noted that the chain comprising the lower flexible tension member located about 75mm A.G.L. (above ground level) when installed, induces an "unloading" couple about the compression second elongate member's transverse Section where it engages the ground.

Within the parameters of normal installation, this couple has a beneficial effect in that final force vector system allows the overcentring force to have a low lateral value at the hinge.

Outside normal operational range, at a point about 45o-50° to horizontal (depending on the site), the unloading couple will exceed the overcentring function, at which point maintaining coaxialarity of the first and second elongate members of the compression link will rely on placing the hinge locking fasteners in tension.

Claims

6. o3Qo200oo The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. An apparatus for supporting an upright member which extends at least in part from a ground surface or the like, comprising: a first elongate rigid member having first and second ends, connection means disposed at said first end for attachment to said upright member at a position thereon spaced above said ground surface, a second elongate rigid member having one end hingedlyA1ockably S attached to said second end of said first elongate member, and a distal D V- end adapted for engagement with said ground surface, and a flexible tension member adapted to extend between said distal end of said second elongate member, or a portion of the second elongate member thereby, and said upright member at a position thereon nearby or adjacent to said ground surface. 2. The apparatus of :laim I wherein said connection means comprises a U-shaped lug adapted to extend Into parallel hole formed in said upright member, said U-shaped lug being adapted to be received within slots formed in said first end of said first elongate rigid member. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises a plate adapted to be received within a substantially horizontal cut In said upright member, said plate being adapted for attachment to said first end of said first elongate rigid member. 4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein at the distal end of said second elongate member there is provided a transverse T section rigidly attached thereto, the T section being adapted for ground engagement. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said flexible tension member comprises a chain adapted to extend about the base of said upright member. 6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein said second and first elongate members are mutually interconnected by hinge means, said hinge means being adapted to lock the two elongate members such that their respective longitudinal axes are slightly angularly offset from one another.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said hinge means further comprises locking means to secure said members In a locked position.
8. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ,N o4P_ e- e-r S k e 5-A- C-3oq5,?oo)2 -CO .Skea' I 0 Vo o) 7 DATED this THIRD day of JANUARY 1997 JAMES MATTHEW TELFORD Applicant