AU9705701A - Improvements in anchor fittings - Google Patents

Description

Y A J AUSTRALIAL PATENTS ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED) COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: PR1881 Dated 5 December, 2000 Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT V.I.P. Fastening Systems Pty. Ltd.

7/80-84 Milperra Road Revesby NSW 2212 Stephen Mark Jooste ANDERSON-TAYLOR ASSOCIATES, Registered Patent Attorneys of 10 Harrison Avenue BONNET BAY N.S.W. 2226 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS IN ANCHOR FITTINGS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: This invention relates to fasteners. More particularly although not exclusively it discloses improvements in anchors for use in masonry or concrete construction.

Such anchors are used in a wide variety of building applications including for example the installation of suspended ceilings. Existing devices typically comprise a pin with an enlarged or diverging end portion which increases in diameter towards the tip. An expandable sleeve is fitted over the pin so that once inserted into a close fitting hole longitudinal outward displacement of the pin causes the i sleeve to expand as it is engaged by the end. The sleeve thereby wedges against the inside of the hole and wedges the pin in place. Mechanisms for exerting the necessary outward pull on the pin to spread the sleeve include a nut threaded onto the outer end or an enlarged head portion capable of being grabbed by a claw hammer or the like. The load carrying abilities of such anchors however are extremely variable and depend upon the position in the hole at which the sleeve wedges in place. Sometimes the sleeve may be drawn almost out of the hole before it grabs and in such cases the anchor can fail under even light loads. While it is also known to instal anchors using explosive powered guns the degree of penetration still varies and the material in the vicinity of the hole is often cracked or otherwise weakened. Such devices are also dangerous to use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly an anchor is disclosed for placement into a structure of concrete, masonry or the like, said anchor including a wedge member and pin means which are adapted to push fit into a close fitting hole in said structure so that one end of said pin means remains outside said structure and leverage means at or adjacent said one end which is operable against said wedge member whereby after fitting of said anchor into said hole movement of said leverage means from a disengaged position to a locking position displaces said pin means relative to said wedge oooe member to cause transverse expansion of said anchor against **the inside of the hole.

Preferably said wedge member includes a flange which in use of the anchor abuts against the surface of the structure adjacent the hole.

Currently preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which.

Figures i. 1A, 2 and 2A show side elevations of a first embodiment of the anchor where the wedge member is a tapered lug, Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the anchor where both the lever arm and pin are adapted to carry a load, Figures 5, 5A, 6 and 6A show a third embodiment of the anchor where the wedge member is an expandable sleeve Referring first to figures i. 1A, 2 and 2A the anchor is depicted here from two sides in the locked and disengaged positions. The wedge member may be a tapered lug 1 which is formed with a flange 2 at its upper end. A pin 3 having a reverse taper to the lug 1 is positioned longitudinally adjacent said lug and extends up through the flange to a pivot 4. A lever arm 5 is mounted on this pivot 4 which with this embodiment is a hardened steel rivet or the like. The degree of taper for the pin and lug are preferably similar so that the diameter of the shank extending into the hole 5A is substantially constant. The lever arm 5 is arranged so that when in the vertical or disengaged position shown in figures 1 and 2 it is clear of the flange 2. The anchor can then be pushed into the close fitting hole 5A in a masonry or concrete structure up to the flange 2. Once in place the lever is turned to the horizontal locking position indicated by figures 1A and 2A. During this operation the rounded end 6 of the lever arm cams against the upper surface of the flange 2 so that the pin 3 is pulled upward relative to the tapered lug. As the tapered lug remains stationary in the hole during this locking operation the load bearing capacity of the anchor can be accurately predetermined by design factors such as the taper of the pin and lug, the amount of force applied to the pin by the lever and the length and diameter of the shank. The performance variability of prior art anchors is thus substantially reduced or eliminated. Preferably the upper end of the pin 3 is formed with an aperture 6A which is exposed when the lever arm 5 is turned to the horizontal or locking position. This aperture 6A enables the load to be carried directly by the pin. This avoids failure of the anchor through shearing of the pivot pin 4. Although it is not essential to the invention a small locating lug 6B may be formed in the lever arm adjacent the pivot 4. This engages the side of the pin 3 to provide position retention at either the locked or disengaged positions.

In the following desciption of additional embodiments of the invention the components which correspond in function to oo those referred to above are indicated by the same numbers which however are primed and to distinguish them.

With the embodiment of figure 3 the arrangement of the lug flange 2' and pin 3' is similar to the first embodiment.

In this case however the lever arm 5' is adapted to lock when moved from the horizontal to the vertical position shown. The lever arm 5' also has a hole 7 which aligns with the aperture 6A' in the pin 3' when the anchor is locked so that the load is carried by both members. Such arrangement also prevents the lever arm from moving to the disengaged position when the anchor is loaded.

Figure 4 shows a variation if the anchor of figure 3 in that the lever arm is adapted to lock when moved from the vertical to the horizontal position shown. The breadth of the lever adjacent the pivot point is also enlarged to provide for a hole 8 which aligns with the aperture 6A'' in the pin With the anchor shown in figures 5, 5A, 6 and 6A the wedge member is an expandable sleeve which fits over the pin The lower end 8 of this pin diverges outwardly to the side. The operation of the lever arm is similar to that of the first embodiment. It is pivoted on the pin at 4' and as it is moved from the vertical disengaged position shown to the horizontal or locking position the rounded end cams against the flange located at the top of the sleeve This pulls the pin upward so that the enlarged end 8 spreads the sleeve outwardly to wedge against the inside of the hole In order to obtain an even pull on the pin the pivoted end 9 of the lever is preferably bifurcated as shown in figures 6 and 6A so as to engage both sides of the flange With this embodiment the pin is also formed with an aperture 10 which is exposed when the lever arm is in the horizontal or locking position so that a load (shown as drop wire 11) can be carried thereon.

For the purposes of this specification expressions such as "upper," "lower", "below", "horizontal" and "vertical" etc.

refer to the anchors in one position of use as illustrated and are not to be read as necessarily limiting.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and improved form of anchor fastener. Clearly however the examples described are only the currently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape of the pin and lever may be changed from that shown to a configuration more adapted to engage with threaded connectors. Also, while it is currently preferred to construct the anchor from metal other materials such as plastic may be used for some applications.

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Claims (8)

1. An anchor for placement into a structure of concrete. masonry or the like, said anchor including an elongated wedge member and longitudinally adjacent pin means which are shaped so that at least a part of said wedge member and pin means push fit into a close fitting hole in said structure with one end portion of said pin means protruding out of said hole and leverage means at or adjacent said one end portion which is operable against the wedge member whereby after fitting of the anchor into said hole movement of the leverage means from :a disengaged position to a locking position displaces said pin means relative to the wedge member to cause transverse expansion of the anchor against the inside of said hole.

2. The anchor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wedge member is formed with a flange at the upper end thereof and said one i end portion of the pin means extends through said flange to a pivot.

3. The anchor as claimed in claim 2 wherein said leverage means is a lever arm which is mounted on said pivot.

4. The anchor as claimed in claim 3 wherein when said lever arm is moved from said disengaged position to said locking position a portion of said lever arm cams against said flange and the pin means is pulled upward relative to the wedge member. -7- The anchor as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pin means has an aperture at or adjacent said one end portion for connection to a load.

6. The anchor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the lever arm has an opening which in the locked position aligns with said aperture so that said load is carried by both the pin means and the lever arm.

7. The anchor as claimed in claim 6 wherein the wedge member 'is an expandable sleeve.

8. The anchor as claimed in claim 7 wherein said portion of the lever arm which cams against the flange is bifurcated.

9. The anchor as claimed in claim 6 wherein the wedge member is a tapered lug. An anchor for placement into a structure of concrete, masonry or the like, said anchor being substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 2A, 3, 4 or to 6A. Dated this 4th day of December, 2001 V.I.P. Fastening Systems Pty. Ltd. By Our Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR