EP2818610A1

EP2818610A1 - Closing part for a gate or fence and method for manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2818610A1
Application number: EP14173232.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wilhelmus Cornelis Maria Gerritsen
Original assignee: Heras BV
Current assignee: Heras BV
Priority date: 2013-06-27
Filing date: 2014-06-20
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-20
Also published as: PL2818610T3; NL2011046C2; DK2818610T3; ES2608562T3; EP2818610B1

Abstract

Closing part, typically a closing part for a fence or a gate, comprising a first beam, a second beam and a plurality of bars with first ends and second ends extending between the first beam and the second beam, wherein the first beam and the first ends of the plurality of bars are configured to secure the first ends mechanically in the first beam by a translating and rotating movement; and the second beam is provided with a number of through-openings through which the second ends of the plurality of bars protrude, wherein parts of the second ends have protrusions which are arranged by arranging an expanding tool in the second ends of the bars and which are such that the second ends are secured in the second beam.

Description

The present invention relates to a closing part, typically a closing part for a gate or a fence, comprising a first beam, a second beam and a plurality of bars extending between the first beam and the second beam.
Such closing parts are known and are for instance described in the Netherlands patent applications NL 1007535 and NL 2006096 in the name of applicant. Techniques are in addition known for making tube connections by expanding a part of a tube, see for instance the European patent application EP 0 916 855 in the name of applicant.
WO 98/11311 describes a closing part with a top railing 12, a base railing 14 and a number of balusters 16. Figures 2 and 3 show how these balusters are mounted in a railing 12. Baluster 16 is provided with two elongate thickened portions 42, 44 which are interrupted at the position of numerals 46, 48, see figure 2. A baluster 16 can in this way be secured in railing 12 by a rotating movement. Railing 12 is provided for this purpose with an opening with recesses 27 which are complementary to the shape of the elongate thickened portions 42, 44. Thickened portions 42, 44 are not arranged by arranging an expanding tool in the second ends of the balusters.
US 2010/155683 describes a fence with an upper rail 12b, a lower rail 12a and a number of pickets 14. Although the pickets have crushed parts which are intended to secure the pickets in the upper and lower beams, it is not the case that one end of a picket is secured mechanically in the beam by a translating and rotating movement. The outer ends of the pickets are pressed into the beams. Finally, US 2010/155683 does not describe arranging an expanding tool in an outer end of the pickets.
The present invention has for its object to provide a closing part, an assembly for a closing part and a method with which it is possible to assemble a strong closing part with good anticorrosive properties without a welding operation being necessary.
The first beam and the first ends of the plurality of bars are configured for this purpose to secure the first ends by translation and rotation in the first beam. The second beam is further provided with openings which run through the second beam and through which the second ends of the plurality of bars protrude, wherein parts of the second ends have protrusions which are such that the second ends are secured in the second beam. These protrusions are typically formed by arranging an expanding tool in the second ends of the bars.
Within the context of the present invention the term "protrusion" refers to a part which is expanded in more or less convex form. It is noted that a protrusion may protrude minimally from the bar and that convex parts which protrude a little can be sufficient to secure the second beam.
The closing part can in this way be mounted quickly by coupling the bars mechanically to the first beam on one side, this first beam being advantageously closed at the top, and by expanding parts of the second ends of the bars on the other side for the purpose of fixing the second ends in the second beam. Welded connections are in this way not necessary, and an optionally treated outer layer of the beams and bars or a coating on the beams and bars is not affected. If the first beam is used as upper beam it can be closed at the top, thereby avoiding the possibility of dirt entering the upper beam.
The second beam preferably comprises a tubular element with an upper wall and a lower wall, and the openings for the bars are arranged through the upper and the lower wall. Each bar preferably has at its second end at least one protrusion with a rounded shape. The at least one protrusion is preferably adjacent to the upper and/or lower wall of the second beam. This can for instance be one (relatively large) protrusion adjacent to the upper and lower wall, but can also be two or more protrusions, for instance a first one adjacent to the upper wall and a second one adjacent to the lower wall. According to a variant, the second beam is formed as a reverse U-profile with an upper wall and an open underside. Each bar can in this case be provided with a first protrusion adjacent to an upper side of the upper wall and a second protrusion adjacent to an underside of the upper wall.
The closing part is preferably configured for placing with the first beam on the upper side, so that the first beam forms an upper beam and the second beam a lower beam. The first beam preferably comprises a tubular element with a closed upper wall and with a lower wall in which openings for the first ends of the bars are arranged. The bars are preferably hollow and are preferably provided at their first ends with at least two hook-shaped recesses. The openings in the lower wall of the first beam are then preferably provided with at least two protruding parts which fit into the at least two hook-shaped recesses, this such that a coupling between the at least two hook-shaped recesses and the at least two protruding parts can be realized by translation and rotation of the first ends.
The invention also relates to a method for forming a closing part, wherein a first beam is connected by means of a plurality of bars to a second beam. The first ends of the plurality of bars are secured in the first beam by a translating and rotating movement. The second ends of the plurality of bars are inserted through openings in the second beam. Parts of the second ends are expanded in order to form protrusions which are shaped such that the second ends are secured in the second beam.
The second beam is preferably a tubular element with an upper wall and a lower wall. In an advantageous embodiment a first protrusion adjacent to the upper wall and a second protrusion adjacent to the lower wall are formed for each bar. According to another embodiment, the second beam is formed with an upper wall and an open underside. More generally a first protrusion and a second protrusion are preferably provided which are adjacent to an inner or outer wall of the beam at a first and a second location along a bar.
Expanding of parts of the second ends of the bars preferably takes place by arranging an expanding mandrel in the second ends of the bars.
Provided according to another aspect of the invention is a method for securing a bar in a beam of a closing part, wherein at least a first and a second protrusion are arranged, preferably simultaneously, in the bar such that this first and second protrusion are adjacent to an upper or lower wall of the beam. If a beam has only an upper wall, the protrusions can be arranged on an upper and underside of the upper wall. If the beam has an upper and lower wall, there are different options: on either side of an upper wall, or on either side of a lower wall, or a first protrusion adjacent to an upper wall and a second protrusion adjacent to a lower wall. It is further also possible to provide more than two protrusions. If the beam has an upper and lower wall, four protrusions can for instance be formed: on either side of an upper wall and on either side of a lower wall.
The invention also relates to a closing part, typically a closing part for a fence or a gate, comprising a beam and a plurality of bars extending through the beam, wherein the beam is provided with a number of through-openings through which the plurality of bars protrude, wherein each bar has at least a first and a second protrusion which are adjacent to an inner or outer wall of a beam, are arranged by arranging an expanding mandrel in the bars, and are such that the bars are secured in the second beam.
Provided according to yet another aspect of the invention is an expanding mandrel for arranging at least two protrusions in a tube, comprising a pull rod guided in a pull tube and having a first end for coupling to a pulling means and having a second end which protrudes from the pull tube and which is provided with a head part, wherein at least a first and a second compressible element are provided on this second end between the head part and the pull tube, wherein a pressing element is received between the first and second compressible elements, this such that the first and the second compressible element are compressed when the pull rod is pulled into the pull tube for the purpose of reducing the distance between the head part and the pull tube.
The first and second compressible elements are preferably a first and second rubber ring which are arranged around the second end of the pull rod. The pressing element is preferably a pressing ring arranged around the second end.
An additional pressing ring is preferably further arranged between the pull tube and the first compressible element, wherein the pressing ring, the additional pressing ring and a part of the head part adjacent to the second compressible element preferably have substantially the same diameter as the first and second rubber rings.
Finally, the invention relates to an assembly for a closing part, typically a closing part for a gate or a fence, comprising a first beam, a second beam and a plurality of bars. The first beam and the first ends of the plurality of bars are formed such that each first end can be secured by translation and rotation in the first beam. The second beam is provided with a number of through-openings through which the second ends of the plurality of bars are insertable, wherein parts of the second ends are configured to be expanded by an expanding tool for the purpose of securing the second ends in the second beam.
The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of a number of by no means limitative exemplary embodiments of a closing part according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of a closing part according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective detail view of the connection between the upper beam and a bar for the embodiment of figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a cross-section through a bar secured in the upper and lower beams for the embodiment of figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a first variant of the connection between bar and lower beam;
Figure 5 shows a second variant of the connection between bar and lower beam; and
Figures 6A-6C illustrate an embodiment of an expanding tool.

Figures 1-3 illustrate an embodiment of a closing part 1 for a fence or a gate. Closing part 1 comprises a first beam 10, a second beam 20 and a plurality of hollow bars 30. Each bar 30 has a first end 31 and second end 32. First beam 10 and each first end 31 are configured for securing each first end 31 mechanically in first beam 10 by a translating and rotating movement. First beam 10 is formed as a tubular element with a closed upper wall 15 which can optionally be provided with a comb-like structure and with a lower wall 16 in which openings 11 are arranged for the first ends 31 of bars 30. As shown most clearly in figure 2, each bar 30 is provided at the first end 31 thereof with four hook-shaped recesses 33. Openings 11 in lower wall 16 of upper beam 10 are provided with four protruding parts 13 which fit into the four hook-shaped recesses 33. Depending on the diameter of the bars, it is also possible to provide fewer or more protruding parts 13/recesses 33. Each hook-shaped recess 33 is formed with a first, downward oriented slot 34 which transposes into a second, roughly horizontally oriented slot 35. This second slot 35 could also be oriented slightly upward. Protruding parts 13 can thus be placed in first slots 34 by moving a bar 30 into upper beam 10, and can be secured by then rotating bar 30 such that protruding parts 13 come to lie in second slot 35. In order to simplify rotation of bars 30 a recess 38 for a tool can be provided at the second end of bar 30 such that bar 30 can be rotated in first beam 10 using this tool.
It is noted that other twist couplings are possible between upper beam 10 and bars 30. Further examples of possible couplings are described in the Netherlands patent application with publication number 2006096 in the name of applicant, see for instance figures 6 and 7. The full content of NL 2006096 is incorporated herein by way of reference.
Second beam 20 is provided with a number of through-openings 22 through which the second ends 32 of bars 30 protrude. The second beam is formed as a tubular element with an upper wall 25 and a lower wall 26, and each through-opening 22 is thus formed by an opening in upper wall 25 and an opposite opening in lower wall 26. A part 36 of a second end 32 has a protrusion 37 which is arranged by arranging an expanding tool in second end 32 of bar 30. It is noted that it is not necessary to provide one or more protrusions in each bar. According to possible embodiments, one in two bars could for instance be provided with one or more protrusions.
In the variant of figures 1-3 one protrusion adjacent to upper and lower walls 25, 26 is arranged in each second end 32 of a bar 30. According to a second variant illustrated in figure 4, two protrusions 37a, 37b, respectively adjacent to upper wall 25 and lower wall 26, are formed in each second end 32 of a bar 30. Figure 5 illustrates yet another variant in which the second beam 120 is formed with an upper wall 125 and an open underside 126. Two protrusions 137a, 137b are adjacent here to either side of upper wall 125.
Closing part 1 of figures 1-3 is preferably assembled as follows. In a first step the first ends 31 of bars 30 are secured in first beam 10 by a translating and rotating movement of first ends 31 relative to first beam 10. In a second step the second ends 32 of bars 30 are inserted through openings 22 in second beam 20. In a subsequent step one or more protrusions 37;37a,37b;137a,137b are formed in each second end 32. These one or more protrusions are formed such that second ends 32 are secured in second beam 20. Expanding of the parts 36 for the purpose of forming the protrusions is performed by arranging a suitable expanding mandrel in the second ends 32 of bars 30.
A suitable expanding tool is for instance described in the European patent application with publication number EP 0 916 855 and in EP 0 772 500 , which are incorporated herein by way of reference.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of an expanding tool according to the invention will now be described with reference to figures 6A-6C. The expanding tool is particularly suitable for simultaneously arranging two protrusions, for instance protrusions 137a, 137b of figure 5. The expanding tool comprises a mandrel 200 with a pull rod 202, 203 which is guided through a pull tube 201. This is shown most clearly in figure 6A, which shows pull tube 201 from which pull rod 203 protrudes at the left-hand end, and in figure 6B in which pull tube 201 has been omitted. Provided on an end part 202 of pull rod 203 are two rubber rings 204a, 204b with an interposed pressing ring 206. Two further pressing rings 205, 207 are provided between pull tube 201 and rubber ring 204a. The entity of rubber rings 204a, 204b and pressing rings 205, 206, 207 is secured using a head part in the form of two nuts 208, 209. When pull rod 203 is pulled to the left relative to pull tube 201, the distance D between head part 208, 209 and the pull tube will decrease, whereby rubber rings 204a, 204b are compressed and move outward for the purpose of expanding a tube in which the mandrel is operative. Pull rod 203 is provided at an outer end with a coupling piece 210 which can be coupled to a piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder 213. Pull tube 201 is mountable in a receiving part 211. Receiving part 211 is mounted against a wall of a mounting block 212, while coupling piece 210 can be coupled in mounting block 212 to a piston rod. A pushbutton 215 can be provided for the purpose of activating the hydraulic cylinder. It is further advantageous to provide a handle 214 for manipulating the tool. When pull rod 203 is pulled to the left, lower wall 26 of second beam 20 is pressed against stop 220, after which the expanding process begins.
The skilled person will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the above described exemplary embodiments, and that many variants can be envisaged which fall within the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the following claims.

Claims

Closing part, typically a closing part for a fence or a gate, comprising a first beam, a second beam and a plurality of bars with first ends and second ends extending between the first beam and the second beam, characterized in that the first beam and the first ends of the plurality of bars are configured to secure the first ends mechanically in the first beam by a translating and rotating movement; and that the second beam is provided with a number of through-openings through which the second ends of the plurality of bars protrude, wherein parts of the second ends have protrusions which are arranged by arranging an expanding tool in the second ends of the bars and which are such that the second ends are secured in the second beam.
Closing part as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the parts having protrusions are adjacent to a wall of the second beam.
Closing part as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the closing part is configured for placing with the first beam on the upper side, so that the first beam forms an upper beam and the second beam a lower beam.
Closing part as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the first beam comprises a tubular element with a closed upper wall and with a lower wall in which openings for the first ends of the bars are arranged.
Closing part as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the bars are hollow.
Closing part as claimed in claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the bars are provided at their first ends with at least two hook-shaped recesses, and the openings are provided with at least two protruding parts which fit into the at least two hook-shaped recesses, this such that a coupling between the at least two hook-shaped recesses and the at least two protruding parts can be realized by translation and rotation of the first ends relative to the first beam.
Closing part as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that each hook-shaped recess is formed with a first slot which is oriented from the first end toward the second end and which transposes into a second slot which is horizontal or oriented toward the first end.
Closing part as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each bar has at least one protrusion at its second end.
Closing part as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each bar has at least two protrusions at its second end.
Closing part as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each protrusion has a rounded shape.
Closing part as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the second beam comprises a tubular element with an upper wall and a lower wall, and that the through-openings are arranged through the upper and the lower wall.
Closing part as claimed in any of the claims 1-10, characterized in that the second beam substantially takes the form of a reverse U-profile with an upper wall and an open underside, and that the through-openings are arranged through the upper wall.
Method for forming a closing part, typically a closing part for a fence or a gate, wherein a first beam is connected by means of a plurality of bars with first ends and second ends to a second beam, characterized in that the first ends of the plurality of bars are secured in the first beam by a translating and rotating movement of the first ends relative to the first beam; that the second ends of the plurality of bars are inserted through openings in the second beam; and that parts of the second ends are expanded in order to form protrusions which are shaped such that the second ends are secured in the second beam.
Method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the parts which are expanded are adjacent to a wall of the second beam; and/or
that the second beam is a hollow tubular element with an upper wall and a lower wall and that for each bar a first and a second protrusion is formed adjacent to the upper wall or to the lower wall; and/or
that expanding of parts of the second ends of the bars is performed by arranging an expanding mandrel in the second ends of the bars.
Assembly for a closing part, typically a closing part for a gate or a fence, comprising a first beam, a second beam and a plurality of bars with first ends and second ends, characterized in that the first beam and the first ends of the plurality of bars are formed such that each first end can be secured by translation and rotation in the first beam; and that the second beam is provided with a number of through-openings through which the second ends of the plurality of bars are insertable, wherein the second ends are configured for arranging of an expanding tool therein, and parts of the second ends are configured to be expanded by the expanding tool for the purpose of securing the second ends in the second beam.