GB2042880A - Support Frames - Google Patents

Abstract

A support frame which can be used as a stand for an aquarium tank has side structures which are detachably linked by one or more transverse struts 2, 3. The struts and side structures are connected by sleeves (9) on the end of the struts engaged over spigots (10) on the side structure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support Frames This invention relates to a support frame, particularly although not exclusively for use as an aquarium stand.

A known form of aquarium stand, for supporting a fish tank of a domestic aquarium, is manufactured from tubular metal members which are all securely welded together to define a frame having grind engaging upright side structures linked by front and back transverse struts. With this arrangement, since the frame is a bulky prefabricated structure, the problem arises that it may be difficult or inconvenient to transport same or to store large quantities thereof for example in a shop or warehouse. It is also known to manufacture aquarium stands from separate component parts which can be assembled by the purchaser.Such stands can be conveniently stored and transported in a disassembled state but the problem then arises that it is difficult to provide a stand which can be easily assembled by a purchaser yet which is acceptably strong and stable, bearing in mind the possible great weight of a water-filled aquarium tank to be supported by the stand, when so assembled.

An object of the present invention is to provide a support frame which can be easily assembled from component parts yet which is strong and stable when so assembled.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a support frame comprising opposed upright ground engaging side structures linked by at least one transverse strut. characterised in that the or each such strut is detachably connectable with the side structures via co-operation of an elongate jointing section at an end of such strut with an elongate jointing section rigidly secured to and projecting from the pertaining side structure, one of said co-operating jointing sections being in the form of a sleeve which fits over the other section.

With this arrangement it has been found that a strong secure frame can be assembled from the components thereof in a simple and convenient manner.

The or each said strut preferably comprises a rigid tubular metal member and said jointing sleeves are defined at both ends thereof simply by end sections of the tubular member. The jointing structures secured to the side structures preferably define elongate spigots which fit within the end sections of the pertaining strut or struts, and such spigots may also be defined by tubular metal members which may conveniently be rigidly secured to the side structures by welding.

Preferably, also, such spigots secured to the side structures may have therearound rigidly fixed collars at the roots thereof such that the jointing sleeves abut against the fixed collars in the fully assembled state of the support frame. Such fixed collars may be welded in position and may be of like cross-section to the jointing sleeves such that the outer surfaces of the jointing sleeves are flush with the outer surfaces of the fixed collars in the fully assembled state.

The side structures may be frame structures formed from tubular members which are rigidly interconnected as for example by welding.

Conveniently, the side structures may have spaced upright end posts linked by top and bottom cross-bars. The end posts may extend beyond the bottom cross-bars to define ground engaging feet and also may extend above the top cross-bars.

There may be four transverse struts, two upper struts and two lower struts, linking the side structures.

Where tubular members are used for the struts and also for the side structures, these may all be of the same cross-section and conveniently square section tubular members may be used.

The jointing sleeves are preferably a tight fit on the other jointing sections, thereby to ensure that the sections are held securely together.

Additionally however, a fixing device. for example a self-tapping screw or the like may be used as a safeguard to prevent separation of the sections.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of a support frame according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional view to a larger scale showing one joint of the frame of Figure 1.

The support frame is for use as a stand for a domestic aquarium tank and comprises two opposed side structures 1 linked by four struts 2, 3.

Each side structure 1 is a frame structure formed from two vertical end posts 4 linked by upper and lower horizontal cross-bars 5, 6. The end posts 4 and cross-bars 5, 6 are all formed from metal tubes of common square sections (say 1" square) and the ends of the crossbars 5, 6 are welded to side surfaces of the end posts 4 to give a strong rigid structure. The ends of the posts 4 extend slightly above and below the upper and lower cross-bars 5,6 and the bottom ends 7 of the posts 4 define ground engaging feet. All post ends may be covered with plastics plugs or the like.

Two of the struts are upper struts 2 which extend parallel to each other in a common horizontal plane level with the upper cross-bars 5 of the two side structures 1. The other two struts are lower struts 3 which extend parallel to each other in a common horizontal plane level with the lower cross-bars 6. Each end of each strut 2, 3 is secured to a side face of one said end post 4 so that the strut 2, 3 extends at right angles to such face and to the adjacent cross-bar 5, 6.

The struts 2, 3 are formed from square section metal tubes of the same kind as the tubes which form the end posts 4 and cross-bars 5, 6, and the aforesaid attachment of each strut end to the pertaining end post face 8 is effected, as shown in Figure 2, by engagement of the strut end section 9 with a spigot 10 secured to and projecting perpendicularly from the post side face 8. Each such spigot 10 is in the form of a short (say 2" long) square section tube, of slightly smaller cross-section than the strut 2, 3, which is rigidly welded at one end to the post side face 8. Around the base of the tube 10 a collar 11 (say 1 "long) formed from tube of the same kind as the strut tube 9 is securely welded in position to the side face 8.The end section 9 of the strut fits tightly, in the manner of a sleeve around the spigot 10, with the end face of the strut 2, 3 abutting against the end face of the collar 1 The strut end section 9 is retained in this position by means of a selftapping screw 12 passed through aligned holes in the sleeve 9 and spigot 10.

With the arrangement described above, the support frame can be conveniently stored and transported in disassembled state since the disassembled components thereof, namely the two side structures 1 and the four struts 2, 3 can be packaged in generally flat form. The disassembled components can subsequently be assembled quickly and easily by a purchaser, simply by insertion of the spigots 10 into the ends 9 of the struts 2, 3 and then inserting the screws 11. No special tools or particular assembly skills are required and in particular, since the strength and stability of the frame derives from the interfitting spigots and strut end sections it will be appreciated that the requisite degree of strength and stability is automatically obtained on insertion of the spigots into the strut ends and without requiring careful tightening of assembly bolts or other skilful operation.The secure fit which can be achieved between the spigots and the strut ends ensures that the assembled frame is strong and stable. Aiso, the abutting end faces of the strut ends and the collars 11 and the consequent flush alignment of the outer surfaces of the collars 11 and struts 2, 3 give rise to smooth, neat joints. Moreover, the fact that each spigot 10 and also the surrounding collar 11 are both welded to the pertaining post side face 8, ensures that the joints are of great strength and in particular are adequate to support the possibly considerable weight of a water-filled aquarium tank.

It will be noted that the assembled frame has no exposed uneven joints, or fixing apertures or bolt heads of the like (apart from the screws 12 which are inserted after assembly as a precautionary measure). Thus, coating of the frame with a suitable plastics coating material such as PVC can be effected in a particularly quick and convenient manner. Such coating may be effected by appropriate treatment of the finished assembled frame, the coating then being cut at the joints between the strut ends 9 and the collars 11 to allow separation of the struts 2, 3 from the side structures 1 for packaging purposes. The holes for the screws 12 may be drilled after application of the coating.

The frame when assembled can be used to support one or more aquarium tanks in any suitable manner, as for example by supporting a tank on the struts 2 and/or 3 and/or the crossbars 5 and/or 6.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. A support frame comprising opposed upright ground engaging side structures linked by at least one transverse strut, characterised in that the or each such strut is detachably connectable with the side structures via co-operation of an elongate jointing section at an end of such strut with an elongate jointing section rigidly secured to and projecting from the pertaining side structure, one of said co-operating jointing sections being in the form of a sleeve which fits over the other section.

2. A frame according to claim 1, wherein the or each said strut comprises a rigid tubular member and said jointing sleeves are defined at both ends thereof by end sections of the tubular member.

3. A frame according to claim 1 or 2, wherein jointing sections secured to the side structures are elongate spigots which fit within said jointing sleeves defined by end sections of the strut or struts.

4. A frame according to claim 3, wherein the spigots are defined by tubular members.

5. A frame according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each spigot has therearound a collar at the root thereof, the associated jointing sleeve being arranged to abut against the collar in a fully assembled state of the frame.

6. A frame according to claim 5 and claim 1 wherein the collars are of like cross-section to the tubular member of the or each said strut whereby the outer surface of the or each said strut is arranged to lie flush with the outer surfaces of the associated collars in the fully assembled state of the frame.

7. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each side structure is formed from rigidly interconnected tubular members.

8. A frame according to claim 7, wherein each side structure has spaced upright end posts linked by top and bottom cross-bars.

9. A frame according to claim 8, wherein the end posts extend below the bottom cross-bar to define ground engaging feet.

10. A frame according to any one of claim 1 to 9, wherein there are four transverse struts, two upper struts and two lower struts, linking the side structures.

11. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the side structures and the or each strut are all formed from tubular members of like cross-section.

12. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the jointing sleeves are a tight fit on the other jointing sections.

13. A support frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. The combination of a support frame according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and an aquarium tank supported thereon.