GB2084239A

GB2084239A - Fasteners for greenhouses

Info

Publication number: GB2084239A
Application number: GB8128921A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-09-26
Filing date: 1981-09-24
Publication date: 1982-04-07
Also published as: GB2084239B

Abstract

A fastener for a greenhouse comprises an elongate body 1 integral with an anchoring foot 2 at one end thereof for location in the channel section 8 of a greenhouse frame, and fixing means 5 removably engageable with the other end of said body for securing a sheet 10 spaced from the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to fasteners for greenhouses This invention relates to fasteners for greenhouses (which term is used herein to include free-standing and lean-to greenhouses and other glazed structures, e.g. conservatories and cold frames) of the kind comprising a frame of channel members, generally of extruded aluminium section.

It is know to line the internal surfaces of a greenhouse with light-transmitting, flexible sheet material, e.g. of synthetic plastics, so as to provide - a double-glazed effect for the purpose of heat insulation. In order to achieve an optimum insulating effect and minimize condensation the sheet material should be spaced about one inch (2.5 cm) from the internal glass surface. In timberframe greenhouses the attachment of the sheet material at the requisite spacing does not pose any problems. The internal sufaces of the wooden frame members are at an appropriate distance from the glazed surface and provide a suitable ground for tacks or pins whereby the sheet material can be secured in position. It is also known to attach sheet material in similar fashion for the purpose of shading.

The attachment of insulating or shading sheet material has, however, caused problems in the case of greenhouses of the kind defined above. For example, twist fasteners have been proposed which make use of the inwardly open channel formation that is provided on the frame members of aluminium greenhouses for attaching fitments.

The fasteners each have a foot which in one orientation can be inserted into the channel formation and then turned in either direction through 900 to underlie the lips of the channel formation and lock the fastener in position.

In one kind of prior fastener the foot is connected by a waist section to a winged head. In use, the sheet material is pushed into the channel formation and trapped between the head and the frame member when the fastener is locked in position. This has the disadvantage that the sheet material is easily damaged and held too close to the glass.

Another kind of fastener has a detachable head which is a twist-action fit in a socket plate mounted at an appropriate distance from the anchoring foot by means of two prongs. In this case the sheet material is trapped between the head and the socket plate at the correct spacing from the glazed surface but the material is still easily damaged by the twisting action and the construction of the fastener is complicated, expensive and prone to early failure in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener of simple and robust design which obviates or mitigates the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a fastener for a greenhouse of the kind defined, comprising an elongate body integral with an anchoring foot at one end thereof, and fixing means removably engageable with the other end of said body.

Preferably said fixing means is a piercing member, e.g. a pin member, engageable in a hole in said other end of the body.

The invention also extends to a combination of greenhouse frame member with channel formation and a fastener of which the foot is adapted to engage in said channel formation and lock therein by twisting.

One embodiment of fastener according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in three views:- A - in position on a greenhouse frame member; B - an exploded view from one end relative to the frame member, and C - an enlarged exploded view from the opposite end.

Referring now to the drawing, the fastener comprises a rigid plastics body 1 of cylindrical shape with an integral foot 2 at one end and a tapered hole 3 in the other end. The body 1 is produced from a section of extruded plastics rod.

The tapered hole 3 is drilled in one end face of the rod section. At a distance from the other end face corresponding to the desired thickness of the foot 2 is ground an annular groove so as to leave a waist portion 4. Definition of the foot 2 is completed by reducing the end of the body with two axis-parallel cuts into said other end face up to and in flanking relationship with the waist portion.

The fastener also comprises a pin member 5 with a shank 6 which is dimensioned to be a tight fit in the tapered hole 3 in the body 1. The pin has a round head 7 of diameter about the same as or slightly larger than that of the body 1.

The dimensions of the fastener body are such that the foot is a twist-locking fit in a channel formation 8 of a frame member 9 in the same way as prior art fasteners. Also, the length of the body 1 is so selected that in use the sheet material 10 is held at the appropriate clearance from the glazed surface. Both the body 1 and the pin member 5 may be made of any suitable synthetic plastics material, e.g. PVC (polyvinylchoride) polypropylene or polyethylene.

In use, the body 1 of the fastener is fixed in position and the insulating or shading sheet material is stretched over it whereupon the pin member 5 is pressed against the body so that its shank 6 pierces the material and locates in the tapered hole.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the hole in the body may extend the full length of the body in which case it is preferably parallel-sided. This has the advantage that air displaced by the shank of the pin member can be easily vented. The fastener may also be moulded, e.g. by injection moulding, in its finished shape thus avoiding the need for machining operations.

Claims

1 A fastener for a greenhouse of the kind defined, comprising an elongate body integral with an anchoring foot at one end thereof, and fixing means removably engageable with the other end of said body.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing means is a piercing member engageable in a hole in said o+her end of the body.

3. A fastener as claimed in claim 2, wherein said piercing member is a pin member.

4. A fastener as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said hole extends lengthwise through the body.

5. A fastener for a greenhouse of the kind defined substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A greenhouse of the kind defined when lined internally with plastics film material held in position by a plurality of fasteners as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body of each fastener projects inwardly from a frame member in which it is anchored by the foot thereof and the film material is trapped by said fixing means.