GB2179189A

GB2179189A - Attaching channel shaped members to posts

Info

Publication number: GB2179189A
Application number: GB08619839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Peter Gifford Hull
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-30
Filing date: 1986-08-14
Publication date: 1987-02-25
Also published as: GB8619839D0; GB2179189B; GB8521574D0

Abstract

A bracket or strap 10 for attaching a channel shaped member 18, which may form part of a road sign, to a post 21, has a T-shaped head 13 at one end and an L shaped portion 14 at the other which provides a flange 15 and a leg 16. A hole is pierced in the flange 15 for receiving a bolt 22 when the bracelet or strap is engaged around a post 21. The bolt can be retained by a nut 24, whilst its head 23 and the T-shaped head 13 are retained behind the lips of the channel member 18. The central portion of the bracelet or strap, which engages around the post 21, is curved and maybe flexible in the case of a sheet metal strap. The leg 16 prevents flexing or movement due to wind pressure. The L-shaped portion 14 and the head 13 are preferably formed from respective folded lengths of the strap. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Attachment devices This invention relates to devicesforattaching a channel member, having inturned lips extending along its mouth, to a postorthe like. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to such devices for use inthe erection of road signs.

For a number of years the preferred system for.

manufacturing road signs is to form the sign out of a collection of panels or planks which are abutted edge-to-edgeand interconnected. At least some ofthe panels or planks have then been provided with open-mouthed channels, having inturned lips extend- ing along their mouths, on their reverse face and these channel have been used to provide locations for devices for attaching the sign to upright posts on site.

Many different fastening devices have been proposed, but for the most part they are quite complex and involve a large numberof pieces. This is significant not only from the point of view of manufacturing costs, but also in actual use, when aworkman may be several feet up a ladder in adverse weather conditions.

It is an object of the invention to provide an i mp roved fasteningdevice From one aspect the invention consists in a mounting device for attaching a channel member having inturned lips defining the mouth ofthe channel, comprising a bracket havingacurvedcentral portion for receiving the post, a generallyT-shaped head portion at one end ofthe bracket which can be introduced into the channel in one orientation and which can engage the lips ofthe channel to be retained therein in another orientation, a flange portion atthe other end of the bracket for receiving one end of a fastening member, and a fastening member having a head at one end retainable in the channel member and its other end being releasable securable to theflange portion, the flange having a leg or extension for engaging the channelmemberto preventflexing or movement ofthe device in its use position.

From afurtheraspecttheinvention consists in a device for attaching a channel member having inturned lips extending along its moutn,to a post, comprising a sheet metal strap having a generally T-shaped head at one end,which can be inserted through the mouth of the channel andtwistedto be held captive by the lips, a flexible central portion for wrapping around the post and an apertured flange at the other end; a bolt having a head dimensionedto be held captive in the channel through the flange; and a nut or the like forsecuring the bolttothe flange and hence the channel to the post.

The flange may have a leg for engaging the channel member to prevent flexing ofthe device in its use position. Additionally oF alternatively, the T-shaped headand/ortheflange are formed from folded portions of the strap. in a preferred embodiment the device consists solely of the stra p, the bolt, the nut and a washer.

In any of the above constructionsthe device may include gripping formationsfor engaging the cylindrical portion member.

Whilst the invention has been defined above it isto be understood that it includes any inventive combination ofthe features setout above or in the following

description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of a strap of a fastening device accordingtotheinvention; Figure 2 is a sideview of the strap of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a viewfrom above of a channel connected to a post by means of a fastening device according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a strap side view of the assembly of Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a strap 10 comprises a ribbon 11 of sheet metal.Atoneend 12 the ribbon has been folded over and then cropped to formaT-shaped head 13, whilst at the other end the ribbon has been folded over into a double thickness and then bent into an L lying orthogonal to the plane ofthe ribbon. The L 14 provides aflange 15and a leg 16. A hote 17 is pierced in theflange 15.

As can be seen in Figures3and4 in use, the head 13 is initially engaged in a channel-member 18 by presenting the head 13 so that it initially lies along the mouth 19 ofthe channel member 1 8and then twists it through 90Q 50 that it becomes held captive by lips 20 which extend along the mouth.

Once secured in the channel, the strap 10 can be slid up to a post 21 and bent around it until the flange 15 lies parallel to the lips 20. A bolt 22 which has already been slid into the channel member 18, with its head 23 held captive therein, is then passed through the hole 17 and securedthereto by means of a nut 24 and a washer 25. As the nut is tightened the leg 16 engages the lips 20 to provide positive locking of the channel member 28to the post 21.

Thus it will be seen thatthestrap is formed integrally and is providedwiththe necessary strength at the engagement portions byfolding operations.

Theonlyothermachinery required is punchingofthe holes 17 and cropping ofthe head 13. The provision of the leg 16 simpiy and cheaply locks up the hole device preventing any flexing due e to the effects of wind pressure on thesign and hence counteracts the possibility of metal fatigue.

CLAIMS 1. A mounting device for attaching a channel member having inturned lips definingthe mouth of the channel, comprising a bracket having a curved central portion for receiving the post, a generally T-shaped head portion at one end of the bracket which can be introduced into the channel in one orientation and which can engage the lips ofthe channel two be retainedtherein in another orientation, a flange portion at the other end of the bracket for receiving oneendofafastening member, and a fastening member having a head atoneend retainablein the The drawingtsl originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Attachment devices This invention relates to devicesforattaching a channel member, having inturned lips extending along its mouth, to a postorthe like. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to such devices for use inthe erection of road signs. For a number of years the preferred system for. manufacturing road signs is to form the sign out of a collection of panels or planks which are abutted edge-to-edgeand interconnected. At least some ofthe panels or planks have then been provided with open-mouthed channels, having inturned lips extend- ing along their mouths, on their reverse face and these channel have been used to provide locations for devices for attaching the sign to upright posts on site. Many different fastening devices have been proposed, but for the most part they are quite complex and involve a large numberof pieces. This is significant not only from the point of view of manufacturing costs, but also in actual use, when aworkman may be several feet up a ladder in adverse weather conditions. It is an object of the invention to provide an i mp roved fasteningdevice From one aspect the invention consists in a mounting device for attaching a channel member having inturned lips defining the mouth ofthe channel, comprising a bracket havingacurvedcentral portion for receiving the post, a generallyT-shaped head portion at one end ofthe bracket which can be introduced into the channel in one orientation and which can engage the lips ofthe channel to be retained therein in another orientation, a flange portion atthe other end of the bracket for receiving one end of a fastening member, and a fastening member having a head at one end retainable in the channel member and its other end being releasable securable to theflange portion, the flange having a leg or extension for engaging the channelmemberto preventflexing or movement ofthe device in its use position. From afurtheraspecttheinvention consists in a device for attaching a channel member having inturned lips extending along its moutn,to a post, comprising a sheet metal strap having a generally T-shaped head at one end,which can be inserted through the mouth of the channel andtwistedto be held captive by the lips, a flexible central portion for wrapping around the post and an apertured flange at the other end; a bolt having a head dimensionedto be held captive in the channel through the flange; and a nut or the like forsecuring the bolttothe flange and hence the channel to the post. The flange may have a leg for engaging the channel member to prevent flexing ofthe device in its use position. Additionally oF alternatively, the T-shaped headand/ortheflange are formed from folded portions of the strap. in a preferred embodiment the device consists solely of the stra p, the bolt, the nut and a washer. In any of the above constructionsthe device may include gripping formationsfor engaging the cylindrical portion member. Whilst the invention has been defined above it isto be understood that it includes any inventive combination ofthe features setout above or in the following description. The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of a strap of a fastening device accordingtotheinvention; Figure 2 is a sideview of the strap of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a viewfrom above of a channel connected to a post by means of a fastening device according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a strap side view of the assembly of Figure 3. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a strap 10 comprises a ribbon 11 of sheet metal.Atoneend 12 the ribbon has been folded over and then cropped to formaT-shaped head 13, whilst at the other end the ribbon has been folded over into a double thickness and then bent into an L lying orthogonal to the plane ofthe ribbon. The L 14 provides aflange 15and a leg 16. A hote 17 is pierced in theflange 15. As can be seen in Figures3and4 in use, the head 13 is initially engaged in a channel-member 18 by presenting the head 13 so that it initially lies along the mouth 19 ofthe channel member 1 8and then twists it through 90Q 50 that it becomes held captive by lips 20 which extend along the mouth. Once secured in the channel, the strap 10 can be slid up to a post 21 and bent around it until the flange 15 lies parallel to the lips 20. A bolt 22 which has already been slid into the channel member 18, with its head 23 held captive therein, is then passed through the hole 17 and securedthereto by means of a nut 24 and a washer 25. As the nut is tightened the leg 16 engages the lips 20 to provide positive locking of the channel member 28to the post 21. Thus it will be seen thatthestrap is formed integrally and is providedwiththe necessary strength at the engagement portions byfolding operations. Theonlyothermachinery required is punchingofthe holes 17 and cropping ofthe head 13. The provision of the leg 16 simpiy and cheaply locks up the hole device preventing any flexing due e to the effects of wind pressure on thesign and hence counteracts the possibility of metal fatigue. CLAIMS

1. A mounting device for attaching a channel member having inturned lips definingthe mouth of the channel, comprising a bracket having a curved central portion for receiving the post, a generally T-shaped head portion at one end of the bracket which can be introduced into the channel in one orientation and which can engage the lips ofthe channel two be retainedtherein in another orientation, a flange portion at the other end of the bracket for receiving oneendofafastening member, and a fastening member having a head atoneend retainablein the The drawingtsl originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

channel member and its other end being releasable

securableto the flange portion, the flange having a leg or extension for engaging the channel memberto prevent flexing or movement ofthe device in its use position.

2. A mounting device for coupling a generally cylindrical partto an open mouthed channel member having inturned lips defining the mouth ofthe channel, comprising a sheet metal strap having a curved central portion for receiving the post, a generally T-shaped head portion at one end ofthe strap which can be introduced intothe channel in one orientation and which can engage the lips of the channel to be retained therein in another orientation, a flange portion atthe other end ofthe strap for receiving one end of a fastening member, and a fastening member having a head at one end retainable in the channel members and its other end being releasablysecureableto theflange portion ofthe strap,theflange and head portions ofthe strap being formed from respective folded lengths ofthe strap.

3. Adeviceforattaching a channel member having inturned lips extending along its mouth,to a post, comprising a sheet metal strap having a generally T-shaped head at one end, which can be insertedthrough the mouth ofthe channel and twisted to be held captive by the lips, a flexible central portion for wrapping around the postandan aperturedflange at the other end; a bolt having a head dimensioned to be held captive in the channel and shaft which can extend from the channel th rough the flange, and nut orthe likefor securing the boltto the flange and hence the channel to the post.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3wherein the flange has a leg orextension for engaging the channel member to prevent flexing ofthe device in its use portion.

5. A device acclaimed in Claim 3 or4, wherein the T-shaped headand/ortheflangeareformedfrom folded portions ofthe strap.

6. A device as claimed inany one of Claims 3to 5, wherein the device consists solely ofthe strap, the belt, the nut and a washer.

7. A device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims including gripping formations to engagethe cylindrical member or post.

8. Amountingdeviceforcoupling agenerally cylindrical partto an open-mouthed channel member having inturned lips defining the mouth of the channel, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.