GB2185523A

GB2185523A - Mounting device

Info

Publication number: GB2185523A
Application number: GB08700573A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Herbert Edward Snow
Original assignee: Signfix Ltd
Current assignee: Signfix Ltd
Priority date: 1986-01-10
Filing date: 1987-01-12
Publication date: 1987-07-22
Also published as: GB8700573D0; GB8600517D0

Abstract

An object having a flange (52) is mounted to a post by means of a mounting device comprising a saddle (10) having V-edges (18) to abut the post and straps (34) to be tightened around the post. The ends of the straps are connected to a plate (22) so that a flange (52) on the object being mounted can be clamped between the plate (22) and end face (16) of the saddle as the straps are tightened. Tangs (40) are pressed out of the saddle towards the plate (or vice versa) to provide initially a space to receive the flange. As the straps are tightened, the tangs are deflected back to allow the flange to be clamped. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mounting device This invention relates to devices for mounting an ob Iectto a post, and is intended to make it easierto supportthe object during the mounting process.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for mounting an object to a post, the object being provided with a mounting flange, the device having a first memberforseating against the post and a second member adapted for securing to the post by means of a tightenable strap, the second member having a clamping part disposed adjacent an abutment part on the first member on the side thereof remote from its engagement with the post whereby when the strap is tightened around the post the clamping part is drawn towards the abutment part and can thereby clamp said flange located between them, characterised in that the abutment part orthe clamping part has spacer elements projecting towardstheclamping partortheabutmentpartsoas to maintain a space between the clamping part and the abutment part when the strap is initiallytightened, the spacer elements being spaced apart so as to define with the abutment part and clamping part a slot into which said flange can be inserted, the spa cer elements being deflectable when the strap is further tightened, whereby said flange is gripped by the clamping part and the abutment part.

The first member preferably takes the form of a saddle for seating against the post, the saddle con veniently being in the form of a channel shaped member comprising a pair of opposite sides and a base, the edges of the sides remote from the base being shaped to seat against the post, the base providing said abutment part facing the clamping part.

The spacer elements are conveniently in the form of tangs pressed out of the base towards the clamping part. The tangs preferably face in mutually opposite directions. The clamping member conveniently takes the form of a plate facing the base of the abutment part, with a pair of attachment elements projecting from opposite ends of the plate towards the first part so as to lie at opposite ends of its channel, a pair of straps extending from the attachmentel- ements in the direction away from the clamping plate, the ends of the straps remote from the attachment elements being joined by a screw device which enables the straps to be tightened around the post, thereby drawing the attachment platetowardsthe base of the channel member.

In orderthatthe invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a mounting device of the present invention, indicating its mode of use, Figure 2 shows a view on the base of the channel memberofthe mounting device, Figure 3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the device, and Figure 4 shows a side view of a box sign mounted to a post using two mounting devices of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and firstlyto Figure 1; the mounting device as illustrated is of a form similar to that described in US 4066233. It comprises two parts; a saddle part 10 and a clamping part 12. The saddle part 10 is made from sheet steel and is of gen erally channel form, having a pair of opposite sides 14 joined by a base 16. The edges 18 of the sides 14 remote from the base are of shallowV-profilefor seating against a post, and have inturned flanges 20.

The clamping member 12 is also made from sheet steel, and comprises an elongate plate 22 which faces the base 16 of the saddle member, and a pair of attachment elements 24turned at right-angles to the plate 22, and joined thereto by relatively narrow necks 26 which are loosely received in shallow cutouts 28 in the ends of the base 16 of the saddle member, so that the attachment elements 24 lie loosely at the ends ofthe channel shaped saddle member 10. The attachment elements have slots 30 in which are received the cranked ends 32 of respective straps 34. The straps 34 curve towards each other and their ends 36 remotefrom the attachment elements are outturned generally parallel to each other and are joined by a bolt 37 passing through apertures in the ends 36 and secured by a nut 38.The base 16 of the saddle member is formed with a pair of mutually outwardly directed tangs 40formed by V-shaped cuts in the base. As shown in Figure 3, the tangs are initially bent at a shallow angle out of the plane of the base 16 towards the clamping plate 22.

Thus, there is defined between the tangs 40, the base 16 of the saddle member and the clamping plate 22 a narrow slot 42.

The slot 42 is intended to receive a tongue or flange projecting from an objectwhich isto be mounted to the post using this mounting device.

Figure 1 shows a bracket 44 which could be secured to such an object. The bracket is of lazy Z shape, having afirstflange 46 with apertures 48 by means of which it is screwed or rivetted to the object, a web 50 atrightanglestothefirstflange46,andasecond flange 52 at right angles to the web, parallel to but pointing in the opposite direction from the first flange 46. Thus, the second flange 52 provides a tongue spaced from the object to which the bracket is attached. This tongue can be received in the slot 42; that isto say its transverse width is no greater than the distance between the tangs 40 and its thick ness is no greater than that of the slot 42.

The manner of use is further indicated in Figure 4.

A box sign 54 has two such brackets 44 mounted to its rearwall so that the flanges 52 project downwards and are spaced from the rear wall, one above the other. A pair of mounting devices of the present invention are mounted to a post 56, as shown, spaced one above the other by the same distance as the brackets 44 on the box sign. The screws 37 are tightened just sufficiently to ensure that the mounting devices are firmly mounted on the post at the desired positions. However, the screws are nottightenedto theirfullest extent possible. Thus, the slots 42 remain, and can receive the flange 52 of the brackets on the rear of the box sign.Thus, the two mounting devices can be initially mounted to the post, and the box sign can then be lifted into place, with the flanges 52 entering the slots 42, and will be supported there by the mounting devices while the screws 37 are then furthertightened. This furthertightening applies increased pressure on the plate 22 towards the base 16 of the saddle member 10, causing the tangs 40 to deflect backtowards the plane of the base of the saddle member until the flanges 52 of the brackets 44are firmly gripped between the bases of the saddle member and their respective clamping plates.

Althoughforconveniencethetangs have been described as located in the saddle member, they could alternatively be provided in the clamping plate 22.

Furthermore, the invention could be applied to mounting devices of different configuration, for example not having a saddle member as shown, but essentially having two relatively movable parts which are drawn towards each other when the strap is tightened around the post, thereby gripping a flange on the object being mounted, the two parts being initially held apart bytangs or the like spacer members, which allowthe mounting memberto be mounted to the post before the object is attached to the mounting member.

Claims

1. Adeviceformounting an objectto a post,the object being provided with a mou nting fl a nge, the device having a first member for seating againstthe post and a second member adapted for securing to the post by means of a tightenable strap, the second member having a clamping part disposed adjacent an abutment part on the first member on the side thereof remote from its engagementwith the post whereby when the strap istightened around the post the clamping part is drawn towards the abutment part and can thereby clamp said flange located between them, characterised inthattheabutmentpart orthe clamping part has spacer elements projecting towards the clamping part or the abutment part, respectively, so asto maintain a space between the clamping part and the abutment part when the strap is initially tightened, the spacer elements being spaced apart so as to define with the abutment part and clamping part a slot into which a said flange can be inserted,the spacer elements being deflectable when the strap is furthertightened, whereby said flange is gripped by the clamping partandtheabut- ment part.

2. A mounting device according to claim 1 wherein the first membertakes the form of a saddle for seating againstthe post.

3. A mounting device according to claim 2 wherein the saddle is in the form of a channel shaped member comprising a pair of opposite sides and a base,the edges of the sides remote from the base being shaped to seat against the post, the base providing said abutment partfacing the clamping part.

4. A mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spacer elements are in the form of tangs pressed out of a sheet material portion of said abutment part or clamping part towards the clamping part or abutment part, respectively.

5. A mounting device according to claim 4 wherein the tangs face in mutually opposite directions.

6. Amounting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the clamping member takes the form of a plate facing the abutment part, with a pairofattachmentelementsprojecting from opposite ends of the plate towards the abutment part so as to lie at opposite ends thereof.

7. A mounting device according to claim 6, including a pair of straps extending from the attachment elements in the direction awayfrom the clamping plate, the ends ofthe straps remote from the attachment elements being joined by a screw device which enables the straps to betightened around the post, thereby drawing the attachment platetowards the base of the channel member.

8. A mounting device according to claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.