GB2186938A - Mounting member - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongate bar 10 having a U- shaped channel with grooved channel walls 26, 28 is used to mount a sign plate on a support. Screws or bolts 40 are screw threadedly engageable with the grooves 36 of the channel walls 26, 28 and are therefore held captive at a selected position of the channel. The bar 10 may also be used to secure seat- slides in rowing eights. The bar 10 may be an aluminium extrusion. The bar may be rivetted by its base 14 to a sign plate, bolts 40 engaging the bar 10 to fasten U brackets around support posts (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mounting member The present invention relates to mounting devices which, for example, secure a sign plate to a supporting post.

A known way of securing a sign plate to its supporting post is by means of a mounting bracket having a shape, generally in the form of a "U", which enables it to be passed around the post, the ends of the bracket being fastened to the rear of the sign plate, and the bracket being tightened around the post. Typically, the ends of the bracket are formed as mutually out-turned flanges, apertured to receive bolts by means of which the bracket is fastened to the sign plate.

One or more elongate bars are often attached to the back of the sign plate, primarily for reinforcement, and these can be used for connection to the bolts of the mounting bracket.

Such a bar may be formed as a single aluminium extrusion and may be attached to the sign plate by e.g. pop rivets. The bar has a restricted-mouth channel which extends lengthwise through the bar.

The heads of the bolts used to secure the U-shaped bracket are located in the channel and the shanks of the bolts extend through the restricted mouth, through the apertures in the flanges of the U-shaped brackets and are secured by nuts.

This device relies on the bolt remaining captive inside the channel, on its being slidableto a position corresponding to the apertures in the flanges and on their not rotating as the nuts are tightened.

The present invention provides a different approach.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bar having a U-shaped channel which extends lengthwise and which channel has walls with parallel grooves extending longitudinally of the channel. Screws or screw-threaded bolts can be screwed into the channel, the threads engaging with the grooves in the channel walls.

In a preferred form the bar comprises three box sections; a base box with two smaller boxes on the base box to define the channel between them.

Suitably, the bar is of integral construction and is made by extrusion, typically of aluminium.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sign plate with one or more said bars secured to one side of the plate with the channel opening in the direction remote from the plate.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sign comprising a said sign plate secured to a supporting post using screws or bolts engaged in the channels of the bars.

In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood, an embodiment is described by way of example and with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an elongate bar according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 shows an end view of the elongate bar shown in Fig. 1, and a boit.

Referring first to Fig. 1; an elongate bar 10, e.g. extruded from aluminium, comprises three box sections, a base box section 30, and two identical, smaller box sections 32,34 atop the base section 30, to define a U-shaped channel 12.

The base section 30 is defined by a base wall 14, convergent side walls 16, 18, and a web 20. The smaller box sections 32, 34 are in part defined by extensions of the side walls 16,18, respectively, and also by top walls 22,24, and channel walls 26,28, connecting the top walls 22, 24 respectively to the web 20. Channel walls 26,28 are longitudinally grooved 36 in the extension operation.

A bolt 40, shown in Fig. 2, comprises a head 42 and a shank 44 which has threads 46. The bolt 40 is used to fasten, for example, U-shaped brackets to the bar 10. The shank 44 passes through an aperture in a flange of the bracket (not shown) and the threads 46 engage the grooves 36 in the channel 12, the spacing of the grooves being selected to match the pitch of the screw. The bolt 40 may be tightened to secure the bracket.

The bolt 40 may engage any part of the channel 12, the channel 12 having a uniform cross-section.

Further, this device does not rely on a bolt being captive within the channel.

In use, one or more bars are secured to a sign plate, for example by rivetting the plate to the bottom wall 14 of the bar, so that the channel 12 opens in the direction remote from the plate. The bars are then secured to a supporting post by straps and bolts as described above.

The box section construction gives strength to the bar 10 and resists the bolt 40 forcing the channel walls 26,28 apart.

The bar 12 is not iimited to the construction or shape of the above embodiment, and other forms will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Though, the above example is extruded from aluminium, the present invention is not so limited. Further, dimensions of the bar may be varied to suit the application, which although exemplified by, is not restricted to sign plates. Indeed, the present invention may be applied to the securing of seatslides in rowing eights etc.

1. Bar for mounting a panel on a bracket, the bar having a U-shaped channel which extends lengthwise and which channel has walls with parallel grooves extending longitudinally of the channel, for engaging screw threaded rods.

2. Bar according to claim 1 wherein the bar comprises three box sections; a base bbx with two smaller boxes on the base box to define the channel between them.

3. Bar according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bar is of integral construction and is made by extrusion.

4. Bar, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. Sign plate comprising a panel and one or more of the bars according to any one of the preceding claims, said bars being secured to one side of the panel with the channel opening in the direction remote from the plate.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Mounting member The present invention relates to mounting devices which, for example, secure a sign plate to a supporting post. A known way of securing a sign plate to its supporting post is by means of a mounting bracket having a shape, generally in the form of a "U", which enables it to be passed around the post, the ends of the bracket being fastened to the rear of the sign plate, and the bracket being tightened around the post. Typically, the ends of the bracket are formed as mutually out-turned flanges, apertured to receive bolts by means of which the bracket is fastened to the sign plate. One or more elongate bars are often attached to the back of the sign plate, primarily for reinforcement, and these can be used for connection to the bolts of the mounting bracket. Such a bar may be formed as a single aluminium extrusion and may be attached to the sign plate by e.g. pop rivets. The bar has a restricted-mouth channel which extends lengthwise through the bar. The heads of the bolts used to secure the U-shaped bracket are located in the channel and the shanks of the bolts extend through the restricted mouth, through the apertures in the flanges of the U-shaped brackets and are secured by nuts. This device relies on the bolt remaining captive inside the channel, on its being slidableto a position corresponding to the apertures in the flanges and on their not rotating as the nuts are tightened. The present invention provides a different approach. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bar having a U-shaped channel which extends lengthwise and which channel has walls with parallel grooves extending longitudinally of the channel. Screws or screw-threaded bolts can be screwed into the channel, the threads engaging with the grooves in the channel walls. In a preferred form the bar comprises three box sections; a base box with two smaller boxes on the base box to define the channel between them. Suitably, the bar is of integral construction and is made by extrusion, typically of aluminium. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sign plate with one or more said bars secured to one side of the plate with the channel opening in the direction remote from the plate. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sign comprising a said sign plate secured to a supporting post using screws or bolts engaged in the channels of the bars. In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood, an embodiment is described by way of example and with reference to the drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an elongate bar according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 shows an end view of the elongate bar shown in Fig. 1, and a boit. Referring first to Fig. 1; an elongate bar 10, e.g. extruded from aluminium, comprises three box sections, a base box section 30, and two identical, smaller box sections 32,34 atop the base section 30, to define a U-shaped channel 12. The base section 30 is defined by a base wall 14, convergent side walls 16, 18, and a web 20. The smaller box sections 32, 34 are in part defined by extensions of the side walls 16,18, respectively, and also by top walls 22,24, and channel walls 26,28, connecting the top walls 22, 24 respectively to the web 20. Channel walls 26,28 are longitudinally grooved 36 in the extension operation. A bolt 40, shown in Fig. 2, comprises a head 42 and a shank 44 which has threads 46. The bolt 40 is used to fasten, for example, U-shaped brackets to the bar 10. The shank 44 passes through an aperture in a flange of the bracket (not shown) and the threads 46 engage the grooves 36 in the channel 12, the spacing of the grooves being selected to match the pitch of the screw. The bolt 40 may be tightened to secure the bracket. The bolt 40 may engage any part of the channel 12, the channel 12 having a uniform cross-section. Further, this device does not rely on a bolt being captive within the channel. In use, one or more bars are secured to a sign plate, for example by rivetting the plate to the bottom wall 14 of the bar, so that the channel 12 opens in the direction remote from the plate. The bars are then secured to a supporting post by straps and bolts as described above. The box section construction gives strength to the bar 10 and resists the bolt 40 forcing the channel walls 26,28 apart. The bar 12 is not iimited to the construction or shape of the above embodiment, and other forms will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Though, the above example is extruded from aluminium, the present invention is not so limited. Further, dimensions of the bar may be varied to suit the application, which although exemplified by, is not restricted to sign plates. Indeed, the present invention may be applied to the securing of seatslides in rowing eights etc. CLAIMS

1. Bar for mounting a panel on a bracket, the bar having a U-shaped channel which extends lengthwise and which channel has walls with parallel grooves extending longitudinally of the channel, for engaging screw threaded rods.

2. Bar according to claim 1 wherein the bar comprises three box sections; a base bbx with two smaller boxes on the base box to define the channel between them.

3. Bar according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bar is of integral construction and is made by extrusion.

4. Bar, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. Sign plate comprising a panel and one or more of the bars according to any one of the preceding claims, said bars being secured to one side of the panel with the channel opening in the direction remote from the plate.

6. Sign comprising a sign plate according to claim secured to a supporting post using screws or bolts engaged in the channels of the bars.