GB2196714A - Connecting plates - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting plate 2 e.g. for use in the assembly of constructional members suitable as recreational equipment, especially children's playground equipment may be V- shaped and has notched or crenellated edge portion which define a plurality of lobes on the two arm portions of the plate. Apertures are provided in the lobes to receive fastening bolts which secure constructional members (1) together by means of the plate. The lobes of one arm of one plate nest with the lobes of the other arm of an adjacent plate. The plates are received in slots in the ends of the constructional members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connecting plates or brackets The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to connecting plates or brackets.

It is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with plates or brackets for use in connecting two or more members in the construction of framework for example for use as recreational equipment, especially children's playground equipment.

In the construction of framework for example comprising a plurality of constructional members such as beams, the members are conventionally connected together by metal plates or brackets secured by bolts or screws to surfaces of the members. In certain contexts, these plates or brackets may be unsightly and when, for example used in equipment for use for recreational purposes, that is from playground equipment to assault courses, can cause injury to persons using the equipment. Maintenance of equipment may also be unduly expensive whether due to wear and tear or the attention of vandals.

It is an object of the invention to provide a connecting plate the use of which minimises the above disadvantages and reduces the risk of damage through vandalism.

The invention provides a connecting plate for use to connect two or more constructional members to each other, said plate comprising at least a portion thereof having a notched or crenellated edge portion defining a plurality of lobes along said edge portion.

Advantageously, at least selected ones of said lobes may be perforated to provide apertures to receive fastening means, for example bolts, passing therethrough. In a preferred example, the configuration of the lobes on an edge portion of one plate allows the lobes to be interengaged with similar lobes formed on edge portions of a further plate according to the invention. Conveniently each plate may be formed with a first set of lobes and a second set of lobes, the second set of lobes of one plate interengaging with the first set of lobes of the second plate, and if appropriate, the second set of lobes on the second plate intergaging with the first set of lobes of a third plate also according to the invention.

The invention further provides an assembly of at least two constructional members each of which is provided with a slot, the slot of one member receiving the first lobes of a plate as described above and the slot of a second member receiving the second lobes.

In an example of a plate according to the invention, the plate is generally V-shaped, having two arm portions, and the first lobes are provided on an outer edge portion of one arm portion and the second lobes are provided on an outer edge portion of the second arm portion. The arm portions may be arranged to include an angle which may conveniently be 60 or 72", 90" or even 1200. Where the chosen angle is a divisor of 360" it will be appreciated that an appropriate number of constructional members, six, five, four or even three, may be arranged to radiate from a hub region in which a like number of plates are positioned within slots in adjacent members.

The invention therefore further provides an assembly of a plurality of elongate constructional members each of which is provided with a slot formed through an end portion thereof, a like number of plates having first and second lobes as described above, the construction and arrangement being that each slot encloses second lobes of one of said plates and, interengaged therewith, first lobes of an adjacent one of said plates, fastening means passing at least partially through the end portion of each member and through apertures in the plates.

In an example to be described below, the apertures of the first lobes of one plate are arranged to be in line with the apertures of the interengaged second lobes of an adjacent plate.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic partial view of a central hub of a hexagonal framework; Figure 2 is a plan view of a connecting plate according to a preferred embpdiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a sectional partial view of a beam in which at least one connecting plate is received; and Figure 4 is a perspective partial view of the beam illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the assembly illustrated in Fig. 1, six wooden beams 1 meet at a central hub region to form part of a hexagonal framework. The assembly comprises six interengaging connecting plates 2 and a plurality of screw fasteners (not shown).

Each connecting plate 2, shown in Fig. 2, has two elongate and coplanar arm portions 3 and 4 which include an angle of 60 . The arm portion 3 has an inner edge 5 which is straight, and an outer edge 6 which is crenellated to provide first lobes 7, 8 and 9. Similarly the arm portion 4 has a straight inner edge 10 and a crenellated outer edge 11. The edge 11 is also crenellated, in complementary form to that of edge 6, to provide second lobes 12 and 13. If desired, the edges of the crenellations may themselves be scalloped or undulating as shown in Fig. 1 or may be straight as in Fig. 2.

Thus the edge 6 of a first connecting plate 2 is adapted to be placed in juxtaposed relationship with the edge 11 of a second connecting plate 2, thereby interengaging respective lobes 7, 8, 9 and 12, 13. Hence, by interengaging six of the connecting plates 2 in like manner, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the six beams are connected to one another with a central hub region.

Each of the arm portions members 3 and 4, is received in an elongate slot 14 formed in an end portion of the associated beam 1.

Each of a plurality of clearance holes 15 in each of the respective arms 3 and 4 is aligned with a corresponding screw hole 16 in the associated beam. One of the screw fasteners is received in each screw hole 16 and is tightened to clamp the respective members 3 and 4 in position.

The screw holes 16, shown in Fig. 3, are pre-tapped with coarse screw thread and are suitable for counter-sink headed screws or bolts. To even the stresses in each beam 1 the screw holes 16 extend variously from either an upper or lower surface of each beam 1 as desired. The screw holes 16 may be recessed if, say, a hexagonal headed screw is used.

To complete the hexagonal frame an additinal twelve connecting plates and six beams may be required to form cross members or edge or rim member (not shown). The additional connecting plates are used in pairs at outer ends of the radiating beams 1 to connect two additional rim beams thereto. Hence, a six-spoked hexagonal rimmed framework will result. This frame is then suitable for incorporating in recreational equipment especially playground equipment, and it therefore advantageously has no external protrusions at the joints. A further advantage is the strength given to the joints by the interengaging connecting plates.

If desired, the rectangular form of the lobes may be modified by forming slight undulations 1 7 on edges thereof as shown in Fig. 1.

In the described application the connecting plates 2 are conveniently formed of galvanized sheet steel. However, any suitable material may be used such as stainless steel. Also, the coplanar arm portions 3 and 4 having the 60 angle are particularly suited to use in the flat hexagonal frame. It will be appreciated however, that the arm portions 3 and 4 need not be coplanar, so that a dished framework may be achieved. The angle may be selected as required when other framework shapes are desired.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (12)

1. A connecting plate for use to connect two or more constructional members to each other, said plate comprising at least a portion thereof having a notched or crenellated edge portions defining a plurality of lobes along said edge portions.

2. A plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least selected ones of said lobes are perforated to provide apertures to receive fastening means passing therethrough.

3. A plate as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein lobes of one plate edge portion are interengageable with lobes on an edge portion of an adjacent similar plate.

4. A plate as claimed in claim 3, provided with a first set of lobes and and a second set of lobes, the second set of lobes of a first plate being interengageable with a first set of lobes of an adjacent similar plate and the second set of lobes of said adjacent similar plate being engageable with a first set of lobes of a third, similar, plate.

5. Two plates according to claim 4 so far as it is dependent on claims 2 and 3, arranged adjacent to one another with the second set of lobes of the first plate interengaged with the first set with the first set of lobes of a second plate so that said apertures of said two sets of lobes are in line.

6. A plate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having a generally V-shaped configuration and being provided with two arm portions, the first lobes being provided on an outer edge portion of one arm portion and the second lobes being provided on an outer edge portion of the second arm portion.

7. A plate as claimed in claim 6 wherein the arm portions are arranged to include an angle which is a divisor of 360 .

8. A plate as claimed in claim 7 in which said angle is 60

9. An assembly of at least two constructional members each of which is provided with a slot, the slot of one member receiving the first lobes of a plate according to claim 5 and the slot of a second member receiving the second lobes of said plate.

10. An assembly of elongate constructional members each of which is provided with a through slot, the slot of one member receiving the first lobes of a plate according to claim 7 and the slot of a second member receiving the second lobes of said plate, the slot of the second member receiving the first lobes of a further plate and continuing in sequence around 360 so that the second lobes of the last plate of the sequence being received in the slot of the first mentioned constructional member.

11. A connecting plate constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings.

12. An assembly of constructional members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.