GB2201923A

GB2201923A - Fastening securing members to panels

Info

Publication number: GB2201923A
Application number: GB08710440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timo Merinen
Original assignee: KONCON Ltd Oy
Current assignee: KONCON Ltd Oy
Priority date: 1987-03-10
Filing date: 1987-05-01
Publication date: 1988-09-14
Also published as: GB8710440D0; NL8701008A; FR2612262A1; FI871035A0; FI871035A

Abstract

In order to improve the strength of the structure and to obtain a tight outer surface when fastening load securing members to a plate eg the wall of a load carrying vehicle, the fastening means are formed by bushing members (7) provided with a head (6), which bushing members (7) are fastened unrotatably in a hole (4) cut into the plate so as to extend through a plate material (2) and a coating material (3). A recess (5) larger than said hole (4) and surrounding it is formed in the uncoated surface of the plate material (2), so that when the bushing member (7) is positioned in place, the head (6) thereof is pressed into the recess (5) so that the upper surface of the head (6) is positioned substantially in level with the surface of the plate. The heads (6) in level with the surface of the plate material (2) are covered by a coating layer (9) applied to said surface. The load securing members may be fastened in place by eg bolts 10. <IMAGE>

Description

FASTENING MEANS AND METHOD A method for fastening the fastening means of securing members to a coated plate and a plate provided with such fastening means The invention relates to a method for fastening the fastening means of securing members, load securing members in particular, to a plate provided with a coating. The invention is also concerned with a plate provided with such fastening means.

The invention is particularly concerned with the fastening of load securing hooks, loops and cleats to the walls of truck trailers, transport coaches, cargo ship containers, etc.

Three different principles of fastening the fastening means of such securing members to wall plates are previously known.

One known solution is to fasten the securing means to a wall plate by means of a wooden screw. A disadvantage of this solution is the weakness of the structure, because the pull-out strength of the screw is not sufficient, and the securing means are torn off under wearing conditions.

Another known solution is to fasten the securing members by means of bolts going through the wall plate.

A disadvantage of this known solution is that moisture gradually gets within-the plate through the heads of the bolts, and rots the wall plate made of plywood, for instance. A further disadvantage is that the bolt heads protruding form the outer surface of the wall hamper the posting of printed placards, e.g., on the outer walls of a trailer.

Still another known solution is to fasten metal sheets on the inner surface of a plate at the manufacturing stage. Such metal sheets are fastened on the inner surface of the plate under the coating material, such as reinforced plastic, during the manufacture of the plate. The securing members are fastened to the plate by means of screws. Holes are bored for the screws in the plate within the area of the metal sheets so that the screw is fixed to the metal, and the pull-out strength is improved. A disadvantage of this known solution is the weakness of the structure, because the sites of the metal plates are cut into the inner surface of the wall plate before a coating is applied thereto.

This breaks the structure of plywood, or instance, and substantially deteriorates the stiffness of the wall in the vertical direction. Consequently, the wall bends easily under a load, and may even break in some cases.

The solution also has the disadvantage of high manufacturing costs and laborious manufacture. The metal sheets considerably increase the weight of the plate, which reduces the amount of the permissible net load. The basic material of the wall plate, such as plywood, has to be relatively thick for the achievement of a minimum strength, because the cutting mentioned above deteriorates the strength of the plywood. Thick plywood further increases the weight of the wall plate.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for the fastening of the fastening means of securing members and a plate by means of which the disadvantages of prior solutions can be eliminated. This is achieved by means of a method according to the invention, which is characterized in that after a coating is applied to one surface of the plate, at least one hole going through a plate material and a coating material is cut into the plate and, further, a recess larger than the hole and surrounding said bole is formed on the uncoated surface of the plate, that a bushing member provided with a head and internal gripping means is inserted into the hole from the uncoated surface of the plate to be stationary therein, so that when the head of the bushing member is pressed into the recess, the upper surface of the head is positioned substantially in level with the surface of the plate, and that the uncoated surface of the plate is coated with a coating material after the bushing members are positioned in place. The plate according to the invention, in turn, is characterized in that the fastening means are formed by bushing members provided with internal gripping means and a head positioned at one end thereof, said bushing members being fastened within a plate material in such a way that each bushing member is arranged unrotatably in a hole going through the plate material and a coating material layer covering one surface of the plate, and the head is pressed into a recess formed in the uncoated surface of the plate material and covered with a coating material layer applied to said surface.

The invention has the advantage that it is simple and that the fastening is carried out at the coating stage of the plate in an advantageous manner. The size, design and position of the fastening means of the securing members can be chosen according to the desires of the client. The securing members can be fixed in position by means of screws supplied with the fastening means e.g. at the coach or container factory. The outer surface of the wall plate is completely integral, so that a container or the like made of such plates is completely tight. A further advantage is that the solution has a high strength, because in practice it is not possible to draw the broad head of the bushing member through a plywood, for instance.The mounting of the fastening means within the plate does not, either, deteriorate the strength properties of the plate, nor do the fastening means increase the weight of the plate.

The invention will be described in the following in more detail by means of one preferred embodiment shown in the attached drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of a plate according to the invention seen in the direction of the plane of the plate, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a finished plate.

In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a wall plate made of a plate material, such as plywood 2. A layer 3 of a coating material, such as reinforced plastic, is applied to the inner surface of the plywood plate. The term "inner surface" as used herein refers to that surface of the plate 1 which forms the inner wall of a space in a finished structure.

According to the invention the manufacture of the plate includes a step of cutting holes 4 in the plate after the coating is applied to its inner surface, which holes extend through the plywood 2 and the coating material 3. In the same step a recess 5 larger than the corresponding hole 4 is formed on the uncoated surface of the plate so that it surrounds said hole. The number of the holes as well as the position thereof can be chosen at will.

In a subsequent step a bushing member 7 provided with a head 6 and internal gripping means is inserted into each hole 4 from the uncoated side of the plate 1.

The bushing member 7 is arranged unrotatably in place so that when the head 6 is pressed into the recess 5, the upper face (the left side in Figure 1) of the head is positioned substantially in level with the surface of the plate, forming an even surface with the plate material.

This unrotatable arrangement of the bushing member is effected e.g. by means of spikes 8 provided on the lower surface of the head 6. The bushing member 7 is thereby positioned in place either by knocking or by clamping in the direction of the hole 4.

Thereafter the uncoated surface of the plate 1, i.e. its outer surface, is coated with a layer 9 of a coating material,such asareinjorced plastic. This layer 9 of coating material thus also covers the heads 6 positioned in level with the surface of the plate material 2, so that the obtained surface is integral as well as completely water-tight.

Of course, it is possible to even out the area of attachment between the head 6 and the plate material 2 before the application of the coating material layer 9, if the surface is not sufficiently even as such. The evenning can be made e.g. by putty.

The integral gripping means of the bushing members 7 may be any suitable means. For instance, a screw thread can be used, in which case the load securing members (not shown in the Figures) can be fastened in place by means of screws 10, which are screwed into the threads of the bushing members 7.

Figure 2 illustrates generally a finished plate 1, the inner surface of the plate 1 being visible in the figure. The bushing members fitted in place are designated in Figure 2 by means of the reference numerals 7 indicating the ends of said members.

The above embodiment is by no means intended to restrict the invention, but the invention can be modified within the scope of the claims as desired. Accordingly, it is obviousthat the bushing members, for instance, do not need to be exactly similar to those shown in the figures but other kind of solutions are possible as well. The plate can be manufactured of any material, and the coating material can be chosen as desired; further, the use of the plate is in no way restricted. The invention is not, either, restricted to some specific load securing members, but the invention can be applied in connection with any securing members.

The unrotatable arrangement of the bushing members in the plate can, of course, be effected in some other way than by means of the spikes shown in the figures, etc.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for fastening the fastening means of securing members, load securing members in particular, to a plate provided with a coating, characterised in that after a coating is applied to one surface of the plate (1), at least one hole (4) going through a plate material (2) and a coating material (3) is cut into the plate, and, further, a recess (5) larger than the hole (4) and surrounding said hole is formed on the uncoated surface of the plate, that a bushing member (7) provided with a head (6) and internal gripping means is inserted into the hole (4) from the uncoated surface of the plate (1) to be stationary therein, so that when the head (6) of the bushing member (7) is pressed into the recess (5), the upper surface of the head (6) is positioned substantially in Level with the surface of the plate (1), and that the uncoated surface of the plate (1) is coated with a coating material (9) after the bushing members (7) are positioned in place.

2. A method according to Claim 1 characterised in that the hole (4) going through the plate material and the recess (5) surrounding hole (4) are formed in a single step.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the area of attachment of the bushing member (7) is evened out before the uncoated surface of the plate (1) is coated.

4. A coated plate provided with fastening means for securing members, for load securing members in particular, characterised in that the fastening means are formed by bushing members (7) provided with internal gripping means and a head (6) positioned at one end thereof, said bushing members being fastened within a pLate material (2) in such a way that each bushing member (7) is arranged unrotatably in a hol (4) going through the pLate material and a coating material layer (3) covering one surface of the plate, and the head (6) is pressed into a recess (5) formed in the uncoated surface of the plate materiaL (2) and covered with a coating material layer (9) applied to said surface.

5. A coated plate according to claim 4, characterised in that the internal gripping means of the bushing members (7) are formed by screw threads.

6. Fastening means whenever fastened by the methods of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3.

7. A method for fastening the fastening means of securing members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A coated plate provided with fastening means substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.