GB2202297A

GB2202297A - Improvements in the fixing of tubular members

Info

Publication number: GB2202297A
Application number: GB08805197A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Stapleton; Martin Edward Norwood
Original assignee: ARENSON INT Ltd
Current assignee: ARENSON INT Ltd
Priority date: 1987-03-18
Filing date: 1988-03-04
Publication date: 1988-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-04
Also published as: GB2202297B; GB8805197D0; GB8706446D0

Abstract

A connecting device for tubular uprights such as in screen systems comprises spigots (2) for entering respective uprights (10) and a bridging member (3). The spigots (2) are jammed in the uprights by lateral expansion caused by inward compressive forces exerted by coaxial bolts (4). Alternatively, the spigots (2) are expanded by bolts which pass through lateral holes. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in the Fixing of Tubular Members DESCRIPTION This invention is concerned with the fixing of a tubular or part tubular member. The invention is specially concerned with the fixing together of tubular uprights in a screen system and, in this application, has the objective of providing a fixing means which allows a screen to be detached from an in situ screen system.

According to the present invention there is provided a fixing or connecting device for a tubular member such device comprising a spigot to be located longitudinally within the bore of the tubular member, said spigot being laterally expandable to jam within the tube, and means to cause said lateral expansion, said means engaging with this spigot in two locations, one generally longitudinally of the spigot the other generally laterally.

Thus a device in accordance with the invention can fix together two laterally aligned adjacent tubular members. Such a device has side-byside spigots connected by a bridging member. The spigots are inserted into the bores of the laterally adjacent tubes and are expanded to fix the tubular members.

The lateral expansion can conveniently be achieved by dividing the spigot along two intersecting diameters at right angles to one another. Intersecting axial and lateral bores are provided. Inward compressive forces applied along the bores will cause the spigot parts defined by the divisions to expand thereby achieving jamming within the tube and hence fixing. These compressive forces can be achieved by providing a bolt with a conical head and a nut for the bolt with an opposed conical surface; tightening the nut and bolt therefore causes the conical surfaces to approach one another to achieve the desired inward compressive forces. The spigot has appropriate conical countersinks at the base ends to allow this to be achieved.

The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a connecting device in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention and, Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 interconnecting the upper parts of two screens, Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 interconnecting the lower parts of the screens.

Referring initially to Figure 1 the connecting device 1 illustrated therein is formed from a suitable tough and resilient plastics material. The piece may be moulded, or initially formed solid and machined to shape. The device comprises two identical spigots 2 extending at right angles from a bridging piece 3 with a gap 4 between them. The spigot is of square cross-section and divided into four equal parts by diametric slots 5 extending at right angles to one another. Each spigot part 6, though rooted to the briding piece, is capable of limited flexing movement about its root. A cylindrical bore 7 extends through the centre axis of the spigot 2 and the bridging piece 3. At each end of the bore 7 a countersink 8 is formed.Each countersink has a conical base, one countersink having a hexagonal part to receive and locate a nut and the other being truly conical to receive and allow rotation of a bolt head. As can be seen in Figure 1(1) and 1(111) a similar bore with corresponding countersinks at either end extends across the spigot 2. It will be appreciated that inward compressive force as applied between the countersinks on each bore will cause in the case of the axial bore all four spigot parts 6 to expand laterally outwardly in different directions and in the case of the lateral bore opposed pairs of spigot parts to expand in opposite directions.

Turning now to Figure 3 two side-by-side screens 9 with upper corner parts of the front facing broken away to show the internal construction are shown. These screens form part of a screening system for partitioning an office or other space. Each screen has side uprights 10 of square tubular form.

The uprights have vertically elongate slots 13 in their walls. A connecting device 1, as described with reference to Figure 1 is shown about to have spigots 2 inserted into respective tubes 10. Prior to that positioning each bolt 11 is inserted vertically downwards through the axial bores in the spigots 2 and each conical nut 12 is screwed onto the bolt 11 into the countersink, just sufficient to bring the bolt up tight without causing any expansion. After insertion the bolts vertically disposed with their heads pointing upwardly are tightened preferably by a supplied Alan key thus expanding the spigots and fixing them by jamming in the uprights 10. It should be appreciated that the upper part of the screens must present a smooth and flush appearance and therefore access to the fixing must be from above, the upper parts of the facing being permanently fixed.

Looking at Figure 3 however the screens have a removable lower part or skirting thereby providing access to the sides 1 of the lower parts of the tubular members; part of this skirting is shown broken away. The bottoms of the members being close to the ground are not readily accessible for an end screwing operation. Thus a device 1 is inserted upwardly with spigots 2 entering tubular uprights 10.

In this instance the bolts are inserted laterally into the cross bores 7 of the spigots. The bottom slot 13 of each upright has an enlargement 14 to permit this.

When inserted with the nuts fitted the bolts are again tightened, preferably with an Alan key to provide the necessary jamming expansion.

The fixing and connecting means described above can be applied and removed without moving the screens and the possibility of detaching and replacing an individual screen member in a system is provided.

A modified fixing device in accordance with the invention comprises one or more of the spigots 2 described above together with some other kind of fixing element. The or each spigot is fixed to a tube as described above and the other fixing element screwed as appropriate.

Claims

1. A fixing or connecting device for a tubular member such device comprising a spigot to be located longitudinally within the bore of the tubular member, said spigot being laterally expandable to jam within the tube, and means to cause said lateral expansion, said means engaging with the spigot in two locations, one generally longitudinally of the spigot the other generally laterlally.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 for fixing together two laterally aligned adjacent tubular members such device having side by side spigots connected by a bridging member.

3. A connecting device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the spigot is divided along two intersecting diameters intersecting axial and lateral bores being provided.

4. A connecting device according to Claim 3 including conical entry parts for bolt heads and nuts at the ends of respective bores whereby nut and bolt tightening causes the conical surfaces to approach one another causing inward compressive force to expand laterally the divided parts of the spigot.

5. Connecting devices substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. A screen fixing system including side uprights of tubular form and connecting devices as claimed in any of the preceding claims for connecting the uprights together.