GB2240516A

GB2240516A - Apparatus for supporting glass

Info

Publication number: GB2240516A
Application number: GB8927626A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Harold Kirkham; Gary John Hickman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-06
Filing date: 1989-12-06
Publication date: 1991-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-06
Also published as: GB2240516B; GB8927626D0

Abstract

Apparatus for carrying sheets of glass, for example on the side of a vehicle (12), comprises a frame (10) attached to the vehicle and a plurality of elongate stakes (28) each of which is detachably clampable against the frame (10) to clamp the glass (30) between the frame and the stakes. Each stake (28) is in relatively telescopic parts (32, 34) which can be drawn together by a ratchet (62). The ends of each stake engage the frame so that when the ratchet (62) is tightened the stake is drawn in towards the frame with a camming action to clamp the glass against the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Apparatus for Supporting Glass Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for supporting glass.

The invention was devised to provide apparatus suitable for fitting to the external side of a van to enable the van to transport large sheets of plate glass in a substantially upright position, and this is the primary application of the invention. However, the invention may be used in any situation where sheets of glass are to be carried, stored or transported.

Background to the Invention Known glass-supporting systems for fitting to the sides of vans generally include a frame which is attached to the external side of the van and vertical members called stakes which are detachably clampable against the frame in order to retain the glass between the frame and the stakes. The upper and lower ends of the stakes locate with respect to the upper and lower edges of the frame but there is generally no provision for adjusting the spacing of a clamped stake from the frame to suit differing thicknesses of glass, such variations generally being accommodated by the use of packing wedges or adjustable brackets on the stakes.The positioning of such wedges or adjustable brackets at positions near the tops of the stakes generally involves someone climbing a step ladder or the like to gain access, an operation which is time consuming and hazardous, bearing in mind the proximity of the glass. The invention aims to provide glass-supporting apparatus in which each stake is continuously adjustable in position throughout a range of movement to enable the stake to be clamped against differing thicknessess of glass.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention apparatus for carrying sheets of glass comprises a frame, a plurality of elongate stakes, each of which is detachably clampable against the frame to clamp the sheet of glass between the frame and the stakes, wherein each stake is in two relatively telescopic parts to enable the effective length of the stake to be adjusted, and actuating means for varying the effective length of the stake and for retaining the telescopic parts in an adjusted position, the ends of each stake and the frame having cooperating formations such that when the actuating means are operated to reduce the effective length of the stake the latter is, by virtue of the shape of said formations, drawn in towards the frame in order to clamp the sheet of glass against the frame.

The actuating means preferably include a ratchet which is attached to one part of each stake and through which passes a belt, strap, webbing or like tension member which is attached to the other part of the stake. The ratchet is preferably manually operable by a lever which is "stroked" to tension the belt, strap, webbing or the like, to cause controlled shortening of the effective length of the stake and consequent movement of the stake towards the frame. Hence, controlled operation of one ratchet lever on each stake has the effect of moving the stake towards the frame so as to give a controlled clamping action against a sheet of glass interposed between the frame and the stake.

The frame will normally be intended to be mounted on the external side of a van, with the stakes extending between and engaging upper and lower edge members of the frame.

The ratchet on each stake is preferably located near the lower end of the stake (for ease of access to and operation of the ratchet), and in a preferred embodiment the ratchet is rigidly attached adjacent the lower end of the upper part of the stake, the lower part of the stake being slidable in the upper part and at its lower end carrying an anchorage for the belt, strap webbing or the like.

The formations preferably comprise a projection at the lower end of each stake and guides which are provided at spaced intervals along the lower edge of the frame and within which the respective projections slide, each guide being angled so that it rises at a predetermined angle (such as 15 ) in a direction towards the frame (assuming the letter to be vertical). At the upper end of each stake, there is preferably a formation in the form of a projecting arm which extends at an acute angle (such as 75") to the general longitudinal direction of the stake the arm extending over and engaging the upper edge member of the frame.

Glass supporting apparatus according to the invention and fitted to the side of a van will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the glass supporting apparatus fitted to the van, Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line II-II Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the upper end of each stake and associated structure, and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the lower end of each stake and associated structure.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a rectangular frame 10 which is secured to the side of a van 12. The frame 10 is fabricated from tubular aluminium alloy or mild steel members and comprises a top rail 14, a bottom rail 16, end uprights 18 and two horizontal slats 20 which span the upright 18 and carry resilient strips 22 (Figure 2). A horizontally projecting lower ledge member 24 is welded to the bottom rail 16, and the ledge 24 carries four horizontally spaced resilient blocks 26.

Five detachable stakes 28, which are detachable from the frame 10, act to clamp a sheet of glass 30 against the strips 22 carried by the frame 10. Each stake 28 has a plurality of resilient pads 31 for engagement with the surface of the glass 30. The five stakes 28 are of similar construction and one will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5. Each stake 28 comprises two relatively telescopic tubular parts, namely an upper part 32 and a lower part 34 which is slidable within the upper part 32 to enable the effective length of the stake 28 to be varied. The upper end of each stake 28 carries a projecting arm 36 which has a lower flange 38 making an angle of about 75 with the longitudinal direction of the stake 28 and terminating in a downturned lip 40.As best shown in Figure 3, the top rail 14 has five spaced slots 42 the lower margin of each of which is spanned by a cylindrical rod 44 welded to the top rail 14, the slots 42 being provided at the respective positions of the stakes 28.

The lower end of the lower part 34 of each stake carries a downwardly extending projection 46 in the shape of an inverted 'T', and this projection 46 is slidable along an inclined slot 48 defined between two wedge-shaped flanges 50 welded in the angle of the ledge 24. There are thus five pairs of flanges 50, welded to the ledge at spaced positions, defining five slots 48 respectively aligned with the five slots 42 in the top rail 14. Each slot 48 extends upwardly towards the frame at an angle of about 15 to the horizontal (assuming the frame 10 to be vertical).

A ratchet 52 is attached to the lower end of the upper part 32 of each stake 28. A length of webbing 54 passes through the ratchet, and the lower end of the webbing is attached to an anchorage 56 at the lower end of the lower part 34 of each stake 28. The ratchet 52 has a toothed ratchet wheel 58 engaged by a spring-loaded pawl 60, and stroking movement of a ratchet handle or lever 62 causes the webbing 54 to be wound around t'ne split spindle of the ratchet, which thereby tensions the webbing and tends to cause the upper and lower parts of the stake to be moved together so as to shorten the effective length of the stake.

In use, the sheet of plate glass 30 is placed against the strips 22, with the lower edge of the glass resting on the blocks 26, it being understood that the stakes 28 are removed from the frame 10. The stakes 28 are then placed in position, with each arm 36 being located in the corresponding slot 42 and each projection 46 located in the corresponding slot 48. The five stakes 28 are then pushed towards the glass until the pads 31 gently engage the glass. Each ratchet lever 62 is then rotated which causes the upper and lower parts 32, 34 of the corresponding stake 28 to be pulled together so as to shorten the effective length of the stake. This shortening of the effective length of the stake causes the stake to be progressively drawn, with a controlled action, towards the glass which is thereby firmly clamped in position.

It will be appreciated that each stake 28 is drawn towards the glass by virtue of the angles imparted to the slot 48 and the flange 38, and that as the effective length of the stake is reduced, the projection 46 slides up the slot 48 and the lower edge of the flange 38 rides over the rod 44, so that both ends of the stake are drawn towards the glass. The clamping effect is released by moving each pawl so as to release the tension in the webbing, which enables the two parts of each stake to be slid apart and for the stake to be moved away from t'ne frame and ultimately removed therefrom so that the sheet of glass may be lifted off the support blocks 26.

Claims

1. Apparatus for carrying sheets of glass, comprising a frame, a plurality of elongate stakes, each of which is detachably clampable against the frame to clamp a sheet of glass between the frame and the stakes, wherein each stake is in two relatively telescopic parts to enable the effective length of the stake to be adjusted, and actuating means for varying the effective length of the stake and for retaining the telescopic parts in an adjusted position, the ends of each stake and the frame having cooperating formations such that when the actuating means are operated to reduce the effective length of the stake the latter is, by virtue of the shape of said formations, drawn in towards the frame in order to clamp the sheet of glass against the frame.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means include a ratchet which is attached to one part of each stake and through which passes a belt, strap, webbing or like tension member which is attached to the other part of the stake.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ratchet is manually operable by a lever which is "stroked" to tension the belt, strap, webbing or tension like member to cause controlled shortening of the effective length of the stake and consequent movement of the stake towards the frame.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the frame is adapted to be mounted on the external side of a van, with the stakes extending between and engaging upper and lower edge members of the frame.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4r wherein the ratchet on each stake is located near the lower end of the stake for ease of access to and operation of the ratchet.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ratchet is rigidly attached adjacent the lower end of the upper part of the stake, the lower part of the stake being slidable in the upper part and at its lower end carrying an anchorage for the belt, strap, webbing or like tension member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the formations comprise a projection at the lower end of each stake and guides which are provided at spaced intervals along the lower edge of the frame and within which the respective projections slide, each guide being angled so that it rises at a predetermined angle in a direction towards the frame.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at the upper end of each stake there is a formation in the form of a projecting arm which extends at an acute angle to the general longitudinal direction of the stake, the arm extending over and engaging the upper edge member of the frame.

9. Apparatus for carrying sheets of glass, substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.