GB2286644A

GB2286644A - Connection

Info

Publication number: GB2286644A
Application number: GB9410150A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rainer Clover
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-20
Filing date: 1994-05-20
Publication date: 1995-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2014-05-20
Also published as: GB2286644A8; GB2286644B; GB9410150D0

Abstract

A member C (Figure 1) is secured in the end of an upright post or horizontal rail P by forcing a cone nut 5 between the legs 2 by means of a bolt 9. The member C may have an opening 11 (or open channel) to receive a handrail 12 which conceals the screwhead. In Figure 4, a separate plug 15 is screwed into a thread 18 of a pipe 17. Barbed wire 14 is held in extension 13. <IMAGE>

Description

CONCEALED CONNECTION The invention relates to a concealed connection of two elements, and in particular to such a connection which cannot easily be dismantled. There is a need for such a connection e.g. in the case where the presence of a screw or bolthead will mar the appearance of one of the elements or in the case where for security one does not wish to reveal how the connection might be dismantled.

In one aspect the invention provides an elongate element having a hollow end such as a post, a cap member at the end of the post, the cap member comprising an outer portion and a depending foot received in the hollow end, the foot having opposite foot portions, a washer member being present between the foot portions, a bolt member extending through the cap into the washer and arranged so that tightening of the bolt member urges the foot portions apart to engage the inside surface of the hollow end.

Preferably the inside surfaces of the opposite foot portions lie on divergent planes.

Preferably there is a plurality of foot portions arranged in a circle as seen in plan.

It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the outer portion is arranged to receive a further element to conceal the head of the bolt. In the case of a hand rail, the outer portion defines an elongate channel for a hand rail. In the case of a security fence, the outer portion may include an upwardly directed extension to hold e.g. lengths of barbed wire or the like.

Preferably the bolt member is releasable so that the connection can be dismantled.

The cap member may be made of aluminium or like metal, a non-metal; a cermet or the like.

The invention extends to the cap member per se.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a security post incorporating a cap member of the invention Figure 2 is a side elevation of another cap member of the invention for a hand rail less the bolt and washer; Figure 3 is an undemeath plan of the cap member of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a side elevation of another cap member of the invention connecting a post to an elbow pipe.

The same reference numerals are used to describe the same parts in the different embodiments.

As shown in Figure 1, a vertical post P has a bore B. A cap C member comprises an upper annular portion 1 having the same outside diameter as the post. An integral foot portion 2 depends from the annular portion 1 and comprises four foot portions 3. The feet are arranged in a circle and have an arcuate form and taper downwardly. The outside walls of the feet are generally parallel whereas the inner wall 4 of the feet narrows towards its free end. A washer 5, Figure 3, is received between the feet 4 and has a ramp surface 6 complementary to those of the inner surface 4 of the feet. A bolt hole 7 is present in the annular portion 2 and there is a hole 8 in the washer in alignment with the bolt hole. When a threaded bolt 9 is inserted through the cap hole 7 and is threaded into the hole of the washer 5 there is formed an assembly of the cap, the bolt and the washer.In use, the cap is fitted on the end of the post P with the feet inside the bore and then the bolt 9 is tightened so drawing the washer 5 up the inside surfaces of the depending feet 4 urging them apart into frictional engagement with the opposite inner surface of the bore until the cap is then held firmly to the post.

The top of the cap includes a further structure. In the case of Figures 2 and 3 this is a channel section length of metal 10 shaped to receive a circular handrail. When the rail is held in position by screws, not shown, in holes 11 in the length 10 the head of the bolt 9 is concealed and there are no external signs of the way in which the cap is held to the post. In the case of Figure 1 the head of the cap includes a passageway 11 through which extends a rail 12 holding the posts P together. An extension arm 13 projects beyond the cap member C e.g. to hold rows of barbed wire 14. The post forms the fence post and is used to support a security fence where concealment of the bolt head is particularly important.

In Figure 4, the cap member 2 has a flat roof and a separate plug 15 having a hole 16 is threaded by a common long bolt 9A to the cap and to the washer. The plug 15 has an external thread and an elbow connector or pipe 17 having an internal thread 18 at each end is threaded on to the plug 15. In this way the pipe 17 is connected to a horizontal post P in a concealed way.

Claims

1. An elongate element having a hollow end, a cap member at the end of the elongate member, the cap member comprising an outer portion and a depending foot received in the hollow end, the foot having opposite foot portions, a washer member being present between the foot portions, a bolt member extending through the cap into the washer member and arranged so that tightening of the bolt member urges the foot portions apart to engage the inside surface of the hollow end.

2. An element according to Claim 1, wherein the inside surface of the opposite foot portions lie on divergent planes.

3. An element according to Claim 1 or 2, including a plurality of foot portions arranged in a circle as seen in plan.

4. An element according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the outer portion is arranged to receive a further element to conceal the head of the bolt.

5. An element according to Claim 4, wherein the outer portion defines an elongate channel for a hand rail.

6. An element according to Claim 4, wherein the outer portion includes an upwardly directed extension overlying the cap member.

7. An element according to any preceding Claim, wherein the bolt member is releasable.

8. An element according to any preceding Claim, wherein the cap member is made of aluminium or like metal.

9. A cap member comprising an outer portion and a depending foot, the foot having opposite foot portions, the inside surfaces of which lie on divergent planes, a washer member being present between the foot portions, a bolt extending through the cap into the washer member and arranged so that tightening of the bolt member urges the foot portions apart.