GB2307511A

GB2307511A - A clamping member that secures a hinge pin to a post

Info

Publication number: GB2307511A
Application number: GB9521097A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Niall Richard Thomson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-14
Filing date: 1995-10-14
Publication date: 1997-05-28
Also published as: GB9521097D0

Abstract

A mounting device for securing a gate or the like to a gate post 30 comprises clamping members 10, 12 mounted on a screw threaded shaft which are secured to a post by tightening nut 26, so that the hinge pin 6 extends upwardly. Angle x on the gate post is less than angle y between planar portion 18 and laterally extending portion 20 of the clamping plates in order to firmly grip the gate post. Two of the said devices may be secured at vertically displaced locations to the post and a gate with suitable spaced hinge members secured thereto. Slots may be made in a square-section post to receive the portions 20.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE SECUREXENT OP A MEMBER TO A POST This invention relates to improvements in or relating to the securement of a member to a post and particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a method of securing a member, for example, a gate to a post, an assembly which includes a post and a device for securement to a post.

Known fence posts may comprise I-sect ion concrete members that are secured in the ground. A known method of mounting a gate or other pivotable member on the post comprises drilling the post at suitable locations, inserting hinge pins into the holes thus formed and securing the hinge pins in position using cement or the like. One problem associated with this method is that there is a risk that the post may crack or otherwise break up when drilled and, in any event, the drilled post may be weakened. Furthermore, such drilling may also interfere with the reinforcing rods inside the post, thus requiring both masonry and steel drills. Also, the method is relatively time-consuming and requires appropriate tools.

It is an object of the present invention to address the abovedescribed problems.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of securing a member to a post, the method comprising securing a clamping device to the post and securing said member to said clamping device.

Said member may be a pivotable member. Said member may be pivotable about a substantially vertical axis. Said member may be a closure means, for example a gate, but may also be any fixture or fitting secured to a post, for example a gate catch or some other form of fencing material fixed to the post.

Said clamping device preferably includes a male or female element arranged to co-operate with the other one of a male or female element secured relative to said member. The said clamp member may include a male element, suitably in the form of a hinge pin or a female element in the form of a socket, collar or any plate or catch mechanism.

Said post is preferably upright. More preferably, said post extends substantially vertically upwardly.

Said post is preferably made of a particulate material which includes stone, concrete or the like. Such a material is relatively frangible compared to a nonparticulate material, for example wood.

Said post preferably has a substantially regular cross-section along its extent. Said post preferably has an opening, for example a slot in an upwardly extending wall thereof. Said post preferably includes at least two of said openings suitably in oppositely facing walls of said post.

Portions of said clamping device are preferably arranged to extend into said opening or said at least two openings.

Preferably, a clamp member of said clamping device is arranged to be seated on two angled surfaces of the post.

Said clamp member preferably defines first and second clamp surfaces which are arranged to co-operate with said two angled surfaces of the post. The angle between said first and second clamp surfaces is preferably greater than the angle between said two angled surfaces of the post.

The invention extends to a clamping device for use in said method, the device comprising first and second clamp members arranged to be secured to a post.

Said device is preferably arranged to be releasably secured to a post.

Said first and second clamp members are preferably translationally movable relative to one another. They are preferably mounted on a shaft which is preferably screwthreaded.

Said clamp members preferably each comprise a female element which co-operates with said shaft. Preferably, it is slidable therealong. Each clamp member preferably defines a clamp surface which is arranged to co-operate with the post. Each clamp member preferably includes at least two clamp surfaces which are preferably angled relative to one another, suitably at an obtuse angle. One of said clamp surfaces preferably extends transversely to the axis of said shaft. The other of said clamp surfaces preferably extends substantially perpendicularly to said shaft.

A first clamp surface of said first clamp member is preferably arranged to face a first clamp surface of said second clamp member.

Second clamp surfaces of said first and second clamp members are preferably arranged to face said shaft.

The invention extends to an assembly comprising a post, for example a gate post and a member, for example a gate, wherein said member is operatively connected to said post by means of a clamping device.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in crosssection, of a mounting device; Figure 2 is a side elevation of clamping members of the mounting device; Figure 3 is a cross-section along line III-III of figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevational view in the direction of arrow IV of figure 3; and Figure 5 is a cross-section through an I-sect ion post showing the device in use.

The device 2 comprises a threaded shaft 4 which carries a hinge pin 6 at one end. The hinge pin 6 extends perpendicularly to the axis of the shaft and it is supported by a base member 8 which has a diameter which is slightly greater than that of the shaft 4.

A pair of clamping members 10, 12 which are mirror images of one another are mounted on the shaft 4. Each member 10, 12 includes a circular cross-section sleeve 14 which is slidable on the shaft 4. The respective sleeves 14 are secured to clamping plates 16 which comprise a planar portion 18 and a laterally extending portion 20.

Washers 22, 24 and a nut 26 are mounted on an opposite end of the shaft to the hinge pin 6.

The device 2 may be releasably secured to an Isection concrete gate post 30 as shown in figure 5. In this respect, the clamping members 10, 12 are initially spaced apart so that they can be positioned on opposing sides of the gate post 30. Then, with clamping member 12 engaged with the gate post and base member 8 which supports hinge pin 6 abutting clamp member 12, clamp member 10 is slid along shaft 4 until it engages the post.

Then, nut 26 is tightened on the shaft to secure the device in position.

It should be noted from figure 5 that angle x of the gate post is slightly less than angle y between planar portion 18 and laterally extending portion 20 of the clamping plates 16. This helps the device to firmly grip the gate post.

To fix a gate, closure panel or other fixed panel, two or more devices 2 are suitably secured to the gate post 30 at superimposed spaced apart vertical positions.

The devices are arranged so that hinge pins 6 thereof can co-operate with hinge collars secured to a gate.

Thus, it should be appreciated that using a plurality of devices 2, a gate can be quickly and simply secured in position using a minimum number of tools. Furthermore, since the gate post need not be penetrated in the fixing method, the method does not affect the integrity of the gate post.

The device 2 may be secured to a rectangular or square cross-section gate post by forming slots in the gate post into which the respective laterally extending portions 20 of the device can extend.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of securing a member to a post, the method comprising securing a clamping device to the post and securing said member relative to said clamping device.

A

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein said member is a pivotable member.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said member is pivotable about a substantially vertical axis.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said member is a closure means.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said clamping device includes a male or female element arranged to co-operate with the other one of a male of female element secured relative to said member.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said post is made of a particulate material.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said post includes an opening, for example a slot, in an upwardly extending wall thereof.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein portions of said clamping device are arranged to extend into said opening.

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein a clamp member of said clamping device is arranged to be seated on two angled surfaces of the post.

10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein said clamp member defines first and second clamp surfaces which are arranged to co-operate with said two angled surfaces of the post.

A

11. A method according to Claim 10, wherein the angle between said first and second clamp surfaces is greater than the angle between said two angled surfaces of the post.

12. A clamping device for use in a method according to any of Claims 1 to 11, the device comprising first and second clamp members arranged to be secured to a post.

13. A device according to Claim 12, wherein said first and second clamp members are translationally movable relative to one another.

14. A device according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein said first and second clamp members are mounted on a shaft which is screw-threaded.

15. A device according to any of Claims 12 to 14, wherein said clamp members each comprise a female element which co-operates with said shaft.

16. A device according to any of Claims 12 to 15, wherein each clamp member includes at least two clamp surfaces which are angled relative to one another at an obtuse angle for co-operation with the post.

17. An assembly comprising a post for example a gate post and a member for example a gate, wherein said member is operatively connected to said post by means of a clamping device.

18. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

19. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

A

20. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.