GB2319272A

GB2319272A - Foot assembly for e.g. a cubicle

Info

Publication number: GB2319272A
Application number: GB9623624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Goodwin
Original assignee: Thrislington Sales Ltd
Current assignee: Thrislington Sales Ltd
Priority date: 1996-11-13
Filing date: 1996-11-13
Publication date: 1998-05-20
Also published as: GB9623624D0

Abstract

A foot assembly 13 comprising a barrel 14, a base 15, a locking plate 16 and a top fixing member 17, in which: the barrel 14 is generally cylindrical; the base 15 is located at one end of the barrel 14 and is axially adjustably located relative to the barrel 14; the locking plate 16 is located within the barrel 14 and engages the base 15; and the top fixing member 17 is attached to the barrel 14 at the other end. The base is fixed to the floor via the locking plate, and the slotted plate 27 of member 17 fits into a slot in the bottom of a cubicle panel.

Description

Foot Assembly The present invention relates to a foot assembly, in particular, a foot assembly for supporting a cubicle construction.

Cubicles for toilets showers, changing rooms and the like may consist of a framework attached to a rear wall with partitions defining the separate cubicle spaces and doors to gain access. The partitions are often supported by feet. These feet generally offer height adjustment and are screwed or bolted to the floor. However, the screw fittings tend to be accessible and this is desirable.

It is an object of the invention to provide a foot assembly for a cubicle construction which is adjustable in height and which can be screwed or bolted to the floor but in which the screw/bolt fixing is conceded in the final construction.

According to the invention, a foot assembly comprises a barrel, a base, a locking plate and a top fixing member; and in which: the barrel is generally cylindrical; the base is located at one end of the barrel and is axially adjustably located relative to the barrel; the locking plate is located within the barrel and engages the base; and the top fixing member is attached to the barrel at the other end.

The base and locking plate may be separate components or may be a unitary construction.

Preferably, the barrel has an internal thread at the said one or bottom end, while the base has a corresponding external thread. Thus, the base can be screwed up into the barrel to the required extent.

Preferably, the base is a hollow cylinder.

Preferably, the locking plate is in the form of a disc with a peripheral flange which enables the disc to be located within the base while the flange is supported at the rim of the base. The disc may have one or more openings to accommodate bolts or screws to fix the assembly to the floor.

Preferably, the fixing member comprises a circular insert with a peripheral collar and flat plate extending from the collar. The flat plate preferably has a slot through which a fixing may pass. The insert is preferably formed with a tapped bore and the barrel is preferably formed with a corresponding hole near the said other or top end.

Preferably, the barrel, base locking plate and top fixing member are all of stainless steel.

The components may be assembled by fitting the locking plate into the top of the base and bolting this sub-assembly to the floor via the hole in the locking plate. The flat plate of the top fixing member can then be inserted into an opening in the panel and bolted in place. The insert of the top fixing member is located in the top of the barrel and the barrel is screwed down on to the base to the appropriate height. The tapped bore in the insert and the hole in the barrel are brought into registry and a pin, bolt or screw is inserted to lock the barrel to the top fixing member. Thus, the bolt fixing the assembly to the floor is concealed.

One foot assembly would normally be sufficient per panel, this being located towards the front, though more than one foot assembly could be used.

The invention extends to a method of assembling the foot as described and a method of locating a panel.

This invention also extends to a cubicle construction incorporating a foot assembly as described.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of two cubicles from a row, in which foot assemblies according to the invention are employed; Figure 2 is a side view of a foot assembly in use; Figure 3 is an exploded view, partly in section, of a foot assembly; and Figure 4 is a side view of a top fixing member.

Figure 1 shows a row of cubicles in which the individual spaces are defined by panels 11 located behind posts 12. The panels 11 are supported by foot assemblies 13, as shown also in Figure 2.

A foot assembly 13 is shown in more detail in Figure 3. The foot assembly comprises a hollow elongate cylindrical barrel 14, a shorter hollow cylindrical base 15, a circular locking plate 16 and a top fixing member 17.

The barrel 14 has an internal threaded section 18 at the bottom and a small hole 19 near the top. The base 15 has an external threaded section 21 at the top. The locking plate is in the form of a flat disc 22 with a central opening 23 and a peripheral flange 24.

The top fixing member 17 has a depending circular boss or insert 25 and an overlapping frusto-conical collar 26 above. A flat plate 27 is welded to the top of the collar 26. The boss 25 is formed with a threaded bore 28 while the plate 27 has an elongate horizontal slot 29.

The foot is assembled as follows. The locking plate 16 is located at the top end of the base 15, and the base/locking plate sub-assembly is located at the desired position on site. It is then bolted down, with a bolt (not shown) which passes through the opening 23 in the locking plate 16 and bears down against the disc 22.

The flat plate 27 of the top fixing member 17 is located in a channel formed in the panel 11. The panel 11 has a single through hole 15 on each side of the channel and a bolt (not shown) is passed through the panel via the hole 15 on one side, the slot 29 in the flat plate 27 and then the hole 15 on the other side.

The slot 29 allows a degree of on site adjustability in the fore and aft direction of the panel while at the same time remaining concealed.

The boss 25 of the top fixing member 17 is located in the top of the barrel 14 and the barrel 14 is screwed down on to the base 15 with the screw threaded portions 18 and 21 engaging until the panel 11 is at the desired height. This is made possible by the fact that the barrel 14 is free to rotate about the insert 25 of the top fixing member. A screw (not shown) is then inserted into the tapped bore 28 via the hole 19 in the barrel 14 to lock the barrel to the top fixing member 17. Thus, the bolt which fixes the assembly to the floor is concealed, as is the means providing fore and aft adjustability, while at the same time, vertical adjustability is achieved by means which cannot be seen.

Claims

1. A foot assembly comprising a barrel, a base, a locking plate and a top fixing member; in which: the barrel is generally cylindrical; the base is located at one end ofthe barrel and is axially adjustably located relative to the barrel; the locking plate is located within the barrel and engages the base; and the top fixing member is attached to the barrel at the other end.

2. A foot assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the base and locking plate are a unitary construction.

3. A foot assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the base and locking plate are separate components.

4. A foot assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the base is a hollow cylinder.

5. A foot assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the locking plate is in the form of a disc with a peripheral flange.

6. A foot assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which the disc has one or more openings to accommodate bolts or screws.

7. A foot assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the barrel has an internal thread at the said one or bottom end, the base having a corresponding external thread.

8. A foot assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the fixing member comprises a circular insert with a peripheral collar and flat plate extending from the collar.

9. A foot assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which the flat plate has a slot through which a fixing may pass.

10. A foot assembly as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the insert is formed with a tapped bore and the barrel is formed with a corresponding hole near the said other or top end.

11. A foot assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the barrel, base locking plate and top fixing member are constructed of stainless steel.

12. A method of assembling a foot assembly in which: the base is secured to the floor by means of the locking plate; the fixing member is connected to a panel and is located at the top end of the barrel; the barrel is attached to the base and adjusted to the appropriate height; and the fixing member is secured to the top of the barrel.

13. A method of assembling a foot assembly as claimed in claim 12, in which; the locking plate is fitted into the top of the base and bolted to the floor via the hole in the locking plate; the flat plate of the top fixing member is inserted into an opening in a panel and is bolted in place; the insert of the top fixing member is located in the top of the barrel; the barrel is screwed down on to the base to the appropriate height; and the top fixing member is secured to the barrel by means of a bolt or screw being inserted through the hole in the barrel to the tapped bore of the insert.

14. A cubicle construction incorporating a foot assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.

15. A foot assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with respect to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.