GB2340170A - Fixing device - Google Patents

Description

2340170 Fixing Devise This invention relates to a fixing device used to

secure together two or more separate objects or pieces or materials, or to more securely hold together a single object or material which might otherwise not hold so firmly together, and is a modification and alternative to commonly used screw and wall plug, nut and bolt, or nail type means of fixing.

The use of screws and wall plugs, nuts and bolts, or nails to ensure that objects or materials are held securely together is common place.

Wall plugs are used to aid the grip of screws (and sometimes nails) within enclosing material and are necessary particularly where the enclosing material may not provide sufficient grip to hold the nail or screw securely by itself, typically in masonry material. Such wall plugs often have a pitted or textured outer surface or outwardly protruding shapes to help embed the fixing device,helping it stay secure and fixed within the enclosing material. The protruding shapes (hear after called 1wings') are integral to the wall plug, typically part of the overall moulding, and do not move relative to the main body of the wall plug itself, (except in so far as the wall plug as a whole can expand as the screw or nail is inserted), Removing the screw or nail allows the removal of the wall plug, but this can cause damage to the surrounding material, and where the screw or nail cannot be removed from the wall plug, this damage is often substantial, for example dislodging lumps of plaster as the screw and wall plug is forcibly removed.This is especially so with those wall plugs with protruding wings.

When a piece, or more than one piece, of material needs to be held very seCurely together, and access to both sides of the material(s) is / are available, nuts and bolts are often used. The bolt is inserted through a hole until the lip prevents any further passage, and the nut is then threaded on the opposite end until it holds the materials between it and the lip of the bolt. However, access to the end of the bolt where a nut needs to be added is not always available.

Nails or tacks or screws are often used in securing materials such as lengths of wood, as in picture frame making. However, nails or tacks are often not secure enough in themselves and require the addition of glue to provide added adhesion in order to adequately secure the materials /pieces together. This makes it difficult and even impossible to separate cleanly once fixed, should this be required. Also, nails or screws can require the sides of the pieces or materials to be penetrated, and since often these sides remain visible, as with a picture frame, they can leave unsightly marks which sometimes lead to attempts to hide or disguise the end of the nails or screws, or of holes left by them, to improve the appearance.

In this invention,(here after called 'the fixing device' or 'the device') the essential feature is the use of movable wings (or a singular wing) which can move outward from the main body of the fixing devise once it is in the required position. (As noted above this differs from common wall plugs where the body of the wall plug, including any wings, may expand, but the wings do not move relative to the main 2_ body of the wall plug.)The fixing devise is inserted part way into or through a hole of suitable size within the piece(s) or material(s) to be fixed, until prevented from being inserted further due to the lip or wider uppermost part being wider than the hole. Once in position the wings are manipulated so as to move outward relative to the main body of the fixing devise, preventing the devise from moving back through or out of the hole,either because the wings have become embedded in enclosing material, or because the extended wings now make it wider then the hole through which they were inserted and press back against the piece(s) or material(s) so that they are held or fixed securely in that position.

In all the examples referred to in this document, wings are secured to the device by means of hinge type fixings at one end of the wing, which allow it to rotate around that point and extend outwardly. A feature of all the examples of the fixing device referred to in this document, is that the wings can be easily retracted, thereby enabling easy removal if and when this is required.

Also in all the examples referred to in this document, the means by which the wings are extended is by rotation of a threaded rod situated within the fixing device. This method of extending the wings allows the complete devise to be placed in position before the wings are extended and the devise secured. This is different to the screw and wall plug as the pressure needed to secure the screw and wall plug is achieved through inserting the screw or nail after the wall plug is in place. This invention can be placed in position with only the rotation of an inner rod needed to make it secure. This allows the fixing device to be tightened in some particular circumstances where a screw or nail could not, or might preferably not be added, for example due to lack of space in awkward corners, with the fixing devices needing only a twist of a removable lever, such as an Allen key, to finally secure the assembly.

In one example of the device, shown as embodiment 2, it is shown how the device can secure pieces of material much as a nut and bolt would, but requiring access to only one side of the pieces to be secured.

In a further example, shown as embodiment 3, it is shown how the device can secure lengths of material, (eg as with the corner joints of a wooden picture frame,) but which can be easily separated cleanly and undone without damage to the material, and which does not require the penetration of the sides of the material, but only the back, so leaving an unblemished finish to the sides and front. Modifications on this example also allow for the securing of several lengths of material, including lengths extending along three planes, with a single action such as the turn of a removable lever.

Three embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to accompanying drawings in which:

(Relating to embodiment 1) Figure 1 shows a cut away view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, where the wings are in retracted position; Figure 2 shows a cut away view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, where the wings are extended; Figure 3 shows a cut away view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, where the wings are retracted. The device has been placed in a drilled hole and is penetrating two pieces of material to be held together by the fixing device; Figure 4 shows the head of the fixing device and relates to Figure 3, being a different view of the same; Figure 5 shows a cut away view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, where the wings are extended, placed in a drilled hole and penetrating two pieces of material held together by the fixing device- Figure 6 shows the head of the fixing device and relates to Figure 5, being a different view of the same; Figure 7 shows a cut away view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, where the wings are in retracted position, as in figure 1, but with the addition of a locking mechanism designed to hold the device and material secure, and which can be disengaged to allow easy disassembly; (Relating to embodiment 2) Figure 8 shows a cut away view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, where the wings are extended and rotated back towards the lip, or wider upper section of the devise, so as to hold pieces of material between the wings and the lip of the fixing device, for use particularly when only one side of the material(s) to be held is accessible-, Figure 9 shows a cut away view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, where the wings are extended so as to hold pieces of material between the wings and the lip of the fixing device, as in figure 8, but with the addition of a locking mechanism, (similar to that shown in Figure 7 relating to embodiment 1) to hold the devise secure, and which can be disengaged to allow easy disassembly-, Figure 10 shows a view of the fixing device with wings and inner threaded rod, (the latter not visible because not a 'cut away'view) where the wings are extended so as to hold pieces of material between them and the uppermost part of the fixing device, with a locking mechanism (also not visible because not a 'cut away view) to hold the devise and material secure, and which can be disengaged to allow easy disassembly, and where a wing nut is used which can be raised or lowered along the upper section of the devise and which serves to allow the devise to hold secure variable different thicknesses of material, and allows tightening of the devise in relation to the held material, from the accessible side; (Relating to embodiment 3) Figure 11 shows a cut away view of the fixing device as though from the back of a wooden corner joint, with wings and inner threaded rods on two 'limbs'of a single device, which is designed to fix together the ends of two lengths of material by means of a cog (identified by a circle but otherwise not shown); Figure 12 shows a cut away view of the fixing device from the side, with wings and inner threaded rods on two 'limbs'of a single device, which is designed to fix two lengths of material by means of a cog used to rotate the inner rods, as in figure 11, but which shows the cog referred to but not shown in Figure 11 Figure 13 shows three views of part of a locking mechanism relating to the axle which supports the cog, (cog not shown) and shows the position of a saddle at three points in a half complete turn around the axle. By means of a thread on the saddle's inner surface engaging with a thread on the axle, the saddle is lowered or raised, either covering ridges on the axle, or exposing them, and either disengages or engages the locking mechanism. Views are presented from the side, and from above for each of the three positions. The locking mechanism is fully illustrated by Figures 13 and 14 together-, Figure 14 shows three cut away views from the side and from above of the cog and axle locking mechanism, showing the axle with saddle (as shown in Figure 13) and cog in relation to each other at three points in a half complete turn', Figure 15 shows a cut away view of the fixing device, as though from the back of a wooden corner joint, with wings and inner threaded rods much as in Figure 11 but with three 'limbs',and which is designed to fix three lengths of material-, Figure 16 shows a cut away view of the devise from the side, much as in Figure 15, but with a further limb perpendicular to, or at right angles to the horizontal axis of joints previously illustrated; Figure 17 shows in perspective a 'see through'view of the cog, axle and the axle saddle to further illustrate how these relate to the perpendicular limb illustrated in Figure 16', Figure 18 shows a cut away view of the devise from the side, much as in Figure 12, but with a second device attached and parallel to the first and designed to work in tandem with it, and where all limbs are operated simultaneously by the manipulation of a single cog, eg via the twist of a removable lever such as an Allen key.

Referring to the drawings and embodiment 1, this fixing device example comprises an outer casing [1] which holds movable wings [2] which can be extended or retracted by the rotation of a threaded inner rod [3]. The wings extend out of slots (not shown) in the outer casing wherein they are housed until extended. Teeth [4] on the inner edge of each of the wings engage with the thread on the rod. When the rod is rotated in one direction, eg by means of a screw driver inserted in a slot [5] at the top of the rod, the thread causes the wings to extend, rotating around a hinge type point [6] whereby they are joined to the outer casing, and can continue until firmly embedded in the outer material [7]. The rod is prevented from being forced out of the outer casing by means of a bar (8]. The lip or head of the device [9] is wider than the hole [20] in which the rest of the device is positioned preventing it from sliding further into the hole. When the fixing device is to be removed, the rod can be rotated in the opposite direction to retract the wings. In order to further facilitate removal, the outer casing could be threaded [not shown] so that it is gently screwed into the prepared hole, (eg pre drilled to an appropriate size) before being secured, and screwed out of the hole after the wings have been retracted for removal.

In order to ensure the continued grip of the device after the wings have been extended and the action to extend the wings has ceased, a locking mechanism may be added. In the example shown in Figure 7, the head of the inner threaded rod [10] is separate to the main body of the rod [3], and is prevented from moving in a rotating fashion by grooves [11] around the outer rod head interlocking with corresponding grooves [12] running around the inside of the head of the outer casing. When the head of the rod is pushed in, its grooves slide through the outer grooves until, having passed them, is free to be rotated. After having rotated the rod [3] from this pushed in position, and so extended the wings to secure the device, the head of the rod is released (eg by removal of the screw driver) and is pushed up again by a spring [13] situated between the lip of the rod head [14] and the bar of the devise [8]. (The spring should be designed to provide sufficient force to do this, while allowing the rod head to be pushed in with ease eg by a screwdriver, to disengage the lock. )The grooves on the head of the rod [11] and the grooves on the head of the outer casing [121 re engage as the rod head [10] moves back up, so preventing further rotation of the rod [3] (until pushed in again to purposefully disengage the lock). In the example shown the head of the rod has room to slide further in and out of a cavity [15) in the main body of the rod [3], (so that the rod itself is not pushed further down within the outer casing, when the rod head [ 10] is pushed down to disengage the lock). The rod head [10] rotates the rod [3] when it is rotated, due to wings [16] which remain inserted into slots [17] in the rod.

Referring to the drawings and embodiment 2, the fixing device in this example is inserted from the accessible side [18] through holes [20] in the pieces [191 to be secured, and the wings extended by rotating the inner rod as described above. The wings are extended fully to best secure the pieces. The position of the fixing device relative to the pieces may need adjusting so that the wings [2] and lip,[9] or wider uppermost part [9] of the fixing device are an appropriate distance apart to ensure sufficient pressure to secure the pieces[l 9]. This adjustment can be achieved by rotating a wing nut [21], which being threaded relative to a thread on the outer casing [22], moves nearer to, or further from the wings, until the preferred distance is achieved. The wing nut [21] can also be used to tighten or loosen the grip of the device from the accessible side [18]. It is shown in figures 8,9 and 10 that the outer casing [1] does not need to cover the entire device and also these figures in relation to those describing embodiment 1, show that the wings [2] can be variously shaped (in order to best perform in relation to different materials and or situations, eg one shape to become embedded in soft material as in embodiment 1 and another to fold back to provide a platform for pieces to be pressed against as in embodiment 2.).

Referring to the drawings and embodiment 3, the fixing device in this example comprises two or more limbs [23], each of which comprises an outer casing [1] with wings attached as in embodiment 1,and which are extended by the rotation of a threaded rod [3]. In this embodiment, the rod rotates around an axle [24] (the limb axle) which joins at one end of the limb with a central axle [25] at right angles to it, and which provides support for a cog [26]. The cog's teeth [27] engage with grooves [28] on the end of the inner threaded rod [3) of each limb. When the cog [26] is rotated eg by inserting an Alien key (not shown] into a socket in the top of the cog (29], and is turned, this causes the rods of each limb to rotate and so extend the wings [2] in each limb. The holes [20] pre drilled to accommodate the device in this instance include holes drilled into the lengths of the material to accommodate the limbs, but also a hole perpendicular to these to accommodate the cog [26] and central axle [25] at the centre of the limbs.

A refinement on this design includes a locking mechanism to ensure that once secure, the joint(s) remains secure, while allowing for the lock to be disabled so that the joint can also be easily undone and the pieces separated cleanly. In the example given the lock is achieved by means of an angled spoke [30] protruding from the under side of the cog and engaging with grooves (31] on the support axle [25]. When the cog [26] is turned in one direction, the angled spoke [30] rides easily over the ridges of the grooves but lodges within the grooves [31) and prevents rotation of the cog [26] in the opposite direction.

This lock can be disabled by allowing a saddle [32] with a smooth outer surface, (and positioned at this time above the grooves [31]), to be lowered, so covering the grooves [31] and providing a barrier between the spoke [301 and the grooves [31]. (In the example this is achieved through the saddle [32] with a thread on its inside surface engaging with a thread [33] on the axle [25] to lift or lower the saddle when turned, depending on the direction.) The cog [26] includes an inner circular section [34] which for the first part of its turn does not engage with the outer section of the cog [351 but by means of pushing an upright spoke [36] extending upwards from the saddle [32] and which engages with a socket within the inner cog [34], lowers the saddle down, disabling the lock by preventing the cog spoke [30] from engaging with the grooves [31] on the support axle [25]. After the first part of this turn the inner cog section [34] engages with the outer cog (35] and hence forth turns the inner rod [3] within the limbs [23], so retracting the wings [2] and loosening the joint. Should the joint be required to be tightened, the inner cog [34] is turned in the opposite direction, and the sequence described for disabling the lock and loosening the joint occurs in reverse order. It should be noted that when the saddle [32] is fully lifted or fully lowered, it must be able to continue rotating freely around the axle [25], when the devise is being further tightened or loosened, and be not prevented from doing so by the thread on its inside surface. However, as soon as the saddle is rotated in the opposite direction, the thread on the saddle [not shown] should be able to re engage with the thread on the axle (33], to lower or lift the saddle [32].

An additional modification to this embodiment shows how further limbs an be included. Figure 11 shows the embodiment with 3 limbs in a 'T' shaped join-, and small modifications could allow 4 or more limbs similarly emanating from a central axle [25[ and cog [26]. Also shown is a modification allowing a limb [37] perpendicular to the plane of these limbs previously illustrated. In this instance the central axle [25] is rotated by the cog and extends down to become the limb axle [24]. The limb axles [24] for the other limbs [23] attach to a casing [38] around the central axle [25], holding them and providing support for the cog [26), This allows the central axle [25], which descends from the cog to the perpendicular limb [37], to rotate inside the axle casing [38] when the cog [26] and attached central axle [25] rotate.

A final example of this embodiment of the device shows how a similar mechanism allows what might be described as two devices working in tandem together. In this example the central axle [25] descends from the cog [26] through an outer casing [38] which holds the limb axles [24] and supports a cog [26], much as described above for the rotation mechanism for a perpendicular limb, but in this case the central axle [25] is fixed to a second cog [39] which in turn rotates another set of limbs [40] in similar fashion to, and parallel to the upper cog [26) turning its wings [23], This example would be useful where a single set of limbs and extended wings would not be strong enough on their own, and shows how manipulation of a single cog can be used to turn limbs only indirectly connected via axles and other cogs further down the chain of mechanical events.

13

Claims (13)

Claims

1 A fixing device used to secure together two or more separate objects or pieces or materials, or to more securely hold together a single object or material which might otherwise not hold so firmly together, which is positioned part way or mostly within an appropriately placed and sized hole within the piece(s) or material(s) to be secured, and which has a wider lip or uppermost part which is wider than the hole, so preventing further passage into or through the hole, and which incorporates one or more shapes (here after called wings) held by the main body of the device but which can extend outward after being positioned in the hole, so that the wing(s) either become embedded in any enclosing material or otherwise push back against the piece(s) or material(s) and the lip or wider uppermost part of the device, thus holding the piece(s) or material(s) secure.

2 A fixing device as claimed in claim 1 whereby the wings are attached to the fixing device through a hinge type fixing at one end of the wing, which allows the wings to rotate and extent outwardly,as well as be easily retracted.

3 A fixing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 whereby the mechanism for extending and retracting the wings is a threaded inner rod held within the outer casing.

4 A fixing devise as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3 and which uses a locking devise to ensure that the tightness and pressure, or much of the tightness and pressure, achieved when extending the wings, is maintained after the action creating that tightness or pressure, ceases.

A fixing device as claimed in claim 4 and which includes a means for disabling the locking devise so that the material(s) or pieces joined together by the devise can be easily unsecured and the device removed.

6 A fixing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3 and which incorporates a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the extended wings and the lip or wider uppermost part of the fixing device, to appropriately fit the thickness of the material(s) or piece(s) held.

7 A fixing device as claimed in 1,or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 and which incorporates two or more 'limbs' so that the ends of two or more separate pieces of material can be held securely together.

8 A fixing device as claimed in 7 and which uses a cog mechanism to rotate the inner threaded rods of some or each [of the] limb(s).

9 A fixing device as claimed in 7 or 8 and which uses a locking devise to ensure that the tightness and pressure, or much of the tightness and pressure, achieved when extending the wings, is maintained after the action creating that tightness or pressure, ceases.

q A fixing device as claimed in 9 and which includes a means for disabling the locking devise so that the material or pieces joined together by the devise can be easily disassembled.

11 A frame or other structure constructed of separate pieces of material and which are secured or partly secured by means of a fixing devise as described in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.

12 A fixing devise as herein before described as embodiment 1 with reference to figures 1 to 7.

13 A fixing devise as herein before described as embodiment 3 with reference to figures 11 to 18.

Index of Drawing Ref. NO-S [11 outer casing [2] movable wings [3] threaded inner rod [4] Teeth (on wing) [5] slot (for screw driver) [6] hinge type point around which wings rotate [7] outer material [8] a bar (preventing the inner rod [3] being pushed out of the device) [9] lip, or wider (than the hole) uppermost part of the device [10] the head of the inner threaded rod [11] grooves around the outer rod head [121 grooves running around the inside of the head of the outer casing [13] spring [14] the lip of the rod head [ 15] a cavity [16] rod head wings [17] slots in the inner rod [18] accessible side [191 pieces to be secured [20] hole in material [21] a wing nut [22] thread on the outer casing [23] two or more limbs [24] a (limb) axle [25] a central axle (or suppot axel) [261 a cog [27] the cog's teeth [28] grooves on the end of the inner threaded rod [291 a socket in the top of the cog (eg for the insertion of an Allen key type lever) [30] angled spoke [31] grooves (on the support axle [25] [321 a saddle [33] a thread on the axle [34] inner circular section (of cog) [351 the outer section of the cog (36] an upright spoke [37] a limb perpendicular [38] axle casing [39] a second cog [40] another set of limbs

13 A fixing devise as herein before described as embodiment 2 with reference to figures 8 to 10.