GB2401414A

GB2401414A - Expanding fastener for fixing a plate to a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2401414A
Application number: GB0410155A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Mcgrouther
Original assignee: Plastisign Ltd
Current assignee: Plastisign Ltd
Priority date: 2003-05-07
Filing date: 2004-05-07
Publication date: 2004-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-07
Also published as: GB2401414B; GB0310416D0; GB0410155D0

Abstract

An expanding fastener for fixing a plate to a vehicle includes rod (10) having a first threaded end (13) and a second end (14), a spacer (30) and an expanding sleeve (40) including a threaded nut (41). The nut (41) engages the first end (13) of the rod (10) and is separated from the second end (14) by the spacer (30).

Description

:^ À À. .:: .. .e 1 Apparatus and Method for Fixing a Plate to a Vehicle 3

The present invention relates to apparatus and 4 methods for fixing a plate to a vehicle and, more particularly, to such apparatus and methods for 6 fixing registration or licence plates to cars and / taxis.

9 Taxis and private hire cars are commonly fitted with lic-ence plates in order for them to be easily 11 identified by the relevant authorities. It is 12 desirable that such plates, which carry information 13 about the vehicle or license, be securely attached 14 to said vehicle.

16 Current Ly, the plates are attached to vehicle 17 bumpers by means of a platform associated with 18 fixing means.

The platform is secured to the vehicle in question, 21 for example, by screwing or riveting to the bumper.

22 This has the disadvantage that the bumper is t' I:: ::e e:. e. À 'e:: Àe

1 permanently damaged by the introduction of screw

2 holes which detract from the appearance of the car 3 once the platform is eventually removed.

Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by 6 either bounding or strapping the platform to the car 7 bumper, for example, by using a loop of high 8 strength plastic strapping which passes around the 9 bumper and the platform thereby holding them together. However, with modern vehicle bumpers, it 11 is not always possible to pass strapping around 12 them.

14 In the patent application published under the number GB-2 330 443, it is proposed to attach a licence 16 plate to a towing eye of the vehicle chassis, which 17 enables said vehicle to be towed. The fixing means 18 disclosed in this patent application comprises six 19 metal components, one of these being designed to provide reach into the towing eye in use, another 21 being designed to be adjustably attached to the 22 platform and the others being designed for 23 attachment to the towing eye. However, the 24 arrangement of the fixing means disclosed in the patent application appears quite intricate and, 26 moreover, some modern vehicles are not provided with 27 towing eyes but only threaded holes allowing ?8 emergency fitting of said towing eyes.

Considering the above, it is an object of the 31 present invention to provide an apparatus and a 32 method for fixing a plate to a vehicle, in À l:e t. :: eve e. te: :: ce.

1 particular, a modern vehicle, which does not damage 2 said vehicle and does not necessitate prior 3 fastening of a towing eye.

According to a first aspect of the invention there 6 is provided an apparatus for fixing a plate to a 7 vehicle, said apparatus comprising a rod having a 8 first threaded end and a second ends a spacer; and 9 an expanding sleeve comprising an internal nut, wherein the expanding sleeve is threadedly engaged 1]. with the first end of the rod and spaced apart from 12 its second end by said spacer.

14 According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for fixing a plate to a vehicle, said method 16 comprising the following steps: providing a rod 17 having a first threaded end and a second end, a 18 spacer and an expanding sleeve comprising an 19 internal nuts engaging threadedly the expanding sleeve with the first end of the rod such that said 21 sleeve is spaced apart from the second end by the 22 spacer; engaging said expanding sleeve into a hole 23 of the vehicle; expanding the sleeve in said hole; 24 and attaching the plate.

26 Thus, when the sleeve is positioned inside a hole of 27 the vehicle chassis and the threaded rod end is 28 screwed into the sleeve, said sleeve expands into 29 anchoring contact with the hole wall such allowing secure attachment of the apparatus.

32 The invention will be better understood in the light t' A:: ::e À

1 of the following description of non-limiting and

2 illustrative embodiments, given with reference to 3 the accompanying drawings, in which: 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the invention; 7 Figure 2 is a cross-section of an apparatus 8 according to the invention; Figure 3 is a detailed view of a key of an 11 apparatus according to the invention; and 13 Figure 4 shows a platform according to a mode 14 for carrying out the invention.

16 Referring to figures 1 and 2, the apparatus of the 17 invention comprises, in particular, a rod 10, a 18 platform 20, a spacer 30 and an expanding sleeve 40.

The rod 10 is made of metal, for example, of 21 stainless steel. It comprises a head]1. A first 22 end]3 of the rod 10 is threaded whereas its second 23 end 14, which bears the head 11, is not. The head 24]1 is integral with a plastic tightening key 15. As shown more specifically in figure 3, the key 15 is a 26 discoidal plastic piece having a central aperture 27 16. The cross-section of the aperture 16 is square 28 and corresponds to the cross-section of a head 29 portion 17 of the rod 10 so that the key 15 rotationally engages the rod 10. In addition, the 3] key 15 comprises one or more flanges 18, 32 advantageously four, extending radially from an :.

1 inner circular edge 19 surrounding the aperture]6, 2 towards the circular periphery of the key 15. The 3 rod 10 may be a coach bolt or similar. It is to be 4 understood that the key 15 may have other means enabling it to be turned by hand, and it may be 6 integrally formed with the rod]0.

8 In figures 1 and 2, the platform 20 is typically 9 rectangular in shape. It may be made in a range of slightly deformable plastic or rubber. It includes 11 a first side 21, or outer side, which is intended to 12 receive a plate, and a second side 22, or inner 13 side, intended to make contact with a bumper 50 of a 14 vehicle. The inner side 22 comprises two cavities 23. Each cavity 23 houses a plastic pad 24 making 16 contact with the bumper 50. In addition, the 17 platform 20 comprises a central aperture 26, four 18 reinforced through holes 27 one adjacent each corner 19 of the platform 20 and six reinforced through holes 28 located around the central hole 26. The central 21 aperture 26 is partly blind. It includes a recess 29 22 constituting a housing for the key 15.

24 In figure 4, a further embodiment of the platform 20, which is still rectangular in shape and 26 comprises an outer 21 and inner 22 sides, two 27 cavities 23 (passing through the platform in the 28 present mode), a central aperture 26 as well as 29 reinforced holes 27, 28, further comprises slots 29a allowing fitting of securing clips and flaps 29b, 31 provided at top and bottom edges of said platform 32 20, to improve the attachment of the plate. :..-e

1 The spacer 30 is, in a preferred mode for carrying 2 out the invention, a metallic tube. The internal 3 diameter of this tube is greater than the diameter 4 of the rod 10 so that said rod 10 may be removably engaged into said spacer 30. Additionally, the 6 length of the spacer 30 is less than the length of 7 the rod 10 so that, when the rod 10 is engaged into 8 the spacer 30, its threaded end 13 protrudes.

The expanding sleeve 40 is tubular. It may be 11 provided, for example, by the company named The 12 Rawlplug I,imited_. It comprises an internal nut 41.

13 The nut 41 is mechanically compatible with the 14 threaded end 13 of the rod 10. It is located at one end 42 of the sleeve 40 and is surrounded by an 16 expansible elastomer. The other end 43 of the 17 sleeve 40 comprises a lip 44.

19 In one example, the length of the rod 10 is of approximately 100 mm and the diameter of the rod 10 21 is of about 7 mm. The dimensions of the platform 20 22 are of approximately 250 mm in length and 23 approximately 100 mm in height or, in the case of 24 the platform of figure 4, approximately 250 rum in length and approximately 190 mm in height. The 26 length of the spacer 30 is of about 85 mm. The 27 length of the expanding sleeve is of about 50 mm and 28 its diameter, in a non-expanded state, is of 29 approximately 20 mm. The internal diameter of the sleeve 40 is about the same that the diameter of the 31 rod, approximately 7 mm. However, it is to be 32 understood that the lengths of the rod 10 and spacer :e tee' teeetI.; .' 1 30 are selected to suit the dimensions of the 2 vehicle with which the apparatus is to be used, in 3 particular the spacing of the threaded hole 70 and 4 the bumper 50 of the vehicle. ; 6 According to the invention, the apparatus is mounted 7 as follows. 'I'he rod 10 is rotatably engaged through 8 the central aperture 26 of the platform 20 so that 9 the key 14 fits into the recess 29 on the outer side 21 of said platform 20. The spacer 30 is engaged 11 onto the rod lo, through its threaded end 13, on the 12 inner side 22 of the platform 20. The expanding 13 sleeve 40 is then screwed onto the threaded end 13 14 of the rod 10. r

16 E'ossibly, a first washer 60 is inserted between the 17 spacer 30 and the platform 20 and a second washer 18 61, between the spacer 30 and the expanding sleeve 19 40.

21 The apparatus of the invention is intended to be 22 fastened to a threaded hole 70 located at the rear 23 or the front of the chassis of a modern vehicle, and I 24 which is adapted to receive, threadedly, a towing eye. For most vehicles, it is possible to access 26 such threaded hole 70 by opening a flap in the face 27 of the bumper 50.

29 In order to fasten the apparatus to the vehicle, the bumper flap (not shown) is removed. The sleeve 40 31 is then engaged into the hole /0 so that the lip 44 32 abuts the opening edges of said hole 70. Then, the :.elec'.e 1 inner face 22 of the platform 20 is applied to the 2 bumper so that the pads 24 make contact with said 3 bumper 50. The key 15 is manually rotated 4 clockwise, using the flanges l8. As the key 15 is; rotationally coupled with the rod head 11, the rod 6 10 rotates and its threaded end 13 screws into the 7 nut 41. The spacer 30 and the washer 6l provide an 8 abutment to resist the relative axial displacement 9 of the sleeve 40 towards the head 11, along the rod 10. Thus, when the spacer 30 contacts the lip 44, 11 the sleeve 40 expands to come in tight anchoring 12 contact with hole wall. The apparatus is finally 13 fastened to the vehicle when the torque, which would 14 be necessary to apply to the key 15 for further rotating the rod 10 and expanding the sleeve 40, is r 16 greater than the torque which can be applied by hand 11 to the key 15. The fixing of the plate to the 18 platform may occur afterwards, using the reinforced 19 holes 28, 27 and/or the slots 29a and flaps 29b, as disclosed, in particular, in the above-referenced 21 patent application GB-2 330 443. The apparatus 22 offers the advantage that once the plate (not shown) 23 is secured to the backing plate 20, the key 15 is no I 24 longer accessible and the apparatus cannot be removed from the vehicle.

27 It will be appreciated that the bumper is not 28 damaged during the process. Moreover, it will be 29 appreciated that the same apparatus may be fastened to vehicles of various brands or various vehicle 31 models, for which the thread of the chassis hole t 32 and/or the diameter of said hole, is different, :I'.e 1 since expanding sleeve expands to engage the inner 2 threaded walls of the hole 70, no matter what the 3 specific diameter or thread arrangement of the hole 4 70.

6 Modifications and improvements may be made to the 7 foregoing without departing from the scope of the 3 invention.

Claims

:.Ile't' 1 CLAIMS 3 1. An apparatus for fixing a plate to a vehicle, 4

said apparatus comprising: a rod having a first threaded end and a 6 second end; 7 a spacer; and 8 an expanding sleeve comprising an internal 9 nut, wherein the expanding sleeve is threadedly 11 engaged with the first end of the rod and spaced 12 apart from its second end by said spacer.

14 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rod is provided with hand tightening means adjacent the 16 second end.

18 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hand 19 tightening means comprises a hand operable key rotatable coupled to the rod.

22 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the key 23 comprises one or more flanges adapted to be 24 gripped by the fingers of a hand.

26 5. The apparatus of one of claims 1 to 4, further 27 comprising a platform comprising an outer side 28 and an inner side, the outer side being adapted 29 for attachment of the plate, the inner side being adapted for attachment to a bumper of the 31 vehicle.

1 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the platform 2 comprises an aperture and wherein the rod is 3 rotatably mounted through said aperture, such 4 that the platform is held between the second end of the rod and the spacer.

7 7. The apparatus of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein 8 the spacer is a tube engaged onto the rod.

8. The apparatus of one of claims 1 to 7, wherein 11 the expanding sleeve is tubular.

13 9. The apparatus of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein 14 the nut is mechanically compatible with the threaded end of the rod.

17 lO.A vehicle having a bumper, a vehicle frame, a 18 vehicle body and a platform adapted to receive a 19 sign plate whereby the sign plate is secured to the vehicle by means of an apparatus according to 21 one of claims 1 to 11, the expanding sleeve of 22 the apparatus being engaged within a hole within 23 the vehicle frame or vehicle body.

l].The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the platform has 26 a registration plate or licence plate affixed 27 thereto.

29 12.A method for fixing a plate to a vehicle, said method comprising the following steps: t ce e t tIle tet 1 providing a rod having a first threaded 2 end and a second end, a spacer and an expanding 3 sleeve comprising an internal nut; 4 engaging threadedly the expanding sleeve with the first end of the rod such that said 6 sleeve is spaced apart from the second end by the 7 spacer; 8 engaging said expanding sleeve into a hole 9 of the vehicle; expanding the sleeve in said hole; and 11 attaching the plate.

13 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising the 14 steps of providing the rod with hand tighening means adjacent to the second end and rotating 16 said hand tightening means.

18 14.The method of one of claims 12 or 13, further 19 comprising the steps of providing platform comprising an outer side and an inner side; 21 attaching said platform between to a bumper of a 22 vehicle and attaching the plate to the outer side 23 of said platform.

l5.An apparatus for fixing a plate to a vehicle as 26 hereinbefore described, with reference to the 27 accompanying drawings.

29 16.A method for fixing a plate to a vehicle as hereinbefore described, with reference to the 31 accompanying drawings.