GB2422175A

GB2422175A - Retaining member with locating member

Info

Publication number: GB2422175A
Application number: GB0500121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Luke
Original assignee: TAMAR DESIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: TAMAR DESIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 2005-01-05
Filing date: 2005-01-05
Publication date: 2006-07-19
Also published as: GB2453847B; GB0500121D0; GB2453847A; GB0818785D0

Abstract

A retaining member comprising a support member 20 for mounting member for mounting on a projecting support 80. The support member 20 is provided with a locating member 30 extending in a first direction away from the support member and in a second direction opposite to the first direction away form the support member. The support member 20 may include an aperture that receives a portion of the projecting support 80. The support 20 may be planar, and may be provided with two locating members 30, which may be substantially parallel to one another. A gate assembly may be secured to the support.

Description

RETAINING MEMBER

The present invention relates to a retaining member for mounting on a projecting support, such as conventional projecting gate support.

Throughout the present specification the term gate is intended to encompass a gate, barrier, door or any other suitable member hung on a projecting support such as that of a conventional projecting gate support or hanger.

A conventional gate is typically freely hung on one or more supports or hangers such that the gate may be freely rotated between an open and closed configuration. Often it is desirable to make additions to the traditional gate arrangement. For example, the inclusion of an automatic closure system which ensures that the gate is never left open, or the inclusion of a bracket arrangement to allow adjustment of the gate relative to the gate post when in position.

However, in order to carry out these modification to the traditional gate mounting arrangement, it is often necessary to drill fresh holes in the gate post for attachment of the new mechanism or alternatively, replace the traditional gate hanger arrangement altogether to accommodate the new mechanism. This is extremely undesireable due to the extra effort and expense required. Furthermore, any additional drilling of fixing holes as the like, if required, often requires accurate measurements to be made to ensure that the modifications to the gate are properly fitted. This is both time-consuming and laborious.

Finally, once any new mechanism has been assembled, should it ever be necessary at any future date to alter the direction in which the gate opens, it will be necessary to disassemble the entire gate arrangement and repeat the whole laborious measuring and drilling process all over again before remounting the gate arrangement.

The present invention seeks to address these problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a retaining member mountable on a projecting support, the retaining member comprising a support member for mounting on a projecting support, the support member being provided with a locating member extending in a first direction away from the support member and in a second direction opposite to the first direction away from the support member.

In this way, the retaining member may be mounted on the projecting gate support in both a first orientation and a second inverted orientation such that the same retaining means may be suitable for either left or right hand mounting.

The projecting support on which the retaining member is mountable may be a gate support.

The support member may define an aperture for receiving a portion of a projecting support therein. This allows the retaining means to be mounted in place on a projecting support by arranging the retaining member such that a portion of the projecting support projects through at least a portion of the aperture in the support member. Alternatively, a recess may be provided in the support member within which at portion of the projecting support may be received.

Preferably, the support member is provided with two locating members, such that each extends in a first direction away from the support member and also in a second direction opposite to the first direction away from the support member. In this way, the retaining means may be secured in place, in use, relative to a projecting support by receiving at least a portion of the projecting support between the two locating members.

Where two locating members are provided, preferably, the locating members are substantially parallel to one another.

Preferably, the support member is planar. Where the support member is planar, preferably, the or each locating member extends substantially perpendicular to the planar member.

In a preferred embodiment the or each locating member defines an aperture for receiving a portion of a bolt therethrough. This allows the retaining member to be fixed in position relative to a projecting support by inserting a bolt or similar retention means through the apertures provided in the or each locating member.

Preferably, the support member comprises engagement means for receiving at least a portion of an article for securing to the retaining means. For example, the article may comprise a gate assembly, or a gate closure assembly such as a gas strut arrangement or the like to control the rate at which the gate closes, or an adjustment assembly to allow the location of a subsequently attached gate to be adjusted relative to the retaining means and projecting support.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a retaining member according to a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 mounted on a projecting gate support; Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of figure 1; Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the embodiment of figure 1 mounted on a projecting gate support in an inverted orientation with respect to figure 2; and Figure 5 is a plan view from above of the embodiment of figure I mounted on a projecting gate support in the orientation shown in the perspective view of figure 2.

As shown in figures I to 5, a retaining member 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a support member 20, as shown in figures 1 to 5, and locating members 30 extending in a first direction away from the support member 20 and in a second opposing direction away from the support member 20.

Support member 20 is substantially planax and is provided with aperture 40. Each of the locating members 30 is provided with an aperture 40 arranged such that adjacent apertures 40 are able to receive a bolt 50 therethrough during mounting of the retaining member on a projecting support, as shown in figure 4..

It is preferred that all or part of the retaining member 10 is made of a strong material such as any suitable metal or durable plastic material. However, it will be appreciated by the skilled person that any material suitably strong for the purpose could appropriately be used.

At least a portion of support member 20 is provided with engagement means for receiving at least a portion of an article to be attached to the retaining member 10. In this case, the engagement means takes the form of an elongate slot 60 for receiving a portion of an article therein, such as an adjustable bracket. The adjustable bracket (not shown) may be moved relative to the retaining means 10 by altering the position of the portion of the adjustable bracket received in slot 60.

Although in the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 5 the support member 20 is provided with slot 60, it will be readily apparent to the skilled person that any appropriate engagement means may be provided on or as part of the support member 20 if it desired to attach any article to the support member 20. For example, one or more apertures may be provided, or projections or lugs could be provided. Alternatively, any other suitable engagement means known to the skilled person and appropriate for the purpose could be provided on the support means 20. Alternatively, or in addition, the same or different engagement means could be provided on the or each locating member.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the shape of the supporting member 20 may be selected dependent on the intended article to be attached thereto. Clearly the provision of a slot in the support means 20 requires that the support means 20 be of a particular elongate shape. It is envisaged that this shape may not always be the most appropriate and alternative shapes are intended to be included within the present invention.

In use, the retaining member 10 is mounted on a projecting gate support 80 provided on gate post 90, as shown in figures 2, 4 and 5. The locating members 30 extend either side of the projecting gate support 80, the apertures 40 being located below the projecting gate support 80 so as to receive a bolt 50 therethrough, thereby securing the retaining member in place relative to the gate post 90.

Any desired article, such as a gate assembly, may now be attached to the retaining member 10 by means of the slot 70 provided on the support member 20.

The orientation of the retaining member 10 relative to the projecting gate support 80 is selected depending on which side of the projecting gate support the gate assembly is to be attached. In other words, and as shown in figure 2 and figure 4, respectively, the retaining member may be mounted on the gate support 80 in either a first orientation or a second orientation in which the retaining member 10 is rotated about 180 , so as to enable left or right hand mounting of the retaining member 10 and thus, for example, left and right mounting of, for example, any subsequently mounted gate assembly or other article such as adjustable bracket, subsequently attached to the retaining member 10.

Advantageously, should it become desirable at any point in the future to remount a left hand mounted gate assembly as a right hand mounted gate assembly, or vice versa, the bolt 50 may be removed from the apertures 40 of the locating members 30 positioned below the projecting gate support 80, the retaining member 10 simply inverted, remounted on the same projecting gate support 80 in the same way as described above, and resecured in place by inserting bolt 50 through the apertures in the locating members located below the projecting gate support 80. The locating members 30 previously used to secure the retaining member 10 in place relative to the gate post 90 are now located above the projecting gate support 80 and are no longer required to secure the retaining member 10 in place.

Claims

1. A retaining member mountable on a projecting support, the retaining member comprising a support member for mounting on a projecting support, the support member being provided with a locating member extending in a first direction away from the support member and in a second direction opposite to the first direction away from the support member.

2. A retaining member according to Claim I wherein the support member defines an aperture for receiving a portion of a projecting support therein.

3. A retaining member according to any preceding Claim wherein the support member is provided with two locating members.

4. A retaining member according to Claim 3 wherein the locating members are substantially parallel to one another.

5. A retaining member according to any preceding Claim wherein the retaining member is mountable on a projecting gate support.

6. A retaining member according to any preceding Claim wherein the support member is planar.

7. A retaining member according to Claim 7 wherein the or each locating member extends substantially perpendicular to the planar member.

8. A retaining member according to any preceding Claim wherein the or each locating member defines an aperture for receiving a portion of a bolt therethrough.

9. A retaining member according to any preceding Claim wherein the support member comprises engagement means for receiving at least a portion of an article for securing to the retaining means.

10. A retaining member according to Claim 9 wherein the article is a gate assembly.

II. A retaining member substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures.