GB2437539A

GB2437539A - U-bolt

Info

Publication number: GB2437539A
Application number: GB0608416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Glynn John Hawkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-28
Filing date: 2006-04-28
Publication date: 2007-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-28
Also published as: GB2437539B; GB0608416D0

Abstract

A U-bolt (10) has two parallel arm portions (11, 12) connected by a transverse portion (13). The transverse portion (13) carries a bearing member such as a clip (25) having a bearing surface (16) in use to bear against a member (18).

Description

I

A Fastener This invention relates to a fastener and more particularly to a fastener which can be used to connect one member to another in circumstances in which it is difficult or impossible to obtain access to one side of the intended connection.

There are many instances where it is not possible to use a nut and bolt to connect one member to another chiefly because it is difficult or impossible to obtain access to one side of the intended connection. For example, it is not possible to use a nut and bolt to fasten one member to a hollow member such as a box section beam.

Welding is not always convenient particularly when connecting members together on site. Self-tapping screws and various forms of expandible connectors are known alternatives to welding. However, self-tapping screws, if not properly fitted, can pull out. Also, the heads of the screws have been known to shear away. Expandible connectors do not always grip and if they start to turn in a hole it is difficult to tighten the connection.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fastener for connecting one member to one face of another member comprising a generally U-shaped bolt having two spaced parallel or substantially parallel arm portions and a transverse portion between one end of one arm portion and the corresponding end of the other ann portion, the other end of each arm portion being threaded and provided with a co-operating nut, the transverse portion carrying a bearing member having a bearing surface which lies in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extend of each arm portion and which will in use bear against an opposite face of the other member after the fastener has been inserted in one of two spaced apertures in the other member and manipulated so that the two arm portions project through the two apertures, respectively.

Preferably, the bearing surface does not extend over the entire longitudinal extend of the transverse portion but is spaced from each of the two arm portions.

Preferably, the bearing surface is in the form of a single flat bearing surface which is, advantageously, of elongate shape having its major axis parallel to the longitudinal extend of the transverse portion. Alternatively, the bearing surface could comprise two or more spaced bearing surfaces which lie in a common plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extend of each arm portion.

The bearing surface preferably carries a length of double-sided adhesive tape.

Preferably, the arm portions and the transverse portion of the fastener are of unitary construction.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view showing two members connected one to the other by one embodiment of a fastener according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a view showing the manner in which the fastener is manipulated into place; and Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating part of the fastener.

Referring to the drawings, the fastener shown therein comprises a generally U-shaped bolt 10 having two externally threaded, cylindrical arm portions 11 and 12 and a transverse portion 13, and two internally threaded nuts 14 and 15 which co-operate with the threaded arm portions 11 and 12.

The bolt 10 is typically of mild steel or stainless steel, but could alternatively be of, for example, a plastics material or another suitable material, and the arm portions 11 and 12 and the transverse portion 13 are of unitary construction. The arm portions 11 and 12 are arranged in spaced parallel relationship and the transverse portion 13 extends perpendicularly to the arm portions between one end of one arm portion 11 and the corresponding end of the other arm portion 12.

The transverse portion 13 is of generally cylindrical shape having cross-sectional dimensions comparable with the cross-sectional dimensions of the arm portions 11 and 12. Intermediate its ends, a bearing member in the form of a clip 25 of plastics form is snap-fitted to the transverse portion 13. The clip 25 includes a region 26 of part-cylindrical form designed to flex to allow the clip 25 to be snap-fitted into position, and a region 27 defining a flat bearing surface 16. The bearing surface 16 lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of each of the two arm portions 11 and 12 and is of elongate, typically rectangular, shape having its major axis parallel to the longitudinal extent of the transverse portion 13. A strip 28 of double-sided adhesive tape is provided on the bearing surface 16.

The bearing surface 16 does not extend over the entire longitudinal extend of the transverse portion 13, although it does preferably extend over at least half the longitudinal extent thereof, and is spaced from each arm portion 11, 12.

This fastener is intended primarily for connecting one member to another in circumstances in which it is difficult or impossible to obtain access to one side of the intended connection. It could therefore be used to connect an object to a cavity wall, or to a flat panel having one major face concealed. It can also be used to attach a member to an elongate box section beam or other hollow member. In the particular example shown, the fastener is used in a glazing assembly to connect a bracket 17 which is used to hold a glazing bar (not shown) to a box section structural member such as a purlin 18.

Two apertures 19 and 20 are drilled or pre-formed in the purlin 18. These apertures 19 and 20 are centred at positioned which are spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between the axes of the two arm portions 11 and 12 and have diameters which are greater than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the bolt 10.

The arm portion 11 is inserted through the aperture 20 as shown in broken lines at A in Figure 2. The transverse portion 13 carrying the clip 25 is then inserted through the aperture 20 as shown in broken lines at B of Figure 2. The bolt 10 is then manipulated through the position shown in broken lines at C of Figure 2 until the two arm portions 11 and 12 project respectively through the two apertures 19 and and the bearing surface 16 bears against a flat internal face of the purlin 18 as shown in full lines in Figure 2.

it will be appreciated that in this position the bolt 10 is then held in place by the adhesive of the strip 28. The bracket 17 is then placed over the bolt so that the two arm portions 11 and 12 of the bolt project through two pre-formed apertures 21 and 22 provided in the bracket 17. Washers 23 and 24 and then nuts 14 and 15 are placed on respective arm portions 11 and 12 and the nuts 14 and 15 are tightened to draw the bearing surface 16 into firm engagement with the internal face of the purlin 18.

An advantage of the provision of a clip securable to a bolt is that production of the bolt can be simplified. Specifically, if desired, the bolt can be manufactured using a rolled round bar or a plastics material instead of by forging. Also, metal-to-metal contact is reduced which may reduce corrosion due to contact between dissimilar metals.

As described, a strip of double-sided, self-adhesive tape is conveniently affixed to the flat bearing surface 16 to hold the bolt in place until the nuts 14 and are tightened, and so isolate the bearing surface 16 of the bolt 10 from the internal face of the purim 18. A further advantage of the provision of such tape is that it reduces metal-to-metal contact and thus reduces the corrosion due to contact between dissimilar metals. This may be particularly advantageous in coastal or marine applications.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example the single bearing surface 16 could be replaced by two or more spaced bearing surfaces lying in a coimnon plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extend of each ann portion. In this case, the strip of double-sided, adhesive tape could be affixed to each bearing surface.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A fastener for connecting one member to one face of another member, comprismg a generally U-shaped bolt having two spaced parallel or substantially parallel arm portions and a transverse portion between one end of one arm portion and the corresponding end of the other arm portion, the other end of each arm portion being threaded and provided with a co-operating nut, the transverse portion carrying a bearing member having a bearing surface which lies in a plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of each arm portion and which will in use bear against an opposite face of the other member after the fastener has been inserted in one of two spaced apertures in the other member and manipulated so that the two arm portions project through the two apertures, respectively.

2. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bearing surface does not extend over the entire longitudinal extent of the transverse portion but is spaced from each of the two arm portions.

3. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bearing surface is in the form of a single flat bearing surface.

4. A fastener as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the bearing surface is of elongate shape having its major axis parallel to the longitudinal extent of the transverse portion.

5. A fastener as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bearing surface comprises two or more spaced bearing surfaces which lie in a common plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of each arm portion.

6. A fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ann portions and the transverse portion of the fastener are of unitary construction.

7. A fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein double-sided adhesive tape is affixed to the bearing surface.

8. A fastener as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the bearing member comprises a clip arranged to be snap-fitted to the transverse portion.

9. A fastener according to Claim 8, wherein the clip is of a plastics material.

10. A fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.