GB2444493A

GB2444493A - Magnetic support structure

Info

Publication number: GB2444493A
Application number: GB0624395A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Henry Livock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-06
Filing date: 2006-12-06
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-06
Also published as: GB0624395D0; GB2444493B

Abstract

A support structure 10, especially a wind upright for a horse jump, has at least one first component 16, 20 which extends upwardly in use and which is supported in its in use position by a second component 14. The first 16, 20 and second components 14 engage together at least in part by magnetic attraction. The engagement may also involve mechanical engagement between a projection 28 on one component and a recess 24 on the other component. The support structure 10 may be one of a pair of such structures supporting one or more poles extending therebetween. At least one of the components may be formed of magnetically attractable material. A plate 40 bearing indicia may also be attached to the structure by magnetic attraction.

Description

SUPPORT STRUCTURES

The present invention concerns support structures, especially support structures which require to be easily assembled and disassembled. It is particularly concerned with wing uprights for horse jumps. Other support structures include display stands and supports for signs.

Conventional jumps for showjumping consist of a pair of wing uprights, in line and spaced apart, and jumping poles which bridge the gap between the wing uprights. The uprights carry special "cups" in which the ends of the poles are supported. The support must be stable, but must also allow a pole to be knocked out if struck by a horse.

A conventional wing upright has a main upright member which is intended to be vertical in use, and supports the cups, directly or indirectly. A lower member extends horizontally from the bottom region of the main member. The outer end region of the lower member is connected by struts to an upper region of the main member, forming the outline of a wing shape, which may be traversed by further struts. The wing unit is essentially a two-dimensional structure, and needs transverse feet to enable it to stand stably. It is conventionally formed of wood, and engages a pair of heavy wooden feet. Each engagement involves a portion of the wing unit being received in a slot in a foot. For stability, the portion must fit quite closely in the slot. Under ideal conditions the engagement is quite easy to achieve. Under real conditions it can be much more difficult, especially if the wood has got damp and expanded.

According to the present invention there is provided a support structure comprising a first component which, in use, extends upwardly; and at least one second component which is releasably engageable with the first component to support it in its use configuration, and wherein the components engage together at least in part by magnetic attraction.

Preferably the engagement also involves mechanical engagement, e.g. a projection on one component engaging in a recess on the other. Preferably the mechanical engagement leads to face to face engagement of magnetic components (which may be two magnets, or one magnet and an attractable component).

Preferably at least one of the components is formed of magnetically attractable material such as steel. This may have a thin protective (e.g. anti-rust) coating, e.g. of plastic or paint. If the first component has magnetic attractability, this can be used not only for engaging the second component but also for the temporary attachment of one or more further components, e.g. a plate bearing indicia.

The first component may have substantial extent in two dimensions but be of much smaller extent in the third dimension. Thus it may have the form of a panel, or define such a form. It then needs the second component to enable it to stand up. The second component may be elongate, extending in use in the third dimension.

A preferred type of embodiment is a wing upright for a jump. This preferably comprises a wing unit including at least one upright member, and at least one foot member which, in use, engages such an upright member. At least one of the upright members and the foot member comprises magnetically attractable material and at least the other one includes a magnet. Preferably the wing unit is made of magnetically attractable material.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wing upright assembly embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a foot member of the assembly.

The wing upright assembly 10 consists of a wing unit 12 and two foot members 14. The wing unit 12 is an approximately A-shaped framework, having an inner main upright member 16, a lower member 18 extending horizontally from a region of the main member 16 slightly above its lower end, and outer upright membe-20 extending for about a third of the height of the main member 16 and being fast with the lower member 18; and an angled member 22 extending from the top of the outer upright member 20 to an upper region of the main member 16. The main member 16 may, in use, carry conventional pole support cups, either directly or via a cup carrier member. The wing unit 12 (or at least the upright members 16, 20) is formed of hollow steel tubing, of square or rectangular section, with a protective outer coating, e.g. of plastic. The upright members 16, 20 each have a bore 24 in a lower region, extending in the central plane of the wing unit 12.

Each foot member 14 is an elongate member having a flat face portion 26 for abutting a face of an upright member 16, 20. A pin or rod 28 projects from the middle of the face portion 26. The pin or rod 28 is dimensioned so as to be receivable in a bore 24 in an upright member.

The foot member 14 has ground engaging portions 30 at its outer end regions, and carries a magnet 32 in the centre, over the pin or rod 28. The magnet has a face 34 flush with the flat face portion 26. Thus when the foot member is engaged with an upright member 16, 20 by passing the pin or rod 28 into the bore 24, the members are held in engagement by the magnet 32 clamping to the upright member 16, 20, with which it is in face to face contact.

A foot member 14 may be formed of coated steel like the wing unit, in which case the magnet 32 will make it magnetic, so the engagement of its flat face portion 26 with the upright will contribute to the magnetic clamping. It may be a thin plate as shown in Fig. 1, or a thicker structure, e.g. with a box section.

Fig. 1 also shows, in chain dotted lines, an optional further component. This is a sign plate 40 which is magnetically attached to the wing unit 12 by strips 42 of magnetic material which it carries on its rear face.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A support structure comprising a first component which, in

use, extends upwardly; and at least one second component which is releasably engageable with the first component to support it in its use configuration, and wherein the components engage together at least in part by magnetic attraction.
2. A support structure according to claim 1 wherein the engagement also involves mechanical engagement.
3. A support structure according to claim 2 wherein said mechanical engagement involves a projection on one component engaging in a recess on the other.
4. A support structure according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the mechanical engagement leads to face to face engagement of mutually magnetically attracted components.
5. A support structure according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the components is formed of magnetically attractable material.
6. A support structure according to claim 5 wherein the first component has magnetic attractability, and the support structure also includes one or more third components which, in use, is magnetically attached to the first component.
7. A support structure according to claim 6 wherein a third component is a plate bearing indicia.
8. A support structure according to any preceding claim which is a wing upright for a horse jump.
9. A support structure according to claim 8 including pole support cups carried by the first component.
10. A support structure as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
11. A horse jump comprising a pair of support structures according to claim 8 or claim 9 and one or more poles extending between them.