GB2501794A

GB2501794A - Anchor suitable for securing wires to a ceiling or decking

Info

Publication number: GB2501794A
Application number: GB1302641.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Somerfield
Original assignee: Gripple Ltd
Current assignee: Gripple Ltd
Priority date: 2012-02-21
Filing date: 2013-02-15
Publication date: 2013-11-06
Also published as: GB201302641D0; GB201202893D0; WO2013124608A1

Abstract

The anchor 10 comprises an attaching portion 14 to attach an article to the anchor and a securing portion to secure the anchor to a structure. The securing portion 15 comprises a number of teeth 16, 18 arranged one after the other in a convex configuration. Also claimed is the anchor as part of an arrangement including an attaching device for attaching an article to the anchor. Also claimed is the anchor as part of an installation assembly which includes a tool for installing the anchor, the tool including a holding portion for holding the anchor for installation. Also claimed is a method of installing the anchor by cutting a slit and then installing into the slit so that the anchor teeth engage with one side of the slit. The anchor is preferably made from a thin plate. The teeth have portions which fold over one side of the teeth and the folds may be arranged such that they fold on alternate sides of the anchor

Description

Anchor This invention relates to anchors for securing articles to structures. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to anchors for securing wires or threaded rods to ceilings or deckings.

In order to secure a wire or a threaded rod to a concrete decking or ceiling, a cylindrical hole is drilled into the concrete and a drop-in anchor is then disposed in the hole and expanded to grip the sides of the hole, thereby securing the anchor therein. A disadvantage of this method is that the drill depth required can often be greater than the thickness of the floor or ceiling. Also, if the building is occupied, the noise caused by the percussive drilling to form the hole is often disliked by the occupants, thereby resulting in the work having to be done outside normal working hours.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an anchor for mounting an article on a structure, the anchor comprising an attaching means to attach the article to the anchor, and a securing means to secure the anchor to the structure, wherein securing means comprises a plurality of teeth, arranged one after the other in a convex configuration.

The convex configuration may be a convex curve. In one embodiment, each tooth has a distal edge, and the teeth are arranged one after the other such that the distal edges define a convex curve.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of installing an anchor in a structure, comprising cutting a slit in the structure and thereafter inserting an anchor as described above into the slit so that the teeth engage at least one side of the slit.

The method may comprise cutting a slit that is in the shape of a segment of a circle.

The slit may be formed by a cutting device having a substantially circular cutting blade. The cutting device may comprise an angle grinder. :1

The distal edge of each tooth has a central point, and the teeth may be arranged one after the other such that a line joining the central points on the distal edges of the teeth subscribes the convex curve.

The convex curve may be an arc of a circle or of an ellipse.

The plurality of teeth may comprise a plurality of first teeth, wherein each first tooth has a first engaging portion extending in a first direction. The plurality of teeth may comprise a plurality of second teeth, wherein each second tooth has a second engaging portion extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

The structure may be a building structure, such as a ceiling or a wall. The anchor may comprise a main part. The main pad may be a substantially planar member.

The first and second teeth may be arranged alternately relative to each other on the main part. The main part may have a curved edge to which the teeth are attached.

The main pad may be substantially D shaped. The curved edge may be a convex curved edge, and in one embodiment, the main part may be a segment of a circle or of an ellipse. The first and second engaging portions may extend transverse to the main pad.

Each tooth may comprise a connecting member to connect the engaging portion to the main part. Each connecting member may be substantially coplanar with the main pad. Each connecting member may be in the form of a substantially flat strip.

The attaching means may be an aperture defined in the main part. The main part may have a substantially straight edge, and the aperture may be defined adjacent the straight edge. The curved edge may be provided opposite the straight edge.

The anchor may be substantially D shaped. Each engaging portion may extend transverse to the main part.

The main pad may have an attaching portion, and the aperture may be defined in the attaching portion. Reinforcing means may be provided on the main part to reinforce the attaching means. The reinforcing means may extend across the attaching portion.

The reinforcing means may comprise a fold over portion, which may be integrally attached to the main part, and folded relative thereto to overlie the main part. In one embodiment, the fold over portion may overlie the attaching portion.

The fold over portion may define a further aperture aligned with the first mentioned ape rtu re.

Alternatively, the reinforcing means may comprise a reinforcing member defining an aperture, which may be separate from, and connected to, the main part. The reinforcing member may be an eyelet. The reinforcing member may extend around the first mentioned aperture.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an anchor arrangement comprising an anchor as described above and an attaching device which can be connected to the attaching means, wherein the attaching device can attach the article to the anchor.

Where the anchor comprises a main part, the attaching device may be connected to the main part. Where the main part defines the aperture, the attaching device may comprise an insertion member for insertion through the aperture. The insertion member may comprise a pin.

The attaching device may have a formation to cooperate with the anchor. The formation may be a receiving formation, such as a slot, to receive the anchor. The attaching device may define a bore arranged to be aligned with the aperture in the anchor when the anchor is received by the attaching device.

The attaching device may comprise a body, which may define the receiving formation to receive the anchor. The body may have a proximal end and a distal end. The recess may be defined at the distal end of the body.

The attaching device may comprise a fastening formation to fasten the article to the attaching device. The fastening formation may comprise a threaded region of the body. Preferably, the fastening formation comprises a threaded recess to receive a threaded member, such as a threaded rod.

The body may have a proximal end region and an opposite distal end region. The proximal end region may have a proximal end face. The distal end region may have a distal end face. The recess may be defined at the proximal end region of the body, desirably at the proximal end face. The distal end region may define the slot to receive the anchor. The slot may be defined at the distal end face The insertion member may be provided at the distal end region. The distal end region may define a bore and the insertion member may be insertable into the bore to extend through the aperture in the main part of the anchor.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an anchor installation assembly comprising an anchor as described above and an installation tool for installing the anchor in the structure, the tool comprising a holding portion for holding the anchor for installation.

The holding portion may comprise a body defining a slot for receiving the anchor.

The body may define a second slot, which may extend across the first mentioned slot to define a cruciform recess in the body. The second slot may receive a flexible elongate member, where the flexible elongate member is attached to the anchor.

The body may have a proximal end region and a distal end region. The proximal end region may have a proximal end face. The distal end region may have a distal end face. The tool may have a handle at the proximal end region, to allow manipulation of the tool. The handle may extend from the proximal end face. The, or each, slot may be defined at the distal end region of the body, desirably at the distal end face.

The method may comprise inserting the anchor into the slit so that the first and second engaging portions engage the opposite sides of the slit.

The anchor may be inserted into the slit until all the teeth are disposed therein, and the attaching means may be provided on a region of the main part extending from the structure.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an anchor; Figure 2 is a side view of an anchor arrangement comprising the anchor shown in Figure 1, and an elongate flexible member attached thereto; Figure 3 is a top view of an anchor installation assembly comprising the anchor, shown in Figure 2, and on an installation tool; Figure 4 is a view of the anchor installation assembly shown in Figure 3 adjacent a slit in a structure prior to installation of the anchor; Figure 5 shows the anchor installed in the slit in the structure; Figure 6 shows an attaching device for use in attaching a threaded member to the anchor; Figure 7 is a side view of a further embodiment of the anchor; Figure 8 is a perspective view from below of the anchor shown in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a perspective view from above of the anchor shown in Figure 7; A first embodiment of an anchor 10 is shown in Figures 1 to 6 and comprises a main part 12 which is in the shape of a segment of a circle, and is, for example substantially D shaped. The anchor 10 has an attaching means in the form of an aperture 14, defined by the main part 12 and extending therethrough.

S

The anchor 10 further includes securing means 15, which comprises a plurality of first teeth 16 comprising first engaging portions 17A extending in a first direction relative to the main part 12. The securing means 15 also comprises a plurality of second teeth 18 comprising second engaging portions 19A extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction relative to the main part 12.

The first teeth 16 further include first connecting means in the form of first substantially flat connecting members 17B connect the main part 12 to the first teeth 16. Correspondingly, the second teeth 18 further include second connecting means in the form of second substantially flat connecting members 19B connect the main part 12 to the second teeth 18.

Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that the first and second teeth 16, 18 are arranged one after the other in a convexly curved configuration on the main part 12.

More specifically, each of the first and second teeth 16, 18 has a distal edge 20 at the junction between the first and second connecting members 1 lB and 1 9B and the respective engaging portions 17A and 19A. The distal edges 20 of the first and second teeth 16, 18 extend one after the other to define the convex curve.

The main part 12 has a straight edge 26 and a curved edge 27 opposite the straight edge 26. The curved edge is indicated in Figures 1 and 2 by a broken line. The first and second teeth 16, 18 are provided on the curved edge region 26.

Reinforcing means in the form of an integral fold over portion 28 is provided on the straight edge 26 of the main part 12. The fold over portion 28 defines an aperture 29 which is aligned with the aperture 14 in the main part 12. The main part 12 has an attaching portion 12A, over which the fold over portion is folded. As can be seen from Figure 1, the fold over portion 28 overlies the attaching portion 1 2A.

In one manner of use of the anchor 10 as shown in Figures 2 to 5, a flexible elongate member 22, in the form of a wire, wire rope, cable or strand is attached to the anchor 10. The flexible elongate member 22 has an end portion 22A and a main portion 22B. The end portion 22A extends through the aperture 14 and is attached to the main portion 22B by a suitable gripping member 24, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Thus, the end portion 22A provides a loop which attaches the wire 22 to the anchor 10.

The stages of installing the anchor 10 in a structure, for example a ceiling or a wall of a building, are shown in Figures 3 to 5. An installation tool 30 is provided for this purpose. The installation tool 30 comprises an elongate handle 32 and a body 34 at one end of the handle 32. The body 34 is substantially cylindrical in shape, having a proximal end region 36 with a proximal end face 36A (see Figure 4). The handle 32 extends from the proximal end face 36A. The body 34 also has a distal end region 38 having a distal end face 38A. First and second slots 40, 42 are defined in the distal end face 38A of the distal end region 38 of the body 34.

The first and second slots 40, 42 extend across each other in a cruciform configuration. The first slot 40 can receive the main part 12 of the anchor 10, so that the connecting members 20 and the teeth 16, 18 project from the body 34. The looped end portion 22A of the flexible elongate member 22 extends through the second slot 42, as can be seen from Figures 3 and 4.

A slit 44 is cut in the surface of the structure in which the anchor 10 is to be installed.

The slit 44 can be formed by a circular cutting disc of an angle grinder (not shown).

In the drawings, the structure is a ceiling 45 in a building.

In the embodiments described herein, the use of a circular cutting disc to form the slit 44 has the advantage the there is no percussive drilling to form a hole for a prior art ceiling anchor. As a result, the method of installing the anchor 10 is significantly quieter than prior art methods of installing prior art ceiling anchors.

The tool 30, having the anchor 10 mounted in the body 34, is then presented to the slit 44, as shown in Figure 4, and the teeth 16, 18 are inserted into the slit 44.

The teeth 16, 18 are curved back towards the main part 12 to engage, and thereby grip, the sides of the slit 44 as the anchor 10 is inserted. This allows the anchor 10 to be inserted into the slit 44 but prevents removal of the anchor 10 therefrom.

Figure 5 shows the anchor 10 fully inserted and installed in the slit 44 with the flexible elongate member 22 extending downwardly therefrom.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the anchor 10 can be used to attach a threaded rod 64 thereto.

In Figure 6, an anchor arrangement 100 is shown comprising the anchor 10 and an attaching device 50 mounted thereon. The attaching device 50 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 52 having a proximal end region 54, having a proximal end face 54A, and a distal end region 56, having a distal end face 56B.

The distal end face 56A defines an elongate opening for a slot 58 defined by the body 52. The main part 12 of the anchor 10 is received in the slot 58. The distal end region 56 of the body 52 defines a bore 60 transverse to the slot 58. An insertion member in the form of a pin 62 can be inserted into the bore 60. When the anchor is received in the slot 58, the aperture 14 is aligned with the bore 60. The pin 62 can be inserted into the aperture 14 via the bore 60 to connect the anchor 10 to the attaching device 50.

The proximal end face 54A defines a circular opening for a cylindrical recess defined by the body 52. The cylindrical recess has a fastening formation in the form of an internal thread. A rod 64 having a thread 66 is threadably fastened to the attaching device 60 by means of the internal thread in the cylindrical recess. The attaching device 50 and the threaded rod 64 can be used to install the anchor 10 into the slit 44, such as in a ceiling, in the same way as the installation tool 30.

After installation, the attaching device 50 and the threaded rod 64 extend outwardly from the anchor 10. Further articles (not shown) can be attached to the threaded rod 64. Where the anchor 10 is mounted in a slit in a ceiling, the further articles can be suspended from the ceiling by the threaded rod.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the anchor 10, which comprises many of the features of the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6. These features have been designated with the same reference numerals as in Figures 1 to 6.

The embodiment of the anchor 10 shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 differs from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 in that the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 has fewer of the first and second teeth 16, 18 and is shorter in length, between the two outermost teeth 16, 18. This allows the anchor 10 shown in Figures 7 and 8 to be inserted into a shorter slit 44 than the anchor 10 shown in Figures ito 6.

There are thus described embodiments of an anchor 10 which can be used to attach articles to a ceiling, and which can be installed in the ceiling without the need to use noisy percussive drills. This has the advantage of allowing work to be carried out while causing minimal disturbance to those using the building.

Claims

Claims 1. An anchor for mounting an article on a structure, the anchor comprising an attaching means to attach the article to the anchor, and a securing means to secure the anchor to the structure, wherein securing means comprises a plurality of teeth, arranged one after the other in a convex configuration.
2. An anchor according to claim 1, wherein the convex configuration is a convex curve.
3. An anchor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each tooth has a distal edge, and the teeth are arranged one after the other such that the distal edges are arranged in the convex configuration.
4. An anchor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the convex configuration is an arc of a circle or of an ellipse.
5. An anchor according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of teeth comprise a plurality of first teeth, wherein each first tooth has a first engaging portion extending in a first direction.
6. An anchor according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of teeth comprise a plurality of second teeth, wherein each second tooth has a second engaging portion extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
7. An anchor according to any preceding claim, comprising a main part, wherein the main part is a substantially planar member.
8. An anchor according to claim 7 when dependent upon claim 6, wherein the first and second teeth are arranged alternately relative to each other on the main part, and the first and second engaging portions extend transverse to the main part.
9. An anchor according to claim 8, wherein the main part may have a curved edge to which the teeth are attached, the curved edge being a convexly curved edge.
10. An anchor according to claim 9, wherein the main part is in the form of a segment of a circle or of an ellipse.
11. An anchor according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein each tooth comprises a connecting member to connect the engaging portion to the main part, each connecting member being substantially coplanar with the main part.
12. An anchor according to claim 11, wherein each connecting member is in the form of a substantially flat strip.
13. An anchor according to any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the attaching means is an aperture defined in the main pad.
14. An anchor according to claim 13, wherein the main part has an attaching portion forming part of the attaching means, and the aperture is defined in the attaching portion.
15. An anchor according to claim 14, comprising reinforcing means on the main part to reinforce the attaching means, the reinforcing means extending across the attaching portion.
16. An anchor according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcing means comprises a fold over portion which is integrally attached to the main part, the fold over portion being folded relative to the main part to overlie the main part.
17. An anchor according to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the fold over portion define a further aperture aligned with the first mentioned aperture.
18. An anchor arrangement comprising an anchor as claimed in claim 1 and an attaching device which can be connected to the attaching means, wherein the attaching device can attach the article to the anchor.
19. An anchor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the anchor comprises a main part, and the attaching device is connected to the main part. :11
20. An anchor arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the main part defines an aperture, and the attaching device comprises an insertion member for insertion through the aperture.
21. An anchor arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the insertion member comprises a pin.
22. An anchor arrangement according to any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the attaching device has a formation to cooperate with the anchor, the formation being a receiving formation to receive the anchor.
23. An anchor arrangement according to claim 22, wherein the attaching device defines a bore arranged to be aligned with the aperture in the anchor when the anchor is received by the attaching device.
24. An anchor arrangement according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the receiving formation is a slot.
25. An anchor arrangement according to claim 24, wherein the attaching device comprises a body defining the receiving formation to receive the anchor, the body having a proximal end region and a distal end region, and the recess being defined at the distal end of the body.
26. An anchor arrangement according to claim 25, wherein the attaching device comprises a fastening formation to fasten the article to the attaching device, the fastening formation comprising a threaded region of the body.
27. An anchor arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the fastening formation comprises a threaded recess to receive an externally threaded member rod.
28. An anchor arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the proximal end region of the body has a proximal end face, and the distal end region of the body has a distal end face, the recess being defined in proximal end face of the body, and the receiving formation to receive the anchor being defined in the distal end face.
29. An anchor arrangement according to claim 25 when dependent upon claim 20, wherein the insertion member is provided at the distal end region, and the distal end region defines a bore, whereby the insertion member can be inserted into the bore to extend through the aperture in the main part of the anchor.
30. An anchor installation assembly comprising an anchor as claimed in claim 1 and an installation tool for installing the anchor in the structure, the tool comprising a holding portion for holding the anchor for installation.
31. An anchor installation assembly according to claim 30, wherein the holding portion comprises a body defining first and second slot for receiving the anchor, the second slot extending across the first mentioned slot to define a cruciform recess in the body.
32. An anchor installation assembly according to claim 31, comprising a flexible elongate member attached to the attaching means, wherein the second slot can receive the flexible elongate member.
33. An anchor installation assembly according to claim 30, 31 or 32, wherein the body has a proximal end region and a distal end region, the proximal end region having a proximal end face and the distal end region having a distal end face, and wherein the tool has a handle at the proximal end region, to allow manipulation of the tool.
34. An anchor installation assembly according to claim 33, wherein the slots are defined at the distal end region of the body in the distal end face.
35. A method of installing an anchor in a structure, comprising cutting a slit in the structure and thereafter inserting an anchor as claimed in claim 1 into the slit so that the teeth engage at least one side of the slit.
36. A method according to claim 35, comprising inserting the anchor into the slit so that the first and second engaging portions engage the opposite sides of the slit.
37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the anchor is inserted into the slit until all the teeth are disposed therein, the attaching means being provided on a region of the main part extending from the structure.
38. A method according to claim 35, 36 or 37, wherein the step of cutting the slit comprises cutting the slit in the shape of a segment of a circle.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the slit is formed by a cutting device having a substantially circular cutting blade.
40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the cutting device comprises an angle grinder.
41. An anchor substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
42. An anchor arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
43. An anchor installation assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.