GB2504161A

GB2504161A - Adjustable connector for clamping an elongate member to another item comprising a collet and boss.

Info

Publication number: GB2504161A
Application number: GB201221669A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Wells
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-20
Filing date: 2012-12-03
Publication date: 2014-01-22
Also published as: GB201212909D0

Abstract

The connector comprises a hollow boss 5 that is slidably mounted on the first item 2, a tapered collet 6 is located within the boss and through the centre of which the first item passes. A collar or sleeve 7 locates over and around the collet and is adapted to be secured to the boss. The collet is clamped to the first item at a desired position along its length, the second item 10 being clamped directly or indirectly to the boss by the collet when the collet is clamped to the first rod by the collar. Preferably the connector is used to anchor a stair handrail to a wall or a balustrade handle to a floor post. In some embodiments the connector allows orthogonal connection but also allows in-line or co-axial connection. The second part may be secured to the boss using a clamping saddle.

Description

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AN ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR

The present invention relates to an adjustable connector that is primarily but not exclusively adapted to attach an elongate item such as a rod, bar, tube, upright, balustrade or hand rail to another item such as another component or to a wall, in particular with a connection at an angle that may be other than 900 or to a wall that is not flat.

Conventionally, difficulties are encountered when attaching a bar, upright, balustrade or hand rail to another component of a railing or other assembly when it is not possible to connect these items either in line with one another or at 900. This is because most conventional connectors are only designed to connect elongate items together that are either in line with one another or angled at 900. Similar proMems arise when it is desired to connect an elongate item such as a hand rail by a series of brackets or other connectors to a wall that is not flat. In the case of the handrail, either the handrail must be bent to follow the contours of the wafi or shims have to be employed to enable a set of identical brackets to span individually the variable distance between the rail and the wall.

The object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable connector that enables an elongate item such as a such as a rod, bar, upright, balustrade or hand rail to be attached at a variable angle to or at a variable distance from another item or fixing point, such as another component or a wall.

According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable connector for clamping an elongate first item to a second item comprising a hollow boss that is adapted to be slidably mounted on the first item, a tapered collet adapted to be located within the base and through the centre of which collet the first item will pass, and a collar that locates over the collet and that is adapted to be secured to the boss whereby the collet is clamped to the first item at a desired position along its length, the second item being clamped direcfly or indirectly to the boss by the collet when the collet is itself clamped to the first rod by the collar.

Preferably. the boss has an internal thread and the collar has an external thread whereby the collar is secured to the boss by screwing.

Preferably also, the first and second items both comprise rods to which the boss is secured.

Preferably also, the boss defines a hole into which the second rod is inserted. Advantageously, the hole is a through-hole whereby the second rod is clampable to the boss at any ofa range of positions along its length.

Preferafly, the through-hole has an elongate transverse profile whereby the orientation of the second rod relative to the boss is variable prior to clamping of the second rod to the boss by the collet.

Alternatively, the second rod is secured to the boss by a clamping saddle, Advantageously, the clamping saddle is rotatable secured to the boss whereby the orientation of the second rod relative to the boss is variable prior to clamping of the second rod to the boss by the collet.

In some embodiments, a clamping block is located within the boss interposed between the collet and the second item and clamps the second item to the boss when the collet is clamped to the first item by the collar.

Preferably also, a side of the clamping bloclc adjacent the coflet defines a part-spherical surface and an opposite side of the clamping block adjacent the second item defines a surface that conforms to an adjacent surface of the second item.

Additional preferred but non-essential features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

The present invention will flow be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of adjustable connector in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector shown in Figure 1 when assembled and in an in-use position; Figures 3 and 4 are respectively plan and end views of the connector shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of adjustable connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of adjustable connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 is an exploded isometric view of the connector shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is an isometric view of a fifth embodiment of connector in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 10 is an exploded isometric view of the connector shown in Figure 9.

The drawings show severa' embodiments of adjustable connectors in accordance with the present invention. In the following description, identica' parts or parts with a similar function in these embodiments are labelled with the same reference numeral.

With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of adjustable connector 1 in accordance with the present invention is used to connect a first elongate item in the form of a rod 2 to second item in the form of a rod 10 in order to create an adjustable bracket. The first rod 2 is adapted to be secured to wall or other structural member by means a plate 3 to which the rod 2 is rigidly secured and which is provided with an appropriate number of holes 4 to enable the plate 3 be secured by screw fasteners or similar to the wall. Slidably mounted on the rod 2 is a hollow boss 5 that is provided with an internal thread. Within the boss., is located a tapered collet 6 through the centre of which the rod 2 passes. An externally threaded collar 7 is also mounted on the rod and is adapted to be located over the narrower tapered end of collet 6 and screwed into the boss 5.

Preferably, the collar 7 is adapted to be tightened over the collet 6 by means ofa spanner or other similar to& and is provided with opposed external flats 8 that can be engaged by the tool. Use of a tool enables the collet 6 to be tightened into place over the collet 6, as described in more detail below, more tightly than by simple manual tightening alone, which is an advantage for a bracket I that is intended to be permanent once installed.

A cap 9 is also slidably mounted on the rod 2 adjacent the collar 7 and is adapted to cover that part of the collar 7 which protrudes from the boss 5 after the collar 7 has been screwed into the boss 5 over the collet 6.

The cap 9 is preferably arranged to be a push-fit over the protruding part of the collar 7 but in alternative embodiments the exterior of the collar 7 and the interior of the cap 9 may be threaded to enable the cap 9 to be screwed on to the collar 7. The cap 9 is provided with the same external dimensions as the boss 5 so that when it is in place over the collar 7 it abuts the boss 5 and hides the collar 7 from view, as shown in Figures 2 to 6.

To enable the connector I to be secured to the rod 10, one end II of the rod 10 is inserted into a hole 12 in the boss 5. A plate 13 is secured to the other end of the rod 10. The plate 13 may be profiled so that it follows the contours of another component, for example a handrail, to which it is to be attached and may be provided with an appropriate number of holes 14 to enable it to be secured by screw fasteners or similar to the component in question. The hole 12 in the boss is preferably a through-hole, as shown in Figure 2, in order that the rod 10 is clampable to the boss 5, as described below, at any of a range of positions along its length. This enables the height of the plate 13 relative to the rod 2 to be varied as required.

In use, the rod 2 may be first fixed by means of the plate 3 to a structural member or first component at a desired location and the plate 13 may be fixed to a second component, such as handrail, that it is desired to secure to the structural member or the first component. Alternatively, either or both of the first and second component may be secured to the plates 3 and 13 respectively after adjustment of the connector 1, as will now be described. To adjust the connector 1, the cap 9, collar 7, collet 6 and boss 5 are located over the free end of the rod 2 in that order, as shown in Figure 1.

The rod lOis then inserted into the hole 12 of the boss 5 to the required position and rod 10 is orientated by rotating the boss. 5 around the rod 2 and by rotating the rod 10 relative to the boss 5 so that it projects at a desired angle and orientation relative to the rod 2. The degrees of freedom available are shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 shows that the boss 5 may be slid up and down the rod 2 between a range of positions towards the end of the rod, as indicated by arrows A, and located at a required position within this range. It also shows that the rod 10 and attached plate 13 may be rotated relative to the boss 5, as indicated by arrows B. Figure 4 shows that the end II of the rod 10 may be inserted into the hole 12 to protrude from the other side of the boss 5 at a required depth, as indicated by arrows C, and it and the boss 5 rotated relative to the rod 2, as indicated by the arrows D. It will be appreciated that the range of positions along the rod 2 where the boss 5 may be secured thereto is dependent on the lengths of the collet 6 and the boss 5.

Once the rods 2 and 10 have been arranged at the desired relative positions, they can be fixed in these positions by locating the collet 6 within the boss 5 until it touches the rod 10 and clamps the rod 10 against the opposite side of the boss defining the through-hole 12. Screwing of the collar 7 over the collet 6 and into the boss 5 then compresses the collet 6 so that it is clamped to the rod 2. As the collet 6 is also in clamping contact with the rod lO, the latter is also clamped into position relative to the boss 5. Once the collar 7 has been tightened into position, for example by use of a spanner or other tool, the cap 9 can be located over the protruding end of the collar 7 to hide it.

It will be appreciated that in practice, the collet 6 can be clamped and unclamped to and from the rod 2 as many times as is necessary in order to adjust the r&ative positions of the rods 2 and 10 and therefore of the items to be secured or are already secured to them.

In a modification to the embodiment described above, as shown in Figure 5, the plate 3 may be replaced by an extended, profiled end 15 of the rod 2 or by a bolt that is adapted to be secured in an aperture 16 defined by a wall 17 or other item by an adhesive means such as a synthetic resin.

Alternatively, the plates 3 and 13 may be adapted to be secured directly to the components to be secured together using adhesive means such as use of an appropriate adhesive or adhesive tape. In other embodiments, either or both plates 3 and 13 may be secured by welding or either or both of the plates 3 and 13 may be dispensed with and either or both of the rods 2, 10 may be threaded so that they can be screwed into a tapped hole in the item to which they are to be secured.

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment ofconnector 18, wherein theboss 5, collet 6, collar 7 and cap 9 are located over the rod 10 rather than the rod 2. In this arrangement the collet 6 is clamped to the rod 10 and clamps the rod 2 to the boss 5.

Figures 1 to 6 all show connectors 1, 18 that are used along with rods 2 and 10 to form brackets that are suitable for use in the attachment of an elongate item, such as linear hand rail, or a set of items, which it is desired to align, to a wall surface that is not flat. Two further embodiments of the invention will now be described that enable an elongate item such as a rod, bar, tube, upright, balustrade or hand rail to be connected to another component of a railing or other assembly with a connection angle that may be other than 90°.

Figures 7 and 8 show a connector 19 suitable for use in connecting together two elongate rods 10 and 2 that form part of a rafling or similar assembly so that the orientation of these rods 10, 2 relative to one another can be other than 90°. The connector 19 comprises a hollow boss 5, a tapered coflet 6 and an externally threaded collar 7 as described above.

However, in this embodiment the rod 10 is attached to the boss 5 by a clamping saddle 20 that is rotatably secured to the boss 5 by pins 21 so that the saddle 20 can rotate relative to the boss 5. The saddle 20 is secured around the rod 10 so that the rod's orientation relative to the boss 5 and therefore relative to the rod 2 can be varied. In particular, the two rods 10 and 2 can be connected together at an angle other than 90°.

In order to enable the collet 6 to clamp the rod 10 to the boss 5 when it is clamped to the rod 2 by the collar 7, a clamping block 22 is interposed between the collet 6 and the rod 10 within the boss 6. A side 23 of the clamping block 22 adjacent the collet 6 is profiled to define a part-spherical surface whereas an opposite side 24 of the clamping block 22 adjacent the rod 10 defines a surface that conforms to the adjacent surface of the rod 10 so that the clamping block 22 rotates within the boss 5 when the rod 10 is moved relative to the boss 5. The part-spherical surface 23 enables the clamping block 22 always to present a surface of the same shape to the collet 6. an adjacent surface 25 of which may a'so be profiled with a complementary part-spherical surface to that on clamping block 22. Hence, prior to clamping of the collet 6 to the rod 2, the orientation of the rod 10 and the clamping block 22 relative to the boss 5 and the coflet 6 is variable by rotating the rod 10 and saddle 20 relative to the boss 5. Once the two rods and 2 are orientated as desired the collet 6 is located within the boss 5 until it touches the clamping block 22, which is locates in contact with the rod 10. Screwing of the collar 7 over the collet 6 and into the boss 5 then compresses the collet 6 so that it is clamped to the rod 10. As the collet 6 is also in contact with the clamping block 22, the latter is also clamped between the collet 6 and the rod 10 thereby retaining the rod 10 in position relative to the boss 5. A cap 11 is a'so provided that is slidably mounted on the rod 10 and adapted to cover the part of the collar 7 which protrudes from the boss 5 after clamping to the rod 2.

A fifth embodiment of connector 26 is shown in Figures 9 and 10. In this embodiment the connector 26 is used to connect a rod 10 between two in line rods 2a and 2b at an angle that is not necessarily 90°. As in the previous embodiments, the connector 16 comprises a hollow boss 5 but in this embodiment the boss 5 is two-sided, one side being for connection to the rod 2a and the other side being for connection to the rod 2b. A through-hole 27 is formed through the centre of the boss 5 between the connections to the rods 2a and 2b through which the rod 10 passes so that the rods 2a and 2b are connected on either side of it. The through-h6Ie 27 has an elongate transverse profile so that the orientation of the rod 10 relative to the boss 5 is variable prior to clamping.

The boss 5 may be clamped to each of the rods 2a and 2b in the same way as it is clamped to the rod 10 in the fourth embodiment described above.

Clamping blocks 22 are used on each side of the rod 10 and once the rod 10 has been orientated as desired relative to the boss 5, it can be clamped in position by screwing the collars 7 over the coflets 6 and into the boss 5.

1-lowever, in practice, it is likely that the boss 5 will be secured to one of the rods 2a and 2b prior to clamping to the other rod 2b or 2a and the rod 10.

It will be appreciated that in a modification, the through-hole 27 need not have an elongate transverse profile so that the rod 10 is always aligned at a predetermined angle to the rods 2a and 2b. In particular, the through-hole 27 maybe arranged so that the rod 10 is normal to the rods 2a and 2b.

In a further embodiment of connector (not shown), the through hole 27 may be omitted from the boss 5 shown in Figures 9 and 10 and the connector used to simply connect the two rods 2a and 2b in line with one another. In this embodiment, the clamping blocks 22 may also be omitted.

The overall length of the boss 5 will determine how far each rod 2a and 2b may be inserted into the boss 5 prior to clamping so that bosses 5 of varying length maybe provided to suit different applications.

Hence, it will be appreciated that an adjustable connector in accordance with the invention enables two elongate items to be secured to one another at variable distances and orientations, A plurality of such connectors can therefore be used to form railings and to attach handrails and ba'ustrades to walls and other structural components that are not flat or aligned.

Claims

-10 -CLAIMS1. An adjustable connector for clamping an elongate first item to a second item comprising a hollow boss that is adapted to be slidably mounted on the first item, a tapered collet adapted to be located within the base and through the centre of which collet the first item will pass, and a collar that locates over the collet and that is adapted to be secured to the boss whereby the collet is clamped to the first item at a desired position along its length, the second item being clamped directly or indirectly to the boss by the collet when the collet is itself clamped to the first rod by the collar.
2. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the boss has an internal thread and the collar has an external thread whereby the collar is secured to the boss by screwing.
3. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the first and second items both comprise rods to which the boss is secured.
4. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 3. wherein the boss defines a hole into which the second rod is inserted.
5. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the hole in the boss is a through-hole whereby the second rod is clampable to the boss at any of a range ofpositions along its length.
6. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the hole has an elongate transverse profile whereby the orientation of the second rod relative to the boss is variable prior to clamping of the second rod to the boss by the collet.--
7. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the second rod is secured to the boss by a clamping saddle.
8. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 7, wherein, the clamping saddle is rotatable secured to the boss whereby the orientation of the second rod relative to the boss is variable prior to clamping of the second rod to the boss by the collet.
9. An adjustable connector as claimed in any of Claims Ito 8, wherein a clamping block is located within the boss interposed between the collet and the second item and clamps the second item to the boss when the collet is clamped to the first item by the collar.
10. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 9, wherein a side of the clamping block adjacent the collet defines a part-spherical surface and an opposite side of the clamping block adjacent the second item defines a surface that conforms to an adjacent surface of the second item.
11. An adjustable connector as claimed in any of Claims ito 10, wherein the collar is adapted to be secured to the boss by use of a tool.
12. An adjustable connector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein a cap is slidably mounted on the first rod and is adapted to cover a part of the collar protruding from the boss after the collet has been clamped to the first rod.
13. An adjustable connector as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the cap is a either a push-fit or is adapted to be screwed over the protruding part of the collar.
14. An adjustable connector as claimed in any of Claims ito 13, wherein either or both of the first and second items comprise a plate that is -12 -adapted to be secured to a wall or another component by connectors or by an adhesive means.
15. An adjustable connector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14. wherein one of the first and second items comprises an extended profiled end adapted to be secured in an aperture defined by a structural component by an adhesive means.
16. An adjustable connector substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figures 7 and 8, or Figures 9 and 10 ofthe accompanying drawings.