GB2537369A

GB2537369A - Fastening device

Info

Publication number: GB2537369A
Application number: GB1506230.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shovlin Nicholas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-04-13
Filing date: 2015-04-13
Publication date: 2016-10-19
Also published as: GB201506230D0

Abstract

A fastening device 10 which is insertable within an entry hole of a surface comprises a longitudinal member 20 which is at least partially insertable in a first direction into the entry hole. Anchoring means 40 are provided at the longitudinal member 20 which is movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration in which the inserted longitudinal member 20 is inhibited from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Biasing means , such as a spring 30 bias the anchoring means 40 in the second direction. The device 10 is particularly adapted for plasterboard walls.

Description

Fastening Device The present invention relates to fastening devices. In particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to improved mechanical fastening devices for securing an article to a surface such as a plasterboard wall.

It is known to provide various types of fasteners for securing articles to plasterboard walls. Such walls are inherently weak and it can be problematic to secure heavy items to them. The formation of an entry hole for a fastener further weakens the wall in the region of the hole. Also, if a plasterboard wall becomes wet then its strength is further reduced. The entry hole in the plasterboard represents an access point for water to travel by capillary action into the wall. Therefore, a region around the entry hole may be the weakest part of the wall.

Typical known fasteners are simple hooks (usually attached to the wall by nails) and plastic expansion plugs used with screws or screwed threads self tapping into the entry hole. These fasteners involve gripping of the side wall of the entry hole. Apart from their load limitations when the loading is applied downwards, a relatively light pulling force in a direction normal to the planar wall can lead to failure of these fasteners (failure can be regarded as relating to the fastener itself or to the wall and due to how the fastener attaches to the wall). Similarly, lateral movement (relative to the longitudinal axis of the fastener) can tear the plasterboard, widening the entry hole and making failure more likely.

Typically, when the fastener is being applied to a wall, there is only user access to one side (the "access side") of the wall. The fastener is configured to be 'activated using a pulling force applied from the access side. This typically involves some form of expansion of a part of the fastener to either fill the entry hole or to provide a stop by contacting the "blind side" of the wall. Both of this expansion and the pulling force can further weaken plasterboard walls. And, in devices which contact the "blind side", this contact occurs close to the entry hole (where the wall is weakest).

Another known fastener is the toggle bolt which typically has two expandable wings which are mounted on the shaft of a bolt. In some versions of the fastener, the wings are biased outwards by a spring until a stop component prevents further expansion when the wings have fully expanded. In other versions rotating the bolt relative to the wings causes outward expansion of the wings. The wings are initially collapsed when inserting the toggle bolt in the entry hole (in the spring version, the user holds the wings inwards against the spring force). When the wings have fully passed through the hole, the wings are expanded outwards (by the user rotating the bolt or by the spring force). The user rotating the bolt draws the wings towards the bolt head until they contact the blind side of the wall.

Therefore, for toggle bolts, a pulling force is again applied from the access side to tighten the fastener in contact with the wall. Also, the possible expansion of the wings is limited as it is dictated by the size of the entry hole and the length of the fastener. And the contact between the toggle bolt wings and the blind side of the wall is confined to (usually two) small areas. The contacting part of the wings must be smaller than the annular gap between the entry hole and the bolt of the toggle bolt to allow insertion. These contact areas are therefore regions of high stress. And on other types of surfaces, such as a glass panel, the high stress can cause fracture of the panel.

Traditional fasteners have further limitations. The fitting of these known fasteners requires some skill and can be time consuming. If the entry hole formed is too large, the fastener can fail or the weakening of the wall is greater. Also, the user must be close to the wall when fitting the fastener; remotely installing the device is not possible. Therefore, when fitting fasteners to high up surfaces, scaffolding or the like may be required.

Furthermore, it can be problematic to seal the formed entry hole. This can be an issue in certain sensitive environments. For instance, within a petrochemical plant, the entry hole may allow air into the environment (which could feed a fire) or the escape of gases which require to be contained. Or, in strict hygiene environments, the entry hole can provide access across a barrier for bacteria.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening device which is insertable within an entry hole of a surface, the fastening device comprising: a longitudinal member which is at least partially insertable in a first direction into the entry hole; anchoring means provided at the longitudinal member which is movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration in which the inserted longitudinal member is inhibited from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and first biasing means adapted to bias the anchoring means in the second direction.

The first biasing means may be adapted to bias the anchoring means in the second direction when the anchoring means is in the expanded configuration.

The first biasing means may be adapted to linearly bias the anchoring means in the second direction.

The first biasing means may comprise a longitudinal spring. The spring may be coaxial with the longitudinal member. The spring may have a first end which is attached to or abuts a first stop provided at the longitudinal member.

The fastening device may include releasable restraining means. The restraining means may be adapted to inhibit movement of the anchoring means in the second direction.

The fastening device may include second biasing means adapted to bias the anchoring means from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.

The anchoring means may have a first end which is connected to or integral with the first biasing means. The anchoring means may be connected to or integral with a second end of the spring.

The anchoring means may comprise a plurality of resilient legs. The term 'legs' is intended to have a broad definition in terms of geometry and to encompass the likes of wings.

Each of the plurality of legs may extend from the first biasing means in the second direction.

Each of the plurality of legs may extend at an oblique angle to the longitudinal member when the anchoring means is in the expanded configuration.

The restraining means may be adapted to inhibit the anchoring means from moving from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.

The fastening device may include a tubular body for insertion within the entry hole of the surface. The tubular body may include an outwardly extending flange provided at one end of the tubular body for contacting an access side of the surface and preventing further movement of the tubular body into the entry hole. The tubular body may be cylindrical.

The flange may be provided by a plate. The plate may have an aperture for allowing insertion of the longitudinal member. The aperture may have a diameter which is less than the diameter of the cylindrical tubular body.

The longitudinal member may include a contact member for contacting the second end of the anchoring means. The second end of the anchoring means may comprise the free end of each of the plurality of legs.

The contact member may have a contacting surface. The contacting surface may be conical or dome shaped.

The second end of the anchoring means may be adapted to contact the contacting surface when the anchoring means is in the collapsed configuration.

The fastening device may be adapted such that the second end of the anchoring means contacts the contacting surface when the anchoring means has been moved in the first direction against the action of the first biasing means.

The contact member may at least partially provide the restraining means.

The second end of the anchoring means may be locatable within the tubular body when the anchoring means is in the collapsed configuration.

The tubular body may at least partially provide the restraining means.

The contact member and the tubular body may cooperatively provide the restraining means.

The fastening device may be settable in an initial condition in which the restraining means maintains the anchoring means in the collapsed configuration. In the initial condition, the second end of the anchoring means may be located within the tubular body and in contact with the contact member.

The restraining means may be releasable by a sufficient movement in the first direction of the longitudinal member relative to the tubular body such that the second end of the anchoring means is no longer located within the tubular body.

The anchoring means may include a support member located between the first and second ends of the anchoring means. The support member may be adapted to promote moving of the anchoring means from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration. The support member may comprise an annular ring. The annular ring may circumscribe, and be linearly movable relative to, the longitudinal member.

The longitudinal member may have a first end which is insertable within the entry hole. The longitudinal member may have a second end which extends outwards from the entry hole.

A second stop may be provided at or near the second end of the longitudinal member to limit the insertion in the first direction of the longitudinal member into the entry hole.

The longitudinal member may include a support device at the second end of the longitudinal member for supporting an article which is to be suspended by the fastening device.

Alternatively, the longitudinal member may be a component of the article to be suspended.

Alternatively, the support device or a portion of the article to be suspended may be provided around the tubular body which is only partially inserted into the entry hole. The flange of the tubular body may be provided external to the support device or a portion of the article to be suspended to inhibit the support device or a portion of the article to be suspended moving in the second direction.

The fastening device may include a tool for causing movement of the longitudinal member relative to the tubular body. The tool may comprise a pole, allowing remote insertion and activation of the fastening device.

Alternatively, the tool may be remotely operable. The tool may include a receiver for receiving a signal sent by a controller operated by the user and responsively cause movement of the longitudinal member.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fastening apparatus; and FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the fastening apparatus of Figure 1 in an initial condition; FIG. 3 A to F are various perspective views showing the stages of installing the fastening apparatus of Figure 1 in an entry hole of a wall; FIG. 4 is an exaggerated front view of the components of the fastening apparatus of Figure 1 in an initial condition; and FIG. 5 A and B are perspective views showing two stages of remotely installing the fastening apparatus of Figure 1 in an entry hole of a wall.

Figure 1 shows a fastening device 10 which can be inserted into an entry hole 102 which has been formed at a surface such as a plasterboard wall 100.

Although the fastening device 10 will be discussed in relation to plasterboard walls, the invention is applicable for many types of surfaces, including wood, laminates, sheet metal such as car bodies or aircraft panels, ceramics, glass, even (in medical applications) human bone and blood vessels.

The formed entry hole 102 is sized to accommodate a cylindrical tubular body 12 of the fastening device 10. In this embodiment, the entry hole required is no larger than those used for conventional fasteners.

The entire device 10 (when set in an initial condition as explained below) is inserted in a first direction 104 into the entry hole 102 from an access side of the wall 100. An outwardly extending flange 14 is provided at one end of the tubular body 12 for contacting an access side of the wall 100 and preventing further insertion of the device 102 into the entry hole 102.

The flange 14 is provided by a plate 16 with an aperture 18. The aperture 18 has a diameter which is substantially less than the diameter of the tubular body 12. If required, the flange 14 can have spikes on its surface that contact the wall 100 to grip the wall 100 to prevent rotation of the tubular body 12 relative to the wall 100.

The fastening device 10 includes a longitudinal member or shaft 20. A first end 22 of the shaft 20 is inserted into the aperture 18 of the tubular body 12. When the device 10 is inserted in the entry hole 102, a second end 24 of the shaft 20 will remain extending outwards from the entry hole 102.

First biasing means in the form of a spring 30 is coiled around the shaft 20. A first end 32 of the spring 30 abuts a first stop 26 provided at the first end 22 of the shaft 20. The first stop 26 is a nut threaded on the shaft 20.

Anchoring means is provided near the first end 22 of the shaft 20. The anchoring means comprises a number of resilient legs 40. For clarity, only two legs 40 are shown in the figures. However, many more can be provided.

A first end 42 of each leg 40 is connected to a first annular ring 43 which is coupled to the second end of the spring 30 and can move freely along the shaft 20. The legs 40 extend from the first ring 43 in a second direction 106 which is opposite to the first direction 104.

A support member in the form of a second annular ring 44 is located between the first 42 and second 46 ends of each leg 40 and circumscribing the shaft 20. The legs 40 contact the outer surface of the second ring 44. The second ring 44 has a greater diameter than the first ring 43. Consequently, the legs 40 extend at an oblique angle to the shaft 20.

If the legs are bent inwards towards the shaft 20, they are in a collapsed configuration. This is shown in exaggerated form in Figure 4. The resilience of the legs 40 provides second biasing means to bias the legs 40 from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. The aperture 18 of the tubular body 12 is sized to allow insertion of the shaft 20 when the legs 40 are in the collapsed configuration.

In the absence of any restraint, the legs 40 will move from this collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration as shown in Figure 3 E. In this expanded configuration, the legs 40 extend outwards much farther than the diameter of the tubular body 12. Therefore, if the shaft 20 while inserted in the wall 100 were moved in the second direction 106, the legs would make contact with the blind side of the wall 100. Therefore, the legs 40 inhibit the inserted shaft 20 from moving in the second direction 106.

Due to the connection between the spring 30 and the legs 40, the spring 30 linearly biases the legs 40 in the second direction 106, which is towards the blind side of the wall 100.

The fastening device 10 includes releasable restraining means.

A contact member 50 is provided for contacting the free end of each leg 40. The contact member has a conical contacting surface 52. The contact member 50 is fixed to the shaft 20 at a particular distance from the spring 30 and legs 40.

To contact the contacting surface 52, the legs 40 must be in the collapsed configuration and must have been linearly moved in the first direction 104 against the action of the spring 30. Therefore, the spring 30 is compressed. In this embodiment, this may be done by the user. In other embodiments, particularly larger embodiments such as, say, used in construction, the device 10 may be supplied with the spring 30 already compressed.

The spring 30 will bias the legs 40 in the second direction 106. This would cause the legs 40 to expand because the free end of each leg 40 is moving from a location of small diameter to a location of larger diameter of the conical contacting surface 52.

However, when the free end of each leg 40 is located within the tubular body 12, the legs 40 contact the internal surface of the tubular body 12 and are restrained from expanding. This also prevents the legs 40 from moving in the second direction 106 and the spring 30 remains compressed. The contact member SO and the internal surface of the tubular body 12 effectively form a wedge which prevents movement of the legs 40 both outwardly and in the second direction 106. Therefore, the contact member 50 and the tubular body 12 cooperatively provide the restraining means.

The fastening device 10 can be set in an initial condition in which the spring 20 is compressed, the free end of each leg 40 is contacting the contacting surface 52 and is located within the tubular body 12. This is shown in Figure 2 (in the exploded view of Figure 1, the legs 40 are artificially shown in a collapsed configuration). In this condition, the fastening device 10 can be inserted within the entry hole 102 and is ready for being activated.

Figure 3 A to C show the fastening device 10 being inserted within the entry hole 102.

The restraining means can be released by simply moving the shaft 20 relative to the tubular body 12 such that the free end of each leg 40 is no longer located within the tubular body 12 (Figure 3 D). The legs 40 are now free to expand outwards (Figure 3 E).

In addition, the spring 20 is now free to utilise its stored energy and move the legs 40 in the second direction 106. The legs 40 are therefore moved into contact with the blind side of the wall 100 (Figure 3 F).

With further biasing of the spring 30 now being resisted by contact between the legs 40 and wall, the shaft 20 will be biased in the first direction 104. A second stop 60, in the form of a nut, is provided at the second end 24 of the shaft 20 to limit this movement in the first direction 104.

The force of the spring 30 can be set by tightening or untightening the stop 26 on the shaft 20 which has the effect of linearly moving the spring 30 towards or away from the contact member SO.

A support device 70 can be provided at the second end of the shaft 20 for supporting an article which is to be suspended by the fastening device 10. However, in other embodiments, the fastening device 10 could be a component of the article, such as a television to be hung on a wall.

As shown in Figure 5, the fastening device 10 can include a tool 82 for moving of the shaft relative to the tubular body 12. The tool 82 can include a long pole to allow remote insertion and activation of the fastening device 10. This remote activation has advantages when the fastener 10 is to be applied in a high up surface or, say, in a hostile environment.

The pole of the tool 82 can comprise an outer tube 84 having an outer diameter sized to mate with the tubular body 12. Within the outer tube 84 is an inner tube 86 that can slide relative to the outer tube 84 and contact the shaft 20.

With the inner tube 86 extended in the second direction 106, a fastening device 10 can be put on the end of the outer tube 84. The user can then locate the fastening device 10 in the entry hole. Then the inner tube 86 is moved in the first direction 104 to activate the fastening device 10.

Especially in larger embodiments, the device 10 can be supplied to the user set in the initial condition. The shaft 20 has a square profile portion 27 around which a circlip or the like can be fitted. This prevents the device 10 being unintentionally triggered by preventing the shaft 20 moving in the first direction 104 relative to the collar 12. The circlip can be removed by the user before installing the device 10.

In the event that the fastener 10 is no longer required, the shaft 20 and its components can be removed and the aperture 18 of the tubular body 12 can be capped.

The invention does not require a skilled installer. It is simple and fast to operate.

Installation can be achieved where the only tooling required is a drill for forming the entry hole and a tool for pushing the shaft 20 inwards to activate the fastening device 10.

The fastening device 10 of the invention has greater load bearing capacity than conventional fasteners for a number of reasons. The strong tubular body 12 is in full contact with, and so reinforces, the entry hole 102. The anchoring means is applied far away from the entry hole where the wall 100 is stronger. And large pulling forces (in the second direction) to install the fastening device 10 are avoided. Rather, the spring force is a known, controlled force and it is applied in the first direction. Consequently, it is resisted by the flange 14 of the tubular body 12 which has a large and even contact area with the wall 100.

Another feature of the invention is that it does not involve a rigid connection between the fastener 10 (and so an article suspended on the fastener 10) and the wall 100. Rather, there is a resilient connection as a constant elastic force is present. This has a number of advantages.

Any sudden force applied to the fastener 10 in any direction does not immediately impact on the wall 100 as the spring 30 provides a certain amount of shock absorption. In extreme environments such as earthquake zones, the fastener 10 will allow the fixed article to move slightly away from the surface of the wall 100, which will increase the spring force to pull the object back.

Also, the tubular body 12 can intentionally be pulled away from the wall 100 by a small amount. This could be done to allow sealants or hardeners to be injected into the fixing to increase the strength of the fixing and to bridge the initial hole made in the plasterboard to its original strength. Or, in strict hygiene environments, this could be done to allow the spraying of antiviral antibacterial agents.

Various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A fastening device which is insertable within an entry hole of a surface, the fastening device comprising: a longitudinal member which is at least partially insertable in a first direction into the entry hole; anchoring means provided at the longitudinal member which is movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration in which the inserted longitudinal member is inhibited from moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and first biasing means adapted to bias the anchoring means in the second direction.
2. A fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first biasing means is adapted to bias the anchoring means in the second direction when the anchoring means is in the expanded configuration.
3. A fastening device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first biasing means is adapted to linearly bias the anchoring means in the second direction.
4. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first biasing means comprises a longitudinal spring.
5. A fastening device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spring is coaxial with the longitudinal member.
6. A fastening device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the spring has a first end which is attached to or abuts a first stop provided at the longitudinal member.
7. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastening device includes releasable restraining means.
8. A fastening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the restraining means is adapted to inhibit movement of the anchoring means in the second direction.
9. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastening device includes second biasing means adapted to bias the anchoring means from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.
10. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the anchoring means has a first end which is connected to or integral with the first biasing means.
11. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the anchoring means comprises a plurality of resilient legs.
12. A fastening device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of legs extends from the first biasing means in the second direction.
13. A fastening device as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein each of the plurality of legs extends at an oblique angle to the longitudinal member when the anchoring means is in the expanded configuration.
14. A fastening device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the restraining means is adapted to inhibit the anchoring means from moving from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.
15. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastening device includes a tubular body for insertion within the entry hole of the surface.
16. A fastening device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tubular body includes an outwardly extending flange provided at one end of the tubular body for contacting an access side of the surface and preventing further movement of the tubular body into the entry hole.
17. A fastening device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the flange is provided by a plate having an aperture for allowing insertion of the longitudinal member.
18. A fastening device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the aperture has a diameter which is less than the diameter of the cylindrical tubular body.
19. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal member includes a contact member for contacting the second end of the anchoring means.
20. A fastening device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second end of the anchoring means comprises the free end of each of the plurality of legs.
21. A fastening device as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein the contact member has a contacting surface which is conical or dome shaped.
22. A fastening device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the second end of the anchoring means is adapted to contact the contacting surface when the anchoring means is in the collapsed configuration.
23. A fastening device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the fastening device is adapted such that the second end of the anchoring means contacts the contacting surface when the anchoring means has been moved in the first direction against the action of the first biasing means.
24. A fastening device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the contact member at least partially provides the restraining means.
25. A fastening device as claimed in any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the second end of the anchoring means is locatable within the tubular body when the anchoring means is in the collapsed configuration.
26. A fastening device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the tubular body at least partially provides the restraining means.
27. A fastening device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the contact member and the tubular body cooperatively provide the restraining means.
28. A fastening device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fastening device is settable in an initial condition in which the restraining means maintains the anchoring means in the collapsed configuration.
29. A fastening device as claimed in claim 28, wherein, in the initial condition, the second end of the anchoring means is located within the tubular body and in contact with the contact member.
30. A fastening device as claimed in claim 28 or 29, wherein the restraining means is releasable by a sufficient movement in the first direction of the longitudinal member relative to the tubular body such that the second end of the anchoring means is no longer located within the tubular body.
31. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the anchoring means includes a support member located between the first and second ends of the anchoring means.
32. A fastening device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the support member is adapted to promote moving of the anchoring means from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration.
33. A fastening device as claimed in claim 31 or 32, wherein the support member comprises an annular ring which circumscribes, and is linearly movable relative to, the longitudinal member.
34. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal member has a first end which is insertable within the entry hole and a second end which extends outwards from the entry hole.
35. A fastening device as claimed in claim 34, wherein a second stop is provided at or near the second end of the longitudinal member to limit the insertion in the first direction of the longitudinal member into the entry hole.
36. A fastening device as claimed in claim 34 or 35, wherein the longitudinal member includes a support device at the second end of the longitudinal member for supporting an article which is to be suspended by the fastening device.
37. A fastening device as claimed in claim 34 or 35, wherein the longitudinal member is a component of the article to be suspended.
38. A fastening device as claimed in claim 34 or 35, wherein the support device or a portion of the article to be suspended is provided around the tubular body which is only partially inserted into the entry hole.
39. A fastening device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the flange of the tubular body is provided external to the support device or a portion of the article to be suspended to inhibit the support device or a portion of the article to be suspended moving in the second direction.
40. A fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fastening device includes a tool for causing movement of the longitudinal member relative to the tubular body.
41. A fastening device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the tool comprises a pole, allowing remote insertion and activation of the fastening device.
42. A fastening device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the tool is remotely operable.
43. A fastening device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the tool includes a receiver for receiving a signal sent by a controller operated by the user and responsively causes movement of the longitudinal member.