GB2546472A

GB2546472A - Fixing hook

Info

Publication number: GB2546472A
Application number: GB1521482.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Halbert Shaun
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-12-04
Filing date: 2015-12-04
Publication date: 2017-07-26
Also published as: GB201521482D0

Abstract

A dual purpose hook comprising a first hooked 1 and, a central U-shaped bend 3 and a second hooked end 2. The hooked part of the first hooked end may be inserted into the open end of a substantially vertical tube or pole. In this arrangement the central U-shaped bend can support a second, substantially horizontal tube or pole. The dual purpose hook can be turned upside down and the whole of the first hooked end inserted into the open end of a substantially vertical tube or pole. In this arrangement the hooked part of the second hooked end (which may form a loop or eyelet) can be used to secure a rope or similar.

Description

Description documents (re- "Fixing hook" Patent application by S.Halbert)

Background

This invention relates to a dual purpose fixing hook used to support poles, and also to attach ropes to the ends of poles, when building a tubular metal frame structure.

When a frame is being built using tubular metal poles that are being lashed together, this fixing hook solves the problem of holding and supporting poles while they are lashed together. It also solves the problem of attaching a rope to the end of a tubular metal pole.

These two problems are particularly important in a disaster relief situation when a person is building a tubular metal shelter frame to support a heavy relief tarpaulin and make an emergency shelter. In this case, if the roof frame has been lashed together on the ground, it is very difficult for a single person to support and lash this roof frame to the support poles at the same time. Not only does the fixing hook provide this support while it holds the two poles in position for lashing, but it also remains in position under any lashing for the long term to ensure the roof frame does not slip down its support pole. It is able to become included within the lashing due to its close proximity to the two poles and its rounded curved shape that does not interfere with a lashing.

It is in this disaster relief situation that the hook fixing can also be used to attach a rope to the end of a tubular metal pole in a shelter frame structure. The fixing hook is particular effective for this purpose when attaching a rope to the outer end of a pole of a four pole reciprocal frame roof as the direction of pull of the attached rope forces the hook into the end of the pole and prevents it slipping out.

Statement of invention.

The invention proposes a dual purpose fixing hook to hold in position and support tubular metal poles, and to enable a rope to be attached to the end of a tubular metal pole.

Advantages

The fixing hook has the advantage of being dual purpose for both supporting , and attaching ropes to, tubular metal poles.

The fixing hook has the advantage of enabling a single person to be able to position, hold and support a tubular metal bar against a second tubular metal bar while, at the same time, lashing the two tubular metal poles together.

Preferably, when used for supporting the tubular metal frame roof of a relief shelter, the fixing hook is lashed in position to provide continued support for the long term.

Preferably when used for attaching a rope to the ends of a tubular metal frame roof of a relief shelter the fixing hook is lashed in position.

Preferably the fixing hook is made from steel.

Introduction to drawings.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1. Shows the fixing hook from the side.

Figure 2. Shows the fixing hook from the front.

Figure 3. Shows the fixing hook at an oblique angle.

Figure 4. Shows the fixing hook from the side when in position hooked over the top of a tubular metal support pole.

Figure 5. Shows the fixing hook from the front when in position hooked over the top of a tubular metal support pole.

Figure 6. Shows the fixing hook from an oblique angle when in position hooked over the top of a tubular metal support pole.

Figure 7. Shows the fixing hook from the side when in position supporting a horizontal tubular metal pole.

Figure 8. Shows the fixing hook from the front when in position supporting a horizontal tubular metal pole.

Figure 9. . Shows the fixing hook from an oblique angle when in position supporting a horizontal tubular metal pole.

Figure 10. Shows the fixing hook held over the open end of a tubular metal pole before being inserted.

Figure 11. Shows the fixing hook when in position inserted in the open end of a tubular metal pole with a rope attached to the eyelet at the distal end.

Figure 12. Shows the location of the fixing hooks when used to support the ridge pole of a reciprocal frame roof structure and also when being used to attach a rope to the ends of the reciprocal frame roof poles.

Detailed description.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show three important aspects of the shape of the fixing hook, these are; 1. An extended hook end 1 set at 90 degrees to the main body 3 of the fixing device. This hook maintains a uniform narrow gap between it and the main body of the hook sufficient to hook over the end of a tubular metal pole . 2. An eyelet 2 for rope attachment at the other end of the fixing hook, this is large enough for a rope to be threaded through. 3. A curved body 3 of the fixing hook that is large enough to take the tubular metal bar being supported.

The fixing hook can be made from a single length of 5mm diameter steel.

The approximate dimensions of the fixing hook are llcms long and 5cms wide.

Before describing this fixing hook in further detail it is necessary to mention the context of one of its main uses. This fixing hook is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to the building of tubular metal pole frame structures that are being cross- lashed together to support heavy relief tarpaulins in a disaster situation. In the following example a four pole tubular metal reciprocal frame roof with a single tubular metal ridge pole that has been lashed together on the ground is to be supported and held in position by the fixing hook on two support poles while the whole arrangement is cross lashed together. In addition this example also shows how the fixing hook is used to attach a rope to the end of one of the reciprocal frame poles.

When using the fixing hook for holding and supporting a tubular metal pole the first step is to hook end 1 over the edge of the end of the vertical support pole 4 as shown from different aspects in figures 4, 5 and 6.

The next step is to insert the tubular metal pole 5 to be supported (in this example the ridge pole of the reciprocal frame roof) horizontally through the curved body 3 of the fixing hook. Figures 7, 8 and 9 show the fixing hook supporting the tubular metal pole 5 in position from three different aspects.

Figure 7 also shows how the hook holds the horizontal tubular metal pole 5 close to the support pole 4. By holding these two tubular metal poles in the correct position they can now be cross lashed together if required while leaving the fixing hook in position to continue its support in the long term. This completes the steps for using the fixing hook to position and support two tubular metal poles.

Figurel2 shows how two fixing hooks can be used to support the horizontal ridge pole 5 of a reciprocal frame roof structure 9 at two points 7 and 8 near its ends. In this example the reciprocal frame roof structure 9,including the ridge pole 5, had previously been lashed together on the ground before being lifted onto the support poles 4 with each of the fixing hooks in place as shown in figures 4,5 and 6. In this example the fixing hook, by supporting the reciprocal frame ridge pole 5 at its ends, makes it easy for a single person to lash the poles 4 and 5 together as they do not have to support the weight of the reciprocal roof frame at the same time. This is important when the frame is being constructed by a single person that is building a shelter frame to support tarpaulins in a disaster emergency situation.

Figures 10 and 11 show how the hook can also be used for attaching ropes to the end of a tubular metal pole. Figure 10 shows the fixing hook positioned above the open end of a tubular metal pole 6 before being inserted into the open end. Figure 11 shows the fixing hook fully inserted in the end of the pole 6. The curved body 3 of the hook is pressed against the open edge of pole 6. A rope can now be tied to the eyelet 2 of the fixing hook as shown in figure 11.

Figure 12 shows the positions 10 and 11 of two fixing hooks that are being used to attach ropes to the end of the two lower tubular metal poles of a reciprocal frame roof structure 9 . The other end of each rope is attached to the end of the ridge pole 5 of the roof structure and this arrangement ensures that the hook end 1 of the fixing hook is continually being pulled into the open end of the tubular metal pole (see figure 11).

There is an important change and improvement to the fixing hook from my previous design. In my previous design the hook 1 was in the same plane as the eyelet 2 and curved body 3 of the fixing hook. This resulted in the fixing hook being held in a position between the tubular metal pole to be supported 5 and the tubular metal support pole 4. In this position the fixing hook was interfering with the subsequent lashing together of the two poles. In this improved invention the hook 1 is set at 90 degrees to the eyelet 2 and curved body 3 of the fixing hook. This ensures that the tubular metal pole being supported is held in direct contact with the support pole as shown in figure 7. In this position the fixing hook does not interfere with the subsequent lashing of the poles together and this ensures a better lashing result. This ability of the fixing hook to be lashed in position when it is being used to support a tubular metal pole, or attach a rope, is an important feature of this fixing hook when being used, for example, to assist building a tubular metal frame relief shelter. The smooth curves of the fixing hook also ensure that the lashing is not damaged when applied over the top of the hook.

Claims

Claims document (re- "Fixing hook" Patent application by S.Halbert) Claims

1. A dual purpose fixing hook to hold in position and support a tubular metal pole next to a second tubular metal pole, and also to attach a rope to the end of a tubular metal pole

2. A fixing hook according to claim 1, which can be lashed over when it is being used to hold and support two tubular metal poles

3. A fixing hook according to claim 1, which can be lashed over when it is being used to attach a rope to the end of a tubular metal pole Use Figure 9 and figure 11