GB2551569A

GB2551569A - A fixing device, system and method for enabling an object to be affixed to sheet of plasterboard

Info

Publication number: GB2551569A
Application number: GB1610995.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Daykin Jordan
Original assignee: Uk Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Uk Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-23
Filing date: 2016-06-23
Publication date: 2017-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-23
Also published as: GB2551569B; GB201610995D0

Abstract

A fixing device comprises a body having an aperture for receiving an anchor (such as a threaded bolt) 17. A first retention arm 21 is rigidly attached to the body 5 and is gradually fed through a hole 1 in a wall 3 (e.g. plasterboard) in use. A second extensible retention arm 23 is extended so that the wall 3 can be gripped evenly over a large surface area thereof. A flexible member (e.g. a coil spring) 7 is rigidly attached to the body and can be used to aid maneuvering the fixing device through the hole 1.

Description

A FIXING DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING AN OBJECT TO BE AFFIXED TO SHEET OF PLASTERBOARD

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus, system and method for enabling an object to be affixed to sheet of plasterboard, and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in attaching items to plasterboard walls.

Various problems exist with known methods of attaching objects to walls and ceilings made of plasterboard; most notably, plasterboard is a highly frangible material that can allow heavy objects to pull free from a wall if pressure is applied by a fixing over an area that is too small. It is therefore desirable to provide a fixing device that spreads a load across the surface of a wall, in particular where a user does not have access to a rear of the plasterboard.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing device for enabling an object to be affixed to sheet of plasterboard, the device comprising: a body having an aperture for receiving an anchor therein; a first retention arm rigidly connected to the body, and arranged to project from the body in a first direction substantially at right angles to an axis of the aperture; a second retention arm extensibly connected to the body, and configured to be movable between: a retracted position; and an extended position in which the second retention arm projects from the body in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction; a flexible member rigidly connected to the body and configured to be arrangeable substantially parallel to the axis of the aperture.

In this way, a hole may be drilled in a sheet of plasterboard (e.g. a wall or ceiling), into which may be inserted an end of the first retention arm distal from the body. The first retention arm may be gradually fed through the hole, until finally the body is passed through the hole. During this time, the flexible member may be held by a user, to prevent the fixing device from being lost on the far side of the plasterboard. The second retention arm may then be extended by any suitable means, and the aperture in the body may be made substantially co-axial with the axis of the hole in the plasterboard by manipulating the flexible member.

An anchor may be secured in the aperture in the body. For instance the anchor may comprise a screw, a bolt, nail, or any other form of threaded or unthreaded fastener. The anchor may comprise a flange, which may be an enlarged head of the fastener, or may be for instance a washer, face plate and/or hole cover/plug through which the fastener is passed. The flange may be sized to extend across the hole in the plasterboard to a surface of the plasterboard on each side of the hole. In this way, the flange is pressed against a proximal surface of the plasterboard, and the fixing device is pressed against a distal surface of the plasterboard, thereby being held securely through the hole.

The anchor may also be passed through an object to be affixed to the plasterboard.

It is to be understood that the present invention may be useable with surfaces other than plasterboard, for instance wood; however, the present invention is defined as being suitable for use with a sheet of plasterboard.

The body may be a plastics material or metal, and may be substantially cylindrical. The aperture may be internally threaded, to cooperate with an externally threaded anchor. Alternatively, the aperture may be splined/serrated, to allow the thread of an externally threaded anchor to bite into the splines/serrations. The aperture may be provided with any other suitable means for allowing an anchor to be secured therein.

The second retention arm may be movable relative to the first retention arm, in particular by rotation, pivoting, translation and/or sliding.

The first retention arm may project away from the body by a first distance, and the second body may, in its extended state, project away from the body by a second distance substantially equal to the first distance. The first and second distances may differ by at most 5%, 10%, 20% or 30%. The first distance may be between 2cm and 15cm, in particular between 5cm and 10cm, more particularly approximately 7cm.

The second retention arm may be freely movable relative to the first retention arm. In this way, the second retention arm may be configured to slide between the retracted and extended positions under gravity. Preferably, the second retention arm is freely movably in both directions; however, in alternative arrangements, the second retention arm is freely movable in only one direction, for instance in extension. In this way, the second retention arm may not retract under gravity if the device is rotated.

The second retention arm may be moved from the retracted position into the extended position by rotating the fixing device about the aperture axis until the first retention arm is uppermost, such that the second retention arm moves downward under gravity.

The fixing device may comprise a third retention arm similar or different to the second retention arm. That is, the third retention arm may be extensibly connected to the body, and configured to be movable between: a further retracted position; and a further extended position in which the third retention arm projects from the body in a further second direction substantially opposite to the further first direction. However, the specifics of how the third retention arm may differ from those of the second retention arm.

The fixing device may comprise a fourth, retention arm similarly defined to the third retention arm.

In this way, more secure fixing of the device may be enabled.

The flexible member may be a coil spring (e.g. helical spring), in particular a compression spring. In this way, stretching and/or compression of the flexible member along its axis (e.g. along the aperture axis) may be permitted. In addition, bending of the flexible member away from the aperture axis may be permitted. However, the coil spring may be substantially impervious to rotational deformation about its axis; that is, the body may be caused to rotate about the aperture axis in response to the coil spring being rotated about the same axis.

Alternatively or additionally, the flexible member may be some other form of flexible material, such as a cord/string, rubber /synthetic rubber strip or a plastics material strip.

The body, flexible member and/or first retention arm may be rigidly connected together by any conventional means, such as by welding (e.g. spot welding), riveting (e.g. spin riveting), gluing, clamping, or being otherwise held in place by fasteners, cotter pins, etc.

The flexible member may be configured to be flexible in only one plane; that is, it may be configured to be bendable away from the aperture axis in one direction, but not in another direction at right angles thereto. The flexible member may be substantially impervious to rotational deformation about its axis.

The fixing device may further comprise a hole plug, the hole plug having an anchor receiving opening for receiving an anchor therethrough. The hole plug may comprise a flange for preventing passage of the hole plug through a hole. In this way, the hole plug may prevent the fixing device from being lost through a hole of predetermined size in the plasterboard. The opening may have a smooth internal surface to allow the passage of a threaded fastener therethrough; however, non-smooth internal surfaces are also envisaged.

The hole plug may be configured to be couplable (e.g. rigidly) to an end of the flexible member remote from the body. In this way, rotation of the hole plug about the aperture axis may cause rotation of the body about said aperture axis.

The coupling of the hole plug to the flexible member may be releasable, or it may be substantially permanent/non-releasable. In particular, the hole plug may be rigidly coupled to the flexible member. The hole plug may be coupled to the flexible member.

The hole plug may comprise at least one element for preventing axial rotation of the hole plug within the hole. In this way, the body may also be prevented from axial rotation on the distal face of the plasterboard. The at least one element may comprise ridges and/or grooves, or some other relatively high-friction surface. However, preferably, the at least one element comprises at least one (e.g. only one, or two, three, four or more) wings/blades for cutting into the plasterboard. The hole plug may therefore be pressed into the plasterboard, and an anchor may be passed through the hole plug and through the aperture in the body.

The second retention arm may be configured to be movable between the retracted position and the extended position manually, for instance by a user. The second retention arm may move out upon activation of a button, for instance the second retention arm may be spring-loaded. The second retention arm may be movable by rotating a drive keyway, e.g. a Allen key or screwdriver may be used to rotate the drive keyway. For instance, the second retention arm may be movable via a rack and pinion arrangement.

In this way, the present invention may be used in circumstances where rotation of the body such that the second retention arm moves due to gravity is prevented.

The first and/or second retention arm may comprise a plurality of retention members, wherein at least one of the retention members may be configured to move into a further extended position in response to the second retention member moving from the retracted position to the extended position. In this way, greater and more even support may be provided.

In one alternative embodiment, the device comprises two pairs of first and second retentions members, one pair being rotatably mounted about the aperture axis such that it may be inserted through the wall when parallel to the other pair, and then rotated to extend substantially at right angles to the other pair for securing in place. In this way, the two pairs of retention members may form a cross behind the plasterboard, when in use. The device may comprise a drive for rotating the one pair, and/or a stop for limiting rotation of the one pair to prevent over-rotation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for enabling an object to be affixed to sheet of plasterboard, the system comprising: the fixing device of the first aspect; and an anchor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of affixing an object to a sheet of plasterboard, the method comprising the steps of: providing a fixing system according to the second aspect; drilling a hole in a sheet of plasterboard; inserting an end of the first retention arm distal from the body into the hole; feeding the first retention arm through the hole; passing the body through the hole; holding the flexible member; extending the second retention arm; positioning the aperture in the body to be substantially co-axial with the axis of the hole in the plasterboard; and passing an anchor through the hole into the aperture and securing the anchor therein.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a first view of a first fixing system.

Figure 2 is a second view of the first fixing system.

Figure 3 is a third view of the first fixing system.

Figure 4 is a fourth view of the first fixing system.

Figure 5 is a first view of a second fixing system.

Figure 6 is a second view of the second fixing system.

Figure 7 is a first view of a third fixing system.

Figure 8 is a second view of fixing system.

Figure 9 is a third view of the third fixing system.

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a partially exploded, partially cutaway view of a first fixing system located in a hole 1 in a plasterboard wall 3. The device comprises a centrally located tubular body 5 about an exterior surface of which is attached a coil spring 7. The coil spring 7 is rigidly coupled, at an end opposite to the body 5, to a hole plug 9, sized to fit snuggly within the hole 1, and provided with a flange 11 to prevent over-insertion of the hole plug 9 into the hole 1, a axial opening 13, and anti-rotation blades 19 configured to cut into the plasterboard periphery of the hole 1, to prevent rotation of the hole plug 9 with respect to the plasterboard 3. An end 15 of the coil spring 7 is shown extending into the hole plug 9 securing the two together such that relative rotation is substantially inhibited. An externally threaded fastener 17 is disposed to pass through the opening 13, down the centre of the coil spring 7 and to engage with an internal thread of the body 5.

Rigidly attached to the body 5 is a fixed retention arm 21 that projects radially outward from the body 5 to engage a rear surface of the plasterboard 3. An sliding arm 23 is shown in an extended position, projecting radially outward from the body 5 in a direction opposite to the fixed retention arm 21. Sliding arm 23 is configured to slide into the fixed retention arm 21 in its retracted position for insertion through the hole 1. The thickness of the sliding arm 23 is less than the thickness of the fixed arm 21 such that the sliding arm 23 may be housed inside the fixed arm 21. To ensure that the two arms hold the body 5 evenly, an end cap 25 is provided on the sliding arm 23, the end cap 25 having a thickness equal to that of the fixed arm 21. The sliding arm 23 is configured to slide out under gravity.

By extending the sliding arm 23 out on the rear side of the plasterboard 3, by pressing the hole plug 9 into the plasterboard 3 and by securing the fastener 17 into the body 5, an object such as the bracket 27 shown may be secured to the plasterboard wall 3.

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the fixing device of figure 1 in use with the sliding arm 23 extended. A slot 29 in the sliding arm 23 allows the sliding arm to slide into the fixed arm 21 on either side of the body 5.

Figures 3 and 4 show insertion of the fixing device through the hole 1 in the plasterboard 3 such that the coil spring 7 can be held and manipulated by a user, and to push the fixed arm 21, followed by the body 5, through the hole 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to those of figures 1 and 2 respectively, of a second fixing system. Similar reference numerals indicate similar features. A pinion 31 is provided on the fixed arm 21 for engagement with teeth 33 in the slot 29. In this way, a user may pass (for instance) a screwdriver through the hole 1 parallel to the coil spring 7, prior to attachment of the hole plug 9 to the coil spring 7, and manipulate the pinion 31 to move the sliding arm 23 into its extended position (for instance, the pinion may include a screwdriver slot or similar aperture). In preferred embodiments, the pinion may be located coaxially with the aperture, such that a tool (e.g. a screw driver may be inserted through the centre of the coil spring to drive the pinion.

Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to those of figures 1 and 2 respectively, of a third fixing system. Similar reference numerals indicate similar features. In this arrangement, the fixed arm 21 comprises a single metal plate connected to the body 5 at one end and curved up toward the plasterboard 3 at the other end. The sliding arm 23 is provided in the form of a sleeve 23 that surrounds the fixed arm 21 in its retracted position. In addition, two further arms (upper arm 35 and lower arm 37 are provided, pivotally mounted on pivot 39, each provided with a respective torsion springs that are arranged to spring the upper 35 and lower 37 arms out as the sliding arm 23 is moved out of its retracted position.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the arrangement of figures 7 and 8, with the sliding arm 23 in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A fixing device for enabling an object to be affixed to sheet of plasterboard, the device comprising: a body having an aperture for receiving an anchor therein; a first retention arm rigidly connected to the body, and arranged to project from the body in a first direction substantially at right angles to an axis of the aperture; a second retention arm extensibly connected to the body, and configured to be movable between: a retracted position; and an extended position in which the second retention arm projects from the body in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction; a flexible member rigidly connected to the body and configured to be arrangeable substantially parallel to the axis of the aperture.

2. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the second retention arm is slidably movable relative to the first retention arm.

3. The fixing device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second retention arm is freely movable relative to the first retention arm.

4. The fixing device of any preceding claim, wherein the flexible member is a coil spring.

5. The fixing device of any preceding claim, wherein the flexible member is substantially impervious to rotational deformation about its axis.

6. The fixing device of any preceding claim, further comprising a hole plug, the hole plug having an anchor receiving opening for receiving an anchor therethrough, the hole plug configured to be rigidly couplable to an end of the flexible member remote from the body.

7. The fixing device of claim 6, wherein the hole plug comprises at least one element for preventing axial rotation of the hole plug within the hole.

8. The fixing device of any preceding claim, wherein the second retention arm is configured to be movable between the retracted position and the extended position manually by a user.

9. The fixing device of any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second retention arm comprises a plurality of retention members, wherein at least one of the retention members is configured to move into a further extended position in response to the second retention member moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

10. A system for enabling an object to be affixed to sheet of plasterboard, the device comprising: the fixing device of any preceding claim; and an anchor.

11. A method of affixing an object to a sheet of plasterboard, the method comprising the steps of: providing a fixing system according to claim 10; drilling a hole in a sheet of plasterboard; inserting an end of the first retention arm distal from the body into the hole; feeding the first retention arm through the hole; passing the body through the hole; holding the flexible member; extending the second retention arm; positioning the aperture in the body to be substantially co-axial with the axis of the hole in the plasterboard; and passing an anchor through the hole into the aperture and securing the anchor therein.

12. A fixing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.