GB2583891A

GB2583891A - Mounting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2583891A
Application number: GB1903826.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Devereux Mark; Rice Lee
Original assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Current assignee: Gordon Ellis and Co
Priority date: 2019-03-20
Filing date: 2019-03-20
Publication date: 2020-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-20
Also published as: GB2583891B; GB201903826D0

Abstract

A mounting arrangement 10 for securing an item 12 to a body 14 to resist movement of the item 12 relative to the body 14 against a force being applied to the item 12 comprises an item engagement part 16 and a cavity 18 for at least partially receiving the item engagement part 16. The item engagement 16 part comprises a mating surface 20 configured to mate against a surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured when the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18. The cavity 18 is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18.

Description

TITLE

Mounting arrangement

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

Examples of the disclosure relate to a mounting arrangement, and in particular a mounting arrangement for securing an item to a body to resist movement of the item relative to the body caused by a force being applied to the item.

BACKGROUND

Mounting arrangements for securing an item to a body are known. In some instances, for example, when the item is a support handle which is secured to a body such as a step, a force is applied to the item in use, for example, when a person uses the support handle to steady themselves on the step. This force may cause movement of the item relative to the body, which can be disconcerting for the person and can lead to excessive wear and tear of equipment.

There is a requirement therefore to provide improved mounting arrangements which are better able to secure an item to a body to resist movement of the item relative to the body caused by a force being applied to the item.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a mounting arrangement for securing an item to a body to resist movement of the item relative to the body against a force being applied to the item, the mounting arrangement comprising an item engagement part and a cavity for at least partially receiving the item engagement part, wherein the item engagement part comprises a mating surface configured to mate against a surface of the item to be secured when the item engagement part is located within the cavity, wherein the cavity is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.

The mating surface of the item engagement part may be a textured mating surface. The mating surface may have an inwardly curved profile corresponding to a an outwardly curved profile of the surface of the item to be secured The textured mating surface may comprise a plurality of ridges.

The mounting arrangement may comprise tightening means operable to control the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity. The tightening means may comprise a tightening screw receivable in a threaded opening in the item engagement part, wherein rotation of the tightening screw in the threaded opening controls the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.

The cavity may comprise an inclined internal surface which is configured to engage with an inclined surface of the item engagement part, wherein the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured is defined by the extent to which the respective inclined surfaces overlap.

The inclined internal surface may be defined by a plurality of formations which extend to a progressively greater extent into the cavity from the mouth of the cavity.

The plurality of formations may comprise a plurality of ribs which are angled into the cavity from the mouth of the cavity.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising a body and at least one item securable to the body by a mounting arrangement to resist movement of the item relative to the body against a force being applied to the item, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises an item engagement part and a cavity for at least partially receiving the item engagement part, wherein the item engagement part comprises a mating surface configured to mate against a surface of the item to be secured when the item engagement part is located within the cavity, wherein the cavity is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.

Possibly, the body of the apparatus comprises a raised platform, and the at least one item comprises a support handle. Possibly, the support handle comprises a pair of legs, wherein the apparatus comprises a separate mounting arrangement for each respective leg. The apparatus may comprise a pair of support handles.

The apparatus may comprise any of the features described in any of the preceding statements or following description.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method of securing an item to a body using a mounting arrangement to resist movement of the item relative to the body against a force being applied to the item, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises an item engagement part and a cavity for at least partially receiving the item engagement part, the method comprising: locating the item engagement part within the cavity such that a mating surface of the item engagement part mates against a surface of the item to be secured, wherein the cavity is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.

The method may also comprise adjusting the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity to define the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured.

The methods may comprise any of the features described in any of the preceding statements or following description.

According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there may be provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of various examples that are useful for understanding the detailed description, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a mounting arrangement and an apparatus comprising the mounting arrangement; Fig. 2 illustrates another mounting arrangement and an apparatus comprising the mounting arrangement in perspective view from below (2A), and also an enlarged view of the part labelled B (2B); Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view from below of the mounting arrangement and apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view from above of the mounting arrangement and apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 illustrates an exploded side view (5A) and front view (5B) of the mounting arrangement and apparatus of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 illustrates a side view (6A) of the mounting arrangement and apparatus of Fig. 2, a cross-sectional view (6B) taken along line A-A, and an enlarged view (6C) of the part labelled B in the cross-sectional view; Fig. 7 illustrates exploded views (7A, 7B & 7C) corresponding to the views of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 illustrates a side view (8A) of the mounting arrangement and apparatus of Fig. 2 but without the item engagement part of the mounting arrangement present, a cross sectional view (8B) taken along line A-A, an enlarged view (8C) of the part labelled B in the cross-sectional view, a perspective view (8D) from below of a part of the apparatus, and an enlarged view (8E) of the part labelled C in the perspective view; and Fig. 9 illustrates in perspective (9A), top (9B) and side (9C) views the item engagement part of the mounting arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures illustrate a mounting arrangement 10, an apparatus 100 and a method.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, examples of the disclosure provide a mounting arrangement 10 for securing an item 12 to a body 14 to resist movement of the item 12 relative to the body 14 against a force being applied to the item 12.

The mounting arrangement 10 comprises an item engagement part 16 and a cavity 18 for at least partially receiving the item engagement part 16. The item engagement part 16 comprises a mating surface 20 configured to mate against a surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured when the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18.

The cavity 18 is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18.

In Fig. 1A, the item engagement part 16 has not yet been located within the cavity 18. In Fig. 1B, the item engagement part 16 has been located within the cavity 18. Accordingly, the mating surface 20 has mated against the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured. The extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18 defines the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured. Fig. 1B could illustrate a condition of the mounting arrangement 10 wherein the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18 to the maximum extent permitted by the mounting arrangement 10. In this condition, the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured is the maximum amount obtainable.

Alternatively, Fig. 1B could illustrate a condition of the mounting arrangement 10 where the item engagement part 16 is not located within the cavity 18 to the maximum extent permitted by the mounting arrangement 10. Accordingly, in this condition the amount of friction could be increased by moving the item engagement part 16 further into the cavity 18.

Fig. 10 illustrates the same condition of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1B. However, in Fig. 10 arrows are provided to illustrate that an in use vertical upwards movement of the item engagement part 16 into the cavity 18 (vertical arrow) translates into an in use horizontal movement of the mating surface 20 toward the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured (horizontal arrow). Accordingly, the in use vertical upwards movement of the item engagement part 16 into the cavity 18 provides a clamping force in a horizontal direction against the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured.

In examples of the disclosure, the volume defined by the cavity 18 is less than the volume defined by the item engagement part 16, that is, the item engagement part 16 is too big to be completely received in the cavity 18. However, the item engagement part 16 and the cavity 18 are shaped such that the item engagement part 16 can be partially received in the cavity 18. Accordingly, as the item engagement part 16 is moved vertically into the cavity 18 a pinch point is reached at which further vertical movement is resisted by the internal dimensions of the cavity 18. Further vertical movement of the item engagement part 16 beyond the pinch point increases the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured, as described above.

Fig. 1 also illustrates an apparatus 100 comprising a body 14 and an item 12 securable to the body 14 by the mounting arrangement 10 to resist movement of the item 12 relative to the body 14 against a force being applied to the item 12.

Figs. 2 to 8 illustrate another mounting arrangement 10, and an apparatus 100 comprising the mounting arrangement 100.

In Figs. 2 to 8, the body 14 of the apparatus 100 comprises a raised platform 24 and the item 12 to be secured comprises a support handle 26. In the illustrated example, a pair of support handles 26 is provided, and each respective support handle 26 comprises a pair of legs 28. In the illustrated example, the apparatus 100 comprises a separate mounting arrangement 10 for each respective leg 28 of each pair of support handles 26, that is, four separate mounting arrangements 10.

In use, the apparatus 100 may be located adjacent to a raised area such that the raised platform 24 is at an intermediate height relative to the raised area. Accordingly, the raised platform 24 defines a step up to the raised area to facilitate access to the raised area. The pair of support handles 26 may be used by a person to steady themselves and to transfer some of the force from their legs to their arms.

Accordingly, in use a person may apply a downward and outward force to the support handles 26 As described above in relation to Fig. 1, the cavity 18 of the mounting arrangement 10 is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18. Movement of an item 12 which would otherwise be caused by a force being applied to the item 12 is resisted by the friction between the mating surface 20 and the corresponding surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured.

In the example illustrated in Figs 2 to 8, the friction between the mating surface 20 of each respective item engagement part 16 and the corresponding surface 22 of each respective leg 28 resists outward movement of the respective support handles 26 away from each other.

In addition to the features already described, for which the same reference numerals have been used, Figs. 2 to 8 illustrate the following further features.

As best illustrated in Figs. 6C and 7C, in some examples the mounting arrangement 10 comprises tightening means 34 operable to control the extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18. In the illustrated example, the tightening means 34 comprises a tightening screw 36 receivable in a threaded opening 38 in the item engagement part 16. Rotation of the tightening screw 36 in the threaded opening 38 controls the extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18.

In some examples, in use the item engagement part 16 is initially pushed into the cavity 18 to a certain point, which may be the point at which there is resistance to the item engagement part 16 being pushed further into the cavity 18. The tightening screw 36 is then located in the threaded opening 38 and rotated to control the extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18. Tightening the screw 36 causes the item engagement part 16 to move further into the cavity 18. The further the item engagement part 16 moves into the cavity 18, the greater the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured.

The tightening screw 36 is located through an opening 54 in an in use top face of the base 14 of the apparatus 10. Accordingly, the tightening screw 36 is readily accessible.

As best illustrated in Figs. 60, 70, and 8, in the illustrated example the cavity 18 comprises an inclined internal surface 40 which is configured to engage with an inclined surface 42 of the item engagement part 16. The cavity 18 has an internal taper. The item engagement part is tapered. In the illustrated example, the item engagement part 16 is substantially wedge shaped.

The amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured is defined by the extent to which the respective inclined surfaces 40, 42 overlap. Fig. 60 illustrates in cross-sectional view the overlap of the inclined surfaces 40, 42 in a condition wherein the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18.

The further the item engagement part 16 moves into the cavity 18, the greater the extent to which the respective inclined surfaces 40, 42 overlap, and therefore the greater the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured.

Accordingly, and as illustrated in Fig. 10, an in use vertical upwards movement of the item engagement part 16 into the cavity 18 translates into an in use horizontal movement of the mating surface 20 toward the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured. Accordingly, the in use vertical upwards movement of the item engagement part 16 into the cavity 18 provides a clamping force in a horizontal direction against the leg 28 of the support handle 26.

As best illustrated in Fig. 8E, the inclined internal surface 40 of the cavity 18 is defined by a plurality of formations 44 which extend to a progressively greater extent into the cavity 18 from the mouth of the cavity 18. In the illustrated example, the plurality of formations 44 is a plurality of ribs 46 which are angled into the cavity 18 from the mouth of the cavity 18.

As noted above, Fig 8 illustrates a condition of the apparatus 10 and mounting arrangement 100 without the item engagement part 16 of the mounting arrangement 10 present.

Fig. 8E illustrates a part 31 of a step molding which in use defines a surface that restricts the item to be secured 12 (for example, the leg 28 of Figs. 2 to 7) from falling completely through the body 14 (for example, the raised platform of Figs. 2 to 7). An opening 33 is provided through this surface through which the fastening bolt 32 can be inserted to interact with the reinforcement member 30 when the item to be secured 12 (for example, the leg 28 of Figs. 2 to 7) is in place.

As best illustrated in Fig. 9, in the illustrated example the mating surface 20 of the item engagement part 16 is textured, and has an inwardly curved (concave) profile 48. The inwardly curved profile 48 corresponds to an outwardly curved (convex) profile 50 of the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured. In the illustrated example, the item 12 to be secured is a leg 28 which is substantially tubular and therefore has an outwardly curved profile. The mating surface 20 comprises a plurality of ridges 52. The ridges 52 extend horizontally. The textured mating surface 20 provides greater resistance to vertical pull of the item 12 to be secured.

In the examples illustrated in Figs. 2 to 8, each of the items 12 to be secured, that is, each of the four legs 28 comprises a reinforcement member 30 located within the end portion thereof. The reinforcement member 30 prevents the end portion of the leg 28 from being compressed out of its original shape, that is from being crushed, when the item engagement part 16 is located in the cavity 18. The reinforcement member 30 may be understood as a top hat bushing.

In the examples illustrated in Figs. 2 to 8, each of the four legs 28 is fastened to the raised platform 24 by a fastening bolt 32. This type of fastening alone does not in use sufficiently resist movement of the handles 28 caused by a force being applied to the handles 28 by a person. The fastening bolt 32 screws into the reinforcing member 30. The head 56 of the fastening bolt 32 can be seen in Fig. 2B.

The figures also illustrate a method of securing an item 12 to a body 14 using a mounting arrangement 10 as previously described to resist movement of the item 12 relative to the body 14 against a force being applied to the item 12. The method comprises locating the item engagement part 16 in the cavity 18 such that a mating surface 20 of the item engagement part 16 mates against a surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured.

The method may also comprise adjusting the extent to which the item engagement part 16 is located within the cavity 18 to define the amount of friction between the mating surface 20 and the surface 22 of the item 12 to be secured.

There is thus described a mounting arrangement 10, an apparatus 100 and a method with a number of advantages as detailed above.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the mounting arrangement 10 and apparatus 100 could comprise any suitable material, for instance, rigid plastics.

Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

The term "comprise" is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use "comprise" with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to "comprising only one..." or by using "consisting".

In this brief description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term "example" or "for example" or "may" in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus "example", "for example" or "may" refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that comprise some but not all of the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that features described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mounting arrangement for securing an item to a body to resist movement of the item relative to the body against a force being applied to the item, the mounting arrangement comprising an item engagement part and a cavity for at least partially receiving the item engagement part, wherein the item engagement part comprises a mating surface configured to mate against a surface of the item to be secured when the item engagement part is located within the cavity, wherein the cavity is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.
2. A mounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the mating surface has an inwardly curved profile corresponding to a an outwardly curved profile of the surface of the item to be secured.
3. A mounting arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the mating surface of o the item engagement part is a textured mating surface.CO
C 20 4. A mounting arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the textured mating surface comprises a plurality of ridges.
5. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises tightening means operable to control the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.
6. A mounting arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the tightening means comprises a tightening screw receivable in a threaded opening in the item engagement part, wherein rotation of the tightening screw in the threaded opening controls the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.
7. A mounting arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity comprises an inclined internal surface which is configured to engage with an inclined surface of the item engagement part, wherein the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured is defined by the extent to which the respective inclined surfaces overlap.
8. A mounting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the inclined internal surface is defined by a plurality of formations which extend to a progressively greater extent into the cavity from the mouth of the cavity.
9. A mounting arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of formations comprises a plurality of ribs which are angled into the cavity from the mouth of the cavity.
10. An apparatus comprising a body and at least one item securable to the body by a mounting arrangement to resist movement of the item relative to the body against a force being applied to the item, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises an o 15 item engagement part and a cavity for at least partially receiving the item C\I engagement part, wherein the item engagement part comprises a mating surface configured to mate against a surface of the item to be secured when the item o engagement part is located within the cavity, wherein the cavity is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to beCOC 20 secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the body of the apparatus comprises a raised platform, and the at least one item comprises a support handle.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support handle comprises a pair of legs, wherein the apparatus comprises a separate mounting arrangement for each respective leg.
13. An apparatus according to claims 11 or 12, wherein the apparatus comprises a pair of support handles.
14. A method of securing an item to a body using a mounting arrangement to resist movement of the item relative to the body against a force being applied to the item, wherein the mounting arrangement comprises an item engagement part and a cavity for at least partially receiving the item engagement part, the method comprising: locating the item engagement part within the cavity such that a mating surface of the item engagement part mates against a surface of the item to be secured, wherein the cavity is shaped such that the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured is defined by the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises adjusting the extent to which the item engagement part is located within the cavity to define the amount of friction between the mating surface and the surface of the item to be secured.