SE545254C2

SE545254C2 - Fastening device and stabilizing device for providing a female connection unit in a wall of an element and system and method for fastening elements together

Info

Publication number: SE545254C2
Application number: SE2051318A
Authority: SE
Inventors: John Harald Systad
Original assignee: Vik Oersta As
Priority date: 2018-04-24
Filing date: 2019-04-11
Publication date: 2023-06-07
Also published as: WO2019209112A1; NO20180569A1; SE2051318A1; NO343944B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fastening device (10) for providing a female connection unit (11) in relation to a wall (22) having a front side and aback side, the fastening device (10) comprising aback side section (12) comprising the female connection unit (11) and a front side section (13) connected to the back side section (12), and wherein the back side section (12) has dimensions allowing it to be inserted from the front side of the wall (22) through the opening (21), and preventing it from exiting the opening (21) when arranged such that the female connection unit (11) is accessible through the opening (21) by a corresponding male connection unit (40). The invention also relates to a stabilizing device (50) for use with the fastening device (10) and to a system and a method for fastening two or more elements (20, 30) together using said system.

Description

'Fastening device and stabilizing device for providing a female connection unit in a wall of an element and system and method for fastening elements together Technical Field of the invenfion The present invention relates to a fastening device for providing a female connection unit, such as a nut or a threaded hole, in relation to an opening in a wall. A system for fastening two or more elements together using such a fastening device is also presented. The invention further relates to a stabilizing device for use with the fastening device for an improved connection. More specifically, the invention relates to the provision of fastening means for an element having an opening in a wall for installing a fastening device, the fastening device comprisihg a back side section with a female connection unit, such as a threaded hole, and a front side section connected to the back side section. The back side section is configured to be inserted through the opening in the wall. The invention also relates to a method for fastening two or more elements together using said fastening device and system, and possibiy also by using the stabilizing device in connection with the fastening device Background for the lnvenfion When fastening elements together, there is often a need to be able to position a fastening point, such as a threaded hole, in relation to another element, and to provide a fastening point or anchoring point that is movable or slidable. There may also be a need to be able to replace fastening elements, typically if the fastening point comprises threads or other elements in risk of wear and tear or other damage. Often, it is also the case that one does not have access to the back side of an element to be assembled, or that the access is limited or difficult, for example if it is a larger wall, or if the element is a hollow profile, such as a tube, where the fastening point may be on an inside wall of the tube, as is typicaily the case when mounting guardrails for roadway barriers for example. ln many occasions, especially for roadway barriers and safety systems, there is a need to fasten two or more hollow profiles, for example connecting a guide rail to multiple vertical posts for securing a bridge, a stainvay or a road. Especially when it comes to roadside barriers, one challenge is the varying terrain and obstacles. in the road, resulting in that the attachment point may deviate slightly. lt is advantageous to have the possibility to adiust the connecting profiles to each other, not having to fasten them at fixed points and it is advantageous that the fastening device or fastening system accepts a tolerance in the location of the elements to be fastened. Without such possibility for adiustments, connectlng such elements requires a high degree of precision which may be difficult and also time consuming.

Blind fastener systems are typically used where the structure design or the assembly sequence does not allow access from both sides of the assembly. Such systems can provide a blind nut, for installing a bolt, or a blind bott, for instalting a nut. lt is known to use a hammerhead bott or a T-bolt for the purpose of connecting two hollow profites. A bolt with a T-shaped head is then inserted into a slot in one of the profiles, and rotated 90 degrees, so that it can not come out. The bolt is secured with a nut on the inside of the connecting profile. ln order to ensure that the bott does not rotate back or rotate further so that it can come back out of the slot, a special lock washer is installed on the bolt on the outside of the pipe, preventing rotation The lock washer is installed partly on the outside of the pipe, and partly on the inside, covering a part of the. bolt, and is configured so that it can not rotate inside the slot, thereby also preventing rotation of the bolt when the nut is installed. Such lock washers have a complex geometry, and due to this, the washers are typically made of plastic. These washers are vulnerable to cold weather, making them brittle and fragile, resulting in that the washer often cracks during installation.

Other blind bolt solutions are also known for similar purposes. Blind bolts protrude out from the element in which it is installed. ln many occasions, this may be a disadvantage for example during storage or transportation where they may get damaged or they may damage other equipment.

Various types of blind rivet nuts are also known, where an internally threaded tubular sleeve is anchored from one side by means of riveting by deforming the material of the nut. US patent application US3411398A describes such a blind rivet nut. tf the nut needs to be replaced, for example due to thread damage, the nut must be drilled off before a new nut can be installed.

For blind rivet nuts, the nut is installed in a predrilled hole and it is therefore not possible to adjust the anchoring point.

KR20090068025A presents a safety fence comprising many posts (110) arranged on a road or a bridge and provided with a coupling hole (111), a beam (12Ü) with the closed cross section connecting the posts and having a fastening hole (131) corresponding to the coupling hole (111) of the post, a fastening member (130) provided with a head (132) being rotated after being inserted into the fastening hole, and a coupting member (140) coupled to one end of the fastening member.

There is a need for a fastening device that allows for blind fastening with the possibility to adjust the exact location of the anchoring point, that is easy to install and that comprises simple and reliable parts. Moreover, there is a need for a fastening device that provides the possibility to anchor a blind nut, or a female connection unit, from one side only with the possibility to adjust the exact location of the anchoring point.

Summary of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device being able to be set in an element from one side only, ie. with access only from one side of the element. lt is also an object to provide an easy-to-install fastening device for more efﬁcient and improved fastening of elements. lt is also an object to provide a fastening device that accommodates the misalignment between objects to be assembled. More speciflcally, it is an object to provide an adjustable and easily replaceable female connection device, such as a threaded hole or a nut, to an element that can be anchored on the blind side and set from the outside wall of the element. lt is speclflcally an object that the female connection device does not require material deformation in order to be anchored to the elements, so that the part is easily movable, repiaceable and also reusable. lt is also an object that the device may be anchored and fastened in situ, not requiring any installation or assembling process prior to transportation for example. Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening system that reduces or eliminates protruding parts from the elements to be assembled, Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fastening system with enhanced stability in connection with curve shaped elements.

The invention utilizes a device comprising a female connection unit, such as a a nut, that can be inserted through an opening of an element vvhilst retaining another end of the device with a hand or a tool from the front side, allowing it to beinserted by one person, and only one-handed. The female connection unit may typically be a threaded hole. By utilizing dimensions that allow passing through the opening in one direction and prevent passing in another, the device provides an easy-to-install fastener without the need for additional parts for piacing the female connection unit and without the need for deformation of the part. lt is the geometrical shape in the different geometrical planes and the method used for installation that enables this simple and functional blind fastener. The female connection unit accepts a corresponding male connection unit, for making up a connection between the elements to be assembled. The female connection unit may preferably be a threaded 3G hole, while the male connection unit rriay be a threaded bolt. Although the figures in this specitication and their relating description refers to a threaded hole and a threaded bolt, it shall be understood that these are used as examples of the female and male connection units, and other ernbodiments of connection units may apply to the same embodiments of the invention.

Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a fastening device for providing a female connection unit in relation to an opening in a wall, the wall having a front side and a back side. The device comprises a back side section comprising the female connection unit and a front side section connected to the back side section. The back side section has dimensions allowing it to be inserted from the front side of the wall through the opening, and preventing it from exiting the opening when arranged such that the female connection unit is accessible through the opening by a corresponding male connection unit. The front side section allows for controlling the position and orientation of the back side section from the front side, and for stabilizing the back side section with the femaie connection unit on the back side of the wall. According to an embodiment of the invention, the fastening device is moveable within the opening in the wall, for locating the female connection unit in a desired location. This feature ensures that a certain tolerance is allowed when assembling two elements together using the fastening device.

The fastening device may comprise a connecting section connecting the front side section and the back side section, and that may be configured to be allowed to rotate about at least two different axes inside the opening in the wall. This allows for the back side section to have dirnensions that allow lt to be lnserted in through the opening in the element, but that prevent it from exiting the opening when rotated, and specificaily when rotated to the orientation that is suitable for placlng the female connection unit so that it is accessible for a correspondlng male connection unit. in one embodiment of the invention, the front side section is arranged away from the longitudinal axis of the female connection unit, such that when said longitudinal axis is arranged normal to the backside of the wall, the front side section on the front side of the wall can be pressed towards the wall, resulting in that the back side section will be pressed in a direction towards the backside of the wall and kept stable relative to the wall. The back side section may be conligured with a first support surface arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of the female connection unit for supporting the back side section towards the backside surface of the wall. Furthermore, the front side section may be a planar or curved plate shaped element conformed to the shape of the front side of the wall providing a second support surface for supporting the front side section against the front side of the wall. The first and/or second 3st) support surface may be configured to cover at least part of the opening in the wail so that when the femaie connection unit is positioned, the opening may be at ieast partly closed by the support surfaceijs). This may heip prevent water and dirt from entering in through the opening. The back side section may be generally ptanar and may have a width WZ and a thickness Tí2, and the opening in the wail may have a width Wt and a thickness Tt, where WZ may be smalier than Wt and T2 smaiier than Ti. The femaie connection unit may, in a preferred embodiment, be a threaded hoie configured for receipt of a corresponding threaded bott (40). lt is presented a stabiiizing device for use with a fastening device according to one or more of the preceding paragraphs, wherein the stabilizing device comprises an interrnediate section with a iocking arrangement configured to engage with the front side section of the fastening device, interiocking the two devices, and wherein, when interiocked, the intermediate section is positioned in a piane between the front side sectiontand the back side section of the fastening device, and with a gap towards the back side section aiiowing it to be arranged on the opposite side of the wail relative to the back side section. The interrnediate section may comprise an eiongated opening at one end aiiowing for the connecting section of the fastening device to be moved into the opening and wherein the iocking arrangement is a set of looking ears at least partiy overtapping the front side section as the connecting section is moved into the opening. Furthermore, the intermediate section rnay comprise an opening, preterabiy a hoie, for allowing the male connection unit to be inserted through the hole.- in a second aspect, the present invention relates to a stabiiizing device and a fastening device, where the tastening device is according to one or more of the preceding paragraphs, wherein the stabiiizing device cornprises an intermediate section conﬁgured to engage with the front side section of the fastening device, stabilizing the two devices, and wherein, when engaged, the interrnediate section is positioned in a piane between the front side section and the back side section of the fastening device, and with a gap towards the back side section ailowing it to be arranged on the opposite side of the wait reiative to the hack side section. The intermediate section rnay comprise an eiongated opening at one end aiiowing for the connecting section of the fastening device to be moved into the opening and further comprise a iocking arrangement configured as a set of iocking ears at least partiy overiapping the front side section as the connecting section is moved into the opening. Furthermore, the interrnediate section may contprise an opening, preferabiy a hoie, for aiiowing the maie connection unit to be inserted through the hoie. 1G 3G According to one embodiment of the invention, the stabilizing device comprises a first set of support members proiecting from the intermediate section for forming one or more surfaces of contact towards the waii, said support members being adapted to the shape of the wall. This feature ensures a more stable connection betifveen the stabiiizing device and the waii. Furthermore, the stabiiizing device may comprise a second set of support members projecting from the intermediate section for forming one or more surfaces of contact towards a waii of another element, said support members being adapted to the shape of the waii of the other element. As with the first set of support members, the second set of support members ensures a more stable connection to the wall. Each support member in the first and/or second set of support members may be adapted to foiiow a simiiar curvature for providing a contact surface with a concave shape adapted to foiiow a convex shape on the outside of the element to which they are to be assembied. in a third aspect, the present invention relates to a system for fastening two or more elements together using a fastening device according to the one or more of the preceding paragraphs, and a male connection unit. At least one of the elements to be assembied comprises an opening for installing the fastening device. According to one embodiment of the invention, the opening in the element is an obiong slot, the width VV2 of the back side section of the fastening device is smaller than Wt of the slot, the thickness T2 is smaller than Tt of the slot, and WZ is larger than Tt. Furthermore, the system may aiso comprise a stabiiizing device according to the above paragraphs. in a fourth aspect, the present invention reiates to a method for fastening two or more elements together using a system according to the above paragraphs, wherein the method cornprises the steps of: - inserting the back side section of the fastening device through an opening in a waii by manipuiating the front side section of the device; - locating the back side section with the femaie connection unit in a desired iocation and so that it is accessible from the front side of the waii; - inserting a corresponding male connection unit in the female connection unit from the front side of the waii while stabilizing back side section by rnanipuiating the front side section, and - tightening the connection between the male and female connection units.

The method may also comprise the step of piacing a stabiiizing device according to the above paragraphs on the front side of the waii and looking the fastening device to the looking arrangernent before inserting the male connection unit. 3G According to one embodiment of the invention, the method also comprises the step of loosenlng the connection oetvveen the male and female connection units and moving the female connection unit to another location in relation to the opening by manipulating the front side section and then re-tightening the connection.

Short Description of the Drawmgs lšmbodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams where-ln: Figure 1 shows schematically a fastening device according to the invention in three perspective views from three different orientations ; Figure 2 shows schematically a first step in the assembly process before insertlng the fastening device through an opening in a wall; Figure 3 shows schematically a second step in the assembly process where the fastening device is inserted into an opening in a wall; Figure 4 shows schematically a third step in the assembly process where the fastenlng device is rotated about is longitudinal axis inside the opening; Figure 5 shows schematically a step in the assembly process where the fastening device is rotated about its transverse axis inside the opening; Figure 6 shows schematically a final step in the assembly process where a second element is placed next to the first element and a bolt is inserted through a hole into the fastening device; Figure 7A, 78 and 7G shows schematically three embodiments of a stabilizing device in perspective view and seen from the front side; Figure 8 shows schematically a stabillzing device and a fastening device connected to each other; Figure 9 shows schernatically a stabilizing device and a fastening device arranged on a horizontal tube shaped element; and Figure 10 shows schematically a horizontal tube shaped element tastened to a vertical tube shaped element by use of a stabilizlng device and a fastening device according to the invention, Detailed Description of Embodiments of the lnvention The following description of the exemplary embodirrients refers to the accornpanylng dravvings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. The following embodiments are discussed, for simpiicity, with regard to the terminology, method, and structure of a fastening device used for example for assembling parts of a guardrail system. However, the embodiments to be discussed next are not limited to such type of products, but may also be used for other types of elements to be assembled in a rlgld manner.

Reference throughout the specitication to "one embodiment" or "an embodlment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodirnent is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one ernbodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Figure 1 shows schematically one embodiment of a fastening device 10 according to the lnvention in three perspective views from three different orientations. This embodiment of the invention is especially suitable for use in fastening of a guardrail where two hollow profiles are to be fastened together. The fastening device 10 is intended to be arranged in relation to an opening in a wall of an element, the element typically having a size, shape or profile that restricts or limits access from the back side of the wall, such as for example a hollovv tube, where access is limited to the outside of the tube. The fastening device 10 comprises a back side section 12, comprising a female connection unit, ie. a threaded hole 11. ln this embodiment, the threaded hole is arranged in a nut shaped element with a hexagon head. The purpose of the back side section 12 is to provide a female connection unit, such as a hole with threads, and therefor the external surface does not need to be of a type that can be torqued by hand or with a tool, a hexagon head is just one option. Likevvise, if the thickness of the back side section is large enough, the threaded hole may be cut directly into the material forming the back side section, Without requiring a nut shaped element or the like for arranging the threaded hole.

The fastening device further comprises a front side section 13 connected to the back side section 12. The front and back side sections 12, 13 may be connected by a connecting section 14. in an alternative embodiment, the connecting section may be part of the front and/or back side section, not forming an individual part or section of the fastening device. The front and back side sections 12, 13 both have a front side 12b, 13b, and a back side 12a, 13a. 3G The embodirnent of the fastening device shown in Figure 1 is especially suitable for being arranged in an oblong opening in a guardrail tube with its back side section 12 on the inside of the tube, and the front side section on the outside of the tube, in this embodiment, the back side section is generally planar, i.e. formed in a plate shaped form that may be flat or slightly curved. lt may also have a nut shaped element protruding from the plate shaped form, for forming the female connection unit. The front side section is also a planar or a curved plate shaped element adapted to fit the outside of the tube, and preferably not extending considerably out from the surface of the tube after rnounting it.

When mounting the fastening device in a wall 22 of an element 2G, the first step is to hold the fastening device 10 in the front side section 13 using hands or a tool and ensuring that the back side section 12 is arranged so that it can be inserted through the opening 21 in the wall 22, as shown in Figure 2. The width W2 of the back side section 12 must be smaller than the length Wt of the opening 21, so that the back side section 12 can be inserted through the opening 21. Next step is to insert the back side section 12 through the opening 21, while retaining the front side section 13 on the front side of the wall 22, as shown in Figure 3 and indicated by the arrow in the figure. if the element 20 is a hollovv profile, such as tube, as shown in Figure 3, the back side section 12 will now be situated on the inside of the tube, and the front side section 13 on the outside of the tube. The fastening device 10 can then be rotated approximately 9Û° clockwise or anticlockwise about its longitudinal axls inside the opening 21, as shown in Figure 4 and indicated by the arrow, and then rotated again approximately 90° about its transverse axis with the front side section 13 towards the front side of the wall 22, in order to position the threaded hoie 11 so that it is accessible for a correspondlng threaded bolt 40 from the front side of the wall 22. ln this orientation, the back side section 12 has dimensions larger than the opening 21 in the wall so that it can not come out. ln this position, one side of the back side section, 12b, acts as a support surface towards the back side of the wall 22, and one side of the front side section, 13a, acts as a support surface towards the front side of the wall 22. The fastening device 10 can now be adjusted sidevvays by sliding it along the opening into the desired position, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 5, while maintaining the threaded hole 11 accessible. This is a key element of the invention that enables the threaded hole 11, ie. the anchoring point for the threaded connection, to be adjustable to account for misalignment between the elements to be assembled even after the threaded hole 11 has been installed in the element 20 to be assembied. in this ernbodiment, the back side section 12 is configured such that when in this final position, the back side section 12 can cover the opening 21. lf the fastening device 10 as shown in Figure 5 is moved to the left, the front side section 13 wiii cover the part of the opening 21 that is not covered by the back side section 12, preventing water, dirt or other debris from entering into the profiie.

The front and/or back side section 12, 13 may aiso be given a protile that corresponds to the protiie of the wali 22 to which it is to be installed. For example, if the fastening device 10 shail be instailed in a tube with a circular protiie, the front and back side section 12, 13 may be curved in such a way that it foilows the perimeter of the tube wail 22, preventing any protruding parts from the assembiy.

Figure 6 shows an assembiy where a fastening device 10 according to the invention is used for fastening a horizontai rail 20 and a post 30 of a guardraii. Due to the size and shape of front side section 13, there are no protruding parts, and the verticai post 30 may be instailed close to the horizontai rail 20 with no or little gap between the profiies.

Figure *FA-C shows schematicaiiy a stabiiizing device 50 for use together with a fastening device 10 according to the invention. The stabiiizing device 50 is seen in a perspective view from the front side, i.e. from the side where the maie connection unit 40 is to be instailed. One of the purposes of the stabilizing device 50 is to serve as a iocking feature for iocking in place or retaining the fastening device 10 to the wail 22 in which it is instaiied, prior to instaiiing the male connection unit 40. Another purpose of the stabiiizing device 50 is to provide an improved surface of contact, especialiy when the outer surfaces of the two eiements to be assembied 20, 30 do not correspond to each other. Such a case may for example be where at ieast one of the eiements to be assembled has a convex outer shape, such as for exampie a tube with a circular cross section. The stabiiizing device 50 and the fastening device 10 may be oonfigured such that they are self iocking. ln the ernbodiments shown in Figure 'ïA-C, the stabiiizing device 50 comprises an intermediate section 51 vvith a hoie 52, intended for allowing the maie connection unit 40 to be instailecl. il/ioreover, the interrriediate section 51, comprises an opening 53, for aliowing the connecting section 14 of the fastening device 10, to be siidahiy moveabie inside the opening. At the upper and lower ends of the front side, on the same side of the stabilizing device as the opening 53 (right side in Figure 7), a set of iocking ears 54 optionaliy are provided (See Figure ïß-C). The purpose of the iocking ears 54 is to serve as a iociting arrangernent for retaining the front side section 13 of the fastening device 10 towards the front side of the wait 22 of the eiement 20. This ensures that when the boit 40 is installed through the hoie 11 in the fastening device 10, the fastening device 10 wiii not be aiiovved to rotate so ' 3G 'it that the back side section 12 moves away from the wait 22, but witi remain in its position reiative to the wait 22. in some occasions, the fastening device 1G may be used to assembie two etements that have outar shapes that do not correspond to each other, for exampte if both eiernents are circutar tubes. in such cases, it is advantageous that the surfaces of contact between the fastening device ti) and/or the stabitizing device 50 towards the eiements 20, 3G are configured for such shapes. For enhanced stabitity and improved contact of surface towards the vvaits 22, 32 of the eiements 20, 30 to be assembted, the stabitizing device 5G shown in Figure "IA-C comprises a first set of support members 55 extending outvvards from the back side of the device. in the embodiment in Figure TA-C, the first set of support members 55 are intended to provide improved contact surfaces towards a horizontai circuiar shaped tube, such as the outside of the watt 22 of eiement 20. Without these support members, the surface of contact between the more or tess fiat intermediate section 51 and the curved tube woutd be instabte, tipping about a smaii contact area. The contact surfaces provided by the support members 55, may be in addition to or in stead of a contact surface tying atong the intermediate section 51. in this embodirnent, at ieast tvvo such support members shoutd be used for stabitity (in Figure 7G, an upper support member is hidden behind the section 51), and arranged on each side of the instabte contact surface between the intermediate section and the tube 20. in the embodiment shown in Figure 7G, the stabitizing device 5G has a second set of support members So extending outwards from the front side of the device. The second set of support members 56 is, in this embodiment, contigured for support of a rounded eiement, such as for exampte a verticaiiy arranged circuiar tube, such as the outside of the watt 32 of eiement 30. The second set of support members comprises in this embodiment four protruding sections, two upper and two tower, that together forms contact surfaces adapted to the shape of the connecting eiement, for exampie so that the upper sections forms sections of an arc, and the tower sections forms sections of an arc, preferabty with a radius of curvature adapted to the shape of the corresponding element to be assembied 30. The stabiiizing device 50 may be provided with various shapes of the first and second set of support members 55, So, depending on the outer shape of the eiements 20, 30 to be assembied, white the intermediate section 51 with the hoie 52 and the opening 53 may maintain its shape in order to fit to the same fastening device. in one embodiment, the opening 53 may be configured to overiap the area where the hoie 52 wouid be ptaced, such that onty one opening is necessary.When instalting the fastening device 10 using the stabiiizing device 50, the fastening device 10 is first instaiied through the opening 21 in the waii 22 of for example a tube 20, and rotated into a position as shown in Figure 5, The stabilizing device 50 can then be positioned with its back side towards the same wait 22, the first set of support members 55 resting on the waii 22, and positioned next to the fastening device 10. The fastening device 10 can then be moved sideways so that the front side section 13 of the fastenirtg device 10 is inserted behind the looking ears 54 of the stabiiizing device 50, as shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9. The fastening device 10 is in correct position when the fernaie connection unit 11 through the fastening device 10 overtaps the hoie 52 through the stabilizing device 501 At this stage, the two parts 10, 50 are iocked to each other, due to the looking ears 54, and to the waii 22, and it is not required to hoid the fastening device 10 in piace tor instatling the maie connection unit 40. The oniy ntovement aiiowed at this stage is a transtationai movement of the interlocked festening device 10 and stabilizing device 50 within the opening 21 in the watt 22, ie. a horizontai stiding movement aiong an obiong opening 21 along the iongitudinal axis of the tube 20 in the embodiment shown in Figure 9 (opening 21 not shown in Figure 9).

Figure 10 shows schematicalty how two elementsin this embodirnent a horizontai and a verticat tube shaped eiernent 20, 30, can be fastened together using a systern according to the present invention. The fastening device 10 is mounted into an opening 21 in the watt 22 of the horizontal tube 20 and connected/interlocked with the stabiiizing device 50, which rests with its support members 55 on the outside of the waii 22, The stabiiizing device 50 with the fastening device 10 can now be siidabiy moved inside the opening 21 in the wait 22, in order to position the threaded hole 11 in a desired iocation in relation to the veiticai tube 30. A boit 40 is positioned in a hoie in the verticat tube 30 and inserted through the hole 52 in the stabilizing device 50 and into the threaded hole 11 in the fastening device 10, where it is tightened by the threads. tf it is required at a iater stage, the bott 40 may be ioosened and the stabilizing device 50 and the fastening device 10 rnay be moved sidevvavs aiong the tongitudinal axis of the tube 20, in order to reiocete the position of the threaded hoie 11, before the bolt 40 is reinstaiied and tightened to the threaded hole 11.

Claims

Claims in relation to an ion unit (11) front side and a back side, the fasten

1. Fastening device (10) for provi ing a female connect ice (10) ing dev ing a in a wall (22) hav opening (21) compris|ng ' the female compris|ng a back side section (12) k. ion unit (11). connect a front side section (13) connected to the back side section (12) wherein the to be inserted from the front side of the wall (22) through the opening (21) ing is accessible through the open the female connection unit (11) t (40) ; and ion uni (21) by a corresponding male connect ion (12) from the front side, and de of the wall ion of the back side sect (12) on the back s d orientat the back side sect ing posi |on an controll ion izing for stab is ice (10) ing dev in the fasten im 1, where ing to cla ice (10) accord

2. Fastening dev Fastening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to :rí-fríz. t. *w g§¿š:s»_arranged normal to the backside of the wall (22), the front side section (13) on “ Wall (22)__š::rl~:_ resulting in that the back side section (12) will be pressed in a direction towards the the front side of the wall (22) can be pressed backside of the wall (22) and kept stable relative to the wall (22). Fastening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to wherein the back side section (12) is configured with a first support surface arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of the female connection unit (1 1) for supporting the back side section (12) towards the backside surface of the wall (22). Fastening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to wherein the front side section (13) is a planar or curved plate shaped element conformed to the shape of the front side wggfor supporting the front side of the wall (22) providing a second support surface section (13) against the front side of the wall (22). Fastening device (10) according to claim or wherein the first and/or second support surface is configured to cover at least part of the opening (21) so that when the female connection unit (11) is positioned, the opening (21) may be at least partly closed by the support surface(s). Fastening device (10) according to one of claims 1 to wherein cnifl the opening (21) has a width W1 and a thickness T1, and wherein Wis _ smaller than T smaller than W1 and Fastening device according to one of claims 1 to wherein the female connection unit (11) is a threaded hole configured for receipt of a corresponding threaded bolt (40). Stabilizing and fastening devices (50, 10), where the fastening device (10) is according to any of the claims 1 to wherein the stabilizing device (50) comprises an intermediate section (51) configured to engage with the front side section (13) of the fastening device (10), stabilizing the two devices (10, 50)__= :_ and wherein, when engaged, the intermediate section (51) is positioned in a plane between the front side section (13) and the back side section (12) of the fastening device (10), and with a gap towards the back side section allowing it to be arranged on the opposite side of the wall (22) relative to the back side section (12). 1 i\_ :š fssﬂf 1 Q .xsff - v-, 1 Ûï". Stabilizing and fastening devices (50, 10) according to claim wherein the intermediate section (51) comprises an elongated opening (53) at one end allowing for the connecting section (14) of the fastening device (10) to be moved into the opening (53), and further comprising a locking arrangement (54) configured as a set of locking ears at least partly overlapping the front side section (13) as the connecting section (14) is moved into the opening (53). Stabilizing and fastening devices (50, 10) according to claim wherein the intermediate section (51) comprises an opening (52), preferably a hole, for allowing a male connection unit (40) to be inserted through the hole (52). Stabilizing and fastening device (50, 10) according to one of claims to wherein the stabilizing device (50) comprises a first set of support members (55) projecting from the intermediate section (51 ) for forming one or more surfaces of contact towards the wall (22), said support members (55) being adapted to the shape of the wall (22). Stabilizing and fastening devices (50, 10) according to one of claims to wherein the stabilizing device (50) comprises a second set of support members (56) projecting from the intermediate section (51 ) for forming one or more surfaces of contact towards a wall (32) of another element (30), said support members (56) being adapted to the shape of the wall (32). Stabilizing and fastening devices (50, 10) according to claim or wherein each support member in the first and/or second set of support members (55, 56) is adapted to follow a similar curvature for providing a contact surface with a concave shape adapted to follow a convex shape on the outside of the element (20, 30) to which they are to be assembled. System for fastening two or more elements (20, 30) together using a fastening device (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 8 and a male connection unit (40), and wherein at least one of the elements (20, 30) comprises an opening (21) for installing the fastening device (10). System according to claim the width W2 of the back side section (12) of the fastening device (10) is smaller than W1 of the slot (21) and the thickness T2 is smaller than T1 of the slot (21 ), and where W2 is larger than T wherein the opening (21) is an oblong slot, and where System according to claim or comprising a stabilizing device (50) according to Q. -K 1 ašåvﬁ any of the claims to Method for fastening t\No or more elements (20, 30) together using a system according to any of the claims to wherein the method comprises the steps of: - inserting the back side section (12) of the fastening device (10) through an opening (21) in a wall (22) by manipulating the front side section (13) of the device (10); - |ocating the back side section (12) with the female connection unit (11) in a desired location and so that it is accessible from the front side of the wall (22); - inserting a corresponding male connection unit (40) in the female connection unit (1 1) from the front side of the wall (22) while stabilizing the back side section (12) by manipulating the front side section (13), and - tightening the connection between the male and female connection units (11, 40). .~\ ß 204» Ér~.l\/lethod according to claim wherein the method comprises the step of placing a stabilizing device (50) according to any of the claims to on the front side of the wall (22) and locking the fastening device (10) to the locking arrangement (54) before inserting the male connection unit (40). Method according to claim or jš .~ wherein the method comprises the step of loosening the connection between the male and female connection units (11, 40) and moving the female connection unit (11) to another location in relation to the opening (21) by manipulating the front side section (13) and then tightening the connection.