US3823908A - Tensioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A tensioning device for use with sway braces which may be used to interconnect vertical shelving supports wherein the tensioning device in the form of a circular plate to which a plurality of the sway braces are secured is rotated to place a tensioning force on the sway braces and then secured to maintain the tensioning force.

Description

United States Patent [191 Jarvis l l TENSIONING DEVICE [75] Inventor: Edward M. Jarvis, Ambler, Pa. [73] Assignee: Standard Pressed Steel Co.,

[58] Field of Search 248/351; 52/638, 645, 223, 52/224; 287/535, 58 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 311,165 l/l885 Adams 52/638 1,193,767 8/1916 Crisell 52/82 July 16, 1974 1,677,738 7/1928 Sumpter et al. 52/638 2,067,709 l/l937 Humphrey 52/655 X 2,506,824 5/1950 Brown etal. ..'24'8/29l X Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Andrew L. Ney; Robert P.

Seitter [57 ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 1 61974 mean The present invention relates to tensioning devices and more in particular to a' tensioning device for use with sway braces of the type to brace vertical supports useful in providing open shelving units.

Typically open shelving units comprise a plurality of spaced vertical support units to which are secured horizontal shelving members at desired spacings. The vertical support members are interconnected by crossed sway braces to impart rigidity to the free standing shelving unit and prevent-the shelving unit from collapsing. Where wide span shelves are used the sway braces are long and, hence, flimsy and do not provide a rigid and secure sway brace.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tensioning device for use with sway braces to provide a readily assembled sway brace system of rigid and secure construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tensioning device which utilizes shorter sway braces than in conventional systems thereby providing a stiffer and more stable tensioning system. I

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tensioning device in the form of a disc to which a plurality of sway braces are loosely attached and which is readily tensioned by merely rotating the disc to impart a tension to the interconnected sway brace members and which is readily secured by a single bolt connection. I

These and other objects of the presentinvention will be more readily apparent after a consideration of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a section of open shelving showing the tensioning device of the present invention interconnecting a pair of vertical support members;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of the tensioning device of the present invention at an initial stage of installation;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to .FIG. 2 showing the tensioning device in a secured position after tension. has been applied; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

With reference to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and. 2, a typical section of open shelving is shown wherein a pair of vertical support posts 12 and 14 are interconnected by sway braces.

The vertical posts 12 and 14 are used to support horizontal shelving members (not shown) and are provided with bracket members 16, 18, and 22, respectively, which are secured to the vertical posts 12 and 14.'According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention four relatively short sway braces 24, 26, 28 and are provided. One end of each of the sway braces 24-30 is secured, respectively, to the brackets 16-22 by a nut and bolt assembly 32. The other end of each 2. with each of the nut and bolt assemblies being tightened only to the point of providing a light clamp fit. Sway brace 30 is also provided with an additional bolt receiving hole 42 therein close to the end with the bolt receiving hole 34.

In assembling the tensioning device of the present invention the sway braces 24-30 are positioned with one of the sway braces 24-30 is provided with a bolt receiving hole 34. A tensioning member which is preferably in the form of a disc-like plate member 36 is provided with a plurality of bolt receiving apertures 38 therethrough at circumferentially spaced locations.

Each of the sway braces 24-30 is loosely secured to the tensioning disc 36 by nut and bolt assemblies 40 end secured to the vertical post members and the other end secured to the tensioning disc 36 by the respective nut and bolt assemblies 32 and 40. These nut and bolt assemblies are tightened to provide-a light clamp load so that-the sway braces can be pivoted relative to the support brackets and the tensioning disc.

After this initial assembly step, the tensioning disc 36 is rotated,-as indicated by the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3, to an angularly offset position and this rotation of the tensioning disc 36 causes each of the sway braces to pivot about thenut and bolt assemblies 32 and 40. Because disc 36 is rotated thelinear distance between the respective nut and bolt assemblies is lengthened to create a tension load on the sway braces. At this juncture the position of the through hole 42 in sway brace 30 relative to the tensioning disc 36 is located and a through hole 44 is drilledthrough the tensioning disc 36 at the indicated position.

With the tensioning disc maintained in its tension excured by a nut member 48. Bolt 46 now positions the tensioning disc 36 in its fixed relationship and nut 48 may be tightened as well as the nut and bolt assemblies 32 and 40 to firmly position and secure the sway braces and the tensioning disc 36.

Alternatively, tensioning disc 36 can be provided with a lost motion slot in arcuate registry with through hole 42 in sway brace 30 so that once the proper position for tensioning disc 36 is achieved the securing bolt 46 can be readily inserted and secured by nut48.

The present invention provides a relatively simple and extremely flexible device for tensioning sway braces between vertically extending post members and provides'the significant advantage that high tension loads may be imparted to the sway braces depending upon the degree of rotation to which the tensioning disc is subjected. Because the tensioning discis located midway along the connecting span for a conventional sway brace, the sway braces used with the present invention are approximately half as long as conventional sway braces and the shortened sway braces provide a stiffer bracing member between adjacent vertical posts.

What is claimed is: 1. A tensioning device to tension brace members extending between at least a'pair of spaced vertical sup- 3. A tensioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least two brace members extend from each said vertical post to said plate member and'said brace members are secured to said vertical posts at vertically spaced positions. r

4. The tensioning device, as defined in claim 3 wherein said brace members are secured to said plate memberat circumferentially spaced locations on said plate member whereby rotation of said plate member from said first position to said second position effects an increase in the linear distance between the securing points of each brace member thereby to impart said tensioning force.

5. The tensioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means cooperable between said one brace member and said plate member to retain said tensioning member in said second position comprises abolt engageable through aligned holes in said one brace member and said plate member.

6. The tensioning device as defined in claim 5 wherein said hole in said plate member is a lost motion slot.

7. A method fortensioning bracemembers between a pair of vertically disposed support posts comprising,

securing one end of at least a pair of brace member to each said vertical posts at vertically displaced positions,

pivotally securing the other end of each said brace member to a plate member with each said brace member being secured to said plate member at circumferentially spaced locations,

rotating said plate member to a position angularly offset from its initial position to effect a tensioning force in each said brace member, and

positively securing one of said brace members to said tensioning member to fix said plate member in said angularlyoffset position and maintain the tensioning force on said brace members.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said step of pivotally securing said brace members to said plate member comprises bolting said brace members to said plate member with a nut and bolt assembly and engaging said nut to provide a light clamp load.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein said step of positively securing said one brace member to said plate member comprises fastening said one brace member to said plate member with a bolt passing through aligned holes and engaging said boltwith a nut to effect a clamping load.

Claims (9)

1. A tensioning device to tension brace members extending between at least a pair of spaced vertical support posts comprising: a plurality of brace members each having one end secured to one of said vertical support posts, the other end of each said brace members being pivotally secured to a plate member, said plate member being rotatable from a first position wherein no tensioning force is imparted to said brace members to a second position angularly offset from said first position to effectively impart a tensioning force to each of said brace members, and means cooperable between one of said brace members and said plate member to retain said plate member in said second position after it has been rotated from said first position.

2. A tensioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said brace members are each pivotally secured to said plate member by bolt and nut assemblies which are maintained to provide a light clamping load until said plate member is rotated into said second position.

3. A tensioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein at least two brace members extend from each said vertical post to said plate member and said brace members are secured to said veRtical posts at vertically spaced positions.

4. The tensioning device as defined in claim 3 wherein said brace members are secured to said plate member at circumferentially spaced locations on said plate member whereby rotation of said plate member from said first position to said second position effects an increase in the linear distance between the securing points of each brace member thereby to impart said tensioning force.

5. The tensioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means cooperable between said one brace member and said plate member to retain said tensioning member in said second position comprises a bolt engageable through aligned holes in said one brace member and said plate member.

6. The tensioning device as defined in claim 5 wherein said hole in said plate member is a lost motion slot.

7. A method for tensioning brace members between a pair of vertically disposed support posts comprising, securing one end of at least a pair of brace member to each said vertical posts at vertically displaced positions, pivotally securing the other end of each said brace member to a plate member with each said brace member being secured to said plate member at circumferentially spaced locations, rotating said plate member to a position angularly offset from its initial position to effect a tensioning force in each said brace member, and positively securing one of said brace members to said tensioning member to fix said plate member in said angularly offset position and maintain the tensioning force on said brace members.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said step of pivotally securing said brace members to said plate member comprises bolting said brace members to said plate member with a nut and bolt assembly and engaging said nut to provide a light clamp load.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein said step of positively securing said one brace member to said plate member comprises fastening said one brace member to said plate member with a bolt passing through aligned holes and engaging said bolt with a nut to effect a clamping load.

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