WO1996004442A1

WO1996004442A1 - Improvements in or relating to connectors

Info

Publication number: WO1996004442A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001812
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Ian Seale
Original assignee: David Ian Seale
Priority date: 1994-08-01
Filing date: 1995-07-31
Publication date: 1996-02-15
Also published as: AU3181795A

Abstract

A connector comprises connecting means (10) to receive an article (14) and securing means (40) to secure the article to the connecting means. The securing means (40) comprises a bolt which is either threadably received through the connecting means (10) to engage the article (14) or is operable to move the connecting means into clamping engagement with the article. The connector may further include a further connecting means to receive a further article.

Description

Improvements in or relating to Connectors

This invention relates to connectors. More

particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to connectors for use with platform systems.

Published International Application No. W094/02698 discloses a support leg which can be used in forming a platform. It has been found that the use of platforms formed using the support legs can be unsteady if the platform is raised too high. A further disadvantage is that platforms raised to a particular height, it is necessary to provide hand rails.

It is an object of this invention to obviate and/or mitigate these disadvantages.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a connector for connecting together first and second articles, the connector comprising first and second connecting means for receiving respectively the first and articles, and securing means for securing the first and second articles to said connecting means.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the first and second receiving means define a region therebetween and the first and second articles can engage each other at said region, wherein the securing means can bear against the first article to push the first article against the second article.

Preferably, the first and second connecting means are arranged mutually orthogonally to each other.

Preferably, the second connecting means comprises first and second abutments spaced from each other. The first connecting means may have first and second end regions wherein said first abutment is provided on said first end region and said second abutment is provided on said second end region.

Preferably, the securing means is provided on the first connecting means and may comprise an operative portion adapted to bear against said first article, and a handle to move said operative portion. Preferably, the securing means comprises a bolt, and the operative portion comprises a threaded portion of the bolt adapted to be received in a correspondingly threaded aperture in the second connecting means, and the handle extends transversely from the threaded portion.

In the preferred embodiment, the securing means is L-shaped. Preferably, the securing means is so

positioned on said first connecting means member to push said first article against said second article and against said second connecting means. Preferably, the securing means is adapted to bear against said first article at an angle off-set in a direction generally towards the first end region, whereby the first article can bear against the second article and against said first end region.

Each of the first and second connecting means may have a configuration corresponding respectively to the cross-sectional configuration of said first and second articles. Preferably, the second connecting means is of a curved configuration and the second connecting means is of a square configuration. The first connecting means may be of a substantially U-shaped cross-section. In the first embodiment, the first and second abutment have a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the second article and may be of a square cross-section.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the first and second receiving means are mounted on an engagement member. Preferably, the first and second connecting means are mounted on opposite sides of an engagement member and may be mutually orthogonal to each other.

Preferably, the securing means can secure the article by bearing against, and pushing said article against the engagement member. The engagement member may be in the form of a substantially flat plate.

Preferably, the securing means comprises first and second securing members provided respectively on the first and second connecting means. The securing member may comprise a first portion adapted to engage said first or second article and a handle extending transversely therefrom. Preferably each securing member comprises an L-shaped bolt.

The first and second connecting means may be of a curved cross-section, and are preferably of a U-shaped cross-section.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a connector for connecting together first and second elongate members, the connector comprising first and second connecting means for receiving respectively the first and second elongate members, and securing means for securing the first and second elongate members to said connecting means, the first and second connecting means defining therebetween a region whereby said securing means can bear against the first elongate member to push said first elongate member against the second elongate member. Preferably, the second connecting means comprises first and second abutments spaced from each other.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a support leg comprising an upstanding member and attachment means for attaching the support leg to an adjacent similar support leg, and a connector as described in paragraphs 4 to 14 above, the upstanding member being received by said first connecting means, whereby an elongate member can be received in the second connecting means to secure the connector to the

upstanding member at a desired position thereon.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector comprising connecting means to receive an article, securing means to secure the article to the connecting means, wherein the securing means is operable to move the connecting means into clamping engagement with the article.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a connector comprising connecting means for receiving an article, said connecting means having first and second opposed end regions defining a gap

therebetween, and said apparatus further including urging means extending between the first and second end regions and being adapted to move said end regions toward each other to urge the connecting means to a c lamp ing

position.

The urging means may comprise an elongate member extending between the first and second end regions and a handle operable to urge said first and second end regions toward each other. The connecting means may be formed of a resiliently deformable material whereby when the end regions are moved toward each other the connecting means may be urged to the clamping position by resilient deformation thereof.

Preferably, the elongate member comprises a

threaded member extending between said first and second end regions, wherein said threaded member is received in correspondingly threaded aperture or recesses in said first and second end portions. The handle may extend transverse to the elongate member to screw the elongate member into or out of said aperture or recesses. In another embodiment, the elongate member comprises

reaction means extending between the first and second end regions and the handle comprises camming means, whereby the action of the camming means causes a reaction of the reaction means to urge said first and second end regions towards each other. The connecting means may comprise a first portion so shaped to provide an appropriate configuration for clamping the article. In one embodiment, the first portion may be so configured for clamping a substantially cylindrical article about the circumference thereof.

The first end region of said connecting means may comprise a second portion projecting from the first portion. The second portion may be substantially flat and may extend outwardly from said first portion. The second end region may be in the form of a substantially L-shaped member having an outwardly extending portion extending from the first portion such that said gap is preferably defined between said second portion and said outwardly extending member. Alternatively, the second end region may be in the form of a nut.

The second portion and either the outwardly extending member or the nut may define passages which are in register with each other to allow the securing means to be received through each of said apertures.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connector;

Fig. 1a is a side view of the connector shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative connector;

Fig. 3 is a view of a platform showing the

connector of Fig. 1 used to support a bracing bar; and

Fig. 4 is a view of a handrail system incorporating connectors shown in Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the securing means in an off-set position.

Fig. 6 is a view of a further alternative

connector.

Fig. 7 is a view of the connector in Fig. 6 in use;

Fig. 8 is a view of a modified connector similar to that shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the connector shown in Fig. 5 and the connector shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, there is shown a connector 10 comprises first connecting means in the form of a U-shaped member 12 for receiving an elongate member in the form of an elongate bar 14, which may be of cylindrical configuration. The connector 10 also

comprises second connecting means 16 for receiving an elongate member in the form of a square section upright member 18 of a support leg 15 as shown in Fig. 3. The bar 14 extends from the elongate member 18 to another elongate member 18a of an adjacent support leg 15a. As can be seen from Fig. 3, both support legs 15,15a are provided with connectors 10,10a whereby the elongate bar 14 acts to brace the support legs to each other.

The support legs 15,15a shown in Fig. 3 comprise a ground engaging members 20,20a the upstanding members 18,18a and a further upstanding members 22,22a

telescopically received in the upstanding members 18,18a.

Attachment means in the form of a further substantially U-shaped members 24,24a, and corresponding securing means 25,25a threadably received in the U-shaped members

24,24a, are provided at the top of the further upstanding members 22,22a whereby a cylindrical bar 26 can be received in the further U-shaped members 24,24a to enable platform members in the form of planks 28 to be supported between the bar 26 and the bar 26a of an adjacent support leg. The further upstanding member 22 is held in its raised position by a pin 30 extending through an aperture 32 and corresponding apertures in the further upstanding member 22. As can be seen, the further upstanding member 22 is substantially cylindrical in configuration.

Referring to Fig. 1, the second connecting means 16 comprises first and second abutments 34,36 defining therebetween a space 38. The first and second receiving elements 34,36 have a substantially square profile and are capable of receiving the upstanding member 14

therein. The second receiving means 16 is provided with securing means 40 having a threaded portion 42 and a handle 44 extending transversely therefrom. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the securing means 40 is of a

substantially L-shaped configuration.

When the second elongate member 18 has been

received in the first and second receiving elements 34,36, the connector 10 can be slid up and down the first elongate member 18 to a desired position. When the desired position has been reached, the bar 14 is received in the first connecting means 12 and the securing means 40 is tightened such that the further portion 42 bears against the bar 14 to push the bar 14 against the

elongate member 18 thereby to secure the bar 14 to the elongate member 18.

Referring to Fig. 1a, which shows a side view of the connector 10, it is seen that the securing means 40 bears against the elongate member 14 to push it in the direction of the arrows A,B. The bar 14 is pushed against the elongate member 18 by the force indicated by the arrow A and against the U-shaped member 12 by the force indicated by the arrow B. Thus, the bar 14 is secured to the first elongate member 18 by virtue of the forces applied thereto in the direction of arrows A and B by the securing means 40.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 4, there is shown a second connector 110 which is suitable for use in the erection of hand rails. The connector 110 comprises first receiving means in the form of a first U-shaped member 112, and second receiving means in the form of a second U-shaped member 114. The first and second

U-shaped members 112,114 are provided with securing means 140,141 comprising a threaded portion 142,143 and a handle 144,145 extending transversely therefrom. The threaded portion of each of the securing means 140,141 is received in a threaded aperture 146,147 in the U-shaped members 112,114. As can be seen, the U-shaped members 112,114 are provided in planes mutually orthogonal to each other for receiving cylindrical bars 118,119 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 shows a platform formed by planks 28 at the top of a further elongate member 22 as shown in Fig. 3. The elongate bar 26 is secured to the elongate member 27 by a U-shaped member 24. As can be seen, an elongate support member 150 is attached to the elongate bar 26, by a U-shaped member 170 and a corresponding securing means 172 threadably received therein, and extends upwardly therefrom. Extending transversely from the elongate member 150 are upper and middle U-shaped members 152,154 through which have been received elongate cylindrical tubes 156,158. The cylindrical tubes 156,158 are secured to the upper and lower U-shaped members 152,154 by securing means 160 which operates in the same manner as the securing means 40,140. The end portions 157,159 of the elongate tubes 156,158 extend through the U-shaped members 54 by several centimetres. The connectors 110, 110a can be fitted to the elongate members 156,158 at the protruding end portion by the end portion being received in the first U-shaped member 112. The connectors

110,110a can be secured thereto by the securing means 140,140a. Upper and lower tubes 162,164 can be received in the second receiving members 114,114a respectively and secured thereto by the securing means 141,141a. Thus, it will be appreciated that upper and lower hand rails can be formed around the platform formed by the planks 28.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the elongate support member 150 need not be of a square configuration.

A further modification is shown in Fig. 5 which is the same as the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 with the exception that the securing means 140,141 are off-set from their respective positions shown in Fig. 2. The features in Fig. 6 are designated with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a further embodiment of the invention in the form of a connector 210 having

connecting means comprising a first portion in the form of clamping means 212 to receive a bar such as the bar 14 or the cylindrical tubes 156,158. The connecting means further includes a second portion 216 projecting from the clamping means 212 and a third portion in the form of an L-shaped member 218. A gap 220 therebetween is defined between the second portion 216 and the L-shaped member 218. The apparatus further includes urging means 222 comprising a handle 224 extending transversely from a shaft 225, as shown, and an externally threaded member in the form of a bolt 226 integral with the shaft 225 to be received in apertures 228,230 in the first portion 216 and the L-shaped member 218, and threadably secured to an internally threaded member in the form of a nut 231 fixedly mounted on the L-shaped member 218 at the

aperture 230.

A first washer 234 is fixedly mounted to the bolt 226 and a second washer 236 is freely arranged around the threads of the bolt 226.

The second portion 216 is in the form of a flange extending from a clamping means 238. The clamping means 238 is so shaped to receive the bar 18 which, as can be seen is cylindrical. It will be appreciated, that the clamping means 238 can be of any appropriate

configuration depending upon the cross-sectional shape of the article to be received therein.

The clamping means 238 is fixedly mounted upon a plate 239, for example by welding or other appropriate means.

The L-shaped member 218 is also fixedly mounted to the plate 238, for example by welding. The L-shaped member 218 comprises an outwardly extending portion 240 through which the aperture 230 is defined and to which the nut 231 is attached.

In order to clamp the bar 18 in the clamping means 238, the urging means is screwed in by rotating it in a clockwise direction as viewed from above. This

resiliently deforms the shaped member in a direction to clamp the bar 18. In order to release the bar 18 from the connector 210, the urging means is unscrewed by rotating it in a counter clockwise direction and the natural resilience of the material from which the shaped member 238 is formed causes it to move in the direction opposite to move back to its original position thereby releasing the article.

The gap 220 is of a suitable size that it will not close upon deformation of the shaped member to clamp the bar 18.

The connector 210 can be formed of steel or other appropriately resilient material of suitable strength. In Fig. 7, the connector 210 is secured to a post 25 by welding the plate 239 thereto. Fig. 8 shows a connector 310 which is a modified version of the connector 210 shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The features of the connector 310 which are the same as those of the connector 210 are designated by the same reference numeral. The connector 310 differs from the connector 210 in that the urging means 222 comprises a shaft 325 which is longer than the corresponding shaft 225 of the connector 210. The reason for this is to enable the handle 224 to engage the top surface of a platform member, such as platform member 28 when the connector 310A is used to replace a U-shaped member 24 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to form a platform.

In the modified version shown in Fig. 8, the third portion is in the form of an elongate nut 318 defining a threaded bore 319 to receive threadably the bolt 226.

The connector 310 further includes a star washer 320 mounted on the bolts 226 between the second portion 216 and the elongate nut 318. The star washer 320, which is known in the art, remains fixed in place on the threads and, when the urging means 222 is unscrewed until the star washer 320 engages the second portion 216, further unscrewing of the urging means 222 lifts the second portion 216 upwardly thereby permitting easy removal of an article clamped by the clamping means 238. In addition, a further larger sized article could be inserted into the clamping means 238 for clamping

thereby.

Referring to Fig. 9, there is shown a handrail system similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but using the connector of Fig. 5 and the connector of Fig. 6. The features of the handrail system of Fig. 8 which are the same as those in earlier Figs, are designated by the same reference numeral. In particular, it will be seen that the U-shaped member 170 and corresponding securing means 172 are replaced by lower connector 210A, and the upper and middle U-shaped members 152,154 and their

corresponding securing means 160 are replaced

respectively by connector 210B and 210C which operate in the manner described above in connection with Figs. 6 and 7. The lower, upper and middle connector 210A,B,C are welded to the elongate support member 150 in the

positions as shown.

Whilst endeavouring 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

1. A connector comprising connecting means to receive an article, securing means to secure the article to the connecting means, wherein the securing means is operable to move the connecting means into clamping engagement with the article.

2. A connector according to Claim 1 wherein the connecting means is resiliently deformable and the securing means is operable to deform the connecting means into clamping engagement with the article.

3. A connector according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the connecting means comprises a first portion to receive said first article and a second portion on the first portion, the second portion being in engagement with the securing means whereby the securing means is operable to move the second portion between a clamping position in which the first portion can clamp the article and a non-clamping position in which the article can be released from the first portion.

4. A connector according to Claim 3 wherein the first portion is shaped to conform generally to the

cross-sectional configuration of the article.

5. A connector according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the second portion comprises a substantially flat element defining an aperture to receive the securing means, and the connecting means comprises a third portion defining a passage in register with said aperture whereby the securing means extends through said aperture to be received in said passage.

6. A connector according to Claim 5 wherein the securing means comprises a threaded portion and said passage is provided with corresponding threads wh e r e by the threaded portion can be threadably received in said passage and, upon tightening of said threaded portion in said passage, the second portion is moved to said clamping position.

7. A connector according to Claim 6 wherein the securing means is in the form of a bolt comprising a flange projecting therefrom to bear against said second portion when the bolt is tightened into said threaded passage.

8. A connector according to Claim 7 wherein the third portion is selected from the group consisting of an L-shaped member defining a threaded aperture and an elongate nut defining a threaded bore.

9. A connector according to Claim 7 or 8 wherein the bolt is of an L-s,haped configuration comprising a handle projecting transversely to the threaded portion thereof.

10. A connector according to any of Claims 6 to 9 comprising a star washer arranged on said threaded portion between said second and third portions.

11. A connector according to any of Claims 3 to 10 wherein the first portion is so configured as to receive a cylindrical article whereby the first portion is adapted to be clamped about the circumference of the article.

12. A connector according to any preceding claim further including a substantially flat plate to which said connecting means is attached.

13. A connector according to Claim 12 wherein said connecting means is attached to the flat plate by welding or adhesive.

14. A connector according to any preceding claim including attachment means to attach the connector to a further article.

15. A connector according to Claim 14 wherein the attachment means comprises welding or adhesive.

16. A connector comprising first and second connecting means to receive respectively first and second articles and securing means for securing the articles to the respective connecting means, wherein the securing means is operable through at least one of the connecting means to bear against at least one of said articles.

17. A connector according to Claim 16 wherein the first connecting means is of a substantially U-shaped configuration having first and second end regions and being adapted to receive a substantially cylindrical article thereon.

18. A connector according to Claim 17 wherein the second connecting means is provided on said first and second end regions, and the securing means comprises a securing member operable to engage the first article and to bear the first article against said second article.

19. A connector according to Claim 18 wherein the second connecting means comprises first and second abutment members provided respectively on said first and second end regions, each abutment member defining an opening in register with the opening defined by the other abutment member to receive an elongate second article therethrough.

20. A connector according to Claim 19 wherein the abutment members define substantially rectangular openings to receive an elongate article having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

21. A connector according to any of Claims 17 to 20 wherein the first and second connecting means are arranged transverse to each other thereby to receive elongate articles transverse to each other.

22. A connector according to Claim 21 wherein the first and second connecting means are arranged

substantially orthogonally to each other.

23. A connector according to Claim 21 or 22 wherein the securing means is adapted to bear aginst the first article in a direction generally towards the first end region of the first connecting means whereby the first article can bear against the second article and against said first end region.

24. A connector according to Claim 16 wherein each or the first and second connecting means comprises a generally U-shaped member and arranged transverse to each other.

25. A connector according to Claim 24 wherein the U-shaped members are arranged substantially mutually orthogonally to each other.

26. A connector according to Claim 24 or 25 comprising securing means comprises first and second securing members each being operable through a respective one of the U-shaped members to engage the respective article.

27. A connector according to Claim 26 wherein further including an engagement member, and each U-shaped member comprising first and second end regions and being mounted on opposite sides of the engagement member at said end regions, wherein the securing members are adapted to bear the respective articles against the engagement member.

28. A connector according to Claim 27 wherein the securing members are arranged to urge the respective articles directly onto said plate.

29. A connector according to Claim 27 wherein the securing members are arranged to urge the respective articles towards the respective first end regions, whereby the articles bear against the plate and against an end region of the respective U-shaped members.

30. A connector according to any of Claims 16 to 29 wherein the securing means comprises a threaded bolt, each connecting means defines a threaded aperture threadably to receive said bolt.

31. A connector according to Claim 30 wherein the threaded bolts are substantially L-shaped in

configuration, comprising a threaded portion and a handle extending transversely to the threaded portion.