WO1996023118A1

WO1996023118A1 - Ground fixing

Info

Publication number: WO1996023118A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/000159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Raymond Rich
Original assignee: Malcolm Raymond Rich
Priority date: 1995-01-26
Filing date: 1996-01-26
Publication date: 1996-08-01
Also published as: AU4492296A; GB9501534D0

Abstract

A ground fixing (40) comprises an elongate stem (42) having a helical flange (44) at its lower end, and a plate (46) at its upper end. The fixing (40) is secured in the ground by screwing it until the plate (44) engages and compresses the ground surface. A locking device (52) may be used to prevent unauthorised removal of the fixing.

Description

Ground Fixing

This invention relates to a ground fixing for a post or socket, or plate or the like.

Ground fixings are required in many different applications where a post or socket or plate has to be secured in the ground. Many signs, for example estate agents' "boards", are commonly supported by a post which is driven directly into the ground by hammering. There are certain disadvantages, including the need to hammer the post, at an inconvenient height, and the relative ease with which the post may be removed by a vandal.

Rotary washing lines are often secured in a hollow spike which is driven into the ground and which defines a socket into which the foot of the central post of the rotary washing line is located. Here, the spike must be short enough to be driven into the ground without too much difficulty. There can be problems where the ground is soft, for the spike may not provide sufficient resistance to the strong bending movements experienced when the line is full of wet washing and exposed to a strong wind.

Likewise, fence post sockets are available which consist of a stronger spike which is driven into the ground and provides a socket into which a post may be secured.

In both cases, the hammering into the ground is inconvenient and the fixings may tilt if they experience significant transverse loads. Accordingly in one aspect, this invention provides a ground fixing comprising an elongate element for penetrating the ground and a flange means extending generally helically around part of said elongate element, whereby in use said fixing may be secured in the ground by driving the elongate element into the ground at least until the leading edge of said flange means contacts the ground and then screwing said elongate element so that the helical flange assists in driving the fixing downwardly. Preferably, the lower, leading end of the elongate element is pointed. The helical flange means preferably extends around said elongate element for less than three turns and ideally for about one complete turn.

To provide stability, the fixing may include another helical flange means positioned further up the elongate element for engaging the ground at a point shortly below the surface level.

Preferably, said elongate element includes at or towards its upper end ground-engaging means for engaging the ground when the fixing is screwed fully down into the ground.

The ground engaging means may include one or more spikes or projections extending downwardly, and ideally comprises a plate means. Preferably the ground fixing comprises locking means slidably and non-rotatably engageable with an upper part of said ground fixing and having a downwardly directed elongate

SU3S7ITUTE SHEET (r.ULE 26) element for penetrating the ground in use when the locking means is slidably engaged with said upper part of the ground fixing. Said upper part conveniently comprises a square or rectangular shaped element and said locking means may comprise a correspondingly-shaped sleeve which can be slid over said element but which is prevented from rotation therewith. The square or rectangular element may define a socket for a post or tube. The ground fixing may include lock means such as a bolt, screw or shackle for preventing or resisting removal of said locking means once in position in use, and the lock means may additionally prevent or resist removal of a component received in said socket in use.

The invention also extends to a post for mounting a sign provided at its lower end with a fixing as defined above. The post is preferably made up of a plurality of sections.

The post may be locked by sinking a further fixing as defined above, into the ground adjacent said post, and coupling said post and said further fixing together to prevent rotation of said post.

We have developed a sign hanging system in which the sign is attached to a frame which carries two suction cups w_hich allow the frame to be securely clamped to a pane of glass or other suitable smooth, flat surface. Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a kit which consists of a fixing or post as previously defined, and a frame

SUBSTITUTE SHEET JLE 26) incorporating one or more suction attachments, for allowing the sign to be supported by the suction attachments. The kit may include a ground fixing, one or more extension members, and a frame for carrying the sign. Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the above features. The invention may be performed in various ways and two embodiments and modifications thereof will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of ground fixing in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is an end view on the lower end of the fixing of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a sign hanging system incorporating the ground fixing of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of ground fixing in accordance with the invention, located in the ground, together with a locking device attached thereto. Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, the ground fixing 10 comprises a square tubular body 12 terminating at its lower end with an ogival or bullet-shaped pointed end

14. Around the pointed end extends a helical flange 16, extending outwardly well beyond the extent of the body 12. The lower, leading, edge 18 of the flange is formed as a chisel edge to aid ground penetration. Likewise, the upper, trailing end may have a similar formation to assist removal. As indicated by the dotted lines 17, the fixing may include a further helical flange towards its upper end to increase stability.

Referring to Figure 3, the sign hanging system comprises a fixing according to Figures 1 and 2 driven into the ground by turning in the appropriate sense. An extension piece 20 fits into the upper end of the fixing and carries at its upper end an L-shaped support 22 for a sign 24. The extension is attached to the items at either end by suitable vandal resistant attachments.

The L-shaped support 22 may include means 26 for securing thereto suction attachment means 28 shown in dotted lines.

The system therefore allows two different fixing options for the support 22 which should allow for most sites. In a typical arrangement, the elongate member and the extension are about 90 cm long, and the vertical arm of the sign support is about 60 cm line, with about 45 cm of the fixing being sunk in the ground. Also illustrated is a locking system whereby a second ground fixing 30 is sunk into the ground next to the first and padlocked to it, to prevent unauthorised rotation (and thus removal of the first fixing) .

Referring now to Figure 4, the second embodiment of fixing 40 comprises an elongate solid stem 42 pointed at its lower end, and carrying a helical flange 44. At its upper end the stem is welded to a square plate 46 which carries on

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (fvULZ 26) its upper surface a short length of square section tube 48 defining a socket for a post. Two aligned apertures 50 are provided in opposed walls of the tube through which a tommy bar (not shown) may be passed to screw or unscrew the fixing into or from the ground. The underside of the plate 46 may include downwardly directed spikes 50 to penetrate the ground surface further to resist lateral movement. The corners of the plate may be turned downwards through 90° for a similar purpose, so that the plate when viewed from above is octagonal in plan.

In use the fixing is screwed into the ground using a tommy bar, until the plate engages and compacts or compresses the surface of the ground. This action of compressing the ground provides a firm and steady support against lateral movement and also against sinking should the ground be soft. The dimensions of the fixing, and particularly the length of the stem 42 and the transverse dimension of the plate 46 may be selected accordingly to the expected loads on the fixing. In order to prevent uncontrolled unscrewing of the socket from the ground, the fixing may include a locking device 52. This comprises a square sleeve 54 which can slide over the outside of the square section tube 48 and which is connected to an L-shaped anchor spike 56, the longer, vertical, arm 58 of which is driven into the ground as the square sleeve 54 is slid into place. Once in place, the square sleeve may be prevented from removal by passing

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (PΛJLE 26 a vandal-resistant screw or long shackle padlock (not shown) through an aperture 60 in the square section tube and into or through the post or other item located in the tube 48, thus also securing that item. This device thus provides a good level of defence against theft or vandalism.

Where the fixing is for other uses, e.g. for a rotary clothes line, the plate 46 and the tube 48 may be circular instead of square. Here, the locking device may not be necessary, but if required the sleeve 54 should of course be circular and the sleeve 54 and the tube 48 should carry a spline or other feature which allows sliding but not rotational movement.

The embodiments illustrated above may be modified as the applications demand. Thus, in some cases a tube or socket may not be required and some other form of mechanical support or attachment may be provided such as for example a hook, or stud etc, or simply a plate.

Claims

1. A ground fixing comprising an elongate element for penetrating the ground and a flange means extending generally helically around part of said elongate element, whereby in use said fixing may be secured in the ground by driving the elongate element into the ground at least until the leading edge of said flange means contacts the ground and then screwing said elongate element so that the helical flange assists in driving the fixing downwardly.

2. A ground fixing according to Claim 1, wherein said flange means extends around said elongate element for less than three turns.

3. A ground fixing according to Claim 1, wherein said flange means extends around the elongate element for about one turn.

4. A ground fixing according to Claim 1, which includes a further flange means extending helically around the elongate element further up the elongate element.

5. A ground fixing according to any preceding Claim, wherein said elongate element includes at or towards its upper end ground-engaging means for engaging the ground in use when said fixing is screwed fully down into the ground.

6. A ground fixing according to Claim 5, wherein said ground engaging means includes one or more generally downwardly directed projections or spikes.

7. A ground fixing according to Claim 6, wherein said ground engaging means comprises a plate means.

8. A ground fixing according to any preceding Claim, comprising locking means slidably and non-rotatably engageable with an upper part of said ground fixing and having a downwardly directed elongate element for penetrating the ground in use when the locking means is slidably engaged with said upper part of the ground fixing.

9. A ground fixing according to Claim 8, wherein said upper part comprises a square or rectangular shaped element and said locking means comprises a correspondingly-shaped sleeve which can be slid over said element but which is prevented from rotation therewith.

10. A ground fixing according to Claim 9, wherein said square or rectangular element defines a socket for a post or tube.

11. A ground fixing according to any of Claims 8 to 10 including lock means such as a bolt, screw or shackle for preventing or resisting removal of said locking means once in position in use.

12. A ground fixing according to Claim 11, when dependent on Claim 10, wherein said lock means additionally prevents or resists removal of a component received in said socket in use.

13. A post or tube for being secured in the ground, attached to or integral with a ground fixing according to any of the preceding Claims.