WO2004037464A1

WO2004037464A1 - Fastener device

Info

Publication number: WO2004037464A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/004601
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Simpson
Original assignee: Nuts And Bolts (Cannock) Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-24
Filing date: 2003-10-24
Publication date: 2004-05-06
Also published as: GB2394435A; AU2003283524A8; AU2003283524A1; GB2394435B; WO2004037464A8; GB0224701D0

Abstract

A fastener device (10) comprising a body (12), grip means (14) to releasably retain a fastener to be worked and an arrangement (16) operable to provide relative movement between the body (12) and the grip means (14) upon manipulation thereof in a first direction to provide for working of a retained fastener and to provide no further such relative movement upon manipulation in substantially the opposite direction.

Description

Fastener Device

The present invention relates to fastener devices, and in particular but not exclusively to devices for working fasteners to secure barriers, fencing and the like together.

Certain barriers, for example certain security fences are often assembled in situ from panels which generally tend to rest on the ground or to otherwise be not particularly securely located in the ground, such that it is important that the panels of the fencing are securely astened together to provide the completed barrier with sufficient strength to be effective.

Conventionally, there are many devices or tools that can be used to secure fencing together, for example spanners and screwdrivers. The use of these is however laborious and time consuming. Alternative tools include pneumatic and hydraulic riveting tools. These are generally satisfactory provided the appropriate pneumatic and hydraulic supplies are available, and there is sufficient space for their use. However, often the provision of such supplies is not convenient and moreover, space is confined and use of such known tools; is therefore difficult, if not impossible.

According to the present invention there is provided a fastener device comprising a body, grip means to releasably retain a fastener to be worked and an arrangement operable to provide relative movement between the body and the grip means upon manipulation thereof in a first direction to provide for working of a retained fastener and to provide no further such relative movement upon manipulation in substantially the opposite direction.

Preferably the arrangement is rotatably, desirably manually rotatably operable so as to provide for said relative movement upon rotation thereof in a first direction. The arrangement preferably restrains against any further such relative movement upon manipulation in said opposite direction. Preferably the arrangement comprises a first part selectively pivotally connected to a second part such that upon selective rotation of the first part in the first direction the second part rotates therewith and upon selective rotation of the first part in the opposite direction the second part does not rotate therewith.

The first part may be connected to the second part by a ratchet, a clutch such as a sprag-clutch, or operably similar arrangement.

The first part may comprise a handle for use by a user to effect selective rotation. The handle may be mounted on the outside of the body and desirably mounted such that the pivotal axis thereof is substantially perpendicular to the general direction of relative movement between the body and grip means.

Preferably the second part comprises a non-circular wheel, such as cam, which bears against the grip means such that rotation thereof effects the said relative movement between the grip means and the body. The wheel is preferably rotatably attached to the body.

Preferably the wheel is shaped such that as a fastener gripped by the device is worked upon, the leverage of the handle increases.

Preferably the arrangement is operable to draw the grip means generally in a direction into the body and desirably generally away from a fixture to be secured by a fastener gripped thereby to work the fastener. Preferably the wheel is shaped such that the amount of relative movement per degree of rotation of the actuating means decreases as the fastener is worked. Preferably the wheel is shaped such that its surface bearing on the grip means becomes increasingly circular as the fastener gripped thereby is worked.

Preferably guide means is provided to guide said relative movement between the grip means and the body, which guide means may comprise a roller or similar. The guide means may be fixed, perhaps rotatably, to the grip means and may provide a surface on which the second part bears.

The device is preferably operable to work a fastener comprising two components, the first comprising a headed shank locatable through members to be fastened together, and the second, a securing member locatable around the shank such that when the shank is gripped by the grip means and the arrangement manipulated, the securing member and the head of the first component are urged together whereby to clamp the members being secured thereby, therebetween. The grip means may be operable to pull on the first component and the body to push the second component on the first as they move relative to one another. Preferably one or both of said components distorts during manipulation of the device whereby are worked by the device. Preferably the distortion is sufficient to securely fix the components together whereby to provide secure fastening of said members together.

The invention further provides a fastener device comprising a body, grip means to releasably retain a fastener to be worked and an arrangement operable to provide relative movement between the body and grip means upon manipulation thereof, the arrangement being so shaped and arranged that the amount of relative movement of the body and grip means per degree of operable movement of the arrangement decreases as the fastener is worked.

The arrangement may be substantially as described in any of the preceding paragraphs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a device according to the present invention, with grip means in an extending position;

Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 with grip means in a retracted position; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the end portion circled V of Fig. 1, gripping a fastener to be worked;

Fig. 6 is a similar view to that of Fig. 5 with grip means in a retracted position with a fastener being worked by the device;

Fig. 7 is a cross section of an arrangement of the device generally along the line VII-VII of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a cam wheel of the device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a fastener device 10 comprising a body 12, grip means 14 to releasably retain a fastener F (Figs. 5 and 6) to be worked, and an arrangement 16 operable to provide relative movement between the body 12 and the grip means 14 upon manipulation thereof in a first direction to provide for working of a retained fastener F and to provide no further and substantially restrain any further such relative movement upon manipulation in substantially the opposite direction.

In more detail, the body 12 comprises an elongate housing 18 generally closed at one end 20 and having a threaded end cap 22 locatable over the other end 24. The end cap 22 has a central opening 26 through which the grip means 14 can move as explained below. The grip means 14 comprises a generally cylindrical member 28 located to be moveable within the housing 18, and comprising a jaw arrangement 30 at the free end of the cyhndrical member 28. The jaw arrangement 30 may be of any conventional design operable to securely but releasably grip a fastener F. Toward the other end 32 of the cylindrical member 28 is securely fixed a roller 34 on which the arrangement 16 bears as will be explained.

The arrangement 16 comprises an elongate handle 36 (Fig. 7) which comprises two arms 38 A, 38B which locate at opposite sides of the housing 18 and extend therefrom to converge together to provide a handle which during operation mitigates strain on the rest of the arrangement 16 because attachment at both ends of the arrangement 16 helps to prevent strain on any one end thereof. The handle 36 is attached to the housing 18 by a pivotal shaft 40 which extends through the housing 18, through an elongate slot 42 in the cylindrical member 28 to secure the handle 36 in position. The shaft 40 is retained in location on either side of the respective arms 38A, 38B in such manner that the handle 36 is pivotal thereabout and not fixedly attached.

The arrangement 16 further comprises a non-circular wheel or cam 44 which is fixedly attached partway along the shaft 40 and located to bear on the circumferential surface of the roller 34. The profile of the cam wheel (Fig. 8) is such that as the grip means 14 approaches the fully retracted position (Figs. 2 and 3) the leverage provided by the handle 36 through the cam 44 increases. This is important because as the grip means 14 is moved toward the fully retracted position whilst working a fastener F gripped thereby, the forces required to work the fastener F increase and this increased leverage facilitates working of the fastener F.

The arrangement 16 further comprises a sprag-clutch 46 located on the arm 38B of the handle 38. The sprag-clutch 46 is of conventional design comprising a series of fins the ends of two of which are shown at 48 which are resiliently attached to the outer casing 50 of the sprag-clutch 46 bear on the central hub 52 of the clutch 40, which hub 52 is fixedly attached to the shaft 40. The clutch 46 therefore provides for rotation of the shaft 40 and hence movement of the cam 44 upon pivotal manipulation of the handle 36 about the shaft 40 in a first direction wherein the fins 48 are forced onto the outer surface 52, because of shape and configuration in the clutch and thereby cause rotation of the hub 52 with pivotal movement of the handle 36. However pivotal movement of the handle 36 in the opposite direction causes the fins 48 to slide over the surface of the hub 52 on which they bear, therefore providing for return of the handle 36 back toward the position from where movement in the first direction was initiated without affecting movement of the cam 44, whereby sequential movements of this nature provide for incremental rotation of the cam 44 and thereby relative movement of the grip means 14 and working of a fastener F with backward and forward pivotal motion of the handle 36 as explained below. The arrangement of the fins 48 may be such as to hold relative position as the handle is moved back. The arrangement of the cam 44 may also facilitate this.

It will be appreciated that an appropriate ratchet mechanism or similar operative, mechanism could be used in replacement of the sprag-clutch 46, the important feature being the uni-directional working and return action of the arrangement 16 allowing for manipulation and operation of the device 10 in relatively confined spaces.

In use, the device 10 can be used to secure a fastener F through fence panels PI, P2 to be connected, or indeed any other such similar members to be fastened securely together. The fastener F comprises two components, the first comprising a shank 54 at one end of which is a domed head 56. This is located through a passage 58 drilled between the two panels PI, P2 such that the shank 54 extends to the side of the panels PI, P2 at which an operative is ready to use the device 10. The second component of the fastening F comprises a securing collar 60 which locates around the shank 54. The collar 60 is sufficiently soft to be deformable upon working by the device, as will be explained, but sufficiently strong to retain its defamation and provide a secure fixing of the fastener F.

With the securing collar 60 located around the shank 54, the end of the shank 54 is gripped in the jaws 30. The handle 36 is then manipulated by movement in the first direction, (for example clockwise depending upon the configuration of the sprag-clutch or ratchet mechanism) an appropriate distance which may be dictated by the available space, and is then returned in the opposite direction towards its original position, which return movement does not impart rotation of the shaft 40 or the cam 44. As this reciprocating "ratcheting" motion continues, the grip means 14 is moved by the action of the cam 44 on the bearing 34 from the extended position (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) gradually towards the fully retracted position (Figs. 2, 3 and 6). As the grip means 14 approaches the fully retracted position, the end cap 22 pushes the securing collar 60 towards the head 56 of the fastener F and thereby causes the panels PI, P2 to be clamped between the head 56 and the securing collar 60. Continued application of pressure by continued ratcheting of the arrangement 16 causes the inside surf ce 62 of the collar to distort to be pressed against the shaft 54. The increase in leverage provided by the handle 36 as a consequence of the shape of the cam 44 facilitates application of the appropriate forces.

Ratcheting in this way is continued until the forces become such that the fastener F is securely fixed across the panels PI, P2 and the components are securely linked together at which point the shaft 54 snaps about the weak points 64 provided thereon in the form of nicks, such that the remaining shaft does not protrude too far outside the securing collar 60. As the fastener approaches the point at which the shaft will snap, the force required for further movement will increase, but the cam shape is chosen to compensate for this by providing a leverage which also increases.

It will be appreciated that the backward and forward motion and incremental application of pressure provided by the arrangement 16 enables the device 10 to be used in relatively confined spaces and does not require external power sources such as pneumatic, hydraulic or electricity.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those eatures of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Apphcant 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 fastener device comprising a body, grip means to releasably retain a fastener to be worked and an arrangement operable to provide relative movement between the body and the grip means upon manipulation thereof in a first direction to provide for working of a retained fastener and to provide no further such relative movement upon manipulation in substantially the opposite direction.

2. A fastener device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is rotatably operable so as to provide for said relative movement upon rotation thereof in a first direction.

3. A fastener device according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement is manually rotatable.

4. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, wherein the arrangement restrains against any further such relative movement upon manipulation in said opposite direction.

5. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, comprising a first part selectively pivotally connected to a second part such that upon selective rotation of the first part in the first direction the second part rotates therewith and upon selective rotation of the first part in the opposite direction the second part does not rotate therewith.

6. A fastener device according to claim 5, wherein the first part is connected to the second part by a ratchet.

7. A fastener device according to claim 5, wherein the first part is connected to the second part by a clutch.

8. A fastener device according to claim 7, wherein the clutch is a sprag- clutch.

9. A fastener device according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first part comprises a handle for use by a user to effect selective rotation.

10. A fastener device according to claim 9, wherein the handle is mounted on the outside of the body.

11. A fastener device according to claim 10, wherein the handle is mounted such that the pivotal axis thereof is substantially perpendicular to the general direction of relative movement between the body and grip means.

12. A fastener device according to any of claims 5 to 11, wherein the second part comprises a non-circular wheel which bears against the grip means such that rotation thereof effects the said relative movement between the grip means and the body.

13. A fastener device according to claim 12, wherein the wheel is rotatably attached to the body.

14. A fastener device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the wheel is a cam.

15. A fastener device according to any -of claims 12 to 14, wherein the wheel is shaped such that as a fastener gripped by the device is worked upon, the leverage of the handle increases.

16. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, wherein the arrangement is operable to draw the grip means generally in a direction into the body.

17. A fastener device according to claim 16, wherein the arrangement is operable to draw the grip generally away from a fixture to be secured by a fastener gripped thereby to work the fastener.

18. A fastener device according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the wheel is shaped such that the amount of relative movement per degree of rotation of the actuating means decreases as the fastener is worked.

19. A fastener device according to any of claims 12 to 18, wherein the wheel is shaped such that its surface bearing on the grip means becomes increasingly circular as the fastener gripped thereby is worked.

20. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, wherein guide means is provided to guide said relative movement between the grip means and the body.

21. A fastener device according to claim 20, wherein the guide means comprises a roller.

22. A fastener device according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the guide means are fixed to the grip means.

23. A fastener device according to claim 20, 21 or 22, wherein the guide means provide a surface on which the second part bears.

24. A fastener device according to any preceding claim, operable to work a fastener comprising two components, the first comprising a headed shank locatable through members to be fastened together, and the second, a securing member locatable around the shank such that when the shank is gripped by the grip means and the arrangement manipulated, the securing member and the head of the first component are urged together whereby to clamp the members being secured thereby, therebetween.

25. A fastener device according to claim 24, wherein the grip means is operable to pull on the first component and the body to push the second component on the first as they move relative to one another.

26. A fastener device according to claim 24 or 25, wherein one or both of said components distorts during manipulation of the device whereby they are worked by the device.

27. A fastener device according to claim 26, wherein the distortion is sufficient to securely fix the components together whereby to provide secure fastening of said members together.

28. A fastener device comprising a body, grip means to releasably retain a fastener to be worked and an arrangement operable to provide relative movement between the body and grip means upon manipulation thereof, the arrangement being so shaped and arranged that the amount of relative movement of the body and grip means per degree of operable movement of the arrangement decreases as the fastener is worked.

29. A fastener device according to claim 28, wherein the arrangement is substantially as defined in any of claims 1 to 27.

30. A fastener device substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

31. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.