AU597441B2 - Suspension unit - Google Patents

Description

PCT WORLD INTELLE INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION Pt St

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AU-AI-80704/87 CTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION A UDER EP ENI OOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 (11) International Publication Number: WO 88/ 02426 E04B 5/55, 1/41 Al (43) International Publication Date: 7 April 1988 (07.04.88) (21) International Application Number: PCT/AU87/00335 (74) Agent: COLLISON CO.; 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 (AU).

(22) luternational Filing Date: 30 September 1987 (30.09.87) (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (Eu- (31) Priority Application Number: PH 8251 ropean patent), CH (European patent), DE (European patent), FR (European patent), GB (European (32) Priority Date: 30 September 1986 (30.09.86) patent), IT (European patent), JP, KR, LU (European patent), NL (European patent), SE (European pa- (33) Priority Country: AU tent), US.

(71) Applicants (for all designated States except US): AL- Published WYN PTY. LTD. [AU/AU]; 425 Grand Junction With international search report.

Road, Wingfield, S.A. 5013 McINTOSH TAY- LOR CONSULTANTS PTY. LTD. [AU/AU]; 23 Edmund Road, Highbury, S.A. 5089 A.O. J.P. 1 9 mAY 198 (72) Inventor; and Inventor/Applicant (for US only) :TAYLOR, David, McIntosh [AU/AU]; 23 Edmund Road, Highbury, AUSTRALIAN S.A. 5089 98 2 1 APR 1988 PATENT OFFICE (54)Title: SUSPENSION

UNIT

(54) Title: SUSPENSION UNIT 2.

step 1 INSERT UP INTO RECESS step 2 SLIDE TOGETHER DROP 10 POSITION (57) Abstract A suspension unit for locking into a dovetail recess in the permanent formwork of a concrete member The unit comprises a pair of plates having abutments the plates being individually inserted into the recess and then slid along the recess to be in overlapped condition, the combined abutments preventing the withdrawal of the plates.

vI SUSPENSION UNIT This invention relates to a suspension unit, more particularly a suspension unit to suspend devices or units of electrical mechanical ceiling and finishing trade beneath a suspended structural concrete slab.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The building construction industry has for many years been using profile formed steel decking as soffit permanent formwork and reinforcement for suspended structural concrete slabs for floors and roofs.

The following trades, including electrical and mechanical, and ceiling 9**9 9. .and finishing trades all require to connect to the soffit (underside) of this structural slab.

9 o 20 It is known that a wide variety of connection types have been used, including drilled and anchored bolts, either the mechanical or chemical anchorage types, and a few specialized mechanical devices which lock into the recessed ribs of the profile formed steel deck.

25 It is an object of this invention to provide a suspension unit which would anchor into the underside of the slab by interlocking into the recessed rib of the profile formed deck.

It is a further object to provide a suspension unit which may be made in 30 a variety of dimensions and consequently to a variety of load carrying •capacities.

It is a further object to provide a suspension unit which is economic for manufacture, very quick to install, and requires no power tools or technical trade expertise.

r 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thus there is provided according to the invention a suspension member for interlocking with a structural member having a dovetail or shaped recess with an opening of lesser width than the main body of the recess, said suspension unit comprising a pair of individual hangers each having an abutment at one end which abutments are required to be individually inserted into the recess at locations spaced from each other, and once inserted, the hangers are required to be moved to slide the abutments along the recess to fully align the abutments to be in contact with each other in which position said aligned abutments have a combined width greater than the width of said opening, said hangers being joined to each other by suspension means connected to the hangers, wherein the sole combined shape of the pair of abutments in the said recess prevents the removal of the combined hangers from the recess.

o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0OS* 20 In order to more fully describe the invention reference will now be oso• made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a view in cross-section of a typical ceiling or floor slab incorporating a profiled formed steel deck permanent formwork, FIGS. 1 and 1 being two examples thereof, FIG. 2 shows one form of the invention in side and end elevation, FIG. 3 shows the steps of insertion of the unit into the recess, FIG. 4 shows a further form of the invention.

*FIG. 5 shows two further forms of the invention.

•i FIG. 6 shows three further forms of the invention, FIG. 7 shows a further form of the invention, and 3 FIG. 8 shows two further forms of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a portion of a typical ceiling or floor 1 having exposed profiled formed steel deck 2 thereon which acts as the permanent formwork to the concrete 3, a typical recessed rib 4 being shown in FIG. 1 and a further form shown in FIG. 1 C 4

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2a Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one form of the invention is shown which can comprise a plate 5 being formed at one end with an abutment 6 formed by bending over a rod 7, the end of the plate 8 being bent and pressed against the surface of the body of the plate 5 to thus form the abutment portion 6 having a much greater width than the plate 0 **0e oo So e 0 ooooo WO 88/02426 PCT/AUS7/00335 As shown in FIG. 2, two plates are utilized, these being positioned in face to face relationship, one plate being inserted into the recess 4 and then the other plate 5 being positioned adjacent thereto and then by sliding the two plates together they are allowed to drop down into position, and the plates are then joined together by passing a fastening member such as a bolt or the like through the aligned apertures 9, this bolt or the like also attaching a further suspension means as desired.

FIG. 4 shows a further form of the invention in which a pair of plates 1o. 10, preferably of an extruded form such as of aluminium are provided with apertures 11 and also a wedge shaped head portion 12. In this instance the combined plates 10 have a width sufficient so that the inclined surfaces 14 engage in the recess 4 and thus do not tend to pull out of the opening in the recess 4.

FIG. 5 shows a further alternative of the invention where in example the plates 10 are of extruded aluminium and also formed of sufficient width so that the combined width of the heads 12 is greater than the opening 4.

As shown in FIG. 5 and the plate 15 is formed with a generally rectangular head 16 extending from one side of the plate, the head being joined by a tapered portion 17 to join with the edge of the plate 15 as shown in example the corner 18 joined at the junction of the surface 16 and 17 engaging in the wall of the recess 4 at point contact at a distance greatly spaced from the lower edge of the recess 4 this being at a distance where greater strength is achieved by there being a greater amount of concrete below the point of contact to give increased strength and load resistance.

Turning now to FIG. 6, shows a very simple form of the unit which comprises a plate 19 having a right angled leg 20 which would engage on the internal inclined surface of the recess 4. This form of unit would only be suitable for very light loads.

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WO 88/02426 PCT/AU87/00335 The form illustrated in FIG. 6 shows two plates 21 each having a divergent portion 22 and a horizontal portion 23 again which are adapted to .be individually inserted. into the recess and then moved -to be aligned, 'the two portions 23 engaging each other and thus provide greater strength, this form of unit providing great strength by applying a pressure all along the inclined surfaces, the unit tending to fail only by the upper leg 23 deforming upwardly with the lower leg 23 deforming downwardly.

FIG. 6 shows a further form of the invention similar to that in FIG. 6 where the horizontal portion 23 instead of being overlapped are each bent upwardly in a further extending portion 24 parallel to the main portion 21, this unit also being suitable for relatively light loads.

FIG. 7 shows a still further form of the invention, the plate having a head 26, only one of the required plates being shown.

The plate may be formed of any suitable material having the required tensile strength. In order to strengthen the head 26, a metal cap 27 can be clipped over the head 26, the cap having ribs 28 which clip into grooves 29 on the head. It will be realized that the plates 25 may be used without the cap if desired.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a still further form of the invention which can be pressed or stamped out of a sheet of metal, or formed from any suitable material.

The plate 30, at its end to form the head 31 as shown in FIG. 8 Js formed .by .a .vertical cut 32..and .horizontal cut 33, the :horizontal cut 33 terminating at the cut 32, the cuts being spaced so that the flap 34 can be folded at right angles, along the line 35 to the plate to form the head.

FIG. 8 shows a further form where a T-shaped cut is made, the head of the T being at 36, and the'stem of the T separating the two flaps 37 which are then folded about fold lines 38.

WO 88/02426 5 PCT/AU87/00335 Thus as shown the units may be manufactured by roll forming, plate welding, extrusion or stamping and folding. The overall dimensions are adjusted to suit the load requirements, and for heavier loads it is a simple matter for the individual units to have their length extended, and this length can be as long as desired.

Thus in all examples the unit consists of two basic plates individually slipped into the recess at adjacent positions along the recessed ribs and subsequently slid together to align the holes of the plates, which are restricted from pulling down out of the recess due to the interaction of the opposed shapes of the tops of the plates with the profile of the recess. It is a simple matter to move the combined plates along the recess for particular adjustment at any time.

Although various forms of the invention have been described in is. some detail it is to be realized that the invention is not to be limited thereto but can include various modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. 6. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A suspension member for interlocking with a structural member having a dovetail or shaped recess with an opening of lesser width than the main body of the recess, said suspension unit comprising a pair of individual hangers each having an abutment at one end which abutments are required to be individually inserted into the recess at locations spaced from each other, and once inserted, the hangers are required to be moved to slide the abutments along the recess to fully align the abutments to be in contact with each other in which position said aligned abutments have a combined width greater than the width of said opening, said hangers being joined to each other by suspernsion means connected to the hangers, wherein the sole combined shape of the pair of abutments in the said recess prevents the removal of the combined hangers from the recess. A suspension unit as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said 20 hangers comprises a plate, said abutment thereon being positioned at @000 one side of said plate at one end thereof, said plates being inserted o with the other sides of said plates in contact with each other. 3. A suspension unit as defined in claim 2, wherein each abutment 25 comprises the said end of said plate folded over a rod. @00S 4. A suspension unit as defined in claim 2, wherein each plate is *0 0 extruded and said abutment thereon is formed during the extrusion of S: said plate. 00 A suspension unit as defined in claim 2, wherein each abutment comprises a leg bent at right angles to the plane of the plate. 6. A suspension unit as defined in claim 2, wherein each abutment comprises a portion of the plate extending at an acute angle to the plane of the plate, and a leg extending from the portion generally at right angles relative to the plate with the legs of aligned plates being overlapped. 7
2. 7. A suspension unit as defined in claim 2, wherein the abutment comprises a portion of the plate extending at an acute angle to the plane of the plate, a leg extending at right angles to the plane of the plate, and a lip exteding from the leg in the plane of the plate so that when inserted the lips of each plate engage each other.
3. 8. A suspension unit as defined in claim 4, wherein said abutment is fitted with a protective metal cap.
4. 9. A suspension unit as defined in claim 2, wherein said abutment is formed by cutting the plate to form flaps which are folded to be at right angles to the plate and extend from one side of said plate.
5. 10. A suspension unit substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated the 14th day of December 1989 ALWYN PTY. LTD. and MCINTOSH TAYLOR CONSULTANTS PTY. LTD. By their Patent Attorneys, 25 COLLISON CO. O 4