GB2038981A - Handle, or other member, securement arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

A handle (1), or another member, is secured to a sheet-like member, for example a bath tub (3) comprising a synthetic plastics shell, by means of a bolt (2) extending through a bore (31) in the bath tub (3) from the underside thereof and secured thereto by a first nut (4), the handle (1) or other member being separably attached either to the threaded portion (5) of the bolt (2) or to the nut (4). In Fig. 2, fastened to the end of the handle (1) is a cylindrical socket (7) which is connected via a spring ring (8) to a further nut (9) in an axially secure but rotationally-free manner. The handle (1) is secured to the bolt (2) by screwing the further nut (9) onto the bolt (2). The handle (1) is removable for subsequent tightening of the bolt (2) to the bath tub (3) or exchange of handles. Other embodiments are disclosed (Figs. 4 and 5) in which the handle (1) is separably secured to the first nut (4) by a flanged nut (16) screwed onto the first nut (4) or onto the handle, but not engaging the bolt (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Handle, or other member, securement arrangements The invention relates to means for securing a member to one side of a sheet-like member using another member which passes through the sheetlike member, and particuiarly but not exclusively to a means of securing a handle to a bath tub or the like with a synthetic plastics material shell.

.Handles of this type are knbwn. As a rule, selftapping screws are used as securing elements which are screwed into pre-drilled holes in the shell ff the tub from the outside thereof.

In addition to the inadequate durability of such screw connections which frequently occurs, it is a disadvantage that the head of the screw is visible on the service side, is of unaesthetic appearance and, moreover, presents difficulties in cleaning. It is also known to provide the handle with bosses which pass through bore-holes in the shell of the tub and are heid by securing bolts on the nonvisible underside. It has bèen shown to be disadvantageous in the case of these embodiments that the handle elements have to be attached before the bath tub is installed whereby subsequent removal or alteration of the handles is no longer possible.In addition, it has been shown that handles of this kind, particularly on bath tubs of synthetic plastics material, become loose after extended periods of use as a result, for example, of creep in the plastics material. Retightening of the means of securing the handle from outside of the tub, is, however, no longer possible so that either a loose handle has to be tolerated or the entire bath tub has to be dismantled.

According to the present invention there is provided a combination of a member and means for securing it to one side of a sheet-like member, comprising a bolt, with a head portion and a threaded portion, adapted to be inserted in use of the combination through a bore in the sheet-like member from the other side of the sheet-like member with the head portion arranged on the other side of the sheet-like member, and adapted to be secured to the sheet-like member by a first nut screwed onto the threaded portion from the one side of the sheet-like member, the member being attachable to the threaded portion of the bolt or to the first nut in a separable manner.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a handle with a part of a bath tub, of synthetic plastics material, which is partially cut away; Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a part of the handle and bath tub of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows another handle with a part of a bath tub, of plastics material, which is partly cut away; Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through a part of the handle and bath tub of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a part of yet another handle together with a part of a bath tub.

For the sake of simplicity, the same reference numerals have been used to designate the same or corresponding elements in the various embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a handle 1, which is to be secured at two points to a bath tub shell 3. A cylindrical socket pin 7 is formed at the end regions of the handle 1, on the generated surface of each a respective spring ring 8 is arranged in a recess. The cylindrical end 10 of a respective nut 9 is slipped over each socket pin 7 whereby the spring ring 8 engages in the inside surface of the nut 9 and connects the socket pin 7 to the nut 9 in a manner which is axially secure but allows rotational movement. A bolt 2 with a washer 6 or a spring ring, toothed washer, etc., is inserted from below the bath tub 3 into a bore-hole 31 so that the threaded section 5 projects outwards from the bath tub. A nut 4, which is relatively flat in shape, is screwed from the outside onto the bolt, and against the shell of the tub 3, to firmly secure the bolt 2 in the shell of the tub 3.A seal or washer 6' can be inserted to protect the bore-hole 31.

The handle 1 can be screwed onto the threaded section of the thus secured bolt 2 by means of the nut 9 and securely held. The nut 9 is, for this reason, fitted with a female thread in its middle region to match the threaded section 5 and, to cover and hold the socket pin 7 and the nut 4, bears a cylindrical end 10 projecting in collar-like manner with key faces 1 9 (Fig. 1) formed into the exterior thereof. To guarantee connection between the socket pin 7 and the nut 9 without play a plate spring 11 can be provided between the adjacent end faces of the socket pin 7 and the nut 9.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a handle 1 a, formed from a tube bent into U-shape, is provided with a shoulder such as 1 7 shown at its end 14, on which shoulders there is a respective lock nut 1 6. A bolt 2, with washers 6, is fixed to the shell of tub 3, by means of a nut 12. In the main, the nut 12 is symmetrical about its longitudinal axis and has a male thread 23 at its end adjacent the shell of the tub 3. A portion 1 8 of reduced diameter adjoins the threaded section, and key faces 20 are provided in the area projecting furthermost from the bath tub 3 to allow access for tightening tool. The diameter of the cylindrical portion 1 8 corresponds to the inside diameter of the end section 14 so that secure holding is ensured after installation.

The installation procedure is as follows: Firstly, if neo appropriate bore-holes 31 have been provided in the shell of the bath tub, these are drilled and the bolts 2, for which normal standard machine bolts can be used, are fixed to the bath tub by means of the nut 12 with washers 6 inserted. In so doing, the normal working aids for tightening can be used at the key faces 20. After alignment and fixing of the nuts 12, the handle 1a bent into U-shape is positioned with its end section 14 over the portion 1 8 and securely held by means of the two locknuts 16.

Fig. 5 shows a means of securing which is slightly different from the embodiment described in the above with respect to Figs. 3 and 4.

Consequently, only those parts which are different in form will be described in the following. The handle can, for example, in this case also be made of a section of tube bent into U-form. Each end section 15 this time has no shoulders 17 but is merely provided with a smooth male thread 23. A nut 13 is provided with a generated surface which is cylindrical in the main, key faces 21 being formed onto the region projecting from the bath tub 3. The outside diameter of one portion of the nut 13 here corresponds to the inside diameter of the tubular end section 1 5. A collar 22 is formed on the generated surface of the nut 13 to provide a supporting shoulder for the locknut 1 6 and the end face of the end section 1 5.

On installation, the locknut 16 is slipped over the bolt 2 before the nut 13 and comes to rest on the collar 22. The nut 13 and the bolt 2 can now be tightened onto the shell of the tub 3 using the key faces 21 and fixed into position. The lock nut 1 6 is so dimensioned that it can be turned slightly with slight pláy between the collar 22 and the washer 6. The handle is now passed over the cylindrical part of the nut 13 which is projecting and is tightened to the collar 22 by means of the locknut 16.

The present invention provides a handle which can be securely fastened to the shell of the tub and the connecting arrangement of which allows retightening from the outside of the tub and also permits subsequent replacement of the entire handle of a bath tub which has been completely installed previously.

The handles can be produced by simple means which meets the particular hygienic and aesthetic demands entailed by the sanitary engineering sector in addition to being securely fastened to the bath tubs.

Whilst the invention has been described with respect to bath tub handles, it is equally applicable to the securement of other members to one side of sheet-like members.

Claims (9)

1. The combination of a member and means for securing it to one side of a sheet-like member, comprising a bolt, with a head portion and a threaded portion, adapted to be inserted in use of the combination through a bore in the sheet-like member from the other side of the sheet-like member with the head portion arranged on the other side of the sheet-like member, and adapted to be secured to the sheet-like member by a first nut screwed onto the threaded portion from the one side of the sheet-like member, the member being attachable to the threaded portion of the bolt or to the first nut in a separable manner.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member is a handle and the sheet-like member comprises a bath tub or the like having a synthetic plastics material shell.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein a cylindrical socket pin is formed at the end of the handle, there being a spring ring arranged in a groove in the outside surface of the socket pin by means of which a further nut is axially secured but rotatably movable relative to the socket pin, the further nut having a thread matching that of the bolt, an external cylindrical surface of the further nut being adapted to enclose the first nut and cover the entire transition from the bath shell to the handle.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plate spring is provided between axially adjacent faces of the socket pin and the further nut to connect them without play.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first nut is adapted to extend into a hollow portion at an end of the handle, and the handle end is connectible to the first nut by a lock nut, which engages the first nut and the handle end.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein the handle end is tubular with a radiallyoutward extending shoulder adapted to engage the lock nut, and wherein the first nut has a cylindrical pin portion with key faces on a part thereof and is also provided with an extemalthread for engagement with the lock nut, which key faces facilitate screwing of the first nut onto the bolt.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein the handle end is tubular in form and has an external thread for engagement with lock nut, and wherein the first nut has an external surface comprising a stepped cylinder presenting a collar as a supporting shoulder for the locknut and accommodating the handle end key surfaces being provided on the first nut to facilitate screwing of the first nut onto the bolt.

8. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the handle is substantially U-shaped and adapted to be secured to the bath tub at each of its ends via respective bolts.

9. A handle for a bath tub or the like in combination with means for securing it to the bath tub, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4, or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.

1 0. A handle and means for securing the handle to a bath tub or the like, as claimed in combination in any one of claims 2 to 9, when made and sold separately.

1 A bath tub with a combination according to any preceding claim secured thereto.