GB2338770A - Connecting device for parallel posts - Google Patents

Abstract

Two clamp members 12, 13 each have two spaced recess formations, for engagement with respective post elements 10, 11 which are to be connected, and a channel section portion 16 extending between said recess formations. The channel section portions 16 face outwardly from one another with base portions 17 lying adjacent one another, said clamp members 12, 13 being held together by at least one fastener cooperating with said base portions 17. The clamp members can be of sheet metal or plastics material (Fig. 2).

Description

1 2338770 PATENTS ACT 1977 GMD/A9472GB Title: CONNECTING DEVICE

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a connecting device, for establishing a connection between two elongate members disposed alongside one another.

The invention has been devised for use in the erection of temporary fencing such as commonly is used to prevent public access to sites or areas such as building sites. Such access might be required to be prevented if the site is hazardous, or needs itself to be protected. One well known form of such fencing comprises the required number of individual fence panels. Each panel has a peripheral generally rectangular frame of tubular metal and a number of upright pales within the frame, the frame engaging with base members at each end to hold it in a more or less upright orientation. So that the fence as a whole resists displacement and toppling under loads which may, be imposed in use, adjacent panels are connected to one another by connecting devices which Join their adjacent upwardly extending peripheral frame members.

The most usual form of connecting device comprises two clamping members each of which is of elongate form having at each end a transversely, C> extending recess formation. The two clamp members are placed with the recess formations of one member facing the recess formations of the other member and with the fi-ame members of the fence panels therebetween. A fastener usually a bolt havino, a nut engaged therewith holds the two clamp members tocether between the frame members, extending through apertures in the t'A,.o clamp members and being tightened to provide a degree of rigidity in the 171 connection. The design of the connecting device is such that a degree of misalignment between the frame members It is connecting is possible.

1 1 2 Generally the frame members which are connected are circular in their external cross-sectional shape, so the recess formations in each clamp member are part-circular in cross-section of the recess formation (i.e. in lengthwise section of the clamp member as a whole). Between the recess formations, the transverse cross-sectional shape of the clamp member is also part-circular to give it rigidity and resist deformation when the clamping fastener is tightened, and hitherto the channels afforded by such part-circular cross-sectional shaped portions have faced one another, with the bases of the channels furthest away from one another and more or less level with the outermost pails of the recess formations which engage the frame members. The result is that the clamp members, which usually are metal pressings, have to be of fairly thick metal to give them sufficient rigidity and thus are heavy and relatively expensive. Further, the bolt which joins the clamp members together and on which a nut is tightened in use, has to be relatively long, also making it heavy and relatively expensive.

It is broadly the object of the present invention to provide a connectincr device usable as above described but,,herein these disadvanta, es are overcome ZD orreduced.

According to one aspect of the invention, we provide a connectino device, comprising two clamp members each having two spaced recess C formations for en agement with respective post elements which are to be 9 c connected and a channel section portion extending between said recess formations wherein, when in use with said recess formations of one clamp member facing those of the other clamp member for holding post elements c therebetween, said channel section portions face outwardly fl-om one another with base portions lying adjacent one another, said clamp members being held together by at least one fastener cooperating with said base portions.

In a connecting device in accordance with the invention, the fact that the base portions of the channel section pails of the two clamp members lie 3 adjacent one another has the result that a fastener such as a bolt extending through apertures therein and having a nut tightened thereon to urge the clamp members together can be relatively short. Thus the cost and weight of the bolt are kept as low as possible.

Further the provision of a relatively deep channel section such that base portions of the channel sections of the two clamp members approach one another very closely or even make contact when the fastener is tightened in use, gives the clamping member adequate rigidity whilst enabling it to be of light weight.

The clamp members may be metal pressings, in which case it is possible for them to be pressed out of thinner metal (e.g. steel) than is the case with connectina devices known hitherto. Alternatively. it would be possible for the clamp members to be made of a plastics material.

Preferably the recess formations of each clamp member are bounded by flange portions enabling the recess formations to have sufficient rigidity despite being thin metal pressings or of plastics material.

In the case of clamp members made of plastics material further reinforcing and/or stiffening formations, eg appropriately disposed ribs or like formations may be required to be provided.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which lo device in accordance FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a connectir g with the invention, in use.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of pail of a further embodiment of connecting device in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 33 is a perspective view of yet a further embodiment of clamping device in accordance with the inventioll.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the connecting device there i'llusti 1 -ated is used to provide a connection between the two tubular post 1 1 4 elements 10, 11 which lie adjacent and more or less parallel to one another. The connecting device comprises two clamp members 12, 13 which are identical to one another and therefore the following descniption will be directed primarily towards the clamp member 12.

The clamp member 12 is a pressing of sheet metal eg steel and comprises two spaced portions 14, 15 which define respective part-cylindnical recess formations facing the post elements 10, 11. The cross sectional shape of the recess formations as defined is such as to have engagement over a reasonable area of contact with the post elements, while being able to accommodate some deviation from the exactly-parallel alignment thereof in which they are shown in Figure 1. Between the portions 14, 15 there is a portion 16 which in transverse cross section of the clamp member is channel shaped with a base 17 and side walls 18, 19 upstanding fl-om the base. The side wall 18 continues into flange portions 20, 21 at the portions 14, 15 respectively, and similarly the side wall 19 of the channel section pail 16 extends to flange portions 22, 23) at the boundaries of the portions 14, 15 in the direction circumferentially of the tubular post elements 10, 11.

The two clamp members 12, 13 are placed together so that the recess formations defined by their portions as 14, 15 face one another to hold the post elements 10, 11 therebetween. In this state, the channel sections defined by the portions as 17 of the clamp members face away fl- om one another Le. the base pails 17 of such channel section portions lie adjacent to one another. As illustrated the base portions of the two clanip members make contact with one another, but it would be appreciated that if the post elements 10, 11 were not in exact alignment with one another then the base portions would approach one another closely but not make contact. The two clamp members are held together by a fastener passing through an aperture 25 in the base portions. As i'llusti 1 -ated th's aperture is of square cross sectional shape, so that a bolt with a square sliank ponion beneath its head can engage therewith in such a manner as Z3 1 to be prevented from rotating, rendering it easy to urge the clamp members together to hold post elements therebetween by tightening a nut engaged with the ftee end of the bolt, without requiring the use of an additional spanner to hold the head of the bolt against rotation.

Because the base portion 17 of the channel section portions of the clamp members lie close to one another, a bolt extending therethrough as above described can be relatively short, and thus light in weight and inexpensive. The clamp members may be of relatively thin metal sheet, eg 2 mm as compared with 4 mm as is usual for connecting devices as hitherto known. The arrangement of the channel section portions and flange formations of the clamp members renders them adequately rigid.

As illustrated, the clamp members have relatively sharply curved ed-es where the side walls and flange portions thereof meet the base portions 17 and portions 14, 15. These edge regions could be more gently curved.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, this shows one clamp member for a coupling device, which clamp member may be an injection moulding of a plastics material. Like each of the clamp members shown in Figure 1, it comprises two spaced portions 34, 35 which define spaced parallel CI part cylindrical recesses 32, 333 respectively. Between the portions 34, 35 there is a channel section portion indicated generally, at 36 which includes a base pail 37 and side walls 38, 39. The side walls 38, 39 extend into flanges 40, 41, 42. 43 at the edoes of the portions 34, 35.

The clamp member shown in Figure 2 differs fl-om that of Figure 1 in that an aperture 45 for receiving a bolt by which the clamp member is connected to another similar clamp member is defined in a boss formed at the 1. unction of longitudinal reinforcing ribs 46, 47 which respectively extend to embrace the portion 34, 35 and transverse reinforcing ribs 48, 49 which respectively extend to the side walls 38, 39. By virtue of the provision of such 1 6 reinforcing ribs, a clamp member made of plastics material has sufficient strength and rigidity to function satisfactorily.

Referring finally now to Figure 3 of the drawings, this shows a connecting device comprising two clamp members 50, 51 each of which is injection moulded from a plastics material and is a solid block of such material defining spaced parallel part-cylindrical recess formations for receiving post elements therebetween. For securing the two clamp members together to the post elements therebetween, a bolt having a nut engaged therewith may be used, and such a bolt may have its head embedded in one of the clamp members as indicated at 52. If this is done, the bolt is prevented from rotating and may be shorter in length than if its head simply rested against the external surface of the clamp member. Such embedding of a bolt in one of the clamp members may be performed in the course of an injection moulding operation by which the clamp member is made.

The features disclosed in the foregoin- description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaininc the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately,' or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

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Claims (8)

1. A connecting device, comprising two clamp members each having two spaced recess formations, for engagement with respective post elements which are to be connected, and a channel section portion extending between said recess formations; wherein, when in use with said recess formations of one clamp member facing those of the other clamp member for holding post elements therebetween, said channel section portions face outwardly from one another with base portions lying adjacent one another, said clamp members being held together by at least one fastener cooperating with said base portions.

2. A connecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamp members are metal pressings.

3. A connecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamp members are made of a plastics materiaL

4. A connecting device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the recess formations of each clamp member are bounded by flange portions.

5. A connecting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the clamp members include reinforcing formations.

6. A connecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reinforcing formations are ribs.

7. A connecting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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8. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawing.