GB2049859A

GB2049859A - A fixing device

Info

Publication number: GB2049859A
Application number: GB8014984A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Upat GmbH and Co; Upat Max Langensiepen KG
Current assignee: Upat GmbH and Co; Upat Max Langensiepen KG
Priority date: 1979-05-07
Filing date: 1980-05-06
Publication date: 1980-12-31
Also published as: IT8021731V0; FR2456249A1

Abstract

A fixing device (1) for fixing plates (7) of lightweight construction to a base material (14) comprises a shank portion (3) for penetrating through or between the plates (7) into a bore (9) in the base material (14) and a head portion (4) for engaging over the outside of the plates (7), the shank portion (3) comprising a sleeve (6) fixed to the head portion (4) and having anchoring profiles (10) over at least part of its axial length and a serrated rod (5) insertable into the sleeve (6). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A fixing device The invention relates to a fixing device for plates of lightweight construction, insulating plates or like plates comprising an anchoring element for insertion into a bore in, for example, a fairly hard base material, the anchoring element including a shank portion for penetration through or between the plates and a head portion for engaging over the outside of the plates, the shank portion comprising a sleeve fixed to the head portion and a rod insertable into the sleeve.

Such fixing devices for plate-shaped insulating materials are already known. They are telescopic in the region of their anchoring shank which is designed to be matched to the thickness of the plates to be fixed so that when inserting the fixing device into the bore, the length of the fixing device can be matched to that of the bore by relative sliding motion between the sleeve and the rod.

These fixing devices have proved to be very successful. In practice, however, it has become apparent that in some applications, particularly when the bore depths and/or plate thicknesses are small, these fixing devices do not provide sufficient adjustability.

The invention seeks to create a fixing device of the type mentioned at the outset which is not only adjustable in length by means of telescopic retraction but also makes it possible to fix comparatively thin plates and/or makes fixing possible even with small bore depths and/or plate thicknesses. In addition it is desirable that the fixing device be implemented easily and the sleeve device be easily drivable into a bore while its resistance to removal is high.

According to the invention, there is provided a fixing device for plates of lightweight construction onto a base material comprising an anchoring element including a shank portion for penetrating through or between the plates into a bore in the base material and a head portion for engaging over the outside of the plates, the shank portion comprising a sleeve fixed to the head portion and a rod insertable into the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has external anchoring profiles over at least part of its axial length.

In the case of insulating plates etc. which are to be fixed and which have a small thickness, the sleeve which engages the bore may contribute to the anchoring process with its anchoring profiles so that there is an overall improvement in the fixing action in the bore.

The sleeve and the rod may be separated from each other by means, for example, of a predetermined breaking point or weakening preferably on the rod. The fixing device may if necessary be shortened by removing the rod and the anchoring member connected therewith so that instead of telescopic retraction taking place, it is possible to shorten the device still further to the length of the head portion and sleeve. Thus the use of the fixing device is possible even with very small insertion or bore depths. The anchoring profiles may be provided at least in the region of the insertion end of the sleeve and extend preferably over half the length of the sleeve. This construction is sufficient for many applications.

However there is also the possibility of forming the anchoring profiles approximately over the entire length of the sleeve. Thus a fixing device can be obtained which effectively covers a whole range of applications under very different fixing conditions.

Thus there is a very wide tolerance for the thickness of the insulating plates to be fixed and at the same time also for the bore depth. All of these practical applications may be encompassed by a single fixing device by simple adjustment thereof.

The anchoring profiles may be formed by projections extending radially, at least in sections, the profiles preferably having ribs spaced axially from each other. They may suitable encircle the sleeve. Besides the simple manufacture of this type of anchoring profile, the profile also provides good fixing in a bore.

If necessary, the radial height of the ribs of the anchoring profiles may correspond approximately to the clear axial spacing between the ribs. When driving the sleeve into a bore in a fairly hard base material, such as concrete, for example, the ribs may be tilted slightly opposite to the direction in which they were driven in, so that the force required for driving in the device does not become too great while, in their slightly tilted position they abut the walls of the bore like barbs and thus the resistance to removal of the fixing device is especially high.

The axial depth of the ribs etc. which may be matched, if necessary, to the material into which the ribs engage when in their fixing position may be approximately 0.2 to 1 mm, preferably approximately 0.6mm. With a slightly softer base material, the lamelliform ribs may be slightly thinner so that they are able to tilt slightly oppositely of the direction in which they are driven into this base material and then engage into the walls of the bore like barbs.

It is particularly advantageous if the lamelliform ribs of the anchoring profiles of the sleeve taper radially outwards. This means that particularly low forces are required to drive the fixing device in, while the resistance to removal is high because the resilience of the ribs is increased by the outward decrease in their thickness. Particularly high resistance to removal may be achieved if the lamelliform ribs have a non-symmetrical profile with an upper side extending radially and a lower side extending in an inclined manner in the direction of insertion.

Possible irregularities in the walls of the bore may be compensated for by providing the lamelliform ribs with radially orientated gaps at their periphery, these gaps preferably being relatively evenly distributed around the periphery of the ribs. Insertion of the sleeve may be made easier by tapering the sleeve at its front end pointing in the direction of insertion.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a fixing device in accordance with the invention with the largest possible axial length, Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a fixing device in a view similar to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows the insertion end of the sleeve of the fixing device in accordance with Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale in side view, Fig. 4 shows a side view of a fixing device according to Fig. 1 inserted into a bore and retaining an insulating plate etc., Fig. 5 shows a view corresponding approximately to Fig. 4 of a fixing device which has been greatly telescoped and which is designed to fix a relatively thin insulating plate, Fig. 6 shows a side view of a fixing device according to Fig. 1 which is inserted into a wall having cavities in order to fix an insulating plate, and Fig. 7 shows the sleeve of the fixing device according to Fig. 2 for fixing a particularly thin plate-shaped insulating material to a fairly hard base material in a representation in accordance with Figs. 4 and 5.

A fixing device shown in Fig. 1 and designated 1 as a whole, serves chiefly to fix plates of lightweight construction insulating plates etc. to ceilings and walls comprising brickwork, concrete and other solid wall materials or base materials.

The shank region fixing device 1 may be telescoped in order to match different plate thicknesses or different bore depths. The fixing device 1 essentially has an anchoring member 2 which may be inserted into a bore, an anchor shank in two parts and designated 3 as a whole, and a retaining head 4. The anchoring shank 3 is formed by a rod 5 carrying the anchoring member 2 and a sleeve 6 connected to the retaining head 4.

The rod 5 may be inserted into the sleeve 6 without applying especially large force. However, it is fixed in the direction of removal by a sawtooth-like profiling 16 and corresponding profiles (not shown) are provided in the internal cavity of the sleeve 6. The rod 5 is of the same length as or shorter than the axial length of the sleeve 6 so that it may be inserted completely into the sleeve 6 and does not then project outwardly therefrom. When hammering in the fixing device with the aid of a driver or hammer, the fixing device is compressed telescopically with the rod 5 sliding into the sleeve 6, the rod 5 being prevented from being withdrawn because of the profiles 1 6 and the cooperating internal profiles of the sleeve.

It is desirable to telescope the fixing device 1 in order to reduce its total length if the bore and the thickness of the plates 8 which are to be mounted are together less than the largest overall length of the fixing device 1, as shown for example in Fig. 5.

This telescopic retraction takes place during fixing, the anchoring member 2 abutting the base of the bore 9, and the rod 5 being inserted into the sleeve 6 until the retaining head 4 rests against the exterior surface 7 of the plates 8. Because of this adjustment of the length of the fixing device 1 which occurs when driving in the fixing device, it can be ensured that at least the anchoring member 2 comes to rest completely inside the bore 9.

The sleeve 6 and the rod 5 may be separated from each other in order that the fixing device 1 may be still further shortened in a simple manner.

Thus the fixing device can be shortened to a greater degree than the shortening facility due to telescopic retraction, i.e. by the axial length of the anchoring member 2. In preferred manner, a breaking point or weakening 12 is provided on the rod 5, the rod 5 being able, if necessary, to be broken off at this point. The breaking point 12 is formed in this case by a waist 1 7 encircling the rdd 5 (Fig. 1).

With plates 8 having a comparatively small thickness (Figures 5 and 7) a part of the sleeve 6 penetrates into the bore 9. In this case, the part of the sleeve projecting into the bore 9 may also be used for anchoring. The sleeve 6 has anchoring profiles 10 at least over a part of its axial length for this purpose. In Fig. 1 it may be seen that these anchoring profiles 10 are provided in the region of the insertion end 11 of the sleeve 6 and extend for example approximately over half of the length of the sleeve 6. Thus comparatively thin plates 8 may be fixed solely with the aid of the sleeve 6 as shown in Fig. 7.

If necessary or desired, the anchoring profiles 10 may also extend approximately over the entire length of the sleeve 6. Thus a further area of use is provided, especially with regard to the thickness of the plates. In fact, with a sleeve 6 profiled in this way, it is possible to fix even very thin plates 8 when the bore depth is also small.

The anchoring profiles 1 - of the sleeve 6 are formed by radially projecting lamelliform ribs 13 which are offset axially with respect to each other in the embodiment of the fixing device 1 shown in Fig. 1. The radial height h is preferably approximately 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The clear axial spacing b of the ribs 13 from each other is also approximately 0.5 mm to 2 mm. The radial height h may thus correspond to approximately the clear axial spacing b of the ribs 13 from each other. As a result, the lamelliform ribs 13 are still able to deflect sufficiently contrary to the direction in which they are driven in, in the case of a narrow bore located for example in a wall, even with a hard wall material. The ribs curve into the adjacent intermediate space.

The axial thickness d of the ribs 13 may be approximately 0.2 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.6 mm. This thickness may be envisaged, if necessary as being matched to the material of the wall, the give in the lamelliform ribs preferably being reduced as the material becomes harder.

Thus even withy fairly soft wall material, the bore is prevented from being scratched away by the foremost ribs 1 3 at the insertion end as would be the case with rigid ribs 1 3 which do not have any give, with this wearing away the ribs 13 which are farther towards the edge of the bore wouid not have any or at least little grip. On the other hand, when the ribs 1 3 have been slightly tilted laterally, they match the bore by tilting slightly contrary to the direction of insertion and then engage into the wall of the bore like barbs when there is any loading on the fixing device 1 in a direction tending to remove it. Fixing can take place over the whole of or at least a large part of, the anchoring profiles 10.

In practice it has proved that the diameter of the bore 9 is preferably approximately 1 mm smaller, for safe fixing on the one hand and easier driving in of the fixing device 1 on the other hand, than the outer diameter D of the lamelliform ribs 13.

In Fig. 2 a further embodiment of a fixing device 1 in accordance with the invention is shown. It also has an anchor shank 3 which is in two parts comprising a sleeve 6 and a serrated rod 5 which may be driven into the sleeve 6 telescopically and may engage into corresponding counter profiles on the inside of the sleeve 6, in order to prevent its removal. This fixing device may also be adjusted by the fact that the two parts of the anchor shank 3 slide together telescopically for different thicknesses of plate. The insulating plates 8 to be fixed are thus pressed against their support with the aid of the retaining head 4 arranged on the front end of the sleeve 6.Thus the fixing device 1 can grip the base material, for example of a wall or ceiling with the aid of the anchoring profiles 10 at the insertion end of the sleeve 6 and with the aid of the anchoring member 2 at the insertion end of the rod 5.

The two-part anchor shank 3 of the fixing device according to Fig. 2, comprising the sleeve 6 and the rod 5 is constructed as is the embodiment described in conjunction with Fig. 1 so that the sleeve 6 may be separated from the rod 5 if, because of the thickness of the insulating plates 8 and/or the depth of the bore 9 in the base material, the length of the fixing device 1 with. the rod 5 inserted into the sleeve 6 is too large.

As may be seen from Fig. 2, the anchoring profiles 10 comprises lamelliform ribs 1 3a which have gaps 24 at their periphery. These gaps are peripherally orientated over the anchoring profiles 10 and can be evenly distributed over the periphery in preferred manner. These gaps 24 provide the ribs 1 3a with increased resilience and adjustability as compared to the fixing device 1 according to the first embodiment, while it also makes it easier to drive the fixing device 1 into a bore 9. In addition, the ribs 1 3a which are interrupted by gaps 24 may be particularly well matched to the irregularities of the walls of the bore.

In order to improve the adjustability of the lamelliform ribs 1 3a and increase the resistance to removal, it is advantageous if the ribs 1 3a have the non-symmetrical profile which can be seen more clearly in Fig. 3. In Fig. 3 it can be seen that lamelliform ribs 1 3a taper radially outwards. Thus with a thickness which is the same as in the first embodiment their resilience is increased as compared to the ribs 13. In order to enable very small forces to be used when inserting the device but to achieve high resistance to removal, the upper sides 25 of the ribs 1 3a extend radially while the lower sides 22 are formed with a portion inclined inthe direction of insertion.

In order to make it easier to insert the separated sleeve 6 into the bore 9 the sleeve 6 has a frusto conical end 23 which tapers in the direction of insertion as may be seen in Fig. 3.

Depending on the minimum thickness of the insulating plates to be fixed, the anchoring profiles 10 extend with their ribs 1 3a close to the retaining head 4. Obviously it is also possible to arrange for the gaps 24 not to be in alignment but to be offset.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show how the fixing devices in accordance with the invention may be used. In the view according to Fig. 4 the rod 5 has already been inserted slightly into the sleeve 6 so that the entire length of the fixing device 1 is reduced as compared to the original length shown in Fig. 1. The retaining head 4 abuts the outer sides 7 of the plates 8. The reverse sides of the plates 8 abut a surface layer 1 5 on a wall 14, bores 9 being provided in this wall 14 for the purpose of accommodating the anchoring members 2.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the fixing device 1 is reduced telescopically to its minimum length. The anchoring profiles 10 of the sleeve 6 engage in the surface layer 1 5 on the wall 14 and serve to fix the plates 8 as well as the anchoring member 2.

Fig. 6 shows another fixing device 1 which is inserted into a wall 18 having cavities 19. The rod 5 of the anchoring member 3 has been inserted into the sleeve 6 in the region 20 as a result of the friction of the anchoring member 2 on the walls of the bore. The sleeve 6 provided with the anchoring profiles 10 contributes, in the case, to safe anchoring of the fixing device 1 in the bore 9.

In Fig. 7 a sleeve 6 of a fixing device 1 is shown according to the second embodiment. The sleeve 6 has been separated from the rod 5 shown in Fig.

2. The anchoring profiles 10 at the insertion end of the sleeve 6 are located in a bore 9 (in Fig. 7) the diameter of which bore is selected so that the anchoring profiles 10 ensure a safe grip. The retaining head 4 thus abuts the outside surface 7 of the insulating plates 8 which are to be fixed to the base 28. It is ensured that the resistance to removal is high because of the special formation of the ribs 1 3a while the forces required for insertion are kept small.

Claims

1. A fixing device for plates of lightweight construction onto a base material comprising an anchoring element including a shank portion for penetrating through or between the plates into a bore in the base material and a head portion for engaging over the outside of the plates, the shank portion comprising a sleeve fixed to the head portion and a rod insertable into the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has external anchoring profiles over at least part of its axial length.

2. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve and the pin may be separated from each other.

3. A fixing device according to claim 2, wherein the separation is achieved through the provision of a predetermined weakening in the form of a waist or the like.

4. A fixing device according to claim 3, wherein the weakening is formed on the rod.

5. A fixing device according to any dne of claims 1 to 4, wherein the anchoring profiles are formed by projections, projecting radially, the profiles having lamelliform ribs which are axially spaced with respect to each other.

6. A fixing device according to claim 5, wherein the ribs are annular.

7. A fixing device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein at least some of the lamelliform ribs of the anchoring profiles of the sleeve taper radially outwards.

8. A fixing device according to claim 7, wherein the lamelliform ribs have a non-symmetrical profile with a radailly side facing the head portion, the other side being inclined obliquely in the direction away from the head portion.

9. A fixing device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the lamelliform ribs have peripherally oriented gaps at their periphery.

10. A fixing device according to claim 9, wherein the gaps are approximately uniformly distributed around the periphery of the ribs.

1 A fixing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve tapers conically at its front end which points away from the head portion.

12. A fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the anchoring profiles are provided at least in the region of the end of the sleeve away from the head portion.

13. A fixing device according to claim 12, wherein the anchoring profiles extend approximately over half the length of the sleeve.

14. A fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the anchoring profiles extend approximately over the entire length of the sleeve.

1 5. A fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the anchoring profiles comprise ribs and the radial height of the ribs corresponds approximately to the clear axial spacing of the ribs from each other.

16. A fixing device according to claim 15, wherein the radial height of the ribs and their axial spacing is approximately 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

17. A fixing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anchoring profiles comprise ribs and the axial thickness of the ribs are approximately 0.2 mm to 1 mm, for matching to the material into which it engages when in the fixing position.

1 8. A fixing device according to claim 1 7, wherein the axial thickness of the ribs is approximately 0.6 mm.

1 9. A fixing device for plates of lightweight construction substantially as described herein witP reference to the drawings.