GB2167708A - A holding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed an apparatus for maintaining a plurality of elongate elements in a fixable, variable predetermined disposition, comprising: two or more pairs of spaced-apart, elongate members (2,2,3,3), each member having provision for supporting an elongate element, and each pair of members being in angular relation to the or each other pair of members; and means for holding the two or more pairs of members in relation to a single plane; wherein, in respect of each pair of members, there is provision for carrying and releasably fixing the spacing between the members of such a pair, and wherein the provisions for supporting the elongate elements are such that the elongate elements, when present, lie in the single plane. The apparatus is used to support and mark out elements in the framework of a fitted wardrobe. A contour of a part of a room is attached to a support 15 and a mechanism transfers the recorded shape to the elements. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A holding apparatus This invention relates to an apparatus for maintaining a plurality of elongate elements in a fixable, variable predetermined disposition and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with an apparatus with the aid of which the peripheral portion of a fitted wardrobe may be constructed in a manufacturer's workshop.

Our co-pending British patent Application no.

8414191 relates to an arm structure, more particularly to equipment for recording the contour of a surface, hereinafter referred to as "surface-contourrecording equipment". The surface contour recording equipment permits a cross-sectional shape of a room to be recorded, for example in the form of a groove cut in a wooden board. The groove provides a permanent record of the contour of the particular cross-section and contains all the information relating to features and irregularities in the cross-section.

It is then necessary for the record to be decoded so that, for instance, the frame of a wardrobe may be constructed to fit the shape of the cross-section of the room of which the contour has been recorded.

A need therefore exists for an apparatus to hold a plurality of planks or like elongate elements in a suitable disposition while the record is decoded, so that the elongate elements can then be cut to fit the contours of the room.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for maintaining a plurality of elongate elements in a fixable, variable predetermined disposition, comprising: two or more pairs of spaced-apart, elongate members, each member having provision for supporting an elongate element, and each pair of members being in inclined relation to the or each other pair of members; and means for holding the two or more pairs of members in relation to a single plane; wherein, in respect of each pair of members, there is provision for varying and releasably fixing the spacing between the members of such a pair, and wherein the provisions for supporting the elongate elements are such that the elongate elements, when present, lie in the single plane.

When the apparatus is being used to construct a fitted wardrobe for a room having walls which are generally parallel and a ceiling and floor which are generally parallel, the elongate members (and hence the elongate elements) in a pair will be generally parallel. Nevertheless, it is to be appreciated that not all rooms are regularly shaped and, for this reason, each elongate member of a pair of elongate members can lie at any angle in relation to the other elongate member of the same pair. In the case where the room is of rectangular crosssection, the spaced-apart elongate members of each pair will be generally parallel.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two or more pairs of elongate members consist of a first pair and a second pair of elongate members. In this preferred embodiment, the first pair of elongate members is substantially perpendicular to the second pair of elongate members.

Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, there are four elongate members, each member having provision for supporting an elongate element.

Preferably, for each elongate member, the provision for supporting the elongate element includes an elongate channel-defining portion. The channel of the channel-defining portion may be of a fixed cross-section or of a variable cross-section. In use of the apparatus, each channel will support one or more elongate element such that the elongate elements lie in the single plane.

Conveniently, the channel of the elongate channel-defining portion of each member of each pair faces the channel provided on the other member of such a pair. In such an arrangement, the elongate elements, when present, extend towards each other.

In a presently preferred arrangement, the said single plane is a substantially vertical plane, although other angles are possible. In this arrangement, the first pair of elongate members is generally horizontally disposed in or parallel to the said vertical plane and the second pair of elongate members is generally vertically disposed in or parallel to the said vertical plane.

Preferably, in this presently preferred arrangement, one pair of elongate members is in a vertical plane which is parallel to the single plane of the elongate channel-defining portions, whereas the other pair is in the single plane. The elongate channel-defining portion may be secured to the elongate members or may itself be part of the elongate member.

The provision for varying the spacing between the members of a pair of elongate members may be one or more telescopic spacing means of variable length. In a presently preferred embodiment, the telescopic spacing means varies the spacing of the first pair of elongate members and the telescopic spacing means is a jack, for instance an AC ROWTM jack which has been adapted to reduce the tendency to flex laterally. The adaptation may comprise two sets of three nylon wheels, the wheels being mounted in the end region of the outer cylinder of the telescopic jack into which the inner cylinder of the jack fits. The nylon wheels are arranged with their axes of rotation perpendicular to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the jack, so that they press on the inner cylinder, whilst permitting the inner cylinder to move in and out of the outer cylinder.

The second pair of elongate members may be supported, directly or indirectly, by the first pair of elongate members and, in this case, the provision for varying the spacing of the second pair of elongate members is a sliding means permitting the second pair of elongate members to slide with respect to the first pair of elongate members.

Each member of the second pair of elongate members may be supported, and permitted to slide with respect to the first pair of elongate members, by the provision of a wheel provided on its upper region and permitted to run in a runner which is provided on the upper elongate member of the horizontal first pair of members. The elongate members of the second pair thus "hang" from the upper elongate member of the first pair.

In embodiments where the second pair of elongate members is supported by the first pair of elongate members, the second pair of elongate members may have provision to extend and contract as the spacing between the first pair of elongate members varies. The provision to expand and contract can conveniently be effected by fashioning each member of the second pair of elongate members from two, colinear, spaced-apart channel-defining sections, the two sections being connected by an elongate bar along which one or both of the two sections may slide. Clamps may be provided to secure the two spaced-apart channel-defining sections at particular positions on the bar.

As mentioned above, the apparatus of the present invention may be used in conjunction with surface-contour recording equipment as described in our co-pending British Patent Application No.

8414191. Such surface-contour recording equipment comprises: (a) a first support; (b) a second support; (c) an extendible and retractable arm mounted on the first support, which combination of extendible and retractable arm and first support is rotatably mountable on the second support; and (d) a recording means capable of recording, in analogue or digital form, the position of the distal end of the extendible and retractable arm as the first support and arm are rotated with respect to the second support.

The combination of the first support and extendible and retractable arm may be constituted by an arm structure which comprises: (a) a first support; (b) an extendible and retractable lazy arm which is mounted on and guided by the first support in a manner such that the lazy arm is free to extend and retract and such that the lazy arm as a whole is prevented from rotation with respect to the first support, there being provision for the combination of the first support and lazy arm to be rotatable about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the plane of the lazy arm and at an intermediate region thereof; (c) staying means, in or near the plane of the lazy arm and on opposite sides of the lazy arm, connected to the distal end region of the lazy arm, and diverging from that distal end region in a direction generally towards the axis of rotation; and (d) means for maintaining the staying means in tension, in order to minimise play within the lazy arm in the plane of the lazy arm.

When such use is contemplated, the apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a support for the surface-contour recording equipment whereby the surface-contour recording equipment, when in use, is supported such that it is permitted to rotate and extend in a further plane parallel to the single plane; the spacing of this further plane from the single plane may be variable.

This variability can be achieved by constructing the support for the surface-contour recording equipment from three separate components, namely: a first component on which the surface-contour recording equipment is mounted and at least one second component which secures the first component in relation to the apparatus. The first component is capable of movement with respect to the second component(s) and there may be provision for clamping the first component to the second component(s).

Preferably, the position of the support for the surface-contour recording equipment with respect to the position of the two or more pairs of the elongate members is variable so that the surfacecontour recording equipment may be moved within its own plane, in relation to the apparatus.

Such variation in the position of the support for the surface-contour recording equipment may, for example, be achieved by mounting the support for the surface-contour recording equipment on a wall or on the floor adjacent to the remainder of the apparatus. Alternatively, there may be provided an elongate support which is parallel to, and disposed between, the first pair of elongate members. This elongate support can provide an independent rigid support upon which the support for the surfacecontour recording equipment may be mounted.

The elongate support may serve other functions; thus, for instance, each elongate member of the second pair of elongate members may be slidably mounted, at an intermediate region thereof, on the elongate support. This provides further support for the elongate member in addition to the aforesaid wheel provided on its upper region which wheel is located in a runner secured to the upper elongate member of the horizontal pair of elongate members. Clamps may also be provided to releasably retain each elongate member of the second pair at a desired position in relation to the elongate support.

Although the two or more pairs of elongate elements are, when the apparatus is set up, releasably fixed with respect to each other, nevertheless, in embodiments having two pairs of elongate members, the lower elongate member of the horizontally disposed pair may be secured to the floor of a workshop, for example, by bolting. The jacks which can be used to support the upper elongate member of the horizontally disposed pair may also be secured to the floor and, in addition, may be secured to the wall of the workshop. This allows the elongate members to move with respect to each other whilst conferring substantial stability on the apparatus.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the section ll-ll in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating the section Ill-Ill of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows an elongate telescopic support suitable for use in the construction of a fitted wardrobe.

Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus 1 for maintaining a plurality of elongate elements (not shown) in a fixable, variable predetermined disposition. The apparatus 1 is constructed from a first pair of parallel, spaced-apart elongate members 2 and a second pair of parallel, spaced-apart elongate members 3. The second pair of elongate members 3 is perpendicular to the first pair of elongate members 2 and the apparatus 1 is in a substantially vertical plane perpendicular to a floor 30. The first pair of elongate members 2 consists of a lower elongate member 4 and an upper elongate member 5. Each of these members 4, 5 supports a respective elongate channel-defining portion 6, 7, each of the channel-defining portions 6, 7 being capable of supporting one or more elongate element such that the elongate elements, when present, lie in a single plane.

The second pair of elongate members 3 consists of a left hand member 8 and a right hand member 9. Each of these elongate members 8, 9 is integral with a channel-defining portion, each channel being capable of supporting one or more elongate element such that the elongate elements, when present, lie in the said single plane.

The spacing of the upper and lower elongate elements 4, 5 may be achieved by the provision of two telescopic jacks 10 which are bolted at their lower end region to the floor 30 of the workshop and also to the lower elongate element 4. The jacks 10 are also secured at their upper end region to the upper elongate element 5 so that the spacing of the upper and lower elongate members 4, 5 may be varied. The jack may be of the ACROWTM type which has been adapted by the addition of two sets of three wheels (not shown) on each jack.

The wheels are secured to the lower, outer cylinder of the jack, and bear on the inner cylinder of the jack such that longitudinal movement of the jack is permitted whilst any slack between the inner and outer cylinders of the jack is reduced or eliminated.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the second pair of elongate members 3 is supported by the upper elongate member 5 and, therefore, provision is necessary for allowing the length of each member 8, 9 of the second pair 3 to vary in length. Thus, each elongate member 8, 9 of the second pair 3 is split into two channel-defining sections 11, 12 connected by a bar 13. The bar 13 may be permanently fixed to the lower section 11 whilst being permitted to move in relation to the upper section 12. Clamps may be provided to secure the upper section 11 to the bar 13.

Each elongate member 8, 9 of the second pair is also slidably mounted with respect to an elongate support 14. This elongate support 14 may be secured to a rear wall of the workshop.

The illustrated arrangement thus provides an apparatus which can support one or more elongate elements on the elongate members 4, 5, 8, 9 such that each elongate element, when present, lies in the single plane.

The apparatus further comprises a support 15 for surface-contour recording equipment. The support 15 for the surface-contour recording equipment is slidably mounted on the elongate support 14 and the lower member 4 so that the support 15 for the surface-contour recording equipment may move in a direction parallel to the elongate support 14.

Holes 16 are provided in the support 15 in order that the surface-contour recording equipment may be directly mounted onto the support 15.

The support 15 is capable of moving between different planes generally parallel to the plane of the apparatus by the provision of four slides 17.

This capability permits the surface-contour recording equipment, when present, to be mounted in a plane which is exactly parallel to the single plane of the elongate elements which may be supported by the channels of the channel-defining elements 6, 7, 8, 9.

Figure 2 shows the detail of the section ll-ll of Figure 1. The jack 10 supports the upper elongate member 5, which, in turn, supports the elongate channel-defining portion 7. In order to ensure that the channel provided on the elongate member 9 of the second pair of elongate members 3 lies in exactly the same plane as the channel 7, a runner 18 is secured to the channel 7. A small roller 19 is provided to roll in the runner 18 and the roller 19 is attached to a limb 20 which is angled to support the elongate member 9 such that the channel of the elongate member 9 is in the same plane as the channel 7.

Figure 3 shows the detail of the section Ill-Ill of Figure 1. The lower elongate member 4 is secured to the floor 30 of the workshop and also to the lower end region of the jack 10. To the elongate member 4, there is attached a channel-defining portion 6 which is capable of supporting an elongate element. In the same plane as the channel 6, lies the channel of the elongate member 9 of the pair of elongate members 3. In order to maintain the channel of the elongate element 9 in the same plane as the channel 6, two legs 21 are attached to the bottom of the elongate member 9; these two legs 21 slide along the outside of the channel 6.

This arrangement allows the elongate member 9 to slide over an elongate element, when present, in the channel 6.

As mentioned above, the apparatus of the present invention may be used in the construction of wardrobes in combination with a surface-contour recording equipment as described in our co-pending British Patent Application No. 8414191. In such use, the second support of the surface-contour recording equipment is located on the support 15 for the surface-contour recording equipment of Figure 1. The combination of the extendible and retractable arm and first support is conveniently located on a spindle on the second support of the equipment. In its recording mode, the surface-contour recording equipment has a roller at its distal end, the roller tracing out the contour of a cross-section of, for example, a room.The position of the distal end of the surface-contour recording equipment in one embodiment of the device, is, recorded by cutting, with a router, a groove in a board which is mounted on the second support between the second support and the extendible and retractable arm. In its transcribing mode, the roller at the distal end of the surface-contour recording equipment is replaced by a marker, conveniently a propelling pencil, and the router is replaced by a follower which can follow the groove in the board. Thus, as the follower follows the groove, the distal end of the arm of the surface-contour recording equipment traces out the contour of the room exactly.

The apparatus of the present invention allows the contour to be traced out onto the elongate elements which will form the frame of a fitted wardrobe. The apparatus of the present invention allows one or more elongate elements, for example wooden boards, to be held securely in suitable positions while the surface-contour recording equipment traces out the contour of a room onto the elongate element, and it is thus apparent why the elongate elements must be held in a single plane if they are going to form the frame of a wardrobe.

Furthermore, the apparatus allows the entire facia of a wardrobe to be constructed at the manufacturer's workshop. For example, the strengthening struts which connect the facia together can be added in the correct positions; the holes which are to be used in mounting the wardrobe in the room to which it is being fitted can be drilled; and the shelves, additional parts of the facia and doors all may be added in the workshop.

When the construction in the workshop has been completed, the whole facia may be dismantled and the frame of the wardrobe, which is constituted by the elongate elements, may be cut to the exact shape which has been traced onto the elements by the surface-contour recording equipment. The separate parts of the wardrobe may then be transported, in their dismantled state, to their destination where construction of the wardrobe may be effected quickly and accurately.

A further device which has been devised to enable the elongate elements, or frame work of a wardrobe, to be assembled at its destination has also been invented. This device is an elongate telescopic support with provision at each remote end thereof to secure an elongate element, such that each elongate element is in a single plane. The elongate element may be, for example, a wooden board which is part of the frame of a wardrobe.

This device may also have provision for securing a spacing element perpendicular to the elongate telescopic support.

This device allows a wardrobe to be accurately and quickly assembled since the support will hold the two elongate elements, which are to abut the ceiling and floor of a room and which are to form the frame of a wardrobe at their correct relative positions in the room. The spacing element allows the telescopic support to be positioned at the correct distance from, for example, a wall of the room so that the frame of the wardrobe is assembled at the desired position of the room.

Figure 4 illustrates an elongate telescopic support 40 for supporting two elongate elements (not shown) in the correct relative positions for assembling the frame of, for instance, a wardrobe. One elongate element, in use of the support, is supported adjacent the ceiling 41 of a room, the other elongate element being supported adjacent the floor 42 of a room, it being understood that, in this instance the telescopic support 40 is vertical. The elongate telescopic support 40 has an upper section 43 and a lower section 44. Both the upper and lower sections 43, 44 are provided with short legs 45, 45a which are spaced apart from their respective upper or lower sections 43, 44 by a respective space 46, 46a. The short legs 45, 45a each extend in a direction parallel to the upper and lower sections 43, 44.The short legs 45, 45a may slide on their respective upper or lower section 43, 44 and clamps 47, 47a may be provided to releasably secure the short legs 45, 45a.

The gap defined by the upper remote end of the upper section 43 and the upper short leg 45a lies in the same plane as the gap defined by the lower remote end of the lower section 44 and the lower short leg 45; for this to be so, the lower section 44 comprises two elongate portions 48, 49 which partially overlap and are parallel.

At the upper end region of the lower section 44, a clamp 50 is provided. Into this clamp 50, a horizontal spacer 51 may be positioned. This horizontal spacer 51 will serve to ensure that the elongate support 40 supports the elongate elements at the correct, desired distance from the rear wall of, for instance, a wardrobe. This is achieved by using a spacer 51 of a predetermined length, the spacer, in use, abutting the rear wall of the room in which the wardrobe is being constructed. The clamp 50 may also serve to support a shelf when the wardrobe is being assembled.

More than one such elongate support 40 may be used in the assembly of a wardrobe.

Claims (19)

1. An apparatus for maintaining a plurality of elongate elements in a fixable, variable predetermined disposition, comprising: two or more pairs of spaced-apart, elongate members, each member having provision for supporting an elongate element, and each pair of members being in inclined relation to the or each other pair of members; and means for holding the two or more pairs of members in relation to a single plane; wherein, in respect of each pair of members, there is provision for varying and releasably fixing the spacing between the members of such a pair, and wherein the provisions for supporting the elongate elements are such that the elongate elements, when present, lie in the single plane.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the two or more pairs of elongate members consist of a first pair and a second pair of elongate members.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the first pair of elongate members is substantially perpendicular to the second pair of elongate members.

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein, for each elongate member, the provision for supporting the elongate element includes an elongate channel-defining portion.

5. An apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the channel of the elongate channel-defining portion of each member of each pair faces the channel provided on the other member of such a pair.

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the single plane is a substantially vertical plane.

7. An apparatus according to Claim 6 when appendant to Claim 2, wherein the first pair of elongate members is generally horizontally disposed in or parallel fo the said vertical plane and the second pair of elongate members is generally vertically disposed in or parallel to the said vertical plane.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the provision for varying the spacing between the members of a pair is one or more telescopic spacing means of variable length.

9. An apparatus according to Claim 8 when appendant to Claim 2, wherein the one or more telescopic spacing means varies the spacing of the first pair of elongate members.

10. An apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9 when appendant to Claim 6, wherein the one or more telescopic spacing means is a jack.

11. An apparatus according to Claim 2, or any one of Claims 3 to 10 when appendant to Claim 2, wherein the second pair of elongate members is supported, directly or indirectly, by the first pair of elongate members and wherein the provision for varying the spacing of the second pair of elongate members is a sliding means permitting the second pair of elongate members to slide with respect to the first pair of elongate members.

12. An apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the second pair has provision to extend and contract as the spacing between the first pair of elongate members varies.

13. An apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein each member of the second pair of elongate members comprises two, co-linear spacedapart channel-defining sections, the two sections being connected by an elongate bar along which one or both of the two sections may slide.

14. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a support for "surfacecontour recording equipment" (as hereinbefore defined), wherein the surface-contour recording equipment, when in use, is supported such that it is permitted to rotate and extend in a plane parallel to the single plane.

15. An apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein the plane of the support for the surfacecontour recording equipment may be varied.

16. An apparatus according to Claim 14 or 15, wherein the position of the support for the surfacecontour recording equipment with respect to the position of the two or more pairs of elongate members, is variable.

17. An apparatus according to Claim 3 or to any one of Claims 4 to 13 when appendant to Claim 3, further comprising an elongate support parallel to and disposed between the first pair of elongate members.

18. An apparatus according to any one of Claims 14, 15 and 16, when appendant to Claim 3, wherein the support for the surface-contour recording equipment is slidably mounted on the elongate support.

19. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.