GB2348937A

GB2348937A - Fixing device for a wall opening

Info

Publication number: GB2348937A
Application number: GB0008750A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Nightingale
Original assignee: TURBO FIXINGS UK Ltd
Current assignee: TURBO FIXINGS UK Ltd
Priority date: 1999-04-15
Filing date: 2000-04-11
Publication date: 2000-10-18
Also published as: GB9908491D0; GB0008750D0

Abstract

A fixing device (10) for an opening comprises an elongate sleeve (18) and a compressible sleeve (20) located on a shank (12). Axial compression of the compressible sleeve (20) against the elongate sleeve (18) results in lateral expansion of the compressible sleeve (20) in a radial direction so that the compressible sleeve (20) grips the walls of the opening.

Description

FIXING DEVICE This invention relates to a fixing device, particularly, but not limited to, a fixing device for securing a fixing member in an opening, and to a method of fixing a fixing member in an opening.

A previous fixing device for securing a fixing member in an opening comprises a tubular wall plug with an open end and a closed end, which is inserted into a pre-drilled hole.

When a screw or bolt or the like is inserted into the open end of the fixing device, tightening of the screw or bolt causes lateral spreading of the fixing device and splintering thereof so that parts of the fixing device bear against the edges of the hole to secure the fixing device in the hole.

Disadvantages arise with this type of fixing device because the device only grips the periphery of the opening over a portion of the circumference of the fixing device because only portions of the device are caused to splay into the material surrounding the opening. Only a portion of the fixing device is caused to splay because some of the fixing device must remain in position to retain the location of the fixing member which is inserted into the fixing device.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a fixing device for fixing in an opening comprises a compressible member and compression means, both of which are associated with a longitudinal support portion, in which longitudinal compression of the compressible member by the compression means is arranged to cause lateral expansion around substantially all of the outer surface of the compressible member.

The compression means may be a part of or may be integral with the support portion.

Said lateral expansion is preferably operable to deter removal of the fixing device from the opening by means of friction between the compressible member and walls of the opening.

The compressible member may be a sleeve, which may be elongate. The compressible member may be cylindrical. The compressible member is preferably mounted on the longitudinal support portion. The compressible member may be mounted for rotation, preferably free rotation. The compressible member may have an internal width just greater than the external width of the support portion.

The support portion may include a first abutment member, against which the compressible member may bear, preferably at a first end of the compressible member.

The first abutment member is preferably a sleeve, preferably an elongate sleeve, which may be mounted on the support portion. The first abutment member is preferably operable to rotate freely on the support portion. The first abutment member may abut a head section of the support portion and/or may abut a washer. The sleeve is preferably the same width or narrower than the compressible member.

The first abutment member may be a washer. Alternatively the first abutment member may be a head section of the support portion. The head section may be adapted to receive turning means, such as a screwdriver. The abutment member may be located at a first end of the support means.

The compression means may comprise a second abutment member, which may be actuable to move along the support portion to thereby compress the compressible member. The second abutment member may comprise a threaded section which is arranged to be received on a correspondingly threaded section of the support portion. Tightening of the second abutment member on the threaded section of the support portion may result in longitudinal compression of the compressible member.

The second abutment member may be secured to the compressible, member, preferably at a second end thereof.

The second abutment member may be a knurled nut.

The abutment members may be part of the compression means.

The support portion may comprise a head section which is adapted to be secured between building blocks, to act as a wall tie. In such a case the fixing device may be fixed in an opening in a first wall, with the head section being secured between adjacent building blocks in a second wall.

The head section may be laterally extensive. The head section may have a flat loop shape, preferably a triangular loop.

The opening in which the fixing device is to be fixed may be a hole in a wall, such as a drilled hole.

According to another aspect of the present invention a method of securing a fixing member of a fixing device in an opening comprises inserting the fixing device in the opening and causing longitudinal compression of a compressible member of the fixing device with compression means thereof, wherein the compressible member and the compression means are associated with a longitudinal support portion of the fixing device and wherein the longitudinal compression of the compressible member causes expansion around substantially all of the outer surface thereof.

The expansion of the compressible member preferably creates friction between the compressible member and the periphery of the opening, which thereby deters removal of the fixing device from the opening. The longitudinal support portion may be a fixing member.

The compressible member may bear against the periphery of the opening, preferably around substantially all of the periphery of the opening along the length of the compressible member.

Preferably, the compression means are adjustable to exert and/or remove compressive force from the compressible member. Preferably, when compressive force is removed from the compressible member, the fixing device can be removed from the opening.

The method may include a method of tying at least two walls together by securing one end of the fixing member of the fixing device in the opening as described above and securing another end of the fixing member between adjacent building blocks.

Said another end may be secured between adjacent blocks by being embedded in cement or the like.

All of the above aspects may be combined with any of the features disclosed herein, in any combination.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of fixing device before the device is secured into a hole in which it has been inserted; Figure 1B is a schematic side view of the first embodiment of fixing device after the device has been secured in the hole; Figures 2A to F show schematic side views of various sizes of the first embodiment of fixing device; Figure 3 shows a schematic view from above of a second embodiment of fixing device to be used as a wall tie; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a use of the second embodiment of fixing device ; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of a further use of the second embodiment of fixing device.

A fixing device 10 comprises a shank 12 having a threaded section 14 and a head section 16. An elongate sleeve 18 is located on the shank 12 and abuts the head section 16 thereof. A compressible sleeve 20 is also located on the shank 12 adjacent to the elongate sleeve 18 and extends at least partially along the threaded section 14. The compressible sleeve 20 is retained on the shank 12 by a nut 22 engaged on the threaded section 14. The outer surface of the nut is knurled. When the nut 22 is tightened the compressible sleeve 20 expands when it is pushed against the elongate sleeve 18. When the fixing device 10 is inserted in a drilled hole, for instance, the expansion of the compressible sleeve 20 secures the fixing device 10 in the hole.

The shank 12 may provide a support portion for the two sleeves 18 and 20. The nut 22 and the threaded portion of the shank 12 on which it is received provide compression means for the compressible sleeve 20. The head section 16 and/or a washer 24a may also form part of the compression means.

In more detail, the head section 16 of the shank 12 is slotted to receive the blade of a screwdriver.

Alternatively, the head section 16 could have a hexagonal recess to receive a correspondingly shaped key or may have a bolt head.

The length of the shank 12 can be chosen to suit a particular application of the fixing device. For instance shank lengths of 55mm, 65mm, 85mm, 105mm, 125mm, and 145mm are envisaged. The length of the threaded section 14 is chosen depending on the overall length of the shank 12.

The shorter lengths of shank mentioned above have a threaded section which is 30mm long; longer shanks have threaded sections between 40mm and 45mm long. In some embodiments, the entire length of the shank may be threaded. The shank 12 may be made of steel.

The elongate sleeve 18 is made of polypropylene and has a length chosen to suit the length of shank 12. For instance, the elongate sleeve 18 may have a length which extends from the head section 16 close to the start of the threaded section 14. Washers 24a and 24b are located at either end of the elongate sleeve 18 to provide a suitably firm abutment against the head section 16 and the compressible sleeve 20. The elongate sleeve 18 has an internal diameter which is larger than the external diameter of the shank 12 to allow the elongate sleeve 18 to rotate freely on the shank 12. The elongate sleeve could be made of other material, the main requirement for which is a degree of rigidity.

The compressible neoprene sleeve 20 extends from the end of the elongate sleeve 18 over at least part of the threaded section 14 of the shank 12. The internal diameter of the compressible sleeve 20 is just greater than the external diameter of the shank 12, to allow the compressible sleeve 20 to rotate freely on that section of the shank. The length of the compressible sleeve 20 is chosen so that when it abuts the elongate sleeve 18 a portion of the threaded section 14 projects from the compressible sleeve 20 to allow the nut 22 to be tightened on the threaded section 14. The nut 22 may be secured to an end of the compressible sleeve, or may be integrally formed with the compressible sleeve 20. The length of the compressible neoprene sleeve is chosen to relate to the length of the shank 12. The compressible sleeve may have a length between 20mm and 30mm. The external diameter of the compressible sleeve is chosen to be just less than the size of hole in which the. fixing device 10 is to be ~ Consequently, a number of fixing devices may be provided having sleeves with an external diameter of between 6mm and 15mm, at lmm intervals for instance. The compressible sleeve may be made of other compressible materials such as rubber. The sleeve is preferably elastically deformable, to allow for reuse.

The external diameter of the compressible sleeve 18 may be greater than the external diameter of the elongate sleeve.

Alternatively, the elongate sleeve may have a smaller diameter then the compressible sleeve.

In use, to secure an article, such as a shelf, picture or electrical fitting to a wall which would previously have been done with a wall plug and screw, the fixing device 10 is inserted into a pre-drilled hole having a diameter just larger than the external diameter of the compressible sleeve 20 of the fixing device 10. The blade of a screwdriver or the like is placed in the corresponding slot in the head section 16 of the shank and is turned to tighten the shank relative to the nut 22. Friction between the compressible sleeve 20 and the periphery of the predrilled hole causes the compressible sleeve 20 to remain approximately stationary relative to the turning shank 12.

Since the nut 22 is secured to the compressible sleeve 20 the nut 22 also remains relatively stationary. As the shank 12 is tightened the nut 22 causes compression of the compressible sleeve 20, which compression is relieved by lateral expansion of the compressible sleeve 20 which braces against the periphery of the pre-drilled hole.. The knurled surface 23 of the nut 22 results in increasing the friction between it, and the periphery of the pre-drilled hole thereby substantially preventing it and the compressible sleeve 20 from rotating therein. Sufficient tightening of the shank 12 firmly secures the compressible sleeve 20 in the pre-drilled hole, sufficient to retain the shank 12 in the pre-drilled hole and thus support the article, as intended.

A significant advantage of the fixing device disclosed herein is that it is possible to remove the fixing device for subsequent re-use, which is not the case with existing wall plugs, which cannot be re-used. The fixing device can be unscrewed, which allows the compressible sleeve 20 to resume its former shape so it can be pulled from the predrilled hole.

Figures 3 to 5 show a further embodiment of fixing device which is used as a wall tie. This alternative embodiment has the same elongate sleeve 18, compressible sleeve 20, threaded section 14 of a shank and nut 22 as the first embodiment. However, this embodiment differs in that the head section of the shank is replaced by a stainless steel bar shaped in the form of a triangle 50, which is adapted to be laid between courses of blocks in a wall. Also, the shank 52 of the second embodiment comprises a tightly fitting rubber ring 54, to prevent the passage of water along the shank 52 across the cavity between the two walls.

Also, a washer 56 is secured on the shank 52 to prevent the elongate sleeve 18 moving passed that washer 56.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, in use, the second embodiment of fixing device is inserted into a pre-drilled hole in a first wall 58, as before, and the triangle 50 is turned to tighten the fixing device in position, thus causing the compressible sleeve 20 to expand and secure the fixing device in the pre-drilled hole. The triangle 50 is turned until it is parallel with the courses of building blocks forming a second, parallel, wall 60 so that the triangle 50 can be cemented in position between two courses of building blocks, as is usually the case with existing wall ties, which have a triangular section at each end of the wall tie.

When secured in the manner described above, the fixing device extends between the two walls of a cavity wall, to thereby hold the two walls together.

Figure 4 shows another use for the second embodiment of fixing device, when a wall tie is required to tie a new wall 62 to an existing wall 64, the fixing device can be placed in a pre-drilled hole in the existing wall 64. The triangular part 50 is used to tighten the device and is sandwiched between successive courses of building blocks of the new wall 62.

Figure 5 shows the use, of a retaining disc 57 which is placed over the shank 52 and abuts the wall into which the compressible sleeve 20 is inserted to retain insulation which has been laid against that wall in position.

The second embodiment of fixing device has advantages over previous fixing devices because wall ties can be located in position after a first side of a cavity wall has been elected, rather than having to place the wall ties in position between courses of building blocks as the two walls are erected, which is required by existing devices.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A fixing device for fixing in an opening comprises a compressible member and compression means, both of which are associated with a longitudinal support portion, in which longitudinal compression of the compressible member by the compression means is arranged to cause lateral expansion around substantially all of the outer surface of the compressible member.
2. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the compression means is a part of the support portion.
3. A fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the compression means is integral with the support region.
4. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein said lateral expansion is operable to deter removal of the fixing device from the opening by means of friction between the compressible member and walls of the opening.
5. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible member is a sleeve which is elongate.
6. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible member is mounted on the longitudinal support portion.
7. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible member is mounted for rotation.
8. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible member has an internal width just greater than the external width of the support portion.
9. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support portion includes a first abutment member, against which the compressible member bears.
10. A fixing device according to claim 10, wherein the first abutment member is a sleeve which is mounted on the support portion.
11. A fixing device according to either of claims 9 or 10, wherein the first abutment member is operable to rotate freely on the support portion.
12. A fixing device according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first abutment member abuts a head section of the support portion.
13. A fixing device according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the first abutment member is a washer.
14. A fixing device according to either of claims 9 to 12, wherein the first abutment member is a head section of the support portion.
15. A fixing device according to claim 14, wherein the head section is adapted to receive turning means, such as a screwdriver.
16. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the compression means comprises a second abutment member.
17. A fixing device according to claim 16, wherein the second abutment member is actuable to move along the support portion to thereby compress the compressible member.
18. A fixing device according to either of claims 16 or 17, wherein the second abutment member comprises a threaded section which is arranged to be received on a correspondingly threaded section of the support portion.
19. A fixing device according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein tightening of the second abutment member on the threaded section of the support portion results in longitudinal compression of the compressible member.
20. A fixing device according to any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the second abutment member is secured to the compressible member.
21. A fixing device according to any of claims 16 to 20, wherein the second abutment member is a knurled nut.
22. A fixing device according to any of claims 16 to 21, wherein the abutment members are part of the compression means.
23. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support portion comprises a head section which is adapted to be secured between building blocks, to act as a wall tie.
24. A fixing device according to claim 23, wherein the head section has a flat loop shape.
25. A fixing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening in which the fixing device is to be fixed is a hole in a wall.
26. A method of securing a fixing member of a fixing device in an opening comprising inserting the fixing device in the opening and causing longitudinal compression of a compressible member of the fixing device with compression means thereof, wherein the compressible member and the compression means are associated with a longitudinal support portion of the fixing device and wherein the longitudinal compression of the compressible member causes expansion around substantially all of the outer surface thereof.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the expansion of the compressible member creates friction between the compressible member and the periphery of the opening, which thereby deters removal of the fixing device from the opening.
28. A method according to either of claims 26 or 27, wherein the longitudinal support portion is a fixing member.
29. A method according to any of claims 26 to 28, wherein the compressible member bears against the periphery of the opening.
30. A method according to any of claims 26 to 29, wherein the compression means are adjustable to exert and/or remove compressive force from the compressible member.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein when compressive force is removed from the compressible member, the fixing device can be removed from the opening.
32. A method according to any of claims 26 to 31, wherein the method includes a method of tying at least two walls together by securing one end of the fixing member of the fixing device in the opening as described above and securing another end of the fixing member between adjacent building blocks.
33. A method according to claim 32, wherein said another end is secured between adjacent blocks by being embedded in cement or the like.
34. A fixing device as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
35. A method as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.