GB2364096A

GB2364096A - Hinge with clamping support device to secure hinge to a post

Info

Publication number: GB2364096A
Application number: GB0115094A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Peter Halley
Original assignee: Halley & Son W
Current assignee: Halley & Son W
Priority date: 2000-06-21
Filing date: 2001-06-21
Publication date: 2002-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-21
Also published as: GB0015057D0; GB2364096B; GB0115094D0

Abstract

A hinge comprises a support device 1 for securing a gate to a support post 6; the device having first and second co-operating parts 17, 19 each comprising a body member 21, 23 and a jaw member 20, 22 projecting laterally therefrom. The first body member 21 a tubular female portion 32 for receiving with a sliding fit a male portion 44 of the second body member 23. A clamping bolt with a screw thread may be tightened and un-tightened to contract and extend telescopically the male and female portions 32, 44 in order to open and close the jaw members 20, 22. The male and female portions 32, 44 are formed and arranged to be non-rotatable relative to each other, e.g. by having a square or rectangular cross-section.

Description

2364096 P 11574 GB SUPPORT DEVICE The present invention relates to a

support device for supporting a partition element and more especially to a readily attachable/detachable support device means for hingedly supporting a gate.

Livestock such as cattle are generally housed in gated pens within a farm building such as a cattle-shed or other such similar structure for prolonged periods, often for several weeks or months such as during the winter months The pens are generally cleaned or mucked out only when the livestock are to be moved to another location such as to pasture during the summer months During such a prolonged period of use, the bedding or litter, and manure produced by the livestock, accumulates on the floor of the pens, often to a depth of 20 to 80 cm or more.

The gates of the pens are generally supported on a vertically arranged series of pairs of fixed support elements located on a support post The gate can be moved vertically up or down the support post with respect to the ground by locating the gate onto a pair of support elements set at a desired height with respect to the ground By moving the gate up or down, the height of the gate can be maintained with respect to the level of the bedding etc within the pen.

P 11574 GB A particular limitation of support elements of this type is that the pairs of support elements are set in fixed positions relative to the ground More often than not, the support elements are welded to the support post, or set into the post by cement or mortar, or some other permanent means This is undesirable for a number of reasons.

In the first instance, buildings used to house livestock during, for example, the winter months, are used for crop storage during the summer and/or autumn months To store crops in these buildings, it is frequently necessary to remove the gates from the pens and re-arrange the internal layout of the building for efficient storage useage The permanent support elements cannot be removed from their positions and thus the options available with respect to internal layout of a said building are somewhat limited Additionally, the permanent nature of the support elements restricts the possible number of gated pens present within a particular building, as it is generally not possible to add or remove additional support elements as and when required without undue effort Also there can be significant variations in the separation between the hinge centres from one gate to another.

Furthermore, where the internal arrangement of a building is altered to accommodate livestock, there is a possibility that livestock may be injured upon any unused or uncovered support elements within the pen Moreover it is not unknown for P 11574 GB the support element to break off Whilst welding such support elements back on is feasible, it becomes impossible in a shed which contains combustible material such as straw and/or requires animals in the vicinity of the broken support element to be removed so that the repair welding does not startle the animals.

It is an object of the present invention to minimise and/or obviate one or more of the problems associated with the prior art.

The present invention provides a support device for attaching to a structural support element having oppositely directed face portions thereon at a predetermined distance apart, and said support device incorporating one of the relatively rotatable male and female parts of a hinge support for a partition element, wherein said support device comprises first and second co-operating parts each comprising a body member and a jaw member projecting laterally from said body member, the first body member having a tubular distal female portion for receiving with a sliding fit therein, a distal male portion of the second body member, and a clamping bolt having a head engaged with a proximal end portion of the first body member and a screwthreaded shank extending through said female portion of the first body member for screwthreaded engagement with a nut element fixedly mounted in said male portion of the P 11574 GB second body member remote from a proximal end portion of the second member, so that tightening of said bolt is operative to telescopically contract said male and female portions together, thereby to close together said jaw members for clamping engagement with a said structural support element in use of the support device, said male and female portions being formed and arranged so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other.

In another aspect the present invention provides a support device for attaching to a structural support element having oppositely directed face portions thereon at a predetermined distance apart, and said support device incorporating one of the relatively rotatable male and female parts of a hinge support for a partition element, wherein said support device has jaw members moveable relative to one another between first and second positions corresponding to open and closed conditions of the device, said jaw members being retained in said second, closed, position by a releasable securing means, said jaws having opposed abutment portions and being formed and arranged so that the device is attachable/detachable from said structural support element in said open condition and in said closed condition the device is retained in substantially close captive engagement around the structural support element by said securing means so that in use of the support device, with a said partition element supported on said male or female P 11574 GB hinge support part thereof, said abutment portions engage said structural support element thereof, so as to substantially prevent rotation of the support device about a horizontal axis, said jaw members being provided on respective ones of first and second body members, the first body member having a tubular distal female portion for receiving with a sliding fit therein, a distal male portion of the second body member, said releasable securing means comprising a clamping bolt having a head engaged with a proximal end portion of the first body member and a screwthreaded shank extending through said female portion of the first member for screwthreaded engagement with a nut element fixedly mounted in said male portion of the second body member remote from a proximal end portion of the second member, so that tightening of said bolt is operative to telescopic telescopically contract said male and female portions together, thereby to close together said jaw members for clamping engagement with a said structural support element in use of the support device, said male and female portions being formed and arranged so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other.

It will be appreciated that if there were to be a substantial clearance between the abutment portions and the structural support element, then the weight of the partition element would tend to, sooner or later, lead to substantial tilting of the support device and hence of the partition element so that P 11574 GB the partition element would no longer be able to open and close properly On the other hand, a small clearance which would limit any such tilting to a small degree which would not interfere with opening and closing of the partition element, would be acceptable, wherein the engagement of the abutment portions with appropriate sides of the structural support element would produce a jamming or wedging action which would resist downward movement of the structural support device down the support element In general it is desired that the clearance should be such as to limit tilting to not more than (?), preferably not more than 3 .

It will also be appreciated that as the partition element is swung open and closed, typically through an angle of up to around 900, but in some cases through an angle of up to 1800 or more then the weight of the partition element may cause the support device to tilt so as to bring other oppositely facing portions of the support device and of the structural support element into abutment with each other Preferably, the jaw members in said second closed position maintain the device in substantially close captive engagement around the structural support element and said other oppositely facing portions of the support device and the structural support element abut against each other so as to substantially prevent rotation of the support device and the partition element support thereon about another horizontal axis.

P 11574 GB It will also be understood that references to the jaws being in a closed position herein need not necessarily involve the jaws closing together with each other, provided that the jaws are brought sufficiently close towards each other so as to clamp or merely retain captively therebetween, the support element.

The present invention also provides a support device for attaching to a structural support element having oppositely directed face portions thereon at a predetermined distance apart, and said support device incorporating one of the relatively rotatable male and female parts of a hinge support for a partition element, wherein said support device has a clamping device with jaw members moveable relative to one another between first and second positions corresponding to open and closed conditions of the device, said jaw members being disposable in clamping engagement with said support element in said second, closed position, said support device having opposed abutment portions and being formed and arranged so that the support device is attachable/detachable from said structural support element in said open condition and, in said closed condition the device is retained in substantially close captive engagement around the structural support element by said clamping device so that, in use of the support device, with a said partition element supported on said male or female P 11574 GB hinge support part thereof, said abutment portions engage said oppositely directed face portions of the structural support element, so as to substantially prevent rotation of the support device about a horizontal axis.

Where the support device includes a clamping device then it will be appreciated that the support device will normally be in tight clamping engagement with two oppositely facing portions of the structural support element Other oppositely facing portions (on differently angled horizontal axes, e g.

orthogonal to the clamping axis) may, though, not necessarily be in tight clamping engagement, and may only be in a somewhat loose or sliding fit with the structural support element.

As previously noted hereinabove, when the partition element is opened and closed, then the weight of the partition element will tend to tilt slightly the partition element and support device so as to bring said other oppositely facing portions of the support device and of the structure support element into abutment with each other so as to substantially prevent rotation of the support device and the partition element support thereon about a said differently angled horizontal axis, and prevent downward/slippage of the support device on the structural support element.

P 11574 GB The partition element may be a gate or door, or may be a simple guard-rail or barrier used to demarcate or separate off different areas within for example a building or construction site The partition element is provided with the corresponding other male or female hinge support part complementary to that of the support device of the present invention to allow the partition element to be supported thereon Said other hinge support part may be formed integrally with the partition element, or as a discrete component which is secured to the partition element in any convenient manner.

The structural support element can be any commonly used support element in the construction industry upon which a partition element may be mounted Structural support elements such as I-beams and concrete pillars are commonly found examples.

Concrete pillars are generally square in section, having at least two oppositely directed faces thereon at a predetermined distance apart (as defined by the thickness of the pillar).

I-beams comprise two parallel longitudinally extending flange members conjoined along mutual centre-lines thereof by a web portion Each flange member has itself a pair of oppositely directed faces about which the support device may be fitted.

Additionally, each of the flange members presents on an P 11574 GB outside face, a respective oppositely directed face, about which the support device may be fitted so as to engage, substantially captively, the circumference of the whole I- beam, as opposed to just a single flange member thereof.

The jaws of the support device may be shaped to conform to a particular type or shape of structural support element, or part thereof as discussed above in relation to an I-beam, to ensure that when the jaws are in the second, closed position, that the structural support element is retained in said substantially close captive engagement therein and that said abutment portions of the jaws can engage the structural support element The jaws may be curved in the form of an arc or semi-circle to substantially encompass, in said second closed position, a structural support member generally circular or ovate in section The jaws may be of other shapes to accommodate structural support elements or portions thereof which are polygonal, such as square or rectangular in section.

Preferably, the jaws are formed and arranged to retain therein, in said second closed position, an I-beam or a flange member thereof.

Desirably, each of said jaws has a number of differently facing abutment portions which abut against simultaneously or at different times the structural support element as and when a said partition element is moved between open and closed P 11574 GB positions, and said differently facing abutment portions substantially prevent rotation of the support device about a different horizontal axis.

The releasable securing means which retains the jaws in said closed position can be any relatively simple mechanical device such as a nut and bolt, screw jack arrangement, ratchet and pawl mechanism or the like, which is relatively simple to use, so as to draw the jaws together and retain them in their second Closed, position.

In another aspect the present invention provides a support device for attaching to a structural support element having oppositely directed face portions thereon at a predetermined distance apart, and said support device incorporating one of the relatively rotatable male and female parts of a hinge support for a partition element, wherein said support device has jaw members moveable relative to one another between first and second positions corresponding to open and closed conditions of the device, said jaw members being retained in said second, closed, position by a releasable securing means, said jaws having opposed abutment portions and being formed and arranged so that the device is attachable/detachable from said structural support element in said open condition and in said closed condition the device is retained in substantially close captive engagement around the structural support element P 11574 GB by said securing means so that in use of the support device, with a said partition element supported on said male or female hinge support part thereof, said abutment portions engage said structural support element thereof, so as to substantially prevent rotation of the support device about a horizontal axis, said jaw members being provided on respective ones of first and second body members, the first body member having a tubular distal female portion for receiving with a sliding fit therein, a distal male portion of the second body member, said releasable securing means comprising a clamping bolt having a head engaged with a proximal end portion of the first body member and a screwthreaded shank extending through said female portion of the first member for screwthreaded engagement with a nut element fixedly mounted in said male portion of the second body member remote from a proximal end portion of the second member, so that tightening and untightening of said bolt is operative to telescopic telescopically contract and extend said male and female portions together, thereby to close together and open apart said jaw members for clamping engagement with and disengagement from a said structural support element in use of the support device, said male and female portions being formed and arranged so as to be non- rotatable relative to each other.

Further preferred features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description

P 11574 GB given by way of example of a preferred embodiment illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 is a side view of a support device pivotally supporting a gate and clamped to an upright I-beam according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig 2 is a plan view of the support device of Fig 1 clamped to said I-beam; Fig 3 is a partially cutaway and sectioned plan view of the support device of Figs 1 and 2 shown in partial section; and Fig 4 is a sectional side view of the support device.

A support device as shown in Fig 1 and indicated by the reference numeral 1 is shown clamped to a first flange 4 of an upright I-beam 6, and supporting the top side of a gate 8 on a vertically upwardly extending spigot or pintle 10 (male hinge support part) inserted through a socket 11 (female hinge support part) on the gate 8 A second support device 1 A supports the bottom of the gate 8.

The first flange 4 of the I-beam 6 has an outwardly directed face 12 and an inwardly directed face 14 spaced apart by the thickness of the first flange 4, see Fig 2 The I-beam 6 is of the commonly used type having the first flange 4 connected to a parallel second flange 16 by a web 18 extending therebetween, said flanges 4,16 having oppositely directed P 11574 GB (side) face portions 13,15 at a predetermined distance apart from each other.

The support device 1 has first and second co-operating parts 17,19 (see Fig 3) each comprising a body member 21,23 and a jaw 20,22 formed and arranged to have mutually opposed respective end portions 24,26 movable between a first, open, position in which they are relatively widely distanced apart as shown in Fig 3 to a second, closed, position where the end portions 24,26 are in a relatively close together condition and captively engage the first flange 4 as shown in Fig 2.

The first jaw 20 is formed from an L-shaped portion 28 welded to a first end 30 of a hollow square section female, outer, body portion 32 The lower part 34 of the L-shaped jaw portion is laterally spaced apart from and extends parallel to the length of the body portion 32 and forms a space 36 therebetween (see Fig 3) The space 36 is defined by, on one side, an abutment face 38 of the body portion 32 and by a mutually opposed jaw face 40 on the lower part 34 of the L- shaped jaw portion 28.

Similarly, the second jaw 22 is formed from an L-shaped portion 42 welded to a first end 43 of a hollow square section male, inner, body portion 44 in a manner identical to the first jaw 20 The inner body portion 44 is slideably located within the outer body portion 32 (see Fig 4) for telescopic P 11574 GB contraction and extension thereof together A space 46 is defined between one side the abutment face 38 and by a mutually opposed jaw face 48 on the lower part 50 of the L- shaped portion 42 of the second jaw 22.

In the closed condition (Fig 2), the jaws 20,22 are retained in close captive engagement around the first flange 4 by a threaded bolt 52 having a head 54 located on an outer face 56 of the first jaw 20, and a threaded shank 58 extending longitudinally through both the outer 32 and inner 44 body portions The shank 58 is screwthreadedly engaged with a nut element 59 comprising a threaded aperture 60 formed in the centre of a plate 62 welded across a second end 64 of inner body portion 44 so as to be fixedly secured thereto A washer 66 is located between the bolt head 54 and the outer face 56 of the first jaw 20.

In an open condition (see fig 3) rotation of the bolt head 54 in a clockwise direction moves the second jaw 22 towards the first jaw 20 from the first position to the second position (Fig 2) Since the threaded portion of the shank 58 is enclosed within the outer and inner body portions 32, 44 the possibility of dirt, manure, or other foreign matter interfering with the operation of the threaded portions is substantially reduced.

P 11574 GB In use, the abutment face 38 of the support clamp 1 (when in an open condition, see Fig 3) is placed and held against the outer face 12 of the first flange 4 The bolt head 54 is rotated clockwise to bring the first and second jaws 20,22 into a clamping condition about the flange 4 as shown in Fig.

2 The pintle 10 is supported on a horizontally extending tongue 68 welded to the first jaw 20 adjacent where the second jaw 22 passes therein The weight of the gate 8 on the support device 1 (when the gate is in a position extending away from the flange 4 generally orthogonal with respect thereto), tend to tilt the support device 1 so that even if initially there is a small clearance between them, the support device abutment face 38 is forced into contact with the outwardly directed face 12 of the first flange 4, and also forces the first and second jaw faces 40,48 to abut against the rearwardly directed face 14 of the first flange 4 The resultant frictional engagement therebetween then substantially prevents downward slippage of the support device 1.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention the proximal end portion 70 of the male portion 44 of the second body member 23 so as to project thereof in the opposite P 11574 GB direction remote from the female portion 32 telescopically engaged therewith (see Fig 3).

P 11574 GB

Claims

1 A support device for attaching to a structural support element having oppositely directed face portions thereon at a predetermined distance apart, and said support device incorporating one of the relatively rotatable male and female parts of a hinge support for a partition element, wherein said support device comprises first and second co-operating parts each comprising a body member and a jaw member projecting laterally from said body member, the first body member having a tubular distal female portion for receiving with a sliding fit therein, a distal male portion of the second body member, and a clamping bolt having a head engaged with a proximal end portion of the first body member and a screwthreaded shank extending through said female portion of the first body member for screwthreaded engagement with a nut element fixedly mounted in said male portion of the second body member remote from a proximal end portion of the second member, so that tightening of said bolt is operative to telescopically contract said male and female portions together, thereby to close together said jaw members for clamping engagement with a said structural support element in use of the support device, said male and female portions being formed and arranged so as to be non-rotatable relative to each other.

P 11574 GB

2 A support device according to claim 1 wherein said male and female portions have slidably inter-engaging surfaces of non-circular transverse section.

3 A support device according to claim 2 wherein said non- circular transverse section is rectangular.

4 A support device according to claim 3 wherein said rectangular section is square.

A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said male portion is tubular.

6 A support device according to claim 5 wherein said nut element is disposed at the distal end of said male portion.

7 A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said clamping bolt has a length relative to said support device such that in the fully telescoped together configuration of said male and female portions, said screwthreaded shank of the bolt is fully contained within said male and female portions.

8 A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said jaw members are generally 'L'-shaped.

P 11574 GB

9 A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said jaw members are generally 'J'-shaped.

A support device according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the distal portions of said jaw members are laterally spaced from said female portion by a predetermined separation corresponding to the thickness of said support element or a flange portion thereof around which said jaw members engage in their closed position in use of the device.

11 A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said hinge support part is mounted on said female portion at the opposite side thereof remote from the side from which said jaw members project.

12 A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said hinge support part is mounted on the proximal end portion of said male portion so as to project thereof in the opposite direction remote from said female portion telescopically engaged therewith.

13 A support device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said hinge support part is a male, upwardly projecting, pintle.

P 11574 GB

14 A support device for attaching to a structural support element having oppositely directed face portions thereon at a predetermined distance apart, and said support device incorporating one of the relatively rotatable male and female parts of a hinge support for a partition element, wherein said support device has jaw members moveable relative to one another between first and second positions corresponding to open and closed conditions of the device, said jaw members being retained in said second, closed, position by a releasable securing means, said jaws having opposed abutment portions and being formed and arranged so that the device is attachable/detachable from said structural support element in said open condition and in said closed condition the device is retained in substantially close captive engagement around the structural support element by said securing means so that in use of the support device, with a said partition element supported on said male or female hinge support part thereof, said abutment portions engage said structural support element thereof, so as to substantially prevent rotation of the support device about a horizontal axis, said jaw members being provided on respective ones of first and second body members, the first body member having a tubular distal female portion for receiving with a sliding fit therein, a distal male portion of the second body member, said releasable securing means comprising a clamping bolt having a head engaged with a proximal end portion of the first body member and a P 11574 GB screwthreaded engagement with a nut element fixedly mounted in said male portion of the second body member remote from a proximal end portion of the second member, so that tightening of said bolt is operative to telescopically contract said male and female portions together, thereby to close together said jaw members for clamping engagement with a said structural support element in use of the support device, said male and female portions being formed and arranged so as to be non- rotatable relative to each other.

A support device substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

16 A gate assembly comprising a gate having a pair of vertically spaced apart hinge support portions, and a pair of support devices with hinge support portions complementary to said gate hinge support portions, which support devices are as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.