GB2451086A

GB2451086A - Spacer apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2451086A
Application number: GB0713837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Jon Massey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-17
Filing date: 2007-07-17
Publication date: 2009-01-21
Also published as: GB0713837D0

Abstract

A spacer member 10, comprises a main body 12 and male 14 and female 16 formations located respectively one on the top surface and the other on the bottom surface of the body 12. The formations 14, 16 are engageable with corresponding female 16 and male 14 formations on other such members 10 when the spacer members 10 are arranged one above another, to retain the spacer members in a stack. The male formation 14 is configured such that when a vertical load is applied thereto, the formation 14 will break and substantially cease to extend from the body 12.

Description

Sacer Apparatus This invention relates to spacer members and also spacer apparatus.

In the construction industry there is often a requirement to build up height shortfalls. Such applications could be for instance concrete steps or terracing to provide a uniform height or to ensure that components meet correctly. To date shims and packers have been used but these can be difficult to stack and can also readily slide off each other when stacked. Such packers are also difficult to handle and can result in serious finger entrapment.

According to the present invention there is provided a spacer member, 1 5 the member including a main body and male and female formations located respectively one on the top surface and the other on the bottom surface of the body, the formations being engageable with corresponding female and male formations on other such members when the spacer members are arranged one above another, to retain the spacer members in a stack, the male formation being configured such that when a vertical load is applied thereto, the formation will break and substantially cease to extend from the body.

The male formation may be provided on the top surface of the body, and the female formation may be provided directly therebeneath. The female formation may be in the form of an opening. The spacer member may be configured such that if the male formation breaks upon a vertical load being applied thereto, the broken male formation will locate substantially into the female formation.

The female formation may be in the form of an opening extending through the body, with the male formation located directly thereabove and extending above the body. The male formation may be connected to the body by a connection which is significantly thinner than the thickness of the body.

For instance, the body thickness may be at least 10 times the thickness of the connection, and may be at least 20 times the thickness of the connection.

The male formation may taper inwardly above the connection to facilitate location thereof in the female formation.

The female formation may diverge downwardly from the male formation. A plurality of male and female formations may be provided on each body. The male and female formations may be substantially circular in plan view.

Formations may be provided on the sides of the body to facilitate engagement with the member, and such formations may have a female configuration. Formations may be provided on the side of the body to permit interconnection to adjacent bodies. The interconnection formations may be respectively male or female, and may have a dovetail shape in plan view.

Both male and female interconnection formations may be provided on some or all of the sides of the body.

The main body may be shaped to in use at least partially surround an object, and may be substantially U-shaped. The main body may include an engagement formation engageable with an object to retain the spacer member in position. The engagement formation may be located between the side limbs of the U. The engagement formation may be resiliently deforrnable. The engagement formation may be configured to substantially surround an object.

The invention also provides spacer apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of spacer members according to any of the preceding seven paragraphs.

Spacer members may be provided of different thicknesses.

Embodiments of the present invention wilt now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a first spacer member according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view along the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detailed view of part of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 of a second spacer member according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a spacer apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perpective plan view of a third spacer member according to the invention; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view from beneath of the spacer member of Fig. 6.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a spacer member 10 suitable for use in the construction industry for making up height shortfalls and the like and can be used with other such spacer members. The member 10 is generally square in plan view with 70mm side walls and rounded corners. The spacer member 10 comprises a main solid body 12 with four male formations 14 extending upwardly from the body 12 towards each corner thereof. Four female formations 16 are provided immediately below the male formations 14.

Each male formation 14 comprises an almost cylindrical projection part 18 which upstands above the body 12. The projection parts 18 in fact taper gently by 30 upwardly. Immediately below each projection 18 is a respective female formation 16 in the form of an opening 20 which extends to the underside of the body 12 and tapers outwardly at a 10 angle.

The projection 18 connects to the body 12 by a relatively thin connection 22 which in this instance is.5mm thick, and a knife edge cut out 24 is provided therebeneath. Handling formations are provided on each side of the body 12 in the form of cut outs 26 with which an appropriate tool can engage to permit the member 10 to be moved by the tool, thereby preventing finger entrapment.

Fig. 4 shows a similar but lower spacer member 28. The spacer member 28 has a similar arrangement of male formations 14 with similar connections 22.

In use to make up a height shortfall, a spacer member 10, 28 of an appropriate height can be chosen, or one or more spacer members 10, 28 could be located one on each other to provide a correct height. When spacer members are being combined in a stack in this way, the male formations 14 on a lower spacer member locate in the female formations 16 in the upper spacer member. The tapering of the projections 18 and openings 20 facilitate the ready inter engagement thereof. For the top most spacer member 10, 28, when a vertical load is applied thereto the force will break the connections 22 pushing the projections 18 into the openings 20, and thereby providing a flat upper surface to the body 12.

Fig. 5 shows an arrangement of spacer members 30 of different heights. The stack 32 illustrates four such spacer members all with different heights. The spacer members 30 are similar to the spacer members 10, 28 except that connecting formations 34 are provided on the sides of the spacer members 30 to permit connection to adjacent such members. Each side of the members 30 is provided with a male and female connecting member 36, 38. These members 36, 38 have a dovetail cross section in plan view such that they can only be connected and disconnected by movement in a vertical direction.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a further spacer member 40. The spacer member is substantially U-shaped in plan view and is provided with male formations 42 with corresponding female formations 44 therebeneath at the ends of the side limbs of the U adjacent the base of the U. The formations 42, 44 have a similar profile to the formations 14, 16.

An inverted W-shaped web 46 extends inwardly from the top of the base of the U. Two curved strips 48 extend from the lower apices of the W to the top inside corners of the side limbs of the U. The strips respectively have an S-shape and a mirror image S shape, and a small gap 50 is provided between the strips 48 at their closest point towards the top end of the side limbs of the U. The strips 48 and web 46 define a space 52 which in use can locate a bolt head or nut. This enables the spacer member 40 and any other such spacer members to securely locate around a bolt head or nut. It is to be realised that the relatively narrow strips 48 can deform as necessary to accept a respective bolt head or nut.

The spacer members can be made of any appropriate material such as polypropylene which may be glass reinforced or nylon.

There is thus described spacer members and a spacer apparatus which provides for a very flexible configuration which provides secure configurations of spacers over a wide range of heights. The feature of the upper most male formations breaking provides for a flat upper surface.

It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the spacer members may be a different shape and/or size. A different number, spacing or shape of male and female projections may be provided. Different connecting formations could be used.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A spacer member, the member including a main body and male and female formations located respectively one on the top surface and the other on the bottom surface of the body, the formations being engageable with corresponding female and male formations on other such members when the spacer members are arranged one above another, to retain the spacer members in a stack, the male formation being configured such that when a vertical load is applied thereto, the formation will break and substantially cease to extend from the body.

2. A spacer member according to claim 1, in which the male formation is * *.

provided on the top surface of the body, and the female formation is provided directly therebeneath. S ** * S S. .*

3. A spacer member according to claims I or 2, in which the female :. formation is in the form of an opening. *

S... * *

4. A spacer member according to claims 2 or 3, in which the spacer member is configured such that if the male formation breaks upon a vertical load being applied thereto, the broken male formation will locate substantially into the female formation.

5. A spacer member according to any of claims 2 to 4, in which the female formation is in the form of an opening extending through the body, with the male formation located directly thereabove and extending above the body.

6. A spacer member according to any of the preceding claims, in which the male formation is connected to the body by a connection which is significantly thinner than the thickness of the body.

7. A spacer member according to claim 6, in which the body thickness is at least 10 times the thickness of the connection.

8. A spacer member according to claim 7, in which the body thickness is at least 20 times the thickness of the connection.

9. A spacer member according to any of claims 6 to 8, in which the male formation tapers inwardly above the connection to facilitate location thereof in the female formation.

10.A spacer member according to any of claims 2 to 9, in which the female formation diverges downwardly from the male formation. * ** * ***.I

11.A spacer member according to any of the preceding claims, in which a ::::. plurality of male and female formations are provided on each body.

S

12.A spacer member according to any of the preceding claims, in which the S.. male and female formations are substantially circular in plan view.

*....:

13.A spacer member according to any of the preceding claims, in which formations are provided on the sides of the body to facilitate engagement with other such members.

14.A spacer member according to claim 13, in which the formations have a female configuration.

15.A spacer member according to any of the preceding claims, in which formations are provided on the side of the body to permit interconnection to adjacent bodies.

16.A spacer member according to claim 15, in which the interconnection formations are respectively male or female.

17.A spacer member according to claim 16, in which the interconnection formations have a dovetail shape in plan view.

18.A spacer member according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which both male and female interconnection formations are provided on some or all of the sides of the body.

19.A spacer member according to any of the preceding claims, in which the *1** main body is shaped to in use at least partially surround an object. * *. **,.0

20.A spacer member according to claim 19, in which the main body is substantially U-shaped. * 0*.

21.A spacer member according to any of the preceding claims, in which the main body includes an engagement formation engageable with an object ****** * : to retain the spacer member in position.

22.A spacer member according to claim 21 when dependent on claim 20, in which the engagement formation is located between the side limbs of the U.

23.A spacer member according to claims 21 or 22, in which the engagement formation is resiliently deformable.

24.A spacer member according to any of claims 21 to 23, in which the engagement formation is configured to substantially surround an object.

25.A spacer apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of spacer members according to any of the preceding claims.

26.A spacer apparatus according to claim 25, in which spacer members of different thicknesses are provided.

27.A spacer apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28.A spacer member as substantially hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. * * * * 0*

29.Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. * S..

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