U.S. patent application number 10/523949 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-01 for mounting of tubes.
Invention is credited to Ian James Prismall.
Application Number | 20060113514 10/523949 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9942264 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060113514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prismall; Ian James |
June 1, 2006 |
Mounting of tubes
Abstract
A tubular component (10) is secured to another component (12) by
locating part of the tubular component (10) within a tapering
recess opening or passage (22), locating a clamping member (26)
within the tubular component (10) and securing the clamping member
(26) to the said another component (12) to clamp the tubular
component (10) between the clamping member (26) and the said
another component (12).
Inventors: |
Prismall; Ian James;
(Hungerford, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOEL D. SKINNER, JR.;SKINNER AND ASSOCIATES
212 COMMERCIAL ST.
HUDSON
WI
54016
US
|
Family ID: |
9942264 |
Appl. No.: |
10/523949 |
Filed: |
August 13, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
August 13, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB03/03523 |
371 Date: |
October 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
256/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/2238 20130101;
E01F 13/028 20130101; E01F 9/692 20160201; F16B 9/09 20180801; F16B
17/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
256/001 |
International
Class: |
E04H 17/00 20060101
E04H017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 14, 2002 |
GB |
0218855.5 |
Claims
1. A method of securing a tube to another component, the method
comprising providing the said another component with an opening,
passage or recess having a region of generally tapering form,
introducing the tube into the opening, passage or recess,
positioning a clamping member within the tube, and securing the
clamping member to the said another component to clamp the tube
between the clamping member and the said another component.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the clamping member is
also of generally tapering form.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tube is of a ductile
material.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tube is of a plastics
material.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the tube is shaped to
include an end region of tapering form prior to the introduction of
the tube into the opening, passage or recess.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the action of introducing
deforms part of the tube to conform generally, with the tapering
shape of the opening, passage or recess.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the clamping member is
provided with a screw-threaded passage extending from the lower
surface thereof, a screw-threaded bolt being used to secure the
clamping member to the said another component, the screw-threaded
bolt extending through an opening formed in the said another
component and into the screw-threaded passage.
8. A post arrangement comprising a tube, an end of which extends
into an opening, passage or recess provided in a base, the opening,
passage or recess being of generally tapering form, a clamping
member being located at least partly within the tube, the clamping
member being secured to the base to clamp the tube between the
clamping member and the base.
9. A post arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the tube is of
plastics construction.
10. A post arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the clamping
member is of generally tapering form.
11. A post arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the shape of
the clamping member, conforms generally with the shape of the
interior of the part of the tube which is located within the
opening, passage or recess provided in the base.
12. A post arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the clamping
member is arranged to be secured to the base by means of a
screw-threaded coupling.
13. A post arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the post is
arranged to carry part of a queue management system.
14. A post arrangement comprising a tube, an end of which extends
into an opening, passage or recess provided in a housing forming
part of a queue management system, the opening, passage or recess
being of generally tapering form, a clamping member being located
within the tube, the clamping member being secured to the housing
to clamp the tube between the clamping member and the housing.
15. A connection arrangement comprising a first component of
tubular form, a second component having an opening, passage or
recess of tapering form formed therein, and a clamping member, a
part of the first component being located within the opening,
passage or recess of the second component, the clamping member
being located at least partly within the first component and
secured to the second component to clamp the first component
between the second component and the clamping member.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a technique for use in mounting
tubes, and in particular tubes of a material having a degree of
ductility, for example a plastics material, or tubes with preformed
tapering end sections, to or upon other components.
[0002] Plastics tubes are sometimes used to support, for example,
the retractable barriers of a queue management system, signposts or
a number of other objects. When used in such applications, the
plastics tubes are secured, at their lower ends, to appropriately
shaped bases. Typically, each base includes an upstanding boss into
or over which the associated plastics tube is fitted, the plastics
tube then being secured in position using, for example, screws. It
has been found that the formation of openings or holes in the wall
of the plastics tube into or through which the screws extend
introduces stress concentrations which significantly weaken the
tube and as a result there is a risk of the tube cracking or
breaking, in use. Breakage of the tube in this manner may result in
the tube/base combination no longer being suitable for continued
use. In some applications, an adhesive may be used instead of
screws. However, depending upon the materials of the base and the
tube, difficulties may be faced in obtaining an adhesive which is
suitable for use with and compatible with both materials.
[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a technique
whereby a tube can be secured to another component, for example a
base, in which this disadvantage is reduced or overcome.
[0004] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
method of securing a tube to another component, the method
comprising providing the said another component with an opening,
passage or recess of generally tapering form, introducing the tube
into the opening, passage or recess, positioning a clamping member
within the tube, and securing the clamping member to the said
another component to clamp the tube between the clamping member and
the said another component.
[0005] The clamping member is also preferably of generally tapering
form, conveniently conforming with the opening, passage or
recess.
[0006] The tube is conveniently of plastics form, and may be of
circular cross-section, although other cross-sections may be used,
and the said another component is conveniently a base to allow the
tube to be stood generally upright and used to support, for
example, part of a queue management system, or a housing containing
the said part of the queue management system. It will be
appreciated, however, that the tube may be used for other purposes,
for example as a signpost, part of an exhibition stand or garden
furniture.
[0007] The tube may be shaped to include an end region of tapering
form prior to the introduction of the tube into the opening,
passage or recess. However, in one preferred technique, the tube is
forced into the opening with a sufficiently high force to deform
the end part of the tube to conform, generally, with the tapering
shape of the opening, passage or recess.
[0008] The clamping member may be provided with a screw threaded
passage extending from the lower surface thereof, a screw threaded
bolt being used to secure the clamping member to the said another
component, the screw threaded bolt extending through an opening
formed in the said another component and into the screw threaded
passage.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a post arrangement comprising a tube, an end of which
extends into an opening, passage or recess provided in a base, the
opening, passage or recess being of generally tapering form, a
clamping member being located at least partly within the tube, the
clamping member being secured to the base to clamp the tube between
the clamping member and the base.
[0010] The tube is preferably of plastics construction, and may be
of circular cross-section, but other cross-sectional shapes may be
used, if desired.
[0011] The clamping member is preferably of generally tapering
form, and preferably conforms generally with the shape of the
interior of the part of the tube which is located within the
opening, passage or recess provided in the base.
[0012] Conveniently, the clamping member is arranged to be secured
to the base by means of a screw threaded coupling, for example in
the form of a screw threaded bolt arranged to extend through an
opening in the base and into a screw threaded passage formed in the
clamping member.
[0013] The post is conveniently arranged to carry part of a queue
management system. It will be appreciated, however, that the post
may be employed in a number of other applications, and so may be
adapted or arranged to carry a wide range of other components or
articles, for example signs.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a post arrangement comprising a tube, an end of which
extends into an opening, passage or recess provided in a housing
forming part of a queue management system, the opening, passage or
recess being of generally tapering form, a clamping member being
located within the tube, the clamping member being secured to the
housing to clamp the tube between the clamping member and the
housing.
[0015] The tube is preferably of plastics construction, and may be
of circular cross-section, although other shapes may be used if
desired.
[0016] The clamping member is preferably of generally tapering
form, and preferably conforms generally with the shape of the
interior of the part of the tube which is located within the
opening, passage or recess provided in the housing.
[0017] Conveniently, the clamping member is arranged to be secured
to the housing by means of a screw threaded coupling, for example
in the form of a screw threaded bolt arranged to extend through an
opening in the housing and into a screw threaded passage formed in
the clamping member.
[0018] A post arrangement in accordance with the invention as
defined above has the advantage that a generally widespread and
uniform attachment means is provided. As no openings must be made
in the tube in order to secure the tube to the base or housing,
less weakening of the tube occurs than in prior arrangements, thus
the risk of the post breaking is reduced. The compatibility
problems which may be faced where adhesive is used are also
avoided.
[0019] The invention will further be described, by way of example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a post arrangement in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of part of the post
arrangement of FIG. 1; and
[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of alternative
configurations.
[0023] The post arrangement shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plastics
tube 10, the lower end of which is secured to a base 12. The upper
end of the tube 10 carries, in this embodiment, a unit 14 forming
part of a queue management system. The unit 14 comprises a housing
16 within which a spool is rotatably mounted, a length of webbing
being wound onto the spool and a spring being provided to apply a
biassing force to the spool so that, if webbing is pulled from the
spool, then upon release of the webbing, the spring biassing causes
the spool to rotate within the housing 16, winding the webbing back
onto the spool and retracting the webbing into the housing 16. As
shown, the housing 16 is provided with a slot through which the
webbing extends.
[0024] The free end of the webbing carries part of a catch
mechanism engageable with or connectable to one of three
cooperatively shaped receivers formed in or on another similar post
arrangement.
[0025] A similar unit 14 is also provided part way along the tube
10. Clearly, depending upon the application in which the post
arrangement is to be used, this second unit 14 may be omitted, if
desired, or additional units 14 may be provided, again if
desired.
[0026] The base 12 comprises a portion 18 of generally cruciform
shape. The portion 18 thus includes four legs 18a, 18b, 18c and
18d. One pair of opposing legs 18a, 18c are relatively long, the
other legs 18b, 18b being shorter in length. A boss 20 upstands
from the centre of the portion 18, the boss 20 being shaped such
that the interior thereof defines a recess 22 of generally tapering
form. A passage 24 extends through the portion 18, the passage 24
opening into the recess 22.
[0027] The tube 10 is located such that its lower end is positioned
within the recess 22. During assembly, the lower end of the tube 10
is forced into the recess 22, the engagement between the tube 10
and the boss 20 deforming the lower end of the tube 10 such that it
also adopts a generally tapering shape. The action of forcing the
tube 10 into the recess 22 may result in the interior of the tube
10 adopting a shape which, although tapering, is not truly conical
but rather is slightly barrelled, the inner surfaces of the wall of
the tube taking on a slightly concave form.
[0028] Within the tube 10 is located a clamping member 26 which is
of generally frustoconical form, the cone angle of which is
approximately the same as that of the recess 22. Although the
clamping member 26 may be of truly frustoconical form, it may be
preferable to shape the clamping member 26 to conform generally
with the shape adopted by the interior of the part of the tube 10
which is located within the recess 22 and, as mentioned above, it
is possible that this may be other than truly conical, for example
the clamping member may be of slightly barrelled, generally
frustoconical form. A screw threaded bore 28 is provided in the
clamping member 26, the bore 28 being aligned with the passage 24.
A screw threaded bolt 30 extends through the passage 24 and into
the bore 28, the head of the bolt 30 being located within a recess
32 formed in the underside of the base 12. The bolt 30 secures the
clamping member 26 to the base 12, clamping the deformed, lower end
of the tube 10 between the clamping member 26 and the wall of the
boss 20, thereby firmly securing the tube 10 to the base 12.
[0029] As the formation of openings in the wall of the tube 10 is
avoided, the formation of stress concentrations in the tube 10 is
also avoided, and the risk of the tube breaking is thus reduced.
The disadvantages associated with using adhesives are also
avoided.
[0030] The method by which the post described above is assembled
comprises forcing the tube 10 into the recess 22 to deform the end
thereof positioning the clamping member 26 within the tube 10 and
then securing the clamping member 26 in position using the bolt 30.
It will be appreciated that the act of tightening the bolt 30
firmly secures the tube 10 to the base 12. Once the tube 10 has
been secured to the base 12, the second unit 14 is secured to the
upper end of the tube 10, another length of tube is attached to the
second unit 14, and the first mentioned unit 14 is secured in
position.
[0031] The description hereinbefore is of the manner in which the
tube is secured to the base. The same, or a similar, technique may
also be used to mount the units 14 upon the tube 10, the housing of
each of the units being shaped to include a generally tapering
recess, opening or passage into which the tube 10 is forced, a
clamping member located within the tube being secured to the
housing of the unit to clamp the tube between the housing of the
unit and the clamping member. It will be appreciated, therefore,
that in the arrangement of FIG. 1, the tube is in two parts, and
four connections are made between the end parts of the tubes and
the units/base. Obviously, where both ends of the tube are to be
deformed, it is important to locate both of the clamping members
within the tube before the deformation of the tube is
completed.
[0032] In the arrangement described hereinbefore, the tube 10 is
forced, using a large loading, into the recess 22. It will be
appreciated that the magnitude of the load which must be applied
may be reduced if, prior to introducing the tube into the recess,
one or more slots were cut into the part of the tube to be forced
into the recess. However, the formation of such slots may introduce
stress concentrations which may weaken the tube.
[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates a modification to the arrangement
described hereinbefore in which the bolt 30 passes through a
passage formed in the clamping member 26 and engages with
screw-threads formed in a passage provided in the base.
Alternatively, a nut may be provided to co-operate with the
screw-thread of the bolt.
[0034] In the arrangements described hereinbefore, the tube 10
tapers inwardly. FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement in which the
tube 10 tapers outwardly.
[0035] A number of modifications can be made to the described
arrangements within the scope of the invention For example, the
clamping member may be of multi-part construction. The tube 10 is
preferably of a ductile, conveniently plastics, material allowing
it to be deformed to include a tapering region. However this need
not be the case and a tube having a preformed tapering region may
be used.
[0036] Although the invention has been described above in relation
to a post for a part of a queue management system, it will be
appreciated that the post of the invention may be used in a wide
range of other applications, for example for supporting signs or
the like, and the method of the invention may also be used in
mounting tubes to or upon components other than bases of the type
described hereinbefore. Further, a number of changes may be made to
the design described above in accordance with the invention. For
example, the shapes and relative sizes of the various components
may be modified. In other possible arrangements, the tubes may be
of cross-sections other than circular.
* * * * *