M&C Folio: GBP98306 Document : 1283193

AN ANCHOR SYSTEM

The invention relates to an anchor system, particularly for anchoring a securing device such as a screw or bolt in situ. The invention also relates to a method for anchoring a securing device.

Securing devices such as screws, bolts, expansion bolts and the like are often required to be stepped in a bore in a substrate, either to provide a support device or to secure two or more substrates such as timber battens together. If there is too much load on this securing device when in place, or the substrate is liable to spall or splinter, the securing device can often become loose, and can be pulled from the bore.

Apart from damage caused to the substrate, such an eventuality can be dangerous as an object being supported by the securing device, such as a shelf, can fall and cause injury.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for anchoring a securing device in situ, comprising a rupturable container for each of respective separate mixable components of the system, which containers are so arranged as to be rupturable together to secure same on mixing of the components.

The containers are preferably rupturable together by the securing device in use.

Using the invention, it is possible to provide a wall plug, or, stated in another way, a means of securing a securing device in a bore in a wall or like substrate.

The system may be a two-component system for example an epoxy resin system. Each container may comprise a plastic capsule. This provides for ease of construction and use, particularly when the two capsules may be integral.

Suitably the capsules may be elongate and connected by an integral line of fold, which latter may be substantially transverse to a longitudinal extent of the capsules. Thus the capsules may be elongate or of 'lozenge' configuration.

The line of fold may further be substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the capsules.

The capsules may be foldable about the line of fold so that one capsule is superposed on the other.

The capsules may include a line of weakness extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the capsules.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of anchoring a securing device, such as a screw in situ in a bore, comprising the steps of providing a system as hereinbefore defined for anchoring the securing device in situ, inserting the system in the bore, inserting the securing device in the bore, and rupturing the containers with the securing device whereby to mix the components to provide for anchoring the securing device.

The container may comprise rupturable plastic capsules and the step of rupturing the capsules may provide plastic material for grip of the securing device against the bore wall.

Embodiments of structural systems according to the invention are hereinafter described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a system according to the invention in a first mode;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of part of the system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the part shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the part of Fig. 2, taken on the line A-A of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 to 8 are respectively similar views to Figs. 1 to 4, but of a second embodiment of a system according to the invention; and

Figs. 9 to 11 show use of the system of the first embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 to anchor a securing device such as a screw in a bore in a substrate such as a concrete wall and to secure a wooden batten or beam to the wall.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are indicated by like reference numerals, there is shown a system 1, 100 for anchoring a securing device 2 in situ, (Figs. 10 and 11), comprising a rupturable container such as a plastic capsule 3 for each of respective separate mixable components (not shown) of the system, which containers 3 are so arranged as to be rupturable together by the securing device 2 to secure same on mixing of the components.

The plastic capsules 3 are in Figs. 1 to 4 integrally secured together about a hinge or fold line 4 which is substantially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the capsules 3 which as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2 are elongate and of generally lozenge type construction.

The two capsules are essentially mirror images one of the other, as considered about the line of fold line 4. The capsules 3 can be folded about the line of fold 4 so that they can be superposed.

There is also a line of weakness 5 transverse to the body of each capsule 3, the line of weakness being a tear line terminating at each side of the body of the capsule in a notch 6 to enhance tearing if the capsules are ruptured manually.

The two capsules 3 contain respectively separate mixable components (not shown) such as a two part epoxy resin system, one capsule containing an epoxy resin and the other a hardener therefor.

The capsules 3 are sealed by a plastic sheet or foil 7 secured to flanges 8 of the capsules to maintain the respective components in their respective capsules 3 without initial mixing.

Referring now to the second embodiment of Figs. 5 to 8, this is similar to the first embodiment, except that in this case the two capsules 3 are connected by an integral line of fold 4 which lies between the two capsules 3, extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the capsules 3.

As in the first embodiment, the capsules 3 can be folded or hinged about the line of fold 4 so that they are superposed.

Use of the system 1, 100 is described with reference to Figs. 9 to 11, in which the first embodiment 1 is being folded (Fig. 9) about the line of fold 4 so that the superposed capsules 3 can be inserted in a blind bore 9 of a substrate 10 in the embodiment say a concrete wall, to which there is to be secured a member such as a timber batten 11 using a securing device such as the screw 2 inserted through a hole 12 in the batten 11 which hole 12 is aligned with the blind bore 9 (Fig. 10). In order to secure the screw 2, it is screwed into the blind bore 9. This action causes it to engage the system 1 in the bore 9 and rupture the capsules 3 so that the two components of the two part epoxy resin system flow and mix together. The rotation of the screw effects mixing of the two components. This action results in the components providing on mixing a structural adhesive which secures the screw 2 in the bore, thus anchoring it in position and therefore firmly securing the batten 11 to the wall 10. The screw 2 therefore acts as a

static mixer of the components (Fig. 11). Moreover, as the plastic capsules 3 when ruptured remain in the bore 9, they provide for an extra "bite" and tension of the screw 2 against the boundary wall of the blind bore 9. hi short, the plastic of the ruptured capsules adds to the grip of the screw 2, which does not then have to screw into the boundary wall of the bore 9.

It will be understood that any suitable system dimension is applicable, for example from 5mm wide and 20mm long to 10 or 15mm wide and 30mm long.

hi every case, the parameters are such as to allow insertion of the system 1, 100 in a bore 9. Moreover, although the Figures show the hinged end of the capsules being inserted first into the blind bore, the non-hinged ends can be inserted first, in other words the hinged end would be uppermost, the opposite of the attitude shown in Figs. 9 to ll.

It will be understood too that while the embodiments have been described with reference to providing a system or wall plug for concrete (or brick, breeze-block or the like) walls when a wooden member is to be secured thereto, they are equally applicable to a wood to wood connection, to provide extra bite and strength to the fixing of the screw.

It will be understood too that the system 1, 100 may be applicable for say 3 mixable components, and may be applicable for epoxy, acrylic and polyurethane adhesives.

Also, the capsules may be separate initially, and may be superposed before insertion in the blind bore.