FASTENING DEVICE

Background to the invention

The present invention relates to a fastening device. In particular, the present invention relates to a fastening device for securing an elongate member to a channel section, such as a substantially U-shaped rolled channel section as used in the construction industry.

Generic rolled 'strut type' channel shaped profiles are well known and used extensively throughout the construction industry, particularly but not exclusively within the UK, Europe, and Middle East. Such channel shape profiles are used, for example, to provide support for secondary light gauge frameworks and structures for the installation of services, pipe-work and Heating and Ventilation and Air- Condition (HVAC) systems.

One conventional means of supporting such services and installations on such channel shaped profiles is by simply hanging the secondary frameworks and structures using metal cables and the like. Such cables and the like may include locking clips and/or loop arrangements which allow the cable to be fitted around the channel shaped profile, extend downwards from the profile and be secured around or through a part of the secondary framework to be support thereby.

However, such arrangements, whilst inexpensive and simple to use, have several disadvantages. For example, the secondary framework, until secured in place in several places will be able to swing about the cable arrangement. Such swinging, which may occur as a result of vibrations and the like in the local environment, may lead to wear and tear on the cable thereby limiting the life of the securing arrangement.

There is therefore a need for an arrangement that allows the secure location of secondary frameworks supported by channel shaped profiles.

Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to address the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a fastening device for engagement with a channel portion having a base member, and first and second side members extending from respective edge regions of the base member to form a substantially U-shaped cross section, and defining respective first and second opposing inner surfaces, which are spaced apart by a first amount, the channel portion further having first and second retaining members which extend from free edge regions of the first and second side members respectively towards the other of the side members thereby defining an entry region having a width less than the first amount, the fastening device comprising a body having a width less than a width of an entry region of such a channel portion, and having opposing engagement surfaces spaced apart by an amount substantially equal to the first amount of such a channel portion, thereby enabling frictional engagement of the engagement surfaces with opposing inner surfaces of such a channel portion and substantially preventing linear movement of the fastening device within such a channel portion.

In this way, the fastening device may be entered into the channel portion by orienting the fastening device body such that the width of the fastening device is passed through the entry region. Once passed through the entry region and into the channel, the fastening device may then be rotated to bring the opposing engagement surfaces into frictional engagement with the opposing surfaces of the first and second side members. The fastening means, thus oriented, will be securely held in place within the channel by the retaining members and located in position by means of the frictional fit between the opposing engagement surfaces

of the fastening device and respective opposing surfaces of the first and second side members.

In one embodiment, each opposing engagement surface comprises a substantially planar portion and a substantially curved portion. Each substantially planar portion may frictionally engage an opposing surface of one of the side members of the channel, whilst each substantially curved portion facilitates the rotation of the fastening device, once passed through the entry region, into frictional engagement with opposing surfaces of the first and second side members.

Preferably, the substantially curved portions of respective engagement surfaces are diagonally opposed to one another. In such a situation, the diagonally opposed curved portions are preferably mirror images of one another. This assists in the smooth rotation of the body of the fastening device within the channel.

Preferably, the body of the fastening device is substantially a rhomboid in cross- section.

The body of the fastening device may further comprise an elongate member extending therefrom in a first direction substantially parallel to the planar portions of the engagement surfaces. The elongate member may be formed integrally with the body of the fastening device, or may comprise a separate element located in position so as to extend away from the body of the fastening device in at least a first direction.

In addition, if desired, the elongate member may also extend in a second direction away from the first direction.

In one embodiment, the fastening device in accordance with the present invention further comprises an aperture through which the elongate member extends away from the body in a first direction and/or a second opposing direction.

The elongate member is provided as a means of securing a secondary framework or the like to the channel. For example, a cable may be swaged onto the end of the elongate member, the swaged cable then be used in the conventional way to secure to and/or around an item of the secondary framework or the like to secure it in place relative to the channel such that it is supported by the channel.

Alternatively, the elongate member may be provided with a threaded portion located at least one end thereof instead of, or in addition to, a swaged end on the elongate member. Items of the secondary framework or the like may then be secured to the channel by thread-fitted arrangement with the threaded end on the elongate member.

It will be appreciated that the elongate member may be provided with a threaded portion at both ends thereof.

In a further embodiment, the aperture is further provided with a locking arrangement to secure the elongate member in a selected position within the aperture.

In one embodiment, the locking arrangement comprises a return spring arrangement allowing travel of the elongate member relative to the aperture in a first direction and preventing travel of the elongate member relative to the aperture in a second opposing direction. In this way, the elongate member may be passed through the aperture in the body of the fastening means so as to extend away from the body by a desired amount. This facilitates the mounting of the secondary framework or the like a desired distance from the channel by simply drawing the

elongate member through the aperture a selected distance, return of the elongate member through the channel in an opposing direction being prevented by the presence of the locking arrangement.

The locking arrangement may further comprise release means operable to manually release the return spring arrangement and allow movement of the elongate member relative to the aperture in the second direction. This allows manual adjustment of the position of the elongate member relative to the channel in either direction.

The elongate member may be substantially cylindrical in shape. However, it will be appreciated that the elongate member may be of any desired shape known to the skilled person. For example, the elongate member may be provided with a plurality of substantially planar surfaces extending along its longitudinal axis. In this way, the elongate member may be more easily gripped by a user when manipulating the elongate member during the process of fastening a secondary framework or the like to the channel shaped profiles.

The body of the fastening device may be provided with opposing recesses further reducing the width of the fastening device at the recessed portions across its width.

Optionally, the body of the fastening device may be provided with a socket receiving means at an aperture entrance region. Such socket receiving means facilitates the gripping of the fastening device by a socket wrench type tool to facilitate the rotation of the device for either bringing the opposing surfaces into, or out of, frictional fit with the first and second surfaces of the channel.

The fastening device may be further provided with a fixing tool, the fixing tool comprising a handle portion and body engagement portion for engagement with a portion of the body of the fastening means. For example, the body engagement portion of the fixing tool may be dimensioned so as to locate within the opposing

recesses across the width of the fastening device. Thus, the fixing tool may be used to facilitate the rotation of the fastening device within the channel to bring the opposing surfaces of the body into frictional engagement with the opposing first and second surfaces of the channel.

The fixing tool may be further provided with a socket portion dimensioned so as to be engagable with the socket receiving means located at the aperture entrance.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a mounting system comprising a channel portion having a base member, and first and second side members extending from respective edge regions of the base member to form a substantially

U-shaped cross section, and defining respective first and second opposing inner surfaces, which are spaced apart by a first amount, the channel portion further having first and second retaining members which extend from free edge regions of the first and second side members respectively towards the other of the side members thereby defining an entry region having a width less than the first amount, and a fastening device comprising a body having a width less than a width of an entry region of such a channel portion, and having opposing engagement surfaces spaced apart by an amount substantially equal to the first amount, thereby enabling frictional engagement of the engagement surfaces with the opposing inner surfaces of the channel portion, and substantially preventing linear movement of the fastening device within the channel portion.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a mounting system comprising a channel portion having first and second side members extending from a base member to form a substantially channel shaped cross section, the first and second side members being spaced apart by a first amount, and having respective retaining members extending from free edge regions thereof towards the other of the side members to define an entry region having a width less than the first amount, and a fastening device according to a first aspect of the present invention.

A mounting system in accordance with the present invention may be further provided with a fixing tool, the fixing tool comprising a handle portion and body engagement portion for engagement with a portion of the body of the fastening means.

The body engagement portion of the fixing tool may be dimensioned so as to locate within the opposing recesses across the width of the fastening device.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of fastening a fastening device to a channel portion, the method comprising the steps of: a) Providing a channel portion having first and second side members extending from a base member to form a substantially U-shaped cross section, the first and second side members being spaced apart by a first amount, and having respective retaining members extending from free edge regions thereof towards the other of the side members to define an entry region having a width less than the first amount; b) Providing a fastening device comprising a body having a width less than such an entry region and having opposing engagement surfaces for engagement with opposing surfaces of the first and second side members, the body being further provided with an elongate member extending therefrom; c) Inserting the fastening device into the channel through the entry region; and d) Rotating the fastening device so as to bring the opposing engagement surfaces into factional engagement with opposing surfaces of the first and second side members of the channel thereby substantially preventing linear movement of the fastening device within the channel portion.

Preferably, the fastening device further comprises an aperture through which the elongate member extends in use.

More preferably, the fastening device further comprises a locking arrangement to secure the elongate member in a selected position within the aperture.

The locking arrangement may comprises a return spring arrangement allowing travel of the elongate member relative to the aperture in a first direction and preventing travel of the elongate member relative to the aperture in a second opposing direction.

For example, where the channel is oriented with the retaining members uppermost, the elongate member may be freely moveable in a direction from the channel base member towards the retaining members, but may be prevented from movement in the opposing direction by means of the locking arrangement.

The locking arrangement may be provided with release means operable to manually release the return spring arrangement and allow movement of the elongate member relative to the aperture in the second direction.

Although the locking arrangement is referred to as a return spring arrangement with respect to the present invention, it will be appreciated that any other suitable locking means known to the skilled person may be used as an alternative and that the locking means of the present invention is not restricted to a return spring arrangement.

The elongate member may be provided with means for engagement with a structure to be supported by the channel. For example, the elongate member may comprise a rod or the like and may be provided with a threaded portion at one end to which further fastening means may be brought into threaded engagement, said further fastening means being secured to said structure to be supported. Alternatively, the elongate member may comprise a swaged portion connecting cable, such as metal

cable or the like, to the elongate member, the cable then being use in a conventional manner to secure said structure to be supported to the elongate member and thus to the channel portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 a perspective view of a channel to which the fastening device of figure 1 is secured in use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a body of a fastening device in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a view of the fastening device of figure 1 from above;

Figure 4 is a view of the fastening device of figure 1 from below; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fixing tool for use with the fastening device of figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the fastening device of figure 2 secured to the channel of figure 1 using the fixing tool of figure 5.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a channel 1 having a base 2 and opposing side walls 3, 3' extending from base 2 so as to define a channel region 4. Side walls 3, 3' have respective inner surface areas 4, 4' and are provided with retaining means 5, 5' comprising rolled regions defining an entry region 6 therebetween. The width x of the entry region 6 is less than the width between opposing side walls 3, 3'.

Figure 2 shows a fastening device 10 comprising a body 12 having opposing channel engagement surfaces 14, 14' for engagement with the opposing side walls 3, 3' of channel 1. Opposing channel engagement surfaces 14, 14' have

substantially planar portions 16, 16' and adjacent substantially curved portions 18, 18'.

Body 12 of fastening device 10 is further provided with side walls 15, 15' having recessed regions 24, 24' for engagement with a fixing tool 30 (see figures 5 and 6). In addition, body 12 of fastening device 10 is further provided with socket engagement recess 26 in lower surface 28 for engagement with a socket arrangement of fixing tool 40 (see figures 5 and 6)

Body 12 of fastening device 10 is further provided with an aperture 30 through which a rod 32 (see figure 6) is passed in use. Rod 32 is threaded at each end to allow the threaded engagement with swaged cables and other threaded rods and fastening means and the like. Fastening device 10 is further provided with a return spring arrangement 200 so as to allow movement of rod 32 relative to body 12 of fastening device 10 in a first direction only (shown by arrow A in figure 6). Optionally, the return spring arrangement may be manually releasable in order to allow movement of rod 32 relative to body 12 of fastening device 10.

The width y of the fastening device 10 is less than the width x of entry region 6 such that the body 12 of fastening device 10 can fit through entry region 6 when the fastening device 10 is in the correct orientation.

The aperture 210 shown in figures 2 and 3 is provided as an anchor point for spring arrangement 200. However, it is to be appreciated that this aperture may be omitted or replaced with a substantially planar base plate and the spring arrangement 200 anchored to the interior surface of fastening device body 12.

Once the body 12 of fastening device 10 has been passed through entry region 6 of channel 1, the body 12 of fastening device 10 can be rotated so as to bring channel engagement surfaces 15, 15' into frictional engagement with opposing side walls 3,

3' of channel 1. Curved portions 18, 18' of opposing end surfaces facilitate the easy rotation of fastening device 10 within channel 1.

In order to facilitate efficient rotation of fastening device 10 within channel 1, a fixing tool 40, as shown in figure 5, may be used. Fixing tool 40 comprises a hollow elongate member 42 having recess engagement portion 44 and manual gripping means 46 for gripping by the hands of a user in use.

Hollow elongate member 42 comprises a first end comprising a socket 43 for receiving in socket engagement recess in lower surface 28, and an opposing end comprising an engagement means 44 for engaging with the engagement recesses 24, 24' in fastening device 10.

Once the body 12 of fastening device 10 has been passed through entry region 6 of channel 1 as described above, hollow elongate member 42 of fixing tool 40 is passed over rod 32 such that engagement means 44 engage with engagement recesses 24, 24' in fastening device 10. Body 12 of fastening device 10 is then rotated by rotating fixing tool 40 about rod 32 so as to bring opposing channel engagement surfaces 14, 14' of body 12 of fastening means 10 into frictional engagement with inner surface areas 4, 4' of side walls 3, 3' of channel 1. Fastening device 10 is then securely held in place within channel 1 by frictional fit between channel engagement surface 14, 14' of body 12 of fastening means and side walls 3, 3' of channel 1, as well as by means of retaining means 5, 5' of channel 1.

Fixing tool 40 may then be removed from recessed regions 24, 24' and removed from around rod 32 leaving the fastening means in place within channel 1. Secondary framework and structures may then be attached to rod 32 of fastening means 10 to support secondary framework and structures on channel 1.

To remove fastening means 10 from channel 1, the same procedure is simply followed in reverse. First, any secondary framework or structures are disconnected from threaded rod 32 of fastening device 10. Fixing tool 40 is then passed over rod 32 such that engagement means 44 engage with engagement recesses 24, 24' in fastening device 10. Body 12 of fastening device 10 is then rotated in the reverse direction to that previously described by rotating fixing tool 40 about rod 32, thereby bringing opposing channel engagement surfaces out of frictional fit with side walls 3, 3' of channel 1. Fastening device 10 may then be simply removed from channel 1 by orienting the fastening device 10 such that width y of fastening device 10 is in line with width x of entry region 6 of channel 1, and fastening means 10 simply withdrawn from channel 1 through entry region 6.

Although aspects of the invention have been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort.

For example, fastening device 10 is shown located in channel 1 where substantially U-shaped channel 1 is shows in the orientation where entry region 6 is uppermost. However, it will be appreciated that the fastening device may be used with channel 1 oriented with entry region 6 facing downwards.

In order to accommodate such an arrangement, fastening device 10 must be located within channel 1 in an opposite orientation i.e. with surface 28 located adjacent entry region 6 of channell. Rod 32 is moveable within aperture 30 of fastening device 10 in a single direction (as shown in figure 6).

The fastening device 10 is inserted through entry region 6 of channel 1, socket portion 48 of fixing tool 40 is engaged with socket engagement recess 26 in surface 28 of body 12 of fastening device 10, and fixing tool 40 rotated to bring opposing

channel engagement surfaces 14, 14' of body 12 of fastening device 10 into frictional engagement with inner surface areas 4, 4' of side walls 3, 3' of channel 1.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the fastening device 10 may be used with channel 1 in either orientation simply by inserting fastening device 10 through entry region 6 of channel 1 in an alternative orientation i.e. rotated about 180 °.