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Title:
ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING AN ELEMENT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/037624
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an arrangement and method for supporting an element (1) from a mounting base (8) by at least one elongated support arm (3) provided with an external helical thread (2). For this purpose at least one locking means (4) is arranged to at least one optional location on the elongated support arm (3) provided with the external helical thread (2), the locking means being, in turn, guided into at least one jointing member (5) provided in the element. Hence the support arm (3) projects from the element (1 ) towards the mounting base (8) in the position of use of the element. The projection of the support arm (3) is then adjustable by a rotating movement accomplished in relation to the longitudinal axis of the support arm. The element set approximately into a desired height position, together with its projecting support arms, is placed against the mounting base, after which the precise position of the element may be adjusted by rotating the support arm in relation to the locking means. Finally, the support arm is fastened to the mounting base by a fastening means.

Inventors:
RAJAMAEKI VEIKKO (FI)
Application Number:
PCT/FI2013/050865
Publication Date:
March 13, 2014
Filing Date:
September 09, 2013
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
SERRES OY (FI)
International Classes:
E04G25/02; E03F5/04; F16B37/08
Foreign References:
EP1445499A12004-08-11
DE20019594U12002-03-28
US6146076A2000-11-14
DE102010005975A12011-08-18
DE20019594U12002-03-28
Other References:
See also references of EP 2898159A4
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KOLSTER OY AB (P.O. Box 148, Helsinki, FI)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. An arrangement for supporting an element (1 ) from a mounting base (8) by at least one elongated support arm (3) provided with an external helical thread (2), the arrangement comprising

one or more jointing members (5) in the element (1 ) for receiving a locking means (4) and the support arm (3) arranged thereto,

the support arm (3) arranged to the jointing member (5) by the locking means (4) being thus arranged to project from the element (1 ) towards the mounting base (8), characterized in that

the arrangement further comprises:

an opening (13) provided in the locking means (4) in the longitudinal direction thereof, the opening being arranged to open on the entire length of the locking means for arranging the locking means to an optional position on the support arm (3) so that

the locking means is placeable onto an outer surface (7) of the support arm in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support arm, and

the jointing member and/or locking means has a helical thread (6) that corresponds to the helical thread (2) in the support arm.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the jointing member (5) comprises an elongated connection channel (9),

the longitudinal axis of the connection channel being substantially parallel with the normal (10) of the mounting base (8) when the element (1 ) is in its position of use; and

at least the connection channel (9) or the locking means (4) being provided with a helical thread (6) corresponding to the helical thread (2) in the support arm (3).

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a form-locking is achievable between the jointing member (5) and the locking means (4).

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the locking means (4) comprises a tightening band mainly surrounding the element (1 ).

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the locking means (4) comprises a sleeve mainly surrounding the cross-section (D) of the support arm, whereby a form-locking is achievable between the locking means and the jointing member.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the jointing member (5) comprises first guide elements (12) and the locking means comprises second guide elements (11 ) for achieving a form-locking between these parts.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the jointing member (5) comprises a slot receiving the locking means (4) for achieving a form-locking between these parts. 8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the locking means (4) comprises two parts hinged together and turnable towards each other, at least one of the parts comprising an inner helical thread (6) that corresponds to the outer helical thread (2) provided in the support arm

(3).

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the locking means (4) comprises two parts to be attached to each other, at least one of the parts comprising an inner helical thread (6) that corresponds to the outer helical thread (2) provided in the support arm (3).

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the locking means (4) comprises an inner helical thread (6) that corresponds to the outer helical thread (2) provided in the support arm (3). 014/037624

12

11. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the support arm (3) oriented towards the mounting base (8) is provided with a foot (19). 12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the joint between the foot (19) and the support arm (3) is arranged to be loose so that a rotating movement of the support arm in relation to the normal (10) of the mounting base (8) is allowed. 13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the foot (19) comprises a positioning channel (21 ) for receiving the support arm (3), the positioning channel comprising a cross-section that is greater than the cross-section (D) of the support arm; and

the end (22) of the positioning channel (21 ) that is oriented against the mounting base (8) is larger than the rest of the positioning channel and thus arranged to receive an extension part (23) provided at an outermost end of the support arm.

14. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, char- acterized in that the foot (19) is provided with one or more locking grooves (24) for receiving the fastening means, for locking the mutual position of the support arm (3) and the foot (19).

15. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, char- actertzed in that the foot (19) is provided with one or more through-holes (20) for receiving the fastening means and for fastening the foot to the mounting base (8).

16. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at its end facing the mounting base (8) the support arm

(3) comprises members for receiving (25) a tool for producing a rotating movement in relation to the longitudinal axis of the support arm.

17. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support arm (3) comprises level marks (18) for indicating the distance of the element (1 ) from the mounting base (8).

18. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support arm (3) comprises plastic material in order to facilitate the cutting of the arm.

19. A method for supporting an element (1 ) from a mounting base (8), wherein

at least one support arm (3) provided with an elongated and external helical thread (2) is arranged to the element;

the support arm (3) is provided with at least one locking means (4) so that

the locking means joins the support arm to at least one or more jointing members (5) provided in the element (1),

the support arm (3) thus arranged to the jointing member (5) by the locking means (4) projecting from the element (1 ) towards the mounting base (8); and

the projection of the support arm (3) being adjusted by a movement accomplished in relation to its longitudinal axis to provide a desired position of the element (1 ),

c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that

the support arm (3) is arranged to an optional position on the locking means (4),

the locking means being guided to the support arm in a substantially perpendicular direction in relation to the longitudinal axis of the arm, and in that the support arm sets into the helical thread (6) provided in the jointing member (5) and/or the locking means (4), the thread corresponding to the helical thread (2) on the support arm.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 for supporting an element (1 ), characterized in that each end of the support arm (3) oriented towards the mounting base (8) is provided with a foot (19).

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 for supporting an element (1 ), characterized in that the foot (19) is arranged to the end of the support arm (3) so that it is rotatable in relation to the longitudinal axis of the support arm and rotatable in relation to the end of the support arm.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 for supporting an element, characterized in that the feet (19) are placed against the mounting base (8) and the element (1) is positioned to its final position by rotating the support arm (3) in relation to the foot (19) and the normal (10) of the mounting base (8).

23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that a form-locking is achieved between the locking means (4) and the jointing member (5).

Description:
ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR SUPPORTING AN ELEMENT

Background of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 for supporting an element to be arranged for casting.

[0002] The invention also relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 19 for providing a support for said element to be arranged for casting.

[0003] Especially in connection with concreting of floors, it is particularly challenging to install elements that remain inside a cast onto a slab formwork so that they cannot move during concreting. Elements, such as floor traps, to be placed to the floor surface level, with the top surface installed as horizontally as possible and to a desired height position, are particularly problematic. In addition, getting the pipes to be installed in the concreting to the correct height also presents a major challenge.

[0004] Floor traps, for example, have been installed using support rings to be placed under the drain, or the like. Attempts have also been made to fasten them to the surrounding reinforcements or to ribbed bars installed to the moulds.

[0005] However, the prior art solutions are complicated and slow to implement, or result to an installation that is too imprecise. Moreover, often the stepwise adjustment of the current solutions causes problems when an attempt is made to install the element to the exactly correct height.

Brief description of the invention

[0006] It is thus an object of the invention to develop an arrange- ment so as to solve the above-mentioned problems. This object is achieved by an arrangement for supporting an element in a casting that has, in accordance with the present invention, the characteristic features defined in the claims.

[0007] More specifically, the arrangement according to the invention is mainly characterised by what is disclosed in the characterising part of claim 1. The method of the invention, in turn, is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing part of claim 19.

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0009] The idea of the invention is that an element to be installed to a casting is provided with support means that are easy to adjust and may be cut to a suitable length, and are quick to install in place yet affordable with regard to costs.

[0010] In the context of this invention, the term "element" refers to an element which in its final state of use is to a significant extent surrounded by other structures. It is essential to such elements that they can be installed firmly to the exactly correct position before the final structure is completed, for example before concreting is begun or the flooring of a wooden floor is finished.

[0011] The invention provides considerable advantages. Hence the present solution allows an element to be installed to its mounting base very quickly. At the same time, an installation is achieved that allows the vertical position of the element, for example, to be easily adjusted in a stepless manner until the completion of the structure.

[0012] A solution according to the present invention may be applied not only to floor traps but also to other elements to be installed to structures. However, nothing prevents the invention from being employed also in installation works made on vertical structures. The present solution may be used both in concreted structures and in other kinds of structures, such as wooden intermediate floors.

[0013] The arrangement of the invention allows an element to be quickly installed to the correct height because its main parts, i.e., a support arm and locking means, may be joined at any point of the stem length. This is possible because the structure of the locking means is open, or may be separately opened, and thus allows the locking means to be placed to the support arm in a lateral direction, i.e., without having to rotate it to the right height position along the thread of the support arm. Once the element is in place in the site of use, its final position is also easy to check and, when necessary, to fix by few rapid turns of the support arm.

[0014] By arranging the support arm to be rotatable in relation to the normal of the mounting base, irregularities in the formwork, for example, may be taken into account better. In addition, the support arm may be moved along the mounting base to some extent if it cannot be placed to the exactly correct position due to reinforcements or other surrounding structures. -

[0015] The threads in the support arm and the surrounding mem- bers allow the height position of the element to be adjusted steplessly, instead of the stepwise adjustment in the currently used competitive solutions. [0016] In addition, the present solution allows the adjusted position of the element to be maintained better than before despite any rough treatment the element is exposed to during the building works.

[0017] Other advantages of the invention are presented in the fol- lowing in connection with a more detailed description of special embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

[0018] In the following, some preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in closer detail with reference to the accompanying draw- ing, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic, axonometric view of the arrangement;

Figure 2 is a schematic, axonometric view of a second embodiment of the arrangement;

Figure 3 is a sectional view according to line A-A of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows an element provided with a jointing member according to an embodiment;

Figure 5 shows a detail of the jointing member of Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a detail view of a locking means according to the second embodiment;

Figure 7 is a front view of a third embodiment of the locking means arranged to the support arm;

Figure 8 is a rear view of the locking means of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the locking means to the arranged to the support arm;

Figure 10 is a view from below of the fourth embodiment of the locking means;

Figure 11 is a side view of the support arm;

Figure 12 is a top diagonal view of the support arm of Figure 11 ;

Figure 13 is a diagonal view from below of the support arm of Figure 11 ;

Figure 14 is a detailed view of a foot according to an embodiment; Figure 15 is a sectional view of the foot of Figure 14 along line B-B; Figure 16 shows a detail of the support arm arranged to the foot of Figure 14; and

Figure 17 shows the operation of the method presented. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0019] The present figures do not show the arrangement for supporting an element in scale but the figures are schematic, illustrating the general structure and operation of the preferred embodiments. Structural parts in- dicated by reference numerals in the accompanying figures then correspond to structural parts provided with reference numerals in this specification.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an arrangement according to the present solution in its entirety. The arrangement for supporting an element 1 thus comprises at least one elongated support arm 3 provided with an outer thread 2. A preferred embodiment of the support arm is shown in Figures 11 to 13.

[0021] The support arm in question may be provided with at least one locking means 4 on any optional location of the arm. By the locking means the support arm is further arranged to a jointing member 5, one or more of which may be provided in the element. The jointing member 5 and/or the locking means 4 is provided with an internal helical thread 6 that corresponds to an external helical thread on the support arm 3. The locking means is thus place- able on an outer surface 7 of the support arm in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support arm, the locking means and the support arm arranged thereto being then guidable into the jointing member. The support arm arranged to the jointing member of the locking means is thus arranged to project from the element towards the mounting base 8, which is schematically shown in Figure 2.

[0022] In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the jointing member 5 arranged to the element comprises an elongated connection channel 9, see Figure 3, whose longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with the normal 10 of the mounting base 8 when the element is in its position of use. This allows the projection of the support arm 3 from the element towards said mounting base 2 schematically shown in Figure 2 to be achieved.

[0023] When the locking means 4 of Figures 2 and 3 is provided with a smooth inner surface, it may be slid along the outer surface 7 of the support arm into the jointing member. Hence a form-locking is achieved between the jointing member and the locking means by providing them with opposite guide elements 1 and 12 according to Figure 3.

[0024] Alternatively, the inner surface of the locking means 4 alone, or that of both the locking means and the jointing member 5, may be provided with the helical thread 6, in which case the required form-locking is achieved by pressing the locking means perpendicularly against the jointing member. In an embodiment of this kind, the locking means yields enough to allow the guide elements 11 provided therein to bend outward momentarily and then at- tach to the guide elements 12 of the jointing member. Alternatively, the guide elements in the locking means may be replaced by gripping claws to allow the pressing force needed for the joint to be reduced.

[0025] It is also conceivable that, instead of the locking means 4, the support arms 3 arranged to the jointing members 5 are secured in place by a tightening band or a similar means that at least partly surrounds the element 1 and provides a pressing force, such a means similar to a conventional cable tie. In this type of embodiment, the support arms are first set into the jointing members provided in the element, as shown in Figure 2, and then the tightening band is guided to surround the element on the outside of the support arms. At the same time as the band is being tightened, the support arms press firmly against the jointing members.

[0026] In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 8, the jointing member 5 arranged to the element 1 comprises a particular slot receiving and mostly surrounding the locking means 4 installed to the support arm 3. In that case the support arm is provided with a locking means having an inner helical thread 6, specific embodiments of the locking means being shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. In Figure 1 the locking means is mostly covered by the jointing member 5 provided in the element and receiving the locking means.

[0027] The embodiment in Figure 6 shows the locking means 4 provided with an opening 13 extending in the direction of its longitudinal axis, the opening being open on the entire length of the locking means and having a width substantially equal to a diameter D of the support arm, see Figure 11. The opening allows the locking means to be easily guided to grab the support arm 3, at any point on its length, without the need to screw the locking means to the support arm from its end. This speeds up the installation of the locking means to the support arm considerably, and the support arm together with its locking means may be rapidly placed into the slot formed to the element by the jointing member. For the locking means to stay in place in the thread of the support arm, it is advantageous to make the opening in the locking means slightly smaller than the diameter of the support arm. This allows the locking means to be pressed to the support arm from the lateral direction thereof. On the other hand, the locking means may be detached and re-installed if the previous point of installation does not produce the desired result.

[0028] In the embodiments of Figures 7 to 10 the locking means 4 is formed of a part substantially surrounding the support arm 3 in such a manner that two parts of the locking means provided with an inner thread 6 are joined to surround the support arm and its outer thread 2. According to Figures 7 and 8, the locking means consists of two parts hinged together, the parts being bent around the support arm. When pressed against each other, the parts of the locking means become interlocked. The parts are preferably joined togeth- er in a detachable manner, allowing an opened locking means to be moved to another point on the support arm if the previous point of installation does to produce the desired result. The locking means is also achievable from two separate parts provided with an inner thread, the parts being joined and locked together to surround the support arm and its outer thread. This type of embod- iment is shown in Figures 9 and 10. Also in this case the parts are joined together preferably in a detachable manner to allow the locking means to be moved faster. Minor adjustments may be carried out simply by rotating the support arm and the locking means in relation to one another.

[0029] By guiding the locking means 4, which is at least partly sur- rounded by the support arm 3, to the slot formed by the jointing member 5, shown better for example in Figures 4 and 5, a so-called form-locking may be provided between the locking means and the slot. At its simplest, the form- locking in question is based merely on the wedging of the locking means against the slot walls. However, it is advantageous to enhance the locking by providing the locking means with specific flexible claws 14, which are pressed to the side when the locking means is pressed into the slot and then spring back when the locking means reaches cuts 15, shown in Figure 5, provided at the end of the slot for receiving the claws.

[0030] The locking means 4 may also be attached to the element 1 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. In that case the locking means that at least mostly surrounds the support arm 3 is provided with a specific carrier 16 that may be slid onto a guide element 17 provided in the element and forming a jointing member. In this kind of solution the required form-locking is achieved for example by providing the guide and/or carrier with teeth. Alternatively, the carrier and/or guide may be made to narrow/extend so that when pressed together, the parts wedge to one another in a desired manner. [0031] When the support arm 3 and the locking means 4 are attached to the element 1 , the support arm projects from the element towards the mounting base 8. In this position the projection of the support arm may still be adjusted by a simple rotating movement in relation to the locking means 4. If the final height position of the top surface of the element in relation to the mounting base is known, the projection of the support arm is easy to adjust by making use of height marks 18 arranged on the support arm length, the marks being disclosed in greater detail in Figure 11 , for example. At this stage the arrangement is arranged onto its mounting base 8 and the position of the ele- ment 1 is checked. When necessary, the height and inclination is fine-adjusted by rotating one or more support arms 3 in relation to their locking means 4. Finally, the support arms are fastened to the mounting base by fastening means known per se, such as nails or screws, or by tying them to the surrounding reinforcements or other surrounding structure.

[0032] To facilitate the fastening of the support arm 3, it may be provided with a specific foot 19. This may be in the form of a solid convex base plate, like the cap of a mushroom, and provided with through holes 20 for receiving the fastening means.

[0033] The foot 19 arranged to an end of the support arm 3 may al- so be formed of a separate means, as shown in Figures 14 to 16. In fact, the joint between this kind of foot and the support arm is arranged to be loose in such a manner that it allows a rotating movement of the support arm in relation to a vertical line formed by the normal 10 of the mounting base. The foot preferably comprises a positioning channel 21 into which the support arm may be arranged. The positioning channel comprises a cross-section that is greater than the cross-section D of the support arm. The cross-section of the end 22 that is oriented against the mounting base of the positioning channel is, however, larger than the rest of the positioning channel and thus arranged to receive an extension portion 23 that is at the outermost end of the support arm, as may be seen also in Figures 1 and 13. When the support arm is being guided into the foot, the structures yield somewhat to allow the extension part of the support arm to reach the end of the foot, to which the extension part locks because of its cross-section that is larger than the positioning channel. The large positioning channel still allows lateral tilting movements of the sup- port arm and thus the rotating of the support arm in relation to the assumed normal 10 of the mounting base allows unevenness or indirectness of the base to be taken into account better, or disadvantageous fastening points between the support arm and the base to be avoided.

[0034] The foot 19 is preferably provided with one or more locking grooves 24 for receiving the fastening means so that the support arm 3 and the foot may be locked in relation to one another to be in a substantially rigid position. In addition, the foot is preferably provided with one or more fastening holes 20 for receiving the fastening means and for fastening the foot to the mounting base 8.

[0035] The foot 19 of the preferred embodiment of the figures com- prises an external appearance in which good access of concrete into the structure in particular has been taken into account when the disclosed arrangement is used in cast structures. Hence no voids of entrapped air are created during casting in the foot or in the immediate vicinity thereof. On the other hand, the foot occupies an area as small as possible against the casting mould and, thus, on the bottom surface of the casting there is left an as small as possible non-concrete trace that is to be evened out or otherwise covered.

[0036] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the end of the support arm 3 of the arrangement that faces the mounting base 8 comprises particular members 25 for receiving a tool, known per se, the tool allowing a rotating move- ment of the support arm in relation to its longitudinal axis to be achieved when the height position of the element 1 is being adjusted. In addition, the support arm is preferably made of a plastic material in order for the arm to be easy to cut when the element is in place on the mounting base.

[0037] Figure 17 is a schematic view of a use of a preferred embod- iment of the present invention. Hence at least one support arm 3 having an external helical thread 2 is provided with a locking means 4 having an internal helical thread 6 through a longitudinal opening 13 in the side of the arm (step 1 ). The support arm with its locking means is then installed to one or more slots made to the element and forming a jointing member 5 (step 2). This is accomplished by guiding the support arm arranged to the locking means into the slot where it becomes locked (step 3), as a result of which the support arm projects from the element in the position of use thereof towards the mounting base 8.

[0038] The support arm 3 projecting from the element 1 is adjusted to a desired projection by a rotating movement taking place in relation to the locking means (step 4) for establishing an approximately correct height posi- tion for the element, after which the element with the support arms projecting from it may be placed against the mounting base 8. Once the element is on the mounting base, it is positioned to the final height and position by rotating the support arm 3 in relation to the locking means 4 (by repeating step 4). The support arm may then be fastened to the mounting base by the fastening means.

[0039] The positioning may be facilitated by arranging a foot 19 to each end facing the locking means 4 of the support arm 3 (step 5). The foot in question is arranged to the end of the support arm so that it rotates in relation to both the longitudinal axis and the end of the support arm. When the foot 19 is placed against the mounting base 8, the element 1 may be positioned to its final position not only by rotating the support arm about its longitudinal axis (step 4) but also by rotating the support arm in relation to the normal 10 of the base (step 6). This will make finding the final position of the element as easy as possible. Once the final position has been found, the foot and the support arm are prevented from moving in relation to one another by placing a fastening means to one or more locking grooves provided in the foot.

[0040] It is to be understood that the above description and the related figures are only intended to illustrate the present solution. The solution is thus not restricted to the embodiment described above or defined in the claims, but it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that a variety of variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the idea defined in the accompanying claims.