Field of the invention

This invention relates to a fixing system suitable for securing posts, scaffolding and the like to a building construction.

Background to the invention

When constructing buildings and other structures, elements such as scaffolding or safety barriers often need to be temporarily secured to the structure. Sometimes items need to be secured at an angle to the structure. Typically a construction worker will need to select the correct type of fitting to use dependent on the object to be secured and the angle on which it is to be secured. Different types of fixing systems are required which adds to complications and potential cause of errors, thus delaying construction.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fixing system for use in building construction and used to temporarily secure support elements such as posts to a structure, for example posts used to secure scaffolding or safety barriers, the fixing system comprising a receiver means for receiving an elongate element such as a post or pole and a positioning means connectable to the receiver means, wherein the positioning means comprises an array of position apertures defining different positions of the receiver means relative to the positioning means and a pivot aperture. The combination of pivot aperture and position apertures allows the position of the receiver means to be adjusted relative to the positioning means, so allowing the receiver means to be positioned at different angles of tilt.

Preferably the array of position apertures comprises or consists of a circular arc with desirably the position apertures disposed at regularly spaced intervals around the arc, typically to define tilt angles of the receiver means 22.5° or 30° apart. Typically there will be an odd number of position apertures, one representing a vertically upright position. The pivot aperture may be disposed beneath the circular arc of position apertures or positioned within or substantially at an origin of the circular arc of position apertures.

The positioning means may comprise two substantially L-shaped plates each having an upstanding portion and a lateral portion. The lateral portions preferably incorporate one or more apertures to enable fixing of the plate to a surface which can be part of a building such as a truss, strut or beam. Alternatively the surface to which the L-shaped plates are fixed can be a connector plate or base plate which is then attached to a building structure after the L- shaped plates have been secured to it.

Preferably the substantially upstanding portion of each substantially L-shaped plate is positioned spaced-apart from and opposing the other plate so as to define a channel within which the receiver means is disposable. The two substantially L-shaped plates may be conjoined and formed as single U- shaped plate. This is of particular advantage where the positioning means is secured direct to a building structure.

The fixing system may further comprise a securing means to secure the positioning means to the receiver means, the securing means positionable to extend through the pivot aperture and one of the position apertures so as to secure the receiver means.

The securing means may be a bolt, pigtail pin or other type of securing element and thus the securing means may comprise at least one pigtail pin.

One pigtail pin may be used to extend through the pivot aperture and receiver means, with a second pigtail pin used to extend through the position aperture and receiver means. Alternatively a bolt may extend through the pivot aperture and receiver means. The receiver means may be formed as a sleeve, typically a rectangular sleeve having a square cross-section. Preferably the receiver means is formed with at least one passage for receiving a securing means and so allowing the securing means to pass through the receiver means. The passage may be defined by a pair of apertures formed in opposing walls of the receiver means and preferably the receiver means comprises at least two passages, one passage associated with a position aperture and one passage associated with the pivot aperture. The receiver means can thus be secured to the positioning means at two spaced apart positions improving the secureness of the attachment.

The fixing system may further comprise an elongate element such as a post, pole or rail receivable in the receiver means, the elongate element supporting scaffolding, safety barriers and the like.

The elongate element and receiver means may be provided with corresponding apertures to allow the elongate element and receiver means to be secured together, with securing typically taking place using a pigtail pin.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a fixing system in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a plate forming part of the fixing system;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an alternate plate forming part of the fixing system;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a sleeve forming part of the fixing system;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a base plate;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the fixing system in an upright position;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the fixing system in a horizontal position; and Figures 8 and 9 show a perspective view of the fixing system at two different angles. Description

In Figure 1 fixing system 10 is shown securing elongate post 12 which in turn secures part of a barrier 14. Fixing system 10 is intended for temporary use on construction sites to temporarily secure elements in place, for example to secure scaffolding or safety barriers used on an open floor of a building during construction.

Fixing system 10 comprises two identical opposing upright plates 20, 20’ spaced apart to define a channel 22 in which rectangular sleeve 24 is secured, sleeve 24 receiving post 12. Plates 20, 20’ are secured to a base plate 26 which in turn is secured to a floor or other part of a building, such as for example a strut, truss or beam. The bracket formed by plates 20, 20’ and sleeve 24 can be used on steel, concrete and timber. It can also be employed on both vertical and horizontal faces and if required fixed as a clamp as opposed to being bolted or screwed. If desired, plates 20, 20’ can be formed as a single piece and secured direct to part of a building structure either with or without intermediary base plate 26. Plates 20, 20’, sleeve 24 and base plate 26 can be made from metal or composites such as reinforced fibreglass. Plates 20, 20’ and sleeve 24 can be seen in more detail Figures 2 and 4. Each plate 20, 20’ is substantially L-shaped in cross-section having a substantially vertical face 32 and a substantially horizontal face 34, see Figure 2. Horizontal face 34 is formed with apertures 35 capable of receiving screws or other fixing means to allow plate 20, 20’ to be secured to a surface. Vertical face 32 is formed with a single pivot aperture 36 proximal face 34 and an array of five position apertures 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 disposed above and spaced apart from pivot aperture 36. Position apertures 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 are regularly spaced about a circular arc, with each aperture positioned at the same angle of 22.5° relative to the previous aperture. Aperture 48 at one end of the array represents an upright position relative to face 34 such that sleeve 24 will be at substantially 90° to face 34 when secured through aperture 48. When sleeve 24 is secured through aperture 40 at the other end of the array, then sleeve 24 will be positioned substantially parallel to face 34.

An alternate form of plates 20, 20’ is shown as plate 50 in Figure 3. Plate 50 is substantially L-shaped in cross-section having a substantially vertical face 52 and a substantially horizontal face 54. Horizontal face 54 is formed with apertures as for plates 20, 20’ to allow it to be secured to a surface. Vertical face 52 is formed with a pivot aperture 36’ distal from face 54 and an array of seven position apertures 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 61, regularly spread about a circular arc with pivot point 36’ located substantially at the centre point or origin of the arc. Each position aperture 55, 56, 57,

58, 59, 60, 61 is positioned at an angle of 30° relative to adjoining position apertures. For plate 50, middle aperture 58 defines an upright position of sleeve 24, see Figure 6, and sleeve 24 can be positioned substantially parallel to face 54, i.e. at 0°, in two separate orientations using either aperture 55 or aperture 61.

Sleeve 24 is formed with three apertures 62, 64, 66 on one face 70 and three corresponding apertures on an opposing face 72 so as to create three pairs of aligned apertures. A bolt, pigtail pin or other type of securing means can extend through apertures 62, 64 so as to secure sleeve 24 to plates 20, 20’ or 50. Apertures 66 are used for securing a post 12 or other elongate building element into sleeve 24. Whilst sleeve 24 is shown as a tubular sleeve, sleeve 24 can formed with a solid lower base and passages formed through the solid base to allow securing means to pass through the diameter of the sleeve.

Figure 5 shows base plate 26 which can be used to secure plates 20, 20’, 50 in a fixed position prior to securing plate 26 to a building surface. Base plate 26 is formed as a rectangle from lOmm thick stainless steel plate and has a length of 250mm and a width of l70mm. A plurality of circular apertures 80 extend through the base plate so as to allow fixing means such as screws and bolts to be inserted into the base plate. Apertures 80 are arranged in three separate rectangular arrays 84, 86, 88 as shown by the dashed lines. Apertures in each array are offset from apertures in any other array to ensure apertures in any one of the arrays do not align with apertures in any of the other arrays. Second array 86 is positioned within first rectangular array 84 and third array 88 is offset from array 86.

First rectangular array 84 consists of six apertures of approximately lOmm in diameter, four of the apertures being disposed at respective corners of the rectangular array and the remaining two apertures being positioned partway along the longest sides of array 84 in opposing alignment. The lOmm apertures are suitable for receiving fixings used to secure base plate 26 to concrete substrates, for example a concrete floor or pillar.

Second array 86 consists of two pairs of apertures, each pair having a different diameter. One pair of apertures are approximately 26mm in diameter and are able to receive threaded rods, with the smaller pair of apertures approximately l8mm in diameter and used for fixings to secure base plate 26 to steel or other metal items. Each aperture is positioned at a comer of array 86, with each pair placed along the longest sides of array 86.

Third array 88 consists of four apertures of approximately lOmm in diameter. These apertures can either be formed directly through the plate as a cylindrical passage or can have a frusto-conical opening leading into a smaller diameter cylindrical passage so as to receive countersunk fixings, such as countersunk screws. Typically apertures 35 of plates 20, 20’, 50 will be located over array 88.

Figures 6 to 9 show the fixing system when in use with securing means 76 and 78 which were omitted from Figure 1 for clarity. Figure 6 shows the system when plates 50, 50’ are used to secure sleeve 24 and Figures 7 to 9 show use of plates 20, 20’. As will be appreciated, plates 20, 20’ and 50, 50’ are used in the same way to alter the position of sleeve 24 relative to base plate 26. Plates 50, 50’ with pivot aperture 36’ located at an upper end of vertical face 52 result in a more impact resistant connection with sleeve 24. Post 12 will be secured into sleeve 24 as shown in Figure 1 typically by using securing means 78.

In use, plates 20, 20’ are secured to array 88 of base plate 26 using screws positioned through apertures 35 so as to be in opposing alignment to define channel 22. As discussed above, if desired plates 20, 20’, 50, 50’ can be secured direct to a building structure although use of base plate 26 assists in ensuring correct spacing and alignment of the plates. Sleeve 24 is positioned in channel 22 so that for plates 20, 20’ aperture 62 aligns with pivot apertures 36 and for plates 50, 50’ aperture 64 aligns with pivot aperture 36’ allowing sleeve 24 to be pivotally secured to plates 20, 20’, 50, 50’ using a nut and bolt 76. Sleeve 24 is rotatable about the pivot axis formed by the bolt extending through pivot apertures 36, 36’ until aperture 64 for plates 20, 20’, or aperture 62 for plates 50, 50’, aligns with a selected one of the position apertures to achieve the desired angle relative to face 34.

To fix sleeve 24 in place, a pigtail pin 78 extends through one of the apertures of the array across sleeve 24 to reach the corresponding aperture on face 72 and then extends through into the corresponding array aperture on the opposing plate 20’, 50’. Sleeve 24 is shown in an upright position in Figure 6 where plates 50, 50’ are used and central aperture 58 is used for securing. Where sleeve 24 is required to be at an angle to a building structure to which plates 50, 50’ are secured, whether directly or via intermediary base plate 26, one of the other position apertures is used in combination with pivot aperture 36’.

Additional pigtail pins 78 are used to secure post 12 within sleeve 24, these additional pigtail pins extending through aperture 66 and the corresponding aperture on face 72. Post 12 may form part of scaffolding, a safety barrier system or other temporary structure required during building construction that needs to be secured relative to a building surface.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show the sleeve 24 at the different tilt angles provided by plates 20, 20’. Figure 7 shows sleeve 24 pivoted about bolt 76 to lie substantially horizontal, being secured through apertures 40.

Figure 8 shows sleeve 24 positioned at 45° relative to the vertical, with pigtail pin 78 secured through central aperture 44. Figure 9 shows sleeve 24 orientated at 67.5° to the vertical being secured through aperture 42 of plate 20.

By having a fixing system that can be set to a desired angle, placement and securing of elongate building elements is simplified. Plates 20, 20’, 50, 50’ enable sleeve 24 to be secured at a desired angle ready to receive an elongate building element, such as parts of scaffolding or posts.