The invention relates to metal fixing and more particularly to a method of fixing a tubular metal member within an aperture , for example masonry or a transverse aperture through a second tubular metal member, for example , to produce fencing .

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive masonry fixing device and method .

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of fixing two tubular metal members together without the need for welding, brazing, soldering or the like. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fixing a tubular metal member in an aperture which comprises, locating the tubular metal member in the aperture and deforming the metal of the tubular member to expand to extend within the confines of said aperture.

The aperture may be formed in masonry and the tubular member may be formed internally or externally with a screw-threaded portion to receive a bolt or nut, respectively, in use. Said internally screw-threaded portion may comprise a nut securely located, for example by crimping, at or adjacent the inner end thereof prior to

insertion into the aperture.

The outer end of the tubular member may be formed into an external flange prior to insertion in the aperture. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fixing two tubular metal members, one to the other which comprises locating a first tubular metal member through a transverse aperture in a second tubular metal member and deforming the metal of the first member to expand to extend within the longitudinal passage of the second member at the location of the transverse aperture therethrough. The first member may have a square cross-section and the second member have a rectangular cross-section, the faces of first member located within the transverse aperture through the second member being deformed in bulbous fashion. A plurality of first members may be fixed to span between a pair of second members to provide a fence section. According to yet a further aspect of the invention there is provided a tool, for performing the method of fixing as defined in the next preceding two paragraphs, comprising a longitudinally extending member locatable in the first tubular member to extend to said transverse aperture through the second member, an actuator rod siidably located in the longitudinally extending member with an actuator member located at the inner end thereof and attached to actuator means at the

outer end thereof and a section of plastically deformable material located around the actuator rod between the inner end of the longitudinally extending member and the actuator member whereby when the actuator rod is drawn towards the actuator means, in use, the actuator member causes deformation of the plastically deformable material to cause deformation of the first tubular member.

Preferably the actuator means comprise an hydraulically actuable ram. Alternatively the outer end of the actuator rod may be screw-threaded to receive an actuator nut, rotation of which would retract the actuator rod in the longitudinally extending member. The plastically deformable material may comprise a synthetic plastics material such as polyurethane.

The longitudinally extending member may have an adjustable end stop member siidably located exteriorly thereof and locable in desired locations for determining the length of penetration of the longitudinal member within said first tubular member, in use.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a masonry fixing device for location and fixing in masonry, comprising a tubular metal member with a nut rigidly located interiorly at or adjacent one end thereof.

The nut may be located by a crimped portion of the tubular member adjacent said one end and the other end may be formed with an external flange at the other end thereof. The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view, part cut away, of a portion of a fence;

Figure 2 is an end sectional view, on enlarged scale, of a portion of the fence of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a tool for fixing the members of the fence of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of the tool of Figure 3 located in a fencing member prior to performing fixing;

Figure 5 is similar view to Figure 4 showing the tool during a fixing operation, and

Figure 6 is a schematic side sectional view of a masonry fixing device.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a portion of a fence comprising a plurality of vertical, square cross-section, first tubular metal members 10 located through and fixed to a horizontal, rectangular cross-section, second tubular

metal member 11. The member 11 has transverse apertures 12 formed there through and the first members 10 are deformed to provided bulbous protrusions 13 at the location where they pass through apertures 12 in member 11.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a tool suitable for deforming the members 10 to produce the protrusions 13. The tool comprises a longitudinally extending member 14 within which is a siidably mounted actuator rod 15. An actuator member 16 is attached to the inner (in use) end of the actuator rod 15 and a member 17 of resiliently deformable material, such as polyurethane, interposed between the inner (in use) end of member 14 and actuator member 16, surrounding actuator rod 15.

The outer end of member 14 is attached to actuator means 18 which includes an hydraulically actuable ram 19. A stop member 20 is siidably located on member 14 and lockable in any required locations there along by knurled manually rotatable locking screw 21.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 there is shown the method of operation of the tool of Figure 3 to produce the fixing of members 10 and 11 of Figures 1 and 2. The member 14 is inserted in member 10 to the extent determined by stop 20 so as to locate member 17 adjacent the aperture 12 in member 11 as shown in Figure 4.

The hydraulic ram 19 is then actuated to move its piston 22 to the left position shown in Figure 5 against a return spring 23 to abut an adjustable stroke stop 24. Such movement of piston 22 causes rod 15 to retract actuator member 16 towards the inner end of the member 14 thus compressing member 17 to exert pressure on the side walls of member 10 and produce the bulbous deformations 13 of member 10 to protrude within the through passage of member 11 and rigidly fix member 10 to member 11 at this point.

The ram 19 is then de-activated to allow piston 22 to return to the Figure 4 position under the action of return spring 23 and to allow member 17 to its normal position. The member 14 can then be removed from member 10 to be reused.

Although the members 10 and 11 have been shown as having square and rectangular cross-sections respectively, these could be of other cross-sections, such as circular or octagonal, providing the cross- section of member 11 is greater than that of member 10. Although the method of fixing has been described with particular regard to producing fencing, such method can be used in any environment where two tubular members are to be fixed in a transverse configura ion. With this method of fixing members 11 can be pre¬ punched with the through apertures, members 10 and 11 galvanised and plastic coated in a factory and then

transported to a site for assembly utilising the method of the invention.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings there is shown a masonry fixing device comprising a tubular member 25 located within an aperture 26 in a masonry wall 27. An internally screw-threaded nut 28 is firmly located in the inner end of member 25 for example by crimping as depicted at portion 25a of member 25. Alternatively the nut 28 could be welded or otherwise located in the inner end of member 25. The outer end of member 25 is formed with a flange 25b to restrict entry of member 25 into aperture 26.

In use the member 25 is located in aperture 26 as shown and a tool, for example as shown in Figures 4 or 5 and 6 located therein and actuated to produce a bulbous part-toroidal protrusion 25c at any required location along member 25 to lock member 25 firmly within aperture 26. A bolt 29 is then screwed into nut 28 to retain any required object (not shown) to the outer surface of wall 27 with the interposition of a washer 30 if required.

The nut 28 could be replaced by internally screw- threading the member 25 or by replacing or extending flange 25b with an externally screw-threaded portion (not shown) .