GB2383941A

GB2383941A - Shelf support

Info

Publication number: GB2383941A
Application number: GB0130670A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julian Philip Broke-Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-12-21
Filing date: 2001-12-21
Publication date: 2003-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-21
Also published as: GB0130670D0; GB2383941B

Abstract

Shelves (28, Fig 4) are supported on elongate uprights (18) by a device 10 which fits over the upright and comprises a flexible collar 14 and a body 12 with a tapered aperture 20 configured to fit over and engage the collar. In use the collar is slid to the required position and then wedged against the upright by pressing the body against it. An optional cover 16 may be included and may be used to push the collar along the upright.

Description

TITLE: APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING AN ELONGATE SUPPORT DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to apparatus for engaging an elongate support, and more particularly, but not exclusively to apparatus for transmitting an applied load (e. g. from a shelf or the like) to the elongate support anywhere along its length.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for engaging an elongate support, the apparatus comprises a body having an aperture therethrough for receiving the elongate support when the body is slidably mounted thereon, and a flexible collar for positioning around the elongate support, wherein the aperture has a tapered region, one portion of which is configured to fit over at least a part of the flexible collar and another portion of which is configured to engage

the flexible collar, whereby in use the flexible collar becomes wedged between the body and the elongate support when the body is pressed against the flexible collar.

The apparatus grips the elongate support when the body is pressed or urged (e. g. under its own weight) against the flexible collar. A dynamic gripping force is generated between the flexible collar and the elongate support due to forces exerted on the flexible collar by the body through the tapered region. The dynamic gripping force is at least in part proportional to the compression force urging the body against the flexible collar. Thus, if the compression force is reversed, and the body moves away from the flexible collar, the dynamic gripping force will disappear.

The flexible collar may be resilient and may be configured to be a friction fit on the elongate support.

By being resilient, the flexible collar may recover readily, enabling it to be repositioned and reused, even after significant dynamic gripping forces have been exerted through it. By being a friction fit, the flexible collar might more readily hold its position both before and after dynamic gripping forces are generated through it. The ability to stay in place may be useful where the elongate support is aligned vertically (e. g. scaffolding upright) and otherwise liable to slide downwards.

The flexible collar may comprise a looped member of circular cross-section. The flexible collar may be of toroidal shape. The circular cross-section may enable the flexible collar to be rolled up and/or down the elongate

support when first setting its position or thereafter changing it when dynamic gripping forces are removed.

The tapered region of the aperture may be frustoconical. The frusto-conical region may have a cone semiangle of less than 600, and may for example be substantially 450. Inclination of the tapered region to the support is important as it affects transmission of force to the flexible collar and hence the magnitude of the dynamic gripping force; if the angle of inclination is too great, the bulk of the force exerted on the elongate support will be axial rather than radial. On the other hand, if the angle of inclination is too shallow, the flexible collar may become trapped in the tapered region.

The apparatus may further comprise a cover for the tapered region, the cover trapping the flexible collar adjacent the tapered region. The cover may be configured to push the flexible collar along the elongate support when the cover is pressed against the flexible collar. Of course, when the apparatus is to be moved along the elongate support in the opposite direction, the cover will need to be removed and the flexible collar and body moved in such a way as to avoid wedging the former in the tapered region of the latter.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective side view showing interior detail of apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective side view showing interior detail of the apparatus of Figure 1 and an elongate support on which the apparatus is mounted; Figures 3a to 3c are perspective side views showing the assembly of the apparatus of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a shelving system using the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows apparatus 10 comprising a body 12, a flexible collar 14 and a guard or cover 16. As shown in Figure 2, the apparatus 10 is mounted, in use, on an elongate support in the form of a tubular rod 18.

The flexible collar 14 is a ring of elastic and resilient material, e. g. silicon rubber, which is a friction fit or snug-fit on the rod 18. The flexible collar is generally torus-shaped, i. e. is a looped member of circular cross-section.

The body 12 and the cover 16 are generally disc-shaped each with apertures therethrough in the form of central bores 20,22 whereby they are slidably mountable on the rod 18. The body 12 and the cover 16 have the same diameter and are formed from rigid material, e. g. aluminium. The cover 16 has a central bore 22 with a constant diameter which matches the diameter of the rod 18. Thus the cover 16 is a friction fit on the rod 18 and only moves along the rod 18 when force is applied thereto.

The body 12 has a central frusto-conical bore 20. The bore 20 has a cone semi-angle of 450. The bore 20 is tapered and its diameter decreases in size from a maximum

value at a first face 24 adjacent the cover 16 to a minimum value at the opposed face 26. The maximum value is greater than the diameter of the flexible collar 14 and the minimum value matches the diameter of the rod 18 and is smaller than the diameter of the flexible collar 14.

At an intermediate position 25, the diameter of the bore 20 matches the diameter of the flexible collar and the bore 20 is a friction fit on the collar. The part of the bore 20 between the first face and the intermediate position is thus configured to fit over the flexible collar 14. The part of the bore 20 above the intermediate position engages with the flexible collar 14 as explained with reference to Figure 3b.

Figures 3a to 3c illustrate the assembly of the apparatus 10 on the rod 18. As shown in Figure 3a, the flexible collar 14 is mounted on the rod 18 above the cover 16. The cover 16 is slid along the rod 18 towards the flexible collar 14 in the upward direction of Arrow A.

Further upward movement of the cover 16 rolls the flexible collar 14 along the rod in the direction of Arrow C. In this way, the position, i. e. height, of the flexible collar 14 on the rod 18 is adjustable.

As shown in Figure 3b, the body 12 is mounted on the rod 18 above the flexible collar 14. The body 12 is slid along the rod 18 towards and over the flexible collar 14 in the downward direction of Arrow B. Unrestricted downward movement of the body 12 continues until the intermediate position 25. Any further downward force presses the body 12

onto the flexible collar 14 and wedges the collar 14 between the rod 18 and the body 12. This generates a dynamic gripping force between the flexible collar 14 and the rod 18 which locks the apparatus 10 against downward movement. The greater the downward force, the greater the locking force. If the downward force is released, the gripping force will disappear.

Figure 3c shows the assembled apparatus 10 in which the cover 16 is mounted below the body 12 with the flexible collar 14 located in the central bore 20 of the body. As explained above, the flexible collar 14 co-operates with the tapered central bore 20 to lock the locking device 10 against downward movement in the direction of Arrow B.

Sliding the cover 16 in the direction of Arrow A, slides the body 12 and releases the dynamic gripping force.

Further upward movement rolls the flexible collar 14 up the rod 18 whereby the position of the apparatus 10 is adjustable on the rod 18. Thus, the apparatus may be considered to be a locking device which prevents only downward movement.

Figure 4 shows two shelves 28 each supported by a pair of apparatus according to the invention 10. Each apparatus is mounted on a rod 18 and is freely moveable up the rod 18 to adjust the height of the shelves but locks under the weight of the shelves to prevent downward movement of the shelves.

The shelves 28 may be industrial, catering or domestic shelves or may be replaced by other loads. Thus, the

apparatus may be adapted for use in the construction of buildings and/or machinery.

In the described embodiment, the apparatus is designed to prevent downward movement of a shelf. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be inverted to prevent upward movement along the elongate support or the angle of inclination of the elongate support may be altered. The apparatus is a locking device which prevents movement in one direction along a support whilst allowing its position to be easily adjusted in the opposite direction.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for engaging an elongate support, comprising a body having an aperture therethrough for receiving the elongate support when the body is slidably mounted thereon, and a flexible collar for positioning around the elongate support, wherein the aperture has a tapered region, one portion of which is configured to fit over at least a part of the flexible collar and another portion of which is configured to engage the flexible collar, whereby in use the flexible collar becomes wedged between the body and the elongate support when the body is pressed against the flexible collar.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the flexible collar is resilient.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the flexible collar is configured to be a friction fit on the elongate.
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the flexible collar comprises a looped member of circular cross-section.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the tapered region is frusto-conical.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the frustoconical tapered region has a cone semi angle of less than 600.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which the cone semiangle is substantially 450.
8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims,

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further comprising a cover for the tapered region, the cover having an aperture therethrough for receiving the elongate support when the cover is slidably mounted thereon, the flexible collar in use being trapped between the body and the cover.
9. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.