Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Assembled in situ-type anchor or tie
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-07-03
Callo, Laura A. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Assembled in situ-type anchor or tie
C024S0160PB, C024S601100, C024S907000, C160S404000, C135S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253522
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an anchor device for fastening tarpaulins and the like weather-shielding covering materials to a bearing construction, in particular a scaffolding, comprising a substantially anchor-shaped anchor member with a shaft portion with two ends, a transverse pin placed at one end of the shaft portion and obliquely positioned relative to the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion, said transverse pin being connected with the shaft portion by means of a resilient hinge joint, and a double hook placed at the other end of the shaft portion with two hook arms positioned on opposite sides of the shaft portion, each of said hook arms having an opening, and an elastic band for connecting the anchor member with the bearing construction, which band, when mounted, is received in the openings of the double hook on the anchor member, the anchor member having closing means integral with the anchor member for retaining the band in at least one of the openings of the double hook, said closing means being intended for closing completely the associated double-hook opening.
For fastening tarpaulins to scaffolding and the like supporting structures, it is well known to use anchor devices or straps, in which an anchor pin after having been passed through the tarpaulin serves as abutment on the exterior side of the tarpaulin. The anchor pin may either be passed through the tarpaulin through an eye designed for that purpose or through a hole made in the tarpaulin, either prior to or simultaneously with the insertion of the pin.
In a known anchor device the anchor member is designed as a comparatively rigid anchor, one double hook opening of which is partially closed by means of a cast protrusion on the shaft portion.
This anchor device has turned out to function fairly well in practice and is easy and cheap in manufacture, but firstly it is, on account of the rigid construction, difficult to bring the transverse pin to a position, in which it allows introduction of the anchor member through a tarpaulin eye or a hole, and secondly, the elastic band may inadvertently be loosened and fall out of the hook opening during the mounting in spite of the protrusion on the shaft portion.
GB-A-2254879 discloses a device corresponding to the type indicated in the introduction. In this device, the shaft portion includes a bendable region of limited strength allowing the transverse toggle to be bent back in order to ease insertion. The closing means comprise a latch for closing each hook opening completely.
However, both of these known devices suffer from the drawback that the other opening of the hook, i.e. the opening opposite the partially or completely closed opening, will be closed by a pull in the band which is received in the partially or completely closed opening, the associate hook arm being pulled in a direction away from the transverse pin. This results in turn in that the band cannot or only with difficulty be introduced in the free opening for the attainment of the assembled condition.
In DK-B-156 307, corresponding to EP-A1-0310850, attempts have been made to eliminate some of these drawbacks by an anchor device comprising a rubber band which at one end is pivotally connected with a transverse pin tapering at one end and having at its other end a snap hook which at the mounting is taken around a support member and subsequently hooked on the rubber band. The pivotal movement between the rubber band and the transverse pin has been established by making the transverse pin in two parts with a separate locking part.
Even though this anchor device thus eliminates the drawbacks in respect of insertion and prevents the band from getting loose from the anchor member, it becomes on account of the necessarily somewhat complex design more complicated and consequently more expensive to manufacture, which is a substantial drawback as the anchor devices often are discarded after use and thus not reused.
On the background of this the object of the invention is to improve an anchor device of the type mentioned by way of introduction in such a manner that it is easy to handle and the same time ensures that the band is kept in place in the hook opening during the mounting.
To meet this object the anchor device according to the invention is characterized in that the closing means are constituted by a spring lock, and that the spring lock is designed as a rod member protruding from the shaft portion with a hook-shaped protrusion for engaging a hook-shaped protrusion made in the same manner on the double hook in a locked position.
In this way the desired easy mounting of the anchor device and the safe retaining of the band in the double hook opening during the mounting are established. Due to the engagement between the hook-shaped protrusions on the rod member and the double hook, the section comprising the hook arm, the rod member and the lower part of the shaft portion constitutes a closed construction which is particularly resistant to bending. As a consequence of this, the deformation arising from a pull in the elastic band will be moved from the double hook area in a direction towards the transverse pin, the other opening being kept open all the time, such that the band can be introduced straight away into this opening for the attainment of the mounted condition of the anchor device. The assembly of the anchor device may be made in a most simple manner, the band being introduced in the opening in the open position of the spring lock, following which the lock is activated by means of one single manipulation step, and there is no risk of losing the spring lock.
One end of the transverse pin may be tapered and the other end be designed as a rounded press surface. In this embodiment the anchor device can also be used in connection with tarpaulins without eyes, no separate tools being required prior to the introduction of the anchor member to provide a hole for introduction. The rounded press surface gives a comfortable and effective grip.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3111734 (1963-11-01), Pachner
patent: 3779494 (1973-12-01), Nicholson et al.
patent: 4061873 (1977-12-01), Berg, Jr. et al.
patent: 4901403 (1990-02-01), Larsen
patent: 5387250 (1995-02-01), Solbeck
patent: 5758392 (1998-06-01), Anscher et al.
patent: 5772258 (1998-06-01), Dyer et al.
patent: 5806819 (1998-09-01), Martone
patent: 1177524 (1964-09-01), None
patent: 310850 (1989-04-01), None
patent: 2230553 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 2254879 (1992-10-01), None
Pinnolis, S. “Wire Securing Clip” Technical Digest No. 50, Western Electric, pp. 23-24, Apr. 1978.
Callo Laura A.
Polysheet A/S
Smith , Gambrell & Russell, LLP
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