Joints and connections – Including frangible component
Patent
1997-03-26
1999-09-28
Knight, Anthony
Joints and connections
Including frangible component
135114, F16B 2700
Patent
active
059576120
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a safety joint, and particularly although not exclusively, a safety joint for suspension of an overhead rail.
BACKGROUND ART
It is an increasing problem in public institutions, such as hospitals, that patients attempt suicide by hanging themselves by the neck.
There have been several instances in which patients have been found hanged by the neck from an overhead curtain rail around a hospital bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,847,238 describes a pin retainer for use in pipe tongs and the like and has application in machine parts where there is only a radial thrust and no or substantially little end thrust. U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,787 describes a fastener for fastening aircraft fuel cells to the aircraft frame and comprises a split snap ring received in an annular space of a stud or socket member. U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,982 describes a fastener assembly having a snap ring centered by a metallic spring construction.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a safety curtain rail comprising a suspended rail, wherein the said rail is suspended by a plug and socket connector joint, said plug and socket connector joint comprising a retaining means which acts to retain the plug in the socket under load conditions below a predetermined load and to release the plug from the socket under load conditions equal to or exceeding the said predetermined load.
The rail may be suspended by a plurality of said plug and socket connector joints.
The rail may further comprise a bracket adapted for mounting to a wall or a ceiling, wherein said plug and socket connector joint is suspended from said bracket, such that a main weight component of the rail acts in a direction to urge the plug and socket of at least one plug and socket connector joint apart.
The rail may further comprise a plurality of brackets adapted for mounting to a wall or a ceiling, wherein each said plug and socket connector joint is suspended from a respective one of said plurality of brackets, such that a main weight component of the rail acts in a direction to urge the plug and socket of said plug and socket connector joint apart.
Advantageously, the retaining means comprises a resilient member and at least one of the plug and socket comprises a groove, the curvature of the retaining means and the curvature of the groove being substantially the same such that the retaining means is adapted to be received as a close fit in the groove and such that, in use, the retaining means retains the plug to the socket under load condition below the said predetermined load within a specified tolerance and deforms to release the plug from the socket under load conditions which equal or exceed the predetermined load, said load conditions comprising a load applied in a direction axially of a main length of the plug.
Preferably, the relative dimensions of the plug, socket, and resilient member are pre-selected, to produce release of the plug from the socket under a particular predetermined load.
Suitably, the rail further comprises an engagement portion on said plug, for engaging said socket. Advantageously, when a force in excess of a predetermined force is applied in a direction lengthwise along a main length axis of the joint, the engagement portion of the plug is caused to withdraw from the socket. The rail may further comprise a receiving portion on the socket, for receiving the engagement portion of the plug. The receiving portion of the socket may comprise an internal bore. Advantageously, a gap is defined between a surface of the bore of the socket, and an outer surface of the engagement portion said gap having a width of about 0.04 mm. The engagement portion of the plug may closely fit the bore of the socket.
Preferably said retaining means comprises a resilient member located, in use, between the engagement portion of the plug, and a body of the socket. Preferably the engagement portion of the plug closely fits the bore of the socket. The engagement portion is preferably provided with a peripheral groove extending in a
REFERENCES:
patent: 2847238 (1958-08-01), Bolling, Jr.
patent: 2916787 (1959-12-01), Samiran
patent: 4136982 (1979-01-01), Sagady
patent: 5080521 (1992-01-01), Quaile
patent: 5518335 (1996-05-01), Dobbins
Bochna David
Knight Anthony
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