Load distributing fixing device

Abstract

An anchor member is provided in the form of a coil, helix or spiral, which may be part of an anchor assembly used as a plasterboard or dry wall fixing. The anchor member provides a bracing function on the back surface of the board that allows the applied load on the fixing to be distributed over the 360 degrees of contact with the back surface of the board and in some embodiments at a distance away from the hole provided in the board for the fixing. The ability to disperse the applied load over a large area on the back of the board provides the fixing with the ability to carry very heavy loads. The fixing may be easily removed and replaced with minimal damage to the board and fixing.

Description

LOAD DISTRIBUTING FIXING DEVICEFIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a fixing device. More particularly the present invention relates to a fixing device for providing an anchor point on for example cavity walls, dry walls, and ceilings to enable loads to be affixed thereto with distribution of load.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] It is common practice in the building trade to construct walls and ceilings by attaching plasterboard panels or drywall panels or panels made of other materials to stud based or joist-based frameworks. When structures are attached to such walls or ceilings, they may be secured by fixings that pass through the panels and into the stud or joist framework. However, if it is desired to locate the structure at a different location on the panels, which is located away from load supporting studs or joists this is typically achieved by the use of mounting systems that are attached only to the panel and it is the panel alone which takes the load of the structure supported by the mounting system. There are a number of challenges associated with these mounting systems. One challenge is that they must be secured to the panels in such a fashion to minimise damage to the panel for aesthetic reasons; typically, this may mean use of as small a hole as possible in the panel for the mounting system. A further challenge is that they need to be able to take as large a load, both lateral and perpendicular, as possible without damaging the panel during use through failure of the panel (i.e., by the mounting system pulling through and damaging the panel under load). Generally, these challenges have been addressed by providing mountings that may, in part, be passed through a hole in the panel to form a weight bearing brace on the cavity side of the panel, which is secured in position by a part of the mounting system that is not passed through the hole in the panel but is retained on or at the surface of the panel. A further challenge isthat the access to the rear surface of the panel or board when in-situ is often only through a hole in the panel or board through which fixing components may be passed; this has hitherto provided significant constraints on the design of the anchor fixings and as a result significant limitations on their performance especially in their ability to support high loads.

[0003] Thus, it has been and continues to be a major technical challenge to provide mounting systems that can carry high loads with minimal damage to panel wall and ceiling systems and which are easy to use. It has also been a challenge to provide mounting systems that may be easily removed and replaced or reused with minimal damage to boards and panels. There is a continuing need for mounting systems that are easy to use, can accommodate high loads, are easy to remove / replace during use and low cost to manufacture.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an anchor member in the form of a coil, helix or spiral.

[0005] The anchor member in the form of a coil, helix or spiral is configured to be positioned at the rear (also referred to as blind) surface of a board and to pass through a hole in the board that has a diameter less than the maximum diameter of the anchor member.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention there is provided the use of a coil, helix, or spiral form anchor member to apply a fixture load to the rear (also referred to as blind) surface of a board.

[0007] In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided an anchor assembly, for use in a load bearing fixing to be secured at a hole in a board, the anchor assembly comprising one or more anchor members in the form of a coil, helix or spiral and configured to be located on the blind side of the board during use of the assembly.

[0008] The anchor assembly may comprise two or more anchor members selected from a coil, helix, or spiral form member. Preferred, anchor bracing assemblies comprise a combination of a spiral form and coil form anchor members or a combination of helix and coil form anchor members. In both instances the two members may be used as separate components or may be integral with each other or may be adapted to be connected to each other for use.

[0009] The coil, helix or spiral form anchor members are dimensionally larger than the board hole into which they may be inserted. They have an overall diameter that is larger, at least one point on their circumference, than the hole through which they will be inserted and fed through. The arms or the coil, helix, or spiral form anchor member, have a cross-sectional form or diameter that, at its largest point, is smaller than the diameter of the hole in the board. This allows the coil, helix, or spiral anchor member arm to be fed into and passed through the board hole so that ultimately the whole of the coil, helix or spiral form anchor member will be located at the rear of the board and typically in a cavity space.

[0010] The anchor member is configured to pass through a hole in a board and once located in the region on the blind side of the board to then be brought into aligned contact with the rear surface of the board in order to brace the fixing assembly in position in use. In this arrangement the anchor member in the form of a coil, helix or spiral is able to distribute the applied load at numerous points of contact of the bracing member with the rear of the board. In some instances, this will be at the periphery of a spiral form cone member under compression or the periphery of a helix form member under compression or at all point contacts of a substantially planar coil form bracing member. Thus, the use of the coil, helix or spiral form anchor members allows for a more even distribution of load to the back of the board over a wide area, which is in contrast to the small surface area and limited point contact provided by the anchor fixings currently in use. This distribution of load at a plurality of pointsacross a relatively large and circular area to the back of the board enables the assembly to carry significantly higher loads than currently achieved with conventional board anchor fixing arrangements.

[0011] In the preset disclosure the term board encompasses all forms of board or panel or block like materials including composite arrangements that may be used in buildings and which present a rear (also termed blind) surface to a cavity. This includes for example boards or panels that are supported on a stud arrangement or self-supporting arrangements such as block walls with a rear cavity.

[0012] A spiral from anchor member comprises spiral arm material that winds in a continuous and gradually widening or tightening curve typically around a central axis from an origin or nucleus and to preferably form a cone like arrangement with an apex and varying number of coils or levels at increasing diameter when viewed perpendicular to the axis of the spiral towards the terminus of the spiral at the base of the cone. The dimensions and design of the spiral may be such that the arm of the spiral overlaps as it progresses towards its terminus at the base of the cone. In this form under compression the spiral arm material continuously overlaps and makes contact with itself to provide a compressed cone form spiral that never becomes planar. In this arrangement the compressed spiral in effect forms a dome like anchor assembly, which has high strength and effectively distributes any applied load at its compressed circumference in contact with the rear surface of the board, at a maximum distance from the hole in the board. The exact distance will be determined by the diameter of the lowest arm of the spiral. In an alternative arrangement the spiral form anchor member may comprise a conical spiral where the spiral arm material does not overlap. In this arrangement under compressive load the conical spiral may ultimately form a substantially planar coil depending on the dimensions of the spiral arm. This would typically be the situation where the spiral form material is in the form of a conical or volute spring where there is no vertical overlap of the arm of the spiral material. In thissituation the exterior of top surface of the spiral arm may be aligned into an arcuate form whereas the bottom surface of the spiral arm may form a planar base. The spiral form anchor member may be arranged as an Archimedean spiral, a parabolic spiral, a hyperbolic spiral, a logarithmic spiral or depending on the form and or dimensions of the spiral material arms any combination of these spiral forms. Preferably, the arm of the spiral is spiraled in an anticlockwise fashion from the origin of the spiral; this is especially preferred when there is an integral anchor cap present. If alternative non-integral caps or lintels or nuts etc. are used the spiral may be clockwise or anticlockwise.

[0013] A helix from anchor member typically comprises material that winds in a continuous path around a central axis to form a column like arrangement with parallel external and / or internal surfaces. This is a three- dimensional curve that turns around an axis at a constant or continuously varying distance while moving parallel to that axis. The helix form anchor member may comprise a double helix or a single helix and preferably is a single helix.

[0014] A coil form anchor member is typically planar and comprises material that winds in an arcuate continuous path in a single plane around a central axis as a series of ever increasing or decreasing circles of material.

[0015] In the as manufactured state, the anchor member will typically take the form of either a coil, helix or spiral and it will be self-evident to the person skilled in the art that during use and depending on the nature of the spiral that in some arrangements it may be compressed to a coil form anchor member under load. This would typically be the situation where the spiral form material is in the form of a conical or volute spring where there is no vertical overlap between the various levels of the spiral material.

[0016] The anchor assembly of the present invention in addition to an anchor member in the form of a coil, helix or spiral, will typically have a compression member and a corresponding frontal brace. The compressionmember is arranged to engage with an attachment means such as for example a bolt or screw and is also arranged to contact with and transfer a load force to the anchor member as the attachment means is operated. The frontal brace is typically arranged to enable the attachment means to partially pass therethrough and engage with the compression member and is also arranged to brace against the front of the board during use. The compression member and frontal brace may be directly connected to each other or may be integrally formed with each other.

[0017] In one anchor assembly the anchor member in the form of a coil, helix or spiral may be used with other components and / or known fixture devices to provide a usable anchor assembly. In one assembly it is envisaged that the anchor members of the invention may be used in combination with known toggle design fixings to enhance and improve their performance especially load carrying capacity. As an example, the anchor members of the present invention may be used with toggle like fixings known in the art as described for example in US4439079 and commercial examples such as Snaptoggle® as manufactured and supplied by Toggle®. The coil, helix or spiral anchor member providing an additional bracing function when combined with such conventional toggles. In addition, the coil, helix, or spiral anchor members of the present invention may be adapted to accommodate any specific design of toggle fixing.

[0018] Alternatively, any number of conventional toggle designs may be modified for use with the anchor member of the present invention. Such modifications will typically be associated with that part of the conventional toggle that acts as a compression member. In one arrangement for example a modified Snaptoggle® may comprise an anchor cap in place of the usual toggle anchor; this anchor cap configured to more effectively engage with the top surface or apex of the coil, helix, or spiral form anchor member. The remaining features of the Snaptoggle® may remain substantially unchanged in form and function to provide the frontal brace function of the anchor assembly.

[0019] In one anchor assembly the anchor member may be used with a nut as the compression member and bolt and optionally washer arrangement as the frontal brace to secure a bracket or fixture. The nut being of such dimensions that it may pass through the hole in the board but is not able to move past the apex of the spiral form anchor member, or through the bore of the helix form or coil form anchor members. The associated bolt may be dimensioned such that it has a diameter larger than the hole in the board or if of smaller diameter may be used with an appropriately sized washer or bracket. In this simple assembly the bolt is fed through an item to be fixed (e.g. a bracket), with or without a washer and through the bore of the anchor member and is loosely secured thereto initially be engagement with an appropriate bolt. This assembly is then passed into and through the board hole nut end first and the coil, helix or spiral form anchor member is then passed through the board hole using rotation in a corkscrew fashion until it is completely located at the rear of the board. At this point the anchor member is wholly located at the rear of the board in the associated cavity and is held substantially centred about the central axis of board hole by the bolt and washer or bracket, which is now in contact with the front surface of the board. In this position the bolt may be tightened, and this will cause the anchor member to be compressed by the nut onto the reverse side of the board until the bracket is tightly secured to the front side of the board.

[0020] In a further anchor assembly, the anchor body may be used with an anchor cap as the compression member in the form of a cylindrical body with a base typically flat and optionally domed top. The anchor cap is typically of circular cross-section and of a diameter that is smaller than that of the hole in the board but larger than that of the bore in the coil, helix, or spiral form anchor body. Thus, the anchor cap may pass through the hole in the board and when located at the top surface of the coil, helix or spiral form anchor body in use will contact and compress these anchor bodies at their top surfaces. Although the anchor cap will typically have a flat bottom it may also have a bottom that is shaped to accommodate the peak profile of a spiral form anchor member. The anchor cap may be integral with the anchor member and located centrally onthe central axis of the anchor member. The anchor body and anchor member may be manufactured as an integral unit or may be manufactured separately and arranged to be coupled together for use.

[0021] In a further anchor assembly, especially with helix and coil form anchor bodies, the anchor body may be used with an anchor lintel as the compression member. The anchor lintel is preferably elongate and of length greater than the diameter of the board hole and the diameter of the bore of the coil, helix, or spiral form anchor body. The maximum cross-sectional dimension of the anchor lintel taken as cross section perpendicular to its length is such that the anchor lintel may be introduced to and passed through the hole in a board. The body of the anchor lintel may be of any desired cross-sectional shape. The anchor lintel may have two or more planar contact surfaces or may have a single contact surface. The anchor lintel may have a generally central portion of substantially uniform dimensions, and end portions extending from said central portion defining contact surfaces for the anchor lintel with the top surface of the anchor member. The central portion and end portions may be integrally moulded. The anchor lintel in certain arrangements comprises a free articulated end and an opposing integral end, which is integral with the anchor member. Preferably, the anchor lintel is arcuate along its length and preferably has points of contact with the top surface of the anchor member at or towards each end of the lintel or when the anchor member is a coil form member along its whole length. With a helix form anchor member, a first point of contact at one end of the lintel will be with one side of the top surface of the helix and the second point of contact at the opposing end of the lintel will be with at an opposing side of the top surface of the helix form anchor member. These contacts brace the lintel against the top surface of the helix form anchor member and during use exert compressive force on the helix form anchor member. The contact surfaces of the lintel are preferably planar. In one arrangement the bottom of the lintel may present a planar single contact surface across its whole length; This is the preferred arrangement when the anchor member is a coil form anchor member.

[0022] The anchor lintel may comprise a generally central portion formed of an upstanding wall, preferably arcuate, having two opposing, preferably arcuate, flange sections; a top flange section located at the top of the wall and a bottom flange section located at the base of the wall. Preferably, the top flange section is narrower in width along its elongate axis than the bottom flange section. Both flange sections may be of the same thickness. The flanges of the anchor lintel may have the same arcuate radii or may have different arcuate radii. Preferably, the wall is of greater thickness than the flanges. Preferably the end portions defining contact surfaces for the anchor body are extensions of the bottom flange. The longitudinal aperture may be located within the bore of a tubular section of the wall connecting the bottom flange to the top flange. The wall and flange arrangement with end portions may define at least one indentation on a side of the anchor lintel and preferably opposing indentations on opposite sides of the anchor lintel wall; when the anchor lintel is arcuate these indentations are arcuate. In a further exemplary embodiment, the indentations may comprise a plurality of anchor lintel struts integrally moulded with the wall and the top and bottom flanges.

[0023] In one anchor assembly the anchor member in the form of a coil, helix or spiral may be used with a retainable barrel as the frontal brace member. The retainable barrel being configured to be retained within the board hole during use of the assembly and to provide a counterbalance on the front surface of the board to that of the anchor member on the back surface of the board. It is a preferred alternative to a washer and provides additional benefits of stability and ease of use of the anchor assembly compared to a washer. The retainable barrel is generally cylindrical and proportioned to be able to be inserted into a hole in a board. Preferably, the retainable barrel is generally in the form of a truncated cone proportioned such that the top of the cone is able to pass into the hole of the board and on gradual insertion of the conical body the diameter of the cone brings the conical external sides of the retainable barrel into contact with the wall of the hole and thereby retention within the hole. The base of the cone is typically circumferentially larger than the main body of the cone and thecircumference of the hole in the board and extends beyond the side edges of the cone body and acts as a flange that contacts the exterior of the hole and, to varying degrees depending on its dimensions, the front surface of the board; this flange prevents the retainable barrel from passing in toto into and through the hole. This flange with the retention of the retainable barrel within the hole acts in part as a counter brace on the front of the board to that presented by the anchor member on the back surface of the board. The diagonal dimensions of the retainable barrel flange structure may be significantly smaller than those of the anchor member; this is because its primary function is simply to assist with retention of the retainable barrel within the hole during use of the fixing device and this does not result in significant weight or force being applied to this part of the fixing device during use as the majority of the force and weight applied to the assembly is carried by the anchor body bracing the back surface of the board. Alternatively, the flange may have comparable diagonal dimensions those of the coil, helix, or spiral anchor member. The top of the retainable barrel is generally circular and may present a generally planar top surface or a conical top surface. The retainable barrel may be integral with the anchor member or may be configured along with the anchor member to be coupled to each other.

[0024] The retainable barrel preferably has an aperture aligned with the central axis of the retainable barrel for accommodating an attachment device such as for example a screw or bolt or other means of attachment. The retainable barrel may be of substantially solid material apart from this aperture or the aperture may be located within a solid tube of material retained in place by a bottom plate or flange, a top plate or flange and a series of struts that connect the top and bottom plates or flanges with the central tube and radiate out therefrom. The top plate or flange is of smaller diameter than the bottom plate or flange and the struts are aligned with both to present a sloping edge from the top flange to the bottom flange; this arrangement together defines a truncated cone arrangement for the retainable body.

[0025] Preferably, the anchor assembly comprises: one or more anchor members of coil, helical or spiral form, a compression member preferably as an anchor cap or lintel and a frontal brace preferably a retainable barrel.

[0026] The anchor cap, anchor lintel and the retainable barrel of the anchor brace assembly may each have at least one longitudinal aperture extending therethrough and preferably each having at least one aperture capable of being longitudinally aligned with each other about the central axis of the retainable barrel perpendicular to the plane of the board during use of the assembly. These aligned apertures provide a means for securing the assembly to the board via means of an attachment device such as for example a screw or bolt.

[0027] Preferably, at least the longitudinal aperture of the anchor lintel or anchor cap comprises vertically aligned undulations or spines on its internal surface. These vertically aligned undulations or spines effectively provide at their periphery a narrow bore contact surface for engagement with the attachment device, with the main larger bore of the aperture being substantially free from contact with the attachment device. This arrangement is of particular advantage when the material used for the anchor cap or lintel, or barrel is difficult to use with self-tapping screws; the reduction of contact surface in the bore of the apertures presented by the vertical undulations or spines assists with the self-tapping process. Preferably, the aligned longitudinal aperture of the retainable barrel is free of vertical undulations or spines and has a bore that will accommodate the free passage of the attachment device therethrough.

[0028] In certain arrangements where a bolt is used as the attachment device the anchor cap or anchor lintel may be used with a corresponding nut for the bolt. Alternatively, the cap or lintel may further comprise a threaded insert in place of the bolt.

[0029] In certain arrangements the cap or lintel may be countersunk at their base and in alignment with the central access of the assembly. Thecountersunk aids alignment of the attachment device during use of the assembly.

[0030] The components of the anchor assembly may be formed of organic plastic material, metal material or ceramic material. It is preferred that the anchor member is formed from organic polymeric material or metal materials and most preferably is formed from plastic materials. Preferable materials include polyolefins such as for example polypropylene and engineering polymers such as nylon.

[0031] The present invention further provides for a fixing kit comprising: one or more anchor members in the form of a coil, helix or spiral; one or more of retaining washers or anchor caps or retainable bodies or any combination thereof and optionally one or more attachment means.

[0032] The anchor brace assembly of the present invention finds utility as a plasterboard or dry wall load bearing fixing for providing a suitable means of fixing brackets and other support means to plasterboard or dry wall installations.

[0033] The preceding aspects and other aspects of the present invention will be further elaborated upon in the following specific description in which embodiments of the present invention are described, by way of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:Figure 1 is a side view of a spiral form anchor member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 2 is a side view of a helix form anchor member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 3 is a perspective top view of a coil form anchor member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 4 is a bottom view of a coil form anchor member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 5 is a side view of an anchor assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 6 is a top view of the anchor assembly of Figure 5;Figure 7 is a bottom view of the anchor assembly of Figure 5;Figure 8 is a perspective axial section of the anchor assembly of Figure 5;Figure 9 is an axial section of the anchor assembly of Figure 5;Figure 10 is a section perpendicular to the axis along the line x-x’ of the anchor assembly of Figure 5;Figure 11 is a photograph of a two-part anchor assembly, prior to assembly for use, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 12 is a photograph of an integral spiral anchor member and anchor cap with integral coupling for the two-part anchor assembly of Figure 11 ;Figure 13 is a photograph of the coupling of the two-part anchor assembly of Figure 1 after assembly;Figure 14 is a perspective view of an anchor assembly with coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 15 is a front view of an anchor assembly with coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 16 is a side view of an anchor assembly with coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 17 is a top view of an anchor assembly with coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 18 is a bottom view of an anchor assembly with coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 19 is a perspective view of an anchor assembly with helix form anchor member, coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 20 is a side view of an anchor assembly with coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 21 is a top view of an anchor assembly with coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 22 is a bottom perspective view of an anchor assembly with helix form anchor member, coil form anchor member, anchor lintel and retainable barrel, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 23 is an anchor lintel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 24 is a retainable barrel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 25 is a perspective side view of a spiral form anchor member with integral anchor cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 26 is a side view of a spiral form anchor member with integral anchor cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 27 is a sectional side view of spiral form anchor of figure 26;Figure 28 is a perspective side view of a spiral form anchor member with integral anchor cap and stepped spiral arms according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 29 is top and bottom views of the spiral form anchor member of Figure 28;Figure 30 is a side view of the spiral form anchor of figure 28;Figure 31 is a sectional side view of spiral form anchor of figure 30;Figure 32 (a), (b) and (c) show three stages in the use of the spiral form anchor member of Figure 28 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 33 is a perspective view of an anchor assembly with a metal coil form anchor member, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; andFigure 34 is a two-piece anchor assembly based on a spiral form anchor member and an anchor cap modified Snaptoggle®.

[0034] With reference to Figure 1 , a spiral form anchor member (1 ) is illustrated which is in the form of a spiral cone with an apex (2) and a base (3) and a central axis X. The spiral member (1 ) is made of a single, continuous spiral of material (4) presenting a number of tiers (5). The spiral (4) presents a top surface (6) and a bottom surface (7). It can be seen that as the spiral of material (4) ascends from the base (3) to the apex (2) that each tier (5) of the spiral (4) overlaps with the preceding tier (5). During use the spiral form anchor member (1 ) under an applied load is compressed with the apex (2) being drawn towards the base (3) but is unable to totally collapse and compress to a coil due to the overlapping tiers (5). Once compressed the member (1) is in the form of a hollow dome. In this form any force through an applied load to the apex will pass through the walls of the dome and into the base in contact with the back surface of a board. It will be self-evident that as the base (3) of the member (1 ) will have a much larger circumference than the hole of the board the applied load will pass to the back surface of the board at some distance from the hole in the board. For a typical 22 mm hole in a board this distance could for example be over 10 to 15 mm from the edge of the hole; the exact distance will depend on the actual dimensions of the spiral member (1 ) used. The continuous spiral of material (4) may have a substantially rectangular cross-section when taken across the axis (x). The width of this cross-section (A) in this example being greater than the thickness (B). The relative dimensions of width (A) and thickness (B) may be varied but must be selected to allow the continuous spiral of material (4) to have a cross-section sufficiently small enough to pass into and through the hole in the board to allow the spiral form member (1 ) to completely pass through the hole. This arrangement provides a significant improvement in load performance over prior art plaster board fixings.

[0035] With reference to Figure 2, a single helix form anchor member (10) is illustrated which has a top (11 ) and a base (12) and a central axis Y. Thehelix member (10) is made of a single, continuous loop of material (13) presenting a number of tiers (14) As a helix it can be seen that as the helix material (13) ascends from the base (12) to the top (11 ) that each tier (14) of the helix material (13) overlaps with the preceding tier (14). During use the helix form member (10) under an applied load is compressed with the top (11 ) being drawn towards the base (12) and compresses so that the tiers (14) are in complete contact with each other. Once compressed the member (10) is in the form of a hollow cylinder of material. In this form any force through an applied load to the top will pass through these walls and into the base (12) in contact with the back surface of a board. It will be self-evident that as the base (12) of the helix form member (10) will have a much larger circumference than the hole of the board the applied load will pass to the back surface of the board at some distance from the hole in the board. For a typical 22 mm hole in a board this distance could for example be over 10 to 15 mm from the edge of the hole; the exact distance will depend on the actual dimensions of the helix form member (10) used and similar constraints as described in relation to the spiral form member of Figure 1 , discussed above apply. This arrangement also provides a significant improvement in load performance over prior art plaster board fixings.

[0036] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, a coil form anchor member (20) is illustrated which has a top (21 ) and a bottom (22) and a central aperture (23). The coil member (20) is made of a single, continuous loop of material (24), which, in this example, has a non-uniform width of material (24) as the coil commences from a tapered end (25), through varying width as it terminates with a central section (26) through which is located the central aperture (23). During use the coil form member (20) under an applied load is not compressed; it essentially retains its planar form under load. The coil member (20) has the form of a flat planar coil, with the total width (C) of the coil member (20) being significantly greater than the thickness (B) of the coil member (20) and the width (A) of the coil material loop (24). The relative dimensions of width (A) and thickness (B) of the coil form member (20) may be varied but must be selected to allow the continuous loop of material (24) to have a cross-section sufficientlysmall enough to pass into and through the hole in the board to allow the coil form member (20) to completely pass through the hole. Once passed through the board hole the bottom (22) of the coil form member (20) will be aligned to contact the back surface of the board. In this position the coil form member (20) is orientated perpendicular to the axis of the hole in the board and the aperture (23) is aligned with that axis. The coil form member (20) may be used in combination with a washer or anchor lintel which will be in contact with the top surface (21 ) of the coil form member (20). The applied load is effectively applied to the washer or anchor lintel and dispersed and distributed through the coil form member (20) to the back surface of the board. With the coil form member (20) the applied load is applied from the edge of the hole in the board to the periphery (27) of the coil form member (20); this enables larger loads to be applied than those achieved with typical plaster board fixings before the board fails at or around the hole.

[0037] With reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, an anchor assembly (30) is shown which comprises anchor cap (31 ), spiral form anchor member (32), coil form anchor member (33) and retainable barrel (34). The combination of a spiral form anchor member (32) and coil form anchor member (33) provides for improved load bearing properties for the assembly. In this example the anchor cap (31 ) may be integral with the spiral form anchor member (32) and may be moulded as a single combined unit or may be arranged to be connected to each other for use in the assembly. The spiral form anchor member (32) may optionally be integrally moulded with or adapted to be connected with the coil form anchor member (33). The coil form anchor member (33) may optionally be integrally moulded with or adapted to be connected with the retainable barrel (34). In one arrangement the anchor assembly (30) may be a single moulding of all components, or all the components may be adapted to be assembled together as a complete assembly for use. The anchor cap (31 ) is generally cylindrical in form with a top section (35) a cylindrical mid-section (36) and a chamfered lower section (37) with a flat bottom (38). The top section (35) is optionally domed. The flat bottom (38) has a centralised countersunk section(39) centred on the central axis (X) for the assembly (30) and an annular passage (40) at this axis. The anchor cap (31 ) has a diameter (Y) at its maximum that is smaller than the width of the board hole, which approximates to the maximum diameter (Z) of the retainable barrel (34). Thus, the anchor cap (31 ) may be easily passed into and through the board hole. The spiral form anchor member (32) has a conical form with an origin (41 ) and a terminus (42) and is made of a single arm (43) that takes a spiral path of increasing diameter from the origin (41 ) to the terminus (42). The arm (43) is preferably of a non- uniform cross-section (44) as shown and the largest diameter of this crosssection (44) is less than that of the anchor cap diameter (Y) so that the arm (43) may easily pass into and through the board hole with the anchor cap (31 ). It can be seen that the spiral arm (43) has a number of surfaces. The first is an external surface (45); this chamfered surface is at such an angle that when the spiral member (32) is fully compressed this surface presents an apparent continuous external surface to the compressed spiral member (32), which present itself as a cone or domed structure depending on the nature of the external surface (45). The second is an internal surface (46); this chamfered surface is at such an angle that when the spiral member (32) is fully compressed this surface presents an apparent continuous internal surface to the compressed spiral member (32), which present itself as an internal cone or domed surface depending on the nature of the internal surface (45). The arm (43) also has a top surface (47) and bottom surface (48) both of which are chamfered, and which co-operate with and make contact with each other when the spiral member (32) is compressed. The coil form anchor member (33) effectively acts as an additional base to the spiral form anchor member (32). The coil form anchor member (33) is a flat spiral of material with a single arm (49) that originates at the central axis (X) and spirals out to a terminus (50). The cross-section (51) of the arm (49) is non-uniform and is dimensionally smaller than the dimension of the hole in the board so that it may easily pass into and through that hole. The spiral form anchor member (32) is secured at its terminus (42) to the top surface (52) of the coil form anchor member (33). The retainable barrel (34) is positioned underneath the coil form anchor member (33) and isaligned with the central axis (X) of that member (33). The retainable barrel (34) is generally cylindrical in shape with a cylindrical body (53) and an optional chamfered upper section (54), a flange section (55) and a flat base (56). Aligned with the central axis X is an aperture (57) that passes through the retainable barrel (34). The retainable barrel (34) is dimensioned so that the cylindrical portion and optionally a significant part of the chamfered section (54) will sit comfortably within a hole in a board and contact the side walls of that hole. The flange (55) is dimensioned to be larger than the hole opening and so preventing the retainable barrel (34) from passing in toto through the board hole. During use the anchor cap (31) is passed into and through the board hole and the arms (43, 49) of the spiral form (32) and coil form (33) members then follow in sequence with finally the inserting of the retainable barrel (34) into the hole and being retained in position by the flange (55), which will abut the front surface of the board around the hole if the flange (55) forms a complete circle of material around the retainable barrel (34). Once in position the bottom surface (58) of the coil form member (33) will be in contact with the rear surface of the board and the anchor cap (31 ), spiral form anchor member (32), coil form anchor member (33) and retainable barrel (34) will all be aligned along the central axis (X). An attachment means such as for example a screw or nut may be introduced at aperture (57) of the retainable barrel (34), pass through the centralised aperture of the coil form member (33) and int the aperture (40) of the anchor cap (31 ). As the attachment means is tightened and exerts pressure onto the anchor cap (31 ), this is drawn towards the back surface of the board and in doing so compresses the spiral form anchor member (32) until it is fully compressed. At this juncture the spiral form anchor member is essentially in the form of a compressed come or dome and provides a high strength brace against that coil form anchor member and through that member to the back of the board; the assembly is no set for safely applying fixtures or loads.

[0038] With reference to Figures 11 , 12 and 13 a two-part anchor assembly (100). The first part (101 is an integral anchor cap (103) and spiral anchor member (104) assembly. The second part is an integral coil form anchormember (105) and retainable barrel (106) assembly. Both have been modified at their terminus (107 and 108) with a pin and slot arrangement to form a coupling (109) that allows each assembly to manufactured separately and then coupled to each other for use.

[0039] With reference to Figures 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, an anchor assembly (200) is shown which comprises anchor lintel (201 ), a coil form anchor member (202) and retainable barrel (203). The coil form anchor member (202) and retainable barrel (203) are as previously described in Figures 5 to 10. In this anchor assembly (200) the anchor lintel (201 ) forms the function of the anchor cap (31 ) but without the presence of a spiral form anchor member. The lintel (201 ) is a solid elongated material with a flat bottom surface (204) and an arcuate top surface (205) and has an aperture (206) passing through the body of the lintel (201 ) and aligned with the central axis (X) of the assembly (200). The maximum width of the lintel (201 ) is such that it may pass through the bore of a hole in a board. The lintel (201 ) may be integral with the coil member (202) and in this instance is attached to the coil member (202) at the tapered terminus (207) located at the periphery (208) of the coil member (202). The opposite end (209) of the lintel may move freely. During use the free end (209) of the lintel (201 ) is inserted into and passed through a hole in a board. As it passe through the coil member (202) will pass into the hole and through it by being attached to the lintel (201 ) at its tapered terminus (207) and finally the retainable barrel will be held in place in the board hole (216) as previously described. The bottom of the coil member (210) will abut the back surface (212) of the board (215) as shown in Figure 15 in section and the lintel (210) will transfer the load applied to it to the top surface (2011 ) of the coil member (200); the load is effectively distributed to the board (215) around the hole (216) to the periphery (208) of the coil member (200). The flange (213) of the retainable barrel (203) abuts the front surface (214) of the board (215) and retains the retainable barrel (203) in the hole (216).

[0040] With reference to Figures 18, 20, 21 and 22, an anchor assembly (300) is shown which comprises anchor lintel (301 ), a helix form anchor member(302), a coil form anchor member (303) and retainable barrel (305). The anchor lintel (301), the coil form anchor member (303) and the retainable barrel (305) are as previously described in Figures 14 to 18. In this anchor assembly (300) the helix form anchor member (302), functions in a similar way to the spiral form anchor member described in Figures 5 to 10. The helix form anchor assembly separates the lintel (301 ) from the top surface (305) of the coil form member(303). In this assembly (300) the lintel (301 ) may be attached at one end (306) to the top terminus (307) of the helix member (302) with the opposite end (308) being free. The bottom terminus (309) of the helix member (302) may be secured to the tapered terminus (310) of the coil member (303). This assembly (300) is used in a similar fashion to that already described for the assembly (100) of figures 5 to 10.

[0041] With reference to Figure 23 is shown a typical anchor lintel (400) for use in the assemblies of the present invention. The lintel (400) has an arcuate top surface (401 ) a flat bottom surface (402) and a central aperture 403.

[0042] With reference to Figure 24 is shown a typical retainable barrel (500) for use in the assemblies of the present invention. The retainable barrel is substantially cylindrical in shape with a flange section (501) at the flat bottom (502) of the retainable barrel (500) and a chamfered section (503) above the cylindrical body (504) leading to a flat top surface (505). There is a centralised aperture (506) that passes through the body of the retainable barrel (500) and emerges at the bottom surface (502).

[0043] With reference to Figures 25, 26 and 27, there is shown an anchor assembly (600), with a spiral form anchor member (601) with integral anchor cap (602). From the figures, especially Figure 27 it can clearly be seen that the spiral arm overlaps at each coil level; for example, coil (603) overlaps with coil (604) at region (605). The overlap is a continuous overlap from the origin (606) to the terminus (607) of the spiral.

[0044] With reference to Figures 28, 29, 30 and 31 , there is shown another anchor assembly (700), with a spiral form anchor member (701) withintegral anchor cap (702). From the figures, especially Figure 31 , it can clearly be seen that the spiral arm overlaps at each coil level; for example, coil (703) overlaps with coil (704) at region (705). The overlap is a continuous overlap from the origin (706) to the terminus (707) of the spiral. This anchor assembly (700) has an additional feature associate with the arm (708) of the spiral form anchor member (701 ). From the origin (706) and at every 90 degrees rotation of the spiral arm (708) there are a co-operating pair of tapered flange surfaces (709, 710) consisting of a top flange (709) and a bottom flange (710) that are aligned. On compression of the assembly under the anticlockwise force through application of an attachment device (e.g. a screw) the various coiled layers of the spiral arm (708) make contact with each other and eventually these tapered flange surfaces (709, 710) will also engage with each other. As the attachment device is tightened further this will tend to fore the coiled layers into even firmer engagement and the spiral arm (708) to rotate anticlockwise; the flange surfaces (709,710) are arranged to prevent this anticlockwise movement and to effectively lock the coils rigidly into engagement producing a highly robust spiral anchor cone in the assembly (700) for effective fixing. These flange surface (709,710) also aid in the moulding of the spiral form anchor member.

[0045] With reference to Figure 32 (a), in a generally stepped method, the anchor cap (801 ) of an anchor assembly (800) is introduced via the front(804) of a board (803) into a hole (802) in the board (803). The anchor assembly (800) is then screwed clockwise to corkscrew the spiral form anchor member (805) through the hole and into the region (806) at the back (807) of the board (803) as shown at Figure 32 (b). As the spiral form anchor member(805) is flexible it is able to easily be distorted in an offset fashion as it is screwed through the hole (802). Eventually as shown in Figure 32 (c) the whole of the anchor assembly (800) has passed through the hole (802) and is located in the region (806) at the back (807) of the board (803) and the base (808) of the anchor assembly (800) is now in contact with the back (807) of the board (803). The anchor assembly (800) may be secured in this position by means of a screw (809) and a washer (810) and compressed towards the board (803) asthe screw (809) is tightened. A retainable barrel (not shown) may be used in place of the washer (810). It may be desirable to pre-assemble the components before insertion of the anchor assembly (800). Thus, the screw (809) may be passed through the washer (810) and partly screwed into the bottom of the anchor cap (801). This pre-assembled arrangement may be cork screwed into the board (803) through the hole (802) in a similar fashion as described above with the effect that the washer 810) and the attached screw (809) will prevent the anchor assembly (800) from being lost in the region (806) behind the board (803).

[0046] With reference to Figure 33, the anchor assembly (900) consists of a retainable barrel (901 ) as previously described, a modified anchor lintel(902) as previously described and a metal minimal coil form anchor member(903). The terminus of the metal coil (903) is secured within the anchor lintel (902) at (904) and the origin of the metal coil (903) is secured within the retainable barrel at (905).

[0047] With reference to Figure 34, the anchor assembly (1000) consists of two parts namely a spiral form anchor member (1001 ) and an anchor cap assembly (1002) comprising an anchor cap (1003) and a snap mechanism (1004). The spiral form anchor member (1001 ) is as previously described. The anchor cap (1003) is substantially as previously described band is adapted to accommodate and be attached to the ends of two snappable arms (1005 and 1006) of the mechanism (1004). The mechanism comprises a retainable body (1007) through which is fed the snappable arms (1005 and 1006), which are able to independently move within and through the body (1007) and optionally at the anchor cap (1003). The retainable body (1007) is able to move freely up and down the snappable arms (1005 and 1006). The anchor assembly may be used as follows. The spiral form anchor member (1001 ) is screwed around the snappable arms (1005 and 1006), which are flexible enough to be pushed together for feeding into the spiral of the spiral member (1001 ). Once the spiral form member (1001 ) is fully engaged the snappable arms (1005 and 1006) will be freely located within the bore of the spiral member (1001 ) and will emergefrom the bore at the origin (1008) of the spiral member (1001 ). The attached anchor cap (1003) will be located above the origin (1008) of the spiral member (1001 ). The retainable body (1007) will be located below the bottom (1009) of the spiral form member (1001 ). In this form the spiral form anchor member (1001 ) is able to move up and down the snappable arms (1005 and 1006) but is prevented from disengaging by the anchor cap (1003) at one end and the retainable body (1007) at the other. The assembled anchor assembly (1000) may now be inserted, anchor cap (1003) first, into a hole in a board. Then the spiral form anchor member (1001 ) is corkscrewed through the hole. Then the retainable body (1007) may be moved up the snappable arms (1005 and 1006) until it is securely retained in the hole and has partially compressed the spiral form member (1001 ) through a load applied to the anchor cap (1003) through the pressure applied to the snappable arms (1005 and 1006) and the retainable body (1007). At this point the visible sections of the snappable arms (1005 and 1006) may be snapped off at the retainable body (1007) leaving the anchor assembly (1000) secured in the board at the hole with the spiral form member (1001 ) at the back surface of the board. Fixtures may be screwed into the assembly using for example a screw.

[0048] While exemplary embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been described herein, the present disclosure is not limited to such embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An anchor member in the form of a coil, helix or spiral.

2. An anchor assembly, for use in a load bearing fixing to be secured at a hole in a board, the anchor assembly comprising one or more anchor members according to claim 1 , configured to be located on the blind side of the board during use of the assembly.

3. An anchor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises an anchor lintel.

4. An anchor assembly according to claim 3, wherein the anchor lintel is integral with at least one anchor member.

5. An anchor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises an anchor cap.

6. An anchor assembly according to claim 5, wherein the anchor cap is integral with at least one anchor member.

7. An anchor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly further comprises a retainable barrel.

8. An anchor assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the anchor lintel and / or anchor cap comprise at least one aperture with vertically aligned undulations or spines on its internal surface.

9. An anchor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises a nut and a bolt with optional washer.

10. An anchor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises an anchor cap with integral thread, a bolt and optional washer.

11. An anchor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises an anchor lintel with a bolt and optional washer.

12. An anchor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises an anchor lintel with integral thread, a bolt and optional washer.

13. An anchor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises an anchor cap with integral thread, a bolt and optional washer.

14. An anchor bracing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises a spiral and coil form anchor member, with the coil form anchor member arranged to be at the base of the spiral form anchor member.

15. An anchor bracing assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly further comprises a helix form and coil form anchor member, with the coil form anchor member arranged to be at the base of the helix form anchor member.

16. A fixing kit comprising: one or more anchor members in the form of a coil, helix or spiral; one or more of retaining washers or anchor caps or retainable bodies or any combination thereof and optionally one or more attachment means.

17. An anchor assembly comprising a spiral form anchor member and an anchor cap assembly comprising an anchor cap and a snap mechanism associated with a retainable body.

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