Toggle form fixing device

Abstract

A toggle fixing (1) is disclosed which comprises a brace member (2) and a retainable support member (3) that are engageable with each other, the brace member (2) comprises at least one set of two interconnected guide channels (4, 5) and the retainable support member (3) comprises at least one set of two guide members, wherein a first guide member (18) is configured to be engaged with any part of the set of interconnected guide channels of the brace member and a second guide member (18) is configured to be engaged with only one channel of the set of interconnected guide channels. The toggle fixing (1) may be easily removed and replaced with minimal damage to the board and fixing.

Description

TOGGLE FORM 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 is that the access to therear 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] This invention is directed to a new form of toggle fixing for use with plasterboard or other forms of building board or general board structures.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a toggle fixing comprising a brace member and a retainable support member that are engageable with each other, the brace member comprises at least one set of two interconnected guide channels and the retainable support member comprises at least one set of two guide members where a first guide member is configured to be engaged with any part of the set of interconnected guide channels of the brace member and a second guide member configured to be engaged with only one channel of the set of interconnected guide channels.

[0006] The brace member is preferably elongate and of length greater than the width of the retainable support member. The brace member may have a generally central portion of substantially uniform dimensions, and end portions extending from said central portion defining contact surfaces for the bracemember with the rear surface of a board. The central portion and end portions may be integrally moulded. Preferably, the brace member is generally arcuate in profile along its length, with an arcuate top surface and preferably a substantially arcuate bottom surface, which preferably has points of contact at or towards each end of the brace member. Preferably, the contact surfaces of the brace member are arranged to be parallel to the back surface of the board. Alternatively, the contact surfaces may be arranged to present an acute angle to the rear surface of the board. When presented as an acute angle the contact surfaces will substantially realign during compression of the brace member during use and make substantially complete contact with the rear surface of the board.

[0007] In a preferred arrangement the brace member comprises two separate sets of interconnected guide channels, with one set on either side of the brace member and embedded into the surface of the brace member. Each set of guide channels comprises two interconnected channels. In a preferred arrangement each set of guide channels are arranged such that a first central guide channel is located at the side wall of the brace member and is aligned with a central perpendicular axis of the brace member, which passes through the longitudinal aperture of the brace member. In a preferred embodiment there is a centrally aligned central guide channel at the surface of either side of the brace member. The central guide channel traverses the side wall of the brace member and is open at its ends as it emerges at the top and bottom surfaces of the brace member. The second guide channel is a retainer pin guide channel. This channel is interconnected with the central guide channel and at one end opens into one side of the central guide channel. This opening is preferably towards the end of the central guide channel located at or close to the top surface of the brace member. The retainer pin guide channel, whilst opening into and in communication with the central guide channel, is preferably closed at its opposite end. In this arrangement the retainer pin guide channel runs along the side of the brace member and substantially perpendicular to the central guide channel. In a preferred arrangement the retainer pin guide channel is a straight channel and is set at an acute angle relative to the central guide channel. The retainer pin guidechannel moves away from the central guide channel along the length of a portion of the brace member one side of the central perpendicular axis of the brace member.

[0008] The brace 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 toggle fixing in position in use. The brace member typically will have a width that is small enough to pass through the hole in a board and will have a length that is longer than the diameter of the hole in a board.

[0009] In the toggle fixing the brace member is used with a retainable support member. The brace member may be engaged with the retainable support member and may be manoeuvred relative to it. The retainable support member is configured to be retained within a hole in a board during use of the fixing and to provide a counterbalance on the front surface of the board to that of the brace member on the back surface of the board. The retainable support member comprises a body that is generally cylindrical and proportioned to be able to be inserted into and retained in a hole in a board. The retainable support member may generally be 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 support member into contact with the wall of the hole and thereby retention within the hole. The base of the retainable support member is typically circumferentially larger than the main body of the support member and the circumference of the hole in the board and extends beyond the side edges of the support member 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 support member from passing into and completely through the hole. This flange with the retention of the retainable support member within the hole acts in part as a counter brace on the front of the board to that presented by the brace member on the back surface of the board.The dimensions of the retainable support member and in particular its diameter and that of the flange structure may be significantly smaller than those of the brace member and in particular its length; this is because its primary function is simply to assist with retention of the retainable support member 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 brace member bracing the back surface of the board.

[0010] The retainable support member further comprises two guide arms that extend from the top of the body of the retainable support member. They may be connected and preferably are connected to each other at their terminus by a brace support. When the guide arms are not connected at their terminus it is preferred that they each have an inward facing support tab that together act as the equivalent of a brace support. At least one of the guide arms has a pair of inwards facing guides namely a retainer pin and an elongated guide. These guides are arranged so that the elongate guide is orientated substantially centrally on the inner wall surface of the guide arm and aligned parallel to the central axis of the retainable support member, with one end of the elongated guide proximate to the top of the support member body. The retainer pin may be a substantially circular protrusion from the inner wall surface of the guide arm, and which is located past the end of the elongated guide remote from the support member body but on the same common axis parallel to the central axis of the retainable support member. The dimensions of the retainer pin are such that it may easily be engaged with both of the channels in a set of interconnected channels on the brace member and when it is so engaged to be able to freely move within those channels. The elongated guide has a width and height such that it may engage with the central guide channel of the brace member and freely move within that channel only. The dimensions of the retainer pin guide channel and central guide channel of the brace member may be different, with the proviso that they both must at least accommodate the dimensions of the retainer pin, and that the central guide channel must accommodate the dimensions of theelongated guide in addition to the retainer pin. Thus, the width and / or depth of the central guide channel may be greater than the width and / or depth of the retainer pin guide channel.

[0011] The brace member and the support member 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 support member which is perpendicular to the plane of the board during use of the fixing device. These aligned apertures provide a means for securing the brace member to the support member during use of the fixing via means of an attachment device such as for example a screw or bolt.

[0012] Preferably, at least the longitudinal aperture of the brace member 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 fixing and in particular the brace member is difficult to use with selftapping 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 support member is free of vertical undulations or spines and has a bore that will accommodate the free passage of the attachment device therethrough.

[0013] The retainable support member preferably has an aperture aligned with the central axis of the retainable support member for accommodating an attachment device such as for example a screw or bolt or other means of attachment. When the retainable support member has a brace support at the terminus of the guide arms, it is preferred that this is centrally indented so as not to obstruct the passage of an attachment device through the retainable supportmember and into the brace member once aligned with each other. When the brace support is replaced by a pair of support tabs then obstruction is prevented by the gap between the ends of the opposing tabs.

[0014] In certain arrangements where a bolt is used as the attachment device the brace member may be used with a corresponding nut for the bolt. Preferably, the brace member may comprise a threaded insert in place of the bolt.

[0015] The components of the toggle fixing may be formed of organic plastic material, metal material or ceramic material. It is preferred that the brace member and the retainable support member are formed from organic polymeric material or metal materials and most preferably are formed from plastic materials that have been injection moulded or extruded. Preferable materials include polyolefins such as for example polypropylene and engineering polymers such as nylon.

[0016] The present invention further provides for a toggle fixing kit comprising: one or more brace members; one or more retainable support bodies and optionally one or more attachment means. The toggle fixing being assembled by combining a brace member with a retainable support body by engaging the retainer pin or pins of the retainable support member with the interconnected channels of the brace member.

[0017] 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.

[0018] The toggle fixing 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 or anyboard related installation with inaccessible rear surfaces. It is easy to use and correctly orientate during use and if desired may easily be removed from a board after use and reused.

[0019] 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 perspective view of an assembled toggle fixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 2 is a perspective view of a brace member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 3 is a perspective view of retainable support member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 4 is a side view of a brace member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 5 is a side view of retainable support member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 6 is a bottom view of retainable support member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 7 is a bottom view of retainable support member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with support tabs;Figure 8 is a central axial view of the flange end of a retainable support member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 9 is a central axial view of the support member end of a retainable support member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;Figure 10 is a perspective view of a toggle fixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention after first insertion through a board hole; andFigure 11 is a perspective view of a toggle fixing according to an exemplary embodiment of t1 he present invention after insertion through a board hole and secured in the bracing position.

[0020] With reference to Figure 1 , an assembled toggle fixing (1 ) is illustrated which consists of two parts. The first is a brace member (2) and the second is an engaged retainable support member (3). The brace member (2) is elongated and generally arcuate in form. On the brace member (2) is shown the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’) and the retainer pin guide channel (5). The retainer pin guide channel (5) is interconnected with the central guide channel (4) and at one end opens into one side of the central guide channel (4). This pin guide opening is towards the end of the central guide channel (4) located at or close to the top surface of the brace member (2). The interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’) are open at both of their ends at the top and bottom surfaces of the brace member (2) Also shown is the opening of the longitudinal aperture (6) of the brace member (2) and the opening of the longitudinal aperture (7) of the retainable support member (3). Both of these apertures (6,7) are aligned about a central perpendicular axis when the toggle fixing (1 ) is secured to a board. It can be seen that the central guide channels (4, 4’) run parallel to the longitudinal aperture (6) and ergo the central perpendicular axis of the toggle fixing (1 ). The retainable support member (3) has two guide arms (8, 8’) that extend from the top of the body of the retainable support member (3). The guide arms (8, 8’) have a pair of inwards facing guides namely a guide pin (not shown) and an elongated guide (9). The guide pins (not shown) and the elongated guides (9, only one shown) are located on the internal surfaces of the guide arms (8, 8’) and servethe dual function of guiding and retaining of the support brace (2) within the retainable support member (3). In this Figure the guide pins (not shown) on each guide arm (8,8’) are engaged with a retainer pin guide channel (5, only one shown). This ensures that the brace member (2) is secured between the guide arms (8, 8’) of the retainable support member (3). At their terminus (10) the guide arms (8, 8’) are connected to each other via a brace support (not shown) and this supports the brace member (2). The brace member (2) is able to rotate within the guide arms (8, 8’) about and axis that passes through the guide pins (not shown); the brace stop (not shown) stops this rotation. The brace member (2) is also able to move relative to the guide arms (8, 8’) as the guide pins (not shown) move along the pin guide channel (5, only one shown) of the brace member (2).

[0021] With reference to Figure 2, a brace member (2) shows the commonly numbered features of Figure 1. One set of interconnected channels comprising a central guide channel (4), and retainer pin guide channel (5) are shown. The retainer pin guide channel (5) is interconnected with the central guide channel (4) and at one end (12) opens into one side of the central guide channel (4); the other end (16) of the pin guide channel (4) is closed. This pin guide opening is towards the end (13) of the central guide channel (4) located at or close to the top surface (14) of the brace member (2). The interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’) are open at both of their ends at the top (14) and bottom surfaces (15) of the brace member (2). Also shown is the opening of the longitudinal aperture (6) of the brace member (2).

[0022] With reference to Figure 3 there is shown a retainable support member (3). The retainable support member (3) has two guide arms (8, 8’) that extend from the top (17) of the main body of the retainable support member (3). The guide arms (8, 8’) have a pair of inwards facing guides namely a guide pin (18, one shown) and an elongated guide (9, one shown). At their terminus (10) the guide arms (8, 8’) are connected to each other via a brace support (19) and this supports the brace member (2).

[0023] With reference to Figures 4(a) and 4 (b), a brace member (2) shows the commonly numbered features of Figure 1 . These figures show both sides of the brace member (2). Each side has a set of interconnected channels comprising a central guide channel (4, 4’) and retainer pin guide channel (5, 5’). The retainer pin guide channel (5, 5’) is interconnected with the central guide channel (4, 4’) and at one end (12, 12’) opens into one side of the central guide channel (4, 4’); the other end (16, 16’) of the pin guide channel (4, 4’) is closed. This pin guide opening is towards the end (13, 13’) of the central guide channel (4, 4’) located at or close to the top surface (14) of the brace member (2). The interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’) are open at both of their ends at the top (14) and bottom surfaces (15) of the brace member (2). I can be seen that the central guide channels (4, 4’) are perpendicular to the general plane of the brace member (2) and aligned with the central perpendicular axis (X) of the brace member (2). It can be seen that the retainer pin guide channels (5, 5’) are orientated generally perpendicular to the pin guide channels (5, 5’) and the central perpendicular axis (X) of the brace member (2) and preferably are orientated at an acute angle (Y) to the central perpendicular axis (X) of the brace member (2), towards the bottom (15) of the brace member (2). The brace member (2) has a generally arcuate central portion of substantially uniform dimensions, and end portions (20, 20’) extending from said central portion defining contact surfaces (21 , 2T) for the brace member (2) with the rear surface of a board (not shown). The brace member (2) is generally arcuate in profile along its length, with an arcuate top surface (14) and preferably a substantially arcuate bottom surface (15), which preferably has points of contact (20, 2T) at or towards each end portion (20, 20’) of the brace member (2).

[0024] With reference to Figures 5 to 9, there is shown a retainable support member (3). The retainable support member (3) has two guide arms (8, 8’) that extend from the top (17) of the main body of the retainable support member (3). The guide arms (8, 8’) have a pair of inwards facing guides namely a guide pin (18, 18’) and an elongated guide (9, 9’). At their terminus (10) the guide arms (8, 8’) are connected to each other via a brace support (19) and this supports thebrace member (2). When the retainable support member (3) has a brace support (19) at the terminus (10) of the guide arms (8, 8’), it is preferred that the brace support (19) comprises a central indentation (22), which is arranged partially about the central axis (x) so as not to obstruct the longitudinal aperture (7) to allow passage of an attachment device through the retainable support member (3) and into the brace member (2) once aligned with each other. The brace support (19) as illustrated in Figure 7, may be replaced by a pair of support tabs (23, 23’) and then obstruction is prevented by the gap between the ends of the opposing tabs (23, 23’). The base (24) of the retainable support member (3) is circumferentially larger than the main body (25) of the support member (3) and the circumference of the hole in the board and extends beyond the side edges of the support member body (3) and acts as a flange (26) that contacts the exterior of the hole and, to varying degrees depending on its dimensions, the front surface of the board; this flange (26) prevents the retainable support member (3) from passing into and completely through the hole of a board.

[0025] With reference to Figures 10 and 11 , the toggle fixing (1 ) as arranged in Figure 1 , has been inserted into and partially through a hole (29) in a board (28). The main part of the support member (3) is retained on the front side (not shown) of the board (28) and only the guide arms (8, 8’) and the brace support (19) protrude the hole (29) to the rear of the board (28). In this orientation the brace member (2) is engaged with the support member (3) by the guide pins (not shown), which are engaged within and abut the closed end (16) of the pin guide channel (5). The top (14) of the brace member (2) abuts and is supported by the brace support (19). In this position the toggle fixing (1 ) may be tilted so that the brace member (2) moves away from the brace support (19) towards the rear surface of the board (28). During this motion the brace member (2) is orientated into a relatively vertical position and the weight of the brace member (2) causes the brace member (2) to move downwards through the guide arms (8, 8’) of the support member and in doing so rotates about the axis of the guide pins (18, 18’) and allows the guide pins (18, 18’) to move through the pin guide channels (5, 5’) towards the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’). Once the guide pins(8, 8’) have traversed these channel (5, 5’) they are then located within the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’) and abut the side of these channels preventing any further vertical downward movement of the brace member (2) relative to the guide arms (8, 8’) of the support member (3). At this point the brace member (2) is substantially vertical and perpendicular to the guide arms (8,8’) and its longitudinal aperture (6) will be aligned with the central axis (x) of the support member (3) and the longitudinal aperture (7) of the support member (3). In this position an attachment device (27), such as for example a screw or bolt, may be passed through the longitudinal apertures and tightened to draw the brace member (2) towards the rear of the board (28). During this process the guide pins (18, 18’) will move along the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’) towards the opening (13, 13’) of these channels located at the top surface (14) of the brace member (2) and as tightening progresses these guide pins (18, 18’) will pass out of the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’). Before this occurs the front ends of the elongated guides (9, 9’) engage with the lower opening of the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’) located at the base (15) of the brace member (2); thus, the brace member (2) will now move towards the rear of the board (28) guided by the elongated guides (9, 9’) of the guide arms (8, 8’). Thus, once the guide pins (18, 18’) have aligned the brace member (2) this alignment is maintained by the elongated guides (9, 9’) located within the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’). As tightening is completed the brace member (2) is braced against the rear surface of the board (28) and the flange (26) of the support member (3) is braced against the front of the board. The brace member (2) is perpendicular to the central axis (x) of the support member (3) and the interconnected central guide channels (4, 4’), the elongated guides (9, 9’) and the guide arms (8, 8’) are all aligned parallel to that axis. This process may be reversed to allow the toggle fixing (1 ) to be removed intact from the board, without causing any damage to the board.

[0026] 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 anyvariations, 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. A toggle fixing comprising a brace member and a retainable support member engageable with each other, the brace member comprises at least one set of two interconnected guide channels and the retainable support member comprises at least one set of two guide members where a first guide member is configured to be engaged with any part of the set of interconnected guide channels of the brace member and a second guide member is configured to be engaged with only one channel of the set of interconnected guide channels.

2. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brace member is elongate and of length greater than the width of the retainable support member.

3. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brace member may have a generally central portion and end portions extending from said central portion defining contact surfaces.

4. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brace member is generally arcuate in profile along its length.

5. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brace member comprises two separate sets of interconnected guide channels, with one set on either side of the brace member and embedded into the surface of the brace member.

6. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 5, wherein each set of guide channels comprises two interconnected channels.

7. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 5, wherein each set of guide channels are arranged such that a first central guide channel is located at the side wall of the brace member and is aligned with a central perpendicular axis of the brace member.

8. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 7, wherein the central guide channel traverses the side wall of the brace member and is open at its ends as it emerges at the top and bottom surfaces of the brace member.

9. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 5, wherein a second guide channel is interconnected with the central guide channel and at one end opens into one side of the central guide channel.

10. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second guide channel closed at its opposite end.

11. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second channels are configured to accommodate a guide pin located on the support member.

12. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first channel is configured to accommodate an elongated guide located on the support member.

13. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second channel is set at an acute angle relative to the central guide channel.

14. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the brace member is engaged with the retainable support member and may be manoeuvred relative to it.

15. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retainable support member further comprises two guide arms.

16. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 15, wherein the guide arms are connected to each other at their terminus by a brace support.

17. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 15, wherein the guide arms comprise an inward facing support tab that together act as the equivalent of a brace support.

18. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 15, wherein the guide arms comprise at least one pair of inwards facing guides namely a retainer pin and an elongated guide.

19. A toggle fixing as claimed in claim 18, wherein each guide arm comprises one pair of inwards facing guides namely a retainer pin and an elongated guide.

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