PIN

Abstract

A pin having a tool engagement portion and a resiliently deformable cover arranged over the tool engagement portion. The resiliently deformable cover is operable to deform from a first position to a second position to allow for the engagement of the tool engagement portion with a tool. The tool engagement portion is substantially concealed when the cover is in the first position, reducing the opportunities for dirt ingress. A tool may be used to deform the cover and allow the tool to engage with the tool engagement portion such that rotation of the tool causes co-rotation of the pin.

Claims

1. A pin comprising a tool engagement portion and a resiliently deformable cover arranged over the tool engagement portion, wherein the resiliently deformable cover is operable to deform from a first raised position to a second lowered position to allow for the engagement of the tool engagement portion with a tool.

2. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable cover provides a substantially smooth surface in the first position.

3. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the pin includes a head and a shank, one face of the head includes the tool engagement portion and the resiliently deformable cover is operable in the first position to provide a substantially smooth surface over said face of the head of the pin.

4. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable cover in the first position comprises a ridge of resiliently deformable material.

5. The pin according to claim 3, wherein the ridge extends at least partially around substantially the periphery of the tool engagement portion.

6. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the pin further comprises a lip, wherein the lip engages with the resiliently deformable cover such that the cover is overstretched.

7. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable cover is in the form of a cap, wherein the cap forms a tight abutting fit around the pin.

8. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable cover has a thickness and deforms to the lowered position by moving at least three times the thickness.

9. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the tool engagement portion comprises a recess.

10. The pin according to claim 9, wherein the recess of the tool engagement portion has a substantially curved perimeter.

11. The pin according to claim 9, wherein the recess extends along substantially the whole longitudinal length of the pin.

12. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the pin further comprises bayonet locking means operable to secure the pin in position upon locking rotation of the pin.

13. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the pin further comprises a sheath, the sheath operable to be inserted in the opposite end of the aperture through which the pin is to be inserted, or operable to be inserted through an aperture substantially opposite the aperture through which the pin is to be inserted, and wherein upon locking rotation of the pin within the sheath the pin is secured in position.

14. The pin according to claim 13, wherein the sheath comprises a flanged closed end.

15. A kit of parts comprising a pin according to claim 1, and a tool operable to engage the tool engagement portion of the pin such that, when engaged, rotation of the tool causes rotation of the pin.

16. A kit of parts according to claim 15, wherein the tool comprises projections operable to limit the depth of the insertion of the tool into the tool engagement portion of the pin, in use.

17. A barrier assembled from parts, the parts comprising first and second spaced posts; and a first rail interconnecting said first and second posts, wherein the rail is not inserted within the posts; wherein the first post, second post, and rail are hollow in at least the region of the intended interconnection and each post includes an aperture and is connected to the rail by a coupling, wherein the coupling includes a connector; the connector is arranged to extend through the aperture so that a first portion of the coupling is arranged inside the hollow region of the post and a second portion of the coupling is arranged inside the hollow region of the rail; and the connector includes an abutment that is able to be arranged to prevent movement of the connector through the aperture in use, and able to be arranged to allow movement of the connector to allow disassembly of the rail from the post by allowing the connector to withdraw from one of the post or rail. wherein the parts further comprise a pin according to claim 1.

18. The barrier according to claim 17, wherein the terminal edges of the resiliently deformable cover are hidden from view, in use.

19. The barrier according to claim 17, wherein the upper face of the pin is substantially flush with the upper face of the respective post or rail, in use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pin according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of a pin comprising a pin and tool operable to engage the tool engagement portion of the pin.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a side cross-sectional view of a pin comprising a pin engaged with a tool.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a sheath.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown pin 100. The cylindrical elongate pin 100 comprises head 200 and shank 300 extending co-axially therefrom. Head 200 comprises solid steel core portion 202 and resiliently deformable elastomeric cap 204. Cylindrical core portion 202 has lip 214 extending perpendicularly around the top edge thereof and ramp 216 arranged below lip 214, ramp 216 extending around the circumference of the core portion 202. Lip 214 has sloping side face 216. The upper face of core portion 202 is convex when viewed from above. Extending longitudinally inward from the upper face of core portion 202 is oval shaped recess 220.

[0041] Cap 204 is formed of top wall 206 and skirt 208, skirt 208 extending perpendicularly from the edge of top wall 206. Top wall 206 has oval shaped curved ridge 210 arranged centrally thereon and extending upwards from the upper face. Arranged on outer face of skirt 208 is linear channel 212. Channel 212 extends around the circumference of skirt 208 and is arranged toward and parallel with, but inwardly spaced from, the lower edge of the skirt 208.

[0042] Cap 204 is arranged over core portion 202 such that the inner face of top wall 206 tightly abuts the upper face of core portion 202 and the inner face of skirt 208 tightly abuts around the side face of core portion 202. Lip 214 extends into the resiliently deformable material of skirt 208. Cap 204 is arranged over the core portion 202 of head 200 such that the inner edge of ridge 210 is arranged substantially directly above the perimeter of recess 220.

[0043] Shank 300 has core portion 302 and outer layer 304. Resiliently deformable outer layer 304 extends along and around the side wall of core portion 302. Outer layer 304 is formed of a mesh-like lattice structure with interconnecting cross-members and a plurality of recesses. Arranged extending perpendicularly from the outer face of outer layer 304 are diametrically opposed cylindrical bayonet fixing projections 306.

[0044] Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown the engagement of a tool 400 with the recess of pin 100. Tool 400 has recess engaging portion 402 and blocking projections 404. Engaging portion 402 is formed of a projection that has an oval shaped lateral cross-section of substantially the same shape but of slightly smaller lateral dimensions than the recess 220 of head 200. The pair of oppositely extending blocking projections 404 are spaced inwardly from engaging portion 402 and extend perpendicularly away therefrom.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, where top wall 206 of cap 204 is in a first raised position, the upper face of top wall 206 provides a substantially smooth surface over recess 220. No sharp angles or deep recesses where dirt may gather exist in the surface.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, top wall 206 of cap 204 may resiliently deform to a second lowered position such that the upper face of top wall 206 forms relatively sharp angles and a deep recess according to the profile of recess 220.

[0047] In use, a portion of top wall 206 is deformed from the first position to the second position by the insertion of tool 400 in direction X. Under this force top wall 206 is deformed to the profile of recess 220.

[0048] Projections 404 are arranged inwardly of engaging projection 402 such that engaging projection 402 may by inserted into top wall 206 to a degree sufficient to allow pin 100 to co-rotate upon rotation of tool 400. Excess stress on the deformed part of top wall 206 is mitigated by engagement of the blocking projections with a portion of top wall 206 that is arranged over the solid surface of head 200 and over recess 220. Thus further progression of tool 400 into recess 220 is blocked.

[0049] Upon removal of tool 400 from recess 220, top wall 206 returns to the first raised position.

[0050] Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown sheath 500. Sheath 500 is formed of cylindrical wall 502, cylindrical wall 502 having a closed end 510 and open end 508. Closed end 510 has flange 504 arranged around the upper edge thereof, flange 504 extending perpendicularly from the edge of closed end 510 relative to wall 502. Diametrically opposed open end 508 has bore 512 extending inwardly there form. Arranged along a portion of the inner face of wall 502 and extending longitudinally from the upper edge of open end 508 are diametrically opposed channels 506. Channels 506 both comprise an end portion (not shown) that extends substantially perpendicularly away from the main body of the channel.

[0051] In use, pin 100 may be inserted shank-end first into bore 508 through the open end 510 of sheath 500. As pin 100 is inserted channels 506 receive a respective bayonet projection 306. Pin 100 slides into bore 508 until bayonet projections 306 abut the bend of the respective channel 506. At this stage, pin 100 may be rotated about its longitudinal axis to engage the bayonet projections with the end portion of the respective channel such that pin 100 may not be removed from sheath 500 without reverse rotation of the pin 100.

[0052] In the present embodiment, pin 100 may be used to connect the railing and post of a barrier system (not shown). A coupling is arranged in the railing's cavity and extends through an aperture in the post into the cavity of the post. Pin 100 can be used to secure the coupling in position within the cavity of the railing.

[0053] In use with such a barrier system, sheath 500 is inserted through an aperture in the railing and the coupling (not shown). Pin 100 is inserted through an opposing set of apertures such that pin 100 may be inserted into the bore 508 of sheath 500 to the point at which bayonet projections 306 abut the bend of the respective channel 506. At this stage the upper face of the closed end 510 of sheath 500 is substantially flush with an upper face of the rail. Likewise, the upper face of top wall 206 of cap 204 is substantially flush with an upper face of the rail.

[0054] To fix pin 100 in position, tool 400 may engage recess 220 as described above to allow co-rotation of pin 100 with tool 400 such that bayonet projections 306 are locked into the end portion of respective channels 506. Upon locking of the pin within the sheath, there is formed a locked barrier system wherein the upper face of the head 200 of pin 100 is substantially flush with an upper face of the rail and wherein the upper face of the head 200 does not comprises sharp angles or deep recesses where dirt and the like could collect and which prevent simple cleaning.

[0055] Pin 100 may be removed to allow the associated part of the barrier system to be disassembled by re-insertion of tool 400 in the manner described above and counter-rotation according to the practice commonly known in the art.

[0056] Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.