WOOD MOUNTING SYSTEM

Abstract

Screwing into wood with any sized screw can result in the wood becoming split. The wood can be pre-drilled to reduce the risk of splitting; however, if the pre-drilled hole is too small the wood is still relatively likely to split, whereas if the hole is too big the retaining force of the screw may be reduced significantly. The present invention provides an attachment apparatus for enabling a bolt to be secured to substrate that is susceptible to fracturing, the apparatus comprising: a plate 41 with a plurality of openings 42 therethrough, wherein each opening 42 is configured to receive a fixing member, and wherein the plate 41 includes a plate orifice 43 therethrough; and a receiving member 44 fixedly secured to the plate 41, the receiving member 44 having a cavity with an aperture 45 at one end that at least partially overlaps the plate orifice 43, wherein the receiving member 44 is configured to receive and retain a corresponding bolt such that the corresponding bolt is also disposed within the aperture 45, cavity and the plate orifice 43. In this way, the risk of fracturing a substrate susceptible to fracturing is reduced when securing a bolt thereto.

Claims

1. An attachment apparatus for enabling a bolt to be secured to substrate that is susceptible to fracturing, the apparatus comprising: a plate with a plurality of openings therethrough, wherein each opening is configured to receive a fixing member, and wherein the plate includes a plate orifice therethrough; and a receiving member fixedly secured to the plate, the receiving member having a cavity with an aperture at one end that at least partially overlaps the plate orifice, wherein the receiving member is configured to receive and retain a corresponding bolt such that the corresponding bolt is disposed within the aperture, cavity and the plate orifice.

2. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of plate orifices, including the plate orifice and a further plate orifice; and a further receiving member with a further aperture at one end that at least partially overlaps the further plate orifice, and wherein the further receiving member is fixedly secured to the plate.

3. The attachment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings include at least two openings in addition to two openings per orifice of the plurality of plate orifices.

4. The attachment apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings include at least four openings per orifice of the plurality of plate orifices.

5. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein each receiving member has only one aperture.

6. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein each receiving member has a length defined by its longest dimension and at least eighty percent of this length extends from one face of the plate.

7. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are arranged to surround each plate orifice.

8. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein each receiving member includes external protrusions and/or external indentations.

9. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate includes external protrusions and/or indentations on one face.

10. The attachment apparatus of claim 1, wherein each receiving member comprises at least one retaining feature at least partially within the cavity, wherein the at least one retaining feature is one or more of a screw thread, a pawl, a protrusion, ridges and/or teeth, and wherein the retaining feature is for engaging features on a corresponding bolt.

11. A method of attaching a bolt to a substrate using the apparatus of claim 1, comprising: providing the apparatus of claim 1; cutting one or more holes in the substrate suitable for receiving each receiving member of the apparatus; inserting the receiving member of the apparatus into the hole; and inserting a mechanical fixing through each of the plurality of openings into the substrate.

12. A panel attachment system comprising the apparatus of claim 1 and a flat panel mounting system, the flat panel mounting system comprising: a longitudinal trough having two opposing side walls and a base connected therebetween, wherein the base includes a base orifice, and a bolt is disposed in the base orifice to engage with each receiving member, and wherein the trough is open on a side opposing the base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

[0081] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a panel support system.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the panel support system secured with resin.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the panel support system secured with resin.

[0084] FIGS. 4A and 4B show perspective views of the attachment apparatus in different orientations.

[0085] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the attachment apparatus attaching a flat panel mounting system to a substrate using a bolt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0087] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0088] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

[0089] It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

[0090] Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

[0091] Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0092] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0093] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

[0094] In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

[0095] The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances.

[0096] The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

[0097] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a panel 1 to be held in a trough 3, by a gripping part 5 that is arranged with a flat surface thereof engaged with a face of the panel 1 and an upwardly-facing oblique surface 7 angled away from the panel 1.

[0098] A corresponding oblique face 9 of an attachment unit 11 is arranged for engagement with the oblique surface 7. A hook 13 is configured to engage with a corresponding lip 15 within the trough 3, the hook 13 being coupled to attachment unit 11 via an externally threaded shaft 17 (threads not shown for clarity) and a corresponding internally threaded nut 19. Tightening of the nut 19 causes the hook 13 to be drawn toward the attachment unit 11. When the hook is engaged with the lip 15, tightening of the nut 19 draws the attachment unit 11 down into the trough 3, pushing the oblique face 9 against the oblique surface 7 and acting to urge the panel 1 into the base of the trough 3 and away from the lip 15 in a lateral direction.

[0099] A similar arrangement on an opposing side of the panel 1 pushes back in the opposite lateral direction, thereby clamping the panel 1 in the trough. Only nut 19a of the similar arrangement can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0100] Two resilient foam wedges 21 are provided at each end of the attachment unit, and are shaped to conform to the inner profile of the trough 3 (including cut-out sections 23 to receive the lip 15). The exact shape of the wedges 21 is unimportant, as they are configured to conform to the internal shape of the trough 3 and panel 1, respectively.

[0101] Through holes 25 in the attachment unit 11 are provided to permit injection of liquid resin into the void beneath the attachment unit 11 and bounded by the gripping part 5, trough 3 and wedges 21. The attachment unit 11 shows two through holes 25, one at each end thereof to permit fluid flow around both axial ends of the hook 13; however, a single hole is also considered.

[0102] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the assembled panel support system, with resin being injected into the void via through hole 25 from reservoir 27.

[0103] The nut 19a, attachment unit 11a and hook 13a of the similar arrangement on the opposing side of the panel 1 can also be seen in FIG. 2. There are no wedges 21 on the opposing side of the panel 1, and resin is not used.

[0104] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along C-C of the panel support system. Resin 29 can be seen to fill the void between the attachment unit 11, gripping part 5, trough 3 and wedges (not shown). In this arrangement, the resin 29 does not contact the panel 1 or the base of trough.

[0105] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the attachment apparatus in a first orientation. FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of the attachment apparatus in another orientation. The figure shows an apparatus comprising a plate 41 with a plurality of openings 42a-d therethrough. Each opening 42a-d of the plurality of openings is configured to receive a fixing member. The plate 41 includes a plate orifice 43 therethrough. A receiving member 44 is fixedly secured to the plate 41. The receiving member 44 has a cavity with an aperture 45 at one end that overlaps the plate orifice 43. The receiving member 44 is configured to receive and retain a corresponding bolt such that the corresponding bolt is also disposed within the aperture 45, cavity and the plate orifice 43.

[0106] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the attachment apparatus attaching a flat panel mounting system to a substrate using a bolt 61.

[0107] A panel 1 is supported in a trough 3 having a base 4. A portion of the lower edge of the panel is gripped by gripping parts 50, which are urged together and into a tapering slot 51 in the base 4 of the trough 3 by adjustment mechanisms 52. A block 53 is received on two threaded shafts 54, such that it may slide thereon via through holes in the block 53. Lower ends of the threaded shafts 54 are connected to an elongate hook 55 that is configured to cooperate with projection 56 on an interior of the side wall. Nuts 57 on an upper end of the threaded shafts 54 maintain the block 53 thereon. A hole, or base orifice 58, is provided in the base of the trough for securing the trough to a substrate 59.

[0108] The nuts 57a, 57b, have been tightened equally such that both blocks 53a, 53b, push against the surfaces 60a, 60b of the gripping parts 50a, 50b. The blocks 53a, 53b are held against the surfaces 60a, 60b by the elongate hooks 55 pulling on the projections 56. The force through the surfaces 60a, 60b acts to push the panel 1 down into the tapering slot 51, and to clamp the panel 1 from either side adjacent to the open top of the trough. Uneven adjustment of the nuts 57a, 57b enables the angle of the panel 1 to be adjusted. For example, if the nut on the right-hand side 57a is tightened more than the nut on the left-hand side 57b, such that the block on the right-hand side 53a is lower than the block on the left-hand side 53a, the panel 1 will lean to the left. That is, the panel 1 will lean away from the tightest nut 57a, 57b.

[0109] The flat panel mounting system is attached to the substrate 59 with an attachment apparatus. The attachment apparatus comprises a plate 41 with a plurality of openings. therethrough. Each opening of the plurality of openings has a fixing member 62 therethrough. The plate 41 includes a plate orifice 43 therethrough. A receiving member 44 is fixedly secured to the plate 41. The receiving member 44 is inserted into a hole 64 in the substrate 59. The receiving member 44 has a cavity with an aperture at one end that overlaps the plate orifice 43. The receiving member 44 is configured to receive and retain a corresponding bolt 61 such that the corresponding bolt 61 is also disposed within the aperture, cavity 63 and the plate orifice.