TOGGLE AND ASSEMBLY OF TOGGLE AND SUPPORT MEMBER

Abstract

A toggle includes a bearer plate which defines a surface for bearing, in use, against the confronting surface of a support structure and a pair of support plates secured to the bearer plate and spaced apart to pivotally support there between a barrel, the barrel being integral with or connectable to a connector whereby, in use, the connector may secure the toggle bearer plate against the confronting surface of a support structure, at least the bearer plate of the toggle being formed from mild steel. There is provided also an assembly of the toggle and a support member, with the connector extending through the support member to secure the bearer plate against a confronting surface of the support member.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A toggle comprising a bearer plate which defines a surface for bearing, in use, against the confronting surface of a support structure and a pair of support plates secured to the bearer plate and spaced apart to pivotally support there between a barrel, said barrel being integral with or connectable to a connector whereby, in use, the connector may secure the toggle bearer plate against the confronting surface of a support structure, at least the bearer plate of the toggle being formed from mild steel and each support plate is secured to the bearer plate by means of a weld.

19. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein the barrel support plates are formed from mild steel.

20. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein the toggle complies with the safety standard EN 795 Type C.

21. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein the barrel is formed from mild steel.

22. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein the bearer plate has a thickness in the range 3 mm to 5 mm.

23. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein each barrel support plate has a thickness in the range 3 mm to 5 mm.

24. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein each support plate comprises a tongue portion which locates in a respective one of a pair of slots in the bearer plate.

25. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein each support plate is positioned inwards from an edge of the bearer plate.

26. A toggle according to claim 25 wherein each support plate is set 2 mm inwards from an edge of the bearer plate.

27. A toggle according claim 18 wherein the barrel is provided with an aperture for receiving a connector.

28. A toggle according to claim 27 wherein said aperture is screw threaded to receive a screw threaded connector rod.

29. A toggle according to claim 27 wherein the longitudinal axis of the aperture intersects the axis of rotation of the barrel.

30. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein the bearer plate comprises a slot positioned between the barrel support plates to define an opening through which an end of a connector may extend.

31. A toggle according to claim 30 wherein the slot is a central slot.

32. A toggle according to claim 130 wherein the slot is an elongate shaped slot and regions of the slot each lie inwards of end regions of the bearer plate and whereby the slot has a continuous boundary defined by the bearer plate.

33. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein the barrel is integral with an elongate connector.

34. A toggle according to claim 18 wherein a connector integral with or connected to the barrel retains the barrel in engagement with each support plate.

35. An assembly comprising a toggle according to claim 18 and a support member wherein the connector extends through an aperture defined by the support member and secures the bearer plate against a confronting surface of the support member.

36. An assembly according to claim 35 and wherein the assembly complies with requirements of safety standard EN 795 Type C.

37. An assembly according to claim 35 wherein the support plates lie positioned within the thickness of the support member when the bearer plate is secured against the support member.

Description

[0016] One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toggle in accordance with the present invention;

[0018] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively plan, elevation and end views of the toggle of FIG. 2;

[0019] FIGS. 6 to 9 correspond with FIGS. 2 to 5 but for clarity omit the pivotable barrel;

[0020] FIGS. 10 to 12 are respectively perspective, plan and end views of the bearer plate of the toggle of FIG. 2;

[0021] FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are respectively perspective, plan and end views of a bearer plate;

[0022] FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are respectively perspective plan and side views of the barrel of FIG. 2;

[0023] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a roof installation comprising a toggle according to the present invention, and

[0024] FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the installation of FIG. 19 in a plane containing the two rods 27 of FIG. 19.

[0025] A toggle 30 comprises a bearer plate 31 and a pair of barrel support plates 32 each formed from 4 mm thick mild steel. The support plates each comprise a tongue portion 33 that locates in a respective one of a pair slots 34 in the bearer plate whereby in the assembled condition the barrel support plates extend upwards from the bearer plate, perpendicular thereto and are spaced apart to define a space for accommodating the end of a screw threaded rod.

[0026] The bearer plate has a dimension of 150 mm by 30 mm and the support plates are each inset from longer edges of the bearer plate by 2 mm. In consequence the confronting surfaces of the support plates are spaced by 18 mm.

[0027] Each support plate is formed with an aperture 35 through which a barrel 36 extends and within which the barrel is freely pivotable. The barrel 36 is provided with a screw-threaded aperture 37 into which, in use, a screw threaded rod (not shown) extends. The diameter of the screw threaded rod is at least 8.5 m. In consequence, for a barrel of a length of at least 33 m, the screw threaded rod thereby axially constrains movement of the barrel whereby it is retained in position and supported by each bearer plate.

[0028] In known manner the bearer plate is provided with a central slot 40 whereby, when the bearer plate is perpendicular to the screw-threaded rod, with the barrel in the position shown in FIG. 3, the end of the rod may be screwed relative to the barrel such that the end of the rod then extends through the slot 40.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 19, there is illustrated one of four toggles 20 in situ in a roof installation each to secure a respective corner 21 of a plate 22 and associated post 23 relative to the roof structure 24.

[0030] In this FIG. 19 the bearer plate of the toggle lies aligned with a longitudinally extending trough region 26 of a profiled metal roof panel 25.

[0031] However, in use the bearer plate may adopt a position in which it is inclined relative to the length of a trough region. In that case the pivotal freedom of the toggle allows the bearer plate to lie inclined at less than 90 degrees relative to the screw threaded rod 27.

[0032] The ability of the mild steel bearer plate to deform in sympathy with local deformation of the panel 25 when under load is most advantageous. That results in an ability to comply with safety standards even if the toggle lies inclined to bear against both of adjacent ridge and trough regions of the roof panel or to span two ridge regions.

[0033] This contrasts distinctly and most surprisingly with a toggle formed from a more rigid and potentially stronger material such as stainless steel. It has been found that the relative stiffness of the bearer plate of a stainless steel toggle is likely to puncture a metal roof section thereby to unacceptably damage and compromise the integrity of the roof structure. It is by the use of mild steel that that problem is overcome.