Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a joining device particularly to a
device for joing elements of fencing together for instance
to surround a temporary ice rink in the winter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the game of ice hockey there is demand for large numbers
of lower cost portable ice rinks than can make dual use of
recreational land. Heretofore, the hockey "dasher" boards
around the perimeter of the ice rink have had to be fastened
together using support brackets attachable by time consuming
construction operations using such basic .tools as screws and
screwdrivers. Furthermore the dasher boards cannot easily
be held together so as to exclude gaps, such gaps leading to
a weaker structure more prone to climatological and user
damage.
The mainly wooden boards now used on such rinks have to
withstand the battering and collisions of players,
resurfacing machines and hockey equipment as well as the
expanding pressure of the ice as it is constantly melted and
refrozen at its edges. As a result they suffer considerable
wear made worse by harsh weather over the course of a
winter.
In the light of the foregoing, it is clearly desirable to
have a rink fencing mechanism which can be quickly and
easily installed and dismantled preferably in conjunction
with dasher boards of greater durability than used hitherto.
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OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
joining device useable in fence construction where two
adjacent fence elements may be ~uickly and reversibly
attached leaving a minimal gap between edges.
It is another object to provide such a joining device as an
integrated constituent of a board having improved
durability.
In meeting these and other objects, the present inventor
appreciated that his invention was not restricted merely to
fencing but could be used as a joining device for a multi-
tude of purposes.
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
Thus, the present invention provides a device for use in
joining two structural members end-to-end. This device
comprises a first rigid body attachable adjacent to one end
of one structural member and a second rigid body attachable
adjacent to one end of the other structural member~ Each
body has a cylindrical through-hole about its longitudinal
axis and a recessed channel opening into the through-hole
along its full length so that when both structural members
are positioned end-to-end in joining position, the through-
hole and recessed channel of each body are respectively
coaxial and aligned with the through-hole and recessed
channel of the other body. The joining device also includes
a connection member comprising a cylindrical bar of such a
diameter as to be insertable into the through-holes. This
bar has its first end attached to a handling member designed
to act as a stop to limit the insertion of the bar in the
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through-holes. The second end is free. The connection
member also comprises a pin projecting from the bar at such
a distance from the handling member as to be free of the
channels when the bodies are adjacent to each other and the
bar is fully inserted into their holes. The pin is sized to
pass along a path defined by the aligned channels.
In use, the structural members are joined end-to-end by
positioning their respective bodies adjacent to each other
with their through-holes and channels in registry, then
inserting the bar and pin through the holes and channels of
the bodies until the free end of the bar and the pin
protrude beyond the adjacent bodies, on a side opposite to
the handling member, and finally by causing the handling
member to rotate the bar inside the aligned holes and thus
to place the pin in a retaining position out of the channel
path.
Preferably, the pin and the channels extend radially from
the bar and the hole respectively.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first rigid body
has two flat ends perpendicular to the axis and the second
rigid body has a first flat end perpendicular to the axis
and a second flat end angled slightly to its first flat end.
Furthermore, the pin has a partial cylindrical portion
facing the connection member at a fixed distance (or "fixed
amount") therefrom. The angled flat end is such that when
in the joining position, the combined length of the
cylindrical holes is at a maximum opposite the channel and
is greater than the fixed amount. To achieve the joining
position, the first (perpendicular) end of the second body
is placed adjacent to one of the ends of the first body. In
such juxtaposition, the bar is fully insertable. Now, when
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the bar on the connection member is rotated, the two bodies
are urged together by a cam action of the cylindrical
portion of the pin on the angled end.
In this cam embodiment, it is also preferable that maximum
compression between the bodies is achieved after about 90~
rotation of the bar.
The invention has the advantage that a construction worker
may join adjacent fence elements by simple insertion of the
bar on the enyaging member into the holes in the structural
members (preferably already attached to the fencing
elements) and may then simply rotate the engaging member to
lock the joint. This rotation, in the preferred embodiment
with the cam, also tightens the joint by compressing the two
bodies together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWNGS
In the following non-restrictive illustration of the
invention:
Fig. 1 shows a rink with a surrounding fence supported by
joining devices according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of two fence elements
with joining devices according to the invention;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 2 but
assembled;
Fif. 4 is a cross section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of detail of one joining mechanism of
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the invention before assembly; and
Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5 showing the same
embodiment after assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In what follows, the same reference numerals apply to all
figures, and "6" (for example) may collectively refer to "6a
and 6b" (in this example).
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an enfenced rink (1)
showing the smooth inner walls (2) with minimal gaps (3)
between boards (4). Two joining devices (5) according to
the invention straddle the gap (3) between adjacent boards
(4).
Turning now to the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, the
joining device according to the invention comprises first
(6) and second (7) structural members with a rigid body (8
and 9) attached respectively to each structural member (6
and 7).
In each body (8 and 9) there is a cylindrical through hole
(103 symmetrical about the body's longitudinal axis (X).
There is a channel (11) communicating outwardly from the
hole (10) enough to accommodate the pin 120). However in
the illustrated embodiment, this channel (ll) extends a~l
the way to the outer surface (12) of the body (8 or 9)
although such is not essential. The channel is preferably
parallel to the longitudinal axis X. It is also preferred
that the channel (11) extend radially from this axis X, ie
that the channel (ll) itself be bisected along its length by
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a single radius of the cylinder forming the hole (10).
The first body (8) has two flat ends ~13 and 14) both
perpendicular to axis X while the second body (9) has one
flat end (15) perpendicular to the axis (which can therefore
abut flat end 14 of the first body) and another end (16)
flat but preferably not perpendicular to the axis. Instead
this end (16) may be angled slightly to the first end (15).
The angle is chosen so that the cylindrical hole (10) of the
combined bodies (ie body 8 and 9 juxtaposed with respective
flat sides 14 and 15 in abutment) has its shortest length
(along the axis X) at the bisector of the channel (11) and
has its maximum length diametrically opposite this bisector.
The other constituent of the invention visible in Figures 5
and 6 is the connection member (17) to which is attached a
cylindrical bar (18). Towards the free end (19) of this bar
(18) is an outwardly extending pin (20) at least a portion
of which is preferably cylindrical but which more preferably
is wholly cylindrical, as in this Figure. If the pin (20)
is only partially cylindrical, the cylindrical part faces
the connection member (17) at a fixed distance therefrom.
The fixed distance or "fixed amount" is chosen to be
slightly more than the minimum hole length but slightly less
than the maximum hole length.
The pin (20) is preferably radially projecting from the
cylindrical bar (18) but in any event is designed to be
accommodated in the channel (11), the channel (11) thereby
forming a path for eventual entry of the pin (20).
For assembly, the two bodies (8 and 9) on respective
structural members are juxtaposed to align their holes (10)
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and channels (11) in register. Then the connection member
(17) is manipulated to bring the cylindrical bar (18) into
the hole (10) of the first body (8) while orienting the
connection member (17) so that the pin (20) passes into the
path formed by the channel (ll).
The cylindrical bar (18) is then pushed by the connection
member (17) through the hole (11) of the first body (8) and
into the hole (11) of the second body (9) until the pin (20)
just protrudes beyond edge 16.
Owing to the selected fixed distance between pin (20) and
connection member (17), the connection member (17) acts as a
stop against the first flat side (13) of the first body (8)
as the pin (20) reaches edge 16 of the second body ~9).
Thus, by now rotating the cylindrical bar (18) (downwards in
Figures 5 and 6), the partically cylindrical portion of the
pin (20) slides on the angled side (16) in a cam motion to
force the bar (18) fully into the holes (10) until the
connection member (17) is firmly compressed against first
side (13) of the first body (8)
The rotation needed to achieve maximum compression is
preferably about 90~. That is to say that, in terms of
radii of the cylindrical hole, there is about a 90~ angle
between the radius bisecting the channel and the radius at
which the hole is the same length as the "minimum fixed
amount" between pin (20) and connection member (17).
In the simpler embodiment of the invention which lacks the
angled side, rotation of the bar (18) does not necessarily
compress the two bodies (8 and 9) together but locks them
end-to-end.
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Returning to Figure 2, it is preferred that each of the
structural members (6 and 7) carries a pair of rigid bodies
(8 and 9) of one of the types described.
Thus, in the cam embodiment, structural member 6 carries two
"first" rigid bodies (8) - ie ones with two ~1at sides both
perpendicular to axis X - and structural member 7 carries
two "second" rigid bodies (9) - ie ones where one side is
perpendicular to the axis X and the other slightly angled in
the manner described.
In the case of Figure 2, the structural members (6 and 7)
are boards or are attachable to such boards.
When the two boards are placed alongside each other so that
holes (10) and channels (11) in respective rigid bodies (8
and 9) are aligned, two connec-tion members (17) may be
manipulated to insert their respective cylindrical bars (18)
into the cylindrical holes (10). After rotation to lock or
tighten the joint (by compression in the cam embodiment),
the two engaging members may be attached to each other (by
interattachment means such as bolts, screws etc) or to the
ground for instance by a stake, or to concrete or other
material. This configuration is shown in Figure 3.
Clearly in the case of Figures 2 and 3, the structural
members (attached to or forming part of boards, in this
case) are vertically disposed so that longitudinal axis X is
horizontal.
In this orientation, the channels (11) on the upper two
rigid bodies (8a and 9a) are at 45~ to the vertical while
the channels (11) on the other two rigid bodies (8b and 9b)
are vertical). "Channel" in this context means the radius
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of the cylindrical holes (10) which bisect the channel.
Thus when both connection members (17) are rotated about 90
they meet at their free ends (21 and 22) and may thus be
joined in the manner exemplified in Fig. 3.
One way of attaching the free ends (21 and 22) is by use of
registerable holes (23) in respective free ends (21 and 22)
to allow passage of securing means (eg bolts, screws, etc).
When the structural members (6 and 7) are not integral with
a board as part of a fence, they preferably have means for
attachment to fencing. Again there may be simple holes for
passage of securing means as above.
The preferred structural member (6 or 7) carries a pair of
identical rigid bodies (8 or 9) attached (eg by welding) and
is a flat bar (24) comprising holes for securing to a board
(4).
This bar (24) is shown in cross-section in Fig. 4 attached
by eg screws ~25) to a board (4). The whole is then
enveloped in fibreglass (27) except for the protruding rigid
bodies (8) or in another weather and user resistant
cladding.
By this means a modular system of rink fencing can be
created so that a plurality of such boards (4) may be inter-
connected to surround a rink (1) - see Fig. 1. Thus on one
board edge, the two rigid bodies (8) both have perpendi-
cularly flat edges (13 and 14) and on the opposite side the
outer pair of edges (15) is perpendicularly flat but the
inner pair (16) may be angled in the manner described. The
edges 14 and 15 are thus flush with opposite ends of
adjacent boards.
The joining device (5) of the invention may be attached to
rounded boards to form the corner dasher boards of the ring
(1).
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