GB2117859A

GB2117859A - Expanding fasteners for bath handles

Info

Publication number: GB2117859A
Application number: GB08305466A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Sneddon; Angus Munro Ferguson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-31
Filing date: 1983-02-28
Publication date: 1983-10-19
Also published as: GB2117859B; GB8305466D0

Abstract

A blind fastener enabling fittings such as bath handles to be fixed, comprises a cup shaped head (5) threaded to receive a retaining nut (14) of the fitting (e.g. a bath handle (2)), and an expandable gripping portion (6) preferably integral with the head (5), said gripping portion (6) comprising outwardly bendable leaves (8) which are insertable through a bore (17) in the support surface (3) and which are bent outwards behind the support surface (3) into the fixing position by means of a spreader nut (9) an d screw (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fastener device for use with fitments in domestic baths and the like The present invention relates generally to a fastener device for the securement of fitments, and more particularly to the securing of fittings for domestic baths such as for example bath handles which assist the bath user to enter and leave the bath.

In domestic baths provided with a handle or handles, it is necessary for the handles to be secured so as to be able to resist substantial pulling force, and previously in such baths the handles were fitted by means of bolts but there was the considerable disadvantage that the nuts for these bolts were often located in inaccessible positions, such as under the bath flanges and the like, and it is the principle object of the present invention to overcome this problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastener device, especially but not exclusively for use with fittings for domestic baths, comprising a head portion, a gripping portion extending from the head portion and insertable through a bore of a support wall on which the fastener device is to be secured, said gripping portion comprising axially-extending outwardly bendable, leave members, and reaction means operable to bend the leave members outwardly so that the leave members jam against the bore wall to secure the device.

The head portion of the device can be adapted to enable the fitting e.g. a bath handle, to be secured thereto: in a preferred embodiment the head portion includes a threaded wall to receive a clamping nut of the fitting for securing of the fitting.

Preferably the reaction means comprises a screw-and-nut, movement of the nut on a threaded shaft portion of the screw causing said outward bending of the leave members. Therefore, the gripping portion of the device can be of robust construction enabling the device and fitting to be securely carried by the support wall: and the reaction means can be made operable from the external side of the support and this considerably facilitates the mounting of the fittings. In particular, in the case of a domestic bath, the bath handles can now be conveniently fitted after the bath has been installed in position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a domestic bath includes a handle or other fitting, the handle or fitting being secured to the bath body by a fastener device which can be tightened on the external side alone.

The present invention is also a handle or fitting for a bath provided with the above fastener device of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a bath having handles fitted thereto by fastener device of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view of the fastener device of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a sectional side view of the device through section A-A in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a view of the fastener device of Fig. 2 infuse securing a bath handle in the bath of Fig. 1 and in part-sectional side view: Figs. 5 to 7 show side views of further modified fastener devices; and Fig. 8 shows a further modified form of the fastener device of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a domestic bath 1 (Fig.

1) includes at least one handle 2 fitted to side flanges or rims 3 of the bath by fasteners 4 (shown in greater detail in Figs. 2 to 4). The use of the fasteners is particularly shown in Fig. 4.

The fastener 4 is made from mild steel and comprises a cup form head 5 with a tubular expansible gripping portion 6 integral with the head 5 and extending co-axial therewith. The tubular portion 6 has axial slots 7 thereby providing an annular series of outwardly bendable leaves 8; and the leaves 8 are outwardly bent (or expanded) by reaction means comprising a spreader nut 9 having a frusto-conical inner end 10, and a screw 11 (Fig. 4) carrying the nut 9 and extending through a countersunk bore 12 in the floor of the cup form head 5.

The external wall of the head 5 carries a screw thread 13 to receive a retaining nut 14 for securing an end of the handle 2 as shown in Fig. 4.

For clamping by the nut 14 the handle 2 which is of solid construction is provided with a flanged end by means of a collar 1 5 secured to the solid handle end by screw 1 6.

To secure the handle 2 to the bath flange 3, the gripping portion 6 of each fastener 4 for a respective end of the handle 2 is inserted through an appropriately positioned bore 1 7 on the flange 3, the bore diameter D1 being only slightly greater than the diameter of the undeformed tubular portion 6; and the fastener 4 is secured by turning the screw 11 by means of a screw driver to draw the spreader nut 9 inwardly thereby outwardly bending the leaves 8 as shown in Fig. 4: the expanded leaves 8 having a diameter D2 substantially greater than D1 jam the bore 17 to firmly secure the fastener 4.The relevant handle end can then be conveniently fitted by screwing the retaining nut 14 on the thread 1 3 to clamp against the collar 15, a washer being provided at 1 8 as appropriate depending on the thickness of the collar 1 5. The arrangement is such that the reaction screw 11 of the fastener 4 is concealed when the handle is fitted.

The above handles 2 can be conveniently fitted at locations e.g. adjacent the bathroom wall, as shown, where access to the underside is difficult if not impossible. As a consequence, the baths of the present invention have the advantage of not requiring to be stored or supplied with the handles fitted. The fasteners 4 are of robust steel construction and consequently can provide firm anchors for the handles enabling the handles to withstand a considerable pulling force. The above fastener 4 can of course, be used for securing items other than bath handles; and it will be emphasized that a major aspect of the present invention lies in the fastener per se. Figs. 5 to 7 show the fastener with different forms of head portion 5. Thus, Fig. 5 has the head adapted for pin mounting; Fig. 6 has an internal threaded tapped mounting; while Fig. 7 has an external thread stand mounting.In the further modification shown in Fig. 8 the expandable gripper portion 6 is separate from the head portion 5 but held thereto by means of the nut-and-screw 9/11.

As can be seen in Fig. 8, the gripper portion 6 is of cylindrical form and includes a thicker walled (non-split) head part 6A at the base of which is located an external flange 20, the screw 11 extending through the bore in the head part 6A.

The threaded head 5 for the retaining nut 14 is therefore separate from the portion 6, and consequently various sizes of head 5 can be used with the same gripper portion 6 to conveniently cater for various sizes of retaining nut 14. The head 5 in Fig. 8 which is rotatable includes polygonal tightening flats 21. Again a washer 22 can be provided.

The gripper portion 6 can have any suitable number of slots 7 for provision of leaves 8, i.e. at least two and possibly also three or four. The fastener may be made of a material other than metal e.g. plastics.

Claims

1. A fastener device, especially but not exclusively for use with fittings for domestic baths, comprising a head portion, a gripping portion extending from the head portion and insertable through a bore of a support wall on which the fastener device is to be secured, said gripping portion comprising axially-extending outwardly bendable, leave members, and reaction means operable to bend the leave members outwardly so that the leave members jam against the bore wall to secure the device.

2. A fastener device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head portion is adapted to enable a fitting to be secured thereto.

3. A fastener device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the head portion includes a threaded wall for receiving a threaded retaining element of the fitting.

4. A fastener device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the threads are located on an external wall of the head portion so as to receive a retaining nut.

5. A fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head portion is of cup form.

6. A fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reaction means comprises a spreader nut carried on a screw.

7. A fastener device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the screw includes a frusto-conical head locatable in a countersunk bore in the head portion.

8. A fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping portion is integral with the head portion.

9. A fastener device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the gripping portion is separate from the head portion.

10. A fastener device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and made of metal, for example mild steel.

11. A fitting for a bath provided with at least one fastener device according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A domestic bath including a handle or other fitting, the handle or fitting being secured to the bath body by a fastener device which can be tightened on the external side alone.

13. A fastener device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 or any of Figs. 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A fitting for a bath substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.