Abstract:
The present invention relates to an adjustable spacer. The spacer includes an elongate member. The spacer includes a sleeve extendable around the elongate member. The elongate member is moveable relative to the sleeve. The sleeve has a locking member. The spacer includes an engaging member configured to selectively engage the locking member for inhibiting movement of the sleeve relative to the elongate member when a desired spacing of the elongate member relative to the sleeve is determined.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    There is provided an adjustable spacer. In particular, there is provided a variable-length, adjustable spacer for mounting a receptacle to a wall, ceiling or floor. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    In the gas appliance industry, the end of a gas pipe will typically extend outwards from the wall of a house. This pipe connects to a gas outlet box. In order to connect the outlet box to the wall of the house, typically a spacer or standoff is used. 
         [0003]    Fixed-length standoffs are known per se and are sold in a series of specific spacer sizes. However, there may be variations in the extent to which the pipe extends from the wall of the house. This may require shimming of the fixed-length standoffs to properly mount the outlet box to the wall. Such a procedure may be a time consuming and may result in a relatively imprecise means for mounting. 
         [0004]    Also, variations in the type of wall finish, such as siding, stucco finishes and other wall finishes, which may or not form a flat vertical plane, further complicate the mounting of gas outlet boxes to the wall. 
         [0005]    PCT Publication No. WO/2009/029911 to Harris et al. discloses a variable length standoff assembly configured to mount one or more portions of one or more panels to a frame or support structure, regardless of curvature or angling in the given panel or frame. The variable length standoff assembly includes a connector bar to which one or more variable length standoffs can be attached. Each variable length standoff includes a standoff barrel and an adjustable extender to which a manufacturer can attach a portion of a given panel via a mounting cap. Each variable length standoff can be rotated about the connector bar, and can be extended or shortened to a wide range of lengths. In one implementation, a variable length standoff can also be configured to rotate with respect to the connector bar in at least two planes, thereby providing additional degrees of freedom for attaching variously curved and/or differentially orientated panels to a support structure. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 8,034,111 to Hsu et al. provides an adjustable vertebral spacer that includes a spacer body. A movable member is coupled to the spacer body. An adjustment ring is mounted on the spacer body and is rotatable to move the movable member and to further adjust the combined height of the spacer body and the movable member. A lock ring is mounted on the spacer body for locking the movable member to the adjustment ring. A top endplate is coupled to the movable member at the top and is tiltable to fit the angle of the adjacent upper vertebral body during surgery operation. 
         [0007]    The above set out adjustable spacers may be relatively complicated to use, may require a relatively large number of parts and/or may be relatively costly to manufacture. 
         [0008]    There is accordingly a need for an improved spacer or standoff that overcomes the above disadvantages. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0009]    There is provided a variable-length, adjustable spacer disclosed herein that overcomes the above disadvantages. It is an object to provide an improved variable-length, adjustable spacer. 
         [0010]    There is accordingly provided an adjustable spacer. The spacer includes an elongate member. The spacer includes a sleeve extendable around the elongate member. The elongate member is moveable relative to the sleeve. The sleeve has a locking member. The spacer includes an engaging member configured to selectively engage the locking member for inhibiting movement of the sleeve relative to the elongate member when a desired spacing of the elongate member relative to the sleeve is determined. 
         [0011]    There is also provided an adjustable spacer for mounting a receptacle to a surface. The spacer includes an elongate member having a first end and a flanged second end spaced-apart from the first end. The elongate member has a plurality of axially spaced-apart protrusions positioned between the first and the second end. The elongate member has a plurality of axially spaced-apart grooves positioned between adjacent ones of the protrusions. The spacer includes a sleeve shaped to extend around the elongate member. The sleeve has a first end and a flanged second end spaced-apart from the first end. The sleeve has a pair of slots extending axially from the first end of the sleeve towards the second end of the sleeve. The sleeve has a resilient, locking member positioned between the slots. The spacer includes an engaging member shaped to extend around the sleeve. The spacer has an adjustment mode where the engaging member abuts the flanged second end of the sleeve and the engaging member slidably abuts with and over of the protrusions of the elongate member. When a distance of separation between the flanged second ends corresponding to a desired distance of separation between the receptacle and the surface is determined, the spacer has a locking mode where the engaging member aligns with the first end of the sleeve. This causes the engaging member to engage a respective one of the protrusions to inhibit further movement of the sleeve relative to the elongate member. The distance of separation between the flanged second ends of the sleeve and the elongate member is fixed in place thereby. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a exploded, perspective view of an adjustable spacer, or standoff, according one aspect; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sleeve for the standoff of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an elongate member for the standoff of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view of the standoff of  FIG. 1  in an adjustment mode and an extended position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the standoff of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the standoff of  FIG. 4  in the adjustment mode and a retracted position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the standoff of  FIG. 6  in the adjustment mode and an intermediate position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the standoff of  FIG. 7  with an excess portion of the elongate member removed and with an engaging member of the standoff positioned so that the standoff is a locking mode; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the standoff of  FIG. 8 , with the excess portion of the elongate member cut-off, together with a fastener extending through the standoff; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a side, rear perspective view of a wall showing a gas pipe, a gas outlet box connected to the gas pipe and a plurality of standoffs each in the locking mode, the standoffs being interposed between the wall and the gas outlet box; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a standoff according to a further aspect. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings and first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a variable-length, adjustable spacer, in this example an adjustable standoff  20  for mounting a receptacle, in this example a gas outlet box  22  seen in  FIG. 10 , to a surface, in this example wall  24 . The standoff may be used for mounting other receptacles or objects to a wall instead of the outlet box. Also, the surface need not be a wall  24 : for example, it may be, in the alternative, a ceiling or a floor. The standoff  20  is made of a polymer, in this example, though this is not strictly required. Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the standoff includes an elongate member  26  that is generally cylindrical in shape. The elongate member has a first end  28  and a flanged second end  30  spaced-apart from the first end. The elongate member  26  has an enlarged portion, in this example a flange  31  at its second end. Second end  30  is thus enlarged relative to end  28  and may be referred to as an outer end. First end  28  may be referred to as an inner end. Flange  31  is configured to abut either wall  24 , as seen in  FIG. 10 , or rear wall  33  of outlet box  22 . 
         [0025]    As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the elongate member  26  includes a shaft  32  that is partially circular in section in this example and which extends from flange  31  to end  28 . The elongate member has a central aperture  34  configured to receive a fastener therethrough, in this example a screw  35  as seen in  FIG. 9 , for fastening the outlet box  22  to the wall  24 . The central aperture extends through flange  31  and shaft  32 , from end  30  of the elongate member  26  to end  28  of the elongate member. The screw  35  shown in  FIG. 9  has a screw head  41  and a pointed end  43 . The screw head abuts rear wall  33  of outlet box  22  when the screw is fully screwed into the elongate member  26 . Wall  33  is shown in fragment in  FIG. 9  and abuts flange  31 . Pointed end  43  of screw  35  extends outwards from the standoff  20 , and is spaced-apart from sleeve  46  and elongate member  26 . The elongate member also includes an axially extending, partially flattened side  36  in this example as best seen in  FIG. 3 . Side  36  is positioned between ends  28  and  30 . 
         [0026]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the shaft  32  has a plurality of axially spaced-apart annular ribs, as shown by rib  37 , positioned between the first end  28  and the second end  30 . The ribs are separated by annular grooves  44 . Each rib has a protrusion  39  extending radially outwards therefrom. The protrusions  39  are disposed in a row along the flattened side  36  of the elongate member  26  and are best seen in  FIG. 5 . Each protrusion  39  is in the shape of a right-angled trapezium in this example and has at least one radially extending bevelled face  38  facing flange  31  in this example. Each protrusion also has a flat distal end  40  radially spaced-apart from the rest of the shaft  32  and a radially extending face  42  spaced-apart from face  38 . Faces  42  face end  28  of the elongate member  26 . The elongate member has a plurality of axially spaced-apart grooves, as shown by groove  44  positioned between adjacent ones of the ribs  37 . The grooves are positioned between respective ones of faces  38  and  42  in this example. 
         [0027]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the standoff  20  includes a sleeve  46 . The sleeve has a central bore  47  shaped to receive and be moveable along the elongate member  26 . The sleeve has a first end  48 , and a flanged second end  50  spaced-apart from the first end. Bore  47  extends from end  48  to end  50 . The sleeve  46  has an enlarged portion, in this example flange  52  at its end  50 . Flange  52  is configured to abut either rear wall  33  of outlet box  22 , as seen in  FIG. 10 , or wall  24 . The sleeve  46  is thus generally in the shape of a hollow cylinder with two opens ends. End  50  may be referred to as an outer end and is enlarged relative to end  48 . End  48  may be referred to as an inner end. The sleeve  46  includes a pair of spaced-apart slots  54  and  56  axially extending from the first end  48  of the sleeve towards flange  52 . 
         [0028]    The sleeve includes a resilient, locking member, in this example a locking tab  58  that is a curved rectangular prism in section in this example. The locking tab  58  is positioned between the slots  54  and  56  and extends from end  48  to flange  52 . The locking tab may be made of a polymer such as plastic in this example, though this is not strictly required. Slots  54  and  56  enable the locking tab  58  resiliently deflect radially inwards or outwards. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the locking tab has an inner tooth  60 . The tooth in this example is in the shape of an elongated strip which radially extends towards the elongate member  26 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 9 . 
         [0029]    The tooth  60  is configured to selectively abut with and be disposed between adjacent ones of the protrusions  39  of the elongate member  26 . This fixes the position of the sleeve along the elongate member, fixing the distance of separation between the ends  50  and  30  of the sleeve  46  and the elongate member  26 . 
         [0030]    The standoff  20  has an adjustment mode, as seen in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , where the locking tab  58  of the sleeve  46  is adjacent to and is moveable along portions of the elongate member  26 , such as face  38 , end  40  and face  42 , adjacent to the grooves  44 , as best seen in  FIG. 5 . The standoff so configured enables the tooth  60  to slidably move against, abut with and slidably move over the tops of the protrusions  39  for adjusting the distance of separation d s , seen in  FIG. 7 , between the flanges  31  and  52  of the elongate member  26  and the sleeve  46 , respectively. Bevelled faces  38 , seen in  FIG. 5 , promote this sliding action. The sleeve  46  is moveable from an extended position with a maximum distance of separation d max  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  where flange  52  of the sleeve aligns with end  28  of the elongate member  26 , to a retracted position with a minimum distance of separation d min  shown in  FIG. 6  where end  48  of sleeve  46  abuts with flange  31  of the elongate member. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the standoff  20  further includes an engaging member, that is annular in this example, in the form in this example of a locking ring  62  configured to selectively engage the locking tab  58 . The locking ring is shaped to extend around the circular outer wall  63  of the sleeve  46 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . The locking ring  62  is disposed between ends  30  and  50  of the elongate member  26  and the sleeve  46 , respectively. In the adjustment mode shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the locking ring  62  abuts flange  52  of sleeve  46  in this example. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , gas pipe  65  extends outwards from wall  24  and connects to gas outlet box  22 . The box so connected to the pipe determines a desired distance of separation d des  between the rear wall  33  of the outlet box  22  and the wall  24  Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 10 , when a distance of separation d s  between flanges  52  and  31  corresponding to the desired distance of separation d des  between the rear wall  33  of the outlet box  22  and the wall  24  is determined, the elongate member  26  at this stage has an excess shaft portion  64  extending between end  50  of sleeve  46  and end  28  of the elongate member  26 . The excess shaft portion is to be removed, by way of a clipper or saw (not shown) for example. The excess shaft portion is shown removed in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In  FIG. 8 , the removed shaft portion  64  is shown in dotted lines. With the excess shaft portion so removed, the standoff  20  is buttressed by the two spaced-apart end flanges  52  and  31 . Thus, once the standoff  20  has been adjusted to the desired length such as that shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the end bit or excess shaft portion  64  of the elongate member extending past the sleeve is cut-off or trimmed. 
         [0033]    The standoff  20  may next be positioned in a locking mode as seen in  FIGS. 8 to 10 . In the locking mode, the locking ring  62  is slidable along outer wall  63  of sleeve  46  so as to align with tooth  60 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 . In this example, the locking ring so positioned also aligns with end  48  of sleeve  46 . The locking ring  62  in this mode actuates the locking tab  58  inwards towards the elongate member  26 , causing the tooth  60  to engage with a respective one of the grooves  44 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 . Thus, in the locking mode, the locking ring  62  positions tooth  60  within a selective one of the grooves  44  for fixing the sleeve in place. The locking ring  62  inhibits radially outwards movement of the locking tab  58 , which thus inhibits tooth  60  from dislodging from groove  44 . This thereby inhibits further movement of the sleeve  46  relative to the elongate member  26 . The tooth  60  and locking ring  62  so positioned fix in place the distance of separation d s , shown in  FIG. 7 , between flanges  52  and  31  of the sleeve  46  and elongate member  26 . The standoff so configured is thus at the optimal distance for mounting the outlet box  22 , seen in  FIG. 10 , to wall  24 , via screws  35 , one of which is illustrated by way of example in ghost in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  shows an adjustable standoff  20 . 1  according to another aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10  with the addition of “0.1”. Standoff  20 . 1  is substantially the same as standoff  20  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 10  with the following exceptions. 
         [0035]    Locking ring  62 . 1  has a pair of spaced-apart bevelled edges  66  and  68 . Sleeve  46 . 1  has a bevelled edge  70  of its flange  46 . 1  which at least partially faces the locking ring and which is opposite edge  66 . The bevelled edges are configured to better enable a user&#39;s fingers to be positioned between the locking ring  62 . 1  and flange  52 . 1 . Thus, the bevelled edges  66 ,  68  and  70  may facilitate manual movement of locking ring  62 . 1  from the adjustment mode shown in  FIG. 11  where the ring and flange  52 . 1  abut, to the locking mode shown in  FIG. 8  for example for standoff  20 . 
         [0036]    It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. For example, instead of engaging protrusions  39 , tooth  60  may engage ribs  37 . Also, instead of a tooth  60 , grooves  44  and protrusions  39 , the sleeve may engage with the elongate member  26  by way of a friction fit. 
         [0037]    An edge of the flange  31 . 1  of the elongate member  26 . 1  facing the locking ring  62 . 1  may also be bevelled for further facilitating manual movement of the locking ring. 
         [0038]    It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to at least the following claims.