Abstract:
A telescoping post shore having an outer tube; a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along the outer tube; an inner tube; at least one tongue member affixed to the inner tube and projecting from the inner tube, the at least one tongue member configured to be received by the plurality of slots; wherein the inner tube and at least one tongue member are dimensioned to slide within the outer tube and the inner tube and at least one tongue member can be rotated within the outer tube to engage the at least one tongue member with at least one of the plurality of slots.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application relates to a shoring post, in particular to a telescoping shoring post used in systems used for construction. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In typical construction systems, a shoring post is used to help support objects, usually a ceiling or roof. With varying heights of ceilings, it is obviously beneficial to have a shoring post that capable of being quickly adjusted from one height to another, while at the same time ensuring a safe work environment for all workers. 
         [0003]    Truss systems, such as those outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,567 exist, and involve screw jacks that rotate around the post to adjust the height of the post. While this is fine for small adjustments, if one wishes to extend or retract the post several feet, this could be very time consuming. 
         [0004]    Another type of shoring post, described in Canadian Patent No. 2,249,921, is adjustable and can be used in a system or on their own. These types of shoring posts use a screw, while others of a similar type use a pin-type assembly. While both of these allow for the post to be extended quicker than a screw-jack type, they require the use of small screws and pins, which may not only be difficult to use, but are also easily lost. 
         [0005]    A further prior art post is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,415 to Peri GmBH. The &#39;415 post can be adjusted using pins for quick adjustment to the approximate height, and then a fine adjustment means. The problem with pins is that they can easily be lost and are an extra component that is required when erecting/disassembling the post. 
         [0006]    There remains a need for a telescopic shoring post that can be quickly adjusted from one position to another. 
         [0007]    There also remains a need for a shoring post of simpler design, with significantly fewer pieces involved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a shoring post, comprising a hollow outer leg, a plurality of slots along the length of the outer leg, an inner leg dimensioned to fit within the outer leg, a tongue plate welded to one end of the inner leg, the tongue plate including a plurality of tongue members, wherein the inner leg may be rotated within the outer leg from a first position where the tongue members are fully within the outer leg, and a second position where the tongue members extend through the slot, locking the inner leg in position relative to the outer leg. 
         [0009]    Additionally, the preferred embodiment of the shoring post includes an adjusting screw assembly, an adjusting handle, and a plurality of support pins, where the screw assembly is used for fine adjustments to the length of the post. There is also a lower outer leg at the opposite end of the screw assembly. Another addition to the preferred embodiment includes a plurality of grooves along the length of the inner leg and the outer leg. 
         [0010]    The present application therefore provides a telescoping post shore comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along said outer tube; an inner tube; at least one tongue member affixed to said inner tube and projecting from said inner tube, said at least one tongue member configured to be received by said plurality of slots; wherein said inner tube and at least one tongue member are dimensioned to slide within said outer tube and said inner tube and at least one tongue member can be rotated within said outer tube to engage said at least one tongue member with at least one of said plurality of slots. 
         [0011]    Other aspects and advantages of the device will become apparent from the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view a shoring post according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a preferred shoring post; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  is a view of section A-A from  FIG. 2 , with the tongue in the unlocked position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   b  is a view of section B-B from  FIG. 2 , with the tongue in the locked position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the inner tube; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   a  is a view of section C-C from  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   b  is a support tongue capable of being fixed to the bottom of the inner tube from  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the outer tube; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a view of section D-D from  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a view of section E-E from  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the shoring post with an alternate method of making fine adjustments; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of an inner an outer tube showing an alternative dimensioning for inner and outer tubes; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of an inner an outer tube showing a further alternative dimensioning for inner and outer tubes; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of an inner an outer tube showing yet a further alternative dimensioning for inner and outer tubes; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of an inner an outer tube showing an alternative dimensioning for inner and outer tubes without channels. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    Reference is now made to the drawings. In the preferred embodiment, each post  10  has an inner tube  12  and an outer tube  14 . The inner tube  12  is adapted to extend telescopically from within the outer tube  14 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . Inner tube  12  can be seen best in  FIGS. 4 ,  5   a , and  5   b.    
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment, inner tube  12  has a tongue plate  19  integrally connected to one end. Tongue plate  19  includes a plurality of tongue members  20  located along inner tube  12 . As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, inner tube  12  can have as few as one tongue member or could have numerous tongue members  20  vertically displaced from one another when inner tube  12  is in an supporting position. Further, tongue members  20  are preferably grouped on the same horizontal plain and across from each other in one embodiment. Alternative embodiments could however include tongue members one each side of inner tube  12  at different levels. 
         [0030]    In a preferred embodiment, tongue members  20  are located at a lower end of inner tube  12 . However, this is not a requirement and tongue members  20  could be at various points along the length of inner tube  12 . 
         [0031]    Tongue members  20  extend orthogonally from inner tube  12  and are dimensioned to extend through slots  22  in outer tube  14 . The tongue members  20  and slots  22  are used to make large adjustments to the post  10  very quickly. 
         [0032]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , in the preferred embodiment, post  10  includes an upper outer tube  14  and a lower tube  16 . Outer tube  14  includes a screw bore in its lower portion, and lower tube  16  includes a screw bore in its upper end. Between outer tube  14  and lower tube  16  is a adjusting screw assembly  24 . This screw assembly  24  is used to make fine adjustments to the length of the post  10  and includes an adjusting handle  26  and a plurality of support pins  28 . The fine adjustment screw assembly  24  has a double thread so a single rotation will allow twice the distance, compared to a single thread. As will be appreciated, support pins  28  support the screw assembly  24 , and the mechanism thereby can be used to finely adjust post  10 . 
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment screw assembly  24  is located at approximately the waist height of a worker to facilitate the fine adjustment of post  10  and to ease the removal of post  10 . 
         [0034]    Other methods of fine adjustments may be used in this device, one of which is shown in  FIG. 9 , where a release type system  34  is used between the outer tube  14  and the lower tube  16 . Release type systems  34  and other fine adjustment systems are known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0035]    As also seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the preferred embodiment also includes a post head  18  at the end of the post  10 , telescoping from the inner tube  12 , used for support. The length that the post head  18  extends from the inner tube  12  and may be adjusted by any of several types of configurations, such as using a screw, or a pin-type configuration. In the embodiments shown in  FIG. 2  and in  FIG. 9 , a spring pin  38  is used. 
         [0036]    The preferred embodiment of the outer tube  14  is shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 . As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the cross section is approximately rectangular, with an opposite set of outwardly rounded corners  30 , and an opposite set of inwardly rounded corners  32 . The cross-section of the outer leg  14  is dimensioned so that the entire inner leg  12  and tongue members  20  will fit entirely within the outer leg  14 , when the tongue members are located within the outwardly rounded corners  30  ( FIG. 3   a ). This configuration of the outer tube  14  is not essential to the device, however it allows for recesses for the thumb and fingers. In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  is located an outer hole  44 , dimensioned to receive a support pin  28 . 
         [0037]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a rectangular cross section is optional and other cross sections are available. Reference is now made to  FIGS. 10 to 12 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , a square cross section can be used where tongue  20  can interact with a groove  22  (not shown in  FIG. 10 ). Other cross sections include a round cross section as seen in  FIG. 11  or  12 . Various internal configurations for inner tube  12  are shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
         [0038]    Alternatively,  FIG. 13  shows the outer tube  14  having similar dimensions to the outer tube of  FIG. 10 . However, in the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , no channels  42  need to be present. The embodiment of  FIG. 2  shows two channels  42 , but these are not engaged by tongue  20 . In an alternative embodiment, no channels  42  need to be present at all. As will be appreciated, tongue  20  can still engage slots  22  when no channel  42  is present. 
         [0039]    As will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the use of slots  22  in channel  42 , as in  FIG. 10 , adds the further benefit of having a larger support area for tongue  20 . Specifically, slot  22  includes the wall of channel  42 , thereby providing additional support. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  further illustrates the use of a tongue  20  that is comprised of a slat. This could be advantageous in circumstances such as when the tongue  20  is not at the bottom of inner post  12 . However, the tongue plate  19  of  FIG. 5   b  is preferable in most circumstances, since the tongue plate  19  lies under the outer diameter of inner tube  12 , thereby providing support to the complete inner post  12 . 
         [0041]    The slots  22  in the outer tube  14  (best seen in  FIG. 1 ) are spaced so that when the inner tube  12  may be rotated from having the tongue members  20  entirely within the outer tube  14 , to having the tongue members  20  extend through the slots  22  in the outer tube, locking the inner tube  12  in place within the outer tube  14 . In the preferred embodiment the tongue members  20  travel along a non-resistant surface, to allow for easier rotation of the inner tube  12  within the outer leg  14 . There is also a small downward indentation (not shown) in the slot  22 , allowing the tongue members  20  to lock into the indentation due to gravity. The indention also locks the tongue precisely into the support position. This prevents the accidental rotation when raised into position or when under load. The indentation in a preferred embodiment is located both above and below the groove in order to allow the post to be used downside-up or downside-down. Further, safety holes  41  accommodate a pin to further prevent the dislodging of tongue  20  and hence inner post  12 . 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, slots  22  are space every 6 inches or 15 cm to allow for the quick rough adjustment of inner tube  12  within outer tube  14 . Other dimensions are also possible. 
         [0043]    Post  10  is therefore configured to the proper length by adjusting inner tube  12  within outer tube  14  using tongue members  20  and slots  22 . Inner tube  12  and outer tube  14  are adjusted to the approximate length required for post  10 . Fine adjustment can then be accomplished using a fine adjustment mechanism such as screw assembly  24  or adjustment mechanism  34 . 
         [0044]    As is best seen in  FIG. 7 , tongue members  20  are slid into slots  22  by rotating inner tube  12  through an angle of 45 degrees. Other rotation angles are however possible. 
         [0045]    In the preferred embodiment of the inner tube  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5   a , and  5   b , the leg is of a general cylindrical shape, which allows for it to be easily rotated within the outer leg  14 . In this embodiment, the tongue plate  19  is welded to the bottom of the inner tube  12 . Other alternatives to welding would be known to those in the art, and any integral connection would be suitable. Also, shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , the preferred embodiment of the tongue plate includes two tongue members  20 , however a different number of tongue members may be used. A connector hole  40  is shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , near the opposite end of the tongue plate  19  of inner tube  12 . 
         [0046]    As can be seen in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3   b , support pin  28  fits through the inwardly rounded corners  32  of the outer tube  14 . In this embodiment there are also a pair of spring pins  38  through the support pin  28 , to lock it in place. 
         [0047]    Also shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 5   b  is a pair of safety holes  41  accommodate pins to further lock the tongue members  20  in place. These safety pins, along with the indentation in the slot  22  are not essential to the device, but are features added to greatly increase the overall safety of the shoring post. 
         [0048]    In the preferred embodiment of the shoring post  10 , there are a plurality of channels  42  located along the length of both the inner leg  12  and the outer leg  14 . A further type of support device in a construction system may be used to engage the channels  42  to add additional support in different directions, or to attach any type of accessories or external bracing using a connector. 
         [0049]    As will be seen from  FIGS. 1 ,  3   b  and  10 , when tongue  20  is engaging slot  22 , channels  42  of inner post  12  align with channels  42  of outer post  14 , thereby allowing accessories or bracing to be added in the same plain to both the inner post  12  and outer post  14 . This is advantageous since the channels  42  can now be used along the entire length of post  10 . Prior art solutions do not have this capability, and in general do not have channels  42  on inner post  12 . 
         [0050]    The present post system therefore provides a means for faster removal or replacement for a post by providing a tongue and groove system for gross adjustment of the inner tube within the outer tube. Tongue members are affixed to inner tube  12  thereby allowing the quick removal and replacement of the post without having to find pins or align holes. The preferred shape of the outer tube  14  is configured for easy handling, allowing the worker&#39;s thumbs and fingers to grip the post. 
         [0051]    In a preferred embodiment post  10  is comprised of aluminium. Other materials could be used however. 
         [0052]    These and other advantages of the present system are evident from the above and with reference to the drawings. They are not however meant to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims below.