Anchor means and apparatus for installing same

An anchor for use in association with a support structure, specifically metal tin pan decking, and an apparatus for installing the same. The anchor comprises a V-shaped member having diverging arms; and a gripping projection disposed proximate the end of each arms. The arms and projections are aligned in the same plane and the projections preferably extend inwardly and downwardly towards the apex of the V-shaped member. The apparatus comprises supports mounted on a shaft, the supports being adapted to hold an anchor therein. Levers, engagable with the supports at one end and a gearing mechanism at the other end, permit the user to release the anchor from the supports. The shaft is extended to reach the U-shaped tracks of the tin pan decking and the projections are disposed on either side of the desired track. The anchor is released from the supports so that the projections pierce the track. The apparatus is then removed and reloaded with the next anchor to be installed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to an anchor means and an apparatus for 
installing the same, and more specifically to an anchor means which is 
installable in tin pan decking using said apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART 
Tin pan decking is a type of corrugated metal support which is frequently 
used as a ceiling in warehouses and the like. When viewed in cross 
section, the decking comprises a plurality of substantially open-U-shaped 
members connected to each other by straight sections. The straight 
sections join the ends of the upwardly extending arms of adjacent U-shaped 
members together. From below, the decking has the appearance of a 
plurality of substantially parallel tracks. 
A variety of fixtures may be suspended from the decking. These include 
lighting, piping, ductwork, suspended ceilings and the like. Anchor 
supports are connected to the decking to allow these fixtures to be 
suspended from the same. The anchor support presently used is a wire 
passed through the metal of the decking to from a loop. The fixture to be 
suspended from the decking is connected to the loop. The loop-type of 
support requires that a workman get up close to the decking and drill or 
punch holes through the two upwardly extending arms of the U-shaped 
member. It will be obvious that lining up the holes on either side of the 
U-shape creates a variety of problems, especially when a workman is 
working from the top of a ladder. Seeing as tin pan decking is frequently 
disposed approximately 20 feet above ground level, installing the anchor 
support from the top of a ladder is fairly dangerous. The installation is 
also time consuming. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
anchor means for tin pan decking. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an anchor means 
for tin pan decking which can be relatively easily and quickly installed 
in the decking and which can be installed from floor or ground level. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for 
installing this improved anchor means. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The anchor means of the present invention comprises a substantially 
V-shaped member having diverging arms. Each arm extends to an end and 
gripping means are disposed proximate the end of each arm for engaging a 
supporting structure. When the anchor means is installed in the supporting 
structure, the shape of the member and the action of the gripping means 
substantially prevent the anchor means from being withdrawn therefrom. 
The gripping means is inclined at an angle to the arms of the V-shaped 
member which is sufficient to substantially prevent the anchor means 
pulling free when a load is attached to the V-shaped member. In the 
preferred embodiment of the invention, the gripping means comprises a 
projection which extends from the end of each arm. The projections extend 
towards each other, and the projections and arms of the V-shaped member 
are substantially aligned in the same plane. The projections may extend 
from the end of each arm substantially inwardly and downwardly towards the 
apex of the V-shaped member. A barb may also be disposed upon the gripping 
means to further engage the tin pan decking. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention the projections are integral 
with the arms of the V-shaped member. 
The apparatus of the present invention comprises a shaft having a grasping 
means mounted at one end thereof, said grasping means being configured to 
hold said anchor means therein. An anchor disengagement means is mounted 
on the shaft and is adapted to engage the grasping means to cause the 
anchor means to be released therefrom. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention the grasping means comprises 
two support members disposed a spaced distance from each other in the same 
plane, each support member having a slot therein for receiving the arms 
and/or gripping means of an anchor means. The slots are so disposed that 
when an anchor means is held by the grasping means, the anchor means lies 
substantially parallel to the plane of the support members. A securing 
means is mounted on each of the support members, the securing means being 
adapted to releasably engage an arm and/or gripping means of an anchor 
means disposed within the slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the anchor of the present invention, generally 
referred to as 10, comprises a substantially V-shaped member having 
diverging arms 11. Each arm 11 extends to an end 12, and a projection 13 
is disposed proximate the end 12 of each arm. When the anchor 10 is 
installed in tin pan decking 14 (FIG. 4), the shape of the anchor and 
action of the projections 13 substantially prevent the anchor from being 
withdrawn from the tin pan decking. 
The projections 13 are inclined at an angle to the arms 11 sufficient to 
substantially prevent the anchor 10 from pulling free from the tin pan 
decking 14 when a load 15 is attached to the anchor. Such loads 15 may 
include ducts, pipes or electrical fixtures. The projections 13 preferably 
extend towards each other substantially inwardly and downwardly towards 
the apex 16 of the V-shaped member, or may extend towards each other 
substantially horizontally. The projections 13 and arms 11 of the anchor 
are substantially aligned in the same plane. The projections 13 are sharp 
so that they are able to pierce the metal of the tin pan decking 14. The 
projections 13 may further include a barb 17 (FIG. 5) to assist in 
preventing the disengagement of the anchor from the tin pan decking 14. 
The anchor is preferably manufactured from metal such as oil tempered 
spring wire, and is preferably manufactured as an integral unit. 
The apparatus for installing the anchor is shown in FIGS. 6-12. 
The apparatus comprises a shaft 18 which has a head disposed at one end. 
The shaft 18 is preferably manufactured so that it telescopes in a 
suitable manner. Alternatively, the shaft 18 may be manufactured from a 
plurality of sections which can be connected together in such a manner as 
to create a shaft of a desired length, or a plurality of shafts of 
different lengths may be selectively attached to the head. 
Referring to FIGS. 8-10, the head comprises two supports 19 which are 
disposed a spaced distance from each other in the same plane. Each support 
19 is comprised of first, second and third plates 20,21,22. The first 
plate 20 is fixedly attached to the shaft 18, and the second and third 
plates 21,22 are fixedly attached to the first plate 20 in such a manner 
that the second plate 21 is disposed between the first and third plates 
20,22. The first, second and third plates are substantially parallel to 
each other and they preferably abut one another. The second plate 21 is 
the smallest of the three, and the third plate 22 is larger than the 
second plate 21, but smaller than the first plate 20. A slot 23 is 
therefore formed between the first and third plates 20,22. 
The second plate 21 has a hole 24 disposed therein, the hole 24 being 
adapted to receive a plunger 25 therein. The second plate 21 has faces 
(not shown) which are substantially parallel to and which abut the first 
and third plates 20,22. The hole 24 is disposed through these faces. The 
plunger 25 is disposed in substantially the same plane as the second plate 
21 and is movable within the hole 24. The second plate 21 may comprise two 
smaller plates (not shown) which are disposed a spaced distance from each 
other in the same plane, with the hole 24 being the spaced distance 
between the smaller plates. 
The third plate 22 has an aperture 26 (FIGS. 6 and 11) disposed therein. 
The aperture 26 is co-incident with a portion of the hole 24, and both the 
aperture 26 and the coincident portion of the hole 24 are adapted to 
receive a latch 27 therethrough. The latch 27 is movably mounted 
substantially at right angles to the first plate 20 and is reciprocally 
movable through the coincident portion of the hole 24 and the aperture 26. 
The latch 27 is manually movable by depressing a pivoted lever arm 28 
toward the first plate 20 of the support 19 in the direction of arrow A in 
FIG. 9. The lever arm 28 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 29 (FIG. 7) 
which is attached to the first plate 20. One end of the lever arm 28 
engages the latch 27 and the other end 30 can be moved towards the first 
plate 20. As shown in FIG. 10, depression of the end 30 of the lever arm 
28 toward the first plate 20 causes the latch 27 to be withdrawn from the 
aperture 26 and coincindent portion of the hole 24. The arm 11 and/or 
projection 13 of an anchor 10 may be then be inserted into the slot 23. 
when the end 30 of the lever arm 28 is released, the latch 27 is urged 
back towards the third plate 22 by a spring 31. The spring 31 is supported 
by a support plate 32 which is secured to the first plate 20. The support 
plate 32 has an aperture 33 to allow for movement of the latch 27. The 
release of the end 30 of the lever arm 28 clamps the arm 11 and/or 
projection 13 of the anchor 10 against the inside of the third plate 22 as 
shown in FIG. 6. 
An anchor disengaging mechanism is connected to each support 19. A lever 34 
is fixedly connected to each support 19 and a rod 35 connects the levers 
34 to a gear 36 disposed proximate the base 37 of the shaft 18. The rod 35 
is manufactured so that it telescopes or slides within the shaft 18. A 
sprocketed chain (not shown) is mounted on the rod 35 for meshing with the 
teeth 38 of the gear 36. A handle 39, attached to the gear 36, permits the 
user to actuate the gear 36. When the handle 39 is rotated so that its 
free end 40 moves towards the supports 19, the gear 36 pulls the 
sprocketed chain, and therefore the rod 35, downwardly towards the base 37 
of the shaft 18. When the handle 39 is rotated so that its free end 40 
moves towards the base 37 of the shaft 18, the gear 36 pushes the 
sprocketed chain, and therefore the rod 35, upwardly towards the supports 
19. The rod 35 is therefore adapted for reciprocal movement along the 
longitudinal axis of the shaft 18. 
The rod 35 is connected via a slidable connection plate 41 (FIG. 7) to the 
first limb 34a of the two levers 34. The connection plate 41 is slidably 
mounted upon the shaft 18. The levers 34 are substantially Z-shaped and 
each is pivotable about its first joint 42. Consequently the angle between 
the first and second limbs 34a,34b of the lever, and therefore the degree 
of "openness" of the shape of the lever 34, can be changed. When the 
handle 39 is disposed so that its free end 40 lies proximate the base 37 
of the shaft 18, the levers 34 are substantially a closed Z-shape as shown 
in FIG. 7. When the handle 39 is disposed so that its free end 40 lies 
proximate the supports 19, the levers 34 are substantially an open Z-shape 
as shown in FIG. 12. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the 
gearing of the apparatus can be set up so that when the free end 40 of the 
handle lies proximate the base 37 of the shaft the levers 34 are 
substantially an open Z-shape; and when the free end 40 of the handle lies 
proximate the supports 19 the levers 34 are substantially a closed 
Z-shape. The levers 34 consequently act in an accordian-like fashion. As 
the angle between the second and third limbs 34b,34c of the levers 34, 
i.e. the angle of the second joint 43, is substantially fixed, when the 
rod 35 is actuated, the third limb 34c pivots about the second joint 43. 
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 12, a slot 44 is disposed in the first plate 20 in 
an area partially coincident with the hole 24. The plunger 25 is fixedly 
connected to the third limb 34c of the lever 34 by a suitable attachment 
means 45. When the free end 40 of the handle 39 is moved towards the 
supports 19, the third limb 34c is pivoted about the second joint 43. The 
plunger 25 is forced to move along the hole 24 and into engagement with 
the latch 27. As one face 46 (FIG. 10) of the latch 27 is inclined at an 
angle, the plunger 25 rides along the face 46, pushing the latch 27 from 
the aperture 26 and the coincident portion of the hole 24. If an anchor 10 
is clamped against the third plates 22 when the plungers 25 engage the 
latches 27, the arms 11 and/or projections 13 of the anchor 10 are forced 
out of the slots 23 in the direction of the movement of the plungers 25, 
i.e. towards each other. When the free end 40 of the handle 39 is moved in 
the opposite direction, the levers 34 are pivoted by the rod 35 about the 
second joints 43 in the opposite direction and the plungers 25 are moved 
along the holes 24 in the opposite direction and disengage from the 
latches 27. This allows the latches 27 to reenter the apertures 26 and 
coincident portions of the holes 24. 
The present invention is used in the following manner: 
Referring to FIGS. 13-15, the user attaches the load in the anchor 10. If 
for example a chain 47 is to be suspended from the anchor 10, the chain 47 
is disposed in the apex area 16 (FIG. 1) of the V-shaped member. The lever 
arm 28 on a first support 19 is moved towards the first plate 20 of that 
support so that the latch 27 is withdrawn from the aperture 26 and 
coincident portion of the hole 24. The arm 11 and/or projection 13 of the 
anchor are inserted into the slot 23 and the lever arm 28 is released so 
that the latch 27 moves back into the aperture 26 and coincident portion 
of the hole 24, thereby clamping the arm 11 and/or projection 13 against 
the third plate 22. The same procedure is followed with respect to the 
second arm 11 of the anchor 10 and the second support 19 of the apparatus. 
The anchor 10 is now securely held in the supports of the apparatus. At 
this point the anchor 10 lies substantially parallel to the plane of the 
first, second and third plates 20,21,22. 
The shaft 18 is extended upwardly so that the supports 19 are positioned 
close to the decking 14 and the projections 13 are disposed on either side 
of the desired U-shaped section 48 of the decking. The handle 39 is 
rotated so that its free end 40 lies proximate the supports 19. This 
movement causes the levers 34 to pivot, moving the plungers 25 along the 
holes 24 so that they engage the latches 27. The latches 27 are forced to 
withdraw from the apertures 26 and coincident portions of the holes 24, 
and the arms 11 of the anchor are thereby released and move in the same 
direction as the plungers 25, i.e. towards each other. The projections 13 
of the anchor 10 are driven into the upwardly extending portions of the 
U-shaped section 48 of the decking. The projections 13 lodge themselves in 
the U-shaped section 48 by virtue of the contracting spring action of the 
anchor 10. The handle 39 is rotated so that the free end 40 lies proximate 
the base 37 of the shaft 18. The shaft 18 is lowered, the next load is 
placed in the next anchor, that anchor is clamped into the apparatus and 
the process is repeated. 
The anchors 10 can be installed in the tin pan decking by one workman at 
ground level and the apparatus permits the workman to install anchors 
relatively quickly and easily. 
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific 
embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, 
and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light 
of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all 
such alternatives, modifications and variations, as fall within the spirit 
and broad scope of the appended claims.