PIVOTABLE SUSPENSION ELEMENT

Abstract: A versatile swivel device for use in conjunction with a suspension assembly to impart a greater degree of articulation to a suspended ancillary structural component.

Description: PIVOTABLE SUSPENSION ELEMENT The present invention relates to a swivel device for use in conjunction with a vertical suspension assembly- Numerous suspension assemblies for suspending an ancillary component from a horizontal surface (such as a floor or ceiling) are known. Generally speaking, these are arranged to permit ancillary components such as pipes, light fittings, cable ducts and decorative panels to be reliably suspended from the horizontal surface. Many of the suspension assemblies are described in the literature including the toggle clamp described in EP-A-733812 (Glynwed International Pic) , the Purlin clamp described in GB-A- 2310022 (Glynwed International Pic) and the various arrangements described in GB-A-2337077 and UK patent application no 9904466.1 (Glynwed Engineered Products Limited) . Whilst a considerable amount of effort has gone into developing these different suspension assemblies, there is in general a need for suspension assemblies to be improved so that ancillary components may be positioned in a number of different configurations. The present invention seeks to fulfil this need by providing a versatile swivel device which may be used in conjunction with a suspension assembly to impart a greater degree of articulation to a suspended ancillary component. This has been achieved by developing a swivel device which is cost effective, compact and strong in an intermediate position between the suspension rod and the fixing arrangement of the suspension assembly. Thus viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a swivel device for use in conjunction with a suspension assembly which comprises a suspension means and fixing arrangement, said swivel device comprising: a hollow, substantially cylindrical housing mounted radially on a substantially central portion of a spindle; and a cradle having a base adapted to suspend the suspension means, opposed side walls and an open end, wherein said cradle is mounted on the ends of said spindle so as to provide a degree of articulation between the cradle and the housing, wherein the housing is attachable to said fixing arrangement so as to permit axial rotation of said cylindrical housing. The swivel device of the invention advantageously provides a degree of articulation between the housing and the cradle which may be imparted to the suspension rod suspended from the cradle and therefore to any ancillary component attached to the suspension rod. The degree of articulation is essentially a pendular degree of freedom imparted to the cradle relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The degree of pendular freedom may be 90° or less, preferably between 10° and 50°. The rotational freedom of the housing is imparted to the cradle by virtue of their mounting on the spindle. The combination of rotational freedom and pendular freedom allows the cradle to perform precessional motion of up to 360°. Preferably, the base of the cradle is threadedly adapted to suspend a suspension rod. For example, the cradle may act as a basket for a threaded nut to which is accessible a threaded suspension rod through a suitable aperture in the base of the cradle. For this purpose, the threaded nut is retained within the base of the cradle by means of opposite retaining walls extending from the base of the cradle perpendicularly to the opposed side walls. The spindle preferably comprises a pin, bar or similar device which may be mounted radially on the cylindrical housing. The spindle should be long enough to accommodate the housing on its central portion and the opposed side walls of the cradle at its ends. The outermost ends of the spindle may be secured to the exterior of the cradle in a conventional manner. In accordance with the swivel device of the invention, the cylindrical housing is adapted to attach a fixing arrangement of a vertical suspension assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the end of the cylindrical housing is provided with an internal, circumferential lip for capturing internally at least a part of a fastener component. Preferably the fastener component is threaded. For example, the head of an elongate threaded fastener component (eg a bolt) may be captured internally and the body of the elongate threaded fastener may extend exteriorly for attaching the fixing arrangement. Alternatively, a threaded nut may be captured internally to which may be fastened an elongate threaded fastener or a short section of threaded rod which is attached to the fixing arrangement. The cylindrical housing is advantageously sized so that the captured portion of the fastener component is effectively seated on the spindle to substantially eliminate axial movement of the fastener component in the housing. The versatility of the swivel device of the invention is such that it is envisaged that it may be used in conjunction with any vertical suspension assembly known in the art including those of EP-A-733812 (Glynwed International Plc) , GB-A-2310022 (Glynwed International Pic), GB-A-2337077 (Glynwed Engineered Products Limited) and UK patent application no. 9904466.1 (Glynwed Engineered Products Limited) . Viewed from a further aspect the present invention provides a system for suspending an ancillary component from a horizontal surface (eg floor or ceiling) comprising a swivel device as hereinbefore defined and a suspension assembly which comprises a suspension rod and fixing arrangement, wherein said suspension rod is suspended from the cradle of said swivel device, said fixing arrangement is attached to the housing of said swivel device so as to permit axial rotation of said cylindrical housing and said ancillary component is attached to the lower end of said suspension rod. Viewed from a yet further aspect the present invention provides a method for suspending an ancillary component from a horizontal surface (eg floor or ceiling) using a swivel device as hereinbefore defined and a suspension assembly which comprises a suspension rod and fixing arrangement, attaching the housing of said swivel device to said fixing arrangement; suspending the suspension rod from the base of the cradle; and attaching the ancillary component to the suspension rod. In a preferred embodiment of the system of the invention, the swivel device is used in conjunction with a beam clamp of the type described in International patent application no. GB00/00527 (Tyco European Metal Framing Ltd) for attaching ancillary structural components such as fixing brackets, pipe supports or electrical conduits to a structural beam. This embodiment is particularly advantageous since it is possible to attach the swivel device of the invention directly at the clamping region of the assembly. This improves the clamping characteristics of the beam clamp by making the swivel device and suspended suspension rod an integral part of the clamping effect. Particularly preferably, the beam clamp comprises two overlapping, substantially C-shaped plates having two arms extending from an arcuate rear portion, wherein adjacent arms on said plates are interconnected by means of a boss, wherein each boss defines a substantially tubular, non-threaded path. In accordance with the invention, a threaded fastener component (eg bolt) may be inserted through the non-threaded lower boss and fastened to a nut captured within the cylinder of the swivel device. Especially preferably, the head of the threaded fastener component is cup shaped and adapted to seat on the uppermost surface of the lower boss which will advantageously improve the purchase on the surface of the beam m use. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures m which: Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention m cross-section (la) , from below (lb) and from the front (lc) ; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the swivel device together with a beam clamp; Figure 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device assembled with a beam clamp in frontal view (3a), m cross-sectional view (3b) and disassembled (3c); Figure 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention together with a beam clamp attached to a beam; Figure 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention together with a toggle clamp; Figure 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention together with a multi-wedge fixing; Figure 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention together with an alphawedge fixing; Figure 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device together with a Slimdek fixing; Figure 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention together with a wrap around Purlin fixing; Figure 10 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention together with a one-piece wrap around Purlin fixing; and Figure 11 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention together with a Purlin clamp. With reference to the accompanying Figure la, a preferred swivel device of the invention is shown assembled (in cross-section) and disassembled. The cradle 8 having opposed side walls 8b and base 8a is provided with an aperture (see 8c on Figure lb) through which is receivable an upper threaded portion of a suspension rod (not shown) . Nut 6 is housed at the basal end 8a of the cradle 8 in order to fasten and suspend a suspension rod passing through aperture 8c. Each of opposed side walls 8b are provided with co- linear holes to receive each end of a pin 5 passed therethrough. Pin 5 also passes through the walls of hollow cylinder 3 in order to mount the cylinder on the central portion of the pin within the opposed side walls 8b of the cradle. The upper end of hollow cylinder 3 is provided with an internal circumferential lip 3a which serves to capture the nut 4. Nut 4 is seated on pin 5 and is attached to bolt 1 passing through a portion of a beam clamp shown m truncated form 2 m Figure la. Cradle 8 is provided with opposed retaining walls 7 which prevent nut 6 escaping. In the particular embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the swivel device is attached to a beam clamp 2 of the type described m International patent application no. GB00/00527 (Tyco European Metal Framing Ltd) . The beam clamp 2 is shown m truncated form m Figure la and more fully m Figures lc and 2. It comprises two substantially C-shaped parallel plates 2c, 2d m which adjacent arms on each substantially C- shaped plate are interconnected by a non-threaded boss 2a, 2b. Each boss defines a substantially tubular, non-threaded path for receiving bolt 1. In this embodiment, bolt 1 passes through boss 2a and is threadedly captured m nut 4 within cylinder 3. This enables the swivel device to have 360° rotation relative to the axis of the cylinder 3 as shown m Figure lb. At the same time, cradle 8 is provided with pendular freedom of about 45° to the vertical (see Figure lc) . In figure 2, the numbering of Figure 1 has been adhered to and m addition a fastener 9 is shown within the upper boss 2b of beam clamp 2. The head la of bolt 1 is substantially cup shaped. This improves the purchase on the lower surface of a beam which m use is captured within the jaws of the beam clamp between fastener 9 and cup la. It will be apparent from Figure 2 that the axial rotation (b) and pendular freedom (a) together permit precessional movement of the swivel device and connected suspension rod (not shown) about 360°. Figure 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention m conjunction with an alternative beam clamp 11. This type of beam clamp will be familiar to those skilled m the art. The detailed arrangement of this embodiment is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the numbering has been adhered to. In this case, the head 10a of elongate fastening means 10 is captured within the hollow cylinder 3 between the circumferential lip 3a and pm 5. The main body of the threaded fastener 10 passes through the rear portion of beam clamp 11 and is fastened at the top end using an appropriate nut 10b. Figure 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the swivel device of the invention m conjunction with a beam clamp 12. This is shown attached to a beam in truncated form 13. The swivel device is attached to the beam clamp by means of elongate bolt 41 which is fastened by means of a captured nut (not shown) . Suspension rod 14 is m this case provided with processional freedom about path A. Figure 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the swivel device in conjunction with a toggle assembly 15 of the type disclosed m EP-A-733812 (Glynwed International Pic) . The lower part of threaded portion 15b is captured m the cylinder 3 in the manner described with reference to Figure 1 (ie using an appropriate nut) . Figures 6, 7 and 8 show a preferred swivel device of the invention m conjunction with various wedged fixing devices, namely a multi-wedge 16, an alphawedge 17 and a Slimdek fixing 18 respectively. Figure 8 shows the various stages of operation of the Slimdek fixing which will m any case be apparent to those skilled m the art. The mode of attachment of the fixing to the swivel device in each of Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 is a short section of suspended threaded rod or an elongate bolt essentially normal to the fixing which is fastened by a nut captured m the swivel device. The rod or bolt is integral to the clamping action of the fixing device. Figure 9 illustrates a preferred embodiment of he swivel device of the invention in conjunction with a wraparound Purlin clamp 19. The wrap-around Purlin clamp 19 is attached to the swivel device using an M10 drop rod 20 and M10 nuts 21. In this particular arrangement, approximately 15° of pendular freedom either side of the vertical is permitted with full precessional motion A. The mode of attachment is similar to that described with references to Figures 5 to 8. A similar arrangement is shown in Figure 10 in which the Purlin fixing is a one-piece wrap-around Purlin- fixing 22. A yet further alternative is the Purlin clamp 23 shown in Figure 11.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A swivel device for use in conjunction with a suspension assembly which comprises a suspension means and fixing arrangement, said swivel device comprising: a hollow, substantially cylindrical housing mounted radially on a substantially central portion of a spindle; and a cradle having a base adapted to suspend the suspension means, opposed side walls and an open end, wherein said cradle is mounted on the ends of said spindle so as to provide a degree of articulation between the cradle and the housing, wherein the housing is attachable to said fixing arrangement so as to permit axial rotation of said cylindrical housing. 2. A swivel device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the suspension means is a suspension rod. 3. A swivel device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the degree of articulation is essentially a pendular degree of freedom imparted to the cradle relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing. 4. A swivel device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the degree of pendular freedom may be 90° or less. 5. A swivel device as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the degree of pendular freedom is between 10° and 50°. 6. A swivel device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said base is provided with an aperture through which is receivable an upper portion of the suspension means. 7. A swivel device as claimed claim 6 wherein a fastener component is housed internally of the cradle at the base so as to fasten and suspend a suspension means passing through said aperture. 8. A swivel device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cradle is provided with opposed retaining walls which capture the fastener component, said opposed retaining walls extending from the base of the cradle perpendicularly to the opposed side walls. 9. A swivel device as claimed in either of claims 7 or 8 wherein the fastener component is a threaded nut seated internally on the base of the cradle. 10. A swivel device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the base of the cradle is threadedly adapted to suspend the suspension means. 11. A swivel device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each of the opposed side walls is provided with substantially co-linear holes to receive each end of the spindle . 12. A swivel device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spindle passes through the walls of the cylindrical housing whereby to mount the housing substantially at the central portion of the spindle within the opposed side walls of the cradle. 13. A swivel device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upper end of the cylindrical housing is provided with an internal circumferential lip capable of capturing internally at least a part of a fastener component. 14. A swivel device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fastener component is a nut seated on the spindle and threadedly fastenable to an external threaded rod for attaching the fixing arrangement. 15. A swivel device as claimed m claim 13 wherein the at least part of the fastener component is the head of an elongate threaded fastener so that the body of the elongate threaded fastener extends exteriorly for attaching the fixing arrangement . 16. A swivel device as claimed in any of claims 13, 14 or 15 wherein the cylindrical housing is sized so that the captured portion of the fastener component is effectively seated on the spindle to substantially eliminate axial movement of the the captured portion of the fastening means m the housing. 17. A swivel device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spindle comprises a pin or bar upon which may be mounted radially the cylindrical housing. 18. A swivel device as claimed m any preceding claim wherein the fixing arrangement comprises a beam clamp, a toggle assembly, wedged fixing device or a Purlin clamp. 19. A swivel device as claimed m 18 wherein the wedged fixing device is a multi-wedge, an alphawedge or a Slimdek fixing. 20. A swivel device as claimed m claim 18 wherein the Purlin clamp is a wrap-around Purlin or a one-piece wrap-around Purlin fixing. 21. A swivel device as claimed m any preceding claim wherein the suspension means is attachable to an ancillary structural component. 22. A system for suspending an ancillary structural component from a horizontal surface comprising a swivel device as claimed m any preceding claim and a suspension assembly which comprises a suspension means and fixing arrangement, wherein said suspension means is suspended from the cradle of said swivel device, said fixing arrangement is attached to the housing of said swivel device so as to permit axial rotation of said cylindrical housing and said ancillary structural component is attached to the lower end of said suspension means. 23. A method for suspending an ancillary structural component from a horizontal surface using a swivel device as claimed m any of claims 1 to 21 and a suspension assembly which comprises a suspension means and fixing arrangement, attaching the housing of said swivel device to said fixing arrangement; suspending the suspension means from the base of the cradle; and attaching the structural ancillary component to the suspension means. 24. A kit of parts comprising a swivel device as claimed m any of claims 1 to 21, a suspension means, a fixing arrangement and an ancillary structural component. 25. A device as claimed m claim 21, a system as claimed m claim 22, a method as claimed m claim 23 or a kit as claimed in claim 24 wherein the ancillary structural component is a fixing bracket, pipe support or electrical conduit.

Inventors: GILL NEIL FRANK, HARVEY SIMON, JORDAN MATTHEW, KLIPPEL SIMON, GILL, NEIL, FRANK, HARVEY, SIMON, JORDAN, MATTHEW, KLIPPEL, SIMON
Applicants: GILL NEIL FRANK, HARVEY SIMON, JORDAN MATTHEW, KLIPPEL SIMON, TYCO EUROP METAL FRAMING LIMIT, GILL, NEIL, FRANK, HARVEY, SIMON, JORDAN, MATTHEW, KLIPPEL, SIMON, TYCO EUROPEAN METAL FRAMING LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F16L3
IPC codes: F16L3