WO2009039583A1

WO2009039583A1 - Upper foot assembly for a building brace

Info

Publication number: WO2009039583A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/001434
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Robson; Nicholas J Gargaro
Original assignee: Cps Investment Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-09-28
Filing date: 2008-09-26
Publication date: 2009-04-02

Abstract

This invention relates to an upper foot assembly for a building brace used in tilt-up concrete panel constructions. Specifically, the invention provides an upper foot assembly for connecting the building brace to a til-up concrete panel which has a bolt screwed into a ferrule embedded in the panel. The upper foot assembly comprises a foot having an open ended recess for receiving the bolt and an abutment surface for preventing the bolt from being pulled longitudinally out of the recess. The assembly also comprises a cap for location on the bolt. The cap has at least one abutment member for preventing rotation of the bolt relative to the foot, thereby, to prevent the bolt from unscrewing from the ferrule. The invention also provides a tool for applying and removing caps and to caps for the upper foot assembly.

Description

UPPER FOOT ASSEMBLY FOR A BUILDING BRACE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an upper foot assembly for a building brace used in tilt-up concrete panel constructions .

Background of the Invention

In the precast concrete building industry, metal braces are used to brace panels after they have been erected but before they are tied into a structural steel frame of a building. In general, the braces comprise a lower foot assembly which engages a bolt on a footing, and a brace section extending from that foot assembly to an upper foot assembly which is attachable to the panel . The brace section is formed as a telescoping member so that the length of the brace section can be adjusted to arrange the panel in a vertical position. Fine adjustment of the length of the brace section takes place by virtue of a screw thread section so that the brace can be extended and adjusted in length to locate the panel in a vertical disposition .

Typically the upper foot assembly has an opening which engages a fastener associated with the panel. The fastener is typically a bolt that engages a ferrule embedded in the panel at the time concrete was poured to form the panel.

The panels to be braced, are generally large and heavy. Problems occur when wind acts on a braced panel to cause vibrations in the panel . The can cause the bolts to unscrew out of engagement with the ferrules. As a result, the brace releases the panel which may, ultimately, lead to the panel falling over. This is a serious risk to workers in the vicinity of the panel because a falling panel will cause significant injury or death to a workman if a workman is struck by the falling panel . The present invention enables this risk to be avoided or very much reduced.

Summary of the Invention

In one embodiment, the invention provides an upper foot assembly for connecting a building brace to a panel, the panel having a bolt screwed into a ferrule embedded in the panel, the upper foot assembly comprising: a foot having an open ended recess for receiving the bolt and an abutment surface for preventing the bolt from being pulled longitudinally out of the recess; and a cap for location on the bolt, the cap having at least one abutment member for preventing rotation of the bolt relative to the foot to, thereby, prevent the bolt from unscrewing from the ferrule .

Since the cap prevents the bolt from unscrewing, the bolt can not disengage from the panel and release the panel from the brace . Thus , the brace remains attached to the panel .

The abutment may have a lock section for locking the cap to the bolt.

Preferably the bolt has a head and/or a washer for engaging the abutment surface and preventing the bolt from moving longitudinally through the recess, and the lock section is a flexible clip for engaging behind the head or washer to lock the cap to the bolt.

The cap may be breakable to release the cap from the bolt to allow disconnections of the brace from the panel . In one arrangement the bolt has a hexagonal head and the cap has a hexagonal section for sitting on the hexagonal head, the cap having two abutment members spaced apart by about 60"about the periphery of the cap.

In another arrangement the cap has a polygonal section or tooth section for sitting on the hexagonal head, the cap having one abutment member such that the polygonal section or tooth section enables the cap to be located on the hexagonal head in increments so that the abutment member is always locatable on the hexagonal head with the abutment member positioned to prevent rotation of the bolt relative to the foot.

The foot may have a second abutment surface for preventing lateral movement of the bolt out of the recess when the foot assembly is secured to the panel .

In one construction the cap has an open top.

In another construction the cap has a top for closing the cap.

In another construction the cap comprises at least a pair of depending side walls joint by a top panel, the side walls being for engaging portions of the head of the bolt, and the top panel having a securing element for securing the cap against rotation to thereby hold the bolt and prevent the bolt from unscrewing from the ferrule.

The invention also provides a tool for applying and removing caps from a bolt connected to a panel, the tool comprising: a hollow shaft portion having an elongate slot extending along the shaft portion so that the hollow shaft portion can receive a supply of caps nested one upon another with an abutment portion of the caps projecting through the slot; a cross piece forming a handle, the cross piece having a socket at one end; and wherein to apply a cap to the bolt, the shaft is pushed against the bolt to locate a cap on the bolt, and to remove the cap from the bolt the socket portion is engaged with the bolt and the tool rotated to break the cap so the cap can be removed from the bolt.

The shaft may have a rib of a lower end for holding the nested caps in the shaft until a lower most of the caps is applied to a bolt head whereupon the cap pulls out of the shaft when the tool is moved away from the bolt.

The socket may also be used as a socket to screw the bolt tight when a brace is attached to the bolt.

The invention further provides a cap for an upper foot assembly which connects a building brace to a panel, the panel having a bolt screwed into a ferrule embedded in the panel, and the upper foot assembly having a recess for receiving the bolt, the cap comprising: a cap head portion having a profile for engaging the bolt so the cap is located on the bolt and cannot be rotated relative to the bolt; and an abutment portion on the cap for location in the recess to prevent relative rotation of the bolt and the foot assembly to prevent the bolt from unscrewing from the ferrule.

Brief Description of The Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the inventions will describe, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a panel braced by a building brace fitted with an upper and lower foot assemblies ;

Figure 2 shows a fastener bolt by which the upper foot assembly is fastened to the panel;

Figure 3 further illustrates the construction of the building brace and upper foot assembly;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one form of upper foot assembly according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cap used in the assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a cross section view through the cap of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the cap of Figure 5;

Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of an alternative form of cap;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative form of upper foot assembly according to the invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a cap used in the assembly of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a cross section view through the cap of Figure 11 ;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the cap of Figure 11.

Figures 14, 15 and 15A illustrate a tool for application of caps to panel bolts; Figures 16, 17 and 18 show a further embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 19 and 20 show a still further embodiment of the invention .

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

One form of building brace to which the present invention is applicable is disclosed in our International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2007/000449. The contents of that specification are incorporated into this specification by this reference. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be applied to any form of building brace.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the general construction of the brace of the foresaid application.

Figure 1 shows a building brace 10 supporting a concrete building panel 12 in a vertical disposition relative to the ground (or a slab, not shown on which the building panel 12 is mounted) .

The brace 10 extends between the panel 12 and a footing 14. In accordance with conventional teachings, the footing 14 is simply a concrete block poured into a recess formed in the ground. However, the footing 14 may be a preformed block if desired.

The brace 10 has a brace section 32 which has a first brace section 34 and a second brace section 36 which are telescoped together so that the sections 34 and 36 can slide relative to one another to provide a predetermined length to the brace section 32. The sections 34 and 36 have holes (not shown) which can be aligned so that a pin (not shown) can be inserted through aligned holes to lock the sections 34 and 36 into a particular adjusted position. The section 36 is connected to the foot 30 by a bearing section 38 and the section 34 is connected to a connector 40 by a screw threaded member 42. The screw threaded member 42 (best shown in Figure 3) provides fine adjustment of the length of the brace section 32 so that when the connector 40 is fixed to the building panel 12 , the length of the brace section 32 can be adjusted so as to support the building panel 12 in the vertical orientation .

The screw threaded member 42 comprises a screw threaded shaft 62 which extends into section 34 and is received in a nut 64 fixed in the section 34. The shaft 62 pivotally connects to the connector 40 by a pivot shaft 48 which extends through lugs 46 (only one shown) fixed to connector 40.

Thus, by rotating the section 34 and therefore section 36, the length of the brace section 32 can be increased or decreased by screwing the shaft 62 into and out of the nut

64.

As shown in Figure 2 , the building panel 12 is provided with a first component of a fastener which comprises a bolt 16 which is embedded or otherwise attached to the building panel 12 and which has a head 18 and an abutment in the form of a plurality of washers 20. In other embodiments, not shown, the abutment could be provided by the head 18 or some other device on or coupled to the bolt 16. The lowermost surface 21 of the lowermost washer 20 forms an abutment surface and is spaced from the upper surface 22 of the building panel for receiving a connector 40 of the brace 10.

Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of the connector 40 which is in the form of an upper foot assembly. The foot assembly 40 has a foot 50 which has a pair of lugs 46 having aligned holes 48 for receiving a pivot pin 49 to attach screw threaded section 42 of the brace 10 to the upper foot assembly 40. The foot 50 has an elongate recess 52 which has an open end 51 and a rounded profile 53 inwardly from the open end 52. An abutment surface 54 is provided part way about the periphery of the recess 52. The foot 50 also has a raised rib 55 forming a second abutment surface 56.

Bolt 16 is screw threaded into a ferrule embedded in panel 12. As previously mentioned hexagonal head 18 may be provided with a washer 20 so that either the washer 20 or head 18 engage the abutment surface 54 to prevent the bolt from being pulled longitudinally (in the direction of the bolt 16 and arrow J) out of the recess 52.

In order to locate the foot assembly 40 in place the foot assembly is slid laterally in the direction of arrow L in Figure 4 so that the bolt 16 passes through the open end 51 of the recess 52 into the recess 52 with the head 18 or washer 20 sitting behind the surface 54. The bolt 16 can then be screwed all the way into the ferrule to tightened the bolt 16 until the head 18 or washer 20 is hard against the abutment surface 54. When the bolt is so tightened the abutment surface 56 on the rib 55 prevents lateral movement of the bolt 16 out of the recess 52 in the direction of arrow L or movement of the foot assembly relative to the bolt in the direction of arrow J.

To prevent unwanted rotation of the bolt 16 in the ferrule which would cause the bolt 16 to unscrew from the ferrule a cap 60 is connected to the bolt 16. The cap 60, as is best seen in Figures 5 to 7 , has a hexagonal peripheral surface 62 which matches the shape of the hexagonal head 18 of the bolt so the cap can slide on to the head 18 of the bolt 16. The cap 60 has two abutment members 64 connected to it which project downwardly and outwardly from upper rim 65 of the cap 60. The abutment members 64 are provided with a lock section in the form of a flexible clip 68 which is of hook shape configuration and integral with the abutment members 64.

As best shown in Figure 7 , the abutment member 64 are separated by about 60° so that when the hexagonal periphery 62 is located on the hexagonal head 18 one of the abutment members 64 is located in the recess 52 so that its flexible clip 68 can resiliently deform over the head 18 and/or washer 20 and snap behind the head 18 or washer 20 to thereby lock the cap 60 onto the head 18. The other of the abutment members 68 can simply deform out of the way or snap off as the cap 60 is applied to the head 18. The use of the two abutment members means that the cap can only be applied in such an orientation that at least one of the abutment members must locate in the elongate recess 52 so that its flexible clip 68 will engage beneath the head 18 or washer 20 to ensure that the cap does lock to the bolt 16.

By providing two abutment members 64 spaced apart by about 60°, the cap will always be engagable with the head 18 so that at least one of the abutment members 68 will locate in the recess 52. Therefore, the is always an orientation of the cap 60 relative to the head 18 which will enable the cap 60 to be applied to the head, with at least one of the members 64 locating in the recess 50.

Figures 8 and 9 shows a modification of caps 60 provided with only a single abutment member 64. The modified cap has a generally cylindrical shape with a closed top and an internal wall profile 60a which is polygonal or toothed in the nature of a ring spanner so that the cap 60 can be fitted on the hexagonal head in a plurality of orientations with increments of about 5° to 10°. This will always ensure that the cap 60 can be located on the head 57 in an orientation to locate the abutment member 64 in the recess 52. The external periphery of the cap is generally cylindrical but is provided with two flat faces 62a.

When it is desired to release the brace 10 from the panel 12 the cap 60 is broken so the cap 60 can be removed from the head 18. To facilitate location of the cap 60 onto the head 18 and its breakage from the head 18, a tool as shown in Figure 14 and to be described herein after can be use.

If desired the foot 50 can be same as the bottom foot described in the aforesaid International Application which is provided with a tongue lock 69 for locking a tongue

(not shown) over the bolt head 18 to prevent access to the bolt head. However, since the foot assembly 40 is an upper foot assembly the lock 69 and tongue are not necessary to the same extent as in conjunction with the lower foot assembly described in the aforesaid

International Application .

Figure 10 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the foot assembly 40 has a foot 50 which is identical to that previously described and therefore will not be described further. The only difference between the embodiment Figure 10 and that of Figure 4 is the configuration of the cap 60. The cap 60 of Figure 10

(as is best shown in Figures 11 to 13) is of stepped configuration having an upper hexagonal periphery 71 and a large diameter lower hexagonal periphery 72. The upper periphery 71 has a top wall 73 which closes the cap 60. The abutment lugs 64 are the same configuration as those previously described and function in exactly the same manner .

Thus , the location of one of the abutment elements 64 in - li ¬

the recess 52 prevents the bolt 16 from unscrewing because the abutment members will engage side walls 91 of the recess 52 if the bolt does rotate slightly. Thus, continued rotation is prevented and therefore the bolt 16 cannot unscrew from the ferrule though a standing fact that some slight rotation may still take place.

Figures 14 and 15 shows a tool for applying the caps to the bolt 16. The tool 80 has an elongate shaft 82 having an elongate slot 83. The shaft 82 is hollow and receives a plurality of nested caps 60 with the abutment lugs 64 of the cap 60 projecting out of the shaft 82 through slot 83. The lower end of the shaft 82 has spring loaded detent balls 85 to hold the caps 60 within the hollow shaft 82 until the caps are applied to a bolt 16.

The tool 80 has a cross piece 87 which forms a handle. The cross piece 87 has a socket 88 at one end configured to match the profile of the hexagonal sections of the cap 60 and also the head 18 of the bolt 16.

Thus, the socket 88 can be used to tighten the bolt 16 in the ferrule in the panel 12 to securely attach the foot assembly 40 to the panel . The tool 80 may then be used to locate a cap 60 on the bolt 16 by pushing the bottom end of the tool 80 which is loaded with caps against the head of the bolt so that the lower most cap locates on the head with the resilient clips 68 deforming and locating beneath the head 18 or washer 20. The tool 80 is then drawn away so that the cap is left on the head with the cap being pulled out of the tool 80 against the restraint of the detent balls 85 which then act to hold the remaining caps within shaft 82.

When it is desired to remove the cap 60 the socket 88 is applied to the hexagonal periphery of the cap 60 and the shaft 82 is used as a handle to rotate the tool to thereby cause the cap to break into pieces because the cap is not able to rotate on the head 18. Thus, the broken pieces of the cap 60 can then be easily removed to enable the bolt 16 to be un-tightened to release the foot assembly 40 from the panel 12.

The tool 80 together with the nested caps 60 within the shaft 82 provides a convenient package of both a tool and a supply of caps .

In accordance with another embodiment, the engaging means and the anchoring means are provided in a lock 400 shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18.

The engaging means of the lock 400 comprises a cap in the form of a top panel 450 and depending side walls 452 that are configured to engage opposed sides of the head 18 of the bolts 16. Accordingly, rotational movement of the bolts 16 relative to the foot assembly 40 is transferred to the lock 400 via the walls 452.

The lock 400 further comprises anchoring means in the form of a flange portion 454 that incorporates an arcuate aperture 456, defined between respective ends 458, for receiving a locking stem 86 of the assembly 40. Accordingly, rotation of the bolt imparts a force on the lock 400 via walls 452. The force is resisted by one of the ends 458 abutting the locking stem 86 to resist the force and restrict further rotational movement of the bolt 16.

The lock 400 is applied to the bolt 16 by sliding the walls 452 over opposing surfaces of the hexagonal head 18 such that the locking stem 86 projects through the aperture 456. Once in this position, the lock member 88 is located on the locking stem and the key 90 is inserted into the lock member 88 to lock the locking member 88 onto the locking stem 86 for removal only by an authorised user.

The arcuate aperture 456 enables the lock 400 to be located on the bolt 16 regardless of the angular disposition of the hexagonal faces of the head 18 relative to the locking stem 86.

The lock 400 may be formed from a blank (Figure 16) by folding along the dashed lines such that the walls 452 extend in the same direction and substantially perpendicular to the top panel 450 of the lock 400.

A variation of the previous embodiment is shown in Figures 19 and 20. This variation employs the same kind of lock 400, but the anchor means is provided in the form of a washer 460 that fits about the shaft of the bolt 16 and locates in the channel shaped recess 50 of the connector 40 such that a lower surface of the washer 460 contacts the shoulder 56.

The washer 460 includes a tab 462 that is positionable to register between the walls of the channel shaped recess 52.

A lock stem 486 extends from the tab 462 such that the aperture 456 of the lock 400 receives the lock stem 486 when the lock 400 is positioned on the head 18 of the bolt 16. As in the other embodiments, the lock member 88 is fitted onto the lock stem 86 and locked therewith by the key 90 to prevent the lock 400 being removed from the bolt 16.

Rotational movement of the bolt 16 relative to the connector 40 is limited by ends 458 of the aperture 456 abutting the lock stem 486 to impart a force on the washer 460. Rotational movement of the washer is resisted by the inclined wall section 60 on either side of the tab 462 preventing movement of the tab 462 in unison with the bolt. Accordingly, rotational movement of the bolt 16 is limited.

Many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention as described above without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

It is to be understood that the term "comprises" or its grammatical variants as used in this specification and claims is equivalent to the term "includes" and is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other features or elements .

Claims

1. An upper foot assembly for connecting a building brace to a panel, the panel having a bolt screwed into a ferrule embedded in the panel, the upper foot assembly comprising: a foot having an open ended recess for receiving the bolt and an abutment surface for preventing the bolt from being pulled longitudinally out of the recess; and a cap for location on the bolt, the cap having at least one abutment member for preventing rotation of the bolt relative to the foot to, thereby, prevent the bolt from unscrewing from the ferrule.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap is breakable to release the cap from the bolt to allow disconnections of the brace from the panel .

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the abutment member has a lock section for locking the cap to the bolt.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the bolt has a head and/or a washer for engaging the abutment surface and preventing the bolt from moving longitudinally through the recess, and the lock section is a flexible clip for engaging behind the head or washer to lock the cap to the bolt.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bolt has a hexagonal head and the cap has a hexagonal section for sitting on the hexagonal head, the cap having two abutment members spaced apart by about 60° about the periphery of the cap.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cap has a polygonal section or tooth section for sitting on the hexagonal head, the cap having one abutment member such that the polygonal section or tooth section enables the cap to be located on the hexagonal head in increments so that the abutment member is always locatable on the hexagonal head with the abutment member positioned to prevent rotation of the bolt relative to the foot.

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foot has a second abutment surface for preventing lateral movement of the bolt out of the recess when the foot assembly is secured to the panel .

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises at least a pair of depending side walls joined by a top panel, the side walls being for engaging portions of the head of the bolt, and the top panel having a securing element for securing the cap against rotation to thereby hold the bolt and prevent the bolt from unscrewing from the ferrule .

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the securing element comprises a flange projecting from the top panel and provided with an aperture to receive a locking stem.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking stem is fixed to said foot.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking stem is fixed to a washer plate that fits about a shaft of the bolt and located in the recess of said foot.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the aperture in said flange is arcuate to enable the cap to be located on the bolt regardless of the angular disposition of the bolt relative to the locking stem.

13. A tool for applying and removing caps from a bolt connected to a panel, the tool comprising: a hollow shaft portion having an elongate slot extending along the shaft portion so that the hollow shaft portion can receive a supply of caps nested one upon another with an abutment portion of the caps projecting through the slot; a cross piece forming a handle, the cross piece having a socket at one end; and wherein to apply a cap to the bolt, the shaft is pushed against the bolt to locate a cap on the bolt, and to remove the cap from the bolt the socket portion is engaged with the bolt and the tool rotated to break the cap so the cap can be removed from the bolt.

14. A tool as claimed in claim 13, wherein the shaft has a rib at a lower end for holding the nested caps in the shaft until a lower most of the caps is applied to a bolt head whereupon the cap pulls out of the shaft when the tool is moved away from the bolt.

15. A tool as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the socket is usable as a socket spanner to screw the bolt tight when a brace is attached to the bolt.

16. A cap for an upper foot assembly which connects a building brace to a panel, the panel having a bolt screwed into a ferrule embedded in the panel, and the upper foot assembly having a recess for receiving the bolt, the cap comprising: a cap head portion having a profile for engaging the bolt so the cap is located on the bolt and cannot be rotated relative to the bolt; and an abutment portion on the cap for location in the recess to prevent relative rotation of the bolt and the foot assembly to prevent the bolt from unscrewing from the ferrule.

17. A cap as claimed in claim 16, wherein the abutment portion of the cap is in the form of an elongate member projecting from the cap and shaped to hook behind a head of the bolt.

18. A cap as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the abutment portion of the cap is one of a pair of such abutment members arranged at an angular spacing about the periphery of the cap.

19. A cap as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the cap is engageable with the bolt in a plurality of incremented locations so that the abutment portion is always locatable in the recess .