TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a fixing device. In particular, a fixing device for fixing an object to a support structure such as a drywall.

BACKGROUND ART

Drywall fixings are known which provide for anchoring an object to the drywall or plasterboard by passing a body of the fixing through the drywall sheet and actuating a pair of retaining members from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby the retaining members abut a rear side surface of the drywall to fix its position with respect to the drywall.

While these known drywall fixings provide a secure single connection point, some objects require a more distributed load such as a spot light; other lightweight objects may require more than a single connection point to minimise movement and damage of the object about the connection point or perimeter where a void is used for the connection. Furthermore, particularly when light fittings are concerned a danger that the surrounding plasterboard may be exposed to fire exists where the light fitting is placed in direct contact with the plasterboard.

It is known to use more than one fixing device to provide additional connection points. However, accurately aligning the positions of the fixing devices with respect to one another to ensure level fixing of the object on the support structure can be difficult.

It will be understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

OBJECT

The present invention is directed to a fixing device, which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

SUMMARY

An embodiment relates to a fixing device comprising multiple anchors which are configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position to fix the position of the fixing device with respect to a support structure such as a drywall. The movement of the anchors is controlled by a trigger which is configured to engage with each of the anchors. An object to be mounted on the support structure is then fixed to the anchored fixing device. In this way, embodiments of the present invention may provide for improved ease of use in fixing an object requiring a distributed load to a support structure by providing easy alignment of the multiple anchors in relation to one another on the support structure. Furthermore, by providing multiple connection anchors, the attached object such as a spotlight or AC vent is protected from vibrations and other movement. It is to be realised that embodiments are potentially able to support a greater weight that the prior art fixings which use a single anchor.

With the foregoing in view, an embodiment extends to a fixing device for fixing an object relative to a support structure, the fixing device comprising: a housing for housing the object, the housing, the housing being for location at least partially within a void formed in the support structure at least two anchors attached to the housing, each anchor comprising: an actuator; and at least one retaining member coupled to the actuator a trigger configured to engage with the actuator of each anchor so that movement of the trigger moves the at least one retaining member of each anchor between a retracted position, whereby the fixing device is removably insertable into the void in the support structure, and an extended position, whereby the retaining member abuts a rear side of the support structure, to fix the position of the fixing device with respect to the support structure.

For the purposes of the specification, the term “support structure” means a panel such as a wall or ceiling extending over a cavity such as a drywall made of plaster or gypsum (calcium sulphate dihydrate), extruded between a front paper sheet and a rear paper sheet, used in the construction of interior walls and ceilings (also called plasterboard, wallboard, sheet rock, gyprock, gypsum board, or gypsum pane). The drywall panel is typically fixed to wall studs and behind the drywall panel between the studs in a cavity.

The anchors may be located on a periphery of the housing. The anchors may be substantially evenly distributed on the periphery of the housing.

The periphery of the housing may be adapted to lie flush with a surface of the support structure.

The object may be partially housed within the housing. The object may be entirely housed within the housing. For example, the object may comprise a light source and the housing may comprise a translucent cover to emit light from the light source.

The at least two spaced apart anchors may comprise between two and 20 anchors. More preferably, the at least two spaced apart anchors may comprise 12 anchors substantially arranged in a closed loop. Alternatively, the anchors may be arranged substantially linearly to provide a distributed linear load over a line.

The actuator of each anchor may be a toothed cog which engages with corresponding teeth on the trigger and rotates on a central pivot. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that other forms of actuator may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention such as a linear toothed track which engages with a corresponding linear toothed trigger. The housing may comprise the trigger. The housing may comprise an outer ring defining a periphery of the housing and an inner ring attached to an inner circumference of the outer ting, the inner ring comprising the trigger.

The trigger may be a toothed rail configured to engage the corresponding teeth on the actuator of each anchor. In this way, a single movement of the trigger (such as a circular or linear movement) causes movement of the at least one retaining member of each of the anchors.

The trigger may be a toothed wheel mounted for rotation, the teeth of the wheel engaging with corresponding teeth provided on each cog of the actuators so that movement of the trigger causes actuation of each anchor.

A single trigger may engage with a plurality of actuators so that a single movement of the trigger causes engagement or disengagement of the anchors. A first movement may cause engagement of the actuators. A reverse movement may cause disengagement of the actuators.

The at least one retaining member may be a wedge which on movement from the retracted position to the extended position protrudes from the outer circumference of the actuator sufficient to abut a rear surface of the support structure to securely anchor the fixing device with respect to the support structure. Conversely, movement of the at least one retaining member from the extended position to the retracted position provides for movement of the at least one retaining member to a position within the outer circumference of the of the actuator. The pin may have a substantially flat structure to provide secure abutment with the rear side of the support structure.

The fixing device may also comprise at least one threaded passage extending within a body of the fixing device for fixing a fixing means such as a screw or bolt to enable attachment of an object to be mounted on the support structure via the fixing device.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of securing a fixing device into a void in a support structure, the method comprising the steps: a. providing a fixing device as described above; b. inserting the fixing device into the hole such that the at least one retaining member of each fixing unit is positioned behind a rear surface of the support structure; and c. moving the retaining members between a retracted position to an extended position such that the retaining members abut the rear surface of the support structure.

The reverse of this method may be used to remove the fixing device from the support. Once the fixing device is anchored to the support surface then an object may be mounted on the fixing device.

With reference to the above, the present invention may have a number of advantages including:

• improved ease of use in fixing an object requiring a distributed load to a support surface;

• protection of boards from vibration on mechanical movement such as spot lights and AC vents; • when the retaining members are situated, and optionally evenly distributed, over a periphery of the housing, embodiments may help to evenly distribute the load and provide an integrated solution for quickly and securely mounting an object even in very thin support structures; and

• improved ease of use in aligning multiple fixing devices in relation to one another on the support surface.

Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will refer to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a detail of the device shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a detail of the device shown in Figure 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of a fixing device 10 for fixing an object (in the form of a spot light fitting 100) in relation to a support structure in the form of a drywall or plasterboard). Although embodiments have been described with reference to the use for attaching objects to plasterboard, it is to be realised that the use of embodiments is not limited thereto.

The fixing device 10 includes a housing having an outer ring 12 and a trigger in the form of an inner ring 14. 12 anchors 16A, 16B... 16L are mounted to the outer ring 12. The outer ring 12 rotates relative to the inner ring 14 to activate the anchors 16 in the manner described below. In this embodiment, the fixing device 10 includes a support ring 18 four supporting the spotlight fitting 100 which is, in this embodiment housed within the housing. The support ring 18 rotates together with the inner ring 14 in this embodiment, but it is to be realised that, in alternative body mints, the inner ring 14 May rotate independently of both the outer ring 12 and the support ring 18.

Figure 2 illustrates a detail of the anchor 16B. All of the other anchors have a similar construction. The anchor 16B includes an anchor in the form of a wage 20 attached to an actuator in the form of a cog 22. The cog 22 is mounted for rotation about axle 24 relative to the outer ring 12 (Figure 1). The cog 22 is provided with a number of teeth 26 provided on circumference thereof. Figure 2 further illustrates detail of the inner ring 14 and, as illustrated, the ring has a number of teeth 28 provided on an outer circumference thereof.

When the inner ring 14 is rotated in the direction of arrow 30, the teeth 28 engage with the teeth 26 of cog 22 because the cog 22 rotates in the direction of arrow 32. This will, in turn, cause the wedge 20 attached to the cog 22 to move from the retracted position (shown in dashed outline in Figure 2) to the extended position shown in the solid outline in Figure 2. Since each of the anchors 16A to 16L has a similar structure to that shown for 16A, and the teeth 28 extend along the entire circumference of the inner ring 14, as the inner ring rotates the wedges of each of the anchors 16A to 16L will move from a retracted position to an extended position.

Embodiments therefore help to provide a potentially more convenient and easier way of attaching a load (such as a light fitting) to a structure such as a drywall using a number of anchors which can be simultaneously engaged and disengaged with the use of a single trigger.

Figure 3 illustrates a fixing device 100 according to a further embodiment. The fixing device 100 includes a housing having an outer frame 102 and a trigger in the form of a slider 104 mounted for linear movement relative to the frame 102. The fixing device includes a number of actuators 106A, 106B...

106P.

As it illustrated with respect to actuator 106H in Figure 4, each actuator comprises a wedge 108 mounted for rotational movement about an axle 110. The wedge 108 is attached to a cog 112 similar to the toothed cog 22 illustrated in Figure 2, with teeth 114. As described below, the wedge engages with the slider 104 so that movement of the slider 104 causes retraction and extension of the wedges 108. The fixing device 100 includes a handle 120 to assist with the manual sliding of the slider 104. In the position of the handle 120 shown in solid lines in Figure 3, the wedges are in an engaged position. The handle is then moved to the position illustrated in Figure 3 in the direction of arrow 112 causing the wedges to retract.

The mechanism by which the fixing device 100 operates is illustrated in Figure 4. The slider 104 comprises a plurality of serrations 126 arranged around the periphery. As the slider 104 moves in the direction of arrow 122, the serrations 126 engaged with the teeth cogsl 14 of the actuators 106 to rotate in the direction of arrow 130 thereby moving the wedges 108 from a retracted position to the engaged or extended position shown in Figure 3 in a manner similar to that in which the corresponding actuators 16 of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 operate. Similarly, when the slider moves in the direction of arrow 124, the serrations 126 engage with the cogs 114 of the anchors 106 to cause the cog 112 to rotate in the direction of arrow 128 causing the wedges 108 to move from the extended position to the retracted position. CONCLUDING STATEMENTS

In the present specification and claims, the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.