TOOL FOR ASSISTING A USER TO POSITION A JOINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tool for assisting a user to position a joiner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A toggle bolt, often also called a connector bolt, is one type of joiner that can be used to fasten together furniture, and in particular bench tops. Toggle bolts are often used to connect components of worktops, bench tops and countertops, mostly in the corners where an angle is formed.

A toggle bolt typically comprises a nut, a pan head bolt, and two pressed metal "toggles". The toggles usually have a hole (often square, to simplify the manufacturing process), through which the bolt is inserted. Figure 1 depicts use of a toggle bolt in relation to joining two bench top sections together. On the underside of the bench top sections, opposed circular cavities are formed (typically using a router or a specialised drill). Channels are then cut from the respective cavities to meet at the joining edge of each bench top.

To join the sections together, a toggle bolt is inserted such that the toggles are recessed within the cavities, and the bolt is located in the channel. The nut is then screwed on and tightened, to draw the cavities together and hence join the bench top sections along their mutual edge. Figure 1 depicts a toggle bolt to be used to join two panel sections in such a manner. For corner joints, multiple toggle bolts may be used, and the joint is usually sealed with silicone.

Although this provides a strong clamping force, there are disadvantages to using a toggle bolt in this way. In particular, it requires significant dexterity to be able to position the toggle bolt within the channel and cavity, particularly when the joint is in a corner of a bench top. Often there will be cupboards underneath the bench top, with one or more shelves, which make it even more awkward to access the underside of the bench top.

Furthermore, the toggle bolt itself is not ergonomically designed to consider the installer, who could do with an extra hand in these situations. The toggles typically lay on about a 15 degree angle inwards or outwards, due to their square hole, and they also rotate around the bolt. It is therefore tricky to get them up into the cavities. Once there, the bolt head will usually have a square section, which needs to locate into the square hole of the toggle. This is not easy, because the bolt needs to be rotated to align the square section of the bolt with the square hole of the toggle. Because of these difficulties, the nut is generally tightened prior to insertion; however, when the square section of the head snaps in, the toggle bolt tension loosens, which causes user frustration.

Even once the toggle bolt is inserted and positioned correctly, there are further difficulties. When holding a finger tip on the bolt end, the weight of the toggle bolt wants to drop down at the other end. When tightening the nut, upward pressure needs to be applied at the same time, to ensure the toggle bolt stays in its correct position. Furthermore, if both toggles are not located securely within the cavities, the joint can slip as the bolt is tensioned, causing one bench section to lift above the other (which results in an uneven surface) - general silicone is used to seal the joint, which provides the slip. Even after subsequently tapping the surface level, the slip factor can still persist.

Different types of toggle bolts or similar joiners are known, some of which address some of the difficulties described above. For instance, the toggles of some joiners do not have square holes, so they do not lay over on a 15 degree angle to vertical. Other types of toggle bolts have threaded toggles. However, these types of toggles do still rotate around the bolt shaft, and for each of these joiners, at least one toggle is able to move along the bolt shaft.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate, or at least reduce, some or all of the difficulties described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool for assisting a user to position a joiner, the joiner comprising a first and second cavity-engaging member, the tool comprising: a first holding element to receive the first cavity-engaging member; a second holding element to receive the second cavity-engaging member; and a spacing element to space the first holding element from the second holding element.

The cavity-engaging members of the joiner generally correspond to the 'toggles' on a toggle bolt, and the terms 'toggle' and 'cavity-engaging member' will be used to some extent interchangeably throughout this specification. Indeed, for the purposes of this specification, the term "toggle" is used to describe any cavity-engaging member of a joiner. Furthermore, the present invention may be used for positioning joiners other than the typical "toggle bolt" or "connector bolt" described above. Whilst such other joiners may have different types of toggles, and these differences may address some of the difficulties described above, the tool of the present invention will usually provide further assistance to a user to position these types of joiners.

The spacing element of the tool is preferably compressible, such that the first and second cavity-engaging members can be brought together whilst the tool is used to position it - e.g. where the joiner comprises a toggle bolt comprising a nut, a bolt and two toggles, a spacing element having a compressible property allows the nut to be tightened on the bolt to draw the toggles together, whilst the joiner is being held and

positioned using the tool. The spacing element may therefore be a "spring action" wire or other bent metal section. The spacing element helps to hold the cavity-engaging members in a specific spatial relationship and/or orientation to each other. After use, the wire resiliently returns to original state.

In some embodiments, the tool may also comprise a handle, to further assist the user to position the joiner using the tool. The spacing element may also perform the function of a handle.

When they receive the cavity-engaging members, the first and second holding elements preferably engage them such that they are held level and vertical - that is, for a toggle bolt, they prevent rotation of the toggles about the bolt, and they prevent the inward or outward splay of the toggles due to their square hole around the circular bolt.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holding element for use as a component of a tool in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holding element for receiving a cavity- engaging member of a joiner, the holding element comprising: means for holding the cavity-engaging member vertical.

The holding element may further comprise means for holding the cavity-engaging member level.

The holding element may further comprise a receiving portion adapted to receive a bolt of the joiner, the cavity-engaging member being located on the bolt.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holding element for use as a component of a tool for assisting a user to position a joiner, the joiner comprising an elongate element (or bolt) and a cavity-engaging member located on the bolt, the bolt having a longitudinal axis, the holding element comprising: at least one upright member; and a rest, whereby in use, the holding member receives the cavity-engaging member such that the at least one upright member holds the cavity-engaging member substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the rest prevents rotation of the cavity-engaging member about the longitudinal axis.

The holding element may further comprise a pair of upright members, which define a cradle for the bolt.

A detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. While the invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment.

For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an underneath perspective view of a toggle bolt being used to join two panel sections;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a tool according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a toggle bolt;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the tool shown in Figure 2, engaged with a toggle bolt;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of a holding element for the tool shown in Figure 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the holding element shown in Figure 4; and

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the holding element shown in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 depicts a typical toggle bolt 10, to be used to join two panel sections 20. The toggle bolt 10 comprises a pan head bolt 12, two toggles 14 and a nut 16. To use the toggle bolt 10, the toggles 14 are inserted into respective cavities 22 in the panel sections 20, and the bolt 12 lies in a channel 24 between the cavities 22. Then, to join the two sections, the toggles 14 engage within the cavities 22, and the nut 16 is tightened to draw the two panel sections 20 together. Clearly, as would be understood by one skilled in the art, the exact shape of the various components may vary, provided that the toggle bolt 10 can engage within the cavities 22 and channel 24 using the toggles 14, to facilitate a clamping force.

Referring now to Figure 2, the toggle bolt 10 is shown with a tool 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The tool 30 comprises a pair of holding elements 32, and a spring-actuated handle 34. The handle 34 holds the holding elements 32 in position, spaced from each other.

The holding elements 32 may simply be formed of moulded plastic. In this embodiment, each holding element 32 comprises a rest 36 supported by support wings 37, a pair of upstanding members 38 and a cradle 39 between the upstanding members. Figures 4 to 6 show these features in more detail.

The handle 34 is, in this embodiment, a bent wire which is so provides some spring tension, and accordingly means the handle is resiliently compressible. The spring tension will typically be approximately 500 grams, suitable for use with most toggle bolts 10. Hooked ends of the wire handle 34 engage within cavities of the holding elements 32. The size of the handle 34 may vary, depending on the location of the cavities 22 in the panels 20 to be joined, and also depending on user or manufacturer preference.

To operate the tool 30, the handle 34 can be squeezed to draw the holding elements together. The toggle bolt 10 can then be inserted such that the bolt 12 and toggles 14 are received into the respective receiving portions of the holding elements 32. The spring tension of the handle 34 provides some outward pressure to engage the toggles 14 and hold them in a defined spatial relationship with each other. Furthermore, the toggle bolt 10 is preferably positioned on the tool such that the toggle 14 at the head-end of the bolt is located on the square portion of the bolt head. In this way, the bolt 12 is also held in place by the tool 30. This allows it to be positioned more easily.

Figure 3 shows the tool 30 engaged with a toggle bolt 10. The toggles 14 of the toggle bolt 10 are received by the holding elements 32 of the tool 30. The bolt 12 lies in the cradle 39, between the upstanding members 38. The toggles 14 abut the upstanding members 38, which hold the toggles 14 apart in a defined spatial relationship. This also helps to hold the toggles 14 vertical (i.e. perpendicular to the axis of the bolt 12), stopping them from tilting onto their typical 15 degree angle. The toggles 14 lie on the rests 36, which prevents them from rotating about the bolt 12, thereby holding the toggles 14 level.

Once the toggle bolt 10 has been inserted into the tool 30, the handle 34 can be used to simply and effectively position the toggle bolt 10 within the cavities 22 and channel 24. The upright members 38 locate within the channels 24 of the panel sections 20, and therefore provide some functionality as a guide to hold the toggle bolt 10 in the correct or home position. The tool 30 further assists the user to place the toggles 14 up against the ends of their respective cavities 22.

Once inserted, the nut 16 can be tightened as usual with the tool 30 holding the toggle bolt 10 in position. Tightening of the nut 16 draws the toggles 14 together and so joins the panel sections 20. The spring tension of the handle 34 helps to resist back turning of the nut 16, which otherwise happens when trying to relocate the spanner. Spring tension on the nut 16 also prevents back turning when using a ratchet-type spanner.

Preferably, the bent side of the handle is located on the same side of the toggle bolt 10 as the nut 16, and the straight side of the handle is located on the bolt head end of the toggle bolt 10. The bent side of the handle 34 assists the user to position the toggle bolt 10, by allowing a user to press their index finger upwardly against the bent section 35. This also helps to keep knuckles and fingers away from the tightening operation. In some embodiments, the length of the handle 34 may be such that the user's little finger sits comfortably at the end of the handle 34 during operation.

After tightening, the tool 30 can simply be removed by pulling down the handle 34. The handle 34 can be squeezed if any tension needs to be taken off the toggle 14 to assist finger tightening of the nut 16. If the toggle bolt 10 needs further adjustment (e.g. it needs to be loosened and retightened), then the tool 30 can be readily reinserted.

As will be understood, although this embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to a typical toggle bolt, the present invention has broader application. The present invention will be useful to position other types of joiners, which may have cavity-engaging members (toggles) of different shapes, or which are attached to a bolt shaft in different ways.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the size and shape of the holding elements may vary depending on the size and shape of the toggles and the joiner generally.

Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

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