Telescoping Shoring Post
A telescoping post shore having an outer tube; a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along the outer tube; an inner tube; at least one tongue member affixed to the inner tube and projecting from the inner tube, the at least one tongue member configured to be received by the plurality of slots; wherein the inner tube and at least one tongue member are dimensioned to slide within the outer tube and the inner tube and at least one tongue member can be rotated within the outer tube to engage the at least one tongue member with at least one of the plurality of slots.
The present application relates to a shoring post, in particular to a telescoping shoring post used in systems used for construction.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTIONIn typical construction systems, a shoring post is used to help support objects, usually a ceiling or roof. With varying heights of ceilings, it is obviously beneficial to have a shoring post that capable of being quickly adjusted from one height to another, while at the same time ensuring a safe work environment for all workers.
Truss systems, such as those outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,567 exist, and involve screw jacks that rotate around the post to adjust the height of the post. While this is fine for small adjustments, if one wishes to extend or retract the post several feet, this could be very time consuming.
Another type of shoring post, described in Canadian Patent No. 2,249,921, is adjustable and can be used in a system or on their own. These types of shoring posts use a screw, while others of a similar type use a pin-type assembly. While both of these allow for the post to be extended quicker than a screw-jack type, they require the use of small screws and pins, which may not only be difficult to use, but are also easily lost.
A further prior art post is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,415 to Peri GmBH. The '415 post can be adjusted using pins for quick adjustment to the approximate height, and then a fine adjustment means. The problem with pins is that they can easily be lost and are an extra component that is required when erecting/disassembling the post.
There remains a need for a telescopic shoring post that can be quickly adjusted from one position to another.
There also remains a need for a shoring post of simpler design, with significantly fewer pieces involved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a shoring post, comprising a hollow outer leg, a plurality of slots along the length of the outer leg, an inner leg dimensioned to fit within the outer leg, a tongue plate welded to one end of the inner leg, the tongue plate including a plurality of tongue members, wherein the inner leg may be rotated within the outer leg from a first position where the tongue members are fully within the outer leg, and a second position where the tongue members extend through the slot, locking the inner leg in position relative to the outer leg.
Additionally, the preferred embodiment of the shoring post includes an adjusting screw assembly, an adjusting handle, and a plurality of support pins, where the screw assembly is used for fine adjustments to the length of the post. There is also a lower outer leg at the opposite end of the screw assembly. Another addition to the preferred embodiment includes a plurality of grooves along the length of the inner leg and the outer leg.
The present application therefore provides a telescoping post shore comprising: an outer tube; a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along said outer tube; an inner tube; at least one tongue member affixed to said inner tube and projecting from said inner tube, said at least one tongue member configured to be received by said plurality of slots; wherein said inner tube and at least one tongue member are dimensioned to slide within said outer tube and said inner tube and at least one tongue member can be rotated within said outer tube to engage said at least one tongue member with at least one of said plurality of slots.
Other aspects and advantages of the device will become apparent from the following Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings, in which:
Reference is now made to the drawings. In the preferred embodiment, each post 10 has an inner tube 12 and an outer tube 14. The inner tube 12 is adapted to extend telescopically from within the outer tube 14, as depicted in
In a preferred embodiment, inner tube 12 has a tongue plate 19 integrally connected to one end. Tongue plate 19 includes a plurality of tongue members 20 located along inner tube 12. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, inner tube 12 can have as few as one tongue member or could have numerous tongue members 20 vertically displaced from one another when inner tube 12 is in an supporting position. Further, tongue members 20 are preferably grouped on the same horizontal plain and across from each other in one embodiment. Alternative embodiments could however include tongue members one each side of inner tube 12 at different levels.
In a preferred embodiment, tongue members 20 are located at a lower end of inner tube 12. However, this is not a requirement and tongue members 20 could be at various points along the length of inner tube 12.
Tongue members 20 extend orthogonally from inner tube 12 and are dimensioned to extend through slots 22 in outer tube 14. The tongue members 20 and slots 22 are used to make large adjustments to the post 10 very quickly.
As can be seen in
In the preferred embodiment screw assembly 24 is located at approximately the waist height of a worker to facilitate the fine adjustment of post 10 and to ease the removal of post 10.
Other methods of fine adjustments may be used in this device, one of which is shown in
As also seen in
The preferred embodiment of the outer tube 14 is shown in
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a rectangular cross section is optional and other cross sections are available. Reference is now made to
Alternatively,
As will further be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the use of slots 22 in channel 42, as in
The slots 22 in the outer tube 14 (best seen in
In one embodiment, slots 22 are space every 6 inches or 15 cm to allow for the quick rough adjustment of inner tube 12 within outer tube 14. Other dimensions are also possible.
Post 10 is therefore configured to the proper length by adjusting inner tube 12 within outer tube 14 using tongue members 20 and slots 22. Inner tube 12 and outer tube 14 are adjusted to the approximate length required for post 10. Fine adjustment can then be accomplished using a fine adjustment mechanism such as screw assembly 24 or adjustment mechanism 34.
As is best seen in
In the preferred embodiment of the inner tube 12, as shown in
As can be seen in the embodiment shown in
Also shown in the embodiment in
In the preferred embodiment of the shoring post 10, there are a plurality of channels 42 located along the length of both the inner leg 12 and the outer leg 14. A further type of support device in a construction system may be used to engage the channels 42 to add additional support in different directions, or to attach any type of accessories or external bracing using a connector.
As will be seen from
The present post system therefore provides a means for faster removal or replacement for a post by providing a tongue and groove system for gross adjustment of the inner tube within the outer tube. Tongue members are affixed to inner tube 12 thereby allowing the quick removal and replacement of the post without having to find pins or align holes. The preferred shape of the outer tube 14 is configured for easy handling, allowing the worker's thumbs and fingers to grip the post.
In a preferred embodiment post 10 is comprised of aluminium. Other materials could be used however.
These and other advantages of the present system are evident from the above and with reference to the drawings. They are not however meant to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims below.
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A telescoping post shore comprising:
- an outer tube;
- a plurality of slots disposed longitudinally along said outer tube;
- an inner tube;
- at least one tongue member rigidly affixed to said inner tube and projecting from said inner tube, said at least one tongue member configured to be received by said plurality of slots;
- wherein said inner tube and said at least one tongue member are dimensioned to slide within said outer tube and said inner tube and said at least one tongue member are rotatable within said outer tube for engagement by said at least one tongue member with at least one of said plurality of slots.
19. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein each of said plurality of slots further includes a groove on a lower side thereof, wherein said at least one tongue member locks into the groove when engaging said at least one of said plurality of slots.
20. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said at least one tongue member includes a hole therein, said hole adapted to receive a safety pin when said at least one tongue member is engaging said at least one of said plurality of slots thereby locking said at least one tongue member within said at least one of said plurality of slots.
21. The telescoping post shore of claim 17, wherein said outer tube includes a lower portion and an upper portion and a fine adjustment mechanism disposed between said lower portion and upper portion.
22. The telescoping post shore of claim 21, wherein said fine adjustment mechanism includes an adjusting screw assembly and a screw bore in said lower portion and said upper portion.
23. The telescoping post shore of claim 21, wherein said fine adjustment mechanism includes a release type system.
24. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said plurality of slots are spaced equidistantly along said outer tube.
25. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said inner tube includes two tongue members affixed to a lower surface of said inner tube.
26. The telescoping post shore of claim 25, wherein said two tongue members are diametrically disposed from one another.
27. The telescoping post shore claim 25, wherein said two tongue members are part of a tongue plate, said tongue plate being affixed to said inner tube.
28. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said inner tube includes a plurality of tongues disposed longitudinally thereon.
29. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said inner tube and said outer tube include longitudinal channels therein, said longitudinal grooves adapted to receive a connector.
30. The telescoping post shore of claim 29, wherein said channels in said inner tube align with said channels in said outer tube when said tongue engages said slot.
31. The telescoping post shore of claim 29, wherein the post shore is part of a shoring frame.
32. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said outer tube includes a cross section with an opposite set of outwardly rounded corners and an opposite set of inwardly rounded corners, said set of outwardly rounded corners adapted to slidably receive said inner tube and at least one tongue member.
33. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said outer tube includes a round cross section.
34. The telescoping post shore of claim 18, wherein said outer tube includes a square cross section.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 24, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 9, 2008
Inventors: Paul Gillespie (Mississauga), Jonny Melic (Stoney Creek)
Application Number: 11/661,215
International Classification: E04G 25/04 (20060101);