Securement member

Abstract

The securement member ( 10 ) comprises an anchor member ( 12 ) and an actuating member in the form of a spreader member ( 14 ). The anchor member ( 12 ) has an anchor plate ( 16 ) which is arranged, in use, to locate underneath at least one brick ( 18 ). The spreader member ( 14 ) is arranged to locate between a first arm ( 22 ) and a second arm ( 24 ) provided on the anchor member ( 12 ). The actuating member is retained between the first arm ( 22 ) and the second ( 24 ) such that the actuating member does not substantially spread the arms. The upper portion of the securement member can then be inserted into a recess ( 28 ) in order for the upper surface ( 30 ) of the actuating spreader member ( 14 ) to abut the upper surface ( 32 ) of the recess. This abutment causes the spreader member ( 14 ) to move relative to the anchor member in order to increase the space between the first arm ( 22 ) and the second arm ( 24 ). This separation thereby prevents the upper portion of the securement member ( 10 ) from being withdrawn from the frusto-conical recess provided in the architectural feature, for example a coping stone ( 26 ). Accordingly, the securement member ( 10 ) securely retains the architectural feature to the wall.

1 . A securement member ( 10 ) comprising an anchor member ( 12 ) and an actuating member ( 14 ), the anchor member ( 12 ) comprising a first arm ( 22 ) and a second arm ( 24 ), the actuating member ( 14 ) is arranged to locate between the first arm ( 22 ) and the second arm ( 24 ) and to be movable relative to the anchor member ( 12 ) between at least a first position and a second position in which the first arm ( 22 ) and the second arm ( 24 ) are spaced further apart when the actuating member ( 14 ) is in the second position relative to the first position, in which in the second position, the first arm ( 22 ), second arm ( 24 ) and actuating member ( 14 ) are arranged to be located at least partially in a recess ( 28 ) characterised in that the anchor member ( 12 ) comprises an anchor plate and said recess ( 28 ) tapers outwardly from a mouth region to a retaining region and said outwardly tapering recess ( 28 ) is formed prior to insertion of the securement member ( 10 ).  
     
     
         2 . A securement member ( 10 ) according to  claim 1  in which the securement member ( 10 ) comprises retaining means ( 23 ) to retain the actuating member ( 14 ) to the anchor member ( 12 ) prior to use.  
     
     
         3 . A securement member ( 10 ) according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  in which the actuating member ( 14 ) comprises an upper abutment surface ( 30 ) and the actuating member ( 14 ) is arranged, in use, to move from the first position to the second position as a result of the upper abutment surface ( 30 ) abutting a further surface ( 32 ).  
     
     
         4 . A securement member ( 10 ) according to any preceding claim in which the anchor plate ( 16 ) is arranged, in use, to locate at least partially underneath a building member ( 18 ).  
     
     
         5 . A securement member ( 10 ) according to any preceding claim in which the anchor member ( 12 ) comprises an elongate portion ( 20 ) which is arranged, in use, to extend through a passageway defined in a building member ( 18 ).  
     
     
         6 . A securement member ( 10 ) according to any preceding claim in which the actuating member ( 14 ) comprises side plates ( 29 ) to prevent the actuating member ( 14 ) from being transversely removed from the first and second arms ( 22 ,  24 ).  
     
     
         7 . An assembly comprising a securement member ( 10 ) and an article ( 26 ) having a recess ( 28 ) defined therein, the securement member ( 10 ) comprising an anchor member ( 12 ) and an actuating member ( 14 ), the anchor member ( 12 ) comprising a first arm ( 22 ) and a second arm ( 24 ), the actuating member ( 14 ) is arranged to locate between the first arm ( 22 ) and the second arm ( 24 ), the actuating member ( 14 ) is movable relative to the anchor member ( 12 ) between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm ( 22 ) and the second arm ( 24 ) are spaced further apart when the actuating member ( 14 ) is in the second position relative to the first position, in which, in the second position, the first arm ( 22 ), second arm ( 24 ) and actuating member ( 14 ) are arranged to be located at least partially in the recess ( 28 ) characterised in that the anchor member ( 12 ) comprises an anchor plate ( 16 ) and said recess ( 28 ) is tapered outwardly from a mouth region to a retaining region and wherein the outwardly tapering recess ( 28 ) is formed in the article ( 26 ) prior to insertion of the securement member ( 10 ).  
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 7  in which the recess ( 28 ) is an elongate recess extending longitudinally along the article ( 26 ).  
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 7  or  claim 8  in which the recess ( 28 ) is formed in the article ( 26 ) using an extrusion method.  
     
     
         10 . A method of securing an article ( 26 ) to a surface comprising securing an anchor member ( 12 ) of a securement is member ( 10 ) to the surface and engaging at least a part of the securement member ( 10 ) with the article ( 26 ), the method further comprising locating an actuating member ( 14 ) between a first arm ( 22 ) and a second arm ( 12 ) of the anchor member, and moving the actuating member ( 14 ) between a first position and a second position relative to the anchor member ( 12 ) whereby the first arm ( 22 ) and the second arm ( 24 ) are spaced further apart when the actuating member ( 14 ) is in the second position relative to the first position the method further comprising providing a recess ( 28 ) for at least partially locating the first arm ( 22 ), second arm ( 24 ) and actuating member ( 14 ) therein, characterised in that the anchor member ( 12 ) comprising an anchor plate ( 16 ) and the recess ( 28 ) tapers outwardly from a mouth region to a retaining region and wherein the outwardly tapering recess ( 28 ) is formed prior to insertion of the securement member ( 10 ).  
     
     
         11 . A method according to claim  13  in which the method comprises lowering the article ( 26 ) in order to locate at least a part of the first arm ( 22 ), second arm ( 24 ) and actuating member ( 14 ) in a recess ( 28 ) defined in the article ( 26 ).