Wedging device

#The present invention relates to a novel fastening device for use in holding one body to another and particularly useful in the construction of iron work.

#The earliest fasteners, devised to solve the age old problem of connecting one body to another, includes screws, bolts and nuts, anchors, nails, spikes and the like. Since the advent of the inclined plane, the strain and force of a wedge as a fastener has been realized. However, it has been difficult to control the great forces produced by wedging action and the damage resulting from frictional engagement with the members to be fastened. Also, a simple wedge has a tendency to loosen with the lapse of time because of the reduction of the normal force of friction as a result of warping and deformation of the wedged members.

#Previous devices have been partially successful but are not considered adaptable to a variety of applications.

#FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the device before application of the impact force.

#FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the device after application of the impact force.

#FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

#The fastening device as a whole is depicted in the drawings by reference character 10. The device includes a first member 12 and a second member 14. The members may be constructed separately but are shown in FIG. 1 as connected together by neck 16. The device 10 may be employed to fasten any bodies together but as depicted in the drawings, the device fixes body 18 to body 20. The bodies preferably include openings, such as opening 22 and opening 24, respectively associated with body 18 and body 20.

#The openings 22 and 24 align, allowing at least portions of members 12 and 14 to position within the openings. The device 10 may also be shaped such that it provides its own openings upon impartation of an impact force. However, the preferred embodiment requires that aligned openings 22 and 24 be furnished by a suitable means known in the art.

#The members 12 and 14 include inclined surfaces 26 and 28 that face one another and slide upon one another, which will be more fully described as a specification continues. The upper part of members 12 and 14 include projections 30 and 32 that hold a portion of the body 18 to the body 20. As may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the undersurfaces of projections 30 and 32 are oriented approximately parallel to the surface of body 18. Where the surfaces of bodies 18a and 20a intersect the wall engaging surfaces 34a and 36a at oblique angles, the undersurfaces of projections 30a and 32a may be fashioned to complement such angle, resulting in the above described parallel disposition of projections 30 and 32 and body 18. This embodiment of the present invention, device 10a FIGS. 4 and 5, is particularly useful in the installation of railings and the like on stairways, ramps and similar areas.