Expansion device for mounting an upright column to a base structure

Claim 1

A device for rigidly mounting a hollOw column to a base support structure wherein said base support structure surrounds an end portion of said hollow column with said device being positioned in said end portion of said hollow column, said device comprising (a) a plurality of expansion members, each member having an exterior wall and an interior wall, said members being assembled in contact with each other around a common axis to form a block assembly and a central bore extending through said block assembly along said common axis, said central bore having a bore wall defined by the interior walls of said expansion members with the bore wall tapered in a direction to reduce its cross-section axially from one end of said bore toward the other, the exterior shape of said block assembly in a cross-section through said block transverse to said bore being similar to the interior shape of a cross-section axially through the end of said column, the interior wall of each expansion member having an elongated notch extending across the said interior wall transverse to said central bore, (b) a tapered wedge member telescopically receivable in the central bore and having an axial taper from one end of said wedge member to the other said axial taper being complementary to the bore wall taper, said wedge member being positioned in axial alignment with the central bore with the tapers of said wedge member and of said bore mating, the tapered wedge member having an extension corresponding in shape to the notch in said interior walls of said expansion members, said extension circumscribing said tapered wedge member and being transverse to the axis of said tapered wedge member whereby said notch and said extension engage each other to hold said tapered wedge in the bore of said block, and (c) means for forcing said tapered wedge member longitudinally through said central bore thereby forcing said expansion members of said block assembly to move radially away from the axis extending through the tapered wedge member whereby said expansion members expand against the walls of the column and force the walls of the column into firm, rigid support with said base structure.

Claim 2

A device for rigidly mounting a hollOw column to a base support structure wherein said base support structure surrounds an end portion of said hollow column with said device being positioned in said end portion of said hollow column, said device comprising (a) a plurality of expansion members, each member having an exterior wall and an interior wall, said members being assembled in contact with each other around a common axis to form a block assembly and a central bore extending through said block assembly along said common axis, said central bore having a bore wall defined by the interior walls of said expansion members with the bore wall tapered in a direction to reduce its cross-section axially from one end of said bore toward the other, the exterior shape of said block assembly in a cross-section through said block transverse to said bore being similar to the interior shape of a cross-section axially through the end of said column, the interior wall of each expansion member having an elongated notch extending across the said interior wall transverse to said central bore, (b) a tapered wedge member telescopically receivable in the central bore and having an axial taper from one end of said wedge member to the other said axial taper being complementary to the bore wall taper, said wedge member being positioned in axial alignment with the central bore with the tapers of said wedge member and of said bore mating, the tapered wedge member having an extension corresponding in shape to the notch in said interior walls of said expansion members, said extension circumscribing said tapered wedge member and being transverse to the axis of said tapered wedge member whereby said notch and said extension engage each other to hold said tapered wedge in the bore of said block, and (c) means for forcing said tapered wedge member longitudinally through said central bore thereby forcing said expansion members of said block assembly to move radially away from the axis extending through the tapered wedge member whereby said expansion members expand against the walls of the column and force the walls of the column into firm, rigid support with said base structure.

Claim 3

A device for rigidly mounting a hollOw column to a base support structure wherein said base support structure surrounds an end portion of said hollow column with said device being positioned in said end portion of said hollow column, said device comprising (a) a plurality of expansion members, each member having an exterior wall and an interior wall, said members being assembled in contact with each other around a common axis to form a block assembly and a central bore extending through said block assembly along said common axis, said central bore having a bore wall defined by the interior walls of said expansion members with the bore wall tapered in a direction to reduce its cross-section axially from one end of said bore toward the other, the exterior shape of said block assembly in a cross-section through said block transverse to said bore being similar to the interior shape of a cross-section axially through the end of said column, the interior wall of each expansion member having an elongated notch extending across the said interior wall transverse to said central bore, (b) a tapered wedge member telescopically receivable in the central bore and having an axial taper from one end of said wedge member to the other said axial taper being complementary to the bore wall taper, said wedge member being positioned in axial alignment with the central bore with the tapers of said wedge member and of said bore mating, the tapered wedge member having an extension corresponding in shape to the notch in said interior walls of said expansion members, said extension circumscribing said tapered wedge member and being transverse to the axis of said tapered wedge member whereby said notch and said extension engage each other to hold said tapered wedge in the bore of said block, and (c) means for forcing said tapered wedge member longitudinally through said central bore thereby forcing said expansion members of said block assembly to move radially away from the axis extending through the tapered wedge member whereby said expansion members expand against the walls of the column and force the walls of the column into firm, rigid support with said base structure.

Claim 4

A device for rigidly mounting a hollOw column to a base support structure wherein said base support structure surrounds an end portion of said hollow column with said device being positioned in said end portion of said hollow column, said device comprising (a) a plurality of expansion members, each member having an exterior wall and an interior wall, said members being assembled in contact with each other around a common axis to form a block assembly and a central bore extending through said block assembly along said common axis, said central bore having a bore wall defined by the interior walls of said expansion members with the bore wall tapered in a direction to reduce its cross-section axially from one end of said bore toward the other, the exterior shape of said block assembly in a cross-section through said block transverse to said bore being similar to the interior shape of a cross-section axially through the end of said column, the interior wall of each expansion member having an elongated notch extending across the said interior wall transverse to said central bore, (b) a tapered wedge member telescopically receivable in the central bore and having an axial taper from one end of said wedge member to the other said axial taper being complementary to the bore wall taper, said wedge member being positioned in axial alignment with the central bore with the tapers of said wedge member and of said bore mating, the tapered wedge member having an extension corresponding in shape to the notch in said interior walls of said expansion members, said extension circumscribing said tapered wedge member and being transverse to the axis of said tapered wedge member whereby said notch and said extension engage each other to hold said tapered wedge in the bore of said block, and (c) means for forcing said tapered wedge member longitudinally through said central bore thereby forcing said expansion members of said block assembly to move radially away from the axis extending through the tapered wedge member whereby said expansion members expand against the walls of the column and force the walls of the column into firm, rigid support with said base structure.