AU743940B2 - Releasable joint - Google Patents

Description

WO 00/01913 PCT/AU99/00529 -1- TITLE: RELEASABLE JOINT Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a releasable joint and method of achieving the same. The joint is particularly suited for joining elongate extruded members such as aluminium window elements and the like and will be described hereinafter with reference to this use. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular application and can be adapted to provide a simple means for releasably joining any pair of suitably configured elements.

Description of the Prior Art It is often necessary for aluminium window frame elements to be constructed from two or more separate sections. In some cases this arises due to a desire to rationalise stock elements, whereby special sections are constructed in a modular fashion from more standard common sections. In other cases the multi-part design arises from a need to enable on-site assembly whereby intermediate members such as window or door sashes must first be installed within the outer frame before the final element of the window or door frame is secured thereto.

An example of the latter case is in sliding door and window structures, where it is often necessary or desirable to attach an outer guide rail to the flame only after the inner window or door assembly has been hung. Such a connection needs to be releasable to enable dismantling of the window structure for repair. In the past this connection of separate elements has been achieved using conventional mechanical fasteners and the like. These fixing methods come with several associated disadvantages such as the need to provide holes in the extruded elements either during or prior to assembly. Also, such -2mechanical fasteners are often unsightly and unless special steps are taken the joints are not weatherproof and can be prone to vibration, all of which can become worse with wear. Further, it is often difficult to dismantle the joint due, for example, to the need for specialist tools and corrosion of the fasteners etc.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasable joint and method of achieving the same that overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the above discussed disadvantages of the prior art or at least offers a useful alternative thereto.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a releasable joint including: a first member having an elongate generally T-sectioned connecting formation defining opposing securing flanges; a second member having a corresponding generally elongate undercut channel in a surface thereof defining, at the edge of said channel, two opposing retaining protuberances, said connecting formation and undercut channel being configured such that said channel is adapted to: receive therein from a direction generally transverse to the plane of said surface the generally T-sectioned connecting formation of the first member; and (ii) permit subsequent displacement of the connecting formation within the undercut channel into a locking position wherein removal thereof in a direction transverse to said surface is prevented by said retaining protuberances and whereby in said locking position a receiving groove is simultaneously defined along an edge of said channel immediately adjacent one of said securing flanges; and an elongate resilient beading element; said resilient beading element being captively retained upon insertion into said receiving groove so as to urge and maintain said connecting formation in the locking position within the undercut channel.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a joint between first and second members wherein said first member has an elongate generally T-sectioned connecting formation defining opposing securing flanges, and said second member has a corresponding generally elongate undercut channel in a 0 surface thereof, wherein said connecting formation and undercut channel are configured 0 such that said channel is adapted to: receive therein from a direction generally S 10 transverse to the plane of said surface the generally T-sectioned connecting formation of o.

the first member; and (ii) permit subsequent displacement of the connecting formation within the undercut channel into a locking position wherein removal thereof in a direction transverse to said surface is prevented and whereby a receiving groove is *oo simultaneously defined along an edge of said undercut channel immediately adjacent one S 15 of said securing flanges, said method including the steps of: inserting the T-sectioned connecting formation of the first member into the ooooo S•undercut channel of the second member in a direction that is generally transverse to said surface; displacing said connecting formation within the undercut channel into the locking position thereby simultaneously defining a receiving groove along an edge of said channel immediately adjacent one of said securing flanges; and 1 ti; WO 00/01913 PCT/AU99/00529 -4inserting into said receiving groove an elongate resilient beading element so as to urge and maintain said connecting formation in the locking position to thereby secure the joint.

It should be noted that the term T-sectioned connecting formation is used herein to define any structure that defines opposed securing flanges that extend upon assembly in a direction generally parallel to said surface in which the undercut channel is provided, so as to be operable within the bounds of the claim defined above. Similarly, reference to insertion of the T-sectioned connecting formation in a direction generally transverse to said surface is intended to include within it's scope part rotational and /or part translational movements.

In a preferred form of the invention the T-sectioned connecting formation of the first member has a first long retaining flange and a second shorter retaining flange. The corresponding undercut channel in the second part similarly defines two opposed first and second retaining protuberances having a cavity therebehind, the protuberances being spaced to allow insertion and subsequent movement of the T-sectioned formation therein as described above, such that upon movement of the connecting formation to the locking position a receiving channel is defined intermediate the first retaining flange and first protuberance sized to captively retain therein an elongate resilient beading element which retains the joint.

In one preferred form the generally T-sectioned connecting formation is configured to enable insertion into the undercut channel, one of the securing flanges, that is preferably the first longer securing flange, needs to be hooked as far as possible under the first of said protuberances after which the remaining portion of the connecting WO 00/01913 PCT/AU99/00529 formation including the second securing flange can be rotated into position in the undercut channel. The entire connecting formation is then moved across the channel such that the second securing flange is then retained behind the second protuberance.

Due to the sizing of the interacting components this then results in the first longer securing flange still being retained behind the first protuberance whilst also defining an undercut receiving groove intermediate the first retaining flange and first protuberance.

The beading element can comprise any resilient material which includes, but is not limited to, rubber and polymeric compounds as well as sheathed or unsheathed coil spring type structures made of metal or polymeric materials. In one particularly preferred form, the resilient material is an ultra violet light resistant neoprene rubber.

The beading element can be inserted into the receiving channel by any suitable means, including use of a suitably profiled offset wheel device that progressively urges the beading into position by rolling it into the groove.

It will be appreciated that the resilient beading element is removable thereby making the joint releasable without damage to the members themselves as may happen when fasteners such as rivets or screws are used. Further, the resilient qualities of the beading also act to suppress vibration and depending on the material selected can also assist to exclude draughts and inclement weather.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred example of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view a first embodiment joint in accordance with the invention showing step one of the assembly process; WO 00/01913 PCT/AU99/00529 -6- Figure 2 is a sectional view of the joint of Figure 1 showing steps two and three of the assembly process; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembled joint of the previous Figures.

Modes for Carrving Out the Invention Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a first embodiment releasable joint according to the invention shown generally at 1. The joint includes a first member 2 having a generally T-sectioned elongate connecting formation 3 defining opposed first and second securing flanges 4 and 5 respectively.

The second part of the joint includes a second member 6 having in it's outer surface 7 a generally elongate undercut channel 8. The channel has at its outer edges two opposed retaining protuberances 9 and 10 respectively, behind which is a cavity 11 which is sized to receive the connecting formation 3 of the first member.

Referring next in particular to Figure 1, it can be seen that to assemble the joint 1, the T-sectioned connecting formation 3 of the first member is presented to the undercut channel 8 from a direction generally transverse to the surface 7 of the second member 6.

The longer first securing flange 4 is then hooked under the first protuberance 9 of the, channel 8 as far as it will go, such that the remaining portion of the connecting formation can then be rotated into the channel. The first member is then moved transversely within the channel until the second securing flange 5 is located beneath the second protuberance 10 of the channel 8. This position is referred to as the locking position as the first securing flange, by virtue of its length, is still located behind the first retaining protuberance 9.

I WO 00/01913 PCT/AU99/00529 -7- In this locking position, an undercut receiving groove 12 is defined intermediate the first flange 4 of the first member and the first protuberance 9 of the channel 8. A resilient beading element 13 is then captively inserted into the receiving groove to secure the joint. The insertion can be achieved by any suitable method including the use of an offset rolling wheel device, the latter device being particularly useful for fast nondamaging insertion of beading over longer lengths.

As discussed previously the beading element can comprise any resilient material which includes, but is not limited to, rubber and polymeric compounds as well as sheathed or unsheathed coil spring type structures made of metal or polymeric materials.

It will also be appreciated that the resilient beading element is removable thereby making the joint releasable without damage to the members themselves as may happen when fasteners such as rivets or screws are used. Further, the resilient qualities of the beading also act to suppress vibration and depending on the material selected can also assist to exclude draughts and inclement weather.

The end result is a joint which: requires no prior drilling or machining of any kind; which with the use of an appropriate material for the beading element can also eliminate or minimise vibration and a provide a weatherproof seal; and which is readily releasable without the use of specialist tools or particularly skilled tradesmen.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the potential applications of this joint according to the invention are endless and are clearly not limited to the examples described in detail above.

Claims (11)

1. A releasable joint including: a first member having an elongate generally T-sectioned connecting formation defining opposing securing flanges; a second member having a corresponding generally elongate undercut channel in a surface thereof defining, at the edge of said channel, two opposing retaining protuberances, said connecting formation and undercut channel being configured such that said channel is adapted to: receive therein from a direction generally transverse to the plane of said surface the generally T-sectioned connecting formation of the first member; and (ii) permit subsequent displacement of the connecting formation within the undercut channel into a locking position wherein removal thereof in a direction transverse to said surface is prevented by said retaining protuberances and whereby in said locking position a receiving groove is simultaneously defined along an edge of said channel immediately adjacent one of said securing flanges; and an elongate resilient beading element; said resilient beading element being captively retained upon insertion into said receiving groove so as to urge and maintain said connecting formation in the locking position within the undercut channel.

2. A releasable joint according to claim 1 wherein the T-sectioned connecting formation of the first member has a first long retaining flange and a second shorter retaining flange. a gj.-.SS sS s aa i WO 00/01913 PCT/AU99/00529 -9-

3. A releasable joint according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the corresponding undercut channel in the second part similarly defines two opposed first and second retaining protuberances having a cavity therebehind.

4. A releasable joint according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the protuberances are spaced to allow insertion and subsequent movement of the T-sectioned formation therein as defined above, such that upon movement of the connecting formation to the locking position a receiving channel is defined intermediate the first retaining flange and first protuberance, said receiving channel sized to captively retain the resilient beading element to thereby maintain the joint.

5. A releasable joint according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first longer securing flange is adapted to be hooked upon insertion into the channel as far as possible under the first of said protuberances after which the remaining portion of the connecting formation including the second securing flange can be rotated into position in the undercut channel.

6. A releasable joint according to claim 5 wherein the entire connecting formation is sized such that after insertion and rotation it can be moved across the channel until the second securing flange is retained behind the second protuberance, while the first flange is still retailed behind the first protuberance whilst also defining an undercut receiving groove intermediate the first retaining flange and first protuberance.

7. A releasable joint according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the beading element can comprise any resilient material which includes, but is not limited to, rubber and polymeric compounds as well as sheathed or unsheathed coil spring type structures made of metal or polymeric materials.

8. A releasable joint according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said beading element is formed from neoprene rubber.

9. A method of making a joint between first and second members wherein said first member has an elongate generally T-sectioned connecting formation defining opposing securing flanges, and said second member has a corresponding generally elongate undercut channel in a surface thereof, wherein said connecting formation and undercut 0%channel are configured such that said channel is adapted to: receive therein from a oo direction generally transverse to the plane of said surface the generally T-sectioned connecting formation of the first member; and (ii) permit subsequent displacement of the o:o.

10 connecting formation within the undercut channel into a locking position wherein removal thereof in a direction transverse to said surface is prevented and whereby a 999o99 receiving groove is simultaneously defined along an edge of said undercut channel immediately adjacent one of said securing flanges, said method including the steps of: 999999 inserting the T-sectioned connecting formation of the first member into the 999999 9 •:oo 15 undercut channel of the second member in a direction that is generally transverse to said surface; displacing said connecting formation within the undercut channel into the locking position thereby simultaneously defining a receiving groove along an edge of said channel immediately adjacent one of said securing flanges; and inserting into said receiving groove an elongate resilient beading element so as to urge and maintain said connecting formation in the locking position to thereby secure the joint. WO 00/01913 PCT/AU99/00529

-11- A method according to claim 9 wherein the beading element is inserted into the receiving channel by any suitable means, including use of a suitably profiled offset wheel device that progressively urges the beading into position by rolling it into the groove. -u