AU746725B2

AU746725B2 - Improved panel and connection member

Info

Publication number: AU746725B2
Application number: AU59565/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Neil Terry Peterken
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-20
Filing date: 1999-11-19
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-19
Also published as: AU5956599A; NZ332902A

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a door construction. The invention may be particularly, but not exclusively, applied to truck doors, especially where the staining and vibration of such doors is a problem.

BACKGROUND

There is an absence of a simple yet effective way to connect a number of panels together to form a semi-flexible door, while ensuring the maximum structural integrity of the door is maintained.

OBJECT

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved panel and a connection means for use with same, or examples of which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION 20 According to the present invention there is provided in a door construction, an assembly of two components each component having a longitudinal connected edge and the components being interconnected and relatively spaced along their connected edges by a connection member, said components and the connection member having complementary male and female formations which interfit to prevent separation of the components but which permit 25 hinging of one of the components relative to the other said complementary formations being dependent from a stem whereby said connection member forms a substantial T-shape, and oo• wherein said stem has one or more enlargements intermediate its ends and the components having one or more recesses to receive said one or more enlargements.

The connection member is preferably generally T-shaped, the cross-piece of the T comprising a pair of cylindrical lugs positioned either side of the stem of the T and opposed faces of the components preferably have respective circular apertures to receive the lugs.

The stem of the T may have enlargements intermediate its ends and the confronting surfaces of the components may have recesses to receive said enlargements.

Said enlargements and recesses are preferably of rectangular or trapezoidal configuration.

The connection member is preferably of a flexible or resilient material.

0 C The said components may be panels of a door lying generally in the same plane.

The assembly may further comprise at least one wheel and an axle therefor, the axle .i 10 extending into one of said female formations and the corresponding male formation being shaped to accommodate the axle.

DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a panel for use in the assembly of the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of connection means for use in connection with the panel of Figure 1, and Figures 3 5 show the panel and connection means shown in Figures 1 and 2 in use.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The attached drawings.show one configuration of a panel and connection member assembly according to the present invention.

The assembly may be used as a moveable panel door for use as a tail-gate of a truck or o similar vehicle.

10 In Figure 1, a panel 1 comprises a main member 2, in this example having a rectangular configuration, and preferably constructed of aluminium or an aluminium composite. The panel may be constructed of a number of other materials. However aluminium is preferred *for its weight and structural integrity characteristics. In addition, a panel of extruded construction is preferred due to the weight and manufacturing advantages associated with such a construction, although solid or semi-solid panels could well be substituted.

In this example of the invention, structural ribs 3 are included within the extrusion, perpendicular to the main faces of main member 2. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, such structural ribs will provide additional rigidity to the extrusion with minimal weight impact on the panel overall.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the walls of main member 2 will have an approximate thickness of 2.0mm. Again this may vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the use of the panel.

Each main member 2 will have at least one connection face 4. In this example shown in the drawings there are two connection faces at opposite ends of the main member. The configuration of each connection face conveniently allows a number of panels to be interconnected by joining their main members together by way of connection means 5, shown in Figure 2.

The reader will appreciate from the following description that the configuration of the 0 0 10 connection face(s) of main member 2 will be determined by the specific configuration and features of connection means 0 In Figure 2, connection means 5 is shown, comprising a flexible connection member 6.

0 *000o In the preferred embodiment of the invention, connection member 6 has a primary flange 7 and a secondary flange 8. To assist the reader in identifying the specific locations of the primary and secondary flanges, Figure 2 shows the primary flange 7 located on a first axis (axis with the secondary flange 8 located on a second axis (axis The reader should note that axis B is shown substantially perpendicular to axis A, in what could be referred to as a configuration.

The primary flange 7 of connection member 6 comprises locking means 9, in this case two locking ribs, positioned opposite one another along axis A. Referring to Figure 1, the reader will also see that the connection faces of main member 2 are also configured to contain apertures 10, which are adapted to receive the locking ribs, particularly when the panels are shown in a closed position as in Figure 3.

The locking ribs fulfil two main functions.

Firstly, they provide a strong engagement relationship between the connection faces 4 of each main member 2.

Secondly, when two main members are joined together using the connection member (as shown in Figure the locking ribs provide enhanced structural integrity to the connection area formed between the two main members, particularly in the area 11 shown in Figure 3.

10 This is particularly useful when the panels are used in door construction, especially in the situation when the panels are used to construct a lightweight door for use on trucks as a tailgate. Clearly the reader will appreciate that with a door constructed by joining a number of extruded panels together, it will be the connection between any two panels which will form e• the area of least rigidity and strength. One of the difficulties faced therefore is to ensure that 15 when the door is in a closed position, the structural integrity of the door is such that should any load being carried in the truck become mobile and slide 'and hit the interior face of the door (during an emergency stop, for example), the interior face of the door must be able to withstand the force of the impact from the load. For this reason the interior faces of the door may sometimes be referred to as the "load-bearing face". Therefore, one of the features of the present invention is that the locking ribs 9 provide further structural strength to the join between any two panels, and therefore, collectively, to the door as a whole, preventing the connection area between any twopanels "bowing out" under the impact of a moving load.

The secondary flange 8 of connection member 6 is adapted to provide connection elements for joining the main members of two panels together.

In this example of the invention, the connection elements may comprise at least two connection lugs 12, in this case both conveniently having circular configurations, although other configurations or combinations of configurations may well be equally effective.

Again the reader will note that the connection faces 4 of main members 2 contain apertures o:o 13, which are adapted to receive the connection lugs 12. In the preferred embodiment of the 10 invention, it is expected that the each panel may be connected to other panels by the connection means by sliding the connection lugs 12 into the apertures 13 of each main member. Again in the preferred embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that the 9oo S: .connection means may be removed by reversing the insertion process. However, the design and configuration of the gripping lugs 12 and the apertures 13 should be such a pair of panels which have been joined together by said connection means cannot easily be separated by simply pulling the panels apart from one another.

The connection lugs 12 of each connection member 6 provide the basis of the flexibility between each panel, as shown in Figure 4, while ensuring the panels remain firmly connected together.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is desirable that connection member 6 have a minimum degree of flexibility. To achieve this connection member 6 may be constructed of rubber or a rubber composite, preferably polyethylene. It may well be however that the connection member could be constructed of a combination of materials. For example, in another embodiment of the invention, the connection lugs 12 could be constructed of plastic or nylon composite, or some other similar material, with the primary flange of connection member 6 being constructed of a rubber composite, or vice versa.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged the aperture 13 on each panel 0@ S will beadapted to receive panel mobility means to allow the movement of a number of 10 panels connected together as aforementioned by the connection means. This is particularly S useful where the panels are used in door construction. One example of how this may be achieved is by connecting two panels together by connection member 6, and then cutting away and removing a portion of the connection lugs 12. This would allow the insertion into i the cavity so created of a mobility means, a shaft for example, in this case cylindrical in 15 keeping with the description of the panel and aperture as aforementioned, to which would be Sattached a nylon wheel or the like. Similar mobility means could then be attached in this way to other panels at pre-determined intervals. As shown in Figure 5, the panels may then be positioned between two curved tracks or channels with the wheels of each mobility means inserted into the channels, thereby permitting the movement of the panels as a group. The connection means provides the necessary flexibility that, while firmly holding the panels together, permit the panels to pass around the curved tracks.

8 Finally various alterations or modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One advantage of the present invention is that the specific configurations of the panels and the connection member enhance considerably the structural integrity of the join between the panels,- particularly by the addition to the connection member of the locking lugs.

Another advantage of the invention is that there is a considerable reduction in the amount of vibration occurring between the panels, particularly again where the panels are used for the

C

construction of truck doors or the like. This contributes significantly to a reduction in the amount of noise generated when the panels are in motion.

C

Finally, the use of a flexible connection member as described prevents the ingress of the o Celements between the connection faces of the panels. In particular the connection member reduces the amount of staining resulting from the effects of rain water corroding the connection area between the panels.

Claims

1. In a door construction, an assembly of two components each component having a longitudinal connected edge and the components being interconnected and relatively spaced along their connected edges by a connection member, said components and the connection member having complementary male and female formations which interfit to prevent separation of the components but which permit hinging of one of the components relative to the other, said complementary formations being dependent from a stem whereby said connection member forms a substantial T-shape, and wherein said stem has one or more enlargements intermediate its ends and the components having one or more recesses to receive said one or more enlargements.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly is capable of being disposed in an open and closed position; and in said open position the one or more enlargements are spaced from the one or more recesses in the components; and in the closed position the one or more enlargements abut the one or more recesses of the components.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stem comprises two enlargements located opposite one another and distal to the male formations.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more enlargements and one or more recesses have a quadrilateral shape.

An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said male and female formations are S• 25 of a rounded configuration.

6. An assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said enlargements e*o* and recesses are of rectangular or trapezoidal configuration. 30

7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection member is of a flexible or resilient material.

8. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the said components are panels of a door lying generally in the same plane.

9. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further comprising at least one wheel and an axle therefore, the axle extending into one of said female formations and the corresponding male formation being shaped to accommodate the axle. In a door construction the assembly of two components interconnected and relatively spaced by a connection member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS FOURTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2002 NEIL TERRY PETERKEN BY PIZZEYS PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS 0