CA1065944A - Snap lock connector for components such as knock-down furniture components - Google Patents
Snap lock connector for components such as knock-down furniture componentsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1065944A CA1065944A CA274,044A CA274044A CA1065944A CA 1065944 A CA1065944 A CA 1065944A CA 274044 A CA274044 A CA 274044A CA 1065944 A CA1065944 A CA 1065944A
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- components
- female
- members
- male member
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Abstract
A SNAP LOCK CONNECTOR FOR COMPONENTS SUCH
AS KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE COMPONENTS
Abstract of the Disclosure A snap lock connector for use in selectively connecting and disconnecting components, such as knock-down furniture components, and being characterized by a construction which provides locking with less force than unlocking, as follows.
An elongate male member forms an extension from one of the components to be assembled and has a generally bulbous outer end defining leading and trailing camming surfaces thereon.
A female member forms an internal passageway within the other of the components to be assembled and has an inwardly extending pro-jection around at least a portion of the interior thereof defining leading and trailing camming surfaces, One of the male and female members is constructed for rendering that member flexible for expansion and contraction thereof during sliding engagement of the cooperating camming surfaces. The leading camming surface of one of the male and female members comprises a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than the trailing camming surface for locking of the members with less force than unlocking. Whereby, the male member may be inserted into and withdrawn from the female member for locking and unlocking of the members by respective forced sliding engagement of the leading and trailing camming surfaces of the male and female members causing movement of the flexible member for allowing passage of the bulbous outer end of the male member past the projection in the female member.
AS KNOCK-DOWN FURNITURE COMPONENTS
Abstract of the Disclosure A snap lock connector for use in selectively connecting and disconnecting components, such as knock-down furniture components, and being characterized by a construction which provides locking with less force than unlocking, as follows.
An elongate male member forms an extension from one of the components to be assembled and has a generally bulbous outer end defining leading and trailing camming surfaces thereon.
A female member forms an internal passageway within the other of the components to be assembled and has an inwardly extending pro-jection around at least a portion of the interior thereof defining leading and trailing camming surfaces, One of the male and female members is constructed for rendering that member flexible for expansion and contraction thereof during sliding engagement of the cooperating camming surfaces. The leading camming surface of one of the male and female members comprises a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than the trailing camming surface for locking of the members with less force than unlocking. Whereby, the male member may be inserted into and withdrawn from the female member for locking and unlocking of the members by respective forced sliding engagement of the leading and trailing camming surfaces of the male and female members causing movement of the flexible member for allowing passage of the bulbous outer end of the male member past the projection in the female member.
Description
A SNAP LOCK CONNECTOR FOR COMPONENTS SUCH
AS KNOCK-DO~N FU~NITURE COMPONENTS
This invention is directed to a snap lock connector for use in connecting and disconnecting components, such as knock-down furniture components, and is characterized by a construction which provides locking for connecting components with less force than unlocking for disconnecting components.
Background of the Invention In connecting components of various end products, in which the components are to be selectively assembled and disas-sembled, connectors are desirable between the components. This is particularly true in knock-down furniture which is becoming increasingly popular, for purposes of assembling the furniture components for normal use of the furniture and allowing disas-sembly of the components when storing or shipping of the furniture is desired.
Although a wide variety of connectors, including those which lock and unlock by snap fitting of one member into another member, have previously been proposed for various components, these previously proposed snap lock connectors have suffered from design deficiencies and lack of ~lexibility in their use.
For example, the previously proposed snap lock connectors have been complicated in design rendering them expensive to manu-facture and have for the most part required the same amount of force for locking the members together for assembly of the compo-nents as for unlocking of the members for disassembly of the compo-nents. This has resulted in assembled components using such snap lock connectors which are too easily unlocked and disassembled when disassambly of the components is not desired. Additionally, the construction of these previously proposed snap lock connectors have not been suitable for fabrication from inexpensive materials and for mass production for producing inexpensive connectors for use in the industry.
~0~5944 Examples of such prior connectors are disclosed in the following United States Patents:
Patent No. Inventor Issue Date 3,195,266 R.A. Onanian July 20, 1965 3,520,082 M.M. Smith July 14, 1970 3,541,882 R. Testa November 24, 1970 3,605,201 A.G. Peterson September 20, 1971 3,648,404 C.S. Ogsbury et al March 14, 1972 3,653,146 A.E. Goldfarb April 4, 1972 3,674,229 M.S. Keeler July 4, 1972 3,687,092 J.P. Manning August 29, 1972 3,689,075 L. Adelsohn September 5, 1972' 3,730,109 W.J. Kreizel May 1, 1973 3,759,623 K. Hesse September 18, 1973 3,826,206 K. Ruggles July 30, 1974 Objects and Summary of the Invention Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a snap lock connector for use in selectively connecting and disconnecting of com-ponents, such as knock-down furniture components, which overcomes prior problems and is specifically constructed for providing locking for connecting components with less force than unlocking for disconnecting components.
The invention provides a snap lock connector for use in connecting and disconnecting components, such as furniture components, and being characterized by a rigid construction which provides longitudinal stabiliz-ation of the components in the locked condition by preventing relative20 longitudinal movement or pivoting between the components; said connector com-prising: an elongate male member for forming an extension from one of the components to be assembled and having a generally bulbous outer end defining opposing, curved, oppositely and outwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces generally around at least a portion of the circumference thereof, a longitudinally extending intermediate portion ex~ending from said trailing surface and being of smaller transverse cross-sectional dimensions than said bulbous outer end, and a generally non-f]exible rear end portion extending longitudinally from said intermediate portion and being of a pre-determined configuration having cross-sectional dimensions at least as large as said bulbous outer end; a female member for forming an elongate, internal passageway within the other of the components to be assembled and having an
AS KNOCK-DO~N FU~NITURE COMPONENTS
This invention is directed to a snap lock connector for use in connecting and disconnecting components, such as knock-down furniture components, and is characterized by a construction which provides locking for connecting components with less force than unlocking for disconnecting components.
Background of the Invention In connecting components of various end products, in which the components are to be selectively assembled and disas-sembled, connectors are desirable between the components. This is particularly true in knock-down furniture which is becoming increasingly popular, for purposes of assembling the furniture components for normal use of the furniture and allowing disas-sembly of the components when storing or shipping of the furniture is desired.
Although a wide variety of connectors, including those which lock and unlock by snap fitting of one member into another member, have previously been proposed for various components, these previously proposed snap lock connectors have suffered from design deficiencies and lack of ~lexibility in their use.
For example, the previously proposed snap lock connectors have been complicated in design rendering them expensive to manu-facture and have for the most part required the same amount of force for locking the members together for assembly of the compo-nents as for unlocking of the members for disassembly of the compo-nents. This has resulted in assembled components using such snap lock connectors which are too easily unlocked and disassembled when disassambly of the components is not desired. Additionally, the construction of these previously proposed snap lock connectors have not been suitable for fabrication from inexpensive materials and for mass production for producing inexpensive connectors for use in the industry.
~0~5944 Examples of such prior connectors are disclosed in the following United States Patents:
Patent No. Inventor Issue Date 3,195,266 R.A. Onanian July 20, 1965 3,520,082 M.M. Smith July 14, 1970 3,541,882 R. Testa November 24, 1970 3,605,201 A.G. Peterson September 20, 1971 3,648,404 C.S. Ogsbury et al March 14, 1972 3,653,146 A.E. Goldfarb April 4, 1972 3,674,229 M.S. Keeler July 4, 1972 3,687,092 J.P. Manning August 29, 1972 3,689,075 L. Adelsohn September 5, 1972' 3,730,109 W.J. Kreizel May 1, 1973 3,759,623 K. Hesse September 18, 1973 3,826,206 K. Ruggles July 30, 1974 Objects and Summary of the Invention Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a snap lock connector for use in selectively connecting and disconnecting of com-ponents, such as knock-down furniture components, which overcomes prior problems and is specifically constructed for providing locking for connecting components with less force than unlocking for disconnecting components.
The invention provides a snap lock connector for use in connecting and disconnecting components, such as furniture components, and being characterized by a rigid construction which provides longitudinal stabiliz-ation of the components in the locked condition by preventing relative20 longitudinal movement or pivoting between the components; said connector com-prising: an elongate male member for forming an extension from one of the components to be assembled and having a generally bulbous outer end defining opposing, curved, oppositely and outwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces generally around at least a portion of the circumference thereof, a longitudinally extending intermediate portion ex~ending from said trailing surface and being of smaller transverse cross-sectional dimensions than said bulbous outer end, and a generally non-f]exible rear end portion extending longitudinally from said intermediate portion and being of a pre-determined configuration having cross-sectional dimensions at least as large as said bulbous outer end; a female member for forming an elongate, internal passageway within the other of the components to be assembled and having an
-2-1{~6S944 inner portion of slightly larger dimensions than said bulbous outer end of said male member, an inwardly and longitudinally extending projection forming an intermediate portion for restricting the dimensions of said passageway at said intermediate portion to less than the dimensions of said bulbous outer end of said male member, and a longitudinally extending generally non-flexible outer portion of slightly larger dimensions than said bulbous outer end of said male member, and being of a predetermined configuration corre-sponding generally to the predetermined configuration of said rear end portion of said male member for snugly receiving same when said members are in lock-ing engagement, said projection defining opposing, curved, oppositely and~
inwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces; one of said male and female members comprising flexible, resilient material and having a longitudinal cut-out partially therethrough for rendering a portion other than said generally non-flexible portion of said one member expandable and contractable; and said leading, camming surface of at least one of said male and female members comprising a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than said trailing camming surface for locking of said members with less force than unlocking of said members; whereby, said male member may be inserted into and withdrawn from said female member for locking of said members by forced sliding engagement of said leading camming surfaces and for unlocking by forced sliding engagement of said trailing camming sur-faces of said male and female members causing flexible contraction of said expandable and contractable portion of said one member for allowing passage of said bulbous outer end of said male member past said pro;ection in said intermediate portion of said female member, and so that, when said male member is inserted into said female member and is in locking engagement there-with, said trailing camming surface of said male member will be in engagement with said trailing camming surface of said female member and said generally non-flexible rear end portion of said male member will be snugly received in said generally non-flexible outer portion of said female member of generally the same configuration for providing a rigid connection with longitudinal stabilization of said male and female members to prevent relative movement
inwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces; one of said male and female members comprising flexible, resilient material and having a longitudinal cut-out partially therethrough for rendering a portion other than said generally non-flexible portion of said one member expandable and contractable; and said leading, camming surface of at least one of said male and female members comprising a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than said trailing camming surface for locking of said members with less force than unlocking of said members; whereby, said male member may be inserted into and withdrawn from said female member for locking of said members by forced sliding engagement of said leading camming surfaces and for unlocking by forced sliding engagement of said trailing camming sur-faces of said male and female members causing flexible contraction of said expandable and contractable portion of said one member for allowing passage of said bulbous outer end of said male member past said pro;ection in said intermediate portion of said female member, and so that, when said male member is inserted into said female member and is in locking engagement there-with, said trailing camming surface of said male member will be in engagement with said trailing camming surface of said female member and said generally non-flexible rear end portion of said male member will be snugly received in said generally non-flexible outer portion of said female member of generally the same configuration for providing a rigid connection with longitudinal stabilization of said male and female members to prevent relative movement
-3-~ 1065944 or pivoting between said members and thus the components being connected.
The snap lock connector can be constructed of relatively inexpensive materials, is uncomplicated in design, and may be mass produced.
The male and female members may be shaped from and comprise integral portions of the components to be assembled, or they may comprise separate members adapted to be received and secured within bores of the components to be assembled.
Preferably, the male and female members are constructed of molded, high impact, plastic material for mass production to produce inexpensive connectors.
-3a-106S~44 Further details of specific preferred ernbodi~ents of the present invention will be set forth in the detailed description to follow.
Brief Descri~tion of the Drawings Some of the objects and advantages of this invention having been set forth, other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in con~unction with the accompanying drawings, in which: I
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an item of furniture having knock-down components utilizing the snap lock connector of this invention and illustrating a portion of the item of furni-ture in disassembled condition and other portions of the item of furniture in assembled condition;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, perspective view, partly in section, of the male and female members of a first embodiment of the snap lock connector of this invention and in which the members form integral portions of the components of the item of furniture to be assembled and illustrating the male and female members in their unlocked, disassembled condition;
Figure 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the members of the snap lock connector of this invention, shown in Figure 2, illustrating the members being moved into their locked or assembled condition;
Figure 4 is a view, like Figure 3, illustrating the members of the snap lock connector after they have been moved into their locked and assembled condition;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a variation of the first embodiment of the snap lock connector of this inven-tion illustrating the members of the connector as separate members for being received and secured within bores of the furniture components to be assembled and disassembled;
Figure 6 is a schematic vie~ illustrating the angular relationships of the leading and trailing camming surfaces of the male member of the snap lock connector of this invention;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of a second embodiment of snap lock connector in accordance with this invention and illustrating the male and female members there-of in their assembled and locked condition;
Figure 8 is a view like Figure 7, but illustrating the male and female members in the relative positions thereof as the male member is being withdrawn from the female member for unlocking of the connector and disassembly of the furniture components;
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of snap lock connector in accordance with this inven-tion illustrating the male and female members thereof as separate members for being received and secured within bores of the compo-nents of furniture to be assembled; and Figure lO is a schematic view illustrating the angular relationships of the leading and trai.ling camming surfaces of : 20 the female member.
Description of Preferred Embodiment_ Referring now to the drawings, the snap lock connector of this invention is indicated generally at 10. The snap lock connector 10 may be utilized in connecting components, such as furniture components which, as illustrated in Figure 1, are respective legs 11 and 12 of shelf components of a bookcase or other shelfed item of furniture 13. However, it is to be under-stood that the snap lock connector lO of this invention may be utilized for connecting any knock-down furniture components or other components which are desired to be selectively assembled and disassembled, such as components of machinery including wash-ing machines, dryers, etc.
~065~44 A first embodiment ~ith two variations is illustrated in Figures 1-6 of the drawing and will be described first.
The twist lock connector 10 of the first embodiment comprises an elongate male member 20 for forming an extension from one of the components 11 of the item of furniture 13 to be assembled.
The male member 20 has a generally bulbous shaped, outer end 21 which defines opposing, curved, oppositely and outwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces 23, 24 generally around at least a portion of the circumference thereof. As illus-trated in the drawings, the top end and a portion of the sidesof the bulbous outer end 21 are cut away for ease in fabrication and insertion thereof into the female member, to be described below. However, these cut-off surfaces could be eliminated and the bulbous outer end 21 could be circular in both transverse and longitudinal cross-section.
The male member 20 of the snap lock connector 10 further includes an intermediate, generally cylindrical portion 26 of reduced transverse cross-sectional dimensions from said bulbous outer end and being of a predetermined longitudinal length, for purposes to be described below. The intermediate portion 26 merges into a shoulder surface portion 27 which forms a predeter-mined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the male member 20 and leads from the other, generally cylindrical shaped, end portion 28 of the male member 20. The other end portion may be integral with and forMed from the component 11 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled, as illustrated in Figures 2-4, so that the male member 20 forms an integral extension from one of the components to be assembled. Or, the male member 20 may be formed as a separate elongate member in which the outer end portion 28 is adapted to be received and secured within a generally cylindrical bore lla of the component 11 of the article ~L06599~4 of furniture 13 to be assembled. In the latter arrangement, at least a portion of the outside cylindrical surface of the end portion 28 of the male member 20 could include a roughened surface 28a (Figure 5) formed by knurling, embossing, or the like, thereon for facilitating attachment by glueing or otherwise tc the inside of the cylindrical bore lla in the component 11 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled.
The snap lock connector 10 further includes a female~
member 40 for forming an elongate, generally cylindrical, inter-nal passageway 40a within the other of the components 12 of thearticle of furniture 13 to be assembled. The female member 40 has an inwardly extending projection 42 around at least a portion of the passageway 40a thereof for restricting the trans-verse dimensions of the passageway 40a at that portion to less than the transverse dimensions of the bulbous outer end of the male member 20. The projection 42 of the female member 40 defines opposing, curved, oppositely and inwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces 43, 44. These leading and trail-ing camming surfaces 43, 44 defined by the projection 42 of the male member 40 may be spaced apart a distance corresponding to the longitudinal length of the inside surface 42a o~ the projection 42. The longitudinal dimension of the surface 42a of the pro-jection 42 is preerably of a substantially equal length to the longitudinal dimension of the intermediate portion 26 of the male member 20, for purposes to be described below.
The passageway 40a of the female member 40 includes an inner portion 45 of sufficient longitudinal length and trans-verse width for accommodating the bulbous outer end portion 21 of the male member 20 when the male member 20 is inserted within the female member 40 and an outer portion 46 of sufficient longitudinal length and transverse width for accommodating the other end portion 28 of the male member 20 when the male member 1~65~44 20 is inserted within the female member 40 so that the components 11 and 12 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled can be placed in abutting relationship with each other when the male member 20 is inserted within the female member 40 and result in the connector 10 being corapletely hidden within the components 11 and 12.
The female member 40 may comprise an integral passage-way formed within the component 12 of the article of furniture~
13 to be assembled, as illustrated in Figures 2-4, so as to be an integral part of the component 12. Or, the female member 40 may comprise a separate, elongate, generally cylindrical member adapted for being received and secured within a cylindrical bore 12a of the component 12 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled, as shown in Figure 5. If the female member 40 is a separate component, it may include a roughened outer surface, formed by knurling, embossing or the like, for aiding in securing the female member by glue or otherwise within the bore 12a of the component 12 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled.
In the snap lock connector 10 of this invention, at least one of the male or female members 20, ~0 includes means for rendering the member flexible and resilient for expansion and contraction thereof.
In the first embodiment of the snap lock connector 10, illustrated in Figures 2-6, this flexibility and resiliency is provided in the male member 20 by a generally wedge-shaped cut out 50 extending longitudinally from the outer bulbous end 21 into the male membex 20. Also, the male member 20 is pre-ferably formed of flexible, resilient material to allow flexible and resilient expansion and contraction of the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20 during insertion and removal thereof into and out of the female member 40. In the case where the male and female members 20, 40 are formed as separate members, 1 065~44 as illustrated in Figure 5, these members 20, 40 are both pre-ferably constructed of molded, high impact, flexible and resilient, plastic material, such as styrene, which enables inexpensive mass production thereof for producing inexpensive snap lock con-nectors 10.
The leading camming surface 23, 43 of at least one of the male or female members 20, 40 comprises a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than the trailing cam-ming surfaces 24, 44 of the male and female members 20, 40 for locking of the members with less force than unlocking, to be explained more fully below.
In the first embodiment of snap lock connector 10, illustrated in Figures 2-6, the leading camming surface 23 of the male member 20 comprises a lesser included angle than the trailing camming surface 24 with respect to a longitudinal axis.
It has been found in a commercial embodiment of this invention, as illustrated in Figure 6, that the leading camming surface 23 of the male member 20 may be disposed at an included angle of 30 with respect to a longitudinal axis and the trailing camming surface 24 may be disposed at an included angle oE 45 with respect to a longitudinal axis.
With the above described construction of the first embodiment of snap lock connector 10 (Figures 2-6) of this inven-tionr the male member 20 may be inserted into the female member 40 for locking of the members 20, 40 and assembly of the components 11, 12 of the article of furniture 13 by forced sliding engagement of the leading camming surfaces 23, 43 of the male and female members 20, 40. This forced sliding engagement causes contraction of the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20, as shown in Figure 3, due to the wedge-shaped cut out 50 in the male member 20 and the fle~ible, resilient material from which it is formed, 1()6~ 44 so that the bulbous outer end 21 may move past the projection 42 in the passageway 40a of the female member 40. After the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20 has moved past the projection 42 of the female member 40, the bulbous outer end 21 will expand back to its original configuration and be contained and snap locked within the inner portion 45 of the female member 40. In view of the above-described dimensions of the intermediate portion 26 of the male member 20 and the surface 42a of the pro-jection 42, the trailing camming surface 24 of the male member 20 will rest on the trailing camming surface 44 of the female member 40 and the shoulder surface 27 of the male member 20 will rest on the leading camming surface 43 of the female member 40 for stabilizing of the members 20, 40 in their locked condition, as shown in Figure 4.
The male member 20 may be withdrawn from the female member 40 for unlocking of the snap lock connector 10 and dis-assembly of the components 11, 12 of the article of furniture 13 by forced sliding engagement of the trailing camming surfaces ~ 24, 44 of the male and female members 20, 40 again causing flexible movement or contraction of the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20 for allowing passage of the bulbous outer end 21 past the projection 42 in the passageway 40a of the female member 40.
Inasmuch as the leading camming surface 23 of the male member 20 is of a lesser included angle, preferably 30, with respect to a longitudinal axis than the trailing camming surface 24, preferably 45, with respect to a longitudinal axis, it may be seen that the forced sliding movement of the leading camming surfaces 23, 43 of the male and female members 20, 40 may be more easily accomplished for locking of the members 20, 40 than when the trailing camming surfaces 24, 44 of the male 659~4 and female members 20, 40 are engaged during unlocking o~ the members 20, 40 by withdrawing of the male member 20 from the female member 40.
Referring now to the second embodiment of snap lock connector, indicated at 10' and illustrated in Figures 7-10, like reference numerals with prime notations will be utilized in describing this embodiment where these elements are substantially the same as elements of the first embodiment of Figures 2-6.
Reference may be had to the prior description for these like elements and a detailed description will not be given for this second embodiment where the elements are generally the same.
Although the bulbous outer end 21' of this second embo-diment is illustrated as being of a slightly different configura-tion, it could be exactly the same configuration as the first embodiment and the first embodiment could utilize the configura-tion of the bulbous outer end 21' of the second embodiment.
The bulbous outer end 21' also includes opposing, curved, oppositely and outwardly extending leading and trailing, camming surfaces 23', 24' around the circumference thereof. The remaining con-struction of the male member 20' of this embodiment is the sameas the male member 20 of the first embodiment, except that the cut out 50 is eliminated.
The female member 40' of this second embodiment also includes a projection 42' which defines opposing, curved, oppo-sitely and inwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces 43', 44'. In this second embodiment, the projection 42' is spaced from the wall of the bore 12a' of the component 12' of the article of furniture to be assembled and instead of the male member including a cut out therein, the female member includes cut outs 50' extending longitudinally through the pro-jection 42' for rendering the female member flexible and resilient for expansion and contraction during sliding engagement of the ` 1~365944 cooperating camming surfaces 23~, 24~ and 43~, 44~ during locking and unlocking of the male and female members 20', 40'. As illus-trated in Figures 7-10, a plurality of cut outs 50' is provided and it may be seen that more than one cut out 50 may also be utilized in the first embodiment of Figures 2-6.
In this second embodiment of Figures 7-10, the leading camming surface 43' of the female member 40' forms the lesser included angle, preferably 30, with a longitudinal axis than ~
the trailing camming surface 44', preferably 45, with a longi-tudinal axis.
In this second embodiment of snap lock connector 10', the male member 20' may be inserted into and withdrawn from the female member 40' for locking of the members 20', 40' and assembly of the components 11', 12' of the article of furniture by forced sliding engagement of the leading camming surfaces 23', 43' of the male and female members 20', 40' and for unlocking by forced sliding engagement of the trailing camming surfaces 24', 44' of the male and female members 20', 40' causing flexible expansion of the projection 42' for allowing passage of the bulbous outer end 21' of the male member 20' thereby. Due to the above des-cribed angular relationship of the leading and trailing camming surfaces 43', 44' of the female member 40' with respect to a longitudinal axis, losking of the members 20', 40' may be effected with less force than unlocking of the members 20', 40', as des-cribed above.
The remaining relationships, functions and construction of this second embodiment of snap lock connector 10' are substan-tially the same as those described with respect to the first embodiment of the snap lock connector 10. Also, this second embodiment 10' of the snap lock connector may have the male and female members 20', 40' formed as integral portions of the fur-niture components 11', 12' or formed as separate components, as illustrated in Figures 1-10.
i~65944 Thu5~ it may be seen, that this invention has provided a snap lock connector for use in connecting and disconnecting components, such as knock-down furniture components, in which two preferred embodiments with variations of each have been speci-fically described, and which are characterized by a construction which provides locking for connecting the members of the connector and the components of the article of furniture or the like being assembled with less force than unlocking for disconnecting and disassembly and which overcomes prior problems presented with previously proposed snap lock connectors.
In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and des-criptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
The snap lock connector can be constructed of relatively inexpensive materials, is uncomplicated in design, and may be mass produced.
The male and female members may be shaped from and comprise integral portions of the components to be assembled, or they may comprise separate members adapted to be received and secured within bores of the components to be assembled.
Preferably, the male and female members are constructed of molded, high impact, plastic material for mass production to produce inexpensive connectors.
-3a-106S~44 Further details of specific preferred ernbodi~ents of the present invention will be set forth in the detailed description to follow.
Brief Descri~tion of the Drawings Some of the objects and advantages of this invention having been set forth, other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in con~unction with the accompanying drawings, in which: I
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an item of furniture having knock-down components utilizing the snap lock connector of this invention and illustrating a portion of the item of furni-ture in disassembled condition and other portions of the item of furniture in assembled condition;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, perspective view, partly in section, of the male and female members of a first embodiment of the snap lock connector of this invention and in which the members form integral portions of the components of the item of furniture to be assembled and illustrating the male and female members in their unlocked, disassembled condition;
Figure 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the members of the snap lock connector of this invention, shown in Figure 2, illustrating the members being moved into their locked or assembled condition;
Figure 4 is a view, like Figure 3, illustrating the members of the snap lock connector after they have been moved into their locked and assembled condition;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a variation of the first embodiment of the snap lock connector of this inven-tion illustrating the members of the connector as separate members for being received and secured within bores of the furniture components to be assembled and disassembled;
Figure 6 is a schematic vie~ illustrating the angular relationships of the leading and trailing camming surfaces of the male member of the snap lock connector of this invention;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of a second embodiment of snap lock connector in accordance with this invention and illustrating the male and female members there-of in their assembled and locked condition;
Figure 8 is a view like Figure 7, but illustrating the male and female members in the relative positions thereof as the male member is being withdrawn from the female member for unlocking of the connector and disassembly of the furniture components;
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of snap lock connector in accordance with this inven-tion illustrating the male and female members thereof as separate members for being received and secured within bores of the compo-nents of furniture to be assembled; and Figure lO is a schematic view illustrating the angular relationships of the leading and trai.ling camming surfaces of : 20 the female member.
Description of Preferred Embodiment_ Referring now to the drawings, the snap lock connector of this invention is indicated generally at 10. The snap lock connector 10 may be utilized in connecting components, such as furniture components which, as illustrated in Figure 1, are respective legs 11 and 12 of shelf components of a bookcase or other shelfed item of furniture 13. However, it is to be under-stood that the snap lock connector lO of this invention may be utilized for connecting any knock-down furniture components or other components which are desired to be selectively assembled and disassembled, such as components of machinery including wash-ing machines, dryers, etc.
~065~44 A first embodiment ~ith two variations is illustrated in Figures 1-6 of the drawing and will be described first.
The twist lock connector 10 of the first embodiment comprises an elongate male member 20 for forming an extension from one of the components 11 of the item of furniture 13 to be assembled.
The male member 20 has a generally bulbous shaped, outer end 21 which defines opposing, curved, oppositely and outwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces 23, 24 generally around at least a portion of the circumference thereof. As illus-trated in the drawings, the top end and a portion of the sidesof the bulbous outer end 21 are cut away for ease in fabrication and insertion thereof into the female member, to be described below. However, these cut-off surfaces could be eliminated and the bulbous outer end 21 could be circular in both transverse and longitudinal cross-section.
The male member 20 of the snap lock connector 10 further includes an intermediate, generally cylindrical portion 26 of reduced transverse cross-sectional dimensions from said bulbous outer end and being of a predetermined longitudinal length, for purposes to be described below. The intermediate portion 26 merges into a shoulder surface portion 27 which forms a predeter-mined angle with respect to a longitudinal axis through the male member 20 and leads from the other, generally cylindrical shaped, end portion 28 of the male member 20. The other end portion may be integral with and forMed from the component 11 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled, as illustrated in Figures 2-4, so that the male member 20 forms an integral extension from one of the components to be assembled. Or, the male member 20 may be formed as a separate elongate member in which the outer end portion 28 is adapted to be received and secured within a generally cylindrical bore lla of the component 11 of the article ~L06599~4 of furniture 13 to be assembled. In the latter arrangement, at least a portion of the outside cylindrical surface of the end portion 28 of the male member 20 could include a roughened surface 28a (Figure 5) formed by knurling, embossing, or the like, thereon for facilitating attachment by glueing or otherwise tc the inside of the cylindrical bore lla in the component 11 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled.
The snap lock connector 10 further includes a female~
member 40 for forming an elongate, generally cylindrical, inter-nal passageway 40a within the other of the components 12 of thearticle of furniture 13 to be assembled. The female member 40 has an inwardly extending projection 42 around at least a portion of the passageway 40a thereof for restricting the trans-verse dimensions of the passageway 40a at that portion to less than the transverse dimensions of the bulbous outer end of the male member 20. The projection 42 of the female member 40 defines opposing, curved, oppositely and inwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces 43, 44. These leading and trail-ing camming surfaces 43, 44 defined by the projection 42 of the male member 40 may be spaced apart a distance corresponding to the longitudinal length of the inside surface 42a o~ the projection 42. The longitudinal dimension of the surface 42a of the pro-jection 42 is preerably of a substantially equal length to the longitudinal dimension of the intermediate portion 26 of the male member 20, for purposes to be described below.
The passageway 40a of the female member 40 includes an inner portion 45 of sufficient longitudinal length and trans-verse width for accommodating the bulbous outer end portion 21 of the male member 20 when the male member 20 is inserted within the female member 40 and an outer portion 46 of sufficient longitudinal length and transverse width for accommodating the other end portion 28 of the male member 20 when the male member 1~65~44 20 is inserted within the female member 40 so that the components 11 and 12 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled can be placed in abutting relationship with each other when the male member 20 is inserted within the female member 40 and result in the connector 10 being corapletely hidden within the components 11 and 12.
The female member 40 may comprise an integral passage-way formed within the component 12 of the article of furniture~
13 to be assembled, as illustrated in Figures 2-4, so as to be an integral part of the component 12. Or, the female member 40 may comprise a separate, elongate, generally cylindrical member adapted for being received and secured within a cylindrical bore 12a of the component 12 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled, as shown in Figure 5. If the female member 40 is a separate component, it may include a roughened outer surface, formed by knurling, embossing or the like, for aiding in securing the female member by glue or otherwise within the bore 12a of the component 12 of the article of furniture 13 to be assembled.
In the snap lock connector 10 of this invention, at least one of the male or female members 20, ~0 includes means for rendering the member flexible and resilient for expansion and contraction thereof.
In the first embodiment of the snap lock connector 10, illustrated in Figures 2-6, this flexibility and resiliency is provided in the male member 20 by a generally wedge-shaped cut out 50 extending longitudinally from the outer bulbous end 21 into the male membex 20. Also, the male member 20 is pre-ferably formed of flexible, resilient material to allow flexible and resilient expansion and contraction of the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20 during insertion and removal thereof into and out of the female member 40. In the case where the male and female members 20, 40 are formed as separate members, 1 065~44 as illustrated in Figure 5, these members 20, 40 are both pre-ferably constructed of molded, high impact, flexible and resilient, plastic material, such as styrene, which enables inexpensive mass production thereof for producing inexpensive snap lock con-nectors 10.
The leading camming surface 23, 43 of at least one of the male or female members 20, 40 comprises a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than the trailing cam-ming surfaces 24, 44 of the male and female members 20, 40 for locking of the members with less force than unlocking, to be explained more fully below.
In the first embodiment of snap lock connector 10, illustrated in Figures 2-6, the leading camming surface 23 of the male member 20 comprises a lesser included angle than the trailing camming surface 24 with respect to a longitudinal axis.
It has been found in a commercial embodiment of this invention, as illustrated in Figure 6, that the leading camming surface 23 of the male member 20 may be disposed at an included angle of 30 with respect to a longitudinal axis and the trailing camming surface 24 may be disposed at an included angle oE 45 with respect to a longitudinal axis.
With the above described construction of the first embodiment of snap lock connector 10 (Figures 2-6) of this inven-tionr the male member 20 may be inserted into the female member 40 for locking of the members 20, 40 and assembly of the components 11, 12 of the article of furniture 13 by forced sliding engagement of the leading camming surfaces 23, 43 of the male and female members 20, 40. This forced sliding engagement causes contraction of the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20, as shown in Figure 3, due to the wedge-shaped cut out 50 in the male member 20 and the fle~ible, resilient material from which it is formed, 1()6~ 44 so that the bulbous outer end 21 may move past the projection 42 in the passageway 40a of the female member 40. After the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20 has moved past the projection 42 of the female member 40, the bulbous outer end 21 will expand back to its original configuration and be contained and snap locked within the inner portion 45 of the female member 40. In view of the above-described dimensions of the intermediate portion 26 of the male member 20 and the surface 42a of the pro-jection 42, the trailing camming surface 24 of the male member 20 will rest on the trailing camming surface 44 of the female member 40 and the shoulder surface 27 of the male member 20 will rest on the leading camming surface 43 of the female member 40 for stabilizing of the members 20, 40 in their locked condition, as shown in Figure 4.
The male member 20 may be withdrawn from the female member 40 for unlocking of the snap lock connector 10 and dis-assembly of the components 11, 12 of the article of furniture 13 by forced sliding engagement of the trailing camming surfaces ~ 24, 44 of the male and female members 20, 40 again causing flexible movement or contraction of the bulbous outer end 21 of the male member 20 for allowing passage of the bulbous outer end 21 past the projection 42 in the passageway 40a of the female member 40.
Inasmuch as the leading camming surface 23 of the male member 20 is of a lesser included angle, preferably 30, with respect to a longitudinal axis than the trailing camming surface 24, preferably 45, with respect to a longitudinal axis, it may be seen that the forced sliding movement of the leading camming surfaces 23, 43 of the male and female members 20, 40 may be more easily accomplished for locking of the members 20, 40 than when the trailing camming surfaces 24, 44 of the male 659~4 and female members 20, 40 are engaged during unlocking o~ the members 20, 40 by withdrawing of the male member 20 from the female member 40.
Referring now to the second embodiment of snap lock connector, indicated at 10' and illustrated in Figures 7-10, like reference numerals with prime notations will be utilized in describing this embodiment where these elements are substantially the same as elements of the first embodiment of Figures 2-6.
Reference may be had to the prior description for these like elements and a detailed description will not be given for this second embodiment where the elements are generally the same.
Although the bulbous outer end 21' of this second embo-diment is illustrated as being of a slightly different configura-tion, it could be exactly the same configuration as the first embodiment and the first embodiment could utilize the configura-tion of the bulbous outer end 21' of the second embodiment.
The bulbous outer end 21' also includes opposing, curved, oppositely and outwardly extending leading and trailing, camming surfaces 23', 24' around the circumference thereof. The remaining con-struction of the male member 20' of this embodiment is the sameas the male member 20 of the first embodiment, except that the cut out 50 is eliminated.
The female member 40' of this second embodiment also includes a projection 42' which defines opposing, curved, oppo-sitely and inwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces 43', 44'. In this second embodiment, the projection 42' is spaced from the wall of the bore 12a' of the component 12' of the article of furniture to be assembled and instead of the male member including a cut out therein, the female member includes cut outs 50' extending longitudinally through the pro-jection 42' for rendering the female member flexible and resilient for expansion and contraction during sliding engagement of the ` 1~365944 cooperating camming surfaces 23~, 24~ and 43~, 44~ during locking and unlocking of the male and female members 20', 40'. As illus-trated in Figures 7-10, a plurality of cut outs 50' is provided and it may be seen that more than one cut out 50 may also be utilized in the first embodiment of Figures 2-6.
In this second embodiment of Figures 7-10, the leading camming surface 43' of the female member 40' forms the lesser included angle, preferably 30, with a longitudinal axis than ~
the trailing camming surface 44', preferably 45, with a longi-tudinal axis.
In this second embodiment of snap lock connector 10', the male member 20' may be inserted into and withdrawn from the female member 40' for locking of the members 20', 40' and assembly of the components 11', 12' of the article of furniture by forced sliding engagement of the leading camming surfaces 23', 43' of the male and female members 20', 40' and for unlocking by forced sliding engagement of the trailing camming surfaces 24', 44' of the male and female members 20', 40' causing flexible expansion of the projection 42' for allowing passage of the bulbous outer end 21' of the male member 20' thereby. Due to the above des-cribed angular relationship of the leading and trailing camming surfaces 43', 44' of the female member 40' with respect to a longitudinal axis, losking of the members 20', 40' may be effected with less force than unlocking of the members 20', 40', as des-cribed above.
The remaining relationships, functions and construction of this second embodiment of snap lock connector 10' are substan-tially the same as those described with respect to the first embodiment of the snap lock connector 10. Also, this second embodiment 10' of the snap lock connector may have the male and female members 20', 40' formed as integral portions of the fur-niture components 11', 12' or formed as separate components, as illustrated in Figures 1-10.
i~65944 Thu5~ it may be seen, that this invention has provided a snap lock connector for use in connecting and disconnecting components, such as knock-down furniture components, in which two preferred embodiments with variations of each have been speci-fically described, and which are characterized by a construction which provides locking for connecting the members of the connector and the components of the article of furniture or the like being assembled with less force than unlocking for disconnecting and disassembly and which overcomes prior problems presented with previously proposed snap lock connectors.
In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and des-criptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims (7)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A snap lock connector for use in connecting and disconnecting components, such as furniture components, and being characterized by a rigid construction which provides longitudinal stabilization of the components in the locked condition by preventing relative longitudinal movement or pivoting between the components; said connector comprising: an elongate male member for forming an extension from one of the components to be assembled and having a generally bulbous outer end defining opposing, curved, oppositely and out-wardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces generally around at least a portion of the circumference thereof, a longitudinally extending intermediate portion extending from said trailing surface and being of smaller transverse cross-sectional dimensions than said bulbous outer end, and a generally non-flexible rear end portion extending longitudinally from said intermediate portion and being of a predetermined configuration having cross-sectional dimensions at least as large as said bulbous outer end; a female member for forming an elongate, internal passageway within the other of the components to be assembled and having an inner portion of slightly larger dimensions than said bulbous outer end of said male member, an inward-ly and longitudinally extending projection forming an intermediate portion for restricting the dimensions of said passageway at said intermediate portion to less than the dimensions of said bulbous outer end of said male member, and a longitudinally extending generally non-flexible outer portion of slightly larger dimensions than said bulbous outer end of said male member, and being of a predetermined configuration corresponding generally to the predetermined configuration of said rear end portion of said male member for snugly receiving same when said members are in locking engagement, said projection defining opposing, curved, oppositely and inwardly extending, leading and trailing, camming surfaces; one of said male and female members comprising flexible, resilient material and having a longitudinal cut-out partially therethrough for rendering a portion other than said generally non-flexible portion of said one member expandable and contractable; and 14 .
said leading, camming surface of at least one of said male and female members comprising a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than said trailing camming surface for locking of said members with less force than unlocking of said members; whereby, said male member may be inserted into and withdrawn from said female member for locking of said members by forced sliding engagement of said leading camming surfaces and for unlocking by forced sliding engagement of said trailing camming surfaces of said male and female members causing flexible contraction of said expandable and con-tractable portion of said one member for allowing passage of said bulbous outer end of said male member past said projection in said intermediate portion of said female member, and so that, when said male member is inserted into said female member and is in locking engagement therewith, said trailing camming surface of said male member will be in engagement with said trailing camming surface of said female member and said generally non-flexible rear end portion of said male member will be snugly received in said generally non-flexible outer portion of said female member of generally the same configuration for providing a rigid connection with longitudinal stabilization of said male and female members to prevent relative movement or pivoting between said members and thus the components being connected.
said leading, camming surface of at least one of said male and female members comprising a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than said trailing camming surface for locking of said members with less force than unlocking of said members; whereby, said male member may be inserted into and withdrawn from said female member for locking of said members by forced sliding engagement of said leading camming surfaces and for unlocking by forced sliding engagement of said trailing camming surfaces of said male and female members causing flexible contraction of said expandable and con-tractable portion of said one member for allowing passage of said bulbous outer end of said male member past said projection in said intermediate portion of said female member, and so that, when said male member is inserted into said female member and is in locking engagement therewith, said trailing camming surface of said male member will be in engagement with said trailing camming surface of said female member and said generally non-flexible rear end portion of said male member will be snugly received in said generally non-flexible outer portion of said female member of generally the same configuration for providing a rigid connection with longitudinal stabilization of said male and female members to prevent relative movement or pivoting between said members and thus the components being connected.
2. A snap lock connector, as set forth in claim 1, in which said male member further includes a shoulder portion extending between said inter-mediate portion and said rear end portion of said male member, and said intermediate portion of said male member and said projection forming said intermediate portion of said female member comprising complementary dimensions so that said shoulder portion of said male member will be forced into engagement with said leading camming surface of said female member when said male and female members are in locking engagement for aiding in provid-ing the rigid, longitudinally stable connection between said members.
3. A snap lock connector, as set forth in claim 1, in which said one of said male and female members comprising flexible, resilient material and having a longitudinal cut-out therein for rendering said one member expandable and contractable comprises said male member having said longitudinal cut-out therein extending generally from and at least through said bulbous outer end thereof and being of generally wedge-shape configuration.
4. A snap lock connector, as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said leading camming surface of said at least one of said male and female members comprises an approximately 30° included angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and said trailing camming surface of said at least one of said male and female members comprises an included angle of approximately 45° with respect to a longitudinal axis.
5. A snap lock connector, as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said male member comprises an integral extension from the one of the com-ponents to be assembled and said female member comprises an integral passage-way within the other of the components to be assembled.
6. A snap lock connector, as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said male member comprises a separate elongate member in which said rear end portion is further elongated for being received and secured within a bore of one of the components to be assembled and forming an extension therefrom, and said female member comprises a separate elongate member for being received and secured within a bore of the other of the components to be assembled.
7. A snap lock connector, as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said male and female members comprise molded, high impact, plastic material.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA274,044A CA1065944A (en) | 1977-03-15 | 1977-03-15 | Snap lock connector for components such as knock-down furniture components |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA274,044A CA1065944A (en) | 1977-03-15 | 1977-03-15 | Snap lock connector for components such as knock-down furniture components |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1065944A true CA1065944A (en) | 1979-11-06 |
Family
ID=4108167
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA274,044A Expired CA1065944A (en) | 1977-03-15 | 1977-03-15 | Snap lock connector for components such as knock-down furniture components |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1065944A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9695856B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2017-07-04 | Unilin, Bvba | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US9719542B2 (en) | 2010-06-03 | 2017-08-01 | Unilin, Bvba | Composed element and corner connection applied herewith |
| US10293512B2 (en) | 2011-06-29 | 2019-05-21 | Unilin Bvba | Drawer, drawer construction and method for manufacturing a drawer |
-
1977
- 1977-03-15 CA CA274,044A patent/CA1065944A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US9695856B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2017-07-04 | Unilin, Bvba | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US9797427B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2017-10-24 | Unilin, Bvba | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US10323670B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2019-06-18 | Unilin, Bvba | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US10731689B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2020-08-04 | Unilin, Bvba | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US10935063B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2021-03-02 | Unilin Bv | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US11085475B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2021-08-10 | Flooring Industries Limited, Sarl | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US11319977B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2022-05-03 | Flooring Industries Limited, Sarl | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US11788568B2 (en) | 2008-12-17 | 2023-10-17 | Flooring Industries Limited Sarl | Composed element, multi-layered board and panel-shaped element for forming this composed element |
| US9719542B2 (en) | 2010-06-03 | 2017-08-01 | Unilin, Bvba | Composed element and corner connection applied herewith |
| US10982700B2 (en) | 2010-06-03 | 2021-04-20 | Unilin Bv | Composed element and corner connection applied herewith |
| US12000418B2 (en) | 2010-06-03 | 2024-06-04 | Unilin, Bv | Composed element and corner connection applied herewith |
| US10293512B2 (en) | 2011-06-29 | 2019-05-21 | Unilin Bvba | Drawer, drawer construction and method for manufacturing a drawer |
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