CA1122254A - Coupling apparatuses - Google Patents

Coupling apparatuses

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Publication number
CA1122254A
CA1122254A CA000345618A CA345618A CA1122254A CA 1122254 A CA1122254 A CA 1122254A CA 000345618 A CA000345618 A CA 000345618A CA 345618 A CA345618 A CA 345618A CA 1122254 A CA1122254 A CA 1122254A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
coupling
bolt
couplings
clamp member
clamp
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000345618A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Heihachiro Yamamoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000345618A priority Critical patent/CA1122254A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1122254A publication Critical patent/CA1122254A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An apparatus for coupling tubular frame members is disclosed. A coupling block has a plurality of couplings extended therefrom. Each coupling has a guide recess, a clamp mounted for sliding movement within each guide recess, a bolt having a first end connected with the clamp and a second end screwed into the coupling. The clamp is provided with a hole which receives the first end of the bolt. A bearing within the hole supports the bolt at the first end for free turning movement. The bolt has a circular groove adjacent the first end, and a pin is mounted to the clamp and extended through said circular groove. The clamp is operable to slide responsive to the rotation of the bolt within the guide recess to press the tubular frame member surrounding said clamp and the coupling defining the respective guide recess thereby solidly holding said coupling and tubular frame member to each other.

Description

ll;~ZZS4 Coupling apparatuses lhe present invention relates to coupling apparatuses, particularly coupling apparatuses used for forming a rack, display case or furniture by connecting recta~gular flat sheet assembly members.
Conventionally known is a rack or case for displaying ~mer~handise which is formed by combining many blocks with plural couplings, with many frames to be connected to the plural couplings. In this case, while such a display case can be easily assembled or carried, the connected portions of couplings are liable to be loose, causing frames easily to co~ne off, to further cause shelves on them to drop, or to fall the frames. For this reason, in conventional coupling apparatuses, set-screws for preventing the 1006ening are additionally tightened in the connected portions between the couplings and the frame B rl tted.
However, in such coupling apparatuses, while the above mentioned trouble can be prevented, the screw tightening work for the connection is very troublesome, and when a number of the couplings and frames are used, fatigue i9 involved and the assembling efficiency is very low, disadvantageously.

l~Z;~ZS4 Furthermore conventionally, there are also blocks with square or cylindrical couplings, eac}l coupling of which has a rib protruding around it, so that the coupling may be inserted into a square or cylindrical frame through the rib. However, in this case, the coupling is fitted J
lnto the frame by striking the block by a harnmer, etc, and for removing, the block is struck by a hammer in the other direction. Therefore, in addition to low working efficiency, not only the coupling apparatuses but also the frames may be broken.
A conventional rack for displaying merchandise is formed by combining tubular frames or square frames horizontally and vertically, and there are many kinds of ¦
coupling members to combine these tubular and square frames.
However, while attention is recently paid to a rack which uses rectangular~flat sheets, there are no couplings for combining them, and conventional couplings cannot be u~ed for them at all.
Thu~, an ob~ect of the present invention i8 to ~0,. n e c7~
provide coupling apparatuses which can o~=o_~ rectangular frame~ vertically and horizontally.
Another ob~ect of the present invention i8 to pro~ide coupling apparatuses which can connect rectangular frames L
~. ~ '`': . ,, il;~Z254 just by turning screws from outside without using a hammer.
A further object of the present invention is to provide coupling apparatuses, each of which has plural couplings, each coupling being provided with a clamp plate capable of moving freely, to enable frames to be fitted by the movement of the clamp plates.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for coupling tubular frame members comprising a coupling block, a plurality of couplings extended from the coupling block, each of the couplings having a guide recess, a clamp member mounted for sliding movement within each guide recess, a bolt having a first end connected with the clamp member and a second end screwed into one of the couplings, the clamp member having a hole, the first end of the bolt belng received within the hole, bearing means within the hole for supporting the bolt at the first end for free turning movement, the bolt having a circular groove adjacent the first end, and a pin mounted to the clamp member and extended through the circular groove, and the clamp member being operable to slide responsive to the rotation of the bolt wlthin a respectlve guide recess to press the tubular frame member surrounding the clamp member and the coupling defining the respective guide recess thereby solidly holding the coupling and tubular frame member to each other.
Below is described an embodiment of the present invention in reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coupling apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the disassembled csm/~

l~ZZZS4 , coupling apparatus of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the coupling apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the coupling apparatus.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional rear view of the coupling apparatus.
Fig. 6, located adjacent Fig. 3, is a partially cutaway perspective view of - 3a -csm/Q~j `:

llZ2254 a merchandise display rack assembled by using the coupling apparatuses.
Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a coupling apparatus of the present invention. Symbol 1 is a rectangular coupling block with coup]ings 2, 3 and 4 protruded in three orthogonal directions, and each of the couplings 2~3 and 4 has a cut 5, 6 or 7 at the top.
The horizontal portions 5a, 6a and 7a of the cuts 5, 6 and 7 have a bolt hole 5bt 6b or 7b at the center. It i9 important that the coupling 4 is protruded at the center of a wide area la of the block 1, for combining a rectangular frame. The couplings Z, 3 and 4 are opened below, to make the inside hollow for reduction of weight, but this is not always required. The couplings can be thick branches.
The inside top wall of each coupling 2, 3 or 4 is formed as a slight thick portion 8 which i~ provided with said bolt hole 5b, 6b or 7b with the inside circumference threaded~ and a bolt 9 i9 screwed in each of the bolt holes 5b, 6b and 7b, to be capable of freely moving.
Inside said cuts 5, 6 and 7, clamp members 10, 11 and 12 are respectively stored, to be capable Or freely moving vertically.

llZZ2S~

Each of said clamp members 10, 11 and 12 has a hole 13 in opposite to the bolt hole 5b, 6b or 7b, and in the hole 13, a ball bearing 14 is set deep inside, to be capable of freely rotating, 60 that when the bolt 9 is inserted ln the hole 13, the top surface of tl~e bolt may contact the ball bearing 14, to be able to be turned easily.
The top end of the bolt 9 has a horizontal surface, and the bottom end of the bolt 9 has a slit or hexagonal hole 9a, so that a screw-driver or a hexagonal wrench, etc may be inserted into the slit or hole 9a, to turn the bolt 9, Furthermore~ near the top of the bolt 9, a circular groo~e 15 i5 formed around it. On the other hand, at the inside wall of the hole 13 in each of the clamp members 10, 11 and 12, a pin 16 is inserted laterally-through, Thus, when the bolt 9 is inserted in the hole 13, the top surfàce i~ supported by the ball bearing 14, to be capable of freely turning, and the pin 16 fits the circular groove 15 laterally, so that the bol.t 9 may be prevented from coming off axially by t;he pin 16, while it can be turned freely in the hole 13.
The clamp members 10, 11 and 12 are plates of almost square prism, and they can be partially made hollow for reduction in weight and saving of material, _ 5 - !
I

and their external form is only required to move vertically being guided by the cut 5, 6 or 7. Furthermore, as illustrated, ribs 17 and 18 can be protruded on both ~ides~ ~o that a framc, when fitted, may be supported by the two points, as described later. In this case, since a frame i9 supported by two points, the state of fitting i8 stable, and frictional resistance is increased.
At the top of the root of each coupling 2, 3 or 4, a V-shaped or similar guide groove 19 is formed, and a guide 20 triangular in section to fit the guide groove 19 i~ protruded,at an end of each clamp member 10, 11 or 12, so that tho clamp members 10, 11 and 12 may move vertically and be controlled in lateral movement by the guide 20 and the guide groove 19.
~ ow, an operation is,described below, in reference to a case where a racK 23 for displaying merchandise comprising rectangular frames 22, for e~ample, is assembled by u~ing the coupling appa~atuses of the present invention.
The coupling apparatuses have their clamp members 10, 11 and 12 held in the extreme compression position in the cuts 5, 6 and 7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, before being fitted to the display rack 23.
Then, as if to cover the respective couplings 2, 3 and 4 and the clamp members 10, 11 and 12, the tubular frames 22 are put to the block 1, from the ends of the couplings 2, 3 and 4. When the frames 22 are sufficiently put to the roots of the couplings 2, 3 and 4, a screw-driver i9 inserted through the oblong hole 21 provided in each of the frames 22 from outside in the bolt 9 direction, with its tip fitted in the engagement slit 9a of the bolt 9, in order to turn the bolt 9 clockwise. Thus, the bolt 9 is turned freely in the hole 13 of the cut, being supported by said ball bearing 14. In this ca~e, since the clamp member 10, 11 or 12 i~ solid with the bolt 9 through the pin 16 and since the screw hole 5b, 6b or 7b is fixed to the block l! the turning of the bolt 9 makes the bolt 9 and the clamp member 10, 11 or 12 move upward, being guided by the screw hole 5b, 6b or 7b. The clamp member 10, 11 or 12 is~moved.vertically, being guided by the guide groove 19, and the outer surfaces of the ribs 17 and 18 contact the inside surface of the frame 22, making the rising force of the clamp member 10, 11 or 12 act on the frame 22. Thus, the frame 22 is caught between the ribs 17 and 18 of the clamp member 10, 11 or 12 and the lower end of the coupling 2, 3 or 4, and cannot be drawn out of the block 1. Thus, the frames 22 are held '~

1~22254 firmly by the couplings 2, 3 and 4, to be prevented from coming off freely. ~ig. 6 shows a part of the display rack 23 formed by this method. If the blocks 1 with said three couplings 2, 3 and 4 are combined with the rrames, a display rack of a desired size can be formed, and if glass sheets, etc are placed in the rack, a large number of and various kinds of merchandise can be displayed.
As described so far in detail, according to the present invention, by forming guide cuts in the couplings of a block with one or more couplings; fitting a clamp member capable of freely ascending and descending and provided with a screw in it, in each of said guide cuts, to be capable of freely moving vertically; and putting a rectangular frame as if to cover the coupling and the clamp member; whereby whe~ the screw is tightened, said clamp member presses-the coupling and the frame, to hold them solidly; then a display rack or funiture formed by connecting plural frame~ can be simply w~d definitely a~sembled, and the fall of shelves due to the coming-off of frames and the damage of merchandise and fixtures can be prevented. Thus, the present invention i~ very practlcal in markets and householdQ.

Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for coupling tubular frame members comprising a coupling block, a plurality of couplings extended from said coupling block, each of said couplings having a guide recess, a clamp member mounted for sliding movement within each guide recess, a bolt having a first end connected with said clamp member and a second end screwed into one of said couplings, said clamp member having a hole, said first end of said bolt being received within said hole, bearing means within said hole for supporting said bolt at said first end for free turning movement, said bolt having a circular groove adjacent said first end, and a pin mounted to said clamp member and extended through said circular groove, and said clamp member being operable to slide responsive to the rotation of said bolt within a respective guide recess to press the tubular frame member surrounding said clamp member and said coupling defining the respective guide recess thereby solidly holding said coupling and tubular frame member to each other.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of couplings comprises three couplings extended in respectively different directions.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of couplings comprises a multiplicity of couplings orthogonally extended from said coupling block in three different directions.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claims 2 or 3, wherein said coupling block is a rectangular coupling block having rectangular surfaces of different areas and at least one of said couplings being extended from the center of the wider of said rectangular surfaces.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claims 2 or 3 further comprising rib means mounted to said clamp member for facilitating engagement of said clamp member to the coupling defining the respective guide recess and the tubular frame member surrounding said clamp member and said coupling.
6. An apparatus as set forth in claims 2 or 3, further comprising a guide having a triangular section mounted to said clamp member adjacent said coupling block, and said coupling having guide means guidingly receiving said guide for guided movement into and out of engagement with said tubular frame member surrounding said clamp member and said coupling.
CA000345618A 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Coupling apparatuses Expired CA1122254A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000345618A CA1122254A (en) 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Coupling apparatuses

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000345618A CA1122254A (en) 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Coupling apparatuses

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1122254A true CA1122254A (en) 1982-04-20

Family

ID=4116239

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000345618A Expired CA1122254A (en) 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Coupling apparatuses

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1122254A (en)

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