GB2033043A

GB2033043A - Structural joint

Info

Publication number: GB2033043A
Application number: GB7932387A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GROVEWOOD PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: GROVEWOOD PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1978-09-19
Filing date: 1979-09-18
Publication date: 1980-05-14

Abstract

This invention relates to a securing means for joining first (12) and second (10) members together such as furniture units, comprising a mounting part (15) in or on the first member (12), and a socket member (32) in or on the second member (10), the socket member (32) having a locking means (13) adapted to lock the spigot (26) in the socket (32), the spigot (26) being provided on a stock (25), the stock (25) being movable relative to the mounting part (15) to permit of securing the first (12) and second (10) members together with the spigot (26) engaged in and locked in the socket (32). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to furmiture units This invention relates to securing means for joining two members together and more particularly, but not exclusively, to securing means for joining members of furniture units, hereinafter referred to as of the type described, which are supplied in a non-assembled condition and are assembled on site.

Furniture units of the type described are usually supplied in a pack, at least two of the members of the furniture units being adapted to be joined together by securing means comprising a recessed socket member on one of the members, and a spigot attached to the other member, the socket member having a locking means to lock said spigot in said socket, Such securing means have the disadvantage that when the spigot is mounted on the member, it projects from the edge thereof and hinders the assembly of the unit. For example, where a back and two sides of a rectangular unit have already been joined together, it is not possible to insert the front member between the two side members and hence to join the front member to them without having to disassemble the already joined together parts.Conversely, it is not possible to remove such a member or to replace it by a similar or differently styled member.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved securing means to overcome this problem.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a securing means for joining first and second members together comprising a mounting part in or on the first member and a socket member in or on the second member, said socket member having a locking means adapted to lock a spigot in the socket, the spigot being provided on a stock, the stock being movable relative to the mounting part to permit of securing of first and second members together with the spigot engaged in and locked in the socket.

The mounting part may be positioned in or on the first member adjacent an edge of the first member, said edge, in use, abutting the second member.

The stock may be movable along an axis parallel to the spigot, between a first position in which the spigot is retracted into the mounting part and does not project from the edge of the first member, and a second position in which the spigot projects from the edge of the first member.

The mounting part may have a groove in which the stock may slide, the stock may also have a wider portion into which part of the stock may extend.

The mounting part may be in the form of a channel having inturned flanges extending into the groove to prevent withdrawal of the stock from the mounting part in a direction transverse to the central axis of the spigot.

The groove of the channel may have a shoulder which engages part of the stock thereby preventing withdrawal of the stock from the mounting part in a direction parallel to the central axis of the spigot.

The mounting part may be provided with lugs which may be adapted to be located into holes provided in the first member. The lugs may have resilient ribs which become compressed when the lugs are introduced into the holes and then at least partially spring back to their original size and shape to attach the mounting part to the first member.

Alternatively, the mounting part may be screwed, glued or otherwise attached to the first member.

If desired, a recess may be provided for the mounting part in the first member and the holes for the lugs provided in a wall of the recess.

Instead of being attached thereto, the mounting part may be integral with the first member, the internal shape of the mounting part being cut out from the member.

The stock may have a slider portion which slides in the mounting part whereby the stock may slide from the first position to the second position and a handle portion, which extends from the mounting part so that the stock may be manually moved.

The end of the stock removed from the spigot may comprise a resilient bifurcated member which is inwardly compressible to allow the stock to be introduced into the groove of the mounting part and spring back when it enters the wider portion of the mounting part such that an abutment formed on the bifurcated member will engage the shoulder of the mounting part when the stock is in its second position.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the stock may be movable in a direction transverse to the spigot to join the first and second members together when the spigot is already in the socket. In this case, the mounting part may be a resilient clip and the stock may have a body adapted to be push fitted into the clip, the clip may be attached to the first member by a latch or screw or any other means.

The clip may be part circular and the stock cylindrical, the diameter corresponding substantially to that of the clip.

In each of the above embodiments, the spigot may have a groove which is adapted to be engaged by a locking means of the socket member. The locking means may comprise a rotatable part which may be turned by a hand tool.

The mounting part and/or the stock and/or the socket may be made substantially of moulded plastic or any other durable material.

Either the first or the second member may be provided with a cut-out to receive the edge of the other member.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a furniture unit of the type described wherein one or more of the members are joined together by a securing means according to the first aspect of the invention.

The invention will now be described by and with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the securing means according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the securing means of Figure 1 with a stock inserted into a mounting part and the mounting part attached to a first member; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first and second member joined together by the securing means of Figs. 1 and 2; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there are shown two members 10 and 1 2 of a furniture unit of the type described, and securing means for joining them together.

The member 10 may be a side panel for example and the member 1 2 a front rail member between two drawers.

The member 12 is provided with two holes 14 into which lugs 1 6 of a mounting part 1 5 may locate. The lugs 1 6 are each provided with resilient ribs 1 7 which are compressed as the lugs are introduced into the holes 14, and then spring back to grip the side of the holes and thus attach the mounting parts 1 5 to the member 12.

The mounting part 1 5 comprises a channel shaped member comprising a base part 1 8 to which lugs 1 6 are attached or integral with, an end wall 1 9 and two side members 20.

The internal shape of the mounting parts 1 5 comprises a first narrow portion 21 having two inturned flanges 23 defining a groove, and a second wider portion 24 adjacent the end wall 1 9. A shoulder 22 is defined between the narrow portion 21 and the wider portion 24.

It will be appreciated that if desired, the mounting parts 1 5 may be screwed, glued or otherwise attached to the member 1 2. Alternatively, the mounting parts 1 5 may be integral with the member 12, the internal shape being cut out from the member 1 2.

A stock 25 comprising a spigot 26 at one end, a resilient bifurcated member 29 at the other end and a slider part 28 may be introduced into the narrow portion 21 of the mounting part 1 5 by inwardly compressing prongs 29a of the bifurcated member 29.

A handle portion 27 is provided on the stock 25 to facilitate its insertion into the mounting part, and its movement thereafter.

When the bifurcated member 29 enters the second wider portion 24 of the mounting parts 15, the prongs 29awill spring outwards.

The slider part 28 may be slid inside the groove defined by the side members 20 of the mounting parts 1 5 and the stock 25 is prevented from being withdrawn in a direction transverse of the sliding movement by the inturned flanges 23 depending from the side members 20. The stock 25 is prevented from withdrawal in a direction parallel to the sliding movement, by abutments 31 provided on the prongs 29awhich engage the shoulder defined by the first narrow portion 21 and the second wider portion 24 of the mounting parts 15.

The stock 25 is slidable between two positions, the first as shown in Fig. 2 where the stock 25 is fully retracted into the mounting parts 1 5 and the second position shown in Fig. 3 where the spigot projects from the mounting part 1 5.

The member 10 is provided with a recessed socket member 32 into which the spigot 26 may locate. A locking means 1 3 is provided in the socket member 32 which is rotatable to engage in a groove 34 in the spigot 26 thereby to lock the spigot in the socket 32.

In order to rotate the locking means 13, a screw driver slot 33 is provided to receive a screw driver.

To join the two members 10 and 1 2 together, the mounting part 1 5 is first attached to the member 1 2 and then the stock 25 is introduced to the mounting part 24 and slid to its first position as hereinbefore described and as shown in Fig. 2.

The member 10 is then located in a cut-out 30 provided for it in the member 12 to conceal the edge of the member 1 0.

The stock 25 is then slid to its second position in the direction of the arrow 'P' in Fig. 3, when the spigots 26 will locate into the socket member 32. The screw driver slot 33 of the socket member 32 is then turned with a screw driver and thus the locking means 1 3 will engage the groove 34 of the spigot 26. Fig. 3 shows the two members 10 and 1 2 joined together.

Where it is not desired to have the mounting parts projecting from the side of the member 12, a recess 35 may be provided for it in the member 1 2 as shown in Fig. 4. The mounting part 1 5 is attached to the member 1 2 by the lugs 1 6 which locate into holes 14 provided in the wall of the recess 35.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, a cut-out need not be provided in the member 1 2 to receive the member 10 and in this case the edge of the member 10 will be visible from the front of the unit. Also, an alternative form of stock 25 is shown which has a modified handle portion 27 and an off-set spigot 26.

In all other respects, the method and apparatus for joining the two members 10 and 1 2 together are substantially the same as that described above with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention for joining two members 10 and 1 2 together.

A mounting part comprising a clip 35 of part-circular shape and having outwardly flared ends 38 is attached to the member 1 2 by a latch 36. A stock 37 having a cylindrical shaped body 38 of substantially the same diameter as the clip 32 is provided with the spigot 26.

To join the two members 10 and 1 2 together, the stock 37 is first located and locked into a socket member 32 provided on the member 10, substantially as hereinbefore described.

The clip 35 on the member 1 2 is then push-fitted onto the stock, thereby joining the two members 10 and 1 2 together.

It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the clip 35 need not be attached to the member 1 2 by a latch 36 but may be attached by any other means.

Instead of providing a recessed socket member for the spigot as described above with reference to all of the various embodiments, a socket member of any other configuration may be used which has a locking means of any desired type, such as a screw, or a pin which may be inserted into an apperture to engage the spigot, or a resilient or spring-loaded member which engages a groove or aperture of the spigot.

The sockett member, stock and mounting parts may be made conveniently substantially of moulded plastic, but alternatively they may be made of any other durable material.

Although only a single securing means for joining two members together has been described, more than one securing means may be provided if necessary at spaced intervals along the edges of the two members to be joined together and further securing means may also be provided to secure the edges of the members to further members.

Although the invention has been described with reference to furniture units of the type described, it will be appreciated that the invention may be used to join two members together in many other applications, for example the invention may be used to secure an inspection panel to a frame or a partition to a wall of a building.

Claims

1. A securing means for joining first and second members together comprising a mounting part in or on the first member and a socket member in or on the second member, said socket member having a locking means adapted to lock the spigot in the socket, the spigot being provided on a stock, the stock being movable relative to the mounting part to permit of securing the first and second members together with the spigot engaged in and locked in the socket.

2. A securing means according to Claim 1 wherein the mounting part is positioned in or on the first member adjacent an edge of the first member, said edge, in use, abutting the second member.

3. A second means according to Claim 2 wherein the stock is movable along an axis parallel to the spigot between a first position in which the spigot is retracted into the mounting part and does not project from the edge of the first member, and a second position in which the spigot projects from the edge of the first member.

4. A securing means according to Claim 3 wherein the mounting part has a groove in which the stock slides.

5. A securing means according to Claim 4 wherein the stock mounting part also has a wider portion into which part of the stock extends.

6. A securing means according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the mounting part is in the form of a channel having inturned flanges extending into the groove to prevent withdrawal of the stock from the mounting part in a direction transverse to the central axis of the spigot.

7. A securing means according to Claim 6 wherein the groove of the channel has a shoulder which engages part of the stock thereby preventing the withdrawal of the stock from the mounting part in a direction parallel to the central axis of the spigot.

8. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting part is provided with lugs which are adapted to be located into holes provided in the first member.

9. A securing means according to Claim 8 wherein the lugs have resilient ribs which become compressed when the lugs are introduced into the holes, and then at least partially spring back to their original size and shape to attach the mounting part to the first member.

10. A securing means according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein a recess is provided for the mounting part in the first member and the holes for the lugs are provided in the wall of the recess.

11. A securing means according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the mounting part is integral with the first member, the internal shape of the mounting part being cut out from the member.

1 2. A securing means according to any one of the claims 3 to 11 wherein the stock has a slider portion which slides in the mounting part whereby the stock may slide from the first position to the second position.

1 3. A securing means according to any one of Claims 3 to 12 wherein the stock has a handle portion which extends from the mounting part so that the stock may be manually moved.

14. A securing means according to Claim 5 wherein the end of the stock removed from the spigot comprises a resilient bifurcated member which is inwardly compressible to allow the stock to be introduced into the groove of the mounting part and spring back when it enters the wider portion of the mounting part such that an abutment formed on the bifurcated member engages the shoulder of the mounting part when the stock is in its second position.

1 5. A securing means according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the stock is movable in a direction transverse to the spigot to join the first and second members together when the spigot is already in the socket.

16. A securing means according to Claim 1 5 wherein the mounting part is a resilient clip and the stock has a body adapted to be push fitted into the clip.

1 7. A securing means according to Claim 1 5 wherein the clip is attached to the first member by a latch or a screw.

1 8. A securing means according to Claim 1 6 or Claim 1 7 wherein the clip is part circular and the stock cylindrical of a diameter corresponding substantially to that of the clip.

1 9. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spigot has a groove which is adapted to be engaged by a locking means of the socket member.

20. A securing means according to Claim 19 wherein the locking means comprises a rotatable part which may be turned by a hand tool.

21. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting part and/or the stock and/or the socket are made substantially of moulded plastic.

22. A securing means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first or the second member is provided with a cutout to receive the edge of the other member.

23. A securing means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A furniture unit of the type which is supplied in a non-assembled condition and are assembled on site, wherein one or more of the members are joined together by securing means according to any one of the preceding claims.