GB2054366A

GB2054366A - Structural components

Info

Publication number: GB2054366A
Application number: GB8017976A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: LB Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1979-06-01
Filing date: 1980-06-02
Publication date: 1981-02-18
Also published as: GB2054366B

Abstract

A structural component comprises an extruded plastics section 5 incorporating multiple internal webs 8, 9, 10 and at least one internal bore 11, and a pair of end caps 7 adapted to be fitted on the opposite ends of the component, the end caps being provided with means e.g. lugs 12, for locating them in position on the ends of the component and themselves incorporating multiple attachment or locating means, e.g. dowels 13 and holes 14. The component may comprise a back bearing member of a kitchen sink unit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Structural components The invention relates to structural components.

Many structural components, such as are used for example in the furniture industry, require to be provided with multiple attachment or anchorage points to enable other components to be connected to them and to enable them to be mounted in desired positions during use. Such structural components are commonly made of timber, but timber requires to be finished and painted, and the provision of attachmentor anchorage points requires separate operations such as drilling to be carried out, all of which increases the cost of the finished component.

Attempts have therefor been made to construct such components from plastics material but in many instances this presents manufacturing difficulties, particularly where multiple internal webs, bores and the like require to be provided.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structural component, the major part of which can be produced from plastics material by extrusion.

The invention provides a structural component comprising an extruding plastic section incorporating multiple internal webs and at least one internal bore, and a pair of end caps adapted to be fitted on the opposite ends of the component, the end caps being provided with means for locating them in position on the ends of the component and themselves incorporating multiple attachment or locating means.

In one particular arrangement the structural component is of rectangular external cross-section and incorporates at least one internal web extending in the longitudinal direction of the cross-section and a plurality of internal webs extending transversely thereto together with a longitudinally extending tube supported by said webs, said end caps incorporating apertures in alignment with the ends of said tube and locating means in the form of outwardly projecting dowels to enable the component fitted with the end caps to be located in a predetermined position between end supports provided with apertures adapted to receive the dowels.

If desired the structural component may be provided with one or more longitudinally extending recesses or projections at desired positions on its outer surface.

Preferably the end caps are located in position by projecting lugs engageable in the open ends of the extruded section. The lugs may advantageously be so arranged that the end caps cannot be fitted in an incorrect position. The end caps may be retained in position by friction or by other retaining means, for example adhesive.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a structural component and end caps prior to assembly; Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-section through the structural component; Fig. 3 is a view of the inner face of an end cap; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-section of the end cap on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a structural component intended for use as a back bearing member of a kitchen sink unit in which-position it extends between opposed side walls of the kitchen unit, supports a sink tap on its upper surface and is provided with a downwardly directed slot engaging the upper edge of a back board. The component comprises an extruded section 5 of generally rectangular cross-section having a longitudinal slot 6 in the side thereof which is lowermost in use and provided with end caps 7 adapted to engage in the opposite ends of the extrusion. The extruded section is divided horizontally by an internal web 8 defining upper and lower compartments 8a and 8b, the upper compartment being divided vertically by a central web 9 and the lower compartment being divided vertically by four webs 10.A tubular member 11 extends longitudinally of the extrusion atthejunc- tion between the internal webs 8 and 9 and is of fluted internal cross-section (see Fig. 2) to form anchorages for screws inserted in the opposite ends of the tube as described hereafter. The internal webs 8,9 and 10 serve not only to rigidify the component but also form internal anchorages to "catch" and locate screws which may be inserted through the external surfaces ofthe component at desired locations to enable attachment thereto of various fittings in accordance with individual requirements.

Each of the end caps 7 is provided with a series of lugs 12 on the face of the end cap which is directed towards the component 5 in use. The lugs 12 are so positioned as to engage with the inner faces of the external walls of the component 5 and retain the end cap 7 in the correct position. The lugs are so disposed that if the end cap is presented to the component 5 in an inverted position the lugs will interfere with the internal webs 8, 9 and 10 thereby preventing incorrect fitting of the end cap. The outer face of the end cap is provided with a pair of projecting dowels 13 having longitudinal serrations on their outer surfaces and with a central hole 14 which is disposed so as to be aligned with the end of the tube 11 when the end cap is fitted to the extrusion.The lugs 12 form a friction fit within the extrusion to retain the end caps in position priortofinal assembly.

The component is fitted to the sink base by locating the end caps 7 on the ends of the extrusion and engaging the dowels 13 in complimentary holes formed at appropriate positions in the end wall panels of the sink base. Screw fastenings are then inserted through holes formed in the end walls and through the holes 14 in the associated end caps 7 and are screwed into the fluted ends of the tube 11 to secure the end walls and the component 5 to one another with the end caps 7 trapped between them.

It will be appreciated that the structural compo nent consisting of the extruded member 5 and the end caps 7 is provided with a plurality of attachment or anchorage points, some of which are provided by the internal webs in the extrusion itself and others of which are provided by the dowels projecting out wardlyfrom the respective end caps. By providing the dowels 13 on the end caps the number of attachment or anchorage points which it is necessary to provide in the extrusion itself is reduced, thereby simplifying production of the extrusion while at the sametime providing all the necessary attachment or anchorage points on the component as a whole. In this way the major part of the component can be produced satisfactorily by extrusion to acceptable tolerances since the dowels for mounting the component in its position of use do not require to be formed in the extrusion itself.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the number and arrangement of internal webs and tubes in the extrusion may be altered and the nature and number of attachment points on the end caps may also vary. Moreover the end caps may be attached to the extrusion in a number of different ways and can be positively located using adhesive or other means if desired. Structural components according to the invention may also be used in many situations other than in relation to kitchen sink units.

Claims

1. A structural component comprising an extruded plastic section incorporating multiple internal webs and at least one internal bore, and a pair of end caps adapted to be fitted on the opposite ends of the component, the end caps being provided with means for locating them in position on the ends of the component and themselves incorporating multiple attachment or locating means.

2. A structural component according to claim 1 which is of rectangular external cross-section and incorporates at least one internal web extending in the longitudinal direction of the cross-section and a plurality of internal webs extending transversely thereto together with a longitudinally extending tube supported by said webs, said end caps incorporating apertures in alignment with the ends of said tube and locating means in the form of outwardly projecting dowels to enable the component fitted with the end caps to be located in a predetermined position between end supports provided with apertures adapted to receive the dowels.

3. A structural component according to claim 1 or 2 which is provided with one or more longitudi nally extending recesses or projections at desired positions on its outer surface.

4. A structural component according to any preceding claim wherein the end caps are located in position by projecting lugs engageable in the open ends of the extruded section.

5. A structural component according to claim 4 wherein said lugs are so arranged that the end caps cannot be fitted in an incorrect position.

6. A structural component according to any pre ceding claim wherein said end caps are retained in position by friction.

7. A structural component according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said end caps are retained in position by adhesive.

8. A structural component according to any preceding claim wherein said end caps are formed from plastics material by moulding.

9. A structural component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or riot within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.