GB2111114A

GB2111114A - Coupling device

Info

Publication number: GB2111114A
Application number: GB08137151A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Irmo Pecoraro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-12-09
Filing date: 1981-12-09
Publication date: 1983-06-29
Also published as: DE3149395A1; FR2519392A1

Abstract

The device comprises two symmetrical bodies 1, 1' provided with mutually slidable portions coupled to one another by a clamping member 2. The sliding portions define suitably shaped seats 4 for housing the members to be coupled. By clamping the two shaped bodies to one another the seats are progressively narrowed, thereby locking the members to be coupled in the inside thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coupling device The present invention relates to a coupling device for quickly coupling panels, tubular members, sections and the like, for making shelvings in general.

As it is known, in many industrial applica tions such as the making of composable furni ture, shelvings exhibition cases and the like it is necessary to couple to one another several panels, tubular members or the like which should be perfectly clamped at predetermined positions.

Presently, in order to perform these cou plings, there are used several devices such as, for example, bracket members, joints or the like which, however, have the drawback of being difficult to assemble.

Those same devices, moreover, permit a single member only to be coupled at a time thereby the operator is compelled to cyclically repeat a great number of operations with consequent loss of time.

Yet another drawback of the known types of coupling devices is that these latter are of complex construction and require an extensive time consuming adjustment by specialized personnel.

Yet another drawback of said known coupling devices is their lack of flexibility, thereby these devices are to be specifically designed depending on the shapes and size of the members to be coupled.

This fact, in the practice, compels the maker to have at disposal a lot of couplng devices in order to meet all needs.

Accordingly the main object of the present invention is to eliminate the thereinabove mentioned drawbacks of the known coupling devices.

According to one aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a device for quickly coupling panels, tubular members, sections and the like, for making shelvings in general, characterized in that it comprises shaped bodies, of like shape, which, as they are coupled to one another by means of a throughgoing coupling and clamping member, are effective to provide two or more seats, having parailel, perpendicular or slanted axes, the portions of said bodies to be contacted in order to define said seats consisting of slightly curved slanted surfaces.

The invention will now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the coupling device according to the present invention, for locking or clamping three parallely extending tubular members; Figure 2 illustrates a device for coupling two tubular members having perpendicularly extending axes; Figure 3 illustrates a device for coupling two parallelly extending tubular members; Figure 4 illustrates a device for coupling four parallely extending tubular members; Figure 5 is an exploded view illustrating the coupling device of Fig. 1; Figure 6 illustrates the manner for coupling, with a same coupling device, both tubular members and panels; Figure 7 illustrates a device for butt coupling six tubular members, as radially extending with respect to said device;; Figure 8 illustrates the device of Fig. 2 as used for coupling mutually perpendicular tubular members; Figure 9 illustrates a generic structure made of tubular members and constructed by using several embodiments of the coupling device according to the present invention; and Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a modification of the coupling device according to the present invention, provided for coupling a plurality of perpendicularly extending flat members.

With reference to the number references of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the device for quickly coupling panels, tubular members, sections and the like, for making shelvings in general, according to the present invention, consists of two like shaped bodies 1 and 1', effective to be coupled to one another by means of a throughgoing bolt 2, or other suitable clamping means.

Said bodies are provided with lugs 3 effective to provide, in opposite pairs, corresponding seats 4 for housing generic linear or bidimensional members to be coupled.

Said lugs, more specifically, are coupled according to slanted surfaces 5, in such a way that a relative sliding of the two bodies is effective to automatically cause the faces of said lugs 3 defining said seats to be approached to one another or moved away.

The approaching of the two bodies 1 and 1' by means of the clamping member 2 causes the housing seats to be "narrowed", thereby locking the members located therein.

The faces of said lugs 3 defining said seats may present either a curved surface (as it is shown in the figures) for clamping or locking tubular members 6 or a flat surface, for locking panels or square or rectangular crosssection bars, or a surface shaped in any suitable ways, to fit the generic member to be clamped.

It should however be noted that gasket members 7 may be used effective to permits panels 8 to be clamped between curved face seats (Fig. 6).

Fig. 7, in particular shows a branch member or "point" for coupling the ends of six tubular members, radially extending with respect to said branch member.

The locking of the seats 4 on the tubular members is carried out, in this case, by simply approaching by translation the bodies 1 and 1'.

In the seats of said branch member, moreover, a cylindrical core may be provided, indicated at 9, thereon is fitted the end portion of the tubular member to be clamped.

From the preceding description and the figures of the accompanying drawings are self-evident the great functionality and use facility characterizing the device for quickly coupling panels, tubular members, sections and the like, for making shelvings in general according to the present invention.

Obviously, the coupling device and the making method thereof have been illustrated and described only by way of an indicative and not limitative example and only to demonstrate the main characteristics of the present invention.

Accordingly it should be noted that the parts constituting the subject coupling device are susceptible to many variations and modifications depending on the making and use requirements and as suggested by the practical experience, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for quickly coupling panels, tubular members, sections and the like, for making shelvings in general, characterized in that it comprises shaped bodies of like shape which, as they are coupled to one another by means of a throughgoing coupling and clamping member, are effective to provide two or more seats, having parallel, perpendicular or slanted axes, the portions of said bodies to be contacted in order to define said seats consisting of slightly curved slanted surfaces.

2. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 which comprises one or two like shaped bodies, coupled to one another by a throughgoing bolt member or other suitable coupling member, said bodies being provided with lugs effective to define, in opposite pairs, corresponding seats for housing generic linear or bidimensional members to be mutually coupled.

3. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the lugs are effective to engage along slanted planes or surfaces, said surfaces being so shaped that a mutual sliding movement thereof is effective to cause, automatically, either an approaching or a removing of the faces thereof defining said seats thereby causing the cross-sections of said housing seats to vary.

4. A coupling device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the faces of said lugs defining said seats are provided with a curved, flat or differently shaped surface.

5. A coupling device as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which in the seats, gasket members are provided, consisting of multiple shaped pieces, and effective to fit the cross-section of said seats to those of the members to be coupled.

6. A coupling device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is designed as a branch point for butt coupling a plurality of tubular members, radially extending with respect to said branch point, the clamping of the seats housing said tubular members being provided by simply translating the two lug bearing bodies defining said seats, a coaxial cylindrical core member being further provided in the inside of said seats.

7. A device for quickly coupling panels, tubular members, sections and the like, for making shelvings substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.