GB2157792A - Elongate connecting members end structures including such members - Google Patents

Abstract

A connection for 2 dimensional frame or panel structures comprises elongate channel section members (12) which can be slid one within the other to connect up to four structures together. In a preferred form an elongate open rectangular channel sectioned connecting member of material thickness t has a first side (13) providing a connection arm (17) for attachment to a structural member, a second side (14) of internal dimension x, a third side (15) of internal dimension x - 2t and a fourth side (16) of internal dimension x - 3t. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Elongate connecting members and structures including such members This invention relates to connecting members and structures carrying such members for connection together. It is particularly concerned with connecting members suitable for connecting two dimensional frames or panels to one another to build up three dimensional structures.

There are an enormous variety of devices for connecting frames and panels to one another along adjacent edges but many of these require additional fixing devices and tools or require the locating and matching of different types of formation along different edges.

An object of this invention is to produce a simple connecting member which can be connected with like members without for example matching male and female connections or requiring the use of tools or further fixing devices.

In one aspect the invention provides an elongate cylindrical connecting member of open ended substantially tubular form having four limbs at right angles to one another, the limbs being of such relative lengths and thicknesses that two to four such identical members, located at right angles to adjacent such members, can be slid one within the other with each having a first limb extending to the outside of the connection so formed for attachment or attached to or integral with a structural member.

In one preferred form of the invention a connecting member comprises an elongate cylindrical member made from material of nominal thickness t comprising first, second, third and fourth limbs connected to form an open substantially tubular cylinder, the first limb being for attachment to a structural member, the second limb having an internal dimension x, the third limb having an internal dimension (x - 2t) and the fourth limb having an internal dimension (x - 3t). It will be appreciated that there is a minimum amount of clearance between the respective limbs to enable the limbs to slide with respect to each other.

From two to four such identical connecting members can be slid one inside the other, with adjacent members turned through 90 relative to one another, and will form a substantially rigid joint. With this arrangement the second limb of each member lies adjacent the first limb of another member, the third limb of each member lies adjacent the second limb of another member and the fourth limb of each member lies adjacent third limb of another member.

Even when only two such members are located at right angles to one another in this way a substantially rigid joint is obtained and if it is required to join only two structural members so that they lie in the same plane, then an interleaving third connecting member can be placed in the joint without being attached to a structural member.

Frame or panel structures having such connecting members forming or secured along two opposite edges can thus be connected at each end with up to three other such structures to build up a single four-sided structure or a unit containing many such structures.

The invention extends to structures formed and/or connected by such connecting members. Embodiments of connecting members and structures connected by such members will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figures 1a- 1d show respectively one, two, three and four connecting members of a first type connected together, Figures 2a and 2b show respectively one and three connecting members of a modified form connected together, Figures 3a and 3b are a side view and a plan view of a frame having connecting members attached along opposite edges, and Figures 4a to 4c show diagrammatic plan views of various structures made up from frames according to Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 a to 1 b, an elongate cylindrical connecting member 1 2 made of material of nominal thickness t, of substantially rectangular sectioned, open ended, substantially tubular form has four limbs 1 3, 14, 15 and 16. Four such connecting member 12 can be connected together and in the Figures the limbs 1 3 to 1 6 of respective first to fourth members have been given the suffixes a, b, c, d. The first limb 1 3 extends beyond the rectangle formed by the limbs to provide a connection arm 1 7 for connection to a structural member or further parts of a structural member.The internal dimension of the second limb 1 4 is x, the internal dimension of the third limb 1 5 is x - 2t and the internal dimension of the fourth limb 16 is x - 3t. The rectangle is therefore not completely closed so that as seen in Fig. 1 d the extension arms 1 7 of four connecting members which are slide one within the other, each at right angles to adjacent members, project out from the connection so formed. The dimensions are selected so that each connecting number is a close sliding fit within an adjacent member so as to form a sufficiently rigid joint.

In the modification of Figs. 2a and 2b, the arm 1 3 has been provided with a further limb 1 8 extending parallel to the limb 1 4 for an exposed length of '/2 + 3Y2 and having at it's end a further outwardly turned limb 1 9 extending parallel to the limb 1 5. The internal dimension of limb 1 3 is thus x + 2t to leave a space of 3t between limbs 18 and 16. Limb 1 9 lies along the centre line of the connecting member.

Referring now to Figs. 3a and 3b a two dimensional frame member 20 is made up from two legs in the form of connecting members 1 2 with two T-section cross members 2 and two flat diagonal braces 22. Such a construction may be welded, riveted or fastened by any other means.

As shown in Fig. 4a, four such upright frame members 20 can be assembled as a basic square sectioned three dimensional frame, where all joints connect two frame members 20 at the corners. Fig. 4b shows a plan view of seven upright frame members 20 assembled as a double frame with two triple joints and four double joints. Fig. 4c shows ten frame members 20 assembled as an Lshaped triple frame with one quadruple joint, two triple joints and four double joints.

The connecting members may be manufactured as by extrusion from aluminum, piastics or any other suitable material.

Such free standing frames may support flat tops, trays or decking to provide tables or shelving particularly suitable, for example, for greenhouse staging.

Claims (11)

1. An elongate cylindrical connecting member of open ended substantially tubular form having four limbs each at right angles to adjacent limbs, the limbs being of such relative lengths and thicknesses that 2-4 such identical members, each located at a right angle to adjacent such members, can be slid one within the other with each having a first limb extending to the outside of the connection so formed for attachment to or attached to or integral with a structural member.

2. An elongate cylindrical member made from material of nominal thickness T comprising first, second, third and fourth limbs connected to form an open substantially rectangular sectioned cylinder, the first limb being for attachment to a structural member, the second limb having an internal dimension x, the third limb having an internal dimension x - 2T and the fourth limb having an internal dimension x - 3T.

3. A connecting member according to claim 2 in which the first limb has an internal dimension at least x + 2T.

4. A connecting member according to claim 2 or claim 3 including a fifth limb connecting to the first limb and extending parallel to the second limb for an exposed length of x 3T ~ + ~ 2 2.

5. A connecting member according to claim 4 including a sixth limb extending outwardly from the fifth limb in a plain passing through the centre line of the connecting member.

6. A connecting member according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the first limb has a internal length of x + 2T.

7. A set of 2-4 connecting members according to any of claims 1-6 each turn through a right-angle relative to an adjacent member, the members being slid one within the other to form a substantially rigid joint therebetween.

8. A frame or panel structure having a pair of connecting members each according to any of claims 1-7, forming or secured along to opposite side edges.

9. An open frame structure comprising a pair of connecting members, each according to any of claims 1-7 forming two opposite sides thereof and connected by two spaced crossed members and brace members.

1 0. A four-sided self supporting structure comprising four frame or panel structures according to claim 8 or claim 9 connected by relative sliding engagement of the connecting members thereof.

11. Table or shelving support means comprising a structure according to claim 10 together with support trays for decking.

1 2. A connecting member substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A frame or panel support structure substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.