GB2158543A

GB2158543A - A device for fixably aligning separate panels

Info

Publication number: GB2158543A
Application number: GB08412150A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Henry Payne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-11
Filing date: 1984-05-11
Publication date: 1985-11-13
Also published as: GB2158543B; GB8412150D0

Abstract

A device for fixably aligning separate panels comprises two parts 1,2, each arranged to be fixed adjacent respective corresponding edges of two panels, such as separate leafs of a table top. The two parts are cooperably interengageable by means of suitable projections 4 and recess means 12, so as to enable alignment of the panels in an abutting edge to edge relationship. The device avoids the need for providing interengagement means in corresponding edges of the panels themselves. The device is provided with locking means 3 for maintaining the two parts in engagement with each other, preferably in the form of a rotatable arm 15 mounted on one part and having projections 14, 16 arranged to extend over respective edge surfaces of the two parts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for fixably aligning separate panels This invention relates to a device for fixably aligning separate panels, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a device for fixably aligning separate panels of a table top.

There have been proposed table tops which consist of two or more separate panels, e.g. two panels which are arranged to be separable in order to make room for a third interposed panel, thereby increasing the useful area of table top. In order to fix separate table top panels to each other it has previously been proposed to provide engagement means, such as tongue and groove or dowel means, in cooperating edges of the separate table top panels. This leads, firstly, to the problem that, in order for the table top panels to properly engage with each other the engaging means in the cooperating edges must be correctly aligned. Any misalignment will lead, for example, to an uneveness in the table surface, or lateral misalignment of the panels.

Secondly, the necessity for the provision of engagement means at the edges of the table top panels leads to further complication in the manufacturing methods of the table top panels, and a consequent increase in production cost.

There is therefore, a need for a simple device which will both align and secure separate panels.

The present invention provides a device for fixably aligning separate panels comprising, a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being securable adjacent edges of respective, first and second panels and being co-operably interengagable in order to enable alignment of said first and second panels in an abutting edge to edge relationship, and locking means being mounted on at least one of said first and second parts for maintaining said parts in cooperable interengagement.

In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a device for fixably aligning separate panels, and Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1, taken along the line A-A, and further showing the possible positions of two abutting panels in broken line.

The illustrated embodiment comprises a device for fixably aligning separate panels which comprises two parts 1 and 2, made of suitable material.

Each part, 1 and 2, has an upper surface, a lower surface, an edge which forms part of the circumference of a circle, and edge faces 10 and 11 which are substantially straight. The edge-face 11 of part 1 is provided with dowels 4 therein, which are preferably of steel, brass, or any other suitable alloy. Corresponding bores 12 are provided in the edge-face 10 of the part 2. The dowels 4 fit into the bores 12 to allow the interengagement of the parts 1 and 2 as illustrated.

When the parts 1 and 2 are interengaged they define a generally disc shaped block. A step 9 which is cut into the lower surfaces of the parts 1 and 2, extends the full length of the perimeter of the disc shaped block formed from the parts 1 and 2. A locking piece 3, preferably of brass, steel, or any other suitable alloy, is rotatably mounted on the part 1 by means of a center swivel pin 9 which is positioned in a bore 13 which extends through the part 1 along the central axis of the disc shaped block formed from parts 1 and 2.

The locking piece 3 comprises a diametrically extending arm 15 having projections 14 and 16 at either end which project over the step 9 to engage the inner circumferential surface thereof.

In operation the parts 1 and 2 are mounted adjacent the edges of panels 6 and 7, as shown in Figure 2 by means of screws which extend through screw holes 8 which are drilled at convenient points in the parts 1 and 2.

The parts 1 and 2 can be interengaged by means of the dowels 4 and bores 12, causing end to end alignment of the panels 6 and 7 as illustrated. The locking piece 3 would then be revolved so that one of the projections 14 extends over the portion of the step 9 in part 2, and the other of the projections 16 extends over the portion of the step 9 in part 1, thereby maintaining the parts 1 and 2 in cooperable engagement.

To allow the panels 6 and 7 to be taken apart, the locking piece 3 is revolved approximately 180 from the illustrated position so that the projections 14 and 16 extend over the portion of the step 9 in the part 1. The parts 1 and 2 can then be disengaged from each other to allow separation of the panels.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the illustrated device is suitable for fixably aligning two panels of a table top. Furthermore, the illustrated devices may be used for fixably aligning the panels of table tops which comprise more than two panels. For example, in a three panel table top which comprises two end panels and an intermediate panel, devices as illustrated can be used to secure each end panel in edge to edge abutting relationship with a respective adjacent edge of the intermediate panel. Thus one end panel may be provided with a plurality of parts 1 of the devices for co-operable interengagement with a plurality of parts 2 of the devices provided at the respecting abutting edge of the intermediate panel.The other end panel is provided with a plurality of parts 2 of the devices for cooperable engagement with a plurality of parts 1 of the devices provided at the respective abutting edge of the intermediate panel. It will be appreciated that the parts 1 and 2 of the plurality of devices can be disengaged so as to allow removal of the intermediate panel. The parts 1 provided at the edge of the one end panel can be cooperably engaged with the parts 2 provided at the edge of the other end panel for fixably aligning the two end panels.

The device may be of any suitable dimensions, a disc diameter in the order of 24" being preferable.

The centre swivel pin 5 need not be a separate piece as illustrated but may be cast as one with the locking piece 3.

The locking means which secures one part to another need not be as herein described. Locking means could be provided which, for instance, comprises members mountable on both parts 1 and 2 of the devices for engagement with each other in order to secure the parts together.

It will be appreciated that, as the locking means need not necessarily be as herein described, the shape of the device could be other than disc shaped.

Also, the engaging means need not be dowels as described, but could be any other known means, such as tongue and groove means, interengagable serrated edge-faces, interlocking fingers, for example two spaced fingers, on projections, extending from one part and one finger or projection, for engagement therebetween, on the other part, etc.

Claims

1. A device for fixably aligning separate panels, comprising first and second parts securable respectively adjacent edges of first and second panels, said first and second parts being co-operably interengagable whereby to enable alignment of said first and second panels in abutting edge to edge relationship, and locking means mounted on at least one of said parts for maintaining said parts in co-operable engagement.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said locking means is pivotally mounted on one of said parts and comprises projection means which are engagable with the other said part to maintain said parts in co-operable engagement.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said projection means is engagable with an edge surface of said other part to maintain said parts in co-operable engagement.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said locking means includes projections arranged to project over respective edge surfaces of said first and second parts to maintain said parts in cooperable engagement.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said locking means comprises an arm rotatably mounted on said first part, said projections extending from said arm.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said edge surfaces define a circumferential surface when said parts are interengaged, and said arm is rotatably mounted on the central axis of said circumferential surface.

7. A device in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second parts are provided with co-operable projection and recess means whereby to enable said co-operable interengagement thereof.

8. A device for fixably aligning separate panels, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.