GB2202296A - Bolt-free frame assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A construction comprises a structural frame angle 1 and connectors 5. The frame angle 1 includes an L-shaped angle iron having on each of its interperpendicular adjoining flat sheet portions 3 a row of through holes 4 which include wedge extensions 42. Each connector 5 has a base 6 and an insert arm 8 projecting perpendicularly therefrom. The base 6 includes at least one double-headed rivet 9, one of which fixes one end of a spring leaf 10 which includes at its other end a cotter bolt 11 which passes through a hole 4 to prevent disconnection of the joint. The other end of the rivet(s) 9 projects from the other side of the base 6 to engage in the wedge extension 42 of the hole 4. <IMAGE>

Description

BOLT-FREE ASSEMBLY TYPE FRAME ANGLE AND WEDGE-IN ENGAGING CONNECTOR THEREFOR The present invention relates to bolt-free quick assembly type structural frame angles and wedge-in engaging type connectors or corner joinder means therefor and more particularly but not exclusively, to a multipurpose angle iron and connector whereby an angle iron or steel pipe framework can be assembled in a quick manner by merely engaging mutually a simple wedge-in engaging hole with a rivet head pre-arranged on the structural component, the fastening and connecting therein being completely free from using of any screws or bolts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, in the assembly of a rack, a cabinet or an enclosure, fasteners, for instances, screws or bolts, are generally used for fastening and retaining of the structural members or angle irons in position. In this aspect, reference may be had from the disclosure made, for instance , in the author's co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,490, and in U.S. Pat. No.

4,196,952 to Crowe, U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,015 to Olashaw and U.S.

Pat. No. 4,078,847 to Presnick. However, uses of screws or bolts in retaining and locating the connecting parts in framework assemblies with angle irons not only add up troubles to the assembly work but have also to rely on tools such as wrench to tighten the screws or bolts, and thus make assemblying work less efficient. Besides, these screws or bolts are likely to become loose after use for a long time and will result in the frame work to be less stable and in its load-supporting capacity being reduced. Such types of angle irons are probably not suitable for use in conjunction with a generally flat pipe or square pipe, and are generally deficient in esthetic appearance and lack variability in practical uses.Especially, since the connecting portions of the angle irons have no safety devices, accidents are likely to happen if the fastening screws are getting loose during transportation. Furthermore, since reinforcement and the connector structures are unsatisfactory, the load-supporting capacity is low. The requirement of separate management and use for the screws, connector parts etc. will further add up troubles to the maintenance of the materials and the parts may also get scattered or lost easily.

There are some types of framing structures, the assembly of which into a rack needs no fasteners like screws or bolts.

Various constructions have been proposed for such assembly of the frameworks, among which Nelson-Hawkins in U.S. Pat. No.

3,339,750 uses for interconnecting angle irons a kind of connector key which extends through channel formed by intersecting slots on the angle irons. In a further instance, a corner construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,914,062 to Heininger, in which intersecting channels formed by spaced portions thereof receive for insertion the flanges of angle irons. L-shaped joint member is used, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,289 to Hardy, in interconnecting elongated structural components, whereas UOSO Pat No 2,861,659 reveals a joint member having notches for frame construction. Most recently, this author in U.S. Pat. Appln. Ser. No. 889,396 proposes a multibranch structural connector which is made of plastics or of zinc aluminium alloy for assembly purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these disadvantages, there is provided in accordance with the present invention an assembly rack whose structural components are more simplified and construction is improved thereby improving its efficiency and making it the more convenient, safe, mobile and esthetically attractive for uses.

It is an object of this invention to provide an allpurpose angle iron and a connector or corner joinder means therefor which without having to use a screw or bolt but by merely a wedge-in engaging action are capable of being quickly assembled into an angle iron or steel pipe structural framework Another object of the invention is to provide a screw- or bolt-free quick assembly type structural frame angle and a connector therefor, which, on assembling into a framing sturcture, will have a firm and sturdy construction, and will result in the joint portions the more being under stress the more to be the effect of retaining action in those portions, and will thus offer a higher load-supporting capacity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a quick assembly type structural member as described above, which may utilize, by necessity,entirely the angle iron or steel pipes, or, in cooperation with each otherethe angle irons with flat or square steel pipes and form one having variability and superiority and esthetic appealing in the outer appearence.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for use in the quick assembly type structural frame, a joint member or structural corner whose base part joins with an insert arm, rivet and elastic cotter and together form a single body so that the member is simple in construction without having to handle the rivet and cotter separately, and when in use there will not be concerned about the parts getting scattered or lost, and in addition there being the safety cotter to prevent looseness in the member and during fitting and joining', it being effected merely by a wedge-in engagement so that it is very convenient and safety in use.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description by reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a frame angle of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the frame angle; FIGS. 3(A) through 3(F) are perspective views of various other embodiments of the f,rame angle; FIGS.4(A) through (F) are views showing different variations of a wedge-in engaging hole of the angle; FIG.S is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector or corner joinder means of the invention FIG. 6 is a top view of the connector shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X of the connector shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connector or corner joinder means; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the connector or corner joinder means; FIG. 1'0 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the connector depicted in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the connector; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the connector; FIG..13 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the connector; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the connector; FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a eighth embodiment of the connector; FIG. 16 illustrates a joining portion in one example of application when angle and connectors are fitted together to form a frame in accordance with the invention; FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the joining portion of the frame depicted in FIG. 16; FIG. 18 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the joining portion of the frame depicted in FIG. 16, the joining portion being in the condition where the insert cotter has not entered the wedge-in engaging hole yet; FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18, showing however the joining portion in a different condition where the insert cotter has now entered the wedge-in engaging hole; ; FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a main portion in a further example of application when angle and connectors are fitted together to form a frame in accordance with the invention; FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the main portion of the frame depicted in FIG. 20; and FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a still further example of application of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a frame angle 1, one of the structural members according to the present invention. This frame angle 1 is generally L-shaped and fabricated by molding from metal sheet, for instance, the steel sheet, or by extensions of light alloy or plastics. In order to prevent hand or clothes from being cut by any sharp edges, the angle 1 has its two side edges each bent inward perpendicularly twice to form a channel bent edge 2, as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,545,490 and the author's pending U.S. Pat. Appln. Ser. No.

889,396. However, in the angle 1 of the present invention, the two perpendicularly connected elongated flat sheet portions 3 have each along its center axially in the longitudianl direction a row of equidistantly spaced wedge-in engaging slots 4 or 4a.

These slots 4 are so defined that each has a generally circularshaped main hole portion 41 and joined with this hole at its upper and lower ends are tapered or skewed channel holes 42 extending towards the same side respectively at the upper and lower parts Each of the wedge-in engaging slots 4a, on the other hand, is of a keyhole shape and like the aforesaid slot 4 has the main hole portion 41 and the skewed channel hole 42 joined to the lower end of main hole 41. In either case, the opening diameter of main hole 41 is slightly greater than the diameter of rivet head of a connector member 5 to be described hereinbelow, whereas the width of the channel in the skewed hole 42 narroWs gradually from above below and is dimensioned. to receive the neck of the rivet for locking therein with a wedgein engaging effect.

FIGS. 3(a) through (F) illustrate a series of other embodiments of the frame angle described above, in which FIGS.

3(A) to (C) show angles 1A, 1B and 1C respectively having on their sheet surfaces similarly a row of wedge-in engaging slots4, however, the edge ends of these angles are formed respectively by a single fold into a bent edge 2a, or an unbent edge 2b or by a triple right angle fold into a square tubular bent edge 2c. Shown in FIGS. 3(D) and 3(E) 'are respectively angles 1A and 1B similar to those depicted in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B); in these examples, however, each of the wedge-in engaging slots has a keyhole shape similar to the other two embodiments of the engaging slots 4a illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3(F) depicts similar angle but having at each edge end a bent edge 2d in a double-folded fashion and on the sheet there still being a row of wedge-in engaging slots 4.Speaking in term of safety on use, because of the absence of sharp edges frame angles 1, 1C and 1D are the safest, then come the angle 1A with angle la being the least. However, this angle 1B is same as the conventional all-purpose angle irons except only that,in the fitting and assembling does the feature where retaining and wedge-in engaging effect of the engaging slot with the rivet head is applied to be same in all the angles described above.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, there is provided a variety of examples of a wedge-in engaging slot (FIG. 4). (A), (C) and (E) of the FIG. 4 depict the main hole portions 41 being formed respectively of a square, a he agonll and an octagonal shape and this main hole portion 41 is provided on the upper and lower ends respectively with a wedge-in engaging slot 4' of skewed channel hole 42 similar to the aforesaid embodiment. Next, a wedge-in engaging hole 4a' shown in (B), (Dr and (F) of FIG. 4 respectively has the main hole portion 41 of a shape corresponding respectively to that shown in (A), (C) and (E) and only at the lower end being respectively joined a skewed channel hole 42.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of another important feature of the invention, there is shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 one embodiment of a connector or joint member. This joint member 5 comprises a base 6 of an L-section having an outwardly protruding insert arm 8 formed integrally on a side edge 7 of base 6. On the outer side face of the base 6 are fixed two rivets 9, the distance between centers of the two rivets 9 being equal to the distance between center of the wedge-in engaging slots 4 or 4a in angle 1 used in conjunction therewith, On the other side of base 6 is mounted a spring leaf 10. This spring leaf 10 is secured in place at its upper end by the aforesaid upper rivet 9 while the lower end thereof is provided with a cotter bolt 11.This cotter bolt 11 passes at one end through a hole 12 defined on the near middle portion of base 6 and projects out at the back side of base 6. The lower end of the spring leaf 10 is slightly upturned so as to facilitate the pulling up by hand of the spring leaf 10 during the disassembling of the connectors. The rivet 9 is doubleheaded, the one end of which located at the back side of base 6 project outwardly. This projecting head 91 has a diameter a little smaller than the opening diameter of the main hole portion 41 of wedge-in engaging slot 4 or 4a, while the diameter of its shaft neck 92 is slightly smaller than the width of the channel at the base of skewed hole 42 but is greater than the width of the channel at the front end of skewed hole 42.Again, the length of shaft neck 92 from the interior of base 6 to the inner side surface of the head of rivet 9 is more or less equal to the thickness in the flat sheet portion 3 of angle 1 such that by the locking of this rivet neck 92 in the skewed channel hole 42 of wedge-in engaging hole 4 or 4a, the connector 5 will thus be abutting closely against one surface of angle 1. In this embodiment, the insert arm 8 in conjunction with the joint rectangular tube or flat tube is generally L-shaped in corss-section.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the joint-member of the type which like the above example is adapted for use in connecting the flat tubes. In this example, the basic structure of joint member 5a is same as the one in the previous embodiment and comprises, similarly, the base 6, insert arm 8, rivet 9 and spring leaf 10, the only difference being that in the previous example, the spring leaf 10 is mounted on the front face side of base 6 whereas in the present example it is on the opposite side, that is, the back face side, as shown in the drawing.

As such, both the projecting end of rivet 9 and the cotter bolt 11 project out on the front face side of base 6 and constructed in this way, the joint member 5a is capable of being fitted in the inner side face of angle 1A. In order that the bent edge 2a of angle 1A will not irterfere with the assembling of joint member 5a, there leaves a gap g in the space between the inner end of insert arm 8 and the side edge 7 sufficient for insertion of the bent edge 2a of angle 1A.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show one embodiment of the connector adapted for insertion to connect the angles or square tubes and in which the base 6 of joint member Sb is a flat sheet, from the middle of one side of which extends the insert arms of an L-shape in cross section. This insert arm 8 has at 'the lower end a small bent edge 81 for reinforcing strength in said insert arm 8. As in all the preceding examples, the spring leaf 10 is secured in position by rivet 9 on the back face of base 2, both the projecting end of the rivet and the cotter bolt 11 projecting out on the front face side of base 6.Again, in one other embodiment, the spring leaf 10 is mounted on the front face of base 6 and under this condition, the rivet head and the cotter bolt 11 project out' on the opposite face side constructed in this manner, the insert arm 8 is suitable for insertion to connect the square tubes and for fixing the angles.

A A still another embodiment of the connector is shown in FIG. 11, in which the basic structure of joint member 5c is almost the same as the one shown in FIG. 8 and like the latter, it is also adapted for insertion to connect flat tubes. However, the joint member 5c in the present embodiment has a shorter base 6 and is provided with only one rivet 9 and by means of this single rivet, it is used both for securing the spring leaf 10 in position and for locking and retaining the joint member in angle 1. Because the joint member Sc of such kind is 'provided with only one rivet 9 it has relatively smaller load bearing force, it is thus suited for those assembly racks or frameworks where load requirement is less.

A further embodiment of the connector to be used in flat tube is shown in FIG. 12, in which structure of the joint member 5d is substantially the same as the joint member 5 shown in FIG. 5 except that in the present embodiment, in order to increase load supporting capacity in the joint, there is provided three rivets 9 capable of engaging respectively in three wedge-in engaging slots 4 or 4a. It should be noted that like the one shown in FIG. 8, in the present connector the spring leaf 10 may also be located on the opposite face of base 6 and as such there must be left between the insert arm 8 and the base 6 the gap g as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 illustrates a still further embodiment of the connector to be used in square tubes, in which the joint member 5e is actually a modiifed form of the connector 5b shown in FIG. 9. The difference between the two forms of the connector lies merely in the position from where the insert arm 8 as an extension is formed, in connector Sb the insert arm 8 being an extension from the middle of one side of base 6, whereas insert arm 8 of the present embodiment as an extension being from the side of the upper end and moreover, its upper face covering the upper end of base 6. When this joint member 5e is fitted in angle 1, the base above face of insert arm 8 will cover over the upper part of angle 1 and there can thus be no empty space left therebetween.

Again another embodiment of the connector to be used in flat tubes is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in which the joint members Sf and 5g are suited for use in angles 1 and 1C respectively. In the structure of these joint members, except that side edge 7 of the insert arm 8 which is provided on base 6 is bent to form a configuration of a U-shape to facilitate engagement in the bent edge 2 of angle 1 so that the base 6 will bear closely against the inside face of angle l,the arrangement of all other parts such as rivet 9, spring leaf 10, cotter bolt 11 and insert arm 8 is same as in all the example described hereinabove.

It will be appreciated that by using the aforesaid angles and connectors constructed in accordance with the present invention various frameworks or assembly racks can be conveniently assembled. FIGS. 16 through 19 illustrate the main joining parts of an assembly rack comprised of angle 1 and joint member 5 in one embodiment of use. From the position set on the flat sheet por ns of the vertical angle member 1 which acts as a support there are fitted on both sides two joint members 5, the insert arms 8 of which extend out towards the two sides. The flat tubes 15 to be used as transverse beams can then be fitted on these two insert arms 8.In fitting of the joint member 5, the projecting heads of two rivets 9 are first engaged in the main holes 41 o the two vertically arranged slots 4 Since now the cotter bolt 11 is not within the location of the hole but is pressing against flat sheet portion 3 of the angle, the spring leaf 10 will thereby be forced to act about a fixed point, i.e.

the rivet joint, as center and open up towards the outside in a position as shown in FIG. 18. Thereafter, when the joint member 5 is pressed down or struck downward with a wooden hammer, the rivet 9 will come down immediately, enter skewed channel hole 42 and fasten therein tightly. Simultaneously, the cotter bolt 11 will also fall down into the position of skewed channel hole 42 at the upper end of the lower wedge-in engaging slot 4. Since there is no more resistence now, the spring leaf 10 by the recovery force of its elasticity will urge cotter bolt 11 to move into the skewed hole 42 in the condition as shown in FIG. 19, whereby connector 5 and angle member 1 will join together to form a single body. FIGS. 20 and 21 show a fitting example in which connectors 5a and angle member 1A have been utilized.The bases 6 of connectors Sa are now abutting closely against the inside walls of angle member 1A while the heads of the two rivets 9 and the end portion of cotter bolt 11 in each of the connectors 5a are projecting out from the wedge-in engaging slot 4. FIG. 22 shows a further fitting example in which connectors 5f and angle member 1 have been utilized. In this example, connectors 5f are disposed on the inside of angle member 1, the U-shaped side edges 7 in its bases 6 being fittingly engaged in the bent edges 2 of angle member 1 while the insert arms 8 thereof being adapted for fitting thereon of the flat tubes. The three fitting examples disclosed hereinabove are just for description purposes. It should be noted that the various' connectors described above can be selectively adapted for use in assembling with different kinds of angles and since this is of a general knowledge art, its many variable examples will not be dealt with in detail here.

In the assembly of the rack constructed in, accordance with the invention, it is necessary only to select'the required connectors which by means of the rivet heads ar engaged respectively in the wedge-in engaging slots. The cotter bolt by its recovery force of elasticity will be inserted in the upper end of the slot and owing to the wedge-in engaging effect within the rivets and the slots, the connectors will thus be firmly secured in the angle and together with the latter they form a single body. In the assembling, fastening by means of.

bolts or nuts is not at all required, nor is any tool needed for the job. Hence, by fitting and assembling of a rack in accordance with the principle of the invention, it is much faster and with convenience. Next, when the rack is to be disassembled, all that is required is to directly shove out, or, pull out by means of the spring leaf the cotter bolt from the engaging slot and thereafter to knock the connector upwardly by hand or with a wooden hammer. When the rivet head is moved into the main hole portion, the connector can then be removed towards the outer side. Like assembling, it is also convenient with the disassembling of the rack, moreover, the angles and connectors so removed can be used again and again.Since, the connectors are firmly secured in the angle through the wedge-in engaging action and also depending on necessity are capable of working in conjunciton with different flat or square tubes, or angle irons as transverse beams, it is very safe and of variability in uses with the assembly rack of the invention and meets substantially all the needs of the manufacturers and users. Other advantages of the present invention includes vertical adjustment being simple, easy manufacture of the connectors and inexpensive cost.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as merely preferred examples of the same, and that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied or practiced, for examples, substitute of the above-mentiond angle members with square steel pipes, in cooperation with various horizontal connecting tubes, insertion portions of the connectors being formed into flat rounded shape, square shape or circular shape in section, adding reinforcement bars or bent edges to the bases of the connectors, or provision of insertion portions on the sides of the bases to form crossshaped connectors, within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined only by the following claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:

1. A bolt-free fast assembly type structural frame angle comprising an L-shaped angle iron having on the two interperpen dicular adioining elongated sheet portions theredf'each""-'-' defined with at least one row of spaced-apart through holes along the axial direction, and the outer side edges of said two sheet portion folded to form bent edge or folded edges; said angle structure characterized in that on each of said through holes is defined a main hole portion having a greater opening diameter and in at least one end of the axial end adjoining said main hole portion an weage-in engaging hole formed by an obliquely extending long skewed channel hole portion having the channel smaller in width than said opening diameter.

2. A joint member or connector for use in said bolt-free fast assembly type frame angle, said joint member comprising: a base portion capable of abutting against one side of the sheet portion of said angle and an angle- or open tubeshaped insert connecting portion integrally formed with one side and projecting out perpendicularly of said base, said base portion being fixed thereon with at least one doubleheaded rivet having at its fixed end the head portion mounted with a spring leaf including at the lower end thereof a cotter bolt which passes through a hole defined on said base portion and the other end head portion thereof projecting out on the other side of said base portion.

3. The frame angle defined in claim 1 having no bent edges on its two side edges.

4. The frame angle defined in claim 1 having at its wedge-in engaging hole the main hole portion formed of a rounded, square, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal shape and the skewed channel hole portion thereof formed into a skewed channel hole having the terminai end of a semi-circular shape and the channel being slightly gradually diminished in width from the base end towards the semi-circular hole end.

5. The frame angle defined in claim 1 having at its wedgein engaging hole the opening diameter of the main hole portion being slightly greater than the diameter of the rivet head of said connector and the channel width at the terminal end of the skewed channel hole portion thereof being slightly smaller than the diameter of the shaft neck of said rivet head.

6. The joint member defined in claim 2 having its insert connecting portion formed into a rectangular, square, rounded, hexagonal, triangular or long circular tubular body provided with a notch and integrally connected to the middle position on one side of said base portion.

7. The joint member defined in claim 2 including on one side of its base portion where the insert connecting portion is located a channel part capable of being engaged in the bent edge of said angle.

8. A bolt-free joint assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongated sheet portions are substantially flat sheets and the through holes are equally spaced apart in the axial direction.

9. A bolt-free front assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 16 to 22 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A joint member or connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 4 to 15 or Figures 16 to 22 of the accompanying drawings.