GB2209062A

GB2209062A - Connecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2209062A
Application number: GB8817297A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Declan William O'donoghue
Original assignee: DONOGHUE DECLAN WILLIAM O
Current assignee: DONOGHUE DECLAN WILLIAM O
Priority date: 1987-07-21
Filing date: 1988-07-20
Publication date: 1989-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-20
Also published as: GB8817297D0; GB8717245D0; GB2209062B

Abstract

Connecting apparatus for connecting a body 22 in a plurality of different positions about an axis of a member comprises a tubular axis member 12 defining the axis and a tubular connector member 11 adapted to be laterally connected e.g. by plates 15 to an edge of a flat panel 20 of the said body. The connector member and axis member are splined so as to be interengageable in a plurality of positions about the axis. <IMAGE>

Description

CONNECTING APPARATUS This invention relates to connecting apparatus and in particular to connecting apparatus for connecting a body in a plurality of different positions about an axis of a member.

One field in which apparatus of this nature is important is the furniture industry. The use of sheet materials in panel form is commonplace in the furniture industry, however methods of joining or connecting these at angles, other than 90 or perhaps 450 are not so common. Generally it requires skilled machining and sophisticated gluing and clamping techniques which tend to result in very much higher production costs, and hence a higher overall cost for a particular item. Because of this economic pressure, existing possibilities for the use of panels to create endless variations of structure are missed.If furniture is designed including joint angles other than 900 or 450 then normally the investment required to produce the furniture, due to new tooling costs has to be dissipated over a period of years, thus hindering the ability to offer the consumer choice related to trends. To be able te take advantage of this ability, witho't the normal associated time lapse and tooling investment, obviously would be an advantage.

According to the invention there is provided connecting apparatus for connecting a body in a plurality of different positions about an axis of a member comprising an axis member defining the said axis, a connector member adapted to be laterally connected to an elongate edge of the body with the edge elongate in the direction of the axis and interengagement means whereby the connector member is interengagable with the axis member in a plurality of positions about the axis, the positions including pairs o positions which are at angles other than 45" or multiples thereof to each other, the interengagement securing the connector member against rotation, about the axis member.

Thus, in the furniture industry, for example using the connection apparatus, it is possible to achieve an endless variety of structures using joints at different angles without the traditional high extra costs and expensive time delays.

Preferably the connector member is arranged to be connected to the body so that there is substantIally no gap therebetween. The connecting apparatus is thus aesthetically pleasing in appearance and forms a continuous structure. The body may be any desired shape and may be for example, a flat or curved panel.

Preferably the body is a straigh edged panel The connector member may substantially completely surround the axis member in the interengagement positions. Preferably the connector member has a cylindrical outer surface.

Preferably the connector member includes at least one laterall extending projection for connection to the body. The or each projection may be arranged to be received in a slot, recess or aperture in the body.

The or each projection may be elongate in the direction of the axis. Preferably, the or each projection is in the for of a plate. Preferably, only one projection is provided.

According to another aspect of the invention thereis provided connecting apparatus for connecting a body in a plurality of different positions about an axis of a member comprising an axis member defining the said axis, a connector Ser adapted to be connected to a body and Interengageme n-ens whereby the connector member is interengagable ith the axis member in a plurality of positions about the axis, t least one of the axis member and connector having thereon a plate like projection for connection to the body.

The plate may be elongate in the direction of the axis.

The or each projection preferably includes at least one further projection thereon. The or each further projection preferably comprises a rib which may extend longitudinally of its projection. Preferably three ribs are provided on each of opposite sides of the or each projection.

The interengagement means may take any suitable form and may comprise any suitable complementary shapes for the axis member and connector member, but preferably the interengasement means comprises splines on the axis member and the connector member.

The splines are preferably inwardly extending on the connector member and the outwardly extending on the axis member.

The apparatus may include a bore along the axis wnich is arranged to receive a spindle element so tha- the apparatus is rotatable thereon. Thugs, in oQitIc to permitting a body to be connected in a plurality of different positions about an axis of a member, the apparatus may permit rotary movement if desired.

Preferably, the bore extends for the length of the apparatus.

Alternatively, the axis member may be fixed.

Further connecting apparatus as described hereinbefore is preferably provided, having a common axis. A common axis member is preferably provided for the connector members. In the case where the bodies are flat panels, the connector members are preferably arranged to be connected to the edges of the panels so that in one of the interengagement positions the panels are adjacent and parallel. Thus, the connecting apparatus can be folded flat for example, to enable transportation in a compact form.

This may be particularly useful when the apparatus is used to connect exhibition display panels.

One of the axis member and connector memser may carry a ground engagable foot.

One embodiment cf the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1. is an exploded isometric perspective view of the embodiment, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the embodiment including spacer members, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts of the embodiment, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment without spacer members, and with certain parts broken away, Fig. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment in three different positions, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment in use to provide support for table top, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment in use to provide a door for a cabinet, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment in use to connect modesty panels under a desk; and, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment in use to provide a sign.

Fig. 1 shows connecting apparatus 10 comprising a connector member 11 and an axis member 12. The connector member 11 and the axis member 12 are in the form of hollow circular tubes and the connector member 11 includes inwardly extending splines 13 on its inner surface which are interengagable with outwardl extending splines 14 on the outer surface of the axis member 12. The splines 13, 14 constitute the aforesaid interengagement means. The connector member 11 includes a projection in the form of a plate 15 extending outwardly from the outer surface of the connector member 11 all along the length thereof. The plate 15 includes three ribs 16 on each side thereof extending longitudinally of the plate.

As shown in Fig. 3, the ribs 16 on each side of the plate 15 are offset in the lateral direction.

A spindle element 17 comprises a smooth surfaced circular tube which is arranged to fit within the axis member 12.

An end cap 18 corises a circular disc i9 havIng the same diameter as the connect Gr m 11 and a sm21~~- diameter tubular section 20 extending perpendicular therefrom and including outwardly extending rib 21.

The tubular section 20 is arranged to locate thin the connector member 11 with the ribs 21 engaging the interior of the connector member 11 to hold the end cap 18 in place.

Fig. 1 also shows a further connector member 11. Two bodies 22 are shown adjacent the plates 15 of the connector members 11. The bodies 22 are in the form of flat panels and include slots 23 in the edges 2G thereof, the slots 23 corresponding to the plates 15.

The edge 24 of each body 22 is contoured so that wnen the plate 15 is received in the slot 23 the edge 24 follows the line of the outer surface of the connector member 11 with substantially no gap therebetween. This arrangement provides a smooth, aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Fig's. 2 and 3 show smooth cylindrical spacer members 25 and 26 which correspond generally in diameter to connector member 11 and axis member 12 respectively.

The spacer members 25, 26 may be interposed between connecting apparatus 10 where connection to a panel 22 is not respired, as shown in Fig. 2.

In use, th end cap 18 is fitted onto the first connector member 11 and the axis member 12 is then inserted into the connector member 11 with the splines 13 on the connector member 11 interengaging with the splines 14 on the axis member 12.

The second connector member 11 may then be slid onto the axis member 12 which may extend out of the first connector member 11 at the end thereof opposite the end cap 18. Alternatively, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, an outer spacer member 25 may first bc slid over the axis member 12 or, where the axis member 12 is shorter, inner and outer spacer members 25, 26 may be employed. In this case the outer spacer member 25 may overlap the axis member 12 or the inner spacer member 26 may be mounted on a spindle element 17 of the arrangement so that the spacer members 25, 26 remain in alignment with the connector member 11 and axis mer 12.

The second connector member 11 is oriented on the axis member 12 so as to provide the desired angle between the panels 22 to be connected to the plates 15 of the connector members 11. The axis member 12 may be fixed, or alternatively, the spindle element 17 may be inserted therein so that the entlre apparatus is rotatable thereon. The panels 22 are then pushed onto the plates 15 with the ribs 16 on the plates 15 frictionally el1gaging the inner walls of the slots 23 to retain the panels 22 on the connector members 11. Fig's 2, 4 and 5 show the apparatus 10 in use. A ground engagable foot member 37 is shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. This may be constructed so as to be mountable in a connector member 11 in the same way as the end cap 18.

Fig. 5 shows the entire apparatus with connector members 11 in different relative positions so as to provide different angles between the panels 22. The plates 15 extend at an angle to the radial direction with respect to the axis of the axis member 12 so that the panels 22 canbe arranged parallel to and touching one another.

The panels 22 as shown are arranged to have one side thereof at a tangent to the connector member 11 which provides a smooth and aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show examples of the apparatus in use.

Fig. 6 shows a table 27 having a table top 28 which is supported by a plurality of upright panels 22 arranged in a star shape and connected by connecting apparatus 10 as described.

Fig. 7 shows a medicine cabinet 29 in which the doors 30 are connected using the connecting apparatus 10 described including the spindle element 17 so as to act as a hinge.

Fig. 8 shows two desks 31 which have been arranged at a desired angle. The desks 31 include modesty panels 32 and the connecting apparatus 10 has been used to form the legs of the desk 31 with the connector members 11 mounting the modesty panels 32 for the desks 31. A further modesty panel 33 is connected between the desks 31 by means of the connector members 11 at an angle to each of the other modesty panels 32.

Fig. 9 shows a sign 34 comprising a base 35 and a support element 36 constructed from connecting apparatus 10 as described so that connector members 11 are used to connect panels 22 constituted by signs at appropriate angles to the sport pole 36.

The interengagement means need not be splines 13, 14 but may be any other suitable means and may be, for example, a polygonal outer surface on the axis member 12 and a corresponding inner surface on the connector member 11.

The axis member 12 need not fit within the connector member 11 but may fit over a part, for example, one end, of the connector member 11.

The projection on the connector member 11 need not be a plate 15 with ribs 16 but may be of any suitable design and more than one projection may be provided.

Also, the projection or projections may not be adapted to retain a body by fitting into an aperture therewith in but may be adapted to retain the body in any other suitable manner.

The outer surface of the connector member 11 need not be cylindrical, but may be of any desired shape.

Claims

1. Connecting apparatus for connecting a body in a plurality of different positions about an axis of a member, comprising an axis member defining the said axis, a connector member adapted to be laterally connected to an elongate edge of the body with the edge elongate in the direction of the axis, and interengagement means whereby the connector member is interengageable with the axis member in a plurality of positions about the axis, the positions including pairs of positions which are at angles other than 45c or multiples thereof to each other, the interengagement securing the connector member against rotation about the axis member.

2. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting apparatus is adapted for use in the furniture field.

3. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connector member is arranged to be connected to the body so that there is substantially no gap therebetween.

4. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the body is a straight edged panel.

5. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connector member substantially completely surrounds the axis member in the interengagement positions.

6. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connector member has a cylindrical outer surface.

7. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connector member includes at least one laterally extending projection for connection to the body.

8. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the or each projection is adapted to be received in a slept, recess or aperture in the body.

9. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the or each projection is elongate in the direction of the axis.

10. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, 8 cr 9 wherein the or each projection is in the form of a plate.

11. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein only one projection is provided.

12. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the or each projection includes at least one further projection thereon.

13. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the or each further projection comprises a rib.

14. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the or each rib extends longitudinally of the projection.

15. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein three ribs are provided on each of opposite sides of the or each projection.

16. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interengagement means comprises splines on the axis member and the connector member.

17. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the splines are inwardly extending on the connector member and outwardly extending on the axis member.

18. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connecting apparatus includes a bore along the axis which is arranged to receive a spindle element so that the connecting apparatus is rotatable thereon.

19. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the bore extends for the length of the connecting apparatus.

20. Connecting appaatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 17 wherein the axis member is fixed.

21. Connecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein further connecting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim is provided, having a common axis.

22. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein a common axis member is provided for the connector members.

23. Connecting apparatus as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein, in the case where the bodies are flat panels, the connector members are adapted to be laterally connected to the edges of the panels so that in one of the interengagement positions the panels are adjacent and parallel.

24. Connecting apparatus according to any preceding claim in which one of the axis member and connecting member carries a ground engagable foot.

25. Connecting apparataus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.