GB2218456A - Improvements relating to the jointing of sheet edges - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of joining sheet edges wherein respective sheet edges to be connected are provided with parallel slots 18, 20 spaced by strip portions 22, 24 and the respective edges are overlapped so that the strip portions of one edge overlap the slots of the other edge and then a fixing rod or bar 14 is threaded through the strips and slots so that the strips of one edge are bowed through the slots of the other edge and are retained in this position by the rod or bar. <IMAGE>

Description

Iqp gsem-e-at--ReL-ting-t2-the-lQinting-Q[-she dgiX This invention relates to the jointing of sheet edges, and seeks to provide a means whereby sheet edges can be connected firmly yet simply.

There are many instances when it is required to connect the edges of sheet material for example to produce fencing, enclosures such as cattle pens, display stalls, boxes, temporary fencing, containers and so on, where the resulting article or structure is of a temporary or a dismantleable nature. The present invention is concerned with the providing of a jointing system which has special application in the jointing of edges of sheet material, which material has a degree of flexibility or deformability, and typically although not exclusively such sheet material will be plastics sheet material.

The sheet edges which are to be joined together will in the majority of cases be the edges of adjacent panels of the sheet material, which may be flat or curved, but the invention also extends to the joining together of the edges of the same sheet, for example thereby to make pipes, tubes and sleeves.

Many attempts have been made to produce jointing systems for connecting sheet edges whereby the edges can be connected simply and readily, but heretofore a simple and effective system has not to my knowledge been devised, and it is usual for the persons connecting sheets to resort to the use of fixing members such as nails, screws and the like, and obviously the disadvantage of using such fixing members is that it takes time to position the sheets and apply the fixing members and also it is necessary to provide in many instances a further post or other member to which the fixing members have to be applied.

The present invention provides a simple and effective method of joining sheet edges, and provides that the respective sheet edges to be connected are provided with parallel slots spaced by strip portions and the respective edges are overlapped so that the strip portions of one edge overlap the slots of the other edge and then a fixing rod or bar is threaded through the strips and slots so that the strips of one edge are bowed through the slots of the other edge and are retained in this position by the rod or bar.

The rod or bar preferably is provided at one end with a point or tapering to facilitate its threading through the strips and slots.

Preferably at least one and preferably each of said edges containing the strips and slots is of curved cross section so that the strips can be readily positioned to bow through the slots of the other edge merely by overlapping the slots and edges. This arrangement facilitates the threading in of the rods.

The slots and strips are preferably on the edges of separate panels, and thereby, by connecting together a plurality of panels, enclosures and containers having endless walls can be formed.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, several panels having slots and strips at opposite edges may be connected by the jointing system according to the invention so as to form into a compost container suitable for garden or agricultural use. If the panels are semi-flexible, they can curve into part circular shapes so that the resulting compost container is in the form of a cylindrical drum, which may have open ends. By providing a circular disc which is locked in position by the bars or rods passing through apertures in the edge of the disc, a suitable dustbin structure can be created.

The jointing method enables also the ready creation of temporary fencing suitable for agricultural shows, fairs, outdoor exhibitions and the like.

Whilst it is preferred that the panels may be of plastics material, i" is not necessary that this material be used in the present invention. The panels could be for example of sheet metal, or in an alternative arrangement the panels are sheet plastics material, with the edges being defined by sheet metal which is crimped or otherwise secured to the plastic panels.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two sheet edges provided with slots and strips in accordance with the present invention, the figure also showing a connecting bar; Fig. 2 is a view of the sheet edges of Fig. 1 showing how the edges are overlapped for the connection together of same; Fig. 3 is a view of the edges shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when in the connected condition; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on the line IV - IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective elevation showing various panels connected by the connecting arrangement of Fig.

1, and formed into a circular drum suitable for example for holding compost, the figure also showing a base panel which can be used with a drum for producing a dustbin container; and Fig. 6 is a side view showing how a plurality of panels can be connected together by the method of Fig. 1 to form for example a temporary fence or the like.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 two edge regions 10, 12 of sheet material such as plastics material of a semi-rigid or rigid nature are shown. These edges may be of the same plastics material web in which case the web would be formed into circular shape so that the edges 10 and 12 come together as shown. Also shown between the edges is a connecting rod or bar 14 which has a tapered leading end 16, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

Each of the edges 10 and 12 is provided with a plurality of elongated and parallel slots 18 and 20 which are in alignment along the edge as shown, so that the edges are in fact separated by strips 22 and 24 which again are parallel. The strips 22 and 24 are in fact shaped for example by cold forming so that as regards the respective sheet edges 10 and 12, the strips 22 are bowed outwardly in opposite directions relative to the planes of the sheet edges 10 and 12.

The slots 18 and 20 are of the same width, and the strips 22 and 24 are of the same width, but are slightly less in width than the slots 18 and 20. The slots 18 are staggered in the sheet edge 10 relative to the slots 20 and the sheet edge 12 so that when, as shown in Fig. 2, the edges are overlapped, the top edge 26 of sheet edge 10 lies in the same plane as the top edge 28 of sheet edge 12, and the strips 22 protrude through the slots 20, whilst the strips 24 protrude through slots 18. Looking along the line of the overlap therefore, as shown in Fig. 4, there is defined a cavity 30 for the receipt of the rod ILI which as indicated in Fig. 2 is simply pushed into the cavity as indicated by arrow 32, and the rod is shown in the edge locking position in Fig. 3.The strips 22 and 24 are wrapped around and trapped by the rod and the respective slots 18 and 20, so that the sheet edges are firmly connected and cannot be disconnected until the rod 14 is removed. By forming the tapered end 16 on the rod 1LI, it threads into the cavity 30 readily, and in fact assists in drawing the sheet edges together.

By this construction, it will be appreciated that many structures and articles can be formed, and typically as shown in Fig. 5, curved panels 40, 42, 44 and 46 are connected into a cylindrical drum shape by four joints each of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 using four rods LIB. The rods 48 may penetrate the ground as shown in which case the container forms an excellent compost container for garden use. The top edges of the rods 48 may be hook shaped so as to overlie the top perimeter of the drum formed by the panels 40 to 46. To make for example a dustbin, a base plate 50 may be used, such plate being provided with apertures 52, 54, 56 and 58 through which the respective rods 48 can pass. The base plate 50 could be located inwardly of the bottom end of the cylindrical configuration shown in Fig. 5 so as to locate either in one of the slots at each joint or in a space created by removing selected strips 22 and 24 so that the base plate 50 will simply not fall off the end of the drum portion.

Fig. 6 shows how panels 60, 62, 64 and 66 may be connected with joints 68 each of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the connecting bars again penetrating the ground as shown by reference 70.

The structures can be provided with roofs to provide shelters, show stands, large containers for silage etc.

It is preferred that plastics material be used for the sheet of which the edges are connected together, although it is possible to use the invention with metallic sheets or plastic sheets with metallic edge formations provided with the slots and strips.

Claims (7)

1. A method of joining sheet edges wherein respective sheet edges to be connected are provided with parallel slots spaced by strip portions and the respective edges are overlapped so that the strip portions of one edge overlap the slots of the other edge and then a fixing rod or bar is threaded through the strips and slots so that the strips of one edge are bowed through the slots of the other edge and are retained in this postion by the rod or bar.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rod or bar is provided at one end with a point or tapering to facilitate the threading through the strips or slots.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said edges containing the strips and slots is of covered cross section so that the strips can be readily positioned to-bow through the slots of the other edge merely by overlapping the edges.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the said sheet edges are of plastics material and the at least one or each edge is of curved cross section by being cold formed.

5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the slots in each edge are of the same width and are wider than the strips in the other edge, which strips are also of the same width.

6. A method of joining sheet edges substantially as hereinbefore described.

7. Sheet edges and structures comprising sheet edges joined together by the method according to any one of the preceding claims.