GB2300241A

GB2300241A - Edge part for extruded panel

Info

Publication number: GB2300241A
Application number: GB9608967A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Makoto Tsuchiya
Original assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tomy Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-04-28
Filing date: 1996-04-29
Publication date: 1996-10-30
Also published as: GB2300241A8; CN1141256A; JPH08300514A; GB9608967D0

Abstract

An edge part (6b) comprises an outer flange which fits between, or overlaps, front and rear plates (2,3) of an extruded panel (1), and an inner flange which is retained in enlarged parts of slots (5) formed in inner cores (4) connecting the front and rear plates (2,3). The inner flange may be angled. The enlarged parts of the slots (5) may be spherical or conical or doubly conical. The edge part may form a portion of a connector for joining several panels together. The connector may be flexible to allow the rolling up of a cover formed of several panels.

Description

2300241

DESCRIPTION

EDGE PART FOR EXTRUDED FORM PLATE AND ASSEMBLY The present invention relate to an edge member for an extruded formed plate (hereinafter frequently referred to as "edge part") and assembly for same, the edge part being formed by extrusion and having a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores to form in section a step-ladder configuration.

When plastic corrugated articles such as boxes are constructed from extruded, formed plates, it is common practice, where the corrugated boards are thin and flexible to use flaps to avoid connecting portions of the boards, particularly at corners of the box. In this situation, Ushaped or comb-shaped connecting members are simultaneously inserted into hollow portions of the plastic corrugated boards, or clip-type connecting members are used to pinch overlapped portions of the corrugated boards. Long clip-type cover parts having U-shaped cross-sections are used to only to cover the ends of the plastic corrugated boards.

Where the plastic corrugated boards are thick and not easily flexible formation of flaps by folding the corrugated boards is very difficult. Thus, the plastic corrugated boards must be connected by abutting the ends without overlapping at the corners. In this case, the connection by the U-shaped or cone-shaped connecting members described above is not preferable because clearances occur between the ends of the corrugated boards.

Moreover, U-shaped or comb-shaped connecting members suffer from the disadvantage of being easily dislodged from the corrugated boards when subjected to forces in the direction opposite to the direction of inserting the connecting members. The same is true in the case of cliptype members or clip-type cover parts. Furthermore, plastic corrugated boards having step-ladder shaped end faces expose a number of holes which makes the product unattractive while increasing the likelihood of the container being broken or deformed. Similarly, end faces which are perpendicular to the extruded direction are unattractive in appearance and tend to be broken or deformed.

With the foregoing in mind, it is understood that a principal objective of the present invention is to provide an edge part which is difficult to be dislodged after being attached to an extruded formed plate and assembly featuring same.

According to the principles of the present invention, the edge part for an extruded formed plate has a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores. The edge part is attached to an end of the extruded formed plate. The edge part has a main edge part body having an abutting surface capable of abutting the end of the extruded formed plate. An anchoring portion is provided on the main edge part body on the side of the abutting surface and projecting therefrom and has a narrow portion at a position near the main edge part body.

By providing the inner cores of the extruded formed plates with a notch or slit corresponding to the anchoring portion, the -3anchoring portion is engaged in the notch or slit-. The edge part is difficult to be dislodged from the extruded formed plate. The edge part covers the end of the extruded formed plate so as to protect the end, thereby improving the durability of the extruded formed plate.

The invention will now be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figs. 1(a) - (c) are views showing various arrangements of the extruded formed plate and the edge part according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2(a) - (c) are views illustrating a method for forming the notches of the extruded formed plate according to the first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a view illustrating attachment of a modified edge part according to the first embodiment; Figs. 4(a) - (b) are views illustrating the extruded formed plate according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figs. 5(a) - (b) are views illustrating the attachment of the edge parts of the second embodiment; Figs. 6(a) - (f) are views illustrating various modified edge parts according to the first embodiment; Figs. 7(a) - (d) are views illustrating attachment of modified edge parts according to the second embodiment; Figs. 8(a) - (b) are views illustrating an extruded formed plate assembly according to the present invention; Figs. 9(a) - (c) are views showing modifications of the extruded formed plate according to the first embodiment; Figs. 10 (a) - (c) are views illustrating attachment of modifying edge parts to the extruded formed plate depicted in Fig. 9; and Figs. 11 (a) - (c) are views illustrating modifications of the edge part attached to the extruded formed plates shown in Fig. 9. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The extruded plate is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 in Figs. 1 (a) - (c) and consists of a face plate 2, a rear plate 3 and a plurality of inner cores for providing a step ladder-shaped cross-section (Fig. 1(a)). Each of the inner cores 4 is provided with a notch 5 which is generally T-shaped in configuration and which opens to the extruded end of the plate 1. The edge part designated generally by the reference numeral 6 is made from a plastic material and, as shown in Fig. 1 (b), can be attached to the end of the extruded plate 1 on the side of the notches 5. The edge part 6 is substantially H-shaped in cross-section. The lower Tshaped portion is inserted within the notches 5 of the inner cores 4 in a direction perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the cores 4, thereby enabling the edge part 6 to be attached to the extruded plate. Fig. 1(c) depicts the edge part 6 attached to the plate 1.

The process of forming the notches 5 of the plate 1 will be explained with reference to Fig. 2 (a). At the end of the extruded plate 1 on the side of the extruded direction the ends of the face and rear plates 2 and 3 extend beyond the inner cores 4, as seen in Fig. 2(a). Moreover, the main body 6 (b) of the edge part 6 is adapted to be seated within the recess 7 which is defined by the -5face and rear plates 2 and 3 of the inner cores 4. The inner cores 4 are formed with longitudinally disposed narrow notches Sa which extend in the extruded direction at the center of the width of the inner cores 4 by operation of the rotary cutter 8, as seen in Fig. 2(b). Thereafter, the inner cores 4 are formed with transverse notches 5b which are perpendicular to the longitudinally disposed notches 5a with the use of the rotary cutter 8, as seen in Fig. 2 (c). It is preferable to form the longitudinal notch 5a such that the lower end thereof slightly projects downwardly beyond the transverse notch 5b. This avoids interference of the distal end of the shaft of the rotary cutter 8 when forming the transverse notch 5b. After the extruded plate 1, as shown in Fig. 1 (a), is produced in the manner described above, the edge 6 is attached to the extruded plate 1 to complete the assembly which makes it possible to protect the end of the plate 1 while improving its aesthetic appearance. Instead of the edge part 6 depicted in Fig. 1(b) the edge part 10 shown in Fig. 3 may be employed, thus concealing even the ends of the face and rear plates 2 and 3.

Figs. 4(a) and (b) illustrate the second embodiment of the invention. The extruded formed plate 1 is provided with an inner core 4 which is formed with a slit 5d which is open at least one end in the extruded direction and which extends substantially over the length of the inner core in the extruded direction. The slit 5d is formed with a rotary cutter 8, as seen in Fig. 2(b).

The extruded plate 1 may be formed so as to permit an edge part 11 or 12, as shown in Figs. 5 (a) and (b), to be attached -6 thereto. Grooves 11a of the edge part 11 or 12 are configured to fold the inner core 4 inwardly when the edge part 11 or 12 has been attached to the extruded formed plate 1. With this Arrangement, removal of the edge part 11 or 12 is effectively prevented.

Figs. 6 (a) - (c) and (e) - (f) illustrate other edge parts 13 to 17. The edge parts 13-17 can be attached to the end of the extruded formed plate 1 in the extruded direction and at the same time function to connect a plurality of extruded formed plates 1.

The edge part 13 shown in Fig. 6(a) consist of two anchoring portions 13a which are simultaneously anchored to two extruded formed plates 1 which are co-extensively arranged, and with a main edge part body 13b having a rectangular cross-section including two abutting surfaces, respectively, against opposite ends of the two formed plates 1. The main edge part body 13b is adapted to be concealed by the f ace and rear plates 2 and 3 of the plates 1 connected to each other by the edge part 13. The edge part 14 shown in Fig. 6 (b) is arranged at a corner of the assembly and includes two anchoring portions 14a which extend in directions perpendicular to each other, respectively, and a main edge part body 14b having two surfaces abutting against the ends of the two extruded formed plates 1. The edge part 15, as seen in Fig. 6 (c), is also arranged at a corner of the assembly, and comprises two anchoring portions 15a and a main edge part body 15b having a butterfly-shaped cross-section. The main edge part body 15b has two members having a triangular cross-section whose apexes are connected to each other. These apexes of the edge members form an -7angle of 90, respectively. The main edge part body 15b is able to be bent at its center. Moreover, when the main edge part body 15b has been bent, the two edge members are in contact with each other bringing the two extruded formed plates 1 into positions at right angles to each other. The edge part 16, as seen in Fig. 6 (e), connects three extruded formed plates I into a T-shaped position and comprises three anchoring portions 16a and a main edge part body 16b. The edge part 17 shown in Fig. 6(f) connects the four extruded plates I into a cross-shaped position and includes four anchoring portion 17a and a main edge part body 17b which is hollow. Although the main edge part bodies 13b to 16b have been shown as solid it will be apparent that they may be hollow as indicated by the imaginary lines consisting of two dots and dashes.

In Figs. 7(a) - (c) there are illustrated other edge parts 1820. These edge parts 18-20 are attached to the ends of the extruded formed plates 1 in a direction perpendicular to the extruded direction and function to connect the plurality of plates 1. The edge part 18 shown in Fig. 7(a) consists of two anchoring portions 18a which are simultaneously attached to the two extruded formed plates 1, and a main edge part body 18b having a square cross-section and two surfaces which simultaneously abut against the ends of the two extruded formed plates 1. Anchoring port-Jons 18a are provided on opposite vertexes of the main edge part body 18b. The edge part 18 is provided with grooves adapted to receive the inner cores which are obliquely formed so as to bend the inner cores 4 slightly inwardly of the extruded formed plates 1 when the -8edge part 18 has been attached to the two extruded -formed panels 1. The anchoring portions 18a are concealed by the face and rear plates 2 and 3 of the two plates 1 connected to each other through the edge part 18. The edge part 19, as seen in Fig. 7 (b), also consists of two anchoring portions 19a simultaneously anchored to two extruded formed plates 1 coextensively arranged. The main edge part body 19b has a square cross-section having two surfaces which abut against the ends of the two extruded plates 1. Anchoring portions 19a are provided on opposite vertexes of the main edge part body 19b. When the two extruded formed plates 1 are connected, the main edge part body 19b is partially exposed to enhance the attractive appearance of the assembly. The edge part 20, shown in Fig. 7(c), is also arranged at a corner of the assembly and consists of two anchoring portions 20a and a main edge part body 20b including edge members having a square cross-section connected to each other at their vertexes. Anchoring portions 20a are provided at the other vertexes of the edge members, respectively. The vertexes of the edge members form an angle of 90, respectively. The main edge part body 20b is bendable at its connected portion. The bent edge members come into contact with each other to bring the two extruded form plates 1 into positions at right angles to each other, as seen in Fig. 7 (d). While the main edge part bodies 18b-20b of the edge portions 18-20 have been described and illustrated as being solid, it will be apparent that they may be hollow as suggested by the imaginary two-dot and dash lines.

An assembly is shown in 8 (a). This assembly consists of a bathtub cover 21 which is formed using edge parts 10, 12 and 15 permitting same to be rolled or wound about one another as seen in Fig. 8 (b). If the connected portion of the two edge members of the main body 15b of the edge part 15 is enlarged providing a sufficient distance between the adjacent, connected extruded formed plates, the bathtub cover 21 may be rolled or folded.

The edge parts cover the ends of the extruded formed plates 1 protecting these ends while improving the durability of the extruded formed plates 1. Moveover, the edge parts are difficult to be dislodged from the plate 1 and, thus, handling of the plate assembly is simplified.

Figs. 9 (a) - (c) illustrate the extruded formed plate 1 provided with a notch 5. The notch 5 as seen in Fig. 9 (a) consists of a longitudinally narrow notch 5a and a rhombus-shaped notch Se connected thereto. The longitudinal notch Sa is formed by the rotary cutter 8, as seen in Fig. 2b, while the notch Se is formed by a bobbinshaped rotary cutter 30, as seen in Fig. 9(a). To the end of the plate 1 shown in Fig. 9 (a) an edge part 6 similar to that shown in Fig. 1 may be attached. (See Fig. 1OW). Alternatively, an edge part 31 having a rhombus-shaped lower end in crosssection may be attached, as seen in Fig. 11a. The notch shown in Fig. 9 (b) consists of a longitudinally disposed narrow notch 5a and an inverted triangular notch 5f connected thereto. The longitudinal notch Sa is formed by using the rotary cutter 8 shown in Fig. 2 (b), while the notch 5f is formed by an inverted _10triangular rotary cutter 32, as seen in Fig. 9(b)-. To the end of the plate 1, as seen in Fig. 9(b), an edge part 6 similar to that shown in Fig. 1 may be attached, as seen in Fig. 10(b). Alternatively, an edge part 33 having an inverted triangular lower end in cross-section may be attached, as seen in Fig. 11(b). The notch shown in Fig. 9 (c) consists of a longitudinally disposed narrow notch 5a and a circular notch 5g connected thereto. The longitudinal notch 5a is formed by use of the rotary cutter 8 seen in Fig. 2(b) while the notch 5g is formed with a spherical rotary cutter 34, as shown in Fig. 9 (c). To the end of the extruded formed plate 1 seen in Fig. 9(c), an edge part 6 similar to that shown in Fig. I may be attached. As shown in Fig. 10(c) an edge part 35 having a circular lower end in cross-section may be attached as shown in Fig. 11(c).

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the edge part covers the ends of the extruded formed plates protecting the ends, thereby improving the durability of the extruded formed plates. Moreover, the edge part resists being dislodged from the extruded formed plates facilitating handling. Still further, the edge part is constructed to connect the extruded formed plate while preventing the ends of the plate from being damaged.

It will be apparent that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and modifications thereof which have been described. By way of exemplification but not limitation, while the inner cores 4 are formed with the notches 5 for attaching the edge part to the end of the extruded formed plate 1 in the extruded direction, the notches 5 may be provided only in some of the inner cores 4; the remaining inner cores 5 may be notched in order to avoid any possible interference with the edge part to be attached to the extruded formed plate 1.

Although the notch 5 is depicted on the side of the abutting surface, it can be formed to have a curved portion bent in its direction of width, while the anchoring portion of the edge part may be formed to have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the curved portion of the notch 5.

In addition, while the bathtub cover 21 is depicted as an extruded formed plate, it is possible by using thin or thick extruded formed plates to form assemblies such as toys, toy boxes, lids of toy boxes, cages, cases, chests, concrete forms, cases for small pets, boxes for tools and lumber supports. It should also be understood that in the edge parts 31, 33 and 35 of Fig. 11 (a) (c), a plurality of anchoring portions may be provided for connecting the extruded formed plates to each other.

Claims

-12CLAIMS

1. An edge part for an extruded formed plate having a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores, said edge part being attachable to an end of said extruded formed plate, said edge part comprising a main edge part body having a surface for positioning at or adjacent the end of said extruded formed plate and an anchoring portion provided on the main edge part body on the side of the abutting surface and projecting therefrom and having a narrow portion at a position near said main edge part body.

2. An edge part for an extruded formed plate having a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores, said edge part being attachable to the end of said formed plate, said edge part comprising a main edge part body having a surface for positioning at or adjacent the end of said extruded formed plate, and an anchoring portion provided on the main edge part body on the side of the abutting surface and projecting therefrom and having a curved portion bent in its width direction.

3. An edge part as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said surface is arranged so as to abut against the end of said extruded formed plate..

4. An extruded formed plate assembly, comprising:

an extruded formed plate having a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores, an edge part for the extruded formed plate attached to an end of said extruded formed plate, said edge part for the extruded formed plate comprising a main edge part body having a surface positioned at or adjacent the end of said extruded formed body, and an anchoring portion provided on the main edge part body on the side of the abutting surface and projecting therefrom and having a narrow portion at a position near said main edge part body, said extruded formed plate consisting of an opening at the end in the extruded direction corresponding to said narrow portion and a notch permitting said anchoring portion to be fitted thereto in the direction perpendicular to the main surfaces of said inner cores.

5. An extruded formed plate assembly, comprising an extruded formed plate having a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores, and an edge part for the extruded formed plate, said edge part being attached to an end of said extruded formed plate and having a main edge part body having a surface at or adjacent the end of said extruded formed body, and an anchoring portion provided on the main edge part body on the side of the abutting surface and projecting therefrom and having a curved portion bent in its direction of width, said extruded formed plate -14comprising a portion opening at the end in the extruded direction corresponding to said curved portion, and a notch permitting said anchoring portion to be fitted thereto in the direction perpendicular to the main surfaces of said inner cores.

6. An extruded formed plate assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which said surface abuts against the end of said extruded formed body.

7. An edge plate for an extruded formed plate having a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores, said edge plate comprising a main edge portion having a surface for forming an edge to said extruded plate and an anchoring portion for cooperation with said extruded formed plate to anchor said edge plate in position.

8. An edge plate as claimed in claim 7, in which the main edge portion fits between the face plate and the rear plate.

9. An edge plate as claimed in claim 7, in which the main edge portion is wider than the gap between the face plate and the rear plate, is adapted to overlap the edges of the face plate and the rear plate and includes projections which extend partly over the outer surfaces of the face plate and the rear plate.

10. An edge plate as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 in which said anchoring portion is connected to said main edge portion by a portion narrower than the anchoring portion and the main edge portion.

-is-

11. An edge plate as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, in which said anchoring portion is adapted to cooperate with and anchor to part of said inner cores.

12. An edge plate as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, in which said anchoring portion is of oblong, circular, triangular, diamond shaped or strip like cross section.

13. An edge plate as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 12, which includes two or more anchoring portions each for cooperation with an extruded edge plate.

14. An extruded formed plate having a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores to which at least one edge plate as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 13 is anchored.

15. At least two extruded formed plates each comprising a face plate, a rear plate and inner cores, at least two of said formed plates being connected one to another by an edge plate as claimed in any of claims 7 to 13.

16. An edge plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.

17. A combination of one or more extruded formed plates and one or more edge plates substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.