GB2311278A

GB2311278A - Corner guard

Info

Publication number: GB2311278A
Application number: GB9702311A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chye Keong Alan Lau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-19
Filing date: 1997-02-05
Publication date: 1997-09-24
Also published as: ID16777A; GB9702311D0; SG88718A1

Abstract

A corner protecting device is formed of two component parts (10,11,12,13) with male/female connection means to allow for slidable interconnection of the parts to thereby provide for ready adaptation and fitting of the device to corners of differing dimensions.

Description

A CORNER PROTECTING DEVICE This invention relates to a corner protecting device for protection of a corner of a picture frame, table top or any object with a corner which would otherwise be susceptible to damage during transit or the like.

A known form of comer protecting device consists of a single piece of cardboard .olded and secured into a predetermined sized triangular prism shape. The shape of such a device is complimentary to a corner of particular dimension only and a separately designed and constructed device must be provided for protection of differently dimensioned corners.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a protecting device which is more readily adapted to fit corners having different dimensions.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a corner protecting device for protection of a corner of an object including a first component part having a first body portion and a second component part having a second body portion, the first and second body portions including first and second connection means, respectively, arranged whereby the first and second component parts are adapted to be slidably interconneicted.

Preferably, the first connection means is arranged to be slidably received within the second connection means.

Preferably, the second connection means comprises at least one sleeve member and the first connection means comprises an associated at least one male member for inter:erence fit in the sleeve member.

Preferably, each of the body portions include two generally planar wall portions, adapted to overlap when the first and second component parts are interconnected.

Preferably, the first connection means of the first component part comprises three male members, two of which are disposed at rernote ends of the wall portions and the third being disposed adjacent proximate ends of the wall portions.

Preferably, the second connection means comprises three sleeve members disposed at corresponding locations on the second component part Preferably, the first and second connection means are joined to the wall portions and extend parallel to the ends of the wall portions.

Preferably, the sleeve members include elongate slots for accommodating the join between the male members and the wall portions of the second connection means.

Preferably, the first and second component parts each include a retention element for engaging a respective side of the object.

Preferably, the retention element of each component part extends transverseiy of the respective wall portions, along a lateral side of the respective body portions Preferably, the retention element is the form of a triangular flange extending from the remote ends of the wall portions to the adjacent ends thereof, such that the component parts form a generally triangular prism shape when interconnected.

Preferably, the wall portions, connection means and retention element of each component part are integrally molded.

The invention is more flilly described, by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first component part of the device of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second component part of the device of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device in a first condition, showing the first and second components interconnected; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 3 in a second condition; and Figure 5 illustrates the device of Figures 3 and 4, attached to a corner of a picture frame.

Figures 1 and 2, show a first component part 2 and a second component part 3 which are adapted to be interconnected to form a corner protecting device (shown in Figures 3 to 5, and designated by reference numeral 1). Each of the first and second component parts 2, 3 comprise a main body portion 4, 5 and a retention element 6, 7 respectively.

The body portions 4, 5 include respective first and second connection means 8, 9 and wall portions, 10, 11 and 12, 13. The first connection means 8 is in the form of three elongate male members 14, 15, 16 and the second connection means 9 is in the form of three associated sleeve members 17, 18, 19.

The members 14,15, 1 6 are fixed to the wall portions, 10, 11 with two of the members 14, 16 being disposed parallel to and adjacent remote ends 20, 21 of the wall portions 10, 11, and the third member 15 being disposed parallel to and adjacent an apex formed by proximate ends 22, 23 of the wall portions 10, 11.

The retention element 6 is in the form of a triangular flange 24 which extends between the wall portions 10, 11, from their proximate ends 22, 23 through to their remote ends 20, 21.

The construction of the second component part 3 is substantially similar to that of the first component part with the wall portions 12, 14, retention element 7 and members 17, 18, 19 of the second component part being in a generally corresponding configuration to those of the first component part so that the elongate male members 14, 15, 16 can slidably interconnect in interference fit with the sleeve members 17, 18, 19 as shown in Figure 3. Each of the sleeve members 17, 18, 19 include an elongate slot 30 for accommodating the join between the male members 14, 15, 16 and the wall portions 10, 11.

The wall portions 10, 11 and 12, 13 of each body portion 4, 5 are preferably arranged at right angles so as to fonn, with the retention elements 6, 7, a generally isosceles triangular prism structure when the two component parts 2, 3 are interconnectew The sliding interconnection of the first and second connection means 8, 9 allows the width dimension 'W' of the prism structure to be varied in a telescopic manner between, for example, the fully extended first condition shown in Figure 3 and a fully contacted second condition illustrated in Figure 4. As such, the device may be fitted to a relatively thick picture frame 25 with depth WI, as shown in Figure 5, or readily adapted to fit a thinner frame (indicated by phantom line 26) with a smaller depth W2.

In either case the component part 2, 3 provide protection to the corner of the frame, particularly due to the overlapping wall portions.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the device is secured against displacement away from the frame by friction fit resulting from retention elements 6, 7 being biased against the frame. It is therefore preferable that the elements 6, 7 have some resilience and may, for example, be formed of suitable plastics material such as P.V.C by a molding process in which the body portions 4, 5 and the respective retention elements are integrally molded.

The retention elements 6, 7 need not, however, be in the form of a triangular flange and may, for example simply comprise elongate straps or the like extending between respective wall portions 10, 11 and 12, 13. Additionally, the elements 6, 7 may have surface structure to enhance retention of the device 1 to the frame 25 and/or be molded to conform to structural features (not shown), such as a peripheral rib or the like, of the frame.

As may also be appreciated, the specific construction, and positioning of the first and second connection means may be varied as required. For example, only the first and second male members 14, 16 and corresponding sleeve members 17, 19 need be provided at any suitable location along the wall portions, and the third male member 15 and associated sleeve member 18 dispensed with Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings.

Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A corner protecting device for protection of a comer of an object, including a first component part having a first body portion and a second component part having a second body portion, the first and second body portions including first and second connection means, respectively, arranged whereby the first and second component parts are adapted to be slidably interconnected.
2. A corner protecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection means is adapted to be slidably received within the second connection means.
3. A comer protecting device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the second connection means comprises at least one sleeve member and the first connection means comprises an associated at least one male member for interference fit in the sleeve member.
4. A corner protecting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second component parts each include a retention element for engaging a respective side of the object.
5. A corner protecting device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the body portions include two generally planar wall portions, adapted to overlap when the first and second component parts are interconnected.
6. A comer protecting device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first connection means of the first component part comprises three male members, two of which are disposed at remote ends of the wall portions and the third being disposed adjacent proximate ends of the wall portions.
7. A comer protecting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second connection means comprises three sleeve members disposed at corresponding locations on the second component part
8. A corner protecting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sleeve members include elongate slots for accommodating ajoin between the male members and the wall portions of the second connection means.
9. A corner protecting device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first and second connection means are joined to the wall portions and extend parallel to the ends of the wall portions.
10. A corner protecting device as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the first and second component parts each include a retention element for engaging a respective side of the object.
11. A corner protecting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the retention element of each component part extends transversely of the respective wall portions, along a lateral side of the respective body portion.
12. A corner protecting device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the retention element of each component is the form of a triangular flange extending from the remote ends of the wall portions to the adjacent ends thereof, such that the component parts orm a generally triangular prism shape when interconnected.
13. A corner protecting device as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the wall portions, connection means and retention element of each component part are integrally molded.
14. A corner protector for retention on the corner of an object during transit or storage, the protector comprising two slidably interengagable portions, whereby the wicth of the protector is adjustable.
15. A corner protecting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.