GB2371843A

GB2371843A - Panel connector

Info

Publication number: GB2371843A
Application number: GB0102476A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chris Coombs
Original assignee: HANDS OF WYCOMBE A DIVISION OF
Current assignee: HANDS OF WYCOMBE A DIVISION OF
Priority date: 2001-01-31
Filing date: 2001-01-31
Publication date: 2002-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-31
Also published as: GB0102476D0; GB2371843B

Abstract

A device for drawing together first and second panels (2,3) spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship is disclosed. The device comprises a cam member (13) configured to extend from the back (4) of a first panel (2) for insertion through an aperture (22) in a second panel (3) and has an arcuate cam surface (19) thereon, and a cam follower (29) for attachment to the front (23) of the second panel (3) in the region of the aperture (22). When two panels (2,3) are positioned spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship with the cam member (13) inserted in the aperture (22) so as to extend though the second panel (3), the cam member (13) is rotatable in a first direction to bring the arcuate cam surface (19) into engagement with the cam follower (29), further rotation of the cam member (13) in the first direction causing the first and second panels (2,3) to be drawn linearly toward each other as the cam follower (29) travels along the arcuate cam surface (19). Electrical terminals mounted in the panels (2,3) may be connected together when the panels (2,3) are drawn toward each other. The panels (2,3) may be part of two items of furniture.

Description

Panel Connector

Description The present invention relates to a device for drawing together and joining two panels which are arranged spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship. One panel may form part of an item of furniture such as a desk or work station and the other panel part of a second similar item of furniture, the device being operable to draw together and join the two pieces. An electrical terminal may be mounted in one panel for connection to a corresponding terminal in the other panel when the panels are joined so that wiring from electrical components placed on or incorporated in each desk or work station may be connected through the pair of panels via the terminals.

In an office environment it is common to find a number of desks or work stations positioned adjacent to each other, each of them being provided with their own computer terminal and other electrical equipment. To provide power to the electrical equipment and to connect each computer to a server or other communications network, it is generally necessary for each desk to be positioned in the vicinity of a power supply and network sockets. This is normally achieved by installing the appropriate cables in a space beneath the floor which terminate in junction boxes located next to or beneath each desk. Each junction box is fitted with the necessary sockets and communication ports for connection of the computer and other associated electrical equipment on each desk. Often, the cables from the electrical components on or in each desk hang down the outside of the desk or are passed through concealed wiring conduits integral with the desk to the floor where connection can then be made with the sockets provided in the junction box closest to that desk.

A disadvantage with the arrangement described above is that it is difficult and time consuming to fit under floor cabling and junction boxes next to every, or the majority of desks. Furthermore, following installation, re-arrangement of the office space involving movement of the desks is not possible unless the junction box associated with each desk is re-positioned and the cabling re-run. This generally

requires major upheaval of the office space and is not a viable option in the majority of circumstances. Although extension leads can be used to alleviate this problem, it is dangerous to have leads trailing across the floor. Furthermore, visible cables can have a detrimental effect on the overall appearance of the office space.

It is one object of the present invention to provide means for drawing together and joining two spaced parallel panels positioned in a back-to-back relationship. The invention also seeks to overcome or substantially alleviate the problems described above.

According to the invention, there is provided a device for drawing together first and second panels spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship comprising a cam member configured to extend from the back of a first panel for insertion through an aperture in a second panel and having an arcuate cam surface thereon, and a cam follower for attachment to the front of the second panel in the region of the aperture, the device being configured such that, when two panels are positioned spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship with the cam member inserted in the aperture so as to extend through the second panel, the cam member is rotatable in a first direction to bring the arcuate cam surface into engagement with the cam follower, further rotation of the cam member in the first direction causing the first and second panels to be drawn linearly toward each other as the cam follower travels along the arcuate cam surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the cam member includes a second arcuate cam surface thereon, the device being configured such that when two panels are positioned together in back-to-back relationship, rotation of the cam member in a direction opposite to the first causes the cam follower to travel along the second arcuate cam surface and linearly move the panels apart.

The first and second arcuate cam surfaces are conveniently defined by the walls of a slot formed in the cam member.

Preferably, the cam follower seats at the base of the slot between the first and second arcuate cam surfaces when the panels have been drawn together, thereby preventing separation of the panels.

The cam member preferably travels through an angle of approximately 90 degrees between a first position in which the cam member is insertable through the aperture in the second panel and a second position in which the panels have been drawn together with the cam follower seated at the base of the slot, the cam member extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the panels in its second position.

In one embodiment, the cam follower extends between two parallel side walls of a sleeve mountable on the second panel about the aperture which receives the cam member when inserted therethrough.

The sleeve and cam member preferably include co-operating surfaces that make contact to prevent further insertion of the cam member through the aperture whilst the cam member is in its first position thereby ensuring that the first arcuate cam surface makes contact with the cam follower in response to rotation of the cam member.

In a preferred embodiment, sleeve includes a slot formed in an end wall extending between the free ends of the side walls through which the cam member protrudes when inserted through the aperture, the co-operating surfaces comprising a shoulder on the cam surface which communicates with a portion of the end wall surrounding the slot.

Advantageously, the cam member is pivotally mounted within a slot in a carrier rigidly mountable to the back of the first panel so as to extend substantially at right angles therefrom.

Preferably, the dimensions of carrier are slightly smaller than that of the aperture in the second panel to enable insertion of the carrier through the aperture.

The cam member is attached to the carrier, in a preferred embodiment, such that rotation of the cam member is possible only in response to the application of pressure thereto, the cam member being retained in a selected position when released.

A boss is advantageously formed on the free end of the cam member for attachment of a extension arm thereto.

The cam member is preferably a lever and the cam follower is a cylindrical pin.

In a preferred embodiment, the device is mounted to first and second panels to enable them to be drawn together in response to operation of the device. The first panel preferably includes a male electrical terminal mounted thereto for connection with a female electrical terminal mounted to the second panel, the female electrical terminal being received in the male terminal to effect an electrical connection between them when the panels are drawn together.

According to one preferred embodiment, linear separation of the male and female electrical terminals occurs in response to rotation of the cam member in the opposite direction.

The present invention also provides at least two pieces of furniture, each piece incorporating a panel, the panels being fitted with the device according to the invention to draw the two pieces of furniture together in response to operation of the device.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of drawing together first and second panels spaced from each other in a parallel backto-back relationship using a device according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: a) positioning the first and second panels spaced from each other in a parallel back to back relationship with the cam member inserted through the aperture in the second panel,

b) rotating the cam member in a first direction to bring the arcuate cam surface into engagement with the cam follower, c) further rotating the cam member in the first direction to cause the first and second panels to be drawn linearly toward each other as the cam follower travels along the arcuate cam surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the cam follower extends between two parallel side walls of a sleeve and step (a) includes the step of inserting the cam member through the aperture until co-operating surfaces on the cam member and sleeve make contact thereby preventing further insertion of the cam member through the aperture.

Preferably, the method includes the step of rotating the cam member in the opposite direction to cause the cam follower to travel along the second arcuate cam surface and separate the panels.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the device fitted to a pair of panels before insertion of the cam member through the aperture; Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the back of the second panel shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 during insertion of the cam member through the aperture; Figure 4 illustrates a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 illustrates the partial cross-sectional perspective view of Figure 3 following partial rotation of the cam member; Figure 6 illustrates a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 illustrates the partial cross-sectional perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 5 following further rotation of the cam member; Figure 8 illustrates the side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 illustrates the partial cross-sectional perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 7 following complete rotation of the cam member;

Figure 10 illustrates a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 9. Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the device comprising two main components 1A, lB is shown in Figure 1, each component 1A, 1B being mounted to first and second vertical panels 2,3 respectfully. The first and second panels 2,3 are only partially illustrated but may form the side or end walls of part of two pieces of furniture such as desks or work stations (not shown) which are to be positioned adjacent to each other with the back surfaces 4,5 of the first and second panels 2,3 in contact. The first panel 2 has a pair of female electrical connectors 6 mounted in an opening 7 therein and the second panel 3 has a pair of male electrical connectors 8 (see Figure 2) mounted in an opening 9 therein in a position corresponding to the position of the female connectors 6 such that the male connectors 8 are received in the female connectors 6 when the panels 2,3 are drawn together in response to operation of the device to effect an electrical connection between the connectors, as will be explained in more detail below. Wires (not shown) from electronic equipment and/or computers associated with each desk may be connected through the panels 2,3 by passing them through the apertures 7,9 and by plugging them into the connectors 6,8 mounted in the panels 2,3 so that the wires on either side of a pair of joined panels 2,3 are in electrical connection with each other through the panels 2,3 via the connectors 6,8. It will be appreciated that any number of electrical connectors 6,8 can be mounted in the panels 2,3 and that any number of wires from electrical equipment or computers associated with a series of different work stations can be connected together through the panels 2,3 in the same way. It will be appreciated that as the wiring passes through each desk via the connectors 6,8 in each panel 2,3, a dedicated junction box for each desk is no longer required. Instead, only the end or"host"desk or workstation in the series to which the wiring from all the desks in the series passes needs to be positioned adjacent a junction box for connection of all the equipment and computers associated with that series of desks to a source of power.

The construction of the device will now be explained with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The first component 1A of the device includes an elongate body or carrier 10 having one end rigidly mounted to the back 4 of the first panel 2 to extend at

right angles from the plane of the panel 2. In the present embodiment, the body 10 is attached to the first panel 2 using a bolt (not shown) passing through the panel 2 into a threaded nut 11 inserted in an aperture in the body 10. A slot 12 is formed in the free end of the body 12 remote from the first panel 2 and a cam member or toggle bar 13 is received within the slot 12. The cam member 13 is pivotally mounted to the body 10 within the slot with a fastener 14. The fastener 14 is tightened sufficiently to enable rotation of the cam member 13 relative to the body 10 about the pivot only in response to the application of pressure thereto by a user so that the cam member 13 retains the position in which it is placed when released, i. e. the cam member 13 will remain in the position shown in Figure 1 when released and will not pivot about the fastener 14 under gravity alone.

The cam member 13 is an elongate bar having a substantially rectangular cross section with top and bottom edges 15,16. The top edge 15 has a step in it so as to form a shoulder 17, the reason for which will become apparent. The bottom side wall 16 has a slot 18 cut into it which is defined by arcuate side walls 19,20 that meet at the base 20a of the slot 18. The free end of the cam member 13 remote from the pivot has a boss 25 thereon for attachment of a extension bar or tool to provide leverage when the cam member 13 is rotated to draw the panels 2,3 together.

The second panel 3 has an aperture 22 therein (see Figure 2) and the second component 1B comprises a sleeve 21 mounted to the front surface 23 of the second panel 3 over the aperture 22. The aperture 22 has slightly larger dimensions than the dimensions of the body 10 so that the body 10 will pass snugly into the aperture 22. The sleeve 21 has an integral flange 24 provided with a plurality of holes 24a for the passage of screws (not shown) to attach the sleeve 21 to the front surface 23 of the second panel 3. The sleeve 21 has a pair of parallel side walls 26 connected by a top and an end wall 27,28 remote from the flange 24. The bottom of the sleeve 21 between the side walls 26 is open and has a cam follower 29 in the form of a pin extending between them. A slotted opening 30 is formed in the end wall 28 of the sleeve 21 which extends from the open bottom towards the top wall 27 but stops short of it.

The device functions to draw the first and second panels 2, 3 together and retain them in position. It also draws the male connector 8 into the female connector 6 thereby effecting an electrical connection between the wires attached to each connector 6,8 through the first and second panels 2,3. Operation of the device will now be explained with reference to Figures 3 to 8. The first and second panels 2,3 are positioned spaced from each other in parallel back-to-back relationship and the cam member 13 and carrier 10 are inserted through the aperture 22 in the second panel 3 in the direction indicated by arrow A in Figure 3 whilst the cam member 13 is in the orientation shown most clearly in Figure 1. The cam member 13 protrudes through the slot 30 in the end wall 28 of the sleeve 21. Further insertion of the cam member 13 is prevented when the shoulder 17 makes contact with the end wall 28 of the sleeve 21 between the end of the slot 30 and the top wall 27. When this occurs, the panels 2,3 are still spaced from each other by distance X, as most clearly shown in Figure 4.

Next, the cam member 13 is pivoted downwardly with respect to the carrier 10 in the direction shown by arrow B in Figure 5 and 6. The bottom edge 16 of the cam member 13 just clears the pin 29 as the cam member 13 is rotated. Continued rotation brings the arcuate cam surface 19 into contact with the pin 29. Figures 7 and 8 show the position of the cam member just before contact between the arcuate cam surface 19 and the pin 29 is made. Further rotation of the cam member 13 in the direction of arrow B causes the pin 29 to travel along the arcuate cam surface 19. As the pin 29 travels along this surface 19, the panels 2,3 are drawn together in the direction of arrow C. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the arrangement when the panels 2,3 are together following operation of the device. The cam member 13 has travelled through an angle of approximately 90 degrees from its angle of insertion through the aperture 22 in the second panel 3, and the pin 29 is now seated in the base 20a of the slot 18 between the first and second arcuate cam surfaces 19,20.

The panels 2,3 are retained in position by virtue of the position of the pin 29 in the base 21 of the slot 18.

To separate the panels 2, 3, the cam member 13 is rotated in the opposite direction.

This causes the pin 29 to travel along the second arcuate cam surface 20 thereby forcing the panels 2,3 apart in the opposite direction to the direction in which they moved together.

It will be appreciated that the panels always remain parallel to each other as they are drawn together and separated. This linear motion of the panels toward and away from each other ensures that the electrical connectors are lined up precisely at all times and damage to the electrical connectors due to misalignment during connection is prevented.

An extension bar (not shown) may be fitted to the boss 25 on the free end of the cam member if additional leverage is required to bring the panels 2,3 together by rotating the cam member 13.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides an improved and easier way of joining two panels 2,3 forming part of two items of furniture. It also ensures that precise alignment of the panels 2,3 is maintained when they are drawn together so that connection and separation of electrical connectors 6,8 mounted in the panels 2,3 is achieved smoothly.

Many modifications and variations of the invention falling within the scope of the following claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the foregoing description should be regarded as a description of the preferred embodiments only.

Claims

1. A device for drawing together first and second panels spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship comprising a cam member configured to extend from the back of a first panel for insertion through an aperture in a second panel and having an arcuate cam surface thereon, and a cam follower for attachment to the front of the second panel in the region of the aperture, the device being configured such that, when two panels are positioned spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship with the cam member inserted in the aperture so as to extend through the second panel, the cam member is rotatable in a first direction to bring the arcuate cam surface into engagement with the cam follower, further rotation of the cam member in the first direction causing the first and second panels to be drawn linearly toward each other as the cam follower travels along the arcuate cam surface.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the cam member includes a second arcuate cam surface thereon, the device being configured such that when two panels are positioned together in back-to-back relationship, rotation of the cam member in a direction opposite to the first causes the cam follower to travel along the second arcuate cam surface and linearly move the panels apart.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first and second arcuate cam surfaces are defined by the walls of a slot formed in the cam member.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the cam follower seats at the base of the slot between the first and second arcuate cam surfaces when the panels have been drawn together, thereby preventing separation of the panels.

5. A device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cam member travels through an angle of approximately 90 degrees between a first position in which the cam member is insertable through the aperture in the second panel and a second position in which the panels have been drawn together with the cam follower seated

at the base of the slot, the cam member extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the panels in its second position.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the cam follower extends between two parallel side walls of a sleeve mountable on the second panel about the aperture which receives the cam member when inserted therethrough.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the sleeve and cam member include co-operating surfaces that make contact to prevent further insertion of the cam member through the aperture whilst the cam member is in its first position to thereby ensure that the first arcuate cam surface makes contact with the cam follower in response to rotation of the cam member.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve includes a slot formed in an end wall extending between the free ends of the side walls through which the cam member protrudes when inserted through the aperture, the co-operating surfaces comprising a shoulder on the cam surface which communicates with a portion of the end wall surrounding the slot.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the cam member is pivotally mounted within a slot in a carrier rigidly mountable to the back of the first panel so as to extend substantially at right angles therefrom.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the dimensions of carrier are slightly smaller than that of the aperture in the second panel to enable insertion of the carrier through the aperture.

11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the cam member is attached to the carrier such that rotation of the cam member is possible only in response to the application of pressure thereto, the cam member being retained in a selected position when released.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein a boss is formed on the free end of the cam member for attachment of a extension arm thereto.

13. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the cam member is a lever.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the cam follower is a cylindrical pin.

15. A device according to any of claims 1 to 14 mounted to first and second panels to enable them to be drawn together in response to operation of the device, the first panel including a male electrical terminal mounted thereto for connection with a female electrical terminal mounted to the second panel, the female electrical terminal being received in the male terminal to effect an electrical connection between them when the panels are drawn together.

16. A device according to claim 13 when dependent on claim 2, wherein linear separation of the male and female electrical terminals occurs in response to rotation of the cam member in the opposite direction.

17. At least two pieces of furniture fitted with the device according to any preceding claim to draw the pieces together in response to operation of the device.

18. A method of drawing together first and second panels spaced from each other in a parallel back-to-back relationship using a device according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of : a) positioning the first and second panels spaced from each other in a parallel back to back relationship with the cam member inserted through the aperture in the second panel, b) rotating the cam member in a first direction to bring the arcuate cam surface into engagement with the cam follower,

c) further rotating the cam member in the first direction to cause the first and second panels to be drawn linearly toward each other as the cam follower travels along the arcuate cam surface.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the cam follower extends between two parallel side walls of a sleeve and step (a) includes the step of inserting the cam member through the aperture until co-operating surfaces on the cam member and sleeve make contact thereby preventing further insertion of the cam member through the aperture.

20. A method according to claim 18 or 19, using a device according to claim 2, including the step of rotating the cam member in the opposite direction to cause the cam follower to travel along the second arcuate cam surface and separate the panels.

21. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method substantially as hereinbefore described.