GB2435680A

GB2435680A - Detachable connection pole for furniture

Info

Publication number: GB2435680A
Application number: GB0604277A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julian Frazer Aydon Wise
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-03
Filing date: 2006-03-03
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Also published as: GB0604277D0

Abstract

A detachable connection pole for furniture includes a post 4, a collar 1 attached towards an end of the post 4 and a plate 6 releasably attached to the end of the post 4 via a threaded stud 7. In use, the pole engages with a slot system 10 incorporated within an item of furniture 9.

Description

DETACHABLE CONNECTION POLE FOR FURNITURE

This invention relates to a detachable connection pole of the type which is employed in the manufacture and assembly of tables and other articles of furniture.

Connection joints employed to connect furniture components are well known, but suffer the disadvantage that they can be technically difficult to detach and require tools or complex and therefor time consuming to detact or simply do not provide sufficient strength between furniture components or a combination of all of these.While some systems of a threaded stud positioned on the underside of a table top with a table leg that screws on to the stud can provide an aesthetically desirable means of connection it will not neccessarily provide a structurally strong means. Similarly a glued,jointed or welded connection may provide a structurally sound connection between a table top and leg for example but may not offer an easy flatpack or self assembly solution.

An object of this invention is to provide a strong connection joint between the various components of furniture whilst also providing a quick and simple means for the detachment of these components. Conversly another object of the invention is to provide a quick and simple means for the re-attachment of furniture components. In such a manner various articles of furniture can be flat packed and re-assembled in a quick and simple and yet structurally strong way.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a slot system incorporated within various furniture components which can receive a detachable connection pole.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide the detachable connection pole comprising a post, a collar attached towards the top end thereof and a plate releasably secured to the top of the post by way of a threaded stud and insert or similar means.The plate can be adjustably positioned in relationship to the top of the post and can therefor be moved towards or away from the collar attached to the post, in such manner that the plate and collar can clamp furniture components via the slot system.Another embodiment of the present invention includes a second collar positioned towards the bottom end of said post with a second plate releasably secured and adjustably positioned on the bottom of the post.

Preferably the detachable connection pole is made of metal or wood but may instead be made of other materials such as plastics or may be from a combination of materials.The post, collar and plate may be of another shape in cross section such as square or triangular rather than circular. In addition, a height adjustment foot of known invention may be fitted to the base of the post.

The preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a view of the embodiment of Fig 1 illustrating the motion of the top plate when the post is rotated; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the embodiment of Fig 1; Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention including a second connection point located on the lower end of the post; Figure 5 shows a view of the embodiment of Fig 4 illustrating the motion of the top plate and bottom plate when the post is rotated; Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig 4 including a solid post; Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of Fig 4 wherein the post is composed of two separate rotatable parts; Figure 8 shows a view of the embodiment of Fig 7 illustrating the motion of the top plate and bottom plate when both parts of the post are rotated; Figure 9 shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig 7 including a solid two part post; Figure 10 shows a cross sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of Fig 1 wherein the collar is positioned in a recess located nearer the top of the post; Figure 11 shows a view of a variation of the embodiment of Fig 1 wherein the top plate and the collar are in the form of a square; Figure 12 shows a cross sectional view of a variation of the embodiment of Fig 1 wherein the collar has a larger diameter than the top plate; Figure 13 shows a variation of the embodiment of Fig 1 wherein the plug has been substituted for an internal tube and threaded tube insert; Figure 14 shows a view of another embodiment of the present invention including a second connection point located part way down the post; Figure 15 shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Fig 14; Figure 16 illustrates the separation of the connection pole as shown in Figs 1-9 from a

slot in a table top.

Figure 1 7 illustrates the separation of the connection pole as shown in Figs 1 -9 from another style of slot in a table top.

Figure 18 illustrates the separation of the connection pole as shown in Fig 10 from a shallow profile slot in a table top.

Figure 19 illustrates the separation of the connection pole as shown in Fig 10 from another style of shallow profile slot in a table top.

Figure 20 illustrates the separation of the connection pole as shown in Fig 11 from yet another style of shallow profile slot in a table top.

Figure 2lillustrates the separation of the connection pole as shown in Fig 11 from a separate extruded slot attached to a table top or other furniture component.

Figure 22 illustrates the attachment of the connection pole using a hole rather than a slot

in a table top.

Figure 23 illustrates the attachment of two furniture components with elongated slots, to the top of a connection pole.

Figure 24 illustrates the attachment of two furniture components with short semi-circular slots to the top of a connection pole.

Figure 25 illustrates the attachment of one furniture components to the top of the connection pole and shows another attached lower down the connection pole.

Referring to the drawings the detachable connection pole comprises a collar 1 in the form of a washer which is mounted in and rotatable around a recess 2 positioned between post sleeve 3 and post 4.The plug 5 runs through the centre of post sleeve 3 and is attached within the end of post 4 by way of an adhesive, thread, compression fit or similar means.

Plate 6 is welded or by similar means attached to a threaded stud 7 which in turn is releasably secured into the top of plug 5 by way of a threaded hole 8.

In order to detach the connection pole from a table top 9 or other furniture component the post 4 is rotated, simultaneously causing plate 6 and the attached threaded stud 7 to wind out of the threaded hole 8, as illustrated in Fig 2. Once the collar 1 and plate 6 have moved apart the connection pole is in the unclamped mode and can be detached from the slot 10 as shown in Fig 16.To re-attach the connection pole the steps described above are carried out in the reverse sequence.

In order to simultaneously detach the double ended connection pole as shown in Figs 4-6 from two or more furniture components for example shelving, the post 4 or post 27 is rotated causing plate 6 and 11 and their attached threaded studs 7 and 1 2 to wind out of the threaded holes 8 and 13 as illustrated in Fig 5.To allow the plates 6 and 11 to simultaneously wind out when the post 4 is rotated the threaded stud 12 and threaded hole 13 have been fitted with left handed threads as opposed to the right handed threads of stud 7 and hole 8. Once the plates 6 and 11 have moved apart from their corresponding collars 1 and 14 the pole is unclamped and can be detached.To re-attach the connection pole the steps described above are carried out in the reverse sequence.

In order to detach the double ended connection pole as shown in Figs 7-8 from two or more furniture components, firstly post 15 is rotated to enable plate 6 and collar 1 to move apart thus allowing the pole to unclamp from, for example a shelf. Secondly, the post 16 is rotated, plate 11 and collar 14 made to move apart, finally allowing the pole to detach from the remaining furniture component. Alternatively posts 15 and 16 can be held as one and rotated to simultaneously detach the furniture components as shown in Fig 8. For the solid two part embodiment shown in Fig 9 the same proceedure is adopted for the detachment of the pole, but instead uses posts 21 and 22.To re-attach the connection pole the steps described above are carried out in the reverse sequence.

The threaded stud 1 2 and threaded hole 13 on the connection pole shown in Figs 7-9 can be fitted with right handed threads so that plates 6 and 11 can move apart from their corresponding collars 1 and 14 and unclamp furniture components when the posts 15 and 16 or posts 21 and 22 are rotated in oposite directions.

The embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figs 7-9 incorporates a rotatable connection within posts 15 and 16 and posts 21 and 22 which allows them to rotate independently or together. For the hollow pole variation shown in Figs 7 and 8 the connection is made using a lower pole insert 1 7 which is inserted and attached part way down its length into the top of post 16. A second upper post insert 18 is attached within the post 15, both inserts 17 and 18 are attached to their corresponding posts 16 and 15 by way of an adhesive,thread, compression fit or similar means. Inserts 17 and 18 and thus posts 15 and 16 are held together using a bolt 19 and locking nut 20 or similar means, but are allowed to freely rotate around the protruding external surface of the lower post insert 17, attached in the end of post 16 and the internal surface of post 15.

For the solid pole version as shown in Fig 9 the sleeved lower end of post 21 is rotatably secured over and around the protruding upper end of post 22 using a bolt 23 and locking nut 24 or similar means,and inserts 25 adhered,threaded, compression fitted or similar, into bore holes 26. Instead of needing plugs 5 to provide the threaded holes 8 and 13 for the attachment of plates 6 and 11 on to posts 15 and 16 as shown in Figs 7, the threaded holes 8 and 13 are bored directly into the solid posts 21 and 22 as shown in Fig 9.This method can also be adopted to attach plates 6 and 11 on to post 27 as shown in Fig 6.

In order for a connection pole to detach and therefore re-attach to a table top with a shallowprofileslotasshown in Figs 18-21 thecollarl can bepositioned higherupinthe recess 2 of the connection pole as shown in Fig 10. Consequently plug 5 will protrude less from the inside of post 4 and the post sleeve 3 will be of a lesser depth.

As well as offering a different aesthetical appearance, the plate 28 as shown in the embodiment of Fig 1 1,can be made square in shape so as to prevent it spinning when post 4 is rotated and the connection pole is detached from the slot systems as shown in Figs 20- 21. In such manner the collar 29 can also be of square shape so as to not rotate when the pole is detached from a table top for example, incorporating the slot system as shown in Fig 20. In addition to the circular form of plates 6 and 11, collars 1 and 14 and the square form of plate 28 and collar 29, triangular, rectangular or starlike shapes for example, of various sizes can be adopted.

Another method to not only prevent plates 6, 11 and 28 and collars 1, 14 and 29 from rotating but also to prevent them from damaging the clamping surfaces of a table top for example, is the use of pads 30 as shown in Fig 3.The pads 30 can be made of rubber, felt or similar material and attached using an adhesive or similar means.

In order for the connection pole, as shown in Fig 12 not to pass completely through the hole of the slot system as shown in Fig 1 7 during attachment, the collar 3115 of a larger diameter or outer circumference than its corresponding plate 6,thus when the pole is inserted into the slot hole, plate 6 is able to pass through but collar 31 is unable to do so.

An alternative assembley of the connection pole is shown in Fig 13 whereby plug 5 can be substituted by an internal tube 32 and threaded tube insert 33 which is attached within the internal tube 32 by an adhesive, thread, compression fit or similar means. Likewise the internal tube 32 can be fixed within post 4 using a similar means.This method can also be adopted for the subtitution of the lower post insert 17 and upper post insert 18 of Fig 7.

In order to connect two or more table tops or shelves so as to provide a multiple tiered table or shelving unit the connection pole may be fitted with two or more connection points.This embodiment of the present invention comprises the same assembley of Figs 1-3 but also includes two more collars 34 and 35 rotatably mounted within recesses 36 and 37 located between post sleeve 38 and posts 39 and 40, as shown in Fig 14 and 15. Attached within the ends of posts 39 and 40 are plugs 41 and 42 which are in turn releasably secured to one another by way of a threaaded hole 43 located within plug 42 and threaded stud 44 welded or by similar means attached to plug 41, as shown in Fig 15.

In order to allow one or more furniture components such as shelves to remain attached to the connection pole when removing another, post 39 can comprise two rotatably connected parts, as shown in Figs 14, 15 an 25. In this manner each connection point along the pole can be operated independently.The two parts of post 39 can be attached together using the same or similar method for the connection of posts 15 and 16 as shown in Fig 7 (mechanism not shown in Fig 15).

As shown in Fig 22, plate 6 can separate from plug 5 located in the top of post 4 to allow the connection pole to clamp through a hole instead of a slot in a table top, shelf or other furniture component.

In addition to providing a means of connecting furniture components in a one above the other arrangement as used to assemble shelving units as shown in Fig 25 for example, the present invention is also able to connect shelving and table tops in a side by side arrangement as shown in Figs 23 and 24.

Claims

CLAI MS

1 A detachable connection pole for furniture comprising a slot system incorporated within an item of furniture which can receive the connection pole compising a post, a collar attached towards the top end thereof and a plate releasably secured to the top of the post by way of a threaded stud and insert or similar means.

2 A detachable connection pole as claimed in Claim 1 which includes a second collar located towards the bottom end of the post and a second collar releaseably secured to the bottom of the post.

3 A detachable connection pole as claimed in Claim 1 which includes an additional pair of collars located part way down the length of the post.

4 A detachable connection pole as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 where the post is comprised of two or more separate rotatable parts.

A detachable connection pole substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-25 of the accompanying drawings.