GB2583909A - A connector assembly - Google Patents

A connector assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2583909A
GB2583909A GB1906106.8A GB201906106A GB2583909A GB 2583909 A GB2583909 A GB 2583909A GB 201906106 A GB201906106 A GB 201906106A GB 2583909 A GB2583909 A GB 2583909A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
male connector
receiving
receiving slot
connector
head portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1906106.8A
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GB2583909B (en
GB201906106D0 (en
Inventor
Phillips Sean
Phillips Donal
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ovvotech Innovations Ltd
Original Assignee
Ovvotech Innovations Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ovvotech Innovations Ltd filed Critical Ovvotech Innovations Ltd
Priority to GB1906106.8A priority Critical patent/GB2583909B/en
Publication of GB201906106D0 publication Critical patent/GB201906106D0/en
Publication of GB2583909A publication Critical patent/GB2583909A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2583909B publication Critical patent/GB2583909B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
    • F16B5/0004—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship
    • F16B5/0008—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates or panels substantially in their own plane, perpendicular to the abutting edge
    • F16B5/0012—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates or panels substantially in their own plane, perpendicular to the abutting edge a tongue on the edge of one sheet, plate or panel co-operating with a groove in the edge of another sheet, plate or panel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
    • F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
    • F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
    • F16B5/0614—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in angled relationship
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B12/00—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior
    • F16B12/10—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like
    • F16B12/12—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like for non-metal furniture parts, e.g. made of wood, of plastics
    • F16B12/20—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like for non-metal furniture parts, e.g. made of wood, of plastics using clamps, clips, wedges, sliding bolts, or the like
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B12/00—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior
    • F16B12/10—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like
    • F16B12/12—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like for non-metal furniture parts, e.g. made of wood, of plastics
    • F16B12/22—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like for non-metal furniture parts, e.g. made of wood, of plastics using keyhole-shaped slots and pins
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B12/00—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior
    • F16B12/10—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like
    • F16B12/28—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like for metal furniture parts
    • F16B12/32—Jointing of furniture or the like, e.g. hidden from exterior using pegs, bolts, tenons, clamps, clips, or the like for metal furniture parts using clamps, clips, wedges, sliding bolts, or the like
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
    • F16B5/0004—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship
    • F16B5/0032—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates, or panels or the interlocking key parallel to the abutting edge
    • F16B5/0036—Joining sheets, plates or panels in abutting relationship by moving the sheets, plates, or panels or the interlocking key parallel to the abutting edge and using hook and slot or keyhole-type connections

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Connection Of Plates (AREA)

Abstract

A connector assembly for connecting objects to one another, such as in self-assembly furniture comprises a male connector 10 comprising an elongate body having a base portion and an enlarged head portion, the head portion being wider than the base portion, and a substantially U shaped receiving slot adapted to receive the male connector, a receiving portion 32 of said receiving slot having a narrowed neck region defined by opposing inwardly facing shoulders. The enlarged head portion of the male connector 10 is adapted to engage the opposing shoulders of the receiving slot when the male connector is inserted into the receiving slot and displaced laterally into said receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot to retain the male connector 10 in engagement with the receiving slot. The depth of the head portion of the male connector 10 increases away from a leading end of the male connector 10 such that the increasing depth of the enlarged head portion of the male connector 10 away from the leading end causes the head portion to engage the shoulders of the receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot with a wedge effect as the male connector 10 is slid laterally into the receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot, thereby biasing the male connector 32 towards a base of the receiving slot.

Description

A Connector Assembly
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connector assembly for connecting objects to one another, and in particular to a connector assembly connecting together component parts, in particular panels, of a ready to assemble article of furniture. However, it is envisaged that a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention may be used for connecting numerous other objects to one another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ready to assemble furniture has been known in the furniture industry for many years. This type of furniture construction provides a number of advantages to the manufacturer, to the retailer, and to the customer. For example, as to the manufacturer, there are significant cost savings in manufacturing unassembled furniture over conventional fully assembled furniture. Ready to assemble furniture can be supplied flat packed, thus requiring less storage space for both the manufacturer and the retailer. The customer ultimately benefits the lower cost of ready to assemble furniture as opposed to pre-assembled furniture and the ease of transport of flat packed ready to assemble furniture.
Unlike conventional fully or pre-assembled furniture, ready to assemble furniture, as the name implies, requires assembly by the customer. This furniture often requires the use of tools by the customer to enable the manipulation of specialized fittings to assemble and secure the various components of the furniture together. The customers may not have the necessary tools or skill level to assemble the furniture properly. The failure to do so may result in the furniture being unstable, and potentially collapsing during use.
It is therefore desirable to provide ready to assemble furniture which can be assembled without the need for tools in a simple and efficient manner, while ensuring the integrity of the resulting assembled furniture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector assembly for connecting objects to one another, said connector assembly comprising a male connector comprising an elongate body having a base portion and an enlarged head portion, said head portion being wider than said base portion, and a substantially U shaped receiving slot adapted to receive the male connector, a receiving portion of said receiving slot having a narrowed neck region, defined by opposing inwardly facing shoulders, the enlarged head portion of the male 113 connector being adapted to engage said opposing shoulders of the receiving slot when the male connector is inserted into the receiving slot and displaced laterally into said receiving portion of the receiving channel to retain the male connector in engagement with the receiving slot, wherein the depth of said head portion of the male connector increases away from a leading end of the male connector, in the direction of insertion of the male connector into the receiving portion of the receiving slot, such that the increasing depth of the enlarged head portion of the male connector away from said leading end causes said head portion to engage the shoulders of the receiving portion of said receiving slot with a wedge effect as the male connector is slid laterally into the receiving portion of the receiving slot, thereby biasing the male connector towards a base of the receiving slot.
Preferably receiving slot includes an open portion adjacent the receiving portion, said open portion having a width greater than or equal to the width of the head portion of the male connector to permit the male connector to be inserted into the insertion portion of the receiving slot before being laterally slid into the receiving portion, wherein the length of the open portion of the receiving slot is greater than or equal to the length of the male connector.
In a preferred embodiment a channel is formed in the head portion of the elongate body of the male connector to permit sides of the head portion on either side of the channel to be resiliently displaced towards one another as the male connector is slid into the receiving portion of the receiving slot. Preferably the depth of said channel increases away from the leading end of the male connector. The male connector is preferably formed from a resilient material such that the sides of the head portion of the male connector can be squeezed together to facilitate insertion of the male connector in the receiving slot. The transverse width of at least part of the head portion of the male connector may be greater, at rest, than the width of the receiving slot such that the sides of the head portion of the male connector are biased into contact with the side walls of the receiving slot when the male connector is laterally slid into the receiving portion of the receiving slot.
In one embodiment said enlarged head portion of the male connector may be defined by ramp shaped shoulders extending on either side of the elongate body, 113 the depth (distance away from the distal end of the rib) of each shoulder increasing away from said leading end of the male connector.
The base of the male connector is preferably adapted to be secured to a first object, such as a first panel of a ready to assembly article of furniture. The receiving slot may be integrally formed in a second object, such as a second panel of a ready to assembly article of furniture, to be coupled to the first object. Alternatively, at least the receiving portion of the receiving slot may be formed in a female connector adapted to be secured to said second article. The female connector, defining the receiving portion, may be secured within the receiving slot, the receiving slot being integrally formed in said second article to be coupled to the first article, the remainder of the receiving slot defining the open portion thereof.
The said male connector and said receiving slot are preferably symmetrical in cross section about a central plane.
The inner sides of the receiving slot may comprise a pair of diverging side faces extending from a base of the receiving slot and, in said receiving portion thereof, a narrowed neck region, a pair of opposing shoulders being defined between said diverging side faces and narrowed neck region. The base portion of the male connector is preferably adapted to be located within the narrowed neck region of the receiving portion of the receiving slot when the head portion engages said opposing shoulders thereof.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an article of furniture incorporating at least one connector assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a male connector of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a side view of the male connector of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are end views of the male connector of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the connector assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a side view of the connector assembly of Figure 6; Figures 8 is a sectional view on line A-A of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a sectional view on line B-B of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a sectional view on line D-D of Figure 7; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a male connector of a connector assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is a side view of the male connector of Figure 11; Figures 13 is a plan view from below of the male connector of Figure 11; Figure 14 is an end view of the male connector of Figure 11; Figures 15 and 16 show the male connector of Figure 11 in use in a connector assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 17 and 18 show the male connector of Figure 11 in use in a connector assembly in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 19 is a perspective view of a male connector of a connector assembly in 10 accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 20 is a front view of the male connector of Figure 19; Figure 21 is a plan view of the male connector of Figure 19; Figure 22 is a side view of the male connector of Figure 19; Figure 23 is a further perspective view of the male connector of Figure 19; and Figures 24 and 25 show the male connector of Figure 19 in use in a connector assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A connector assembly for coupling objects together, for example for components of a ready to assemble article of furniture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises a male connector adapted to be attached to a first object, such as a first panel of an article of furniture, receivable within a receiving recess formed or mounted in a second object, such as a second panel of an article of furniture, to which the first object is to be attached.
The male connector 10 of a connector assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5. The male connector 10 comprising an elongate body having a base portion 12 and an enlarged head portion 14. The head portion is defined by ramped shoulders 16,18 on either side of the male connector, each ramped shoulder 16,18 comprising an outwardly tapered outer face 20, depending from an outer end of the head portion 14 towards said base portion 12 and terminating in a ridge 22 extending along a respective side of 5 the male connector 10, and an angled inner face 24, extending from said ridge 22 to said base portion 12 of the male connector 10, such that said outer and inner faces 20,24 define respective sides of said ramped shoulders 16,18. The inner face 24 of each shoulder 16,18 intersects the respective ridge 22 via a stepped portion 26 extending substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the male connector 10, 113 said stepped portion 24 defining a lower side of said ridge 22.
The depth of said stepped portion 26 of each ramped shoulder 16,18 of the head portion 14 from the outer end of the male connector 10 increases away from a leading end of the male connector 10 with respect to the direction in which the male connector 10 is slid into the receiving portion of its receiving recess. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the depth A of the stepped portion 26 of each ramped shoulder 16,18 at the leading end of the male connector 10 is less than the depth B of the stepped portion 26 of each ramped shoulder 16,18 at a trailing edge thereof. As will be explained below in more detail, this biases the male connector 10 towards a base of the receiving slot as it is slid laterally into a receiving portion of the receiving slot.
A central channel 28 is formed in an outer end of the head portion 14 of the male connector 10 to permit the ramped shoulders 16,18 of the head portion to be resiliently displaced towards one another as the male connector 10 is slid into the receiving portion of its receiving slot. As illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the depth of the channel 28 preferably increases away from the leading end of the male connector 10. The male connector 10 is preferably formed from a resilient material such that the sides/ramped shoulders 16,18 of the head portion 14 of the male connector 10 can be squeezed together to facilitate insertion of the male connector 10 into the receiving portion of its receiving slot.
The transverse width of at least part, for example a trailing edge, of the head portion 14 of the male connector 10 may be greater, at rest, than the width of the receiving slot such that the sides of the head portion 14 of the male connector 10 are biased into contact with the side walls of the receiving slot when the male connector 10 is laterally slid into the receiving portion of the receiving slot.
As illustrated in Figures 6 to 10, the male connector 10 is adapted to be fitted into a substantially U shaped receiving slot 30 adapted to receive the male connector 10, a receiving portion 32 of said receiving slot 30 having a narrowed neck region, defined by opposing inwardly facing shoulders 36,38, the enlarged head portion 14 of the male connector 10 being adapted to engage said opposing shoulders 36,38 112 of the receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot 30 when the male connector is inserted into an open portion 34 of the receiving slot and displaced laterally into said receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot 30 to retain the male connector 10 in engagement with the receiving slot 30.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 10, the receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot 30 is defined in a female connector 40 adapted to be received within a receiving recess 31 formed in said second object. The female connector 40 may be of the type disclosed in WO 2018/019752, incorporated herein by reference, said female connector 40 an elongate U-section member defining said receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot 30 for receiving and retaining said male connector 10 therein. The female connector 40 is adapted to be inserted into a cooperating receiving recess 31 in a face of at least one of two objects to be coupled together. The receiving recess 31 for receiving the female connector may have a different profile from the receiving slot 30 receiving the male connector 10. The outer sides of the female connector 40 may define retaining projections 42,44 adapted to engage a pair of opposing inwardly facing shoulders defined in the side walls of the receiving recess into which it is inserted to retain the female connector therein.
The side walls of the female connector 40 may diverge outwardly such that the overall width of the female connector 40 at rest is wider than the cooperating receiving recess into which it is to be received, such that the resilience of the material forming the female connector provides an outward biasing force between the side walls of the female connector and the walls of the receiving recess.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 to 10, once the female connector 40 has been inserted into one end of the receiving recess 31, the male connector 10 is slid laterally into the receiving slot 30 defined by the female connector 40 in the direction from the right to the left of Figure 7, with the leading end of the male connector 10 on the left and the trailing edge on the right. Figures 8 to 10 illustrate sectional views through the assembly of Figure 7, respectively on line A-A, B-B and D-D, illustrating the increasing depth of the channel 28 in the outer end of the male connector 10 from the leading end to the trailing edge thereof.
The base portion 12 of the male connector 10 is adapted to be attached to a first object. In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 14, a pair of ribbed dowels 46,48 are integrally formed with the base portion 12 of the male connector 10, extending from either end of the male connector 10 away from the head portion 14 thereof to be insertable into holes 50,52 in a first panel 2 to which the male connector 10 is to be attached. Ribs 54 formed on the outer sides of the dowels 46,48 may be fir tree shaped to facilitate insertion of the dowels 46,48 into respective receiving holes 50,52 in the edge of the first panel 2 while resisting removal of the dowels 46,48 therefrom.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 14, the male connector 10 is double ended, being insertable into the receiving portion 32 of a respective receiving slot 30 from either end of the male connector 10. In such embodiment, the depth of the stepped portion 26 of each ramped shoulder 16,18 of the head portion 14 of the male connector 10 increases from either end, reaching a maximum depth in a central region of the male connector 10. Similarly, the channel 28 formed in the outer end of the male connector 10 increases in depth from either end of the male connector 10, reaching a maximum depth in a central region of the male connector (see dotted line in Figure 12).
Figures 15 and 16 illustrate the male connector of Figures 11 to 14 in use. A pair of identical male connectors 10 are inserted into an edge of a first panel 2, the dowels 46,48 of each male connector being 10 inserted into corresponding receiving holes 50,52 formed in the edge of the first panel 2. A corresponding pair of receiving slots 30 are formed in a face of a second panel 4 adjacent one edge thereof for receiving the male connectors 10. A respective female connector 40 is inserted into one end of each receiving slot 30 to define the receiving portion 32 of each receiving slot 30. The remaining portion of the receiving slot 30 adjacent each female connector 32, defining the open portion 34 of the receiving slot 30, has a length equal to or greater 5 than the length of each male connector 10 to allow the male connectors 10 to be inserted into the open portion 34 of the receiving slots 30 and slid laterally such that the head portion 14 of each male connector 10 engages the receiving portion 32 defined by each female connector 40, the enlarged head portion 14 defined by the ramped shoulders 16,18 of the head portion 14 of each male connecter 10 10 engaging the shoulders 36,38 of the receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot 30 (defined by the inner shoulders of the female connector 40).
The increasing depth of the of the stepped portions 26 of the ramped shoulders 16,18 of the head portion 14 of each male connector 10 cause the male connectors 10 to be pulled tightly into the receiving portions 32 of the receiving slots 30 as they are slid laterally into the receiving portions 32/female connectors 40, thereby biasing each male connector 10 towards the base of the respective receiving slot 30 and removing any slack or looseness in the assembly.
In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, the receiving slots 30 and the receiving portions 32 thereof are integrally formed in a face of the second panel 4 by means of a suitable cutting tool 60, avoiding the need for the use of the female connectors of the embodiment of Figures 15 and 16. The cutting tool 60 preferably has a cutting head 62 shaped to define the shoulders 36,38 of the receiving portion 32 of the receiving slot 30 as the tool 100 is traversed in a straight line across the panel 4.
Figures 19 to 23 illustrate a male connector 10 of a connector assembly in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein the male connector 10 is coupled to the first panel 2 by means of an enlarged cylindrical locating portion 70 integrally formed with and extending from the base portion 12 of each male connector 10, said locating portion 70 being adapted to be received within a bore formed in a face of the first panel 2 adjacent an edge thereof, as illustrated in Figures 24 and 25, such that the head portion 14 of the male connector 10 extends from said edge thereof.
Again, a cutting tool 60 having a cutting head 62 is provided for cutting the receiving 5 slot 30 and its receiving portion 32 in a face of the second panel 4.
A connector assembly in accordance with any of the above described embodiments of the invention allows components, such as adjacent panels of a ready to assemble article of furniture, to be fitted together in a tightly fitting and secure 10 manner without the use of tools.
While the connector assembly of the present invention has been described in relation to a ready to assemble/self assembly article of furniture, it is envisaged that such connector assembly may be utilised to interconnect a wide variety of articles, such as in automotive assemblies, or any other application where it is desired to couple to connect two articles in a rapid and reliable manner without requiring the use of tools. The connector assembly in accordance with the present invention may be used on all types of self assembly furniture wherein butting panels need to be attached to one another.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (15)

  1. Claims 1. A connector assembly for connecting objects to one another, said connector assembly comprising a male connector comprising an elongate body having a base portion and an enlarged head portion, said head portion being wider than said base portion, and a substantially U shaped receiving slot adapted to receive the male connector, a receiving portion of said receiving slot having a narrowed neck region, defined by opposing inwardly facing shoulders, the enlarged head portion of the male connector being adapted to engage said opposing shoulders of the receiving 112 slot when the male connector is inserted into the receiving slot and displaced laterally into said receiving portion of the receiving channel to retain the male connector in engagement with the receiving slot, wherein the depth of said head portion of the male connector increases away from a leading end of the male connector such that the increasing depth of the enlarged head portion of the male connector away from said leading end causes said head portion to engage the shoulders of the receiving portion of said receiving slot with a wedge effect as the male connector is slid laterally into the receiving portion of the receiving slot, thereby biasing the male connector towards a base of the receiving slot.
  2. 2. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving slot includes an open portion adjacent the receiving portion, said open portion having a width greater than or equal to the width of the head portion of the male connector to permit the male connector to be inserted into the insertion portion of the receiving slot before being laterally slid into the receiving portion, wherein the length of the receiving portion of the receiving slot is greater than or equal to the length of the male connector.
  3. 3. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a channel is formed in the head portion of the elongate body of the male connector to permit sides of the head portion on either side of the channel to be resiliently displaced towards one another as the male connector is slid into the receiving portion of the receiving slot.
  4. 4. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the depth of said channel increases away from the leading end of the male connector.
  5. 5. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said male 5 connector is formed from a resilient material such that the sides of the head portion of the male connector can be squeezed together to facilitate insertion of the male connector in the receiving slot.
  6. 6. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transverse width of at 113 least a portion of the head portion of the male connector is greater, at rest, than the width of the receiving slot such that the sides of the head portion of the male connector are biased into contact with the side walls of the receiving slot when the male connector is laterally slid into the receiving portion of the receiving slot.
  7. 7. A connector assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said enlarged head portion of the male connector is defined by ramp shaped shoulders extending on either side of the elongate body, the depth of each shoulder increasing away from said leading end of the male connector.zo
  8. 8. A connector assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base of the male connector is adapted to be secured to a first article
  9. 9. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said receiving slot is integrally formed in a second article to be coupled to the first article
  10. 10. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least the receiving portion of the receiving slot is formed in a female connector adapted to be secured to said second article.
  11. 11. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said female connector is secured within the receiving slot, the receiving slot being integrally formed in said second article to be coupled to the first article.
  12. 12. A connector assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said male connector and said receiving slot are symmetrical in cross section about a central plane.
  13. 13. A connector assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein inner sides of the receiving slot comprise a pair of diverging side faces extending from a base of the receiving slot and, in said receiving portion thereof, a narrowed neck region, a pair of opposing shoulders being defined between said diverging side faces and narrowed neck region.
  14. 14. A connector assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said base portion of the male connector is adapted to be located within the narrowed neck region of the receiving portion of the receiving slot.
  15. 15. An article of furniture incorporating at least one connector assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.
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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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GB2583909A true GB2583909A (en) 2020-11-18
GB2583909B GB2583909B (en) 2021-08-25

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2611069A (en) * 2021-09-24 2023-03-29 Ovvotech Innovations Ltd A connector assembly
SE2250357A1 (en) * 2022-03-23 2023-09-24 Vilox Ab Linear position guide

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180128296A1 (en) * 2016-11-09 2018-05-10 Yue Hong Chen New connector

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2611069A (en) * 2021-09-24 2023-03-29 Ovvotech Innovations Ltd A connector assembly
GB2611069B (en) * 2021-09-24 2024-01-17 Ovvotech Innovations Ltd A connector assembly
SE2250357A1 (en) * 2022-03-23 2023-09-24 Vilox Ab Linear position guide
WO2023182918A1 (en) * 2022-03-23 2023-09-28 Vilox Ab A joining system for panels

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GB201906106D0 (en) 2019-06-12

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