JPH07259815A - Connecter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form freely a frame whose foundation is a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped, by means of connecters of one kind. CONSTITUTION:Each pair of circular fitting holes 12 that are reversely directional to each other with a center interposed is provided along each of three axes (x), (y), (z) that meet at right angles with each other at the center of a spherical connector 10. At all of 8 divisions made up of a spherical connector 10 being divided by three supposition planes (x-y, y-z, z-x) containing two free fitting axes (x), (y), (z), the cutout portion 14 of an outward opening consisting of three cutout surfaces 14a meeting at approximately right angles with each other is provided one by one. One supposition plane and a free cutout surface 14a at every cutout portion 14 are formed in approximate parallel with each other at a fixed distance away at which the cutout surface 14a does not cross a fitting hole 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connecting tool for connecting rod-shaped bodies to form a frame of a shelf or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a connecting tool for connecting rod-shaped bodies to form a frame of a shelf or the like, a tubular portion or a pipe for fitting the ends of the rod-shaped bodies. It is known to have a protrusion for fitting the end of a rod-shaped body. However, in the case of these conventional connecting tools, connecting tools that project projections and the like in three directions orthogonal to each other, for example, upper, right, and rear projections, and projecting parts, etc. project in four directions, for example, upper, rear, right, and left Connecting tool and 5 directions, eg top / rear / front
Manufactures and distributes 4 types of connectors that project protrusions on the right and left and 6 types of connectors that project protrusions on the top, bottom, rear, front, right and left. The person must purchase the type and number of connectors according to the form of the skeleton, and use the type of connectors according to the position of the connectors in the skeleton, while considering their postures (directions of protrusions, etc.). Not only that, the manufacturing and distribution costs have been increased, and the purchase and assembly by consumers has been complicated. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems existing in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to freely form a skeleton based on a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped by one kind of connecting tool. It is to provide a connector that can be formed.

[0003]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the connector of the present invention is a connector composed of a lump, and is orthogonal to each other at intersections located in the lump.
Each pair of fitting axes has a pair of fitting holes opposite to each other across the intersection, and the lump is separated by three virtual planes including any two fitting axes. 1 to 8 out of the 8 divided sections each having a cutout portion of an outward opening formed of three cutout surfaces that are substantially orthogonal to each other, and any cutout surface in all cutout portions and one virtual plane Means that the cutout surface is substantially parallel to the predetermined distance so as not to intersect the fitting hole, or the distance between the cutout surface and the virtual plane is slightly expanded outward. Further, it is preferable that the connector of the present invention has a notch in each of the above eight sections. Further, it is preferable that the connector of the present invention has a substantially spherical outer shape, and the intersection of the fitting axis lines is located at the center thereof. Furthermore, in the connector of the present invention, it is preferable that the fitting depths of all the fitting holes be separated from the intersection of the fitting axes by a certain distance.

[0004]

By using the eight connecting tools, the two ends of the twelve rod-shaped bodies are fitted into the three fitting holes of the connecting tools which are orthogonal to each other, whereby the eight connecting tools are positioned at the respective vertices. A cubic frame or a rectangular frame can be formed as described above. If you use 4 connectors and 8 rods,
It is possible to extend a second cubic frame or rectangular frame to the side or upward with the four sides of the cubic frame or rectangular frame being common, and further, by using the required number of connectors and rods, A cubic frame or a rectangular frame can be extended in a desired direction. Further, by using six connecting members and eleven rod-shaped bodies, it is possible to extend the cuboid framework or the cuboid framework obliquely laterally with only one side of the cuboid framework or the cuboid framework being common. The connector has a pair of fitting holes in opposite directions with the intersections therebetween along each of the three fitting axes that are orthogonal to each other. Can also be used. In addition, since this connector is a block provided with a fitting hole and a notch and has no protrusion for connection, it can be used at any position of the skeleton, It does not hinder the movement of objects or the like and does not adversely affect the appearance, and the connector located at the lower end of the skeleton can stably support the skeleton on the mounting surface.

The four connecting members located at the apexes of one horizontal rectangular frame in the above-mentioned cubic frame or rectangular frame are notched so that their respective notches open above the horizontal rectangular frame inwardly of the horizontal rectangular frame. With this arrangement, the four corners of the shelf board can be fitted into the respective cutout portions so that the shelf board can be supported on the substantially horizontal cutout surface of each cutout portion. Further, the four connecting tools located at the apexes of one vertical rectangular frame in the above-mentioned cubic frame or rectangular frame are arranged such that their notches open inside the vertical outer frame on the outside of the vertical rectangular frame. If the four corners of the side plate, which are slightly larger than the distance between the cutouts, are fitted to the cutouts,
The side plate can be held by the three notch surfaces which are substantially orthogonal to each other and which each notch has respectively. In addition, if the connector has cutouts in each of eight sections, it is not necessary to consider the fitting hole or the orientation of the cutouts at all, and the cutouts in any adjacent horizontal rectangular frame or vertical rectangular frame can be freely moved. It is possible to support the shelf plate and hold the side plate.

Further, if the outer shape of the connector is substantially spherical and the intersection of the fitting axes is located at the center,
It is even more unlikely that it will hinder the movement of people or objects or adversely affect the external appearance, and the frame located at the lower end of the frame supports the frame very stably on the mounting surface. be able to. If the fitting depth of all fitting holes is a connector that separates a fixed distance from the intersection of the fitting axes,
By sufficiently fitting both ends of the rod-shaped body, the distance between the connecting members can be automatically determined.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are all for one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a shelf that can be created using the connector, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector. The back, left and right side surfaces, the plan view and the bottom view of the connector all appear the same as this front view. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. The connecting tool 10 has a substantially spherical outer shape, and the pair of fitting shafts x, y, and z that are orthogonal to each other at the center of the spherical body are paired in opposite directions with the intersections therebetween. Has a fitting hole 12.
The cross-sectional shapes of all the fitting holes 12 are the same circular shape, and the fitting inner part 12a of all the fitting holes 12 is separated from the intersection of the fitting axis lines x, y, z by a certain distance.

3 including any two fitting axes x, y, z
Two virtual planes (xy plane, yz plane, zx plane)
For all of the 8 sections that are separated by the spherical connecting tool,
It has one notch 14 having a radially outward opening, which is formed by three notch surfaces 14a intersecting each other at an angle of about 88 degrees. The arbitrary cutout surface 14a and one virtual plane in all the cutout portions 14 are outwardly spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the fitting hole 12 so that the cutout surface 14a does not intersect with the fitting hole 12. The notch surface 14a and the imaginary plane are formed substantially parallel to each other so that the distance between them is slightly increased. The cutout surface 14a may have irregularities within a range that does not impair the objects and effects of the present invention.

The material of the connecting tool is not particularly limited, but it is possible to maintain the fitting of the rod-shaped body in the fitting hole and the holding of the shelves and the side plates by the notches, and also to buffer the created frame. In order to impart the above, a relatively hard elastic material, for example, a relatively hard elastomer can be mentioned as a preferable example. As shown in FIG. 1, first, eight connecting members 10 are used and twelve rod-shaped members 1 having the same circular cross section are used.
By fitting the both ends of 6 into the three fitting holes 12 of the connecting tool 10 which are orthogonal to each other to the fitting inner part 12a, the eight connecting tools 10 are positioned at each apex. A cubic framework S1 can be formed in the.
The fitting depths 12a of all the fitting holes 12 are the fitting axes x, y, z.
Since a certain distance is provided from the intersection of the connecting parts 10, the distance between the connecting parts 10 can be automatically determined by sufficiently fitting them. Therefore, it is easy to form not only a rectangular frame but also a frame based on a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped. Further, if four connecting tools 10 and eight identical rod-shaped bodies 16 are used, the second cubic framework S2 is extended laterally with the four sides of the lateral side of the cubic framework S1 common. One skeleton can be completed.

By appropriately changing the length of the rod-shaped body, a rectangular parallelepiped frame can be formed in the same manner, and by using a required number of connecting members 10 and rod-shaped bodies, the cubical frame or the rectangular parallelepiped frame can be oriented in a desired direction. It goes without saying that it can be extended. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, if six connecting tools 10 and eleven rod-like bodies 16 are used, only one side of the first cubic frame S3 is made common and the second cubic frame S4 is slanted laterally. It can be extended. Of course, four connecting tools 10 and eight identical rod-shaped bodies 16
Needless to say, the third cubic skeleton S5 can be extended upward by using the above, using the upper four sides of the first cubic skeleton S3 in common. Furthermore, regarding the one in which only one side of the first cubic frame S6 is common and the cubic frame S7 is extended obliquely laterally, the cubic frame S8 is further oriented in the same direction.
When it is extended obliquely and is rolled over so as to be supported by one side of each cubic frame, the frame can be used as a wine rack in a mode as shown in FIG. 7.

The connecting tool 10 has a pair of fitting holes 12 in opposite directions with the intersections therebetween along each of the three fitting axes x, y and z which are orthogonal to each other.
Any type of connector 10 can be used anywhere in the skeleton. The connector 10 can be used at any position of the skeleton, but has a spherical body having a fitting hole 12 and a notch 14 and does not have a protrusion for connection. , It does not hinder the movement of people or objects and does not adversely affect the appearance. Further, since the distance from the center to the outer peripheral surface is substantially constant, the frame 10 is supported very stably on the mounting surface by the connector 10 located at the lower end without considering the direction of the connector 10 and the like. can do. In the shelf shown in FIG. 1, among the notches 14 of each of the four connecting tools 10 located at the vertices of the lower horizontal square frame in the front side cubic frame S1, the horizontal square is located above the horizontal square frame. By fitting the four corners of the square-shaped shelf board 20 into the four notched portions 14 opening inward of the frame, the shelf board 20 is supported on the substantially horizontal notched surface 14a of each notched portion 14. There is. The same applies to the upper and lower horizontal square frames in the cube frame S2 on the back side.

In addition, for example, in each of the notches 14 of the four connecting tools 10 located at the apex of the left front vertical square frame in the front side cubic frame S1 shown in FIG. 1, outside the vertical square frame. The four cutouts 14 that open inward of the vertical square frame have four corners of a square side plate 22 (shown by a chain double-dashed line) that is slightly larger than the distance between the cutouts 14. The side plates 22 can be surely held by the three notched surfaces 14a of the notched portions 14 which are substantially orthogonal to each other, by fitting the two side plates 22 to each other. If the three notch surfaces of the notch intersect with each other at an angle slightly smaller than 90 degrees, the four corners of the side plate and the shelf plate can be held more reliably. Known materials such as glass, tempered glass, and plastics can be appropriately selected as the materials for the shelves and the side plates used in the framework of the connector of the present invention. The shape of the shelf plate and the side plate is not necessarily limited to the rectangular shape as long as the four corners can be supported or held by the cutouts. Further, for example, elastic materials such as elastomers may be arranged at the four corners of the shelf plate and the side plates to make the holding by the notches more reliable.

Since the connector 10 of this embodiment has the notches 14 in each of the eight compartments, the fitting hole 12 and the notches 14 are provided.
It is possible to freely support the shelf plate and hold the side plate in the notch portion 14 in any adjacent horizontal rectangular frame or vertical rectangular frame without having to consider the orientation of the plate. If the connector has cutouts in each of the four compartments around one fitting hole, it is not necessary to consider the position of the cutout by forming the skeleton with the fitting hole facing upward. The shelf plate can be freely supported in the cutout portions of any adjacent horizontal rectangular frames. It is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the fitting hole has a four-fold rotational symmetry and that the axis of symmetry is formed so as to be parallel to the two fitting axes. Applicable). This is because, if a rod-shaped body having a corresponding shape is used, the rod-shaped body can be fitted regardless of the posture of the connector when forming a rectangular frame, a cubic frame, or a rectangular frame.

It is preferable that the outer shape of the connecting tool be a four-fold rotational symmetry around all three fitting axes (this is unconditionally applicable to a sphere). This is because, when a rectangular frame, a cubic frame or a rectangular frame is formed, the outer shape of the connecting tool is kept substantially constant regardless of the posture of the connecting tool. In the above examples, non-flexible rods and pipes are used as rod-shaped bodies, but with the connector of the present invention, non-flexible rods and pipes flexible rods and pipes can be used. Of course, they can be connected. Needless to say, it is possible to freely form objects other than shelves (for example, objects, card stands, panel stands, etc.) by using this connecting tool. Further, the vertical positional relationship, the dimensions, the number, the material, the shape, the relative arrangement, and the like of the components in the above description of the embodiments are within the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified. It is not intended to be limited to these, but merely an example of explanation.

[0015]

According to the connector of the present invention, one type of connector can be used to connect rod-like bodies to freely form a skeleton based on a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped. By fitting the four corners of the shelf to the notches of the four connecting tools located at the apexes of the horizontal rectangular frame in the frame, and by fitting the four corners of the shelf plate to the notches of the notches, a substantially horizontal notch surface is formed. Can support the shelf,
Furthermore, the four corners of the side plate, which is slightly larger than the distance between the notches of the four connectors located at the vertices of the vertical rectangular frame in the cubic frame or the rectangular frame, are fitted into the respective notches. If combined, the side plates can be held by the three notched surfaces in each notched portion. Further, the connector of the present invention is a block provided with a fitting hole and a notch, and since there is no protrusion for connection, it may be an obstacle to movement of people or objects, The appearance is not adversely affected, and the connector located at the lower end of the skeleton can stably support the skeleton on the mounting surface. Therefore, since it is not necessary to manufacture and distribute many types of connectors, the effect of cost reduction is great, and it is not necessary to consider the type and position of the connectors one by one when assembling the frame. Is extremely easy. Furthermore,
It is possible to freely assemble various types of frames with the same material.

According to the connecting tool of the second aspect, it is possible to support the shelf plate and hold the side plate by the notch without having to consider the orientation of the fitting hole or the notch at all. It is easier to assemble, and shelf boards and side plates can be freely provided. According to the connecting tool of claim 3, it is less likely that the obstruction of the movement of a person or an object or the adverse effect on the appearance will occur more easily, and the lower end of the skeleton can be obtained without considering the orientation of the connecting tool. By the connector located in the part,
Since the skeleton can be supported extremely stably on the mounting surface, it is more convenient to use. According to the connecting tool of claim 4, by sufficiently fitting the connecting tools to both ends of the rod-shaped body, the distance between the connecting tools can be automatically determined. It is easy to form a skeleton based on a cube or a rectangular parallelepiped. In particular, a connector having a substantially spherical outer shape and an intersection of fitting axes located at the center thereof is the easiest to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a connector.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a shelf.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a wine rack.

[Explanation of sign]

 10 Connecting Tool 12 Fitting Hole 14 Notch 14a Notch Surface x Fitting Axis y Fitting Axis z Fitting Axis

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A connecting member made of a lump, wherein each pair of three fitting axes that are orthogonal to each other at an intersection located in the lump and are opposite to each other with the intersection therebetween. 1 to 8 sections out of 8 sections in which a lump is divided by three imaginary planes including any two fitting axis lines, and three cut surfaces that are substantially orthogonal to each other. Each of the cutouts has an outwardly facing cutout, and the cutouts of all the cutouts and one imaginary plane are substantially parallel to each other with a predetermined distance such that the cutout does not intersect the fitting hole. Alternatively, the connector is characterized in that the distance between the notch surface and the virtual plane is slightly increased outward. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the eight compartments has a notch. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the outer shape is substantially spherical, and the intersection of the fitting axes is located at the center thereof. 4. The connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the fitting depths of all the fitting holes are separated from the intersection of the fitting axes by a constant distance.