JPS6137694Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a connection structure between extruded members, and is particularly suitable for use when connecting a plurality of panels to each other to construct a partition wall or screen. Regarding.

These partition walls or guardrails are used in particular in offices, where it is often necessary, for example, to subdivide large floor areas into smaller rooms and offices. However, the connecting structure can also be used for items other than panels, and can also be used with knock-down (removable)
It can also be used in the manufacture of types of furniture. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting structure that allows articles to be connected to each other without tools or using commonly available tools such as screwdrivers, and in a preferred configuration thereof The purpose is to make the connecting structure usable even by unskilled people.

A feature of the present invention is that in a connection structure for interconnecting a plurality of articles by interconnecting a coupling member and a fitting member formed as extruded members, <A> penetrating in the axial direction; A joint consisting of a short body 13 or 14, each having a hollow interior 7 with a circular cross section, and a plurality of fixing grooves 9 provided along the axial direction on the outer circumferential surface and in which squeezed neck-shaped openings are formed. Member 1, <B> A base 3 to be attached to the article, and two opposing arms or a mating member 2 having a wall 4 and inflated locking tongues 5 provided at the free ends of these arms or walls 4 and spaced apart from each other, and generally substantially channel-shaped; <C> Consisting of an intermediate member 10 having a hollow interior 17 and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, the fixing groove 9 and the fixing tongue piece 5
This means that the coupling member 1 and the fitting member 2 are slidably engaged against relative movement in the axial direction, and are prevented from relative movement in directions other than the axial direction. By fitting the intermediate member 10 into the hollow interior 7 of the coupling member 1, at least two or more coupling members 1 can be rotatably attached to the intermediate member 10, and these The coupling member 1 is attached to the fitting member 2 by fitting the fixing tongue 5 of the fitting member 2 into the fixing groove 9 of the coupling member 1.

The above is a general description of the present invention, and some preferred configurations thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

According to a preferred configuration of the present invention, the connecting structure has two
It comprises two basic parts: a coupling member 1, whose preferred cross-sectional shape is shown in FIG. 2, and a mating member 2, whose preferred cross-sectional shape is shown in FIG. These parts are extruded from a suitable material, preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy, but could alternatively be some other metal or plastic material; The connecting member or fitting member as a member is cut to a required length.

The coupling member has a plurality of coupling means, and the fitting member has at least one fitting means.

One feature of the present invention is that one or more fitting means (fixing tongues) of the fitting member are mutually connected with any one or more coupling means (fixing grooves) of the coupling member. This feature makes the invention highly flexible, and this flexibility is an advantage in the preferred application for performing said partitions. That is, in a preferred configuration of the present invention, the coupling means of the coupling member is provided with the above-mentioned fixing grooves, and a plurality of these fixing grooves are arranged on the periphery of the coupling member, and these fixing grooves are arranged on the periphery of the coupling member. The fitting means running longitudinally along the member, or in this case the fitting member, comprises two fixing tongues running longitudinally along the fitting member. Therefore, when joining two or more panels, by selecting the fixing groove in which the fixing tongue should be engaged, the mutual angle of the panels can be arbitrarily set, which provides flexibility. It is advantageous.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the preferred mating member 2 is generally groove-shaped and
It has a base 3 to which the base 3 is attached, and two mutually opposing arms or walls 4 which are integrally provided on both sides of the base 3 and which are arranged so as to approach each other toward the free end. have swollen free ends that do not touch each other but form fixing tongues 5, which have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape and are mutually connected to two of the fixing grooves 9 of the coupling member 1. Configured to be fixed. Each of the walls 4 of the fitting member 2 forms an angle of 60° with respect to the base 3. Further, near the point where the wall 4 intersects the base 3, a thickened portion is provided which is configured to reinforce the fitting member 2 in order to prevent cracks from occurring at this point. The fitting member 2 has at least one hollow fixing part, which has a substantially circular cross section over at least a large part of its periphery. Preferably substantially circular fastening grooves 6 provide two fastening sections, one on each of said thickened sections.
The locking groove 6 provides a mounting location for a fastener such as a self-tapping screw when an item such as an end cap 15 needs to be attached to the end of the mating member 2. In addition, the fitting member 2
Holes (not shown) for fasteners such as screws for conventional attachment to panels 12, etc.
is opened through the base 3. A drilling groove 8 (see FIG. 6) is provided on the inside so that the hole can be drilled precisely in the center of the base. As shown in FIG. 6, the drilling groove 8 is preferably formed between two small ribs protruding from the base, and as a result, providing the drilling groove 8 does not weaken the base of the fitting member. This will not result in a change in results.

The periphery of the preferred coupling member 1 (see FIG. 2) is generally circular in cross section. The preferred coupling member 1 has a hollow interior 7 which is also preferably circular in cross section. A plurality of fastening grooves 9
The grooves 9 are uniformly and symmetrically arranged around the outer surface of the coupling member 1, and the grooves 9 are approximately circular in cross section. The grooves 9 can be accommodated in one of the tongues 5 of the fitting member 2 in a mutually fixed state, but the tongue 5 is formed in an expanded shape and the groove 9 has a shape with a pinched neck-like opening, so that the grooves 9 can be accommodated in one of the tongues 5 of the fitting member 2 in a mutually fixed state.
That is, the two members can be connected to each other only by moving the two members relatively to each other in a direction parallel to their axial direction. In other words, the fixing tongue 5 and the fixing groove 9 are slidably engaged with each other against relative movement in the axial direction, while relative movement in any direction other than the axial direction is prevented, and the connecting member 1 and the fitting member 2 are fixed to each other so as to prevent disengagement except when the connecting member 1 and the fitting member 2 are moved relatively in a direction parallel to their axial direction (longitudinal direction).

In contrast to the preferred mating member 2 described above, the coupling member 1 has twelve grooves, which grooves are arranged at an angle of 30° around the outer surface of the coupling member. The fixing groove 9 is also suitable as a crotch point for a fastener such as a screw, and can be attached to the end cap 15 or It is possible to attach end plates or the like to the ends of the coupling member 1.

When said mating member 2 is interconnected with the coupling member 1, the tongues 5 of the mating member 2 occupy two of the fixing grooves 9 of the coupling member 1, these grooves 9 being best shown in FIG. As such, the fixation is achieved by the spacing and angle of the walls 4 of the fitting member 2 and the spacing and angle of arrangement of the fixing grooves 9 of the coupling member 1. The remaining fixing groove 9 of the coupling member 1 is
The second fitting member 2 can be used for mutual fixation with the tongue piece 5 of the first fitting member 2, and this second fitting member 2 can be positioned at any one of a number of angles of arrangement with respect to the first fitting member 2. It can be installed in two positions. Typically, the mating member 2 is first attached to an article, such as a panel 12, before interconnecting with the coupling member 1. Therefore, by using the present invention, the two panels 12 are joined together by means of the fitting members 2 attached to each, and the fixing grooves 9 to which the fixing tongues 5 are to be coupled are selected. Possibly, the connecting member 1 and these panels 12 are arranged at 180° or in line with each other (see FIG. 7) or at 90° (see FIG. 8),
It can be placed at 120°, 150°, etc. If desired, two or more panels 12 can be joined in the same way, for example four panels 12 can be joined into one joining member 1, and these panels 12 are connected to each adjacent panel 12. placed at 90° to Therefore, use of the present invention provides a useful and flexible coupling mechanism for partitioning. The fitting member has two fixing tongues 5, and each of these tongues 5 is mutually fixed to the coupling member 1, so that a relatively strong connection is achieved. The strength of the bond is as shown in Figure 6.
The proximity of the fixing tongues 5 to each of the walls 4 of the mating member 2 is increased by the provision of flanges 16, which interconnect the said mating member 2 and the flexible member 1. When it does so, it hits the outer surface of the coupling member 1. Also, the coupling member 1 may have more or fewer fixing grooves 9, and the mating member 2 may have more or less fixing grooves 9 than the above-mentioned case. , and can also be suitably formed so that they can be coupled at a greater or lesser number of relative angles to each other.

To connect the two panels 12 together, each panel 12 has a mating member 2 attached to its edge.
has. The panels 12 used can have a length approximately equal to the length of the mating member 2, and end plates or end caps 15 having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said joining member 1 are provided on each of the joining members 1. It can be attached to the end to prevent the coupling member 1 and the fitting member 2 from coming apart unless the cap 15 is first removed. However, the preferred joining member 1 is a relatively expensive extrusion due to its shape, and in order to reduce the length of the required joining member 1 and make it cheaper, an elongated intermediate member 10 is used. provided, this member 10 allows the short coupling member 1 and the mating member 2 attached to the intermediate member 10 to be interconnected, and the intermediate member 10 has a It penetrates through the hollow interior 7. Further, the intermediate member 10
Preferably, the coupling member 1 has a size and shape that protrudes from the coupling member 1 and makes it inexpensive.
The intermediate member 10 has a non-cylindrical peripheral surface with dimensions corresponding to the hollow interior 7 of the coupling member 1 having a circular cross section. Further, a preferred cross-sectional shape of the intermediate member 10 is shown in FIG. The intermediate member 10 has a hollow interior 17 and is provided with at least one fixing part 11, which itself has a hollow interior and a pinched neck opening; The interior has a circular cross section at least over most of its periphery. The fixed part 11 is provided with lip-like pieces in its hollow interior 17 that are opposed to each other and constitute a hollow part, and the lips-like pieces extend along the length direction of the intermediate member 10, so that The lip-shaped piece has the same shape as the fixing groove 6 of the fitting member and can perform the same function. Preferably, four fixing parts 11 are provided, which are arranged at equal intervals around the inner circumference of said intermediate member 10.

FIG. 4 shows how the two short members 13 and 14 of the connecting member 1 and the intermediate member 10 are used. A single piece of mating member 2 is panel 1.
2 and is interconnected with the two halves of the coupling member 1 provided at the upper and lower ends of the intermediate member 10. The length of the intermediate member 10 is approximately equal to or slightly shorter than the length of the fitting member 2.
When the members are assembled, the connecting member 1
4 are fixed to the bottom end of the intermediate member 10 by fasteners such as rivets, screws or pins 19. Also, a cap 15 is attached to the coupling member 1, the lower end of the tongue 5 of the fitting member 2 rests on this cap 15, and the cap 15 closes the end of the fixing groove 9. Due to the relatively short length of the elongated bodies 13, 14 of the coupling element 1, only a slight sliding movement is required to interconnect the lower end of the mating element 2 to this coupling element 1. Next, the coupling member strip 13 is slid onto the upper end of the intermediate member 10 and the mating member 2, and the coupling member strip 13 is attached to a cap attached to hold it to the upper end of the assembly. It has 15. Therefore, to disassemble any compartment, simply slide the elongated body 13 of the connecting member 1 from the intermediate member 10 and the mating member 2, and then remove the mating member 2 from the elongated body 14 of the joining member 1. All you have to do is slide it. The cap 15 can be provided with a screw hole, which is aligned with the fixing part 11 of the intermediate member 10 and in which a self-tapping screw is provided for attaching the cap 15 to the coupling member 1. can be screwed on. The top and bottom ends of the mating member 2 may be cut off sufficiently, as shown at 20, to allow the cap 15 to sit flush against the end of the mating member 2. . Panels 12 of different heights can also be connected to each other using the same system. When the short panel 12 is used in conjunction with the long panel 12, a third short connecting member 1' is attached to the middle part of the intermediate member 10, as shown in FIG. It is located at the upper end of the short panel 12. Connecting member 1, 1'
is held in place by a pin or screw threaded through or underneath the intermediate member 10.

However, if the connecting member 1 and the fitting member 2 to be mutually connected are both relatively long,
The fitting member 2 can be provided with fixing tongues 5 intermittently at regular intervals along its longitudinal direction, and the coupling member 1 can also be provided with fixing grooves 9 only along its longitudinal portion. and the structure and arrangement are such that the two members can be mated or disassembled by relative longitudinal and axial sliding movement only over their longitudinal portions. It is something. Further, the fitting member 2 may be a short body like the connecting member 1, and the fitting member 2 may be a short body like the connecting member 1.
It can be shorter or longer than. Furthermore, short bodies 13 fitted to both upper and lower ends of one intermediate member 10,
The fixing tongue pieces 5 of the two short fitting members 2 are connected to the fixing grooves 9 of the panel 14 at both upper and lower ends of the panel 12.
may be engaged with each other.

Furthermore, if necessary, a thread may be carved into one or both ends of the hollow interior of the coupling member 1, or
Alternatively, it can be threaded over its entire length. In this case, a male screw member can be screwed into the thread inside the hollow of the coupling member 1.
The male threaded member is also preferably an end closure or cap 21, as shown in FIG.
Although this is an alternative method of attachment to the cap attachment method shown in FIG. 4, the end caps could alternatively be secured in place by adhesive. The end closure or cap 21 may have a threaded hole axially extending therethrough and a threaded shaft 22 that fits into the threaded hole, the threaded shaft 22 having a pressure cushion 23 at its outer end. death,
The construction and arrangement of the closure 21 is such that the distance between the pressure cushion 23 and the coupling member 1 to which the end closure 21 is attached is variable. This has significance, for example, in adjusting the height of the compartment, in which case the pressure cushion 2
3 acts as a foot.

Although the above describes the preferred configuration of the present invention and some possible modifications, other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims of the utility model registration. be able to. These possible variations are illustrated in FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 6, the base 3 of the substantially groove-shaped fitting member 2 has a dovetail groove 24 that opens outward.
is provided, which runs longitudinally along the fitting member 2. Also, instead of forming the dovetail groove 24 at the base of the mating member 2, it can also be formed in a separate groove member 25, as shown in FIG. It can be attached to the fitting member 2 by means. The dovetail groove 24 can be used to connect the fitting member 2 to other articles by means of a dovetail connector, or the groove 24 can also be used to fit a glass plate. For example, the edge of the glass plate can be accommodated together with a bead for mating the glass plate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred mating member; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred coupling member; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an intermediate member; FIG. a side elevational view showing an assembly of panels with members and with said mating member interconnected with two short halves of a coupling member attached to the longitudinal body of the intermediate member; FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a coupling member with an adjustable pressure cushion; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred mating member interconnected with the coupling member; FIGS. 7 and 8 are panels. A plan view showing the mutual arrangement,
FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which a long panel and a short panel are combined. 1, 1'...Connection member, 2...Fitting member, 3...
...Base, 4...Wall, 5...Fixing tongue piece, 6...Fixing groove, 7...Hollow interior, 8...Drilling groove, 9...
... Fixing groove, 10 ... Intermediate member, 11 ... Fixed part, 12 ... Panel, 13, 14 ... Short body of coupling member, 15 ... Cap, 16 ... Flange,
17... Hollow interior, 19... Pin, 21... End closure, 22... Spiral shaft, 23... Pressure cushion, 24... Dovetail groove, 25... Channel member.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) In a connection structure for interconnecting a plurality of articles by interconnecting a coupling member and a fitting member formed as extruded members, <A> A short body 13 each having a hollow interior 7 with a circular cross section that penetrates in the axial direction, and a plurality of fixing grooves 9 provided along the axial direction on the outer circumferential surface and in which squeezed neck-shaped openings are formed. or a coupling member 1 consisting of 14, <B> a base 3 attached to the article, and mutually opposing members integrally provided on both sides of the base 3 and disposed so as to approach each other toward the free end side. having two arms or walls 4 which are shaped as a whole and inflated fixing tongues 5 provided at the free ends of these arms or walls 4 and spaced apart from each other, and generally shaped substantially in the shape of a channel. A fitting member 2, <C> consisting of an intermediate member 10 having a hollow interior 17 and a cylindrical outer circumferential surface, wherein the fixing groove 9 and the fixing tongue piece 5 are connected to the coupling member 1 and the fitting member 2. The hollow part of the connecting member 1 is configured to be slidably engaged with relative movement in the axial direction of the coupling member 1, and is prevented from relative movement in directions other than the axial direction. By fitting the intermediate member 10 into the interior 7, at least two or more coupling members 1 are rotatably attached to the intermediate member 10, and the fitting grooves 9 of these coupling members 1 are fitted into the fixing grooves 9 of the coupling members 1. Part 2
A structure for connecting extruded members to each other, characterized in that the connecting member 1 is attached to the fitting member 2 by fitting a fixing tongue piece 5. (2) The fixing grooves 9 are provided on the outer periphery of the coupling member 1 at uniform and symmetrical intervals;
The connected structure according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim. (3) The intermediate member 10 has a hollow interior 17 and includes at least one fixed portion 11 on the surface of the hollow interior 17.
The connecting structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross section is circular. (4) The connection according to claim 1, wherein the fitting member 2 has at least one fixing groove 6 that is hollow inside, and the hollow shape has a circular cross section. structure. (5) The two fixing grooves 6 of the fitting member 2 are adjacent to the intersection between the base 3 of the fitting member 2 and the wall 4, as set forth in claim 4 of the utility model registration claim. Connected structure. (6) the article is a flat member or panel;
A connected structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 of the claims for utility model registration.