WO1999062777A1

WO1999062777A1 - A connection clamp

Info

Publication number: WO1999062777A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/000704
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ingmar Edvardsson
Original assignee: Nefab Ab
Priority date: 1998-05-15
Filing date: 1999-04-29
Publication date: 1999-12-09
Also published as: SE9801740L; AU4537699A; SE513684C2; SE9801740D0

Abstract

Clamp (7) for joining two plate members (2, 6), which jointly form an essentially right-angled corner, the clamp being provided with two shanks (12, 13), which are situated along a respective limiting surface of the plate members when the clamp is arranged in a position in which it joints the plate members and extends around the corner, the first one (2) of the plate members and a first of the shanks (12) being provided with first engagement members (14) shaped for engagement with each other, and the second shank (13) of the clamp being provided with a second member (17) for engagement with the second one (6) of the plate members, and the second engagement member (17) of the second shank consisting of at least one pointed member (18) for engagement with the second plate member through penetration into the plate member material.

Description

A CONNECTION CLAMP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a clamp for joining two plate members, which jointly form an essentially right-angled corner, the clamp being provided with two shanks, which are situated along a respective limiting surface of the plate members when the clamp is arranged in a position in which it joins the plate members and extends around the corner, a first one of the plate members and a first one of the shanks being provided with first engagement members shaped for engagement with each other, and the second shank of the clamp being provided with a second member for engagement with a second one of the plate members.

Such clamps are for instance used for joining four rectangular plate members to form a collar or a frame. By placing the collar on a bottom, for instance in the form of a pallet, a case-like structure is formed, whereby an object can be placed in a container formed in this manner. In this case the collar is preferably also fastened to said bottom. In the same way it is possible to join six plate-like, rectangular members to form a parallelepi- pedic structure by means of several of said clamps. In the two above-mentioned cases at least one clamp is used for joining two adjacent plate members.

According to previous techniques there exist several different clamps for joining two plate members, which jointly form an es- sentially right-angled corner. Both of the shanks of such clamps are provided with engagement members in the form of male-like members, which are intended to engage into correspondingly shaped engagement members of both of the plate members in the form of female-like members. This implies that all plate members which are intended to be joined by means of said clamp into a plate member construction have to be provided with such female-like members for instance in the form of recesses. When joining a collar consisting of four plate members with a pallet, the plate members of the pallet which are intended to be joined with the plate members of the collar have to be provided with recesses suitable for engagement with the specific clamp being used. The expression plate member is to be considered in a broad sense and includes anything from plates and sheets to boards and planks. A plate member of a pallet, which is intended to be joined with a plate member of the collar by means of a specific clamp, must consequently be provided with a recess having a shape suitable for the specific clamp and be arranged at such a distance from the edge of the plate member as is suitable for the clamp.

However, it is desirable to be able to join a plate member, for instance forming part of a collar, with a plate member forming part of a pallet having an arbitrary shape. A conventional pallet is provided an upper layer having elongated wood members which are parallel and arranged at mutual distances. On the market there are today several different manufacturers and shapes of such pallets. In respect to this, there is a need for a clamp, by means of which plate members forming part of a collar can be joined with pallets having different shapes and without requiring that these are provided with said recesses on the plate members in question.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is consequently to provide a clamp for joining two plate members, which jointly form an essentially right-angled corner without requiring that one of these plate members has to be provided with a recess.

According to the invention this purpose is achieved in that the second engagement member of the second shank consists of at least one pointed member for engagement with the second plate member through penetration into the plate member material.

With this inventional shape of the clamp, it is therefore neither necessary to apply any further fixing member in the form of for instance a screw for fixing the clamp to a plate member which is not provided with a recess.

An embodiment of the invention where the second engagement member consists of at least two pointed members having a mutual distance essentially in the cross-direction of the second shank implies that at a turning of the clamp around its engagement members is eliminated in case of a good engagement into the plate member material by the pointed members, which in turn results in a more stable holding of the plate members by the clamp. The expression "the cross-direction of the second shank" refers to a direction essentially perpendicular to the extension direction of the second shank from a transition section between the shanks.

A further embodiment, where stiffening members are arranged near to said first engagement member of the first shank of the clamp and at least partially at a shorter distance from a transition section between the shanks than said first engagement member, implies that during the attachment of the clamp and possibly when the clamp is arranged in its position of joining the plate members, in the first place a section of the first shank situated between said transition section and the stiffening members will be deformed as compared with an unloaded position, and thereby a desired engagement between the first engage- ment members of the first shank and the first plate member will be secured, which in turn results in a good fixing effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the accompanying drawings a closer description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given as examples, will follow below.

Fig. 1 shows a cut perspective view of a collar, which is joined with a pallet and with a cover by means of several clamps according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section through a clamp according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the clamp according to Fig. 1 in a side view in an unloaded position.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the clamp according to the first preferred embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a case, where all six limitation walls are mutually joined by means of the claim ac- cording to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a cut perspective view of a collar 1 consisting of four plate members 2-5, which collar is joined with a bottom 6 by means of several clamps 7 according to the invention. The bottom 1 is here consisting of a further plate member, which is arranged at a distance above an underlayer by legs 8 being ar- ranged downwardly extending from the bottom plate in its four corners. A cover 9 is further joined with the collar by means of several of said clamps 7, the cover being arranged essentially in parallel with the bottom. The plate members 2-5 included in the collar 1 are in this case joined which each other by means of angle hinges 10 of butt hinge structure. By means of this butt hinge structure it is thereby possible to fold up the collar into a state where the plate members are essentially parallely arranged and thereby the collar only occupies a small space in said folded state. The bottom 6, collar 1 and cover 9 jointly enclose a space meant for storing of objects.

In Fig. 1 the clamp 7 is illustrated in a first preferred embodiment. The clamp 7 has here a first 12 and a second 13 shank, which, when the clamp is arranged in a position in which it joins two plate members jointly forming an essentially right-angled corner and in which it extends around said corner, are situated along a respective limiting surface of the plate members.

Fig. 2 shows a cut cross sectional view of one of said clamps 7 joining the bottom 6 with the plate member 2. The plate member 2 and the first shank 12 are provided with first engagement means 14 shaped for engagement with each other, in the form of a recess 15 in the plate member 2 and a hook-shaped member 16 on the first shank. The second shank of the clamp 7 is provided with a second member 17 for engagement with the bottom 6. In the first embodiment of the clamp 7 the second engagement member 17 consists of two pointed members 18 having a mutual distance in a direction essentially perpendicular to planes defined by the extension directions of the shanks 12, 13. When the clamp is in a position in which it joins two plate mem- bers said two pointed members 18 will consequently be arranged having a mutual distance in a direction essentially in parallel with an intersectional line between the outer surfaces of the plate members which form the corner. Said two pointed members 18 are illustrated in Fig. 4. The pointed members 18 engage with the bottom 6 by penetrating into the bottom member material. It is thereby required that the plate member forming the bottom 6 is made of a material which is none-rigid enough to allow the pointed members 18 to penetrate into and engage with it. The pointed members 18 here extend essentially perpendicularly to the extension direction of the second shank 13. It is however within the field of the claims according to the invention that said pointed members extend in a direction which is not perpendicular to the extension direction of the shank, and the pointed members can for instance extend with an acute angle in relation to the extension direction of the second shank, prefera- bly obliquely back towards the first shank 12. The pointed members here have a triangular shape, with one point of the triangle extending in a direction away from the second shank.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the clamp 7 according to the first embodiment in profile. The extension directions of the shanks 12, 13 of the clamp 7 from a transition section 19 between the shanks have a mutual angle which is smaller than a right angle when the clamp is arranged in its unloaded position. For joining two plate members, which jointly form an essentially right-angled corner, according to Fig. 2, the second engagement member 17 of the second shank 13 is first brought into engagement with plate member 6, whereupon the first engagement member of the first shank 12 in the form of said hook-shaped member 16 is brought into engagement with the recess 15 of the plate member 2. The first 12 and the second 13 shank are slightly springy in relation to each other. When the clamp is used for joining, it stores potential energy in that the shanks are brought to a mutual position in which the extension directions of the shanks have a mutual angle, seen from a transition section between the shanks, which is larger than in its unloaded position. For allowing the clamp to achieve a good fixing action between the plate members, it is shaped such that it has a higher potential energy in said position of joining the plate members than in the unloaded position. Below reference is made to Fig. 2, 3 and 4 simultaneously. Stiffening members 20 are arranged near to said first engagement member 16 of the first shank 12 of the clamp 7. The stiffening members 20 are furthermore arranged at a shorter distance from a transition section 19 between the shanks than said first engagement member 16. Hereby the stiffening members 20 counteracts a bending of the section of the first shank in which they are arranged, in planes parallel to the extension directions of the first and the second shank. When bringing the shanks to a position in which the extension directions of the shanks from a transition section between them have a mutual angle which is larger than it is when the clamp is arranged in the unloaded position, a deformation of the clamp consequently occurs in a section 21 of the first shank situated between the stiffening mem- bers and the transition section and/or of the second shank. In the first preferred embodiment of the clamp the stiffening members 20 consist of two ridge/valley formations in the form of indentations running in the extension direction of the first shank.

The clamp is further provided with an opening 22 which extends through the first shank between the two stiffening members 20. By means of this opening a fixing member in the form of for instance a screw can be attached when the clamp is arranged in its position of joining two plate members, in order to achieve an improved fixing of the clamp in said position.

The clamp here consists of an essentially band-shaped material. The expression band-shaped material should here be understood as a material having an essentially larger extension per- pendicular to the extension directions of the shanks of the clamp than a threadlike material. Thereby a good stability in the junction between the plate members is achieved.

Fig. 5 illustrates a case consisting of six plate members, which are mutually joined by means of several clamps according to the invention. Due to the shaping of the clamp described above it is here only necessary to prepare the four side walls 23, 26 with recesses, whereby a bottom wall 27 and a cover wall 28 can consist of plate members having no recesses or notches for said clamps. One of said clamps is fixed to the side wall 23 by means of a fixing member 29 in the form of a screw extending through the opening 22 of the clamp and at least partly into the side wall material. Another of said clamps is provided with a marking member 30, which is attached through the opening 22 of one clamp and through a hole through the side wall material. The marking member is meant to give instructions whether or not the wrapping is unopened when receiving it after delivery. The marking member is consequently attached after the case has been packed up and the cover wall has been joined by means of said clamps. The marking member is here provided with a head having a larger extension than the extension of the opening 22 and a holder-on on the inside of the case, counteracting withdrawal of the marking member, when the marking member is arranged in an active position, and a part extending through the opening of the hole through the side wall, which part joins the head and the holder-on. When bringing the clamp out of its position of joining two plate members the marking member is thereby deformed.

According to a second embodiment of the clamp the second en- gagement member of the second shank 13 consists of a pointed member, which engages with the second plate member along an elongated engagement area, preferably over essentially the whole breath of the clamp, i.e. perpendicular to the extension direction of the clamp. With the expression elongated engage- ment area is here meant that the engagement takes part along an essentially larger extension in one direction as compared with a point-like engagement. Instead of the two pointed members 18 which are provided according to the first embodiment of the clamp, a part projecting from the second shank is here pro- vided, for instance in the form of a bending of the end of the second shank, the up-bended part however being formed with a pointed end. Within the field of the claims according to the invention it is also possible to form the clamp with rod-like or pinlike members for achieving one or more point-like engagements.

The first engagement members 14 of a first plate member and the first shank 13, shaped for engagement with each other, could further, within the field of the claims according to the invention, be shaped in several different ways. The first engagement member of the plate member can for instance consist of a recess, in which case the first engagement member of the clamp can consist of a notch or protruding part shaped for engagement with the recess. It is however likewise possible that the first engagement member of the plate member consists of a projection or a protruding part, in which case the first engagement member of the clamp consists of a recess, a bending, a hook-shaped part shaped for gripping around the protruding part, or the like.

The clamp is preferably formed in one piece from a plate-like material. For instance a sheet billet is machined by bending and cutting for achieving the shape of the clamp.

It is emphasised that embodiments dealt with above and illustrated in the drawing are only to be regarded as exemplifying. Consequently, the invention can be carried out in other ways retaining the basic idea of the invention. It is in particular pointed out in this connection that men skilled in the art, after having gained knowledge of the solution according to the invention, are of course capable of performing different modifications of the exemplified embodiment without thereby leaving the field of protection of the patent.

Claims

1 . A clamp for joining two plate members (2, 6), which jointly form an essentially right-angled corner, the clamp being pro- vided with two shanks (12, 13), which are situated along a respective limiting surface of the plate members when the clamp is arranged in a position in which it joins the plate members and extends around the corner, a first one (2) of the plate members and a first one of the shanks (12) being provided with first engagement members (14) shaped for engagement with each other, and the second shank (13) of the clamp being provided with a second member (17) for engagement with a second one (6) of the plate members, characterized in, that the second engagement member (17) of the second shank consists of at least one pointed member (18) for engagement with the second plate member through penetration into the plate member material.

2. A clamp according to claim 1 , characterized in, that the sec- ond engagement member (17) consists of at least two pointed members (18) having a mutual distance essentially in the cross-direction of the second shank.

3. A clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in, that said pointed member (18) engages the second plate member along an elongated engagement area.

4. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that said pointed member (18) is directed essen- tially perpendicular to the extension direction of the second shank.

5. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that said first engagement members (14) are shaped with a male-like member on one of the first plate member (2) and the first shank (12) of the clamp, and a fe- male-like member on the other of the first plate member and the first shank of the clamp.

6. A clamp according to claim 5, characterized in, that the male-like member consists of a protrusion and the femalelike member consists of a recess.

7. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that said first engagement members (14) are pro- vided with hook-shaped sections shaped for engagement with each other.

8. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that the shanks (12, 13) of the clamp have exten- sion directions which, from a transition section (19) between the shanks, have a mutual angle which is smaller than a right angle when the clamp is arranged in an unloaded position.

9. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terized in, that the clamp has a higher potential energy in said position in which it joins the plate members than in an unloaded position.

10. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, charac- terized in, that the stiffening members (20) are arranged near to said first engagement member (14) of the first shank of the clamp and at least partially at a short distance from a transition section (19) between the shanks than said first engagement member (14).

1 1. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that it is provided with an opening (22) extending through at least one of said shanks.

12. A clamp according to claim 10 and 1 1 , characterized in, that said opening is arranged near to said stiffening members.

13. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims characterized in, that the clamp consists of an essentially band- shaped material.

14. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in, that a first one (2) of said plate members forms part of a frame (1 ) and a second one (6) of said plate members forms part of a bottom, which in turn suitably forms part of a pallet.

15. A clamp according to any of claims 1 -13 characterized in, that said plate members represent two adjacent limiting walls of a case