WO2004039220A1

WO2004039220A1 - Fittings for frames

Info

Publication number: WO2004039220A1
Application number: PCT/DK2003/000746
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sigvaldi Viggosson
Original assignee: Sigvaldi Viggosson
Priority date: 2002-11-01
Filing date: 2003-10-31
Publication date: 2004-05-13
Also published as: WO2004039540A2; DK176272B1; DK200201674A; WO2004039540A3; DK176231B1; DK200301206A; AU2003277482A1; AU2003275943A1; AU2003277482A8

Abstract

The present invention concerns one-piece fitting for corner assembling parts of a frame, having two arms being symmetric compared to the corner’s diagonal plane and being mutually perpendicular, each arm having two protrusions to respectively fit into two corresponding predrilled holes (5) in respective frame part (4), characterized in, the two protrusions (1 and 2) of each fitting half being an inner (fig. 1), shorter boss (1) and an outer (fig. 1) longer pin (2), respectively, the pin’s (2) length being optimised compared to the thickness of the preferable thicker section of the frame part, in the bosses (1) and the pins (2) are extending from a rectangular pattern’s corners to the same side of the fitting, both the two bosses (1) and the two pins (2) having exactly the same distance from the corner’s diagonal plane, and in the pins/bosses having their free ends chamfered.

Description

Description:

Title

Fittings for frames

The present invention concerns a fitting for assembling frames. By means of the inventive fitting, typically a frame for a picture/painting can be assembled without need for tools.

Hitherto professional assistance often has been necessary in the assembling of frames.

The invention represents a "do-it-yourself-solution, as the user simply and easily can assemble the four cornered frame.

After fastening of four inventive fittings at respective corners of the frame, this turns out to be stable and reliable.

Prior art is e.g. represented by US patent no. 4,922,638.

This patent also describes the use of a connective fitting comprising two arms, extending mutually perpendicular and symmetrically compared to the corner's diagonal plane. Two bosses are located side by side on and along each arm, and are mutually joined by a connection member. The corresponding two parts of the frame have a groove and two bores correspondingly provided. The frame (corner) is then assembled by positioning the connective fitting on the corresponding frame members by matching a connection member and it's bosses into a respective set of groove and bores.

The inventive fitting is also a unit for assembling, but represents the further benefit, it's use not depending on more or less detailed previous machining, before execution time for the assembling of the frame.

No major craftmanship is necessary. Frames do not need a specialized design for the frame parts to be joined correctly.

But the most important feature of the inventive fitting is the further simplification and stability achieved from it's brilliant and cunning design.

The inventive fitting comprises a unit of preferably hard plastic material. The unit is meant for stably connecting a frame's two corner sections adjoiningly positioned mutually perpendicular.

The ends of the frame's parts, that are pressed against each other, are traditionally cut to angles to follow the diagonal of the corner.

The unit has a construction fitting into the corners of the frame.

One frame part is fastened onto a first half of the unit and the corresponding frame part is fastened onto the second half thereof.

Each half has two protrusions integrated, which respectively must fit into two correspondingly drilled holes in the respective frame parts.

One of two such protrusions is a substantially shorter boss functioning as a guide boss, and is positioned innermost.

The other such protrusion is a relatively long pin, sligtly sloping towards the unit's other such pin situated on the unit's other half.

Due to the hard plastic material for the unit, the pins are able to flex thereby yielding a mutual compressive force by spacing their free ends from the positions sloping towards each other, the beneficial effect of the sloping pins being, that two parts of a frame can be pressed firmly against each other. A force in either direction will be counteracted from the pins, so these will end up returned to a specific, fixed location.

For to ease at most the insertion of the protrusions in the respective holes in the frame part, the free ends of the protrusions can be chamfered. The edge of the inner comer area of the unit is also protruding to same side as the bosses/pins to flush with the edge of the respective frame parts.

This results in a further stabilization of the mutual interconnection of the frame parts.

The advantages are clearly understood:

The unit is simple, easy and cheap to produce.

Everyone can assemble the frame.

No tools are required to assemble the frame.

The protrusions and the holes function as male and female coupling parts, respectively.

Once assembled, the frame is stable and reliable.

Short description of the figures

Fig. 1 shows a unit according to the invention to fasten the frame parts, fig. 2 shows positioning of one frame part, ready for placement onto the unit, and fig. 3 shows the unit securely fastened in the frame part, the unit now ready for fastening of the corresponding frame part.

Description of embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a separate inventive fitting.

The material is in this example hard plastic material.

From the picture both shorter bosses (1) and longer pins (2) are seen.

Though difficult to distinguish, the pins are in fact sloping a bit towards each other. A force applied to the pins (2) from any direction, will always provoke these pins to counterreact to tend to reestablish their original position selected by the inventor.

These original positions effect the two frame parts being forced against each other, thus yielding further fixation.

If the pin (2) has an optimal length compared to the thickness of the frame part (4), the effect of the slope will further improve.

The shorter bosses (1) serve as a kind of guiding shafts - the frame part (4) is guided into correct position by these shafts.

To ease the insertion of the protrusions into the respective holes

(5), the free ends of bosses/pins can be chamfered/pointed (not shown).

Also the protruding inner edge (3) of the fitting is seen to flush with the frame part's (4) inner edge.

This arrangement further augments the stability of the frame assembly.

On fig. 2 the frame part (4) is positioned above an inventive fitting (fig. 1) - just before mutual fastening.

The picture illustrates how easy and simple the fixation is executed - the male parts i.e. the bosses/pins (1/2), are inserted into the female parts (5).

Imagining both frame parts (4), closely adjacent, individually are fastened to a respective half of same unit (fig. 1), one can easily comprehend the effect of the slope of the pins (2): displaced from their original sloping position, the pins will - as described above - force the frame parts (4) against each other for further stabilization of the frame.

The frame's susceptibility to vibration and shocks is reduced.

Finally, on fig. 3 the frame part (4) is shown securely and reliably fastened to one half of the inventive fitting (fig. 1). The boss (1) securely positions the frame part (4) correctly, while the longer pin (2) further fastens the frame part (4) and guarantees stability.

This inventive principle can be used in many situations - not only for picture frames, but also for all conceivable forms of frames.

List of reference numbers inner, guiding boss outer pin - sloping, corresponding free ends approaching protruding edge, flush with corresponding part of frame's edge part of frame pair of holes, positioned and dimensioned according to corresponding pair of 1 and 2; not visible from figures.

Claims

Patent claims f 1-3):

1. One-piece fitting for corner assembling parts of a frame, having two arms being symmetric compared to the corner's diagonal plane and being mutually perpendicular, each arm having two protrusions to respectively fit into two corresponding predrilled holes (5) in respective frame part (4), characterized in, the two protrusions (1 and 2) of each fitting half being an inner (fig. 1), shorter boss (1) and an outer (fig. 1) longer pin (2), respectively, the pin's (2) length being optimized compared to the thickness of the preferable thicker section of the frame part, in the bosses (1) and the pins (2) are extending from a rectangular pattern's corners to the same side of the fitting, both the two bosses (1) and the two pins (2) having exactly the same distance from the corner's diagonal plane, and in the pins/bosses having their free ends chamfered.

2. Fitting according to claim 1, characterized in, the pins (2) are sloping towards each other, the free ends being closer.

3. Fitting according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an inner protruding edge (3, fig.l), which after assemling is flush with the frame parts' (4) inner edges.