WO2014122556A1

WO2014122556A1 - Connector fitting

Info

Publication number: WO2014122556A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/058594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl-Heinz Schmitt
Original assignee: Karl-Heinz Schmitt
Priority date: 2013-02-05
Filing date: 2014-01-28
Publication date: 2014-08-14

Abstract

A connector fitting (1) for connecting plates having aligned apertures (4) is provided. The fitting (1) has a body (5) and a locking member (6) movable inoperative terminal position and operative terminal position. The body (5) has a surface (7) for engaging a surface of a plate adjacent an aperture (4) with one or more locating protrusions (8) locating the body relative to the aperture (4). A fulcrum formation (12) associated with the body (5) cooperates with a fulcrum formation (14) forming part of the locking member (6) in an end region of a rigidly flexible or deformable arm (13). A latch member (15) is associated with the co-operant fulcrum formation (14) and is located within the confines of the locating protrusions in the inoperative terminal position of the locking member (6) and is movable to an operative position about the fulcrum formation (14) so as to be located opposite a part of the engagement surface in the operative position of the locking member to clamp two plates together.

Description

CONNECTOR FITTING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a connector fitting for connecting two superimposed plates together by cooperating with aligned apertures in the plates and engaging opposite surfaces to hold or urge the plates together.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Numerous different connector fittings have been used in the past, these including nuts and bolts, rivets, pop-rivets, spot welding and numerous other dedicated hardware fittings. Many of these are successful to a greater or lesser extent but the one feature that applicant believes needs addressing is the simplicity and speed with which a connector fitting can be operatively installed. Preferably, few or no tools or equipment should be necessary in order to enhance productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a connector fitting for connecting plates having aligned apertures the fitting comprising a body and a locking member movable between an inoperative terminal position and an operative terminal position relative to the body, the body having an engagement surface for engaging a surface of a plate adjacent an aperture therein with one or more locating protrusions passing into the aperture to locate the body relative to the aperture in a plane of the plate; a fulcrum formation associated with the body and cooperating with a co-operant fulcrum formation forming part of the locking member and carried in an end region of a rigidly flexible or deformable arm, a latch member associated with the co-operant fulcrum formation and being located within the confines of the locating protrusions in the inoperative terminal position of the locking member and being movable to an operative position about the fulcrum formation so as to be located opposite a part of the engagement surface in the operative position of the locking member, an operating formation on the locking member for engagement to urge the locking member from its inoperative position to its operative position, and a locking arrangement for maintaining the locking member in its operative position.

Further features of the invention provide for the arm to be arcuate in which instance movement about the fulcrum formation is achieved by a straightening action imposed on the arcuate arm; for the locking member to have two divergent arms extending in opposite directions from a central position on the locking member with each arm having a co-operant fulcrum formation and associated latch member; for the latch member in each instance to have a surface that in the operative position faces the engagement surface but is slightly inclined towards the engagement surface with increasing distance from the associated arm; and for the fitting to have holding formations for retaining a fitting captive relative to an aperture in a plate when the locking member is in its inoperative terminal position with respect to the body.

Additional features of the invention provide for the locking member to have a central stem passing through the body and terminating at an outer end in an operating formation in the form of a manually operable button; for the central stem to have one or more clipping formations cooperating with the body to hold the locking member captive relative to the body in the inoperative position thereof and in the alternative, or in addition, to serve as the holding formations to hold the fitting captive relative to an aperture in a plate; for the body to have a slot shaped passage therethrough that accommodates the locking member in both the inoperative and operative positions thereof; for the locking arrangement for maintaining the locking member in its operative position relative to the body to be a catch; and for the catch in its operative position to have co-operating projections and recesses provided on the locking member and body and conveniently in the wall of a slot shaped passage and in association with the operating member.

Still further features of the invention provide for the catch for maintaining the locking member in its operative position to be releasable; for release of the catch to be achievable using a special tool for releasing the catch; for the catch to be releasable by flexing the walls of a slot shaped passage that passes through the body outwards to enable disengagement of the catch that includes co-operating projections and recesses provided on the locking member and body to take place; for release formations to be provided on the locking member in suitable positions for enabling manual disengagement of the latch members to be achieved from the side of the fitting to which the locking member is moved relative to the body in order to effect a disengagement of the connector; and for the release formations to be in the form of a manually operable ear on an accessible rear surface of each latch member.

Preferably the body and locking member are each made as a unitary injection moulded plastics component having suitable physical properties to provide the required operation of the connector fitting. Many different grades of plastics could be employed and would be selected according to technological requirements and availability. It is envisaged, that out of presently available materials, Polyoxymethylene (POM) (which is often called Acetal) would be suitable. As an alternative, Polyamide (PA 6.6) (Nylon) could be used. Polypropylene could also be used especially for lighter applications. Doubtless numerous other materials will be appropriate according to requirements. In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:- is an exploded isometric view showing the body and locking member of one embodiment of the invention taken from the side having the operating member;

Figure 2 is in an isometric view of the assembled body and locking member in the inoperative position also taken from the side having the operating member;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the assembled body and locking member in the inoperative position taken from the opposite side of the fitting and showing the engagement surface and associated locating protrusions;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the fitting in its inoperative position;

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken a long line V to V in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the fitting in an operative position; Figure 7 is a cross-section taken a long line VII to VII in Figure 6 and illustrating also a special tool for releasing the catch that holds the locking member in its operative position; Figure 8 is a plan view of the fitting;

Figure 9 is an isometric view showing the fitting in exploded relationship relative to an aperture in a flange of a metal plate;

Figure 10 is an isometric view taken in the same direction as Figure 9 and showing the connector fitting in its operative installed condition;

Figure 1 1 is an isometric view taken from the opposite side of the connector fitting illustrated in Figure 10 and showing in exploded relationship also a special tool for releasing the catch holding the locking member in its operative position relative to the body;

Figure 12 is the same as Figure 6 with the same reference numerals but showing, in addition, release formations in the form of ears on the outer side of each fulcrum of the locking member; and,

Figure 13 is the same as Figure 2 but also showing the ears on the outer side of each fulcrum of the locking member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a connector fitting (1 ) is suitable for connecting plates that in this example of the invention are illustrated as being in the form of integral flanges (2) extending at right angles to a main metal panel (3) wherein the integral flanges having aligned elongate rectangular apertures (4) punched therein for receiving the fitting. This embodiment of fitting comprises a body (5) and a locking member (6) movable between an inoperative terminal position relative to the body that is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and an operative terminal position that is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The body has an engagement surface (7) for engaging a surface of a plate adjacent an aperture (4) therein with locating protrusions (8) passing into the aperture to locate the body relative to the aperture in the plane of the flange. The body has a rectangular slot shaped passage (1 1 ) passing through it that accommodates the locking member in both of the terminal positions thereof with a smooth transverse fulcrum formation (12) extending across the width of the slot shaped passage at each end thereof. The locking member has two divergent rigidly flexible arcuate arms (13) extending in opposite directions from a central position with a co-operant fulcrum formation (14) forming part of the locking member and carried in an end region of the associated arm. The co-operant fulcrum formation (14) in each case engages the transverse fulcrum formation (12) on the body in both the inoperative and operative positions of the locking member, as shown in Figures 4 and 6.

Each arm has at its free end a latch member (15), very much resembling a claw, associated with the co-operant fulcrum formation with the latch member being located fully within the confines of the locating protrusions in the inoperative terminal position of the locking member, as shown in Figure 4. The latch members are movable to an operative position about the fulcrum formation such that each latch member is located opposite a part of the engagement surface in the operative position of the locking member, as shown in Figure 6. Movement about the cooperant fulcrum formation is achieved by a straightening action imposed on the arcuate arms as will become more apparent from the following. The latch member in each instance has an operative surface (16) (see especially Figure 6) that in the operative position faces the engagement surface but is slightly inclined towards the engagement surface with increasing distance from the associated arm. This arrangement enables the portion of the surface closer to the metal plate, in use, to contact it first and become slightly deformed as the locking member is moved into its final operative position. This results in the plates being held in firm engagement with each other.

The locking member also has an operating formation in the form of a manually operable button (17) on the locking member for engagement to urge the locking member from a somewhat withdrawn inoperative position to its fully inserted operative position. A central bifurcated stem (18) passes through the slot shaped passage in the body and terminates in clipping formations (19) cooperating with the body to hold the locking member captive relative to the body in the inoperative position thereof. Mould design is facilitated by staggering the two limbs of the bifurcated stem so that they are not located opposite each other and can therefore flex independently but in practice work in concert.

Apart from the fact that the clipping formations (1 9) hold the locking member (6) captive in the body (5), they also serve as holding formations to hold the assembled fitting captive in its inoperative position relative to an aperture in one sheet metal component to which a second sheet metal component is to be attached by means of the fitting. It is therefore possible to pre-fit a complete fitting in its inoperative position at a factory onto one part to which a second part is to be attached and the fitting will not be dislodged during transport of a knocked down unit in a box. This simplifies assembly in that fittings do not have to be taken out of a bag and orientated for fitment as they are already correctly installed. The configuration of the locking member and arms is such that by depressing the manually operable button the arms become splayed outwards somewhat thereby causing the co-operant fulcrum formation to swivel about the fulcrum formations of the body with the latch members rotating outwards so as to project beyond the confines of the locating protrusions.

A catch is provided for maintaining the locking member in its operative position relative to the body and in this embodiment of the invention, the catch comprises co-operating projections (21 ) carried on the locking member inwardly of the operative surface of the manually operable button and recesses (22) in the wall (in this instance in the form of slots passing laterally through the wall) of the slot shaped passage in the body that receive the projections (21 ) in the operative position of the locking member. This catch serves to hold the locking member in its operative position relative to the body.

Whilst not being an essential element of the invention, the catch for maintaining the locking member in its operative position may be releasable. This can conveniently be achieved by providing a special tool (25) having prongs (26) for releasing the catch. The locking member is provided with channels (27) for partially accommodating the prongs of the tool and for guiding them inwardly between the wall of the slot shaped passage and the locking member. The inner ends of the prongs are beveled, as indicated by numeral (28), to facilitate their introduction between the walls of the body and the locking member itself so as to flex the walls of the slot shaped passage outwards and thereby bring about disengagement of the co-operating projections (21 ) and recesses (22) provided on the locking member and body. In view of the fact that over a period of time the plastic material of the locking member will generally lose its somewhat resilient characteristic and not release the latch members from the metal plate opposite the engagement surface of the body, release formations may be provided on the locking member. This is of particular relevance in instances in which the locking members are inaccessible from the side of the metal plates opposite the engagement surface. Thus, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, a release formation in the form of a manually operable ear (31 ) is provided on the exposed accessible rear surface of each latch member so that the latch member can be urged inwards towards its inoperative position by a person's finger or thumb when disengagement of the latch member is required. As indicated above, the body and locking member are each made as a unitary injection moulded plastics component.

In readiness for use, the locking member may be installed in the slot shaped passage of the body such that the clipping formations on the bifurcated stem engage behind the inner end of the slot to hold the locking member captive relative to the body. In this position the co-operant fulcrum formations on the arms of the locking member are in registration with the fulcrum formations of the body. This position is shown clearly in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The connector fitting will generally be used on steel plate components that have been pre-punched with the apertures that correspond to the locating protrusions. These protrusions may therefore extend through the aligned apertures of two flanges in the example of the invention as shown in Figures 10 and 1 1 .

As indicated above, in the inoperative position of the locking member, the latch members are within the confines of the locating protrusions so that the engagement face can engage the surface of the one flange and project through the thicknesses of the two superimposed flanges. With the connector fitting in this position, the manually operable button can simply be depressed to cause the latch members to rotate about their fulcrums and in so doing to project over the remote flange and clamp the two flanges together between the engagement face and the latch members. In this operative position, the projections (21 ) and recesses (22) cooperate as a catch to hold the locking member in its operative position relative to the body. Should it be required to disengage the connector fitting for any reason, in this embodiment of the invention, the tool (25) can be introduced with its prongs entering the channels (27) to cause disengagement of the catch in the manner described above.

In the event that the latch members (15) fail to retract and disengage the metal plates, the latch member can be urged to a disengaged position by manually moving the latch member by means of the ear of the associated latch member. It will be understood that the engagement of the ears by a person's fingers or thumb will take place from the same side of the fitting as that from which the fitting will be withdrawn from the rectangular apertures. The arrangement is such that, in that particular instance, no access is required to the face of the metal plates remote from the side from which the connector fitting is introduced into the apertures.

Numerous variations may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A connector fitting for connecting plates having aligned apertures the fitting comprising a body and a locking member movable between an inoperative terminal position and an operative terminal position relative to the body, the body having an engagement surface for engaging a surface of a plate adjacent an aperture therein with one or more locating protrusions passing into the aperture to locate the body relative to the aperture in a plane of the plate; a fulcrum formation associated with the body and cooperating with a co-operant fulcrum formation forming part of the locking member and carried in an end region of a rigidly flexible or deformable arm, a latch member associated with the co-operant fulcrum formation and being located within the confines of the locating protrusions in the inoperative terminal position of the locking member and being movable to an operative position about the fulcrum formation so as to be located opposite a part of the engagement surface in the operative position of the locking member, an operating formation on the locking member for engagement to urge the locking member from its inoperative position to its operative position, and a locking arrangement for maintaining the locking member in its operative position.

2. A connector fitting as claimed in claim 1 in which the arm is arcuate in which instance movement about the fulcrum formation is achieved by a straightening action imposed on the arcuate arm.

3. A connector fitting as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which the locking member has two divergent arms extending in opposite directions from a central position on the locking member with each arm having a co-operant fulcrum formation and associated latch member.

4. A connector fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the latch member in each instance has a surface that in the operative position faces the engagement surface but is slightly inclined towards the engagement surface with increasing distance from the associated arm.

A connector fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the fitting has holding formations for retaining the fitting captive relative to an aperture in a plate when the locking member is in its inoperative terminal position with respect to the body.

A connector fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the locking member has a central stem passing through the body and terminating at an outer end in an operating formation in the form of a manually operable button.

A connector fitting as claimed in claim 6 in which the central stem has one or more clipping formations cooperating with the body to hold the locking member captive relative to the body in the inoperative position thereof.

A connector fitting as claimed in claim 7 in which the clipping formations serve as holding formations to hold the fitting captive relative to an aperture in a plate.

A connector fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the body has a slot shaped passage therethrough that accommodates the locking member in both the inoperative and operative positions thereof.

A connector fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which the locking arrangement for maintaining the locking member its operative position relative to the body is a catch. A connector fitting as claimed in claim 10 in which the catch in its operative position has co-operating projections and recesses provided on the locking member and in a wall of a slot shaped passage in the body.

A connector fitting as claimed in either one of claims 10 or 1 1 in which release of the catch is achievable using a special tool for releasing the catch by flexing the walls of a slot shaped passage that passes through the body outwards to enable disengagement of the catch that includes co-operating projections and recesses provided on the locking member and body to take place.

A connector fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which release formations are provided on the locking member in suitable positions for enabling manual disengagement of the latch members to be achieved from the side of the fitting to which the locking member is moved relative to the body in order to effect a disengagement of the connector.

A connector fitting as claimed in claim 13 in which a release formation is in the form of a manually operable ear on an accessible rear surface of each latch member.

A connector fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the body and locking member are each made as a unitary injection moulded plastics component having suitable physical properties to provide the required operation of the connector fitting.