WO2014175893A1

WO2014175893A1 - Corner connector device

Info

Publication number: WO2014175893A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/038421
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francois K PIRAYESH; Xiaoqi Zhou
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company
Priority date: 2013-04-26
Filing date: 2013-04-26
Publication date: 2014-10-30
Also published as: EP2988631A1; US20160143462A1; EP2988631A4

Abstract

A corner connector device includes a first connector member and a second connector member. The first connector member and the second connector member are connected to and rotatable with respect to each other. The first connector member and the second connector member connect two corner-forming side members of the plurality of corner-forming side members to each other to form a respective corner.

Description

CORNER CONNECTOR DEV1C

BACKGROUND

[0001] Corner connector devices may be used to assemble display frames. Corner connector devices may connect to and form respective corners with side members of a display frame. The assembled display frame may receive and display a display object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Non-limiting examples are described in the following description, read with reference to the figures attached hereto and do not limit the scope of the claims. Dimensions of components and features illustrated in the figures are chosen primarily for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily to scale. Referring to the attached figures:

[0003] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a corner connector device according to an example.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the corner connector device of FIG. 1 in an uninstalled state according to an example.

[0005] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the corner connector device of FIG. 2 in an installed state according to an example.

[0006] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a display frame according to an example. [0007] FSG. 5 is a perspective view of a back side of the display- frame of FIG. 4 in a partially-assembled state according to an example.

[0008] FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating a corner-forming side member of the display frame of FIG. 5 according to an example.

[0009] FIG. 6B is an exploded view of a portion of the display frame of FIG. 5 according to an example.

[0010] FIG. 7 is a front view of the display frame of FIG. 4 in an assembled state having a display object according to an example.

[001 1] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a back side of a display frame in a partially-assembled state according to an example.

[0012] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling a display frame according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Corner connector devices may be used to assemble display frames. Corner connector devices may connect to and form respective corners with side members of a display frame. The display frame in an assembled state may receive and display a display object. The corner connector devices, however, may be rigid and difficult for a user to assemble the display frame with accurately-aligned corners. Further, the assembly of a respective display frame may be limited to forming a predetermined single- sized rectangular area to receive a display object. For example, the assembly of the respective display frame may be limited to form a 4 inch by 6 inch rectangular area to display a 4 inch by 6 inch photo. Thus, the display frame may be significantly limited as to the size of display objects that may be displayed. Thus, the ease of use of the corner connector devices and adjustability of the display frames to accommodate different-sized display objects may be reduced.

[0014] In examples, a display frame includes a plurality of corner- forming side members, a plurality of intermediate side members, and at least one corner connector device. The at least one corner connector device may connect two corner-forming side members to each other to form a respective corner. The at least one corner connector device may include a first connector member and a second connector member connected to and rotatabie with respect to each other about a connection point. The

intermediate attachment members are configured to removably attach to at least one of another intermediate side member and a respective corner-forming side member. Accordingly, effective lengths of respective sides of the display frame may be increased by the addition of intermediate side members thereto. Thus, the display frame may be assembled having a rectangular area selected from various-sized rectangular areas to receive and display similarly-sized display objects. Further, a display frame may be assembled with the first connector member and the second connector member of the corner connector device rotatabie with respect to each other about the connection point. Thus, the ease of use of the corner connector devices and adjustability of the display frames may be increased.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a corner connector device according to an example. Referring to FIG. 1 , in some examples, a corner connector device 101 includes a first connector member 12 and a second connector member 18. The first connector member 12 may include a first connecting end 13, a first receiving end 15 to engage one of the comer- forming side members, and a first intermediate portion 14 disposed between the first connecting end 13 and the first receiving end 15. The second connector member 16 may include a second connecting end 17 to movably connect to the first connecting end 13, a second receiving end 19 to engage another one of the corner-forming side members, and a second intermediate portion 18 disposed between the second connecting end 17 and the second receiving end 19. The second connector member 16 may be connected to and movable with respect to the first connector member 12. In some examples, the first connector member 12 and the second connector member 16 may be an elongated, cylindrical member. [0016] FSG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the corner connector device of FIG. 1 in an uninstalled state according to an example. FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the corner connector device of FIG. 2 in an installed state according to an example. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some examples, the corner connector device 101 includes the first connector member 12 and the second connector member 18 as previously described with respect to FIG. 1 . For example, the first connector member 12 may include the first connecting end 13. The first connector member 12 may also include the first receiving end 15 to engage one of the corner-forming side members 41 a. The first connector member 12 may also include the first intermediate portion 14 disposed between the first connecting end 13 and the first receiving end 15.

[0017] The second connector member 16 may include the second connecting end 17 to movab!y connect to the first connecting end 13. The second connector member 16 may also include the second receiving end 19 to engage another one of the corner-forming side members 41 b. The second connector member 18 may also include the second intermediate portion 18 disposed between the second connecting end 17 and the second receiving end 19. In some examples, the second connecting end 17 of the second connector member 16 is configured to connect to the first connecting end 13 of the first connector member 12 at a connection point 23. In some examples, the connection point 23 may include a fastener, a pin, a protrusion and corresponding cavity, and the like.

[0018] The first connector member 12 and the second connector member 18 may rotate with respect to each other about the connection point 23. The first connector member 12 and the second connector member 16 may rotate in a rotational direction d_r about the connection point 23 toward and/or away from each other. For example, the first connector member 12 may be inserted into one of the corner-forming side members 41 a. Further, the second connector member 16 may be rotated and inserted into another corner-forming side member 41 b to form a respective corner. In some examples, a respective corner may form an angle a of about 90 degrees with the corresponding corner-forming side members 41 a and 41 h.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some examples, the first receiving end 15 may include a first end portion 15a and a first indent portion 15b. The first indent portion 15b may form a first cavity and be disposed between the first end portion 15a and the first intermediate portion 14. Sn some examples, the first connector member 12 may be an elongated, cylindrical member in which a diameter of the first indent portion 15b may be smaller than diameters of the first intermediate portion 14 and the first end portion 15a. The second receiving end 19 may include a second end portion 19a and a second indent portion 19b. The second indent portion 19b may form a second cavity and be disposed between the second end portion 19a and the second intermediate portion 18. In some examples, the second connector member 18 may be an elongated, cylindrical member in which a diameter of the second indent portion 19b may be smaller than diameters of the second intermediate portion 18 and the second end portion 19a.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in some examples, the corner connector device 101 may also include a plurality of fasteners 25a and 25b (collectively 25). For example, one fastener 25a may removably attach to the first end portion 15a of the first connector member 12 within one of the comer- forming side members 41 a. Another fastener 25b may removably attach to the second end portion 19a of the second connector member 18 within the other one of the corner-forming side members 41 b.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a display frame according to an example. Referring to FIG. 4, in some examples, a display frame 400 includes a plurality of corner-forming side members 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, and 41 d (collectively 41 ) and at least one corner connector device 101 to connect two corner-forming side members of the plurality of corner-forming side members 41 to each other to form a respective corner. In some examples, the corner may form an angle of about 90 degrees with the respective two corner-forming side members 41 . The at least one corner connector device 101 may include a first connector member 12 and a second connector member 16 connected to and rotatable with respect to each other about a connection point 23 as previously described with respect to FIGS. 2-3. The first connector member 12 may engage one corner-forming side member. The second connector member 16 may engage another corner-forming side member.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a back side of the display frame of FIG. 4 in a partially-assembled state according to an example. FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating a corner-forming side member of the display frame of FSG. 5 according to an example. FIG. 6B is an exploded view of a portion of the display frame of FIG. 5 according to an example. FIG. 7 is a front view of the display frame of FIG. 4 in an assembled state having a display object according to an example. Referring to FIGS. 5-7, in some examples, the display frame 400 includes the plurality of corner-forming side members 41 a, 41 b, 41 c, and 41 d (collectively 41 ) and at least one corner connector device 101 as previously described with respect to FIG. 4.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, in some examples, each one of the corner-forming side members 41 may include at least one corner-forming end 61 and a fastener opening 55a and 55b (collectively 55) to receive a respective fastener 25a and 25b (collectively 25). Sn some examples, the fasteners 25 may include barrel fasteners to be inserted into the respective fastener openings 55 of the respective corner-forming side members 41 to engage the respective end portions 15a and 19a of the respective corner connector device 101 . Each one of the corner-forming side members 41 may include a receiving portion 68 to receive a portion of a display object 75. The display object 75, for example, may include a rectangular picture, canvas, faux blank, and/or cellulose fiber-based blank, and the like as illustrated in FIG. 7. In some examples, the display object 75 may be attached to receiving portions 68 of the corner-forming side members 41 by adhesive, fasteners, and the like.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, in some examples, the corner-forming end 61 may include a corner-receiving hole 62 to receive one of the first connector member 12 and the second connector member 16. In some examples, the corner-forming end 61 may be slanted and include at least one of a peg 63b and a peg-receiving hole 83a to receive a corresponding peg 83b therein. The comer connector device 101 may connect to and abut a respective pair of corner-forming ends 81 of a pair of corner-forming side members 41 a and 41 b against each other. Further, at least one of a peg 83b and a peg-receiving hole 63a may receive a corresponding peg 63b therein to form a respective corner. The peg-receiving hole 63a and corresponding peg 63b may align and/or connect the respective corner-forming side members 41 to form a respective corner. In some examples, the respective corner may form an angle of about 90 degrees with the respective corner-forming side members 41 .

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a display frame in a partially-assembled state according to an example. Referring to FSG. 8, in some examples, a display frame 800 may include the corner connector device 101 as previously described with respect to FIGS. 1 -7. The display frame 800 may also include a plurality of corner-forming side members 81 a, 81 b, 81 c, 81 d, 81 e, 81 f, 81 g, 81 h (collectively 81 ) and a plurality of intermediate side members 82a, 82b, 82c and 82d (collectively 82). The corner-forming side members 81 may correspond to the corner-forming side members 41 having a corner-forming end 61 previously described with respect to the display frame 400 of FIGS. 4-7, In some example, however, the corner-forming side members 81 may also include an intermediate end 88. The intermediate end 88 may include at least one attachment member. In some examples, the attachment member may include at least one of a peg 63b and a peg-receiving hole 63a to receive a corresponding peg 83b therein.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 8, in some examples, each one of the corner-forming side members 81 may include at least one corner-forming end 81 and a fastener opening 55a and 55b (FIG. 5) to receive a respective fastener 25a (FIG. 5). In some examples, the fasteners 25 may include barrel fasteners to be inserted into the respective fastener openings 55 of the respective corner-forming side members 81 to engage the respective end portions of the respective corner connector device 101 . Each one of the corner-forming side members 81 and the intermediate side members 82 may include a receiving portion 68 to receive a portion of a display object 75 (F!G. 7).

[0027] Referring to FIG. 8, in some examples, each one of the plurality of intermediate side members 82 may include a first intermediate end 87 and a second intermediate end 88. Each one of the first intermediate end 87 and the second intermediate end 88 may include at least one intermediate attachment member. The intermediate attachment member may be configured to removably attach to at least one of another intermediate side member and a respective corner-forming side member 81 . Thus, the intermediate side members 82 may increase the effective length of sides of the display frame 800. Accordingly, the display frame 800 may be assembled having a size of a rectangular area selected from variety of sizes to receive similarly-sized display objects. The intermediate attachment member may include at least one of a peg 83b and a peg-receiving hole 63a to receive a corresponding peg 63b therein.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling a display frame according to an example. Referring to FIG. 9, in block S910, a first connector member of a corner connector device is inserted into a corner- receiving hole of a corner-forming side member, in block S912, a respective fastener is inserted into a fastener opening of the corner-forming side member to attach to and hold the first connector member to the corner-forming side member, in block S914, a second connector member of the corner connector device is rotated with respect to the first connector member. In block S918, the second connector member is inserted into a corner-receiving hole of an other corner-forming side member to form a respective corner with the corner- forming side member and the other corner-forming side member.

[0029] in block S918, another fastener is inserted into a fastener opening of the other corner-forming side member to attach to and hold the second connector member to the other corner-forming side member. In some examples, the method may also Include connecting a corner attachment member from one of the corner-forming side member and the other corner- forming side member to the other of the corner-forming side member and the other corner-forming side member. The method may also include assembling the display frame having a rectangular-shape by forming four respective corners with four corner connector devices and four corner-forming side members,

[0030] it is to be understood that the flowchart of FIG, 9 illustrates architecture, functionality, and/or operation of examples of the present disclosure. Although the flowchart of FIG. 9 illustrates a specific order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more blocks may be rearranged relative to the order illustrated. Also, two or more blocks illustrated in succession in FIG. 9 may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. All such variations are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0031] The present disclosure has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of examples thereof that are not intended to limit the scope of the general inventive concept. It should be understood that features and/or operations described with respect to one example may be used with other examples and that not all examples have ail of the features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examples described will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms "comprise," "include," "have" and their conjugates, shall mean, when used in the disclosure and/or claims, "including but not necessarily limited to."

[0032] It is noted that some of the above described examples may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the general inventive concept and which are described for illustrative purposes. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are

different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the generai inventive concept is limited only by the elements and limitations as used in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A corner connector device to connect a plurality of corner-forming side members to form a corner of a display frame, the corner connector device comprising:

a first connector member including a first connecting end, a first receiving end to engage one of the corner-forming side members, and a first intermediate portion disposed between the first connecting end and the first receiving end; and

a second connector member including a second connecting end to movably connect to the first connecting end, a second receiving end to engage another one of the corner-forming side members, and a second intermediate portion disposed between the second connecting end and the second receiving end; and

wherein the second connector member is connected to and movable with respect to the first connector member.

2. The corner connector device of claim 1 , wherein the second connecting end of the second connector member is configured to connect to the first connecting end of the first connector member at a connection point such that the first connector member and the second connector member rotate with respect to each other about the connection point.

3. The corner connector device of claim 1 , wherein the first receiving end further comprises:

a first end portion; and

a first indent portion to form a first cavity and disposed between the first end portion and the first intermediate portion.

4. The corner connector device of claim 3, wherein the second receiving end further comprises:

a second end portion; and

a second indent portion to form a second cavity and disposed between the second end portion and the second intermediate portion.

5. The corner connector device of claim 4, further comprising:

a plurality of fasteners;

one fastener of the plurality of fasteners to removably attach to the first end portion of the first connector member within the one of the comer-forming side members; and

another fastener of the plurality of fasteners to removably attach to the second end portion of the second connector member within the other one of the corner-forming side members.

6. A display frame, comprising:

a plurality of corner-forming side members; and

at least one corner connector device to connect two corner-forming side members of the plurality of corner-forming side members to each other to form a respective corner, the at least one corner connector device including a first connector member and a second connector member connected to and rotatable with respect to each other about a connection point;

the first connector member to engage one of the two corner-forming side members; and

the second connector member to engage another one of the two corner- forming side members.

7. The display frame of claim 6, wherein each one of the corner- forming side members includes at least one corner-forming end having a corner- receiving hole to receive one of the first connector member and the second connector member.

8. The display frame of claim 7, wherein the corner-forming end is slanted.

9. The display frame of claim 7, wherein each one of the corner- forming side members includes a fastener opening to receive a respective fastener.

10. The display frame of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of intermediate side members, each one of the plurality of intermediate side members includes a first intermediate end and a second intermediate end such that each one of the first intermediate end and the second intermediate end incudes at least one intermediate attachment member; and

wherein the at least one intermediate attachment member is configured to removably attach to at least one of another intermediate side member and a respective corner-forming side member.

1 1 . The display frame of claim 10, wherein the at least one

intermediate attachment member is at least one of a peg and a peg-receiving hole to receive a corresponding peg therein.

12. The display frame of claim 10, wherein each one of the corner- forming side members further comprises:

a corner-forming end, the corner forming end having a corner-receiving hole to receive one of the first connector member and the second connector member such that the corner-forming end is slanted; and

an intermediate end, the intermediate end including at least one intermediate attachment member to removably attach to a corresponding intermediate attachment member of a respective intermediate side member.

13. A method of assembling a display frame, the method comprising: inserting a first connector member of a corner connector device into a corner-receiving hole of a corner-forming side member;

inserting a respective fastener into a fastener opening of the corner- forming side member to attach to and hold the first connector member to the corner-forming side member;

rotating a second connector member of the corner connector device with respect to the first connector member;

inserting the second connector member into a corner-receiving hole of an other corner-forming side member to form a respective corner with the corner-forming side member and the other corner-forming side member; and inserting another fastener into a fastener opening of the other corner- forming side member to attach to and hold the second connector member to the other corner-forming side member.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

connecting a corner attachment member from one of the corner-forming side member and the other corner-forming side member to the other of the corner-forming side member and the other corner-forming side member.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

assembling the display frame having a rectangular-shape by forming four respective corners with four corner connector devices and four corner-forming side members.