Framework construction connector

United States Patent nn 3,545,796

<td> [72]</td><td> Inventor</td><td> John William Nicholls 9, Denbigh Road, Ealing, London, W.13, England</td>

<td> [21]</td><td> Appl. No.</td><td> 797,721</td>

<td> [22]</td><td> Filed</td><td> Jan. 22,1969</td>

<td> [45]</td><td> Patented</td><td> Dec. 8,1970</td>

[54] FRAMEWORK CONSTRUCTION CONNECTOR 11 Claims, 24 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl........................................................ 287/54,

287/189.36

[51] InLCl......................................................... F16b2/04

[50] Field of Search............................................ 287/54(A),

54(B), 54(C), 54(E), 189.36(C), 189.36(D),

20.92(C), 20.92(D)

[56] References Cited

UNITED STATES PATENTS

2,430,524 11/1947 Miller........................... 287/54(A)UX

2,926,941 3/1960 Thompson.......................... 287/54(B)

3,008,741 11/1961 MacCormack...................... 287/54(B)

3,069,189 12/1962 Hollaender........................... 287/54(B)

3,282,614 11/1966 Entrikin..............................: 287/114

FOREIGN PATENTS

444,087 3/1936 Great Britain........................i 287/54(F)

992,737 7/1951 France................................ 287/54(B)

Primary Examiner—David J. Williamowsky

Assistant Examiner— Wayne L. Shedd

Attorney—Alexander &amp; Dowell

ABSTRACT: A joint for making frameworks comprises a cubic or rectangular block divided diagonally each having a projecting spigot member so that the two spigot members together form a spigot which can engage in a tube. A wedge block can urge the two half spigots apart into tight engagement with the tube. The half blocks have integral connecting means whereby they can be fixed together directly or by a connecting member.

<img file="US3545796A_D0001.tif" />

PATENTED DEC 81970

SHEET 1 DE 4

3745796

<img file="US3545796A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US3545796A_D0003.tif" />

PATENTED DEC 81970

3:545796

SHEET 2 OF 4

<img file="US3545796A_D0004.tif" />

PATENTED DEC 8I97D

SHEET 3 OF 4

3,547796

<img file="US3545796A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US3545796A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US3545796A_D0007.tif" />

PATENTED DEC 8I97G

3;545J96

SHEET U OF 4

<img file="US3545796A_D0008.tif" />

<img file="US3545796A_D0009.tif" />

<img file="US3545796A_D0010.tif" />

3,545,796

FIG. 20 shows a modified form of connecting block;

FIG. 21 is an end view of the spigot block shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of the spigot block of FIG. 20 and 21;

FIG. 23 is an end view of the connecting block shown in FIG. 20; and

FIG. 24 is an elevational view of said connecting block.

The joint device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a pair of joint members 8, 9, which carry three hollow spigots 11, 12 10 and 13, the axis of spigot 13 intersecting the common axis of spigots 11 and 12 perpendicularly. The spigots are shown to be square in cross section but, if desired, they could be made rectangular, L-shaped or circular, or other suitable shapes.

The joint members 8, 9 each comprises half of a hollow 15 cubic block 50 divided diagonally. The member 8 carries a hollow spigot arm 12 and a spigot member 13A and the member 9 carries a hollow half spigot arm 11 and a half spigot member 13B. The two half spigot members 13A and 13B form a common two part spigot The two half blocks are open at 20 each end in the direction of the half spigot members 13A, 13B to provide an opening through the block 50 in that direction. The half spigot members 13A and 13B together form a square section spigot and are each formed of two sides integral with its half block and at right angles to each other to form an L25 shape. The meeting faces 14 of the half blocks are at 45° to the said sides. These meeting faces are provided with integral connecting means in the forin of dovetails 16, that project inwardly of the walls of the block 50 and are engaged by sliding in the direction of the spigot 13A, 13B. The spigot 13A, 13B ³⁰ and spigot arms 11,12 are smaller transversely than the block 50 to provide abutment shoulders 17, which abut against the ends of the tubes forming the framework.

The openings at the end of the members 8, 9 adjacent the ,- spigot 13A, 13B together form a common central bore 19. Each of the members 8, 9 also has a bore 20 which extends from one of their perpendicular sides 21 adjacent its spigot arm, to the interior of the block. Each member may carry an additional half spigot arm at right angles to the other and will ₄₀ then have another bore adjacent this additional spigot. The bore 20 is recessed at its inner side.

Within each spigot are 11,12,13 is a wedge block 22 which slides on the inner surfaces of the spigots. The wedge blocks have the same basic exterior shape as the inner surfaces which 45 they engage and are so dimensioned as to engage these inner surfaces to force them apart as the wedge block 22 is urged towards block 50. The wedge block 22 is urged in this manner by means of a screw 24, the head of which is located within the hollow block 50 and which extends through the bore 19 or 20 50 and is threaded into a tapped hole in the wedge block 22.

The spigot arms 11, 12 have longitudinal slots 25 so that when the wedge blocks 22 are drawn towards block 50 the walls of the spigot arms are urged apart to engage tightly against the inner surfaces of the tubes of the framework. The 55 open end 28 of the hollow block 50 is covered by a push-on cap 29 (FIG. 4) whereby all the screws are hidden in the finished joint.

FIG. 5 shows a modification in which the spigot arm 11 is omitted.

FIG. 6 shows a modification in which member 9 carries a second complete (four-sided) spigot arm 31.

FIG. 7 shows a modification in which member 8 carries both spigot arms 12, 12A while member 9 only carries its half spigot member. The third arm is not shown but is normal to 65 the plane of the drawing.

FIG. 8 shows spigot arms 11,12,12A (Which are in addition to 13A, 13B not shown).

FIG. 9 shows spigot arms 11,11A, 12,12A (again which are in addition to 13A, 13B).

FIGS. 10 to 13 show a modified form of joint member having half of block 50 divided diagonally by the diagonal surface 14, and a half spigot member 13A as before, this spigot member 13A being shown in this example with a stop shoulder 13C. Instead of the dovetail connecting means, this member 75 has a pair of oppositely disposed tapered ribs 51,52.

FRAMEWORK CONSTRUCTION CONNECTOR

The present invention relates to a device for use in assembly of frameworks. These frameworks are generally composed of frame members which are so assembled, that in a finished construction, a plurality of such members extend mutually at right angles and form joints at their junctions. The device made in accordance with this invention is intended for use at each of said joints.

The type of framework to which the invention relates is used extensively in different forms of construction for a variety of applications, such as shop fittings, cabinets, shelving, building, sheds, benches and scaffolding.

Many devices and methods are known for assembling these frameworks but most of them suffer from inherent disadvantages.

A known method of construction is to have separate detachable joints each having joint members which extend mutually at right angles. In this construction the framework members are secured to particular joint members as desired.

One disadvantage which some of the assembly devices used hitherto is that they are not suitable for use in a framework intended as, say, a support for a machine, or where the framework will be subjected to vibration. Another disadvantage with some of these devices is that their parts cannot be replaced intact after use and hence if a framework is disassembled fresh parts have to be installed in order to effect reassembly.

In addition an adverse run of component tolerances can result in untidy joints.

According to the present invention there is provided a joint member for use in making frameworks, said member being one of a pair of joint members needed for making a joint and comprising half of a hollow block which has an integral part spigot member extending therefrom, said half block having an outer wall and integral connecting means projecting inwardly of the wall for connection to the other joint member, said half block being such that the block formed by two such similar half blocks will be open at opposite ends in the direction of the part spigot member.

Preferably, the wall of the half block has two sides at right angles to each other, the meeting face of the half block which will engage the corresponding face of the other joint member being at approximately 45° to the said sides.

Also according to die invention a joint device comprises a pair of joint members as defined above, together with a connecting device which is a tapered or wedge block slidable on a spigot member and a screw threaded in said block and having a head within the hollow block.

Constructional forms of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a joint device made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an end view thereof;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 shows a cap for use with the assembly joint device;

FIGS. 5 to 9 show various modifications of the joint device;

FIG. 10 shows a joint member according to a further modification;

FIG. 11 is a view of one end thereof (upper end of FIG. 10);

FIG. 12 is a view of the other end thereof viewed in direction of arrow A on FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-13 on FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows an end view similar to FIG. 11 but including the whole joint device and connected tubes;

FIG. 15 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the joint device of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view of the device looking in the direction of arrow 16 on FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view of the device looking in the direction of arrow 17 on FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is an end view of one of the wedge blocks shown in FIGS. 14—17;

FIG. 19 is a view of the connecting block shown in FIGS. 14-17;

3,545,796

FIG. 14 shows the joint device comprising a pair of said joint members of exactly similar shape connected together by means of a connecting block 53 which has a pair of tapered grooves 55, 56 which receive the two pairs of ribs 51, 52 and force them tightly together. One of the screws 24 has its head located within the block 53 and extends through the block and through the bore 19 into threaded engagement with a wedge block 58 which in this example has a different shape.

The block 58 in end view (FIGS. 16, 17 and 18) has the shape of two overlapping squares, one of which is larger than the other. The larger square is tapered at all sides while the smaller square is tapered at the two inner sides but not at the outer sides 70, 71 which engage against the inner surface of the tube 69 of the framework. The half spigot 13B is formed with a stop 59 to prevent the block 58 from falling off within the tube 69 before the half spigot 13A is inserted in the tube.

FIGS. 10—12 show two L-shaped spigot members 60, 61 each having two tapered sides or walls 63,64 the exterior surfaces of which are at right angles to each other. The spigot members 60,61 project in directions which are at right angles to each other and to the spigot member 13A. The sides or walls of the hollow square shaped block 50 from which the spigot members 60,61 project are formed with screw holes 20 to receive screws the heads of which are within the block 50 while the threaded shanks project into wedge blocks (not shown) similar to blocks 58 which slide in the spigot members 60, 61 and in the tubes 69, into which the spigot members are placed.

The wedge blocks 58 are drawn towards the block 50 by screws 24 and slide in the tapered spigot members and tubes 69 to draw them into tight engagement to make a rigid joint.

FIGS. 20 to 24 show means whereby a connection can be made with a tube in line with the spigot member 13A. In place of the block 53 there is provided a block 73 which has two tapered grooves 75 (the same as 55 of block 53) and has an outwardly extending hollow conical spigot member 74 that extends out of the block 50 in the direction opposite to that of spigot member 13A. An injection moulded coacting spigot member 76 which may be made of nylon is made with four legs which have an exterior shape to engage the interior surface of tube 69 and an interior shape to engage the conical spigot member 74 whereby the legs are forced apart to engage the tube: The legs are carried by a central stem 77 which enters the hollow member 74 and has an exterior thread 78 that engages an interior thread in the hollow member 74. The member 76 is screwed on to the member 74 and the tube 69 is then placed over the member 76. The tube 69 is rotated thereby rotating 76 on to 74 whereby the legs on 76 are forced apart to engage the tube and make a tight and rigid joint.

The joint devices of the present invention provide several advantages. For example, they enable joints of first class appearance to be made firmly in spite of tolerances in tubes and with tube ends always butting on the appropriate joint faces of the hollow block. The fastening devices are hidden within the joint. The tubes are held against angular displacement. The joints can easily be taken apart without undue force or damage. The joint devices constitute a simple push-in fitting which can be bolted very firmly in position without visible sign of the method of attachment.

If desired, one or more arms such as 60,61 may be replaced by two L-section members similar to 13A, 13B in FIG. 16 and these members may be contiguous with each other or may have a gap between them.