GB2291687A

GB2291687A - Rigid joint between components

Info

Publication number: GB2291687A
Application number: GB9514937A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Kenneth Bishop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-22
Filing date: 1995-07-20
Publication date: 1996-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-20
Also published as: GB9414773D0; GB9514937D0; GB2291687B

Abstract

A rigid joint between at least two flat panels (101, 102), comprises mitred faces (107, 108), which extend along at least part of the length of the mating edges of the panels (101, 102), and spaced cooperating lugs (103, 104) and recesses (105, 106), each lug (103, 104) having a through hole (111, 112) which when in registry receives an elongate rod (115), so that the components (101, 102) are prevented from relative movement along and about the axis of the joint. Between the mitred faces (107, 108) are partially mitred faces (109, 110). The rod is a friction fit in the holes (111, 112) and (113, 114). The angle between the panels may be 120 degrees. <IMAGE>

Description

RIGID JOINT BETWEEN COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a rigid joint between at least two components, such as, flat panels, arranged at predetermined angles to one another along adjacent edges thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide an easily-assembled, permanent or temporary, flush and concealed rigid joint between two or more components along mating edges thereof, which can appear to be mitred when viewed from either end of the longitudinal axis of the joint.

Accordingly, the invention provides a rigid joint between at least two components, which joint comprises mitred faces, which extend along at least part of the length of respective mating edges of the components, and spaced, cooperating lugs and associated recesses, each lug having a hole therethrough parallel with the longitudinal axis of the joint, with the holes being in-register with each other and receiving therethrough an elongate member, the arrangement being such that the components are prevented from relative movement along and about the longitudinal axis of the joint.

Relative movement between the jointed components about the joint axis is prevented, and, hence, the angle therebetween is determined and maintained, by the confronting engagement between the mitred faces, whilst rigidity of the joint is maintained not only by that arrangement but also a tight fit between the elongate member and lug holes in which it is received and located. Preferably, relative movement between the components along the longitudinal axis of the joint is substantially prevented by interaction between respective pairs or groups of cooperating lugs and recesses.

Preferably, major, fully-mitred faces are provided at each end of the mating edges of the components of the joint and may be connected by respective, minor partially-mitred faces extending axially of the joint on opposed sides of the associated lugs and recesses.

Additionally or alternatively, major, fullymitred faces may be provided, preferably intermittently, along the axis of the joint between respective pairs, or groups, of cooperating lugs and recesses.

The lugs and recesses may be of any desired cross-sectional profile with, preferably, dimensions in cross-sectional directions which are smaller than those of the thickness of the mating component edges.

Grooves, slots or other suitable elongate recesses may be provided in the fully-mitred faces of the mating edges of the components to accommodate the elongate member which is preferably in the form of a circularly-cross-sectioned rod. Other cross-sections, such as square or triangular, for the rod may also be used. In any event, such grooves, slots or other elongate recesses should preferably have dimensions which are at least as great as the associated dimension of the elongate member, and thus, the holes through the lugs.

Removal of the elongate member which locks the jointed components together, results in the joint being disassembled. In this manner, the components may be joined and separated more than once.

Close-fitting surfaces between adjacent pairs of lugs and recesses may further enhance the maintenance and integrity of the predetermined angle between the components and the rigidity of the jointand, also, prevent movement between the components in the longitudinal direction of the joint axis.

The lugs and associated recesses, optionally together with the mitred faces, may be formed integrally with the respective mating edges of the components to be joined or may be supplied as preformed accessories, along with the elongate member, for subsequent securement to the respective component edges and assembly of the rigid joint therebetween.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, various embodiments of a rigid joint between flat panels, in accordance with the invention, will now be described by way of example and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of rigid joint between two flat furniture panels, shown in a disassembled form; Figure 2 is a perspective, exterior view of the two panels shown in Figure 1, joined rigidly together along mating edges thereof and normal to each other; Figure 3 is a perspective interior view of the two jointed panels shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the joint between mating edges of the two panels shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of four panels similar to those shown in Figures 1 to 4, joined rigidly together to form a rigid box-like structure;; Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of joint with two panels, such as those shown in Figures 1 to 5, joined rigidly together in a common plane along mating edges thereof; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of joint between mating edges of two panels normal to each other; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of joint between mating edges of two panels at 1200 to each other; and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of joint between mating edges of two panels, again normal to each other.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, a pair of flat furniture panels 101, 102, each has, as an integral part of its structure, a mating edge comprising a plurality of cooperating lugs 103, 104 and associated recesses 105, 106 defined therebetween, with 450 major, fully-mitred faces 107, 108 at either end of its edges. The faces 107, 108 are connected by 450 minor, partially-mitred faces 109, 110 extending along the edge adjacent and on opposed sides of the cooperating lugs 103, 104 and recesses 105, 106.

A hole 111, 112 is provided through each lug 103, 104 and a semi-circular slot 113, 114 is provided in each of the major, fully-mitred faces 107, 108 at each end of the mating edges in register with the lug holes 111, 112.

An elongate member in the form of a circularlysectioned rod 115 defining the longitudinal axis of the joint, is used to lock the joint between the mating edges of the panels 101, 102 by passing it through and locating it in the in-register holes 111, 112 in the lugs 103, 104 when the edges are brought into mating relationship.

In this so-assembled joint, as shown in figures 2 to 5, the major, fully-mitred end faces 107, 108 and connecting minor, partially-mitred intermediate faces 109, 110 are in confronting and engaging relationship with each other to prevent relative movement of the panels 101, 102 about the longitudinal axis of the joint, thereby maintaining the 900 angle between the two panels.

The cooperating lugs 103, 104 and recesses 105, 106 interact to prevent relative movement of the panels 101, 102 axially of the joint, whilst the opposing semi-circular slots, 113, 114 define a circular bore which is of substantially the same diameter as that of each of the in-register holes 111, 112 in which the locking rod 115 has been received and is located.

Preferably, the circular rod 115 is a tight or other friction fit within both the in-register holes 111, 112 and the bores defined by the slots 113, 114 and is of a similar length to that of the mating edges of the panels 101, 102 although preferably just less.

Such a tight fit between the locking rod 115 and lug holes 111, 112 in which it is located, assists in maintaining the joint rigid.

The angle of the confronting and engaging major and minor fully- and partially-mitred faces is 45", so that the joint maintains the panels 101, 102 normal to each other, as discussed above.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through the assembled rigid joint between panels 101, 102 locked together with the rod 115 received in the in-register holes 111, 112, and illustrates the respective confronting and engaging relationship between the surfaces of the 45 minor, partially-mitred faces 109, 110 and one pair of cooperating lugs 103 and recesses 106. Other cooperating lugs 104 and recesses 105 and confronting mitred faces 107, 108 are hidden from view.

Figure 5 illustrates two pairs of panels 101, 102 joined along adjacent mating edges and locked together by four respective rods 115 to form a rigid box-like structure whose rigidity may be enhanced further by the addition of at least one square edged panel at the front or rear thereof, thereby rendering it partially or fully enclosed.

With one of the two panels 101, 102, inverted, a rigid joint can be assembled with the two panels 101, 102, lying in a common plane, as illustrated in the second embodiment shown in Figure 6.

Figure 7 illustrates a cross-section through a third embodiment of rigid joint between two furniture panels 701, 702 locked together by a rod 715, which are identical to panels 101, 102, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, except that the respective pairs of cooperating lugs 703 and recesses 706, as well as those hidden from view, are of a different crosssectional profile to that of the corresponding pairs of lugs 103, 104 and recesses 105, 106 of panels 101, 102, as described above in relation to the first two embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, and do not provide a close fitting arrangement between their respective confronting surfaces.

In this third embodiment, the maintenance of the 90" angle between the two panels 701, 702 and the rigidity of the joint is again dependent upon the confronting engagement between the 45" major, fullymitred faces (not shown) at each end of the mating edges of the two panels and the 45 minor, partiallymitred intermediate faces 709, 710, in cooperation with the in-register holes 711, 712 and associated locking rod 715 received and located therein.

Figure 8 is a fourth embodiment of rigid joint between two flat panels 801, 802 at, for example, 1200 to each other, wherein a locking rod 815 is received and located within in-register holes 811 (only one shown) in lugs 803 of the panel 801, as well as the corresponding lugs (not shown) of panel 802. This arrangement is, of course, similar to that described above with respect to the earlier embodiments of the inventive joint, except that the major, fully-mitred end faces (not shown) and the minor partially-mitred intermediate faces 809, 810 of the mating edges of the panels 801, 802, are, therefore, at 60 to the major planes of the respective panels, thereby providing an angle of 1200 therebetween.

Again, and as in the case of the previouslydescribed embodiments of rigid joint in accordance with the invention, maintenance of that predetermined angle between the panels 801, 802 and the rigidity of the joint are dependent upon the confronting engagement between the fully- and partially-mitred faces, as well as the receipt of the locking rod 815 in the in-register holes in the lugs.

Figure 9 shows a cross-section of a rigid joint between two components in the form of respective flat panels 901, 902 joined and locked together by a rod 915 passing through in-register holes 911 (only one shown) in lugs 903 of the panel 901 and corresponding lugs (also not shown) of the other panel 902. In this fifth embodiment, however, the cooperating lugs and recesses have cross-sectional profiles and dimensions which differ again to those of the previouslydescribed embodiments and which span the planar surfaces of the components. In this particular case, the major, fully-mitred faces at each end of the mating edges of the panels 901, 902 are not connected by respective minor, partially-mitred faces, as are the corresponding components of the previouslydescribed embodiments. This means that maintenance of the predetermined angle, in this case 90 , between the two panels 901, 902 and the rigidity of the joint, is dependent upon the confronting and engaging relationship between the major, fully-mitred faces (not shown) at each end of the mating panel edges, together with any surface engagement which may exist between the interacting generally arcuate lugs and recesses, as well as tight fitting engagement between the in-register holes and the locking rod 915.

Claims

1. A rigid joint between at least two components, comprising mitred faces, which extend along at least part of the length of respective mating edges of the components, and spaced, cooperating lugs and associated recesses, each lug having a hole therethrough parallel with the longitudinal axis of the joint, with the holes being in-register with each other and receiving therethrough an elongate member, the arrangement being such that the components are prevented from relative movement along and about the longitudinal axis of the joint.

2. A rigid joint as claimed in claim 1, wherein major, fully-mitred faces are provided at each end of the mating edges of the components of the joint.

3. A rigid joint as claimed in claim 2, wherein the major, fully-mitred faces at each end of the mating edges of the joint components are connected by respective, minor partially-mitred faces extending axially of the joint on opposed sides of the associated lugs and recesses.

4. A rigid joint as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein major, fully-mitred faces are provided along the axis of the joint between respective pairs or groups of cooperating lugs and recesses.

5. A rigid joint as claimed in claim 4, wherein the major, fully-mitred faces of the components are provided intermittently along the joint axis.

6. A rigid joint as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the profile of the lugs and recesses has cross-sectional dimensions which are smaller than those of the thickness of the mating component edges.

7. A rigid joint as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein grooves, slots or other elongate recesses for accommodating the elongate member(s), are provided in fully-mitred faces of the mating component edges.

8. A rigid joint as claimed in claim 7, wherein the dimensions of the grooves, slots or other elongate recesses are at least as great as the associated dimension of the elongate member and, as a consequence, of the holes through the lugs.

9. A rigid joint as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cross-section of the elongate member is circular, square or triangular.

10. A rigid joint as claimed in any preceding claim including close fitting surfaces between adjacent pairs of lugs and recesses, to enhance the maintenance and integrity of the predetermined angle between the components and the rigidity of the joint, and to prevent longitudinal movement between the components along the axis of the joint.

11. A rigid joint as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lugs and associated recesses, optionally together with the mitred faces, are formed integrally with respective mating edges of the components to be joined.

12. A rigid joint as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the lugs and associated recesses, optionally together with the mitred faces and the elongate member, are provided as preformed accessories for subsequent securement to the respective component edges and assembly of the rigid joint therebetween.

13. A rigid joint between at least two components, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. An item of furniture comprising at least two components, preferably planar, joined together by a rigid joint as claimed in any preceding claim.