Joints and connections – Laterally related members connected by latch means – e.g.,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-07-31
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Laterally related members connected by latch means, e.g.,...
C403S217000, C403S174000, C160S135000, C052S235000, C052S481200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a board to board coupling structure, and more particularly to such a board to board coupling structure, which enables a plurality of panel assemblies to be coupled to one another, forming a folding collapsible display rack, screen, or partition wall.
There is a known board to board coupling structure for coupling panel assemblies into a folding collapsible display rack or the like. This coupling structure comprises a plurality of sliding rails and clamping plates. Each sliding track is inserted into a sliding groove at the frame structure of one panel assembly, and then is fixedly secured thereto at the desired elevation. The clamping plates are respectively clamped on a tubular shaft about which the installed panel assemblies are turned. The main drawback of this structure board to board coupling structure is that the clamping plates wear quickly with use. When the clamping plates start to wear, the coupled panel assembly may displace downwards with the respective clamping plates relative to the tubular shaft. Further, when the clamping plates start to wear, they tend to be disconnected from the tubular shaft by an external force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a board to board coupling structure, which eliminates the aforesaid problems. According to one aspect of the present invention, the board to board coupling structure comprises a tubular shaft, two locating plates respectively mounted in a longitudinal groove in the tubular shaft, two inner socket assemblies respectively mounted on the tubular shaft, two end caps respectively mounted on two distal ends of the tubular shaft, two outer sockets, a plurality of hook plates, and a plurality of plug plates. the hook plates are respectively fixed to the at least two panel assemblies, each having a hooked portion respectively hooked on a top notch at an outer race at one inner socket and a notch at an upright flange at one outer socket, the plug plates are respectively fixed to at least two panel assemblies, each having a plug portion inserted in between the socket body and outer race at one inner socket and engaged into the notch at the upright flange at one outer socket. The end caps each have toothed blocks respectively inserted in gaps between threads at the socket body of each inner socket and then are respectively forced into engagement with the threads on the socket body of each inner socket.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the board to board coupling structure further comprises at least one coupling member respectively hooked on the inside annular groove at outer sockets, the at least one coupling member having a plug hole for the positioning of the hooked portion of one hook plate and the plug portion of one plug plate. Because the connection areas between the hooked plates and plug plates and the inner sockets are respectively spaced from the connection areas between the inner sockets and the outer sockets, the assembly and disassembly procedures of the present invention are simple and, the outer sockets can be positively positioned on the inner sockets.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3605851 (1971-09-01), Miles et al.
patent: 3762116 (1973-10-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 3766692 (1973-10-01), Stark
patent: 3809142 (1974-05-01), Bleeker
patent: 3971182 (1976-07-01), Donahue et al.
patent: 3987838 (1976-10-01), LaGue et al.
patent: 4601145 (1986-07-01), Wilcox
Browne Lynne H.
Dougherty & Troxell
Malcolm Tomlyne A
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