Joints and connections – Rod side to plate or side – Resilient clip
Reexamination Certificate
1996-09-09
2001-02-13
Melius, Terry Lee (Department: 3628)
Joints and connections
Rod side to plate or side
Resilient clip
C403S401000, C403S357000, C403S326000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186698
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a connecting element for connecting preferably wood or materials having similar mechanical properties. The construction members to be connected may releasably or non-releasably be connected with each other.
Connecting elements in the field of the production of furniture are sufficiently known from the prior art. Thus, e.g., the members to be connected are provided with pocket hole bores, into which wooden dowels are inserted as the connecting elements. With non-releasable connections, gluing is additionally effected. Furthermore, connections are known, in which dovetail-shaped grooved construction members and mating insert portions are connected with each other.
These and similarly functioning connecting elements according to the prior art have a number of disadvantages. In releasable connections, a deterioration of the precision of fit will have to be expected after several releases and re-connections have been effected; also the pull-out force, i.e. the force required for release of the connection, will decrease. In non-releasable connections, the members will have to be maintained under an external mechanical pressure until the glue used binds. This pressure generally is created by clamping devices. These clamping devices (e.g. screw clamps) are complex to handle and thus are not well suited for an in-line mass production process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a connecting element which may be used both, for a releasable as well as for a non-releasable connection, wherein the releasable connection shall guarantee a frequent release without substantially diminishing the precision of fit or the pull-out force, and the production of a non-releasable connection is to be feasible without external clamping means.
This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, in a combination of a construction member with a connecting element the construction member is provided with a groove having opposite, inwardly mutually divergent, planar side wall portions. The connecting element, as viewed longitudinally, is formed as a rail section and includes at least two elastic legs cooperating as a pair having a free outer end. The legs are bendable to one another into a compressed condition. In a relaxed, uninstalled state the outer sides of said legs are mutually divergent towards the free outer end, and in an installed state the legs of the pair are received in the groove in the compressed condition such that the outer sides of the legs are mutually divergent towards the free outer end, whereby the outer sides of the legs resiliently engage the planar side wall portions of the groove of the construction member for holding the connecting element in the groove by friction.
The connecting element is pressed or laterally inserted into a preferably undercut groove. Preferably, the upper edges of the groove may also comprise a chamfer. Thus it is ensured that the connecting element will snap into the groove on account of its resilience. The connecting element is dimensioned relative to the groove such that after latching, the connecting element can no longer assume its original shape and thus, on account of the lasting mechanical resilience, in addition to the positive locking also a non-positive connection is formed between the connecting element and the members to be connected. If two members are to be interconnected, the grooves are dimensioned such relative to size and shape of the connecting element, that the resilience of the connecting element causes a pulling together of the members to be connected.
If a releasable connection is provided, the resilience of the connecting elements equals out both the production tolerances of the groove as well as widening of the groove formed during frequent releasing and making of the connection.
With a non-releasable connection, the surfaces to be connected are additionally provided with a glue. On account of the resilience of the connecting element, the surfaces to be connected will be pressed at each other without any external clamping device.
According to a further feature of the invention, an especially designed extruded section may be used, wherein the elastic legs have arrowhead-shaped ends each having an edge acting as a barb and each having a sliding or guiding flank.
Furthermore, for increasing the elastic properties of the legs, a recess acting like a joint may be provided. An improvement of the positioning precision of the connecting element in the groove is achieved by adjusting abutments preferably abutting on the chamfer of the groove. To increase the pull-out force, a blocking means may additionally be introduced between the elastic legs of the connecting element. This blocking means may be formed both, of a section material adapted to the shape of the clearance, as well as of a foamed material or a resilient ledge. The connecting element may be provided with fixing elements. These fixing elements may be designed as a gluing or screwing plate, a threaded pin or a nail pin. The connection may also be formed by a double-slot groove. With larger dimensions of the connecting element designed as an extruded section, recesses in the cross-sectional profile of the connecting element may be provided to reduce the material used.
The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of preferred exemplary embodiments, to which, however, it shall not be limited, and with reference to the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4025216 (1977-05-01), Hives
patent: 4701066 (1987-10-01), Beam et al.
patent: 5267425 (1993-12-01), Onysko et al.
patent: 5297889 (1994-03-01), Crouse et al.
patent: 5323584 (1994-06-01), Scarlett
patent: 2163787 (1973-07-01), None
patent: 2209024 (1974-06-01), None
patent: 2304808 (1976-10-01), None
patent: 83/01476 (1983-04-01), None
Friedrich Knapp Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Kelemen Gabor J.
Melius Terry Lee
Miller William L.
Venable
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