Connection device having an angled extending member

Details Connection device having an angled extending member Connection device having an angled extending member

2001-02-06

2002-11-19

Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)

Joints and connections

Rigid angle

C403S231000, C403S245000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06481919

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to connectors, and more particularly to connectors for joining first and second objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Connectors are used in a wide variety of applications to connect two objects together. By way of example, in the furniture industry it is often necessary to connect two boards or walls that comprise part of the piece of furniture, and this is typically accomplished using a wide variety of connectors and/or connection means such as screws, nails, glue, dowels, rivets and specialty connectors. The type of connector used may depend on a variety of factors, including cost, appearance, the load the connector must support, and whether or not the connector is installed at the factory or other place of manufacture as opposed to being installed later (as is the case with “ready to assemble” or “RTA” furniture or products that are sold in an unassembled state and assembled by the consumer).
One known type of connection device 10 is depicted in
FIGS. 1-3
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the RTA connector
10
comprises a main portion
20
and a laterally extending column
40
. The main portion
20
has sides
26
,
32
, a rear face
22
, a front face
30
, a top face
24
, and a bottom face
28
. The laterally extending column
40
includes an inner portion
42
and a distal portion
44
. Typically, the RTA connector
10
is formed out of thermoplastic such as polystyrene or ABS.
FIGS. 2A-2C
depict a top view, a front view and a rear view of the RTA connector
10
of FIG.
1
. As shown in
FIGS. 2A-2C
, the laterally extending column
40
connects to the side face
32
of main portion
20
at a 90 degree angle. The main portion
20
also includes an aperture
34
which extends from the front face
30
through the rear face
22
at a 90 degree angle to the longitudinal axis of laterally extending column
40
. As shown in
FIG. 2B
, along the central axis of aperture
34
a larger countersunk recess
36
is formed in the front portion of rear face
22
. The diameter of the recess
36
is sufficiently large so as to receive the head of a screw or nail. The diameter of aperture
34
, on the other hand, is smaller than the head of the screw or nail, but large enough to receive the shank end of the screw
ail. In this manner, a screw or nail may be inserted into the front face
30
of main portion
20
and through the rear face
22
into an object, to connect the RTA connector
10
to the object.
FIG. 3
illustrates how the RTA connector
10
may be used to connect two walls
50
,
52
, such as the walls of a bookcase or other piece of furniture, together. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the laterally extending column
40
is inserted into a mating hole
54
that has been drilled into one of the faces of wall
50
. Wall
52
is placed so that it abuts against the front face edge
56
of wall
50
and extends perpendicularly to wall
50
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, the hole
54
is drilled adjacent the edge of wall
50
such that when the laterally extending column
40
of the RTA connector
10
is inserted into the hole
54
, the rear face
22
of the RTA connector
10
is flush with the front face
56
of wall
50
. A screw
38
is then inserted into the recess
36
and the aperture
34
and screwed into the face
58
of wall
52
. As the screw
38
is tightened, the head of the screw comes into contact with a face
39
that defines the side edge of the recess
36
. Thus, by inserting laterally extending column
40
into the wall
50
, and the screw
38
into the wall
52
, the RTA connector
10
may be used to attach walls
50
and
52
at a 90 degree angle.
Ordinarily, connectors such as the RTA connector
10
are inexpensive, easy to use, and provide a secure connection. Many prior art connectors, however, do not provide as secure a joint as may be desired, and other connectors may be prohibitively expensive for certain applications. Accordingly, there is a need for improved connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Connectors are provided that may be used to join two objects together. The connectors according to embodiments of the present invention may be used in both factory assembled and ready-to-assemble products. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the connectors comprise a body portion having a first surface for engaging a first object and an extending member that protrudes from the body portion that is configured to fit within an aperture on a second object. In these embodiments of the invention, the first surface and the extending member are inclined relative to each other. A fastener (e.g., a screw) is also provided that may be used to connect the body portion to the first object. By placing the extending member in the aperture on the second object, and by using the fastener to join the connector to the first object, the connector acts to connect the first and second objects together.
In certain embodiments of the present invention, the body portion of the connector further includes a second surface. This second surface meets the first surface at an angle that exceeds 90 degrees. In these embodiments, the extending member may protrude at least partly from the second surface. The body portion of the connector may also include a third surface that meets the second surface at an angle of greater than 100 degrees, and for certain applications, these surfaces may meet at an angle of between 120 and 170 degrees. In these embodiments, the connector may be configured such that when the fastener is used to connect the body portion of the connector to the first object, the third surface of the body portion comes into contact with the second object.
In other embodiments of the present invention, the connector is configured such that the relative angle formed by the intersection of the plane defined by the first surface and the longitudinal axis of the extending member is at least 4 degrees. In other embodiments, this angle is between 10 and 40 degrees. The connector may also include an aperture, and the fastener may be inserted through this aperture to connect the body portion of the connector to the first object. In certain embodiments, the central axis of this aperture is perpendicular to the first surface of the body portion of the connector. The connector may also be configured such that the longitudinal axis of the extending member and the central axis of the aperture form an angle of between 70 and 90 degrees. The connector may further be configured so that the extending member rotates about a moment arm to urge one side of the aperture in the second object towards the first object when the fastener is used to affix the body portion of the connector to the first object.
Methods of using the connectors of the present invention to attach a first object to a second object are also provided.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3999878 (1976-12-01), Robinson
patent: 4060949 (1977-12-01), Busse
patent: 4639161 (1987-01-01), Mazaki
patent: 4973187 (1990-11-01), Sauder
patent: 6238129 (2001-05-01), Rahn
Pictures of prior art connector (admitted prior art).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Connection device having an angled extending member does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Connection device having an angled extending member, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connection device having an angled extending member will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2994313