As is known, structural frames are used in the construction of a wide variety of products, including everything from automation equipment and furniture to buildings and the like. Structural frames typically incorporate horizontal and vertical frame members tied together by corner pieces, joints or bonding. Coverings, such as panels, may be secured to the frame members to isolate the interior of the structural frames and/or to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, various components may be interconnected to the structural frame to allow the structural frame to be used for its intended purpose. By way of example, hinges may be interconnected to the structural frame to facilitate the mounting of a door thereto. Alternatively, sliders may be interconnected to the sides of a structural frame so as to allow the structural frame to function as a drawer. It can be appreciated that other types of components may be interconnected to the structural frame to facilitate the intended purpose thereof.
Typically, the components of a structural frame are held together by means of friction. For examples, nut and bolt combinations are often used to secure horizontal and vertical frame members together. However, the nut and bolt combinations holding the structural frames together often come loose over time when subjected to vibration and/or the environment. As the nut and bolt combinations loosen, the integrity of the structural frame may be compromised. Further, as the nut and bolt combinations loosen, the frame members and the components therefore rotate with respect to one another, thereby compromising the alignment of the structural frame.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a connection assembly which mechanically interlocks to a frame in such a manner as to maintain connection to the frame during repeated use.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a connection assembly which may be simply and easily mechanically interlocked to a frame.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a connection assembly which may be mechanically interlocked to a frame and which is adapted for a variety of uses.
In accordance with the present invention, a connection assembly is provided for interconnecting to a frame. The connection assembly includes a generally flat plate having an inner face, an outer face and first and second bolt-receiving bores therethrough. The bolt-receiving bores extend between the inner face and the outer face along bore axes at acute angles to the outer face.
The connection assembly may also include a first bolt extending through the first bolt-receiving bore in the plate and a second bolt extending through the second bolt-receiving bore in the plate. A first elongated frame member is connectable to the frame and has a surface with a slot extending therein. A second elongated frame member is connectable to the frame and has a surface with a slot extending therein. A first nut is receivable in the slot in the first elongated frame member and includes a bolt-receiving bore therein. The bolt-receiving bore is adapted for receiving the first bolt in a mating relationship. A second nut is receivable in the slot in the second elongated frame member and includes a bolt-receiving bore therein. The bolt-receiving bore is adapted for receiving the second bolt in a mating relationship.
Each slot is defined by first and second converging sidewalls. The sidewalls lie in corresponding planes which are at acute angles to the surface in which the slot extends. The first and second converging sidewalls have terminal ends and each slot is further defined by first and second diverging outer abutment walls which extend from the terminal ends of the first and second converging sidewalls and have terminal ends. Each slot may also be defined by first and second diverging inner abutment walls extending from the terminal ends of the first and second outer diverging sidewalls toward the surface in which the slot extends. The first and second diverging inner abutment walls having terminal ends. The terminal ends of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining each slot are interconnected by a generally concave terminal wall.
Each nut includes a generally flat engagement surface has first and second edges and is engageable with one of the first and second diverging outer abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. A first abutment wall extends from the first edge of the engagement surface and is engageable with one of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. An alignment surface extends from the second edge of the engagement surface and has a terminal edge. The alignment surface is generally perpendicular to the engagement surface. A second abutment wall extends from the terminal edge of the alignment surface and is engageable with the other of the first and second diverging outer abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. The second abutment wall has a terminal edge. A third abutment wall extends from the terminal edge of the second abutment wall and is engageable with the other of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. The third abutment wall has a terminal edge.
The bolt-receiving bore in each nut extends along an axis generally perpendicular to the engagement surface of the nut and the plate may include a lip projecting from the inner face thereof. It is contemplated for the plate to include a first leg portion extending along a first axis and having the first bolt-receiving bore therethrough and a second leg portion extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and having the second bolt-receiving bore therethough. In such arrangement, a first lip extends from the inner face of the first leg portion of the plate along an axis generally parallel to the first axis and a second lip extends from the inner face of the second leg portion of the plate along an axis generally parallel to the second axis.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a connection assembly is provided for interconnecting to a frame. The connection assembly includes a generally flat plate. The plate is defined by an inner face, an outer face and a first pair of bolt-receiving bores therethrough. The pair of bolt-receiving bores extend between the inner face and the outer face along bore axes at acute angles to the outer face. A first lip extends from the inner face of the plate along a first axis and a second lip extends from the inner face of the plate along a second axis generally perpendicular to the second axis.
A first pair of bolts extend through the first pair of bolt-receiving bores in the plate. A first elongated frame member is connectable to the frame and has a surface with a slot extending therein. A second elongated frame member is connectable to the frame and has a surface with a slot extending therein. A first nut is receivable in the slot in the first elongated frame member and includes a bolt-receiving bore therein. The bolt-receiving bore is adapted for receiving a first bolt of the first pair of bolts in a mating relationship. A second nut is receivable in the slot in the second elongated frame member and includes a bolt-receiving bore therein. The bolt-receiving bore in the second nut is adapted for receiving a second bolt of the first pair of bolts in a mating relationship.
Each slot is defined by first and second converging sidewalls. The sidewalls lie in corresponding planes which are at acute angles to the surface in which the slot extends. The first and second converging sidewalls have terminal ends and each slot is further defined by first and second diverging outer abutment walls which extend from the terminal ends of the first and second converging sidewalls and have terminal ends. Each slot may also be defined by first and second diverging inner abutment walls extending from the terminal ends of the first and second outer diverging sidewalls toward the surface in which the slot extends. The first and second diverging inner abutment walls having terminal ends. The terminal ends of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining each slot are interconnected by a generally concave terminal wall.
Each nut includes a generally flat engagement surface has first and second edges and is engageable with one of the first and second diverging outer abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. A first abutment wall extends from the first edge of the engagement surface and is engageable with one of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. An alignment surface extends from the second edge of the engagement surface and has a terminal edge. The alignment surface is generally perpendicular to the engagement surface. A second abutment wall extends from the terminal edge of the alignment surface and is engageable with the other of the first and second diverging outer abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. The second abutment wall has a terminal edge. A third abutment wall extends from the terminal edge of the second abutment wall and is engageable with the other of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. The third abutment wall has a terminal edge. The bolt-receiving bore in each nut extends along an axis generally perpendicular to the engagement surface of the nut.
In accordance with a still aspect of the present invention, a connection assembly is provided for interconnecting to a frame. The connection assembly includes a generally flat plate. The plate is defined by an inner face, an outer face and a first pair of bolt-receiving bores therethrough. The pair of bolt-receiving bores extend between the inner face and the outer face along bore axes at acute angles to the outer face. A first pair of bolts extend through the first pair of bolt-receiving bores in the plate. A first elongated frame member is connectable to the frame and has a surface with a slot extending therein. A second elongated frame member is connectable to the frame and has a surface with a slot extending therein. A first nut is receivable in the slot in the first elongated frame member and includes a bolt-receiving bore therein. The bolt-receiving bore is adapted for receiving a first bolt of the first pair of bolts in a mating relationship. A second nut is receivable in the slot in the second elongated frame member and includes a bolt-receiving bore therein. The bolt-receiving bore in the second nut is adapted for receiving a second bolt of the first pair of bolts in a mating relationship.
Each slot is defined by first and second converging sidewalls. The sidewalls lie in corresponding planes which are at acute angles to the surface in which the slot extends. Each slot is further defined by first and second diverging outer abutment walls. The first diverging outer abutment wall is generally perpendicular to the first converging sidewall and the second diverging outer abutment wall is generally perpendicular to the second converging sidewall. Each slot is further defined by first and second diverging inner abutment walls. The first diverging inner abutment wall is generally perpendicular to the second converging sidewall and the second diverging inner abutment wall is generally perpendicular to the first converging sidewall. The first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining each slot are interconnected by a terminal wall.
Each nut includes a generally flat engagement surface has first and second edges and is engageable with one of the first and second diverging outer abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. A first abutment wall extends from the first edge of the engagement surface and is engageable with one of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. An alignment surface extends from the second edge of the engagement surface and has a terminal edge. The alignment surface is generally perpendicular to the engagement surface. A second abutment wall extends from the terminal edge of the alignment surface and is engageable with the other of the first and second diverging outer abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. The second abutment wall has a terminal edge. A third abutment wall extends from the terminal edge of the second abutment wall and is engageable with the other of the first and second diverging inner abutment walls defining the slot in which the nut is received. The third abutment wall has a terminal edge. The bolt-receiving bore in each nut extends along an axis generally perpendicular to the engagement surface of the nut. It is contemplated for a first lip to extend from the inner face of the plate along a first axis and a second lip to extend from the inner face of the plate along a second axis generally perpendicular to the second axis.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds