AU735017B2

AU735017B2 - Connecting apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU735017B2
Application number: AU52060/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Samuel Falanga
Original assignee: STUDIO DISPLAYS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: STUDIO DISPLAYS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1997-01-22
Filing date: 1998-01-15
Publication date: 2001-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-15
Also published as: AU5206098A

Description

P/00/01i1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 9 9* 9 9* 9* 9 9* .9 C.

C

9 Invention Title: Connecting apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: FIAPmR~i.rn\~lm4oiI7.2 CONNECTING APPARATUS Field of the Invention This invention relates to connecting apparatus and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to connecting apparatus for connecting two adjacent panels or the like; and to a panel member.

Background of the Invention For many years office partitioning, display panels and the like, have been connected by using connecting devices that enable the partitions, panels or the like to be readily assembled and disassembled. The connecting devices have 10 proved generally unsuccessful. Over a period of time, they loose their ability to hold the panels tightly together, and can even come apart.

One example of such a connecting device is shown in the Australian Patent 636689. With that particular connecting device, there is no inherent locking, which allows for a relatively easy accidental releasing of the components. Also, by 15 relying upon the inherent resilience of a metal such as aluminium (which has a *relatively low resilience), over a period of time the metal will have a tendency to bend and/or lose its resilience. At that time the connecting device will not be able .i to hold the post with the connection thereby becoming relatively loose and thus enabling the panels, partition or the like to move and thus the entire assembly to become non-rigid.

Also, the panels are often made from a frame having a number of panel members therein in a back-to-back array. Such panel members may also be mounted directly onto another surface (eg a wall) if desired. One example of such a panel member is shown in Australian Patent 593924.

Brief Description of the Invention In a first aspect, the invention accordingly provides connecting apparatus including: a first frame member having a first recess and a second undercut recess formed in opposite sides of the first frame member, the undercut recess forming at least one projection on the first frame member; a first pin receiving member having a first end with a central hole therethrough, and a second end being at least one arm extending from the first end, the at least one arm having a recess therein to releasably receive therein the oo. 10 projection; and a pin receivable in the central hole, the pin being of substantially similar cross-sectional shape and dimensions as the central hole; wherein the connecting apparatus enables a first panel member or the like to be connected to the pin by locating the pin within the central hole of the pin 15 receiving member, locating the at least one arm of the pin receiving member within the second recess such that the recess engages the projection, and S: locating the first panel member or the like within the first recess of the first frame member.

Preferably, there is provided a second frame member for attachment to a second panel, the second frame member being substantially identical to the first frame member; and a second pin receiving member substantially identical to the first pin receiving member; the second pin receiving member adapted to vertically abut the first pin receiving member to enable the pin to co-operate with the central holes in both the first pin receiving member and the second pin receiving member.

Third, fourth, and so forth, frame members and corresponding pin receiving members may be provided, if desired.

3 Advantageously, the first recess has side members adapted to bear on the first panel or the second panel. More advantageously, there are two opposed and spaced apart inwardly directed projections adapted to co-operate with two arms on the first and second pin receiving members, each arm having a recess to receive the corresponding inwardly directed projection.

Preferably, the first and second frame members have an internal wall separating the first recess from the second recess.

Preferably, the central hole in the first pin receiving member and second pin receiving member is of a shape having at least three sides. Alternatively, it is S: 10 circular. Further alternatively, it may be octagonal.

*gig Preferably, the pin receiving member has a gap between the first arm and the second arm, the gap being connected to the central hole.

II

Alternatively, the pin receiving member may be in the form of a split pin with ooo* an enlarged head, the central hole being in the enlarged head.

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15 Description of Drawings A preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of two panels connected by use of a preferred form of the present invention; Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a full horizontal cross-sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows 3-3 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a CD/01101000.9 4 frame member according to the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a first panel and a second panel 12 connected by connecting apparatus generally designated as 14.

The first panel 10 has a first frame member 16 attached thereto. The first frame member 16 has an outer wall 18 which is approximately cylindrical. It has an inner wall 20 so as to divide the first frame member into a first recess 22 and a second recess 26, the first recess 22 has side members 24. The first recess 22 is 10 adapted to receive the first panel 10 therein. The side members 24 bear upon the side of panel 10. The panel 10 may be of any suitable form, material, size or shape. If desired, the first frame member 16 may be secured to the panel 10 by the use of fasteners such as screws or the like, or adhesive, in co-operation with the inner wall 15 The second recess 26 is undercut by use of short, inwardly directed projections 28. The second, undercut recess 26 is adapted to receive therein at least one first pin receiving member 30 which is shown solid in Figure 3. The first pin receiving member 30 has a head portion 32 with a central hole 34 therein. The first pin receiving member 30 also has a first arm 36 having a recess 38 therein adapted to receive one of the opposed short projections 28. The first pin receiving member 30 also has a second arm 40 which has a recess 42 therein adapted to receive the other of the short projections 28. Each of the arms 36, 40 has a barblike inner end 44. There is a gap 46 between the arms 36,.40 which connects to the central hole 34.

The central hole 34 may be of any suitable geometric shape, or any other shape, such as round, square, triangular, octagonal, or as desired.

The central hole 34 is adapted to receive there through the shank 54 of a LUI 1UIUU.V pin 50. The shank 54 is shaped the same as central hole 34 and is of substantially the same dimensions. The pin 50 has a head 52 of larger cross-sectional area than the shank 54.

The arrangement is such that in use the two panels 10, 12 are placed in adjacent relationship at approximately the desired relative angles. At that stage, the panel 10 is already fitted with the first frame member 16. The panel 12 has a second frame member 56, substantially -identical to the first frame member 16, fitted thereto. If panel 12 is of the same material, thickness and generally same dimensions as panel 10, second frame member 56 will be identical to first frame member 16 fitted thereto. If the panel 12 is of different material and/or thickness, o..0 the dimensions of the first recess 22 may vary but not the dimensions of second recess 26. The general nature of the first and second frame members 16, 56 will •l O be substantially the same.

i:l o* The first pin receiving member 30 is then engaged in the second recess 26 by pressing first arm 36 and second arm 40 towards each other to close the gap 46. In this way, the barb-like ends 44 can be passed into second recess 26, oo.: whereupon the arms 36 and 40 are released and the inwardly directed projections 0:o. 28 engage in recesses 38, 42.

A second pin receiving member 58, identical to the first pin receiving o: 20 member 30, is treated in a similar manner with the second recess 26 of second frame member 56. The arms 36, 40 of second pin receiving member 58 can be pressed towards each other and the second pin receiving member 58 moved vertically along second frame member 56 until the top of second pin receiving member 58 abuts the bottom of first pin receiving member 30, as is shown in Figure 1.

The panels 10, 12 are then placed such that the central hole 34 in first pin receiving member 30 aligns with the central hole 34 in the second pin receiving member 58. The shank 54 of pin 50 is then passed through the central hole 34 until head 52 contacts first pin receiving member 30, as is shown in Figures 1 and (D/01101000.9 6 2.

As the shank 54 is shaped the same as central hole 34, and is of substantially identical dimensions, it is therefore not possible for arms 36, 40 to be pressed together. If the arms 36, 40 are naturally biased to increase the size of gap 46, there will be pressure by the arms 36, 40 on the inwardly directed projections 28 to thus retain the assembly in a relatively rigid relationship.

If the shank 54 of pin 50 is of an angle of geometric shape such as the octagonal form shown, to adjust the angle between the panels 10, 12 would require removal of pin 50, the moving of one or both of the panels 10, 12 until the 10 central holes 34 were correctly aligned, and then insertion of the pin 50. If the shank 54 of the pin 50 is circular, it would merely require movement of the panels o• 10,12.

*o*o 9 The frame member 16, 56 may be made of any suitable material such as plastics, fibre glass, carbon fibre, metal such as aluminium, steel or stainless S• 15 steel, or as desired and may be made by any suitable- process such as, for example, extruding. The pin 50 may be made of any suitable material such as those aforementioned. The pin receiving members 30, 58 are preferably made of a somewhat resilient material such as, for example, a stronger plastics, fibre o glass, steel or the like.

A second embodiment of frame member is shown in Figure 4, with the frame member being identical to that of Figures 1 to 3 but with the addition of an extruded recess 70 to enable adjacent, perpendicular frame members to be secured together by screw fasteners, or the like.

Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description a preferred construction of a connecting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications in detail of design or construction may be made without departing from the essential features of the invention.

Claims

1. Connecting apparatus including: a first frame member having a first recess and a sbcond undercut recess formed in opposite sides of the first frame member, the undercut recess forming at least one projection on the first frame member; a first pin receiving member having a first end with a central hole therethrough, and a second end being at least one arm extending from the first end, the at least one arm having a recess therein to releasably receive therein the projection; and 10 a pin i'eceivable in the central hole, the pin being of substantially similar cross-sectional shape and dimensions as the central hole; oe ,:i :':wherein the connecting apparatus enables a first panel member or the like to be connected to the pin by locating the pin within the central hole of the pin i receiving member, locating the at least one arm of the pin receiving member 15 within the second recess such that the recess engages the projection, and oo locating the first panel member or the like within the first recess of the first frame o member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a second frame member for attachment to a second panel, the second frame member being substantially identical to the first frame member; and a second pin receiving member substantially identical to the first pin receiving member; the second pin receiving member adapted to vertically abut the first pin receiving member to enable the pin to co-operate with the central holes in both the first pin receiving member and the second pin receiving member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein more than two frame members and corresponding pin receiving members are provided.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first recess has side CD/01101000.9 8 members adapted to bear on the first panel or the second panel.

Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein there are two opposed and spaced apart inwardly directed projections adapted to co-operate with two arms on the first and second pin receiving members, each arm having a recess to receive the corresponding inwardly directed projection.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the first and second frame members have an internal wall separating the first recess from the second recess.

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the central hole in 10 the first pin receiving member and second pin receiving member is of a shape e having at least three sides. oooo O*iD

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the central hole in the first pin receiving member and second pin receiving member is circular.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claim 2 to 6, wherein the central hole in 15 the first pin receiving member and second pin receiving member is octagonal. o

10. Apparatus according to any one of'claims 5 to 9, wherein the pin receiving member has a gap between the first arm and the second arm, the gap being connected to the central hole.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pin receiving member is in the form of a split pin with an enlarged head, the central hole being in the enlarged head.

12. Connecting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Studio Displays Pty Ltd By its Registered Patent Attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 24 April 2001