GB2128706A

GB2128706A - Tubular structures

Info

Publication number: GB2128706A
Application number: GB08311339A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Thoma Thornborrow; Paul Deacon
Original assignee: JR COMM ENTERPRISES Ltd
Current assignee: JR COMM ENTERPRISES Ltd
Priority date: 1982-04-27
Filing date: 1983-04-26
Publication date: 1984-05-02
Also published as: GB2128706B; GB8311339D0

Description

SPECIFICATION Tubular structures and jointfor and method of connecting tubular members This invention relates to tubular structures and to a jointforand method of connecting tubular members.

There are many occasions when it is desired to connect tubular members together, e. g. so that they extend at right angles to one another. Usually the tubular members are connected together by connector means such as clamping means adapted to embrace and clamp the tubular members which are to be connected together. Such connector means are usually expensive to produce and awkward in use so that it normally requires at leasttwo people to erect a tubular structure such as a racksystem forthe hanging of clothes orthe like.

The present invention has as its objectto provide a tubularstructure and a jointforand method of connecting tubular members which is both simple and robust, and which obviates the need forseparate and expensive connector means.

The present invention provides a tubular structure comprising a firsttubular member having at least one slot in the peripheral wall thereof and a second tubular member having an end portion thereof flattened and formed to define at least one hook portion adapted to cooperate with said at least one slotto connectthe tubular members together.

The present invention also provides a tubular member at least one end portion of which has been flattened and formed to provide at least one hook portion.

The present invention further provides a method of connecting tubular members, the method comprising providing a firsttubular member having at least one slot in the peripheral wall thereof, providing a second tubular memberan end portion of which has been flattened and formed to provide at leastone hook portion adapted to cooperate with said at least one stot, and engaging said at least one hook portion with said at least one slotto connectthe tubular members together.

The present invention yetfurther provides a method of producing a tubular member having at least one hook portion at at least one end thereof, the method comprising flattening at least one end portion of a tubular member and forming the flattened end portionto provide at least one hook portion.

Thefirsttubular member may be a memberwhich forms, or isto form, an upright of the tubular structure and said at least one slot may extend longitudinally thereof. Preferablythefirsttubuiar member has a plurality of aligne, longitudinally-extending slots at spaced intervals along the length thereof so thatthe hook portion of the second tubular member can be engaged therewith at a selected position along the length thereof. Preferablythe flattened end portion of the second tubular member is formed to provide two spaced hook portions adapted to engage two longitu- dinally spaced slots in the firsttu bu lar member so as to prevent any possibility of the second tubular memberturning ortwisting relativetothefirsttubular member. Thetwo hook portions are preferably such thatthey can be inserted into a pair of spaced slots in the firsttubular member and then moved into a force orfriction fitwith the wall of the first tubular member atone end of each of the slots.

To enablethe second tubular memberto be mounted between two firsttubular members, one or each end of the second tubular member may be so flattened and formed thatthe flattened end portion at at least one end of the second tubular membercan be inserted into the slot or slots in the adjacentfirst tubular memberto such an extentthattheflattened end portion atthe other end of the said second tubular member can be engaged with the slot or slots in the other of thefirsttubular members when the pair of firsttubular members are spaced apart a distance at which the slotstherein will be engaged by the hook portions at opposite ends of the second tubular member.

Whilst it is convenientto use tubing of circular cross-section forthefirst and second tubular members, it is possible to use tubing of other section.

Indeed, if the second tubular member has to carry relatively large loads, it is convenientto form itfrom tubing of substantially elliptical cross-section. However, assuming the major axis ofthetubing will be greaterthan the diameter of tubing of circular cross-section normally used, the elongation created byflatteningthe elliptical tubing parallel tothe major axisthereofwill meanthatthetwo hookportionswill be spaced incorrectly relative to the slots in the first tubular member if these have been standardises to acceptthe normal tubing of circular cross-section, and if the hook portions areformed without removing the curved and smooth transition between the two flattened tubing walls atthe opposed lateral side margins oftheflattened end portion. Ifthistransition were removed, there would be a danger of the walls of the flattened end portion opening out with a consequential difficulty of engaging the slots in the first tubular member.

This problem may be obviated byforming a swage or indentation in each flattened end portion of the secondtubularmemberwherebythe lateral dimension oftheflattened end portion is reducedtothe required size. The hook portions can then be formed as before. Alternatively, a central and longitudinally extending slot may be formed in each flattened end portion, and then the end squeezed, either before or afterthe hook portions areformed, in the direction of the majoraxis ofthetubing, again to achievethe desired dimension.

According to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention the tubular structure comprises a rack assembly having a plurality of said firsttubular members, e. g. arranged at four corners of the assembly, said firsttubular membersforming uprights ofthe assembly and each having two or more pluralities of slots at different angular positions, e. g., at 90 or 180 from one another, therearound, the slots of each plurality being aligned longitudinally-extend ing slots provided at spaced intervals along the length ofthe upright, and a plurality of second tubuiar members which form cross-members ofthe assembly and the hook portions of which are engaged with selected slots in said uprights to connectthe uprights together. At least one cross-member may be provided, e. g., which extends between a pair of opposed intermediate uprights, which forms a hanging rail for the hanging of goods such as clothes on clothes hangers. The assembly may comprise at least one shelf supported on two or more said cross-members.

The or each said shelf may be of sheet metal construction and may have a depending flange therearound which is relieved atthefour corners of the shelf so thatthe flange can be engaged over the supporting cross-members to locate the shelf on the cross-members. The assembly mayfurthercomprise one or more cross-members which are of sheet metal construction and which are provided with hook portions at each end thereof adapted to engage the slots in said uprights. Said sheet metal cross-members mayform a plinth atthe bottom ofthe assembly and/or a lintel atthe top of the assemblyto improve the appearance of the assembly. Also, if desired, one or more sheet metal cross-members may be provided, e. g., atthetop of the assembly, which has spaced along the length thereof laterally extending slots adapted to receive the hook portions of a said cross-membersuch asa cross-memberwhich isto form a hanging rail. The or each said slotted sheet metal cross-member may have spaced at intervals along the length thereof pluralitiesof laterally aligned, laterally spaced and laterally extending slots adapted to receivethe hook portions of a said cross-member.

The invention will be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view ofa jointforconnectingtubularmembers according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of a partially formed first alternative componentforthe joint of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end viewfrom the right of Figure 2, Figure 4is a viewsimilarto Figure 1 butshowingthe componentcompletelyformed, Figure 5 is afragmentarysideview of a partially formed second alternative component forthe joint of Figure 1, and Figure 6 is a viewsimilarto Figure 5 butshowing a subsequentstage offormation.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, itwill be seen thatthere is provided a firsttubular member 1 of circular cross section having in the peripheral wall thereof a series of longitudinally extending slots 2 spaced along the length thereof, and a second tubular member 3 of circular cross section, an end portion 4 of which has been flattened and formedto provide a pair of spaced hook portions 5,6 adapted to cooperate with a selected adjacent pair of slots 2 to connectthe tubular members 1 and 3together. The hook portions 5 and 6 are so dimensioned thatthey can be inserted into adjacentslots 2, and the slots 5a and 6a defining the hook portions 5 and 6 are of such a width that when the hook portions 5 and 6 are inserted into adjacent slots 2 and the hook portions 5 and 6 are moved downwardly in the aspect of the drawing, the slots 5a and 6awill make a force orfriction fitwith thewall of the tubular member 1 atthe lower ends of theadjacent slots 2 with which the hook portions 5 and 6 are engaged.

The end portion 4 ofthetubular member3 is preferably flattened to an extent greaterthan that necessaryto form the hook portions 5 and 6 and the cut-out 7 between the hook portions 5 and 6 extends longitudinallyofthetubularmember3toan extent greaterthan that necessary to enable the hook portions 5and 6to engagewith adjacentslots2 inthe firsttubular member 1 so thatthe end portion 4 can be inserted into adjacentslots 2 in the tubular member 1 to an extent greaterthan that required to engage the hookportions5and6. Thisenablesthetubular member3to be engaged between a pair of tubular members 1 which are spaced apart by a distance such thatthey can be correctly engaged by hook portions 5 and 6 at opposite ends of thetubular member 3 without any necessity for moving the spaced tubular members 1 further apart. This facility is useful when it is desired to insert a furthertubular member 3 between a pair of tubular members 1 which are already connected together by one or moretubular members 3.

Ifdesired, thetubularmember1 mayhaveoneor more further series of spaced slots 2, e. g. as illustrated at 2a in the drawing, so as to enable the tubular members 3 to be engaged therewith at other radial positions therearound.

Also, if desired, screw or other locking means may be provided for locking the hook portions 5 and 6 in engagementwith the slots 2 in thetubular member 1, although in general this will not be necessary, particularlywherethe hook portions 5 and 6 are an interference fit with the wall of the tubular member 1 atthe bottoms of the slots 2.

The jointofthe present invention is particularly applicable to tubular members of circular section which are formed from a suitable metal such as steel or aluminium although it can also be applied to tubular members wherein one or both ofthe tubular members is non-circular in cross-section and to tubular members which are formed from materials otherthan metal butwhich are capable of being flattened and formed to provide the hook portions 5 and 6. Thus, for example, thetubular members could be formed from a suitable plastics material.

One instance wheretubular members of noncircular cross-section may be employed is where the- tubularmember3 hasto carry relatively large loads, In this case, it is desirableto providethe necessary load-bearing capability by using a tube of elliptiqat cross-section forthetubular member. However, one ofthe problems associated with the use of such atube isthatwhentheendisf ! attenedparat) e) tothemajor axisthe resulting elongation in the. direction of that axis is greaterthan that occasioned bytheflattening of a tube of circular cross-section as in Figure 1, assuming the major axis of the elliptical section tube is greaterthan the diameter of the circular section tube.

Therefore in orderto be ableto standardise on the uprighttubular member 1, it is necessary to vary the formation offlattened ends oftubes of elliptical cross-section used forthe tubular member 3 on the basis thattwo hook portions 5 and 6 are to be provided as before, ratherthan a single hook portion.

Such a tubular member 3 is shown in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, Figure 2 showing a partially formed flattened end portion 8. In the flattening process, a swage or indentation 9 of predetermined dimensions is formed centrally of the end portion 8, and extending longitudinally ofthe tubular member, the swage tapering from the end of the latter. The result of forming the swage 9 as the end portionisflattenedisthatthedimensionA (Figure2) is reducedto the same as the similar dimension of the tubular member3 of Figure 1. Thus, when the hook portions 5 and 6 areformed (Figure 4) they can be received in the selected slots 2 of the standard upright tubular member 1 of Figure 1. The hook portions 5 and 6 and slots5a and 6a areformed bystamping and it will be seenthat the cut-out7 removes the majority of the swage 9, andthatthe otherwise inclined outer ends 11 of the hook portions 5 and 6 are trimmed in the stamping operation.

A further alternative tubular member3formed from tubing of elliptical cross-section is shown in Figures 5 and 6, Figure 5 showing the member after a first stage of formation, and Figure 6 showing the member after a subsequent stage of operation. In this embodiment, no swage is formed but merely a cut-out 12 from the end of thetubular memberasthe end portion 13 is flattened. This means that the dimension B istoo great relative to the spacing of thesiot2 on the tubular member 1 of Figure 1. Therefore, the next stage of formation is to reduce this dimension to the required size by squeezing theend portion 13 in the direction of the majoraxisofthetubularmember3sothatthe shape of Figure 6 is achieved, this being generally similarto the overall shape ofthetubular member 3 shown in Figure4. Finallythe hook portions 5 and 6, slots 5a and 6a and the cut-out ? are formed by a stamping operation, these being shown in broken lines in Figure6. Atthe sametime, the otherwise incline outerends 14aretrimmed as in the embodiment of Figures2to 4.

The alternative tubular members 3 of Figures 2to 6 are employed in precisely the same manner as the tubularmember 3 of Figure 1 and, as already mentioned, arefully compatible with the upright tubularmembers 1, and are ableto accept greater loadsX In these alternatives, itwill be appreciatedthat the curved and smooth transition 15 at opposed sides ofitfierespectiveflattened end portions 8 and 13 is preserved which heips to minimise thetendency of theendsto open outwhich would create difficulty in engaging the hook portions 5 and 6 with the slots 2. If this were not a desirable feature, then the hook portions 5 and 6 could be stamped or otherwise formed atthe required relative spacing from the flattened end portions 8 and 13 withoutthe need for any of the extra stages of formation described.

Itwill readily be appreciated from a consideration of the drawings and of the preceding description thatthe present invention provides a jointfor tubular mem- bers which is both simple and robust and which enables tubular members to be readily and quickly assembled together. The present invention is particu larly suited to tubular structures such as rack assemblies as hereinbefore described forthe hanging of clothes on clothes hangers orforsimilarapplications where goods are suspended by hooks and/or stored on shelves but is also suited to othertubularstructures such as to scaffolding.

Claims

1. Atubularstructurecomprisingafirsttubular member having at least one slot in the peripheral wall thereof and a second tubular member having an end portion thereof flattened and formed to define at least one hook portion adapted to cooperate with said at least one slotto connectthe tubular members together.

2. Atubular structure according to claim 1, wherein the firsttubular memberforms an upright of the tubular structure and said at least one slot extends longitudinallythereof.

3. Atubularstructureaccordingtoclaim2, wherein said firsttubular member has a plurality of aligned longitudinally-extending slotstherein atspaced intervals along the length thereof.

4. Atubularstructure according to claim 3, wherein saidfirsttubular memberhastwoor more pluralities of slots at different angular positions therearound.

5. Atubular structure according to claim 4, where in said pluralities ofslots are angularly displaced 90 - or 180 from one another.

6. Atubularstructureaccordingtoanyoneofthe preceding claims, wherein the flattened end portion of the second tubular member is formed to provide two spaced hook portions adapted to engage two longitu- dinallyspaced slots in thefirsttubular member.

7. Atubularstructure according to claim 6, wherein said hook portions are such thatthey can be inserted into a pair of spaced slots in thefirsttubular member and then moved into a force orfriction fitwith thewall ofthefirsttubularmemberatone end ofeach of the slots.

8. Atubular structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said secondtubularmem- beris mounted between a pair of said firsttubular members, one or each end of the second tubular member being so flattened and formed that the flattened end portion at at least one end of the second tubular member can be inserted into the slot or slots in the adjacentfirsttubular memberto such an extent thatthe flattened end portion atthe other end of the said second tubular member can be inserted into the slot or slots in the other of the firsttubular members when the pair offirsttubular members are spaced apart a distance at which the slots therein will be engaged by the hook portions at opposite ends of the second tubular member.

9. Atubular structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the flattened and formed end portion ofthe second tubular member has been formed byforming a swage or indentation in the flattened end portion to reduce the lateral dimension thereof and then forming the at least one hook portion.

10. Atubularstructure according to any oneofthe preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein theflattened and formed end portion ofthe second tubular member has been formed by forming a central and longitudinally extending slot in the flattened end portion and the flattened end portion squeezed, either before or after the forming of the at least one hook portion, to reduce the lateral dimension oftheflattened end portion.

11. Atubular structure according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the or each said hook portion is so formed thatthe curved and smooth transition between the two flattened tubing walls at each oftheopposed lateral side margins ofthe flattened end portion is preserved.

12. Atubularstructure according to any one of claims 9to 11, wherein said second tubular member is substantially elliptical in cross-section and said flattened end portion is flattened parallel tothe major axis of said cross-section.

13. Atubularstructureaccordingtoanyoneofthe preceding claims, wherein the tubularstructure comprises a rack assembly having a plurality of said first tubular members forming uprights of the assembly and each having two or more pluralities of slots at differentangular positionstherearound, the slots of each plurality being aligned longitudinally-extending slots provided at spaced intervals along the length of the upright, and a pluralityofsecondtubular members which form cross-members of the assembly and the hook portions of which are engaged with selected slots in said uprightsto connectthe uprights together.

14. Atubular structure according to claim 13, comprising at least one cross-member which forms a hanging rail forthe hanging of goods.

15. Atubularstructure according to claim 13 or 14, comprising at least one shelf supported on two or more cross-members.

16. Atubular structure according to claim 15, wherein said shelf is of sheet metal construction and has a depending flange therearound which is relieved atthe four corners of the shelf so thatthe flange can be engaged overthe supporting cross-members to locate the shelf on the cross-members.

17. Atubularstructure according to anyone of claims 13to 16, comprising at least one cross-member which is of sheet metal construction and which is provided with hook portions at each end thereof adaptedto engagethe slots in the uprights.

18. Atubularstructureaccordingtoclaim 17, wherein said sheet metal cross-member has spaced along the length thereof laterally extending slots adapted to receive the hook portions of a said cross-member.

19. Atubularstructureaccordingtoclaim 18, wherein said sheet metal cross-member has at spaced intervals along the length thereof pluralities of lateral- ly aligned, laterally spaced and laterally extending slots adapted to receive the hook portions of said cross-member.

20. Atubular member at least one end portion of which has been flattened and formed to provide at least one hook portion.

21. Atubular member according to claim 20, wherein said at least one end portion has been flattened and formed to provide two spaced hook portions.

22. Atubularmemberaccordingtoclaim20or21, wherein said at least one end portion has been flattened and formed with a swage orindentation to reducethe lateral dimension thereof andthen formed to provide said at least one hook portion.

23. Atubular memberaccordingto claim20 or21, wherein said at least one end portion has been flattened, formed with a central and longitudinally extending slot and squeezed, either before or after the forming of the at least one hook portion, to reduce the lateral dimensions oftheflattened end portion.

24. Atubular member according to anyone of claims 20 to 23, wherein the or each said hook portion is so formed that the curved and smooth transition between the two flattened tubing walls at each of the opposed lateral side margins oftheflattened end portion is preserved.

25. Atubular member according to anyone claims 20to24, whereinthetubularmemberissubstantially elliptical in cross-section and said at least one end portion isflattened parallel to the major axis of said cross-section.

26. A method of connecting tubular members, the method comprising providing a firsttubular member having at least one slot in the peripheral wall thereof, providing a second tubular member an end portion of which has been flattened and formed to provide at least one hook portion adapted to cooperate with said at least one slot, and engaging said at least one hook portion with said at least one slotto connectthe tubular members together.

27. A method of producing a tubular member having at least one hook portion at at least one end thereof, the method comprising flattening at least one end portion of a tubular memberandforming the flattened end portion to provide at least one hook portion.

28. A method according to claim 27, which comprises forming the flattened end portion to provide two spaced hook portions.

29. A method according to claim 27 or 28, which comprises forming theflattened end portion with a swage or indentation to reduce the lateral dimension thereof and then forming the flattened end portion to providethe at least one hook portion.

30. A method according to claim 27 or 28, which comprises providing a central longitudinally extending slot in the flattened end portion and squeezing the flattened end portion, either before or afterthe forming ofthe at least one hook portion, to reduce the lateral dimension thereof.

31. A method according to any one of claims 27 to 30, which comprises so forming the at least one hook portion thatthe curved and smooth transition between the two flattened tubing walls at each of the opposed lateral side margins oftheflattened end portion is preserved.

32. Atubularstructure substantially as herein described with referenceto Fig. 1 orFigs. 2to60fthe accompanying drawings.

33. Atubular member according to claim 20, substantially as herein described with reference to Fig.

1or Figs. 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A method of connecting tubular members substantially as herein described with reference to Fig.

1 or Figs. 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

35. A method of producing a tubular member according to claim 27, substantiallyas herein described with reference to Fig. 1 or Figs. 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.