GB2160286A

GB2160286A - Furniture fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2160286A
Application number: GB08513180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Davidson Ryles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-24
Filing date: 1985-05-24
Publication date: 1985-12-18
Also published as: GB8413309D0; GB8513180D0; GB2160286B

Abstract

A furniture fitting in the form of a table fork comprises two locating elements 11, 12 one for fitting to the underside of each of two adjacent separable table top sections at the edge of each section with the locating elements having interengaging formations and with the sides of the locating elements parallel to the interengaged edge being grooved 15 to receive a releasable retention fork 20 for holding the table top sections together. The locating elements may be identical having interengaging formations in the form of rows of staggered castellations. The locating elements may be used without a retention device simply as elements to ensure correct relative location of two components, especially furniture components. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Furniture fitting This invention relates to a fitting for use especially but not exclusively in furniture, and which generally is employed correctly to locate two components relative to one another but which specifically constitute part of a releasable connector for not only correctly relatively locating the two components but also detachably holding them together.

A particular example of the use of such a fitting is releasably to secure together adjacent table top sections of, for example, a dining table although it will have applications to other tables, desks or similar which are constructed in separable sections. References, for convenience, will hereinafter and in the claims simply be made to "dining tables".

Split or separable dining tables usually have adjacent table top sections releasably located in contiguous relationship by means of dowels and drilled holes, the table top sections being releasably locked in such contiguous location by either a table fork or a table catch.

A table fork generally comprises a pair of sleeves, of brass usually, screwed (4 screws each) to each side of the underside of a dining table, one on each table top section at each side, and with the table top sections in contiguous location a U-shaped fork is inserted into adjacent sleeves releasably to lock the table top sections together. Each sleeve generally comprises a leaf spring to bear against an inserted fork limb. The fork has a handle or lip portion to facilitate insertion and removal.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a fitting for use in correctly locating two components, especially furniture components, together which is economic to manufacture and which employs only a single part.

According to the present invention there is provide a fitting for use in correctly locating two components together, the fitting comprising two identical locating elements, one for attachment to each component, and with the locating elements having complementary interengaging edges.

Preferably, the complementary interengaging edges are of castellated configuration.

Preferably, the castellated configuration comprises a plurality of rows of staggered castellations.

The locating elements, when interengaged, may be detachably secured together by a retention device.

Such a device may be a removable surrounding frame or element. It may alternatively be a U-shaped locking element.

The locating elements may be peripherally grooved along their non-castellated edges to receive and locate the retention device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fitting for the purpose of releasably locking together adjacent table top sections of a split or separable dining table which is simpler in construction and easier and more economic to manufacture than known such fittings and which, in terms of overall dining table manufacture, provides savings in material and labour.

Also according to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a fitting for releasably locking together separable table top sections, the fitting comprising a pair of locating elements adapted for attachment to the underside of table top sections capable of contiguous location and adapted for spigot-and-socket connection therebetween, and a retention device for releasably securing the locating elements in such connected relationship.

Preferably, the fitting is a table fork comprising a pair of plates adapted for attachment to the underside of table top sections capable of contiguous location, the plates being adapted for tongue and slot connection, and a retention device adapted releasably to embrace the plates to maintain such connection.

Preferably the plates are of channel configuration at their sides remote from the tongue and slot connection to receive in male/female or female/female connection the retention device.

Buffers are preferably located in the channels releasably to grip-the retention device.

The plates may be identical and have interengaging castellated edges.

The plates are preferably slotted peripherally along their non-castellated edges to receive a U-shaped retention fork.

With the aforesaid tongue and slot or castellated connection of the table fork, it is possible to reduce, or possibly even omit the usual dowel and hole location between contiguous edges of adjacent table top sections.

The table fork or table catch according to the present invention is formed of MAZAK (zinc-die casting) or a suitable plastics material.

With the table fork where the handle or pull is exposed or visible this latter may be plated in brass or antique brass.

The castellated locating elements are preferably formed of a plastics material and the retention fork employed therewith is preferably formed of pressed metal, steel for example.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of table fork according to the invention: and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of another and preferred embodiment of table fork according to the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a table fork 10 comprises a pair of plates 11, 1 2 each adapted to be secured to the underside of a table top section 1 3 by two screws 1 4 only.

The plate 11 is of channel configuration 1 5 along one edge and has a slot 1 6 along its parallel edge.

The plate 1 2 is also of channel configuration 1 5 along one edge while it has a tongue 1 7 along its parallel edge.

Each plates 11, 1 2 has a vertical hole 1 8 drilled therein to accommodate a rubber buffer 1 9 which extends across and into the channel configuration 1 5.

The table fork 10 also comprises a locking element 20 of open-topped U-configuration with inturned ends 21 at the limb ends and having a handle or pull 22 closing one end of the U.

With the plates 11, 1 2 in tongue and slot engagement 16, 17, the locking element 20 is pushed in to embrace the plate 11, 1 2 with the inturned ends 21 pushed into the channel configurations 1 5 and resiliently gripped by the buffers 19.

If plates 11 and 1 2 (see Fig. 1) of the table fork are formed of plastics material, formations equivalent to buffers 1 9 are moulded integral with the plates 11 and 1 2 and inturned ends 21 of the locking element 20 are recessed or cut-out releasably to clip onto or engage said formations to resist inadvertent removal of the locking element 20.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 of the drawing and here the locating elements are identical. This, it will be manifest, substantially reduces production costs. The locating elements are formed of any convenient plastics material, for example ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene-Styrene).

Each locating element 30 is of block form having on one edge, i.e. its interengaging edge two rows 31 of cstellations with the castellations 32 of each row 31 being staggered relative to those of the other row 31.

Each of the other three sides of the locating element 30 is slotted as indicated at 33.

Each locating element 30 is formed with two screw-receiving holes 34 (instead of the usual four provided in conventional table fork constructions).

The locating element 30 has, in effect, two integral laminae 35, 36 separated by the grooving 33. The lamina 35 which, in use, would abut the underside of the table top overhangs the lamina 36 as indicated at 37 along the two edges normal to the castellated edge.

The locating element 30 has a large spatial volume 38 formed during moulding to save material. The open face of this area 38 will abut the underside of the table top.

The table fork construction also comprises a fork 39 of pressed steel. This fork 39 is of rectilinear U-shape in plan with its side limbs 40 being of right angle configuration. Its closed end is extended to provide a gripping handle 41.

On its top surface at each limb and the handle junction there is a raised dimple 42.

With a locating element 30 screwed to the underside of each of two adjacent separable table top sections, the staggered castellations 32 interengage when the table top sections are brought together.

The limbs 40 of the fork 39 are then pushed in the grooves 32 in the side of the interengaged locating elements 30 parallel with the castellated edges 31 until the dimples 42 enter the grooves 33 thus frictionally screwing the fork 39 in position. In this position the upper front edge of the handle 41 is aligned or flush with the overhanging edge of the locating elements 30.

The grooving of the locating elements which receive the fork limbs may be shaped at each end as in Fig. 1 to facilitate fork entry.

Instead of providing the dimples 42 on the fork the grooving in the locating elements may be configured, e.g. slightly bulged, to provide the frictional grip.

The locating elements 30 may be used without the fork 39 to provide merely a relative locating facility for'two juxta-positioned components. For example they could be used at the middle of two separable table top sections instead of, or additionally, to being used at the edges of such sections where the fork is employed.

Alternative retention devices may be employed, for example a metal plastics or a resilient frame or element surrounding the interengaged locating elements wholly or partially. Such retention frame or element will, of course, be readily removable.

Claims

1. A fitting for use in correctly locating two components together, the fitting comprising two identical locating elements, one for attachment to each component, and with the locating elements having complementary interengaging edges.

2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 in which the complementary interengaging edges are of castellated configuration.

3. A fitting as claimed in claim 2 in which the castellated configuration comprises a plurality of rows of staggered castellations.

4. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the locating elements are detachably secured together by a retention device.

5. A fitting as claimed in claim 4, in which the retention device is a removable surrounding frame or element.

6. A fitting as claimed in claim 4, in which the retention device is a U-shaped locking element.

7. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 in which the locating elements are peripherally grooved along their non-cas tellated edges to receive and locate the retention device.

8. A fitting for releasably locking together separable table top sections, the fitting comprising a pair of locating elements adapted for attachment to the underside of table top sections capable of contiguous location and adapted for spigot-and-socket connection therebetween, and a retention device for releasably securing the locating elements in such connected relationship.

9. A fitting as claimed in claim 8 in the form of a table fork comprising a pair of plates adapted for attachment to the underside of table top sections capable of contiguous location, the plates being adapted for tongue and slot connection, and a retention device adapted releasably to embrace the plates to maintain such connection.

10. A fitting as claimed in claim 9 in which the plates are of channel configuration at their sides remote from the tongue and slot connection to receive in male/female or female/female connection the retention device.

11. A fitting as claimed in claim 10 comprising buffers located in the channels releasably to grip the retention device.

1 2. A fitting as claimed in claim 8 modified by the plates being identical with interengaging castellated edges.

13. A fitting as claimed in claim 12, in which the plates are slotted peripherally along their non-castellated edges to receive a Ushaped retention fork.

14. A fitting as claimed in claim 12 or 1 3 in which the castellated locating elements are formed of a plastics material and the retention fork employed therewith is preferably formed of pressed metal, steel for example.

1 5. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 in which the grooves of the locating elements or the fork are provided with formations to provide a releasable frictional engagement therebetween.

1 6. A fitting for correctly relatively locating, and possibly releasably locking together, separable components, especially furniture components, the fitting being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig.

1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.