JP4761038B2 - Member connection structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a member connection structure that can be suitably used for an office partition panel or the like.

  Conventionally, when panels are connected to each other, as shown in Patent Document 1 and the like, an engaging member is projected from one panel above and below the panel, and the engaging member is inserted into an opening of an adjacent panel. Usually, it is configured to be engaged with each other.

In the document, the upper engaging member and the lower engaging member are partly pivotally attached to the panel, the other part is engaged with the operating plate, and the operating plate is moved up and down using a wrench. By operating, the engaging member is rotated in the direction in which the engaging member comes together, and locked to the opening edge.
Japanese Patent No. 3660960

However, the engaging member basically rotates around the horizontal axis and engages with the upper and lower edges of the opening to position and fix the panel in the vertical direction. Although a component force for attracting the panels is generated by providing, the structure does not actively attract the panels.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such a problem, and provides a novel and useful member connection structure that can firmly connect various members without being limited to the panel. It is aimed.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention takes the following measures.
That is, the member connection structure of the present invention is configured such that the first engagement piece and the second engagement piece, which are associated with the operation member so as to be able to project and retract, protrude from the first member. Are inserted into the opening of the first member, and a relative operation in a direction toward or away from both engagement pieces from the insertion position and an operation of pulling back to the first member side at least on any engagement piece provided with the claw portion are simultaneously given. Thus, the first and second members are brought into close contact with each other via the claw portion and connected .

If comprised in this way, the 1st member will be made to adjoin with respect to the 2nd member which has an opening, the engaging piece will be inserted in the opening of a 2nd member, and after that, relative operation to both engaging pieces In addition, by positively applying a pull-back operation to at least one of the engagement pieces, the members can be firmly brought into close contact with each other while being pulled together .

As a specific embodiment, the operation member includes an operation part and an interlocking body pivotally attached to the vicinity of the distal end of the operation part via a support shaft, and the support shaft is attached to the distal end of the interlocking body. The second engagement piece is pivotally attached via the shaft, and the first engagement piece is pivotally connected to the tip of the operation portion via the support shaft.

With one engagement piece held in the protruding position, the other engagement piece is given a pull back operation, so that one is a cam and the other is a follower, and the relative movement in the direction toward or away from both engagement pieces is performed. If it is configured so as to cause it, it is possible to simply give a required operation without using a separate guide member or the like.

One engagement piece does not have a bent claw that engages the inner surface near the opening at the tip, and only the other engagement piece has a bent claw that engages the inner surface near the opening at the tip Compared with the case where the engaging pieces are actuated against each other, the operating margin can be reduced, and the engaging piece that does not move can be used as a scaffold, so that the operability can be effectively improved.

In order to be able to work immediately when necessary, an operating member is associated with both engaging pieces, and both engaging pieces are moved to the projecting position by moving the operating member toward the opening. It is preferable to move and apply a tightening operation to the operating member at this position so as to give an operation of pulling back the other engaging piece while holding the one engaging piece in the protruding position.

In particular, if both engaging pieces are inserted into a common opening, the application object does not require a plurality of openings, and it is possible to apply over a wider range.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, for example, when the first member and the second member are partition panels, it is excellent when connecting at least the upper part of the partition panel with a pair of engaging pieces. It is effective.

Since the present invention has the configuration described above, the members can be strongly drawn and brought into close contact with each other and can be firmly connected , and thus can be widely applied to various applications including panels.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a partition panel A to which the member connection structure of the present invention is applied. This structure comprises a panel main body 1 which is a structural body by combining a rigid vertical frame 11, horizontal frame 12, steel plate 13, appropriate reinforcing members, and the like, and the panel main body 1 is supported by an adjuster 14. A decorative material 15 is attached to both sides of the main body 1, a headboard 16 is disposed at the upper end, and a baseboard 17 is disposed at the lower end. A cover 16 a is pivotally attached to a part of the headboard 16 so that the cover 16 a can be rotated without being separated from the headboard 16 while the headboard 16 is attached to the panel body 1. The position of the cover 16a can be retracted to a position where the operation units 3, 103 and the like of the following embodiment accommodated above the partition panel A can be taken to an operable position outside the panel body 1 by rotating. ing. Of course, it may be configured such that it can be retracted by an operation other than rotation, and the upper surface of the operation unit can also serve as a cover.

Further, a joint 1c is formed on the panel edge 1a, and an opening 18 is provided in the shape of a slit on the joint bottom to allow engagement members 2, 4, 102, 104 and the like described in the following embodiments to enter and exit. The engaging members 2, 4, 102, 104, and the like perform an engaging operation with respect to the partition panel A and the column B that are adjacent partition elements through the opening 18.

The following embodiment is applied to the connection between the partition panel A, which is a member, and partition elements (other partition panels A, struts B, etc.), and is said to be positioned and fixed simultaneously in the vertical direction while pulling the members closer together. It is structured under the concept.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the panel body 1 positioned inside the panel edge 1 a in FIG. 1 is engaged with the engaging member 2 upward and downward using the rigidity of the panel body 1 as a structure. 4 is attached so that it cannot be detached, and by operating these engagement members 2 and 4 via the operation members 3 and 5, it can project and retract through the opening 18 provided in the panel edge 1 a. I am doing so.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper engagement member 2 includes a first engagement piece 21 and a second engagement piece 22, and these engagement pieces 21 and 22 are associated with the operation member 3 to form a structure. The panel main body 1 is attached so as to be able to project and retract. Then, after the engagement pieces 21 and 22 are protruded from the panel edge 1a as shown in FIG. 6B by an operation applied to the operation member 3, the first engagement piece 21 is passed through the operation member 3. The second engagement piece 22 is pulled back as shown in FIG. 2C, so that the width between the engagement pieces 21 and 22 is increased in the direction indicated by x2.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the first engagement piece 21 is a straight one having no claw on the tip side, and an inclined surface 21 a that is inclined forward in the protruding direction is formed on the top surface of the tip side. The upper surface 21b near the distal end, the upper surface 21c near the proximal end, and the entire lower surface 21d are substantially parallel to the projecting and retracting direction, and the upper surface of the intermediate portion forms an inclined surface 21e parallel to the inclined surface 21a. The first engagement piece 21 has a base end upper portion as a pivoted portion 21f.

The second engagement piece 22 includes an upward claw portion 22a having an inclined surface that attracts an object to be engaged at the distal end, and an inclined surface that can slide simultaneously with the inclined surfaces 21a and 21e on the lower surface on the distal end side and the proximal end side. 22b and 22c, and the upper surface 22d and the lower surface 22e of the intermediate part are substantially parallel to the protruding and retracting direction. The second engagement piece 22 has a base end upper portion as a pivoted portion 22f.

The operation member 3 includes a downward channel-shaped operation portion 31 and an interlocking body 32 having a base end pivotally attached to the opposing walls 31a and 31a near the distal end of the operation portion 31 via a support shaft 3a. The engaged portion 22f of the second engagement piece 22 is pivotally attached to the distal end of the interlocking body 32 via the support shaft P1. A pivoted portion 31b is set at the distal end of the operation portion 31, and the pivoted portion 31b is pivotally coupled to the engaged portion 21f of the first engagement piece 21 via the support shaft P2. This support shaft P2 is slidably engaged with a guide recess q2 provided in the panel body 1 which is a structure and extending in the protruding and retracting direction. Each of the support shafts P1, P2, 3a is parallel to each other and faces the direction perpendicular to the projecting and retracting direction, that is, the thickness direction of the panel body 1. An elastic engagement claw 33 is provided on the rear end side of the operation unit 3, and a release lever 33a is provided above.

The operation unit 31 is normally at the standby position shown in FIG. 2 set at the rear slide end, and is fixed to the opening 12 a of the horizontal frame 12 of the panel body 1 via the elastic engagement claw 33. At this time, both the engaging pieces 21 and 22 are all in the immersed position in the panel edge 1a, and the inclined surfaces 22b and 22c of the second engaging piece 22 almost slide on the inclined surfaces 21a and 21e of the first engaging piece 21. It is in the raised state. When the operation unit 31 is rotated from this state to a position where it can be easily gripped around the support shaft P2, the interlocking body 32 is urged through the support shaft 3a, so that it moves freely as shown in FIG. The second engagement piece 22 is operated by the support shaft P1, and the slopes 22b and 22c of the second engagement piece 22 move forward while sliding down the slopes 21a and 21e of the first engagement piece 21. For this reason, the vertical distance from the lower surface 21d of the first engagement piece 21 to the upper end of the claw portion 22a of the second engagement piece 22 is smaller than the opening 18 of the panel edge 1a. If the operation part 31 is moved to the front slide end shown in FIG.6 (b) along the guide recess q2 in this state, the 1st, 2nd engagement pieces 21 and 22 will protrude from the panel edge part 1a. When the operation portion 31 is rotated around the support shaft P2 in this position in the direction opposite to the above as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the interlocking body 32 is given a swinging motion to the rear. The second engagement piece 22 moves without the engagement piece 21 moving, and the inclined surfaces 22b and 22c slide up the inclined surfaces 21a and 21e of the first engagement piece 21 again. That is, while the second engagement piece 22 is pulled back to the panel body 1 as indicated by the arrow x1, the inclined surfaces 21a and 21e of the first engagement piece 21 are cams, and the inclined surfaces 22b and 22c of the second engagement piece 22 are As a follower, the second engagement piece 22 is gradually pulled away from the first engagement piece 21 in the direction of the arrow x2 orthogonal to the pullback direction.

Accordingly, the engaging pieces 21 and 22 are protruded through the operation portion 31 and inserted into, for example, the opening b18 provided in the upright wall b1 of the column B which is an adjacent partition element, and then the operation portion 31 is reversed from the above. When rotating in the direction, the claw portion 22a of the second engagement piece 22 is engaged with the inner surface of the outer wall b1 that is an upright surface, and while pulling it, the claw portion 22a operates in a direction away from the first engagement piece 21; In the operating position shown in FIG. 6C, the engaging pieces 21 and 22 engage with the upper edge and the lower edge of the opening b18. In the case where the partition element of the connection partner is the same partition panel A, the notch 12b (see FIG. 2 (a), etc.) provided in the bottom wall of the horizontal frame 12 located in the back of the opening 18 is used as an opening edge on the inner surface. The joining piece 22 is engaged. This is because if the engaging piece 22 is directly engaged with the side surface of the vertical frame 11 (the surface facing the adjacent partition panel A), the vertical frame 11 is subjected to a tensile force perpendicular to the surface. If there is a possibility that the periphery of the opening may be deformed, if the engagement is made with the notch 12b provided in the bottom wall of the horizontal frame 12, the pulling force is in the direction along the surface, that is, in the direction of compressing the member. This is because it becomes effective and can be supported by the rigidity of the member. Of course, the above circumstances correspond to a case where the partition panel A cannot be expected to be as strong as the column B due to problems in the internal structure or a request for weight reduction for the column B which is relatively simple and easy to secure the strength. Therefore, when a predetermined strength can be expected from the vertical frame 11 of the partition panel A, an engagement structure similar to that of the support column B can be employed.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower engagement member 4 includes a downward claw portion 41 having a slope that attracts an engagement target at a distal end, and an intermediate portion 42 is bent in an angle shape so that the proximal end is formed. The formed pivoted portion 44 of the rotating portion 43 is pivotally attached to the panel body 1 as a structure via a support shaft P3 parallel to the thickness direction of the panel body 1. A cavity 44 for accommodating the operation member 5 is provided below the rotating part 43, and an insertion part 45 for inserting an idle shaft 51 parallel to the support shaft P <b> 3 is provided on the side wall of the cavity 44.

The operation member 5 is a cylindrical member attached to the floating shaft 51 and is positioned in the cavity 44. In this state, the guide shaft 51 is provided on the standing wall of the panel body 1 through the insertion portion 45. It is engaged with the recess q3. This guide recess q3 has a forward inclined part q31 on the front side and a rearward inclined part q32 on the rear side, and the two are connected by a communication path q33. When the idle shaft 31 is positioned on the forward inclined part q31, The engaging member 4 is held at the retracted position in the panel body 1, and the lower engaging member 4 advances the claw portion 41 outward from the panel edge portion 1a and holds it in the protruding position when the engaging member 4 is positioned at the backward inclined portion q3. Is done.

The operation member 5 can be accessed from the front side or the back side of the panel body 1 through a gap C (see FIG. 4) between the base board 17 and the floor F, at least the lower half of which is attached to the lower end of the panel body 1. It is arranged in the position. The gap C has a size that allows a finger to enter, and the lower half of the gap C can be used as an operation end 5a that can be operated with a finger.

The operation member 5 is set so that the lowest point of the operation end 5a or the vicinity thereof is set as a thought point S, and the center of gravity including the load of the engagement member 4 is moved beyond the thought point S. Both the position and the immersive position are stabilized by gravity.

Therefore, the engaging member 4 is protruded by operating the operating end 5a, and then the partition panel A is lifted and the lower engaging member 4 is opened to the opening 18 of the other adjacent partition panel A, the opening b18 of the column B or the like. When the downward claw part 41 is entered and the partition panel A is lowered from there, the engaging member 4 deepens the vertical engagement at the protruding position, and the support shaft 51 is tilted backward q32 by the reaction force caused thereby. The operation member 4 is stably fixed by being pressed against the upward surface. Incidentally, in this embodiment, since the position of the opening 18 of the partition panel A and the position of the opening b18 such as the column B are slightly displaced, the engaging portions 41a and 41b corresponding to these are provided on the claw portion 41 in stages. Therefore, it is possible to cope with both.

The above engaging member 4 and operation member 5 are provided on the other edge 1b of the panel main body 1 shown in FIG.

The partition panel A configured as described above is, for example, shown in FIG. 7B after the lower engaging member 4 is engaged with the partition panel A which is an adjacent partition element as indicated by an arrow in FIG. ) To complete the connection by engaging the upper engaging member 2 through the advancing and retracting operation as indicated by an arrow.

In this embodiment, since the upper engagement member 2 exhibits the function of positioning and fixing the partition panel A in the vertical direction by itself, the lower engagement member 4 does not have to actively engage with the opening 18 actively. It will suffice if it plays the role of engaging mainly in the thickness direction and width direction of the panel body 1.

The opening 18 also serves as an opening 18 for receiving the engaging members 2 and 4 protruding from the adjacent partition panel A. For this reason, the spaces S2 and S4 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) generated by the upper engagement member 2 and the lower engagement member 4 moving to the retracted position are the engagement members 2 and 4 of the adjacent partition panel A. Is set to be larger than the operation enough to be inserted into the opening 18 and engaged, so that when the engaging members 2 and 4 are received, the engaging members 2 and 4 do not interfere with each other.

Of course, since the upper and lower engaging members 2 and 4 can be operated independently from each other by the operation members 3 and 5 attached thereto, the upper and lower engaging members 2 and 4 protrude from the opening 18 as described above. In addition to the mode and the mode in which the upper and lower engaging members 2 and 4 are pulled into the opening 18 and the engaging members 2 and 4 of the partition panel A adjacent to the opening 18 are received, as shown in FIG. One of the upper and lower engaging members 2 (4) protrudes from the opening 18 and the other engaging member 4 (2) is pulled into the opening 18, and the engaging member 4 (2 of the partition panel A adjacent to the opening 18 is provided. ) May be taken. Depending on the structure of the column B, all or a part of these may be applicable even when the adjacent partition element is the column B.

Further, the partition panel A is in a state where all the engaging members 2 and 4 in the adjacent portions are accommodated in the panel main body 1, and is between the adjacent partition panel A and the column B, particularly around the panel edge 1a. Even if the partition panel A is adjacent to and connected to both sides of the partition panel A, the engagement between the partition panels A is not caused. It can cancel | release, and as shown in FIG.7 (d), only the middle partition panel A can be moved in the thickness direction and can be hollowed out.

In particular, the claw portion 41 of the lower engagement member 4 faces downward, and after the partition panel A is dropped and the lower engagement member 4 is engaged, it can be positioned vertically while being pulled by the upper engagement member 2. Then, the retrofitting operation of the partition panel A in corner connection or the like can be performed very easily.

Furthermore, the engaging members 2 and 4 are protruded only from the end face on the connecting side of the panel body 1, and are engaged with the edges of the adjacent partition elements A and B, so that only the engaging members 2 and 4 are engaged. Thus, the positioning and fixing necessary for the connection with the partition element can be achieved, and the operating member does not extend to the space above the partition elements A and B that are the connection counterparts. Even if it is a partition panel A with a different height and needs to be connected with a step, the lower height can be achieved if the engaging members 2 and 4 and the other party's opening 18 and the like are related to each other. By causing the engaging members 2 and 4 to protrude from the partition panel A, the connection can be performed in exactly the same manner as described above.

As described above, in the present embodiment, through the operation of the operation member 3, the pair of engaging pieces 21 and 22 that protrude from the partition panel A that is the first member that needs to be connected are formed on the existing partition panel A that is the second member. Inserting into the opening 18, pulling back the second engaging piece 22 provided with the claw portion 22 a and the relative movement in the direction away from the engaging pieces 21 and 22 from the insertion position to the partition panel A side which is the first member. By giving the operation simultaneously, the two partition panels A and A are brought into close contact with each other and connected .

If comprised in this way, the partition panel A which requires connection will be made adjacent to the existing partition panel A which has the opening 18, and the engaging pieces 21 and 22 will be inserted in the opening 18 of the existing partition panel A. After that, the two engaging pieces 21 and 22 are relatively moved and the second engaging piece 22 is positively pulled back, so that the two partition panels A and A are brought into tight contact with each other and connected. It becomes possible.
In particular, the operating member 3 includes an operating portion 31 and an interlocking body 32 pivotally attached to the vicinity of the distal end of the operating portion 31 via a support shaft 3a. A support shaft P1 is attached to the distal end of the interlocking body 32. The second engagement piece 22 is pivotally attached via the shaft, and the first engagement piece 21 is pivotally connected to the distal end of the operation portion 31 via the support shaft P2.

In addition, the opening 18 has a slit shape, and both the engaging pieces 21 and 22 of the partition panel A are closely inserted into the opening edge in the direction orthogonal to the relative direction and the pull back direction (that is, the panel thickness direction). Therefore, the partition panels A and A can be connected to each other in a state of being positioned in the three orthogonal directions only by performing the above operation.

In particular, by applying a pull back operation to the second engagement piece 22 while holding the first engagement piece 21 in the protruding position, the former is a cam and the latter is a follower. Since the relative motion in the direction away from each other is caused, the required motion can be simply given without requiring a separate guide member or guide mechanism.

In this case, the first engaging piece 21 does not have a bent claw portion that engages with the inner surface near the opening at the tip, and the bent that engages with the inner surface near the opening only at the tip of the second engaging piece 22. Since the claw portion 22a is provided, the relative movement amount when the claw portions are inserted into the opening 18 can be halved as compared with the case where both engagement pieces have claw portions, and the claw portion is not provided. Since the first engagement piece 21 can be inserted while sliding at the opening edge, the first engagement piece 21 can be applied even when the opening 18 is relatively small, and the operability can be effectively improved.

In particular, in this embodiment, the operating member 3 is associated with both the engaging pieces 21 and 22, and by moving the operating member 3 toward the opening 18, both the engaging pieces 21 and 22 are moved to the protruding position. Since the operation member 3 is rotated at this position, the first engagement piece 21 is pulled back to the second engagement piece 22 while the first engagement piece 21 is held at the protruding position, so that no tool is required. The convenience of work can be improved effectively.

Furthermore, since both the engaging pieces 21 and 22 are inserted into the common opening 18, the connection can be completed with a single opening, and the opening 18 is relatively small. It becomes possible to apply to the panel of the specification.

In this embodiment, this connection structure is adopted to connect the upper end portion between the partition panels A and A, and if it is a large one, it must be attached to the upper end portion of the panel as a buckle. Since the above-mentioned compact is sufficient, it can be effectively stored in the panel body 1. In addition, since the positioning is fixed at least in the vertical direction only above the partition panel A, the height between the panels is uniform, and a good appearance of the entire partition device can be secured.

And since the buckle-like input operation is converted into the advancing / retreating operation of the second engagement piece, and further converted into the contact / separation operation of the second engagement piece 22 with respect to the first engagement piece 21, a large boosting force is obtained. The action is also accompanied.

The specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the engagement pieces forming the pair of the first members are not necessarily one-to-one. For example, in accordance with the above embodiment, in addition to the second engagement piece 22, another engagement piece is provided on the opposite side with respect to the first engagement piece 21. Even if it is configured to provide a claw portion opposite to the claw portion 22a of the engagement piece 22 and perform a relative operation of making contact with and separating from the first engagement piece 21 in the opposite direction. Good. If it does in this way, connection strength can be raised effectively.

In the above embodiment, the first engagement piece 21 is not provided with a bent claw portion that engages with the inner surface near the opening, but the claw portion 22a of the second engagement piece 22 is provided on the second engagement piece 21. It is also possible to employ a structure in which a claw portion opposite to the above is provided.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the connection between the partition panels A and A is mainly described. However, even when applied between the partition panel A and the opening b18 of the support column B, the same effect is obtained.

Moreover, even if both engaging pieces are operated in directions in which the claw portions change their directions, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

In any case, the present invention can be effectively applied if there is one opening of the member that needs to be connected, and at least the members are attracted to each other and effectively tightened in the orthogonal direction. It can be widely used for connection.

The perspective view of the partition panel to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The figure which shows the panel main body upper part of the embodiment. The perspective view which shows the upper engagement member and operation member of the embodiment. The figure which shows the panel main body lower part of the embodiment. The perspective view which shows the lower engagement member and operation member of the embodiment. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the upper engagement member of the embodiment. Handling explanatory drawing of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

A ... 1st member, 2nd member (partition panel)
21 ... 1st engagement piece 22 ... 2nd engagement piece 22a ... Claw part

Claims (5)

A first engagement piece and a second engagement piece, which are associated with the operation member and detachably attached to the first member, are protruded from the first member by an operation of adding to the operation member, and enter the opening of the second member. Insertion and relative movement in the direction approaching or away from both engagement pieces from the insertion position and the operation of pulling back to the first member side at least on any engagement piece provided with the claw portion are simultaneously given through the operation member. Thus, the member connecting structure is characterized in that the first and second members are brought into close contact with each other via the claw portion and connected. The operation member includes an operation portion and an interlocking body pivotally attached to the vicinity of the distal end of the operation portion via a support shaft. The second engagement piece is attached to the distal end of the interlocking body via the support shaft. 2. The member connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the member engaging structure is pivotally attached and the first engaging piece is pivotally connected to the tip of the operation portion via a support shaft . With one engagement piece held in the protruding position, the other engagement piece is given a pull back operation, so that one is a cam and the other is a follower, and the relative movement in the direction toward or away from both engagement pieces is performed. The member connection structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the member connection structure is caused. One engagement piece does not have a bent claw portion that engages the inner surface near the opening at the tip, and the other engagement piece has a bent claw portion that engages the inner surface near the opening at the tip. The member connection structure according to claim 3. An operation member is associated with both engagement pieces, and the operation members are moved toward the opening by moving the operation members toward the opening, and a tightening operation is applied to the operation member at this position. The member connection structure according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an operation of pulling back one engagement piece to the other engagement piece while being held in the protruding position is provided.

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