Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements
in panel connectors and although the description and drawings
refer to shelf panels primarily, nevertheless it will be appre-
ciated that similar connectors can be used, suitably strengthen-
ed for the interconnection of concrete plates or the like atright angles to one another. Conventionally, shelf panels are
nailed or screwed together or, alternatively, grooves are form-
ed in one face of one panel whereby the end of a further panel
can be entered into the groove.
25Certain connectors have been formed but these are
usually for internal connection of hollow shelves or utilize a
~urality of parts or clips in order to hold the panels relative
to one another.
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All of these methods involve disadvantages either in
difficulty in assembly, the requirement for the use of tools
or the like, or the requirement for hollow portions of panels
in order to receive the connector.
S SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages
by providing connectors enabling panels such as shelf panels
to be joined together readily and easily in the desired rela-
tionship, without the use of tools or adhesives. Furthermore,
the shelves are easily disconnected and reassembled if neces-
sary.
In accordance with the invention there is provided
connectors for panels and the like which interconnect at right
angles to one another, said connectors comprising in combina-
tion a first channel portion and a second channel portion ex-
tending at right angles to said first channel portion and in
the same plane thereof, each of said channel portions includ-
ing a vertical web portion and a pair of horizontal side por-
tions extending at right angles from each side edge of said
web portion and lying in spaced and parallel relationship to
one another, the distance between the inner surfaces of said
side portions being substantially equal to the thickness of the
panels engaging therein whereby said panels are held horizon-
tally and frictionally within said connectors, and a further
portion extending at right angles from one side of said first
portion and downwardly therefrom thereby forming a junction for
joining a vertical panel extending at right angles from said
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other panels adjacent the junction of said one panel with said
other panel.
The connectors can be manufactured either in synthe-
tic plastic or from metal stampings or castings depending upon
~he design parameters and if manufactured from synthetic plas-
tic, they can of course be formed from a transparent material
or obli~ue material once again depending upon design require-
ments.
With the foregoing in view, and other such advantages
as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which
this invention relates as this specification ?roceeds, my in-
vention consists essentially in the arrangment and construction
of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, refer-
ence being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a right angled con-
nector.
Figure lA is a front elevation showing the panel con-
nector of Figure 1 engaged over a pair of panels and connecting
~0 same together, it being understood that the connector is rever-
sed from Figure 1.
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Figure 2 is an isometric view of a T shaped connector.
Figure 2A is a front elevational view showing the
connector of Figure 2 engaging a pair of panels in which one
panel extends at right angles from another panel intermediate
the ends of said other panel, it being understood that the
connector is shown reversed from Figure 2.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of a cruciform connector.
Figure 3A is a front elevational view showing the con-
nector of Figure 3 engaging panels intersecting at right angles
to one another, it being understood that the connector of
Figure 3A is reversed from the position of the connector shown
in Figure 3.
Figure 4 is an isometric view of a further connector.
Figure 4A is an isometric view of a shelf unit engaged
by the connector illustrated in Figure 4, it being understood
that the connector is reversed with respect to Figure 4.
Figure 5 is an isometric view of a still further con-
nector.
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Figure 5A is an isometric view of a panel unit con-
nected by the connector illustrated in Figure 5, it being under-
stood that the connector in Figure 5A is reversed with regard
to the position shown in Figure 5.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding first to describe the connector shown in
Figure 1, this illustrates a right angled connector comprising
a first portion 10 and a second portion 11 extending at right
angles from one end of the first portion 10.
Each portion includes a rear or base web 12 and a
pair of spaced and parallel side portions 13 extending from the
side edges of the web 12 in spaced and parallel relationship to
one another.
It will be observed that the inner ends of the side
portions 13 of each portion 10 and 11, are joined together as
indicated by reference character 14 thus forming a continuous
right angled channel between the two portions.
~o Figure lA shows the connector in use and engaged over
a pair of panels 15 and 16 thus joining the panels together at
right angles to one another and by the ends thereof.
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The thickness of the panels is similar to the dis-
tance between the inner surfaces of the spaced and parallel
side portions 13 of the connector so that the connector engages
the panels frictionally and holds them firmly in the desired
position.
Figure 2 shows a connector similar to Figure 1 in which
the second portion 11 is connected to the first portion 10 in-
termediate the ends of the first portion with the part of one
of the side portions 13 being removed at the point of inter-
connection thus forming a T shaped connector clearly illustrat-
ed.
Figure 2A shows this particular type of connector in
use with panels 16 and 15 but in this instance, the panel 15
extends at right angles from intermediate the ends of the panel
16 as clearly illustrated.
Figure 3 shows a connector in which a third portion
is provided collectively designated 17 and this extends upward-
ly from the first portion 10 opposite the second portion 11 and
once again the part of the side 13 of the first portion, is re-
moved to form a continuous channel connection between the por-
tions. This construction forms a cruciform connector and
Figure 3A shows the cruciform connector engaging panels 18 and
19 which intersect at right angles to one another. In this
particular embodiment, panels 19 and l9A are joined upon each
side of a continuous vertically extending panel 18 by means of
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this cruciform connector.
Figure 4 also illustrates basically a cruciform con-
nector but having a fourth portion 20 extending rearwardly of
the webs of the other portions and from one side of the first
portion 10 with the web of this side being removed so that
the channel is continuous as clearly illustrated.
This particular connector is utilized for holding a
panel 21A which extends at right angles from one side of the
panel 19, said one side being identified by reference charac-
ter l9A in Figure 4A.
Figure 5 shows a T shaped connector similar to thatillustrated in Figure 2 but once again having a further portion
21 extending rearwardly of the webs 12 and from one side of
the first portion 10 with the part of the web being removed so
that the further portion 21 forms a continuous channel with
the part of the first portion 10 from which it extends.
This connector is used in a manner similar to that
illustrated in Figure 4A but with the upwardly extending ver-
tical panel being removed. As an example, it could be used at
the top of a shelf unit as shown in Figure 5A.
From the foregoing it will be seen that these connec-
tors can be used to connect panels together in any desired
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relationship normally encountered and that they can be assem-
bled and disassembled without use of tools, fasteners or ad-
hesive.
Although the devices are shown as being held fric-
tionally, nevertheless under most circumstances, one or twoscrew~ should be utilized as shown in the drawing by refer-
ence character 22.
Finally it should be noted that the terms "horizon-
tally" and "vertically" used in the claims refer to the re-
lationship of the parts as illustrated in the drawings.
Since various modifications can be made in my .in-
vention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely
different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope
of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope,
it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and
not in a limiting sense.
