Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
342f~j
FIELD OF THE I~ENTION
This invention relates to connectors for
interconnecting structural members.
BACKGROUND OF TH~ INVENTION
A variety of connectors are available for
5 interconnecting structural members, particularly those
formed o~ aluminum extrusion and used in forming
structural arrays for exhibit panels and the like
commonly used at product exhibitions. Examples of such
connectors are disclosed in Canadian patents 919,379 and
10 1,123,570. Each patent is directed to inserting a
connector within the hollow portion of one member,
engaging the connector with the second member and drawing
the connector inwardly of the hollow member to complete
the connection. In each patent, the manner in which the
15 connector is drawn into the tubular member is by the use
of a screw having a tapered end which engages a sloping
recess in the connector. The screw, when fully turned
in, causes by way of engagement of the sloping surfaces a
movement of the connector within the member to secure the
20 connection. Although this system is operable, it
requires precise machining of the components rather than
forming the components by standard extrusion techniques.
SUMMAR-Y OF THE INVENTION
A connector system, according to an aspect of
25 the invention, interconnects first and second structural
members. The first member has a slotted wall portion
provided with opposing ledges which define a slot
opening~ The second member has an open interior with an
open end for connection to the first member along the
30 slotted wall. The second member has at least one wall
with an opening therein. The second member end has means
for abutting the ledges of the first member.
The connector has a pair of spaced-apart arms
interconnected at their first ends by a base and having
35 at each extremity of the arms means for engaging a
corresponding ledge of the first member with the arms
extending through the slotted wall and essentially the
1~2~42~
remainder of the connector position within the hollow
second member.
A cam extends through the opening and between
the arms adjacent the connector base. The cam engages an
operative edge portion of the wall opening which is
5 located a predetermined distance fxom the abutment means
of the second member end. The cam is configured whereby
the cam in a first position, as it engages the operative
edge portion of the opening, locates the pair of engaging
means for loosely engaging the corresponding ledges of
10 the first member. The cam, when rotated to a second
position as it engages the operative edge portion of the
wall opening, draws the ledges by the engaging means
against the abutment means of the second member by
forcing the connector base away from the operative edge
15 portion of the opening.
The predetermined position of the operative edge
portion of the opening is determined by the spatial
relationship of the connector base to the connector
engaging means and to the cam in the second position.
20 Means is provided for stabilizing the cam in the second
position to secure snugly thereby the interconnection of
the first and second members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown
25 in the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an exploded view of the connector
system according to this invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the
members used in the connection system of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side view of the connector with
the cam in a first position;
Figure 4 is a side view of the connector of
Figure 3 with the cam rotated to its second position;
Figure 5 is a side view of the connector system
35 of Figure 1 loosely connected;
Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of
Figure 5; and
1~3~Z6
Figure 7 is a side view of the connector system
of E`igure 1 snugly interconnected.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The connector system 10, as shown in Figure 1
according to this preferred embodiment, comprises a first
5 member 12 to be interconnected to a second member 14 by a
connector 16 which is actuated by a cam 18. The first
member 12 has a slotted wall 20 defined by inwardly
projecting ledges ~2 and 24. The ledges are integral
with side walls 26 and 28. These side walls 26 and 2g
10 are extensions of the same side walls forming opposing
wall portions 30 and 32 of the rectangular hollow portion
of the member 120 The remaining set of walls 34 and 36
complete the hollow rectangular-shaped portion. The
slotted wall 20 includes faces 33 and 40 which are
15 abutted by the end 42 of the second member 14.
According to this preferred embodiment, the
second member 14 is of identical cross-section as
indicated by like numerals. The end portion 42 is planar
and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the
20 hollow rectangular structure, as indicated by arrow 44.
Thus the planar end portions of walls 30, 32, 34 and 36
abut the faces 38 and 40 of the ledges of the first
member when the members are interconnected.
The connector 16 comprises arms 46 and 48 which
25 are interconnected at one end by a base 50. At the
extremity of the other end of each arm is an arrangement
52 and 54 for engaging the internal faces 56 and 58 of
the first member. To assemb~e the system of Figure 1,
the connector 16 has its engagement devices 52 and 54
30 slid into the channel 60 in the direction of arrows 62.
Thus the arms 46 and 48 e~tend through the slotted wall
and essentially the remainder of the connector 16 is then
inserted into the hollow rectangular portion 62 through
the open end 42 of the second member. The cavity 64
35 defined above the base 50 between the arms 46 and 48 is
generally aligned with an opening 66 formed in the wall
36 of the second member. The cam 18 is inserted into the
cavity 64 of the connector and thereby extends between
~Zz34zl~
the arms 46 an~ 48 of the connector and also through -the
opening 66.
As shown in Figure 2, the second member 14 may
have an aligned opening 68 provided in wall 34 opposite
the opening in wall 35. This provides stability for the
cam 18 as it thus extends through openings 66 and 68 and
between the arms 46 and 48 of the connector 16. In
forming the opening 68 in wall 34, it may or may not be
necessary to recess the ledye portions in the area 70 and
72 by way of a drill or the like.
The connector 16, as shown in Figure 3~ has the
base 50 formed by inwardly and upwardly extending legs 74
and 76 which are integral with the arms 46 and 48. The
thickness of the arms in the lower region adjacent the
base are considerably thicker than the upper portions to
provide support when the cam is used to activate the
connector in securing the members. The legs 74 and 76
intersect in the region of apex 78 which is truncated or
rounded at 80 so as to engage the circular surface 82 of
the cam 18. The distance between the side walls 46 and
48 of the connector are slightly greater than the
greatest dimension of the major axis of the cam 18 as
indicated by arrow 84.
The upper portion of the connector 16 includes a
cross member 86 which, according to a preferred
embodiment, is used in stabilizing the cam 18 in the
connector when moved to the second position as shown in
Figure 4. The cross member 86 includes two inwardly and
downwardly extending legs 88 and 90 which intersect at an
apex portion 92 having recessed circular face 94 for
engagement with the circular portion 82 of the cam 18.
With the cam 18 in its first position indicated by its
major axis 84, there is sufficient space between the
rounded portions 82 of the cam and the side walls 46 and
48. When the cam 18 is rotated to the second position as
shown in Figure 4, which according to this embodiment
involves rotation of 90, the major axis 84 now extends
in the direction of the connector. The diameter between
the circular surfaces 82 of the cam 18 is greater than
-~Z34'~
the diametrical distance between rounded apex portions 80
and 94. The legs 88 and 90 of -the cross member 86 are
thinner and, therefore, weaker than the base legs 74 and
76. As the connector 18 is rotated to the second
position, the legs 88 and 90 are flexed from their
5 original position, as shown in dot in Figure 4, to the
solid position to in turn move the arms outwardly as
indicated by their new positions 46a and 48a. This in
turn spreads the arms at their extremities 52 and 54 to
assist in snugly interconnecting the structural members
lO in the manner to be discussed with respect to Figures 5
and 7.
~ t the extremity of each arm, the engagement
devices are adapted to fit behind and engage the inner
surfaces 56 and 58 of the ledge portions. The arms are,
15 therefore, stepped at their extremities to define
recesses 96 and 98 and outwardly extending flanges lO0
and 102. Each flange has an inner face 104 and 106 for
engaging the corresponding inner faces 56 and 58 of the
ledges of the first member.
Turning to Figure 5, the system of Figure 1 is
assembled with the connector 16 inserted into the hollow
portion of the second member in the manner shown in the
section of Figure 6. As demonstrated by the gap at 108,
the first member 12 is loosely connected to the second
25 member 14. The flanges 100 and 102 are spaced behind the
respective ledges 56 and 58 of the first member. This
loose interconnection is determined by the cam 18 as it
abuts the apex portion 80 of the base 50.
When it is desired to secure the connection as
30 shown in Figure 7, the cam 18 is rotated to the second
position as discussed with respect to Figure 4. Because
the cam 18 projects through the aperture 66, the cam 18
engages the operative edge portion 110 of the opening 66
in forcing the connector 16 further within the tubular
35 portion of the second member 14, by engaging the base 50.
The operative edge portion llO of the opening 66 is
located in a predetermined manner relative to the end 42
of member 14. This location is predetermined by the
~.~Z3~6
spatial relationship of the base apex 80 relative to the
diametrical distances between the curved portions 82 of
the cam and the distance from the apex 80 to the
underside 104, 106 of the flanges ]~0 and 102. By
rotating the cam 18 to the second position as shown in
5 Figure 7, the cam engages the operative edge portion 110
of the opening 66 and in turn pushes the base 50 away
from the end 42 of the member 14. This draws the first
member 12 towards the second member 14 so that the planar
edges 112 and 114 of the walls of the second member abut
10 the faces 38 and 4~ of the ledges to form a secure
interconnection. It is appreciated that a corresponding
operative edge portion may be provided for opening 68 as
shown in Figure 2. Its position would be predetermined
in the same manner as the position of portion 110 is
15 determined.
According to a preferred embodiment of the
invention, simultaneously with the drawing together of
the connection by rotating the cam to the second
position, the cross member 86 has its legs flexed to
20 spread the arms outwardly and firmly seat the recessed
portions 96 and 98, as shown in Figure 3, against the
edges of the ledges 22 and 24 to resist tortional
movement between the two members. The dimensioning
between the walls 30 and 32 may be such to loosely
25 receive the connector when the cam is in the first
position, but when rotated to the second position,
spreads the arms to abut the interior of the opposing
walls 30 and 32 and further enhance the snug
interconnection of the two members, as clearly
30 demonstrated by the absence of space between the ledges
22, 24 and the planar face 42 of the second member.
The cam 18 may be formed with an irregular
shaped opening 116 which may be either in the form of a
recess or extend completely through the cam. The
35 irregular shaped opening may be in the form of a hexagon
to permit the use of an Allen key to facilitate the
manual rotation of the cam 18 from the first position, as
1~3~26
shown in Figure 5, to the second position as shown in
Figure 7.
It is appreciated that only one opening 66 need
be provided in the wall of the second member in order for
the connector to function, providing there is within the
connector or on some other part of the member 14 a device
for stabilizing the cam in the second position.
Conveniently, this can be accomplished by the cross
member 86 which binds the cam between the apex faces 80
and 92 of the connector. The operative edge portion 110
of the opening 66 provides the abutment which determines
the extent to which the first and second members are
drawn together in forming the secure connection.
It is further appreciated that the members, the
connector and the cam can be formed from extrusion of
aluminum alloys. It is also appreciated that plastics
materials may be used to accomplish the same function.
It is also appreciated that a variety of sections for the
first and second members may be used providing in the
2~ first member there is the slotted wall portion and in the
second member, the opening provided in at least one wall
to enable the connector to function. Should the second
member be circular, it is appreciated that interiorly of
the first member other faces are provided to stabilize
the connector in use.
Although various preferred embodiments of the
invention have been described herein in detail, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that variations
may be made thereto without departing the spirit of the
invention or the scope of the appended claims.
