Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTI~
This invention relates generally to production of
corner brackets for holding frame parts in assembled condition.
More particularly, itconcerns apparatus to produce recesses
in frame parts, which will receive a bracket to lock to such
parts.
There is a continuing need ~or simple, effective,
low cost and easily inserted means to hold frame parts in corner
assembled condition. The prior use of staples for this purpose
is objec~ionable due to need for a staple gun and lack of
staple strength su~ff cient to hold the frame parts together,
against relative bending displacement.
Further, there is need for simple, rugged, and
easily operated means to form the above described recesses
in frame members, to receive L-shape brackets.
DETAILED DE5CRIPTIO~
It is a ma~or object of the inven.ion .o provide
a router for cutting an L-shape groove in elongated frame
members adapted t~ ha~e their ends joined in L-shaped assembly
: by an L-shaped bracket of the particular shape referred to.
Basically, the router comprises:
a) an elongated cutter stem having an axis about
which the stem is rotatable the stem having subs.antially
parallelogram cross sections in planes normal ~o said axis, and
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b) a cutter head at the end of the stem and integral
therewith, the head also having substantially parallelogram
cross sectionsin planes normal to said axis.
As will appear, the head parallelogra~ cross sections
are typically larger than the stem parallelogram cross sections;
the head and stem parallelogram cross sectionstypically have
substantially parallel corresponding sides; and the two sides
of the stem are closer to the axis of rotation than most of
the corresponding sides of the head, so that space is provided
to receive cuttings as the groove is formed in each ~rame
: member. Also, two sides of the head are convexly curved,
as will appear.
It is a further ob~ect of the invention to provide
means to rotate the router about its axis, to hold the two
frame m~mbers in parallel, longitudinally elongated, laterally
spaced relation, to be cut by said router head and stem as the
router is displaced laterally relative to said frame member
: ends presented to said router.
~hese and other objects and advantages of the
invention as well as the details of an illustrati~e embodiment,
will be m~re fully understood from the following specification
and drawings, in which:
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DRAWING DES CRIPTI ON
.
Fig. 1 is a si`de elevation showing a router incorporating
~he invention;
Fig. 2 is an end view on lines 2-2 of Fig. l;
Figs 3 and 4 are sections taken on lines 3-3- and
4-4 of Fig. 1.
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Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing tooling to
hold two frame members to be routed by the rotated router;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the Fig. 5 tooling;
~ig. 7 is a section taken on lines 7-7 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a perspecti~e view of one side of a lock~up
~ corner bracket;
; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the opposite side of
the Fig. 8 bracket;
Fig. 10 is a plan view showing use of the Fig. 1
bracket in retaining frame parts in assembled conditions;
Fig. 11 is a section on lines 11-11 o~ Fi~. 10;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing partial asser~ly
of frame parts and the bracket of Fig. 8;
~ ig. 13 is a top plan view of a frame part showing a
recess cut thereby to receive one leg of the Fig. 8 bracket, and
Fig. 14 is a side view of the frame part of Fig. 13.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION
In Figs. 8 and 9 the illustrated lock-up corner
bracket 10 is shown to include legs 11 and 12 that extend in
planes 13 and 14 which define a corner angle ~ . The latter
is typically about 90, but may vary somewhat from 90, as for
example between 85 and 95~. The leg 11 has opposite sides
lla and llb which are longitudinally elongated in the Z direction
indicated by arrow Z, and leg 12 has opposite sides 12a and 12b
~5 which are also elong~ted in the Z direction. Plane 13 is an
X-Z plan~, and plane 14 is an X-Y plane. Note inside and
outside corners 15 and 16 of lég intersec~ions.
~he legs have terminal enlargements that are also
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elongated in parallel directions (parallel to the Z-direction)
of forward insertion of the legs relatively into recesses formed
in the frame parts, for retaining such parts in assembled relation
or conditions. In the example, the enlargements 17 and 18 are
integral with legs 11 and 12, respectively, and are columnar,
the planes 13 and 14 bisecting the enlargements. Note that the
columnar enlargements have lengths approximately equal to the
Z-direction lengths of the legs, and they have generally
cylindrical outer surfaces throughout such lengths. Note also
that the forwardmost end portions of the legs and enlargements
are forwardly tapered (see tapers llc and lld, 12c 17a and 18a)
to assist in their initial slide receptions into the corresponding.
recesses (leg and column) indicated at 19-22 in frame parts
23 and 24. Such slide reception is close in all such recesses J
whereby the frame parts are rigidly positioned, as assembled,
with 45~ angled surfaces 23a and 24a held in face-to-face, sturdy
interengagement. This is enhanced due to the columnar enlargements
; having cross-sectional dimensions "t1" exceeding the thickness
dimension "t2" of the legs, as indicated in Fig. ~
Fig 12 shows an easy assembly mode ~made possible by
the invention) wherein the leg 12 and column 18 are first inserted
into the recesses 2Q and 22 in part 24; and then he leg 11 and
column 17 are relatively inserted into the recesses 19 and 21 in
part ~3 causing faces 23_ and 24a to slide against one another
until the assembly is completed with the tops of the legs and
columns flush w~th the sùrfaces 23a and 24a of the frame parts
23 and 2g~ T~e ~.atter frame parts may be those of a picture
frame, with a bracket 10 easily assembled to the frame parts
at each of the four corners of.the picture frame. This enables
the frame parts ot be incorporated in a small kit suitable
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for mailing, so that the ultimate user can quickly assemble
~he frame using the improved corner brackets.
An additional feature is the provision of a barb or
barbs on one or both legs of the bracket. See for example barbs
30 and 31 on legs 11 and 12, in Fig. 8. Such barbs integral
with the bracket project outwardly from iaces lla and 12a, with
forward taper, to compress the recess walls (see for example
recess wall 20a in Fig. I~ during bracket insertion, and grip
such walls to resist bracket~removal from the recesses (i.e. to
ensure that the parts 23 and 24 will remain assembled).
Figs. 13 and 14 show details of a recess 19 prior
to bracket insertion therein. Note that the recess terminates
at point l9e, at a considerable spacing "t3" from the boktom
23c of the frame part, so that the structural strength of the
latter is not undesirably reduced (i.e. region 23d of the frame
part remains unslotted so that sections 23e and 23f are not
undesirably spread apart during bracket insertion). Sections
23e and 23f each have substantially constant width along their
length, for maximum strength, as ena~led by the insertion.
The frame parts may consist of wood or plastic material,
and the bracket may typically consist of plastic material, as
for example molded polypropylene.
As is clear from Fig. 9, the forwardmos- ,apered
portions of the legs 11 and 12 and of the enlargements 17 and 18 -
terminate in a flat plane which is normal to the Z-direction
of bracket insertion into the frame parts.
; Referring now to Figs. 1-4, the router 100 is
constructed to cut an L shape ~r~o~e ~n elongated frame members
(shown fox example at 101 in tooling mounted position in
~igs. 6-8j so that such members may have their ends joined in
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L-shaped assembly by the L-shaped bracket 10 described above
in Figs. 8 to 140
The metallic router 100 comprises an elongated cutter
stem 102 having an axis 103 about which the stem is rotatable,
as by driver 104 driven by motor 105. Driver 104 suitably mounts
the router, as via an elongated and cylindrical stem extension
102a. The stem has substantially parallelogram cross sections .
in planes normal to the axis 103, and along the stem length
The router also has a head 106 integral with and at
the end of the stem, the head also having substantially
paralielogram cross sections in planes normal to axis 103.
Typically, the head cross sections are larger than the stem
cross sections.
More specifically, and as shown, the head and stem -
parallelogram cross sections have parallel correspondîng sides.As shown, the stem cross section sides 106-109 correspond to
head cross section sides 110-113, sides 106 and llO being
parallel (~ut side 106 being closer to axis 103 than most of
sides 110), sides 107 and 111 being parallel (but side 107
being closer to axis lQ3 than most of sides 111); sides
108 and 112 being parallel and in the same plane; and sides
109 and 113 being parallel and inthe same plane As a result,
chips or cuttinss fill into the spaces ad~acent sides 106 and
107, and are pulled out when the cutter is sidewardly removed
from the frame mem~er. Also, sharp acute angled cutting
edges are ~ormed at 140,.141, 142 and 143.
Further, and as shown, the head typically forms two
generally outwardly convex outer surfaces indicated at 114 and
115, and coinciden~ with cross section sides 110 and 111,
30 respectively. Surfaces 114 and 115 merge with stem surfaces
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106 and 107, as at locations 114a and llSa. The head also has
a flat terminal 120 remote from the stem, and in a flat plane
normal to axis 103.
Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, means is provided
to rotate the router about axis 103, and :includes the router
driver 104 in which the router stem extension 102a is gripped
or releasably clamped. A motor 105 rotates the driver. Means
is also provided to hold the two elongated frame members 101
in parallel, longitudinally elongated, ~aterally spaced relation,
to be cut by the router head and stem as the router is dispalced
laterally (see arrows121) in opposite directions,and relative
to the frame member ends lOla presented to the router.
More specifically, the frame member holder means
may advantageously and typically include a base 122 having
spaced shoulders to position the frame members, and moldings
associated with the base. See for example, the two elongated
grooves 127a each having opposite, laterally spaced shoulders 123
and 124, between ~hich frame members 101 are fitted. Stops 125
position the ends 126 o~ the frame members. Frame member
moldings are associated with the base, to hold the members in
position as shown, during the routing operation. See for example
the thin metallic modlings having first portions 126a extending
benea~h the frame members; second position wnich curve upwardly
at 126b into contact with walls 124, and upper portions extending
above the members and projecting back downwardly at 126c.
In operation, the base 122 may be displacea laterally
(see arrows 1~1~ to cause the router to si~ewardly penetrate the
ends of ~he frame members, ~orming grooves or recesses therein
as shown and des~ribed in Figs. ~ to 14. The depth of the groove
is indicated at 130 in Pig. 6, and is controlled by stops
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associated with the base and router driver. Thus, as the base
is moved to the left in Fig. 6, stop 131 on the base engages
stop 132 integral with the holder for motor 105, indicated at
133, at which time the router has sidewarly penetrated the
frame member to depth 130; and as the base is moved to the right,
stop 131a on the base engages stop 134 integral with the motor
holder. Suitable laterally elongated guide means for guiding
}ateral movement of the base is indicated at 137, in Fig. 5.
