Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COUPLER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a coupler suitable for coupling a two-part frame.
More
particularly the coupler is suitable for coupling a two-part frame that holds
a piece of
glass to an opening on a panel such as a door or a window.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a two-part glass frame for mounting a piece of glass in an
opening of a door or window. The glass is sandwiched between inner edges of
the
parts of the frame. The outer edges of the parts of the frame are mounted on
respective sides of the edges of the opening on the door or window.
The glass frame has a number of conventional connectors distributed along the
inner sides of the frame. Each of the connectors includes male and female
connection
parts. The male connector includes a plate with an enlarged free end for snap
fastening into the slot of the female connector.
As the dimensions of the male and female connection parts are predetermined
and they are irremovably connected to the respective parts of the glass frame.
The
distance between the two parts of the glass frame is confined by the
dimensions of the
male and female connection parts. As the parts of the frame are mounted on the
respective sides of the edge of the opening of the door or window, the
thickness of the
edge of the opening and the glass are confined by the distance between the two
parts
of the glass frame, and hence the dimensions of the male and female connection
parts.
One problem of this conventional connection parts is that they delimits the
thickness of the edge of the opening of the door or window on which the glass
frame
is to be mounted and the thickness of the glass sandwiched between the parts
of the
frame.
The invention seeks to mitigate or at least alleviate such problem by
providing an
improved coupling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a coupler for coupling a frame
with
at least two parts for holding a piece of glass to an opening on a panel (or a
door),
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comprising first and second parts for incorporating with respective parts of
the frame,
the first and second parts each having a lock member, an extension part for
coupling
the first part to the second part, wherein the extension part has retaining
members for
engaging the lock members of the first and second parts respectively to secure
the first
and second part in position.
Advantageously, the first part is integrally formed with the one part of the
frame
and projects therefrom.
It is preferable that, the second part is integrally formed with the another
one part
of the frame.
Preferably, shape of the lock members of the first and second parts complement
that of the respective retaining members of the extension part.
Advantageously, the first and second parts comprise at least one projection
for
engagement with the respective retaining members of the extension part.
More advantageously, the lock members of the first and second parts further
comprise at least one detent for detaining a part of the respective retaining
members
of the extension part.
Yet more advantageously, the retaining members comprise at lease one
protrusion and detent for engaging the detent and projection of the first and
second
parts.
It is more advantageous that, the first part and the retaining members are
shaped
to flush with one another when assembled.
Preferably, one of the retaining members of the extension part comprises an
extension for engaging part of the frame when assembled.
More preferably, the extension includes an abutment member for abutting the
frame when the coupler is assembled.
Yet more preferably, the extension comprises a pair of opposite abutment
members directing away from one another.
It is advantageous that, the abutment members extend substantially
perpendicular
to the extension of the retaining member.
It is preferable that, the abutment members are vertically displaced from one
another.
Advantageously, the extension defines a hollow interior, the second part is
embedded substantially therein when assembled.
More advantageously, the retaining member is provided adjacent opposite ends
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of the extension part.
Yet more advantageously, the projections and protrusions are in the form of
hooks for hooking onto respective detents.
Preferably, the first and second parts are substantially the same.
More preferably, the extension part is snap fastened to the first and second
parts.
Yet more preferably, the extension part is pre-assembled to one of the first
and
second parts.
In one particular embodiment the invention provides a coupler for coupling a
frame with at least two frame parts for holding a piece of glass to an opening
on a
panel or a door, comprising first and second parts integrally formed with and
projected from each respective frame parts thereof, and an extension part pre-
assembled to one of the first and second parts for coupling the first part to
the second
part in position by snap fastened connection; characterized in that, the
extension
part has two opposite coupling ends, one formed as a first coupling end and
the other
formed as a second coupling end respectively; wherein the first coupling end
has a
first retaining member comprising a plate extended from the coupling end, a
tongue
extended from and perpendicular to the plate and a space defined by the tongue
and
the first coupling end; and wherein the second coupling end has a second
retaining
member at least comprising two opposite extending legs vertically displaced
from one
another and a flange formed on the extending leg, and the first and second
parts
substantially constructed with the same in construction each has a lock member
formed as an engagement means comprising a base integrally formed with each
respective frame parts, a projection when assembled for either engagement with
the
flange of the second retaining member of the extension part or engagement with
the
space of the first retaining member of the extension part, and a detent
sandwiched
between the base and the projection for detaining the tongue of the first
retaining
member of the extension part when assembled.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a coupler
substantially described in the description with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a two-part glass frame mounted on an
opening of a door or a window;
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 shows a conventional connector for connecting parts of the
glass frame of FIG. 1 together;
FIG. 4 is a part perspective view of a two-part glass frame incorporated with
a
coupler in accordance with the invention, having a part of the frame and the
coupler
being cut away showing a cross-section of the couple;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the two-part glass frame and the coupler of FIG.
4;
FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the coupler in FIGS. 4 and 5; and
FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the coupler in FIGS. 4 and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, there is shown a portion of a door (20) with a
glass frame (10) embedded therein, and the glass frame (10) is a two-part
glass frame
constituted by two frame parts (10A and 10B) to sandwich a piece of glass (11)
between inner sides (30A) of the parts (10A and 10B) of the frame (10).
As shown in FIG. 4, inner edges (30A) of respective parts (10A and 10B)
cooperate with each other to sandwich between them a piece of glass (11).
Outer
edges (30B) of respective parts (10A and 10B) cooperate with each other to
mount
onto the edges of an opening of the door (20).
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Preferably, the frame (10) is generally rectangular in shape and the shape of
the
frame (10) corresponds to that of the opening on the door (20).
An embodiment of coupler (100) is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6B. The coupler (100)
includes a first part (101) and a second part (102) coupled to one another
through an
extension part (103). The first and second parts (101 and 102) both comprise
an
engagement means in the form of lock member (200 or 300).
In the preferred embodiment, the first part (101) has one end integrally
formed
with the frame parts (10B) while the second part (102) has one end integrally
formed
with the frame part (10A). The orientation of the first and second parts (101
and 102)
on the respective frame parts (10B and 10A) are the same with the lock members
(200
and 300) both facing away from the glass (11) and towards the door (20).
Alternately,
the first part (101) may have its lock member (200) faces a direction opposite
that of
the lock member (300) of the second part (102).
In the preferred embodiment, the first and second parts (101 and 102) are
substantially the same in construction; both have a generally rectangular body
supporting the lock member (200 or 300). The lock member (200 or 300) has a
base
(201 or 301) and projection (203 or 303) sandwiching a detent (202 or 302). It
also
has a further projection (204 or 304) extending from a free end of the first
and second
parts (101 and 102). These features together define an engagement surface of
the lock
member (200 or 300).
The base (201 or 301), the projection (203 or 303) and the detent (202 or 302)
are useful in and mainly for preventing movement of the first and second parts
(101
and 102) relative to the extension part (103) along axis X which is
substantially
perpendicular to a neutral axis Z of the frame (10). The further projection
(204) is
useful in and mainly for preventing movement of the first and second parts
(101 and
102) relative to the extension part (103) along axis Y which is substantially
perpendicular to the neutral axis Z and the axis X.
In a preferred embodiment, there is at least one coupler on each side of the
frame
(10) for coupling the frame parts (10A and 10B). Once coupling has been
established
by each of the couplers (100), relative movement of the first and second parts
(101
and 102) relative to the extension part (103) along axis Z will not be an
issue. Of
course, the first and second parts (101 and 102) and the extension (103) may
have
features that cooperate and prevent such relative movement. For example they
may be
a pair of protrusions extending from the free end in a direction generally
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perpendicular to and sandwiching the projection (204 or 304).
The extension part (103) is generally rectangular with two opposite coupling
ends provided with a first retaining member (103A) and a second retaining
member
(103B). In the preferred embodiment, the first retaining member (103A) and the
second retaining member (103B) are structurally different making them
distinguishable from one another. The first retaining member (103A) includes a
plate
(401) extending from one of the coupling end and a tongue (402) extending
perpendicular to the plate (401) at its lower end. This tongue (402) is
insertable into
the detent (202) of the first part (101). The projection (203) is retained in
the space
(403) defined by the tongue (402) and lower end of the extension part (103).
At the
lower end of the extension part (103), there is a groove (404) digging into
the lower
end. This groove (404) accommodates the further projection (204) of the first
part
(101). The plate (401), the tongue (402), the space (403) and the groove (404)
together defines a retaining surface of the first retaining member (103A).
To save costs and to minimize weight, the main body of the extension part
(103)
is hollow. Adjacent the other coupling end, on which the second retaining
member
(103B) is formed, there is a partitioning wall (405) that helps to maintain
the shape of
the extension part (103). The second retaining member (103B) has two
oppositely
extending legs (406 and 407). Each of the legs (406 and 407) has a foot part
(406A
and 407A) that extends generally or substantially perpendicular to the legs
(406 and
407). These foot parts (406A and 407A) abut an inner side of the frame part
(10A)
and fit inside grooves (50 and 51) of the frame part (10A) to lock themselves
in. This
prevents movement of the first part (101) in the direction along the axis Y
relative to
the extension part (103). The leg (407) has a flange (407B) that abuts the
projection
(303) of the second part (102) which prevents the movement of the second part
(102)
in the direction along axis X relative to the extension part (103).
Preferably, the foot
parts (406A and 407A) are vertically displaced.
In an alternative embodiment, the coupling ends of the extension part (103)
have
the same structure. In a further embodiment, the second part (102) does not
have a
base (301) or a projection (304).
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, when assembled, the tongue (402) of the
extension part (103) is inserted into the detent (202) and the space (403)
accommodates the projection (203). The projection (204) of the first part
(101) is
inserted into the groove (404). The flange (407B) is accommodated in the
detent (302)
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,
and abuts the projection (303) to lock the first part (101) and the extension
part (103)
together. Also the foot parts (406A and 407A) are inserted into the grooves
(50 and
51) which helps locks the extension part (103) to the second part (102).
The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other
modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by
persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention
as
specified in the appended claims.
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