Joint structure

Claim 2

A structural joint including: means providing a supporting member; means providing a supported member; load-supporting tongue means on one of said members; slot means on the other of said members providing a load-bearing surface; said load-bearing surface having a central recess portion between substantially planar side surface portions; said tongue means having a protruding central surface portion between substantially planar side surface portions complementary to said central recess portion and planar side portions of said loading-bearing surface and mating therewith when in juxtaposition; said slot means having side edge surfaces extending vertically parallel to each other from the outer ends of said planar surface portions and divergent side edge surfaces spaced from said planar surface portions of said load-bearing surface; means providing a locking slot in said one of said members spaced from said tongue means and aligned with the end of said slot means of said other of said members opposite said load-bearing surface; and retainer means removably disposed in said locking slot and said slot means and engaging adjacent portions of both said members for releasably locking said members against detachment from one another.

Claim 3

A structural joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said retainer means includes means at its opposite ends providing lateral extensions on each side of said retainer means at each end thereof of greater width than the width of the locking slot in said one member and the width of the slot means in said other member, said lateral extensions preventing accidental disengagement of said retainer means from said locking slot and said slot means.

Claim 4

A joint structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said retainer means is insertable into said locking slot and said slot means by insertion of one lateral side extension at one end into said slots and moving said retainer means laterally of said locking slot and slot means until the other of said lateral side extension at said end can be swung through said locking slot and slot means.

Claim 5

A structural joint defined in claim 1 wherein said one member includes a plurality of said tongue means in longitudinally aligned spaced relationship and said other member has a plurality of said slot means in longitudinally aligned spaced relation for receiving said tongue means of said one member as said joint is assembled.

Claim 6

A structural joint as defined in claim 1, wherein said recess portion is concave and said protruding portion is convex.

Claim 7

A structural joint as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess portion of said load-bearing surface is angular in cross section and said protruding portion of said tongue means is complementarily angular in cross section.

Claim 8

A structural joint as defined in claim 6 wherein said recess portion of said load-bearing surface is V-shaped in cross section and said complementary protruding portion of said tongue means is V-shaped in cross section.

Claim 9

A structural joint between at least two members comprising: a supported member; a supporting member for supporting said supported member in releasable relationship; a first of said members having a tongue formed integral therewith and including a body portion extending in longitudinal substantially parallel relationship with said first member and spaced from a face thereoF and having an integral juncture portion joining said body portion with said first member, said juncture portion having a load bearing surface extending laterally of said tongue and on the surface of said juncture portion facing toward the free end of the body portion of said tongue; the second of said members being provided with a tongue-receiving slot having one end defined by lateral load bearing surface disposed for engaging said load-bearing surface of said tongue juncture portion when said first and second members are assembled; said load-bearing surface of said juncture portion of said tongue and said load-bearing surface of said slot being complementary in configuration and extent and adapted to mate along their full lengths; the side edges of said slot adjoining the lateral ends of the load-bearing surface thereof extending perpendicular thereto and parallel to each other and engaging the side edges of the juncture portion of the tongue, said side edges spaced from said load-bearing surface being divergent toward the opposite end of said slot; a locking slot in said first member spaced from and extending parallel to the juncture portion of said tongue and disposed on the side of said tongue opposite the free end thereof and in alignment with the enlarged end of said slot in said second member; and a retainer member disposed in said locking slot and said tongue-receiving slot and engaging the adjacent portions of said first and second members for releasably locking said members against disassembly.

Claim 10

A structural joint between at least two members comprising: a supported member; a supporting member for supporting said supported member in releasable relationship; a first of said members having a tongue formed integral therewith and including a body portion extending in longitudinal substantially parallel relationship with said first member and spaced from a face thereoF and having an integral juncture portion joining said body portion with said first member, said juncture portion having a load bearing surface extending laterally of said tongue and on the surface of said juncture portion facing toward the free end of the body portion of said tongue; the second of said members being provided with a tongue-receiving slot having one end defined by lateral load bearing surface disposed for engaging said load-bearing surface of said tongue juncture portion when said first and second members are assembled; said load-bearing surface of said juncture portion of said tongue and said load-bearing surface of said slot being complementary in configuration and extent and adapted to mate along their full lengths; the side edges of said slot adjoining the lateral ends of the load-bearing surface thereof extending perpendicular thereto and parallel to each other and engaging the side edges of the juncture portion of the tongue, said side edges spaced from said load-bearing surface being divergent toward the opposite end of said slot; a locking slot in said first member spaced from and extending parallel to the juncture portion of said tongue and disposed on the side of said tongue opposite the free end thereof and in alignment with the enlarged end of said slot in said second member; and a retainer member disposed in said locking slot and said tongue-receiving slot and engaging the adjacent portions of said first and second members for releasably locking said members against disassembly.

Claim 11

A joint structure as defined in claim 8 wherein one of said load bearing surfaces has a central protruding portion and the other of said load-bearing surfaces has a central recess portion complementary with and adapted to mate with said protruding portion of said one of said load bearing surfaces.

Claim 12

A joint structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said central protruding surface portion is convex and said central recess surface portion is concave.

Claim 13

A joint structure as defined in claim 10 wherein said load-bearing surfaces include substantially planar lateral side portions on each side of said concave and said convex central load bearing portions.

Claim 14

A structural joint as defined in claim 9 wherein said central protruding surface portion is angular and said central recess surface portion is angular and complementary to said protruding surface portion.

Claim 15

A joint structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said central protruding surface portion is V-shaped and said central recess surface portion is V-shaped and complementary to said protruding surface portion.

Claim 16

A joint structure as defined in claim 13 including lateral planar side load-bearing surface portions on either side of said V-shaped central load bearing protruding and recess surface portions.

Claim 17

A joint structure for joining a bracket and a column for providing a releasable supporting connection between said bracket and said column comprising: a bracket having a longitudinal plate adapted to be disposed along said column; a plurality of tongues formed on said bracket plate in a longitudinally spaced relationship, each of said tongues having a body portion extending longitudinally of said plate in spaced substantially parallel relationship thereto and a juncture portion integrally connecting said body portion with said bracket plate, said juncture portion providing a downwardly facing load-bearing surface extending laterally of said tongue facing in the direction of longitudinal extension of said body portion of said tongue, said load-bearing surface on said tongue juncture portion having a central protruding surface portion and substantially planar side lateral surface portions on opposite sides of said central protruding portion extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body portion of said tongue and said bracket plate; and a supporting column having a panel portion provided with a plurality of longitudinally aligned spaced slots, said sloTs being disposed to receive said tongues on said bracket and each having an upwardly facing load bearing edge surface at its lower end disposed to be engaged with said load bearing surface on the one of said tongues mating therewith when said bracket is coupled with said column, said load-bearing surface being disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said column and being substantially complementary in configuration to said load-bearing surface on said tongue and having a central receiving portion and substantially planar lateral portions seating with and conforming to said tongue load-bearing surface; each of said slots having lower parallel vertical side edge portions adjoining the outer ends of the planar lateral portions of the upwardly facing load-bearing surface and engaging the side edges of the juncture portion of the tongue disposed in said slot, the upper portions of said side edge portions of said slots being divergent toward the upper end of the slot to facilitate entry of the tongues into said slots; a locking slot in said plate of said bracket spaced above and extending parallel to the juncture portion of one of the tongues on said bracket and disposed with its upper transversely extending edge surface in substantial alignment with the upper end edge of the column slot in which the tongue below said locking slot is mated; and a retainer member disposed in said locking slot and in the aligned upper end portion of the tongue-receiving slot in the column and engageable with said upper end portion of said tongue-receiving slot for releasably locking said bracket plate to said column panel.

Claim 18

A joint structure for joining a bracket and a column for providing a releasable supporting connection between said bracket and said column comprising: a bracket having a longitudinal plate adapted to be disposed along said column; a plurality of tongues formed on said bracket plate in a longitudinally spaced relationship, each of said tongues having a body portion extending longitudinally of said plate in spaced substantially parallel relationship thereto and a juncture portion integrally connecting said body portion with said bracket plate, said juncture portion providing a downwardly facing load-bearing surface extending laterally of said tongue facing in the direction of longitudinal extension of said body portion of said tongue, said load-bearing surface on said tongue juncture portion having a central protruding surface portion and substantially planar side lateral surface portions on opposite sides of said central protruding portion extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body portion of said tongue and said bracket plate; and a supporting column having a panel portion provided with a plurality of longitudinally aligned spaced slots, said sloTs being disposed to receive said tongues on said bracket and each having an upwardly facing load bearing edge surface at its lower end disposed to be engaged with said load bearing surface on the one of said tongues mating therewith when said bracket is coupled with said column, said load-bearing surface being disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said column and being substantially complementary in configuration to said load-bearing surface on said tongue and having a central receiving portion and substantially planar lateral portions seating with and conforming to said tongue load-bearing surface; each of said slots having lower parallel vertical side edge portions adjoining the outer ends of the planar lateral portions of the upwardly facing load-bearing surface and engaging the side edges of the juncture portion of the tongue disposed in said slot, the upper portions of said side edge portions of said slots being divergent toward the upper end of the slot to facilitate entry of the tongues into said slots; a locking slot in said plate of said bracket spaced above and extending parallel to the juncture portion of one of the tongues on said bracket and disposed with its upper transversely extending edge surface in substantial alignment with the upper end edge of the column slot in which the tongue below said locking slot is mated; and a retainer member disposed in said locking slot and in the aligned upper end portion of the tongue-receiving slot in the column and engageable with said upper end portion of said tongue-receiving slot for releasably locking said bracket plate to said column panel.

Claim 19

A structural joint as described in claim 15 wherein said bracket is formed on a horizontally extending supported member and said column is a vertically extending supporting member.

Claim 20

A structural joint as described in claim 20 wherein said retainer member comprises an upper transversely elongate front bar; a rearwardly extending offset portion of a width narrower than said front bar and substantially the width of said locking slot; an elongate downwardly extending tapered body portion; and an enlarged foot portion at the lower end of said body portion having a laterally projecting portion on each side of said body portion of a length which combined with the width of the lower end of the body portion is less than the width of the locking slot, the total width of said foot portion being greater than the width of said locking slot.

Claim 21

A structural joint as defined in claim 17 wherein one laterally projecting portion of said foot portion of said retainer member is insertable through said locking slot and said tongue-receiving slot and the adjacent lower end of the body portion of said retainer is movable laterally of said slots to engage the adjacent side edges thereof and is then movable in the plane of said slot to swing the opposite laterally projecting portion of said foot portion to be moved through said slots, the offset portion of said retainer member then being engageable with the lower edge of said locking slot with the front bar engaging the bracket plate.

Claim 22

A structural joint as defined in claim 15 wherein said protruding load-bearing surface portion on said tongue juncture is convex and said central recess of said load-bearing surface portion of said slot is complementary concave surface.

Claim 23

A structural assembly comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal spaced supported members; a plurality of substantially vertical spaced load-supporting columns; each of said supporting columns having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligned tongue-receiving slots, each of said slots having a lower edge defined by a laterally extending load-bearing surface of predetermined nonlinear configuration; each of said supported members having tongue means connected therewith extending longitudinally of said supported members and having a body portion spaced therefrom and a juncture portion connecting said tongue with said suPported member, said juncture portion having a laterally extending load-bearing surface of nonlinear configuration complementary to the said load-bearing surfaces of said tongue-receiving slots for seating on said slot surfaces to support said supported members and distribute load forces from said supported members on said columns minimizing shear forces between said supported members and said columns; a locking slot in each of said supported members disposed to align with a tongue-receiving slot in said column with which said supported member is connected; and a retainer member removably disposed in said aligned locking slot and tongue-receiving slot and having rigid laterally extending means at its opposite ends for releasably retaining said retainer member engaged in said slots to releasably lock said supported members to said columns, each said means being of a total lateral dimension greater than the largest dimension of said slot.

Claim 24

A structural assembly comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal spaced supported members; a plurality of substantially vertical spaced load-supporting columns; each of said supporting columns having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligned tongue-receiving slots, each of said slots having a lower edge defined by a laterally extending load-bearing surface of predetermined nonlinear configuration; each of said supported members having tongue means connected therewith extending longitudinally of said supported members and having a body portion spaced therefrom and a juncture portion connecting said tongue with said suPported member, said juncture portion having a laterally extending load-bearing surface of nonlinear configuration complementary to the said load-bearing surfaces of said tongue-receiving slots for seating on said slot surfaces to support said supported members and distribute load forces from said supported members on said columns minimizing shear forces between said supported members and said columns; a locking slot in each of said supported members disposed to align with a tongue-receiving slot in said column with which said supported member is connected; and a retainer member removably disposed in said aligned locking slot and tongue-receiving slot and having rigid laterally extending means at its opposite ends for releasably retaining said retainer member engaged in said slots to releasably lock said supported members to said columns, each said means being of a total lateral dimension greater than the largest dimension of said slot.

Claim 25

In an adjustable rack having upright column members formed with longitudinally spaced tongue-receiving slots and horizontal supported members having at each end thereof a connecting bracket connectable to the upright column members by means of complemental tongue members carried by said brackets which engage with a sliding fit in a corresponding member of tongue-receiving slots in said column members, each bracket having a laterally elongate locking slot formed therein spaced from said tongue members and registering with one of the tongue-receiving slots in the upright column member when the bracket is connected thereto, a retainer member insertable into said locking slot and the registering tongue-receiving slot for locking said horizontal supported members against accidental disconnection with said column members, said retainer member comprising: an elongate tapered body portion; an offset portion at the large end of the body portion having a width substantially equal to the lateral length of the locking slot; a substantially planar bar portion connected to the offset portion at the end thereof opposite the body portion and having a lateral dimension greater than the lateral length of the locking slot; and a foot portion at the smaller end of the body portion and having lateral portions disposed in the plane of said body portion and projecting laterally beyond said body portion, each lateral portion and the adjacent smaller end of the body portion being less in width than the lateral length of the locking slot whereby one lateral projecting portion of said foot portion may be inserted through said locking slot and adjacent body portion swing in the slot to move the opposite lateral projecting portion of said foot portion through said locking slot and the body portion moved longitudinally of its tapered length through said slot to dispose the offset portion of said retainer member in said locking slot and aligned tongue receiving slot with the bar portion engaging the bracket, the total lateral width of the smaller end of the body portion and the laterally projecting portions of the foot portion being greater than the lateral length of the locking slot whereby the retainer member must be swung laterally in said locking slot to swing the lateral projections of said foot portion through said locking slot to release the retainer member, thereby locking the upright column member and the horizontal supported member against accidental disconnection.

Claim 26

In an adjustable rack having upright column members formed with longitudinally spaced tongue-receiving slots and horizontal supported members having at each end thereof a connecting bracket connectable to the upright column members by means of complemental tongue members carried by said brackets which engage with a sliding fit in a corresponding member of tongue-receiving slots in said column members, each bracket having a laterally elongate locking slot formed therein spaced from said tongue members and registering with one of the tongue-receiving slots in the upright column member when the bracket is connected thereto, a retainer member insertable into said locking slot and the registering tongue-receiving slot for locking said horizontal supported members against accidental disconnection with said column members, said retainer member comprising: an elongate tapered body portion; an offset portion at the large end of the body portion having a width substantially equal to the lateral length of the locking slot; a substantially planar bar portion connected to the offset portion at the end thereof opposite the body portion and having a lateral dimension greater than the lateral length of the locking slot; and a foot portion at the smaller end of the body portion and having lateral portions disposed in the plane of said body portion and projecting laterally beyond said body portion, each lateral portion and the adjacent smaller end of the body portion being less in width than the lateral length of the locking slot whereby one lateral projecting portion of said foot portion may be inserted through said locking slot and adjacent body portion swing in the slot to move the opposite lateral projecting portion of said foot portion through said locking slot and the body portion moved longitudinally of its tapered length through said slot to dispose the offset portion of said retainer member in said locking slot and aligned tongue receiving slot with the bar portion engaging the bracket, the total lateral width of the smaller end of the body portion and the laterally projecting portions of the foot portion being greater than the lateral length of the locking slot whereby the retainer member must be swung laterally in said locking slot to swing the lateral projections of said foot portion through said locking slot to release the retainer member, thereby locking the upright column member and the horizontal supported member against accidental disconnection.

Claim 27

A retainer member of the character set forth in claim 21 wherein: the elongate tapered body portion and the enlarged foot portion at the smaller end thereof have a weight greater than the planar bar portion, whereby when the retainer member is positioned in the locking slot with the offset portion thereof engaged in said locking slot the body portion moves by gravity to swing downwardly substantially parallel to the column member and engage the adjacent tongue, and the planar bar portion is swung to engage the bracket, whereby the supported member is releasably locked to said column membeR.

Claim 28

A structural assembly comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal spaced supported members; a plurality of substantially vertical spaced load-supporting columns; load-supporting tongue means on one of said members; slot means on the other of said members providing a load-bearing surface; said load-bearing surface having a central recess portion between substantially planar side surface portions; said tongue means having a protruding central surface portion between substantially planar side surface portions complementary to said central recess portion and planar side portions of said loading bearing surface and mating therewith when in juxtaposition; said slot means having side edge surfaces extending vertically parallel to each other from the outer ends of said planar surface portions and divergent side edge surfaces spaced from said planar surface portions of said load-bearing surface; means providing a locking slot in said one of said members spaced from said tongue means and aligned with the end of said slot means of said other of said members opposite said load-bearing surface; and retainer means removably disposed in said locking slot and said slot means and engaging adjacent portions of both said members for releasably locking said members against detachment from one another.

Claim 29

A structural assembly comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal spaced supported members; a plurality of substantially vertical spaced load-supporting columns; load-supporting tongue means on one of said members; slot means on the other of said members providing a load-bearing surface; said load-bearing surface having a central recess portion between substantially planar side surface portions; said tongue means having a protruding central surface portion between substantially planar side surface portions complementary to said central recess portion and planar side portions of said loading bearing surface and mating therewith when in juxtaposition; said slot means having side edge surfaces extending vertically parallel to each other from the outer ends of said planar surface portions and divergent side edge surfaces spaced from said planar surface portions of said load-bearing surface; means providing a locking slot in said one of said members spaced from said tongue means and aligned with the end of said slot means of said other of said members opposite said load-bearing surface; and retainer means removably disposed in said locking slot and said slot means and engaging adjacent portions of both said members for releasably locking said members against detachment from one another.