Structural joint

Claim 2

A joint construction comprising a first panel with a flat joining surface; a second panel with a flat joining surface at substantially right angles to said panel joining surface; and at least one stud extending from each said joining surface and having a shank portion smaller than the outermost end of the stud; and a connecting assembly that includes (1) a base member that has first and second legs at substantially right angles to each other and disposed respectively against said first and second panEl joining surfaces and (2) first and second catches respectively slidably mounted on said first and second legs so that each engages the stud on one of said joining surfaces to secure such leg against its respective one of said surfaces in face-to-face relationship; each leg having a hole through which can pass said stud outermost end and through which extends the stud on the corresponding joining surface; each catch having at least one slot located on an incline, one end of the slot being larger than the other end, the larger end of the slot being large enough to permit the outermost end of the stud to pass through, the narrower portion of the slot being large enough to receive the shank portion of the stud but smaller than the stud outermost end, each incline sloping up and away from said leg and joining surface and containing said narrower portion; and means to locate the base member and hold it in place with no appreciable motion relative to said frame members when sliding the inclines under the stud outer ends with the narrow portions of the slots receiving the shank portions, thus wedging the legs against the respective panel.

Claim 3

A joint construction according to claim 1 wherein said means to locate comprises a collar around the base of said stud larger than the stud outermost end, which collar is receivable in the hole in each leg.

Claim 4

A joint construction, suitable for joints such as corners and partitions in furniture, comprising a first frame member with a flat joining surface; a second frame member with a flat joining surface at substantially right angles to said first member joining surface; a plurality of similarly spaced studs extending from each said joining surface, each stud having a shank portion smaller than the outermost end of the stud; and a connecting assembly that includes (1) a base member that has first and second legs at substantially right angles to each other and disposed respectively against said first and second frame member joining surfaces and (2) first and second catches respectively slidably mounted on said first leg and said second leg so that each is engageable with studs extending from one of the joining surfaces, is slidable on one of said legs, and secures said legs against said surfaces in face-to-face relationship; each leg having holes through which can pass said stud outermost end and through which extend the studs on the corresponding joining surface; each catch having a plurality of inclines each of which has a keyhole slot therein, the larger end of the slots being large enough to permit the outermost end of a stud to pass through, the narrower portion of the slots being large enough to receive the shank portion of a stud but smaller than a stud outermost end, each incline sloping up and away from said leg and joining surface and containing said narrower portion; and means to locate said base member and hold it in place with no appreciable motion relative to each of said frame members when sliding the inclines under the stud outer ends with the narrow portions of the slots receiving the necked down portions, thus wedging the legs against the respective frame members.

Claim 5

A joint construction, suitable for joints such as corners and partitions in furniture, comprising a first frame member with a flat joining surface; a second frame member with a flat joining surface at substantially right angles to said first member joining surface; a plurality of similarly spaced studs extending from each said joining surface, each stud having a shank portion smaller than the outermost end of the stud; and a connecting assembly that includes (1) a base member that has first and second legs at substantially right angles to each other and disposed respectively against said first and second frame member joining surfaces and (2) first and second catches respectively slidably mounted on said first leg and said second leg so that each is engageable with studs extending from one of the joining surfaces, is slidable on one of said legs, and secures said legs against said surfaces in face-to-face relationship; each leg having holes through which can pass said stud outermost end and through which extend the studs on the corresponding joining surface; each catch having a plurality of inclines each of which has a keyhole slot therein, the larger end of the slots being large enough to permit the outermost end of a stud to pass through, the narrower portion of the slots being large enough to receive the shank portion of a stud but smaller than a stud outermost end, each incline sloping up and away from said leg and joining surface and containing said narrower portion; and means to locate said base member and hold it in place with no appreciable motion relative to each of said frame members when sliding the inclines under the stud outer ends with the narrow portions of the slots receiving the necked down portions, thus wedging the legs against the respective frame members.

Claim 6

A joint construction according to claim 3 wherein said base member is hollow and the legs extend outwardly to the edge of the joining surface and are connected by an outer wall.

Claim 7

A joint construction according to claim 3 wherein at least one end of said base member is covered by a cap having a groove therein, the frame members have edges flush with said cap and have grooves therein that align with said cap groove, and a flexible decorative strip disposed in the cap and frame member grooves.

Claim 8

A joint construction according to claim 3 for joining three or more frame members comprising a third frame member with a flat joining surface substantially parallel to said first frame member joining surface and with studs as aforesaid; and in said connecting assembly a third leg on said base member substantially parallel to said first leg and a third catch, with holes and slots as aforesaid.

Claim 9

A joint construction according to claim 3 wherein each means to locate comprises a collar around the base of each stud shank which is larger than the stud outermost end, the hole in each leg being large enough to receive said collar, and each leg being thicker than said collar in the vicinity of each said hole.

Claim 10

A connecting assembly for joining together panels or frame members at an angle to each other, each frame member having at least one stud for engaging said assembly, said connecting assembly comprising a base member with two legs each supported at an angle to the other leg each leg having at least one hole therein for receiving therethrough a stud having a head larger than its shank and which protrudes from a frame member against which said leg is placed in face-to-face relation; a catch removably and slidably located on each leg and having a slot therein, one end of said slot being larger than the other end, the large end of said slot being sized to pass the head of said stud and the small end of the slot being large enough to pass the stud shank but too small to pass the stud head; an inclined surface on said catch in which incline is formed at least part of said slot said surface inclining away from said leg in the same direction as the narrow portion of said slot and containing at least a part of said narrower portion; and means on each of said legs to locate said base member and hold it in place with no appreciable motion relative to each of such frame members while locking the assembly to such frame members by sliding the incline on the catch underneath the head on the stud while being so held in place by said means to locate.

Claim 11

A connecting assembly for joining together panels or frame members at an angle to each other, each frame member having at least one stud for engaging said assembly, said connecting assembly comprising a base member with two legs each supported at an angle to the other leg each leg having at least one hole therein for receiving therethrough a stud having a head larger than its shank and which protrudes from a frame member against which said leg is placed in face-to-face relation; a catch removably and slidably located on each leg and having a slot therein, one end of said slot being larger than the other end, the large end of said slot being sized to pass the head of said stud and the small end of the slot being large enough to pass the stud shank but too small to pass the stud head; an inclined surface on said catch in which incline is formed at least part of said slot said surface inclining away from said leg in the same direction as the narrow portion of said slot and containing at least a part of said narrower portion; and means on each of said legs to locate said base member and hold it in place with no appreciable motion relative to each of such frame members while locking the assembly to such frame members by sliding the incline on the catch underneath the head on the stud while being so held in place by said means to locate.

Claim 12

A connecting assembly according to claim 8 wherein each means to locate includes a hole in each of said legs for receiving snugly a member shaped to fit said hole and mounted on each said frame member.

Claim 13

A connecting assembly according to claim 8 wherein said base member is a hollow structure, the legs are of substantially equal length, and an outer wall connects the outer ends of the legs.

Claim 14

A connecting assembly according to claim 8 wherein each leg has a plurality of holes and each catch has a corresponding plurality of slots whereby a corresponding plurality of studs on each of said frame members can be thereby engaged.

Claim 15

A joint construction according to claim 8 wherein said catch has on one end thereof an upstanding tab, said tab containing means for engaging a tool during assembling to permit pulling and pushing of the catch.

Claim 16

A connecting assembly according to claim 8 further comprising an end cap secured to each end of said base member and a skin wrapped around the base member and engaging said end caps to secure the caps upon the base member.

Claim 17

A connecting assembly according to claim 8 wherein each of said catches has at one end an upstanding tab with a tool engaging hole in said tab.

Claim 18

A connecting assembly according to claim 14 having on at least one end thereof an end cap having a groove in the outer face thereof, tool receiving holes therein within said groove and in register with the respective said holes in said tabs.

Claim 19

A connecting assembly according to claim 15 wherein the first said hole each of the holes in said groove is round and the second said hole holes in each of said tabs is rectangular.