Connector assembly for chairs

Claim 2

A connector assembly for releasably connecting a pair of adjacent chairs having tubular base members comprising a pair of interlockable connectors, each of the connectors having an elongated generally channel-shaped body adapted to be secured to the base member of a chair, one of the connectors having a longitudinally slotted flange extending generally laterally away from the channel-shaped body thereof, said one connector adapted to be secured to a chair so that the flange thereof extends generally laterally away from the chair, the other connector having a flange extending from the channel-shaped body thereof, the flange of the other connector having a length less than the length of the slot in the slotted flange and being receivable therein whereby the connectors can be releasably interlocked.

Claim 3

The connector assembly of claim 1 in which the body of each of the connectors is generally U-shaped in transverse cross section and includes a web portion and a pair of generally spaced-apart side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the web portion.

Claim 4

The connector assembly of claim 2 in which the slotted flange of said one connector extends from the juncture of one of the side walls with the web portion at an obtuse angle with respect to both said one side wall and the web portion.

Claim 5

The connector assembly of claim 2 in which the flange of said other connector extends from the juncture of one of the side walls with the web portion and includes a first portion extending generally parallel to said one side wall, a second portion extending angularly from the first portion away from said one side wall, and a third portion extending from the second portion generally parallel to said one side wall.

Claim 6

The connector assembly of claim 1 in which the body of each of the connectors is generally U-shaped in transverse cross section and includes a web portion and a pair of generally parallel spaced-apart side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the web portion, the slotted flange of said one connector extending from the body thereof at the juncture of one of the side walls with the web portion at an obtuse angle with respect to both said one side wall and the web portion, the flange of said other connector extending from the body thereof at the juncture of one of the side walls with the web portion and including a first portion extending generally parallel to said one side wall of the other connector, a second portion extending angularly from the first portion away from said one side wall of the other connector, and a third portion extending from the second portion generally parallel to said one side wall of the connector.

Claim 7

The connector assembly of claim 5 in which the length of the second portion is substantially the same as the depth of the slot and the thickness of the second portion is substantially the same as the width of the slot whereby substantial movement of the second portion within the slot is restrained.

Claim 8

The connector assembly of claim 2 in which the slotted flange of said one connector extends laterally outwardly beyond one of the side walls of said one connector, said one connector including a second flange extending laterally outwardly from the end of said one side wall thereof, the flange of said other connector extending laterally outwardly beyond one of the side walls of the other connector, said one side wall of the other connector terminating short of the other side wall of the other connector by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the second flange of said one connector whereby said one side wall of the other connector may be positioned above the second flange when the connectors are interlocked.

Claim 9

A connector assembly for releasably connecting a pair of adjacent chairs having tubular base members comprising first and second interlockable connectors, each of the connectors having an elongated generally U-shaped channel-shaped body adapted to be secured to the base member of a chair and including a top wall and a pair of generally parallel spaced-apart side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the top wall, the first connector including a longitudinally extending generally planar connecting flange extending laterally from the body thereof beyond one of the side walls, the connecting flange extending at an obtuse angle with respect to the top wall of the first connector and being provided with a longitudinally extending slot therethrough, a second generally planar flange extending laterally outwardly from said one side wall of the first connector generally perpendicularly to the one side wall, the second connector including a longitudinally extending connecting flange having a first portion extending from the top wall of the second connector generally parallel with one of the side walls thereof, a second portion extending angularly from the first portion laterally beyond said one side wall of the second connector, and a third portion extending from the second portion generally parallel with the first portion, the longitudinal dimension of the connecting flange of the second connector being less than the longitudinal dimension of the slot in the connecting flange of the first connector, said one side wall of the second connector terminating short of the other side of the wall of the second connector by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the second flange of the first connector, the lengths of the other side wall of the second connector and the side walls of the first connector being substantially the same, whereby the connecting flange of the second connector can be inserted through the slot of the connecting flange of the first connector to position the second portion thereof in the slot and the one side wall of the second connector can be positioned above the second flange of the first connector.

Claim 10

A connector assembly for releasably connecting a pair of adjacent chairs having tubular base members comprising first and second interlockable connectors, each of the connectors having an elongated generally U-shaped channel-shaped body adapted to be secured to the base member of a chair and including a top wall and a pair of generally parallel spaced-apart side walls extending generally perpendicularly from the top wall, the first connector including a longitudinally extending generally planar connecting flange extending laterally from the body thereof beyond one of the side walls, the connecting flange extending at an obtuse angle with respect to the top wall of the first connector and being provided with a longitudinally extending slot therethrough, a second generally planar flange extending laterally outwardly from said one side wall of the first connector generally perpendicularly to the one side wall, the second connector including a longitudinally extending connecting flange having a first portion extending from the top wall of the second connector generally parallel with one of the side walls thereof, a second portion extending angularly from the first portion laterally beyond said one side wall of the second connector, and a third portion extending from the second portion generally parallel with the first portion, the longitudinal dimension of the connecting flange of the second connector being less than the longitudinal dimension of the slot in the connecting flange of the first connector, said one side wall of the second connector terminating short of the other side of the wall of the second connector by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the second flange of the first connector, the lengths of the other side wall of the second connector and the side walls of the first connector being substantially the same, whereby the connecting flange of the second connector can be inserted through the slot of the connecting flange of the first connector to position the second portion thereof in the slot and the one side wall of the second connector can be positioned above the second flange of the first connector.

Claim 11

The connector assembly of claim 8 in which the transverse dimension of the second portion of the connecting flange of the second connector is substantially the same as the depth of the slot and the thickness of the second portion is substantially the same as the width of the slot whereby substantial movement of the second portion within the slot is restrained.

Claim 12

The connector assembly of claim 8 in which the included angle between the second portion of the connecting flange of the second connector and the top wall of the second connector is about 135* and the included angle between the connecting flange of the first connector and the top wall of the first connector is about 135*.