US3778175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snap locking structural joint assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-04
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1991-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A snap-locking structural joint assembly and method of assembling same comprising an elongate structural connecting member having longitudinally extending channel means in at least one side thereof and a fastening clip means having flange means thereon adapted to be received in said channel means to secure said fastening clip to said elongate structural member, and locking means operatively associated with opposite, spaced apart legs of said fastening clip means to lock said fastening clip means to a second elongate structural member for releasably joining said second elongate structural member to said first elongate structural member.
Inventors
- 👤 E Zimmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:26
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D33/00; B62D33/04; B62D33/044; E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/76; E04B2/766; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/96; E06B3/964; E06B3/968; E06B3/9684; F; F16; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/40; F16B7/00; F16B7/04; F16B7/044; F16B7/0446; F16B7/0473; F16B7/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A structural joint assembly including a pair of elongate tubular structural members joined together in right angular relationship, comprising a first elongate tubular structural member of substantially rectangularly shaped cross-section and with opposite flat walls and opposite corners, said walls terminating at their longitudinal side edges short of said corners and including inset wall portions defining part of an outwardly opening, closed bottom channel means at the corners, a pair of opposite walls extending at their opposite side edges beyond said inset wall portions and overhanging a portion of said channel means and comprising an outer wall of said channel means flush with a respective one of said pair of walls, so that said channel means open outwardly parallel to the plane of a respective one of said pair of walls, a second elongate tubular structural member of substantially rectangular cross-section and with an open end, a substantially U-shaped fastening clip means with a pAir of spaced apart, resiliently yieldable legs frictionally engaged in said open end with a free end of each leg projecting out of said open end, said U-shaped fastening clip means each spanning a respective one of said pair of walls from one longitudinal edge to the other longitudinal edge thereof, an inturned flange on the free end of each leg and engaged in a respective channel means at opposite edges of one of said walls to releasably secure the second structural member to the first structural member in right angular relationship thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A structural joint assembly including a pair of elongate tubular structural members joined together in right angular relationship, comprising a first elongate tubular structural member of substantially rectangularly shaped cross-section and with opposite flat walls and opposite corners, said walls terminating at their longitudinal side edges short of said corners and including inset wall portions defining part of an outwardly opening, closed bottom channel means at the corners, a pair of opposite walls extending at their opposite side edges beyond said inset wall portions and overhanging a portion of said channel means and comprising an outer wall of said channel means flush with a respective one of said pair of walls, so that said channel means open outwardly parallel to the plane of a respective one of said pair of walls, a second elongate tubular structural member of substantially rectangular cross-section and with an open end, a substantially U-shaped fastening clip means with a pAir of spaced apart, resiliently yieldable legs frictionally engaged in said open end with a free end of each leg projecting out of said open end, said U-shaped fastening clip means each spanning a respective one of said pair of walls from one longitudinal edge to the other longitudinal edge thereof, an inturned flange on the free end of each leg and engaged in a respective channel means at opposite edges of one of said walls to releasably secure the second structural member to the first structural member in right angular relationship thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A structural joint assembly as in claim 1, wherein snap-locking means are on said fastening clip means and complementary snap-locking means are on said second structural member, said snap-locking means being cooperatively interengaged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 28, wherein said U-shaped fastening clip means includes a bight portion and said pair of legs extend from opposite sides of said bight portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 3, wherein said legs are slightly outwardly flared and said flange means extend generally perpendicularly therefrom toward one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 4, wherein said snap-locking means on said fastening clip means comprises an outwardly projecting shoulder means on each leg between the ends thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 5, wherein said snap-locking means includes an inwardly tapered surface extending from said shoulder means toward said bight portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 6, wherein said channel means includes a pair of channels extending at right angles to one another at each corner and opening outwardly beyond the adjacent edge of said flat side walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 7, wherein each of said flange means is received in a respective one of said pair of channels at each opposite edge of one of said flat side walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 8, wherein said snap-locking means on said second structural member comprises a pair of openings in opposite side walls thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 9, wherein said shoulder means are received in said openings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 10, wherein said legs of said U-shaped fastening clip are deflected inwardly toward one another when said second structural member is placed thereover.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 3, wherein a separate fastening means is extended through opposite flat sides of said second structural member and through a portion of said fastening clip means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 12, wherein said legs are slightly outwardly flared and said flange means extend generally perpendicularly therefrom toward one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 13, wherein said channel means includes a pair of channels extending at right angles to one another at each corner and opening outwardly beyond the adjacent edge of said flat side walls.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 14, wherein each of said flange means is received in a respective one of said pair of channels at each opposite edge of one of said flat side walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 15, wherein said legs of said U-shaped fastening clip are deflected inwardly toward one another when said second structural member is placed thereover.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A snap-locking structural joint assembly as in claim 16, wherein said separate fastening means comprises a pair of screws extended through a pair of opposite flat sides of said second structural member and through the legs of said fastening clip means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |