Patent US4575686A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3831336A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3831336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frame to assemble after unitized construction
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-03-06
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1989-03-06
Abstract
Abstract To lock tubular frame members togethers, such as chair legs, shelf units and the like, a structural element has projecting ends which are profiled to fit within the tubular frame member. The ends are drilled transversely and tapped, and a counter sink is formed at one end of the tapped bore, into which a screw is inserted having a head which preferably has approximately the same diameter as the internal size of the tubular frame member. The drilled end, with the screw completely tightened into the counter sink, is inserted into the frame member which is formed with a small hole to permit access, for example by an Allen head wrench to the screw which is then screwed outwardly, so that the head will bear from the inside against the frame member, and clamp the other side of the insert projection against the opposite inside face of the frame member. To interconnect chair legs, frame members and the like, structural elements having three or more projecting ends may be used.
Inventors
- 👤 B Diemer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/40; A; A47; A47B; A47B47/00; A47B47/0008; F16B12/44; A47B2220/00; A47B2220/11; A47B2230/00; A47B2230/03; F16B2012/446; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/55; Y10T403/557; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
Interconnection arrangement for tubular frame members comprising a rigid, unitary structural element having at least two projecting ends, the ends being shaped to correspond to and fit into the ends of the frame members for connection thereto; said structural element being formed with a threaded bore extending transversely with respect to the direction of the projection, and additionally formed with a countersink at the end of the bore; screw means threadedly engaged in said bore, said screw means having a head shaped to be receivable at least in part within the countersink at the end of the bore and having a length which is such that the entire screw can be received within the bore, with the head substantially flush with the outer side of the projection of the structural element; tool receiving means formed on said screw means to effect rotation thereof within the threaded bore; said frame member having an opening formed therein alignable with the tool receiving means to permit rotation of the screw means in the threaded bore, the opening being of such size that a turning tool, fitting into the tool receiving means can be inserted through said opening, the frame member overlapping the screw head at least in part to permit tightening of the screw head directly against the inside of the frame member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
Interconnection arrangement for tubular frame members comprising a rigid, unitary structural element having at least two projecting ends, the ends being shaped to correspond to and fit into the ends of the frame members for connection thereto; said structural element being formed with a threaded bore extending transversely with respect to the direction of the projection, and additionally formed with a countersink at the end of the bore; screw means threadedly engaged in said bore, said screw means having a head shaped to be receivable at least in part within the countersink at the end of the bore and having a length which is such that the entire screw can be received within the bore, with the head substantially flush with the outer side of the projection of the structural element; tool receiving means formed on said screw means to effect rotation thereof within the threaded bore; said frame member having an opening formed therein alignable with the tool receiving means to permit rotation of the screw means in the threaded bore, the opening being of such size that a turning tool, fitting into the tool receiving means can be inserted through said opening, the frame member overlapping the screw head at least in part to permit tightening of the screw head directly against the inside of the frame member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the structural element is a corner fitting having at least three projections, each of square outline in cross section, and extending at 90* from each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the countersink is conical and the screw means is a flat head screw, the means to effect rotation thereof being a polygonal recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the projecting ends are square in cross section and the head of the screw means is essentially circular and has a diameter approximately equal to the transverse dimension of the projecting end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
Arrangement according to claim 1, in combination with a frame member adapted to surround and seat against the element, the opening in said frame member being spaced from the end of the frame member by a distance corresponding to the distance of the center of the bore in the element from the seat of the frame member against the element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
Arrangement according to claim 1, in combination with a frame member and secured to the element; said frame member surrounding the element, the screw means having a head profiled to fit the inside surface of the frame member and being screwed slightly out of the bore, the head bearing against the inside surface of the frame member to clamp the side remote from the countersunk side of the projection on the structural element against the inside of the frame member, and engage the head of the screw means against the opposite inside surface portion of the frame member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the frame member has a square cross section, the structural element has a square outline, and the head of the screw means has a bearing face of essentially the same diameter as the inside dimension of the frame member, to bear thereagainst.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means to effect rotation of the screw means comprises a profiled recess formed in the head of the screw means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the opening is of substantially smaller area in cross-section than the surface area of the head to provide a bearing surface of the portion of the member surrounding the opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
210 words
A tubular framework comprising at least three hollow frame members of square cross section; a rigid, unitary corner fitting having at least three legs, each of square outline in cross section, said legs being fixedly joined at 90* to one another and each fitting into and being inserted in the respective one end of said frame member threaded holes extending into each of said legs of the corner fitting across the longitudinal axis thereof; screw means located threadedly connected in said holes, said screw means having a head at one end, the screw means being each formed with a tool engagement means thereon; each of said hollow frame members having an opening extending across the longitudinal axis of said member located in alignment with said screw means to permit application of a tool for turning said screw means, the frame member having a portion located opposite the head which, at least in part, covers and overlaps the head to permit, upon turning of the screw forcing the head of said screw means against the inner wall of said hollow frame member to effect internal clamping action of the head, and a surface of the leg against the inside of the frame member to provide a rigid frictionally engaged tubular framewoRk.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
210 words
A tubular framework comprising at least three hollow frame members of square cross section; a rigid, unitary corner fitting having at least three legs, each of square outline in cross section, said legs being fixedly joined at 90* to one another and each fitting into and being inserted in the respective one end of said frame member threaded holes extending into each of said legs of the corner fitting across the longitudinal axis thereof; screw means located threadedly connected in said holes, said screw means having a head at one end, the screw means being each formed with a tool engagement means thereon; each of said hollow frame members having an opening extending across the longitudinal axis of said member located in alignment with said screw means to permit application of a tool for turning said screw means, the frame member having a portion located opposite the head which, at least in part, covers and overlaps the head to permit, upon turning of the screw forcing the head of said screw means against the inner wall of said hollow frame member to effect internal clamping action of the head, and a surface of the leg against the inside of the frame member to provide a rigid frictionally engaged tubular framewoRk.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
Framework according to claim 10, wherein the hole has a recessed terminal end with a final diameter approaching the transverse diameter of the respective leg; and the screw means has a head fitting into the recess and having a maximum diameter approaching the transverse dimension of the leg to permit pressing of the head against the inside of the frame member and provide for a bearing surface extending essentially across the inside width of the frame member and avoid buckling of the frame member at the point of engagement of the screw means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
115 words
Framework according to claim 11, wherein the head is formed on the tool engagement end of the screw means, the leg being clamped within the frame member by outward turning of the screw means to clamp the head against one inside surface of the respective frame member, and to effect clamping of the surface on the leg opposite the head, against the opposite inside surface of the frame member, the opening in the frame member being small with respect to the size of the head to leave a bearing surface on the portion of the frame member adjacent the opening and opposite the head which is being tightened against the inside of the frame member.
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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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |