US3867047A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Joint construction
Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
•
Filing: 1973-11-12
•
Granted: 1975-02-18
•
Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A folded joint between two structural members and method for forming the same are provided. One of the structural members exerts a spring force against the other structural member after joint formation. The spring force maintains the members in tight, locking engagement with one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrance W Wightman
- 👤 Howard C Gebhart
- 👤 Nick Tichy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:14
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B17/00; F16B17/008; F16B17/006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/38; Y10T403/49; Y10T403/4983
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A structure, comprising: a first structural member having at least two spaced openings in it, the area between said openings defining a spring web; and a second structural member having at least two tabs and a spring lever formed in it, said tabs being inserted through the openings in said first member and folded against said first member with a first applied force, said spring web and said spring lever having a second force applied to them in a direction opposite to said first applied force so that said spring web is sprung in a direction opposite to the direction of said first applied force, said spring web abutting said spring lever so that the elasticity of the web material causes said spring web to exert a residual force against said spring lever, establishing a tight joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A structure, comprising: a first structural member having at least two spaced openings in it, the area between said openings defining a spring web; and a second structural member having at least two tabs and a spring lever formed in it, said tabs being inserted through the openings in said first member and folded against said first member with a first applied force, said spring web and said spring lever having a second force applied to them in a direction opposite to said first applied force so that said spring web is sprung in a direction opposite to the direction of said first applied force, said spring web abutting said spring lever so that the elasticity of the web material causes said spring web to exert a residual force against said spring lever, establishing a tight joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein said first and said second structural members are constructed from sheet metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said first structural member has three spaced openings in it, and said second structural member has a first end having a pair of L-shaped parts formed in it, a first leg of each of said L-shaped parts defining a tab member and a second leg of each of said L-shaped parts defining a lever arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
An open coil heater frame comprising: a first structural member having at least two spaced openings in it, the area between said openings defining a spring web; a second structural member having a first end and a second end, at least one of said first and said second ends having a pair of foldable tabs and at least one spring lever formed in it, said tabs being inserted through the openings in said first member and folded against said first member, said spring web being displaced in a direction opposite to the direction of said fold, said spring lever abutting said spring web so that the elasticity of the web material causes said web to exert a force against said spring lever after joint formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An open coil heater frame comprising: a first structural member having at least two spaced openings in it, the area between said openings defining a spring web; a second structural member having a first end and a second end, at least one of said first and said second ends having a pair of foldable tabs and at least one spring lever formed in it, said tabs being inserted through the openings in said first member and folded against said first member, said spring web being displaced in a direction opposite to the direction of said fold, said spring lever abutting said spring web so that the elasticity of the web material causes said web to exert a force against said spring lever after joint formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The open coil heater frame of claim 4 wherein the foldable tabs of said second structural member are parAllel to one another, said spring lever being formed between said tabs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The open coil heater frame of claim 4 wherein said second structural member includes a pair of L-shaped parts formed on an end thereof, each of said L-shaped parts having a first leg and a second leg, the first leg of each said L-shape defining said foldable tab and the second leg of each of said L-shape defining a lever arm.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of joint construction comprising: providing a first structural member with at least two tabs and a spring lever; providing a second structural member with at least two spaced openings adapted to receive said tabs, the area between said openings defining a spring web; inserting the tabs of said first member into the openings of said second member; folding said tabs against said second member while maintaining said spring lever and said spring web in contact with one another; and displacing said spring web in a direction opposite to the direction of the fold of said tabs while maintaining said spring lever and said spring web in contact with one another.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of joint construction comprising: providing a first structural member with at least two tabs and a spring lever; providing a second structural member with at least two spaced openings adapted to receive said tabs, the area between said openings defining a spring web; inserting the tabs of said first member into the openings of said second member; folding said tabs against said second member while maintaining said spring lever and said spring web in contact with one another; and displacing said spring web in a direction opposite to the direction of the fold of said tabs while maintaining said spring lever and said spring web in contact with one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said folding and said displacing steps are accomplished simultaneously.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said second structural member is provided with three openings and said first structural member is provided with at least a pair of L-shaped parts having a first and a second leg along one end thereof, one of said legs of each of said L-shaped parts forming a tab and the other of said legs forming a spring lever.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
A structure comprising: a first structural member having at least two spaced openings in it, the area between said openings defining a spring web; and a second structural member having a first end and a second end, at least one of said first and said second ends having a pair of foldable tabs and at least one spring lever formed in it, said tabs being inserted through the openings in said first member and folded against said first member, said spring web being displaced in a direction opposite to the direction of said fold, said spring lever abutting said spring web so that the elasticity of the web material causes said web to exert a residual force against said spring lever after joint formation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A structure comprising: a first structural member having at least two spaced openings in it, the area between said openings defining a spring web; and a second structural member having a first end and a second end, at least one of said first and said second ends having a pair of foldable tabs and at least one spring lever formed in it, said tabs being inserted through the openings in said first member and folded against said first member, said spring web being displaced in a direction opposite to the direction of said fold, said spring lever abutting said spring web so that the elasticity of the web material causes said web to exert a residual force against said spring lever after joint formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US338877A
Cited
US1503880A
Cited
US1637652A
Cited
US2216319A
Cited
US3050160A
Cited
US3177990A
Cited
US3315996A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |