US3870388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-locking corner joint for the walls of cupboard-like structures
Assignee: INNOVARE I TABY AB
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Filing: 1973-03-12
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Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-03-12
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a corner joint for the walls of cupboards, cabinets, partition structures and the like, and particularly for walls of such spaces as are subjected to strong changes in temperature and relative humidity, for example wash rooms, bathrooms, wash-houses, laundries and the like. Wall fastening means of conventional type, for example screws, nails, different types of clamps etc. are readily subjected in such places to corrosion, which may subsequently impair the strength of the joint, and result in the discolouration of surrounding finishes, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Stig Tore Johannes Lofgren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:17
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B47/00; A47B47/02; A47K; A47K3/00; A47K3/28; A47K3/283; A47K3/284
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
A self-locking corner joint for structures such as cupboards, cabinets and the like comprising a frame structure having at least two substantially parallel rigid posts, a rear wall and two side walls fitted to said frame structure, each of said side walls having an edge section partially embracing one of said rigid posts on the surfaces of the latter facing the interior of the frame, each of said edge sections of said side walls having means defining a groove, said rear wall having edge sections provided with a flange, said flanges being received in and abutting the bottom of the respective groove in said edge sections of said side walls, said rigid posts and said side walls being consructed and arranged such that the distance between the bottoms of the grooves in said edge sections of said side walls when the latter are in their assembled position is less than the distance between the edges of said flanges on said rear wall when the latter is in its natural and unassembled state, said rear wall being made of a resiliently yieldable material such that the flanges of said rear wall abut the bottoms of the respective grooves in the edge sections of said side walls under resilient yielding of said rear wall when the latter and said side walls are in their assembled position in the frame, said rear wall being bowed slightly when the edges of said flanges are accomodated in the bottoms of said grooves to thereby continuously apply a biasing force urging said edge sections of said side walls against the respective rigid posts of said frame and thereby obviating the requirement for any additional holding elements for securing the corner joint.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
285 words
A self-locking corner joint for structures such as cupboards, cabinets and the like comprising a frame structure having at least two substantially parallel rigid posts, a rear wall and two side walls fitted to said frame structure, each of said side walls having an edge section partially embracing one of said rigid posts on the surfaces of the latter facing the interior of the frame, each of said edge sections of said side walls having means defining a groove, said rear wall having edge sections provided with a flange, said flanges being received in and abutting the bottom of the respective groove in said edge sections of said side walls, said rigid posts and said side walls being consructed and arranged such that the distance between the bottoms of the grooves in said edge sections of said side walls when the latter are in their assembled position is less than the distance between the edges of said flanges on said rear wall when the latter is in its natural and unassembled state, said rear wall being made of a resiliently yieldable material such that the flanges of said rear wall abut the bottoms of the respective grooves in the edge sections of said side walls under resilient yielding of said rear wall when the latter and said side walls are in their assembled position in the frame, said rear wall being bowed slightly when the edges of said flanges are accomodated in the bottoms of said grooves to thereby continuously apply a biasing force urging said edge sections of said side walls against the respective rigid posts of said frame and thereby obviating the requirement for any additional holding elements for securing the corner joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
285 words
A self-locking corner joint for structures such as cupboards, cabinets and the like comprising a frame structure having at least two substantially parallel rigid posts, a rear wall and two side walls fitted to said frame structure, each of said side walls having an edge section partially embracing one of said rigid posts on the surfaces of the latter facing the interior of the frame, each of said edge sections of said side walls having means defining a groove, said rear wall having edge sections provided with a flange, said flanges being received in and abutting the bottom of the respective groove in said edge sections of said side walls, said rigid posts and said side walls being consructed and arranged such that the distance between the bottoms of the grooves in said edge sections of said side walls when the latter are in their assembled position is less than the distance between the edges of said flanges on said rear wall when the latter is in its natural and unassembled state, said rear wall being made of a resiliently yieldable material such that the flanges of said rear wall abut the bottoms of the respective grooves in the edge sections of said side walls under resilient yielding of said rear wall when the latter and said side walls are in their assembled position in the frame, said rear wall being bowed slightly when the edges of said flanges are accomodated in the bottoms of said grooves to thereby continuously apply a biasing force urging said edge sections of said side walls against the respective rigid posts of said frame and thereby obviating the requirement for any additional holding elements for securing the corner joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
285 words
A self-locking corner joint for structures such as cupboards, cabinets and the like comprising a frame structure having at least two substantially parallel rigid posts, a rear wall and two side walls fitted to said frame structure, each of said side walls having an edge section partially embracing one of said rigid posts on the surfaces of the latter facing the interior of the frame, each of said edge sections of said side walls having means defining a groove, said rear wall having edge sections provided with a flange, said flanges being received in and abutting the bottom of the respective groove in said edge sections of said side walls, said rigid posts and said side walls being consructed and arranged such that the distance between the bottoms of the grooves in said edge sections of said side walls when the latter are in their assembled position is less than the distance between the edges of said flanges on said rear wall when the latter is in its natural and unassembled state, said rear wall being made of a resiliently yieldable material such that the flanges of said rear wall abut the bottoms of the respective grooves in the edge sections of said side walls under resilient yielding of said rear wall when the latter and said side walls are in their assembled position in the frame, said rear wall being bowed slightly when the edges of said flanges are accomodated in the bottoms of said grooves to thereby continuously apply a biasing force urging said edge sections of said side walls against the respective rigid posts of said frame and thereby obviating the requirement for any additional holding elements for securing the corner joint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
A self-locking corner joint according to claim 1 wherein said means defining a groove on said edge section of each of said side walls also defines a bead adjacent to said groove, said bead and groove being constructed and arranged such that subsequent to inserting one flange of said rear wall into a groove of one of said side walls, the other flange of said rear wall is passed over the corresponding bead on the other side wall upon temporary elastic deformation of the rear wall so that said other flange on said rear wall snaps into the groove in said other side wall to be securely implanted within the bottom of said latter groove when said rear wall springs back.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A self-locking corner joint according to claim 1 wherein said rigid posts have an inner corner, each of said edge sections of said side walls having a corresponding corner portion abutting and embracing a respective corner of said rigid posts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A self-locking corner joint according to claim 3 wherein said flanges on said rear wall are each constructed and arranged as a corner portion abutting and embracing the respective corner portion on the edge sections of said side walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A self-locking corner joint according to claim 4 wherein said inner corner of said rigid posts, said corner portions of said edge sections of said side walls, and said corner portions of said flanges of said rear wall are each arranged at generally right angles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A self-locking corner joint according to claim 2 wherein said corner posts have a right angle corner, said edge sections of said side walls each having a first flat part disposed at right angles to a second flat part, said first and seCond flat parts abutting and embracing said right angle corner of said rigid posts, said second flat part of said side walls being disposed at right angles to a third flat part, said third flat part being disposed within the general plane of the respective side wall, said bead being interposed between said second flat part and said third flat part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A self-locking corner joint according to claim 6 wherein said bead projects inwardly of the respective side wall, said groove being formed between said second part of said side wall and said bead.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |