Interlocking paired plate fasteners

Claim 2

Clamping type fastening means comprising a pair of elongated plates having respective lateral tang formations and correspondng slot formations interengaging in an initial side-by-side assembly interfit of the plates which disposes the latter for shifting movement one relative to the other in a particular setting direction into a predetermined fully set assembly condition of side-by-side juxtaposition confronting and converging upon a common clamping plate therebetween to seize relatively flat members therebetween, said plates having wedging means operative responsive to said shifting movement to effect convergence and seizure as aforesaid.

Claim 3

Fastening means according to claim 1 further characterized in that said tang formations each include a stem portion projecting laterally from the appertaining plate and an end portion terminating in a T-head extending in approximate parallelism with the body of said appertaining plate, and said slot formations are elongated to a degree permitting both interfit with corresponding T-head formations in said initial assembly and movement into the aforesaid fully set condition wherein portions of one plate adjoining said slots are caught behind the headed portions of the tangs in the other plate responsive to relative shifting movement thereof into fully set condition and clamping juxtaposition as aforesaid.

Claim 4

The construction of claim 2 further characterized in that said tangs comprise a stem portion projecting laterally from the appertaining plate and terminating in a T-head extending in a direction approximately parallel to the length of such plate, and the cooperative slot means in the other plate are elongated in a direction laterally thereof and open into one of the longitudinal margins of such plate whereby said slots respectively fit over the stem portions of corresponding tangs in initial interfit and setting movement as aforesaid.

Claim 5

The construction of claim 3 further characterized in that marginal portions of said slots subjoining said longitudinal margins of the appertaining plate are bevelled to afford a lead-in surface engageable behind the T-heads of corresponding ones of said tangs to facilitate assembly of the plates in said initial interfit.

Claim 6

Fastening means according to claim 1 further characterized by the provision of interlock means in the form of a lAteral protuberance on one plate and a receiving recess therefor on the other plate and both so positioned that the end of the protuberance and receiving recess are out of alignment in said initial interfit and are brought into interfitting alignment on movement of the plates into said fully-set condition, the end of the protuberance bearing glidingly against the side of the other plate in such initial interfit and movement, and the length of the protuberance being such as to require application of force of predetermined sensible degree to move said other plate over the end of the protuberance for entry into the recess, as aforesaid, in which condition the plates become interlocked and a comparable reverse force is required to separate the plates.

Claim 7

The construction of claim 5 further characterized by the provision of a lead-in and glide means on that particular one of the plates which has the recess for receiving the protuberance, and means comprising an offset integral lip portion struck out at an angle from the body of said particular plate subjacent said recess and directed to afford guided and gliding passage of the end of the protuberance in forced movement into the recess as aforesaid.

Claim 8

Fastening means according to claim 1 further including wedging means in the form of at least one integral lateral projection from a side of one plate which is proximate to the confronting side of the other plate in fully set condition and situated relative to said tangs acting as a fulcrum to effect a tilting of one plate in a direction toward the other and augment clamping action of the plates upon seized members as aforesaid.

Claim 9

Clamp type fastening means comprising elongated plate members in pairs, a first plate having at least two laterally extensive tangs terminating at respective outer ends in a headed portion; a second plate having spaced tang-engaging slots respectively opening into a longitudinal edge of the appertaining plate, said second plate having a tubular locking protuberance extending laterally therefrom in the direction of said tangs at a position along the length of the plate which is approximately midway between said tangs, said protuberance having an end portion situated at a distance from the appertaining plate to bear against the confronting side of the first plate in an initial condition of interfit assembly of the plates wherein said tang receiving slots are started behind the headed portions of the correspondingly situated tangs and in which initial condition of interfit assembly the length of the protuberance is such as to require a substantial forcing of one plate relative to the other in a direction toward a predetermined fully set condition wherein said plates are disposed in substantial side-by-side clamping juxtaposition relative to a common clamping plane therebetween; said second plate having a locking recess situated such that said end of the protuberance enters and becomes captured therein as the result of the aforesaid forced movement into said fully set condition.

Claim 10

Clamp type fastening means comprising elongated plate members in pairs, a first plate having at least two laterally extensive tangs terminating at respective outer ends in a headed portion; a second plate having spaced tang-engaging slots respectively opening into a longitudinal edge of the appertaining plate, said second plate having a tubular locking protuberance extending laterally therefrom in the direction of said tangs at a position along the length of the plate which is approximately midway between said tangs, said protuberance having an end portion situated at a distance from the appertaining plate to bear against the confronting side of the first plate in an initial condition of interfit assembly of the plates wherein said tang receiving slots are started behind the headed portions of the correspondingly situated tangs and in which initial condition of interfit assembly the length of the protuberance is such as to require a substantial forcing of one plate relative to the other in a direction toward a predetermined fully set condition wherein said plates are disposed in substantial side-by-side clamping juxtaposition relative to a common clamping plane therebetween; said second plate having a locking recess situated such that said end of the protuberance enters and becomes captured therein as the result of the aforesaid forced movement into said fully set condition.

Claim 11

Fastening means according to claim 8 further provided with an angularly projecting lip in the said longitudinal edge of the plate which affords a lead-in relief and gliding surface for passage of the end of the protuberance in the locking recess.

Claim 12

Fastening means for assembly of prefabricated sheet metal components comprising a pair of complementary elongated plate members a first one of which has opposite end portions offset laterally to provide spaced tangs, each tang having an end portion enlarged to define an interlock head, the second one of said plate members having adjacent opposite ends thereof tang-receiving slot means adapted as the result of an initial assembly interfit of the plate members to interfit with a corresponding one of said tangs, said plate members being further shiftable one relative to the other into a fully set condition following such assembly interfit in a manner such that portions of the second plate member subjoining said slot means beCome firmly caught behind the interlock head portions of appertaining tangs; at least one of said plate members being provided with wedging means operative at least in said fully set condition to cause portions of one plate member to be forcibly displaced toward the other plate member to augment clamping action thereof.

Claim 13

Fastening means for assembly of prefabricated sheet metal components comprising a pair of complementary elongated plate members a first one of which has opposite end portions offset laterally to provide spaced tangs, each tang having an end portion enlarged to define an interlock head, the second one of said plate members having adjacent opposite ends thereof tang-receiving slot means adapted as the result of an initial assembly interfit of the plate members to interfit with a corresponding one of said tangs, said plate members being further shiftable one relative to the other into a fully set condition following such assembly interfit in a manner such that portions of the second plate member subjoining said slot means beCome firmly caught behind the interlock head portions of appertaining tangs; at least one of said plate members being provided with wedging means operative at least in said fully set condition to cause portions of one plate member to be forcibly displaced toward the other plate member to augment clamping action thereof.

Claim 14

Fastening means of the class described comprising a pair of clamp plates having respective lateral projections and cooperative structural configurations adapted for initial interfit with the plates in side-by-side initial joinder and clamping confrontation relative to a clamping plane and an object to be seized therebetween, and further arranged and constructed for shifting movement of one plate relative to the other from said initial interfit condition and joinder in a direction substantially parallel to said plane and operative to produce a resultant forcible wedging convergence of said plates one toward the other into a predetermined final clamping relationship for forcible seizure of said object.

Claim 15

Fastening means of the class described comprising a pair of clamp plates having respective lateral projections and cooperative structural configurations adapted for initial interfit with the plates in side-by-side initial joinder and clamping confrontation relative to a clamping plane and an object to be seized therebetween, and further arranged and constructed for shifting movement of one plate relative to the other from said initial interfit condition and joinder in a direction substantially parallel to said plane and operative to produce a resultant forcible wedging convergence of said plates one toward the other into a predetermined final clamping relationship for forcible seizure of said object.

Claim 16

A fastening means according to claim 11 further characterized in that the said projections and configurations include mutually interlocking protuberance and slot formations on the respective plates which become forcibly interengaged as the result of said initial interfit and a relative movement of said plates which is in a direction approximately at right angles to the said shifting direction, whereby said plates become interlocked in said condition of initial joinder but remain shiftably movable one relative to the other in said shifting direction for movement into final clamping relationship as aforesaid.