US4376593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Body assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-07-07
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Granted: 1983-03-15
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Expires: 2000-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A body formed of a plurality of individual elements is connected together via tongue and groove connections. The tongues have flanks which are inclined with respect to the base of the tongue and converge with increasing distance from the base, while the associated grooves have a corresponding shape. The flank or flanks of the tongue is provided with projections or recesses which engage recesses or projections respectively on the abutting flanks of the associated grooves.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolf Schaefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/10; F16B12/12; F16B12/26; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/46; Y10T403/4602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
In a body formed of at least first and second connected individual elements which are connected together at abutting respective connecting surfaces by means of tongue and groove connections with one of said elements having at least one tongue on its said connecting surface and the other of said elements having at least one groove on its said connecting surface for receiving said at least one tongue, each said tongue having flanks which are inclined with respect to the base of the tongue and converge with increasing distance from said base, and each said groove having a shape such that the flanks of the groove will abut the adjacent flanks of the associated tongue; the improvement wherein for each associated said tongue and said groove, at least one flank of one of said associated tongue and groove is provided with a projection and the associated said flank of the other of said associated tongue and groove is provided with a recess which engages said projection when said tongue is inserted into the associated said groove; and wherein said projection and the associated said recess have shapes such that said projection is releasably engaged in said recess by a snapping action.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
In a body formed of at least first and second connected individual elements which are connected together at abutting respective connecting surfaces by means of tongue and groove connections with one of said elements having at least one tongue on its said connecting surface and the other of said elements having at least one groove on its said connecting surface for receiving said at least one tongue, each said tongue having flanks which are inclined with respect to the base of the tongue and converge with increasing distance from said base, and each said groove having a shape such that the flanks of the groove will abut the adjacent flanks of the associated tongue; the improvement wherein for each associated said tongue and said groove, at least one flank of one of said associated tongue and groove is provided with a projection and the associated said flank of the other of said associated tongue and groove is provided with a recess which engages said projection when said tongue is inserted into the associated said groove; and wherein said projection and the associated said recess have shapes such that said projection is releasably engaged in said recess by a snapping action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said connecting surfaces has at least a pair of adjacent said tongues defining a groove therebetween; wherein the other said connecting surface has at least a pair of adjacent said grooves with the adjacent flanks of said grooves simultaneously defining the flanks of a tongue; and wherein said pair of tongues are associated with said pair of grooves, and said groove defined by the adjacent said pair of tongues is associated with said tongue defined by said flanks of said adjacent said pair of grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein said projection and said recess correspond to one another in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein each pair of abutting flanks of an associated said tongue and groove has a projection which is engaged in a recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections and said recesses extend over the entire length of said tongues and said grooves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein said projections and said recesses have a cross section in the form of a segment of a circle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A body as defined in claim 1 or 6, wherein the shapes of said tongue and its associated said groove and such that at least one cavity is formed between the base of said groove and the crown of said tongue; and means are provided for filling at least a portion of said cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A body as defined in claim 7, wherein said means comprises a hardened mass which substantially fills said cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A body as defined in claim 7, wherein said means comprises an elastic mass which substantially fills said cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A body as defined in claim 7, wherein said means comprises at least one elastic band.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A body as defined in claim 10, wherein one said elastic band is positioned in the base of each said groove with said band abutting said crown of the associated said tongue.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein each said groove and tongue is formed by the profile of a member which is attached to the associated one of said first and second elements at its respective said connecting surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A body as defined in claim 12, wherein each said profile member is secured to its respective one of said elements by a groove and tongue connection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A body as defined in claim 12, wherein at least one of said profiled members is composed of an elastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first and second elements are substantially flat and are arranged to form a corner; one of said first and second elements has a plurality of adjacent said tongue and grooves which extend along the edge surfaces of same; and the other of said elements has a plurality of said tongues and grooves which mate with the said tongues and grooves of said one of said first and second elements, and which extend along one side surface of said other of said first and second elements and then along at least one of the edge surfaces transverse to said side surface, said tongues on said side surface merging into the grooves of said transverse edge surface and said grooves on said side surface merging into the tongues on said transverse edge surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A body as defined in claim 15, wherein the transition portions from said tongues to said grooves extend at an angle of 45° with respect to the crown of the tongues and the base of the grooves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A body as defined in claim 1 further comprising a clamping band which surrounds and abuts the outer surface of said body for holding said elements together.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A body as defined in claim 17, wherein said grooves and their associated said tongues are dimensioned such that the force exerted by said clamping band is substantially transferred between said flanks of said grooves and tongues.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
A body as defined in claim 1, wherein said groove is troughlike and is trapezoidal in cross-section; said tongue has a cross-section which matingly engages in said groove; said projection and said recess extend along the respective flanks of said groove and said tongue in the longitudinal direction of their trapezoidal profiles; and each pair of the abutting longitudinal flanks of said tongue and said groove is provided with an engaging said projection and recess.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A body as defined in claim 19, wherein said projection and said recess each have the transverse cross-sectional shape of a portion of a circle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A body as defined in claim 19, wherein said projections are disposed on said flanks of said troughlike groove and said recesses are formed in said flanks of said tongue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A body as defined in claim 19, wherein both the transverse and longitudinal cross section of said tongue and of said groove are trapezoidal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A body as defined in claim 2 wherein each pair of abutting flanks of an associated said tongue and groove has a projection which is engaged in a recess.
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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) | 1986-03-14 | 1986-09-13 | 1987-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-09-13 | 1991-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-14 | 1994-09-13 | 1995-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |