WO1996034210A1

WO1996034210A1 - A mounting device and a furnishing device

Info

Publication number: WO1996034210A1
Application number: PCT/SE1996/000562
Authority: WO
Inventors: Åke LANTZ
Original assignee: Ume Snickarson Ab
Priority date: 1995-04-28
Filing date: 1996-04-29
Publication date: 1996-10-31
Also published as: SE9501576L; SE9501576D0

Abstract

An attachment device is arranged to connect two elements (12, 13) of a furnishing device in a demountable way. The attachment device comprises an elongate part (1) which is arranged to be inserted and attached in a groove (14) in the first element (12). From the elongate part (1) at least a first member (6) extends, which member is arranged to be inserted in a recess (16) in the second element (13). Furthermore, a second member (7) extends from the elongate part (1) and is arranged to be inserted in a second recess (17) of the second element (13) and be attached to the second recess (17) by means of an attachment member (20) arranged therein.

Description

A mounting device and a furnishing device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to an attachment device for joining two elements in a demountable way. Furthermore, the invention relates to a furnishing device comprising a first and a second element.

Such attachment devices can be used during demountable joining of different elements in furnishing systems of, for instance, wood material. In connection to trade fairs exhibitions and exhibitions in stores and the like it is of utmost importance that the products/services are exposed to the customer in a way which is as pleasing as possible. The increasingly tougher competition to get customers implies that new initiatives must be taken all the time to attract the customers to buy a certain product or service. A common way today, within the exhibition and shop sector, is to continuously change the exposure of the products. To realize this, there must be possibilities to continuously change the appearance of different furnishing devices. During change of furnishing devices, it is of utmost importance that the furnishing system used is not deteriorated in spite of repeated rebuildings. Amongst others, stability and torsion strength must be maintained in spite of repeated mountings and demountings. At the market today, there are mountable and demountable systems of aluminium for different types of furnishing devices. However, these are becoming old- fashioned, and now the market asks for furnishing systems with even higher flexibility and which can be manufactured by materials less harmful to the environment. During assembly of for instance furniture, it is also known to use generally cylindrical wooden plugs which are brought into a recess in the furniture elements to be assembled. Thereafter, the elements are connected by means of, for instance, a screw extending through said elements. In this way the elements can be assembled with a relatively rigid connection as to torsion. The assembly of this type of connection is, however, time-consuming, and the system is not flexible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to present an attachment device which simplifies and makes mounting and demounting of different elements, such as furnishing devices of wood, more effective. According to a further object of the invention, the attachment device is to make a very large amount of mountings and dismountings of the elements possible without the stability becoming deteriorated.

This object can be obtained by means of the initially defined attachment device, which is characterized in that it comprises an elongate part arranged to be inserted and attached in a groove in the first element, at least one projecting, first member extending in a first direction from the elongate part and arranged to be inserted in a first recess in the second element, and a projecting second member, extending in a second direction from the elongate part and arranged to be inserted in a second recess of the second element and be attached in the second recess by means of an attachment member arranged therein.

By such an attachment device the element can be assembled in a very simple and efficient way. Therefore, it is very well suited for furnishing systems for exhibitors, shop-owners etc. Furthermore, the attachment device is suited for connecting elements of wood material, which correspond to the contemporary demands as to environment friendliness. The inventive attachment device also makes a large number of mountings and dismountings possible without the effect upon the elements becoming such that the stabilty of the connected elements is becoming deteriorated.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the second member comprises an inner thread and the attachment member comprises a corresponding, outer thread. In that way a simple mounting of the second element to the attachment device is made possible. Thereby, the second member may comprise a tube sleeve threaded at the inside. Furthermore, the attachment member may comprise a screw arranged to extend through a passage which opens in the recess of the second element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first and the second members are slightly conically narrowing in direction from the elongate part. In that way the insertion of the first and the second members into the first and second recesses respectively of the second element is simplified.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the first and second members are generally circular in a cross-section crosswise to the first and second directions. Such a design is advantageous from a manufacturing point of view.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the first member comprises a through-passage which extends in the first direction and is arranged to receive a screw or the like for the attachment of the attachment device in said groove. Thereby, the first member can be used both as a guiding member, that is to improve the torsion strength between the first and second elements, and as receiving member for a screw or the like which is arranged to attach the attachment device in said groove. With such a receiving member the application of the screw or the like is simple to accomplish.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the attachment device comprises two first ^• members, arranged at each side respectively of the second member. In that way, the torsion strength between the two connected elements becomes very important. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the elongate part comprises two lateral surfaces which are generally parallel and arranged to bear on two lateral walls of said groove. In that way the insertion of the attachment device into the groove is controlled and it is assured that the attachment will be in the right position in the groove. Furthermore, the elongate part may comprise a connecting surface which connects the parallel lateral surfaces and from which the first member and the second member extend. Thereby, the first and the second directions can substantially form a normal to the connecting surface. This design is suitable in many contexts, particularly as the two elements are to be connected perpendicularly to each other. However, it is also possible to let the first and second directions be inclined in relation to the connecting surface. Such a design is suitable when one wishes that the second element is inclined in relation to that surface of the first element in which the groove is located. In that way the production of the groove, preferably by cutting, becomes very simple. Furthermore, the first and the second directions may be generally parallel.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first member, the second member and the elongate part form an integrated unit, preferably cast in one piece.

Advantageously, the inventive attachment device can be used as an attachment member for assembly of a first and a second element of a furnishing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be explained more in detail by means of different embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing figures.

Fig 1 shows a partially sectional side view of an attachment device according to the invention.

Fig 2 shows another side view of the attachment device in Fig 1. Fig 3 shows a view from above of the attachment device of Fig 1 . Fig 4 shows a perspective view of the application of the inventive attachment device to two elements that are to be connected. Fig 5 shows a view similar to the one of Fig 4, of an inventive attachment device for assembly of two other elements. Fig 6 shows a view similar to the one of Fig 4, of an attachment device according to another embodiment of the invention. Fig 7 shows a view similar to the one of Fig 4, of an attachment device according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figs 1 - 3 the inventive attachment device is shown. The attachment device comprises an elongate part 1 , hereinafter called back, which presents two generally parallel lateral surfaces 2, 3, a lower connecting surface 4 and an upper connecting surface 5. From the upper connecting surface 5 of the back 1 two first members 6 project, which members hereinafter are named tube sleeves 6 and extend in a direction which, in Figs 1 - 3, forms the normal to the connecting surface 5. Furthermore, a second member or tube sleeve 7 projects from the upper connecting surface 5 in a direction which, in Figs 1 - 3, forms the normal to the upper connecting surface 5. As can be seen in Fig 1 , the tube sleeve 7 is located generally intermediately between the two tube sleeves 6. Furthermore, as is shown in Figs 2 and 3, the tube sleeves 6 and the tube sleeves 7 are in alignment with each other. Furthermore, the tube sleeves 6 and the tube sleeve 7 are slightly conically tapered in the direction from the upper connecting surface 5. In the example shown, the tube sleeves 6, 7 are circular in a cross-section crosswise to said direction. However, it should be noted that the tube sleeves 6, 7 also may have another cross-sectional shape, for example oval, or polygonal, such as hexagonal. The tube sleeves 6 comprise a through-passage 8 each which partially extends through one recess 9 respectively at the end side of the back 1. At the end which is turned away from the connecting surface 5, the passage 8 presents a conical widening for receipt of a screw. The tube sleeve 7 comprises a circular cylindrical recess 10 which is provided with an inner thread. Furthermore, it should be noted that the back 1 comprises longitudinal notches 1 1 which are turned slightly obliquely upwards. Together, the back 1 and the tube sleeves 6, 7 form an integrated unit which preferably is cast in one piece of any suitable metal or metal alloy.

In Fig 4 it is shown how the attachment device can be used for joining a first element 12, which in the example shown is represented by a vertical wooden profile, and a second element 13, which in the example shown comprises a horizontal wooden profile. The vertical wood profile 12 comprises longitudinal grooves 14 which preferably are cut out of the wood profile 12. As can be seen in Fig 4, the back 1 of the attachment device is inserted into the groove 14. The attachment device is attached in the groove 14 by means of screws 15 which extend through the passages 8 of the tube sleeves 6 and engage with the vertical wood profile at the bottom surface of the groove 14. The attachment device is screwed in place in the vertical wood profile 12 at the height required for the application which, for the moment, is in question. It should be noted that the central distances between the two outer tube sleeves 6 and the tube sleeve 7 positioned in the middle are standardized to be adapted to modern and effective central tap machines for boring of first and second holes 16, 17 at the end sides of the horizontal wood profiles 13. The horizontal wood profiles 13, furthermore, comprise a recess 18 with a connection 19 to the hole 17.

During the assembly, the attachment device is initially screwed in place in the vertical wood profile 12 at a suitable height, and thereafter the horizontal wood profiles 13 are brought against the vertical wood profile 13 as the tube sleeves 6 and 7 are inserted in the holes 16 and 17. Thereafter, a screw 20 is inserted through the connection 19 and is screwed in place at the inner thread of the tube sleeve 7. As can be seen in Fig 4, a specially designed washer 21 can be inserted in the recess 18 to form a stable and flat bearing surface for the screw 20. Fig 5 shows how the total assembly of the wood profiles 12, 13 can be accomplished with a hidden joint. As the groove 14 is cut in the vertical wood profile 12 only as far and as deep as required for housing the attachment device, the whole joint becomes hidden. This embodiment is very useful for the construction of, for instance, tables.

In Fig 6 it is shown how the attachment may be laterally inclined, to make some other than a perpendicular angle possible between the wood profiles 12, 13.

In Fig 7 it is illustrated how the attachment device may be inclined upwards for another variant of angle between the wood profiles 12, 13. It should be noted that the attachment device of course can be angled downwards or that an inclination downwards can be accomplished through turning of the attachment device.

As can be seen in Fig 4, the vertical wood profile 12 may be provided with suspension members 22, for instance for shelves.

The present invention is not delimited by the embodiments shown, but can be varied and modified within the frame of the following patent claims. It should be noted that the device according to the invention can be used to connect many different types of elements, particularly of furnishing equipment, furniture, exhibition cases, counters, notice boards etc.

Claims

1. An attachment device for joining two elements (12, 13) in a demountable way, characterized in that it comprises ah elongate part (1 ) which is arranged to be inserted and attached in a groove (14) in the first element (12), at least one projecting first member (6) extending in a first direction from the elongate part (1 ) and arranged to be inserted in a first . recess (16) in the second element (13), and a projecting second member (7) extending in a second direction from the elongate part (1 ) and arranged to be inserted in a second recess (17) of the second element (13) and be attached in the second recess (17) by means of an attachment member (20) arranged therein.

2. An attachment device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the second member (7) comprises an inner thread (10) and that the attachment member (20) comprises a corresponding, outer thread.

3. An attachment device according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second member (7) comprises a tube sleeve threaded at the inside.

4. An attachment device according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the attachment member (20) comprises a screw which is arranged to extend through a passage (18) which opens in the second recess (17) of the second element.

5. An attachment device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second members (6, 7) are slightly conically tapering in the direction from the elongate part (1 ).

6. An attachment device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and the second members (6, 7) are generally circular in a cross-section crosswise to the first and the second directions.

7. An attachment device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first member (6) comprises a through- passage (8) extending in the first direction and arranged to receive a screw (15) or the like for the attachment of the attachment device in said groove (14).

8. An attachment device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two first members (6), arranged on each side respectively of the second member (7).

9. An attachment device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elongate part (1 ) comprises two lateral surfaces (2, 3) which are generally parallel and arranged to bear on two lateral walls of said groove (14).

10. An attachment device according to claim 9, characterized in that the elongate part comprises a connecting surface (5) which connects the parallel lateral surfaces (2, 3), and from which the first member (6) and the second member (7) extend.

11. An attachment device according to claim 10, characterized in that the first and the second directions substantially form a normal to the connecting surface (5).

12. An attachment device according to claim 10, characterized in that the first and second directions are inclined in relation to the connecting surface (5).

13. An attachment device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second directions are generally parallel.

14. An attachment device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first member (6), the second member (7) and the elongate part (1 ) form an integrated unit, preferably cast in one piece.

15. A furnishing device comprising a first and second element, characterized in that the first and second elements (6, 7) are connected with an attachment device according to any of the preceding claims.