Patent ID: 9664222
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: A47B,E04B,F16B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A connector for use in displays of the kind which include a display frame formed of a plurality of beams which are joined together by multi-way node fittings to form a three-dimensional shape and which have display panels releasably secured to the beams, said connector comprising: a male part having a bearing face, a stem fixedly connected to and projecting directly from the bearing face, and a head comprising four noses which project laterally from the stem; and a female part having a plurality of walls, each wall having an inner face and an outer bearing face, each of the walls containing an aperture, which permits the head of the male part to pass through the aperture and rotatably receives the stem with the bearing face of the male part in contact with the outer bearing face of the wall, the inner face of each wall being profiled to engage the said noses when the male part is rotated within the aperture, and the outer bearing face of each wall being disposed outside of the aperture of that wall; wherein each aperture of the female part is of cruciform shape, and the opposing faces of each wall and the noses are provided with oppositely inclined ramps which act to provide progressively tightening and alignment of the connector as the male part is rotated within the aperture in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to engage the female part, the male part passing through the aperture in a first orientation and the progressive tightening occurring as the male part is rotated from the first orientation to an engaged orientation.