Abstract:
A flute tube ( 20 ) includes a metal tube body. The metal tube body is flute-shaped. A plurality of dents, holes, or protrudings ( 21 ) is formed on the metal tube body in a predetermined arrangement. A joint structure of the flute tube further includes a liner ( 30 ) and a sleeve ( 40 ). The liner is sandwiched between the sleeve and the metal tube body for fastening and positioning the sleeve. A shelf ( 50 ) for depositing goods or clothing, which includes the joint structure, further have a frame ( 51 ) fixed on the sleeve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a tube structure, and particularly to a flute tube and a joint structure thereof.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Nowadays, various tubes exist in the market. Traditional metal tubes constitute a shelf for depositing goods or clothings as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 . The metal tubes are used as foot tubes  11 , on which are uniformly incised rounded grooves  12 . The distance between two neighboring grooves  12  is h. Frames  15  are supported by the foot tubes  11  and are positioned thereon through sleeves  16  being inserted over the tubes  11 . A liner  14 , sandwiched between the periphery of the tube  11  and the sleeve  16 , is composed of two halve, each half defining a protruding ring  13  therein for inserting in one rounded groove  12 . However, because rounded grooves  12  are incised on the foot tubes  11 , the rigidity thereof is weakened. Furthermore, the position of the frame  15  can only be adjusted over a distance of n×h, wherein n is an integer.  
         [0005]     Therefore, an improved structure of a flute tube and a joint structure thereof is desired which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A main object of the present invention is to provide a flute tube, which has a beautiful appearance and good rigidity.  
         [0007]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a joint structure of a flute tube, which is more convenient for adjusting its structure.  
         [0008]     A third object of the present invention is to provide a shelf for depositing goods or clothings.  
         [0009]     To obtain the above objections, a flute tube of the present invention comprises a metal tube body, wherein the metal tube body is flute-shaped. A plurality of dents, holes, or protrudings is formed on the metal tube body in a predetermined arrangement.  
         [0010]     A joint structure of a flute tube of the present invention, comprises a metal tube body, a liner, and a sleeve, wherein the metal tube body is flute-shaped. A plurality of dents, holes, or protrudings is formed on the metal tube body in a predetermined arrangement. The liner is sandwiched between the sleeve and the metal tube body for fastening and positioning the sleeve.  
         [0011]     A shelf of the present invention for depositing goods or clothings, comprise a metal tube body, a frame, a liner, and a sleeve, wherein the metal tube body is flute-shaped. A plurality of dents, holes, or protrudings is formed on the metal tube body in a predetermined arrangement. The liner is sandwiched between the sleeve and the metal tube body. The frame is fixed on the sleeve, thereby being supported on the metal tube body.  
         [0012]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a flute tube in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a back view of the flute tube of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a liner with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a disassembled, plan view of a joint structure of the flute tube in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of one position of the joint structure of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of another position of the joint structure of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shelf in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a flute tube in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a shelf of prior art; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a flute tube  20 . The flute tube  20  is substantially metal tube, such as stainless steel, copper, aluminum, titanium, or the alloy thereof, thus it looks very noble and fine. Two rows of dents  21  ( 21   a  and  21   b ) are defined on the periphery of the flute tube  20 . The two rows of dents  21  are respectively and symmetrically arranged in both a front surface, which is designated as  21   a,  and a back surface of the flute tube  20 , which is designated as  21   b.  The distance between each two neighboring dents  21  in the same row is h. Each dent  21   b  on the back surface is located in the middle of two corresponding dents  21   a  on the front surface, thus two corresponding dents  21   a  and  21   b  are spaced over a distance of h/2. Therefore, the tube  20  looks like a flute, and very beautiful.  
         [0024]     When the flute tube  20  of the present invention is used to constitute a shelf (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), some other joint elements are needed, such as a liner  30  and a sleeve  40 , referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . The liner  30 , which is cone-shaped, specifically, a lower diameter thereof being greater than an upper diameter, includes two halve  30   a  and  30   b.  Wherein, the half  30   a  forms a protruding  31   a  on the middle top therein, while the half  31   b  forms a protruding  31   b  on the middle bottom therein. The distance between the protrudings  31   a  and  31   b  is h/2. Each half of liner  30  respectively defines a cutout  33  and forms a flange  32  at two side flanks (not labeled) thereof. The flanges  32  and the cutouts  33  are in a rectangular shape, but other shapes are also applicable.  
         [0025]     The sleeve  40  is a circular fastening element. An inside diameter of the sleeve  40  is equal or slightly greater than an outside diameter of the liner  30 .  
         [0026]     When assembling, the liner  30  is set over the periphery of the flute tube  20 , and the protruding  31  is inserted in the dent  21 , specifically, the protruding  31   a  is inserted in the dent  21   a  on the front surface of the flute tube  20 , the protruding  31   b  is inserted in the dent  21   b.  The flanges  32  of the liner  30   a  and  30   b  are respectively clamped in the cutouts  33  one another. The sleeve  40  is inserted over and tightly clamped on the periphery of the liner  30 . Because frames are soldered on the sleeve  40 , they are supported and positioned on the flute tube  20 . Since the liner  30  is cone-shaped, the sleeve  40  can tightly support the frame thereon, and cannot slide downwardly.  
         [0027]     When using the flute tube  20  of the present invention as foot tube to support frames, the frames are soldered on the sleeve  40 . The sleeve  40  is inserted over the flute tube  20  for positioning the frames. Users can adjust the height of the frames if desired. Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , wherein, when the frame (not shown) is positioned at a first position at a height of the first dent  21   a,  the protruding  31   a  of the liner  30   a  is embedded in the first dent  21   a  on the front surface, and the protruding  31   b  is embedded in the first dent  21   b  on the back surface (see  FIG. 5 ). If the user wants to move the frame down a distance of (n×h), then move directly down and position the protruding  31   a  of the liner  30  at the (n+1) dent  21   a.  If exchange the two halve  30   a  and  30   b  of the liner  30  and reverse the half  30   b  from top to bottom, the protruding  31   b  is embedded into the second dent  20   a  on the front surface, and the protruding  31   a  is inserted into the first dent  20   b  on the back surface of the flute tube  20 , the frame supported by the sleeve  40  over the liner  30  will be moved down a distance of h/2 along the flute tube  20  relative to the first position (see  FIG. 6 ). However, the traditional tube for supporting frame cannot be adjusted over a distance of h/2.  
         [0028]     The flute tube  20  of the present invention is used as foot tube to assemble a shelf  50  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Frames  51  are soldered on the sleeves  40  at the corners thereof, and are positioned on the flute tube  20  as described above. Since the liner  30  is cone-shaped, the frames  51  are tightly supported and cannot slide down. If the user needs to adjust the height of the frame  51 , he or she just knocks at the bottom of the frame  51  near the sleeves  40  upwardly, therefore, the sleeves  40  depart from the liners  30 , and the frame  51  is loosed from the original position. The frame  51  is re-positioned at a desired height using the same method as described above. The frames  51  can also be made of the flute tube  20  of the present invention, so the appearance of the shelf  50  keeps perfect harmony.  
         [0029]     When a very long flute tube  20  is used, it is not convenient to measure the length and position the frame. This problem will be resolved in the following preferred embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 8 , at each predetermined distance, a mark is set on the surface of the flute tube  20 . For example, if the distance h between two neighboring dents in the same row is equal to 2 inches, a pentagram mark will be set beside the dent  21  to represent a distance of 10 inches. As shown in  FIG. 8 , two pentagrams are respectively set beside the first dent  21   a  and the sixth dent  21   a.  A quincunx, line, symbol or other shaped pattern, or letters can be used as a mark. Therefore, the user can learn the length of the flute tube  20  by counting the marks. Furthermore, it is more convenient for precisely positioning the frame referring to the marks.  
         [0030]     The dents  21  on the flute tube  20  can be replaced by through holes penetrating the tube wall. The shape of the dents or holes  21  can be circular, rectangular, diamond, pentagram, quincunx, irregular etc.  
         [0031]     Only one row of dents or holes  21  or more than two rows can be set on the flute tube  20 . The dents or holes  21  can be arranged in equidistance or not, and can be arranged in a curve or a helical line.  
         [0032]     The dents or holes  21  formed on the flute tube  20  can also be designed as protrudings, while the protrudings  31  in the liner  30  must be correspondingly designed as dent or hole for receiving the protrudings of flute tube  20 .  
         [0033]     The flute tube  20  of the present invention can be used to assemble other furniture, such as desks or chairs, or used in the industry.  
         [0034]     It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.