Abstract:
A lattice comprising two intersecting laths and a pivoting connector locating at the intersection between the laths that includes a male retainer and a female retainer that interlock so as to connect the laths together. The male and female retainers interlock such that the laths may pivot about the connector from an expanded framework configuration to a collapsed framework configuration of the lattice.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/023,997, filed Jul. 14, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    A lattice is defined as a framework or structure of wood, metal, plastic or other material made by crossing laths or other thin strips of material so as to form a network. Lattices are commonly used as a decorative skirting to cover the underside of structures including decks, ramps, porches, balconies and stairs as well as in fencing systems as structural or decorative components. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY  
       [0003]    According to one embodiment of the invention, a lattice movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration includes a plurality of laths including a first lath crossing a second lath at an intersection, and a pivoting connector located at the intersection between the first lath and the second lath. The pivoting connector includes a male retainer comprising a body having at least one exterior perimetrical lip and a plurality of recesses in a spaced relationship, and a female retainer comprising an opening and a plurality of detents extending into the opening in a common alignment with the plurality of recesses on the male retainer, wherein, when the opening in the female retainer is positioned within the perimetrical lip on the male retainer, the female retainer is thereby pivotally mounted to the male retainer, and the positioning of the detents on the female retainer within the corresponding recesses on the male retainer corresponds to the expanded configuration of the lattice. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0004]    In the drawings: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the lattice having an expanded framework according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the lattice of  FIG. 1  having a collapsed framework; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a lath from the lattice of  FIG. 1  having a male connector; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective of a lath from the lattice of  FIG. 1  having a female connector; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of interlocking connectors of the lattice of  FIG. 1 , with portions removed for clarity; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a lattice having an expanded framework according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a front view of a lattice having an expanded framework according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of a portion of the lattice of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a lattice  10  having an expanded framework according to a first embodiment of the invention. The lattice comprises a framework  12  including a plurality of first laths  14  and a plurality of second laths  16  connected or mounted together by a plurality of interlocking connectors  18 . A series of the first laths  14  cross a series of the second laths  16  at intersections  20 , and the interlocking connectors  18  connect the laths  14 ,  16  at the intersections  20  to form intersecting joints. The lattice  10  can be moved between the expanded configuration shown, and a collapsed configuration shown in  FIG. 2 . The connectors  18  allow the lath  14 ,  16  to pivot relative to each other when moving the framework between the collapsed and expanded configurations. 
         [0017]    The first and second laths  14 ,  16  are formed from strips of material including, but not limited to, plastic, wood, metal, fiberglass, or composites or combinations thereof, and may have any desired width, thickness and length. The first and second laths  14 ,  16  may also have one or more slots  24  formed between the intersecting joints having the interlocking connectors  18 . A singe, elongated slot  24  may be provided between the intersections  20 , as shown herein. Alternatively, various other slot designs can be employed on the laths  14 ,  16  to impart various aesthetic appearances to the lattice  10 . 
         [0018]    When in the expanded configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 1  the first and second laths  14 ,  16  are perpendicular to each other, with spaces or voids  22  formed therebetween so as to create an open framework. The voids  22  may generally be defined by four of the connectors  18  or intersections  20 . Further in the expanded configuration, the first laths  14  lie parallel to each other, and the second laths  16  lie parallel to each other. Any number of interlocking connectors  18  and first and second laths  14 ,  16  can be used and depends on the desired height, width and size of the lattice  10 , and the desired size of the voids  22  when the lattice is expanded. For example, depending on the spacing and configuration of the connectors  18 , the voids  22  may be square or diamond shaped. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a view of the lattice  10  from  FIG. 1  having the framework  12  in a collapsed configuration. When in the collapsed configuration, the first and second laths  14 ,  16  can substantially abut each other such that no voids between the first and second laths  14 ,  16  are present, although small gaps between the laths  14 ,  16  may still be present in the collapsed configuration. 
         [0020]    To change the configuration of the lattice  10  from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration, the first and second laths  14 ,  16  are pivoted towards each other about the interlocking connectors  18 . 
         [0021]    In a preferred embodiment, the first and second laths  14 ,  16  are made of plastic and are injection molded. The plastic may be any suitable plastic such as high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene or polystyrene. Preferably, the connectors  18  are also made from plastic. Using plastic for the laths  14 ,  16 , the interlocking connectors  18  can be molded directly with the laths  14 ,  16  in the required shaped and configuration. Using plastic can also permit the laths  14 ,  16  to be collapsed and expanded many times without wear. A plastic lattice  10  also requires less maintenance than wood. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the first lath  14  having a plurality of male retainers or connectors  26 . The male connectors  26  are spaced along the first lath  14 . The lath  14  can comprise an elongated strip having opposing flat surfaces  28 . The male connectors  26  can all be provided on one of the flat surfaces  28 ; alternatively male connectors  26  can be provided on both flat surfaces  28 . 
         [0023]    The male retainers or connectors  26  can include a body  30  having at least one exterior perimetrical lip  32  and a plurality of recesses  34  in a spaced relationship. As seen in  FIG. 4 , the male connectors  26  comprise bodies  30  in the form of a series of cantilever projections  36  extending away from the flat surface  28  of the first lath  14 . The cantilever projections  36  each comprise a leg  38  extending perpendicular to the flat surface  28  and a flange  40  having a inclined surface  42  extending perpendicular to the legs  38 . The inclined surface  42  can taper in a direction away from the leg  38 , thereby forming a tapered outer surface. The height of the legs  38  is configured to correspond to the thickness of the second lath  16  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0024]    The flanges  40  collectively form the perimetrical lip  32 , with the gaps or recesses  34  disposed between the legs  38  and/or flanges  40  of the cantilevered projections  36 . The cantilevered projection  36  may be arranged in a ring, such that the male connector  26  is generally circular in shape. The flanges  40  making up the perimetrical lip  32  may be made of compliant material such that is deflects when the interlocking connection is made. The legs  38  may also be made of compliant material. 
         [0025]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , the cantilever projections  36  are spaced apart from one another to form gaps to provide the recesses  34 . The cantilever projections  36  may be arced or semi-circular, and together the body  30  defined by the cantilever projections  36  and recesses  34  forms a circular-shaped plug defining an annular inner aperture  44 . The lip  32  extends laterally outwardly from the aperture  44  in the lath  14 . The annular inner aperture  44  may be closed or covered by a portion the first lath  14  so as to not extend all the way through the lath  14  or may be hollow as illustrated. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective of the second lath  16  having a plurality of female retainers or connectors  46 . The female connectors  46  are spaced along the second lath  16  at distances corresponding to the spacing of the male connectors  26  along the first lath  14  shown in  FIG. 3 . The lath  16  can comprise an elongated strip having opposing flat surfaces  48 . The female connectors  46  can all be provided on one of the flat surfaces  48 ; alternatively female connectors  46  can be provided on both flat surfaces  48 , or, as shown herein, can extend through both flat surfaces  48  of the lath  16 . 
         [0027]    The female retainers or connectors  46  can include an opening  50  and a plurality of detents  52  extending into the opening  50 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , the female connectors  46  can comprise an opening in the form of an annular aperture  50  having detents  52  in the form of rounded protrusions  54  formed along a perimeter  56  of the annular aperture  50  and extending inwardly from the perimeter  56  into the aperture  50 . The rounded protrusions  54  have a width dimension to correspond to the width of the gaps or recesses  34  of the male connectors  26 , as seen in  FIG. 5  and are spaced about the perimeter of the annular aperture  50  in common alignment with the recesses  34 , such that the spacing corresponds to the spacing of the recesses  34  about the annular inner aperture  50  of the male connectors  26  as seen in  FIG. 5 . With the protrusions  54  in common alignment with the recesses  34 , the protrusions  54  can collectively be moved into and out of the recesses  34  as the laths  14 ,  16  are rotated relative to each other. The diameter of the annular aperture  50  is dimensioned such that the male connectors  26  may be received therein. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the interlocking connector  18 . The flanges  40  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) have been removed from the body  30  of the male connector  26  for clarity so as to show the legs  38  and the recesses  34 . The interlocking connector  18  comprises the male and female connectors  26 ,  46  on the laths  14 ,  16 . The body  30  of the male connector  26  of the first lath  14  is inserted into the annular aperture  50  of the female connector  46  of the second lath  16 . The aperture  50  is positioned within the perimetrical lip  32 , thereby pivotally mounting the connectors  26 ,  46  together. The flanges  40  making up the perimetrical lip  32 , not shown, may be made of compliant material such that is deflects inwardly when the inclined surface  42  contacts the outer perimeter of the annular aperture  50  until the male connector  26  is fully inserted, such the lip  32  contacts the flat surface of the second lath  16  and holds the first and second laths  14 ,  16  together. The taper of the inclined surface  42  facilities insertion of the male connector  26  into the female connector  46 . When in the expanded configuration as shown, the recesses  34  and the rounded protrusions  54  align such that the rounded protrusions  54  extend into the recesses  34 , holding the first and second laths  14 ,  16  in a perpendicular relationship and forming an interlocking connection. The interlocking connection can be configured to be removable, or such that the female connector  46  cannot be removed from the male connector  26  without damage. 
         [0029]    When moved to the collapsed configuration as shown in  FIG. 2 , the male connectors  26  and female connectors  46  rotate in opposite directions, causing the rounded protrusions  54  and recesses  34  to be misaligned, with the protrusions  54  positioned outside the recesses  34 . When the sheet of lattice  10  is folded, the protrusions  54  in the female connector  46  overlap the male connector  26 , creating interference. The rounded protrusions  54  exert a slight force on the legs  38  of the male connector  26  causing the legs  38  to slightly deflect inwards and allow for rotation of the first and second laths  14 ,  16 . This provides a small amount of resistance as a user expands the sheet of lattice  10  in an accordion manner. The protrusions  54  and recesses  34  can line up when the laths  14 ,  16  are perpendicular to one another, indicating to the user that the lattice  10  is ready for use. 
         [0030]    When moving the lattice  10  back to the expanded configuration, the rounded protrusions  54  snap back into the recesses  34 , indicating that the first and second laths  14 ,  16  are perpendicular to each other and that the lattice  10  is in the expanded configuration. A user is thereby provided with tactile feedback when the lattice  10  is in the proper expanded configuration. It will be understood that the male and female connectors  26 ,  46  may configured such that the first and second laths  14 ,  16  are not perpendicular in the expanded configuration of the lattice, such that the lattice voids  22  may have a plurality of shapes. 
         [0031]    Further, which all of the male connectors  26  are shown on one lath  14  and all of the female connectors  46  are shown on the other lath  16 , in other embodiments one lath  14 ,  16  can comprise a mixture of male and female connectors  26 ,  46 , with the other lath  14 ,  16  being provided with a corresponding mixture of female and male connectors  26 ,  46 . 
         [0032]    Still further, while the male and female connectors  26 ,  46  are shown as being spaced at regular intervals along the laths  14 ,  16 , other embodiments of the lattice  10  can include connectors having irregular spacing for a staggered look. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment of the connector  18  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , both the male and female connectors  26 ,  46  are circular. Other shapes for the connectors are also possible. One example is shown in  FIG. 9 , which is a front view of a lattice  10  having an expanded framework according to a second embodiment of the invention. The lattice may be substantially identical to the lattice  10  of  FIGS. 1-8 , and like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. In  FIG. 9 , the inner aperture  44  of the male connector  26  of the interlocking connector  18  forms a square shape for aesthetics and/or functionality. The female connector  46  may be circular as shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , or may be square as well. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 10-11  show a lattice  10  according to a third embodiment of the invention. The lattice  10  may be substantially identical to the lattice  10  of  FIGS. 1-8 , and like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The lattice of  FIG. 10  includes female connectors  46  in each of the laths  14 ,  16  that are in register with each other at the intersections  20  between the laths  14 ,  16 . The male connector  26  is formed as a separate plug member  58 . The pivotal connection  18  at the intersections  20  is formed by inserting the plug member  58  into the apertures  50  of the female connectors  46  of both laths  14 ,  16 . The plurality of detents  52  on the female connectors  46  on each of the first and second laths  14 ,  16  can be aligned in one of the collapsible or extended configurations of the lattice  10 . 
         [0035]    The plug member  58  can have a dual-sided configuration similar to the single-sided configuration of the male retainer  26  shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The plug member  58  includes a pair of juxtaposed exterior perimetrical lips  32 , and, when the apertures  50  in the female connectors  46  are positioned within one of the perimetrical lips  32  on the plug member  58 , the laths  14 ,  16  are thereby pivotally mounted to each other. Each lip  32  can include a plurality of recesses  34  in a spaced relationship. The recesses  34  may extend along an interior surface  60  of the plug member  58  between opposite sides of the male connector  26 , such that one recess  34  can accommodate a protrusion  54  from each lath  14 ,  16 . Alternatively, an individual recess  34  can be provided for each protrusion  54 . Each lip  32  can further include be provided with the inclined surface  42  on the flange  40  that can taper in a direction away from the center of the plug member  58 , thereby forming a tapered outer surface. 
         [0036]    As noted above, the materials and dimensions for the laths  14 ,  16  making up the lattice may vary. In one example that is applicable to any of the embodiments shown herein, the first and second laths  14 ,  16  may be in the range of 0.125″ thick and 1.25″ wide with the male connectors  26  having a diameter of around 0.50″ and the female connectors  46  having a diameter of slightly larger than 0.50″ and both spaced at regular intervals of 4.16″ along the first and second laths  14 ,  16 . Laths  14 ,  16  with such dimensions can be injection-molded plastic, including, but not limited to, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene or polystyrene. 
         [0037]    The embodiments of the invention provide for a number of benefits including that it allows the lattice to be stored, shipped, displayed and/or transported in the collapsed configuration, reducing the space required for storage, shipping and displaying and thereby saving on warehousing, shipping costs, and merchandizing costs while also allowing for easy transportation by the user. Traditional lattices are assembled in large sheets by the manufacturer. The lattice is sold in sheet form, which is difficult to transport and handle, especially for the end consumer. The lattice of the embodiments of the invention shown herein can be collapsed after initial assembly so that that lattice can be stored, shipped, or transported in a compact configuration, and expanded on-site. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible with the scope of the foregoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which, is defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.