CONNECTING DEVICES FOR INTERCONNECTING TWO COMPONENTS AT RIGHT ANGLES

Abstract: A connecting device for interconnecting components such as drawer wall panels at right angles to one another has the respective projections (5,6) extend at right angles to one panels to be interconnected, the respective projections (5,6) which engage with the panels being carried on separate parts of the connecting device which may be interengaged so that the respective projections (5,6) extend at right angles to one another. In this way the connecting device may be supplied in separable parts which can be packed flat, the parts being interengaged during assembly of the drawer or other article so that the projections and the wall panels or other compo­ nents engaged therewith extend at right angles to one another.

Description: Titl@@ Improvements @n @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ The invention relates to connecting devices for interconn@cti components ot right angles to one another and i especi@lly, but not exclusivcly applicable to components for use in the constructinn of articles of furniture including drawers. Mony articles of furniture are suppli@d to customers in @ "knock-down" form, that is to say in the form of separote components which are @ssembled by the customer to form the artcle of furniture concerned. In the case of articles of furniture incorporating drawers the drawers are commonly olse supplied in "knock-down" form and comprise wall panels which are interconnected at right angles by corner connectors and are assembled in conjunction with a base and facio board to form a complete drawer assembly. Dr@wers constructed in this m@nner c@n be pocked in relativoly flat form since the wall panels, base and focio all consist basically of flat boards. However the connecting members which are used to interconnect the wall panels ot right angles to one another have spigots or similar projoctions extending from them in two directions ot right angles and cannot therefore t;e packed flat. It is on object of the present invention to provide o connecting device for interconnecting components such os drawer wall panels ot ric'ht angles to one another in which this drow- back is obvieted er mitigated. According to the invention there is provided a connacting device for interconnecting components at right angles to @ne another and hoving projections adopted to engage with the ends of the components to be interconnected, the respective proj ections which eng@@@ with such components being carried en sep@rote parts nf tie connecting device which may he inter- engaged such thnt the respactive projections extend at right angles to one another. In this way the connocting device may be supplied to the customer in separable parts which can be packed flat, the parts being interengaged during assembly of the article such that the projections and the components engage therewith extend at right angles to one another. Preferably one of said ports includes a corner piece on which the associated projection is carried, the corner piece being hollow ond bsina adapted to receive o portion of said other part, means being provided for enraging the said portion in the corner piece such that the respective projections extend from the assembled connecting device in two directions at right angles to one another. The connecting device may 5 provided with o single projection for engagement with each of the components to be interconnected or with a plurality of projections for each component. Said portion of the part which engages with the hollow corner piece may extend into the corner piece from the side from which the projection or projections will extend after assembly or the part which engages with the corner piece may be arranged to pass through the corns piece from the opposite side. Preferably the parts which form the connecting device are interengaged by means of internal projections in the hollow corner piece which co-operate with apertures or recesses in the portion of the other part which engages with the corner niece. The projections moy he engaged with the components to be interconnctod in any suitable manner, for example by means of adhesive. In the cose of connecting devices for interconnecting drawer side w@lls, the projections are preferably provided with releosable locking means for engagement with the wall ponces. Where the wall panels are of hollow extruded plastics form the projections may he adapted to engage within the open ends of the panels, the locking means comprising projecting detents on the projections which engane with apertures adjacent the end of the panel. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by woy of exomple only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 ore perspective views showing the parts of a corner connector for use in interconnecting drawer wall panels before assembly; Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the assembled corner connector; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the menner in which the connector is used to interconnect the drawer wall panels; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative for of corner connector in its assembled condition; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the components of the corner connector shown in Fig. 6 before assembly; ; Fig. 8 is a view of the separated components from the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 7; ond Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are views similar to Fios. 6, 7 an u showing an alternative embodiment, Peferring to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a corner connector for interconnecting two drawer wall panels at right angles to one another. The connector is intended for use with wall panels of extuded plastic form and is provided with n first projection 5 and a second projection 6, extending ot right angles to one nnnther from a body member or corner post 7. Each of the projections 5, h is of @enerally U-shaped form in crass-section and carries a projecting detent 9 which engages with a complementary hole in the side wall of the associated panel. In this way the panel may be disenganed from the corner post subsequent to assembly if desired. The corner connector is constructed from two separable ports which are shown in their separated condition in Figs. 1 and 2. The body member 7 is hollow and carries the spigot 6. The other spigot 5 is provided with an extension 10 which is adapted to be inserted within the hollow intericr of the corner nost 7 to an extent limited by abutment of projections 11 with the upper and lower ends of the corner post. The extension 10 is provided with apertures 12 which engage with detents 13(Fig. 1) formed within the hollow body portion of the post 7. In tl1is way the two parts con be locked together to form the assembled corner piece as shown in Figs. 3 and t. In use of the connecting device two of the mole components incorporating the extensions 10 are inserted in each end of the drawer back as shown in Fig. 5 ond retained in position by engagement of the detents 9 with the holes in the panel. The extensions 10 therefore project from eoch end of the rear wall panel but are disposed in the same general plane as the panel. Two of the female components incorporating the body portions 7 are inserted in the rear end of eoch of the drawer side wall panels and are retained in position by engagement of the detents 9 with the holes in the associated panels. Each body portion 7 projects beyond the end of the ossocinted sickle wall panel but is again disposed in the same general plane. The components may therefore be packed flat without any parts prajectina at right angles to the general plane of the wall panels to which they are fitted. \'1iien it is desired to assemble the drawer the extcnsions 10 are pushed into the body portions 7 of the associated female components cs indicated by the arrows in Fig. j and engage with the detents 13 thereby locking the two parts of the connecting device together with the spigots 5, 6 and hence the panels with which they are engaged, extending at right angles to one another. If it is desired to disassemble the drawer the walls can be disengoged from the corner connector by releasing the detents 9 from the complementary holes in the panels. The drawer is completed by o drawer bottom which engoges with grooves (not visible in Fig. 5) formed in the inner faces of the side and back wall panels, and a drawer front attached to the forward ends of the side wall panels. The projections 11 form extensions cf the upper end lower faces of the corner posts 7 such that they are of rectangular shape in plon. This results in the side and back wall panels overlopning one- another at the inside of the corner which avoids the appearance of unsightly gaps due to variations in manufacturing tolerances. Referring new to Fin. 6, there is shown a corner connector for interconnecting two drawer wall panels at right angles to one another. The connector is intended for use with wall panel; of extruded plastic form and is provided with a first series of three projections 15 and a second series of three projections 16, the respective series extending at right angles to one another froa a hody ember or carrier post 17. The corner post 17 is in upper and lower sections separated by a recess 1@ which, when the corner post and panels are assembled, is aligned with a rebate cr groove in the side wall panel by meons of which the drawer is mounted on o runner, a similar runnsr being provided at te opposite side. Each of the spigots is of generally U-shaped f"rm in cross-section ond carries a projection detent 19 which engages with a coapienentary hole in the side wall of the associated panel. In this oy the panel may be disengaged from the corner post subsequent to assembly if desired. The corner cnnnector is constructed from two separable parts which ore shown in their separated condition in Figs. 7 and @. The body member 17 is hollow and corries the series of spigots 16. The other series of spigots 15 are corried by a face plate 20 which is also provided on its opposite side with projecting lugs 21 adapted to engage within the hollow interior of the corner post 17. The lugs 21 are provided with apertures 22 which engage with detents 23 (Fig. 8) formed within the hollow body portion of the post 17. In this way the two parts can be locked together to form the assembled corner piece as shown in Fig. 6. The face plate 20 is provided with a cutout 24 for alignment with the opening 18 in the corner post 17 to accommodate the drawer runner. A similar cutout is provided adjacent the other end of the plate 20 and serves a similar purpose when the component is reversed as is necessary when forminrJ the other corner of the drawer. Left and right hand versions of the female component incorporating the body member 17 ore required. In use of the connecting member, one of the mole components incorporating the lugs 21 is inserted in each end of the drawer back and retoined in position by engagement of the detents 19 with the holes in the panel. The lugs 21 therefore project from each end of the rear wall panel but are disposed in the same general plane as the panel. One of the female components incorporating the body portion 17 is inserted in the rear end of each of the drawer side wall penis and is retained in position by engagement of the detents 19 with the holes in the associated panels. The body portion 17 projects beyond the end of the associated side wall panel but is again disposed in the same general plane. The components may therefore be packed flat without any parts projecting at right annles to the general plane of the wall panels to which they are fitted. When it is desired to assemble the drawer the lugs 21 cre pushed into the body portions 17 of the associated female components and engage with the detents 23 thereby locking the two parts of the connecting member together with the series of spigots 15, 16 and hence the panels with which they are engaged, extending at right angles to one another. If it is desired to disassamble the drawer the walls can be disennaged from the corner connector by releasing thedetents 19 from the complementary holes in tile panels. It will be noted thot a slot 25 is forked adjacent the lower end of the body member 17 and a complementory slot 26 adjacent the lower end of the face plate 20. These slots serve to accommodate the corner of the drawer bottom which engages with grooves formed in the inner faces of the side and back wall panels. Referring to Figs. 9 to 11 of the drawinss, Fig. 9 shows an assembled corner cnnncctor and is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 6. In this cose howevcr the manner of interconnecting the two ports differs from that of the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 to 8. As con be seen from Figs. 10 and 11 the femele component incorporates a body member or post 37 which is in the form of a collar or sleeve which is open at opposite ends so that the male component may be inserted complet@ly through the female component from one end. The female component incorporates one set of spigots 36 carrying detents 39 in the manner of the equivalent component in the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 8. In this case the other set of spigots 35 are carried on bac: plates 40A and 40B and are of such a length thot the spigots may be inserted completely through the body member 37 to project at the opposite side hy the desired final distance. The two upper spigots are carried by the plate 40A and the lower spigot by a separate p].ate 40B. In this case no separate means of locking the two parts together is provided, the male components being retained in place by engagement of the detents 39 with the holes in the associated wall panel of the drawer. The portions of the spigots 35 adjacent to the back plates 40A and 40B could h@wever he provided with opertures for engagement wlth detents famed within the hollow portion of the body menber 37. In use of this embodiment the female components cre engaged in the rear ends of the side panels of the drawer and the male components are supplied in loose form. When it is desired to assemble the drawer the male components are inserted through the hollow body portions 37 of the female components and into the open ends of the drawer bac until the detents 39 engage with the complementary opertures in the hock panel. The series of spigots 35, 3 and the panels with which they engage therefore extend at right angles to one another. If it is desired to dismantle the drawer the panels can be released from the corner connectors by disengaging the detents 39 from the associated apertures in the wall panels. This, the @mb@diments dcscribed enable n drawer construction consisting of wall panels interconnected at right angles to be pucked in a substantially flat fornr without ports of the ccrner connectors projecting out of the general plane of the associated componerlts. This enables savings in space to be effected and reduces the likelihood of damage due to breakage of projection parts. After unpacking the components can be quickly and eosily crected to form a drawer construction while still preserving the facility for dismantling the drawer if required. Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example any desired number, size ond arrange- ment of spigots may he provided for engagerrcnt with the respective wall panels. Other means of releesably interconnecting the spigots and the associated wall panels may also be utilised and if dismantlin is not required a more permanent form of connection, such as by use of adhesive, m@y he adopted. The components described ore porticularly suitable for use in constructing drawers hoving hollow extruded oll panels but the invention ray also be applied to drawers hawing wails formed from @oulded or solid panels ole to connectors for interconnectior u wide variety of components other than drawer panels.

Claims: 1. A connecting device for interconnecting component. at right angles to one another and having projections adopted to engage with the ends of the components to be interconnected, chorocterised in that the respective projections which engage with such compon- ents are carried cn separate ports of the connecting device which may be interengaged such thot the respective projections extend at right angles to one another. 2. A connecting device accordion to cloir.i 1 characterised in t'net one of soid parts includes a corner piece on which the associate projection is carried, the corner piece being hollow end being adapted to receive a portion of said other part, means being provided for engaging the said portion in the corner piece such that the res?ective projections extend from the assembled connect in device in two directions at right angles to one another. 3. h connecting device according to claim 2 characterised in thot said portion of the part which engages with the hollow corner piece extends into the corner piece from the side from which the proj ection will extend after assembly. 4. A connecting device according to claim 2 characterised in thot the projection on the part which engages with the hollow corner piece is arranged to pass through the corner piece from the side opposite to thot fron which the projection will extend after assembly. 5. A connecting device according to any of claims 2 to 4 choroct- erised in that the parts which form the connecting dovice are inter- engaged hy meons of internal. projections in said hollow corner piece which co-operate with apertures or recesses in the portion of the other part which engages with the corner piece. 6. A connecting device accarding to any preccding claim charocterised in thnt said projections are adapted to engage r'ith the components to he interconnected by means of releasable locking means. 7. A connecting device according to claim 6 charocterised in that said releasable locking neons comprises projecting detents on said projections odapted to engage with complementary apertures provided adjacent the ends of the components to be interconnected. 8. A connecting device according to any of cloims 1 to 5 characterised in that said projections are adapted to engage with the components to be interconnected by means of odhesive. 9. A connecting device according to any preceding claim choract- erised in that a plurality of projections are provided for engagement 'ith eech of the co;npancnts to be interconnected. 10. h drawer having back and side walls characterised in that the back and side walls are interconnected by connecting devices according to any of the preceding claims. 11. A wail for a drawer comprising a panel member having apertures in its opposite ends charcterised by connecting member @ng@@d in ot least one of said apertures and adapted for engagement with a complementary connecting member corried by a further separate wall panel whereby to interconnect the panels at right angles to one another. 12. A wall for @ drawe@ according to claim 11 choracterised in that said connecting members are releas@bly engoc1ed with the associated wall panels.

Inventors: HARDY, TERENCE, LITCHFIELD, LEON GEORGE
Applicants: L.B. (PLASTICS) LIMITED
Application year: 1979
Main classification: A47B88
IPC codes: A47B88