A SUPPORT FITTING FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE AND/OR ASSEMBLY OF FURNITURE

Abstract: A support fitting for use especially but not exclusively in mounting and/or locating a structural component of an article of furniture, the support fitting comprising a body defining a pair of co-planar angularly-disposed passages (23, 25) open to the same face of the body and each being adapted to receive an edge of a structural component. The passages are normally disposed relative to one another, and preferably centrally intersect one another with a mounting dowel or pin (26) located at the centre of the central planes of intersection of the passages on the face of the body remote from the passages.

Description: A SUPPORT FITTING FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE AND/OR ASSEMBLY OF FURNITURE This invention relates to a support fitting for use especially but not exclusively in the manufacture and/or assembly of furniture and which is adapted to support and/or locate, inter alia shelves, panels, divisions, partitions, rails, strips and other structural components. Various known support fittings are employed in the manufacture and/or assembly of articles of furniture. Examples are a simple stud (of varying configurations) on which, for example, a shelf can freely rest, and a simple U-clip which, for example, frictionally grips the opposed surfaces of a shelf or panel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a support fitting which is substantially more versatile and adaptable than existing known support fittings. According to the present invention there is provided a support fitting for use especially but not exclusively in mounting and/or locating a structural component of an article of furniture, the support fitting comprising a body defining a pair of co-planar angularly-disposed passages open to the same face of the body and each being adapted to receive an edge of a structural component. Preferably the passages are normally disposed relative to one another. Preferably, the body is of unitary construction and is moulded from a plastics material. Preferably, the body has on its face remote from the passages a mounting dowel or pin. The dowel or pin is preferably moulded integral with the body. Preferably the passages centrally intersect one another. Preferably the dowel or pin is located at the centre of the central planes of intersection of the passages. Preferably both passages are open at both ends. The intersecting passages may be disposed in L- configuration or T-configuration or other branched configuration. Each passage may include a step and/or the passages may be stepped relative to one another. The term "co-planar" used herein and in the accompanying claims is to be construed accordingly. The passages (or one of them) may be of different width along their (or its) length. The support fitting may be employed in any angular attitude on any vertical, inclined or horizontal supporting surface. Preferably, the support fitting body is of cruciform configuration, preferably of right-angled cruciform configuration. One of the passages may be closed at one end while the other passage is open-ended. The mounting means for the support fitting may comprise two or more spaced dowels or pins. Preferably the support fitting is for supporting a light rail and is adapted to be secured to a supporting panel, the support fitting comprising a channel or passage for receiving a light rail and normal to the channel or passage at least one other passage adapted to receive and locate the edge of a shelf at opposed surfaces of the shelf. Preferably there are two shelf support passages, one at each side of the light rail supporting passage or channel. Preferably the light rail supporting passage or channel is open at one end to facilitate insertion, and locking or withdrawal of the light rail. The light rail may be slotted to receive and locate an edge of the shelf. Locking pegs may be insertable into the light rail to traverse the location slot therein (and the shelf) to secure and lock the shelf in position. The location slot may be omitted and, in this instance, no locking pegs are provided. The opposed edge of the shelf may be supported relative to the end panel by a U-clip, preferably of moulded construction. The U-clip may have a mouth of reduced dimension to provide a frictional grip for the shelf. This may be provided by slightly converging the limbs of the u. Alternatively, the limbs are internally formed with retaining pips internally of the limbs at the mouth of the U. * - The light rail/shelf fitting and retaining clips are preferably dowel fitted into the end panel on 32mm centres. A shelf support stud may be provided which comprises a substantially C-shaped body with lateral securing or fitting wings and with the opening of the C converging towards the mouth thereof to provide a frictional gripping characteristic. This support stud is preferably dowel secured in position with a dowel being provided on each lateral wing but may have a single mounting dowel centrally of its closed side. Preferably there is provided, for use in association with the support fitting of the present invention, or separately thereof, a support clip of U-configuration having a mounting dowel or pin extending from one side of its closed end and lyin^ in a plane extending parallel with and centrally of the limbs of the U. Preferably the support clip is of moulded plastics construction. Preferably, the limbs of the U are of reduced spacing at or adjacent their free ends to provide a frictional or resilient grip. Preferably, the limbs (or one of them) at the edge nearer the mounting dowel or pin have an inward projection to prevent a structural component held by the support clip from abutting a surface into which the support clip is connected. Preferably the support clip has at its closed end a step adapted to permit a blade or tool to be inserted between the support clip and a supporting surface to permit the support clip to be prised away from the supporting surface. The single point dowel or pin mounting permits the support clip to be secured at any angular attitude relative to a supporting surface, whether vertical, inclined or horizontal. The present invention also includes a kit of parts for use in manufacturing and/or assembling articles of furniture for example and comprising at least one support fitting as hereinbefore defined and at least one support clip as hereinbefore defined. Preferably the kit of parts also includes at least one support stud as hereinbefore defined. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figs. 1 to 3 are respectively a front view, an end view and a plan view of a preferred support fitting; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred . upport fitting; Figs. 5 to 7 are respectively a side view, and end view and a plan view of a support clip useable in association with the support fitting; Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an article of furniture employing the support fitting of Figs. 1 to 4, and the support clip of Figs. 5 to 7; Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an article of furniture showing various uses of a first modified support fitting; Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing uses of a second modified support fitting and also a support stud; Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly of furniture structural components showing use of the support studs; Figs. 12 to 14 are respectively a rear view, a side view and a plan view of an alternative support stud construction; Fig. 15 is an* exploded perspective view similar to Figs. 8 and 9 showing a second modified support fitting; and Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively a side view and an end view of a buffer for use in furniture assembly. Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 4, the preferred support fitting 20 is of unitary moulded plastics construction, preferably injection moulded from nylon or polyvinylchloride, and comprises a relatively flat body 21 with shallow projecting parallel walls 22 defining a first passage 23 along one face of the body 21. The shallow walls 22 have towards the centre of the body 21 raised or deeper wall portions 24 spaced apart to define gaps 25 which constitute a second passage normal to the passage 23 and co-planar therewith. Integral with the body 21 on the face thereof remote from the normally-intersecting passages 23 and 25 is a single mounting dowel or pin 26 disposed at the centre of the central planes of intersection A and B of the passages 23 and 25 respectively. It is to be noted that the gaps 25 (see alternative gap 25A) need not be of the same width. This support fitting 20 can be used in any angular attitude on any supporting surface (vertical, inclined or horizontal) to mount, support and/or guide one or more structural components (see Fig. 8). Usually it will be used with the main passage 21 disposed horizontally or vertically. The dowel or pin 26 is simply force fitted or pushed into a retaining hole in a supporting surface to present the passages 23 and 25 for receiving the edge or edges of structural components. A support clip 30 is provided for use in association with the support fitting . 20, or separately thereof. This clip is of unitary moulded plastics construction like the support fitting 20 and comprises an essentially U-configuration body 31. The closed end 32 of the body 31 has an integral laterally-extending mounting dowel or pin 33 disposed on the plane parallel with and disposed centrally between the limbs 34 of the clip 30. The limbs 34 at their inner surfaces are inwardly tapered towards their free ends as indicated at 35 or are stepped as indicated at 36 (see Fig. 8) to provide a resilient gripping characteristic for the clip. At the edge of each limb 34 nearer the dowel or pin 33 adjacent the free end the limb 34 has an inwardly-directed raised portion 37 which prevents a structural component SC gripped between the limbs 34 abutting a supporting surface SS into which the clip 30 is mounted. This ensures that inadvertent egress of the clip 30 out of the supporting surface SS is prevented, the raised portions 37 being jammed between the supporting surface SS . and the structural component SC. The clip 30 at the dowel or pin 33 has its closed end 32 stepped as indicated at 38 to provide a gap between the closed end 32 of the clip 30 and the supporting surface SS. Thus a blade or tool generally indicated at 39 can be inserted into the gap 38 to prise the clip 30 free from the supporting surface. Here again it will be manifest this support clip 30 can be used in any angular attitude on any support surface (vertical, inclined or horizontal). The aforesaid support fittings 20 and support clips 30 can be used in any suitable numbers and combinations to suit the manufacturing, locating and/or guiding situation involved. Reference is now made to Fig. 8 which illustrates an example of combined use of the support fittings 20 and support clips 30. In Fig. 8 there is shown an article of furniture comprising two end panels 40 (only one shown) on each of which., is mounted a support fitting 20 with the passage 23 in vertical attitude, its dowel 26 being located in a hole 41 in the panel 40. An edge of a light rail 42 is located within passage 23 between walls 22, 24 the light rail 42 having a slot 43 which is aligned with the passage 25. The bottom of the light rail 42 is supported in any convenient manner, for example simply by resting on a bottom wall of the article of furniture, or by engaging in passage 23 of a support fitting 20 (or more than one such fitting) having its dowel engaged vertically in a hole in the bottom wall, or by engaging in a support clip 20 mounted on the end panel 40 and disposed with its open end upwards so that the bottom edge of the light rail 42 sits therein. A glass shelf 44 at each of two opposed edges is located in passage 25, its back edge engaging in the slot 43 of the light rail 42. The front edge of the glass shelf 44 is received at each- end in a support clip 30 disposed as shown and with its dowel 33 engaged in another hole 41. Referring now to Figs. 9 to 11, the support fitting 50 is of unitary construction and is formed by an injection moulded process of any convenient plastics material such, for example, as nylon or polyvinylchloride. It comprises a body of right-angled cruciform configuration including two parallel spaced walls 51 and 52 connected at one end by a bridging wall 53. These walls 51, 52 and 53 define a passage 54 into which a shelf edge can be received and located at three surfaces by abutment against these walls. Each wall 51 and 52 intermediate its ends (centrally of its ends as shown in the examples of Figs. 9 and 11 and nearer one end as shown in the example of Fig. 10) is interrupted as indicated at 51A and 52A. At each wall interruption 51A and 52A and extending laterally of, and normal to, each wall 51 and 52 away from the passage 54 is a support element 55 and 56 respectively of lesser depth than the walls 51 and 53 inclusive. The support elements 55 and 56 and edges 51B and 52.B of walls 51 and 52 define a passage 57 normal to the passage 54, the passage 57 being open-ended. Each support element 55, 56 has an integral dowel 55A, 56A on its surface remote from wall interruptions 51A and 52A. The bridging wall 53 is recessed as indicated at 53A along one surface and is adapted, if desired, to receive and mount a push-fit, rubber or soft plastics buffer 58 at said recessed region 53A. The abovedescribed support fitting 50 will usually be used with and mounted on vertical supporting surfaces 59 or horizontal supporting surfaces 60 but may also be employed with inclined supporting surfaces. When used with a vertical supporting surface 59, the bridging wall 53 may be disposed vertically or it may be disposed horizontally at either the top or bottom of the fitting 50 depending on how the fitting 50 is located relative to the supporting surface 59. In Fig. 9, the vertical supporting surface 59 is, say, the end panel or division wall of a cupboard which is formed with locating holes 61 adapted to receive dowels 55A, 56A. While the spacing between pins 55A and 56A could be any convenient distance it is preferred but not essential that it be 32mm or 64mm centres to fit modern furniture multi-boring equipment. It should be noted that each support fitting 50 has two dowels 55A, 56A so that increased shelf loading capacity is achieved. In Fig. 9, with support fittings 50 mounted on the vertical supporting surface 59 a shelf 62 of any convenient construction supported in the fittings 50 between the walls 51 to 53 is secured or locked against forward or rearward or vertical up-and-down movements. It will be manifest that these support fittings 50 resist any bodily movement of a shelf 62 in normal use or if the cupboard, showcase or whatever is being moved or transported whether the shelf 62 is in a peninsular or showcase location. A fitting 50A with a buffer 58 mounted thereon may be employed as a door buffer or stop, the fitting 50A bf. ing shown in the example of Fig. 9 as being secured to the underneath of the shelf 62 at the front edge thereof. Such a use of the support fitting has many applications. For example, on kitchen units and glass display cabinets. Also in Fig. 9, the support fitting 50 is shown mounted on a base panel 60 (it could additionally be mounted on a top or roof panel) to lock a vertical division wall 63 three-ways. An example of such a use of the support fittings is internal division of a records cabinet. It will be manifest that at each side of a locked division 63 there could be inserted loose divisions 64 located by support elements 55 and 56 and between wall edges 51B and 52B. This permits considerable versatility on, for example, shop countertops, drawer box divisions, video cassette retainers. In Fig. 11, the fitting 50 is shown used in a different attitude on a vertical panel 65 .secured to a front muntin or post 66. Here the fitting 50 is located with the bridging wall 53 uppermost. A shelf 67 is supported in the passage 57 in this instance. In this disposition of the support fitting 50 it can support the shelf 67 anywhere along its length, usually centrally between back and front edges of the shelf 67. Also in Fig. 11, the support fitting 50 is shown used on a muntin or post 68 to support a shelf 69 centrally between end panels, say, of a kitchen cabinet. Here, the support fittings 50 have rubber buffers 58 fitted to act as door stops or buffers, but it will be manifest that the support fittings 50 can be used - in this particular application without the buffers 58. Reference is now made to Fig. 10 and here it will be noted that in the fittings 50 passage 5 is narrower than passage 57A (in the previous examples they were the same width) . Also it will be noted that passage 57A while being normal to passage 54A is nearer one end of the latter, i.e. it is not central. This configuration is especially but not exclusively useful for holding a glass shelf 70 inside a furniture unit to prevent the shelf 70 from moving forwardly, rearwardly and up-and-down relative to an end panel 71 and back panel 72 of the unit. With this arrangement an air flow gap 73 can be provided between the shelf 70 and the back panel 72. if the unit has a light rail 74 fitted then to accommodate this there is provided a channel member 75 with dowels 76 adapted to receive the rail 74 and configured as indicated at 77 to engage around support element 56. The glass shelf 70 will, in this instance, trap the light rail 74. In Fig. 10, there is shown a single passage, three-way " location shelf support 80 with mounting dowels 81 which may be used with a rail mounting channel 82 similar to channel 75 and a locating stud 83, or alternatively with a pair of such studs 83. Studs 83 can be used separately or in pairs for shelf support; or with rail mounting channels 75, 82; or support fittings 50 and/or shelf supports 80; or in any combination of all these. Reference is now made to Figs. 15 to 17 which show an article of furniture comprising two end panels 90 (only one shown) to each of which is secured a support fitting 91 of moulded plastics material of channel configuration with a back wall 92 formed with two vertically-spaced openings or windows 93A, 93B. The back wall 92 mounts two dowels 94 insertable in holes 95 in the end panel 90 at, say, 32mm centres. The openings or windows 93A, 93B may be filled in. The support fitting 91 has a peripheral wall 96 which is open at one end, say the top, as indicated at 97 for insertion or withdrawal of, for example, a light rail generally indicated at 98 which rests on and is vertically held by the peripheral wall 96. Midway of the peripheral wall 96 at each ' vertical side is a passage 99 defined by a pair of lateral, vertically-spaced extensions 100 of the peripheral wall 96. Each passage 99 is adapted to support a glass shelf 101 or a shelf of other material. The passage 99 is constructed so as to accommodate shelves of differing thickness. The light rail 98, in this instance, is formed with a slot 102 to receive and support the adjacent edge of the glass shelf 101. It is envisaged that this slot 102 may be omitted. Also, vertical passages 103 traverse the light rail 98 from its upper edge to the lower side of the slot 102 and plastics locking pegs 104 are -insertable therein. The other edge of the glass shelf 101 is supported by a support clip 30 (see Figs. 5 to 7). In fitting the shelf. 101, it is first inserted into the slot 102 and is then slightly retracted into the support clips 30 and the locking pegs 104 are then inserted into passages 103 to abut the rear edge of the shelf 101 in the slot 102, thereby locking the shelf 101 firmly in position at the front and the rear edges and from above and below at both said edges. Such locking renders the article of furniture highly suitable for transport or other movements in the assembled condition. Due to the spacing between the dowels and the spacing provided between locating holes in the panels 10 the whole assembly is vertical!.' adjustable to suit the user's requirements. Also due to the construction of the light - 13 - fitting assembly it is easily and readily disassembled for, for example, replacement of a light bulb. This light fitting assembly permits a 5 manufacturer to machine and polish individual components independently of the main furniture carcass and to assemble said components into the latter when required. Shelf stud 105 which can be used as an ° alternative to support clips 30 is of C-configuration with slightly converging limbs 106 from each of which extends a lateral wing 107 mounting a locating dowel 108. A U-shaped door buffer 109 for push fitment, for 5 example, onto the glass shelf 101 and having a radiussed buffer surface 110 may be employed. It is to be noted that the support fittings disclosed herein are either non-handed (see support fitting 20) or are readily reversible (see support 0 fittings 50 and 91).

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A support fitting for use especially but not exclusively in mounting and/or locating a structural component of an article of furniture, the support fitting comprising a body defining a pair of co-planar angularly-disposed passages open to the same face of the body and each being adapted to receive an edge of a structural component. 2. A support fitting as claimed in claim 1, in which the passages are normally disposed relative to one another. 3. A support fitting as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the body is of unitary construction and is moulded from a plastics material. 4. A support fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the body has on its face remote from the passages a mounting dowel or pin. 5. A support fitting as claimed in claim 4, in which the dowel or pin is moulded integral with the body. 6. A support fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the passages centrally intersect one another. 7. A support fitting as claimed in claim 6, in which the dowel or pin is located at the centre of the central planes of intersection of the passages. 8. A support fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which both passages are open at both ends. 9. A support fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the body is of cruciform configuration, preferably of right-angled cruciform configuration. 10. A support fitting for use especially but not exclusively in mounting and/or locating a structural component of an article of furniture, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 11. A kit of parts comprising at least one support fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 and at least one support clip of U-configuration having a mounting dowel or pin extending from one side of its closed end and lying in a plane extending parallel with and centrally of the limbs of the U. 12. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 11, in which the or each U-shaped support clip has limbs of reduced spacing at or adjacent their free ends to provide a frictional or resilient grip. 13. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 11 or 12 in which the limbs (or one of them) of the or each U-shaped support clip at the edge nearer the mounting dowel or pin have an inward projection to prevent a structural component held by the support clip from abutting a surface into which the support clip is connected. 14. A kit of parts as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 in which the or each support clip has at its closed end a step adapted to permit a blade or tool to be inserted between the support clip and a supporting surface to permit the support clip to be prised away from the supporting surface. 15. A kit of parts as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 comprising at least one support stud comprising a substantially C-shaped body with lateral securing or fitting wings and with the opening of the C converging towards the mouth thereof to provide a frictional gripping characteristic, the support stud having a mounting dowel on each lateral wing or a single mounting dowel centrally of its closed side.

Inventors: RYLES HOWARD DAVIDSON, RYLES, HOWARD, DAVIDSON
Applicants: DAVIDSON RYLES HOWARD, RYLES, HOWARD, DAVIDSON
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A47F3
IPC codes: F16B12