Connecting device

Abstract: A connecting device for constructing a framework, comprising a nut (5) and a nut holder (1) made of synthetic resin for holding the nut (5) in a predetermined position in a T-groove (7) provided in one side of an elongated standardized member (6). The nut holder (1) consists of an elastically deformable portion (4) and two projections (3) integrally formed with the opposing ends of the deformable portion (4) which has a width slightly greater than that of the T-groove. In use the nut is lodged between the projections (3) of the nut holder (1), the nut holder is then inserted into the T-groove (7), and once in the T-groove, the deformable portion of the nut holder (1) remains elastically deformed, thus frictionally holding the nut at the predetermined position.

Description: The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a first member, such as a long aluminum member, to a second member, said device having a nut to be inserted in a T-groove cut in one side of the first member (e.g. WO-A 90/04723). Hitherto, in order to connect members of standard sizes and shapes, thereby to build frames for machines or buildings, the bolts fixed to some of the standardized members of a first group are put into screw engagement with the nuts inserted in the T-grooves cut in the standardized members of the second group. The nuts can slide in the T-grooves, which are larger than the nuts. Therefore, any first-group member can be connected to a second-group member, at any position with respect to the second-group member. To secure the first-group member at the desired position, the nut in the T-groove of the second-group member must be held at a predetermined position. To this end, a nut holder made of spring steel and slightly curving is used. More specifically, the nut and the nut holder are inserted together into the T-groove, such that the holder pushes, by virtue of its spring force, the nut onto a surface of the T-groove, thereby holding the nut at the predetermined position. This conventional method of connecting a standardized member to another is disadvantageous in four respects. First, as the nut holder made of spring steel is made to slide in the T-grove to bring the nut to the desired position in the T-groove, it scratches the surfaces of the T-groove. Second, it is not easy to slide the nut holder to the desired position. Third, the nut holder gets rusted over a long use. Fourth, the nut holder is expensive since it is made of spring steel. It is the object of the present invention to provide a connecting device for connecting a first member, such as a long aluminum member, to a second member, said device comprising a nut and a nut holder which can slide smoothly in a T-groove cut in one side of the first member and can reliably hold the nut at a predetermined position in the T-groove of the first member. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connecting device comprising a nut having a screw hole made in the center portion, and a nut holder shaped like a plate, made of synthetic resin and having a through hole having substantially the same diameter as the screw hole of the nut. The nut holder has two projections at the opposing ends, and a portion extending substantially at right angles to the projections, being able to be deformed elastically, and having a width greater than the width of the T-groove of a member, into which the nut and the nut holder are to be inserted. The nut is held in the gap between the projections, and the nut holder, holding the nut, is forcedly pushed into the T-groove, with its deformable portion elastically deformed. According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a connecting device comprising an elongated nut and a nut holder shaped like a plate and made of synthetic resin. The nut has screw holes and recesses and can be inserted in a T-groove cut in a member and extending in the lengthwise direction of the member. The nut holder has projections and an elastically deformable portion. The nut is held on the nut holder, with the projections of the holder fitted in the recesses of the nut. The nut holder, thus holding the nut, is inserted in the groove of the member, with the deformable portion of the nut holder forcedly elastically bent inwardly. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connecting device comprising a nut having a screw hole made in the center portion, and a nut holder made of synthetic resin and having a through hole larger than the screw hole of the nut. The nut holder has two projections at the opposing ends, and one deformable portion extending substantially at right angles to the projections. The deformable portion can be deformed elastically, and has a width greater than the width of the T-groove of a member, into which the nut and the nut holder are to be inserted. The nut is held in the gap between the projections, and the nut holder, holding the nut, is forcedly pushed into the T-groove, with its deformable portion deformed elastically. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a connecting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view showing of the nut holder of the connecting device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a right-side view illustrating the nut holder; Fig. 4 is a front view of the elongated nut of a connecting device according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the elongated nut; Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a connecting device according to the third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a connecting device according to a third embodiment of this invention; and Fig. 8 is a partially sectional view illustrating the device shown in Fig. 7. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 through Fig. 3 illustrate the connecting device according to the first embodiment of the invention. As is shown in this figure, the connecting device comprises a nut holder 1 and a square nut 5. The nut holder 1 is a plate made of synthetic resin. As is best shown in Fig.2, it has a through hole 2 cut in the center portion. As is clearly shown in Fig. 3, both end portions of the nut holder 1 are bent, forming two projections 3. The remaining portion 4, which extends between the projections 3 at right angles thereto, is gently curved outwardly and can be deformed elastically. As is shown in Fig. 1, the square nut 5 is pushed into the gap between the projections 3 of the nut holder 1, and the nut holder 1 is inserted into a T-groove 7 cut in one side of an elongated member 6. The elastically deformable portion 4 of the nut holder 1 is slightly bulging outward and has, thus, a width a little greater than the T-groove 7. Hence, when the nut holder 1 is pushed into the T-groove 7, the portion 4 is compressed, creating friction between the nut holder 1 and the surfaces of the T-groove 7. As a result, the square nut 5 is held at a desired position within the T-groove 7 of the member 6. Thus, another member can be connected to the member 6 at that desired position, by putting the bolt secured to the other member into screw engagement with screw hole of the nut 5. Since the square nut 5 is held in the nut holder 1, while being inserted into the T-groove 7 and being moved to a desired position within the T-groove 7, it does not scratch the surfaces of the T-groove 7 at all. Further, since the nut 5 is held in the nut holder 1 by virtue of moderate friction, it can easily be moved in the nut holder 1, to have its screw hole axially aligned with the bolt of the other member which is to be fastened to the member 6. The connection device according to the second embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to Fig. 4 through Fig. 6. As is illustrated in Fig. 6, this device also comprises a nut holder 1 and a nut 10 which is elongated. As can be understood from Fig. 6, the nut holder 1 is identical in structure to the nut holder used in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the elongated nut 10 has two screw holes 11 and two parallel grooves 12. The grooves 12 are cut in that portion of the elongated nut 10 which is located between the screw holes 11, and extend at right angles to the axis of the elongated nut 10. As is shown in Fig. 6, the projections 3 of the nut holder 1 are fitted in the grooves 12 of the elongated nut 10, and the nut holder 1 and the elongated nut 10 are inserted into the T-groove 7 of the member 6. Once the nut holder 1 has been set in the T-groove 7, its deformable portion 4 is deformed elastically, generating friction between itself and the surfaces of the T-groove 7. By virtue of this friction, the elongated nut 10 is held at a desired position in the T-groove 7. In the second embodiment, the nut holder 1 can easily holds the elongated nut 10 at any desired position in the T-groove 7 of the member 6. In addition, after another member (not shown) is connected to the member 6 by means of the connecting device, the elongated nut 10 disperses, to the member 6, the force exerted from the other member. This dispersion of force ensures a very firm connection of the two members. The connecting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to Figs. 7 and 8. This connecting device comprises a nut 20 and a nut holder 24 for holding the nut 20. As can be understood from Figs. 7 and 8, the nut 20 has a trapezoidal cross section. The nut holder 24, which also has a trapezoidal cross section, is comprised of a pair of rectangular plates 22 and a pair of trapezoidal plates 23. The plates 23 connect the rectangular plates 22. The plates 23 have a width slightly greater than that of the T-groove 28 of a member 26, into which the nut holder 24 is to be inserted. As is shown in Fig. 8, the T-groove 28 has also a trapezoidal cross section. Hence, once set in the T-groove 28, the nut holder 24, and hence the nut 20 held therein, can smoothly move in the T-groove 18, without vibrating at all. In order to fasten another member to the member 26, by means of connecting device shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the nut 20 is set within the gap between the rectangular plates 22 of the nut holder 24. Then, the nut holder 24 is inserted into the T-groove 28 of the member 26. Since the width of the nut holder 24 is a little greater than that of the T-groove 28, the trapezoidal plates 23 of the nut holder 24 are compressed or elastically deformed, thus generating friction between the nut holder 24 and the surfaces of the T-groove 28. By virtue of the friction, the nut holder 24 can be held at any position within the T-groove 28. Thus, the other member can be connected to the member 26 at any desired position, as its bolt is put into the screw engagement with the trapezoidal nut 20. With the third embodiment of the invention, it is possible to move the nut holder 24 smoothly in the T-groove 28, while holding the nut 20 steadily. According to the present invention, the shapes of the nut and the nut holder are not limited to those described above. In other words, the nut and the nut holder can have any other shapes. For example, the projections or elastically deformable portions of the nut holder can have any shapes so long as they hold the nut steadily at any desired position in the T-groove of a standardized member. As has been described, in any embodiment of the invention, the nut holder made of synthetic resin holds the nut and remains in frictional contact with the surfaces of the T-groove of the standardized member, thus holding the nut at any desired position in the T-groove. Since the nut contacts none of the surfaces of the T-groove, it does not damage the surfaces of the T-groove. Further, the nut holder can smoothly move in the T-groove, without damaging the surfaces of the T-groove. Hence, the nut can easily be moved in the nut holder 1, to have its screw hole or holes axially aligned with the bolt or bolts of another member which is fastened to the standardized member. In addition, the nut holder, which is made of synthetic resin, does not get rusted and can be manufactured at low cost. The connecting device according to the present invention can easily be assembled, merely by fitting the projections of the nut holder into the recesses made in the nut. Once in the T-groove of a standardized member, the connecting device, thus assembled, serves to connect firmly another standardized member to the member. The connecting member can, therefore, help to assemble a frame or the like cpmprised of standardized members.

Claims: A connecting device for connecting an elongated member (6) and another member, wherein a T-groove (7) is provided in a side of the elongated member (6) and extends lengthwise of the elongated member (6), the said device comprising a nut holder (1) for insertion at a predetermined position in the T-groove (7), and a nut (5) held by the nut holder (1), said device being characterized in that, said nut holder (1) is of plate form made of synthetic resin and comprising an elastically deformable mid-portion (4) having a through hole (2) and a transverse width between two opposing ends thereof which is slightly greater than the transverse width of said associated T-groove, and projections (3) integrally formed with the two opposing ends of the elastically deformable portion (4) and extending substantially at right angles to the elastically deformable portion (4), said nut holder (1) being insertable and held in said T-groove (7), with the deformable portion (4) deformed elastically in use; and said nut (5) is held in the gap between the projections (3) of said nut holder (1) and thus in use is located at a predetermined position in said T-groove (7), said nut (5) having a screw hole made in a center portion and axially aligned with the through hole (2) of said nut holder (1). A connecting device for connecting an elongated member and another member, wherein a T-groove (7) is provided in a side of the elongated member (6) and extends lengthwise of the elongated member (6), the device comprising a nut holder (1) for insertion at a predetermined position in the T-groove (7), and an elongated nut (10) held by the nut holder (1), said device being characterized in that, said nut holder (1) is made of synthetic resin, and comprises an elastically deformable portion (4) having a through hole (2) and a transverse width transverse to the direction of its through hole (2) slightly greater than the transverse width of the associated T-groove (7), and projections (3) extending substantially at right angles to the elastically deformable portion (4), the nut holder (1) being insertable and held in said T-groove (7), with the deformable portion (4) of the nut holder deformed elastically in use; and said elongated nut (10) is held by said nut holder (1) and thus in use is located at the predetermined position in said T-groove (7), and has a plurality of screw holes (11) and a plurality of grooves (12) holding the projections (3) of said nut holder (1). The connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastically deformable portion (4) of said nut holder (1) bulges slightly at the side edges thereof extending between the projections (3) of said nut holder. A connecting device for connecting an elongated member (26) and another member, wherein a T-groove (28) is provided in a side of the elongated member (26) and extends lengthwise of the elongated member (26), the device comprising a nut holder (24) for insertion in the T-groove (28) to be located at a predetermined position, and a nut (20) held in the nut holder (24) and thus located at the predetermined position, said device being characterized in that, said nut holder (24) is made of synthetic resin, has a through hole, and comprises a first opposite longitudinally extending pair of holding members (22) for holding said nut (20) and a second opposite transversely extending pair of side members (23) extending substantially at right angles to the holding members (22) and joining the holding members together, the nut holder (24) having a minimum transverse width measured in the direction of said side members (23) which is slightly greater than the minimum transverse width of said associated T-groove (28); and said nut (20) is held in the gap between said holding members (22). A frame sub-structure comprising at least two interconnected frame members, one having the T-groove with a connecting device according to any one of the preceding claims with a nut holder and nut installed therein, and the other frame member being secured to the first frame member by a screw or bolt screw-threadingly engaged with the said nut.

Inventors: NOMURA RYOICHI, NOMURA, RYOICHI
Applicants: NIC AUTOTEC CO LTD, NIC AUTOTEC CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: F16B37
IPC codes: F16B37