Patent Publication Number: US-11375810-B2

Title: Connection device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connecting structure and more particularly to a connection device for use with furniture. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,911,037 B2 discloses a bracket for mounting a drawer slide to a main panel on a cabinet wall. The main panel has an upper flange, a lower flange, a recess provided between the upper flange and the lower flange, and an access ramp extending between one of the side edges of the main panel and the recess. The main panel is mounted on the cabinet wall. The bracket is attached to the drawer slide. The upper flange and the lower flange of the main panel are configured to capture an upper edge and a lower edge of the bracket respectively. The recess of the main panel is configured to receive a nub of the bracket such that the nub is movable in the recess to allow the horizontal position of the bracket to be adjusted with respect to the main panel. 
     As the nub is connected to a panel portion of the bracket in a continuous manner and hence cannot be moved with respect to the panel portion of the bracket (i.e., the nub is stationary with respect to the panel portion of the bracket), it can be difficult to mount the bracket to the main panel. To meet different user needs and provide consumers with more alternatives, therefore, it is important to develop connecting products different from the bracket cited above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connection device configured to facilitate the connection between two objects. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a connection device includes a base and a bracket. The base is provided with an upper feature, a lower feature, and a middle wall disposed between the upper feature and the lower feature. The middle wall has a first side and a second side. A first guiding structure is provided adjacent to one of the first side and the second side, and a first position-limiting structure is provided adjacent to the other of the first side and the second side, wherein the first guiding structure and the first position-limiting structure define a first moving space therebetween. The bracket is configured to be movably mounted on the base and is provided with an upper portion, a lower portion, and a middle portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. The middle portion is provided with a first elastic portion. In the course in which the bracket is mounted to the base from the first side toward the second side of the base in a first direction, the first elastic portion of the bracket is guided into the first moving space by the first guiding structure of the base, and the upper portion and the lower portion of the bracket are mounted to the upper feature and the lower feature of the base respectively. 
     Preferably, in the course in which the bracket is mounted to the base from the first side toward the second side of the base in the first direction, the first elastic portion of the bracket is guided by the first guiding structure of the base into a state in which the first elastic portion stores an elastic force. 
     Preferably, a second position-limiting structure is provided adjacent to the one of the first side and the second side of the base, and a second guiding structure is provided adjacent to the other of the first side and the second side of the base, wherein the second guiding structure and the second position-limiting structure define a second moving space therebetween. It is also preferable that the middle portion of the bracket is provided with a second elastic portion, and that in the course in which the bracket is mounted to the base from the first side toward the second side of the base in the first direction, the second elastic portion of the bracket is brought into contact with the second position-limiting structure of the base, releases an elastic force upon moving past the second position-limiting structure, and thus enters the second moving space. 
     Preferably, in the course in which the bracket is mounted to the base from the second side toward the first side of the base in a second direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction, the second elastic portion of the bracket is guided into the second moving space by the second guiding structure of the base, and the upper portion and the lower portion of the bracket are mounted to the upper feature and the lower feature of the base respectively. 
     Preferably, the second elastic portion and the first elastic portion are adjacent to the upper portion and the lower portion of the bracket respectively. 
     Preferably, the base includes an upper wall and a lower wall. The upper wall includes a first wall section and a second wall section bent with respect to the first wall section, and the first wall section and the second wall section jointly define the upper feature. The lower wall includes a third wall section and a fourth wall section bent with respect to the third wall section, and the third wall section and the fourth wall section jointly define the lower feature. 
     Preferably, the second wall section of the base is substantially perpendicularly connected to the first wall section. 
     Preferably, the fourth wall section of the base is substantially perpendicularly connected to the third wall section. 
     Preferably, the first elastic portion has a smaller size than the first moving space, and the second elastic portion has a smaller size than the second moving space. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a connection device is configured for use with a piece of furniture that includes a first furniture member and a second furniture member. The connection device includes a base and a bracket. The base is configured to be mounted on the first furniture member and has a first side and a second side. A first guiding structure is provided adjacent to one of the first side and the second side, and a first position-limiting structure is provided adjacent to the other of the first side and the second side, wherein the first guiding structure and the first position-limiting structure define a first moving space therebetween. The bracket is configured to be connected to the second furniture member and be movably mounted on the base and is provided with a first elastic portion. The first elastic portion of the bracket is configured to be mounted in the first moving space of the base. 
     Preferably, the base includes a connecting hole, and the base is connected to the first furniture member by passing a fixing member through the connecting hole. 
     Preferably, the base includes at least one mounting feature, and the base is connected to the first furniture member through the at least one mounting feature. 
     Preferably, the first furniture member is a cabinet, and the second furniture member is a slide rail, wherein the slide rail has a length direction substantially perpendicular to the base. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, a connection device includes a base and a bracket. The bracket is movably mounted on the base. One of the base and the bracket has a first side and a second side. A first guiding structure and a second position-limiting structure are provided adjacent to one of the first side and the second side, and a first position-limiting structure and a second guiding structure are provided adjacent to the other of the first side and the second side. The first guiding structure and the first position-limiting structure define a first moving space therebetween, and the second guiding structure and the second position-limiting structure define a second moving space therebetween. The other of the base and the bracket is provided with a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion. The first elastic portion is configured to be mounted in the first moving space, and the second elastic portion is configured to be mounted in the second moving space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the process by which the bracket of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted to the base of the connection device in a predetermined direction; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing that the bracket of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is further moved in the predetermined direction in order to be mounted on the base; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing that the bracket of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is further moved in the predetermined direction in order to be mounted on the base; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing that the bracket of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the base; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing that the base of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted to a first furniture member; and 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing that the base of the connection device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the first furniture member, and that the bracket of the connection device is mounted on a second furniture member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the connection device  20  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base  22  and a bracket  24 . 
     The base  22  has two opposite portions defined respectively as a first portion  26   a  and a second portion  26   b , such as but not limited to a front portion and a rear portion. The first portion  26   a  is provided with an upper feature  28  and a lower feature  30 , and the base  22  includes a middle wall  32  provided between the upper feature  28  and the lower feature  30 . The middle wall  32  has two opposite sides defined respectively as a first side  34   a  and a second side  34   b , such as but not limited to a left side and a right side. A first guiding structure G 1  is provided adjacent to the first side  34   a , and a first position-limiting structure B 1  is provided adjacent to the second side  34   b . The first guiding structure G 1  and the first position-limiting structure B 1  define a first moving space S 1  therebetween. The first guiding structure G 1  and the first position-limiting structure B 1  lie along substantially the same first horizontal direction T 1  (e.g., a first transverse direction). Preferably, there are also a second position-limiting structure B 2  provided adjacent to the first side  34   a  and a second guiding structure G 2  provided adjacent to the second side  34   b , and the second guiding structure G 2  and the second position-limiting structure B 2  define a second moving space S 2  therebetween. The second guiding structure G 2  and the second position-limiting structure B 2  lie along substantially the same second horizontal direction T 2  (e.g., a second transverse direction). The second horizontal direction T 2  is substantially parallel to the first horizontal direction T 1 . Preferably, the first guiding structure G 1  and the second guiding structure G 2  have substantially the same structural configuration (e.g., each of the first guiding structure G 1  and the second guiding structure G 2  includes an inclined surface or a curved surface), and the first position-limiting structure B 1  and the second position-limiting structure B 2  have substantially the same structural configuration (e.g., the first position-limiting structure B 1  is a wall (e.g., a vertical wall or a sidewall) provided on the second side  34   b  of the base  22 , and the second position-limiting structure B 2  is a wall (e.g., a vertical wall or a sidewall) provided on the first side  34   a  of the base  22 ). 
     The bracket  24  is configured to be mounted on the base  22  in a movable manner. For example, the bracket  24  can be adjusted, i.e., displaced, horizontally (e.g., transversely) with respect to the base  22 . More specifically, the bracket  24  is provided with an upper portion  36 , a lower portion  38 , and a middle portion  40  disposed between the upper portion  36  and the lower portion  38 . Here, by way of example, the upper portion  36  is an upper flange, and the lower portion  38  is a lower flange. The middle portion  40  is provided with a first elastic portion  42 . 
     Preferably, the middle portion  40  of the bracket  24  is further provided with a second elastic portion  44 , and the first elastic portion  42  and the second elastic portion  44  have substantially the same structure but are arranged in opposite directions. For example, the first elastic portion  42  includes a connecting section  42   a  and an end portion  42   b  located away from the connecting section  42   a  (see  FIG. 3 ), the connecting section  42   a  is connected to the middle portion  40  of the bracket  24 , and the end portion  42   b  is lifted to a predetermined height with respect to the connecting section  42   a  Similarly, the second elastic portion  44  includes a connecting section  44   a  and an end portion  44   b  located away from the connecting section  44   a  (see also  FIG. 3 ), the connecting section  44   a  is connected to the middle portion  40  of the bracket  24 , and the end portion  44   b  is lifted to the predetermined height with respect to the connecting section  44   a.    
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the middle portion  40  of the bracket  24  has a first receiving space K 1  and a second receiving space K 2 , and the first elastic portion  42  and the second elastic portion  44  can be moved with respect to the first receiving space K 1  and the second receiving space K 2  respectively. 
     Preferably, the end portion  42   b  of the first elastic portion  42  and the end portion  44   b  of the second elastic portion  44  point to opposite directions. For example, the end portion  42   b  of the first elastic portion  42  points to a first direction D 1  whereas the end portion  44   b  of the second elastic portion  44  points to a second direction D 2 , wherein the first direction D 1  and the second direction D 2  are two opposite directions, such as but not limited to a rightward direction and a leftward direction. 
     Preferably, the bracket  24  includes an extension portion  46  extending from the middle portion  40 , and the extension portion  46  has a longitudinal length. 
     Preferably, the second elastic portion  44  and the first elastic portion  42  are adjacent to the upper portion  36  and the lower portion  38  of the bracket  24  respectively. 
     Preferably, the base  22  includes an upper wall  48  and a lower wall  50 . The upper wall  48  includes a first wall section  48   a  and a second wall section  48   b . The second wall section  48   b  is bent downward with respect to the first wall section  48   a , and the first wall section  48   a  and the second wall section  48   b  jointly define a groove that serves as the upper feature  28 . The lower wall  50  includes a third wall section  50   a  and a fourth wall section  50   b . The fourth wall section  50   b  is bent upward with respect to the third wall section  50   a , and the third wall section  50   a  and the fourth wall section  50   b  jointly define a groove that serves as the lower feature  30 . 
     Preferably, the second wall section  48   b  of the base  22  is substantially perpendicularly connected to the first wall section  48   a , and the fourth wall section  50   b  of the base  22  is substantially perpendicularly connected to the third wall section  50   a.    
     Preferably, the base  22  includes at least one connecting hole  52  in communication with the first portion  26   a  and the second portion  26   b . Here, two connecting holes  52  are provided by way of example. 
     Preferably, the base  22  includes at least one mounting feature  54  provided on the second portion  26   b . Here, two mounting features  54  are provided by way of example, and the two mounting features  54  are projections. 
     Preferably, one of the base  22  and the bracket  24  includes plastic. Here, both the base  22  and the bracket  24  are made of plastic by way of example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , the bracket  24  has two opposite edges defined respectively as a first edge E 1  and a second edge E 2 . To assemble the connection device  20 , the bracket  24  can be mounted to the base  22  from the first side  34   a  toward the second side  34   b  of the base  22  in the first direction D 1 , or from the second side  34   b  toward the first side  34   a  of the base  22  in the second direction D 2 . Here, by way of example, the bracket  24  is mounted to the base  22  in such a way that the first edge E 1  of the bracket  24  is moved from the first side  34   a  toward the second side  34   b  of the base  22  in the first direction D 1  (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ). The first elastic portion  42  and the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  are in an initial state before assembly begins. When the bracket  24  is being mounted to the base  22  from the first side  34   a  toward the second side  34   b  of the base  22  in the first direction D 1 , the end portion  42   b  of the first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  comes into contact with the first guiding structure G 1  of the base  22  (see  FIG. 5 ), and the connecting section  44   a  of the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  comes into contact with the second position-limiting structure B 2  of the base  22  (see also  FIG. 5 ). 
     When the bracket  24  is further moved from the first side  34   a  toward the second side  34   b  of the base  22  in the first direction D 1  in order to be mounted on the base  22 , referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  is guided by the first guiding structure G 1  of the base  22  and is thus brought from the initial state into a state in which the first elastic portion  42  stores a first elastic force (see  FIG. 6 ) in order to be received in the first receiving space K 1 . On the other hand, the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  is held down by the second position-limiting structure B 2  of the base  22  and is thus brought from the initial state into a state in which the second elastic portion  44  stores a second elastic force (see  FIG. 6 ) in order to be received in the second receiving space K 2 . 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  show how the bracket  24  and the base  22  are eventually mounted on each other. When the bracket  24  is further moved from the first side  34   a  toward the second side  34   b  of the base  22  in the first direction D 1  in order to be mounted on the base  22 , the first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  is mounted into the first moving space S 1  of the base  22 ; for example, the first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  is guided into the first moving space S 1  by the first guiding structure G 1  of the base  22 , is held down by the first portion  26   a  of the base  22 , and is thus kept in the state in which the first elastic portion  42  stores the first elastic force (see  FIG. 7 ), wherein the first elastic portion  42  has a smaller size than the first moving space S 1 . On the other hand, the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  is mounted into the second moving space S 2  of the base  22 ; for example, the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  starts with contact with the second position-limiting structure B 2  of the base  22 , releases the second elastic force upon moving past the second position-limiting structure B 2 , and ends up in the second moving space S 2  (see  FIG. 7 ), wherein the second elastic portion  44  has a smaller size than the second moving space S 2 . During the process, the upper portion  36  and the lower portion  38  of the bracket  24  are also movably mounted into the upper feature  28  and the lower feature  30  of the base  22  respectively. The operation of mounting the bracket  24  to the base  22  is completed when the first elastic portion  42 , the second elastic portion  44 , the upper portion  36 , and the lower portion  38  of the bracket  24  are all mounted in place. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the bracket  24  and the base  22  can be adjusted, i.e., displaced, horizontally (e.g., transversely) with respect to each other once they are mounted on each other. For example, the bracket  24  can be displaced with respect to the base  22  in the first direction D 1  as far as a first limit position, where the end portion  42   b  of the first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  is blocked by the first position-limiting structure B 1  of the base  22  (see  FIG. 3 ). The bracket  24  can also be displaced with respect to the base  22  in the second direction D 2  as far as a second limit position, where the end portion  44   b  of the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  is blocked by the second position-limiting structure B 2  of the base  22  (see also  FIG. 3 ). 
     It is worth mentioning that when the bracket  24  is mounted to the base  22  by passing the second edge E 2  of the bracket  24  from the second side  34   b  toward the first side  34   a  of the base  22  in the second direction D 2 , referring to  FIG. 3 , the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  will be guided into the second moving space S 2  by the second guiding structure G 2  of the base  22 , and the first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  will be moved past the first position-limiting structure B 1  of the base  22  and end up mounted in the first moving space S 1 , with the upper portion  36  and the lower portion  38  of the bracket  24  movably mounted in the upper feature  28  and the lower feature  30  of the base  22  respectively. This mounting operation can mount the bracket  24  to the base  22  just as well (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the connection device  20  is applied to a piece of furniture that includes a first furniture member  56  and a second furniture member  58 . For example, the first furniture member  56  is a wall (such as but not limited to the rear wall) of a cabinet, and the second furniture member  58  is a slide rail whose longitudinal length direction L is substantially perpendicular to a horizontal direction T (e.g., a transverse direction) defined by the first portion  26   a  of the base  22 . 
     The second portion  26   b  of the base  22  can be connected to the first furniture member  56  by passing at least one fixing member  60  through the at least one connecting hole  52  of the base  22  and/or by connecting the at least one mounting feature  54  of the base  22  to a corresponding feature  62  (e.g., a mounting hole) of the first furniture member  56 . The extension portion  46  of the bracket  24  can, on the other hand, be connected to the second furniture member  58 . For example, the second furniture member  58  and the extension portion  46  can be connected by mechanical engagement, threaded connection, riveting, or the like; the present invention has no limitation in this regard. The matching structures of the bracket  24  and the base  22  allow the second furniture member  58  and the first furniture member  56  to be adjusted in position with respect to each other. As the principle by which the bracket  24  and the base  22  can be adjusted in position with respect to each other has been disclosed above, the same principle will not be stated repeatedly. 
     It can be known from the above that the connection device  20  according to the foregoing embodiment preferably has the following features:
     1. In contrast to the conventional bracket disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,911,037 B2, whose nub is immovable with respect to the panel portion of the bracket and hence makes it difficult to mount the bracket to the main panel, the bracket  24  in the embodiment described above can be mounted to the base  22  easily and effortlessly thanks to the elasticity of the first elastic portion  42  (or of the second elastic portion  44 ), which moves elastically to enter the first moving space S 1  (or the second moving space S 2 ) of the base  22  while the bracket  24  is being mounted to the base  22 .   2. Once mounted on each other, the bracket  24  and the base  22  can be moved with respect to each other. For example, the bracket  24  can be adjusted in position horizontally (in the first direction D 1  or the second direction D 2 ) with respect to the base  22 .   3. The bracket  24  can be mounted on the base  22  by passing the first edge E 1  of the bracket  24  from the first side  34   a  toward the second side  34   b  of the base  22  in the first direction D 1 , or by passing the second edge E 2  of the bracket  24  from the second side  34   b  toward the first side  34   a  of the base  22  in the second direction D 2 . That is to say, the bracket  24  can be mounted in two directions.   4. The first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  can be mounted in the first moving space S 1  of the base  22 , and the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  can be mounted in the second moving space S 2  of the base  22 . As the end portion  42   b  of the first elastic portion  42  of the bracket  24  is configured to be blocked by the first position-limiting structure B 1  of the base  22 , and the end portion  44   b  of the second elastic portion  44  of the bracket  24  by the second position-limiting structure B 2  of the base  22 , the bracket  24  can be horizontally displaced with respect to the base  22  only within a limited range.   5. The second elastic portion  44  and the first elastic portion  42  are adjacent to the upper portion  36  and the lower portion  38  of the bracket  24  respectively.   

     While the present invention has been disclosed through the preferred embodiment described above, the embodiment is not intended to be restrictive of the scope of the invention. The scope of the patent protection sought by the applicant is defined by the appended claims.