Patent Abstract:
A method and apparatus shapes and dimensions the flanges of angle plates to ensure that the plates can be stacked without nesting.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to angle plates. 
     More particularly, the invention relates to angle plates which are mounted on channel flanges that are at the end of a sheet metal duct. The angle plates are mounted at the corners of the duct. Each angle plate on the end of one duct is placed in registration with and bolted to an angle plate on the end of an adjacent duct. This bolting operation connects the angle plate—channel flange structure at the end of one duct to the angle-plate—channel flange structure at the adjacent end of another duct to secure the two duct ends together. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,100 to Goodhue. 
     2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 C.F.R. 1.97 and 1.98. 
     As is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,100 to Goodhue, during installation of angle plates in channel flanges, it is desirable to stack a plurality of angle plates in registration with each other and to laterally slide and displace one angle plate at a time out from the stack, much like the top and bottom card in a deck of cards can be laterally slid and displaced from the deck when the other cards are held. When each of the conventional angle plates  10 ,  11 ,  12  in a stack tend to nest in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, this interferes with the lateral displacement and sliding of an angle plate from a stack of angle plates. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, conventional angle plates include upstanding feet or flanges  13 ,  14 ,  15  which each depend and extend outwardly from a peripheral side area of legs and corners that comprise in part each angle plate. These flanges  13 ,  14 ,  15  permit the partial nesting of angle flanges one in the other. One way to prevent the nesting permitted by upstanding flanges  13 ,  14 ,  15  is disclosed in the Goodhue patent and comprises utilizing projections  46 ,  47  (FIGS. 3, 20, 21 of Goodhue) which depend upwardly from the legs and corner of each angle plate. 
     One disadvantage of the structure set forth in the Goodhue patent is that it requires, in the inner areas of an angle plate, the formation of auxiliary metal projections  46 ,  47  (FIGS. 3, 20, 21 of Goodhue) extending upwardly from the legs and corner and intermediate the flanges  40  which extend along the outer edges of the legs and corner of the angle plate. Flanges  40  in the Goodhue patent are comparable to the feet or flanges  13 ,  14 ,  15  in FIG.  1 . 
     It would be advantageous if the manufacture of an angle plate did not require the formation of new metal projections in the inner areas of the angle plate in order to remedy the nesting problem caused by the shape of flanges which extend along the sides of the angle plate. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved angle plate. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved angle plate which facilitates the sliding lateral displacement and removal of the angle plate from a plurality of like angle plates stacked in registration one on top of the other. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an improved angle plate which prevents nesting in the improved angle plate of a like angle plate by utilizing the flanges which extend outwardly from the peripheral side area of the legs and corner of the improve plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
     These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view illustrating several angle plates in stacked, nested registration; 
     FIG. 2 is a side section view illustrating a flange of an angle plate constructed to prevent the nesting of another angle plate stacked on top of the angle plate of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the angle plate flange of FIG. 2 further illustrating the construction thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the angle plate flange of FIG. 2 further illustrating the construction thereof; 
     FIG. 4A is a top view further illustrating the angle plate of FIGS. 2 to  4 ; 
     FIG. 4B is a section view taken along section line  4 B— 4 B in FIG.  4 A and further illustrating construction details of the angle corner; 
     FIG. 4C is a section view taken along section line  4 C— 4 C in FIG.  4 A and further illustrating construction details of the angle plate; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a plurality of angle plates of FIG. 2 in stacked registration with each angle plate positioned for ready sliding, lateral displacement when the remaining angle plates are held in position; 
     FIG. 6 is a side section view taken along section line  6 — 6  in FIG.  7  and illustrating an alternate flange construction in an angle plate in accordance with the principles of the invention; and, 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the flange of FIG. 6 further illustrating construction details thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved angle plate for joining together channel shaped flanges at an end of a duct. The improved angle plate includes a first leg having an inner side and an outer side; a second leg having an inner side and an outer side; and at least a first flange on the first leg. The first flange projects from one of a pair including the inner side and the outer side of the first leg. The first flange includes an outer edge spaced apart from the first leg. The angle plate also includes at least a second flange on the second leg. The second flange projects from one of a pair including the inner side and the outer side of the second leg. The second leg includes an outer edge spaced apart from the second leg. The angle plate also includes a corner integrally joining together the legs in angular relation. The outer edges of the first and second flanges are shaped and dimensioned to prevent nesting and to permit the sliding lateral displacement of single plates in a stack of plates. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved method for preventing angle plates from nesting when stacked. The angle plates function to join together channel shaped flanges at an end of a duct. The angle plates each include a plurality of legs; a corner integrally joining together the legs in angular relation; and, a plurality of flanges outwardly projecting from at least one of the group consisting of the legs and the corner. Each flange includes an edge. The improved method includes the step of shaping and dimensioning at least one of the flange edges to contact an angle plate stacked on the edge and prevent the stacked angle plate from nesting. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved angle plate for joining together channel shaped flanges at an end of a duct. The improved angle plate includes a first leg having an inner side and an outer side; a second leg having an inner side and an outer side; a corner integrally joining together the legs in angular relation and having an inner side and an outer side; and, at least a first and second flange each projecting from one of the group comprising the inner side of the first leg, the inner side of the second leg, and the inner side of the corner. When horizontally oriented, the angle plate has a center of gravity spaced apart from the angle plate intermediate the first and second legs. The first and second flanges are shaped and dimensioned to support at least three points a second horizontally oriented angle flange which is slid over and contacts the first and second flanges. 
     In still another embodiment of the invention, I provide an angle plate for joining together channel shaped flanges at an end of a duct. The improved angle plate includes a first leg having an inner side, an outer side and a distal end; a second leg having an inner side, an outer side and a distal end; a corner integrally joining together the legs in angular relation; and, at least a first and second flange each projecting from one of the group comprising the inner side of the first leg and the inner side of the second leg. The first and second flanges are shaped and dimensioned such that the distal ends of a like angle plate being slid over the first and second flanges slidably contact the first and second flanges and are displaced away from the first and second legs, respectively. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiment of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 2 to  5  illustrate an improved angel plate  20  constructed in accordance with the invention and including generally flat panel shaped legs  22 ,  32  and corner  42 . Legs  22  and  32  are presently preferably integrally formed with corner  42  but can be attached to corner using any desired fasteners or fastening means. 
     Flanges outwardly depend and project from the sides of legs  22  and  32  and corner  42 . Flange  21  outwardly depends and projects from the outer side  83  of leg  22 . Flange  28  outwardly depends and projects from the inner side  82  of leg  22 . Flange  43  outwardly depends and projects from the outer side  85  of leg  32 . Flange  44  outwardly depends and projects from the inner side  84  of leg  32 . Flange  50  outwardly depends and projects from the outer side  87  of corner  42 . Flange  51  outwardly depends and projects from the inner side  86  of corner  42 . Flange  50  is integrally formed with flanges  21  and  43 . Flange  51  is integrally formed with flanges  28  and  44 . Flanges  43  and  44  are generally normal to leg  32 , however, the angle between leg  32  and each flange  43 ,  44  can vary as desired. Flanges  21  and  28  are generally normal to leg  22 , however, the angle between leg  22  and each flange  21 ,  28  can vary as desired. Flanges  50  and  51  are generally normal to corner  42 , however, the angle between flanges  50 ,  51  and corner  42  can vary as desired. 
     Flange  21  includes linear upper edge  25 . Flange  43  includes linear upper edge  37 . Flange  44  includes linear upper edge  38 . Flange  26  includes linear upper edge  26 . The shape and dimension of flanges  21 ,  28 ,  43 ,  44 ,  50 ,  51  can vary as desired. 
     Rectangular lip  33  projects upwardly from corner  42 . Leg  32  includes elongate area  34  which is slightly raised with respect to the surface  90  extending intermediate area  34  and flanges  43 ,  44 . Leg  22  includes a similar raised area  34 A. 
     As is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to  4 , dimple  23  is formed in flange  21  and is spaced above leg  22 . Dimple  23  includes arcuate edge  24 . Edge  24  extends inwardly away from edge  25  a sufficient distance to prevent an angle plate  60  from nesting in angle plate  20  when plate  60  is identical in shape and dimension to plate  20  and when plate  60  is stacked on top of and in registration with plate  20  in the manner illustrated in FIG.  5 . In FIG. 2, edge  24  is generally at a height above leg  22  which is equal to the height above leg  22  of edge  25 . The height of edge  24  above leg  22  can be greater than the height of edge  25  above leg  22 . However, it is not presently preferred that the height of edge  24  above leg  22  be less than the height of edge  25  above leg  22 . The shape and dimension of edge  24  and dimple  23  can vary as desired. 
     Dimple  35  formed in flange  43  has a shape and dimension equal to that of dimple  23 . The upper arcuate edge  36  of dimple  35  also, like edge  24 , extends inwardly from edge  37  a distance sufficient to prevent a like angle plate from nesting in plate  20  when the like angle plate is stacked on and in registration with plate  20 . 
     Arm  39  depends on and outwardly projects from flange  44 . The upper edge  92  of arm  39  is at a height above leg  32  which is equal to the height above leg  32  of edge  38 . While the height of edge  38  above leg  32  can vary with respect to the height of edge  37  above leg  32 , it is presently preferred that the height of edges  38  and  37  above leg  32  be equal. Similarly, the height of edge  25  and edge  26  above leg  22  can vary. It is, however, presently preferred that the height of edges  26  and  25  above leg  22  be equal. Similarly, it is presently preferred that the height that flange  50  extends above corner  42  be equal to the height that flange  51  extends above corner  42 . The height of each flange  43 ,  44 ,  50 ,  51 ,  21 ,  28  is presently equal, although it may be desirable for the heights of certain of or all of these flanges to vary. 
     Dimple  39  depends outwardly from flange  44 . Upper edge  92  of dimple  39  is at a height above leg  32  which is equal to the height above leg  32  of edge  38 . The height of edge  92  above leg  32  can be greater than the height above leg  32  of edge  38 . Dimple  39  includes sloped surface  40 . Dimple  39  is spaced above leg  32 , but can, if desired, contact or be integrally formed with leg  32 . 
     Dimple  39 A depends outwardly from flange  28 . Upper edge  92 A of dimple  39 A is at a height above leg  22  which is equal to the height above leg  22  of edge  26 . The height of edge  92 A above leg  22  can be greater than the height above leg  22  of edge  26 . Dimple  39 A includes sloped surface  40 A. Dimple  39 A is spaced above leg  22 , but can, if desired contact or be integrally formed with leg  22 . 
     Upper edges  92  and  92 A perform the same function as upper edges  24 ,  36  and contact and prevent the nesting of the bottom of an angle plate which is stacked on top of edges  24 ,  36 . Consequently, when a like angle plate  60  is stacked on top of plate  20  in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5, the bottom  100  of plate  60  contacts and is supported by plate  20  at at least four points: edge  24 , edge  36 , edge  92 , and edge  92 A. It is presently preferred that bottom  100  of a plate  60  contact and be supported by plate  20  at at least three points. Dimples can, if desired be formed in flanges  28 ,  44 ,  50 , and/or  51 . Dimples  39  and  39 A can extend inwardly from flanges  43  and  21 , respectively. 
     An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and comprises a dimple  71  which is formed in flange  21  in place of dimple  23 . Flange  21  is part of an angle plate  70 . Plate  70  is identical to plate  20  except that dimple  71  is formed in place of dimple  23 . Dimple  71  includes upper edge  72 . Upper edge  72  has a generally rectangular shape and is at a height above leg  22  equal to the height above leg  22  of edge  25 . Upper edge  72  can be at a height above leg  22  which is greater than the height of edge  25  above leg  22 . Dimple  71 , like dimple  23  in FIG. 5, extends inwardly from flange  21  and is shaped and dimensioned such that when a second angle corner identical to plate  70  is stacked on and in registration with plate  70 , the second angle plate does not nest in plate  70 . 
     As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, in FIG. 5 it is possible that (1) the second angle plate  60  stacked on plate  20  need not have a shape and dimension equal to that of plate  20 , and (2) that dimples  23  could still function to prevent plate  60  from nesting in plate  20 . It is normally preferred, however, for simplicity purposes, that each plate  20 ,  60  be of equal shape and dimension. 
     The apparatus of the invention comprises a preferred way of solving the problem of nesting because it utilizes the structural part of an angle plate which contributes to the problem of nesting, i.e., the invention utilizes flanges  43 ,  44 ,  50 ,  51 ,  21 , and/or  28  to solve the problem. It is believed that this approach is simpler than reconfiguring legs  22 ,  32  and corner  42  to solve the problem. 
     As utilized herein, a dimple comprises an edge formed in the upper part of a flange  21 ,  28 ,  43 ,  44 ,  50 ,  51  to contact and help prevent the nesting of an angle plate which is stacked on the dimple in registration with the angle plate of which the dimple is a part. 
     Sloped surfaces  40  and  40 A are important because when a second horizontally oriented angle plate  60  (which is identical in shape and dimension to plate  20  and is drawn in dashed ghost outline in FIG. 4A) is slid in the direction of arrow A over and on top of horizontally oriented plate  20  in FIG. 4A, the distal ends  102 ,  103  of legs  32 ,  22 , respectively, of plate  60  slide over the edges  37  and  25  of flanges  43  and  21 , respectively, and then contact sloped surfaces  40  and  40 A, respectively. End  102  contacts sloped surface  40 . End  103  contacts sloped surface  40 A. In FIG. 4A, end  102  of plate  60  is shown as it just begins to contact surface  40 . While the second plate  60  is being pushed in this manner in the direction of arrow A into registration with plate  20 , surfaces  40  and  40 A of plate  20  function as slides which cause ends  102  and  103  of plate  60 , respectively, to slide up surfaces  40  and  40 A, away from legs  32  and  22  of plate  20 , and over edges  92  and  92 A of plate  20 , respectively. This function provided by surfaces  40  and  40 A of plate  20  is important because otherwise ends  102  and  103  of plate  60  may cant downwardly, contact legs  32  and  22  of plate  20 , slide along legs  32  and  22  of plate. 20 , and contact flange  44  or  28  of plate  20  as the case may be. If end  102  of plate  60  slides against flange  44  of plate  20  and/or end  103  of plate  60  slides against flange  28  of plate  20 , the second angle plate  60  will not stack properly on top of plate  20 . In FIG. 4A, plate  20  and legs  22 ,  32  thereof are parallel to the plane of the paper of the drawing and are parallel to the ground, i.e., FIG. 4A is a top view of horizontally oriented plate  20 . When a second horizontally oriented angle plate  60  is slid over horizontally oriented plate  20 , the general horizontal orientation of plates  20  and  60  is comparable to that shown in the side view of plates  20  and  60  in FIG.  5 . 
     In FIG. 4A, plate  60  is shown sliding in the direction of arrow A over plate  20  just as distal ends  102  and  103  of plate  60  begin to contact and slide up surfaces  40  and  40 A, respectively. 
     The center of gravity of horizontally oriented plate  20  is generally indicated by point  101  in FIG.  4 A. Since the center of gravity of the horizontally oriented plate  20  (and of each like plate  60 , etc.) Is located “off” the plate and intermediate legs  22  and  32 , the weight of a horizontally oriented plate  60  stacked on horizontally oriented plate  20  in the manner indicated in FIG. 5 is primarily supported at points on or near the flanges  28 ,  44  on the inner sides of legs  22  and  32  and corner  42 . Consequently, the bottom  100  of plate  60  contacts and is primarily supported at three points or areas by flange  50 , by upper edge  92 , and by upper edge  92 A. This “three point” contact is critical in the practice of the invention. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the third point of the “three point” contact need not necessarily be all or a part of flange  50 , but can comprise a portion of flange  28  or  44 . Such a portion of flange  28 ,  44  ordinarily—but not necessarily—would be near or adjacent flange  50 . 
     Edges  24  and  36  also contact the bottom of plate  60 , but serve more as safety points which will support plate  60  in the event it is skewed and not in registration with plate  20  or if the weight of a plate sliding over the top of plate  60  tends to downwardly displace the corner  42  of plate  60  toward plate  20 . Having described my invention in such terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice it and having described the presently preferred embodiments thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1