Patent Description:
Patent literature <NUM> below discloses that a door frame, the inside of which is a doorway that is opened and closed by a hinged door, is arranged in a wall as a skeleton of a building. <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose a connecting fitting for construction materials, which connects two construction materials arranged with an interval there-between.

The work for arranging an opening frame such as a door frame inside an opening formed in a wall includes a work for arranging the opening frame as a construction material for a hinged door with an interval from a skeleton-side construction material formed on the wall side, and connecting the skeleton-side construction material and the opening frame by using a connecting member. This connecting work is a work for attaching the opening frame to the skeleton-side construction material such that the opening frame is immobile.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting fitting for construction materials and a connecting method therefor that can effectively perform the work for connecting two construction materials arranged with an interval therebetween even when this interval is small, and can render one construction material immobile with respect to the other construction material after the connecting work.

A connecting fitting for construction materials according to the present invention is a connecting fitting for construction materials, which connects two construction materials arranged with an interval therebetween, the connecting fitting including a first connecting member and a second connecting member that are inserted between the two construction materials, and function as members for connecting the two construction materials, and parallelizing means having a parallelizing function of aligning the first connecting member and the second connecting member in a first direction perpendicular to both a thickness direction of one of the two construction materials and a direction of the interval, and making the first connecting member and the second connecting member parallel or almost parallel to each other, wherein the parallelizing means can eliminate the parallelizing function by a load caused to act on at least one of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and inclination angles, with respect to the direction of the interval, of the first connecting member and the second connecting member aligned parallel or almost parallel to each other in the first direction by the parallelizing means can be made opposite to each other by the elimination of the parallelizing function.

In the connecting fitting for construction materials according to the present invention, when the first and second connecting members are inserted between two construction materials, the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means makes these connecting members parallel or almost parallel in the first direction. Even when the interval between the two construction materials is small, therefore, the first and second connecting members can sufficiently be inserted into this interval.

Also, after the first and second connecting members are inserted between the two construction materials, the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means disappears, and this makes the inclination angles of the connecting members with respect to the direction of the interval opposite to each other. In this state, the two construction materials can be connected by the first and second connecting members. Accordingly, one of the two construction materials can be rendered immobile in the first direction with respect to the other construction material.

In the connecting fitting for construction materials according to the present invention as described above, the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means makes the first and second connecting members parallel or almost parallel in the first direction. In addition, after these connecting members are inserted between two construction materials, the inclination angles of these connecting members with respect to the direction of the interval between the two construction materials are made opposite to each other. According to the present invention the connecting fitting comprises a central shaft that is inserted into one of two end portions of each of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, has an axial direction in the thickness direction of one of the two construction materials and makes the first and second connecting members pivotable around this central shaft.

This central shaft may also be used for each of the first and second connecting members. In this case, two central shafts are used. It is also possible to use one central shaft common to the first and second connecting members. The use of one central shaft common to the first and second connecting members can reduce the number of members and the manufacturing cost by the use of a common member.

According to the present invention, the parallelizing means is a projecting piece that is formed in at least one of the first and second connecting members, projects toward the other connecting member, and is in contact with the other connecting member. It is only necessary to make this projecting piece bendable by the load acting on at least one of the first and second connecting members, and eliminate the parallelizing function by this bending.

Another example of the parallelizing means not forming part of the present invention is a frictional means interposed between the first and second connecting members. The frictional force of this frictional means acts as the parallelizing function, and makes it possible to align the first and second connecting members in the first direction and make them parallel or almost parallel to each other. Also, this parallelizing means is so configured that the parallelizing function disappears when a load larger than the frictional force acts on at least one of the first and second connecting members, and the inclination angles of the first and second connecting members with respect to the direction of the interval between the two construction materials are made opposite to each other.

Still another example of the parallelizing means not forming part of the present invention is a projection/recess means including a recess formed in one of the first and second connecting members, and a projection that is formed in the other connecting member and detachably fits in the recess. When the projection fits in the recess, the parallelizing function arises, so the first and second connecting members can be aligned in the first direction and made parallel or almost parallel to each other. In addition, the parallelizing means is so configured that when the abovementioned load acts on at least one of the first and second connecting members, the parallelizing function disappears because the projection escapes from the recess, and the inclination angles of the first and second connecting members with respect to the direction of the interval between the two construction materials are made opposite to each other.

When using the above-described projecting piece as the parallelizing means, it is also possible to form a strength decreasing portion having low strength in that portion of one connecting member, which is close to the projecting piece, and make the projecting piece bendable with a small load by this strength decreasing portion.

Since, therefore, the projecting piece can easily be bent from the strength decreasing portion by a small load acting on one connecting member, an operation can easily be performed on one connecting member in order to eliminate the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means.

Note that the strength decreasing portion can be an arbitrary portion as long as the portion decreases the strength of one connecting member. An example of the strength decreasing portion is a notch formed in one connecting member. Another example of the strength decreasing portion is a thin portion formed in one connecting member.

It is also possible to form two strength decreasing portions on the two sides of the projecting piece. The two strength decreasing portions can make the projecting piece bendable by a smaller load.

A connecting method for construction materials according to the present invention is a connecting method for construction materials, which connects two construction materials arranged with an interval therebetween, the connecting method including a first working step of aligning a first connecting member and a second connecting member in a direction perpendicular to both a thickness direction of one of the two construction materials and a direction of the interval, and making the first connecting member and the second connecting member parallel or almost parallel to each other, by a parallelizing function of parallelizing means formed in at least one of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and inserting the first connecting member and the second connecting member between the two construction materials in this state, a second working step of making inclination angles of the first connecting member and the second connecting member with respect to the direction of the interval opposite to each other by elimination of the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means, after the first working step, and a third working step of connecting the two construction materials by the first connecting member and the second connecting member, after the second working step.

In the first working step of this connecting method for construction materials, the first and second connecting members are inserted between two construction materials in a state in which the first and second connecting members are aligned in the first direction and made parallel or almost parallel to each other by the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means. Even when the interval between these construction materials is small, therefore, the first and second connecting members can sufficiently be inserted into this interval.

Also, in the second working step after the first and second connecting members are inserted between the two construction materials, the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means disappears, so the inclination angles of the first and second connecting members with respect to the direction of the interval between the two construction materials become opposite to each other. In this state, the first and second connecting members connect the two construction materials in the third working step. This can render one of the two construction materials immobile in the first direction with respect to the other construction material.

Two construction materials to be connected by the connecting fitting for construction materials and the connecting method therefor according to the present invention explained above can be arbitrary construction materials. One example of these construction materials includes a skeleton-side construction material such as a wall, and an opening frame arranged to oppose this construction material in the horizontal direction. This opening frame can be any of a door frame for a hinged door apparatus, an opening frame for a sliding door apparatus, and an opening frame for a passing opening to be formed in a wall. Also, one of the two construction materials can be a door case for accommodating a fire door that is normally opened from a door frame. In addition, the connecting fitting for construction materials and the connecting method therefor according to the present invention can also be used to connect two construction materials such as pillars including a middle pillar of a building, beams, crossbars, and face plates, that is, the present invention is applicable to arbitrary construction materials.

Furthermore, the connecting fitting for construction materials and the connecting method therefor according to the present invention are applicable to construction materials to be newly formed in a structure such as a building, and are also applicable to construction materials to be repaired.

The present invention achieves the effect of effectively performing the work for connecting two construction materials arranged with an interval therebetween even when this interval is small, and rendering one construction material immobile with respect to the other construction material after the connecting work.

A mode for carrying out the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <FIG> shows a whole front view of a hinged door apparatus. In this hinged door apparatus, a hinged door <NUM> is attached to a door frame <NUM> so as to be pivotal around hinges <NUM>, and the door frame <NUM> is arranged inside an opening 4A formed in a wall <NUM> as a building skeleton. <FIG> shows the door frame <NUM> before the hinged door <NUM> is attached. As shown in <FIG>, the door frame <NUM> is an opening frame as a doorway <NUM> the inside of which is opened and closed by the hinged door <NUM>. Since the door frame <NUM> of this embodiment is a four-side frame, the door frame <NUM> includes left and right side frame members 2A and 2B, an upper frame member 2C, and a lower frame member 2D as a doorsill member. The frame members 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are welded in a factory beforehand, and transported to the construction site of a structure such as a building in which the hinged door apparatus is installed.

Note that the door frame <NUM> may also be a three-side frame having no lower frame member 2D.

<FIG> shows a state in which the door frame <NUM> is arranged in the wall <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line S4 - S4 shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the wall <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is a building skeleton formed by fixing face plates <NUM> such as plaster boards on both the front and rear surfaces of core members <NUM>. The door frame <NUM> is arranged inside the opening 4A shown in <FIG> and <FIG> formed in the wall <NUM>. Of a large number of core members <NUM> formed inside the wall <NUM>, <FIG> shows core members 5A and 5B arranged in portions opposing, in the horizontal direction, the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B of the door frame <NUM>, and a core member 5C arranged in a portion opposing the upper frame member 2C of the door frame <NUM> in the vertical direction.

Before the work for arranging the door frame <NUM> inside the opening 4A of the wall <NUM>, reinforcing members <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> are coupled with the core members 5A, 5B, and 5C in advance. Also, an auxiliary member <NUM> is attached to each reinforcing member <NUM> by a fixing fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG>. A crank-shaped positioning member <NUM> is coupled with each auxiliary member <NUM>. After each positioning member <NUM> is brought into contact with one of the two surfaces of the reinforcing member <NUM> in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM> (the thickness direction of the hinged door <NUM> and the wall <NUM>), the auxiliary member <NUM> is attached to the reinforcing member <NUM> by the fixing fitting <NUM>. Consequently, each auxiliary member <NUM> is set in a predetermined position in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM> and attached to the reinforcing member <NUM>.

In the above explanation, the core member <NUM>, the reinforcing member <NUM>, and the auxiliary member <NUM> are members of the wall <NUM> as a building skeleton, so the core member <NUM>, the reinforcing member <NUM>, and the auxiliary member <NUM> are skeleton-side construction materials. On the other hand, the hinged door <NUM> and the door frame <NUM> are members of the hinged door apparatus to be installed in the wall <NUM>, so the hinged door <NUM> and the door frame <NUM> are hinged door apparatus-side construction materials.

<FIG> shows a state in which after the work for arranging the door frame <NUM> inside the opening 4A of the wall <NUM> is performed, the door frame <NUM> is connected to the reinforcing member <NUM> via the auxiliary member <NUM> by using a connecting fitting <NUM>. A plurality of connecting fittings <NUM> are formed for each of the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B and the upper frame member 2C of the door frame <NUM>, and connect the door frame <NUM> to the reinforcing members <NUM> via the auxiliary members <NUM>. As the connecting fittings <NUM>, a plurality of first connecting fittings 20A and two second connecting fittings 20B are used. The first connecting fitting 20A includes first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>, whereas the second connecting fitting 20B includes the first connecting member <NUM> but does not include the second connecting member <NUM>. The plurality of first connecting fittings 20A have the same shape and the same structure. Therefore, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate, as a typical example of the plurality of first connecting fittings 20A shown in <FIG>, the first connecting fitting 20A that is arranged on the side frame member 2A of the door frame <NUM> shown in <FIG> and connects the side fame member 2A to the auxiliary member <NUM> attached to the reinforcing member <NUM> coupled with the core member 5A described earlier. <FIG> and <FIG> do not show the side frame member 2A.

Note that the two second connecting fittings 20B shown in <FIG> also have the same shape and the same structure. As shown in <FIG>, the second connecting fittings 20B are arranged below the plurality of first connecting fittings 20A vertically arranged on each of the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the first connecting fitting 20A by including the auxiliary member <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view of <FIG>. As is also shown in <FIG>, the first connecting fitting 20A includes a bearing member <NUM> formed into the shape of a hat, a central shaft <NUM> supported by the bearing member <NUM>, and the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> described above. The thickness direction of the door frame <NUM> is an axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, and the two end portions in the axial direction N function as retaining portions 24A and retain the central shaft <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the central shaft <NUM> is inserted, as an insertion member common to the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>, through the end portions, on the side of the door frame <NUM>, of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>. The first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> can freely pivot around the central shaft <NUM>. Also, the end portion, on the side of the wall <NUM>, of the first connecting member <NUM> is coupled with the auxiliary member <NUM> by coupling fittings <NUM> as self-drill screws. Likewise, the end portion, on the side of wall <NUM>, of the second connecting member <NUM> is coupled with the auxiliary member <NUM> by coupling fittings <NUM> as self-drill screws.

<FIG>, <FIG> depict the first connecting member <NUM>. <FIG>, <FIG> are respectively a plan view, a side view, a bottom view, and a rear view of the first connecting member <NUM>. The first connecting member <NUM> is a product obtained by punching and bending a metal plate. The first connecting member <NUM> includes two connecting parts <NUM> opposing each other. The two connecting parts <NUM> are separated from each other in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, and coupled with each other by a bridge part <NUM> for which the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> is the widthwise dimension. The bridge part <NUM> is bridged between the end portions of the two connecting parts <NUM>, on the side of the thickness direction of the whole first connecting member <NUM> perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. Also, assuming that a direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> and perpendicular to the thickness direction of the whole first connecting member <NUM> is the longitudinal direction of each connecting part <NUM>, the dimension of each connecting part <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is a dimension by which two end portions 26A and 26B of the connecting part <NUM> in the longitudinal direction reach the door frame <NUM> and the auxiliary member <NUM> as the skeleton of the wall <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the end portion 26A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two end portions 26A and 26B of each connecting part <NUM> in the longitudinal direction has a torsion angle α as an angle inclining to the outside of the first connecting member <NUM> with respect to a direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. The torsion angles <NUM>°-α of the two connecting parts <NUM> are torsion angles in directions opposite to each other. On the other hand, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the end portion 26B on the side of the door frame <NUM> has no such torsion angle as described above. A portion between the end portions 26A and 26B is an intermediate portion 26C for gradually eliminating the torsion angle <NUM>°-α. The end portion 26B on the side of the door frame <NUM> has a first hole <NUM> having a large diameter, as an insertion portion for inserting the central shaft <NUM>, and the end portion 26A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> has a small-diameter second hole <NUM> for inserting the coupling fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The connecting parts <NUM> also have third holes <NUM> for inserting coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> to be described later with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, within the range in which the above-described torsion angle <NUM>°-α exists.

Furthermore, the bridge part <NUM> has an elongated hole <NUM>. The elongated hole <NUM> is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part <NUM>, and functions as a strength decreasing portion formed in the bridge part <NUM> in order to decrease the strength of the bridge part <NUM>.

As described above, the first connecting member <NUM> is formed by the two connecting parts <NUM> and the bridge part <NUM> bridged between the connecting parts <NUM>, and the section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is an almost U-shaped section. However, the end portions 26A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> open to the outside of the first connecting member <NUM> due to the torsion angles <NUM>°-α described above. In other words, the end portions 26A form an inverted V-shape that opens outward in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>.

<FIG> depict a state in which loads W in directions opposite to each other in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> act on the end portions 26A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the connecting parts <NUM>. A state like this occurs when the coupling fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG> couples the end portions 26A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the connecting parts <NUM>, with the auxiliary member <NUM>. When the loads W as described above act on the end portions 26A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, the torsion angles <NUM>°-α shown in <FIG> and <FIG> of the end portions 26A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> reduce or disappear, and the influence of the loads W deforms, e.g., curves the bridge part <NUM> in a direction projecting to the outside of the first connecting member <NUM>, in the thickness direction of the bridge part <NUM> (the thickness direction of the whole first connecting member <NUM>). The influence of the loads W also generates torsion angles <NUM>°-β as angles inclining to the inside of the first connecting member <NUM> with respect to a direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, on the end portions 26B on the side of the door frame <NUM>, which are connected to the end portions 26A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> via the intermediate portion 26C. The torsion angles <NUM>°-β are torsion angles in directions opposite to each other with respect to the end portions 26B on the side of the door frame <NUM>.

In the whole first connecting member <NUM>, therefore, the shape formed by the end portions 26B, on the side of the door frame <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> is a V-shape that closes to the inside of the first connecting member <NUM> due to the torsion angles <NUM>°-β.

Note that the elongated hole <NUM> is formed in the bridge part <NUM> and decreases the strength of the bridge part <NUM>, so the bridge part <NUM> is easily deformed, e.g., curved as described above, due to the loads W. Accordingly, the reduction or elimination of the torsion angles <NUM>°-α of the end portions 26A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> and the generation of the torsion angles <NUM>°-β of the end portions 26B on the side of the door frame <NUM> occur more reliably.

<FIG> show the second connecting member <NUM>. <FIG> are respectively a side view and a rear view of the second connecting member <NUM>. Like the first connecting member <NUM>, the second connecting member <NUM> is a product obtained by punching and bending a metal plate. The second connecting member <NUM> also includes two connecting parts <NUM> opposing each other. The two connecting parts <NUM> are separated from each other in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, and coupled with each other by a bridge part <NUM> for which the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> is the widthwise dimension. The bridge part <NUM> is bridged between the end portions of the two connecting parts <NUM>, on the side of the thickness direction of the whole second connecting member <NUM> perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. Also, assuming that a direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> and perpendicular to the thickness direction of the whole second connecting member <NUM> is the longitudinal direction of each connecting part <NUM>, the dimension of each connecting part <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is a dimension by which two end portions 35A and 35B of the connecting part <NUM> in the longitudinal direction reach the door frame <NUM> and the auxiliary member <NUM> as the skeleton of the wall <NUM>.

Also, of the two end portions 35A and 35B in the longitudinal direction of each connecting part <NUM>, the end portion 35A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> slightly bends toward the inside of the second connecting member <NUM> with respect to the end portion 35B on the side of the door frame <NUM>. Of the end portions 35A and 35B, the end portion 35B on the side of the door frame <NUM> has a first hole <NUM> having a large diameter, as an insertion portion for inserting the central shaft <NUM>, and the end portion 35A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> has a second hole <NUM> having a small diameter, as an insertion portion for inserting the coupling fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In addition, the connecting parts <NUM> have third holes <NUM> for inserting the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> to be described later with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Furthermore, the end portion 36B, on the side of the door frame <NUM>, of the bridge part <NUM> has a projecting piece <NUM> that projects toward the central shaft <NUM>, in other words, projects toward the first connecting member <NUM>. The end portion 36B of the bridge part <NUM> has notches <NUM> in portions close to the projecting piece <NUM>. In the end portion 36B of this embodiment, two notches <NUM> are formed on the two sides of the projecting piece <NUM>. Note that as shown in <FIG>, the projecting piece <NUM> of this embodiment is so formed as to slightly bend from the bridge part <NUM> to the inside of the second connecting member <NUM> in the thickness direction.

The projecting piece <NUM> formed in the second connecting member <NUM> as described above can be bent in the thickness direction of the whole second connecting member <NUM> if a load acts on the projecting piece <NUM> in this thickness direction. The two notches <NUM> of the end portion 36B of the bridge part <NUM>, which are formed on the two sides of the projecting piece <NUM>, function as strength decreasing portions for decreasing the strength of the proximal end portion of the projecting piece <NUM> in the bridge part <NUM>. Therefore, the projecting piece <NUM> can easily be bent even if the abovementioned load acting on the projecting piece <NUM> is small.

In a factory for manufacturing the door frame <NUM>, the first connecting fitting 20A including the first connecting member <NUM>, the second connecting member <NUM>, the bearing member <NUM>, and the central shaft <NUM> explained above is assembled into a structure shown in <FIG> (a front view of the first connecting fitting 20A) and <FIG> (a side view of the first connecting fitting 20A). This assembling is performed by, e.g., inserting the central shaft <NUM> as a common insertion member into the first holes <NUM> formed in the connecting parts <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM> and the first holes <NUM> formed in the connecting parts <NUM> of the second connecting member <NUM>, further inserting the central shaft <NUM> into the hat-shaped bearing member <NUM>, and performing processing that forms the retaining portions 24A on the two end portions of the central shaft <NUM> in order to prevent removal from the bearing member <NUM>.

Note that the central shaft <NUM> according to this embodiment is a male screw rod on the surface of which many projections and recesses are alternately formed in the axial direction by thread ridges and grooves.

<FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line S12 - S12 shown in <FIG>. <FIG> shows the sectional view of the first connecting fitting 20A assembled by the first connecting member <NUM>, the second connecting member <NUM>, the bearing member <NUM>, and the central shaft <NUM> as described above. In the first connecting fitting 20A assembled in a factory, the projecting piece <NUM> formed in the second connecting member <NUM> is in contact with a rear surface 27A of the bridge part <NUM> formed in the first connecting member <NUM>. Therefore, the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> for which the central shaft <NUM> is a common insertion member is connected by the central shaft <NUM>. Also, the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> are parallel or almost parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>.

Accordingly, the projecting piece <NUM> forms a parallelizing means <NUM> that aligns the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> and makes first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> parallel or almost parallel to each other. Also, as will be described later, when the first connecting fitting 20A is inserted into the gap between the door frame <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the auxiliary member <NUM> as a construction material of the wall, the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means <NUM> can align the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> in a direction (the vertical direction for the first connecting fitting 20A arranged in the side frame members 2A and 2B of the door frame <NUM>, and the horizontal direction for the first connecting fitting 20A arranged in the upper frame member 2C of the door frame <NUM>) perpendicular to the direction of the interval between the door frame <NUM> and the auxiliary member <NUM>, and to the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM> (that is also the thickness direction of the wall <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>), thereby making the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> parallel or almost parallel to each other.

As shown in <FIG>, in the factory having manufactured the door frame <NUM>, the first connecting fitting 20A described above is attached to the door frame <NUM> by fixing the bearing member <NUM> to the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B and the upper frame member 2C of the door frame <NUM> by welding or the like. The second connecting fitting 20B shown in <FIG> includes the first connecting member <NUM>, the bearing member <NUM>, and the central shaft <NUM>. Accordingly, the second connecting fitting 20B has a structure obtained by removing the second connecting member <NUM> from the first connecting fitting 20A. The second connecting fitting 20B as described above is also attached to the door frame <NUM> in the factory by fixing the bearing member <NUM> to the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B of the door frame <NUM>.

The door frame <NUM> to which the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B are attached in the factory is transported to a construction site where the hinged door apparatus shown in <FIG> is to be installed. After that, before the face plates <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the wall <NUM> (see <FIG>) are attached to the core members <NUM>, the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B are inserted into the horizontal interval between the auxiliary member <NUM> and the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B of the door frame <NUM>, and the first connecting fitting 20A is inserted into the vertical interval between the auxiliary member <NUM> and the upper frame member 2C of the door frame <NUM>. Consequently, the door frame <NUM> and the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B are arranged inside the opening 4A of the wall <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In this state, the auxiliary member <NUM> is attached to the reinforcing member <NUM> coupled with the core members 5A, 5B, and 5C (see <FIG>), thereby forming the wall <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Note that the work for attaching the auxiliary member <NUM> to the reinforcing member <NUM> is performed immediately before the work for arranging the door frame <NUM> and the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B inside the opening 4A of the wall <NUM> as described above.

In this embodiment, when performing the work for arranging the door frame <NUM> and the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B inside the opening 4A of the wall <NUM> as described above, for the first connecting fitting 20A, among the plurality of first connecting fittings 20A, which is inserted into the horizontal interval between the auxiliary member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B of the door frame <NUM>, the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means <NUM> described above can make the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> parallel or almost parallel to each other while aligning the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> in the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction as the interval between the reinforcing member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B, and to the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM>, even when the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> can pivot around the central shaft <NUM>. Also, for the first connecting fitting 20A to be inserted into the vertical interval between the upper frame member 2C of the door frame <NUM> and the auxiliary member <NUM> attached to the reinforcing member <NUM> coupled with the core member 5C, the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means <NUM> can make the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> parallel or almost parallel to each other while aligning the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction as the interval between the upper frame member 2C and the reinforcing member <NUM>, and to the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM>.

As described above, therefore, even when the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A are pivotable around the central shaft <NUM>, and the horizontal interval between the reinforcing member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B and the vertical interval between the upper frame member 2C and the reinforcing member <NUM> are small, the first connecting fitting 20A can effectively be inserted into these intervals. This insertion work can be performed by standing up only the first connecting member <NUM> of the second connecting fitting 20B around the central shaft <NUM> of the second connecting fitting 20B. Since a few workers can easily finish the insertion work within a short time period, the workability can be improved.

After inserting the plurality of first connecting fittings 20A into the horizontal interval between the auxiliary member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B and into the vertical interval between the upper frame member 2C and the reinforcing member <NUM> as described above, the worker performs the work for pivoting at least one of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> of each of the first connecting fittings 20A toward the side frame members 2A and 2B or the opposite side of the upper frame member 2C around the central shaft <NUM> with respect to the other connecting member. This pivoting work can be performed by, e.g., inserting a tool or the like into the second and third holes <NUM> and <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and <FIG>, and into the second and third holes <NUM> and <NUM> of the second connecting member <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the side view of the first connecting fitting 20A after this pivoting work is performed. <FIG> is the sectional view of the first connecting fitting 20A taken along a line S14 - S14 shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, when the above-described pivoting work is performed, the projecting piece <NUM> formed in the second connecting member <NUM> and in contact with the rear surface 27A of the bridge part <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM> bends from the portion connected to the bridge part <NUM> of the second connecting member <NUM> due to the load of the pivoting work by the worker, and this eliminates the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means <NUM>. Consequently, for the first connecting fitting 20A, among the plurality of connecting fittings 20A, which is inserted into the interval between the reinforcing member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B, the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> are pivoted around the central shaft <NUM>, as indicated by the alternate long and two short dashed lines shown in <FIG>, such that inclination angles θ1 and θ2 with respect to a horizontal direction M as the direction of the interval between the reinforcing member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B are angles in directions opposite to each other. This makes it possible to insert (see <FIG>) the auxiliary member <NUM> between the end portions 26A and between the end portions 35A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>. Also, for the first connecting fitting 20A inserted into the interval between the upper frame work 2C and the auxiliary member <NUM>, the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> are pivoted around the central shaft <NUM> such that inclination angles with respect to the vertical direction as the direction of the interval between the upper frame member 2C and the reinforcing member <NUM> are angles in directions opposite to each other. This makes it possible to insert the auxiliary member <NUM> between the end portions 26A and between the end portions 35A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>.

In each first connecting fitting 20A, therefore, the first connecting member <NUM> forms an inclination angle with respect to the direction of the interval between the auxiliary member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B, and to the direction of the interval between the upper frame member 2C and the auxiliary member <NUM>, and the second auxiliary member <NUM> forms an inclination angle in a direction opposite to that of the inclination angle of the first auxiliary member, with respect to the direction of the interval between the auxiliary member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B, and to the direction of the interval between the auxiliary member <NUM> and the upper frame member 2C.

Note that in the first connecting fittings 20A, the second connecting member <NUM> has the two notches <NUM> formed on the two sides of the projecting piece <NUM> of the second connecting member <NUM> as described above. Therefore, the worker can reliably bend the projecting piece <NUM> even when the load of the above-described pivoting work for bending the projecting piece <NUM> from the portion connected to the bridge part <NUM> of the second connecting member <NUM> is small.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the central shaft <NUM> as the constituting member of the first connecting fitting 20A is an insertion member inserted into both the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> of the first connecting member 20A in order to make the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> pivotable. Accordingly, the number of members constituting the first connecting fitting 20A can be reduced compared to a case in which a central shaft for making each of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> pivotable is used for each of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>. This makes it possible to simplify the structure and reduce the manufacturing cost.

<FIG> shows a state in which the auxiliary member <NUM> is inserted between the end portions 26A and between the end portions 35A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> and <NUM> in the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A as described above.

After performing the above-described work, the worker inserts the two coupling fittings <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) into the second holes <NUM> (see <FIG>, and <FIG>) formed in the connecting part <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A (see <FIG>), and screws the two coupling fittings <NUM> into the auxiliary member <NUM>, thereby coupling the end portion, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the first connecting member <NUM> with the auxiliary member <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Also, the worker inserts the two coupling fittings <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) into the second holes <NUM> (see <FIG>) formed in the connecting part <NUM> of the second connecting member <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A, and screws the two coupling fittings <NUM> into the auxiliary member <NUM>, thereby coupling the end portion, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the second connecting member <NUM> with the auxiliary member <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Furthermore, for each of the two second connecting fittings 20B (see <FIG>) arranged in the lowermost portions of the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B of the door frame <NUM>, the worker pivots the first connecting member <NUM> around the central shaft <NUM>, and makes the angle (see <FIG>) of the first connecting member <NUM> in above-described horizontal direction M the same as or almost the same as the inclination angle Θ1 of the first connecting member <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A described above, and couples the end portion, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the first connecting member <NUM> with the auxiliary member <NUM> by using the two coupling fittings <NUM>.

Note that the second connecting fittings 20B are formed without using the second connecting member <NUM> because the second connecting fittings 20B can effectively be arranged in the lowermost portions of the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B by omitting the second connecting member <NUM> that is supposed to be arranged below the first connecting member <NUM>.

When the coupling work for coupling the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B by using the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> as described above, the door frame <NUM> is connected to the auxiliary member <NUM> via the two connecting portions <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM> and the two connecting parts <NUM> of the second connecting member <NUM> of the plurality of first connecting fittings 20A, and connected to the auxiliary member <NUM> via the two connecting parts <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM> of the two connecting fittings 20B. In this connecting work for connecting the door frame <NUM> to the auxiliary member <NUM>, the first connecting fitting 20A inserted into the gap between the reinforcing member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B has a posture by which the inclination angle Θ1 made by the first connecting member <NUM> in the horizontal direction M as the direction of the gap between the reinforcing member <NUM> and the side frame members 2A and 2B and the inclination angle θ2 made by the second connecting member <NUM> in the horizontal direction M are in opposite directions (see <FIG>). The door frame <NUM> is connected to the auxiliary member <NUM> so as to be vertically immobile. Also, in the abovementioned connecting work, the first connecting fitting 20A inserted into the gap between the upper frame member 2C and the auxiliary member <NUM> has a posture by which the inclination angle made by the first connecting member <NUM> in the vertical direction as the direction of the gap between the upper frame member 2C and the reinforcing member <NUM> and the inclination angle made by the second connecting member <NUM> in the vertical direction are in opposite directions. Accordingly, the door frame <NUM> is connected to the auxiliary member <NUM> so as to be immobile in the horizontal direction as well.

Also, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the end portion (see <FIG> and <FIG>), on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the first connecting member <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A is coupled with the auxiliary member <NUM> by the two coupling fittings <NUM> inserted into the second holes <NUM> (see <FIG>, and <FIG>) formed in the connecting parts <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM>, the loads W from the coupling fittings <NUM> act on the end portions 26A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the connecting parts <NUM> as explained above with reference to <FIG>. This action of the loads W reduces or eliminates the torsion angle <NUM>°-α having existed in the end portions 26A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, and generates the torsion angles <NUM>°-β in the end portions 26B, on the side of the door frame <NUM>, as the end portions opposite to the end portions 26A as described previously.

<FIG> is an enlarged sectional view of the end portions 26B, on the side of the door frame <NUM>, of the connecting parts <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM>, and shows that the torsion angles <NUM>°-β as described above form in the end portions 26B. As shown in <FIG>, when the torsion angle <NUM>°-β forms in the end portion 26B, on the side of the door frame <NUM>, of the connecting part <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM>, the torsion angle <NUM>°-β is an angle inclining to a direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, so the hole <NUM> formed as an insertion portion in the end portion 26B on the side of the door frame <NUM> in order to insert the central shaft <NUM> also inclines to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, and a corner 28A of the hole <NUM> locks on the surface of the central shaft <NUM>. In other words, the central shaft <NUM> functions as a locked member on which the corner 28A of the hole <NUM> locks. This locking of the hole <NUM> onto the locked member makes the first connecting fitting 20A including the first connecting member <NUM> as a constituting member immobile in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM> as the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. Therefore, the door frame <NUM> is connected to the auxiliary member <NUM> as a skeleton-side construction material so as to be immobile in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM>.

In particular, the central shaft <NUM> as the locked member of this embodiment is a male screw rod on the surface of which many projections and recesses are alternately formed in the axial direction by thread ridges and grooves, the corner 28A of the hole <NUM> locks on the surface of the central shaft <NUM> more reliably as described above. Consequently, the door frame <NUM> can be connected to the auxiliary member <NUM> such that the door frame <NUM> is immobile more reliably in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled with the auxiliary member <NUM> by the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> described above. The auxiliary member <NUM> is attached to the reinforcing member <NUM> by being set in a predetermined position in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM> by the positioning member <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Since, therefore, the corner 28A of the hole <NUM> locks on the surface of the central shaft <NUM>, the door frame <NUM> is arranged by being set in the predetermined position in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM>.

In this embodiment as described above, when the load W (see <FIG>) from the coupling fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG> acts on the end portion 26A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of each of the two connecting parts <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM>, the bridge part <NUM> formed in the first connecting member <NUM> deforms, e.g., curves in a direction projecting to the outside of the first connecting member <NUM>, in the thickness direction of the bridge part <NUM>, and this forms the torsion angle β in the end portion 26B, on the side of the door frame <NUM>, of the first connecting member <NUM>, as described with reference to <FIG>. In this embodiment, the elongated hole <NUM> as a strength decreasing portion for decreasing the strength of the bridge part <NUM> is formed in the bridge part <NUM>. Accordingly, the load W causes deformation, e.g., curving of the bridge part <NUM> more reliably, and this forms the torsion angle <NUM>°-β of the end portion 26B on the side of the door <NUM>.

In the embodiment explained above, the end portions 26A and 35A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A are coupled with the auxiliary member <NUM> by the two coupling fittings <NUM> and the two coupling fittings <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged on the opposite sides in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> with respect to the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>, and couple the end portions 26A and 35A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> with the auxiliary member <NUM> in opposite directions in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>.

On the other hand, another embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG> uses one coupling fitting <NUM> and another coupling fitting <NUM> different from the coupling fitting <NUM>, in order to couple end portions 26A, on the side of an auxiliary member <NUM>, of two connecting parts <NUM> of a first connecting member <NUM> of a first connecting fitting 20A, with the auxiliary member <NUM>. The coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged on the same side in an axial direction N of a central shaft <NUM> with respect to the first connecting member <NUM>, and in the same direction along the axial direction N. As shown in <FIG>, the coupling fitting <NUM> is a coupling fitting that is inserted into a connecting part 26D, of two connecting parts 26D and 26E, which is arranged on a side opposite to the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, and draws the connecting part 26D toward the connecting part 26E. In addition, one coupling fitting <NUM> and another coupling fitting <NUM> different from the coupling fitting <NUM> are used to couple end portions 35A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of two connecting parts <NUM> of a second connecting member <NUM>, with the auxiliary member <NUM>. The coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are also arranged on the same side in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> with respect to the second connecting member <NUM>, and in the same direction along the axial direction N. As shown in <FIG>, the coupling fitting <NUM> is a coupling fitting that is inserted into a connecting part 35D, of two connecting parts <NUM>, which is arranged on a side opposite to the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>, and draws the connecting part 35D toward a connecting part 35E.

As shown in, e.g., <FIG>, the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are tapping screws including head portions 50A and 51A, small-diameter shaft portions 50B and 51B extending forward from the head portions 50A and 51A, and large-diameter male screw portions 50C and 51C extending forward from the small-diameter shaft portions 50B and 51B. The diameter of third holes <NUM> and <NUM> formed in the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> is smaller than that of the large-diameter male screw portions 50C and 51C and larger than that of the small-diameter shaft portions 50B and 51B.

Accordingly, when the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are inserted into the third holes <NUM> and <NUM> of the connecting parts 26E and 35E, of the pair of connecting parts 26D and 26E and the pair of connecting parts 35D and 35E of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>, and advanced by being rotated by using a tool, female screws are formed on the inner surfaces of the third holes <NUM> and <NUM> by the large-diameter male screw portions 50C and 51C. When the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are further advanced by being rotated by using the tool, the large-diameter male screw portions 50C and 51C form female screws in the third holes <NUM> and <NUM> of the connecting parts 26D and 35D on the side opposite to the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. In this state, the small-diameter shaft portions 50B and 51B of the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> have reached the third holes <NUM> and <NUM> of the connecting parts 26E and 35E on the same side as the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged, and the small-diameter shaft portions 50B and 51B are idling in the third holes <NUM> and <NUM>. On the other hand, the large-diameter male screw portions 50C and 51C draw the connecting parts 26D and 35D on the side opposite to the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged, toward the connecting parts 26E and 35E on the same side as the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged.

Consequently, of the end portions 26A and 35A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> and the two connecting parts <NUM> of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM>, the end portions 26A and 35A on the side opposite to the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged are strongly pressed against the auxiliary member <NUM>. This sets the end portions 26A and 35A in the same state as that when they are coupled with the auxiliary member <NUM>.

In this embodiment, all the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for coupling the end portions 26A and 35A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the connecting parts <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second connecting members <NUM> and <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A, with the auxiliary member <NUM> can be arranged on the same side in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. Therefore, the work for rotating and advancing the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> by using a tool can be performed by a worker on the same side in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. This makes it possible to facilitate the work, shorten the time of the work, and improve the workability of the work.

Note that in the embodiment shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, coupling fittings similar to the coupling fittings <NUM> and <NUM> are used to couple the end portions 26A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two connecting parts <NUM> of the first connecting member <NUM> forming the second connecting fitting 20B (see <FIG>), with the auxiliary member <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the third holes <NUM> are formed in the two connecting parts 26D and 26E of the first connecting member <NUM> of the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B. Also, the third holes <NUM> are formed in the two connecting parts 35D and 35E of the second connecting member <NUM> of the first connecting fitting 20A. Unlike the example shown in <FIG>, therefore, the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can also be arranged on the side of the connecting part 26D of the first connecting member <NUM>, and on the side of the connecting part 35D of the second connecting member <NUM>. Accordingly, the side on which the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are arranged can freely be selected in accordance with the state of each installation site of the hinged door apparatus. In addition, the work for connecting the door frame <NUM> to the auxiliary member <NUM> of the wall <NUM> can be performed by arranging the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> on the same side in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM>, for the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B to be arranged in the left and right side frame members 2A and 2B and the upper frame member 2C of the door frame <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a plan sectional view showing the structure of a building or the like in which it is effective to arrange all the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> on the same side in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> as explained with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In this structure, a fire door <NUM> that normally opens a doorway <NUM> inside a door frame <NUM> is openable/closable around a hinge <NUM> between the door frame <NUM> and a door case <NUM> for accommodating the closed fire door <NUM>. The door case <NUM> is connected to a back wall <NUM> having a large thickness. The first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B and the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> are used to connect the door case <NUM> to the back wall <NUM>. Therefore, even in the structure in which one surface of the door case <NUM> in the thickness direction is covered with the wall <NUM>, the work for connecting the door case <NUM> to the back wall <NUM> can effectively be performed by using the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B and the coupling fittings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

<FIG> show a first connecting member <NUM> according to another embodiment not forming part of the present invention. <FIG> are respectively a side view and a rear view of the first connecting member <NUM>. Like the first connecting member <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the first connecting member <NUM> as a product obtained by punching and bending a metal plate includes two connecting parts <NUM> separated from each other in an axial direction N of a central shaft <NUM> and opposing each other, and a bridge part <NUM> is bridged between the end portions of the two connecting parts <NUM>, in the thickness direction of the whole first connecting member <NUM> on the side perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. Therefore, the two connecting parts <NUM> are coupled with each other by the bridge part <NUM> for which the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> is the widthwise dimension. In addition, each connecting part <NUM> has a lengthwise dimension in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> and to the thickness direction of the whole first connecting member <NUM>, and this lengthwise dimension is a dimension by which two end portions 126A and 126B in the longitudinal direction reach a door frame <NUM> and an auxiliary member <NUM> as the skeleton of a wall <NUM>.

Also, in the first connecting member <NUM> of this embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the end portion 126A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the two end portions 126A and 126B in the longitudinal direction of each connecting part <NUM>, extends outward in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> while extending outward in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part <NUM>. Therefore, the two end portions 126A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> form an inverted V-shape that opens outward in the longitudinal direction of the connecting parts <NUM>. On the other hand, the end portion 126B on the side of the door frame <NUM>, of the two end portions 126A and 126B in the longitudinal direction of each connecting part <NUM>, extends in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> while extending outward in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part <NUM>, so the two end portions 126B of the door frame <NUM> are parallel to each other.

In addition, in each connecting part <NUM>, a large-diameter first hole <NUM> is formed as an insertion portion for inserting the central shaft <NUM> in the end portion 126B on the side of the door frame <NUM>, and a small-diameter second hole <NUM> for inserting the coupling fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG> is formed in the end portion 126A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>. In each of the connecting parts <NUM>, a third hole <NUM> is also formed for inserting a coupling fitting <NUM> as the tapping screw explained with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> in a position shifted from the end portions 126A which form the inverted V-shape that opens outward in the longitudinal direction of the connecting parts <NUM>.

Furthermore, the bridge part <NUM> include notches <NUM> and <NUM> cut inward in the longitudinal direction of the connecting parts <NUM> from end portions 127A and 127B of the bridge part <NUM> in the longitudinal direction of the connecting parts <NUM>. The notches <NUM> and <NUM> function as strength decreasing portions formed in the bridge part <NUM> in order to decrease the strength of the bridge part <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a state in which loads W in opposite directions in the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM> act on the end portions 126A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> in order to couple the end portions 126A, on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, of the connecting parts <NUM> with the auxiliary member <NUM> by using the coupling fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG> or the coupling fitting <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. When the loads W act on the end portions 126A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, the end portions 126A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM> become parallel to each other, and the end portions 126B of the door frame <NUM> form an inverted V-shape that opens outward in the longitudinal direction of the connecting parts <NUM> under the influence of the loads W. Consequently, the end portions 126B of the door frame <NUM> and the first holes <NUM> formed in the end portions 126B make inclination angles γ to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>.

Consequently, similar to the state shown in <FIG>, the corner of the first hole <NUM> locks on projections and recesses formed by thread ridges and grooves formed on the surface of the central shaft <NUM>, in the first connecting member <NUM> of this embodiment as well. This renders the first connecting member <NUM> immobile in the thickness direction of the door frame <NUM> as the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>.

Also, in the first connecting member <NUM> of this embodiment, the notches <NUM> and <NUM> are formed as the strength decreasing portions in the bridge part <NUM>. Therefore, when the above-described loads W act on the end portions 126A on the side of the auxiliary member <NUM>, the end portions 126B of the door frame <NUM> and the first holes <NUM> formed in the end portions 126B make the inclination angles γ more reliably with respect to the axial direction N of the central shaft <NUM>. This makes it possible to more reliably cause the corners of the first holes <NUM> to lock on the projections and recesses formed by the thread ridges and grooves formed on the surface of the central shaft <NUM>.

The first connecting member <NUM> explained above can be used in the first and second connecting fittings 20A and 20B, instead of the first connecting member <NUM> described earlier. Accordingly, the parallelizing means <NUM> formed by the projecting piece <NUM> formed in the second connecting member <NUM> is also applicable to the first connecting member <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and <FIG>.

The present invention can be used to connect two construction materials spaced apart from each other, more specifically, to connect a construction material of a skeleton such as a wall to an apparatus-side construction material, e.g., an opening frame such as a door frame of a hinged door apparatus, a sliding door apparatus, or the like.

Claim 1:
A connecting fitting for construction materials, which connects two construction materials arranged with an interval therebetween, the connecting fitting (20A) comprising:
a first connecting member (<NUM>) and a second connecting member (<NUM>) that are adapted to be inserted between the two construction materials, and function as members for connecting the two construction materials; and
parallelizing means (<NUM>) having a parallelizing function of aligning the first connecting member and the second connecting member in a first direction perpendicular to both a thickness direction of one of the two construction materials and a direction of the interval, and making the first connecting member and the second connecting member aligned parallel or almost parallel to each other in the first direction,
wherein the parallelizing means can eliminate the parallelizing function by a load caused to act on at least one of the first connecting member and the second connecting member,
wherein inclination angles (Θ1, Θ2), with respect to the direction of the interval, of the first connecting member and the second connecting member can be made opposite to each other by the elimination of the parallelizing function, and wherein the connecting fitting further comprises a central shaft (<NUM>) that is inserted into one of two end portions (26B) of each of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and has an axial direction (N) in the thickness direction of the one construction material, wherein
the first connecting member and the second connecting member can pivot around the central shaft,
characterized in that the parallelizing means includes a projecting piece (<NUM>) that is formed in at least one of the first connecting member and the second connecting member and comes in contact with the other connecting member by projecting toward the other connecting member,
wherein the projecting piece can be bent by the load, and
wherein the parallelizing function of the parallelizing means disappears when the projecting piece is bent.