Patent Description:
Where there is a requirement to secure together two or more elongate components in order to fabricate, for example, chassis or support framework for a vehicle or for other purposes, then a range of securing techniques may be used. The selection of which securing technique to use will depend upon a number of factors, for example upon the materials of the elongate components, and the load bearing requirements of the connection between the components. By way of example, the elongate components may be riveted or bolted to one another, or secured to one another using other suitable forms of fastener, or they may be welded to one another or a suitable adhesive may be applied therebetween. It will be appreciated that these represent merely examples of techniques by which two or more components may be secured to one another, and that a wide range of other techniques are known. Whilst these techniques are well known and often perform satisfactorily, there are applications in which they are unsuitable or are difficult to use, for example as a result of the nature of the connection to be formed.

<CIT> discloses a device with two shank-shaped elements arranged at an angle to each other to cover two side surfaces of profile rails, and a hook-shaped element at one of the shank-shaped elements for producing a force-fit and form-fit engagement at the rails.

It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative technique by which two or more components may be secured to one another which is of relatively simple and convenient form.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a connection arrangement comprising a first elongate component, a second elongate component and a connector member, wherein the first elongate component is provided with a channel of re-entrant form, and the connector member includes a hook receivable within the channel, wherein the channel includes a first lip extending towards a plane in which a face of the first component is free edge of the lip being spaced from the said plane by a first spacing, and the hook includes a second lip having a height less than or equal to the first spacing.

Such an arrangement is advantageous in that the hook can be introduced into the channel without requiring a part of the hook to project beyond the said plane during the assembly process. Fitting of the hook into the channel is thus possible in a wide range of configurations, including a number that would not be possible with hooks and channels of certain other forms.

According to the invention, a hook of a second, similar connector member can be received within the channel with the first mentioned hook already in situ.

The connector member preferably includes a first planar section. At least part of the first planar section is preferably attached to the first elongate component. By way of example, it may be bonded thereto using a suitable adhesive. The connector member preferably further includes a second planar section. At least part of the second planar section is preferably attached to the second elongate component. By way of example, it may be similarly bonded thereto using a suitable adhesive. The first and second planar sections may be coplanar. Alternatively, they may be angled to one another.

Whilst the connector member may be secured to the first and second elongate components using a suitable adhesive, it will be appreciated that other securing techniques may be used instead of or in addition to the use of the adhesive bond. By way of example rivets, bolts or other fasteners may be used, either alone or in conjunction with a suitable adhesive.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a connector arrangement comprising a first elongate component, a second elongate component and a connector member, wherein the first elongate component is provided with a channel of re-entrant form, and the connector member includes a hook receivable within the channel, wherein the connector member includes a first planar section, at least part of the first planar section being attached to the first elongate component, and the connector member further including a second planar section, at least part of the second planar section is being attached to the second elongate component.

The first and second planar sections may be coplanar. Alternatively, they may be angled to one another.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Referring firstly to <FIG>, a connection arrangement <NUM> is illustrated for achieving a connection between a first elongate component <NUM> (only a part of which can be seen in <FIG>) and a second elongate component <NUM> (again, only part of which can be seen in <FIG>). The connection arrangement <NUM>, in this embodiment, is intended for use in the fabrication of a chassis or framework of a vehicle. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted in this regard and may be employed in a wide range of applications. In the arrangement shown, the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged perpendicularly to one another with an end of the second elongate component <NUM> butting up against the first elongate component <NUM>. However, it will be appreciated that this need not always be the case.

The first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> are each in the form of lengths of an extruded box section material. By way of example, the material may be of aluminium or the like. However, the invention is not restricted in this regard and may be applied to connections between components of other materials and of other shapes. Each of the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> includes, along opposing corners thereof, a channel or groove <NUM>. The grooves <NUM> are shaped to be of re-entrant form, that is to say that the mouths thereof are of narrower form that an internal width thereof. Whilst in the illustrated arrangement each elongate component <NUM>, <NUM> is formed with two grooves <NUM>, it will be appreciated that a greater number, or fewer, may be provided if desired.

As best shown in <FIG>, the shapes of the grooves <NUM> are such that each groove <NUM> is defined by a pair of lips <NUM>, and the groove <NUM> defines a spacing D1 of a free edge of one of the lips <NUM> from a plane <NUM> defined by a face of the component.

The connection arrangement <NUM> further comprises a connector member <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the connector member <NUM> is of generally planar form, an edge part of which is shaped to define a hook <NUM>. The hook <NUM> includes a lip <NUM> that extends generally parallel to the plane of the main part of the connector member <NUM>. The shape of the hook <NUM> is such that a spacing D2 is defined between a free edge of the lip <NUM> and a part of the hook <NUM> most remote from the free edge of the lip <NUM>.

In use, the hook <NUM> of the connector member <NUM> is hooked into one of the grooves <NUM> of the first elongate component <NUM>. The design of the groove <NUM> and of the hook <NUM> is such that the spacing D1 is greater than the spacing D2. Consequently, the hook <NUM> can be fitted into the groove without requiring any part of the connector member <NUM> to project beyond the plane <NUM> of the first elongate component <NUM>. This is advantageous in that it increases the range of designs of connection that can be achieved using the invention.

Once the connector member <NUM> has been hooked into the groove <NUM>, the planar part of the connector member <NUM> can be secured to adjacent parts of the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM>. In the arrangement illustrated, this is achieved through the use of rivets <NUM> or other suitable fasteners. It is envisaged, however, that in practise the connector member <NUM> will be secured to the elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> using a suitable adhesive or bonding technique, with the rivets <NUM> or other fasteners (if provided) being used to hold the connector member <NUM> in position whilst the adhesive sets or cures. Where an adhesive or the like is used, it will be appreciated that the adhesive material will be selected depending upon the materials of the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> and the connector member <NUM>, the adhesive material being compactible with and able to adhere to the material(s) of the elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> and connector member <NUM>.

As illustrated, the connector member <NUM> includes a first section 22a that abuts and is adhered or bonded to a face of the first elongate component <NUM>, and a second section 22b that abuts and is adhered or bonded to a face of the second elongate component <NUM>. In the arrangement shown in <FIG>, the first and second sections 22a, 22b are coplanar.

The first and second sections 22a, 22b may be provided with shallow pips or ribs which space the main parts of the connector member <NUM> from the faces of the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> by a controlled distance, which is of assistance in ensuring that a desired quantity of adhesive material or the like is maintained between the connector member <NUM> and the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a second connector member <NUM>' is provided, hooked into a groove provided in the second elongate component <NUM>, and adhered or bonded to faces of the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM>.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement described hereinbefore provides a simple and convenient technique whereby first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> can be connected to one another as desired. The assembly can make use of extruded parts for the first and second elongate components <NUM>, <NUM> and for the connector member <NUM>, the parts simply requiring cutting to a desired size and shape prior to assembly. Assembly can be undertaken quickly and simply, and the arrangement lends itself to use by those with restricted mobility or dexterity as once the connector member <NUM> is hooked into position, the location of the hook within the groove serves to hold the connector member <NUM> and associated component to one another.

<FIG> illustrate part of the connector arrangement <NUM> in greater detail, clearly indicating the spacings D1 and D2. As shown in <FIG>, not only do the designs of the hook <NUM> and groove <NUM> allow the hook <NUM> to be fitted into the groove <NUM> without requiring any part of the hook <NUM> or associated connector member <NUM> to project beyond the end plane <NUM>, but also the design of the groove <NUM> allows the hooks <NUM> of two separate connector members <NUM> to be accommodated within a single groove <NUM>. Accordingly, the connection arrangement <NUM> is able to be used in a very wide range of applications. By way of example, if desired, the arrangement of <FIG> could be modified so that both of the connector members are hooked to a single one of the grooves <NUM> of the first elongate component <NUM>.

The connection shown in <FIG> is of a relatively simple form, but it will be appreciated that the invention may be employed in the formation of connections or joints of considerably more complex form. By way of example, <FIG> illustrate the use of the invention in the formation of a more complex connection.

In the arrangement of <FIG>, three elongate components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are secured to one another with the first and second components <NUM>, <NUM> extending parallel to one another, but spaced apart from one another, and the third elongate component <NUM> extending perpendicularly to the first component <NUM>.

As illustrated, a pair of connector members <NUM> are provided, each of which includes a hook <NUM>, and first, second and third sections 36a, 36b, 36c to be adhered or bonded to the first, second and third components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. The first and second sections 36a, 36b are coplanar, and the third section 36c is angled perpendicularly to the first and second sections 36a, 36b.

A further connector member <NUM> of form similar to that shown in <FIG> is provided and used to secure the first and third components <NUM>, <NUM> to one another.

As with the arrangement of <FIG>, the hook <NUM> is hooked into a channel or groove of the first component <NUM>, and the regions 36a, 36b, 36c are secured, for example using a suitable adhesive bonding technique, rivets or other fasteners, to adjacent faces of the components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Another suitably shaped connector member is provided to be hooked into a groove or channel of the second component <NUM>, and with regions for bonding or otherwise securing to the adjacent faces of the components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. A robust connection between the components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can thus be formed.

It will be appreciated that the invention is advantageous in that a wide range of designs of frameworks made up of extruded box section components can be assembled or fabricated using only a few different designs of parts. By way of example, the relatively complex assembly illustrated in <FIG> uses only three designs of extrusion, one to form the first component which has a curved face, one to form the second and third components, and one to form the various connector members, the extrusions being subject to simple cutting and bending operations to form them to the required shapes.

Claim 1:
A connection arrangement (<NUM>) comprising a first elongate component (<NUM>), a second elongate component (<NUM>) and a connector member (<NUM>), wherein the first elongate component (<NUM>) is provided with a channel (<NUM>) of re-entrant form, and the connector member (<NUM>) includes a hook (<NUM>) receivable within the channel (<NUM>), wherein the channel (<NUM>) includes a first lip (<NUM>) extending towards a plane (<NUM>) in which a face of the first component is located, a free edge of the lip (<NUM>) being spaced from the said plane (<NUM>) by a first spacing (D1), and the hook includes a second lip (<NUM>) having a height (D2) less than or equal to the first spacing (D1), wherein the height (D2) is defined between a free edge of the lip (<NUM>) and a part of the hook (<NUM>) most remote from the free edge of the lip (<NUM>), wherein a hook (<NUM>) of a second, similar connector member (<NUM>) can be received within the channel (<NUM>) with the first mentioned hook (<NUM>) already in situ.