IL102112A - Multipurpose connector - Google Patents

Description

A MULTIPURPOSE CONNECTOR ALBA PIRSUL LEBNIA B.M.

INVENTOR: AVRAHAM LAZARUS The present invention relates to multipurpose connectors suitable for use in connecting rod-like and tube-like elements together for framework. In particular, the invention relates to multipurpose connectors for framework suitable for furniture, shelving and display purposes.

Whilst the present invention is equally applicable to many other situations in which a three dimensional frame has rod-like or tube-like elements connected in a three dimensional arrangement (rods and/or tubes defining three planes each of which is perpendicular to the remaining two planes) , for convenience the following description refers to the use of such multipurpose connectors for the purpose of assembling frames suitable for furniture or shelving. Any reference therefore to frames for furniture or shelving is meant to encompass any analogous situation in which a three dimensional frame or framework is required to be assembled.

Many connectors suitable for connecting rod or tube are known. These often consist of a central body, often cube-shaped, having one or more lugs protruding perpendicularly from the faces thereof for insertion into the hollow end of a rod or tube. For aesthetic reasons it is required that such connectors be made with either one, two, three, four, five or six lugs thereon to cover all situations of assembly including fitting an end connector to a single rod or tube as well as joining two or more rods or tubes at a common junction point. Furthermore, such connectors need to be made in several different formats, for instance, connectors having two lugs require both an inline format as well as a 90° format. Similarly, connectors having three lugs need to be in the form of a T-shaped connector whilst an alternative one is required in which all three lugs are perpendicular to each other. Again the same situation applies for a connector having four lugs protruding each arrangement to avoid free lugs which would detract from the overall appearance and may even be detrimental to the function or safety of the frame.

Furthermore, such connectors only provide for joining rods or tubes where all such rods or tubes terminate at the connector. There may be several situations where, for strength reasons, it would be preferred to have a continuous rod or tube through the junction or connecting point despite any attachment of rod or tube at right angles thereto.

Again such systems generally require the rod or tube-like element to be hollow. If solid rods or tubes are desired, then the ends thereof need to be drilled to accomodate the lug of the connector.

The present invention, which should overcome the above drawbacks, has been conceived out of the need to avoid multiple connectors wherein up to six rods or tubes (hollow or solid) may be joined at a common junction point with the possibility that one rod or tube may be continuous through the junction point, while maintaining asthetic appeal and avoiding unwanted protrusions.

The present invention thus consists in a multipurpose connector for connecting up to six rod-like members emanating therefrom, comprising a body having three primary mutually orthogonal intersecting holes therethrough, each hole located along an axis of the body, the axis being defined as the line joining the centre, point of o* face of the body with the centre point of the opposite face of t body, the cross-sectional shape of the hole corresponding to ΐ cross-sectional shape of the rod or tube, the dimensions of the ross-sectional shape being sufficient to allow entry of the r or tube therein whilst maintaining minimum clearance, a sui i ble screw being located in each one of at least six secondary holes, each secondary hole perpendicular to and extending from one face of the body to the corresponding primary hole with which it intersects, the arrangement of secondary holes being such that firstly there are at least two secondary holes per primary hole, each such secondary hole intersecting with a corresponding primary hole at a point along the axis of the primary hole but on opposite sides of the midpoint of the axis of the primary hole, no secondary hole intersecting with another secondary hole. As screws, preferably grub screws are utilised.

Each rod is secured in place after entry into the primary hole by means of one or more of said grum screws.

The connector and rod-like members form, together with further such connectors and rod-like members, a three dimensional structure, the members defining three planes perpendicular to each other .

Preferably, the rod or tube-like members may have any suitable cross-section, e.g. square, circular, etc. The cross-section of the primary holes corresponds to the cross-section of said rod or tube-like members, i.e. have a square, circular or other suitable cross-section.

Preferably there will be six secondary holes located in three adjacent faces of the body, pairs of such holes being .located in each face so that each secondary hole is located on opposite sides of a primary hole.

Preferably the rod or tube is solid to provide increased strength.

The multipurpose connector according to the present invention may have any suitable form, e.g. polyhedron, cubic, spherical, etc.

The multipurpose connector according to the present invention may be provided with accessories to be used for special functions, three of which are described below.

The first is a footer piece which may be conveniently made in single primary hole perpendicular to one face thereof, the hole not extending right through from one face to the opposite face thereof. A single grub screw can then locate this plate like end-cap onto the relevant rod or tube. Such an end-cap may conveniently function as a footer to more evenly distribute the weight supported by, say, a leg of a completed frame.

A further useful accessory is in the form of an L-shaped bracket, one leg of the L having a hole therethrough from one face to the opposite face, a grub screw arrangement being provided perpendicular to the axis of the primary hole. The second leg of the L is provided with a hole, preferably counter-sunk to receive a screw by means of which a suitable sheet of material, such as timber, may be affixed. By means of securement of the rod or tube in the first leg, a simple hinge arrangement is provided by also inserting the rod through a further connector having suitable orientation in which it is allowed to rotate about its axis.

Another accessory is a connector element suitable for holding thin shelves and particularly suitable for holding plate glass is also provided whereby a grub screw facilitates securement of the connector to the framework and a removable leg thereof cooperates with a fixed leg to secure panels of glass therebetween, the panels of glass being held in position by means of suitable support pads located between the two legs which in use grip the thin shelf or glass plate.

Preferably, any primary holes which are not utilized in the construction of the frame may be conveniently filled with a suitable rubber or nylon grommet.

The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings without being limited by same. In said drawings: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a multipurpose connector Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a multipurpose connector according to the present invention; Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of a connector as shown in Fig. 1 having some tubes fixed therein; Fig. 4 shows a clam for holding plate glass; Fig. 5 shows a footer for use with the present invention; Fig. 6 shows an L-shaped bracket suitable for providing a hinge mechanism for, say, a rotatable shelf or door; and Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a multipurpose connector according to the present invention.

Fig.. 1 illustrates a multipurpose polyhedron-shaped connector 11 having three holes 12, 13 and 14 therethrough, holes 12, 13 and 14 each being perpendicular to the other and intersecting at the centre of polyhedron 11. Located on opposite sides of each hole 12, 13 and 14 are holes 15 to 20 for receiving a grub screw 21, only one such grub screw 21 being illustrated.

In this embodiment it is possible to have the holes 15 to 20 extend right through to the opposite face as there will be no intersection thereof with any other extended hole. Thus, effectively there will be twelve available holes to accomodate grub screws, thereby improving the grip and alignment of rods in the connector.

Fig. 2 shows a multipurpose connector having holes 12, 13 and 14 located perpendicularly to each other and intersecting at the centre of connector 11. This embodiment is also provided with holes 15 to, 20, as in Fig. 1, except that the pairs of holes on each face are not located on opposite sides of primary holes 12, 13 and 14, but rather as illustrated, i.e. located at 90° relative to the centre of the primary holes 12, 13 and 14.

In this embodiment only some of the holes 15 to 20 may extend to the opposite face, for example 15, 17 and 19, whilst the face will have to be offset with respect to the remaining holes 16, 18 and 20, respectively, (not shown in the drawing) Fig. 3 illustrates a typical situation employing the multipurpose connector of Fig. 1, the common elements being similarly numbered. Rod-like element 22 enters hole 12 and meets with similar rod-like element 23 entering hole 12 from the opposite side. Rod-like elements 22 and 23 may in fact be disjoint or continuous. Grub screws 24 and 25 located in holes 19 and 20 respectively, will secure rods 22 and 23 in position. Similarly, rod 26 enters the opposite side of hole 14 and is secured in position by a grub screw 27 located in hole 17. Rod 28 enters the opposite side of hole 13 and is secured in position by grub screw 29 located in hole 15.

Naturally, many variations may be contemplated in this arrangement. Grommet 30 may be conveniently inserted inserted into hole 14 to improve the aesthetic appearance thereof. Similarly, a grommet, not illustrated, may be inserted into hole 13.

Fig. 4 shows a clamp 35 attached to a rod section 36 by means of a grub screw 37. The clamp comprises a base portion 38 and removable leg 39 held in position by screw 40. Pads 41 grip a sheet of glass not illustrated.

Fig. 5 shows a footer 42 fitted to rod 43 by means of grub screw 44.

Fig. 6 shows an L-shaped connector 45 attached to rod 46 by means sof grub screw 47. Hole 48 allows fixing of any suitable sheet material (timber, etc.) thereto. By insertion of rod 46 in a standard connector, as illustrated in Fig. 1 or 2 , a hinge mechanism is readily achieved.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7 comprises spherical connector 50, primary holes into which tubes 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 are inserted, and secondary holes 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and From the foregoing it would be readily apparent that numerous variations can be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novelty of the present invention.

Claims (1)

1. A I M S A multipurpose connector for connecting up to six rodlike members emanating therefrom, comprising a body having three primary mutually orthogonal intersecting holes therethrough, each hole located along an axis of the body, the axis being defined as the line joining the centre point of one face of the body with the centre point of the opposite face of the body, the cross- sectional shape of the hole corresponding to the cross- sectional shape of the rod or tube, the dimensions of the cross-sectional shape being sufficient to allow entry of the rod or tube therein whilst maintaining minimum clearance, a suitable screw being located in each one of at least six secondary holes, each secondary hole perpendicular to and intersecting one of the three primary holes, . each secondary hole extending from one face of the body to the corresponding primary hole with which it intersects, the arrangement of secondary holes being such that firstly there are at least two secondary holes per primary hole, each such secondary hole intersecting with a corresponding primary hole at a point along the axis of the primary hole but on opposite sides of the midpoint of the axis of the primary hole, no secondary hole intersecting with another secondary hole. i A multipurpose connector according to claim 1, which is polyhedron. A multipurpose connector according to claim 1, which is spherical . A multipurpose cconnector according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the screw is a grub screw. A three-dimensional structure comprising connectors according to any of claims 1 to 4 and rod-like members to form a three-dimensional structure. A multipurpose connector according to any of claims 1 to 5, being provided with a footer piece made in the form of a circular or square plate like arrangement having a single primary hole perpendicular to one face thereof, the hole not extending right through from one face to the opposite face thereof, a single grub screw locating this plate like end-cap onto the relevant rod or tube. A multipurpose connector according to any of claims 1 to 5, being provided with an L-shaped bracket, one leg of the L having a hole therethrough from one face to the opposite face, a grub screw arrangement being provided perpendicular to the axis of the primary hole, the second leg of the L being provided with a hole, preferably counter-sunk to receive a screw by means of which a suitable sheet of material, may be affixed. A multipurpose connector according to any of claims 1 to 5, being provided with a further connector element for holding thin shelves and particularly for holding plate glass wherein a grub screw facilitates securement of the connector to the framework and a removable leg thereof cooperates with a fixed leg to secure panels of glass therebetween, the panels of glass being held in position by means of suitable support pads located between the two legs which in use grip the thin shelf or glass plate. A multipurpose connector, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FOR THE APPLICANT: