WO1994019553A1

WO1994019553A1 - Connector for connecting channelled members

Info

Publication number: WO1994019553A1
Application number: PCT/CA1994/000075
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vittorio De Zen
Original assignee: Royal Building Systems (Cdn) Limited
Priority date: 1993-02-19
Filing date: 1994-02-15
Publication date: 1994-09-01
Also published as: CA2089908A1; AU6034294A

Abstract

A connector (4) for connecting together two structural members (1, 3) having corresponding channels (5) formed with inturned locking fingers (6) at their entrance when such structural members (1, 3) are arranged so that such channels (5) are in opposed face-to-face relation with their inturned fingers (6) abutting, said connector (4) comprising an elongated member adapted to be received within the opposed channels (5) of the structural members (1, 3) to connect and spanning the interior width thereof, said connector (4) member presenting outwardly facing channels (10) at the edges thereof for receiving the abutting locking fingers (6) of the structural members (1, 3) to be connected to hold same in abutting relation.

Description

CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING CHANNELLED MEMBERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to connectors for joining together channelled structural members or components.

More particularly, the invention relates to connectors for connecting together two structural members having corresponding channels formed with inturned locking fingers at their entrances when such structural members are arranged so that the channels are in opposed face-to-face relation with their inturned fingers abutting.

While the invention is applicable to the connecting of adjoining structural members or components as aforesaid manufactured from various materials, it has particular application to the joining together of such members which have been extruded from thermoplastic material and are intended for use in the erection of modular housing or other buildings to be assembled from interlocking thermoplastic structural components wherein components with channels having internal locking fingers interlock with components having projections to fit within the channels and grooves to receive and interlock with the inturned channel fingers.

The erection of such housing or building structures into permanent affordable high quality buildings which can be easily and rapidly assembled to provide essentially indestructible maintenance free structures is now possible using the structural components of the above construction more particularly described and claimed in my copending Canadian Application Serial Number 2,070,079, filed May 29th, 1992.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET In said copending application, the structural members disclosed comprise extruded thermoplastic components incorporating a reinforcing constituent imparting structural strength and expansion control thereto and flowable with the thermoplastic material through an extrusion die to produce an integral essentially rigid structural shape configured to present the aforesaid means for interconnection with adjoining structural components. Such components include extruded rectilinear hollow panels having internal cells and box connectors, the box connectors having longitudinal channels for receiving the ends of the panels with such channels having inturned locking fingers at their entrances to interlock in mating grooves foimed in the panels.

As disclosed in said copending application, such extruded panels and box connectors have a thermoplastic core or substrate which may be a vinyl chloride incorporating a reinforcing and expansion controlling material distributed therethrough and a coextruded smooth thermoplastic skin on exposed surfaces of the core.

The reinforcing material may comprise an inorganic filler and for high loading may comprise fine short glass fibers with the skin embedding and interlocking with the glass fiber portions that are exposed at the interface between the reinforced core and the coextruded skin.

A suitable glass fiber containing core material is described in detail in B. F. Goodrich's U.S. Patent 4,536,360.

The coextruded skin may, for example, be PVC, rigid PNC, semi-rigid PVC or ABS. Suitable skin thermoplastics are available from G.E. under the trade-marks "GELOY" or "ΝORYL".

As the buildings erected from some such components become more complex, there may be occasions where it is desirable to connect together a pair of members such as box connectors which present their locking channels with inturned locking fingers at the entrances thereto in face-to-face abutting relation with the opposed channels forming a closed chamber into which the abutting fingers project centrally thereof.

The connectors of the present invention solve the problem of interconnecting such channelled members.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET According to the invention, the channel member connectors comprise elongated extruded members adapted to be received within the enclosed chamber formed by the abutting channels of the members to be connected, said connector extrusion spanning the interior width of the channel chamber and presenting outwardly facing channels or grooves at the edges thereof for receiving the abutting inturned locking fingers and holding same in abutting relation.

In many cases, the connection of such channelled members may be made by sliding the connector into the chamber foimed by the opposed abutting channel formations with the edge channels of the connector receiving the abutting locking fingers.

There are, however, many instances where it is not possible to effect such a sliding interlock because of obstructions at the ends of the abutting channels. To solve this problem according to one important embodiment of the invention the connector member is extruded of material having a measure of resiliency and having camming surfaces on opposite sides of the end grooves whereby the locking fingers at the entrance to the channel members to be connected, under a force directed to push the connector into the channel, acting on such camming surfaces effect a resilient flexing or bowing of the connector to reduce its effective width for passage beneath the fingers to a point where the camming surfaces clear the fingers and the edge grooves register therewith allowing the connector to snap to its full width with the locking fingers received and held in the edge grooves.

More particularly, in its preferred form according to this embodiment of the invention the connector member comprises a hollow extrusion of thermoplastic resilient material having an hour glass shaped cross section terminating in outwardly facing edge grooves and presenting sloping camming surfaces on opposite sides of the said grooves sloping inwardly up to the mouths of the grooves.

Further, according to the preferred form of this embodiment of this invention, such connector members are provided on opposite sides thereof with integrally foimed arcuate cantilever resilient arms adapted to bear against the bottom walls of the channel of the members being connected to resist further inward movement of the connector once the camming shoulders on one side of the end grooves have cleared beneath the locking fingers and such fingers have entered the end grooves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a broken away perspective view illustrating a connector for connecting opposing box connectors, the connector being adapted for longitudinal sliding engagement with the inturned fingers of the box connector channels for effecting the box connector connection;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of an alternative connector adapted for lateral insertion into the channels of the box connectors to be joined and showing in dotted line its insertion into the channel of one of the box connectors;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the connector in position interlocking the opposing box connectors;

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevational view illustrating the connector of Figures 2 and 3 and illustrating how on bowing it can clear between the inturned locking fingers of the box connector under lateral pressure;

Figure 5 is a broken away perspective view illustrating an installation where end obstructions to the channelled member to be connected require the connector illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 to be inserted through the inturned channel fingers.

* t/ UBSTIT DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a four- way box connector 1 interlocked with a hollow cellular panel 2 at one side and with a corresponding four-way box connector 3 by means of a connector generally designated at 4.

As discussed above, the box connectors 1 and 3 and the panel 2 which are particularly adapted for use in erecting thermoplastic housing may be foimed as longitudinal extrusions having a reinforced core and a coextruded skin on exposed exterior surfaces as disclosed and claimed in my said copending application serial number 2,070,079.

Similarly, for use in such building structures, the connector member 4 will comprise a longitudinal extrusion of thermoplastic material such as a vinyl chloride containing a reinforcing inorganic filler.

It will be appreciated, however, that connector 4 can be extruded from other material such as aluminum and used to connect other than thermoplastic members which present opposed channels having inturned locking fingers.

Each of the box connectors 1 and 3 are of hollow rectilinear form presenting outwardly facing channels 5 having inturned fingers 6 at their entrance.

Panel 2 is formed with an end portion 7 of reduced width to fit within the adjoining channel 5 of the adjoining box connector and is further provided with grooves 8 to receive the inturned fingers 6 of the adjoining box connector. The connection between the panel 3 and the adjoining box connector 1 is effected by sliding one longitudinally into the other with the fingers 7 sliding in the grooves 8.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET As illustrated in Figure 1, when the two box connectors 1 and 3 are arranged contiguously with their channels 5 disposed in face-to-face relation, their inturned fingers 6 are in abutting relation.

In effect, the opposing abutting channels form a closed chamber into which the abutting fingers 7 project centrally of the width thereof.

Connector 4 comprises a longitudinal extrusion having a central web 9 terminating at opposite edges thereof with outwardly facing channels 10 which may taper slightly towards their open mouths 11. The connector 4 is dimensioned to be received in the chamber formed by the opposing channels 5 of the box connectors 1 and 3 to span the interior thereof with the inturned fingers 6 received within the channels 10. The width of the channels 10 is such as to hold the abutting fingers of the adjoining box connectors in snugly abutting relation while providing enough clearance so that the connector can be slid into interlocking relationship with the fingers over an extended length without binding.

It will be seen that the connector 4 provides a very simple means of connecting adjoining flange members and that it will be hidden internally within the closed chamber defined by the abutting channels 5.

The connector 4 of Figure 1 is intended to be slid longitudinally into interlocking position and it will be appreciated that there may be many instances where access to the box connector channels from the ends thereof may not be available in which case a connector must be provided which can be introduced laterally into the channels with the inturned locking fingers.

Figures 2 to 5 inclusive illustrate a preferred form of connector capable of effecting interconnection of opposing channels through the restricted entrance thereto defined between the opposed inturned locking fingers. According to the preferred form of this important aspect of the invention, the connector 12 illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 comprises a hollow elongated extrusion formed of a thermoplastic material having a measure of resiliency. Such material may, for instance, comprise a poly vinyl chloride containing a suitable inorganic filler in an amount to leave the polyvinyl chloride mixture with a measure of resiliency. Other suitable materials may be used a will be understood by those skilled in the art. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 the connector 12 is a hollow extrusion having an end profile or cross section of a generally hour glass configuration having a narrow waist portion 13 flaring out to a maximum thickness at points 14 and formed with edge grooves or channels 15. Between points 14 and the entrance to the grooves 15, the connector is provided with curved inwardly sloping camming shoulders 16 which extend up to the mouths of the channels 15. Projecting outwardly from the walls 17 of the hour glass configuration of connector 12 are arcuate resilient cantilever arms 18 offset from each other on opposite sides of the connector and extending away from the closer of the grooves 15.

Figure 2 shows the connector 12 in a position ready for making the connection between a two-way box connector 19 connected to a panel 20 and three-way box connector 21 connected to panels 22 extending at right angles to panel 20.

The connector 12 is shown in dotted lines after having been inserted into the channel of the three-way connector 21 with its locking fingers 23 received in the edged channels 15 and with one of the resilient cantilever arms 18 bearing against the bottom wall 24 of the three-way box connector channel.

Connector 12 also is shown as bearing against the bottom channel wall 24 at its thickest point 14.

Figure 4 illustrates the bowing or flexing capabilities of connector 12 to permit it to be introduced into the box connector channel 5 between the entrance restricting inturned fingers 23 until its reaches the position shown in Figure 2 spanning the width of the channel with the fingers 23 accommodated in the edge grooves 15.

In this connection, as the connector 12 is forced laterally into the box connector channel, the channel fingers 23 are adapted to engage the camming shoulder 16 at either one or both edges of the connector causing the adjacent connector wall 17 to bow inwardly of the connector to reduce the effective width of the connector until the shoulder or shoulders 16 clear the inturned fingers 23 which allows the connector, as soon as these fingers register with the edge groove or grooves 15, to recover to its full width and occupy the interlock position of Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows the connection made between box connectors 19 and 21 and this connection is made by pressing the box connector 19 with its associated panel 20 into abutment with box connector 21.

In such operation, the locking fingers 25 of box connector 19 will act on the adjacent camming shoulders 16 to effect a bowing in of the adjacent connector wall 17 to reduce the effective length of the adjacent side of the connector until the camming shoulders clear beneath the locking fingers 25 which then can drop into the edge grooves 15 allowing the resilient connector to recover to its full width bridging the entire width of the box connector's channel.

During this operation, the resilient cantilever arm 18 bearing on the bottom wall 24 of the three-way box connector channel will resist displacement of the connector wall to which it is connected further into the channel of the three-way box connector.

As seen in Figure 3, when connector 12 is in position the abutting fingers 25 and 23 of box connectors 19 and 21 are held in abutting position in the connector edge grooves 15 and the connector 12 is totally contained within the chamber 26 formed by the channels of the abutting box connectors with the abutting locking fingers 23 and 25 projecting inwardly of the chamber midway of its width.

Just as the resilient cantilever arm 18 on the right hand side of the connector is illustrated in Figure 3 resiliently bears against the bottom wall 24 of the channel of the three-way connector, the corresponding cantilever arm 18 on the opposite side of the connector resiliently bears against the bottom wall 27 of the two-way box connector 19 resiliently holding the connector in position in the chamber 26.

Figure 5 illustrates a situation where the connector must be forced into the channels of the members it is intended to connect through the restricted entrances thereto defined by the locking fingers. As shown, a wall 28 which may be made up of wall panels 29 connected by a three-way box connector 30 extends between a floor 31 and a ceiling 32 with the box connector 30 presenting its channel 33 provided with its inturned locking fingers 34 facing into the area bounded by the wall and floor and ceiling. In this case, the box connector 12 is shown as extending the full length from floor to ceiling ready to be forced into the box connector channel 33. The wall 35 to be joined to wall 29 is provided with a two-way box connector 36 corresponding to the box connector 19 ready to be assembled into abutting relation with box connector 30 with connector 12 assuming the position illustrated in Figure 3 when the walls are connected together. While it is usually preferable to have connector 12 extend the full length of the channel members it is to connect, it will be understood that its length may be selected as desired and a plurality of spaced connectors may be employed rather than a single connector.

While specific and preferred embodiments of the invention have been described therein, it will be understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A connector for connecting together two structural members having corresponding channels formed with inturned locking fingers at their entrance when such structural members are arranged so that such channels are in opposed face-to-face relation with their inturned fingers abutting, said connector comprising an elongated member adapted to be received within the opposed channels of the structural members it is to connect and spanning the interior width thereof, said connector member presenting outwardly facing channels at the edges thereof for receiving the abutting locking fingers of the structural members to be connected to hold same in abutting relation.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 in which said connector is a longitudinal extrusion.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2 in which said connector is extruded from a thermoplastic material.

4. A connector as claimed in Claim 3 in which said connector is extruded from a vinyl chloride containing a reinforcing inorganic filler.

5. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 comprising an extrusion of resilient thermoplastic material, said connector presenting camming shoulders on opposite sides of said edge channels sloping inwardly up to the mouths of said channels whereby said connector is adapted to be inserted into the channels of the structural members it is adapted to connect with the locking fingers thereof acting on said camming shoulders to effect a temporary bowing of the connector until the shoulders clear the fingers and register with the connector channels.

6. A connector as claimed in Claim 5 further having resilient lateral extensions adapted to bear on the bottom walls of the channels of the structural members it is adapted to connect to urge said connector to the unbowed state.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

7 . A connector as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 which is extruded from a vinyl chloride containing a reinforcing inorganic filler.

8. A connector for connecting together two structural members having corresponding channels formed with inturned locking fingers at their entrance when such members are arranged so that their channels are in opposed face-to-face relation with their inturned locking fingers abutting and forming a closed chamber divided centrally by the abutting fingers, said connector comprising a hollow longitudinal extrusion of resilient thermoplastic material having an hour glass-like cross section with longitudinally extending edge channels bordered by camming shoulders curving inwardly out to the mouths of said edge channels, said connector being dimensioned to be received within the closed chamber formed by the abutting structural members to be connected and to span the interior thereof with said edge channels dimensioned to receive the abutting locking fingers and hold same in abutting relation, said connector being adapted to bow under lateral pressure to clear said camming shoulders beneath the locking fingers of the structural members to be connected.

9. A connector as claimed in Claim 8 having integral resilient cantilever arms on opposite sides thereof adapted to bear against the bottom walls of the channels of the members to be connected to urge said connector to an unbowed state.

10. A connector as claimed in Claim 9 in which said cantilever arms are arcuate.