JOINT FOR EXTRUDED PANELS

• US 20120014745A1
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dean R. Rosendahl
• Original Assignee: Dean R. Rosendahl
• Inventors: Rosendahl, Dean R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,913,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/315
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/50 Flanged connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/69 Redundant disconnection blocking means
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0016 with snap action
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0635 fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/126 at least one of the sheets, plates, bars or strips having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A joint is provided which can be used in a housing for electrical components is formed by a series of extruded panels connected edge to edge. The first edge includes a slot defined by an inner wall and an outer wall and the second edge includes a blade inserted into the slot, the blade and the flexible wall including cooperating shoulders. The blade and slot are at an angle to the outer surface where a rib engages into an outer recess to seal the outer surface at the joint. A bridging member spans the joint to prevent spreading, while locking the flexible wall and carrying internal components. The housing can form a post or a receptacle on top of the post. The bridging members connect to end plates by screws extending though the plates so as to form an internal structure for the housing. Some of the connected panels can include cooling fins forming a cooling duct.

Claims

1. A joint comprising:

a first extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a first side edge;

a second extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a second side edge;

the first edge and the second edge having first and second cooperating connection members extending along the first and second edges respectively by which the first edge is fastened to the second edge along the length of the edges;

wherein the first connection member includes a slot defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, the second connection member includes a blade member inserted into the slot, the blade member having shoulder on the side thereof adjacent the outer wall wherein the outer wall includes a cooperating shoulder and is flexible to allow the shoulders to pass.

2. The joint according to claim 1 wherein the outer wall has a surface parallel to the outer surface of the first and second extruded members at the joint for butting a retention member so that compression of the surface acts to squeeze the blade member in the slot.

3. The joint according to claim 1 wherein the outer wall has a thinner portion at a base of the slot and a wider portion at an end of the slot with the wider portion defining the shoulder.

4. The joint according to claim 1 wherein the slot is inclined at an angle to the outer surface of the first and second extruded members at the joint.

5. The joint according to claim 1 wherein the second connection member includes a second slot parallel to the slot in the first connection member and arranged to receive the outer wall of the first connection member.

6. The joint according to claim 1 wherein there is provided an overlapping rib portion on one of the extruded members at outer surface which engages onto the outer surface of the other of the extruded members.

7. The joint according to claim 6 wherein the insertion of the overlapping rib portion is parallel to the outer surfaces at the joint.

8. The joint according to claim 6 wherein the second connection member includes a recess on an outer side of the blade to receive the overlapping rib portion of the first connection member.

9. The joint according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a retention member for contacting the outer wall to hold the outer wall against flexing so that compression of the outer wall acts to squeeze the blade member in the slot.

10. The joint according to claim 9 wherein the retention member is carried on a bridging member spanning the joint and supported by the first and second extruded members.

11. The joint according to claim 9 wherein the retention member is a set screw.

12. The joint according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a bridging member for bridging the first and second extruded members at the joint and wherein the first and second extruded members each include a receptacle for receiving insert portions of the bridging member such that the bridging member bridges the joint inside the inside surface to hold the joint against spreading.

13. The joint according to claim 12 wherein the bridging member extends substantially along the full length of the first and second extruded members.

14. The joint according to claim 12 wherein the bridging member slides into place along the first and second extruded members.

15. The joint according to claim 12 wherein each receptacle forms a slot.

16. The joint according to claim 15 wherein the slot is part cylindrical.

17. The joint according to claim 16 wherein the part cylindrical slot is arranged to receive a screw inserted longitudinally into one end of the slot.

18. The joint according to claim 12 wherein the bridging member forms a support for components located inside the first and second extruded members.

19. The joint according to claim 1 wherein the first and second extruded members comprise two of a plurality of such extruded members each having a first cooperating connection member along a first side edge and a second cooperating connection member along a second side edge.

20. The joint according to claim 1 wherein the first and second co- operating connection members form a snap fastening.

21. A joint comprising:

a first extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a first side edge;

a second extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a second side edge;

the first edge and the second edge having first and second cooperating connection members extending along the first and second edges respectively by which the first edge is fastened to the second edge along the length of the edges;

wherein the first connection member includes a slot defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, the second connection member includes a blade member inserted into the slot;

wherein the first connection member includes an overlapping rib portion at the outer surface which engages over an edge portion of the outer surface of the second connection member.

22. The joint according to claim 21 wherein the insertion of the overlapping rib portion is parallel to the outer surfaces at the joint.

23. The joint according to claim 21 wherein the second connection member includes a slot on an outer side of the blade to receive the overlapping rib portion of the first connection member.

24. A joint comprising:

a first extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a first side edge;

a second extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a second side edge;

the first edge and the second edge having first and second cooperating connection members extending along the first and second edges respectively by which the first edge is fastened to the second edge along the length of the edges;

wherein the first connection member includes a slot defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, the second connection member includes a blade member inserted into the slot;

wherein a direction of insertion of the blade into the slot is at an angle to the outer surface at the joint.

25. A joint comprising:

a first extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a first side edge;

a second extruded member having an outside surface, an inside surface and a second side edge;

the first edge and the second edge having first and second cooperating connection members extending along the first and second edges respectively by which the first edge is fastened to the second edge along the length of the edges;

and a bridging member for bridging the first and second extruded members at the joint;

wherein the first and second extruded members each include a receptacle for receiving side edges of the bridging member such that the bridging member bridges the joint inside the inside surface to hold the joint against spreading.

26. The joint according to claim 25 wherein the bridging member extends substantially along the full length of the first and second extruded members.

27. The joint according to claim 25 wherein the bridging member slides into place along the first and second extruded members.

28. The joint according to claim 25 wherein each receptacle forms a slot.

29. The joint according to claim 28 wherein the slot is part cylindrical.

30. The joint according to claim 29 wherein the part cylindrical slot is arranged to receive a screw inserted longitudinally into one end of the slot.

31. The joint according to claim 25 wherein the bridging member forms a support for components located inside the first and second extruded members.