Connecting fitting for releasably connecting two platelike furniture members

• US 4,553,873 A
• Filed: 06/09/1982
• Issued: 11/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arturo Salice SPA
• Original Assignee: Arturo Salice SPA
• Inventors: Salice, Luciano
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Application Number:
  US06/386,572
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 403/330, 403/231, 403/245, 403/246, 403/407
• US Class Current: 403/245
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 403/11 Furniture type having a snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/608 Pivoted

Abstract

A connecting fitting for releasably connecting two platelike furniture members, which extend preferably at right angles to each other comprises two fitting elements adapted to be secured to respective furniture members to be connected. One of said fitting elements is pin-shaped and provided with an enlarged head and adapted to be slidably inserted into an aperture or recess of the other fitting element until the fitting elements and/or furniture members engage each other. The other fitting element is provided with a spring-loaded locking member, which comprises a forked portion for straddling the first-mentioned fitting element below its head in order to lock the fitting members to each other. In one embodiment of the invention, the locking member consists of a locking lever, which is pivoted to the associated fitting element and has a forked, hook-shaped end portion, which in its locking position straddles the shank of the pin-shaped element behind its head, the hook-shaped end portion has a curved or wedge-like, tapered surface, which extends in the direction in which the head is to be slidably inserted, and means are provided for imparting to the locking lever a pivotal movement to its unlocked position against the force of the spring. In another embodiment of the invention, the locking member consists of a wedge-shaped slider, which is known per se and which on its side facing the supporting face has also a wedge-shaped surface and lies in the direction in which the head is slidably inserted into the housing for the slider, and unlocking means are provided for moving the slider against the spring force to its open position.

Claims

1. A connecting device for releasably connecting two platelike furniture members extending preferably at right angles to each other, said connecting device comprising two fitting members, one fitting member being pin-shaped having an enlarged head and a shank and adapted to be mounted on one of the platelike furniture members and the other fitting member having a spring-loaded locking member adapted to be pivotally mounted within the other platelike furniture member, said spring loaded locking element including, a forked, hook-shaped end portion for straddling the shank of the pin-shaped member behind its head to lock the fitting members to each other, the forked, hook-shaped end portion having a tapered surface to coact with the head of the pin-shaped member to cam the pin-shaped member into a locked position, the other fitting member further including a locking lever being pivotably movable to move the spring-loaded locking element from the locked position to an unlocked position against the bias of the spring-loaded locking element.

2. A connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the rear face of the forked, hook-shaped end portion bears on the rear side of the head of the pin-shaped member.

3. A connecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear face of the head of the pin-shaped member is in the shape of at least one of a frustum of a cone and a curved cross-section.

4. A connecting device according to claim 3, wherein the rear face of the head of the pin-shaped member bears on a region of the rear face of the forked, hook-shaped portion such that the side edge of the head of the pin-shaped member is spaced from the rear end of the rear face of the hook-shaped portion.

5. A connecting device according to claim 4, wherein the forked, hook-shaped end portion is pivoted on a pivot pin aligned parallel to the axial center line of a housing surrounding the forked, hook-shaped end portion.

6. A connecting device according to claim 5, wherein the locking member is two-armed and a spring acts on that arm opposite to the arm carrying the forked, hook-shaped end portion.

7. A connecting device according to claim 6, wherein the spring is a compression spring held between an abutment surface of the housing and one lever arm.

8. A connecting device according to claim 7, wherein the locking member consists of a channel-shaped sheet metal stamping having a web and flanges comprising toothlike hook-shaped portions.

9. A connecting device according to claim 8, wherein the locking lever includes a pin mounted in the housing, a leverlike cam engaging locking member, and a handle lever secured at a free end of the pin, the handle lever, lying on the top wall of the housing.

10. A connecting device according to claim 9, wherein the cam extends in the unlocked position at an angle to the locking lever such that the cam bears on the locking lever in a self-locking manner.

11. A connecting device according to claim 10, wherein the handle lever extends in a sector-shaped recess of the top wall of the housing.

12. A connecting device according to claim 11, wherein the housing for the locking lever is cylindrical and has a flat forward face and is adapted to be divided along a center plane extending centrally through the flat forward face.

13. A connecting device according to claim 12, wherein an opening, slightly larger in diameter than the head of the pin-shaped member is defined by the flat forward face.

14. A connecting device according to claim 12, wherein one half of the housing defines a downwardly open chamber guiding the compression spring on the sides of the chamber.

15. A connecting device according to claim 14, wherein two pin-shaped elements are each mounted in a bushing adapted to be slidably inserted into a through bore defined by one of the furniture members, and the pinlike elements have screw threads adapted to be screwed into said bushing from opposite ends thereof.

16. A connecting device for releasably connecting two platelike furniture members extending preferably at right angles to each other, said connecting device comprising two fitting members one fitting member being pin-shaped having an enlarged head and a shank and adapted to be mounted on one of the platelike furniture members, and the other fitting member having a compression spring-loaded locking member adapted to be slidably mounted within a housing of the other platelike furniture member, said compression spring-loaded locking member having on a side facing a supporting face, a wedge-shaped surface to cam the pin-shaped member into a locked position, and pivoted unlocking means on the housing for moving the slider against the spring bias to an unlocked position.

17. A connecting device according to claim 16, wherein the portion of the slider having the supporting face is tooth-shaped and is secured to and extends at right angles to a sliding plate slidably mounted in tracks of the housing.

18. A connecting device according to claim 17, wherein two toothlike portions straddle the shank of the pin-shaped element.

19. A connecting according to claim 18, wherein the compression spring biasing the slider is held in a blind hole defined by the housing.

20. A connecting device according to claim 19, wherein the housing of the slider has the shape of a cylindrical disc and the slider is slidably guided in a radial diametrical plane.

21. A connecting device according to claim 20, wherein the unlocking means comprises a crank pivoted in the top wall of the housing, a crankpin extending into a slot defined by the slider, and said crank being pivotally movable by means of a handle lever disposed on the upper surface of the top wall of the housing.

22. A connecting device according to claim 21, wherein the actuating lever is positioned in a sector-shaped recess defined by the top wall of the housing.