Device comprising a frame of lengths of tube and coupling pieces and coupling piece for the same

• US 4,678,359 A
• Filed: 02/14/1985
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Egbert Keen
• Original Assignee: Egbert Keen
• Inventors: Keen, Egbert
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/701,510
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 403/292-295, 403/298, 403/170, 403/171, 403/172, 403/176, 403/205, 403/401, 403/402, 403/403, 312/140
• US Class Current: 403/170
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/11 Tripod parts
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2230/01 Assemblies of strip sections, able to hold panels and corner parts for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0008 Three-dimensional corner connectors, the legs thereof being received within hollow, elongated frame members corner joints in general F16B12/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2012/446 with three-dimensional corner element, the legs thereof being inserted in hollow frame members
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/341 Three or more radiating members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/347 Polyhedral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/55 Member ends joined by inserted section

Abstract

A device comprising a frame composed of lengths of tubing and coupling pieces interconnecting the same, coupling piece and coupling piece parts for the same, each coupling piece having a cubical body provided on each outer face with a recess with undercut engaging rims for receiving a base part of an arm connected with a tubing and having complementary engaging rims in a manner such that the arm is fixed in place at least in the direction transverse of the outer face. The edge of the body is equal to the thickness of the tubings, the body consists of two identical parts having a square head face, each part having complementary connecting means for joining a body part by a base face to the base face of the other body part in a direction transverse of the head face, while each side face has a recess which is accessible only from the base face for the base part of the arm and which forms, together with a corresponding recess in the other body part, the recess for receiving the base part of an arm.

Claims

1. In a composite frame assembly, the combination of a coupling piece of hollow, cubic form presenting two parallel head faces and four side faces, said coupling piece being formed of two identical parts separated along a plane parallel to said head faces to allow said parts to be brought together into the cubic form and so that each side face is perpendicular to such plane;

connecting means for securing said parts together;

at least one of said side faces having a recess therein leading to the interior of said coupling piece and defining a pair of grooves in each part in which each pair of grooves is aligned with the other pair of grooves at said plane and extends therefrom toward but short of a head face of its corresponding part;

an arm member having a base portion and an arm projecting perpendicularly from said base portion to define a longitudinal axis, said base portion defining parallel flanges held captive within said grooves when the parts are secured together so that the arm member may be oriented in one of at least two rotational positions about said axis relative to said one side face prior to said parts being brought together, said arm having a tubing-receiving portion which is asymmetrical relative to said axis; and

a length of tubing having an asymmetrical interior adapted to receive said tubing-receiving portion of the arm.

2. In a composite frame as defined in claim 1 wherein said base of the arm member is square and defines two pairs of flanges adapted to be received in said grooves whereby the arm member is rotational into four different orientations about said axis relative to said one side face.

3. In a composite frame as defined in claim 2 wherein said length of tubing is formed of two longitudinally separated parts.

4. In a composite frame as defined in claim 2 wherein said length of tubing is formed of two longitudinally separated parts.

5. In a composite frame assembly, the combination of a coupling piece of hollow form presenting two parallel head faces and four side faces, said coupling piece being formed of two separate parts each having a base face to allow said parts to be brought together with their base faces juxtaposed to define the various head and side faces thereof;

connecting means for securing said parts together;

at least some of said side faces having a recess therein leading to the interior of said coupling piece and each recess defining a pair of grooves in each part extending from the respective base faces thereof in which each pair of grooves is aligned with the other pair of grooves at such respective base faces thereof;

at least one arm member having a base portion having flanges dimensioned to be received in an aligned pairs of grooves only when the parts are separated to expose said base faces and an arm projecting from said base portion, said flanges of the base portion being held captive in the pairs of grooves of one of said recesses when said parts are brought together so that said arm may be rotationally oriented into one of a plurality of positions relative to said coupling piece before said parts are brought together.

6. In a composite frame as defined in claim 5 wherein said parts define a cube when brought together.

7. In a composite frame as defined in claim 5 wherein there are four rotational positions of said arm member, each a quarter of a rotation from an adjacent rotational position.

8. In a composite frame as defined in claim 5 including a longitudinally split tube having only one section adapted to receive said arm in secured relation thereto, the engagement of said one section with the arm being asymmetrical with relation to the axis of the tube, and the other section of the tube being releasably secured to said one section.