Locking clip system for securing panels together

• US 6,004,065 A
• Filed: 02/04/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc. (HNI Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hon. Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Addink, Brad J., Higdon, Dale B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEV, BRUCE ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/822,337
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 403/353, 403/348, 403/350, 403/384, 403/406.1, 24/458, 24/588, 24/590, 411/104, 411/174, 411/175, 411/552, 411/553, 411/549, 312/140, 312/111, 108/108, 108/109, 108/152, 108/157
• US Class Current: 403/384
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 13/003 Connecting table tops to underframes connecting furniture tubing to non-tubular parts F16B12/42
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0621 in parallel relationship fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 403/11 Furniture type having a snap fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7009 Rotary binding cam or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/71 Rod side to plate or side

Abstract

A system for interlocking together two panel members comprises a washer member having a first washer portion connected by a first necked down portion to a second intermediate washer portion and a third washer portion connected by a second necked down portion to the second intermediate washer portion. A bore runs through the washer member for receiving a screw for fastening the washer member to a side of a first panel member. A second panel member has a keyhole slot and an aperture spaced from the keyhole slot. A resilient clip member has one end formed with a right angle projecting portion and a second end formed with an aperture configured to securely receive the first necked down portion of the washer member. When the washer member is fastened together with the clip member to a side of the first panel member, the third washer portion may be inserted into the keyhole slot and the first panel member may be moved such that the second necked down portion slides into a reduced opening portion of the keyhole slot, whereupon the projecting portion of the clip member is resiliently biased into the aperture of the second panel member thereby immovably securing the panel members together.

Claims

1. An interlocking panel system comprising:

a first panel member;

a washer member having a first washer portion connected by a first necked down portion to a second washer portion and a third washer portion connected by a second necked down portion to said second washer portion, said washer member having a continuous bore running therethrough to receive a fastener for fastening said washer member to a side of said first panel member;

a second panel member having a keyhole slot formed therein, said slot having an enlarged opening portion leading to a reduced opening portion, said reduced opening portion being smaller in size than said third washer portion and larger in size than said second necked down portion of said washer member, said second panel member further having an aperture spaced from said keyhole slot;

a generally elongate, resilient clip member having a longitudinal axis and having a first end formed with a first projecting portion projecting generally at right angles to said longitudinal axis, said clip member further having a second end opposed from said first end, said second end being provided with an aperture, said aperture of said second end being dimensioned and configured to fixedly receive the first necked down portion of said washer member to attach said washer member to said clip member;

wherein when said washer member is fastened together with said clip member to a side of said first panel member, said third washer portion may be inserted through said enlarged opening portion of the keyhole slot of the second panel member and said first panel member may be moved such that said second necked down portion slides into said reduced opening portion of said keyhole slot whereupon said first projecting portion of said clip is resiliently biased into said aperture of said second panel member thereby immovably securing said panel members together.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said clip member includes a second projecting portion projecting generally in a direction opposite that of said first projecting portion and said second projecting portion is receivable by an aperture in said first panel member.

3. The system of claim 1 including at least two tabs projecting into said aperture of said clip member for engaging said first necked down portion of said washer member.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said first washer portion includes recesses for receiving said tabs.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said first washer portion includes ramp surfaces defining said recesses.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said first washer portion of said washer member is provided with a pair of opposed flat edges and said washer member is secured to said clip member by inserting said first washer portion through said clip member aperture and turning said washer member ninety degrees relative to said clip member.