Inside corner connector for structural framing members

• US 6,481,177 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 80/20 Inc.
• Original Assignee: 80/20 Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARNER, STEVE M
• Application Number:
  US09/698,605
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 526/551, 526/531, 526/532, 526/561, 526/569, 526/57, 526/58, 526/65, 403/403, 403/230, 403/231, 403/241, 403/292, 403/295, 403/205, 403/375, 403/188, 403/189, 403/170, 248/225.11, 248/223.41
• US Class Current: 52/656.9
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/389 Brackets
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/50 Metal corner connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/187 with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels channel nuts per se F16B37/045
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/46 Rod end to transverse side of member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/4602 Corner joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/555 Angle section

Abstract

A connector is provided for structural framing members having T-slots running lengthwise along a major surface of the structural framing member. The connector includes a pair of guides, each guide being sized to fit within a T-slot of one of the framing members for linear movement. A strut diagonally connects the pair of guides holding the guides mutually perpendicular to one another. The connector further includes each of the pair of guides being elongated in the direction of linear movement within a T-slot. Each guide further has a cross sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation conforming to the interior shape of the T-slot. Each guide is also open at both ends in the direction of elongation allowing introduction of the guide to an open end of a T-slot of a structural framing member.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a pair of structural framing members and a connector for positioning the pair of structural framing members with respect to one another, the assembly comprising:

the structural framing members each having at least one T-slot running lengthwise along a major surface of the structural framing member;

a pair of guides, each of the pair of guides being elongated in a direction of linear movement within a T-slot, and each guide having a cross sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation conforming to the interior shape of the T-slot of one of the framing members for linear movement; and

a strut diagonally connected between the pair of guides for holding the guides in a plane and at right angles to one another.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

each guide having ends in the direction of elongation allowing introduction of the guide to an open end of the T-slot of a structural framing member.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each guide further comprises:

an upper surface oriented on introduction to a T-slot to face away from the centerline of the structural framing member.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each guide includes a rib extending upwardly from the upper surface.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the strut extends from each rib of the connector.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the strut has an indented perimeter running between adjacent open ends of the guides.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising locking screws fittable through the guides until contact with an interior surface of a T-slot for preventing movement of the guides in the T-slot.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

the guides being supported on the strut in a mutually perpendicular orientation with respect to the directions of elongation;

the guides having proximate ends by which the guides may be introduced to a T-slot at an end of a structural framing member; and

the strut having an indented perimeter section between the proximate ends allowing a third structural framing member to be positioned substantially snugly against the perimeter section when oriented perpendicularly to both of the pair of structural framing members.

9. A connector for channeled linear members, comprising:

mutually perpendicular first and second elongated sections having a cross sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation conforming to the interior cross sectional shape of a channel of the channeled linear member, the elongated sections having a pair of ends in the direction of elongation allowing introduction of the elongated sections to open ends of channels in channeled linear members;

a diagonal brace disposed between the first and second elongated sections to lie substantially outside any channel into which either the first or second elongated sections may be introduced;

a first one of each pair of ends being proximate to one another;

an indented perimeter section to the diagonal brace between the proximate first ends allowing a linear member to be placed against the indented perimeter section perpendicular to the directions of elongation for both the first and second elongated sections;

tap holes through the first and second elongated sections; and

set screws positionable in the tap holes.

10. A frame comprising:

at least a first pair of structural framing members, the structural framing members each having at least one T-slot running lengthwise along a major surface of the structural framing member;

a connector for positioning the pair of structural framing members perpendicular to one another, each connector including a pair of guide sections, the guide sections being elongated and each having a cross sectional shapes perpendicular to the direction of elongation conforming to the interior shape of the T-slot; and

a strut diagonally connected between the pair of guide sections holding the guide sections mutually perpendicular and coplaner.

11. A frame as claimed in claim 10, where in the connector further comprises:

each of the pair of guide sections having a direction of linear movement within a T-slot corresponding to the direction of elongation;

the guide sections being supported on the strut in a mutually perpendicular orientation with respect to the direction of elongation of the other guide section;

the guide sections having proximate ends by which the guide sections may be introduced to a T-slot at an end of a structural framing member; and

the strut having an indented perimeter section between the proximate ends allowing a third structural framing member to be positioned substantially snugly against the perimeter section when oriented perpendicularly to both of the pair of structural framing members.