Panel cover attachments to snap together connectors

• US 7,472,969 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cube Concepts LLC
• Original Assignee: Cube Concepts LLC
• Inventors: Saravis, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, HANH VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/688,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 312107-109, 312/111, 312/263, 312/265.5, 312/265.6, 403381-382, 403402-403, 525/81, 525/881, 525/891, 525/911, 525/921, 52/813, 526/551
• US Class Current: 312/111
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0033 Corners
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/042 Panels connected without frames
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/26 using snap-action elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/46 Non-metal corner connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/30 Dovetail-like connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/67 Rigid angle couplings

Abstract

Attachments to affix panel covers, with snap together latches and/or catches to elements such as rods or panels and thereby attaching the rods and/or panels to each other to form structures.

Claims

1. A snap together arrangement comprising:

a plurality of structural elements, each structural element comprising a panel cover at each corner and an elongated member extending between adjacent corners to form a four-sided frame, wherein the elongated member is a structural beam that substantially provides skeletal support for the plurality of structural elements;

each panel cover having a first latch and catch pair and a second latch and catch pair, wherein each of the first latch and catch pair and the second latch and catch pair include a latch and a catch, said catch with elongated deformable slot walls having a length and being substantially rigid and having adequate memory and elasticity to deform and snap back and said latch with an enlarged elongated head having a length substantially similar as the length of the slot walls, said catch and latch extend at a fixed angle relative to each other and extend from a substantially common vertex of the panel cover and wherein in an assembled state, said catch snaps into engagement with a latch of an adjacent corner panel cover of an adjacent structural element in the transverse direction of said elongated deformable slot walls of said catch and the latch and the catch combination being firmly mated with each other and wherein the first and second latch and catch pairs are at a 90 degree angle relative to each other on said panel cover and wherein the length of the latch and the length of the catch of each latch and catch pair is parallel to each other;

said panel cover further comprising a first elongated member cavity and a second elongated member cavity, the first elongated member cavity and the second member cavity to receive an end of one of said elongated members, wherein each elongated member cavity includes a depth and wherein the depth of the first elongated member cavity extends at a 90 degree angle relative to the second elongated member cavity;

at least two structural elements of the plurality of structural elements through which a first edge of a first structural element of the plurality of structural elements is connected by at least one panel cover to a panel cover on a first edge of a second structural element of the plurality of structural elements to form a substantially right angle between the first structural element and the second structural element, through which the first structural element and second structural element form a 2-sided arrangement; and

a third structural element of the plurality of structural elements, through which a first edge of the third structural element is connected by a panel cover to a second edge of the second structural element to form a substantially right angle between the second structural element and the third structural element, through which the first structural element, the second structural element, and the third structural element form a 3-sided arrangement.

2. The snap together arrangement of claim 1 further comprising of a fourth structural element of the plurality of structural elements, through which a first edge of the fourth structural element is connected by a panel cover to a second edge of the third structural element to form a substantially right angle between the third structural element and the fourth structural element, and;

through which a second edge of the fourth structural element is connected by a panel cover to a second edge of the first structural element, through which the first structural element, the second structural element, the third structural element, and the fourth structural element form a 4-sided arrangement.

3. The snap together arrangement of claim 1, wherein at least one of said panel covers comprises a stop through which movement of attached panels along the length of the slot walls is limited to maintain the latch and the catch combination.

4. The snap together arrangement of claim 1 wherein said structural element is selected from the group consisting of a metal frame, a wood frame, a rattan frame, a wicker grid, a wicker frame, a metal sheet, cardboard, foam, fiberboard, wood and a metal grid panel.

5. The snap together arrangement of claim 2 wherein said structural element is selected from the group consisting of a metal frame, a wood frame, a rattan frame, a wicker grid, a wicker frame, a metal sheet, cardboard, foam, fiberboard, wood and a metal grid panel.