Connector for use in display systems

• US 9,546,675 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecna Display Limited
• Original Assignee: Tecna Display Limited
• Inventors: Evitt, Jonathan Henry Strevens
• Primary Examiner(s): KENNEDY, JOSHUA T
• Application Number:
  US14/581,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20150110550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 403170-176, 403/178, 403/217, 403/218, 403/348, 403/349, 403/350, 446/108, 446/204, 526/551, 526/552
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0016 Node corner connectors, e.g. cubic
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/005 Combination of corners and bars
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/1912 with central cubical connecting element
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/5831 of substantially rectangular form
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/09 Releasable fastening devices with a stud engaging a keyhole slot
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0426 for rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/048 for rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7007 Bayonet joint

Abstract

A connector, for display systems having a display frame formed of a plurality of beams (1), has a male fitting (3) which has a stem (8) projecting from a plate (4), and a head (9) formed of four noses which project laterally from the stem. The head (9) is inserted in a correspondingly-shaped aperture of a female node fitting and rotated into positive engagement with the inner face of the node fitting. The trailing faces of the four noses have oppositely-inclined ramps which act to provide progressive tightening and alignment of the connector as the male part is rotated within the aperture. The connector provides a stable joint and enables a firm connection to be obtained with a smaller angle of rotation and reduced engagement force.

Claims

1. A connector for use in displays of the kind which include a display frame formed of a plurality of beams which are joined together by multi-way node fittings to form a three-dimensional shape and which have display panels releasably secured to the beams, said connector comprising:

a male part secured to a beam such that the male part and the beam are rotationally and axially fixed relative to one another, the male part comprising a first side having a bearing face, a stem rotationally and axially fixed to and projecting directly from the bearing face, a head comprising four noses which project laterally from the stem, and a second side opposite the first side with projections that locate within an open end of the beam on opposite sides of a central web thereof, the stem comprising an axial bore through its center which receives a fastening element engaged in an axial channel in the central web of the beam; and

a female part having a wall with an inner face and an outer bearing face, the wall containing an aperture which permits the head of the male part to pass through the aperture and rotatably receives the stem with the bearing face of the male part in contact with the outer bearing face of the wall, the inner face of each wall being profiled to engage the noses when the male part is rotated within the aperture, and the outer bearing face of the wall being disposed outside of the aperture;

wherein the aperture of the female part is of cruciform shape and the inner face of the wall or each nose is profiled to provide progressive tightening and alignment and to engage said noses with said inner face of the wall when the beam to which is secured said male part is rotated in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, the male part passing through the aperture in a first orientation and the progressive tightening occurring as the male part is rotated from the first orientation to an engaged orientation.

2. A connector according to claim 1 in which the noses comprise oppositely-inclined ramps which subtend a radially-extending locating ridge.

3. A connector according to claim 2 in which the inner face of the wall is provided with a radially-extending groove which receives the locating ridge to positively locate the male part within the female part.

4. A connector according to claim 3 and further configured such that the locating ridge clicks, in use, into the groove indicating that a positive lock has been achieved.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the wall of the female part is square in plan with four surrounding straight side edges, the aperture having four substantially identical lobes which project generally perpendicular to the four surrounding straight side edges of the wall, each lobe comprising opposite side margins which converge to meet a circumferential outer margin.

6. A connector according to claim 5, in which the bearing face of the male part is provided by a plate, wherein the plate is square in plan, the noses projecting radially from the stem on the diagonals of the plate.

7. A connector according to claim 1 in which the bearing face of the male part is provided by a plate.

8. A connector according to claim 7 in which the plate comprises the first side and the second side opposite the first side.

9. A connector according to claim 1, wherein the female part is forming in two identical halves joined together by one or more fastening elements.

10. A connector according to claim 9, wherein each half has a cooperating hole, the one or more fastening elements being configured to be inserted through cooperating holes to join the two halves together.

11. A connector according to claim 1 in which the female part includes a plurality of walls which each contain such an aperture.

12. A connector for use in displays of the kind which include a display frame formed of a plurality of beams which are joined together by multi-way node fittings to form a three-dimensional shape and which have display panels releasably secured to the beams, said connector comprising:

a male part having a first side with a bearing face, a stem rotationally and axially fixed to and projecting directly from the bearing face, a head comprising four noses which project laterally from the stem, and a second side opposite the first side with projections configured to locate within an open end of a beam on opposite sides of a central web of the beam; and

a female part having a wall with an inner face and an outer bearing face, the wall containing an aperture which permits the head of the male part to pass through the aperture and rotatably receives the stem with the bearing face of the male part in contact with the outer bearing face of the wall, the inner face of each wall being profiled to engage the noses when the male part is rotated within the aperture, and the outer bearing face of the wall being disposed outside of the aperture;

wherein the aperture of the female part is of cruciform shape and the inner face of the wall or each nose is profiled to provide progressive tightening and alignment and to engage said noses with said inner face of the wall when the male part is rotated in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction, the male part passing through the aperture in a first orientation and the progressive tightening occurring as the male part is rotated from the first orientation to an engaged orientation.

13. A connector according to claim 12 in which the noses comprise oppositely-inclined ramps which subtend a radially-extending locating ridge.

14. A connector according to claim 13 in which the inner face of the wall is provided with a radially-extending groove which receives the locating ridge to positively locate the male part within the female part.

15. A connector according to claim 14 and further configured such that the locating ridge clicks, in use, into the groove indicating that a positive lock has been achieved.

16. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the wall of the female part is square in plan with four surrounding straight side edges, the aperture having four substantially identical lobes which project generally perpendicular to the four surrounding straight side edges of the wall, each lobe comprising opposite side margins which converge to meet a circumferential outer margin.

17. A connector according to claim 12 in which the bearing face of the male part is provided by a plate.

18. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the female part is formed in two identical halves joined together by one or more fastening elements.

19. A connector for use in displays of the kind which include a display frame formed of a plurality of beams which are joined together by multi-way node fittings to form a three-dimensional shape and which have display panels releasably secured to the beams, the connector comprising:

a male part secured to a beam such that they are rotationally and axially fixed relative to one another, the male part having a bearing face, a stem projecting from the bearing face and a head comprising four noses which project laterally from the stem, the stem comprising an axial bore through its center which receives a fastening element engaged in an axial channel in a central web of the beam; and

a female part having a wall with an inner face and an outer bearing face, the wall containing an aperture of cruciform shape which permits the head of the male part to pass through the aperture when the male part is in a first orientation and which rotatably receives the stem with the bearing face of the male part in contact with the outer bearing face of the wall, the inner face of the wall being profiled to engage the noses when the male part is rotated within the aperture;

wherein the inner face of the wall or each nose is profiled to provide progressive tightening and alignment of the connector as the beam and the bearing face and the stem and the noses of the male part are rotated together, in use, in either direction from the first orientation to a second, engaged orientation to engage the female part.

20. A connector according to claim 19, wherein the male part comprises a first side with said bearing face and a second side opposite the first side, the second side comprising a plurality of projections located within an open end of the beam on opposite sides of the central web.