GB2070721A - Joint member for rods or tubes - Google Patents

Abstract

A joint member comprises two identical parts which engage one another along a plane of symmetry of the joint member. Each of said two parts provides a respective square-section socket 4 along a central axis to receive the end of a respective square-section tube 5, and provides four identical channels 8, 9 disposed at 90 DEG intervals around the central axis, and radiating therefrom. Spigots 10 provided in the sockets receiving tubes 11 engage in apertures 12 in the tubes 11 to hold the latter in place. The two parts of the joint member are held together by a bolt 7 extended through respective bushes formed in the parts along said central axis. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Six-way joint member for connecting rods or tubes THIS INVENTION relates to a joint member for use in connecting the ends of rods in, for example, a lattice structure, such as scaffolding, or display structures, and to structures incorporating such joint members.

The problem of how to connect three or more tubular elements, extending in three or more mutually perpendicular directions, in such a manner as to allow ready dismantling and reassembly, arises in the construction of scaffolding, in display structures, for example in window-dressing and in the fitting out of shops, libraries, stores, fairs, and in many other fields.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a six-way joint member for connecting a plurality of rods (up to six) radiating in respective directions parallel with selected ones of three mutually perpendicular axes.

According to the invention there is provided a six-way joint member for assembling a plurality of tubular rods in the three orthogonal and concurrent directions, characterised by the fact that it is made up of two equal symmetrical and shell-like pieces which, when they are oppositely matched through their bases, define four tubular, dead, coplanar and cross positioned sockets forming the seats for as many rods horizontally placed therein and two annular, dead and lined up sockets to permit the tubing of as many vertical rods; sai'd two pieces being made integral to each other by means of a screw element coaxial to said vertical seats.

An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a joint member embodying the invention, in use in a structure the remainder of which is shown in part, and Figure 2 is an exploded view of the jointing member of Fig. 1 and parts of the remainder of the structure, in section taken in a vertical plane.

Referring to the drawings, a joint member embodying the invention comprises two identical, shell-like pieces each of which comprises a central, hollow, rectangular body 1 with a square base, four side walls 2 extending upwardly from the square base and defining therebetween a cavity or socket 4 of square cross-section, said socket extending along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base, said socket being open at its end remote from the base, and closed at its other end by the base, but for an axial through passage 6 provided in a spigot extending axially within the socket from the base towards the open end of the socket.

The two shell-like pieces making up the joint member are secured together in such a way that the planar face of the square base of each central body 1 which faces away from the respective side walls and spigot engages and is in register with, the corresponding planar face of the square base of the other central body, the common plane of these planar faces constituting a plane of symmetry of the joint member, and the coincident axes of the square-section sockets 4 provided by and of the spigots provided within these sockets constitute a central axis of the joint member which is perpendicular to said plane of symmetry. The spigots within the sockets provided by bodies 1 may be internally and/or externally cylindrical or of square cross-section.The two shell-like pieces are separably held together by a bolt 7 extended through the passages 6 and clamping the pieces together, the head of the bolt engaging the end of one spigot and the nut fitted on the bolt engaging the end of the other spigot. Alternatively, one of the spigots may be internally screw threaded to cooperate with the screw thread on the bolt. Advantageously, the height of the internal walls 3 which define each spigot is less than the height of the external walls 2 which define each socket 4, so that room is left to house the head or nut of the bolt 7 within the end of each socket 4 furthest from the respective base 1.

Each of the two identical shell-like pieces also comprises four identical channels each extending from a respective one of the four walls 2 in a direction perpendicular therewith, so that the four channels together form a cross, each channel comprises a horizontal wall 8, (i.e. a wall parallel with the plane of symmetry) which is set back from the plane of symmetry, and two side walls 9 extending parallel with one another and perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, from the respective wall 8 to the plane of symmetry, where they terminate. Each of these channels, in cooperation with a respective corresponding channel of the other of the two shell-like pieces, defines a respective socket which is of square cross section internally, is closed at its inner end (i.e. its end nearest the central axis,) open at its outer end and has a longitudinal axis lying in the plane of symmetry.Each such socket, in use of the joint member, may receive a tubular hollow rod 11 of corresponding square cross-section.

Thus, when the two shell-like pieces are appropriately secured together, the jointing member defines two pairs of sockets, to receive rods 11, each said pair extending along a respective one of two mutually perpendicular intersecting axes lying in the plane of symmetry, with the sockets of each pair extending in opposite directions from the point of intersection of said axes, and further defines a further pair of sockets 4, extending in opposite directions from said point of intersection, along said central axis, which also passes through said point of intersection and is perpendicular to the two axes lying in the plane of symmetry.

Within each of the four channels provided by each shell-like piece, extending from the base of the channel towards the plane of symmetry along a respective axis parallel with the central axis, is a respective cylindrical stub or tenon 1 0. Each said tenon 10 preferably terminates short of the plane of symmetry.In assembly of a structure incorporating rods 11 and the joint member, the square section tubes to be received in the sockets formed by walls 8, 9 are provided with circular apertures 1 2 in opposing walls thereof, of a size to receive respective spigots 10 snugly, said apertures being appropriately positioned, so that in assembly of the structure, before the two pieces of the joint member are bolted together, the tubes 11 can be laid in the respective channels in one of the pieces, with the respective tenons 10 engaged in the respective apertures 12, and the other shell-like piece fitted over the other piece so that the tenon 110 in said other piece engage in the respective apertures 1 2 as the two shell-like pieces come together to enclose each of the tubes 5 in a respective said socket formed by cooperating channels, so that after the two pieces are bolted together the tubes 11 are held snugly in their respective sockets and cannot be removed therefrom without separating the two shell-like pieces. Each socket 4 can likewise receive the end portion of a respective tube 5 of corresponding square cross section, in a dap joint, i.e. each tube 5 is simply inserted axially in the respective socket 4 and can be pulled therefrom axially without dismantling the joint member or damaging the joint member.

From the portion of each of the four walls 2 of each socket 4 which extends beyond the associated wall 8 on the side remote from the plane of symmetry, to the side of the associated wall 8 which faces away from the plane of symmetry, extend a respective pair of parallel triangular ears 1 4 defining therebetween a respective slot 1 5 of a form complementary with the corner of a flat rectangular plate adapted for engagement therein.Thus each of the two shell-like pieces provides four such pairs of ears 14 and four such channels, so that it is possible to engage in any said slot 15, the corner portion of a respective flat rectangular plate extending in the plane which includes the central axis and the axis of the respective channel 8, 9. (Such plates (not shown for the sake of clarity) may be of glass, metal, rigid plastics, wood or other suitable material). The walls 8, 9 making up each of the sockets lying in the plane of symmetry may be regarded as constituting, for each said socket, a respective spigot providing the socket. Extending from each side of each said spigot to the neighbouring side of the adjoining said spigot is a respective triangular gusset extending in the plane of symmetry.More particularly, each said gusset is formed by respective portions of the two shell-like pieces, each said portion being in the form of a triangular planar plate 1 6 extending from the longitudinal edge remote from the respective wall 8 of one channel wall 9 to the corresponding edge of the adjacent wall 9 of the respective adjoining channel, each said plate having one planar face, lying in the plane d symmetry, which engages the corresponding face of the cooperating plate 16, and a parallel planar face facing away from the plane symmetry, which forms one of the two major faces of the respective gusset, and which, together with the adjoining outer side faces of the adjoining ears 14, and walls 9, forms a triangular, right angled recess into which the corner portion of a flat rectangular plate, extending in a plane parallel with the plane of symmetry, may be inserted in a direction parallel with said central axis (i.e. vertically in the drawings). Such a horizontal plate is indicated at 1 7 in Fig. 1 and may be made of glass, wood, rigid plastics, metal, or other suitable material.

By the use of the joint member described with reference to the drawings, in conjunction with tubes 11, 5, of the form described, it is possible, in a simple manner to construct complex three-dimensional structures, with only a simple tool being required for the bolts or screws used to unite the identical shell like pieces of the joint members, the structure being readily dismantled and re-assembled as required. Each of the two shell like pieces of each joint member is, of course, formed as a respective integer and may, for example be formed by moulding from metal or from rigid plastics, such as P.V.C. or Nylon. Such joint members, and the respective tubes, plates etc.

may be made in various sizes and, as regar,ds the tubes and plates, of various lengths etc.

Claims (11)

1. A six-way joint member for assembling a plurality of tubular rods in the three orthogonal and concurrent directions, characterised by the fact that it is made up of two equal symmetrical and shell-like pieces which, when they are oppositely matched through their bases, define four tubular, dead, coplanar and cross positioned sockets forming the seats for as many rods horizontally placed therein and two annular, dead and lined up sockets to permit the tubing of as many vertical rods; said two pieces being made intergral to each other by means of a screw element coaxial to said vertical seats.

2. A joint member adapted to provide a joint between the ends of three pairs of rods, so disposed that each pair extends along a respective axis mutually perpendicular to the axes of the other pairs, with the two rods of each pair extending in opposite directions from the jointing member, said jointing mem ber comprising two similar shell-like pieces disposed on opposite sides of a plane of symmetry of the joint piece, the two pieces having respective bases engaging one another in said plane of symmetry, the two pieces secured to one another by means of a screw, bolt or the like extending perpendicular to said plane of symmetry along a central axis of pthe joint pieces the joint piece providing two pairs of blind sockets extending from the periphery of the joint piece radially inwards 'towards said central axis, each pair of sockets extending along a respective one of two mutu ally perpendicular axes lying in said plane of symmetry and perpendicular to said central axis, each of said sockets being defined by the cooperation between a respective recess in the base of one of said pieces and a corre sponding recess in the base of the other of said pieces, the joint member further compris ing two blind sockets, each provided in a respective said piece, each of the last-men tioned two sockets extending in the respective said piece, away from said plane of symmetry, along said central axis, all of said sockets being adapted to receive end portions of re spective tubes to be connected by the joint member.

3. A joint member according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each of said sockets has a square internal cross-section.

4. A joint according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of the sockets which is defined partly by one and partly by the other of said shell like pieces, has at least one tenon carried by each of said pieces and extending from the socket wall towards the axis of the socket, for engagement in corre sponding apertures formed in a tube to be received in the socket, in use of the joint member.

5. A joint member according to claim 4 wherein each of said tenons are cylindrical in form.

6. A joint member according to any pre ceding claim wherein the four sockets the axes of which lie in said plane of symmetry are provided in respective portions of the jointing member each of which portions is provided with two grooves, one in each of said two shell-like pieces, opening in the di rection away from said plane of symmetry and in the direction away from said central axis, of a form to receive a corner part of a flat plate extending in a respective plane including the axis of the respective socket and said central axis.

7. A joint according to any preceding claim, wherein the four sockets the axes of which lie in said plane of symmetry are provided in respective spigot portions of the joint member which radiate from said central axis, and wherein between each pair of adjoining spigots are connected by a triangular gusset having flat major faces extending parallel with, and each facing away from, said plane of symmetry, for supporting a corner portion of a plate disposed parallel with said plane of symmetry.

8. A joint member according to any preceding claim which is made of metal.

9. A joint member according to any of claims 1 to 7 which is made of rigid plastics material.

1 0. A structure comprising a plurality of tubular rods connected by means of a joint member according to any of claims 1 to 9, each of said rods having an end portion engaged in a respective said socket.

11. A structure according to claim 10 wherein each of said rods has an external cross-section complementary in shape and size with the internal cross-section of the socket in which it is engaged.

1 2. A joint member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A joint between a plurality of tubular rods, incorporating a joint member, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

1 4. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.