GB2195001A

GB2195001A - Jointing system

Info

Publication number: GB2195001A
Application number: GB08618288A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-26
Filing date: 1986-07-26
Publication date: 1988-03-23
Also published as: GB8618288D0

Abstract

The system allows quick and easy assembly of components to form, eg. a furniture unit. It requires no additional components, glues, or the use of tools. The joint is completely reusable. The strength of the joint is created by the interlocking of adjacent components under tension. Three tongues of part A engage complementary slots in part Bi. The centre tongue is then resiliently forced out of the plane of part A and is trapped in that position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Intension joints This invention relates to a jointing system.

Conventional jointing systems as used in furniture manufacture and other product applications are often complex, involving various components and/or adhesives. Most of these systems are costly, slow to assemble and require the use of tools.

This invention, namely 'Intension Joints", enables the quick and efficient joining of unit components together. The assembly process usually requires no tools. To join components together, Component A is located into apertures in Component Bi.See Fig. 1. Then part of Component A moves, exploiting the flexible strength of the material, (thus acting as a sprung member), into a locate locking position in Component Bi. Once this action is completed an integral structure is created. To stack units, the base of Component A locates in the apertures of an identical component to that of Bi, namely Component Bii. Where these components join they may be held in place by another component A, but do not have to be.Variation in the material thickness, flexibility, quality, and size of joints allows for a wide range of uses.

1. The system is reusable.

2. The jointing system requires no additional components besides the constituent members.

3. Tools are not required, but may be used, for the assembly.

4. The principle of the jointing system uses the flexible strength of the material.

5. The method by which the components interlock allows various structures to be created.

6. Once the components are joined in a unit they form an integral structure.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: New or textually amended claims have been filed as foilows: 1. A rigid re-usable tension joint comprising two elements that lock together in tetrahedral or polygonal tension where three or more detents of one element are distorted to locate into the apertures of the other element and which may be subsequently unlocked and relocked many times.

2. A rigid re-usable tension joint as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the described elements themselves only are required to form the joint; there being no requirement for any other fixing device.

3. A rigid re-usable tension joint as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 where the three-plane rigidity of the joint is accomplished by distortion and consequent tension leading to a tetrahedral or polygonal distribution of forces.

4. A rigid re-usable tension joint as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3 which is locked and or unlocked and or re-locked manually without the use of any tools.

5. A rigid re-usable tension joint as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 3 which is locked and or unlocked and or re-locked using any tool.

6. A rigid re-usable tension joint as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, Claim 4 and Claim 5 which is locked, unlocked and relocked many times.

7. A rigid re-usable tension joint substantially as descried herein with reference to Figs.

1 , 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Intension joints This invention relates to a jointing system. Conventional jointing systems as used in furniture manufacture and other product applications are often complex, involving various components and/or adhesives. Most of these systems are costly, slow to assemble and require the use of tools. This invention, namely 'Intension Joints", enables the quick and efficient joining of unit components together. The assembly process usually requires no tools. To join components together, Component A is located into apertures in Component Bi.See Fig. 1. Then part of Component A moves, exploiting the flexible strength of the material, (thus acting as a sprung member), into a locate locking position in Component Bi. Once this action is completed an integral structure is created. To stack units, the base of Component A locates in the apertures of an identical component to that of Bi, namely Component Bii. Where these components join they may be held in place by another component A, but do not have to be.Variation in the material thickness, flexibility, quality, and size of joints allows for a wide range of uses. CLAIMS 1. The system is reusable. 2. The jointing system requires no additional components besides the constituent members. 3. Tools are not required, but may be used, for the assembly. 4. The principle of the jointing system uses the flexible strength of the material. 5. The method by which the components interlock allows various structures to be created. 6. Once the components are joined in a unit they form an integral structure. CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: New or textually amended claims have been filed as foilows:

1. A rigid re-usable tension joint comprising two elements that lock together in tetrahedral or polygonal tension where three or more detents of one element are distorted to locate into the apertures of the other element and which may be subsequently unlocked and relocked many times.

1 , 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.