HK1203179B - Structural assembly and method of assembly thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Assemblies comprising first and second assembly members attached to one another via a connection arrangement and methods for forming such assemblies.

Description

Structural assembly and method of assembling the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to structural assemblies and methods of assembling the same, and more particularly to a cardboard structure for a human powered vehicle.

Background

US 2012/0034029a1 relates to a quick release coupling structure that allows for quick release of the pedals from the crank of a bicycle (see in particular paragraphs [ 0003 ] to [ 0006 ]). That is, the coupling device is designed to enable a user to quickly disengage the pedals from the bicycle.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the present application, there is provided an assembly comprising a first assembly member and a second assembly member attached to each other via a connection arrangement, the connection arrangement comprising a first connector element and a second connector element; the first connector element has a first section fixedly received within the first assembly member and a second section received within the second assembly member; the second connector element having at least a connecting section received within the second assembly member; wherein the second section of the first connector element comprises one or more recesses configured to receive and interlock with corresponding portions of the connection section of the second connector element therein to thereby prevent disengagement between the first and second assembly members by restricting retraction of the first connector element out of the second assembly member.

Each of the first connector elements is extendable along a longitudinal axis, and the interlock blocks axial retraction of the first connector elements along the axis. The second connector element may be arranged such that the axes of the first and second connector elements, or at least imaginary extensions of the axes, intersect each other, or have at least one projection of the axes appearing to intersect each other.

With some implementations, the arrangement may be such that a cross-sectional shape of the one or more recesses corresponds in shape and size to a cross-sectional shape of the connector received therein.

It should be appreciated that the cross-sectional shape of the elongated connector taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated connector may have various designs, such as a regular polygonal shape, a circle, an ellipse, and the like.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first connector element may protrude from the first assembly member, while the second connector element is fully received within the second assembly member. Additionally, the first connector element may be shaped to have a recess configured to receive a portion of the second connector therein.

With other embodiments, the assembly may be such that the first assembly member is provided with a first connector set and the second assembly member is provided with a corresponding second connector set, the second connector being configured for engagement with the first connector set.

When the assembly is used in a human powered vehicle such as a bicycle, for one embodiment, the first assembly member may be a head tube of the bicycle and the second assembly member may be a frame of the bicycle.

Any of the building elements may be made of pulpable and tearable material, such as cardboard, or of organic material, such as wood.

To mate the connectors into the corresponding assembly members, for one embodiment of the invention, the second assembly member may be preformed with a first set of apertures configured to receive the first connector set therein and a second set of apertures configured to receive the second connector set therein.

Alternatively, with another embodiment, the second connector is configured to form an aperture within the second member after insertion thereof into the second member during assembly.

The arrangement may be such that when the connectors are interlocked, displacement of the connector shaped with the recess along its longitudinal axis is at least prevented.

With some embodiments, the entire assembly may further be provided with a cover member that surrounds the first and second assembly members so as to limit movement of at least one of the first and second connectors.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling a structure, the method comprising the steps of:

-providing a first assembly member and a second assembly member according to a first aspect of the subject matter of the present application;

-mating the first assembly member with one or more first connectors so as to have a first section received within the first assembly member and a second section protruding from the first assembly member; at least one of the one or more first connectors comprises a recess;

-inserting the second section of the one or more first connectors into the second member such that the one or more recesses are received in the second member;

-inserting one or more second connectors into the second assembly member to be received within one or more corresponding recesses of the first connector.

In some embodiments, the method comprises pre-forming an aperture within at least the second assembly member.

With one embodiment, the first connectors may each have a first longitudinal axis and the second connectors each have a second longitudinal axis, such that in the assembly, the first axis and the second axis intersect each other, or at least one view in which the first axis and the second axis appear to intersect each other.

The method may further include providing a cover member that surrounds a portion of the first assembly member and a portion of the second assembly member.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention as disclosed herein and to demonstrate how the same may be carried into effect in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic isometric view of a bicycle that includes an assembly of the subject application;

FIG. 1B is a schematic isometric view of certain elements of the assembly shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a schematic enlarged view of detail A shown in FIG. 1B;

FIGS. 1D-1F are schematic isometric views of detail A shown in FIG. 1C with some parts progressively peeled apart to facilitate a clearer presentation of the assembly; and is

FIG. 1G is a schematic isometric view of a base frame.

Detailed Description

Attention is first drawn to fig. 1A showing a bicycle, generally designated 1, and including a base frame 20, a handlebar 60 and a head tube 10, the head tube 10 being articulated to the base frame 20 by the unique assembly of the present application. The head tube 10 is configured to receive a shaft of the handlebar 60 therethrough to allow the handlebar 60 to pivot for steering the bicycle 1.

It should be noted that while in standard bicycles the head tube is typically integrally formed (by welding) with the base frame, in the present design, the head tube 10 is a separate component that is assembled with the base frame 20.

As previously described in applicant's US 2011/0133427, bicycles may be made primarily of pulpable and tearable material such as cardboard, and the above assembly may be particularly suitable for bicycles of the type in question. The frame element may be of the kind disclosed in the applicant's PCT application WO 2014/061012 and PCT/IL 2013/050823. It should be understood, however, that this type of assembly is not limited to cardboard bicycles and may similarly be applied in any configuration.

With particular reference to fig. 1D-1F, the head tube 10 includes a hollow tube 12, the hollow tube 12 being oriented along a longitudinal axis X₁Extend of said longitudinal axis X₁Typically having a vertical orientation when the bicycle is positioned on a reference surface such as the ground, the cavity 17 of the tube is configured for receiving the handlebar shaft therein.

Attention is now directed to fig. 1G, wherein a base frame 20 is shown, the base frame 20 including a cross bar 22, a down tube 24 and a front frame portion 26. The front frame portion 26 comprises a first set of receiving apertures 27 and a second set of receiving apertures 28, the first set of receiving apertures 27 being configured for receiving corresponding sections of the primary connecting elements 34 therein, the second set of receiving apertures 28 being configured for receiving the auxiliary connecting elements 32 therein.

It should be noted that the first receiving aperture 27 extends generally along a plane defined by the base frame 10 (i.e., defined by the crossbar 22 and the down tube 24), while the second receiving aperture 28 extends perpendicular to the above-defined plane and through the front frame portion 26.

Turning now to fig. 1D to 1F, in assembly, the head tube 10 is provided with four main connection elements 34, said main connection elements 34 being fitted to be partially received within the hollow tube 12 and being oriented substantially perpendicular to the main axis X₁In a direction projecting from said hollow tube 12. Each of the four primary connecting elements 34 has a longitudinal axis Xb and includes two recesses 36 formed at two spaced apart locations along the longitudinal axis Xb.

The primary connecting element 34 is configured for engagement with four corresponding secondary connecting elements 32 (shown in fig. 1E) via recesses 36 having a circular cross-section, which recesses are configured to complement the cross-section of the secondary connecting elements 32 that should be received therein.

It should be noted that while the connecting elements 32, 34 described above are shown as having a circular cross-section, this is not required and connecting elements having other cross-sections (e.g., triangular, rectangular, oval, etc.) may be contemplated. It will also be appreciated that the cross-sectional shape of the connecting elements may vary from connecting element to connecting element, with the only requirement being that the cross-sectional shape of the recess be designed to complement the cross-sectional shape of the connecting element with which it is engaged.

In a subsequent assembly stage, the head tube 10 together with the main connecting element 34 is articulated to the base frame 20 by inserting the main connecting element 34 into the first receiving aperture 27 until the recess 36 is aligned with the second receiving aperture 28. In this position, the auxiliary connecting element 32 can be inserted into the second receiving aperture 28, passing through the front frame portion 26.

Once inserted, a portion of each of the auxiliary connecting elements 32 is received within the recess 36 of the first connecting element 34, thereby preventing the first connecting element 34 from being withdrawn from the front frame portion 26 along the longitudinal axis Xb, and thus preventing disengagement between the entire head pipe 10 and the base frame 20.

To secure the connection between the base frame 20 and the head pipe 10, a cover member 50 is provided, which surrounds the head pipe 10 and a portion of the front frame portion 26, completely covers the second receiving aperture 28, thereby preventing the auxiliary connecting element 32 from being withdrawn from the front frame portion 26 along the longitudinal axis Xa.

The cover member 50 may be attached to the head pipe 10 and the base frame 20 by any known means, for example, by an adhesive.

It should be appreciated that the components described above may not only be provided between the head tube 10 and the base frame 20 of the bicycle 1, but may also be applicable to various components of the bicycle 1.

Those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will readily appreciate that many changes, variations and modifications can be made, mutatis mutandis, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. An assembly comprising a first cardboard assembly member and a second cardboard assembly member attached to each other via a connection arrangement comprising a set of first connector elements and a set of second connector elements;

the first connector element has a first section fixedly received within the first paperboard assembly member and a second section protruding from the first paperboard assembly member received within the second paperboard assembly member;

the second connector elements are all received within the second cardboard assembly member;

the second section of each of the first connector elements comprises at least two spaced apart recesses, each recess configured to receive and interlock with a portion of the second connector element therein, thereby preventing disengagement between the first and second paperboard assembly members by limiting retraction of the first connector element out of the second paperboard assembly member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first connector elements extends along a longitudinal axis.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the axes of the first and second connector elements intersect one another.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the recess in the first connector element corresponds in shape and size to a cross-sectional shape of the second connector element received therein.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first connector elements extends along a longitudinal axis and each of the second connector elements extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the first and second connector elements taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is a regular polygonal shape.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first connector elements extends along a longitudinal axis and each of the second connector elements extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the first and second connector elements taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is circular or elliptical.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first paperboard assembly member is a head tube of a bicycle and the second paperboard assembly member is a frame of the bicycle.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first connector element and the second connector element is made of an organic material.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the organic material is wood.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the organic material is cardboard.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second paperboard assembly member is preformed with a first set of apertures configured for receiving a first set of connector elements therein and a second set of apertures configured for receiving a second set of connector elements therein.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second connector element is configured to form an aperture within the second paperboard assembly member during assembly.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is provided with a cover member that surrounds the first and second paperboard assembly members so as to limit movement of at least one of the first and second connector elements.

14. A method for assembling a structure, the method comprising the steps of:

-providing a first assembly member and a second assembly member, each of the first assembly member and the second assembly member being made of cardboard;

-mating the first assembly member with a set of first connector elements so as to have a first section of first connector elements received within the first assembly member and a second section of first connector elements protruding from the first assembly member; each of the first connector elements comprises two spaced apart recesses;

-inserting the second section of the first connector element into the second assembly member;

-inserting a set of second connector elements into the second assembly member to be fully received therein, the second connector elements being received within the recesses.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising pre-forming an aperture in at least the second assembly member.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the first connector elements has a first longitudinal axis and each of the second connector elements has a second longitudinal axis, such that in assembly the first and second longitudinal axes intersect one another.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising providing a cover member that surrounds a portion of the first assembly member and a portion of the second assembly member.