US20100263175A1

US20100263175A1 - Fastener module

Info

Publication number: US20100263175A1
Application number: US12/425,406
Authority: US
Inventors: Jui-Yin Lee
Original assignee: Homegradinia Home & Garden Co Ltd; Homgradinia Home & Garden Co Ltd
Current assignee: Homegradinia Home & Garden Co Ltd
Priority date: 2009-04-17
Filing date: 2009-04-17
Publication date: 2010-10-21

Abstract

A fastener module functions to couple a rack to a post. The fastener module includes at least an L-shaped pawl piece and at least one G-shaped hook piece. The L-shaped pawl piece includes a body and an extension. The G-shaped hook piece has an opening and a recess. The recess receives at least a portion of the body. The L-shaped pawl piece and the G-shaped hook piece are connected to each other in a mutually perpendicular manner in the space.

Description

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a fastener module, and particularly to a fastener module for coupling a rack and a post.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Flower vessel carrying racks or frames are commonly set in ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals, and festivals for carrying and supporting arrangements of cut flowers or potted flowers for decoration and atmosphere enhancement.
Conventionally, to simplify the disassembling and assembling of a flower vessel carrying frame, the frame is often divided into several parts, such as racks, posts, and fasteners for facilitating transportation and subsequent re-assembling. However, for assembling of flower vessel carrying frames and posts, to ensure structural stability, fastening is often realized with bolts/screws. The number of fasteners is large and the assembling operation is quite time consuming. In addition, the relative angular positions and directions between the racks and the posts cannot be easily and precisely controlled, leading to bending and deformation of the assembled frame. Such poor frame assembling is apparently adverse to the overall decoration of the ceremony places and deteriorates the overall quality and look of the flower frame.
Thus, it is desired to provide a fastener module that ensures a predetermined relative angle direction between a flower vessel rack and a post without affecting connection strength between the flower vessel rack and the post.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above discussed, an objective of the present invention is to provide a fastener module that ensures fixed connection between a rack and a post without affecting the connection strength and that facilitates assembling/disassembling.
To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a fastener module for connecting and fixing a rack to a post, wherein the fastener module comprises at least an L-shaped pawl piece and at least one G-shaped hook piece. The L-shaped pawl piece comprises a body and an extension. The G-shaped hook piece comprises an opening and a recess. The recess receives at least a portion of the body. The L-shaped pawl piece and the G-shaped hook piece are connected to each other in a mutually perpendicular manner in the space.
With such an arrangement, the fastener module of the present invention allows a rack to be perpendicularly coupled to the L-shaped pawl piece mounted on a post by using the G-shaped hook piece. Thus, to remove the rack from the post, the opening of the G-shaped hook piece is moved to the L-shaped pawl piece to allow separation between the rack and the L-shaped pawl piece. On the other hand, to assemble the rack to the post, the L-shaped pawl piece is moved through the opening of the G-shaped hook piece into the recess and the rack can be stably assembled to the L-shaped pawl piece by the gravity of the rack. As such, with a simple operation, the present invention allows the rack and post to be connected together through an assembling process. Compared to the known techniques, the fastener module of the present invention uses the complementary structures of the recess of the G-shaped hook piece and the L-shaped pawl piece of the post and the fixing realized through perpendicular connection therebetween to ensure the predetermined direction and angle in assembling the rack, whereby a neat and good-looking connection can be provided. In addition, since both the L-shaped pawl piece and the G-shaped hook piece are of a flat structure, when the L-shaped pawl piece and the G-shaped hook piece are connected in a mutually perpendicular manner, the intersected flat structures enhance the overall structural stability.
The foregoing objective and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic view showing an exploded view of a fastener module in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic view showing an exploded view of a different fastener module in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a schematic view illustrating an example of an actual application of the fastener module in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a different practical application showing an alternative form of embodying a fastener module of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a different practical application showing a further alternative form of embodying a fastener module of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a different practical application showing yet a further alternative form of embodying a fastener module of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Detailed description of the present invention will be given with reference to a fastener module in accordance with a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent identical parts/components through several drawings.
Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of a fastener module constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a practical application of the fastener module in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 1C illustrates an example of an actual application of the fastener module in accordance with the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, the fastener module, generally designated at 1, functions to assemble and fix at least one rack F1 to a post P1, which is taken as an example for illustration only, and the present invention is not limited to such an example. The rack F1 is a rack that is formed as a predetermined shape for carrying and supporting at least one flower vessel, such as a flower pot. The instant embodiment shows an example of a semi-circular basket as one example embodiment of the rack F1 for illustration purposes only. Apparently, the rack F1 can be made in the form of a curved shelf, an inverted U-shaped shelf, an I-shaped shelf, a grating frame, a flower pot carrying ring, a rectangular basket seat, or a curved basket seat. Certainly, each single post can be provided with multiple L-shaped pawl pieces (not shown) that are set at different altitudes and/or directions to facilitate assembling and connecting of multiple racks and also to couple two sets of fence-like frame bodies for expanding the area delimited within the fence-like frame bodies.
In the instant embodiment disclosed, the fastener module 1 comprises at least one L-shaped pawl piece 11 and at least one G-shaped hook piece 13. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the L-shaped pawl piece 11 is mounted to the post P1, while the G-shaped hook piece 13 is at least partly connected to one side of the rack F1. The L-shaped pawl piece 11 comprises a body 111 and an extension 113. The G-shaped hook piece 13 has an opening 131 and a recess 133. The recess 133 receives and accommodates at least a portion of the body 111 of the L-shaped pawl piece 11 in such a way that the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the G-shaped hook piece 13 are connected to be perpendicular to each other in the space. Further, the rack F1 of the instant embodiment is connected to the post P1 by engaging the G-shaped hook piece 13 of the fastener module 1, but the present invention is not limited to such an arrangement.
To assemble the rack F1 to the post P1, the L-shaped pawl piece 11 is moves through the opening of the G-shaped hook piece 13 into the recess. By means of the gravity of the rack F1, the rack F1 is securely set in the L-shaped pawl piece 11. In other words, the L-shaped pawl piece 11 is fit in the recess 133 of the G-shaped hook piece 13, whereby stability can be ensured for upright arrangement. On the other hand, when set in an inverted fashion, since the G-shaped hook piece 13 is interposed between the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the post P1 and due to being retained by the extension 113, the rack F1 still maintains assembled to the post P1 without any risk of being detached therefrom.
Further, to disassemble the rack F1 from the post P1, the rack F1 is raised to have the recess of the G-shaped hook piece 13 moved out of the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the rack F1 is further moved to have the opening of the G-shaped hook piece 13 moved to the L-shaped pawl piece 11, such that the rack F1 disengages from the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and is removed from the post P1.
It is noted that the structure of the recess of the G-shaped hook piece 13 is complementary to the L-shaped pawl piece 11 that is mounted to the post. When they engage each other, the rack F1 and the post P1 can be maintained at a desired and fixed direction and angle therebetween. Therefore, the assembling of the rack F1 simultaneously ensures a neat and good-looking connection.
In the instant embodiment, the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the post P1 are illustrated as an example of a unitary member. For example, the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and post P1 can be made through injection molding to form a unitary structure, but the present invention is not limited to this manufacturing. Further, in case that the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the post P1 are made separate members, the L-shaped pawl piece 11 can be mounted to the post P1 by means of threading engagement, snap engagement, fitting, riveting, fusion, or adhesives.
Similarly, the G-shaped hook piece 13 and the rack F1 can be made in the form of an example of a unitary member by means of injection molding, but the present invention is not limited to this manufacturing. For example, in case that the G-shaped hook piece 13 and the rack F1 are made separate members, the G-shaped hook piece 13 can be mounted to the rack F1 by means of threading engagement, snap engagement, fitting, riveting, fusion, or adhesives.
It is noted that the instant embodiment illustrates connection between a G-shaped hook piece 13 that is mounted to the rack F1 and an L-shaped pawl piece 11 that is mounted to the post P1. However, if desired, an alternative example of illustration can be made for the G-shaped hook piece 13 mounted to the post P1 and the L-shaped pawl piece 11 mounted to the rack (not shown).
Further, the G-shaped hook piece 13, the L-shaped pawl piece 11, the rack F1, and the post P1 can be made of a material including plastics, glass, wood, steel, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, or alloys.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, ends of the post P1 are formed to provide joint portions A1, A2 respectively. In the structure currently illustrated, the joint portion A1 and the joint portion A2 are of complementary structure or structures that mate and connect to each other. In the instant embodiment, for a joint portion A1 that forms a male or projection structure, the joint portion A2 forms a corresponding female or recess structure for mating each other, as shown in FIG. 1B. Due to the joint portions A1 and A2 formed at the ends of the post P1, a plurality of posts P1 can be jointed to each other to increase or expand the overall length or height of an elongated, multi-section jointed post P1. The elongated post P1 has opposite ends (which respectively form a joint portion A1 and a joint portion A2), and the ends can selectively connect at least one connection piece (such as a lamp, a hanger, a decoration crown, a conic stand, or a triangular stand). In the instant embodiment illustrated, an example of an arrangement where the joint portion A1 is connected to a decoration crown C1, while the joint portion A2 is connected to a triangular stand C2 is given for illustration purposes, but the present invention is not limited to such an example arrangement.
Referring to FIG. 2, a different practical application illustrating an alternative form of embodying the fastener module of the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, an example of arrangement where the fastener module 1 assembles and fixes at least one rack F2 (such as a flow pot carrying ring or frame) between two posts P1 is given for illustration, but the present invention is not limited to the example arrangement. The flower pot carrying ring functions to carry and support an outer wall of a number of flower pots for holding potted plants. To avoid potentially overloading a single post P1, the example is given that two posts P1 are used to carry a single flower pot carrying ring or frame.
The fastener module 1 disclosed in the instant embodiment comprises at least two L-shaped pawl pieces 11 and at least two G-shaped hook pieces 13. In the instant embodiment, an example of arrangement is given for illustration that the L-shaped pawl pieces 11 are mounted to the posts P1 respectively and the G-shaped hook pieces 13 are each at least partly connected to one side of the rack F1, but the present invention is not limited to the arrangement. Since the engagement between the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the G-shaped hook piece 13 has already been discussed previously, repeated description will be omitted here. Thus, in the instant embodiment, the rack F2 is coupled between two posts P1 by means of the G-shaped hook pieces 13 of the fastener module 1.
It is noted that the structure of the recess of the G-shaped hook piece 13 is complementary to the L-shaped pawl piece 11 that is mounted to the post. When they engage each other, a neat connection can be provided. In case of using a number of racks to form a desired arrangement for decoration, since the racks and the posts can be maintained at a desired and fixed direction and angle therebetween to complete the connection, the assembled arrangement of the flower frame can still ensures a neat and good-looking connection.
Referring to FIG. 3, a different practical application illustrating a further alternative form of embodying the fastener module of the present invention is shown, wherein the embodiment provides a structure of a plant growing wall. As shown in FIG. 3, an example of arrangement where the fastener module 1 assembles and fixes a rack F3 (such as a basket seat) and an additional rack F4 (such as a grating frame) between two posts P1 is given for illustration.
More specifically, the fastener module 1 disclosed in the instant embodiment comprises at least four L-shaped pawl pieces 11 and at least four G-shaped hook pieces 13. In the instant embodiment, the four G-shaped hook pieces 13 are respectively mounted to two sides of the racks F3 and F4 and two L-shaped pawl pieces 11 are mounted to upper and lower portions of each post P1. However, it is understood that such an arrangement of connection is only given as an example for illustration and the present invention is not limited to the arrangement. For example, each post can be provided, at multiple desired locations thereof, with multiple L-shaped pawl pieces 11 to connect for example racks at different altitudes or different directions (not shown) for realizing versatile arrangements of connection. Since the engagement between the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the G-shaped hook piece 13 has already been discussed previously, repeated description will be omitted here. Thus, in the instant embodiment, the racks F3 and F4 are coupled between two posts P1 by means of the G-shaped hook pieces 13 of the fastener module 1, and the rack F3 and the rack F4 are set at different altitudes.
In the instant embodiment, the basket seat set in the lower portion is used to carry or support a rectangular flower basket or a number of flower pots (not shown) and the grating frame is set above the basket seat, whereby the basket seat and the grating frame together constitute a planar plant growing wall. Thus, during the growth of climber plants, the arrangement of the plant growing wall helps climbing and direction setting of the plants and the density of the plants can be controlled by setting the sizes of the openings defined in the wall, whereby aesthetics of greening a vertical plane (such as the wall surface) can be realized.
It is noted that since the grating frame is given in an example of a unitary planar structure, it is more desired to employ mutually-perpendicular connection between the flat G-shaped hook piece and L-shaped pawl piece to maintain a desired and fixed direction and angle in order to ensure overall structural stability and to provide neat and regular connection after the assembling.
Referring to FIG. 4, a different practical application illustrating a yet a further n alternative form of embodying the fastener module of the present invention is shown. As shown in FIG. 4, an example of arrangement where the fastener module 1 assembles and fixes two racks F5 (such as I-shaped shelves) between two posts P1 is given. The fastener module 1 disclosed in the instant embodiment comprises at least six G-shaped hook pieces 13 and a number of L-shaped pawl pieces 11. In the instant embodiment, an example is given that the six L-shaped pawl pieces 11 are regularly mounted to the posts P1 and the L-shaped pawl pieces 11 are arranged in pairs symmetrically set at upper, middle, and lower positions on the posts P1 in order to connect racks at different altitudes and different directions. Since the engagement between the L-shaped pawl piece 11 and the G-shaped hook piece 13 has already been discussed previously, repeated description will be omitted here.
It is noted that in the instant embodiment, the two racks F5 are coupled between two posts P1 by means of the G-shaped hook pieces 13 of the fastener module 1 and further, the two racks F5 can also connect an additional F6 (such as a curved shelf, an inverted U-shaped shelf, a corrugated shelf and various shelves of different structures) therebetween. The rack F6 and the racks F5 can be arranged to form an arch configuration. In the instant embodiment, ends of the racks F5 are each provided with an L-shaped pawl piece 11, and the rack F6 is connected by using G-shaped hook pieces 13 of the fastener module 1 to engage the L-shaped pawl pieces 11. Thus, the fastener module 1 of the present invention can be used to fix racks to posts and can also be used to connect between racks.
In addition, in the instant embodiment, the L-shaped pawl pieces 11 are set in pairs arranged symmetrically on the posts P1. Thus, the side of the post P1 that is opposite to the side where the rack F5 is mounted can be used to connect additional racks (not shown). For example, the racks F1-F4 discussed above can be used in combination and two sets of fence-like frame bodies can be jointed together to expand the area delimited within the fence-like frame bodies.
To summarize, the fastener module of the present invention allows racks to be coupled to the L-shaped pawl piece on posts by using the G-shaped hook piece. Thus, to remove the rack from the post, the opening of the G-shaped hook piece is moved to the L-shaped pawl piece to allow separation between the rack and the L-shaped pawl piece. On the other hand, to assemble the rack to the post, the L-shaped pawl piece is moved through the opening of the G-shaped hook piece into the recess and the rack can be stably assembled to the L-shaped pawl piece by the gravity of the rack. As such, with a simple operation, the present invention allows the rack and post to be connected together through an assembling process. Compared to the known techniques, the fastener module of the present invention uses the complementary structures of the recess of the G-shaped hook piece and the L-shaped pawl piece of the post and the fixing realized through perpendicular connection therebetween to ensure the predetermined direction and angle in assembling the rack, whereby a neat and good-looking connection can be provided. In addition, since both the L-shaped pawl piece and the G-shaped hook piece are of a flat structure, when the L-shaped pawl piece and the G-shaped hook piece are connected in a mutually perpendicular manner, the intersected flat structures enhance the overall structural stability.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fastener module adapted to couple at least one rack to at least one post, comprising:

at least one L-shaped pawl piece comprising a body and an extension; and

at least one G-shaped hook piece having an opening and a recess, the recess receiving at least a portion of the body;

wherein the L-shaped pawl piece and the G-shaped hook piece are connected to each other in space in a mutually perpendicular arrangement.

2. The fastener module according to claim 1, wherein the G-shaped hook piece or the L-shaped pawl piece is at least partly mounted to the rack or the post.

3. The fastener module according to claim 1, wherein the G-shaped hook piece or the L-shaped pawl piece is connected to the rack or the post by means of threading engagement, snap engagement, fitting, riveting, fusion, or adhesives.

4. The fastener module according to claim 1, wherein the G-shaped hook piece or the L-shaped pawl piece are combined with the rack or the post as a unitary structure.

5. The fastener module according to claim 1, wherein the G-shaped hook piece, the L-shaped pawl piece, the rack, or the post is made of a material selected from a group consisting of plastics, glass, wood, steel, iron, aluminum, stainless steel and alloys.

6. The fastener module according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the post form at least one joint portion.

7. The fastener module according to claim 5, wherein the joint portion is connected to a connection piece.

8. The fastener module according to claim 6, wherein the connection piece comprises a hanger, a decoration crown, a lamp, a conic stand, or a triangular stand.

9. The fastener module according to claim 1, wherein the rack comprises a curved shelf, an inverted U-shaped shelf, an I-shaped shelf, a grating frame, a flower pot carrying ring, a rectangular basket seat, or a curved basket seat.