GB2028457A - Corner Joint - Google Patents

Abstract

Corner joints are used to interconnect side walls at right-angles to each other in a display stand, room divider or the like. Such a corner joint has at least two slots (15, 16) for the slide-in connection of the side walls and outer faces (39, 40, 41) of the joint opposite the slots have chamfered, preferably rounded, edges. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Corner Joint The invention relates to a corner joint, in particular for use in a display stand, room divider or the like, which comprises at least three and preferably five or more side walls, in particular plate-like walls, respectively arranged in pairs at right-angles to each other, which walls enclose a prismatic, in particular cubic inner space, said corner joint having at least two slots for the slidein connection of walls so as to locate same and thereby define edges of the display stand or the like.

In known display stands serving for advertising purposes, there is a danger that fine-meshed goods such as hosiery and clothes made from chiffon in particular may be damaged when placed on or removed from the display stands, if in this case they are pulled over sharp edges, in particular at the corners. According to the proposal of the invention on outer faces remote from the slots, edges of the corner joints are chamfered, preferably rounded.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a display stand equipped with corner joints according to one embodiment of the invention, in partly sectioned perspective view; Figure 2 shows the corner joint according to the invention according to figure 1 in perspective view; Figure 3 shows one of the edge strips of the stand according to figure 1, likewise in perspective view; Figure 4 shows a modified embodiment of such an edge strip in the direction of its end face; Figure 5 is a section on line V-V of figure 1, through the left-hand lower corner joint and through the edge sections of the strips inserted therein; Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of a corner joint according to the invention with a view of its slots;; Figure 7 shows the corner joint according to figure 6, looking towards its outer side, in perspective view; and Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of a corner joint according to the invention looking towards its inner side containing the slots.

The display stand illustrated is intended for the display of goods (not shown) such as hosiery, fine-meshed materials and the like. It has three side walls 1, 2 and 3 and a base 4, which are at right-angles to each other in the position of utilisation illustrated. On the top surface, a top which can be inserted, has been omitted for the sake of clarity of the drawing.

The display stand according to the drawing represents only the simplest embodiment, because it encloses only a single prismatic or cubic inner space. However, it is quite possible to achieve a shelf-like construction by arranging multiple units of the basic shape illustrated sideby-side or stacking them one above the other.

Like the base 4, the three side parts 1, 2, 3 may consist of any strong sheets, which are made from synthetic material, glass or wood and are held together by eight corner joints, namely by four rear corner joints 5, 6, 7, 8 and four front corner joints 9, 10, 11, 12, which are located on the open front side of the stand.

Like the upper front left-hand corner joint 9 illustrated in detail in figure 2, each of the corner joints comprises two arms 13 and 14 of equal length. Each of the arms contains a slot 1 5, 16.

Each of the slots is open on the common end face 17 of the two arms 13 and 14 and also on each of the end faces 1 8, 19 of each of the two arms 13 and 14.

Two edge strips 21 and 22 with their pins 23 (figure 3) are inserted in pairs in each individual arm of the corner joint 9. In figure 1, the upper edge strip 22 located on the front open end face of the stand leads to the right-hand upper corner joint 10, in which the right-hand edge strip 24 leading to the right-hand lower corner joint 11 is inserted. In the same way, the second arm 14 of the corner joint 9, pointing downwards, is connected by way of an edge strip 25 to the lefthand lower corner joint 1 2. Finally, a further edge strip 26 is inserted between the two lower corner joints 11 and 12 on the base. The edge strips 22, 24, 25 and 26 form a vertical frame in the position for use, which is closed and is therefore very stable.In a similar manner, the edge strip 21, which is inserted by its other end in the rear corner joint 5, forms a horizontal frame with the latter and two further edge strips 27 and 28 and the edge strip 22.

In a similar manner, two horizontal edge strips 29 and 30 are provided on the right-hand side face, which together with a vertical edge strip 31 between the two rear corner joints 6 and 7 and together with the front vertical edge strip 24, likewise form a stable frame.

In detail, the edge strips, of which only the lefthand upper edge strip 21 with its end section is shown in perspective view in figure 3, contain a longitudinal groove 33 on their narrow longitudinal side in this case designated by the reference numeral 32, which groove 33 extends over the entire length of the edge strip and is arranged symmetrically with respect to the upper and lower sides of the edge strip which do not bear any reference numeral. In figure 1, the longitudinal groove of the lower edge strip 26 is designated by the reference numeral 34.

Engaging in the latter is a tongue 35, which is formed, for example cut on the front edge face of the base plate 4, and provides a rigid slide-in connection to the edge strip 26. In the embodiment illustrated, it is provided that the two vertical side walls 1 and 3 comprise a peripheral tongue (not shown) on all the edge faces and are inserted by these tongues in the associated grooves 33 in the edge strips. High stability of the display stand is achieved in this way solely by these slide-in connections and without any additional connecting means.

In the embodiment illustrated, all the edge strips used are identical to each other as shown in figure 3. The connecting pins 23 on the end faces of the edge strips have a bevelled face 37 extending at an angle of 45 , which makes it possible to insert two edge strips arranged at right-angles to each other, in one and the same slot 1 5 or 1 6 or a connecting arm 13, 14, without producing a gap or an appreciable separating line between the end faces of the edge strips and the end faces of the arms.

In the manner visible from the figure 3, on their narrow longitudinal side remote from the longitudinal groove 33, the edge strips 21,22 and 24-31 have a rounded edge 38, the radius of which is approximately half the depth D of the edge strip. This rounded edge prevents delicate goods, such as for example fine-meshed fabric, hosiety or the like, placed on the display stand, from being damaged when it is removed from the stand. In a similar manner, the arms, 13, 14 of the individual corner joints are provided with round edges 39, 40, 41 on their longitudinal sides remote from the slots 15, 16 and on their common connecting area.In the region of the connecting area of the two arms, a recess 42 of approximately square cross section is also provided, by which it is ensured that there is a uniform distribution of material over the width and length of the arms and by which a largeiy identical shrinkage allowance is achieved.

In the second embodiment of an edge strip 45, illustrated in figure 4 with view in the direction of the end face, the round edge designated by the reference numeral 46 on the longitudinal edge extends solely over approximately a quarter of a circle. A bevelled face 47 is provided adjoining this round edge, due to which bevelled face two edge strips extending parallel to each other can abut one against the other with an efficient sealing action.

The cross-section illustrated in figure 5, taken on section line V-V of figure 1, through the left hand lower corner joint 12 and the end sections of the edge strips 25 and 26 shows that the pins 23 located on the end faces of the edge strips are tapered outwards in the shape of a wedge. It is thus ensured that they can be inserted more easily in the slots designated by the reference numerals 50, 51 which have a rectangular cross section and they thus provide a slight wedging action.

Figures 6 and 7 show a four-armed corner joint 52, whose arms 53-56 are arranged respectively at right-angles to each other and which comprise slots (not shown in detail) for respectively receiving one edge strip in the manner illustrated in figure 3. These slots are open on the common inner side 57 of the arms and on the free end faces of the arms. Each of these slots is thus intended to receive two edge strips extending in the same plane, in the form illustrated in figure 3, which then form the corner region of a hollow member comprising four prismatic or cubic inner spaces, in the manner illustrated in figure 1. As in the corner joint according to figure 2, the depth D is the same as the depth D of the edge strips according to figure 3. Likewise, the width of the slots amount to only one third of this depth D.

Also provided at the centre, in order to prevent accumulations of material and in order to achieve a small shrinkage allowance, is a recess 58 which has a square cross section and whose edge length corresponds to the width of the slots. Each of the arms 53-56 is provided on its outer side with a round edge 59, by which delicate materials placed on the latter are prevented from being damaged.

In the case of the corner joint 60 having a Tshape according to figure 8, two of its three arms, namely the arms 61 and 62 are in alignment with each other, whereas the third arm 63 projects vertically from the common central region. Each of the arms contains a slot 64, 65, 66 of rectangular cross section, the width d of which amount to one third of the thickness D which is identical for all the arms. As in the embodiment according to figures 6 and 7 and as in the embodiment according to Figure 2, each of the arms haahaahaahaahaahas a round edge 27 on its outer side, the radius R of which corresponds to half the depth D of the arms.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. A corner joint, in particular for use in a display stand, room divider or the like, which comprises at least three and preferably five or more side walls, preferably plate-like walls, respectively arranged in pairs at right-angles to each other, which walls enclose a prismatic, in particular cubic inner space, said corner joint having at least two slots for the slide-in connection of walls so as to locate same and thereby define edges of the display stand or the like, characterised in that on outer faces remote from the slots, edges of the corner joints are chamfered, preferably rounded.

2. A corner joint according to Claim 1, characterised in that the width of the slots amounts to approximately one third of the depth of the arms of the corner joint.

3. A corner joint according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the raduis of the rounded outer faces amounts to approximately one quarter, preferably approximately half the depth of the corner joints.

4. A corner joint according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the corner joint comprises four arms arranged at right-angles to each other, which arms are respectively provided with one of the slots.

5. A corner joint according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the slots are open on the face remote from the rounded outer face and/or on the free end faces of the arms.

6. A corner joint according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the four arms are arranged in the shape of a cross.

7. A corner joint according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it is constructed in a T-shape and comprises three arms arranged at right-angles to each other.

8. A corner joint according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the slots have a rectangular cross section.

9. A corner joint according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that provided in the region between at least two arms is a recess, the edge length of which preferably corresponds to the width of the slots.

10. A corner joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.