GB2598400A

GB2598400A - Assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2598400A
Application number: GB2013723.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillips Donal; Phillips Sean
Original assignee: Ovvotech Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Ovvotech Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2020-09-01
Filing date: 2020-09-01
Publication date: 2022-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-01
Also published as: GB202013723D0; GB2598400B

Abstract

An assembly comprises a first panel 2 having a first face 5 and a second panel 4 having a first edge 8. The first and second panels 2, 4 are coupled together in substantially perpendicular relationship by means of at least one coupling portion defined by or coupled to the first edge 8 of the second panel 4. The coupling portion is received within a groove 6 formed in the first face 5 of the first panel 2. The first panel includes a least one bore 10A formed in the first face 5 of the first panel 2 adjacent the groove 6. A plug 20A is adapted to be at least partially inserted into the bore 10A. A surface of the plug 20A acts against a first face of the second panel 4 at or adjacent the first edge 8 when the plug 20A is rotated in the bore 10A between an insertion configuration and an operative configuration. The surface of the plug 20A may be a cam surface. The plug 20A may include a handle, such as a lever to facilitate rotation of the plug 20A. A first end of the plug 20A may be formed with a recess to be engaged by a tool.

Description

Assembly

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an assembly comprising first and second panels coupled together in substantially perpendicular relationship, including means for enhancing the stability of such assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ready to assemble furniture has been known in the furniture industry for many years. This type of furniture construction provides a number of advantages to the manufacturer, to the retailer, and to the customer. For example, as to the manufacturer, there are significant cost savings in manufacturing unassembled furniture over conventional fully assembled furniture. Ready to assemble furniture can be supplied flat packed, thus requiring less storage space for both the manufacturer and the retailer and providing lower shipping costs. The customer ultimately benefits the lower cost of ready to assemble furniture as opposed to pre-assembled furniture and the ease of transport of flat packed ready to assemble zo furniture.

Unlike conventional fully or pre-assembled furniture, ready to assemble furniture, as the name implies, requires assembly by the customer. This furniture often requires the use of tools by the customer to enable the manipulation of specialized fittings and fasteners to assemble and secure the various components of the furniture together. The customers may not have the necessary tools or skill level to assemble the furniture properly. The failure to do so may result in the furniture being unstable, and potentially collapsing during use. It is therefore desirable to provide ready to assemble furniture which can be assembled without the need for tools in a simple and efficient manner, while ensuring the integrity of the resulting assembled furniture.

One common feature of ready to assemble furniture is the provision of one panel being mounted perpendicular to an adjacent panel, by either by insertion of the edge of one panel into a channel or groove formed in a face of the other panel or by the use of specially designed connectors, such as dowels or similar fasteners, located in cooperating receiving holes in an edge of one panel and a face of the other panel. Due to manufacturing tolerances, such panels (or their associated 5 fittings or fasteners) may have a relatively loose fit. This loose fit can lead to a general instability in the assembled article. Prior art attempts to alleviate this problem have required the use of wedges or additional fastening devices that are inserted into receiving grooves to attempt to lock a first panel in position within the receiving groove of a second panel. Examples of such devices are shown in US 113 2018/0291941 and US 2018/0283430. However, such known devices can be difficult to install and often limit the ability of the article of furniture to be dismantled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provide an assembly comprising a first panel having a first face and a second panel having a first edge, the first and second panels being coupled together in substantially perpendicular relationship by means of at least one coupling portion defined by or coupled to said first edge of the second panel, said coupling portion being received within a groove formed in said first face of the first panel, wherein the first panel includes a least one bore formed in the first face of the first panel adjacent said groove, a respective plug being adapted to be at least partially inserted into said bore wherein a surface of said plug acts against a first face of said second panel at or adjacent said first edge when said plug is rotated in the respective bore between an insertion configuration and an operative configuration, thereby taking up any looseness of the assembly.

The at least one bore may intersect said groove.

The surface of the at least one plug acting against said first face of the second panel may comprise a cam surface, whereby rotation of said plug within said bore in the first panel between said insertion and operative configurations urges first face of the second panel away from a side of the groove adjacent the respective bore. The at least one the plug may comprise a substantially cylindrical body having a flat face on an outer side thereof, said flat face being substantially aligned with the first face of the second panel when the plug is in its insertion configuration to permit insertion of the plug into the respective bore, the plug being rotatable once inserted into the bore towards its operative configuration wherein said flat face is brought out of alignment with said first face of the second panel.

In one embodiment the at least one plug may incorporate a handle at a first end to facilitate manual rotation of the plug between its insertion and operative configurations once inserted in the respective bore. The handle may be in the form of a lever extending substantially radially from a central axis of the respective plug 112 to facilitate manual rotation of the respective plug.

A first end of the or each plug may be provided with a recess or other formation adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool to facilitate insertion and rotation of the plug within the respective bore.

A second end of the or each plug, opposite said first end, may incorporate a radially extending ledge adapted to extend beneath the respective coupling portion within the groove in the first panel when the plug is in inserted into the respective bore and rotated to its operative configuration. The ledge may be tapered or wedge shaped such that an upper face of the ledge acts upon and urges said respective coupling portion away from an inner end of said groove when the plug is rotated from its insertion configuration towards its operative configuration.

The at least one plug may be provided with external formations, such as circumferential ridges or thread formations, on at least a portion of the outer sides thereof to resist axial movement of the plug within the respective bore and to engage and grip the first face of the second panel. The external formations may be in the forms of ratchet teeth having a shallow slope on a leading face in the normal direction of rotation of the plug from its insertion to operative configuration and a steep trailing slope such that the formations resist rotation of the plug towards its insertion configuration once rotated towards its operative configuration.

In one embodiment coupling portion comprises the first edge of the second panel, said first edge being receivable within said groove in the first panel.

The first edge may incorporate a slot formed along a second face of the second panel, opposite said first face, said groove in the first panel incorporating a lip located on a side of said groove opposite from said at least one bore, said lip of the first panel being receivable within said slot in the second panel when said first edge of the second panel (defining said coupling portion) is inserted into said groove in the first panel, rotation of said at least one plug when inserted into a respective bore in the first panel acting against the first face of the second panel to urge said slot into engagement with said lip.

In an alternative embodiment said at least one coupling portion may comprise a male connector located in a receiving aperture in the first edge of the second panel to be received in the groove in said first panel.

In one embodiment the assembly may comprise a pair of plugs located in respective bores at spaced apart locations along said first edge of the second panel when the second panel is coupled to the first panel, said plugs being rotatable between their insertion and operative configurations in opposite directions to one another. This creates an equal and opposite effect to prevent side to side movement (racking) of the assembled unit. The forces acting on the panels as the plugs are rotated between their insertion and operative configurations are acting laterally against each other to assist with 'tightening' of the unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An assembly of two mutually connected panels of which the one first panel is coupled to a second panel including means for enhancing the stability of such assembly in accordance with several embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention with the plugs in an insertion configuration; Figure 2 is a detailed perspective view of part A of Figure 1 with the plugs in an insertion configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of Figure 1 with the plugs in an operative 5 configuration; Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of part A of Figure 3 with the plugs in an insertion configuration; 112 Figure 5 is a side view of the assembly of Figure 3 showing hidden detail; Figure 6 is a detailed view of region B of Figure 5; Figures 7A and 7B are front views of the plugs of the assembly of Figure 1; Figures 8A and 8B are plan views of the plugs of the assembly of Figure 1; Figures 9A and 9B are rear views of the plugs of the assembly of Figure 1; Figures 10A and 10B, 11A and 11B and 12A and 12B are perspective views of the plugs of the assembly of Figure 1; Figures 13 to 18 are respective views of a modified plug in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figures 19 to 23 are respective views of a modified plug in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figures 24 to 27 are respective views of a modified plug in accordance with a 30 further embodiment of the present invention; Figures 28 to 31 illustrate an assembly in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention with the plugs in an insertion configuration, Figures 32 to 35 illustrate an assembly of Figures 28 to 31 with the plugs in an operative configuration; Figures 36 and 37 illustrate an assembly in accordance with a further embodiment 5 of the invention; Figure 38 and 39 illustrate an assembly in accordance with a yet further embodiment of the invention; and fip Figures 40 and 41 illustrate an assembly in accordance with a yet further embodiment of the invention..

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, an assembly for a ready to assemble article of furniture in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises first and second panels 2,4 coupled together in perpendicular relationship to one another, the first panel 2 having a rebated receiving groove 6 in a first face 5 thereof within which is received a first edge 8 of second panel 4. The second panel may be a back panel of an article of furniture. Where the second panel comprises a back panel, it may be received within respective rebated receiving grooves in adjacent panels around all four sides of the first panel. Alternatively the first and second panels 2,4 may comprise any other parts of an article of furniture wherein such panels are arranged to be coupled together in perpendicular relationship to one another.

A pair of blind circular bores 10A,10B extend into the first face 5 of the first panel 2 at spaced locations along the receiving groove 6, each bore 10A,10B being adjacent to and partially intersecting the receiving groove 6 such each bore 30 10A,10B cuts into a side of the receiving groove 6.

A respective plug 20A,20B is insertable into each bore 10A,10B, whereby a side surface of each plug 20A,20B acts against a first face 12 of the second panel 4 when each plug 20A,20B is rotated within its respective bore 20A,20B between an insertion configuration, shown in Figures 1 and 2, and an operative configuration, shown in Figures 3 to 6, wherein said side surface of the plug 10 is adapted to urge the second panel 4 away from the bores 10A,10B to against an opposite side of the groove 6 and thereby enhance the stability of the article of furniture. At the same time the plugs 20A,20B engage and grip both the first and second panels 2,4.

In the embodiment shown in figures 7A to 126, the plugs 20A,20B each comprise a substantially cylindrical body 22 having a flat face 24 or cut out formed thereon such that outer surface of each plug 20A,20B defines an eccentric or offset cam surface 26. When in its insertion configuration (shown in Figures 1 and 2), the flat face 24 of each plug 20A,20B is aligned with the first face 12 of the second panel 4 so that the plugs 20A,20B can be inserted into the respective receiving bore 10A,10B. Rotation of each plug 20A,20B, once inserted into the respective receiving bore 10A,10B in the first panel 2, between its insertion configuration, with said flat face 24 aligned with the first face 12 of the second panel 4, and its operative configuration, with the flat face 12 out of alignment with the first face 12 of the second panel 4 and the adjacent curved surface 26 of the plug body 22 in contact with said first face 12 of the second panel 4, causing the surface 26 of each plug 20A,20B to act against the first face 12 of the second panel 4 to urge the second panel 4 away from an inner end of the receiving groove 6 in the first panel 2. The outer surface 26 of each plug 20A,20B may be different shapes, for example, hexagonal, round (with an offset axis) or parabolic.

As illustrated best in Figures 7A to 12B, the plugs 20A,20B are provided in a mirror image pair located in respective bores 10A,10B along the groove 6 of the first panel 2 such that the plugs 20A,20B are rotated in opposite directions between their respective insertion and operative configurations. As such, the plugs 20A,20B do not place any resultant sideways force on the first face 12 of the second panel 4 in the plane of the panel 4 as the plugs 20A,20B are rotated between their insertion and operative configurations.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7A to 126, circumferential ribs 28 may be provided on the outer surface 26 of each plug 20A,20B. Such ribs 28 are preferably shaped engage the inner wall of the respective bore 10A,10B and the wide face 12 of the second panel 4 as each plug 20A,20B is rotated, gripping the respective receiving bore 10A,10B of the first panel 2 and the first face 12 of the second panel 4 to further stabilise and tighten the first panel 2 within the receiving groove 6. The ribs 28 may increase in height along their length such that they are forced into increasingly tight engagement with the sides of the respective bore 10A,10B in the first panel 2 and the side face 12 of the second panel 4 as each plug 20A,20B is rotated towards its operative configuration.

An inner end of each plug 20A,20B may incorporate a ledge 30 extending radially from a portion of the respective plug 20A,20B adapted to stabilise the plug 20A,20B in its respective bore 10A,10B against the bottom of the bore as each plug 20A,20B is rotated. The ledge 30 of each plug 20A,20B may be tapered or wedge shaped such that the upper surface of the ledge 30 acts upwardly on the first edge 8 of the second panel 4 as the respective plug 20A,20B is rotated from its insertion configuration to its operative configuration, which may urge the second panel 4 upwardly and outwardly from the groove 6. Alternatively, the ledge 30 may be spaced from the first edge 8 of the second panel 4, the ledge 30 primarily serving to add stability to the plug 20A,20B when being rotated and to keep the plug 20A,20B within the respective bore 10A,10B and maintain the axis of the respective plug 20A,20B perpendicular to the first face 5 of the first panel 2. By extending beneath the first edge 8 of the second panel 4, the second panel 4 acts as a holding leverage for the plug to keep the plug in place.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 7A to 12B, an upper/outer end of each plug 20A,20B is provided with a handle portion to allow each plug 20A,20B to be rotated by hand between its insertion and operative configurations. Each handle portion 32 is in the form of a lever extending radially from the central axis of the respective plug 20A,20B to facilitate rotation of the plugs 20A,20B within their bores 10A,10B.

In alternative embodiments, illustrated in Figures 13 to 18 and 19 to 23 respectively, an upper/outer end face of each plug 20A,20B may be provided with a recess or other formation 40, such as a cross shaped hole (as shown in Figures 13 to 18) or hexagonal bore (as shown in Figures 19 to 23), adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool to facilitate insertion and rotation of the plug within the respective receiving bore 10A,10B. Numerous other shapes of recesses to suit different tools are envisaged. As illustrated in the embodiment shown in Figures 24 to 27, each plug 20A,20B may incorporate both a handle portion 32 and a tool receiving formation 40. Alternatively, omitting the handle portion, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 19 to 23 and 24 to 27, each plug 20A,20B may be shaped and dimensioned to fit fully within its respective receiving bore 10A,10B, with an upper end of each plug 20A,20B flush with the surface of the first panel 2, further adding to the aesthetics of the final article of furniture.

As illustrated in the embodiment shown in Figures 24 to 27, some or all of the external formations provided on the outer face 26 of each plug 20A,20B may comprise ratchet teeth 280 having a shallow slope 282 on a leading face in the normal direction of rotation of the plug from its insertion to operative configuration and a steep trailing slope 284 such that the formations 280 resist reverse rotation of the respective plug 20A,20B towards its insertion configuration once rotated towards its operative configuration. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in Figures 40 and 41, some or all the formations 28A may be helical or thread shaped to actively pull downwardly on the second panel 4, while others 28B may be circumferentially around the body 22 of the plug 20A.

The assembly and device in accordance with the present invention can be used to lock and stabilise an article of furniture, in particular to stabilise and strengthen the coupling of two panels arranged perpendicular to one another, strengthening and stabilising the assembled article of furniture.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 28 to 35 the first edge 8 of the second panel incorporates a slot 50 formed along a second face 14 of the second panel 4 opposite said first face 12, said groove 6 in the first panel 2 incorporating a lip 52 on a side of said groove 6 opposite from said at least one bore 10A,10B, said lip 52 of the first panel 2 being receivable within said slot 50 in the second panel 4 when said first edge 8 of the second panel 4 is inserted into said groove 6 in the first panel 2. Rotation of each plug 20A,203 between its insertion configuration and its operative configuration when inserted into its respective bore 10A,10B in the first panel acts against the first face 12 of the second panel 4 to urge the slot 50 in the second to panel 4 into engagement with the lip 52 of the first panel 2 to lock the two panels together, as best illustrated in Figures 30 and 34.

An assembly in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 36 and 37, wherein a first panel 2 has a first face 5 in which is formed axially spaced grooves 6 each receiving a female connector 60 in which is received a male connector 62 coupled to a first edge 8 of a second panel 4 such that the second panel 4 can be coupled to the first panel 2 extending perpendicular thereto. In the embodiment shown, the second panel 4 may comprise a shelf located between parallel spaced parts first panels 2, wherein the first panels 2 may comprise sides of an article of furniture. In such embodiment the bores 10 do not intersect the grooves 6 of the first panel 2 but are spaced adjacent each groove 6 such that rotation of a respective plug 20 inserted into the bore 10 between its insertion configuration and its operative configuration causes the outer surface 26 of each plug 20A,20B to act against the first face 12 of the second panel 4 in an upwards direction in the orientation of the parts as shown in Figures 32 and 33, thereby enhancing the stability of the article of furniture. The formations 28,280 on the sides of the plugs 20A,20B may act to resist sidewards movement of the panels relative to one another and to support loads bearing downwards to support the second panel 4.

In a further embodiment shown in Figures 38 and 39, the second panel 4 may be coupled to the first panel 2 by the use of male connectors 80 affixed to the first edge 8 of the second panel 4 and received in grooves 6, or female couplers 82 located in the grooves 6 in the first face 5 of the first panel 2. The second panel may comprise a "stretcher" located between parallel and spaced apart first panels. In use, such connectors 80 are inserted into one end of the grooves 6 or female couplers (lower in the orientation shown in the drawings) and the second panel 4 is slid laterally in direction B (upwardly in the drawings) with respect to the first panel 2, such that the male connectors 80 are locked into the grooves 6/female couplers 82 with a head portion of the male connectors 80 behind narrowed shoulders in the grooves 6/female couplers 82. A receiving bore 10A is provided adjacent a lower edge of the second panel 4, whereby insertion of a respective plug 20A into said bore 10A prevents removal of the male connectors 80 from the grooves 6/female couplers 82.

Rotation of the plug 20A from its insertion to operative configurations places an upwardly direction loading on the second panel 4 to stabilise and strengthen the coupling of two panels.

The size and dimensions of the plug and number of plugs used can vary depending upon the size of the article of furniture and the forces required to hold panels in place and stabilise the assembly. However, it is preferred that the plugs are provided in oppositely handed (rotating in opposite directions between their insertion and operative configurations) pairs to prevent any resultant sideways force 112 being applied to the second panel in the plane of the panel during rotation of the plugs.

The plug or plugs can be inserted at the end of the furniture assembly process and does not need to pre-inserted before the first/back panel is inserted into its receiving groove in the or each second panel. This is an advantage in that the article does not have to be dismantled if the plug or plugs are mistakenly not added before the first and second panels are assembled.

The plugs can act to stabilise but also 'lock' and strengthen the complete article of 20 furniture together.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An assembly comprising a first panel having a first face and a second panel having a first edge, the first and second panels being coupled together in 5 substantially perpendicular relationship by means of at least one coupling portion defined by or coupled to said first edge of the second panel, said coupling portion being received within a groove formed in said first face of the first panel, wherein the first panel includes a least one bore formed in the first face of the first panel adjacent said groove, a respective plug being adapted to be at least partially 10 inserted into said bore wherein a surface of said plug acts against a first face of the second panel at or adjacent said first edge when said plug is rotated in the respective bore between an insertion configuration and an operative configuration, thereby taking up any looseness of the assembly.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one bore intersects said groove.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said surface of the at least one plug acting against said first face of the second panel comprises a cam 20 surface.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3; wherein the at least one the plug comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a flat face on an outer side thereof, said flat face being substantially aligned with said first face of the second panel when the plug is in its insertion configuration to permit insertion of the plug into the respective bore, the plug being rotatable once inserted into the respective bore towards its operative configuration wherein said flat face is brought out of alignment with said first face of the second panel.
5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one plug incorporates a handle at a first end to facilitate manual rotation of the plug between its insertion and operative configurations once inserted in the respective bore.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 3. wherein said handle of each plug may be in the form of a lever extending substantially radially from a central axis of the respective plug to facilitate manual rotation of the respective plug.
7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a first end of the or each plug is provided with a recess or other formation adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool to facilitate insertion and rotation of the plug within the respective bore.
8. An assembly as claimed any preceding claim, wherein a second end of the or 112 each plug, opposite said first end, incorporates a radially extending ledge adapted to extend beneath the respective coupling portion within the groove in the first panel when the plug is in inserted into the respective bore and rotated to its operative configuration.
9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said ledge is tapered or wedge shaped to urge said respective coupling portion away from an inner end of said groove when the plug is rotated from its insertion configuration towards its operative configuration.
10. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one plug is provided with external formations on at least a portion of the outer sides thereof to resist axial movement of the plug within the respective bore and to engage said first face of the second panel.
11. An assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said external formations comprise one or more of circumferential ridges; thread formations; or ratchet teeth.
12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said external formations comprise ratchet teeth having a shallow slope on a leading face in the normal direction of rotation of the plug from its insertion to operative configuration and a steep trailing slope such that the formations resist rotation of the plug towards its insertion configuration once rotated towards its operative configuration.
13. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said coupling portion comprises the first edge of the second panel, said first edge being receivable within said groove in the first panel.
14. An assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first edge incorporates a slot formed along a second face of the second panel opposite said first face, said groove in the first panel incorporating a lip on a side of said groove opposite from said at least one bore, said lip of the first panel being receivable within said slot in the second panel when said first edge of the second panel is inserted into said groove in the first panel, rotation of said at least one plug when inserted into a respective bore in the first panel acting against said first face of the second panel to urge said slot into engagement with said lip.
15. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein said at least one 15 coupling portion comprises a male connector located in a receiving aperture in the first edge of the second panel to be received in the groove in said first panel.
16. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a pair of plugs located in respective bores at spaced apart locations along said first edge of the second panel when the second panel is coupled to the first panel, said plugs being rotatable between their insertion and operative configurations in opposite directions to one another to act against said first face of the second panel.
17. A plug for an assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.