US2889592A - Toggle retainer and framing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1959 A. J. FITZGERALD 2,889,592 TOGGLE RETAINER AND FRAMING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1957 'IIIIIII INVENTORC ALBERT J. FITZGERALD,

HIS ATTORNEY bert I. Fitzgerald, inventor, entitled and Toggle Retainer Therefore,

TOGGLE RETAINER AND 5'? fI'l=- APPARATUS Albert J. Fitzgerald, Syracuse, N .Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 3, 1957, Serial No. 681,766 Claims. (Cl. 20-56.4)

This invention relates to a new and improved toggle retainer and framing structure utilizing such toggle retainer. More particularly, theinvention relates to a new i and improved framing structure especially adapted for mounting the safety glass on television receiver cabinets, and to a novel toggle retainer comprising a part of such framing structure.

States Patent 2,889,592 Patented June 9, 1959 structure that preferably comprises a plurality of fram ing members selected ones of which have a generally U- shaped cross section, and which may be snap-fitted into position over the toggle retainers and retained thereby.

0 parts in each of the several figures are identified by the In the initial assembly of television receiver sets, and

in the subsequent servicing of such sets, it is desirable that the safety glass which covers the viewing area of the .television receiver, be readily secured to and removed from the television cabinet. Further, it is desirable that this safety glass be attachable to the television receiver' cabinet from a position outside the cabinet, and that removal of the safety glass likewise can be accomplished from a position outside of the cabinet so as to facilitate cleaning of the glass. It is also desirable that the framing structure used to retain the safety glass in position on television receiver cabinet be relatively simple in construction so that it may be readily fabricated, and it must present a decorative outer appearing. In copending application, Serial No. 572,268, filed March 19, 1956, Al-

Framing Apparatus applicant disclosed a new and improved framing structure and toggle retainer suitable for use in retaining the safety glass over the viewing area of a television receiver cabinet. While the framing apparatus and toggle retainer disclosed in the above-identified copending patent application have been entirely satisfactory in service, it was desired to improve upon the structure therein disclosed in order to obtain greater flexibility of design of the framing structure, as well as to improve upon its structural retaining characteristics.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a new and improved toggle retainer and framing structure utilizing such retainer which allows assemblage of a safety glass over the viewing surface of a television receiver cabinet, as well as removal of the safety glass, from a position outside the cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toggle retainer and framing structure having the above charac teristics which is easily fabricated, and decorative in appearance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved toggle retainer and framing structure utilizing such retainer which allows greater flexibility of design of the framing structure using such toggle retainer, and which possesses better structural qualities than similar retainers heretofore available in the art.

In practicing the invention, a toggle retainer is provided which comprises a pair of axially aligned lever arms each having an engaging lip formed on one end thereof and a bendable hinge portion connecting the lever arms together toggle fashion at remaining adjacent ends. Fitted over the axially aligned lever arms is a Scabbardlike bracing member to brace the lever arms and lock the same in a retaining position with relation to a framing her comprising the lever arms.

'view of a portion of the framing structure illustrated in Figure l, and shows'the details of construction of a new and improved toggle retainer that comprises a part of the framing structure; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the new and improved toggle retainer in partially disassembled form, and illustrates the construction of the same; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the new and improved framing structure taken through plane 3-3 of Figure l; and Figure 5 isa perspective View of a partially disassembled alternative form of the framing structure constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a new and improved framing structure constructed in accordance with the invention mounted on the top portion of a television receiver cabinet. This framing structure includes a plurality of framing'rnembers, selected ones 11 and 12 of which have 'generally U-shaped cross sections as will become readily ap parent hereinafter. The generally U-shaped cross section framing members 11 and 12 are retained over a safety glass 13 to hold the same in position over the viewing area of a television receiver cabinet, and are locked in place by a new and improved toggle retainer indicated generally at 14 in Figure 2.

The toggle retainer 14 is illustrated in partially disassembled form in Figure 3 of the drawings, and in many respects is similar to the toggle retainer described in the above identified copending application. Toggle retainer 14 includes right hand and left hand lever arms 15 and 16, respectively, preferably fabricated from sheet metal, and each has a generally V-shaped cross section throughout most of the length'thereof. By V-shaped is meant a channeling of the sheet metal member forming the lever .arm along its longitudinal axis in such a fashion as to I of each of the lever arms 15 and 16 from extensions of a first leg portion of each of the generally V-shaped mem- In order to minimize bending of these engaging lips, an elongated dimple 18 is preferably formed on each engaging lip, and if desired, small slits (not shown) may be cut into the first leg portions of each lever arms 15 and 16 immediately adjacent the extension forming the engaging lip thereon to provide means for adjusting the angle of the engaging lip 17 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lever arm. The remaining adjacent ends of the lever arms 15 and 16 each have a part 19 of the first leg portions thereof folded back over a part of the second leg portion of the generally V-shaped member comprising such lever arm. By folding back the part 19 of the adjacent ends of each of the lever arms 15 and 16 in this manner, a retaining slot is defined.

The retaining slot formed on adjacent ends of each lever arm is adapted to receive a bendable sheet metal connecting member 21 having a thickness approximately equal to that of the sheet metal out of which the lever arms and 16 are fabricated, and comprises a means for receiving the bendable connecting member 21. To further insure that the toggle retainer will be secured in assembled relation, each of the second leg :portions of the generally V-shaped sheet metal member forming the retaining slot on each lever arm has a small hole or depression 22 formed therein. The lever arms 15 and 16 are connected together by bendable sheet metal connecting member 21 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings by inserting the connecting member 21 in each of the retaining slots formed on adjacent ends of the right and left hand lever arms 15 and 16 in a manner such that the connecting member 25 extends between the adjacent ends of the lever arms and hinges the same together toggle fashion. The portions of the connecting member 21 which seat in the retaining slots formed on the adjacent ends of the lever arms 15 and 16, have small protuberances (not shown) formed thereon which coact with the depressions 22 formed in the lever arms to firmly retain each of the lever arms 15 and 16 and connecting member 21 in assembled relation. The connecting 'mem ber 21 is preferably of such a length that it extends between and along the entire length of the lever arms 15 and 16 when the same are axially aligned, and it may have a small rim 23, formed along one edge thereof by folding for strengthening purposes. Preferably, a resilient cushioning member 24 such as a piece of sponge rubber, is secured to the ends of each of the lever arms 15 and 16, and serves to cushion the rimmed portions 23 of the bendable connecting member 21 when the same are pressed against the end of its associated lever arm upon assembling the toggle retainer in a retaining position. For a more detailed description of the construction, and method of assembling the several portions of the toggle retainer described above, reference is made to the above identified copending patent application.

Coacting with the above-described portion of the toggle retainer, when that portion of the toggle retainer is placed in retaining position (that is when the lever arms are in axial or longitudinal alignment) is a scabbard-like bracing member 25. The scabbard-like bracing member 25 is preferably coextensive in length with the lever arms 15 and 16 when the same are in axial or longitudinal alignment (and therefore in the retaining position), and is preferably L-shaped in cross section. The-scabbard-like bracing member 25 has slots 26 formed in each of the ends thereof which coact with a bayonet fastener 27 formed on each of the lever arms 15 and 16 to secure the scabbard-like bracing member 25 in assembled bracing position with respect to the lever arms 15 and 16 in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. If desired, the bracing member 25 may have a small protuberance 28 punched out therefrom to serve as a handle to be used in assembling the Scabbard-like bracing member 25 together with the lever arms 15 and 16. Also, the ends 29 of bracing member 25 may be flared outwardly to facilitate assemblage of the framing member 12 thereover in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

The toggle retainers 14 are used in conjunction with framing members 11 and 12 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. By the term U-shaped cross section is meant any semi-tubular structure having a generally concave cross section such as a framing member having a rectangular shape cross section with one open face, or a V-shaped member, or even a semi-circular shaped member; the only requirement being that at least one portion of a longitudinal side of the framing member be open. While in the example shown in Figure 2 and 3 of the drawings, the framing member 12 has rectangularly shaped cross section with one face partially open, it is believed obvious that framing members having different cross section configurations and styling may be utilized 4 in conjunction with the new and improved toggle retainer to form a completed framing structure in accordance with the invention.

In mounting a framing structure constructed in accordance with the present teaching over the viewing area of a television receiver cabinet, the structure is preferably used in conjunction with a masking device such as shown at 31 in Figure 2 of the drawings. The masking device 31 is secured to the interior of the television receiver cabinet about the opening therein which defines the viewing area, and has a plurality of apertures formed about its periphery which coincides with the edge of the opening in the cabinet. Further the masking device 31 has a fiat portion which provides a support or seat for the safety glass 13, and the safety glass 13 is retained in position on this support by the framing structure utilizing the new and improved toggle retainers 14.

In order to mount a safety glass 13 and framing member 12 over an opening in the television receiver cabinet, the toggle retainers 14 are bent toggle fashion around the :end portion thereof in the manner indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings. With the toggle retainers thus bent, the engaging lip 17 on the end of each of the lever arms 15 and 16 can be inserted in the aperture in the masking device 31 adapted to receive such lever arms. The toggle retainers 14 are then straightened by forcing the hinged portions thereof down into axial alignment with the longitudinal axes of the lever arms 15 and 16. This operation serves to thrust the engaging lip 17 on the ends of each of the lever arms out under the portion of the mask 31 surrounding the apertures thereby locking the toggle retainer into position over the safety glass 13 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. With the toggle retainer in this position, the Scabbardlike bracing member 25 is brought into position so that the bayonet fasteners 27 protrude through the slots 26 in bracing member 25. Thereafter the bracing member is physically slid so that the bayonet fasteners 27 protrude over the edges of the slots 26 and bracing member 25 so as to retain it in position. The ends of the bayonet fasteners then may be twisted in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings so as to permanently retain the Scabbard-like bracing member 25 in the assembled position. With the Scabbard-like bracing in the position illustrated in Figure 2, it serves to rigidly retain the toggle retainers or lever arms 15 and 16 in their axially aligned retaining position, and further strengthens the retaining characteristics of axially aligned lever arms, thereby enhancing the ability of the toggle retainers to retain the safety glass 13 in place.

With the toggle retainers 14 in position, the framing members 12 are snap-fitted into position by sliding one edge of the open side thereof in under the edge of the toggle retainer, and snap-fitting the remaining edge of the open side thereof over the edge of the toggle retainer. When thus assembled, the toggle retainers 14 aided by the bracing or supporting action of the Scabbardlike bracing members 25 thereof, coact with substantially U-shaped framing members 12 to firmly engage the safety glass 13, and to retain the glass in position over the opening in the cabinet on which it is mounted. Subsequent to assembly of a safety glass in this fashion, drop tests have proven that the new and improved framing structure herein described firmly retains a safety glass in proper position on a television receiver cabinet under the most adverse conditions to which a cabinet utilizing such structure is normally subjected.

To complete the framing structure, and in order that the framing structure present a decorative outer appearance, vertical edging members 33 may be mounted on the remaining edges of the safety glass 13 which intersect the edges thereof on which the substantially U- shaped members, framing members 11 and 12 are mounted 'as aforesaid. The edging members 33, as best shown in Figure 4 of'the drawings, preferably comprise a rectilinear Ill-"shaped channel member which may be clipped over the edge of the safety glass 13 in the manner illustrated. As best seen in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the vertical edging members 33 run the full length of the vertical edges of safety glass 13, and the ends thereof underlie the ends of the generally U-shaped cross section framing members 11 and 12. An alternative form of edging member 33 is shown in Figure 5 of the drawing, and comprises an elongated sheet metal member 34 having an 'L-shaped cross section, and supported in position by means of a plurality of small bow springs 35. In assemblying the edging members 34 with respect to the safety glass 13, the same procedure is used as was described with the relation to the edging members 33. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that opposed edging members 33 and/or 34, whichever is used, provide a decorative effect primarily and that the structural retention of the safety glass 13 over the opening in the television receiver cabinet is achieved by means of the new and improved toggle retainer acting in conjunction with the substantially U-shaped framing members 11 and 12.

From the foregoing description it can be appreciated that the present invention provides a new and improved toggle retainer and a framing structure utilizing such toggle retainer that is readily fabricated, and facilitates assemblage of end articles utilizing the same. Further, framing structures constructed in this manner are durable and dependable in service, and provide a decorative outer appearance. In addition to these characteristics, the new and improved framing structure facilitates assemblage and subsequent removal of a glass with which the framing structure is used from a position outside the cabinet on which the framing structure is mounted. With respect to the new and improved toggle retainer, it can be appreciated that it possesses greater structural qualifies than toggle retainers heretofore available in in the art, and further serves to greatly multiply the types and number of different designs of framing members that may be used in conjunction therewith to form a completed framing structure.

Obviously, other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention described herein which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A toggle retainer comprising a pair of axially alignable lever arms each having an engaging lip formed on one end thereof and a bendable hinge portion connecting said lever arms together toggle fashion at the remaining adjacent ends, and, a stiff bracing member substantially coextensive in length With said lever arms and engageable with said lever 2111118 in the axially aligned retaining position to brace said lever arms and lock the same in the retaining position.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means for securing said bracing member in bracing position with respect to the axially aligned lever arms.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said bracing member is substantially coextensive in length with the axially aligned toggle arms, and is L-shaped in cross section, and further characterized by means comprising bayonet fasteners formed on each of said lever arms and slots formed in the bracing member for coacting with the bayonet fasteners to secure the bracing member in bracing position with respect to the axially aligned lever arms.

4. A toggle retainer comprising a pair of elongated lever arms adapted to be longitudinally aligned, each of said lever arms having an outwardly extending engaging lip formed on one end thereof, retaining means formed on the remaining end of each of said lever arms, a bendable connecting member coacting withthe retaining means formed on said lever arms and extending therebetween for hinging said lever arms together toggle fashion, and a bracing member fitted over said lever arms and said connecting member with the lever arms in the axially aligned retaining position to brace said lever arms and lock the same in the axially aligned retaining position.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 further characterized by means for securing said bracing member in bracing position with respect to the axially aligned lever arms.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said bracing member is substantially coextensive in length with the axially aligned lever arms, and is L-shaped in cross section, and further characterized by means comprising bayonet fasteners formed on each of said lever arms and slots formed in the bracing member for coacting with the bayonet fasteners to secure the bracing member in bracing position with respect to the axially aligned lever arms.

7. A toggle retainer fabricated from sheet metal comprising a pair of elongated sheet metal lever arms, each of said lever arms having a generally V-shaped cross section throughout most of the length thereof, an engaging lip formed on one end of each of said lever arms from a ribbed extension of a first leg of the V-shape cross sec tional sheet metal member forming the lever arm, means for adjusting the angle of said engaging lip with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elongated lever arms, the remaining end of each of said lever arms having a portion of the first leg of the generally V-shaped member comprising the lever arm folded back over a portion of the second leg of such member to form a retaining slot with one of the portions defining such slot having a depression therein, a bendable sheet metal connecting member seated in the retaining slots of both said lever arms and having protuberances formed thereon coacting with said lever arms, said connecting member extending between said lever arms for hinging the same together toggle fashion, resilient cushioning members interposed between said lever arms and said connecting member substantially adjacent said engaging lips, a bracing member substantially coextensive in length with the axially aligned lever arms and having an L-shape cross section fitted over said axially aligned lever arms, and means comprising bayonet fasteners formed on each of said lever arms and slots formed in the bracing member for coacting with the bayonet fasteners to secure the bracing member in bracing position with respect to the axially aligned lever arms.

8. A framing structure comprising a plurality of framing members selected ones of which have a generally U-shaped cross section, a plurality of toggle retainers coacting with said selected framing members having the U-shaped cross section to retain the framing structure in position around an area to be framed, each of said toggle retainers comprising a pair of hinged elongated lever arms adapted to be longitudinally aligned, each of said lever arms having an engaging lip formed on the extreme end thereof, a bendable hinge portion connecting said lever arms together at the remaining adjacent ends thereof, and a bracing member fitted over said lever arms in the axially aligned retaining position to brace said lever arms and lock the same in the retaining position, the U-shaped framing members being snap-fitted into position over the toggle retainers and retained thereby.

9. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said bracing member is substantially coextensive in length with the axially aligned lever arms, and is L-shaped in cross section, and further characterized by means comprising bayonet fasteners formed on each of said lever arms and slots formed in the bracing member for coacting with the bayonet fasteners to secure the bracing member in bracing position with respect to the axially aligned lever arms.

10. A flaming structure comprising a'pair of opposed framing members each having agenerally U-shaped cross sectionand a pair of opposed decorative channel members fitted over the edge of a glass to be framed and havingthe ends thereof underlying the ends of the opposed U-shape framing members, aplurality of toggle retainers coacting with said U-shape framing members to retain the glass to be framed in position over an opening to be covered by the glass, each ofsaid toggle retainers being fabricated from sheet metal and comprising a pair of elongated axially alignable sheet metal lever arms, each of said lever arms having a generally V-shape cross sec- }tion throughout most of the length thereof and an engaging lip formed on one end thereof from a ribbed exten- :sion of .a first leg of the V-shape cross sectional sheet metal member forming the lever arm, the remaining end .of each of said lever-arms having a. portion of the first leg of the generally V-shaped member comprising the lever arm folded back over a portion of the second leg of such memberto form a generally U-shape retaining slot, a bendable sheet metal connecting member secured in'the retaining slots of1bothsaidlever arms and extending 'therebetween for hinging said lever arms together toggle fashion, a bracing'member substantially coextensive'inlength with the axially aligned lever armsand having an 'L-shape cross section fitted over said axially aligned lever arms, and means comprising bayonet fasteners formed on eachof said lever arms and slots formed in the bracing member for coacting with the bayonet fasteners to secure the bracing member in bracing position with respect to the'axially aligned lever arms.

Smith Apr. 5, 1910 Poupitch -..V June 22, 1954-

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