# US 2016/0258461 A1 · Connector assembly for temporary constructions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258461 A1 - Document ID: US20160258461A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/028,909 - Filed: 2015-01-23 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-24 - Assignees: Edwin Jeroen MULLER; Buildex (F.E.) Limited - Applicants: Buildex (F.E.) Limited - Inventors: Edwin Jeroen Muller; Jakov Yoav Karasanti; Emiel Dimitri Karasanti; Yusheng Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258461A1 ## CPC - A47B 47/0033: {Corners} - A47B 37/04: Tables specially adapted for use in the garden or otherwise in the open air, e.g. with means for holding umbrellas or umbrella-like sunshades - A47B 47/0075: {Flat or flat-like panels connected without frames (for panels mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/042)} - A47B 96/06: Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves ({A47B96/022 takes precedence; } aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 {; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08}) - A47D 1/006: {dismountable} - A47D 1/0085: {removable} - A47D 7/005: {dismountable} - A47D 13/066: {dismountable} - F16B 5/0052: {the interlocking key acting as a dovetail-type key} - F16B 5/0056: {by moving the sheets, plates or panels or the interlocking key perpendicular to the main plane} - F16B 5/0607: {joining sheets or plates to each other (F16B5/0692, F16B21/082 take precedence)} - F16B 5/0614: {in angled relationship} - F16B 12/20: using clamps, clips, wedges, sliding bolts, or the like - F16B 12/26: using snap-action elements - F16B 12/38: using snap-action elements - F16M 11/24: changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, {e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other}(F16M11/42 takes precedence) - F16B 3/00: Key-type connections; Keys (F16B2/00 takes precedence; for rods or tubes mutually F16B7/00) - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A47D: FURNITURE SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CHILDREN (school benches or desks A47B39/00, A47B41/00) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A connector assembly (200) comprising a body (203) having two U-shaped sections (201,202) each section having two opposed arms (204,205) having a hole (207,208) and a locking device (209,210) having an elongate locking member (215,216) extending through the holes of each arm. A first and second latching member (212,213) are attached to each respective end of the locking member (215, 216) abutting against an outward surface of the respective arm (204,205). The locking member comprises a first elongate body (215) having a first diameter attached with one end to the first latching member (213), and a second elongate body (216) that is connected to the first elongate body (215) movably along a longitudinal axis (L). The second elongate body (216) comprises a second diameter being smaller than the diameter of the first elongate body and being attached with one end to the second latching member (212). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Connector assembly comprising a body having two generally U-shaped sections each section having two opposed arms having a hole and a locking device having an elongate locking member extending through the holes of each arm, a first and second latching member attached to each respective end of the locking member abutting against an outward surface of the respective arm, wherein the locking member comprises a first hollow elongate body having a first diameter attached with one end to the first latching member, and a second elongate body that is connected to the first hollow elongate body movably along a longitudinal axis (L) which runs along the first hollow elongate body, the second elongate body having a second diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the first elongate body and being attached with one end to the second latching member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second elongate body comprises an elastic biasing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Connector assembly according to, claim 1 wherein the body is of generally rectangular shape with the U-shaped arms of the sections situated on opposite end sections of the body with their arms extending substantially in the length direction of the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Connector assembly according to claim 1, the body comprising two end parts extending at a mutual angle of substantially 90 degrees, the U-shaped sections being situated at each end part. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) Connector assembly according to claim 3, the body comprising three end parts arranged in a generally T-shaped configuration, a U-shaped section being situated at each end part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Connector assembly according to claim 5, the body comprising four end parts arranged in a generally cross-shaped configuration, a U-shaped section being situated in each end part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Connector assembly system comprising one or more connector assemblies according to claim 1, and further comprising at least two panels for connecting to each other using said one or more connector assemblies, each panel having a circumferential edge and a slot having a length direction extending through a thickness (W) of the panel, the slot having a wide channel section situated at a distance from the circumferential edge for receiving the first elongate body, and a narrow channel section communicating with the wide channel section and being open to the circumferential edge, the narrow channel section having a dimension smaller than the first elongate body and allowing the second elongate body to pass from the circumferential edge into the wide channel section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Connector system according to, claim 1 comprising at least two panels being connected, each said panel having a circumferential edge and a slot having a length direction extending through a thickness W of each said panel, the slot having a wide channel section situated at a distance from the circumferential edge for receiving, and a relatively narrow channel section communicating with the wide channel section situated near the circumferential edge and being open to the circumferential edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Connector system according to claim 8, further comprising the narrow channel section of each said panel connecting at a distance from the circumferential edge to a third channel section that is wider than a diameter of the first channel section and extending from the circumferential edge to the narrow channel section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) Connector system according to claim 8, each said panel comprising four corners, two slots extending through each said panel near each corner. ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) Connector system according to claim 8, wherein said connector assembly is of rectangular shape with the U-shaped arms situated on opposite end sections of the body with their arms extending substantially in the length direction of the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) Connector system according to claim 8, wherein the body comprising two end parts extends at a mutual axle of about 90°, the two U-shaped sections being situated at each end part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) Connector system according to claim 8, wherein three end parts are arranged in a generally T-shaped configuration, wherein one of said two U-shaped sections is each situated at each end part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) Connector system according to claim 8, wherein the body comprises four parts in a cross-shaped configuration, and a U-shaped section of said two U-shaped sections is situated in each end part. ### Claim 16 A fastening system for latching a first element to a second element comprising: a first element having a first latching surface, a first contact surface and a first fastening channel extending from the first latching surface to the first contact surface; a second element having a second contact surface abutting the first contact surface spaced at a distance therefrom a second contact surface and a second fastening channel extending from the second contact surface to the second surface in line with the first fastening channel, wherein an access slot of smaller diameter than a diameter of the fastening channels extends from the second fastening channel to an outer surface of the second element and extending parallel to the channel along its length; a connector assembly comprising a body having two generally U-shaped sections each section having two opposed arms having a hole; and a locking device having an elongate locking member extending through the holes of each arm, said first and second latching members attached to each respective end of the locking member abutting against an outward surface of the respective arm; said locking member comprising a first elongate body having a first diameter attached with one end to the first latching member and a free second end, and a second elongate body that is connected at opposite ends thereof to said first and second latching members movably along a longitudinal axis, the second elongate body having a second diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the first elongate body and being said biasing connecting member, said biasing connecting member being elastic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The fastening system according to claim 16, wherein said body of the connector assembly is of generally rectangular shape with the U-shaped arms of the sections situated on opposite end sections of the body with their arms extending substantially in the length direction of the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The fastening system according to claim 16, wherein said body comprises two end parts extending at a mutual angle of substantially 90 degrees, the U-shaped sections being situated at each end part. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The fastening system according to claim 16, wherein the body comprises three end parts arranged in a generally T-shaped configuration, a U-shaped section being situated in each end part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The fastening system according to claim 16, wherein the body comprises four end parts arranged in a generally cross-shaped configuration, a U-shaped section being situated in each end part. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The fastening system according to claim 16 comprising at least two panels, each panel having a circumferential edge and a slot having a length direction extending through a thickness of the panel, the slot having a wide channel section situated at a distance from the circumferential edge for receiving the first elongate body, and a narrow channel section communicating with a wide channel section and being open to the circumferential edge, the narrow channel section having a dimension smaller than the first elongate body and allowing the second elongate body to pass from the circumferential edge into the wide channel section. ### Claim 22 A connector assembly for use in a fastening system comprising: said connector assembly comprising a body having two generally U-shaped sections each section having two opposed arms having a hole; a locking device having an elongate locking member extending through the holes of each arm, a first and second latching member attached to each respective end of the locking member abutting against an outward surface of the respective arm; and said locking member comprising a first elongate body having a first diameter attached with one end to the first latching member and a free second end, and a second elongate body that is connected at opposite ends thereof to said first and second latching members movably along a longitudinal axis, the second elongate body having a second diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the first elongate body and being elastic biasing member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The connector assembly according to claim 22, wherein said body of the connector assembly is of generally rectangular shape with the U-shaped arms of the sections situated on opposite end sections of the body with their arms extending substantially in the length direction of the body. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The connector assembly according to claim 22, wherein said body comprises two end parts extending at a mutual angle of substantially 90 degrees, the U-shaped sections being situated at each end part. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The connector assembly according to claim 22, wherein the body comprises three end parts arranged in a generally T-shaped configuration, a U-shaped section being situated in each end part. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The connector assembly according to claim 22, wherein the body comprises four end parts arranged in a generally cross-shaped configuration, a U-shaped section being situated in each end part.