US 2024/0229479 A1 · FRAMING SYSTEM INCLUDING TUBES JOINED WITH SLOTS, HOOKS AND WEDGES INTEGRATED INTO THE TUBES

Abstract

A framing system and method of mechanically joining tubular elements to form frames without the need for welding technologies or connectors. The frames are two dimensional or, e.g., horizontal or vertical planes, or three-dimensional frames, e.g., cubes or rectangles. These joints between tubes are formed by fastening features cut into the tubes. The fastening features include hooks, slots, wedges and other shapes. The fastening features engage with each other to form joints between tubes that form a frame. The tubes can be metal or plastic or other material, and have cross sectional shapes of square, rectangular, rounded or other.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A framing system comprising:

a first hollow tube with an end from which extends opposing hooks and a male member between the opposing hooks, and
a second hollow tube having slots arranged to receive the opposing hooks of the first hollow tube and a female member configured to receive the male member.

A framing system comprising:

a first hollow tube having first opposing sidewalls and a first upper wall spanning the first opposing sidewalls, wherein an end of the first hollow tube includes a pair of opposing hooks each extending from a respective one of the opposing sidewalls and a first portion of an interlocking joint extending from the upper wall;
a second hollow tube including second opposing sidewalls and a second upper wall spanning the second opposing sidewalls, the second hollow tube includes opposing slots each extending partially through the second upper wall and partially down through a first sidewall of the second opposing sidewalls,
wherein the opposing slots are separated by a gap corresponding to a gap between the hooks in the pair of opposing hooks and the opposing slots are configured to receive the opposing hooks,
wherein a second portion of the interlocking joint is in the second upper wall and extends to the first sidewall, and
wherein the first portion and the second portion of the interlocking joint are configured to interlock to secure the first hollow tube to the second hollow tube while the opposing hooks engage the opposing slots.

2 more elements

A method to manufacture a framing system comprising:

laser cutting an end of a first hollow tube to remove material from the end to form hooks extending from opposite sidewalls of the first hollow tube and a male member extending from an upper wall of the first hollow tube,
laser cutting opposing slots into a second hollow tube, wherein the laser cuts each of the slots to extend partially through an upper wall of the second hollow tube and partially down through a sidewall of the second hollow tube, and
laser cutting a female member into the upper wall of the second hollow tube, wherein the female member is between the opposing slots and is configured to receive the male member to secure the first hollow tube to the second hollow tube while the hooks engage the opposing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

18/409,443Filed 10 Jan 2024

Priority

10 Jan 2023

Published

11 Jul 2024

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

E04B 1/541
Connections for building structures in general: joints substantially without separate connecting elements, e.g. jointing by inter-engagement
F16B 7/0486
For rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof: forming an abutting connection of at least one tube
F16B 7/22
Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections: using hooks or like elements
F16B 12/50
Leg joints; Corner joints: metal corner connections

Framing system including tubes joined with slots, hooks and wedges integrated into the tubes

Life of this patent

Framing system including tubes joined with slots, hooks and wedges integrated into the tubes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22