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US 4,045,090 AGranted
Easy-to-assemble structure
OwnerWilliam F. Fleisch, Walter Pouscheinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The structure comprises a tubular metal supporting frame; and a first and a second structural members carried on selected portions thereof. The second member is slidable along the frame to form a gravity-controlled locking engagement therewith and also to allow the first member to be placed in position thereby instantly completing the assembly of the structure.
Claims27
An assembled structure comprising:
- a supporting device containing therein wall means which defines and elongated slot system and having a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface in angular relation with the first supporting surface;
- a first structural member having a first contact surface engageable with the first supporting surface;
- a second structural member having a second contact surface engageable with the second supporting surface so as to be adjacent to, and disposed in angular relation with, the first member;
- a connecting means for connecting a selected portion on the first member to an adjacent portion on the second member;
- and
- locking means comprising a hook system securing the first member in gravity-controlled, locking engagement with the slot system on the supporting device;
- the location of the second member in its intended position on the assembled structure preventing the disruption of the locking engagement of the first member with the slot system on the supporting device;
- the first and second structural members, together with the supporting device and the connecting means being so relatively dimensioned as to have therebetween operating clearances so substantial that upon the selected portion on the first member being connected by the connecting means to the adjacent portion on the second member and simultaneously upon aligning the locking means with the slot system, the hook system is insertible into the slot system and subsequently slidable therealong whereby the second contact surface on the second member is made to engage with the second supporting surface at substantially the same time the first contact surface on the first member is made to engage with the first supporting surface so that the locking engagement is achieved and the assembly of the structure is substantially instantly completed.
5 more elements
An open-ended hook for locking engagement thereof with a structural member having thereon an elongated slot through which the hook can be inserted and along which the hook can be moved to thereby lockingly engage the hook with the member,
- said slot terminating at one end thereof into a portion of the structural member having thereat an internal hook bearing surface and an external hook bearing surface,
- said two bearing surfaces being generally parallel to each other and defining therebetween the wall thickness of the structural member,
- the hook being insertible into the slot and the hook open end being subsequently slidable along the internal and external bearing surfaces on the member, comprising:
- a plate having a portion thereof partially cut out in the outline of one side of the open end of the hook,
- said cut-out portion being bent up from the plate about 90.degree. along a line of the cut-out portion still attached to the plate so that the thickness of the cut-out portion forms the inner and outer edges of the one side of the open end,
- the remaining, uncut plate forming the other side of the open end of the hook.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.