Metal strip edge protecting and reinforcing channel

In combination, an edge protecting and reinforcing channel formed of a single metal strip, said channel as seen in cross section including an exterior section and two legs extending substantially perpendicularly from the edges of said exterior section to form a substantially U-shaped cross section;

• a platelike member having an edge to be protected by said channel and two opposite side surfaces terminating in said edge, said exterior section of said channel extending along said edge of said platelike member and having an inner surface opposed thereto, said legs of said channel extending along adjacent portions of said opposite side surfaces of said platelike member;
• said opposite side surfaces of said platelike member having grooves therein and extending therealong, the free end portions of said legs of said channel being formed as inwardly bent edge flaps disposed in said grooves of said platelike member, said inwardly bent edge flaps each having at the free end thereof an inner corner facing said inner surface of said exterior section, said inwardly bent edge flaps each having a top facing away from said inner surface of said exterior section and located at the bend joining said flaps to the respective legs;
• and wherein the improvement is comprised by said bent edge flaps at the free end portions of said channel legs forming an acute angle relative to said legs, said grooves being substantially rectangular in cross section and extending into said side surfaces substantially at a right angle thereto, said grooves each having opposed side walls respectively located nearest and furthest from said edge of said platelike member, the bent edge flaps of said channel each being spaced from diagonally opposed corners of the groove in said platelike member by triangular cross section free spaces, the distance between the plate- like member edge and the nearest side wall of said grooves slightly exceeding the distance between said inner surface of said exterior section and said inner corner of said bent edge flap, to press said exterior section of said channel tightly against said edge of said platelike member, said inner corner of said bent edge flaps tending to cut into the material of said platelike member in said nearest side wall of said groove to resist sideward movement of said legs away from said opposite side surfaces of said platelike member, the distance between said top of said inwardly bent edge flap and said inner corner thereof being slightly smaller than the distance between the opposed side walls of each said groove;
• whereby after inserting said platelike member edge into said channel, with said inwardly bent edge flaps swung apart due to outward bending of said legs to receive said platelike member, said inwardly bent edge flaps of said channel can easily swing toward each other and enter said grooves.