US 5,155,960 AGranted

Cam action connector for joining furniture panels

AssigneeIndal Furniture Systems A Division of Indal Limited

InventorGad Shaanan

Life of this patent

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Abstract

For use in a panel locking system a connecting means (or connector) comprising a pin having two ends and having disposed proximate one end a first laterally or radially extending appendage and proximate the second end a laterally or radially extending second appendage, said appendages extending laterally (or radially) away from the pin, each appendage being radially offset a predetermined number of degrees about the circumference of the pin from the other appendage, each appendage having at least one end and having disposed proximate each end, cam portions for engagement with cam surfaces disposed proximate first and second channels or openings of a panel system, said first appendage being radially oriented extending substantially normal to the central axis of said pin in a first direction and said remaining appendage being radially offset, said pin having disposed intermediate its ends between the appendages detent means for rotating said pin when assembling said furniture system; whereby rotation of said pin in a predetermined direction locks said first appendage in a first channel or opening and further rotation of said pin up to a predetermined amount locks the second appendage in a second channel or opening while retaining said first appendage in a locked position within said first channel or opening.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Apparatus comprising:

means for manually locking elements of a furniture system, the elements of the furniture system including a channel having locking surfaces and a bottom within which portions of the means for manually locking elements of a furniture system engage thus fastening the elements together, said means for manually locking elements of a furniture system comprising a rotatable portion having two ends, having disposed proximate one end at least a first appendage for engagement in use with locking surfaces of a channel and a first alignment means disposed on the bottom of the channel of one of said furniture elements and having disposed proximate the other end of said rotatable portion at least a second appendage for engagement in use with locking surfaces of a channel and a second alignment means disposed on the bottom of a channel of another of said furniture elements, said second appendage being engageable in use with locking surfaces of the channel and said second alignment means when said first appendage locks in use with said locking surfaces of said channel and said first alignment means, said first and second appendages being aligned within the channel of the elements of the furniture system by said first and second alignment means, said rotatable portion of said means for manually locking elements of a furniture system having disposed between its ends intermediate said at least a first and at least a second appendage integral detent means for rotating said means for manually locking elements of a furniture system when manually assembling said furniture system, said detent means being accessible by a separate tool to engage said detent means as required during manual assembly of the furniture system wherein rotation of said means for manually locking elements of a furniture system by said tool in a predetermined direction locks said at least a first appendage with said locking surfaces of said channel and said first alignment means of one furniture element and further rotation of said means for manually locking elements of a furniture system by said tool up to a predetermined amount locks said at least a second appendage with said locking surfaces of said channel and said second alignment means of another furniture element while retaining said at least a first appendage in a locked position with said locking surfaces of said channel and alignment means of the former furniture element.

Apparatus comprising:

means for manually connecting a panel system, a first edge of the panel system having elements including alignment openings and locking surfaces adjacent said alignment openings therewith, said means for manually connecting a panel system comprising a pin having two ends and having disposed proximate one end a first laterally extending appendage and proximate the second end a laterally extending second appendage, said appendages extending laterally away from the pin, each appendage being permanently fixed in position with respect to the other appendage and being radially offset a predetermined number of degrees about the circumference of the pin from the other appendage, each appendage having at least one end and having disposed proximate each end portions for engagement in use with the locking surfaces disposed adjacent the alignment openings proximate the edge of the panel system providing alignment of said pin with said panel system, said first appendage being radially oriented to the central axis of said pin in a first direction and said second appendage being radially offset to the first appendage in a second direction, said pin having disposed intermediate the appendages integral detent means for manually rotating said pin when assembling said panel system;
wherein manual rotation of said pin in a predetermined direction locks said first appendage with said locking surfaces disposed proximate the edge of the panel system within a first alignment opening of the panel system and further manual rotation of said pin up to a predetermined amount locks said second appendage with said locking surfaces disposed proximate the edge of said panel system within a second alignment opening of the panel system while retaining said first appendage in a locked and aligned position with said locking surfaces within said first alignment opening.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/617,490Filed 23 Nov 1990 · continuation
Priority: CA 56285529 Mar 1988
Granted: 20 Oct 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F16B 5/0092
Characterised by particular locking means: with locking means rotating about an axis parallel to the main plane and perpendicular to the abutting…
F16B 12/2009
Using clamps, clips, wedges, sliding bolts, or the like: actuated by rotary motion
F16B 21/02
Means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it ; Stud-and-socket releasable…
Y10S 24/54
Projection or cavity rotates about axis of cavity access opening to interlock: having projection rotatably connected to its member