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US 5,810,505 AGranted
Double threaded fastener system
AssigneeKimball International, Inc.
InventorsJay M. Henriott, Grover L. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener assembly adapted for use with furniture components. The fastener assembly includes a generally tubular insert having two ends and threads on both its exterior and interior surfaces. The exterior threads of the insert engage a body, such as a planar panel, through which the insert extends. The insert is installed in the body whereby the interior threads of the insert are accessible from both ends of the insert. Threaded fasteners may then be attached to both ends of the insert to thereby secure objects to the body in which the insert has been installed. The threaded fasteners which may be used with the inserts include common bolts as well as grooved dowels which are enageable with a camming device.
Claims30
A furniture assembly comprising:
- an intermediate furniture panel having opposite outer surfaces, said opposite outer surfaces respectively having first and second apertures, said intermediate panel defining a passageway between said first and second apertures;
- first and second furniture components respectively disposed adjacent said first and second apertures;
- first and second threaded fasteners respectively engaging said first and second furniture components;
- and
- a generally hollow insert having a first and second end, an exterior threaded surface at a threading, engagable interior surface;
- said insert being disposed in said passageway whereby said exterior surface threadingly engages said intermediate panel and, at said first insert end, said first threaded fastener extends through said first aperture and threadingly engages said interior surface, and, at said second insert end, said second threaded fastener extends through said second aperture and threadingly engages said interior surface, whereby said first and second furniture components are secured to said intermediate panel.
3 more elements
A furniture assembly comprising:
- first and second threaded fasteners;
- an intermediate body having opposite outer surfaces, said opposite outer surfaces respectively having first and second apertures, said body defining a passageway between said first and second apertures;
- a generally hollow insert having first and second ends, an exterior threaded surface and a threadingly engagable interior surface;
- said insert being disposed in said passageway whereby said exterior surface threadingly engages said intermediate body and, at said first insert end, said first threaded fastener extends through said first aperture and threadingly engages said interior surface, and, at said second insert end, said second threaded fastener extends through said second aperture and threadingly engages said interior surface;
- and
- first and second furniture components respectively attached to said intermediate body with said first and second fasteners.
3 more elements
A fastener assembly comprising:
- first and second threaded fasteners;
- an intermediate body having an outer surface, said outer surface defining first and second apertures, said body defining a passageway between said first and second apertures;
- a generally hollow insert having first and second ends, an exterior threaded surface and a threadingly engageable interior surface;
- said insert being disposed in said passageway whereby said exterior surface threadingly engages said intermediate body and, at said first end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said first threaded fastener through said first aperture and, at said second insert end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said second threaded fastener through said second aperture;
- first and second camming devices;
- and
- wherein said first and second threaded fasteners comprise first and second dowels, each said dowel having a generally cylindrical shank with a threaded first end and an opposite second end having an annular groove;
- said threaded first ends being adapted for engagement with said insert;
- said second ends being adapted for respective engagement with said first and second camming devices.
6 more elements
A modular furniture unit comprising:
- a generally planar panel having first and second outer surfaces on opposing sides of said panel, said panel defining a passageway extending from a first aperture in said first outer surface to a second aperture in said second outer surface;
- first and second threaded fasteners;
- a generally hollow tubular insert having first and second ends, an exterior threaded surface and a threadingly engagable interior surface, said insert being disposed in said passageway whereby said exterior surface threadingly engages said panel and, at said first insert end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said first threaded fastener through said first aperture and, at said second insert end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said second threaded fastener through said second aperture;
- and
- first and second furniture components attached to said panel by means of said first and second threaded fasteners respectively.
2 more elements
A modular furniture unit comprising:
- a generally planar panel having first and second outer surfaces on opposing sides of said panel, said panel defining a passageway extending from a first aperture in said first outer surface to a second aperture in said second outer surface;
- first and second threaded fasteners;
- a generally hollow tubular insert having first and second ends, an exterior threaded surface and a threadingly engageable interior surface, said insert being disposed in said passageway whereby said exterior surface threadingly engages said panel and, at said first insert end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said first threaded fastener through said first aperture and, at said second insert end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said second threaded fastener through said second aperture;
- first and second furniture components attached to said panel by means of said first and second threaded fasteners respectively;
- and
- wherein said first and second threaded fasteners are first and second dowels each having a generally cylindrical shank with a threaded first end and an opposite second end having an annular groove;
- said threaded first ends being adapted for engagement with said tubular insert;
- said second ends being adapted for respective engagement with first and second camming devices disposed in said first and second furniture components.
5 more elements
A modular furniture unit comprising:
- a generally planar panel having first and second outer surfaces on opposing sides of said panel, said panel defining a passageway extending from a first aperture in said first outer surface to a second aperture in said second outer surface;
- first and second threaded fasteners;
- a generally hollow tubular insert having first and second ends, an exterior threaded surface and a threadingly engageable interior surface, said insert being disposed in said passageway whereby said exterior surface threadingly engages said panel and, at said first insert end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said first threaded fastener through said first aperture and, at said second insert end, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said second threaded fastener through said second aperture;
- first and second furniture components attached to said panel by means of said first and second threaded fasteners respectively;
- and
- wherein said generally planar panel is vertically oriented and defines a second passageway extending from a third aperture in said first outer surface to a fourth aperture in said second outer surface and said furniture unit further comprises:
- third and fourth threaded fasteners;
- a second generally hollow tubular insert having first and second ends, an exterior threaded surface and a threadingly engagable interior surface, said second insert being disposed in said second passageway whereby said exterior surface of said second insert threadingly engages said panel and, at said first end of said second insert, said interior surface of said second insert is engagingly accessible to said third threaded fastener through said third aperture and, at said second end of said second insert, said interior surface is engagingly accessible to said fourth threaded fastener through said fourth aperture;
- and
- third and fourth furniture components attached to said panel by means of said third and fourth threaded fasteners respectively.
7 more elements
A furniture assembly comprising:
- an intermediate structural member having opposite outer surfaces, said opposite outer surfaces respectively having first and second apertures, said intermediate member defining a passageway between said first and second apertures;
- a generally hollow insert having first and second ends and an interior surface, said insert securely disposed in said passageway;
- first and second fasteners, said first and second fasteners respectively having first and second exterior fastener surfaces, said first fastener extending through said first aperture and said first insert end, said first exterior fastener surface engaging said interior surface whereby said first fastener is secured to said insert, said second fastener extending through said second aperture and said second insert end, said second exterior fastener surface engaging said interior surface whereby said second fastener is secured to said insert;
- and
- first and second furniture components respectively attached to said intermediate panel by means of said first and second fasteners.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.