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US 6,651,400 B1Granted
Foam core panel connector
AssigneeRapid Displays, Inc.
InventorTerry J. Murphy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention discloses a connector used to join two or more panels having a foam core and having a cavity defined in a edge thereof. The connector includes a connector body having at least two attachment heads which are dimensioned to fit snugly within the corresponding cavities bounded by internal sidewalls defined in the foam core. Barbs provided on each attachment head are configured to pierce the internal sidewalls of the panels and inhibit withdrawal of the attachment head from the cavity defined in the foam core.
Claims30
A connector used to join two or more panels having a foam core and having a cavity bounded by a densified skin and defined in an edge thereof, the connector comprising:
- a connector body having a length;
- at least two attachment heads provided on said connector body, said attachment heads being dimensioned to fit snugly within the corresponding cavities defined in the foam core;
- elongated plural barbs provided on each said attachment head, said barbs being configured to pierce the internal sidewalls bounding the cavity and inhibit withdrawal of the attachment head from the cavity defined in the foam core, said barbs elastically deforming toward said connector body when said attachment bead is inserted into the foam core of the panel and subsequently resisting deformation to inhibit withdrawal of the barbs from the foam core, the barbs being more yielding to forces at a substantial angle to the connector body than to extraction forces in substantial alignment with the length.
A connector used to mount a panel having a foam core having a cavity bounded by a densified skin and defined in an edge thereof, comprising:
- a connector body having a length;
- at least one attachment head provided on said connector body, said attachment head being dimensioned to fit snugly within the corresponding cavities defined in the foam core;
- elongated plural barbs provided on said attachment head, said barbs being configured to pierce the internal sidewalls bounding the cavity and inhibit withdrawal of the attachment head from the cavity defined in the foam core, said barbs elastically deforming toward said connector body when said attachment head is inserted into the foam core of the panel and subsequently resisting deformation to inhibit withdrawal of the barbs from the foam core, the barbs being more yielding to forces at a substantial angle to the connector body than to extraction forces in substantial alignment with the length;
- and
- an attachment portion provided on said body, said attachment portion defining an aperture.
2 more elements
A method for connecting two panels having a foam core, comprising:
- providing at least two foam core panels each having a length, a width perpendicular to the length, and a thickness perpendicular to the length and the width, the thickness being much smaller than the length or the width;
- for each panel, forming a cavity in an edge thereof, each cavity having a length l in a plane of the length and width of the panel, and a thickness t parallel to the thickness of the panel, each cavity being bounded by a skin;
- providing a connector having a connector body, at least first and second attachment heads provided on said connector body and plural barbs provided on each said attachment head, said barbs elastically defoaming toward the connector body when the attachment head is inserted into the foam core panel and resisting deformation to inhibit withdrawal of the barbs from the foam core panel;
- and
- forcefully inserting said first and second attachment heads into corresponding cavities such that said barbs pierce the skin of the respective cavity and inhibit withdrawal of the attachment head from the panel.
2 more elements
A point of purchase display, comprising:
- a member having at least one hole defined therethrough;
- at least two foam core panels, each said panel having a foam core having a cavity bounded by a skin and formed in an edge portion thereof,
- a connector having a body portion;
- at least two attachment heads provided on said body portion, said attachment heads being dimensioned to fit snugly within corresponding ones of said cavities defined in said foam core panels;
- plural barbs provided on each said attachment head, said barbs being configured to pierce said skin and inhibit withdrawal of said attachment head from said cavity;
- said connector being inserted into said at least one hole and connecting said at least two foam core panels on opposite sides of said member.
3 more elements
A point of purchase display, comprising:
- a plurality of panels, each said panel having a foam core having a first cavity defined in a vertical edge portion thereof and a second cavity defined in a horizontal side edge portion thereof, each said cavity being bounded by internal sidewalls;
- a plurality of connectors, each said connector having a body portion;
- at least two attachment heads provided on each said body portion, said attachment heads being dimensioned to fit snugly within corresponding said cavities defined in said foam core panels;
- plural barbs provided on each said attachment head, said barbs being configured to pierce said internal sidewalls and inhibit withdrawal of said attachment head from said cavity;
- and
- said plurality of panels being connected in a series of rows and columns with selected ones of said plurality of connectors connecting adjacent ones of said plurality of panels.
3 more elements
A display comprising:
- a plurality of panels including first and second foam core panels, each panel having a front sheet, a rear sheet and a foam core in between the front and rear sheets made of a foam of thermoplastic material, each of the first and second panels having at least a first edge;
- on each first edge, at least one cavity Conned to extend inwardly from the first edge into the foam core, the cavity being bounded by a skin of collapsed foam;
- and
- at least one connector having at least first and second attachment beads, each attachment head having a plurality of barbs, one attachment head of said at least one connector inserted into the cavity formed the first panel, another attachment head of said least one connector inserted into the cavity formed in the second panel, wherein said barbs elastically deforming toward said connector when said attachment head is inserted into the foam core of the panel and subsequently resisting deformation to inhibit withdrawal of the barbs from the foam core, whereby an edge-to-edge junction of the first and second panels is effected.
1 more element
A connector used with a panel having a foam core and having a cavity bounded by a densified skin and defined in an edge thereof, the connector comprising:
- a connector body having a length;
- an attachment head provided on said connector body, said attachment head being dimensioned to fit snugly within the corresponding cavities defined in the foam core;
- elongated plural barbs provided on each said attachment head, said barbs being configured to pierce the internal sidewalls bounding the cavity and inhibit withdrawal of the attachment head from the cavity defined in the foam core, said barbs elastically deforming toward said connector body when said attachment head is inserted into the foam core of the panel and subsequently resisting deformation to inhibit withdrawal of the barbs from the foam core, the barbs being more yielding to forces at a substantial angle to the connector body than to extraction forces in substantial alignment with the length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.