Apparatus for connecting panels
AssigneeSabic Innovations Plastics IP B.V.
InventorsChinniah Thiagarajan, Frans Adriaansen, Bhawesh Kumar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are connectors for panels. In one embodiment a panel connector comprises, a connector comprising a rib-hinging geometry, wherein the rib-hinging geometry comprises living hinges, and wherein the rib-hinging geometry is capable of expanding in area. In another embodiment, a panel assembly is disclosed. The panel assembly comprises, a connector comprising a rib-hinging geometry, wherein the rib-hinging geometry comprises living hinges, a socket comprising an internal geometry, wherein the connector can be assembled to the internal geometry, and wherein the rib-hinging geometry is capable of expanding in area.
Claims18
A panel connector comprising:
- a rib-hinging geometry, wherein the rib-hinging geometry comprises living hinges;
- and a socket comprising an interference member, a second structure, and living hinges, wherein the connector can be assembled to the socket;
- wherein the connector, when connected to another connector and/or a structure, and when acted upon by tensile force, compressive force, and/or bending force, is configured to change shape so as to increase retention force;
- wherein the living hinges have a hinge thickness that is less than a thickness of a member connecting adjacent living hinges.
A panel assembly, comprising:
- a connector comprising a rib-hinging geometry, wherein the rib-hinging geometry comprises living hinges;
- a socket comprising an interference member, a second structure, and living hinges, wherein the connector can be assembled to the socket;
- and,
- wherein the connector, when connected to another connector and/or a structure, and when acted upon by tensile force, compressive force, and/or bending force, is configured to change shape so as to increase retention force.
A multiwall panel comprising:
- multiple walls;
- a connector comprising a rib-hinging geometry, wherein the rib-hinging geometry comprises living hinges;
- and a socket comprising an interference member, a second structure, and living hinges, wherein the connector can be assembled to the socket;
- wherein the connector, when connected to another connector and/or a structure, and when acted upon by tensile force, compressive force, and/or bending force, is configured to change shape so as to increase retention force;
- wherein the multiwall panel comprises a negative force expanding connector and a positive force expanding connector, and wherein when a tensile force is applied, the negative force expanding connector increases in transverse width and when a compressive force is applied, the positive force expanding connector increases in transverse width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.