Retaining system for joints

Abstract

A retaining system for joints without utilising welds, screws or any other additional element or accessory, consisting in the making of a closing or locking mechanism, by means of a tab-slot configuration, using only the structure proper of the sections which are the object of the jointing, according to a first section (A) on which the cutting or machining that gives rise to the tabs and an embedment gap is made and a second section (B) that houses the slots and has to fit in the said embedment gap of section (A). Finally, the system is supplemented with the addition of tools that make it possible to release the system, thus making the joint demountable.

Claims

1. A retaining system for joints built into a first and a second element, which are the object of the jointing, without providing any additional material or element, and which, upon fitting together, generate a closing and locking mechanism, characterized in that the first element is provided with an embedment gap (3) so dimensioned such that the second element fits in said embedment gap (3), as well as one or more tabs (4), which are situated on a side of the said first element, adjacent to the embedment gap (3), each of said tabs (4) being the result of making two longitudinal cuts such that the space between both cuts delimits the surface area of said tab (4); and said second element being provided with one or more slots (5) on its lateral sides, in such a number, position and dimension that all of said one or more tabs (4) become housed in a corresponding slot (5) at the exact moment of jointing, wherein the slots (5) can be indents, grooves, scores, channels or just striations, and wherein the slots have such a dimension that the tab (4) fits in it without play, and rests on its bottom and top edges in a stable manner; and, apart from the described assembly, a disassembly tool (8) consisting in a simple lever with a self-locking operation, which comprises an end or handle (10) designed to be manually pressed down on, followed by a bent portion (9) that rests on the tab acting as a lever and projections on the opposite end, which act as fulcrums.

2. A process for jointing of the retaining system for joints according to claim 1, which is carried out by manually sliding the second element inside the embedment gap (3) of the first element, promoting the closing of the locking mechanism, making the corresponding tabs (4) being made to bend as both elements near each other, until, at the end of the run in the embedment gap (3), both first and second elements fit together and every tab (4) enters its corresponding slot (5), reaching a locked position that prevents said elements from sliding back in relation to each other.

3. A process for disassembling the retaining system for joints according to claim 1, comprising the following stages: inserting the tool (8) in a gap that was formed when each tab (4) was bent during the jointing process such that the bent portion (9) of the tool (8) rests on the tab (4) and the fulcrums rest under the edges of the first element containing the tab (4), pressing down on the tool (8) as a lever such that the bent part (9) slides over the tab (4), acting as a lever and pushing it inward until it comes out of the slot (5), releasing the mechanism, at which moment the tool (8) will reach the end of its run and remain in a stable position, proceeding in the same manner in the other tabs (4), if any, utilizing another tool (8) that is identical to the tool, and once the elements that form the joint are not in a locked position anymore, disassembling the joint by manually separating them.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To supplement the description made herein and in order to help to better understand the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of an embodiment thereof, a set of drawings has been attached as an integral part of said description, where the following has been depicted for illustrative, non-limiting purposes:

(2) FIG. 1 is a main perspective view of two sections to be joined by utilising the ‘Retaining system for joints’ before the joint is made.

(3) FIG. 2 is a detail A of the main perspective view of two sections to be joined by utilising the ‘Retaining system for joints’ before the joint is made.

(4) FIG. 3 is a main perspective view of two sections to be joined by utilising the ‘Retaining system for joints’ in their final locked position.

(5) FIG. 4 is a detail B of the main perspective view of two sections to be joined by utilising the ‘Retaining system for joints’ in their final locked position.

(6) FIG. 5 is a main elevational and cross-sectional view of two sections to be joined by utilising the ‘Retaining system for joints’ when they near each other to carry out the jointing.

(7) FIG. 6 is a detail of the relative positions of the tab and the slot of the foregoing figure.

(8) FIG. 7 is a main elevational and cross-sectional view of two sections to be joined utilising the ‘Retaining system for joints’, where section (B) housing the slots is bending the tabs as it enters the embedment gap and is not in the locked position yet.

(9) FIG. 8 is a detail of the relative positions of the tab and the slot of the foregoing figure.

(10) FIG. 9 is a main elevational and cross-sectional view of two sections to be joined by utilising the ‘Retaining system for joints’, where both sections have fit together and two tabs have entered their corresponding slots.

(11) FIG. 10 is a detail of the relative positions of the tab and the slot of the foregoing figure.

(12) FIG. 11 is a detail of the detail of the foregoing figure so as to be able to see the two points of contact between the tab and the slot.

(13) FIG. 12 is a main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ with two tools according to a final unblocked position in an anterior tab and to an initial position in a posterior tab.

(14) FIG. 13 is a detail C of the main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ so as to be able to see how the tool rests over the tab and under the edges of the section.

(15) FIG. 14 is a main perspective view of a tool.

(16) FIG. 15 is a main cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ with two tools.

(17) FIG. 16 is a detailed, main cross-sectional view of FIG. 12, where the initial position of the tool on the left side can be seen.

(18) FIG. 17 is a detailed, main cross-sectional view of FIG. 12, where the final unlocked position of the tool on the right side can be seen.

(19) FIG. 18 is a main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ applied to a corner joint, before making the assembly, where the two pieces to be joined are identical and both have trapezoidal tabs and slots.

(20) FIG. 19 is a main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ applied to a corner joint and once the assembly has been made.

(21) FIG. 20 is a main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ applied to a cross-shaped joint, before making the assembly, between a tube with a circular cross-section and with slots and an open U-section with an embedment gap and tabs.

(22) FIG. 21 is a main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ applied to a cross-shaped joint between a tube with a circular cross-section and with slots and an open U-section with an embedment gap and tabs, once assembled.

(23) FIG. 22 is a main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ applied to a 30-degree angle joint.

(24) FIG. 23 is a main perspective view of the ‘Retaining system for joints’ applied to a 45-degree angle joint.

(25) The following constituent elements can be highlighted in the aforementioned figures: 1. Top section 2. Bottom section 3. Embedment gap 4. Two tabs 5. Two slots 6. Top slot edge 7. Bottom slot edge 8. Tool 9. Bent portion of the tool 10. Ends of the tool

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT EXAMPLE

(26) By way of a preferred embodiment of the ‘Retaining system for joints’, it can be seen in the light of FIGS. 1 to 17 how the jointing of two square tubular sections 1, 2 made of carbon steel is tackled utilising the present invention.

(27) Thus, for example, it is possible, using laser technology, to make the cuts on both sections, making two slots 5 on top section 1, whereas a corresponding embedment gap 3 and the four cuts that would give rise to two tabs would have to be made on bottom section 2, the latter being made on the top surface of said bottom section 2 and adjacent to the embedment gap.

(28) From the described sections, to carry out the jointing thereof it would be enough to manually and perpendicularly insert top section 1 inside bottom section 2 through its embedment gap 3, the two tabs 4 being forced to bend as both sections near each other and until both fit together at the end of their run, at which moment tabs 4 enter their corresponding slots 5, coming in contact with two bottom and top edges of tabs 6, 7 and preventing both sections 1, 2 from sliding backwards.

(29) As far as tool 8 is concerned, it can be made from a simple, bent sheet of metal disposed to act as a lever, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, such that by pressing down on tabs 4, it will cause them to come out of their slots and release the locking, minimising the force to be exerted and limiting the run of tabs 4 in order to prevent an excessive deformation that could end up damaging them.

(30) Turning now to the disassembly process, it is carried out by inserting tool 8 by its ends 10 opposite the handle in the cavities for going inside section 2 that tabs 4 formed upon bending, such that the bent portion of tool 9 rests on tab 4. Thereupon, tab 4 will come out its slot 5 by pressing down on tool 8 by way of a lever, disabling the corresponding locking 6, 7, this moment coinciding with the end of the run of tool 8, which is in a stable position, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17.

(31) Thus, in FIG. 16 tool 8 has already been inserted, although tab 4 is still in its closed position inside slot 5. On the other hand, in FIG. 17 tool 8 is in its final position without it being necessary to exert pressure down on it, forcing tab 4 to remain in its open position, without resting on slot 5 and thus without preventing the manual separation of both sections 1, 2. In other words, the operating mode of both disassembly tools 8 is self-locking, such that they will remain stable when they reach their final position, making disassembly more comfortable by not having to press down on the two tools 8 at the same time to be able to bring the sections apart.

(32) Once the joint has been disassembled, the two tools 8 will be removed and tabs 4 will return to their closed position, the two sections 1, 2 being available for making the joint again as many times as desired.

(33) By way of a preferred embodiment, FIGS. 18-23 show alternative configurations based on the same invention.

(34) It has not been deemed necessary to make this description any longer in order for a person skilled in the art to be able to understand the scope of the invention and the advantages that are derived therefrom. The materials that are used to manufacture every section; its dimensions; the use of square, rectangular, circular cross-section tubular sections, or even open sections, or any combination thereof, including any other type of element to be joined; the relative position of said elements; the different possible tab-slot configurations; the degree of penetration of one in the other; the types of joints; and the cutting technology will be susceptible of changing provided this does not mean altering the essentialness of the invention.

(35) The terms in which the specification has been described have to be understood in a wide, non-limiting sense.