Clamping Lock

Abstract

A modular furniture quick assembly system implementing toggle latches and pins to couple two adjacent structural tubes together. The toggle latch has a catch arm that engages with the pin. The pin is inserted at least partially through one or both of the adjacent structural tubes.

Claims

1. A modular furniture piece comprising: a plurality of panels each having an internal frame and is at least partially covered by an outer covering; the internal frame provides structural integrity to each of said plurality of panels; wherein the internal frame is comprised of a structural beam; a plurality of couplers fastened on said internal frame to detachably couple a first structural beam to second structural beam; and wherein the first structural beam has two walls; wherein the second structural beam has two walls; wherein each of said plurality of couplers includes a toggle latch and a pin; wherein said toggle latch has a catch arm and a main housing, wherein the catch arm is pivotable from the main housing; wherein the pin is disposed through at least one wall of the first structural beam; wherein the pin is a rod or a bolt.

2. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 1, wherein the catch arm is an arc-spring.

3. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 2, wherein the pin has a pin head having a pin head opening, and wherein a distal end of the catch arm is received within the pin head opening.

4. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 3, further comprising a base plate pivotally coupled to the main housing.

5. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 3, wherein the base plate is fixedly coupled to the first structural beam by a fastener or by welding.

6. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 3, wherein the base plate is not fixedly coupled to the first structural beam, and wherein the base plate has a base insert adapted to be received within a receiving hole of the first structural beam. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 6 wherein the pin is disposed through the two walls of the first structural beam and through at least one wall of the second structural beam.

8. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 3, wherein the pin is disposed through the two walls of the first structural beam and through the two walls of the second structural beam.

9. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 3 further comprising a base plate coupled to the main housing, and the base plate has a base aperture capable of receiving therethrough a distal end of the pin.

10. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 3 further comprising a base plate pivotably coupled to the main housing, and a receiving ring disposed at a distal end of the catch arm, wherein the base plate is fixedly connected to the pin, and wherein the pin is sufficiently long such that a distal end of the pin is capable of being received within the receiving ring of the catch arm.

11. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 6, wherein the modular furniture piece is at least one selected from a group consisting of an armchair, a lounge chair, a sofa, a side table, and a coffee table.

12. The modular furniture piece as recited in claim 11, wherein the outer covering includes a synthetic rattan.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0040] It should be noted that the drawing figures may be in simplified form and might not be to precise scale. In reference to the disclosure herein, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, front, distal, and proximal are used with respect to the accompanying drawings. Such directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the embodiment in any manner.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a toggle latch in combination with a pin according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 in operation, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of a toggle latch in combination with a pin according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a locked position;

[0046] FIG. 6 is a side view of yet another embodiment of a toggle latch in combination with a pin according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 coupling two hollow structural tubes together, according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a prior art design of a toggle latch;

[0051] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of prior art toggle latches;

[0052] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of a toggle latch in combination with a pin (not shown) according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0053] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of a toggle latch of FIG. 13 in combination with a pin (in broken lines) according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0054] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a fixing plate in combination with a bolt, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0055] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a pin having a fixing arm, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a pin having a fixing arm of FIG. 16 with the fixing arm in an attached position, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0057] FIG. 18 shows examples of prior art cam clamps;

[0058] FIG. 19 is a side view of a cam lock, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0059] FIG. 20 is a side view of the cam lock of FIG. 19, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0060] FIG. 21 is a side view of the cam lock of FIG. 19, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0061] FIG. 22 is a side view of the cam lock of FIG. 19, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0062] FIG. 23 is a side view of the cam lock of FIG. 19 in a fully locked position, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0063] FIG. 24 is a side view of the cam lock of FIG. 19 in a fully locked position with the hex key removed, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 25 illustrates exemplar furniture pieces, according to an aspect of the disclosure;

[0065] The following call-out list of elements in the drawing can be a useful guide when referencing the elements of the drawing figures: [0066] 10 Square metal tube [0067] 15 Receiving hole [0068] 20 Square metal tube [0069] 100 Toggle latch [0070] 110 Main housing [0071] 112 Thumb tab [0072] 117 Base aperture [0073] 118 Base Plate [0074] 119 Base Insert [0075] 120 Catch arm/Arc-spring [0076] 125 Hook [0077] 130 Coupling means [0078] 138 Pin head [0079] 139 Pin [0080] 140 Pin head opening [0081] 218 Base Plate [0082] 220 Catch arm/Arc-spring [0083] 226 Receiving Ring [0084] 239 Pin [0085] 310 Bolt [0086] 320 Fixing Plate [0087] 322 Threaded hole [0088] 339 Pin [0089] 350 Fixing Arm [0090] 351 Catcher [0091] 400 Cam Clamp [0092] 410 Cam lobe [0093] 412 Key hole [0094] 414 Center of rotation [0095] 416 First Flat Cam Surface [0096] 418 Second Flat Cam Surface [0097] 430 Screw shaft [0098] 440 Nut [0099] 450 Hex Key [0100] 450 Retaining Plate

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0101] The different aspects of the various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description of the embodiments, which are presented as illustrated examples of the embodiments as defined in the claims. It is expressly understood that the embodiments as defined by the claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below.

[0102] As used herein, the term “structural tube” refers to a structural frame for a furniture piece. Although the name “tube” is used throughout much of the specification as an example of internal frame in a furniture panel, the structural frame can be hollow or solid. It can be generally described as a beam, which can be hollow or solid. This beam can be a hollow metal tube having a squarish cross-sectional shape, or a round cross-sectional shape. It can also be in other cross-sectional shapes. Its material can be metal, non-metal, wood, bamboo, and all conceivable natural or synthetic materials. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended.

[0103] Toggle latches are known to fasten two items together. Referring now to FIG. 1, an improved version of a toggle latch 100 is provided. here, a main part of the toggle latch includes a main housing 110 and a catch arm 120 pivotably attached to the main housing 110.

[0104] The catch arm 120 is contemplated to have various different configurations. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an arc-spring 120 that provide resiliency to act as a spring. By using an arc-spring 120 configuration, the catch arm 120 can tightly couple structural tube 10 and structural tube 20 together.

[0105] Here, structural tube 10 can have receiving hole 15. The pin 139 has a length that spans across the two walls of structural tube 20 and one wall of structural tube 10. The pin 139 can have a pin head 138 which can have a pin head opening 140. The pin head opening 140 can be a deep hole, a through hole, or an indentation.

[0106] In one embodiment, the distal end of the catch arm 120 can be received into the pin head opening 140 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). This distal end of the catch arm 120 can be a hook 125.

[0107] In another embodiment, the distal end of the catch arm 120 does not receive into the pin head opening 140 (not shown). Instead, it can wrap around the pin head 138 and catch the pin head 138.

[0108] Referring back to FIG. 1, the main housing 110 can have a base plate 118 pivotably attached thereto. The base plate 118, despite its name being a “plate,” is not limited to having a generally flat configuration like a disc. The base plate 118 can be in any conceivable shape and thickness. Here, the contemplated base plate 118 of FIG. 1 has a base insert 119 that hooks into and through the receiving hole 15 of the structural tube 10 (see FIG. 2). This base insert 119 can anchor the toggle latch 100 in its manufacturer-intended location.

[0109] The pin 139 can prevent lateral and relative movement of the two adjacent structural tubes 10, 20. When the toggle latch 100 is locked, the pin 139, by having inserted (at least partially) through both structural tubes 10, 20, keeps them from sliding out of place.

[0110] The toggle latch 100 of FIG. 1 is not fixedly coupled to the structural tube 10. Instead, the toggle latch 100 contemplated here can be free detached from both structural tubes 10, 20. is first fastened the hollow square structural tube 10. This main part of the toggle latch can be fastened onto structural tube 10 by various known methods such by welding, by fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts), or it can be temporarily latched onto structural tube 10 using any type of structure that can fit onto the structural tube 10. For example, there can be a corresponding hole somewhere on the structural tube 10 (not shown) and there can be some kind of protrusion on the main part of the toggle latch to fit into the hole so that the main part of the toggle latch can at least temporarily catch onto the structural tube 10. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, this main part of the toggle latch is welded onto the structural tube 10.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 3, this contemplated toggle latch 100 is fixedly attached to structural tube 10 by the manufacturer. This can be done by fasteners 130 and/or welding 130. Here, the pin is contemplated to be much longer than that shown in FIG. 1. This longer pin can also be used by the toggle latch 100 of FIG. 1, and vise versa.

[0112] In should be noted that the pin in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 are freely detachable from the structural tubes 10, 20. During assembly, an end user would insert the pin into and through the structural tubes at locations marked by the manufacturer.

[0113] For this purpose, the manufacturer would have also provided holes on structural tubes 10, 20 for the pin to insert therethrough. These through holes are contemplated to align.

[0114] Referring now to FIG. 6, there can be a base plate 130 having a shape to wrap around the structural tube 10. This base plate 130 is sufficiently long and can have a base aperture 117, which is an opening, to receive the distal end of the pin 139. Here, this pin 139 is also freely detachable from both tubes 10, 20.

[0115] In FIG. 7, the pin is shown prior to being received at the base plate 130 of FIG. 6. In FIG. 8, the pin is received at the base plate 130.

[0116] In operation, the end user can first insert the pin 139 through the holes on the structural tubes 10, 20, then place the toggle latch 100 in position, aligning the base aperture to the distal tip of the pin 139 first (see FIG. 9).

[0117] As mentioned above, the catch arm 120 are shown herein as an arc-spring. One skilled in the art would immediately recognize that other configurations beside an arc-spring can be used. FIGS. 10 and 11 show other known configuration in typical toggle latches. All of these configurations may be implemented.

[0118] FIG. 12 illustration one embodiment where the pin 239 is an integral part of the base plate 218. During assembly, the end user would first insert the pin 218 through the structural tubes 10, 20 at appropriate places, then the catch arm would come across and catch the distal end of the pin 239.

[0119] In FIG. 13, the catch arm catches the distal end of the pin 239 by insert through a top hole of the structural tube 10, and meet the distal end of the pin 239 in the interior of the structural tube 10 (see broken line illustration in FIG. 14).

[0120] There can be other ways to secure two adjacent structural tubes 10, 20. In FIG. 13, a bolt 310 is inserted through both tubes 10, 20 and matingly screws into the threaded hole 322 of a fixing plate 320. The fixing plate 320 is freely separable from the structural tube 10 and acts as a nut.

[0121] Another way to secure two adjacent structural tube 10, 20 includes using pin 339 (which can be used alone or in combination with any of the toggle latches 100 discussed herein) that has a fixing arm 30 attached thereto.

[0122] Referring now to FIG. 18 which shows typically known cam lever clamps widely used in bicycles and exercise equipment to provide quick tightening of certain parts.

[0123] Here, an improved version of a cam clamp is provided. In FIG. 19, a lever-less cam clamp 400 is contemplated to have a cam lobe 410 pivotably attached to a screw shaft 430 which can be inserted through both tubes 10, 20. The distal end of the screw shaft 430 can detachably attach to a nut 440 at its distal end.

[0124] This lever-less cam clamp 100 can quickly fasten and tighten structural tube 10 to structural tube 20.

[0125] The cam lobe 410 can have a key hole 412 located on the side of the cam lobe 410 to detachably receive a key 50 (see FIG. 3), such as a hex key. The receiving hole 412 can have a shape that corresponds with the key 450. Many different shapes are contemplated. In the embodiment shown, a hexagonal shape is provided to receive a hex key 450.

[0126] The cam lobe 410 can also have a first flat cam surface 416 and a second flat cam surface 418 perpendicular to the side where the key hole 412 is located. The cam lobe 410 is an eccentric cam and it pivots around center of rotation 414. As shown, the center of rotation 414 is positioned off center in the cam lobe 410. This off center location of the center of rotation 414 can produce one or more rises through its clamping cycle.

[0127] By using the contemplated lever-less cam clamp, the end consumer can easily and quickly assemble the furniture piece together especially when the inner side of the furniture piece has very little room to work in.

[0128] Another contemplated advantage of the lever-less cam clamp 100 is to minimize production cost by eliminating the lever, which is often made of aluminum or other metals. Also, in the embodiment where a hex key 50 is used, the end consumer can easily find replacement keys by using a typical hex key, when the original one provided by the furniture manufacturer is lost.

[0129] In operation, the end consumer first insert the screw shaft 430 through designed through holes (not shown) on structural tube 10 and structural tube 20. These designated through holes are provided by the furniture manufacturer. An optional retainer plate 450 can be placed between structural tube 10 and the cam lobe 410. In some embodiments, this retainer plate 450 is not present at all. The optional retainer plate 450 is a plate typically found in prior art cam clamps as shown in FIG. 18. Alternatively, the retainer plate 450 can be a washer. The end consumer then caps the distal end of the screw shaft 430 that has now extended through structural tube 20 with a nut 440. The nut 440 can next be slightly tightened onto the distal end of the screw shaft 430. At this point, the contemplated cam clamp 100 is shown in FIG. 19.

[0130] Next, as shown in FIG. 20, a separately provided key 460 can be used to insert into receiving hole 112. As discussed above, many shapes are contemplated for the key 460. Here in FIG. 20, the key 460 shown is one embodiment where a flat end is provided and not a hexagonal shape. The flat end can be sufficiently sized to abuttingly fit within a hexagonal receiving hole 112 as shown in FIG. 20.

[0131] The end consumer can next move the key 460 in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 21. This movement causes the cam lobe 410 to pivot around center of rotation 414. At this stage, the first flat cam surface 416 is laid flat against structural tube 10 thereby locking the cam lobe 410 in this position during the clamping cycle. Structural tube 10 is now closer to structural tube 20, as compared to FIG. 20.

[0132] As will be shown in the following figures, the contemplated cam lobe 410 can provide multi-stage locking positions during the clamping cycle, thereby allowing the cam lobe 410 to lock into various positions during the clamping cycle. This is important in that the end consumer may freely select a preferred locking position because the last locking position may not necessarily be the best locking position during assembling. Which locking position is most suitable can also depend on how tightly the nut 440 is screwed on to the screw shaft 430. Therefore, a typical prior art cam clamp (those shown in FIG. 18) which only has one true positive lock is generally not suitable.

[0133] Additionally, the multi-locking position advantageously allows the end consumer to repeatedly remove and reinsert the key 460 into the receiving hole 412 as the cam lobe 410 moves from one locking position to the next locking position.

[0134] In FIG. 23, the end consumer has turned the key 460 once again thereby moving the cam lobe 110 into another locking position where the second flat cam surface 418 is now laid flat against the structural tube 10. Structural tube 10 is now even closer to structural tube 20, as compared to what's shown in FIG. 21.

[0135] While the embodiments discussed and shown herein provides only two flat cam surfaces 416, 418, it is particularly contemplated that there may be just one, or more than two flat cam surfaces. Also, in other embodiments, these flat cam surface 416, 418 does not necessarily have to be “flat.” They may have other shapes, textures and contours.

[0136] There may be provided an optional curved transition between the flat cam surfaces 416, 418 so as to smooth out the transition for the end consumer. In other embodiments, such curved transition does not exist.

[0137] The end consumer may remove the key 460 at the conclusion of the clamping cycle (see FIG. 24).

[0138] Thus, specific embodiments and applications of toggle latches and pins have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the disclosed concepts herein. The disclosed embodiments, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalent within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the embodiments. In addition, where the specification and claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring at least one element from the group which includes N, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.

[0139] The words used in this specification to describe the various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

[0140] The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims therefore include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.