Structural assembly and method of assembly thereof

Abstract

Assemblies comprising first and second assembly members attached to one another via a connection arrangement and methods for forming such assemblies.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a first cardboard assembly member to a second cardboard assembly member, the method comprising: providing a first cardboard assembly member having two or more pairs of first, elongated connector elements fixed thereto or integral therewith, wherein each of the first connector elements: extending along a first axis, all first axes of the connector elements being parallel to one another, having one or more recesses extending along a second axis normal to the first axis, each recess in one of a pair of first connector elements being aligned with a recess in the other of said pair, projecting from a face of said first assembly member, and being made of wood, cardboard or plastic; inserting the first connector elements into the second cardboard assembly member; and inserting a plurality of second connector elements, each being made of wood, cardboard or plastic, into the second assembly member along said second axis so as to be received within a corresponding pair of aligned recesses of a pair of the first connector elements to thereby lock the first connector element in position and prevent detachment between the first assembly member and the second assembly member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second connector elements are fitted into corresponding pre-formed first and second bores in the second assembly member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to better understand the invention as disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a bicycle comprising the assembly of the subject matter of the present application;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view of certain elements of the assembly shown in FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of detail A shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic isometric view of the base frame; and

(6) FIGS. 5 to 7 are schematic isometric view of detail A shown in FIG. 3, with some of the components gradually stripped away for a clearer presentation of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) As noted above, the connection arrangement of this disclosure may be used to form various assemblies; one, non-limiting example being a frame of a cardboard bicycle, in which case the assembly pair is constituted by two structural members of the bicycle.

(8) Attention is first drawn to FIG. 1 in which a bicycle is shown, generally designated 1, and comprising a base frame 20, a handlebar 60 and head tube 10 articulated to the base frame 20 by the assembly of the present disclosure and constitute together an assembly pair. The head tube 10 is configured for receiving therethrough a shaft of the handlebar 60 to allow it to pivot in order to steer the bicycle 1. The head tube 10 and the frame 20, as will be clear from the description below, are connected to one another by means of a connecting arrangement according to this disclosure and serving the respective roles of the first assembly member and the second assembly member.

(9) As previously described in co-owned WO 2011/067742 and (yet to publish) PCT application PCT/IL2014/104701, bicycles can be made mainly of cardboard, and the above assembly can be particularly useful for such a type of bicycles. The frame elements may of the kind disclosed in Applicant's PCT applications WO 2014/061012, WO 2014/141228, and WO 2014/178038. However, it is appreciated that this type of assembly is not limited to cardboard bicycles and can similarly be applied in other constructions.

(10) With particular reference being made to FIGS. 2 to 7, the head tube 10 comprises a hollow tube 12 which extends along a longitudinal axis X.sub.1 which is generally of vertical orientation when the bicycle is positioned on a reference surface such as the ground, the cavity 17 (better seen in FIG. 6) of the tube being configured for receiving therein the handlebar shaft.

(11) In this specific example, as can be better seen in FIG. 4, the base frame 20 constitutes the second assembly member. The front frame portion 26 comprises a first set of pre-formed first bores 27 configured for receiving therein a corresponding segment of the first connector elements 34, and a second set of pre-formed bores 28 configured for receiving therein the second connector elements 32, as will be described below.

(12) It is noted that the first bores 27 extend generally parallel to a plane defined by the base frame 20 while the second bores 28 extend perpendicular to this plane and pass through the front frame portion 26.

(13) Reverting now to FIGS. 5 to 7, in assembly, the head tube 10, constituting the first assembly member, is provided with a plurality of (in this case four) first connector elements 34, which are fitted to be partially received within the hollow tube 12 and protrude therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to the main axis X.sub.i. Each of the first connector elements 34 has a longitudinal axis Xa and comprises two spaced apart recesses 36, which extend parallel to an axis Xb, which is normal to axis Xa.

(14) The first connector elements 34 are configured for engagement with a plurality (e.g. four) of second connector elements 32 (shown FIG. 6) via recesses 36. The recesses 36 have a circular cross-section, and are configured to be complimentary to the cross-section of the second connector elements 32 which should be received therein.

(15) It is noted that while the connector elements 32, 34 described above are shown to have a circular cross-section, this is not compulsory and connector elements of other cross-sections (e.g. triangular, rectangular, oval etc.) can be contemplated. It should also be appreciated that the cross-sectional shape the connector elements can differ from one connector element to the other, although typically the cross-sectional shape of the recesses is designed to be complimentary to the cross-sectional shape of that of the second connector element with which it is engaged.

(16) For assembly, the head tube 10 (i.e. the first assembly member) together with the first connector elements 34 extending perpendicular from a face of the head tube, is brought into proximity with the base frame 20 (i.e. the second assembly member). The first connector elements 34 are inserted into the first pre-formed bores 27 until the recesses 36 are aligned with the second pre-formed bores 28 that extend along axis Xb. In this position, the second connector elements 32 can be inserted into the second bores 28 in the Xb direction, passing through the front frame portion 26.

(17) Once inserted, a portion of each of the second connector elements 32 is received within the recesses 36 of the first connecting element 34, thereby preventing extraction of the first connector elements 34 from the front frame portion 26 along the longitudinal axis Xa, and consequently, preventing detachment between the head tube 10 and the base frame 20.

(18) In order to reinforce the connection between the base frame 20 and the head tube 10, an optional auxiliary connecting member 50 is provided embracing both the head tube 10 and a part of the front frame portion 26, completely covering the second bores 28, thereby preventing the second connector elements 32 from being extracted from the front frame portion 26. The auxiliary connecting member 50 can be attached to the head tube 10 and base frame 20 by any known way, e.g. by an adhesive.

(19) It is appreciated that the principles of the above-described connecting arrangement between the head tube 10 and the base frame 20 may be applied for connecting of frame elements one to the other or in structures or assemblies other than a bicycle of the kind described herein.

(20) Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will readily appreciate that numerous changes, variations, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, mutatis mutandis.