Patent · US Expired

Panel connector

US5657604A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
29References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 27, 1995
Grant dateAug 19, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 27, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T403/557
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A panel connector (10) is comprised of substantially identical locking bars (12A, 12B) held together in clothes-pin fashion by a resilient rod (14). The body (46) of the connector is received in a channel (86) of one structural member (80A). Jaws (34) formed on the top (18) of each bar (12A, 12B) may be received in a slot (92) of a second structural member (80B) and the jaws thereafter urged apart by a spreader member (70) to grippingly engage the slot (92) and lock the structural members (80A, 80B) together. Camming surfaces (42) of the jaw sections (34) facilitate use of connector (10) over a wide range of wall thicknesses at the slot (92).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.