Joint member

Abstract

To provide a joint member which is used to join a side plate and a cross rail forming a cabinet without using an adhesive and attains rigidity of the cabinet without increasing a thickness of the cross rail.SOLUTION: A joint member 1 in an embodiment is used to join a side plate 11 and a cross rail 14 forming a cabinet 100 and includes: a first protruding part 2 to be fitted in a first recessed part 112 formed on an inner surface 111 of the side plate 11; a second protruding part 3 to be fitted in a second recessed part 142 formed on an inner surface 141 of the cross rail 14; a body part 4 connecting the first protruding part 2 with the second protruding part 3; and a receiving part 5 which protrudes from the body part 4 and supports a lower end surface of the cross rail 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a joining member for joining side plates and horizontal rails constituting a cabinet.

Background Art

[0002] A cabinet is configured by joining plate materials so that a storage space is provided inside. For example, an open-type lower cabinet without a top plate or a cabinet with a drawer has a horizontal rail connecting a pair of side plates above the front side. A cabinet having a horizontal rail is usually joined using an adhesive and dowels between the main surface of the side plate and the end face of the horizontal rail in order to obtain rigidity. In this case, a plurality of dowels protruding from the end face of the horizontal rail are fitted into holes provided in the main surface of the side plate and fixed with an adhesive, so that the side plate and the horizontal rail are joined integrally. In addition, since they are joined by both the main surface of the side plate and the end face of the horizontal rail, the generation of a gap between the two surfaces is suppressed, and the rigidity of the cabinet is maintained.

[0003] However, in the conventional joining method using an adhesive and dowels, there is a possibility that the adhesive strength varies depending on the amount of the adhesive applied. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain an appropriate adhesive strength when assembling on site (in the case of knockdown). In addition, when using an adhesive, it is necessary to maintain an appropriate joining state and provide a curing time.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for joining a side plate and an auxiliary curtain plate (horizontal rail) without using an adhesive. The joining member of Patent Document 1 includes a first leg portion and a second leg portion protruding in two directions substantially perpendicular to the joining member main body portion, a first engaging convex portion provided at the tip of the first leg portion and capable of fitting into a first engaging concave portion, a constricted portion provided at the tip of the second leg portion and widened in the thickness direction via the constricted portion and capable of fitting into a second engaging concave portion, two first reinforcing engaging convex portions respectively capable of fitting into two first reinforcing engaging concave portions, and two second reinforcing engaging convex portions respectively capable of fitting into two second reinforcing engaging concave portions (see paragraph

[0065] of Patent Document 1, FIG. 13, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The joint member of Patent Document 1 can join the side plate and the auxiliary curtain plate (horizontal rail) without using an adhesive. However, when joining by fitting with resin parts or the like without using an adhesive, there is room for improvement in terms of strength. Specifically, although the main surface of the side plate and the end face of the horizontal rail are in surface contact facing each other, the main surface and the end face are not joined by an adhesive. For this reason, when a load such as torsion or an upward load acts on the cabinet downward, a gap is likely to occur between the two surfaces, and it is difficult to maintain the rigidity of the cabinet. As a result, the strength is insufficient, which may hinder assembly at the factory, assembly at the installation site (knock-down), movement at the installation site, and installation.

[0007]

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a joint member for joining a side plate and a horizontal rail constituting a cabinet without using an adhesive, and to obtain the rigidity of the cabinet without increasing the thickness of the horizontal rail.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The joining member according to the present invention is a joining member for joining a side plate and a horizontal rail that constitute a cabinet, and includes a first convex portion for fitting into a first concave portion formed on the inner surface of the side plate, a second convex portion for fitting into a second concave portion formed on the inner surface of the horizontal rail, a main body portion connecting the first convex portion and the second convex portion, and a receiving portion that protrudes from the main body portion and supports the lower end surface of the horizontal rail.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided a joining member for joining a side plate and a horizontal rail that constitute a cabinet without using an adhesive, and that can obtain the rigidity of the cabinet without increasing the thickness of the horizontal rail.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out a joining member to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] <First Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet 100 is a box-shaped storage furniture that is formed by joining plate materials and the like and has a storage space inside. The cabinet 100 is, for example, a storage furniture that can also be provided with a slidable drawer (not shown) in the storage space. The cabinet 100 may be provided with a door that can be opened and closed via a hinge on the front surface of the storage space. The cabinet 100 may be, for example, a hanging cabinet. The cabinet 100 may be, for example, a cabinet provided below a counter such as a kitchen or a washbasin dressing table.

[0014] The cabinet 100 has each of a pair of side plates 11, a bottom plate 13, a horizontal rail 14, a back plate 15, and a top plate (not shown) joined thereto. Note that in the case where the cabinet 100 is a cabinet (such as a sink cabinet) provided with a space for accommodating a wagon under the counter or a space where work can be done while sitting, some of the plate materials such as the bottom plate may be omitted.

[0015] The plate materials constituting the cabinet 100 such as the side plates 11, the bottom plate 13, the horizontal rails 14, the back plate 15, and the top plate (not shown) may be wooden plate materials such as, for example, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), solid wood, plywood, laminated wood, and particle board. The plate materials constituting the cabinet 100 may be configured to include metal plate materials such as, for example, steel plates and stainless steel. The plate materials constituting the cabinet 100 may be resin plate materials such as, for example, acrylic-based, urethane-based, and FRP. The plate materials constituting the cabinet 100 may be foamed resin plate materials such as, for example, expanded polystyrene.

[0016] A pair of side plates 11 are provided apart in the left-right direction. The bottom plate 13 is joined to the bottom of the side plates 11. The horizontal rails 14 are provided above the front side of the side plates 11 and are joined to the pair of side plates 11 via the joining member 1. The back plate 15 is joined to the back side of the side plates 11 and the back side of the bottom plate 13.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the joining structure 10 of the plate materials, for example, the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11 constituting the cabinet 100 and the inner surface 141 of the horizontal rail 14 are joined via the joining member 1.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the side plate 11 has a first recess 112 formed in the inner surface 111. The first recess 112 has a first opening 113 that notches the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11 and extends in the vertical direction, a first groove portion 114 that is wider than the first opening 113 on the inner side in the plate thickness direction of the side plate 11 than the first opening 113, and first hole portions 115 that are wider than the first opening 113 at both ends in the vertical direction of the first opening 113. The width of the first groove portion 114 and the width of the first hole portions 115 are substantially the same.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), on the inner surface 141 of the horizontal crossbar 14, a second recess 142 is formed. The second recess 142 has a second opening 143 that notches the inner surface 141 of the horizontal crossbar 14 and extends in the vertical direction, and a second groove 144 that is wider than the second opening 143 and is located on the inner side in the thickness direction of the horizontal crossbar 14 relative to the second opening 143. The second opening 143 and the second groove 144 extend to the upper end surface of the horizontal crossbar 14. The second recess 142 further has two second holes 145 that are formed in a circular shape and are spaced apart from the second opening 143 on the inner surface 141. The two second holes 145 are arranged at intervals in the height direction.

[0020] The U-shaped member 6 is received in the second groove 144. The U-shaped member 6 is formed in a U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped member 6 has return claws 61 that are bent inward at both ends. The U-shaped member 6 is made of a resin such as an acrylic-based, urethane-based, or FRP resin. The U-shaped member 6 is inserted into the second groove 144 from the upper end surface of the horizontal crossbar 14. The U-shaped member 6 is arranged with the open side of the U facing the inner surface 141 side of the horizontal crossbar 14. The U-shaped member 6 has a first mark with a predetermined color such as red.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8(a), and 8(b), the joining member 1 in the first embodiment includes a first convex portion 2, a second convex portion 3, a main body portion 4, and a receiving portion 5.

[0022] The first convex portion 2 is for fitting into a first recess 112 formed on the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11. The first convex portion 2 has a first base portion 23 that is inserted into the first opening 113, a claw portion 24 that is fitted into the first groove 114, and a first widened portion 25 that is inserted into the first hole 115.

[0023] The first base portion 23 protrudes from the main body portion 4 and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the vertical direction. The claw portion 24 is formed along the first base portion 23 and protrudes in the protruding direction of the first base portion 23 in an L shape in plan view. The first widened portion 25 protrudes from the main body portion 4 and is formed to be wider than the first base portion 23 at both ends in the extending direction of the first base portion 23. The tip of the first widened portion 25 is formed in a shape obtained by partially cutting out a semicircle.

[0024] The second convex portion 3 is for fitting into a second concave portion 142 formed on the inner surface 141 of the horizontal bar 14. The second convex portion 3 has a second base portion 33 inserted into the second opening 143, a male portion 34 fitted into the second groove portion 144, and a second protruding portion 35 inserted into the second hole portion 145.

[0025] The second base portion 33 protrudes from the main body portion 4 and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in the vertical direction. The male portion 34 is formed along the second base portion 33. The male portion 34 is formed at the tip in the protruding direction of the second base portion 33 and has a constricted portion 34a that is constricted more than the second base portion 33. The tip of the male portion 34 is widened more than the constricted portion 34a and is formed in an arc shape in plan view.

[0026] The second protruding portion 35 is disposed apart from the second base portion 33 and protrudes from the main body portion 4. The second protruding portion 35 is formed in a columnar shape. The second protruding portion 35 inserted into the second hole portion 145 can guide the position of the joining member 1 with respect to the horizontal bar 14. Therefore, the accuracy of the mounting position of the horizontal bar 14 is improved. Further, by inserting the second protruding portion 35 into the second hole portion 145, the twisting of the cabinet 100 can be prevented.

[0027] At least one of the second base portion 33 and the male portion 34 has a second mark corresponding to a first mark for identifying the U-shaped member 6. The second mark is applied with the same color as the first mark, such as red. By making the first mark and the second mark correspond to each other, the operation of fitting the male portion 34 into the second groove portion 144 in which the U-shaped member 6 is accommodated becomes easier.

[0028] The main body portion 4 connects the first convex portion 2 and the second convex portion 3. The main body portion 4 includes a first plate portion 41 on which the first convex portion 2 is formed, a second plate portion 42 on which the second convex portion 3 is formed and which stands up from the first plate portion 41, and a reinforcing plate portion 43 which stands up from the first plate portion 41 and the second plate portion 42 and connects the first plate portion 41 and the second plate portion 42.

[0029] The first plate portion 41 and the second plate portion 42 are formed in an L shape in plan view. The first plate portion 41 has a first main surface on which the first convex portion 2 is formed and a second main surface on which the reinforcing plate portion 43 is formed. The second plate portion 42 has a first main surface on which the second convex portion 3 is formed and a second main surface on which the reinforcing plate portion 43 is formed. That is, the reinforcing plate portion 43 connects the second main surface of the first plate portion 41 and the second main surface of the second plate portion 42.

[0030] The first plate portion 41 has a parallel plate portion 41a parallel to the side plate 11 and an inclined plate portion 41b inclined with respect to the parallel plate portion 41a and connected to the second plate portion 42. The parallel plate portion 41a is arranged perpendicular to the second plate portion 42.

[0031] The receiving portion 5 projects from the lower end of the second plate portion 42 of the main body portion 4. The receiving portion 5 is for supporting the lower end surface of the cross bar 14. The receiving portion 5 is formed in a plate shape. The receiving portion 5 is arranged below the second convex portion 3. The receiving portion 5 has an inclined end surface 5a flush with the inclined plate portion 41b.

[0032] <Assembly method of the cabinet 100> Next, an example of the assembly method of the cabinet 100 will be described. The assembly method of the cabinet 100 joins the plate materials constituting the cabinet 100, such as the side plates 11, the bottom plate 13, the cross bars 14, the back plate 15, and the top plate, to each other. The assembly method of the cabinet includes a method of joining the side plates 11 and the cross bars 14.

[0033] The joining method of the side plate 11 and the cross bar 14 is to join the side plate 11 and the cross bar 14 by the joining member 1. The joining method of the side plate 11 and the cross bar 14 includes a first fitting step of fitting the first convex portion 2 of the joining member 1 into the first concave portion 112 of the side plate 11, and a second fitting step of fitting the second convex portion 3 of the joining member 1 into the second concave portion 142 of the cross bar 14.

[0034] <First fitting step> As shown in FIG. 9(a), in the first fitting step, the claw portion 24 of the first convex portion 2 is inserted into the first concave portion 112. At this time, the inclined plate portion 41b of the first plate portion 41 and the inclined end face 5a of the receiving portion 5 are in contact with the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11. The parallel plate portion 41a of the first plate portion 41 is spaced apart from the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 9(b), in the first fitting step, the joining member 1 is swung about the direction along the height direction as the central axis so that the parallel plate portion 41a contacts the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11. Thereby, the claw portion 24 protruding in an L shape in plan view is fitted into the first groove portion 114 of the first concave portion 112. Further, the first base portion 23 is inserted into the first opening portion 113. The first widened portion 25 is inserted into the first hole portion 115.

[0036] <Second fitting step> In the second fitting step, the U-shaped member 6 is inserted into the second groove portion 144 from the upper end surface of the cross bar 14.

[0037] Then, as shown in FIG. 6, in the second fitting step, the second base portion 33 is inserted into the second opening portion 143, and the male portion 34 is inserted into the second groove portion 144. Thereby, the return claw 61 of the U-shaped member 6 is fitted into the constricted portion 34a of the male portion 34 formed at the tip of the male portion 34 in the protruding direction of the second base portion 33 and constricted more than the second base portion 33. For this reason, the male portion 34 can be fitted into the second groove portion 144. Further, in the second fitting step, the second protruding portion 35 is inserted into the second hole portion 145.

[0038] In this way, since the cross bar 14 can be fitted to the joining member 1 fitted to the side plate 11 from the front side of the cabinet 100, the joining of the cross bar 14 to the side plate 11 becomes easy. Further, the second plate portion 42 is in contact with the inner surface 141 of the cross bar 14.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 7, when the male portion 34 is fitted into the second groove portion 144, the receiving portion 5 supports the lower end surface of the horizontal bar 14.

[0040] Thus, an example of the joining method of the side plate 11 and the horizontal bar 14 is completed.

[0041] According to the present embodiment, there are provided a first convex portion 2 for fitting into a first concave portion 112 formed on the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11, a second convex portion 3 for fitting into a second concave portion 142 formed on the inner surface 141 of the horizontal bar 14, and a main body portion 4 connecting the first convex portion 2 and the second convex portion 3. Thereby, the side plate 11 and the horizontal bar 14 can be joined without using an adhesive.

[0042] According to the present embodiment, there is provided a receiving portion 5 that protrudes from the main body portion 4 and supports the lower end surface of the horizontal bar 14. Thereby, even when an external force such as torsion or a downward load acts on the cabinet 100, it can be borne by the receiving portion 5. For this reason, the rigidity of the cabinet 100 can be obtained without increasing the thickness of the horizontal bar 14.

[0043] According to the present embodiment, the main body portion 4 has a first plate portion 41 on which the first convex portion 2 is formed, a second plate portion 42 on which the second convex portion 3 is formed and which stands up from the first plate portion 41, and a reinforcing plate portion 43 that stands up from the first plate portion 41 and the second plate portion 42 and connects the first plate portion 41 and the second plate portion 42. Thereby, even when an external force acts on the first plate portion 41 and the second plate portion 42, it can be borne by the reinforcing plate portion 43. For this reason, deformation of the first plate portion 41 and the second plate portion 42 can be suppressed. As a result, the rigidity of the cabinet 100 can be further obtained.

[0044] According to this embodiment, the first plate portion 41 has a parallel plate portion 41a parallel to the side plate 11 and an inclined plate portion 41b inclined with respect to the parallel plate portion 41a and connected to the second plate portion 42, and the receiving portion 5 has an inclined end face 5a flush with the inclined plate portion 41b. Thereby, when the first convex portion 2 is inserted into the first concave portion 112, the inclined end face 5a contacts the inner surface 111 of the side plate 11. Therefore, the joining member 1 can be stabilized with respect to the side plate 11, and the fitting of the first concave portion 112 and the first convex portion 2 becomes easy.

[0045] According to this embodiment, at least one of the second base portion 33 and the male portion 34 has a second mark corresponding to the first mark for identifying the U-shaped member 6. Thereby, the operation of fitting the male portion 34 into the second groove portion 144 in which the U-shaped member 6 is accommodated becomes easier. Therefore, it can contribute to preventing mistakes and improving workability when the user assembles with the knockdown structure. In the case of factory assembly, it can also contribute to preventing mistakes in the accessories. Further, it can prevent assembly mistakes and contribute to the assembly accuracy, strength, and rigidity of the cabinet 100.

[0046] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented in various novel forms in addition to the above embodiments. Therefore, the above embodiments can be variously omitted, replaced, and changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Such novel forms and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the present invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents of the invention described in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 1: Joining member 2: First convex portion 23: First base portion 24: Claw portion 25: First widened portion 3: Second convex portion 33: Second base portion 34: Male portion 34a: Constricted portion 35: Second protrusion 4: Body part 41: First plate part 41a: Parallel plate part 41b: Inclined plate part 42: Second plate part 43: Reinforcing plate part 5: Receiving part 5a: Inclined end face 6: U-shaped member 61: Return claw 10: Joining structure 100: Cabinet 11: Side plate 111: Inner surface 112: First recess 113: First opening 114: First groove 115: First hole 13: Bottom plate 14: Cross bar 141: Inner surface 142: Second recess 143: Second opening 144: Second groove 145: Second hole 15: Back panel

Claims

Claim 1 A joining member for joining a side plate and a cross rail that constitute a cabinet, a first convex portion for fitting into a first concave portion formed on the inner surface of the side plate, a second convex portion for fitting into a second concave portion formed on the inner surface of the cross rail, a main body portion connecting the first convex portion and the second convex portion, and a receiving portion that protrudes from the main body portion and supports the lower end surface of the cross rail. A joining member characterized by the above. Claim 2 The main body portion is, a first plate portion on which the first convex portion is formed, a second plate portion on which the second convex portion is formed and that stands up from the first plate portion, and a reinforcing plate portion that stands up from the first plate portion and the second plate portion and connects the first plate portion and the second plate portion. The joining member according to claim 1, characterized by the above. Claim 3 The first plate portion is, a parallel plate portion parallel to the side plate, and an inclined plate portion that is inclined with respect to the parallel plate portion and is connected to the second plate portion. The receiving portion has an inclined end surface flush with the inclined plate portion. The joining member according to claim 2, characterized by the above. Claim 4 The second convex portion is, a second base portion that protrudes from the main body portion, and a male portion that protrudes from the tip in the protruding direction of the second base portion and has a constricted portion that is constricted more than the second base portion. The male portion is fitted into a U-shaped member having a U-shaped cross section that is housed in the second concave portion, and return claws that are bent inward at both ends of the U-shaped member are fitted into the constricted portion. At least one of the second base portion and the male portion has a second mark corresponding to a first mark for identifying the U-shaped member. The joining member according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

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