Sheet fasteners

Abstract

To provide a sheet metal fastener that can detachably secure sheet metal to a profile without creating gaps, and that is also inexpensive to manufacture. [Solution] With the flat surface 53b of the plate material 53 in contact with the side surface 51b of the profile 51 without any gaps, the pair of engaging claws 11, 11 of the second member 5 are inserted through the through hole 53a, and the pair of guide plates 3, 3 of the first member 1 are inserted through the first insertion hole 53a. The engaging claws 11 engage with the engaging portion of the guide plate 3, thereby fixing the second member 5 to the plate material 53. Furthermore, when the engaging structure 9 of the second member 5 engages with the concave groove 51a of the profile 51, the second member 5 is fixed to the profile 51. As a result, the plate material 53 is fixed to the profile 51.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plate fixing tool for detachably fixing a plate to a long member (hereinafter referred to as a profile) formed by extrusion of an aluminum alloy or the like and having a substantially rectangular cross section. In particular, the present invention relates to a plate fixing tool capable of fixing a plate so that no gap occurs with respect to the profile.

Background Art

[0002] An article housed in a transport container may have a buffer plate installed in the transport container so that the article does not move freely due to vibration or the like during transportation. Conventionally, this plate has been fixed to the transport container using an adhesive or a double-sided tape. However, with such a method, it has been difficult to remove the used plate from the transport container, so it has been difficult to reuse the transport container. Therefore, in recent years, a technique for detachably fixing a plate to a transport container has been demanded.

[0003] Although it is not a technique for fixing a plate to a transport container, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an invention related to a technique for detachably connecting members having a plate-like portion at least partially, under the name of "plate connecting tool and plate connecting system". The plate connecting system according to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a first member provided on the inner surface of a first base plate having a circular tool insertion opening, with engaging portions provided on the opposing surfaces of a pair of guide plates erected on the inner surface and connected at their tips via a rod-like body, a second member having a pair of engaging claws erected on the inner surface of a second base plate, and a removal tool having a protruding portion made of a cylindrical body erected on the inner surface of a third base plate.

[0004] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses an invention related to a support tool for supporting an interior material of a container including a buffer material and a partition plate arranged in a transport container, under the name of "interior unit". And a support tool provided with a connecting member so as to be attached to a profiled rail corresponding to the above-mentioned profile is described. This connecting member is a projection that protrudes from the underside of the base, and its outer shape corresponds to the inner shape of the concave groove of the irregularly shaped rail. The support device is attached to the irregularly shaped rail by inserting the connecting member into the concave groove. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7007767 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7105000 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The plate material joining system disclosed in Patent Document 1 connects two plate materials together and cannot be used for the purpose of fixing plate materials to the above-mentioned profile. Furthermore, when fixing plate materials to a profile using the support device disclosed in Patent Document 2, a gap is created between the profile and the plate material, which necessitates processing the plate material into a complex shape, or requires pre-inserting the support device into the concave groove of the profile, potentially increasing manufacturing costs.

[0007] This invention addresses the aforementioned conventional circumstances and aims to provide a plate fastener that can detachably secure a plate material to the side of a profile without creating a gap, and that is also inexpensive to manufacture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the first invention provides a plate fixing device for detachably fixing a plate material having a through hole to an shaped material having a rectangular cross-section and a concave groove provided along the longitudinal direction on at least one side surface, comprising: a first member configured to be insertable into the through hole and having a first engaged portion; and a second member configured to be insertable into the through hole and having a first engaging portion that can engage with the first engaged portion, configured to sandwich and fix the plate material between the first member and the first engaging portion when the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are inserted into the through hole, by the first engaging portion engaging with the first engaged portion, wherein the second member is provided with an engagement structure that detachably engages with the concave groove of the shaped material.

[0009] The second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the first member comprises a first base plate on which a first engaging portion is erected on one side, and the second member comprises a second base plate on which a first engaging portion is erected on one side, and a first contact plate erected from the other side of the second base plate and having an engaging structure provided on the side of the first contact plate.

[0010] The third invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the first member has a second engaging portion configured to be insertable into a through hole and an engaging structure, the second member is configured to be insertable into a through hole and has a second engaged portion into which the second engaging portion can engage, and is configured such that when the first engaging portion, the first engaged portion, the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion are inserted into the through hole, the first engaging portion engages with the first engaged portion and the second engaging portion engages with the second engaged portion, thereby sandwiching and fixing a plate material between the first member and the second member.

[0011] The fourth invention is characterized in that, in the third invention, the first member and the second member are the same member in which the first engaging portion has the same structure as the second engaging portion and the first engaged portion has the same structure as the second engaged portion.

[0012] The fifth invention is characterized in that, in the third or fourth invention, the first member and the second member are provided with openings, and the engaging structure comprises a pair of convex portions projecting from the peripheral edge of the opening at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the concave groove, and a pair of connecting portions provided at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the concave groove, extending in the longitudinal direction of the concave groove and connected to each convex portion respectively, and elastically deforming so that they can move closer to and further apart from each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the first invention, a plate material having a through hole can be detachably fixed to the side surface of a profile without creating any gaps. Furthermore, the first invention can reduce manufacturing costs.

[0014] The second invention has the effect of realizing the first invention with a simple structure. In particular, the plate material can be detachably fixed in a state where the end face of the plate material having through holes in the thickness direction is in contact with the side surface of the profile material without any gaps. Furthermore, the second invention can reduce manufacturing costs.

[0015] The third invention has the effect of realizing the first invention with a simpler structure than that of the second invention. The convex portion engages with the concave groove of the profile, thereby preventing displacement in a direction perpendicular to the concave groove.

[0016] In the fourth invention, since the first and second components in the third invention have the same structure, manufacturing costs are reduced compared to the third invention.

[0017] According to the fifth invention, the engagement structure in the third or fourth invention can be realized with a simple structure, resulting in the effect of lower manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the engagement state of the engagement structure with the concave groove of the profile can be released by manipulating the connecting part through the opening using a tool or the like. This makes the third invention removable from the profile. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] (a) and (b) are respectively an external perspective view and a front view of a first member constituting a plate material fixture according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) and (b) are respectively an external perspective view and a rear view of a second member constituting a plate material fixture according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] (a) and (b) are side views of an engagement structure showing how the second member shown in FIG. 2(a) engages with the shaped material and a method of removing the second member from the shaped material. [Figure 4] (a) is an external perspective view of a plate material, and (b) is a side view showing how the plate material shown in FIG. (a) is fixed to a shaped material using the plate material fixtures shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 2(a). [Figure 5] It is an external perspective view of a plate material fixture according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] (a) is a perspective view showing the appearance of a plate material and a shaped material, and (b) is a side view showing how the plate material shown in FIG. (a) is fixed to the shaped material using the plate material fixture shown in FIG. 5.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] The plate material fixture of the present invention is used to removably fix a plate material so that no gap occurs with respect to a shaped material. For the case where the flat surface (the surface with the largest area) of the plate material is abutted against one side surface of the shaped material, Example 1 is given, and for the case where the end surface of the plate material is abutted, Example 2 is given. Each will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Note that the plate material fixture of the present invention can be applied even if the member to be fixed to the shaped material does not have an overall flat shape as long as it has a plate-shaped portion at least partially and an opening can be provided in that portion. That is, the "plate material" to which the present invention is applied includes not only a flat plate material having an overall flat shape but also a member having a plate-shaped portion at least partially. And even when connecting such members, the actions and effects exhibited by the plate material fixture described below are similarly exhibited.

Examples

[0020] The connecting fixture according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first member 1 (see FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b)) and a second member 5 (see FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b)). As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the first member 1 includes a first base plate 2 provided with a jig insertion port 2a whose contour line of the inner peripheral surface is circular and arranged parallel to the side surface of the shaped material, and a pair of guide plates 3, 3 erected on the inner surface 2b of the first base plate 2 so as to be parallel to each other and symmetric with respect to the jig insertion port 2a, and engaging portions 3a to 3c provided in pairs on the opposing surfaces 3d, 3d of the pair of guide plates 3, 3 so as to protrude in a direction parallel to the first base plate 2. Further, the tips of the pair of guide plates 3, 3 are connected via a rod-shaped body 4 whose width in the direction parallel to both the first base plate 2 and the guide plates 3 is narrower than the width of the engaging portions 3a to 3c (the width in the direction parallel to both the first base plate 2 and the guide plates 3). In this case, since the pair of guide plates 3, 3 are integrated via the rod-shaped body 4, the bending strength is increased, and as a result, it becomes difficult for the guide plates 3 to be deformed or damaged, so that the first member 1 can be repeatedly used many times. The width of the engaging portions 3a to 3c is shorter than the width of the guide plates 3. The engaging portions 3a to 3c are provided at positions where they are not visually recognized through the jig insertion port 2a when the outer surface 2c of the first base plate 2 is viewed vertically.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the second member 5 includes a first contact plate 6 arranged parallel to the side surface of the shaped material, a second base plate 7 vertically extending from one end of the first contact plate 6, and a pair of reinforcing plates 8, 8 having a triangular shape and connecting both ends in the width direction of the first contact plate 6 and the second base plate 7 to each other. The first contact plate 6 has a first rectangular opening 6a such that the longer side is in the width direction parallel to the second base plate 7, and an engagement structure 9 is provided at a location in front of the first rectangular opening 6a. The engagement structure 9 consists of a pair of rectangular flat plate-shaped convex portions 9a, 9a provided on the contact surface 6b so as to be parallel to a pair of reinforcing plates 8, 8 near both ends in the width direction of the first contact plate 6, and a pair of connecting portions 9b, 9b that are substantially parallel to the second base plate 7 and elastically deformable to connect both ends of the convex portions 9a, 9a.

[0022] The connecting portion 9b is composed of a recess 10a located in the center of the width direction of the first contact plate 6, a pair of engaging claws 10b, 10b provided on both sides of the recess 10a, and a pair of bent portions 10c, 10c provided between the convex portion 9a and the engaging claws 10b. The pair of recesses 10a, 10a are recessed in a direction that narrows the distance between the pair of connecting portions 9b, 9b, and the pair of engaging claws 10b, 10b are provided to protrude in the opposite direction to the recess 10a. The bent portions 10c have the function of increasing the strength of the connecting portion 9b against bending deformation.

[0023] On the outer surface 7a of the second base plate 7, a pair of engaging claws 11, 11 are vertically erected, each made of a flat plate material that is approximately rectangular in plan view and arranged parallel to each other. The engaging claws 11 have a protrusion 11a formed to engage with the engaged portions 3a to 3c of the first member 1, and an inclined portion 11b formed to taper from the protrusion 11a to the tip 11c. The structure is such that the engagement state of the protrusion 11a with the engaged portions 3a to 3c is released by elastic deformation. In other words, the engaging claws 11 on the second base plate 7 function as the first engaging portion, and the engaged portions 3a to 3c on the first member 1 function as the first engaged portion. Furthermore, the first rectangular opening 6a of the first contact plate 6 is formed in a position where the protrusion 11a of the engaging claw 11 can be seen through the first rectangular opening 6a when viewing the back surface 6c (see Figure 2(b)) in a direction perpendicular to the first contact plate 6. In other words, the second member 5 is structured so that the connecting portion 9b can be operated through the first rectangular opening 6a using a tool or the like. Furthermore, when the pair of engaging claws 11, 11 are not elastically deformed, the distance between their opposing surfaces 11d, 11d is longer than the width of the engaged portions 3a-3c of the first member 1, and the distance between their back surfaces 11e, 11e is shorter than the width of the guide plate 3. Also, the width of the engaging claws 11 is shorter than the distance between the opposing surfaces 3d, 3d of the guide plates 3, 3. The protrusion 11a is provided projecting inward so as to be able to engage with the engaged portions 3a-3c when the second base plate 7 is parallel to the first base plate 2 and the pair of engaging claws 11, 11 are positioned between the pair of guide plates 3, 3 so as to sandwich the engaged portions 3a-3c from both sides. In other words, when the engaging claws 11, 11 are not elastically deformed, the distance between the protrusions 11a, 11a is shorter than the width of the engaged portions 3a-3c.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3(a), concave grooves 51a are provided on each of the four sides 51b of the profile 51, running parallel to the longitudinal direction along their entire length. The width s1 of the opening of the concave groove 51a (the distance between the inner wall surfaces in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) is narrower than the internal width s2, and the second member 5 is fixed to the profile 51 using these concave grooves 51a. The width of the pair of convex portions 9a, 9a in the connecting portion 9b (the length in the direction parallel to the reinforcing plate 8) is narrower than the width s1 of the opening of the concave groove 51a of the profile 51. The maximum width of the pair of engaging claws 10b, 10b in the connecting portion 9b is wider than the width s1 of the opening of the concave groove 51a of the profile 51, but narrower than the internal width s2 of the concave groove 51a of the profile 51. Also, the maximum width between the pair of recesses 10a, 10a in the connecting portion 9b is narrower than the width s1 of the opening of the concave groove 51a of the profile 51.

[0025] When attempting to position the engagement structure 9 inside the concave groove 51a of the profile 51, the pair of connecting parts 9b, 9b (see Figure 2(b)) elastically deform so that the pair of engaging claws 10b, 10b move closer together. Then, once the pair of engaging claws 10b, 10b pass through the opening of the concave groove 51a of the profile 51, the deformation is restored and the structure returns to its original shape. As a result, as shown in Figure 3(a), the engagement structure 9 engages with the concave groove 51a of the profile 51, making it impossible for the second member 5 to detach from the profile 51. On the other hand, in the state shown in Figure 3(a), as shown in Figure 3(b), if the tip of a tool 52 inserted from the back surface 6c of the first rectangular opening 6a of the first contact plate 6 (see Figure 2(b)) is used to press the recess 10a, the connecting portion 9b is elastically deformed until the engaging claw 10b no longer engages with the concave groove 51a of the profile 51. As a result, the engagement between the engaging claw 10b and the concave groove 51a of the profile 51 is released, and the second member 5 becomes detachable from the profile 51.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4(a), the plate material 53 has through holes 53a in the thickness direction that allow the pair of guide plates 3, 3 of the first member 1 and the pair of engaging claws 11, 11 of the second member 5 to be inserted simultaneously. As shown in Figure 4(b), when the flat surface 53b of the plate material 53 is brought into contact with the side surface 51b of the profile 51 without any gaps, the pair of engaging claws 11, 11 of the second member 5 are inserted into the through hole 53a, and the pair of guide plates 3, 3 of the first member 1 are also inserted into the through hole 53a, the engaging claws 11 engage with the engaged portions 3a~3c of the guide plates 3 (see Figure 1(b)), thereby fixing the second member 5 to the plate material 53. Furthermore, when the engaging structure 9 of the second member 5 engages with the concave groove 51a of the profile 51, the second member 5 is fixed to the profile 51. As a result, the plate material 53 is fixed to the profile 51. Thus, by using a plate fixing device consisting of the first member 1 and the second member 5, a plate 53 having a through hole 53a in the thickness direction can be detachably fixed to the profile 51 with the flat surface 53b in contact with the side surface 51b so as not to create any gaps. Furthermore, since the first member 1, the second member 5, and the engagement structure 9 have a simple structure, manufacturing costs are reduced. [Examples]

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, the connecting fastener according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a second contact plate 12 arranged parallel to the side surface 51b of the profile 51 (see Figure 3(a)). The second contact plate 12 has a second rectangular opening 12a that forms a rectangle and a pair of circular openings 12b, 12b arranged parallel to the long side, and an engagement structure 9 is provided in front of the second rectangular opening 12a. Furthermore, on the contact surface 12c where the engagement structure 9 is provided, a male connecting shaft 13 and a female connecting shaft 14 are provided, each having a structure in which a male key portion 13a and a female key portion 14a are arranged around the pair of circular openings 12b, 12b, respectively. The male key portion 13a has a T-shape with its tip spreading in the circumferential direction, and the female key portion 14a has a recess that receives the tip of the male key portion 13a that protrudes in the circumferential direction in a T-shape.

[0028] As shown in Figure 6(a), the plate material 54 has a through hole 54a in the thickness direction that allows the male connecting shaft 13 of the second contact plate 12 and the female connecting shaft 14 of another second contact plate 12 to be inserted simultaneously. As shown in Figure 6(b), with the end face 54b of the plate material 54 in contact with the side surface 51b of the profile 51 without any gap, the male connecting shaft 13 and female connecting shaft 14 of the second contact plate 12 are inserted through the two through holes 54a, 54a. At the same time, the male connecting shaft 13 and female connecting shaft 14 of another second contact plate 12, which is positioned symmetrically with respect to the second contact plate 12 across the plate material 54 and profile 51, are inserted through the two through holes 54a, 54a. The male connecting shaft 13 and female connecting shaft 14 of one second contact plate 12 engage with the female connecting shaft 14 and male connecting shaft 13 of the other second contact plate 12, respectively, thereby fixing the two second contact plates 12 to the plate material 54. In other words, the male connecting shaft 13 of one second contact plate 12 functions as a first engaging part, and the female connecting shaft 14 of the other second contact plate 12 functions as a first engaged part, while the male connecting shaft 13 of the other second contact plate 12 functions as a second engaging part, and the female connecting shaft 14 of one second contact plate 12 functions as a second engaged part. Furthermore, when the engagement structures 9 of the two second contact plates 12 engage with the concave grooves 51a of the profile 51, the two second contact plates 12 are fixed to the profile 51. As a result, the plate material 54 is fixed to the profile 51. Thus, by using two plate fixing devices consisting of a second contact plate 12, a plate 54 having a through hole 54a in the thickness direction can be detachably fixed to the profile 51 with its end face 54b in contact with the side face 51b without any gap. Furthermore, since the second contact plate 12 has a simple structure, manufacturing costs are reduced. In this embodiment, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion, and the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion have the same structure. However, the plate fastener of the present invention is not limited to such a structure. For example, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion, and the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion may have different structures. [Industrial applicability]

[0029] This invention can be used when a plate material is detachably fixed to an aluminum extruded material in a way that prevents gaps from forming. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 1…First component 2…First base plate 2a…Jig insertion opening 2b…Inner surface 2c…Outer surface 3…Guide plate 3a~3c…Engaged part (first engaged part) 3d…Opposite surface 4…Rod-shaped body 5…Second component 6…First contact plate 6a…First rectangular opening 6b…Contact surface 6c…Back surface 7…Second base plate 7a…Outer surface 8…Reinforcement plate 9…Engagement structure 9a…Convex part 9b…Connecting part 10a…Concave part 10b…Engaging claw 10c…Bent part 11…Engaging claw (first engaging part) 11a…Convex part 11b…Inclined part 11c…Tip 11d…Opposite surface 11e…Back surface 12…Second contact plate 12a…Second rectangular opening 12b…Circular opening 12c…Contact surface 13...Male connecting shaft (second engaging part) 13a...Male key part 14...Female connecting shaft (second engaged part) 14a...Female key part 51...Shape 51a...Concave groove 51b...Side surface 52...Tool 53...Plate material 53a...Through hole 53b...Flat surface 54...Plate material 54a...Through hole 54b...End face

Claims

1. A plate fastener for detachably fixing a plate having a first through hole to a profile having a rectangular cross-section and a concave groove provided along the longitudinal direction on at least one side surface, A first member configured to be insertable into the first through hole and having a first engaged portion, The present invention comprises a second member which is configured to be insertable into the first through hole and has a first engaging portion that can engage with the first engaged portion, and which is configured to sandwich and fix the plate material between itself and the first member by the first engaging portion engaging with the first engaged portion when the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are inserted into the first through hole, The plate material fixing device is characterized in that the second member is provided with a first engagement structure that detachably engages with the concave groove of the profile.

2. The first member comprises a first base plate on which the first engaging portion is erected on one side, The plate fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second member comprises a second base plate on which the first engaging portion is erected on one side surface, and a first contact plate erected from the other side surface of the second base plate and on which the first engaging structure is provided on one side surface.

3. The plate material has a second through hole in addition to the first through hole, The first member has a second engaging portion configured to be insertable into the second through hole, and a second engaging structure that detachably engages with the concave groove of the profile, The plate fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second member is configured to be insertable into the second through hole and has a second engaged portion into which the second engaging portion can engage, and the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are inserted into the first through hole, and the first engaging portion engages with the first engaged portion and the second engaging portion engages with the second engaged portion while the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion are inserted into the second through hole, thereby sandwiching and fixing the plate material between the first member and the second engaging portion.

4. The plate fixing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first member and the second member are the same member in which the first engaging portion has the same structure as the second engaging portion and the first engaged portion has the same structure as the second engaged portion.

5. The first member and the second member are provided with openings. The first engagement structure and the second engagement structure are A pair of convex portions are provided projecting from the peripheral edge of the opening at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the concave groove, The plate fixing device according to claim 3 or 4, comprising a pair of connecting parts provided at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the concave groove, extending in the longitudinal direction of the concave groove and connected to each of the convex parts, and elastically deformable so as to be able to move closer to and further apart from each other.

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