Fastener

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fastener that enables stronger fastening when joining, from an orthogonal direction, a second structural member having a groove to a first structural member having a groove. Provided is a fastener for joining a first structural member and a second structural member together, the first structural member having a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape and a groove formed on each side, the second structural member having similarly a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape and a groove formed on each side and being disposed on the first structural member from an orthogonal direction. The fastener is configured to comprise: a first bracket installed at a corner section between the first structural member and the second structural member; a second bracket that is inserted into the groove of the second structural member to engage a head of the second bracket with a groove section of an end surface of the first structural member; a first bolt that is screwed from the first bracket side to the first structural member side; and a second bolt that is screwed from the first bracket side to the second bracket through the second structural member.

Description

Fasteners

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener used when connecting a first structural material having a groove to a second structural material having a groove from a direction perpendicular to the first structural material, and in particular to a fastener designed to enable a stronger fastening.

[0002] One example of a fastener of this type is Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes a fastener having the following configuration: First, an end face of a structural material is abutted against the side face of another structural material from a direction perpendicular to the side face, and a triangular bracket is installed at the corner. A pair of hypotenuses of the bracket abut against the side faces of the respective structural materials.

[0003] A through hole is formed in each of the pair of oblique sides, and a bolt is inserted into each hole. A groove is formed in the side of the structural material, and a nut is installed in the groove. The bolt is threaded into the nut. This allows the structural materials to be fastened and fixed together with the fastener.

[0004] Patent Document 1 is filed by the same applicant as the present patent applicant.

[0005] Patent No. 6391210

[0006] The above-mentioned conventional configuration had the following problem: Although the bracket's oblique sides were tightly attached to the side surfaces of the respective structural members by fastening them with bolts and nuts, the configuration did not restrict the tight attachment of the end surfaces of the structural members to the side surfaces of the structural members, and so there was a problem in that a gap would occur between the end surfaces of the structural members and the side surfaces of the structural members due to the action of external force.

[0007] The present invention was made based on these points, and its purpose is to provide a fastener that enables a stronger fastening when connecting a first structural material with a groove to a second structural material with a groove from a direction perpendicular to the first structural material.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a fastener according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided for connecting a first structural member having a rectangular cross section with grooves formed on each side to a second structural member having a similar rectangular cross section with grooves formed on each side, the first and second structural members being arranged perpendicular to each other, the fastener comprising: a first bracket installed at a corner of the first and second structural members; a second bracket inserted into the groove of the second structural member with its head engaging with the groove in the end face of the first structural member; a first bolt threaded from the first bracket to the first structural member; and a second bolt threaded from the first bracket through the second structural member to the second bracket. A fastener according to claim 2 is the fastener according to claim 1, wherein the second structural member is arranged on the first structural member with a gap therebetween, and the first bracket has a protruding insertion portion that is inserted into the gap. A fastener according to claim 3 is the fastener according to claim 2, characterized in that a recess is formed at the tip of the insertion portion, and the front portion of the head of the second bracket engages with this recess. A fastener according to claim 4 is the fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that a nut is installed in a groove on the edge of the first structural material facing the first bracket, and the first bolt is threaded onto this nut. A fastener according to claim 5 is the fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that the second bracket is provided with a female thread, and the second bolt is threaded onto this female thread. A fastener according to claim 6 is the fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that a shank protrudes from the second bracket, the shank is provided with a female thread, and the second bolt is threaded onto this female thread. A fastener according to claim 7 is the fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that the first structural material and the second structural material have a square cross section and T-slots are formed on four sides.Furthermore, a fastener according to claim 8 is the fastener according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom of the recess is tapered, the second bracket is formed with a protrusion that engages with the recess, and this protrusion is provided with a tapered portion that engages with the tapered portion, and the insertion portion and the second bracket are pulled into each other by the action of both tapered portions.

[0009] As described above, the fastener according to claim 1 of the present invention is a fastener for connecting a first structural member having a rectangular cross section with grooves formed on each side to a second structural member having a rectangular cross section with grooves formed on each side, the second structural member being arranged perpendicular to the first structural member, the fastener comprising: a first bracket installed at a corner of the first structural member and the second structural member; a second bracket inserted into the groove of the second structural member with its head engaging with the groove in the end face of the first structural member; and a first bracket threadedly engaged from the first bracket side to the first structural member.

[0009] The fastener according to claim 2 further comprises a bolt and a second bolt that is threaded from the first bracket through the second structural member into the second bracket, so that the first bolt threads in and secures the hypotenuse of the first bracket to the side of the first structural member, and the second bolt threads in and secures the hypotenuse of the first bracket to the side of the first structural member, and the second bolt threads in and secures the hypotenuse of the first bracket to the side of the first structural member, and the second bolt threads in and secures the head of the second bracket to the groove in the end face of the first structural member, preventing a gap from occurring between the side face of the first structural member and the end face of the second structural member, thereby achieving a stronger fastening.

[0010] Furthermore, according to claim 2, the fastener according to claim 1 further comprises a second structural member that is positioned in the first structural member with a gap therebetween, and the first bracket is provided with a protruding insertion portion that is inserted into the gap, thereby further reliably achieving the above effect. According to a fastener of claim 3, in the fastener of claim 2, a recess is formed at the tip of the insertion portion, and the front portion of the head of the second bracket engages with this recess, thereby further ensuring the above effect. According to a fastener of claim 4, in the fastener of claim 1, a nut is installed in a groove on the edge of the first structural material facing the first bracket, and the first bolt is threaded onto this nut, thereby further ensuring the above effect. According to a fastener of claim 5, in the fastener of claim 1, a female thread is provided on the second bracket, and the second bolt is threaded onto this female thread, thereby further ensuring the above effect.According to a fastener of claim 6, in the fastener of claim 1, the second bracket has a protruding shank, the shank is provided with a female thread, and the second bolt is threaded onto this female thread, thereby further ensuring the above effect. According to a fastener of claim 7, in the fastener of claim 1, the first structural member and the second structural member have a square cross section and T-slots are formed on all four sides, thereby further ensuring the above effect. According to a fastener of claim 8, in the fastener of claim 3, the bottom of the recess is tapered, the second bracket is formed with a protrusion that engages with the recess, and this protrusion is provided with a tapered portion that engages with the tapered portion, and the insertion portion and the second bracket are pulled into each other by the action of both tapered portions, thereby also achieving a more secure fastening state.

[0010]

[0023] Figure 1(a) is a plan view showing a state in which a second structural member is connected to a first structural member from a direction perpendicular to the first structural member via fasteners, and Figure 1(b) is a front view showing a state in which the second structural member is connected to the first structural member from a direction perpendicular to the first structural member via fasteners. Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIa-IIa of Figure 1(a), Figure 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIb-IIb of Figure 1(b), Figure 2(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIc-IIc of Figure 1(b), and Figure 2(d) is an enlarged view of part IId of Figure 2(a). Figure 3(a) is a front view of a first bracket, Figure 3(b) is a left side view of the first bracket, Figure 3(c) is a right side view of the first bracket, Figure 3(d) is a bottom view of the first bracket, and Figure 3(e) is a perspective view of the first bracket. 4(a) and 4(b) are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4(a) is a front view of the second bracket, FIG. 4(b) is a front view of the second bracket, FIG. 4(c) is a left side view of the second bracket, FIG. 4(d) is a right side view of the second bracket, FIG. 4(e) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVe-IVe in FIG. 4(b), and FIG. 4(f) is a perspective view of the second bracket. FIG. 4(f) is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a second structural material is fastened to a first structural material via a fastener. FIG. 4(f) is a perspective view of the fastener. FIG. 4(f) is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a fastener is fastened to a first structural material. FIG. 4(f) is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a fastener is fastened to a first structural material via a fastener ... 12 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. 8. FIG. 13 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line XIII-XIII in FIG.

[0011] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. First, there is a first structural member 1, which has a square cross section. T-slots 5, 5, 5, 5 are formed on each of the four sides 3 of the square, extending in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, a through-hole 7 is formed in the center of the square, extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0012] A second structural material 11 is disposed on the first structural material 1 with a gap 13 formed therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the first structural material 1. Furthermore, another second structural material 11 is disposed on the first structural material 1 with a gap 13 formed therebetween in a direction perpendicular to the first structural material 1. The second structural material 11 has the same configuration as the first structural material 1. In the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted.

[0013] 1(b) and 2, the first structural member 1 and the second structural member 11 are fastened and fixed by a fastening metal fitting 41. This fastening metal fitting 41 has the following configuration.

[0014] First, a first bracket 43 is installed at the corner between the first structural member and the second structural member 11. The first bracket 43 is generally triangular in front view in Fig. 1(b), with a pair of hypotenuses 45, 45 abutting against the respective sides 3, 3 of the first structural member and the second structural member 11. As shown in Fig. 2(a), a recess 49 is formed in the base 47 of the triangle of the first bracket 43, and through holes 51, 53 are formed at predetermined positions in this recess 49. A first bolt 55 and a second bolt 57 are inserted into these through holes 51, 53.

[0015] An insertion portion 61 is protruding from the first bracket 43, and this insertion portion 61 is inserted into the gap 13. As shown in Figure 3, the insertion portion 16 is plate-shaped, and a recess 63 is formed in the center of the tip end thereof. A convex portion 65 is protruding from the center of the base end of the insertion portion 63. A tapered portion 67 is formed at the bottom of the recess 63.

[0016] A second bracket 71 is inserted into the T-slot 5 on the upper side 3 of the second structural member 11 in FIG. 1( a). A head 73 is provided at the tip of the second bracket 71, and this head 73 is engaged with the T-slot 5 on the end face of the first structural member 1. The front portion of the head 73 of the second bracket 71 is engaged with the recess 63. A female thread 75 is formed at the base end of the second bracket 71. A protrusion 77 is provided at the front portion of the head 73, and this protrusion 77 has a tapered portion 79. As shown in FIG. 2( d ), this tapered portion 79 abuts against the tapered portion 67 on the recess 63 side, and the action of both tapered portions 67, 79 causes the insertion portion 61 of the first bracket 47 and the second bracket 71 to be pulled toward each other.

[0017] A T-nut 81 is fitted inside a predetermined position within the T-slot 5 on the side 3 of the first structural member 1 facing the first bracket 43. The first bolt 55 is threaded onto this T-nut 81. The second bolt 57 passes through a through-hole 78 provided in the second structural member 11 and threads into the female thread portion 75. The protrusion 65 is engaged with the end of the T-slot 5 formed in the side 3 of the second structural member 11 facing the first bracket 43.

[0018] In addition, the two second structural members 11, 11 at two locations in FIG. 1(a) are both fastened and fixed to the first structural member 1 by the fastening structure described above.

[0019] The operation will be explained based on the above configuration. First, the first bolt 55 is passed through the through hole 51 of the first bracket 43 and threaded into the T-nut 81 installed in the T-slot 5 of the side 3 of the first structural member 1, thereby tightly fitting and fixing the oblique side 45 of the first bracket 43 to the side 3 of the first structural member 1. Next, the second bolt 57 is passed through the through hole 53 of the first bracket 43 and the through hole 77 of the second structural member 11 and threaded into the female thread portion 75 of the second bracket 71, thereby tightly fitting and fixing the oblique side 45 of the first bracket 43 to the side 3 of the second structural member 11. Furthermore, by threading the second bolt 57 through the through hole 53 of the first bracket 43 and the through hole 78 of the second structural material 11 into the female threaded portion 75 of the second bracket 71, and by engaging the head 73 of the second bracket 71 into the T-groove 5 on the end face of the first structural material 1, the second structural material 11, the insertion portion 61 of the first bracket 43, and the first structural material 1 are restrained and maintained in a tightly fitted state.

[0020] As described above, this embodiment can provide the following effects: First, the first structural member 1 and the second structural member 11 can be firmly fastened and fixed together by the fasteners 41 . This is because by threading the first bolt 55 through the through hole 51 of the first bracket 43 and into the T-nut 81 installed in the T-slot 5 of the side 3 of the first structural material 1, the oblique side 45 of the first bracket 43 is tightly fitted and fixed to the side 3 of the first structural material 1; by threading the second bolt 57 through the through hole 53 of the first bracket 43 and the through hole 78 of the second structural material 11 and into the female threaded portion 75 of the second bracket 71, the oblique side 45 of the first bracket 43 is tightly fitted and fixed to the side 3 of the second structural material 11; and by threading the second bolt 57 through the through hole 53 of the first bracket 43 and the through hole 78 of the second structural material 11 and into the female threaded portion 75 of the second bracket 71, and by engaging the head 73 of the second bracket 71 into the T-slot 5 on the end face of the first structural material 1, the tightly fitted state of the second structural material 11, the insertion portion 61 of the first bracket 43, and the first structural material 1 is restrained and maintained. A protrusion 77 is provided on the front portion of the head 73, and this protrusion 77 is provided with a tapered portion 79. As shown in Figure 2(d), this tapered portion 79 abuts against the tape portion 67 on the recess 63 side, and the action of both tapered portions 67, 79 causes the insertion portion 61 of the first bracket 47 and the second bracket 71 to be pulled toward each other, thereby also achieving a firmly fastened and fixed state. Furthermore, the fastener 41 has a small number of parts and a simple configuration, which makes parts management easy.

[0021] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 13. The first structural member 1 and the second structural member 11 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and the same parts in the figures are designated by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 5, the first structural member 1 and the second structural member 11 are fastened and fixed together by a fastening metal fitting 141. This fastening metal fitting 141 has the following structure.

[0023] First, a first bracket 143 is installed at the corner between the first structural member and the second structural member 11. The first bracket 143 is generally triangular in front view in Fig. 12, with a pair of hypotenuses 145, 145 abutting against the respective sides 3, 3 of the first structural member and the second structural member 11. A recess 149 is formed in the base 147 of the triangle of the first bracket 143, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and through holes 151, 153 are formed at predetermined positions in this recess 149. A first bolt 155 and a second bolt 157 are inserted into these through holes 151, 153.

[0024] A second bracket 171 is inserted into the T-slot 5 on the upper side 3 of the second structural member 11 in Figure 5. A head 173 is provided at the tip of the second bracket 171, and this head 173 is engaged in the T-slot 5 on the end surface of the first structural member 1. A shaft 172 protrudes in a perpendicular direction from the base end of the second bracket 171, and this shaft 172 is inserted into a through-hole 178 provided in the second structural member 11. A female thread 175 is formed in the shaft 172.

[0025] A T-nut 181 is fitted inside the T-slot 5 at a predetermined position on the side 3 of the first structural member 1 on the first bracket 43 side. The first bolt 155 is threaded onto this T-nut 181. The second bolt 157 is threaded onto the female thread portion 175 of the shaft portion 172 of the second bracket 171.

[0026] The operation will be explained based on the above configuration. First, the first bolt 155 is passed through the through hole 151 of the first bracket 143 and threaded into the T-nut 181 installed in the T-slot 5 of the side 3 of the first structural member 1, thereby tightly fitting and fixing the oblique side 145 of the first bracket 143 to the side 3 of the first structural member 1. Then, the second bolt 157 is passed through the through hole 153 of the first bracket 143 and threaded into the female thread portion 175 of the shaft portion 172 of the second bracket 171, thereby tightly fitting and fixing the oblique side 45 of the first bracket 143 to the side 3 of the second structural member 11. Furthermore, by threading the second bolt 157 through the through hole 153 of the first bracket 143 into the female thread portion 175 of the shaft portion 172 of the second bracket 171 and by engaging the head portion 173 of the second bracket 171 into the T-groove 5 on the end face of the first structural material 1, the second structural material 11 and the first structural material 1 are restrained and maintained in a tight contact state.

[0027] Therefore, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be achieved, and the shape of the first bracket 143 can be made simpler.

[0028] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments. First, the configurations of the first and second structural members are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and various configurations are envisioned. Furthermore, the shapes of the first and second brackets are not limited to those shown in the drawings, and various shapes are envisioned. Furthermore, the configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples.

[0029] The present invention relates to a fastener used when connecting a first structural material with a groove to a second structural material with a groove from a direction perpendicular to the first structural material, and in particular to a fastener designed to enable stronger fastening, and is suitable for connecting pillars and beams of various structures, for example.

[0030] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 First structural member 3 Side 5 T-slot (groove) 11 Second structural member 13 Gap 41 Fastener 43 First bracket 55 First bolt 57 Second bolt 61 Insertion portion 63 Recess 71 Second bracket 73 Head 75 Female thread portion 81 T-nut

Claims

1. A fastener for connecting a first structural member having a rectangular cross section with grooves formed on each side to a second structural member having the same rectangular cross section with grooves formed on each side, the fastener comprising: a first bracket installed at a corner of the first structural member and the second structural member; a second bracket inserted into the groove of the second structural member with its head engaging with the groove on the end face of the first structural member; a first bolt screwed into the first structural member from the first bracket side; and a second bolt screwed into the second bracket from the first bracket side through the second structural member.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second structural member is arranged with a gap between the first structural member and the first bracket, and a protruding insertion portion is provided on the first bracket to be inserted into the gap.

3. A fastener as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a recess is formed at the tip of said insertion portion, and the front part of said head of said second bracket engages with said recess.

4. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a nut is fitted inside a groove on the edge of said first structural material facing said first bracket, and said first bolt is screwed into said nut.

5. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the second bracket has a female thread portion, and the second bolt is screwed into the female thread portion.

6. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second bracket has a protruding shaft portion, the shaft portion has a female thread portion, and the second bolt is screwed into the female thread portion.

7. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein the first structural member and the second structural member have a square cross-sectional shape and T-slots are formed on the four sides.

8. A fastener as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the bottom of the recess is tapered, the second bracket is formed with a protrusion which engages with the recess, and the protrusion is provided with a tapered portion which engages with the commercial tapered portion, and the action of both tapered portions causes the insertion portion and the second bracket to be drawn into each other.

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