FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to connector for connecting articles to one another and in particular to a connector for coupling together component parts of a ready to assemble article of furniture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ready to assemble furniture has been known in the furniture industry for many years. This type of furniture construction provides a number of advantages to the manufacturer, to the retailer, and to the customer. For example, as to the manufacturer, there are significant cost savings in manufacturing unassembled furniture over conventional fully assembled furniture. Ready to assemble furniture can be supplied flat packed, thus requiring less storage space for both the manufacturer and the retailer. The customer ultimately benefits the lower cost of ready to assemble furniture as opposed to pre-assembled furniture and the ease of transport of flat packed ready to assemble furniture.

Unlike conventional fully or pre-assembled furniture, ready to assemble furniture, as the name implies, requires assembly by the customer. This furniture often requires the use of tools by the customer to enable the manipulation of specialized fittings to assemble and secure the various components of the furniture together. The customers may not have the necessary tools or skill level to assemble the furniture properly. The failure to do so may result in the furniture being unstable, and potentially collapsing during use. It is therefore be desirable to provide ready to assemble furniture which can be assembled without the need for tools in a simple and efficient manner, while ensuring the integrity of the resulting assembled furniture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a connector for connecting articles to one another, said connector comprising a base region attachable to or integrally formed with a first article and a retaining means adapted for securing the connector to a second article, said retaining means extending from the base region and comprising at least one outwardly flared resilient wing extending from a distal end of the retaining means towards said base region.

In one embodiment said retaining means comprises a central rib extending from the base region towards the distal end of the retaining means, said central rib terminating in a head portion, a pair of outwardly flared resilient wings extending from said head portion on either side of said central rib towards said base region, such that said wings define a substantially arrow head shaped cross section. The outwardly flared resilient wings may be located symmetrically on either side of said central rib.

Preferably the or each wing of the retaining means is curved outwardly from the distal end of the retaining means towards the base region of the connector.

The length of the or each wing may be substantially equal to or less than the length of the central rib such that the or each wing can be resiliently displaced towards the central rib without abutting the base region of the connector.

The base region of the connector is substantially cuboid in shape. In one embodiment the base region of the male connector may include an enlarged base flange adapted to engage a face of a first article when the retaining means and the remainder of the base portion of the connector are inserted through an aperture therein. Ribs, lugs or other raised projections may be provided on the sides of the base region of the connector for retaining the base region within said receiving aperture within said first article, in use, when the base flange engages said face of the first article. A channel or opening is formed within said base region adjacent said base flange to allow the sides of the base region to be resiliently displaced to allow the ribs or projections formed thereon to pass through said aperture in the first article. In one embodiment an adhesive may be provided on an outer face of the base region for attaching the connector to a first article. Said adhesive may comprise double sided tape. The adhesive may be provided on an outer face of an enlarged base flange formed on the base region of the connector.

One or more connection means may be provided on the base region of the connector for connecting the base region of the connector to a first article. Said one or more connection means may comprise one or more of barbs, fasteners, fir tree connectors or other male connection members for securing the base region of the connector to respective receiving apertures or slots formed in said first article. In one embodiment said connection means may comprise one or more threaded studs attached to or integrally formed with the base region of the connector. Alternatively said connection means may comprise one or more threaded apertures formed in the base region of the connector receiving cooperating threaded fasteners for attaching the connector to said first article.

The connector may further comprise a female connector adapted to be located in a receiving slot formed in one of at least two articles to be connected together, in use, said female connector including a receiving aperture formed therein for receiving said retaining means, said receiving aperture including a respective shoulder adapted to be engaged by the one or more resilient wings when the retaining means is inserted into the female connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Connectors in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

Figure 1 is an end view of a connector in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the connector of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a plan view of the connector of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is an end view of a connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of the connector of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a plan view from below showing the connector of Figure 5 in use;

Figure 9 is an end view showing the connector of Figure 5 in use;

Figure 10 is a side view showing the connector of Figure 5 in use;

Figure 1 1 is a perspective view showing the connector of Figure 5 in use; Figures 12 and 13 are perspective views of a connector in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 14 and 15 are perspective views of the connector of Figure 12 in use; Figure 16 is a plan view from below of a connector in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 17 is a side view of the connector of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 16;

Figures 19 to 21 illustrate the connector of Figures 16 to 18 in use; Figures 22 and 23 are perspective views of a connector in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 24 is an end view of the connector of Figure 22;

Figures 25 and 26 are perspective views of a connector in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 27 is an end view of the connector of Figure 25;

Figures 28 to 34 illustrate the connector of Figures 25 to 27 in use;

Figure 35 is an end view of a connector in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 36 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 35 showing hidden detail;

Figure 37 is a perspective view of the connector of Figure 35 from below; Figure 38 is a side view of the connector of Figures 35 to 37 in use;

Figure 39 is an end view of a female connector for use with any of the connectors of Figures 1 to 38; and Figure 40 is a perspective view of the female connector of Figure 39.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the connectors in accordance with the various embodiments of this invention are described in relation to a connector for connecting components of furniture, it is envisaged that such connectors may be utilised for connecting numerous different articles to one another, including, without limitation, electrical components, automotive components and numerous other assemblies where rapid and reliable assembly is required without the use of tools. Like reference numerals will be used to describe like elements in each of the following embodiments.

A connector for connecting in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

The connector comprises a cuboid base portion 4, an elongate central rib 6 extending outwardly from the base portion 4, a distal end of the central rib 6, defining a head portion 8 supporting a respective pair of outwardly flared symmetrically arranged resilient wings 10,12 on either side of the central rib 6, said wings 10,12 extending towards the base portion 4 and defining a substantially arrow head shaped cross section. Each wing 10,12 is curved in an outwards direction away from the central rib 8 towards a free end of the respective wing 10,12. The connector 2 may have any length. The connector 2 may be in the form of an elongate strip, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, or the length of the connector member 2 may be less than or equal to its width. The connector is preferably formed from a resilient plastic material or may be formed from a metal. The connector may be formed by an extrusion process or an injection moulding process or any other suitable manufacturing method.

The length of each wing 10,12 from the head portion 8 to a distal end of each wing 10,12 is preferably substantially equal to, or less than, the length of the central rib 6 from the base portion 4 to the head portion 8, such that the wings 10,12 can be resiliently displaced towards the central rib 8 without abutting the base portion 4. The combined width of the central rib 8 and the resilient wings 10,12 is substantially equal to, or less than, the width of the base portion 4 of the connector. This combination of features may enable the both the wings 10,12 and at least a portion of the base portion 4 to pass through an aperture in one of said articles or into a receiving member integrally formed with or attached to such article.

The base portion 4 may be connected or coupled to a first article and the wings 10,12 being received through a receiving aperture in a second article or within a receiving formation or member integrally formed with or attached to the second article to secure the first and second articles together as will be described in more detail below. The base portion 4 of the connector 2 may be affixed to the first article or may be integrally formed therewith. The further embodiments described below disclose different adaptations for affixing the base portion 4 to a first article.

The outward curvature of each resilient wing 10,12 ensures that the connector resists any forces attempting to pull the coupled first and second articles apart, such forces causing the wings 10,12 to bend outwardly, ensuring that the distal ends of the wings 10,12 remain firmly located behind respective shoulders or abutting portions of the article or receiving member within which the wings 10,12 are received.

In the second embodiment show in Figures 5 to 1 1 , the base portion 4 includes an integrally formed enlarged base flange 14 arranged retain the base portion 4 of the connector 2 within a receiving aperture in a first article when the wings 10,12 and body of the base portion 4 are pushed through the aperture, such base flange 14 being adapted to engage a face of the article surrounding the receiving aperture, as will be described in more detail below. As best seen in Figure 5, elongate lugs or ribs or similar raised profiles 16 may be formed on each side of the base portion 4 for retaining the base portion 4 of the connector 2 within a receiving aperture in a first article, said ribs 16 extending parallel to the base flange 14. An elongate slot 18 is formed in the lower face of the base portion 4 of the connector 2 extending towards the central rib 6, allowing the sides of the base portion to be resiliently displaced towards one another to allow the ribs 16 to pass through an aperture in the first article and allowing the sides of the base portion 4 to be resiliently biased outwardly against the sides of the receiving aperture within which the connector 2 is mounted.

As illustrated in Figures 8 to 1 1 , in use, an elongate receiving aperture 22 may be formed in a first article 20, said aperture 22 being dimensioned to fit around the base portion 4 of a respective connector 2, such that said connector 2 can be inserted through the aperture 22, with the base portion 4 engaged within the aperture and the base flange 14 abutting and engaging a face of the article 20 around the aperture 22 to prevent further passage of the connector 2 through the respective aperture, with the wings 10,12 of the connector extending outwardly from the first article 40, such that the respective connector 2 is mounted on the first article 20.

A female connector (not shown) may be inserted into a correspondingly dimensioned receiving slot or channel formed in a second article into which female connector the wings 10,12 of the connector may be received, such wings 10,12 abutting respective shoulders within the female connector to retain the connector 2 within the female connector. Alternatively the wings 10,12 of the connector may simply be received within a slot or aperture within the second article to retain the connector 2 therein, thus coupling the first and second articles together.

This arrangement allows articles to be fitted together in snap fit manner without the use of tools.

In a further embodiment, shown in Figures 12 to 15, a planar base flange 14 may be formed on the base portion 4 of the connector 2 to provide an enlarged surface for securing the connector to any flat surface of a first article to be connected to a second article. A layer of adhesive, such as double sided tape 30, may be affixed to the outer surface of the base flange. A removable release sheet 32 may be provided on an outer layer of the tape to protect the adhesive. The release sheet 32 may be removed before securing the connector 2 to a surface of an article, as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

Alternatively the base flange 14 may be received within a slotted channel formed in a surface of a first article (not shown to retain the connector 2 the first article.

Numerous fastening or coupling means may be attached to or integrally formed on the base portion 4 of the connector for connecting the connector to an article. In the embodiment shown in Figures 16 to 21 a pair of barbs 40,41 are formed on opposite ends of the base portion 4 of the connector 2, extending away from the central rib 6 and wings 10,12 of the connector and adapted to be received in retaining slots or apertures 42 formed in the surface of an article 44. Retaining projections 45 are formed on the outer ends of the barbs 40,41 for retaining the barbs within the apertures 42, said projections 45 engaging a rear face of the article 44. Cut outs 46 behind each bar 40,41 allow the barbs to be resiliently deflected during insertion into the apertures 42 to allow the projections 45 to pass through the apertures 42 and snap back into place once inserted. The distance between the lower face of the base portion 4 of the connector 2 and the projections 45 may be adapted to be substantially equal to the thickness of the article to which the connector 2 is to be attached, as best illustrated in Figure 21 .

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 22 to 24, one or more fir tree type male connection members 50 may be attached to or integrally formed with the lower face of the base portion 4 of the connector 2 to be received within suitably dimensioned receiving apertures within a first article to which the base portion 4 of the connector 2 is to be attached. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 25 to 34, one or more threaded fasteners or studs 60 may be integrally formed with the base portion 4 of the connector 2 or may be received within threaded apertures therein or otherwise secured thereto. Such threaded fasteners 60 may be received in holes in a first article 64 to which the connector 2 is to be attached and nuts 62 may be attached to the fasteners 60 to secure the connector to such article 64, as illustrated in Figures 28 to 34.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figures 35 to 38, one or more threaded apertures 70 may be formed in the base portion 4 of the connector 2 into which may be screwed correspondingly threaded bolts or screws 72 to secure the connector to an article 74 via suitable holes drilled therethrough through which the bolts or screws 72 may pass.

As discussed above, the wings 10,12 of the connector 2 in each of the above described embodiments may be received within a female connector which may be inserted into a suitable receiving slot or aperture within a second of the articles to be coupled together by the connector 2. Figures 39 and 40 illustrate a female connector 100 for use with the connector 2. Such female connector may be in accordance with that disclosed in UK Patent Application No. 1612857.1 , incorporated herein by reference.

The resilient wings 10,12 of the connector 2 are adapted to be received and secured within a receiving aperture or slot 102 of a respective female connector 100, the resilient wings 10,12 being resiliently displaceable towards to the respective central rib 6 to enable the wings 10,12 to pass through a narrowed neck region 104 of the respective female connector 100, the ends of the resilient wings 10,12 engaging shoulders 106,108 on the inner sides of the receiving slot 102 to retain the connector 2 therein. The surfaces of the shoulders 106,108 may be corrugated to enhance engagement of the ends of the wings 10,12 with the shoulders 106,108. The base portion 4 of the connector may also dimensioned to be received within the neck region 104 of the receiving aperture or slot 102 of the female connector 100 when the connector 2 is inserted into the female connector 100. The outer sides of the female connector 100 define retaining projections 1 10,1 12 adapted to engage a pair of opposing inwardly facing shoulders defined in the side walls of a receiving recess into which it is inserted to retain the female connector 100 therein. The shapes of the retaining projections 1 10,1 12 of the female connector 2 and the shoulders in the receiving recess (not shown) may be adapted to tightly secure the female connector 100 within the cooperating receiving recess, particularly once the wings 10,12 of the connector 2 are inserted into the female connector 100.

While each in the above described embodiments the connector 2 is defined as having a central rib 6, defining a head portion 8 supporting a respective pair of outwardly flared symmetrically arranged resilient wings 10,12 on either side of the central rib 6, said wings 10,12 extending towards the base portion 4 and defining a substantially arrow head shaped cross section, it is envisaged that only one outwardly curved wing may be defined on one side of the connector, the central rib not being located centrally between two wings but instead defining an opposite side of the connector 2 from an outer end of which, defining said head portion, the single wing depends. The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.