FASTENER FOR CONSTRUCTING POSTS FOR FURNITURE
The disclosure relates to a fastening device with a stem which is engaged on a first end by a cross-dowel with a transverse threaded aperture and on a second end by a cylinder with a set-screw. The second end of the stem includes an aperture surrounded by an oval-shaped longitudinally elongated countersunk region. This aperture can capture the set-screw within a small range of longitudinal positions, thereby allowing for fine adjustments to be made to align the sidewalls of adjacent post segments joined by the fastening device.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fastener for the use in constructing posts for furniture, or similar structures. In particular, the present invention provides the strength of a longitudinally-oriented threaded fastener while allowing for adjustment to align the lateral sides of the posts.
2. Background
In the prior art, it is well known to pack and transport furniture in a disassembled state in order to reduce the packaging volume and to reduce transportation expense. However, this requires the consumer to assemble the furniture, or to incur added expense to have the furniture assembled after purchase. This requires the assembly procedure to be straightforward and simple for a broad range of consumers. More important, however, in the assembly of some furniture, particularly bunkbeds which are designed to hold sleeping children several feet above the floor, it is important that the resulting assembly be fool-proof. While longitudinally-oriented threaded fasteners can provide very reliable strong connections between adjacent portions forming a post for such furniture as a bunkbed, such fasteners may not allow for the satisfactory alignment of the lateral sides of the posts. In other words, when portions of a post of rectangular cross section are connected end-on-end to form a post, it is aesthetically important for the lateral sides to align without sacrificing the strength of the resulting post.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a strong reliable fastener for securing adjoining post segments together so as to form a post, such as may be used for furniture and similar structures.
It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a fastener for securing adjoining post segments together so as to form a post, which is relatively simple and straightforward for the consumer to assemble.
It is therefore a final object of the present invention to provide a fastener for securing adjoining post segments together, wherein the lateral sides of adjoining post segments may be aligned with each other.
These and other objects are attained by providing a fastener which comprises a longitudinal stem with a first half which is threaded and a second half which includes a cross-aperture with a somewhat longitudinally elongated oval-shaped counter-sunk region; a cross-dowel which is inserted laterally into a first post segment and which presents a threaded aperture to the threaded portion of the longitudinal stem; and a cylinder which is inserted laterally into a second post segment and presents an unthreaded aperture for receiving the second half of the longitudinal stem, thereby aligning cross-aperture and the oval-shaped counter-sunk region within the center of the cylinder for receiving a set screw which screws into the cylinder.
The resulting structure presents a very intuitive device which can be easily assembled by the user, resulting in a very strong fastened connection. Further, as will be described herein, the ability of the set screw to engage the longitudinal stem throughout a relatively small longitudinal range (at least equal to the pitch of the threads of the first half of the longitudinal stem) allows an adjustment to be made to align the lateral sides of adjoining post segments.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present fastener invention and method of using the same has the ability, among other things, to not only lock a leg extension or post onto another bed leg or post, but also has the ability to generate extreme compression between the two connecting legs or posts that will make the combined legs or posts rock solid as if the combined legs or posts were one solid piece of wood.
Many prior art devices use pins to place beds on top of each other. The resulting compression between these bed posts, if any, is due to the weight of the bed and gravity. These posts can easily be moved or disconnected by shaking or moving the beds. None of these prior art bed posts allow for such a hard direct compression like the fastener of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of fastener 10 in
As shown in
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The installation process of fastener 10 with respect to post segments 100, 200 can be explained by reference to
Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A fastener, including:
- a stem with a first end and a second end;
- a first device for rotationally engaging said first end; and
- a second device for engaging said second end along a range of positions.
2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said first end includes an externally threaded portion and wherein said first device includes an internally threaded passageway for rotationally engaging said externally threaded portion.
3. The fastener of claim 2 wherein said first device is cylindrically shaped and wherein said internally threaded passageway is transversely oriented within said first device.
4. The fastener of claim 3 wherein said second end includes an aperture and wherein said second device includes a securing element for insertion into said aperture.
5. The fastener of claim 4 wherein said second device is cylindrically shaped with an unthreaded passageway which is transversely oriented within said second device.
6. The fastener of claim 5 wherein said second device includes a longitudinally oriented internally threaded passageway.
7. The fastener of claim 6 wherein said second device further includes a set-screw with external threads, threaded into said longitudinally oriented internally threaded passageway, and wherein said securing element comprises an end of said set-screw.
8. The fastener of claim 7 wherein said end of said set-screw terminates in a pointed tip, wherein said pointed tip can engage said aperture of said second end along a range of longitudinal positions of said stem, said range being at least equal to a pitch distance of said externally threaded portion of said first end of said stem.
9. The fastener of claim 8 wherein said aperture in said second end of said stem is surrounded by a first counter-sunk region.
10. The fastener of claim 9 wherein said first counter-sunk region is oval-shaped, longitudinally elongated along said stem.
11. The fastener of claim 10 wherein said first device includes a first tool-engaging slot for rotating said first device.
12. The fastener of claim 11 wherein said second device includes a second tool-engaging slot for rotating said second device.
13. The fastener of claim 12 wherein said first tool-engaging slot indicates a rotational position of said internally threaded passageway.
14. The fastener of claim 13 wherein said second tool-engaging slot indicates a rotational position of said unthreaded passageway.
15. The fastener of claim 14 wherein said set-screw includes a tool-receiving aperture.
16. The fastener of claim 15 wherein an opening of said internally threaded passageway is surrounded by a second counter-sunk region.
17. The fastener of claim 16 wherein an opening of said unthreaded passageway is surrounded by a third counter-sunk region.
18. The fastener of claim 1 wherein said stem, said first device and said second device are made from stainless steel.
19. A fastener for assembly of furniture posts, comprising:
- a stem having a first end and a second end, said first end being threaded, and said second end defining a hole therethrough, said second end further defining a counter-sunk region adjacent to an entry of said hole;
- a first cylinder for insertion into a first post, said first cylinder having a threaded hole therethrough; said threaded hole for receiving said threaded first end of said stem; said first cylinder further having a slot for alignment of said cylinder to said first end;
- a set screw having external threads and a pointed end, said set screw further having a second end having a tightening aperture;
- a second cylinder for insertion into a second post, said second cylinder having an unthreaded hole therethrough and a threaded hole on a top portion of said second cylinder; said top portion having a slot for alignment of said second cylinder to said second end; said unthreaded hole for engaging said second end of said stem; said threaded hole on said top portion for receiving said set screw that locks said second cylinder when said set screw is rotated by said tightening aperture.
20. A method of fastening furniture posts, comprising:
- inserting a first cylinder into a first post; said first post having a first aperture;
- inserting a stem into said first aperture; said stem having an indicator mark to confirm said mark is flush with an end of said first post;
- inserting a set-screw into said first cylinder;
- inserting a second cylinder into a second post; said second post having a second aperture;
- inserting an end of said stem that is protruding from said first post into said second cylinder that is within said second post;
- rotating at least one of said posts to thread said stem into said second cylinder; and
- tightening said set-screw at said first cylinder to an extent sufficient to prevent free rotation of said stem.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 19, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 23, 2010
Inventor: Stephen Vestergaard-Jensen (Bridgeport, CT)
Application Number: 12/487,836
International Classification: F16B 39/06 (20060101); F16B 21/00 (20060101); F16B 35/06 (20060101);