CORNER PROTECTOR
A pair of opposing side walls (23, 24) are joined by substantially perpendicular bridging walls (31, 32) provided with an outer wall (41, 42) which is spaced from the bridging wall by a longitudinal connecting wall (43) and spaced transverse connecting walls (44). The outer wall (41, 42) is intended to be crushed under the force of a heavy impact. The longitudinal wall (43) is offset from the centre line so that even in the event of a square-on impact the outer wall can still deform inwardly on one side. The inner faces of the bridging walls (31, 32) include a longitudinally-extending support surface bounded by side channels (36, 37) having side faces which are coplanar with the inner faces of the side walls (23, 24). Such an arrangement allows the side walls to flex outwardly within the depth of the channels and provides an improved grip and improved tolerance with respect to the thickness of the protected article.
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This invention relates to an improved form of the corner protector disclosed in WO 2007 045 822 A1.
BACKGROUNDThe corner protector disclosed in the abovementioned document is moulded from plastics material and has a pair of opposing side walls connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls. In order to reduce the risk of damage to a protected article, internal channels extend along the junction between the side walls and the bridging walls. However, damage may still occur in the event of a very heavy impact such as may occur when a sheet of glass or marble is dropped onto a protected corner. Furthermore, the earlier corner protector may be difficult to fit due to low tolerance in the dimensions of the protected article combined with a tendency to distortion during cooling of the plastic.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved form of corner protector which can be fitted to articles with a wider thickness range and which provides significantly improved protection in the event of a major impact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention proposes a corner protector which is moulded from plastics material and includes a pair of opposing side walls connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls,
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- characterised in that, for at least part of their length, the bridging walls are provided with an outer crush zone including an outer wall which is spaced from the bridging wall by an intermediate connecting structure.
The outer wall is intended to be crushed under the force of a heavy impact so that it may deform or even break to absorb the force of the impact and protect the inner bridging wall from damage.
The connecting structure preferably includes a plurality of mutually spaced connecting walls which extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the bridging wall. The transverse connecting walls may provide sufficient stability to bear the weight of the protected article in normal use whilst allowing the outer wall to be crushed during an impact.
The connecting structure preferably also includes a longitudinal connecting wall which extends along the length of each bridging wall. A single longitudinal wall located intermediate between the edges of the outer wall has particular advantages. Firstly, the connecting wall provides additional support during normal use, but on the other hand the outer wall can still deform during impacts since the majority of impacts occur to one side of the centre line. In fact, it is preferable for the single longitudinal wall to be offset from the centre line so that even in the event of a square-on impact the outer wall can still deform inwardly on one side.
An additional advantage of the preferred form of crush zone relates to the injection moulding process. The corner protector is simple to mould, and the design of the crush zone allows the corner protector to cool uniformly without distortion.
The invention further provides a corner protector which is moulded from a resiliently deformable plastics material and includes a pair of opposing side walls connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls,
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- characterised in that the inner faces of the bridging walls include a longitudinally-extending support surface bounded by side channels having side faces which are coplanar with the inner faces of the aforesaid side walls, and in which the depth of the side channels is greater than their width.
Such a side channel arrangement allows the side walls to flex outwardly within the depth of the channels and provides an improved grip and much greater tolerance with respect to the thickness of the protected article.
The support surface may include at least one longitudinally-extending intermediate channel between the side channels, which further reduces distortion of the plastic during cooling.
The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:
The corner protector is intended to protect the corners of sheets of glass, metal sheets, furniture, pictures, marble, masonry, etc. Toughened glass is acutely sensitive to light impacts at the corners, for example. As well as protecting a corner from impacts during handling, transportation and storage, the device also reduces the risk of damage to floors, walls, ceilings, furniture etc. caused by accidental contact with such corners during handling, and may also protect transport vehicles from damage.
Referring to
Referring to
The internal support faces 33 and 34 of the two bridging walls are flat and substantially perpendicular, and are formed with an internal recess 35 where the two walls meet. In addition, the support surface is bounded by side channels 36 and 37 having side faces which are formed coplanar with the inner faces of the two side walls 23 and 24. It will be noted that the depth d of the side channels is greater than their width w. If the distance between the side walls 23 and 24 is sufficient, additional intermediate channels 38 may be formed in between the side channels 36 and 37 to further reduce shrinkage during cooling of the plastic.
To protect a sheet of toughened glass of an appropriate thickness, for example, one of the corner protectors is applied to each of its corners. The corner protector is slid onto the glass until the internal faces 33 and 34 make contact with the adjacent straight edges of the glass sheet. As shown in
An adhesive pad can be inserted through one or more of the apertures 40 and stuck to the glass to hold the corner protector in position.
The outer walls 41 and 42, the longitudinal connecting wall 43 and the transverse connecting walls 44 form an outer crush zone which is intended to be crushed under the force of a heavy impact, e.g. if the glass sheet is dropped on its protected corner. The walls 42 to 44 may deform or even break to absorb the force of the impact. However, the inner bridging wall will generally remain intact and protect the vulnerable edge of the glass sheet from damage.
The corner protectors can be manufactured in various widths in order to protect sheets of various thickness.
Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the art.
Claims
1. A corner protector which is moulded from plastics material and includes a pair of opposing side walls (23, 24) connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls (31, 32),
- characterised in that, for at least part of their length, the bridging walls (31, 32) are provided with an outer crush zone including an outer wall (41, 42) which is spaced from the bridging wall by an intermediate connecting structure (43, 44).
2. A corner protector according to claim 1 in which the connecting structure includes a plurality of mutually spaced connecting walls (44) which extend transverse to the longitudinal direction of the respective bridging wall (31, 32).
3. A corner protector according to claim 1 in which the connecting structure includes a longitudinal connecting wall (43) which extends along the length of each bridging wall (31, 32).
4. A corner protector according to claim 3 in which the longitudinal wall (43) is offset from a centre line of the respective bridging wall (31, 32).
5. A corner protector according to claim 1 in which inner faces of the bridging walls (31, 32) include longitudinally-extending support surface (33, 34) bounded by side channels (36, 37) having side faces which are coplanar with inner faces of the aforesaid side walls (23, 24), and in which the depth of each side channel is greater than its width.
6. A corner protector according to claim 5 in which the support surface (33, 34) includes at least one longitudinally-extending intermediate channel (35) between the side channels (36, 37).
7. A corner protector which is moulded from plastics material and includes a pair of opposing side walls (23, 24) connected by a pair of substantially perpendicular bridging walls (31, 32),
- characterized in that inner faces of the bridging walls (31, 32) include a longitudinally-extending support surface (33, 34) bounded by side channels (36, 37) having side faces which are coplanar with inner faces of the aforesaid side walls (23, 24), and in which the depth of each side channel is greater than its width.
8. A corner protector according to claim 2 in which the connecting structure includes a longitudinal connecting wall (43) which extends along the length of each bridging wall (31, 32).
9. A corner protector according to claim 8 in which the longitudinal wall (43) is offset from a centre line of the respective bridging wall 31, 32.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 7, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 3, 2013
Applicant: ARMORED (UK) LIMITED (London)
Inventor: Thomas Murdoch (London)
Application Number: 13/261,670
International Classification: B65D 81/05 (20060101);