US20050173361A1

US20050173361A1 - Do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces

Info

Publication number: US20050173361A1
Application number: US10/773,215
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Pei Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-09
Filing date: 2004-02-09
Publication date: 2005-08-11

Abstract

A do-it-yourself assembly construction piece has a body having a thickness and preferably made of metal and at least one connecting portion having a thickness half the thickness of the body and extending from the body at a corresponding edge of the body. The connecting portion has a through hole and a convex distal edge. The body has a concave face formed concentric with the through hole in the connecting portion to mate with the concave distal edge on an adjacent assembly construction piece to allow the two adjacent assembly construction pieces to pivot. When two connecting portions of two adjacent assembly construction pieces overlap, the through holes align and the two adjacent assembly construction pieces are connected by fasteners through the through holes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a do-it-yourself assembly construction piece, and more particularly to an assembly construction piece that can be selectively combined to build various objects.
2. Description of Related Art
Do-it-yourself (DIY) assemblies in accordance with the prior art usually have a specific configuration, and the pieces for a specific assembly cannot be used to build other objects. For example, a shelf assembly is composed of multiple long straight rods with multiple threaded holes and is assembled by screwing screws into the threaded holes to combine the rods together. Therefore, angles between two rods and configuration of the shelf assembly are constant and cannot be changed. When the shelf assembly is not used, the rods are virtually impossible to form other assemblies.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate or obviate the disadvantages of conventional DIY modules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces that can be selectively combined to form various objects.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1F are perspective views of a first group of do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pieces are linear pieces;
FIGS. 2A-2C are perspective views of a second group of do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pieces are outside corner pieces;
FIGS. 3A-3B are perspective views of a third group of do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pieces are acute inside corner pieces;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of one do-it-yourself assembly construction piece in accordance with the present invention, wherein the piece is a complementary linear piece;
FIGS. 5A-5B are perspective views of a fifth group of do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pieces are right angle sleeves;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of one do-it-yourself assembly construction piece in accordance with the present invention, wherein the piece is a linear 90° degree connector;
FIGS. 7A-7B are perspective views of a seventh group of do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pieces are single plane multiple point connecting pieces;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of one do-it-yourself assembly construction piece in accordance with the present invention, wherein the piece is an adjustable connector;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of one do-it-yourself assembly construction piece in accordance with the present invention, wherein the piece is a pivoting connector;
FIGS. 10A-10B are perspective views of a tenth group of do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pieces are orthogonal corner pieces;
FIGS. 11A-11B are perspective views of an eleventh group of do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces in accordance with the present invention, wherein the pieces are acute three axis corner pieces;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of one do-it-yourself assembly construction piece in accordance with the present invention, wherein the piece is an offset linear piece;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of one do-it-yourself assembly construction piece in accordance with the present invention, wherein the piece is a flat curved corner piece;
FIG. 14 is an operational perspective view of a first assembly composed of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces, wherein the assembly is a chair;
FIG. 15 is an operational perspective view of a second assembly composed of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces, wherein the assembly is a stool;
FIG. 16 is an operational perspective view of a third assembly composed of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces, wherein the assembly is a shelf frame;
FIG. 17 is an operational perspective view of a fourth assembly composed of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces, wherein the assembly is a bike-rack; and
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a do-it-yourself assembly construction piece with an anti-rotation device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A Do-it-yourself assembly construction piece in accordance with the present invention comprises a body and at least one connecting portion on the body. The body and at least one connecting portion are made preferably of metal. The body has a thickness, multiple edges and multiple surfaces. The at least one connecting portion extends from the body at the edges of the body. Each connecting portion has a thickness, a through hole and a convex distal edge. The thickness of each connecting portion is half the thickness of the body. The body has a concave edge formed concentrically with the through hole in each connecting portion to mate with the concave distal edge on an adjacent assembly construction piece. When two connecting portions of two adjacent assembly construction pieces overlap, the through holes align, and the two adjacent assembly construction pieces are connected by fasteners mounted through the through holes.
Multiple groups and embodiments of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces are used to form various assemblies, some of which are illustrated in the drawings.
With reference to FIGS. 1A to 1F, a first group of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces are linear pieces of various lengths. Each assembly construction piece has a straight body (10 a-10 f) and two connecting portions (12). Each straight body (10 a-10 f) has two ends (not numbered). The connecting portions (12) are formed respectively on the two ends of the straight body (10 a-10 f). Each connecting portion (12) has a through hole (122) and a convex distal edge (124). The through hole (122) is defined through the connecting portion (12). Each body (10 a-10 f) has a concave edge (14) formed to correspond to the concave distal edge (124) on an adjacent assembly construction piece.
With reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C, a second group of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces has multiple outside corner pieces with different lengths. Each outside corner piece has a bent longitudinal body (20 a-20 c) and two connecting portions (22). Each body (20 a-20 c) has two ends (not numbered), an inner side (not numbered), an outer side (not numbered) and two concave edges (24). The concave edges (24) are formed respectively on the two ends of the body (20 a-20 c). The connecting portions (22) are formed respectively at the two ends on the outer side. Each connecting portion (22) has a through hole (222) and a convex distal edge (224). The through hole (222) is formed through the connecting portion (22) concentric with the concave edges (24) of the body (20 a-20 c). The convex distal edge (224) is concentric with the through hole (222) and corresponds to the concave edge of an adjacent connecting portion. With reference to FIG. 2C, the bent longitudinal body (20 c) is bent 90° and is a preferred corner piece.
With reference to FIGS. 3A to 3B, a third group of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces has multiple inside corner pieces. Each inside corner piece has a bent longitudinal body (30 a, 30 b) and two connecting portions (32). Each bent longitudinal body (30 a, 30 b) has two ends (not numbered), an inner side (not numbered), an outer side (not numbered) and two concave edges (34). The concave edges (34) are formed respectively on the two ends of the body (30 a, 30 b). The connecting portions (32) are formed respectively at the two ends on the inner side. Each connecting portion (32) has a through hole (322) and a convex distal edge (324). The through hole (322) is formed through the connecting portion (32) concentric with the concave edges (34) of the body (30 a, 30 b). The convex distal edge (324) is concentric with the through hole (322) and corresponds to the concave edge of an adjacent connecting portion. With reference to FIG. 3B, the bent longitudinal body (30 b) is bent 90° and is a preferred corner piece.
With reference to FIG. 4, a fourth embodiment of the do-it-yourself assembly construction piece is a complementary linear piece and has a straight body (40) and two connecting portions (42). The straight body (40) has two ends and two sides, and the connecting portions (42) are formed respectively on opposite sides of the straight body (40) from each other.
With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a fifth group of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces has multiple right angle sleeve pieces. Each right angle sleeve piece has a body (50 a, 50 b), one connecting portion (52) and a hexahedron sleeve (56). The body (50 a, 50 b) has two ends. The connecting portion (52) is formed at one end, and the hexahedron sleeve (56) is formed at the other end of the body (50 a, 50 b). Each connecting portion (52) is half of the body (50 a, 50 b) in thickness and has a through hole (522) defined in the connecting portion (52) and a convex distal edge (524) (524 is not shown in the drawings). Each body (50 a, 50 b) has a concave face (54) (54 is not shown in the drawings) formed concentric with the through hole (522) in the connecting portion (52) at a joint with the connecting portion (52) to mate with the concave distal edge on an adjacent assembly construction piece. The hexahedron sleeve (56) has a top (not numbered), a bottom (not numbered), a front (not numbered), a rear (not numbered) and two sides (not numbered), a rod hole (562) and an optional bolt hole (564) (in the drawing, 564 is not a bolt hole but a through hole) and is connected to the body (50 a, 50 b) at one sidebolt hole. The rod hole (562) is rectangular and is defined through the hexahedron sleeve (56) from the front to the rear so that a rod (not shown) can be hold through the rod hole (562). Additionally, the bolt hole (564) is defined through the hexahedron sleeve (56) from the top to the bottom to communicate with the rod hole (562) and aligns with a securing hole (not shown) in the rod. Thereby, the sleeve piece can be positioned on the rod by inserting a long screw (not shown) through the bolt hole (564) and the rod hole (562).
With reference to FIG. 6, a sixth embodiment of the do-it-yourself assembly construction piece is a 90° linear connector that has a twisted body (60) and two connecting portions (62). The twisted body (60) has two ends (not numbered) and a middle portion twisted to 90° to orient the through holes (not numbered) in the two connecting portions (62) at right angles to each other.
With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a seventh group of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces has multiple single plane multiple point connecting pieces. Each single plane multiple point connecting piece has a rectangular body (70 a, 70 b) with four ends and at least three connecting portions (72) formed on the rectangular body (70 a, 70 b). One of the single plane multiple point connecting pieces has three connecting portions (72) formed respectively at three ends of the body (70 a). Another one of the single plane multiple point connecting pieces has four connecting portions (72) formed respectively at four ends of the body (70 b).
With reference to FIG. 8, an eighth embodiment of the do-it-yourself assembly construction piece is an adjustable connecting piece and has a straight body (80), one connecting portion (82) and an elongated hole (88). The straight body (80) has two ends. The connecting portion (82) is formed at one end of the body (80), and the elongated hole (88) is defined through the body (80) near the other end, is countersunk and has a bore diameter (not numbered). The bore diameter of the elongated hole (88) is the same as the through hole (822) in the connecting portion (82). A fastener slidably passes through the elongated hole (88) to connect the adjustable connecting piece to an adjacent connecting piece.
With reference to FIG. 9, a ninth embodiment of the do-it-yourself assembly construction piece is a pivoting connecting piece that has two bodies (90) and two connecting portions (92). Each body (90) has two ends (not numbered). Two of the ends are connected pivotally to each other. A connecting portion (92) is formed at the other end of each body (90).
With reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, a tenth group of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces has multiple orthogonal corner pieces. Each orthogonal corner piece has an L-shaped body (100 a, 100 b) and at least three connecting portions (102). The L-shaped body (100 a, 100 b) has multiple ends (not numbered), and the connecting portions (102) are formed respectively on the ends of the L-shaped body (100 a, 100 b). One of the orthogonal corner pieces has three connecting portions (102) formed respectively on ends of the body (100 a) such that adjacent connecting portions (102) for three perpendicular planes. Another one of the orthogonal connecting pieces has four connecting portions (102) are formed respectively on and extending respectively from ends of the body (100 b).
With reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B, an eleventh group of the do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces has multiple acute three-axis corner pieces with flat abutting faces. The acute three-axis corner pieces are similar respectively to the orthogonal corner pieces having an L-shaped body (110 a, 110 b) and multiple connecting portions (112) but further have a flat abutting face (114) formed at an included angle on the L-shaped body. One of the three-axis corner pieces has three connecting portions (112) formed respectively on and extending from corresponding ends of the body (110 a). Another one of the three-axis corner pieces has four connecting portions (112) formed respectively on and extending from ends of the body (110 b).
With reference to FIG. 12, a twelfth embodiment of the do-it-yourself assembly construction piece is an offset linear piece that has a long body (120) and two connecting portions (not numbered). The long body (120) has two ends (not numbered) that are bent in different directions and are parallel to each other.
With reference to FIG. 13, a thirteenth embodiment of the do-it-yourself assembly construction piece is a flat curved corner piece that has a curved body (not numbered) and two connecting portions (not numbered). The curved body is curved transversely and subtends an arc of 60°, 90°, 120° or any number of degrees evenly divisible into 360°.
When the assembly construction pieces are assembled, two connecting portions of adjacent assembly construction pieces overlap to align the through holes. Then, a fastener is passed through and secured in the through holes. Preferably, the fastener is composed of a flat-head rod and a sleeve nut. The concave face on the body of one assembly construction piece mates with the convex distal edge of an adjacent assembly construction piece to make the adjacent assembly construction pieces adjustable in angle and in position. Therefore, the assembled objects have more variety.
With reference to FIGS. 14 to 17, numerous objects can be constructed using multiple assembly construction pieces. Examples of objects constructed from the assembly construction pieces include a chair, a stool, a shelf frame and a bike-rack.
With reference to FIG. 18, any of the assembly construction pieces can be implemented with an anti-rotation device (180) comprising a toothed through hole (184), a flat-head bolt (187) and a sleeve nut (186). The toothed through hole (184) is formed by forming teeth on an inner surface of the through hole in the connecting portion (182). The sleeve nut (186) has a toothed outer surface (188) corresponding to and engaging the toothed through holes (184) on adjacent assembly construction pieces. The flat-head bolt (187) screws into the sleeve nut (186) to hold the sleeve nut (186) in the toothed through holes (184) and keep the adjacent assembly construction pieces from rotating.
The do-it-yourself assembly construction pieces as described can be used to make various objects limited only by a user's imagination. Furthermore, the assembly construction pieces can be detached and reused again to construct other objects.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A do-it-yourself assembly construction piece comprising:

a body with multiple ends and a thickness; and

at least one connecting portion extending respectively from ends of the body, wherein, each one of the at least one connecting portion has a through hole, a convex distal edge and a thickness half the thickness of the body; and

the body has a concave face formed concentric with the through hole in each one of the at least one connecting portion to mate with a corresponding convex distal edge on an adjacent assembly construction piece.

2. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a straight body (10 a-10 f) with two ends and two connecting portions (12) are formed respectively on the two ends of the straight body (10 a-10 f).

3. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a bent longitudinal body (20 a-20 c) with two ends, an inner side and an outer side; and

two connecting portions (22) are respectively formed at the two ends on the outer side.

4. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a bent longitudinal body (30 a, 30 b) with two ends, an inner side, and an outer side; and

two connecting portions (32) are respectively formed at the two ends on the inner side.

5. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a straight body (40) with two ends and two sides;

two connecting portions (42) formed respectively on opposite sides of the straight body (40).

6. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body (50 a, 50 b) has two ends;

one connecting portion (52) is formed at one end;

a hexahedron sleeve (56) is formed at the other end of the body (50), wherein each hexahedron sleeve (56) has a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, two sides and a rod hole (562) defined through the hexahedron sleeve (56) from the front to the rear.

7. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 6, wherein a bolt hole (564) is defined through the hexahedron sleeve (56) from the top to the bottom to communicate with the rod hole (562).

8. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a twisted body (60) with two ends; and

two connecting portions (62) formed respectively on the two ends;

wherein, the twisted body (60) has a middle portion twisted to 90°.

9. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a rectangular body (70 a, 70 b) with four ends; and

at least three connecting portions (72) formed on the rectangular body (70 a, 70 b).

10. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is a straight body (80) with two ends;

one connecting portion (82) is formed at one end of the straight body (80); and

an elongated hole (88) is defined on the straight body (80) near the other end of the straight body (80), is countersunk and has a bore diameter the same as the through hole of the connecting portion (82).

11. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly construction piece has an L-shaped body (100 a, 100 b) with multiple ends; and

at least three connecting portions (102) formed respectively on the ends of the L-shaped body (100 a, 100 b).

12. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 11, wherein the L-shaped body further has a flat abutting face (114) formed at an included angle on the L-shaped body.

13. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly construction piece has a long body (120) with two ends that are bent in different directions and are parallel to each other.

14. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly construction piece has a curved body that is curved transversely and subtends an arc of any number of degrees evenly divisible into 360°.

15. The do-it-yourself assembly construction piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the through hole on each one of the connecting portion has an inner toothed surface.

16. A do-it-yourself assembly construction piece comprising:

two bodies (90), wherein each body (90) has a thickness and two ends, and one end of one body is pivotally connected to an end of the other body; and

one connecting portion (92) is formed on the other end of each body and has a through hole and a convex distal edge, wherein each connecting portion (92) has a thickness half the thickness of the body (90);

wherein, each body (90) has a concave face formed concentric with the through hole in the connecting portion to mate with the concave distal edge on an adjacent assembly construction piece.