US3683461A

US3683461A - Connector for fixing hollow bodies to supports

Info

Publication number: US3683461A
Application number: US34086A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rudolf Weidemann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-05-07
Filing date: 1970-05-04
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15
Also published as: GB1317451A; AT305094B; BE758398A; DE1923298A1

Abstract

Hollow bodies having a predetermined profile in a projection on a plane are fixed to supports having adherable surfaces by means of connectors having adherable surfaces and consisting of twopart snap fasteners having mating male and female elements. Adhesive forces are produced between adherable surfaces of said connectors on the one hand, and of said support and said hollow bodies, on the other hand, whereby said connectors are adhesively joined to said support and hollow bodies. Snap fastener joints are formed between said male and female elements.

Description

United States Patent [151 3,683,461 Weidemann 1451 Aug. 15, 1972 4] CONNECTOR FOR FIXING HOLLOW 1,820,041 8/1931 Barrows ..52/366 BODIES TO SUPPORTS 3,067,536 12/1962 Brittsan ..40/ 143 X Inventor: Rudolf weidemann Gansestrasse Brown Dusseldmfi Germany FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [221 May 1970 1,568,783 4/1969 France ..40/1 [21] Appl. No.: 34,086

I Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin l Foreign Application Priority Dam Attorney M1chae S Stnker May 7, 1970 Germany ..P 19 23 298.5 [5 ABSTRACT Hollow bodies having a predetermined profile in a [22] 1.1.8.51 128, 42/133 projection on a plane are fixed to supports having 'i 40 T SP P herable surfaces by means of connectors having ad- 1 o I 4 herable surfaces and consisting of two-part snap I fasteners having mating male and female elements. 56] R f (Red Adhesive forces are produced between adherable sure erences I faces of said connectors on the one hand, and of said UNITED STATES PATENTS support and said hollow bodies, on the other hand, whereby said connectors are adhesively joined to said g; g 'i'a support and hollow bodies. Snap fastener joints are agnere f dbt a1 df al 1 3,258,870 7/1966 Offenhauer ..40/143 e weensa' m e an em 6 6 3,475,794 11/1969 Seckerson ..24/73 HS 4 Clains, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB 1 5 I972 llll Inventor- CONNECTOR FOR FIXING HOLLOW BODIES TO SUPPORTS This invention relates to means for fixing hollow bodies to supports by means of two-part connectors.

The hollow bodies may preferably consist of marking means of all kinds, such as are used conventionally particularly in advertising in the form of letters, combinations of letters, numerals, combinations of letters and numerals, trade marks, brands, abbreviations of the names of manufacturers and/or products, diagrammatic representations, drawings, emblems etc. Such hollow bodies may be made from transparent or opaque materials, such as glass and synthetic resins. Many of these hollow bodies contain lighting fixtures or are formed by or covered with such lighting fixtures, which may consist of high-voltage or low-voltage fluorescent tubes.

The supports to which such hollow bodies may be fixed consist in most cases of masonry, cement, concrete walls, sandstone, shell limestone, granite, marble, artificial stone, .slabs, metal plates, glass, synthetic resin, plaster of Paris, plaster, mortar, steel sections, aluminum and similar materials, although this listing does not exclude the use of other materials, such as solid rock, if mountain slopes are to be provided with advertising to be read by the users of vehicles moving past said mountain slopes The connections between such hollow bodies and supports must meet numerous requirements. For instance, if the hollow bodies form the letters of a word It is an object of the present invention to provide means for fixing hollow bodies to supports whereby the disadvantages of the previous proposals can be avoided.

or if words consisting of letters should form a sentence,

the upper and lower ends of the letters should be defined by mathematically exact, straight lines so that the impression to the observer is not disturbed by an irregular arrangement of the letters or words. The letters must also be regularly spaced. If the hollow bodies should form a figure, the same must be exactly defined. Above all, the fixing means should resist the weather. Even stormy wind must not tear off a hollow body so that the same could fall down and injure human beings or objects. The hollow bodies must not produce a rattling noise, which could disturb the peace. Hollow bodies which have failed as a result of arbitrary damage (thrown stones) or by foreign bodies (falling branches) or because their life has expired (weathering) must be quickly and easily replaceable. These requirements will be multiplied if, e.g., electrical connections are required for internal and/or external lighting fixtures. The above listing of the requirements to be met is not complete.

For the reasons stated above, numerous processes and means for fixing have proposed in order to meet all requirements to be fulfilled. It has been found that the measures which have been proposed constitute attempts more or less to meet the requirements to be fulfilled but do not meet all such requirements. Specifically, all proposals requiring a formation of tapped holes in the supports so that they can at least partly receive suitable connecting means have not resulted in a satisfactory solution because assembling work of this kind is expensive when it is performed in the open and dangerous when it is performed at a large height. Besides, the assembling time is so long that the problem cannot be solved in this manner.

A snap fastener joint is formed by elements which are held together partly by friction and partly by a positive connection. Such connector is formed, e.g., by a twopart snap fastener which serves to fasten parts of garments consisting of textile fabrics. A snap fastener comprises a male element in the form of a pin having an enlarged or conical head, and a confronting female element having an aperture through which the conical or enlarged head of the pin can be forced. In a snap fastener for connecting textile fabrics, the natural elasticity of the material (spring steel) is sufficient to enable a forcing of the head of the male element or pin through the aperture of the secondary element and after the disengagement between the enlarged pin and the aperture a return of the parts to their original shape so that the male and female elements are positively joined until a new force action tending to separate the snap fastener results in such a resilient deformation of the two snap fastener elements that the latter are separated from each other. The forces to be applied will be reduced if one or both elements of the snap fastener are slit, and these forces will be increased if the apertured secondary element is provided with additional springs, which grip the head of the primary element when the same has been forced through the entrance of the secondary element and by their spring action exert an additional grip on the head.

The manner in which the required adhesive forces are produced is not significant. The adherable surfaces may simply consist of contact surfaces for adhesives although the use of other means, such as solders or welds between metal elements, are not excluded. As the hollow bodies consist preferably of synthetic resins, the adhesive end faces of the two-part connectors will generally be provided with synthetic resin adhesives. The adhesive joints may be as strong as the synthetic resin joined by the adhesive.

A connector according to the present invention is characterized by a male snap fastener element having an adhesive end face at the end opposite to the enlarged or resilient pin portion and a female snap fastener element which serves to receive the enlarged portion of the male snap fastener element and opposite to its aperture has an adhesive end face. Particularly desirable male and female elements will be obtained if, e.g., the adhesive end face of the male element is formed by a baseplate, which is made so that its size can be reduced in a simple manner by breaking off portions of the plate so that the same can easily be accommodated in the cavity of a hollow body. The female elements may be formed with frustoconical members which are apertured at their smaller end and provided at their larger end with an adherable annular end face. In a kinematically inverted arrangement, the male element may be frustoconical and have a larger end face confronting the female element consisting of a baseplate which is provided with an adherable end face and with an aperture mating the male element. A formation of the apertures in the support or in walls of the hollow body involves a higher expenditure.

Additional details and advantages of the invention will now be explained with reference to an embodiment shown by way of example on the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hollow body provided in a distribution corresponding to the basic profile of the hollow body with frustoconical female snap fastener elements formed with holes in their small end portion.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing a baseplate provided with a male snap fastener element.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through a device provided with the aid of the parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 shows a hollow body 10, which is a representation of any desired character, figure, numerals, letter and/or any other marking element having a certain meaning. This marking element is preferably assembled on a support of any kind together with additional individual bodies of the same kind to form a combination which represents a drawing or figure or a combination of letters and/or numerals. It is apparent that the illus trated hollow body 10 represents a capital letter H of a conventional alphabet. The hollow body 10 is U- shaped in cross-section. A support 16 closes the cavity which is defined by the hollow body 10. The support 16 carries also means for fixing the letter in position. FIG. 1 shows the letter as viewed from the side facing the support 16. The hollow body which is U-shaped in cross-section has a visible web 8 and limbs 13. Female snap fastener elements are secured, e.g., adhesively joined to the visible surface of the web. To ensure a uniform distribution and adequate stability, four female snap fastener elements 5 are respectively provided at the outer corners of the capital H. It will be understood that the female snap fastener elements may be provided in entirely different arrays.

FIG. 2 shows one of the baseplates l which are used to form adhesive end faces for the male snap fastener elements 4. A male snap fastener element in the form of a conical pin 4 is provided at the center of the baseplate l. The pin is integral with the plate 1. Longitudinal and/or transverse grooves 3 are provided to facilitate the breaking of marginal portions from the baseplate so that the baseplate 1 can be reduced in size immediately when this is required. The need for a reduction in size may not be ascertained until the baseplate 1 has been adhered to the support 16 in areas outside the grooves 3. In that case it will be sufficient to insert a screwdriver or chisel into the grooves so that these can be burst off subsequently whereby the adhesive joint is destroyed. In this way any portions of the baseplate which protrude from the hollow body 10 when the snap fastener joint has been established can be eliminated.

The baseplate l is also formed with holes ll, 12 by which the weight of the baseplate is reduced and through which additional adhesive may be applied so that new joining surfaces may be provided adjacent to the mouths of the holes. These holes may also be used in the formation of adhesive rivets if the holes flare toward the hollow body 10. In this way, the adhesive filling the holes may be positively joined to the baseplates because the adhesive filling the holes when set constitutes adhesive rivets. In addition to cylindrical holes 11, the baseplate is provided with conical holes 12.

The snap fastener pin 4 comprises a pilot end portion 14 which is smaller in cross-section and facilitates the insertion of the snap fastener pin into the snap fastener hole 15. The body of the pin which succeeds the pilot portion may be spherical or enlarged in the form of an ellipsoid so that the strength of the snap fastener joint is increased.

FIG. 3 shows an assembled device according to the invention. A baseplate l is adhered to the support 16. Only a part of the web and one limb 13 of the hollow body 1.0 is shown in this figure. The hollow body 10 is secured to the support 16 by means of a female snap fastener element 5. The snap fastener pin 4 has been inserted into the central hole 15 in the end portion 6 of the hollow-conical member 5 so that the pin 4 constitutes the male element of the snap fastener.

It is also apparent from FIG. 3 that the vertical limb 13 of the hollow body 10 contacts the support 16 and this is enabled without need for additional measures. As a result, there will be no adhesive on the outside surface of the hollow body 10 and the individual bodies 10 when secured to the base have a satisfactory appearance.

The baseplate 1 provided with the grooves 3 is small relative to the individual body 10 which represents a character but a larger baseplate might be used. If the baseplate is too large, the outer portions of the baseplate can be pinched or burst off so that any baseplate may be reduced to such a size that it will not protrude from a hollow body 10.

FIG. 3 shows details of the female snap fastener element. The latter comprises a hollow frustoconical member 5, which is made, e.g., of polymethacrylic ester, which is a transparent synthetic resin. The smaller end 6 of the portion 5 is formed with a hole 15 for receiving the pin 4 of the snap fastener. The larger end 7 of the portion 5 is provided with an adherable annular end face and contacts the web of the U-Shaped hollow body 10. An adhesive joint is formed adjacent to the large end 7.

The connector according to the invention may be applied with or without the use of templates. Where templates are used, they will be provided on each letter. When no template is used, the desired position of the lower edge of a hollow body in the form of a character may be defined by the marking out of a straight line. Alternatively, a line defining the upper edge may be marked out or parallel lines may be provided to indicate the desired position of the characters. This will ensure a uniform appearance with a minimum expenditure. The snap fastener pins 4 are then forced into the holes 15 of the snap fastener. The protruding portion or portions of the baseplate extending beyond the edges of the letter is or are now burst off or pinched off or eliminated in another manner, usually before the assembling, so that the baseplate will have no portions which protrude beyond the individual bodies. The application of the connector may then be continued in various ways. For instance, the male snap fastener elements may be secured to the support 16 and female elements 5 may be arranged in the

hollow body

10 or 8, 13 to face the male elements 1, 4. The female elements 5 may be adhesively joined to the wall 8 of the hollow body and the hollow body may then be forced onto the male snap fastener elements 1, 4 so that the holes 15 in the female snap fastener elements 5 receive the pins 4.

Alternatively, the female snap fastener elements 5 are arranged in an array which corresponds to the basic configuration of the hollow body or 8, l3 and in that array may be adhered to the wall 8. The still loose male

snap fastener elements

1, 4, 14 are then formed onto the cones so that the pins 4 enter through respective holes and the baseplates connected to the pins are thus joined to the female snap fastener elementsS. The baseplates 1 are now covered on that boundary surface which faces the support 16 with an adhesive and the entire

hollow body

8, 13 or 10 and the

parts

1, 4, 5 joined thereto are forced against the support 16 so that the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 3. This step may be kinematically inverted in that male and female

snap fastener elements

1, 4, 14 and 5, 15 are interconnected. That surface of the baseplates 1 which faces the support 16 may then be covered with an adhesive, whereafter the assembly 1, 4, l4, 5, 15 is joined to part 16. When this has been accomplished, the adherable annular surfaces 7 of the female elements 5 are covered with an adhesive and the entire

hollow body

8, 13 is forced onto the annular surfaces 7 so that the final position shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Modifications are possible in that the adhesive is not applied to the free boundary surface of the male and/or female elements but to the respective opposite surfaces, namely, the support 16 on its boundary surface facing the hollow body and/or the wall 8 of the hollow body on its inside surface. Alternatively, an adhesive may be provided on all surfaces. Each of these modifications of the process produces the result shown in FIG. 3. The selection of the mode in which the connector is applied will depend on individual conditions. The advantages which are apparent from the showing in FIG. 3 will always be afforded. Above all, the

hollow bodies

10 or 8, 13 may readily be pulled from the support 16 although the hollow body is firmly mounted on said support 16. The taper of the pins 4 may be selected to ensure that desired retaining forces will be obtained. It has already been pointed out that pins having the above mentioned enlarged portions may be used rather than conical pins 4 and will result in a snap fastener joint which is similar to that in a garment.

Letters which are very large and heavy and which may be dislocated by gravity may be held in position by means of a creped adhesive tape until the adhesive has been sufficiently set to take up the weight of the letters.

The use of templates is recommended if the bodies in the form of letters are to be attached with a higher accuracy. The templates for all letters are first tacked in position in the proper sequence. The templates are then pierced at the fixing points with a pencil or another pointed object. The pierced points are marked out on the support. The templates are then removed and the marks on the support 16 now provide points of reference indicating where the baseplates l are to be applied so that they can be adhered or secured by other means.

It is inherent in the invention that the same is not restricted to the illustrative embodiment.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for fixing a hollow body to supports having adherable surfaces, said connector having adherable surfaces and comprising, in combination, a

male sna fastenerelement which comprises a in and a holder or said pm, said holder having an ad erable boundary surface and a female snap fastener element having an apertured portion which is adapted to receive said pin and to locate said pin as in a snap fastener, said female snap fastener element having an adherable boundary surface, said pin holder consisting of a baseplate which protrudes over the base end of said pin and has an adherable boundary surface remote from said pin, said holder being provided with weakened portions which enable a removal of marginal portions of the holder from the remainder of the holder by the action of small deforming forces, said apertured portion consisting of a small end portion of a frustoconical hollow member, which at its end remote from said apertured portion is provided with an adhera- 1 ble surface, said male and female snap fastener elements consisting of polymethacrylic acid synthetic resin.

2. A connector for fixing a hollow body to supports having adherable surfaces, said connector having adherable surfaces and comprising, in combination, a male snap fastenerelement comprising a pin and a holder for said pin, said pin holder having an adherable boundary surface remote from said pin, said holder being provided with weakened portions which enable removal of marginal portions of said holder from the remainder thereof, by the action of small deforming forces; and a female hollow snap fastener element having at one end thereof an apertured portion adapted to receive said pin to hold the latter as in a snap fastener and having at its end remote from said apertured portion an adherable boundary surface.

3. A connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said female snap fastener element is a hollow frustoconical member provided at its small diameter end with said apertured portion.

4. A connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said pin holder comprises a base plate extending laterally beyond the base end of said pin, said weakened portions being provided in said base plate.

Claims

1. A connector for fixing a hollow body to supports having adherable surfaces, said connector having adherable surfaces and comprising, in combination, a male snap fastener element which comprises a pin and a holder for said pin, said holder having an adherable boundary surface and a female snap fastener element having an apertured portion which is adapted to receive said pin and to locate said pin as in a snap fastener, said female snap fastener element having an adherable boundary surface, said pin holder consisting of a baseplate which protrudes over the base end of said pin and has an adherable boundary surface remote from said pin, said holder being provided with weakened portions which enable a removal of marginal portions of the holder from the remainder of the holder by the action of small deforming forces, said apertured portion consisting of a small end portion of a frustoconical hollow member, which at its end remote from said apertured portion is provided with an adherable surface, said male and female snap fastener elements consisting of polymethacrylic acid synthetic resin.

2. A connector for fixing a hollow body to supports having adherable surfaces, said connector having adherable surfaces and comprising, in combination, a male snap fastener element comprising a pin and a holder for said pin, said pin holder having an adherable boundary surface remote from said pin, said holder being provided with weakened portions which enable removal of marginal portions of said holder from the remainder thereof, by the action of small deforming forces; and a female hollow snap fastener element having at one end thereof an apertured portion adapted to receive said pin to hold the latter as in a snap fastener and having at its end remote from said apertured portion an adherable boundary surface.