초록 ▼

A method of connecting a panel (50) to a panel joining member (51) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a recess (16) adjacent to an edge of a panel. The panel (50) is located within a panel joining member (51) the panel (50) being located against a stop member (15) and the recess

A method of connecting a panel (50) to a panel joining member (51) is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a recess (16) adjacent to an edge of a panel. The panel (50) is located within a panel joining member (51) the panel (50) being located against a stop member (15) and the recess (16) being aligned with an aperture (18) in the wall (13B) of the joining member (51). A fastener (17) is passed through the aperture (18) and urges the panel towards the outer wall (15) of the joining member (51). A receiver (30) is inserted into the recess (16) to assist engagement of the panel (50) with the fastener (17). The receiver (30) has a shape complementary to that of the recess (16). Opposing walls (13A, 13B) of the joining member (51) are inclined towards one another to improve panel retention. A push or snap-fit join is included to facilitate assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A panel joint, comprising: a panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, at least one end and a fastener-receiving cavity formed within said panel which opens onto said inner surface, generally adjacent to said one end of said panel; a panel joining member having o

The invention claimed is: 1. A panel joint, comprising: a panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, at least one end and a fastener-receiving cavity formed within said panel which opens onto said inner surface, generally adjacent to said one end of said panel; a panel joining member having opposed, spaced-apart inner and outer sidewalls which define therebetween a panel-receiving cavity for receipt therein of said one end of said panel, said inner sidewall of said panel joining member having an aperture formed therethrough which is positioned to align with said fastener-receiving cavity when said one end of said panel is received with said panel-receiving cavity; at least one stop member formed on said panel joining member adjacent to said panel-receiving cavity against which said one end of said panel abuts when fully inserted into said panel-receiving cavity; a screw-threaded fastener removably insertable through said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member and into said fastener-receiving cavity to enable said fastener to engage said panel and urge the outer surface of said panel against the outer sidewall of said panel joining member, said fastener-receiving cavity including an aperture to receive a nut into which said fastener can be screwed, the panel joining member and the nut cooperatively engaging to lock the nut against the inner sidewall of the panel joining member; and an adapter to receive said fastener and for insertion into said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter comprising an opening having an open end having a mouth and a closed end, to receive said fastener, the mouth of the opening having a diameter greater than that of said fastener. 2. The panel joint according to claim 1, wherein the opening includes a narrowing at its closed end to grip the end of a fastener. 3. The panel joint according to claim 2, wherein the opening and the narrowing are cylindrical. 4. The panel joint according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical opening and the narrowing are co-axial. 5. The panel joint according to claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive disposed between the panel and at least one sidewall of the panel joining member to increase the strength of the joint. 6. The panel joint according to claim 5, further comprising: an adapter located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity. 7. The panel joint according to claim 1, further comprising: an adapter having an open end located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity. 8. The panel joint according to claim 7, wherein the adapter narrows away from its open end to ensure that the material from which the adapter is formed undergoes plastic flow around the fastening member as the fastening member is fully engaged. 9. The panel joint according to claim 1, wherein said fastener includes a screw thread to engage the panel joining member. 10. The panel joint according to claim 1, wherein said fastener is aligned along an axis which is at an angle inclined to the axis perpendicular to the surface of the panel. 11. In a method of connecting a panel to a panel joining member employing a panel assembly of the type comprising, a panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one end, a panel joining member having opposed, spaced-apart inner and outer sidewalls which define therebetween a panel-receiving cavity, said inner sidewall of said panel joining member having an aperture formed therethrough, at least one stop member formed on said panel joining member adjacent to said panel-receiving cavity, and a fastener including a screw-thread, the method comprising the steps of: forming a fastener-receiving cavity within said panel which opens onto said inner surface, generally adjacent to said one end of said panel; inserting a receiver into said fastener-receiving cavity; forming an aperture in the open end of said fastener receiving cavity and inserting said one end of said panel into said panel-receiving cavity of said panel joining member; abutting said one end of said panel against said one stop member and aligning said fastener-receiving cavity of said panel with said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member; and inserting said fastener through said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member and screwing the fastener into a nut and into said fastener-receiving cavity of said panel to enable said fastener to engage said panel and urge the outer surface of said panel against the outer sidewall of said panel joining member, the nut and the panel joining member operating to lock the nut against the inner sidewall of the panel joining member. 12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the further step of: introducing an adhesive between the panel and at least one of the sidewalls of the panel joining member. 13. The method according to claim 12, comprising the further step of: substantially tightening said fastener and forming an adhesive bond weld between the panel and the sidewall of the panel joining member when the fastener has been tightened substantially. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fastener is an expanding rivet fastener to enable it to engage the panel tightly. 15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fastener has a screw-thread to engage at least one of said panel and said panel joining member. 16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the receiver is an adapter, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of the fastener-receiving cavity. 17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fastener-receiving cavity has an open end and narrows away from its open end. 18. The method according to claim 11, additionally including the step of introducing said fastener into the receiver at an angle inclined to the axis perpendicular to the surface of the panel. 19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the panel includes at least one projection to engage a corresponding recess in a panel joining member thereby forming a push-fit type joint. 20. The method according to claim 11, wherein opposing sidewalls of the panel joining member are inclined together at an angle of up to 5°. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the incline angle is from 0.7° to 2°. 22. A panel joint, comprising: a panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, at least one end and a fastener-receiving cavity formed within said panel which opens onto said inner surface, generally adjacent to said one end of said panel; a panel joining member having opposed, spaced-apart inner and outer sidewalls which define therebetween a panel-receiving cavity for receipt therein of said one end of said panel, said inner sidewall of said panel joining member having an aperture formed therethrough which is positioned to align with said fastener-receiving cavity when said one end of said panel is received with said panel-receiving cavity; at least one stop member formed on said panel joining member adjacent to said panel-receiving cavity against which said one end of said panel abuts when fully inserted into said panel-receiving cavity; a screw-threaded fastener removably insertable through said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member and into said fastener-receiving cavity to enable said fastener to engage said panel and urge the outer surface of said panel against the outer sidewall of said panel joining member, said fastener-receiving cavity including an aperture to receive a nut into which said fastener can be screwed, the panel joining member and the nut cooperatively engaging to lock the nut against the inner sidewall of the panel joining member; and an adapter having an open end located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity. 23. The panel joint according to claim 22, further comprising: an adapter to receive said fastener and for insertion into said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter comprising an opening having an open end having a mouth and a closed end, to receive said fastener, the mouth of the opening having a diameter greater than that of said fastener. 24. The panel joint according to claim 23, wherein the opening includes a narrowing at its closed end to grip the end of a fastener. 25. The panel joint according to claim 24, wherein the opening and the narrowing are cylindrical. 26. The panel joint according to claim 25, wherein the cylindrical opening and the narrowing are co-axial. 27. The panel joint according to claim 22, further comprising: an adhesive disposed between the panel and at least one sidewall of the panel joining member to increase the strength of the joint. 28. The panel joint according to claim 27, further comprising: an adapter located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity. 29. The panel joint according to claim 22, wherein the adapter narrows away from its open end to ensure that the material from which the adapter is formed undergoes plastic flow around the fastening member as the fastening member is fully engaged. 30. The panel joint according to claim 22, wherein said fastener includes a screw thread to engage the panel joining member. 31. The panel joint according to claim 22, wherein said fastener is aligned along an axis which is at an angle inclined to the axis perpendicular to the surface of the panel. 32. A panel joint, comprising: a panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, at least one end and a fastener-receiving cavity formed within said panel which opens onto said inner surface, generally adjacent to said one end of said panel; a panel joining member having opposed, spaced-apart inner and outer sidewalls which define therebetween a panel-receiving cavity for receipt therein of said one end of said panel, said inner sidewall of said panel joining member having an aperture formed therethrough which is positioned to align with said fastener-receiving cavity when said one end of said panel is received with said panel-receiving cavity; at least one stop member formed on said panel joining member adjacent to said panel-receiving cavity against which said one end of said panel abuts when fully inserted into said panel-receiving cavity; a screw-threaded fastener removably insertable through said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member and into said fastener-receiving cavity to enable said fastener to engage said panel and urge the outer surface of said panel against the outer sidewall of said panel joining member, said fastener-receiving cavity including an aperture to receive a nut into which said fastener can be screwed, the panel joining member and the nut cooperatively engaging to lock the nut against the inner sidewall of the panel joining member; an adapter located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity; and an adhesive disposed between the panel and at least one sidewall of the panel joining member to increase the strength of the joint. 33. The panel joint according to claim 32, further comprising: an adapter to receive said fastener and for insertion into said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter comprising an opening having an open end having a mouth and a closed end, to receive said fastener, the mouth of the opening having a diameter greater than that of said fastener. 34. The panel joint according to claim 33, wherein the opening includes a narrowing at its closed end to grip the end of a fastener. 35. The panel joint according to claim 34, wherein the opening and the narrowing are cylindrical. 36. The panel joint according to claim 35, wherein the cylindrical opening and the narrowing are co-axial. 37. The panel joint according to claim 32, further comprising: an adapter having an open end located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity. 38. The panel joint according to claim 37, wherein the adapter narrows away from its open end to ensure that the material from which the adapter is formed undergoes plastic flow around the fastening member as the fastening member is fully engaged. 39. The panel joint according to claim 32, wherein said fastener includes a screw thread to engage the panel joining member. 40. The panel joint according to claim 32, wherein said fastener is aligned along an axis which is at an angle inclined to the axis perpendicular to the surface of the panel. 41. A panel joint, comprising: a panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, at least one end and a fastener-receiving cavity formed within said panel which opens onto said inner surface, generally adjacent to said one end of said panel; a panel joining member having opposed, spaced-apart inner and outer sidewalls which define therebetween a panel-receiving cavity for receipt therein of said one end of said panel, said inner sidewall of said panel joining member having an aperture formed therethrough which is positioned to align with said fastener-receiving cavity when said one end of said panel is received with said panel-receiving cavity; at least one stop member formed on said panel joining member adjacent to said panel-receiving cavity against which said one end of said panel abuts when fully inserted into said panel-receiving cavity; and a screw-threaded fastener removably insertable through said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member and into said fastener-receiving cavity to enable said fastener to engage said panel and urge the outer surface of said panel against the outer sidewall of said panel joining member, said fastener-receiving cavity including an aperture to receive a nut into which said fastener can be screwed, the panel joining member and the nut cooperatively engaging to lock the nut against the inner sidewall of the panel joining member, and wherein said fastener is aligned along an axis which is at an angle inclined to the axis perpendicular to the surface of the panel. 42. The panel joint according to claim 41, further comprising: an adapter to receive said fastener and for insertion into said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter comprising an opening having an open end having a mouth and a closed end, to receive said fastener, the mouth of the opening having a diameter greater than that of said fastener. 43. The panel joint according to claim 42, wherein the opening includes a narrowing at its closed end to grip the end of a fastener. 44. The panel joint according to claim 43, wherein the opening and the narrowing are cylindrical. 45. The panel joint according to claim 44, wherein the cylindrical opening and the narrowing are co-axial. 46. The panel joint according to claim 41, further comprising: an adhesive disposed between the panel and at least one sidewall of the panel joining member to increase the strength of the joint. 47. The panel joint according to claim 46, further comprising: an adapter located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity. 48. The panel joint according to claim 41, further comprising: an adapter having an open end located in said fastener-receiving cavity, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of said fastener-receiving cavity. 49. The panel joint according to claim 48, wherein the adapter narrows away from its open end to ensure that the material from which the adapter is formed undergoes plastic flow around the fastening member as the fastening member is fully engaged. 50. The panel joint according to claim 41, wherein said fastener includes a screw thread to engage the panel joining member. 51. In a method of connecting a panel to a panel joining member employing a panel assembly of the type comprising, a panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one end, a panel joining member having opposed, spaced-apart inner and outer sidewalls which define therebetween a panel-receiving cavity, said inner sidewall of said panel joining member having an aperture formed therethrough, at least one stop member formed on said panel joining member adjacent to said panel-receiving cavity, and a fastener including a screw-thread, the method comprising the steps of: forming a fastener-receiving cavity within said panel which opens onto said inner surface, generally adjacent to said one end of said panel, wherein the fastener-receiving cavity has an open end and narrows away from its open end; forming an aperture in the open end of said fastener receiving cavity and inserting said one end of said panel into said panel-receiving cavity of said panel joining member; abutting said one end of said panel against said one stop member and aligning said fastener-receiving cavity of said panel with said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member; and inserting said fastener through said aperture of said inner sidewall of said panel joining member and screwing the fastener into a nut and into said fastener-receiving cavity of said panel to enable said fastener to engage said panel and urge the outer surface of said panel against the outer sidewall of said panel joining member, the nut and the panel joining member operating to lock the nut against the inner sidewall of the panel joining member. 52. The method according to claim 51, comprising the further step of: inserting a receiver into said fastener-receiving cavity prior to the panel being inserted within the panel joining member. 53. The method according to claim 52, comprising the further step of: introducing an adhesive between the panel and at least one of the sidewalls of the panel joining member. 54. The method according to claim 53, comprising the further step of: substantially tightening said fastener and forming an adhesive bond weld between the panel and the sidewall of the panel joining member when the fastener has been tightened substantially. 55. The method according to claim 52, wherein the receiver is an adapter, the adapter having a shape complementary to that of the fastener-receiving cavity. 56. The method according to claim 52, additionally including the step of introducing said fastener into the receiver at an angle inclined to the axis perpendicular to the surface of the panel. 57. The method according to claim 51, wherein the fastener is an expanding rivet fastener to enable it to engage the panel tightly. 58. The method according to claim 51, wherein the fastener has a screw-thread to engage at least one of said panel and said panel joining member. 59. The method according to claim 51, wherein the panel includes at least one projection to engage a corresponding recess in a panel joining member thereby forming a push-fit type joint. 60. The method according to claim 51, wherein opposing sidewalls of the panel joining member are inclined together at an angle of up to 5°. 61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the incline angle is from 0.7° to 2°.