Connection system for joining rectangular wall frames

Abstract

A connection system for joining rectangular wall frames fabricated from pairs of rectangular cross section tubular side frame members and rectangular cross section tubular top and bottom frame members utilizes identical connectors, such as a single size machine screw and identical threaded inserts to provide upper and lower interconnections. Three different interconnections can be made using the single size machine screw and insert, the latter inserted into the open upper ends of the rectangular cross section tubular side frame members. Frame closure panels can be attached in a simple and secure manner.

1 . A connection system for joining rectangular wall frames fabricated from pairs of rectangular cross section tubular side frame members and tubular top and bottom frame members, the system comprising:
 at least two side frame members from two frames positioned with a narrow face of one side frame member in abutting contact with a wide face of the other side frame member;   a side frame interconnection comprising an insert captured in the open end of said one side frame member, the insert having coaxial threaded bores on opposite ends, one of said bores adapted to receive a machine screw extending through both wide faces of the other side frame member, the narrow face of said one side frame member, and into the threaded bore at one end of the insert.   
     
     
         2 . The invention as set forth in  claim 1 , including a third frame positioned with a wide face of a third side frame member in abutting contact with the narrow face of said one side frame member;
 a third side frame interconnection comprising a second machine screw extending through both wide faces of said third side frame member, through the abutting narrow face of said one side frame member, and into the threaded bore at the other end of the insert.   
     
     
         3 . The invention as set forth in  claim 1 , including a third frame positioned with a wide face of the third side frame member in abutting contact with the wide face of said other side frame member;
 a third side frame interconnection comprising a second insert captured in the open end of said third side frame member, the second insert being identical to said first named insert;   a second machine screw identical to said first named machine screw, extending parallel thereto and through both wide faces of the other side frame member, through the narrow face of said third side frame member, and into the threaded bore at one end of said second insert.   
     
     
         4 . A connection system for joining rectangular wall frames fabricated from pairs of rectangular cross section tubular side frame members and tubular top and bottom frame members, the system comprising:
 three side frame members from three frames joined with two of said side frame members positioned with their wider faces parallel to one another and interconnected by one side frame member;   the interconnection comprising an insert captured in the open ends of said two side frame members or said one side frame member, the insert having coaxial threaded bores on opposite ends adapted to receive pairs of identical machine screws;   the screws extending through said one side frame member and into the threaded bores of inserts in the ends of said two side frame members or through said two side frame members and into the threaded bores of the insert in the end of said one side frame member.   
     
     
         5 . The invention as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said two side frame members are positioned in face-to-face contact with their narrow faces lying coplanar, and the wide face of said one side frame member in overlying contact with said narrow faces. 
     
     
         6 . The invention as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said two side frame members are separated by said one side frame member with the opposed wide faces of said two side frame members in contact with the opposite narrow faces of said one side frame member captured therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The invention as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the frames are fabricated with weldments. 
     
     
         8 . The invention as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the wide faces of the side frame members are wider than the wide faces of the top and bottom frame members. 
     
     
         9 . The connection system as set forth in  claim 1 , including a rectangular frame closure panel placed to extend between the wide faces of opposed side frame members of one frame and with a panel back face in contact with and extending between the side faces of the top and bottom frame members. 
     
     
         10 . The connector system as set forth in  claim 9 , including a pair of narrow tongues attached to the wide faces of the opposed side frame members and extending between the top and bottom frame members, the tongues defining with the side frame members a slot of receipt of the closure panel. 
     
     
         11 . The connection system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the tongues comprise the freely extending legs of angle members the other legs of which are attached to the wide faces of the opposed side frame members. 
     
     
         12 . The connection system as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the frame closure panel is mounted in contact with the outer side faces of the top and bottom frame members. 
     
     
         13 . The connection system as set forth in  claim 12 , comprising a second frame closure panel mounted in contact with the inner side faces of the top and bottom frame members. 
     
     
         14 . The connection system as set forth in  claim 12 , including a bottom stop supporting the lower edge of the closure panel at the lower end of the slot.