Corner Joint For Silk Screen Frames

Abstract

A corner joint for constructing silkscreen frames, comprising a first insert member, a second insert member connected perpendicularly to the first insert member, and a means for achieving an air-tight fit between the insert members and frame side members. The free ends of the first and second insert members have at least one tapered surface. The insert members are adapted to be received inside an end of a frame side member and tightly engage the frame side member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

[0003] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

[0004] Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

[0005] The present invention relates in general to corner joints, and more particularly to a corner joint for constructing a silk screen frame.

[0006] Several types of corner joint devices have been developed in art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,778 to Hirano discloses a joint for connecting two resin-coated steel pipes in an intersecting fashion. The joint comprises two cylindrical tubes of equal length that are connected into L-shaped configuration via a curved connecting portion. The resin-coated steel pipes are inserted into the cylindrical tubes. The joint also includes slits for permitting a pair of fitting ribs of the resin-coated steel pipes to project there through and cover ribs extending along both sides of the entire length of the slits for covering outer side surfaces of the pair of fitting ribs of the resin-coated steel pipe.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,289 to Kern discloses a corner joint device for longitudinal bars and cross bars that are created from hollow profiles. The device has three legs connected at right angles to each other by a connecting block. The connecting block is a short elbow onto which two of the three legs are formed. The third leg is connected in a removable manner to the crest of the connecting block. The hollow profiles of the bars can be slipped onto the legs. The three legs fit with little play exactly into the hollow profiles of the bars. The legs and the hollow profiles can have a rectangular, square or circular cross section.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,705 to Guillemet discloses a corner assembly for holding a screen frame. The corner assembly has a pair of connector arms extending outwardly from a corner connector portion. The arms are telescopically received in the corner connector, generally at 90 degrees relative to each other. Each corner assembly includes a slide member carried in a slide way. The cross-sectional configuration for side members of the frame may be of the roll formed or extruded U-shaped construction. Each arm of the corner assembly has a U-shaped configuration, opening into a channel, adapted to be resiliently received in gripping telescopic relation within the side members.

[0009] The components in the above devices and their methods of use are different from the present invention. Currently, the process of silk screening uses square or rectangular permanently welded metal frames, comprising four hollow side members connected at right angles. But these frames are made on an individual basis, which requires skilled labor. Moreover, any liquid from the silk screening process can find its way into the hollow side members, especially through the corners of the frame.

[0010] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an off-the-shelf corner joint that is easy to use for connecting hollow silk screen frame side members without the need of skilled labor.

[0011] A further object is to provide a corner joint for connecting hollow side members to form an air-tight seal for preventing passage of liquid from the silk screening process into the hollow side members.

[0012] Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a corner joint for constructing a rigid silk screen frame to anchor material on, as is a requirement in the silk screening process. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

[0013] The present invention is a corner joint for connecting frame side members of a silk screen frame. The corner joint comprises a first insert member and a second insert member connected perpendicularly to the first insert member. The free ends of the insert members include tapered surfaces. The joint also includes a plate member at the plane of connection between the insert members to increase the strength. The plate member forms a ridge on the joint and includes a hole.

[0014] The insert members are adapted to be tightly received inside the frame side members. A hermetic seal is achieved between the frame side members and the joint by applying glue over the insert members before they are inserted inside the frame side members. The corner joint of the present invention thus helps in constructing a rigid silkscreen frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the corner joint of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a top view of the corner joint.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the corner joint and a pair of frame side members.

[0018] FIG. 4 a perspective view showing the frame side members engaged with the corner joint.

[0019] FIG. 5 a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the corner joint.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the corner joint.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the corner joint with three tapered surfaces.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the corner joint with a curved tapered surface.

FIGURES--REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 . . . Corner Joint

12 . . . First Insert Member

14 . . . Second Insert Member

16 . . . Rectangular Plate Member

18 . . . First Tapered Surface

20 . . . Second Tapered Surface

22 . . . Frame Side Member

24 . . . Alternate Embodiment of the Corner Joint

26 . . . Round Insert Member

28 . . . Tapered Surface of the Round Insert Member

30 . . . Circular Plate Member

32 . . . Hole

34 . . . Third Tapered Surface

36 . . . Curved Tapered Surface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the corner joint is illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in FIGS. 1 through 6. The corner joint 10 is used to construct rigid silk screen frames, especially smaller silk screen frames, without the need of skilled labor.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the corner joint 10 comprises a first insert member 12, a second insert member 14, and a rectangular plate member 16 at the plane of connection between the first and second insert members 12 and 14. The first and second insert members are square tubular structures and include a pair of tapered surfaces, namely, a first tapered surface 18 and a second tapered surface 20 extending from the first tapered surface forming the free end of the insert member. Preferably, the second tapered surface 20 has a taper angle of approximately 8 to 10 degrees. The surface area of the plate member 16 is more than the outer surface area of the insert members 12 and 14 to form a ridge on the joint 10. The plate member 16 includes a hole for allowing air to pass through the interior of the joint 10. The plate member 16 increases the strength of the joint 10.

[0025] In an alternate embodiment, the insert members 12 and 14 can comprise any number of tapered surfaces with varying taper angles that are more than 2 degrees. Instead of straight tapered surfaces as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert members can comprise curved tapered surfaces.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first and second insert members 12 and 14 are adapted to be inserted inside an end of a square tubular frame side member 22 and tightly engage the frame member. Four corner joints 10 are used to construct a rigid silk screen frame. An air-tight fit is achieved between the insert members and the side members 22 by using glue or adhesive material. Adhesive is applied to the insert members 12 and 14 or to the inner surface of the side members 22 before inserting the insert members. As an insert member is inserted inside the end of a side member 22, the tapered surfaces 18 and 20 scoop up the glue to ensure an air-tight fit. Glue, when dried, occupies the space between the tapered surfaces 18 and 20 and the inner surface of the side members 22.

[0027] After the silk screen frame is constructed, the hole in the plate member 16 allows air to pass through the interior of the silk screen frame to equalize pressure. The surface area of the plate member 16 is equal to the outer surface area of the frame side members 22, so that the outer end of ridge is substantially in plane with the frame members 22.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in an alternate embodiment, the corner joint 24 comprises round tubular insert members 26 with two tapered surfaces 28 and a circular plate member 30. The diameter of the plate member 30 is more than the diameter of the insert members 26 to form a ridge. The circular plate member 30 also includes a hole 32 for allowing air to pass through the interior of the corner joint 24. This embodiment is used to construct a silk screen frame with round tubular frame side members. In a preferred embodiment, the corner joints 10 and 24 are made of aluminum.

[0029] In another alternate embodiment, the corner joint comprises multiple tapered surfaces with increasing taper angles, as shown in FIG. 7 with first 18, second 20, and third 34 tapered surfaces. In another alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the insert member includes a curved tapered portion 36 in the form of a smooth increasing arc.

[0030] All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0031] Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state "means for" performing a specified function, or "step for" performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a "means" or "step" clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of "step of" in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 112, paragraph 6.

[0032] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.

Claims

1. A corner joint for silkscreen frames, comprising: (a) a first insert member adapted to be received inside an end of a frame side member, tightly engaging the frame side member; (b) a second insert member connected to the first insert member and adapted to be received inside an end of a frame side member, tightly engaging the frame side member, wherein; (c) the free ends of the first and second insert members have at least one tapered surface; and (d) means for achieving an air-tight fit between the insert members and frame members interior side, and the insert members and frame members exterior side.

2. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the means for achieving an air-tight fit comprises a hermetic seal between the exterior of the insert members and the interior of the frame members.

3. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the seal is achieved by applying a glue or other adhesive material, so that joining an insert member and a frame member causes the glue or other adhesive to form a hermetic seal when the insert member is inserted inside the end of the frame member.

4. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the taper angle of the at least one tapered surface is more than 2 degrees.

5. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein tapered sections of the insert members comprise a pair of the tapered surfaces, a first tapered surface and a second tapered surface extending from the first tapered surface forming the free end of the insert member and having a taper angle of approximately 8 to 10 degrees.

6. The corner joint of claim 5, wherein the tapered sections of the insert members comprise a single taper comprising an increasing arc.

7. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the at least one tapered surface is a straight surface.

8. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the at least one tapered surface is a curved surface.

9. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the insert members comprise a plurality of the tapered surfaces with multiple taper angles.

10. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the insert members comprise square or rectangular tubular structures in cross section.

11. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the insert members comprise round tubular structures in cross section.

12. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the corner joint further comprises a plate member at the plane of connection between the first and second insert members.

13. The corner joint of claim 12, wherein the outer surface area of the plate member is greater than the outer surface area of the insert members, thereby forming a ridge on the corner joint.

14. The corner joint of claim 13, wherein the outer surface area of the plate member is equal to the cross sectional outer surface area of the frame side members.

15. The corner joint of claim 12, wherein the frame side members engage the plate member, so that a uniform surface is created from the face of one frame member across the outer edge of the plate member to the face of the adjacent frame member.

16. The corner joint of claim 12, wherein the plate member cross-sectionally bisects the frame member, and includes an air passageway that allows interior air pressure inside the silk screen frame to equalize.

17. The corner joint of claim 1, wherein the corner joint is comprised of aluminum.

18. A means of constructing a silk screen frame with side members and connecting corner members, comprising the steps of: (a) achieving a hermetic seal between at least one corner member of the silk screen frame and at least one frame side member; and (b) achieving a uniform exterior surface from one frame side member to another frame side member by; i. including a pane member equal in circumferential size to the bisectional circumferential size of a frame member, so that when adjoining frame members are connected to a corner member, the outer surface of the pane member and outer surfaces of the frame members are in planar alignment.

19. The means of claim 18, wherein the hermetic seal is achieved through the use of an adhesive.

20. The means of claim 19, wherein the adhesive occupies the space between at least one frame member interior and at least one corner member exterior, including the space between the pane member and the edge of the at least one frame member

21. A corner joint for silkscreen frames, comprising: (a) a first insert member adapted to be received inside an end of a frame side member, tightly engaging the frame side member; (b) a second insert member connected to the first insert member and adapted to be received inside an end of a frame side member, tightly engaging the frame side member, wherein; (c) the free ends of the first and second insert members have at least one tapered surface; (d) means for achieving an air-tight fit between the insert members and frame members interior side, and the insert members and frame members exterior side; and (e) a plate member at the plane of connection between the first and second insert members, the outer surface area of the plate member is greater than the outer surface area of the insert members, thereby forming a ridge on the corner joint.

22. The corner joint of claim 21, wherein the plate member includes an air passageway that allows interior air pressure inside the silk screen frame to equalize.