Lineal connector and template
View Patent ↗A member is adapted to be used for forming at least one assembly opening in a first lineal, wherein the member provides a template for locating the at least one assembly opening. The members further adapted to be used to connect the first lineal to a second lineal using the member and the at least one assembly opening.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a first elongate frame member having a first hollow portion including a first assembly opening;
a second elongate frame member having a second hollow portion including a second assembly opening; and
a connector member comprising:
a template portion including an opening providing a template for forming at least one of the first and second assembly openings;
a connector portion adjacent the template portion comprising:
at least two legs, each having a datum surface to contact a respective surface of the first elongate frame member or the second elongate frame member in a first configuration to locate the template opening with the first elongate frame member or the second elongate frame member, respectively, to facilitate formation of the first assembly opening and the second assembly opening in the respective first elongate frame member and the second elongate frame member; and
at least one connecting structure to interact with the at least one of the first and second assembly opening to facilitate connection of the connector member to the first and second elongate frame members, wherein the at least one connecting structure is located so as to be aligned with one of the first and second assembly openings but offset with respect to a center of the respective assembly opening in a second configuration where the member is positioned within the hollow portion of the first elongate frame member and the hollow portion of the second elongate frame member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connecting structure comprises a bore into a leg of the at least two legs of the connector member to receive a fastener.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the bore is to be received within the hollow portion of at least one of the first elongate frame member and second elongate frame member when the connector member is connected to one of the first elongate frame member and second elongate frame member.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one template opening comprises a plurality of template openings and wherein the at least one connecting structure comprises a plurality of bores to receive a plurality of fasteners.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the datum surfaces comprise a first datum surface facing in a first direction, a second datum surface facing a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a third datum surface facing in a third direction oblique to the first direction and the second direction.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the datum surfaces comprise a first datum surface facing in a first direction, a second datum surface facing a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a third datum surface facing in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector member is configured to be received within the_hollow portion of the first elongate frame member and the hollow portion of the second elongate frame member abutting the first elongate frame member along a 45 degree joint line.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cover to cap an open end of the first lineal.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector member is configured to be completely concealed within the first elongate frame member and the second elongate frame member when the first elongate frame member and the second elongate frame member are connected by the connector member.