Method of forming a wire article

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a method of forming a wire article.

[0002] Many different wire articles are used in homes, gardens, offices, shops, etc., including record and cassette racks, dish racks, vegetable racks, wine racks, bird cages, tool racks, wire trays, wire display stands, clothes driers and airers, and the like. Such wire articles are sold as manufactured products and are generally formed by cutting, bending and welding or soldering metal wire to form a required article. The wire article so formed is then generally provided with a required surface finish, e.g., is dip- or otherwise coated with synthetic plastics material or spray- or otherwise coated with metallic or other paint. Such manufactured wire articles suffer from the disadvantages that they are not adaptable to individual requirements and are relatively expensive to buy.

[0003] From DE-U-1898069 it is known to form a wire article from sockets and wires by screwing, clamping or press fitting. From DE-A1-2521759 it is furthermore known to adhesively bond together tubes and sockets of a tube article, however, this document does not give a clear teaching in which way this procedure is carried out.

[0004] The present invention has as its object to provide a method of forming wire articles which will enable articles to be formed according to individual requirements.

[0005] The present invention provides a method of forming a wire article which comprises cutting wire stock into lengths of predetermined size, obtaining a plurality of connector members each comprising at least two socket portions each of which is adapted to receive an end portion of a cut length of wire of circular section and a diameter from 1.6 mm to 3.0 mm with a clearance of from 0.05 to 0.254 mm, connecting the cut lengths of wire together by means of the connector members to form a required article, and adhesively securing the end portions of the cut lengths of wire in the socket portions of the connector members when connecting the cut lengths of wire together.

[0006] The wire used in the method of the present invention is metal wire which is circular in section and had a diameter from 1.6 mm to 3.0 mm. Preferably the wire has-been pre-finished, i.e., has been provided with a suitable surface finish, e.g., has been coated with a suitable synthetic plastics material or with a suitable paint or other surface coating material such as a metallic paint or lacquer.

[0007] It has been found necessary in order to satisfactorily adhesively secure the end portions of the wire in the said socket portions to provide a clearance fit of the end portions of the wire in the socket portions. It has also been found that the size of this clearance is critical. If the clearance is too small or if the end portions of the wire are a tight fit in the socket portions then air becomes trapped in the socket portions and the end portions of the wire cannot be inserted fully into the socket portions. On the other hand if the clearance is too large then the strength of the adhesive bond will be impaired. Thus it has been found that the clearance should not be less than 0.05 mm and should not be greater than 0.254 mm and that the clearance is preferably from 0.10mm to 0.178 mm.

[0008] The said connector members may be of various different kinds for connecting the cut lengths of wire together in various different ways. For example, one kind of connector member may comprise two socket portions which are axially aligned for connecting two cut lengths of wire end-to-end in axial alignment. Such one kind of connector member may, for example, be in the form of a hollow tube into opposite ends of which can be inserted the end portions of two cut lengths of wire to be connected together. Other kinds of connector member may comprise two or more socket portions both or at least two of which have their axes angled with respect to one another, e.g., may comprise a right-angle connector member for connecting two cut lengths of wire at right-angles to one another, a Tee-shaped connector member for connecting three cut lengths of wire together in a Tee-formation, a Y-shaped connector member for connecting three cut lengths of wire together in a Y-formation, or an X-shaped connector member for connecting four cut lengths of wire together in an X-formation. A number of connector members of selected different types sufficient to enable a particular article or articles to be formed may be provided.

[0009] The said connector members are preferably formed, e.g., moulded, from synthetic plastics material, although they could, if desired be formed from metal, wood or other suitable material.

[0010] One or more feet for supporting an article may also be provided. The or each such foot may comprise a socket portion adapted to receive an end portion of a said cut length of wire and may, for example, be in the form of a solid sphere of plastics or other suitable material having an aperture therein which forms the socket portion.

[0011] Some wire articles, such as a record rack or a toast rack, may require the use of a base member, e.g., a base board, and the method of the present invention may comprise providing a base member, e.g., of polished wood or a suitable plastics material, having apertures therein adapted to receive end portions of the cut lengths of wire and inserting the end portions of the cut lengths of wire in said apertures. Likewise a base member having apertures therein adapted to receive end portions of the wire may be provided as well as fixtures or fittings may be provided which are necessary for the forming of a particular article or articles, e.g., may comprise one or more shelves and shelf supports, one or more wall brackets whereby an article formed can be mounted on a wall, one or more trays or other containers, and/or one or more hook members. Fixtures and fittings such as shelf supports, wall brackets or hook members may comprise a sleeve portion through which a cut length of wire can be inserted and which can, if required, be secured at a required position on the cut length of wire by means of a suitable adhesive.

[0012] The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows cut lengths of wire for use in the method of the present invention,

Figs. 2A to 2K show various kinds of connector members which may form part of a kit of parts,

Figs. 3A to 3C show different kinds of feet which may form part of a kit of parts,

Figs. 4A to 4E show different fixtures and fittings which may form part of a kit of parts, and

Figs. 5A to 5D show examples of articles which can be formed with a kit of parts.

[0013] A kit of parts comprises a supply of wire which may be in the form of a continuous length, e.g., a coil or skein, suitable for cutting into lengths of predetermined size or may be in the form of cut lengths 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, etc., of pre- determined size as illustrated in Fig. 1. In addition the kit of parts comprises a plurality of connector members which may be of various different types for connecting the cut lengths of wire together in various different ways in order to enable one or more required articles to be formed. Various different types of connector member are illustrated in Figs. 2A to 2K. Thus Fig. 2A shows a connector member 2 in the form of a tube the opposite ends of which are adapted to receive end portions of two cut lengths of wire so as to connect the two cut lengths of wire in end-to-end axial alignment. Fig. 2B shows a connector member 3 having two hollow tubular limbs 3a, 3b at right-angles to one another for connecting two cut lengths of wire at right-angles to one another. Fig. 2C shows a Tee-shaped connector member 4 for connecting three cut lengths of wire in a Tee-formation whilst Fig. 2D shows a connector member 5 having four limbs at right-angles to one another for connecting four cut lengths of wire in a substantially X-formation. Fig. 2E shows a connector member 6 having six limbs at right-angles to one another for connecting six cut lengths of wire at right-angles to one another. Fig. 2F shows a Y-shaped connector member 7 for connecting three lengths of wire in a Y-formation, Fig. 2G shows a four-way angled connector 8, Fig. 2H shows a three-way angled corner connector 9, Fig. 21 shows a five- way connector member 10 and Fig. 2J shows a connector block 11 having apertures 11 a therein for receiving end portions of the cut lengths of wire and which may be used to connect the cut lengths of wire in various different ways. Fig. 2K shows a connector member 12 formed from flexible tubing for connecting two lengths of cut wire together so that they can be hinged or flexed relative to one another.

[0014] The kit of parts may further comprise one or more feet which may be in the form of a solid sphere having an aperture therein adapted to receive an end portion of a cut length of wire or which may be as illustrated in Figs. 3A to 3C. The foot 13 illustrated in Fig. 3A is in the form of a bead of plastics, wood or other suitable material having an aperture 13a therein for receiving an end portion of a cut length of wire. The foot 13, or a foot formed as a solid sphere as above described, may serve both as a foot for supporting an article formed from the kit of parts or as an end cap for capping a free end portion of a cut length of wire used in forming an article. The feet 14 illustrated in Figs. 3B and 3C are identical except for size and each comprise a disc-like base portion 14a and a socket portion 14b for receiving an end portion of a cut length of wire.

[0015] Fig. 4A shows a shelf 15 whilst Fig. 4B shows a shelf support 16 for supporting the shelf 15.

[0016] The shelf support 16 comprises a channel portion 16a adapted to engage over a marginal portion of the shelf 15 and a sleeve portion 16b through which a cut length of wire can be inserted. Fig. 4C shows a wall bracket 17 comprising a tab portion 17a having an aperture 17b therein through which a screw can be inserted to secure the bracket to a wall and a sleeve portion 17c through which a cut length of wire can be inserted. Fig. 4D shows a corner brace 18 comprising a web portion 18a and sleeve portions 18b at either end of the web portion 18a, each of the sleeve portions 18b being adapted to have a cut length of wire inserted therethrough. Fig. 4E shows a hook member 19 comprising a hook portion 19a and a sleeve portion 19b through which a cut length of wire can be inserted. Each of the fittings shown in Figs. 4B to 4E can be secured in a required position on a cut length of wire which has been inserted through the sleeve portion thereof as by means of a suitable adhesive.

[0017] It will be understood that a kit of parts may, comprise any required combination and any required number of the parts shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 sufficient to enable a particular article or articles to be formed. It will also be understood that the fixtures and fittings illustrated in Figs. 4A to 4E are by way of example only and that such other fixtures or fittings as may be desired or necessary may be included in the kit of parts.

[0018] Figs. 5A to 5D show examples of articles made from a kit of parts. In these figures the cut lengths of wire, no matter what their length, are indicated by the reference numeral 1 whilst the connector members and fixtures and fittings have been given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 2 to 4. Fig. 5A illustrates a cassette rack, Fig. 5B a desk tidy, Fig. 5C a wine rack and Fig. 5D a took rack. All of these articles use parts as previously described with the exception of the desk tidy of Fig. 58 wherein in addition to parts as previously described there is used two plastics containers 20 which would be included in a kit of parts for forming the desk tidy.

[0019] The wire 1 used in the kit of parts as described in conjunction with the drawings is pre-finished, i.e., is provided with a suitable surface finish. Thus the wire 1 may be coated with a suitable plastics material or with a suitable paint or other surface coating material, e.g., a metallic paint, or may be anodised or otherwise surface finished. The wire may be of any suitable metal material and is preferably sufficiently ductile as to enable it to be bent to and remain in a required shape whilst being sufficiently stiff as to be self-supporting and resistant to ready deformation when formed into an article. The wire is of circular section having a diameter of between 3.00 mm (one- eighth inch) and 1.6 mm (one-sixteenth inch). The kit of parts may, if desired, comprise wire of two or more different thicknesses, the connector members being suitably modified to accommodate cut lengths of wire of different thicknesses.

[0020] The kit of parts includes a supply, e.g., a tube, of adhesive (not shown) for adhesively securing the end portions of the wire in the connector members and the articles shown in Figs. 5A to 5D are so adhesively secured. To provide an adequate adhesive bond of the end portions of the wire in the connector members the end portions of the wire fit in the connector members with a clearance of from 0.05 mm to 0.254 mm and preferably a clearance of from 0.10 mm to 0.178 mm.

Claims

1. A method of forming a wire article which comprises cutting wire stock into lengths of pre-determined size, obtaining a plurality of connector members each comprising at least two socket portions each of which is adapted to receive an end portion of a cut length of wire of circular section and a diameter from 1.6 mm to 3.0 mm with a clearance of from 0.05 to 0.254 mm, connecting the cut lengths of wire together by means of the connector members to form a required article, and adhesively securing the end portions of the cut lengths of wire in the socket portions of the connector members when connecting the cut lengths of wire together.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said clearance is from 0.10 to 0.178 mm.

3. A method according to any of the preceding claims which comprises bending at least one of said cut lengths of wire prior to connecting the cut lengths of wire together.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the wire stock has been provided with a surface finish.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the wire stock has been coated with a synthetic plastics material.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the wire stock has been coated with a metallic paint or lacquer.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said connector members are moulded from synthetic plastics material.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said connector member comprises two socket portions which are axially aligned for connecting two cut lengths of wire end-to-end in axial alignment.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said at least one connector member is in the form of a hollow tube.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said connector member comprises at least two socket portions the axes of which are angled with respect to one another.

11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises providing a base member having apertures therein adapted to receive end portions of the cut lengths of wire and inserting the end portions of at least some of the cut lengths of wire in said apertures.

12. A method according to claim 11, which comprises adhesively securing the end portions of the cut lengths of wire in said apertures in said base member.

Revendications

1. Procédé pour fabriquer un objet en fil métallique, caractérisé en ce qu'on sectionne le fil métallique formant la matière première en des tronçons de longueurs prédéterminées, on prévoit plusieurs raccords comprenant chacun au moins deux douilles propres chacune à reçevoir une partie d'extrémité d'un tronçon de fil métallique de section circulaire et d'un diamètre de 1,6 à 3,0 mm avec un jeu de 0.05 à 0.254 mm, on assemble les tronçons de fil métallique au moyen des raccords pour former un objet requis et on fixe par collage les parties d'extrémité des tronçons de fil métallique dans les douilles des raccords lors de l'assemblage des tronçons.

2. Procédé suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le jeu est compris entre 0,10 et 0,178 mm.

3. Procédé suivant l'une ou l'autre des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'on plie au moins un des tronçons de fil métallique avant d'assembler les divers tronçons.

4. Procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le fil métallique constituant la matière première présente un fini superficiel.

5. Procédé suivant la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le fil métallique a été revêtu d'une matière plastique synthétique.

6. Procédé suivant la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le fil métallique a été revêtu d'une peinture métallique ou d'une laque.

7. Procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les raccords sont moulés en une matière plastique synthétique.

8. Procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins un des raccords comprend deux douilles qui sont axialement en ligne en vue d'assembler deux tronçons de fil métallique bout à bout en ligne axiale.

9. Procédé suivant la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins un raccord à la forme d'un tube creux.

10. Procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins un raccord comprend au moins deux douilles dont les axes forment un angle l'un avec l'autre.

11. Procédé suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'on prévoit une embase perçée d'ouvertures propres à reçevoir des parties d'extrémité des tronçons de fil métallique et on introduit les parties d'extrémité d'au moins certains tronçons de fil métallique dans les ouvertures.

12. Procédé suivant la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce qu'on colle les parties d'extrémité des tronçons de fil métallique dans les ouvertures de l'embase.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zur Formung eines Drahtgegenstands, welches darin besteht, dass man Drahtmaterial in Längen vorbestimmter Grösse schneidet, wobei man eine Mehrzahl Verbindungsglieder mit je mindestens zwei Muffenteilen erhält, die jeweils der Aufnahme eines Endteils abgeschnittener Drahtlänge mit kreisförmigem Querschnitt und einem Durchmesser von 1,6 mm bis 3,0 mm mit einem Spiel von 0,05 bis 0,254 mm dienen, die geschnittenen Drahtlängen mittels der Verbindungsglieder zur Bildung des gewünschten Gegenstands miteinander verbindet und beim gegenseitigen Verbinden der geschnittenen Drahtlängen deren Endteile in den Muffenteilen der Verbindungsglieder durch Kleben sichert.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, worin dieses Spiel 0,10 bis 0.178 mm beträgt.

3. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, welches darin besteht, dass man mindestens eine dieser geschnittenen Drahtlängen biegt, bevor diese miteinander verbunden werden.

4. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin das Drahtmaterial mit einem Oberflächenlack versehen ist.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, worin das Drahtmaterial mit synthetischem Kunststoff beschichtet ist.

6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, worin das Drahtmaterial mit einem Metallanstrich oder Lack beschichtet ist.

7. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin diese Verbindungsglieder aus synthetischem Kunststoff geformt sind.

8. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin mindestens eines dieser Verbindungsglieder aus zwei Muffenteilen besteht, die zur Verbindung der Enden zweier Drahtlängen in axialer Ausrichtung axial ausgerichtet sind.

9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, worin dieses mindestens eine Verbindungsglied die Gestalt eines hohlen Rohrs besitzt.

10. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, worin dieses mindestens eine Verbindungsglied aus mindestens zwei Muffenteilen besteht, deren Achsen unter einem gegenseitigen Winkel angeordnet sind.

11. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, welches darin besteht, dass ein Grundglied vorgesehen ist, welches Oeffnungen zur Aufnahme von Endteilen der geschnittenen Drahtlängen und zum Einsetzen der Endteile mindestens einiger der geschnittenen Drahtlängen in diese Oeffnungen aufweist.

12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, welches darin besteht, dass man die Endteile der geschnittenen Drahtlängen in diesen Oeffnungen in jenem Grundglied durch Kleben sichert.

Drawing