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.

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.