Connecting apparatus for frame members

• US 3,982,841 A
• Filed: 12/08/1975
• Issued: 09/28/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abraham Endzweig
• Original Assignee: Abraham Endzweig
• Inventors: Endzweig, Abraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Kundrat, Andrew V.
• Application Number:
  US05/638,395
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 403/348, 403/349, 403/254, 403/255, 403/264, 403/252, 403/260, 403/171, 403/172, 403/176, 403/21, 403/22, 403/14, 403/19, 52/756, 52/758 F
• US Class Current: 403/19
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/1906 with central spherical, semispherical or polyhedral connecting element
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1927 of essentially circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/196 Screw connections with axis parallel to the main axis of the strut
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/185 with a node element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/1624 Related to joint component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/342 Polyhedral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement

Abstract

An improved connector for removably interconnecting elongate structural members, comprising a sleeve member adapted to be removably fitted to an end of the structural member and holding an internally threaded nut apparatus, a connector bolt one end of which is threaded in the nut apparatus and having a T-head at the other end, and a tapered cylindrical collar having a concentric bore, through which the bolt extends. The T-head is adapted to non-rotatably engage an appropriately sized aperture. Intermediate the collar and sleeve, and located about the bolt, is a bias spring which biases the collar towards the T-head to hold the bolt in engaging relation with the aperture in which the T-head is inserted. The connection between the aperture and bolt may be secured by rotating the nut apparatus in a predetermined direction. A hollow connector ball, having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive and be engaged by the T-head of the bolt, is also provided to allow the structural members to be interconnected at various angles.

Claims

1. An improved frame connector adapted to removably join an elongate frame section to a second member comprising:

sleeve means adapted to be disengageably connected to an end of the frame section and having internally threaded means rotatably held captive therein;

a collar having a through bore axially disposed therein;

threaded bolt means in the through bore and threaded in the internally threaded means, said bolt means including an enlarged head member;

said second member having an aperture adapted to removably receive the head member in engaging relation; and

biasing means axially intermediate the collar and one end of the sleeve means for biasing the collar towards the head member to hold the head member in engaging relation with the aperture.

2. The improved frame connector of claim 1, wherein the collar includes:

a recess in one end thereof sized to allow said head member to be substantially disposed within said recess.

3. The improved frame connector of claim 2, and including:

a projection situated on said threaded bolt means; and

slot means in said through bore for slidably receiving said projection.

4. The improved frame connector of claim 3, and including:

means on an outer periphery of the internally threaded means for receiving a tool to facilitate rotation thereof.

5. An improved frame connecting apparatus for use in interconnecting a number of elongate tubular structural members, comprising:

intermediate connecting means having a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures of predetermined dimensions;

sleeve means adapted to be disengageably connected to an end of a structural member and having an internally threaded means rotatably held captive therein;

a cylindrical collar having a through bore axially disposed therein;

threaded bolt means slidably situated in the through bore of the collar and threaded in the internally threaded means, said bolt means including a rectangular head member adapted to removably engage an aperture of the intermediate connecting means; and

biasing means axially intermediate the collar and one end of the sleeve means for biasing the collar towards the head member so that the head member is held in engaging relation with the intermediate connecting means when the head member is inserted therein.

6. The improved frame connecting apparatus of claim 5, wherein said collar includes:

an outer frustro-conical surface terminating in an end having a first recess therein, said recess adapted to receive the head member.

7. The improved frame connecting apparatus of claim 6, and including:

a projection affixed upon the bolt means and extending perpendicular thereto, said projection disposed between the head member and the opposite end of the bolt means; and

slot means adjacent the through bore of the collar and in axial alignment therewith for slidably receiving the projection.

8. The improved connector of claim 5, wherein the internally threaded means includes means disposed about the outer periphery thereof for accepting a tool to facilitate rotation.

9. The improved frame connecting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the biasing means comprises:

a helical spring disposed about the bolt means.

10. The improved frame connecting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collar includes:

a second recess disposed at an end opposite the first recess for receiving the helical spring such that when the internally threaded means is rotated the bolt means is drawn into the sleeve means and the spring is compressed into the second recess.

11. The improved frame connecting apparatus of claim 5, and wherein said intermediate connecting means comprises:

a hollow cylindrical ball.

12. The improved frame connecting apparatus of claim 11, and wherein said apertures have angular dispositions of 45°

, 60°

, and 90°

.