Connector system
First Claim
1. In a connector having a body with arms outwardly extending therefrom to seatably receive thereon the ends of elongated, open-ended tubes, the tubes when their ends are in position on other similar connectors to form a rigid, three-dimensional rectangular structure, the improvement characterized by the connector being formed from a plurality of extrusions, a first extrusion shaped with arms outwardly extending in sideways, normal fashion from a body with a hole in the middle thereof, the body having sides of rectangular configuration, a second extrusion being a bar of similar external configuration to that of the hole and of similar cross-sectional shape and size to that of the arms of the first extrusion, received in the hole in orientation perpendicular to that of the arms of the first extrusion and centrally secured in that hole so that the ends of the bar constitute further arms of the connector, the arms and bar being of similar rectangular configuration, a securing means to securely hold the bar in position in the hole of the first extrusion, and a pair of similarly shaped third extrusion of rectangular shape and outer size conforming to that of the body and the third extrusion each having a central hole of size and shape conforming to those of the hole of the first extrusion, the third extrusion securely seated on the second extrusion on opposite side of the first extrusion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel system of connectors and elongated tubes joined together thereby to form a variety of rigid three-dimensional rectangular structures. The connectors of the present invention have a central body with a plurality of outwardly extending arms, the arms to seatably engage open ends of the tubes. The connectors are made from extruded components and hence require a minimum of machining. The elongated tubes have notched ends permitting tubes, internally situated within a three-dimensional structure formed therefrom, to be removed or reconfigured.
15 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. In a connector having a body with arms outwardly extending therefrom to seatably receive thereon the ends of elongated, open-ended tubes, the tubes when their ends are in position on other similar connectors to form a rigid, three-dimensional rectangular structure, the improvement characterized by the connector being formed from a plurality of extrusions, a first extrusion shaped with arms outwardly extending in sideways, normal fashion from a body with a hole in the middle thereof, the body having sides of rectangular configuration, a second extrusion being a bar of similar external configuration to that of the hole and of similar cross-sectional shape and size to that of the arms of the first extrusion, received in the hole in orientation perpendicular to that of the arms of the first extrusion and centrally secured in that hole so that the ends of the bar constitute further arms of the connector, the arms and bar being of similar rectangular configuration, a securing means to securely hold the bar in position in the hole of the first extrusion, and a pair of similarly shaped third extrusion of rectangular shape and outer size conforming to that of the body and the third extrusion each having a central hole of size and shape conforming to those of the hole of the first extrusion, the third extrusion securely seated on the second extrusion on opposite side of the first extrusion.
- 7. A system for forming a rigid, three-dimensional rectangular structure comprising a plurality of connectors, each having a body with arms outwardly extending therefrom to seatably receive thereon the ends of elongated open-ended tubes, the tubes when their ends are in position on other similar connectors to form a rigid, three-dimensional rectangular structure, the connectors each being formed from a plurality of extrusion, a first extrusion shaped with arms outwardly extending in sideways, normal fashion from a body with a hole in the middle thereof, a second extrusion being a bar of similar external configuration to that of the hole and of similar cross-sectional shape and size to that of the arms of the first extrusion, received in the hole in orientation perpendicular to that of the arms of the first extrusion and centrally secured in that hole so that the ends of the bar constitute further arms of the connector, and a securing means to securely hold the bar in position in the hole of the first extrusion, the connectors being in combination with open-ended tubes to be seatably received on the arms, the tubes having notches at each end to permit lateral passage therethrough of the corresponding arms of the connectors so that the tubes can be seated on the arms by lateral movement of the tubes with respect to the arms, securing means being provided for releasably securing the ends of the tubes to corresponding arms of the connectors.
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8. A system according to claim 8-wherein the notches are on the same side at each end of the tubes.
Specification