Attachment system for configured slots

• US 6,442,805 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cabrio Design, LLC
• Original Assignee: Joel W. Pfister
• Inventors: Pfister, Joel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/773,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 245/14, 245/68, 245/69, 403/180, 403/297, 403/314, 403/374.4, 403/374.3, 526/551, 248/223.41, 248/297, 248/125.1
• US Class Current: 24/514
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0473 with hook-like parts gripping, e.g. by expanding, behind the flanges of a profile
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44504 Threaded cylindrical rod and mating cavity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44974 Threaded cylindrical rod and mating cavity

Abstract

An attachment system for configured slots which utilizes pivotally opposed major and minor jaws which can be biased in a closed or in an open position. The major and minor jaws are aligned in the receptor cavity of a configured rectangular tube and are actuated to fully and to frictionally engage the receptor cavity. Such actuation also causes outwardly-facing grooves on the ends of the major and minor jaws to engage a suitably-shaped configured slot on a configured tube or other structure. Such preceding action connects a configured rectangular tube and a structure having a suitably-shaped configured slot by the use of the intermediate major and minor jaws. Provisions are also made for snapping engagement of the pivotally opposed major and minor jaws of biased open major and minor jaws with a suitably-shaped configured slot.

Claims

1. A jaw assembly comprising:

a. a major jaw;

b. a minor jaw opposing the major jaw and aligned in close pivotal juxtaposition with the major jaw; and

,

c. a pin, located between the major jaw and the minor jaw, the pin being separable from the major jaw and the minor jaw, wherein the major jaw includes an inwardly-facing pivot bar which aligns to and which engages an inwardly-facing pivot receptor groove in the minor jaw.

2. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the pin is a plastic pin.

3. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the pin is a resilient pin.

4. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the pin is a resilient plastic pin.

5. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the major jaw has a threaded hole and the jaw assembly further includes an actuator cap screw, the actuator cap screw engaging the threaded hole of the major jaw and bearing against the minor jaw, wherein rotation of the actuator cap screw forces the major jaw and the minor jaw to an open position.

6. The jaw assembly of claim 5, further comprising a configured rectangular tube, the configured rectangular tube having a receptor cavity in an end of the configured rectangular tube, the receptor cavity capable of holding the jaw assembly with an end of the major jaw and an end of the minor jaw protruding from the receptor cavity.

7. The jaw assembly of claim 6, wherein the configured tube includes a body hole for capturing the cap screw actuator so as to secure the jaw assembly to the configured rectangular tube.

8. The jaw assembly of claim 7, further comprising a configured tube having a configured slot on the exterior of the configured tube, the configured tube engageable to the end of the major jaw and the end of the minor jaw protruding form the receptor cavity of the configured rectangular tube.

9. The jaw assembly of claim 8, wherein the engagement between the end of the major and the minor jaw with the configured slot of the configured tube is a slipping engagement which is stabilized by advanced rotation of the cap screw actuator.

10. The jaw assembly of claim 9, wherein advanced rotation of the cap screw actuator causes a stable connection between the configured rectangular tube and the configured tube.

11. A jaw assembly comprising:

a. a major jaw and an opposing minor jaw aligned in close pivotal juxtaposition relative to the major jaw;

b. a resilient plastic pin, the pin being separable from the major jaw and the minor jaw;

c. the opposing major jaw having a first end and a second end, the first end having a major jaw chamfer forming an outwardly facing major jaw retaining groove, the second end having an inwardly facing pivot bar, and an extension having a first major jaw truncated circular channel and a second major jaw truncated circular channel, both channels facing towards the first end; and

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d. the opposing minor jaw having a minor jaw first end and a minor jaw second end, the minor jaw first end having a minor jaw chamfer forming a minor jaw retaining groove which operates in unison with the major jaw chamfer and the major jaw retaining groove to secure to a suitably shaped configured slot, the minor jaw second end having an inwardly facing pivot receptor groove which aligns to and engages the inwardly facing pivot bar, a contact bar, and a small extension having a first miner jaw truncated circular channel which aligns with the first major jaw truncated circular channel defining a position in which the resilient plastic pin may be inserted to bias the opposing major jaw and the opposing minor jaw to an open or spread position, and a second minor jaw truncated circular channel which aligns with the second major jaw truncated circular channel defining a position in which the resilient plastic pin may be inserted to bias the opposing major jaw and the opposing minor jaw to a closed position.

12. The jaw assembly of claim 11, further comprising actuating means to open the jaw assembly.

13. The actuating means of claim 12, wherein the actuating means is an actuator cap screw, the actuator cap screw threadingly engaging the major jaw and opening the jaw assembly by rotating the actuator cap screw.

14. The jaw assembly of claim 13, wherein the jaw assembly is insertable into a suitably shaped receptor cavity, with the second ends of the opposing major and minor jaws disposed within the receptor cavity, the receptor cavity having two opposed vertical walls and two opposed horizontal walls, one opposed vertical wall having a body hole aligned with the actuator cap screw, the two opposed horizontal walls each having two inwardly facing lips defining a suitably-shaped configured slot on each opposing horizontal wall;

and further wherein the major jaw chamfer, the outwardly facing major jaw retaining groove, the minor jaw chamfer and outwardly facing minor jaw retaining groove extending from the receptor cavity to secure to a suitably-shaped configured slot.

15. The jaw assembly of claim 14, wherein the contact bar the contact bar may be forced into intimate fictional opposing engagement with one of the opposing vertical walls of the receptor cavity when the jaw assembly is opened.

16. A method of connecting, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a jaw assembly, the jaw assembly including;

(1) a major jaw and an opposing minor jaw aligned in close pivotal juxtaposition relative to the major jaw;

(2) a resilient plastic pin, the pin being separable from the major jaw and the minor jaw;

(3) the opposing major jaw having a first end and a second end, the first end having a major jaw chamfer forming an outwardly facing major jaw retaining groove, the second end having an inwardly facing pivot bar, and an extension having a first major jaw truncated circular channel and a second major jaw truncated circular channel, both channels facing towards the first end; and

,

(4) the opposing minor jaw having a minor jaw first end and a minor jaw second end, the minor jaw first end having a minor jaw chamfer forming a minor jaw retaining groove which operates in unison with the major jaw chamfer and the major jaw retaining groove to secure to a suitably shaped configured slot, the minor jaw second end having an inwardly facing pivot receptor groove which aligns to and engages the inwardly facing pivot bar, a contact bar, and a small extension having a first miner jaw truncated circular channel which aligns with the first major jaw truncated circular channel defining a position in which the resilient plastic pin may be inserted to bias the opposing major jaw and the opposing minor jaw to an open or spread position, and a second minor jaw truncated circular channel which aligns with the second major jaw truncated circular channel defining a position in which the resilient plastic pin may be inserted to bias the opposing major jaw and the opposing minor jaw to a closed position;

b. providing a configured rectangular tube having a suitably shaped receptor cavity to accept the jaw assembly;

c. providing an actuator cap screw;

d. inserting the resilient plastic pin between the second minor jaw truncated circular channel and the second major jaw truncated circular channel or inserting the resilient plastic pin between the first minor jaw truncated circular channel and the first major jaw truncated circular channel;

e. inserting the jaw assembly in to the suitably-shaped receptor cavity;

f. extending the actuator cap screw through the body hole of the opposing horizontal wall of the suitably-shaped receptor cavity threadingly engaging the threaded hole of the opposing major jaw;

g. inserting the major jaw chamfer, the outwardly facing major jaw retaining groove, the minor jaw chamfer, and the outwardly facing minor jaw retaining groove into a suitably-shaped configured slot; and

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h. rotating the actuator cap screw to actuate the jaw assembling thereby securing the jaw assembly to the suitably shaped configured slot.