Coupling apparatus for structural members

• US 7,674,064 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sakura Rubber Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sakura Rubber Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Tetsuya, Horimoto, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): MACARTHUR, VICTOR L
• Application Number:
  US12/325,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20090087256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 403/56, 403/76, 403/90, 403122-144, 403348-353, 13761402-61406, 135 87-1204, 285261-271
• US Class Current: 403/348
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0406 for rods or tubes being coaxial F16B7/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32032 Plural ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32803 Separable socket sections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7007 Bayonet joint

Abstract

The coupling apparatus for structural members includes a paired couplers for coupling structural members with each other, and each coupler includes a cylindrical main body, engaging projections spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction at an end of the body and projecting along the center line of the body, and engaging hooks projecting in one circumferential direction at the projecting end portions of the projections. At least one coupler further includes a coupling direction changing mechanism which couples the at least one coupler with a predetermined position of a structural member corresponding thereto so that the center line of the body of the at least one coupler can be orientated in a desired direction.

Claims

1. A coupling apparatus for connecting structural members, said coupling apparatus comprising:

a first coupler half and second coupler half defining an axial direction therethrough;

each coupler half having an inner coupler main body sleeve and outer coupler main body sleeve, each said sleeve having a plurality of axial projections equally spaced on a circumferential end thereof, each axial projection having an engaging hook at a distal end thereof, each said sleeve rotatably mountable on one of the structural members, said inner sleeve of said each coupler half being received within said outer sleeve of said each coupler half, each coupler half having a biasing spring connecting said inner sleeve to said outer sleeve and biasing said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve in opposite circumferential biasing directions with respect to each other;

wherein, said coupling apparatus is coupled when said plurality of axial projections of said first coupler half are inserted in said axial direction between said plurality of axial projections of said second coupler half, said circumferential biasing directions of said inner sleeves being opposite with respect to each other, and said circumferential biasing directions of said outer sleeves being opposite with respect to each other, such that said engaging hooks of said first coupler half are circumferentially locked with said engaging hooks of said second coupler half; and

wherein said coupling apparatus is decoupled when said inner sleeves are rotated in circumferential directions that are opposite to said inner sleeve biasing directions thereby unlocking said first coupler half hooks from said second coupler half hooks and allowing separation of the first coupler half from the second coupler half in said axial direction.

2. The coupling apparatus for connecting structural members according to claim 1, wherein each coupler half further has a wedge which fixes a position of the outer coupler main body sleeve and a position of the inner coupler main body sleeve with respect to a corresponding one of the structural members in a direction along a center line of each coupler main body sleeve in a state that the of coupler halves are coupled with each other.

3. The coupling apparatus for connecting structural members according to claim 1, wherein each coupler half further has an alignment member which is disposed within the inner coupler main body sleeve and aligns a center line of each coupler main body sleeve with a center line of a corresponding one of the structural members.