Joints and connections – Three or more members connected at single locus – All encompassed
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-08-14
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Three or more members connected at single locus
All encompassed
C403S171000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273633
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of tubular structures, in particular tubular constructions, equipment for sport and leisure time, as well as scaffolding and exhibition materials and has for its object an assembly node for such structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At present, the assembly of tubular structures at their nodes is generally carried out by means of two-part collars, gripping the tubes at the level of the node by means of bolts passing through the collars.
There can also be provided a direct mounting between two tubes at a node, by means of a bolt or other assembly elements with gripping by screwing the assembly by means of pressure screws.
Moreover, there is known in the field of exhibition materials, particularly stages, assembly devices in the form of balls having a certain number of blind holes that can each co-act with a tube or the like, said balls being simply placed over the ends of the tubes.
These different assembly devices of known nodes however have a certain number of drawbacks, namely, in the case of collars, permitting the production of nodes having only a reduced number of tubes and, in the case of the use of balls or the like, not permitting securing the ends of the tubes in said balls. Moreover, the provision of collars does not permit obtaining an appearance compatible for example with the production of certain structures, in particular in the field of leisure time or store equipment.
There is also known, from FR-A-2 694 583, an assembly node for tubular structures in the form of two half-shells assembled together by bolting and provided with corresponding recesses and/or holes for the insertion and the blockage of ends of tubular elements. This node assembly permits assembling, on the one hand, the ends of several tubular elements by means of half-shells, the gripping means between the shells serving simultaneously for blocking said ends at the corresponding recesses and, on the other hand, the mounting of the end of other tubular elements perpendicularly to the plane of the first and maintained in position with specific means therefor.
However, this embodiment does not permit obtaining a grip without play of the tubular elements mounted perpendicularly or in another oblique plane relative to the junction plane of the half-shells, such that there remains the possibility of rotation or pivoting relative to the longitudinal axis of said tubular elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has for its object to overcome these drawbacks by providing an assembly node for tubular elements permitting blocking without play the ends of the elements located outside the joint plane of the half-shells constituting said assembly node.
It thus has for its object an assembly node for tubular structures, which is in the form of two half-shells assembled together by bolting and provided with corresponding recesses and/or holes for the insertion and blocking of the ends of tubular elements, characterized in that it is provided, for each end of a tubular element to be mounted in at least one hole of a half-shell, outside the joint planes, at least one independent means for holding and gripping said end without play.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2018539 (1935-10-01), Welsh
patent: 2715537 (1955-08-01), Hofheimer
patent: 3682504 (1972-08-01), Brimberg
patent: 4039263 (1977-08-01), Bassler
patent: 4780018 (1988-10-01), Godden
patent: 4864795 (1989-09-01), Burg
patent: 5127759 (1992-07-01), Orbom
patent: 5372447 (1994-12-01), Chung
patent: 5549408 (1996-08-01), Lo
patent: 296 16 635 U (1996-12-01), None
patent: 2 294 532 (1976-07-01), None
patent: 2 694 583 (1994-02-01), None
patent: 1 265 889 (1972-03-01), None
Husson Daniel
Pontius Alain
Bochna David E.
Browne Lynne H.
Husson Collectivites S.A. (Societe Anonyme)
Young & Thompson
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