Joints and connections – Branched – Polyhedral
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-29
2002-07-02
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Branched
Polyhedral
C403S217000, C403S329000, C403S171000, C403S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06413004
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tubular connector adapted to be connected to a tubular end of a rod member, more particularly to a tubular connector having a resilient tongue portion with a retaining member thereon to facilitate engagement with and disengagement from the rod member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tubular connectors have wide applications. They can be found in pipeline connection, frameworks, playground facilities, etc.
With reference to
FIG. 1
, a conventional tubular connector
20
is adapted to interconnect rod members
10
of a framework. The tubular connector
20
is provided with a desired number of connecting sections
21
with an external diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the rod member
10
. During assembly of the framework, the rod members
10
are interconnected by sleeving end portions
11
of each rod member
10
on the connecting sections
21
of the respective tubular connectors
20
. In order to ensure firm engagement of the rod members
10
and the tubular connectors
20
, the connecting sections
21
and the rod members
10
have to be dimensioned to be press-fittable relative to each other. As such, engagement and disengagement of the rod members
10
and the tubular connectors
20
are not easy. If, for purposes of facilitating assembly, the connecting sections
21
and the rod members
10
are not configured to be press-fittable relative to each other, the resulting framework will not have sufficient structural strength to withstand heavy loads, and is susceptible to collapse.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a tubular connector to facilitate engagement with and disengagement from a tubular rod member.
Accordingly, a tubular connector of this invention is adapted to be connected to a tubular end of a rod member. The tubular end of the rod member has first outer and inner surrounding wall surfaces opposite to each other and surrounding a first axis. The first inner surrounding wall surface defines an engaging hole extending radially to be communicated with the first outer surrounding wall surface. The tubular connector includes a tubular member and a retaining member. The tubular member includes proximate and distal tubular ends opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween. The intermediate portion has second outer and inner surrounding wall surfaces opposite to each other and surrounding a second axis which is parallel to the longitudinal direction. The second outer surrounding wall surface is formed with two slits and a transverse slit. The two slits are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction, and extend respectively and radially to be communicated with the second inner surrounding wall surface and in the longitudinal direction. The transverse slit extends radially to be communicated with the second inner surrounding wall surface and in the transverse direction so as to inter-communicate the two slits at a position adjacent to the distal tubular end, thereby forming a resilient tongue portion. The retaining member is disposed on the resilient tongue portion, and has a front wall surface, a rear retaining wall surface opposite to the front wall surface in the longitudinal direction, and an intermediate wall surface interposed therebetween. The front wall surface and the rear retaining wall surface are respectively proximate to the distal and proximate tubular ends of the tubular member. The rear retaining wall surface extends radially and outwardly from the second outer surrounding wall surface of the intermediate portion at the resilient tongue portion, and is biased by the resilient tongue portion to move radially and outwardly. The tubular member is of such a dimension that when the distal tubular end is adapted to be brought to move along the first inner surrounding wall surface of the rod member while the second axis is aligned with the first axis, the retaining member will be depressed by the first inner surrounding wall surface of the rod member against biasing action of the resilient tongue portion until the rear retaining wall surface reaches the engaging hole and is biased by the resilient tongue portion to move radially and outwardly so as to be retained in the engaging hole.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2982586 (1961-05-01), Gliebe
patent: 4711595 (1987-12-01), Magid et al.
patent: 4922587 (1990-05-01), Pettit
patent: 5031266 (1991-07-01), Tillman et al.
patent: 5144780 (1992-09-01), Gieling et al.
patent: 5174676 (1992-12-01), Welsch et al.
patent: 5209599 (1993-05-01), Kronenberg
patent: 5531464 (1996-07-01), Maurer et al.
patent: 5641237 (1997-06-01), Albert et al.
Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
LandOfFree
Tubular connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tubular connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tubular connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2876093