Flat-mounted connector for pipes
OwnerPhilip DiTrolioinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flat-mounted connector that enables industry standard hooks on horizontal rods to rest at such a height as to provide uniform appearance to the top of drape walls. The flat-mounted connector provides a connection that affixes to a flat wall or surface and an affixed coupler for the drape rods to be affixed to a vertical surface. The connector has an upper region with a similar outside dimension as the body of the coupler. In an internal portion of the coupler, at least one hollow well opens vertically with at least one lateral notch or opening formed in an upper region and designed to accept a terminal hook used on an end of a horizontally placed rod. An example connector includes two couplers affixed to the flat-mounted connection to accept additional terminal hooks.
Claims12
A connector for tubular members, comprising:
- a flat-mounted connector and a coupler affixed thereto, the flat-mounted connector comprising two or more openings to receive two or more connector appliances to affix the flat-mounted connector to a vertical flat surface, the coupler comprising an upper region connected to the flat-mounted connector capable of being affixed to the vertical flat surface, the upper region encompassing a well formed within a body of the upper region such that the well is an upwardly opening well when the flat-mounted connector is affixed to the vertical flat surface, the upwardly opening well of the upper region defining a plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed therein with each slot sized to receive therein a terminal connector connected to a drape rod, and the plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed to accept the terminal connector connected to the drape rod in parallel and perpendicular directions relative to a surface plane of the flat-mounted connector when affixed to the vertical flat surface.
A method to couple rods, comprising:
- affixing a flat-mounted coupler to a vertical surface via a wall connector, the flat-mounted coupler comprising two or more openings to receive two or more connector appliances to affix the flat-mounted coupler to a vertical flat surface, the flat-mounted coupler comprising an upper region connected to the wall connector, the upper region encompassing a well formed within a body of the upper region such that the well is an upwardly opening well when the flat-mounted connector is affixed to the vertical flat surface, the upper region defining a plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed within the upper region with each slot sized to receive therein a terminal connector of a rod, and the plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed to accept the terminal connector of the rod in parallel and perpendicular directions relative to a surface plane of the flat-mounted coupler when affixed to the vertical flat surface;
- and
- placing the terminal connector of the rod into the upwardly opening well such that the terminal connector is affixed to the flat-mounted coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.