Connectors
AssigneeMaterialise N.V.
InventorsBrecht Das, Filip Dehing, Volodymyr Makarenko, Ivan Rasko, Elias Rosseau, Irene Ruiz Diaz, Willem Verleysen, Philippe Schiettecatte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of this application relate to connectors configured for coupling to a hollow structure, for joining hollow structures together, and/or for joining a hollow structure to a functional element. A connector may be configured to couple to one or more hollow structures, and may be further configured to couple to one or more functional elements. Exemplary connectors comprise a shell and a plug.
Claims20
A connector configured to couple to a hollow structure, wherein the connector comprises:
- a plug comprising:
- a first end configured to fit securely inside the hollow structure via an opening of the hollow structure and provide a secure seal between the first end and an inside wall of the hollow structure to prevent material introduced via the opening from passing the first end further into the hollow structure,
- a second end comprising a hook configured to engage with at least one portion of the hollow structure to secure the plug at the opening of the hollow structure, and
- a core piece extending from the first end to the second end;
- and
- a shell, separate from the plug, comprising:
- a wall surrounding a cavity,
- a first opening configured to provide a first access point to the cavity, wherein the first opening is configured to receive the plug coupled to the hollow structure,
- a second opening configured to provide a second access point to the cavity, wherein the second opening is configured to receive a second plug coupled to a second hollow structure, and
- a third opening configured to provide a third access point to the cavity, wherein the third access point leads to a continuous path extending through the cavity including extending to the first opening and the second opening, such that when the second plug coupled to the second hollow structure is received at the second opening and when the plug coupled to the hollow structure is received at the first opening, the plug and the second plug provide physical barriers of the continuous path.
A method for using a connector configured to couple to a hollow structure, wherein the method comprises:
- inserting a plug into an opening of the hollow structure, the plug comprising:
- a first end configured to fit securely inside the hollow structure and provide a secure seal between the first end and an inside wall of the hollow structure to prevent material introduced via the opening of the hollow structure from passing the first end further into the hollow structure,
- a second end comprising a hook configured to engage with at least one portion of the hollow structure to secure the plug at the opening of the hollow structure, and
- a core piece extending from the first end to the second end;
- inserting the plug coupled to the hollow structure into a first opening of a shell, separate from the plug, the shell comprising:
- a wall surrounding a cavity,
- the first opening configured to provide a first access point to the cavity, and
- a second opening configured to provide a second access point to the cavity;
- and
- applying a joining compound into the shell through the second opening to fill the cavity and a portion inside the hollow structure, the plug preventing the joining compound from passing the first end further into the hollow structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.