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US 12,075,937 B2Granted
Vertical pipe end connector
OwnerPhilip DiTrolioinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The pipe-mounted coupler enables industry standard hooks on horizontal rods and other accessories to rest at such a height as to provide uniform appearance to the top of drape walls. The pipe-mounted coupler mounts on a pipe or rod vertical end to allow one or more accessory connections to be affixed to the vertical pipe. The pipe-mounted coupler includes a locking protrusion that is insertable into a slotted opening on the pipe end to allow the pipe-mounted coupler to be secured onto the pipe end allowing minimal vertical movement or horizontal twisting.
Claims20
A coupler assembly for tubular members, comprising:
- a coupler supporting accessories to a pipe end, the coupler comprising a circular body with a stop rim positioned at an uppermost surface of the coupler, wherein the stop rim comprises an opening with a smaller inner diameter than a diameter of an inner surface of the circular body, wherein the inner surface of the circular body slides over an outside perimeter of the pipe end until the pipe end meets the stop rim, wherein the circular body comprises a protrusion positioned in an interior of the circular body, wherein the protrusion protrudes inwardly into at least one opening in a sidewall of the pipe end to prevent the coupler from rotating on the pipe end.
A method to couple rods, comprising:
- affixing a coupler to support accessories to a pipe end, the coupler comprising a circular body with a stop rim positioned at an uppermost surface of the coupler, wherein the stop rim comprises an opening with a smaller inner diameter than a diameter of an inner surface of the circular body, wherein the inner surface of the circular body slides over an outside perimeter of the pipe end until the pipe end meets the stop rim, wherein the circular body comprises a protrusion positioned in an interior of the circular body, wherein the protrusion protrudes inwardly into an opening of a sidewall of the pipe end to prevent the coupler from rotating on the pipe end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.