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US 12,234,846 B2Granted
Extendable coupler accessory
OwnerPhilip DiTrolioinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The extendable coupler accessory mounts on a coupler affixed to a vertical pipe. The extendable coupler accessory has a nested set of rods that are extendable into a horizontal cantilever position by an extension mechanism. The extendable coupler accessory has an adapter with a bridge that engages with the coupler and prevents the cantilevered rods from tipping vertically or twisting horizontally. The extendable coupler accessory when attached to the coupler by the bridge maintains a horizontal cantilever position with an affixed load.
Claims15
An extendable coupler device, comprising:
- an extendable rod comprising two or more rods in a nested configuration such that a length of the extendable rod may be increased by extending the two or more rods in a horizontal cantilever configuration from the nested configuration;
- and
- an adapter affixed to the extendable rod, the adapter comprising a hollow structure connecting a bottom opening of the adapter to an upper region of the adapter, the upper region of the adapter comprising at least two opposing sides on an exterior surface separated by openings in the exterior surface between the at least two opposing sides, each opening extending upward from a lower surface of the upper region and providing access to an interior of the hollow structure, the adapter further comprising a bridge spanning a central portion of a top opening of the hollow structure of the adapter and connecting the opposing sides of the upper region of the adapter, the bottom opening of the adapter configured to receive a coupler affixed to a vertical pipe;
- the coupler comprising a plurality of upwardly opening slots spaced radially around a central opening of the coupler;
- the bridge comprising a notch on each opposing end of the bridge configured to engage with one or more sides of the upwardly opening slots such that the adapter is secured to the coupler by the bridge;
- and wherein the bridge is an integral component of the adapter.
3 more elements
A method to mount an extendable coupler device to a coupler, comprising:
- affixing an extendable coupler device, the extendable coupler device comprising:
- an extendable rod;
- and
- an adapter to a coupler affixed to the extendable rod, the adapter comprising a hollow structure connecting a bottom opening of the adapter to an upper region of the adapter, the upper region of the adapter comprising at least two opposing sides on an exterior surface separated by openings in the exterior surface between the at least two opposing sides, each opening extending upward from a lower surface of the upper region and providing access to an interior of the hollow structure, the adapter further comprising a bridge spanning a top opening of the hollow structure of the adapter and connecting the opposing sides of the upper region of the adapter, the bottom opening of the adaptor configured to receive the coupler affixed to a vertical pipe,
- wherein the extendable coupler device, when the bridge is mated with the coupler, is affixed to the coupler;
- the coupler comprising a plurality of upwardly opening slots spaced radially around a central opening of the coupler;
- the bridge comprising a notch on each opposing end of the bridge configured to engage with one or more sides of the upwardly opening slots such that the adapter is secured to the coupler by the bridge;
- and wherein the bridge is an integral component of the adapter.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.