US 12,668,969 B2Granted

Connector

OwnerRichard Bergmaninventor

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Abstract

There is disclosed a modular connector for coupling a plurality of frame members to each other. Primary and secondary sleeves of the modular connector are elongated along their respective axes so as to be suitable to engageably receive therein corresponding frame members. A plurality of slots are defined on an axially extending outer face of the primary sleeve. A plurality of tabs extend outwardly from a terminal end of the secondary sleeve. The plurality of tabs are receivable in the plurality of slots to position the primary and secondary sleeves relative each other. An end plate extends inwardly from about the terminal end of the secondary sleeve to abut and fasten to the outer face of the primary sleeve when each of the plurality of tabs is engaged with the plurality of slots to allow removable coupling of the primary sleeve to the secondary sleeve.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A modular connector for coupling a first frame member to a second frame member at a predetermined angle, comprising:

a first sleeve defining a first longitudinal axis and a first socket suitable to receive therein the first frame member, the first sleeve having an axially extending outer face, the outer face defining a plurality of slots thereon;
and
a second sleeve defining a second longitudinal axis, a terminal end along the second longitudinal axis, and a second socket suitable to receive therein the second frame member, the second sleeve including:
a plurality of tabs extending away from the second socket from the terminal end, the plurality of tabs being receivable in the plurality of slots to position the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve, and
an end plate extending from the terminal end towards the second socket to abut and fasten to the outer face of the first sleeve when each of the plurality of tabs is engaged with the plurality of slots to allow removable coupling of the first sleeve to the second sleeve, the end plate being angled relative to the second longitudinal axis to position the first frame member at the predetermined angle relative to the second frame member when the end plate is fastened in abutment to the outer face;
wherein a first plurality of apertures is defined on the outer face and is complementary to a second plurality of apertures of the end plate, the first and second plurality of apertures being suitable to receive fasteners to allow engagement of the first sleeve with the second sleeve via the fasteners, and
wherein each of the first plurality of apertures is axially spaced apart from the plurality of slots and opens to the first socket to allow the fasteners to extend into the first socket via the first plurality of apertures to fasten the second sleeve to the first frame member.

4 more elements

A modular connector for coupling a first frame member to a second frame member at a predetermined angle, comprising:

a first sleeve defining a first longitudinal axis and a first socket suitable to receive therein the first frame member, the first sleeve having an axially extending outer face, the outer face defining a plurality of slots thereon;
and
a second sleeve defining a second longitudinal axis, a terminal end along the second longitudinal axis, and a second socket suitable to receive therein the second frame member, the second sleeve including:
a plurality of tabs extending away from the second socket from the terminal end, the plurality of tabs being receivable in the plurality of slots to position the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve, and
an end plate extending from the terminal end towards the second socket to abut and fasten to the outer face of the first sleeve when each of the plurality of tabs is engaged with the plurality of slots to allow removable coupling of the first sleeve to the second sleeve, the end plate being angled relative to the second longitudinal axis to position the first frame member at the predetermined angle relative to the second frame member when the end plate is fastened in abutment to the outer face;
wherein the first sleeve includes a plurality of depressions extending from the outer face into the first socket to space the first frame member away from the first sleeve to form a gap receiving the plurality of tabs when the first frame member is received in the first sleeve.

3 more elements

A structure, comprising:

a first frame member;
a second frame member;
a modular connector coupling the first frame member to the second frame member at a predetermined angle, the modular connector comprising:
a first sleeve defining a first longitudinal axis and a first socket suitable to receive therein the first frame member, the first sleeve having an axially extending outer face, the outer face defining a plurality of slots thereon;
and
a second sleeve defining a second longitudinal axis, a terminal end along the second longitudinal axis, and a second socket suitable to receive therein the second frame member, the second sleeve including:
a plurality of tabs extending away from the second socket from the terminal end, the plurality of tabs being receivable in the plurality of slots to position the second sleeve relative to the first sleeve, and
an end plate extending from the terminal end towards the second socket to abut and fasten to the outer face of the first sleeve when each of the plurality of tabs is engaged with the plurality of slots to allow removable coupling of the first sleeve to the second sleeve, the end plate being angled relative to the second longitudinal axis to position the first frame member at the predetermined angle relative to the second frame member when the end plate is fastened in abutment to the outer face, the first frame member being received in the first sleeve, the second frame member being received in the second sleeve;
and
a plurality of fasteners at least partially passing through the end plate, the outer face of the first sleeve, and the first frame member to cause frictional engagement therebetween to fasten the first sleeve, the second sleeve, and the first frame member to each other.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.