Structural couplings and system
OwnerKurt F. Kraussinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An annular collar-clamp attaches to a vertical post at selected height and radial orientation and includes an annular pattern of upper and lower dovetail mount sites receiving a bifurcated component mounting assembly having a corresponding inter-fitting pattern of semi-annular dovetail mounts whereby the mounting assembly engages the collar-clamp at a selected discrete position thereon. By use of discontinuous or non-concentric surface engagement in such orientation and pattern to lock together the collar-clamp and the associated mounting component assembly, better load distribution and overall strength results while retaining an ability to position a component at any selected radial orientation relative to the post.
Claims20
In combination,
- a structural component;
- a cylindrical post, said cylindrical post defining a longitudinal axis therelong and defining a concentric path thereabout, said concentric path being equidistant from said longitudinal axis;
- an annular clamp concentric to and engaging said post at a selected position therealong and at selected radial orientation thereabout, said annular clamp including a first contact surface, said first contact surface traversing said concentric path;
- and
- a component coupling member attachable to said component, said component coupling member presenting a second contact surface traversing said concentric path and abutting said first contact surface.
A device interposed between a post and a component, said device comprising:
- an annular collar generally following an annular path equidistant from the post, attachable the post and presenting at least one contact surface transverse to said annular path;
- and
- a coupling member attachable to the component and presenting a second contact surface transverse to said annular path and abuttable in face-to-face relation with said first contact surface.
A method of mounting a component relative to a post, said method comprising:
- attaching a bi-furcated annular collar to said post, said collar generally following a path concentric to a longitudinal axis of said post, said load receiving surface and said load delivering surface;
- and
- attaching a bifurcated component coupling member to said annular clamp, said coupling member carrying the component, said coupling member presenting at least one component load delivering surface, said load receiving surface and said load delivering surface being in abutment to transfer a load force originating from said component, each of said load receiving surface and said load delivering surface traversing said concentric path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.