Off-road vehicle safety cage structural member attachment apparatus and method

A structural member attachment apparatus usable to attach a first off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member to a second off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member, said structural member attachment apparatus comprising:

• a first compressive retention element having a first compressive retention element inner surface;
• a second compression retention element responsive to said first compressive retention element in an installed configuration and having a second compressive retention element inner surface;
• at least two first compression generation elements to which said first compressive retention element is compressively responsive;
• and
• at least two second compression generation elements to which said second compressive retention element is compressively responsive and that, together with said at least two first compression generation elements, enable engagement of said second compressive retention element with said first compressive retention element, and enable disengagement of said second compressive retention element from said first compressive retention element,
• wherein at least a portion of said first compressive retention element inner surface is configured to apply a compressive retention force to at least a first portion of said second off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member during activation of said first and second compression generation elements,
• wherein at least a portion of said second compressive retention element inner surface is configured to apply a compressive retention force to at least a second portion of said second off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member during activation of said first and second compression generation elements,
• wherein said at least a first portion and said at least a second portion of said second off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member are located on opposite off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member sides,
• wherein said first compressive retention element comprises a compressive retention member outer surface having an off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member interface,
• wherein said at said least two first compression generation elements are established on opposite sides of said first compressive retention element, and
• wherein said at least two second compression generation elements are established on opposite sides of said second compressive retention element.

An off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member attachment method comprising the steps of:

• configuring a first compressive retention element to have a first compressive retention element inner surface;
• configuring a second compression retention element to be responsive to said first compressive retention element in an installed configuration and to have a second compressive retention element inner surface;
• establishing at least two first compression generation elements to which said first compressive retention element is compressively responsive;
• establishing at least two second compression generation elements to which said second compressive retention element is compressively responsive and so that said at least two second compression generation elements, together with said at least two first compression generation elements, enable engagement of said second compressive retention element with said first compressive retention element, and enable disengagement of said second compressive retention element from said first compressive retention element;
• configuring at least a portion of said first compressive retention element inner surface to apply a compressive retention force to at least a first portion of a second off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member upon activation of said first and second compression generation elements;
• configuring at least a portion of said second compressive retention element inner surface to apply a compressive retention force to at least a second portion of said second off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member during activation of said first and second compression generation elements,
• wherein said at least a first portion and said at least a second portion of said second off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member are located on opposite off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member sides;
• configuring said first compressive retention element to have a compressive retention member outer surface that has an off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member interface for attachment of a first off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member;
• establishing said least two first compression generation elements on opposite sides of said first compressive retention element;
• and
• establishing said at least two second compression generation elements on opposite sides of said second compressive retention element.

A method of using a structural member attachment apparatus to attach at least one end-attached off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member to at least one other off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining two compressive retention elements that each comprises at least two compression generation elements;
• establishing said two compressive retention elements externally of said at least one other off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member and substantially oppositely one another;
• activating said at least two compression generation elements;
• compressing said two compressive retention elements oppositely one another and onto said at least one other off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member upon performing said step of activating said at least two compression generation elements and so as to prevent motion of said structural member attachment apparatus relative to said at least one other off-road vehicle occupant protection roll cage framework structural member,
• wherein said step of activating said at least two compression generation elements is non-destructively reversible.