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US 2004/0057775 A1Published application
Coupling device
OwnerLester Harold Golding-Griesselinventor
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OwnerLester Harold Golding-Griesselinventor
Estimating the term…
A coupling device (10) comprising two coupling members (16, 18) each having a base portion (24) and opposed coupling elements (26, 28) extending from the base portion (24). Each coupling element (26, 28) has a distal portion (30) and a body portion (32) between the base portion (24) and the distal portion (30) and the opposed coupling elements (26, 28) of each coupling member (16, 18) defining a throat (34) between the body portions (32) thereof which extends into an open mouth (36) between the distal portions (30) thereof which is narrower than the throat (34). The distal portion (30) of each coupling element (26, 28) has a catch member (38) on an internal part thereof defining with the opposed distal portion (30) the open mouth (36). The arrangement is such that either one of the coupling elements (26, 28) of each of the coupling members (16, 18) can be received in the open mouth (36) and throat (34) of the other of the coupling members when the coupling members are opposed to each other, but that the distal portion (30) of said one of the coupling elements of each of the coupling members cannot be withdrawn through the open mouth of the other of the coupling members without deforming one or both coupling members.
A coupling device (10) comprising two coupling members (16, 18) each having a base portion (24) and opposed coupling elements (26, 28) extending from the base portion (24), each coupling element (26, 28) having a distal portion (30) and a body portion (32) between the base portion (24) and the distal portion (30) and the opposed coupling elements (26, 28) of each coupling member (16, 18) defining a throat (34) between the body portions (32) thereof which extends into an open mouth (36) between the distal portions (30) thereof which is narrower than the throat (34) with the distal portion (30) of each coupling element (26, 28) having a catch member (38) on an internal part thereof defining with the opposed distal portion (30) the open mouth (36), the arrangement being such that either one of the coupling elements (26, 28) of each of the coupling members (16, 18) can be received in the open mouth (36) and throat (34) of the other of the coupling members when the coupling members are opposed to each other, but that the distal portion (30) of said one of the coupling elements of each of the coupling members cannot be withdrawn through the open mouth of the other of the coupling members without deforming one or both coupling members.
A coupling device according to any preceding claim wherein the body portions (32) of the opposed coupling elements substantially straight, and the coupling members are of a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
A coupling device according to any preceding claims wherein the coupling members (16, 18) are substantially rigid and engagement and disengagement is effected by relative axial movement.
A coupling device according to any preceding claim wherein the mouth (36) of each coupling member has a greater width than the body portion (32) of the coupling element of the opposed coupling member.
A coupling device according to any preceding claim wherein the distal portions (30) of the opposed coupling elements are undercut within the throat (34) of the coupling members to define the catch members (38).
A coupling device according to any preceding claim wherein the opposed surfaces of the distal portions (30) defining the open mouth (36) of each coupling member are inclined towards each other from the outer end of the open mouth to facilitate insertion of the distal portion of the opposed coupling member therethrough.
A coupling device according to any preceding claim wherein said opposed surfaces are curved to define lead-in surfaces which facilitate both insertion and withdrawal of the distal portion through the open mouth, with the narrowest width of the open mouth being defined intermediate the extremities of the opposed surfaces.
A coupling device according to any preceding claim wherein the opposite, exterior part of each distal portion defines a smooth continuous curve with the exterior surface of the body portion.
A coupling device according to claim 23 wherein the interior and exterior surfaces of each distal portion are curved substantial mirror images of each other meeting at a distal edge.
A coupling device according to any preceding claim wherein there is provided two arrays (12, 14) of said coupling members, the base portion (24) of each said coupling member in one said array (12) being operatively secured to a first backing strip (20) and the base portion of each said coupling member in the other said array (14) being operatively secured to a second backing strip (22).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.