Device, and associated method, for coupling trusses together
OwnerJack Hawthorneinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A first truss may be coupled to a second truss by securing a male coupling portion of a coupling device to the first truss, and securing a female portion of the coupling device to the second truss. An extension of the male coupling portion is positioned within an opening of the female coupling portion. The extension is provided with a groove, and the female coupling portion is provided with a lever having a cam formed on it, such that the level may be rotated causing the cam to engage the groove and secure the male coupling portion to the female coupling portion, thereby securing together the first and second trusses.
Claims51
1-5. (canceled)
A male coupling comprising:
- a shank portion adapted for fitting into at least one tubular member of at least one truss;
- an extension portion extending from said shank portion for matingly engaging a receiver portion of at least one female coupling;
- and
- a groove defined about said extension portion for engaging a mechanism mounted to said at least one female coupling for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling.
A female coupling comprising:
- a shank portion adapted for fitting into at least one tubular member of at least one truss;
- a receiver portion extending from said shank portion and defining an opening configured for matingly receiving an extension portion of at least one male coupling;
- and
- a mechanism mounted to said at least one female coupling, said mechanism being configured for engaging a groove defined in said extension portion for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling.
A first truss comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected tubular members;
- at least one first male coupling having a shank portion secured into at least one of said plurality of tubular members;
- an extension portion extending from said shank portion for matingly engaging a receiver portion of at least one first female coupling secured to a second truss;
- and
- a groove defined about said extension for engaging a mechanism mounted to said at least one first female coupling for securing said at least one first male coupling to said at least one first female coupling.
A first truss comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected tubular members;
- at least one female coupling having a shank secured into at least one of said plurality of tubular members;
- a receiver extending from said shank and defining an opening configured for matingly receiving an extension of at least one male coupling secured to a second truss;
- and
- a mechanism mounted to said at least one female coupling, said mechanism being configured for engaging a groove defined in said extension for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling.
A method for making a male coupling, comprising steps of:
- forming a shank portion of said male coupling for fitting into at least one tubular member of at least one truss;
- forming an extension portion of said male coupling, said extension portion extending from said shank for matingly engaging a receiver portion of at least one female coupling;
- and
- forming a groove about said extension for engaging a mechanism mounted to said at least one female coupling for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling.
A method for making a female coupling, comprising steps of:
- forming a shank portion for fitting into at least one tubular member of at least one truss;
- forming a receiver portion extending from said shank portion and defining an opening configured for matingly receiving an extension portion of at least one male coupling;
- and
- mounting a mechanism to said at least one female coupling, said mechanism being configured for engaging a groove defined in said extension portion for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling.
A method for assembling a first truss comprising a step of securing a shank portion of at least one male coupling into one of at least two interconnected tubular members of said first truss, said at least one male coupling further having an extension portion extending from said shank portion for matingly engaging a receiver portion of at least one female coupling secured to a second truss, and a groove defined about said extension portion for engaging a mechanism mounted to said at least one female coupling for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling.
A method for assembling a first truss comprising a step of securing a shank portion of at least one female coupling into at least one tubular member of said first truss, said at least one female coupling further having a receiver extending from said shank and defining an opening configured for matingly receiving an extension of at least one male coupling secured to a second truss, and a mechanism mounted to said at least one female coupling, said mechanism being configured for engaging a groove defined in said extension for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling.
A method for coupling together a first truss to a second truss,
- said first truss comprising:
- a plurality of first interconnected tubular members;
- at least one first male coupling having a shank portion secured into at least one of said plurality of first tubular members;
- an extension portion extending from said shank portion for matingly engaging a receiver portion of at least one first female coupling secured to said second truss;
- and
- a groove defined about said extension portion for engaging a mechanism mounted to said at least one first female coupling, said mechanism being configured for securing said at least one first male coupling to said at least one first female coupling;
- said second truss comprising:
- a plurality of second interconnected tubular members;
- said at least one female coupling having a shank portion secured into at least one of said plurality of second tubular members;
- a receiver portion extending from said shank portion and defining an opening configured for matingly receiving said extension portion of said at least one male coupling secured to said second truss;
- and
- a mechanism mounted to said at least one female coupling, said mechanism being configured for engaging said groove defined in said extension for securing said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling;
- and
- said method comprises steps of:
- inserting said extension portion of said male coupling into said receiver portion of said female coupling;
- and
- actuating said mechanism to engage said groove to thereby secure said at least one male coupling to said at least one female coupling, and said first truss to said second truss.
A method for coupling a first truss to a second truss, each of said first truss and said second truss being fabricated from respective tubular members interconnected together, the method comprising steps of:
- securing a shank portion of at least one male coupling into at least one tubular member of said first truss, said at least one male coupling having an extension portion extending from said shank portion and defining a groove therein;
- fitting a shank portion of at least one female coupling into at least one tubular member of said second truss, said at least one female coupling having a receiver portion defining an opening configured for matingly receiving said extension portion of said at least one male coupling;
- inserting said extension portion of said at least one male coupling into said receiver portion of a matingly corresponding one of said at least one female coupling;
- and
- rotating a lever pivotably mounted on each said at least one female coupling so that a cam portion of said lever engages said groove of said extension portion of a matingly corresponding one of said at least one male coupling and secures each said at least one male coupling to each said at least one female coupling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.