Channel connector
AssigneeNissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
InventorRonald Senakiewich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A channel connector comprises a main portion having a connecting portion, a clamping element having at least two opposite ends, and a threaded element threadably connecting the main portion to the clamping element. Each of the two opposite ends are spaced to interfere with walls of an interior portion of a channel during rotation of the clamping element in the interior portion of the channel.
Claims24
A channel connector in combination with a channel having an interior portion defined by outer walls and a channel opening, the channel connector comprising:
- a main portion having a connecting portion;
- a clamping element having at least two opposite ends, each of the at least two opposite ends having an angled surface facing the main portion with an outer portion of each end canted slightly with respect to a central portion forming an obtuse angle, and the outer portion extending toward the main portion adjacent the opposite ends;
- and
- a threaded element threadably connecting the main portion to the clamping element;
- wherein each of the two opposite ends of the clamping element are rotatable about an axis of the threaded element in response to rotation of the main portion.
A kit of components for a vehicle comprising:
- a channel having an interior portion defined by outer side walls and a channel opening;
- a channel connector comprising:
- a main portion having a connecting portion;
- an elongated clamping element having two opposite ends spaced longitudinally from one another a sufficient distance to engage opposite outer side walls of the interior portion of the channel;
- and
- a threaded element threadably connecting the main portion to the clamping element;
- wherein the two opposite ends of the clamping element are rotatable about an axis of the threaded element and adapted to interfere with the outer side walls of the interior portion of the channel in response to rotation of the main portion.
A kit of components for a vehicle comprising:
- a channel having an interior portion and a channel opening;
- a channel connector comprising:
- a main portion having a connecting portion;
- a clamping element having at least two opposite ends, a substantially rectangular portion at a radially central portion of the clamping element, a substantially pointed portion at each of the two opposite ends, and each substantially pointed portion angled toward the main portion, wherein a distance between the pointed portions is larger than a width of the interior portion of the channel to interfere with the walls of the interior portion;
- and
- a threaded element threadably connecting the main portion to the clamping element, wherein each of the two opposite ends are spaced and adapted to interfere with walls of the interior portion of the channel during rotation of the clamping element in the interior portion of the channel.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A channel connector system for a vehicle comprising:
- a channel having an interior portion defined by outer side walls and an elongated channel opening into the interior portion, the channel connectable to a vehicle body element;
- and
- a channel connector including:
- a main portion;
- an elongated clamping element having two opposite ends spaced longitudinally from one another a sufficient distance to engage opposite outer side walls of the interior portion of the channel and a transverse width of the clamping element of sufficiently small dimension to pass through the elongated channel opening formed in the channel when a longitudinal axis of the clamping element is aligned with the elongated channel opening;
- and
- a threaded element threadably connecting the main portion to the clamping element, wherein the two opposite ends of the clamping element are rotatable about an axis of the threaded element to interfere with the opposite outer side walls of the interior portion of the channel in response to rotation of the main portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.