Connector and system for mechanically joining abutting construction elements
OwnerGeoffrey Alan BAKER, Nicholas Girard VITALEinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A connector for mechanically joining abutting construction elements each having a groove therein, comprising a support, at least one split tongue extending from the support, the split tongue including flexible sub-tongues having angled catches for engaging steps located in the groove. During insertion the sub-tongues are flexed toward each other and remain in a partially restored configuration. This, combined with the angled catches, reduces the space between the abutting construction elements.
Claims24
A connector for mechanically joining abutting construction elements each having a groove therein, comprising:
- a support;
- at least one split tongue extending from said support, said split tongue including flexible sub-tongues having angled catches for engaging steps located in said groove;
- wherein said sub-tongues are flexed toward each other during insertion of said split tongue into said groove, said sub-tongues remaining in a partially restored configuration after insertion, said partially restored configuration and said angled catches combining to reduce the space between said abutting construction elements.
A system for mechanically joining abutting construction elements, comprising:
- a first and second construction elements each having therein a groove containing steps;
- a connector comprising:
- a support;
- at least one split tongue extending from said support, said split tongue including flexible sub-tongues having angled catches for engaging said steps of said first and second construction elements;
- wherein said sub-tongues are flexed toward each other during insertion of said split tongue into said groove, said sub-tongues remaining in a partially restored configuration after insertion, said partially restored configuration and said angled catches combining to reduce the space between said first and second construction elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.