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US 2019/0239450 A1Published application
Radially Slotted Annular Coupling System
AssigneeThriving Systems Design, LLC
InventorJason E. Rider
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupler including an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, the annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between the opposed annular body first and second faces; the annular body having opposed annular body first and second ends which connect the annular body outer and inner surfaces and the annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with the internal opening; the annular body sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of the radial slot; and a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from the annular body inner surface.
Claims66
A coupler comprising:
- an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, said annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- said annular body having opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- said annular body sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- and
- a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface.
2 more elements
A method of producing a coupler, said method comprising:
- providing an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, said annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- connecting said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces with opposed annular body first and second ends to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- configuring said annular body as sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- and
- radially inwardly projecting a plurality of spaced apart teeth from said annular body inner surface.
2 more elements
A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
- obtaining said coupler comprising:
- an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, said annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- said annular body having opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- said annular body sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- and
- a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;
- and
- removably coupling said coupler with a support.
5 more elements
A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
- obtaining a first coupler further comprising a female connector having a female connector interior cavity;
- obtaining a second coupler further comprising a male connector having a male connector protruding portion configured to removably matably engage within said female connector interior cavity;
- and
- removably matably engaging said male connector protruding portion within said female connector interior cavity to couple said first and second couplers.
1 more element
A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
- obtaining a first coupler further comprising a female connector having a female connector interior cavity;
- obtaining a second coupler further comprising a hook element having a pair of opposed elongate recesses, each extending across one of two opposing hook element faces proximate a hook element tip, wherein said hook element tip is configured to removably matably engage within said female connector interior cavity;
- and
- removably matably engaging said hook element tip within said female connector interior cavity to couple said first and second couplers.
1 more element
A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
- obtaining a first coupler further comprising a first coupler resiliently deformable hook element outwardly extending from said annular body outer surface of said first coupler;
- obtaining a second coupler further comprising a second coupler resiliently deformable hook element outwardly extending from said annular body outer surface of said second coupler;
- and
- resiliently deforming said first and second resiliently deformable hook elements to engage a first coupler resiliently deformable hook element hook portion with a second coupler resiliently deformable hook element hook portion to couple said first and second couplers.
1 more element
A coupler, comprising:
- an annular body comprising:
- an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces;
- only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;
- a hook element coupled to said annular body;
- and
- a pair of opposed elongate recesses disposed within said hook element, each said elongate recess extending across one of two opposing hook element faces proximate a hook element tip.
6 more elements
A coupler, comprising:
- an annular body comprising:
- an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces;
- only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- and
- wherein said annular body is devoid of a hinge;
- a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;
- and
- a hole disposed in said annular body;
- wherein said hole is disposed proximate one of said opposed annular body first and second ends;
- and
- wherein said hole bounds a hole opening which passes through said annular body between said annular body first and second faces.
10 more elements
A coupler, comprising:
- an annular body comprising:
- an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces;
- only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;
- and
- a pair of hook elements coupled to said annular body opposite one another, each said hook element comprising a shank portion connected to an arcuate hook portion;
- wherein said shank portion outwardly extends from said annular body outer surface and said hook portion inwardly returns toward said annular body outer surface.
6 more elements
A coupler, comprising:
- an annular body comprising:
- an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces;
- only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- wherein said annular body is devoid of a hinge;
- a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;
- a female connector having a female connector interior cavity inwardly extending into said annular body outer surface opposite said radial slot;
- wherein said female connector interior cavity is configured to removably matably engage with a male connector of another said coupler to secure a pair of said couplers to one another;
- wherein said male connector comprises a male connector protruding portion configured to removably matably engage with said female connector interior cavity;
- and
- a hook element coupled to said annular body.
9 more elements
A coupler, comprising:
- an annular body comprising:
- an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces;
- only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;
- opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;
- wherein said opposed annular body first and second ends do not outwardly extend from said annular body outer surface;
- wherein said opposed annular body first and second ends which define said radial slot dispose in angled relation to one another such that said radial slot outwardly flares from said annular body inner surface to said annular body outer surface;
- wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot;
- wherein said annular body is devoid of a hinge;
- a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;
- an aperture element bounding an aperture element opening which passes through said annular body between said annular body first and second faces;
- and
- a hook element coupled to said annular body.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.