Connector system and methods
AssigneeBIW Connector Systems, Inc.
InventorsDonald E. Gardner, Robert F. Buckheit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a connector system and methods for attaching a first and second connector. Each connector includes an elongate connector body and a coupling nut rotatably coupled about the connector body. Each coupling nut includes a center plate and a pair of latch arms, with each arm having a groove therein to define a tooth at a distal end of each arm. The arms are substantially parallel to the connector body. Each connector further includes at least one resilient member which resists movement of the arms away from their parallel orientation relative to the elongate body. The first and second connectors may be connected by abutting the connector bodies and rotating the coupling nuts so that the grooves and teeth of corresponding arms mate with each other.
Claims47
A connector system comprising:
- a first and a second connector, each connector comprising an elongate connector body and a coupling nut rotatably coupled about the connector body, each coupling nut comprising a center plate and a pair of latch arms, with each arm having a groove therein to define a tooth at a distal end of each arm, wherein the arms are substantially parallel to the connector body, and wherein each connector further comprises at least one resilient member which resists movement of the arms away from their parallel orientation relative to the connector body;
- and
- wherein the first and second connectors may be connected by abutting the connector bodies and rotating the coupling nuts so that the grooves and teeth of corresponding arms mate with each other.
A connector comprising:
- an elongate connector body;
- a coupling nut rotatably coupled about the connector body, the coupling nut comprising a center plate and a pair of latch arms, with each arm having a groove therein to define a tooth at a distal end of each arm, wherein the arms are substantially parallel to the connector body;
- and
- at least one resilient member which resists movement of the arms away from their parallel orientation relative to the connector body.
A method for coupling a pair of connectors, the method comprising:
- providing a first and a second connector, each connector comprising an elongate connector body and a coupling nut rotatably coupled about the connector body, each coupling nut comprising a center plate and a pair of latch arms, with each arm having a groove therein to define a tooth at a distal end of each arm, wherein the arms are substantially parallel to the connector body, and wherein each connector further comprises at least one resilient member which resists movement of the arms away from their parallel orientation relative to the connector body;
- abutting the connector bodies of the connectors;
- and
- rotating the coupling nuts in opposite directions until the grooves and teeth of corresponding arms mate with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.