# US 5,704,728 A · Linking assembly for an inserted-and-connected lamp pole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,728 A - Document ID: US5704728A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/571,893 - Filed: 1996-02-01 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1996-02-01 - Inventors: Kam Hoi Chan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704728A ## CPC - F21V 21/116: Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards (F21V21/002 takes precedence) - F16B 7/0413: {for tubes using the innerside thereof (F16B7/025 takes precedence)} - Y10T 403/55: Member ends joined by inserted section - Y10T 403/559: Fluted or splined section - Y10T 403/57: Distinct end coupler - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A linking assembly for reliably and securely interconnecting thin-walled welded tubes in order to assemble a floor lamp pole includes a hollow plug member which fits securely into one hollow tube member and mates with a socket securely fitted into an adjacent tube member. Each of the plug and the socket are provided with several slots therethrough, which provide arc flats, which are bendable inwardly to provide additional elasticity and assist insertion into a corresponding tube. An internal strengthening circumferential flange is provide to increase rigidity, and longitudinal channels in the socket and plug prevent rotation relative to the tubes of the lamp pole. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A linking assembly for an inserted and connected lamp pole, comprising: an upper thin-walled welded tube having a lower end and a circumferential wall with a welding seam extending radially inward, and a rolled concave circumferential reinforcement being defined by a deformation of said wall and close to said lower end; a lower thin-walled welded tube having an upper end and a circumferential wall with a welding seam extending radially inward, and a rolled concave circumferential reinforcement being defined by the deformation of said wall of the lower tube and close to said upper end of the lower tube; a socket adapted to insert in said lower tube with a stationary fit in such a manner that a minimum inner diameter of said socket is reached at the place where said rolled concave circumferential reinforcement of the lower tube is located, and having a first basic hollow cylinder with an internal hole, a fitting circumferential groove extending axially around the outside of said basic hollow cylinder, a plurality of longitudinal slots through the first basic hollow cylinder and extending to an end of said lower thin-walled welded tube so as to form a plurality of arc flats in the socket which can bend radially inward when said socket is inserted in said lower tube, one or more longitudinal channels on the first basic cylinder and extending radially inward to receive said welding seam of said lower tube to both prevent the rotation of said socket relative to said lower tube and increase the contact stress therebetween, and two longitudinal projections in the internal hole of said socket; a hollow plug having a second basic hollow cylinder adapted to insert in said upper tube with a stationary fit in such a manner that a minimum inner diameter of the cylinder is reached at the place where said rolled concave circumferential reinforcement of the upper tube is located, a concave circumferential groove extending axially around the outside of said second basic hollow cylinder close to a first end of said second basic hollow cylinder, a plurality of longitudinal slots through the second basic hollow cylinder and extending to a second end opposite to the concave circumferential groove so as to form a plurality of arc flats which can bend radially inward when the second basic hollow cylinder is inserted into said upper tube, and one or more longitudinal channels on the second basic hollow cylinder and extending radially inward to receive said welding seam of said upper tube to both prevent the rotation of said plug relative to said upper tube and increase the contact stress therebetween; and a connecting hollow cylinder adapted to be inserted in the internal hole of said socket with a stationery fit and having one end integrally connected with said first end of said second basic hollow cylinder where the concave circumferential groove of the second basic hollow cylinder is located and another end with a convex, outwardly directed circumferential reinforcement, a plurality of longitudinal slots through said connecting hollow cylinder and extending to said end where the convex circumferential reinforcement is located so as to form a plurality of arc flats which can bend radially inward when said connecting hollow cylinder is inserted in the internal hole of said socket, and an internal strengthening circumferential flange in the connecting cylinder, extending radially inward and having a position below the rolled concave circumferential reinforcement of said lower tube when said socket is inserted in said lower tube and when the connecting hollow cylinder is inserted in said socket, and two longitudinal channels on the outside of said connecting cylinder to receive said two longitudinal projections in the internal hole of said socket to prevent the relative rotation between said socket and said plug. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a collar is provided between the basic cylinder and the connection cylinder of said plug. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plug and said socket are made of plastic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claim in claim 1 wherein said plug and socket are made of an alloy with casting die. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claim in claim 1 wherein the connection formed by the convex circumferential reinforcement of said plug and the fitting circumferential groove of said socket is detachable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection formed by the convex circumferential reinforcement of said plug and the fitting circumferential groove of said socket is not detachable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cross section of the rolled concave circumferential reinforcement of each of said tubes has a shape of one of a semicircle, a triangle, or saw teeth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of the rolled concave circumferential reinforcement of said tubes is more than one. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A linking assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wall of said tubes is 1 mm thick and the channels are 1.5 mm wide and 1 mm deep.