Tube fastener apparatus
AssigneeInterlock Structures Internatioal Inc.
InventorsRalph L. Schipani, Richard K. Strayer, Michael B. Lasky, Lee T. Egbert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener connects an insert to a hollow tube. The fastener is formed to have a yoke portion extending between a pair of arm portions, all of which are formed arcuately to conform to the shape of tube. Arm portions have arcuate free ends with horizontally oriented seams. Arm portions include protuberances which then may be cammed between an engagement position with edges of openings in the tube and edges of a cavity space in insert and a disengageable position between the edges. The fastener includes a lifting handle that is spaced away from the tubes surface to form an access gap.
Claims26
A connecting assembly for connecting a hollow cylindrical tube having a tube wall, the tube wall having a pair of aligned openings, the connecting assembly comprising:
- an insert member having an outer surface, the outer surface of the insert member being formed to slide into the tube, the outer surface of the insert member having a cavity space alignable with the openings of the tube;
- and
- a rotating fastener comprising a pair of plate-like arm portions each having an end with a curved edge, each of the arm portions being formed with a profile shaped to curve around some portion of the tube, each of the arm portions including a protuberance fitting into one of the openings of the tube and into the cavity space of the insert member to fasten the tube and insert member together, the rotating fastener further comprising a handle member connected between the arm portions, the handle member generally arcuate in shape and protruding above an outer surface of the tube to form an access gap between the tube and the handle member, the handle member allowing rotation of the arm portions between an engagement and a disengagement position, the engagement position defined where the profile of the arm substantially conforms to the outer surface of the tube, the disengagement position defined where a portion of the curved edge of the arm portions ride against the outer surface of the tube and moves the protuberances outward from the cavity space thereby substantially releasing the insert member.
A connecting apparatus, comprising:
- first and second longitudinally-extending, hollow tubes having first walls and first open ends, each of the first walls having a pair of openings;
- a pair of fastener members, each comprising:
- protuberances fitting in one of the pairs of openings in one of the first walls in an engagement position of the fastener members, the fastener members rotatable about the protuberances;
- a pair of plate-like arm portions straddling the pair of openings and connected to the protuberances;
- lifting means connected between the arm portions, the lifting means protruding above an outer surface of the tubes to form an access gap;
- and
- disengagement means moving the protuberances outward from the openings when the fastener members are rotated about the protuberances to a disengagement position of the fastener members;
- and
- an insert member having a second wall formed to slide longitudinally into the first open ends of the tubes, the insert member including means for moving the pair of connected protuberances of each of the fastener members and means for receiving the protuberances so that the protuberances can engage the tubes and the insert member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.