US 8,690,470 B2Granted

Adjustable connector for tubular frames

OwnerWayne L. Cash, Larry J. Hookerinventors

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Abstract

An adjustable connector for elongated members is provided having a mount attached to a first elongated member, such as a chair support, and a tubular arm assembly pivotally connected to the mount and attached to a second elongated member, such as an umbrella or flag. The arm assembly is selectively positioned in relation to the mount by adjusting pegs that extend from the arm assembly and engage receivers in the mount. A tubular cam within the arm assembly is connected to a tubular sleeve on the exterior of the arm assembly. The sleeve is slid toward the mount causing the cam to disengage the pegs from the mount receivers permitting repositioning of the arm assembly from a position adjacent to the mount, through perpendicular to a position parallel to the mount. The connector may be collapsed and remain connected to the elongated members when not in use.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An adjustable connector assembly comprising:

a first elongated member and a second elongated member;
an elongated mounting member having a first end and a second end, said mounting member being adapted for attachment to said first elongated member;
an elongated frame having a first end and a second end, said first end having a hinge joint;
a bracket connecting said mounting member and said frame;
an elongated arm assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end pivotally connected to said hinge joint, said second elongated member being adapted for attachment to said elongated arm assembly;
and
said elongated arm assembly including:
(1) a tubular arm having slots;
(2) a tubular sleeve having opposing transverse receivers;
(3) a tubular cam having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a pair of legs extending therefrom, a transverse receiver extending through the top and bottom of said cam, said cam disposed within said tubular arm;
(4) a cam pin slidably received within said slots in said arm and said receiver in said cam, said cam pin secured within said receivers in said sleeve;
(5) an elongated helical return spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said return spring slidably received within said cam, said return spring proximal end connected to said cam pin, and said return spring distal end connected to a spring pin;
and
(6) a locking member at said elongated arm proximal end from said hinge joint to permit said pivotal movement.

11 more elements

An adjustable connector for first and second elongated members, which connector comprises:

a frame having a first end and a second end, said first end having a hinge joint, and said second end being adapted for attachment to said first elongated member;
an elongated arm assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end pivotally connected to said hinge joint, and said second elongated member being adapted for attachment to said arm assembly distal end;
said arm assembly comprising:
(a) a tubular arm having:
(1) a proximal end and a distal end, said arm proximal end connected to said hinge joint;
(2) a pair of opposing, transverse, distal receivers located on the top and bottom of said arm in proximity to said arm distal end;
(3) a pair of opposing, transverse, proximal receivers located on the front and back of said arm in proximity to said arm proximal end, said proximal receivers selectively aligning with said frame first end;
(4) a pair of opposing, transverse, elongated slots aligned along the length of said arm generally midway between said distal receivers and said proximal receivers;
and (5) a pair of opposing, transverse, spring receivers located on the top and bottom of said arm between said distal receivers and said elongated slots;
(b) a tubular sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, a pair of opposing transverse receivers located on the top and bottom of said sleeve;
said sleeve slidably received on said arm;
(c) a tubular cam having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a pair of legs extending therefrom, a transverse receiver extending through the top and bottom of said cam, said cam disposed within said arm;
(d) a V-shaped locking spring having a first leg and a second leg extending from a distal end and terminating at a proximal end, each of said spring legs having a peg extending laterally therefrom, said pegs disposed within said arm proximal receivers, said locking spring disposed within said arm;
(e) a cam pin slidably received within said slots in said arm and said receiver in said cam, said cam pin secured within said receivers in said sleeve;
(f) a spring pin secured within said spring receivers in said arm;
(g) an elongated helical return spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said return spring slidably received within said cam, said return spring proximal end connected to said cam pin, and said return spring distal end connected to said spring pin;
and
said pegs slidably engaging said frame first end.

15 more elements

An adjustable connector for first and second elongated members, which connector comprises:

a tubular mounting member having a first end and a second end, a slot partially circumscribing the perimeter of said mounting member, said mounting member being adapted for attachment to said first elongated member;
an elongated frame having a first end and a second end, said first end having a clevis-shaped head;
a bracket connecting said mounting member second end and said elongated frame second end;
said head having a front disc and an opposing back disc, each of said discs having a centrally located transverse pivot receiver and a plurality of peripherally located register receivers;
an elongated arm assembly including:
(1) a tubular arm having:
(a) a proximal end and a distal end;
(b) a disc-shaped hub, said hub having a transverse pivot receiver, said hub disposed between said head front and back discs, said hub connected to said arm proximal end;
(c) a pair of opposing, transverse, distal receivers located on the top and bottom of said arm in proximity to said arm distal end;
(d) a pair of opposing, transverse, proximal receivers located on the front and back of said arm in proximity to said arm proximal end, said proximal receivers selectively aligning with said register receivers;
(e) a pair of opposing, transverse, elongated slots aligned along the length of said arm generally midway between said distal receivers and said proximal receivers;
and (f) a pair of opposing, transverse, spring receivers located on the top and bottom of said arm between said distal receivers and said elongated slots;
(2) a tubular sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, a pair of opposing transverse receivers located on the top and bottom of said sleeve;
said sleeve slidably received on said arm;
(3) a tubular cam having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end having a pair of legs extending therefrom, a transverse receiver extending through the top and bottom of said cam, said cam disposed within said arm;
(4) a V-shaped locking spring having a first leg and a second leg extending from a distal end and terminating at a proximal end, each of said spring legs having a peg extending laterally therefrom, said pegs disposed within said arm proximal receivers, said locking spring disposed within said arm;
(5) a cam pin slidably received within said slots in said arm and said receiver in said cam, said cam pin secured within said receivers in said sleeve;
(6) a spring pin secured within said spring receivers in said arm;
and
(7) an elongated helical return spring having a proximal end and a distal end, said return spring slidably received within said cam, said return spring proximal end connected to said cam pin, and said return spring distal end connected to said spring pin;
said pegs slidably engaging said register receivers;
a cylindrical adapter having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end dimensioned to engage said arm distal end;
a transverse arm receiver passing through the top and bottom of said adapter proximal end;
a transverse object receiver passing through said adapter distal end;
said adapter distal end having a cavity adapted for receiving said second elongated member;
and
an adapter pin, said adapter secured to said arm distal end by securing said adapter pin within said receiver and said distal arm receiver.

24 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/684,583Filed 8 Jan 2010 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 Jan 2009
Published: US 2010/0172690 A18 Jul 2010
Granted: 8 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

E04H 12/187
Movable or with movable sections, e.g. rotatable or telescopic: with hinged sections
A47C 7/66
Accessories for chairs: means to protect against weather
A47C 7/664
Means to protect against weather: of umbrella type
Y10T 403/32336
Including radially spaced detent or latch component: engaging notch or recess in outer periphery of component