Patent US3388713A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3977800A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-11-26
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1994-11-26
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a connector for structural members such as tubes, several of which are brought together at a corner zone or the like. The connector is formed as an extrusion including a body portion from which fastening formations, in the nature of bifurcations, extend in each of three directions. Where the fastening formations extend all in the same general plane the connector may be extruded in one piece but where one or more fastening formations extend in different planes to others, the connector is extruded in two or more parts, one part including the body and two or more fastening formations extending in one plane and another part comprising a further fastening formation which is secured to the body so as to extend therefrom in the different plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe R. Cassel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:38
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B7/00; F16B7/04; F16B7/044; F16B7/0446; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/34; Y10T403/341; Y10T403/342; Y10T403/343; Y10T403/55; Y10T403/557; Y10T403/57; Y10T403/5741
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
An extruded connector member for connecting hollow structural elements, comprising: a body portion; three or more fastening formation means, each extending in different directions from said body portion for stable engagement within the hollow structural elements, each of said fastening formation means comprising a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, elongated, relatively flexible limbs, one of said limbs having a threaded hole, said limbs being substantially flat but including gripping formation means for engagement with the interior of the structural elements, said limbs each having a cross-sectional area in a plane facing the body portion, substantially less than the area of spacing between them, each of said fastening formation means which extend from said body portion in a single plane being extruded integrally therewith and each of said fastening formation means extending perpendicular to said plane being separately extruded and separately secured thereto; step means between said body portion and each of said fastening formation means for providing a surface against which the hollow structural elements abut when properly connected; and screw means for splaying each of said pairs of limbs to effect a force fit of each of said fastening formation means within the structural elements by engaging said threaded hole of one limb and abutting the other limb of each of said fastening formation means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
216 words
An extruded connector member for connecting hollow structural elements, comprising: a body portion; three or more fastening formation means, each extending in different directions from said body portion for stable engagement within the hollow structural elements, each of said fastening formation means comprising a pair of spaced, substantially parallel, elongated, relatively flexible limbs, one of said limbs having a threaded hole, said limbs being substantially flat but including gripping formation means for engagement with the interior of the structural elements, said limbs each having a cross-sectional area in a plane facing the body portion, substantially less than the area of spacing between them, each of said fastening formation means which extend from said body portion in a single plane being extruded integrally therewith and each of said fastening formation means extending perpendicular to said plane being separately extruded and separately secured thereto; step means between said body portion and each of said fastening formation means for providing a surface against which the hollow structural elements abut when properly connected; and screw means for splaying each of said pairs of limbs to effect a force fit of each of said fastening formation means within the structural elements by engaging said threaded hole of one limb and abutting the other limb of each of said fastening formation means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A connector according to claim 1 wherein said fastening formation means which are secured separately to said body portion are secured thereto with adhesives.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A connector according to claim 1 further including a securing means, connected between said body portion and said fastening formation means which are secured separately to said body portion, for securing effective location of said fastening formation means on said body portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein said body portion is cubic and said fastening formation means extend from at least three of the faces of said cube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A connector according to claim 1, wherein said connector is constructed of aluminum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB190214677A
Cited
US1025759A
Cited
CH303955A
Cited
US2990203A
Cited
FR1276390A
Cited
GB1016582A
Cited
US3485519A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |