FR2985798A1 - Device for connecting tube with another tube, has sleeve including end to receive end of tube, fixing unit fixing end of sleeve at set of modular elements in which end of sleeve forms, and opening whose edges allow to pass another tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (30) has a sleeve (10) including an end to receive an end of a first tube, where another end of the sleeve is equipped with a fixing unit. The fixing unit fixes the latter end of the sleeve at a set of modular elements in which the latter end of the sleeve forms. Edges of an opening (31) allow to pass a second tube, where diameter of the opening is 0.625 mm, and diameter of the tube is 32 mm. The modular elements include another sleeve to receive an end of a third tube.

Description

The present invention relates to a connection device for connecting a first tube, which extends in a first direction, to a second tube which extends in a second transverse direction. compared to the first tube.

The connection device according to the present invention is of the type which comprises an opening for passing a first tube. The device is further provided with elements for receiving and securing the tip of a second tube which extends in a direction transverse to the first tube which passes through the opening of the device.

The connection device according to the present invention is, for example, used to make spatial constructions that use tubes and connection devices to interconnect different tubes. A specific application of the present invention may be that of a carrier structure of an aviary in which said carrier structure is used to hook a net for containing volatiles. Connection devices are disclosed in the prior art. These devices are known for connecting a first tube, which extends in a first direction, to a second tube which extends in a direction transverse to this first tube. In order to be able to freely combine different tubes to build a structure of desired shapes and dimensions, a user needs a series of tubes and five different connection pieces to connect the different tubes to each other. A first type of device is a system comprising an opening for passing a tube to which is fixed a sleeve that can receive the tip of a second tube. This first type of device allows a first tube to be fixed relative to a second tube. The user needs a second and a third connection device which comprise an opening for passing a first tube, to which are attached two sleeves for receiving and fixing the tip of a tube. The two sleeves can be fixed one in the continuity of the other or one on an angle of 90 ° relative to the other.

A fourth device, necessary for the user, is a device comprising an opening for passing a tube to which three sleeves are attached, each sleeve being adapted to receive the tip of a tube.

A fifth and last device, necessary for the user, is a device comprising an opening for passing a first tube, surrounded by four sleeves, each sleeve being adapted to receive and fix the tip of a tube.

If a user wishes to make a structure using tubes and fasteners according to the prior art, the user must have a quantity of tubes and a quantity of each of the five aforementioned fasteners. The user needs to store a minimum amount of each of these devices. In addition, to achieve the five different fasteners, the user must have the ability to produce the five different fasteners, that is to say it must prepare the production of five different parts. In the case where, for example, the device is obtained by means of a molding process, five different molds will have to be prepared and used for the production of these five connection devices. An object of the present invention is to limit the amount of elements to be produced to achieve a connection device for connecting tubes to each other without limiting the freedom of the user to build a final structure. For this reason, the object of the present invention is a connection device for connecting a first tube, which extends in a first direction, to a second tube which extends in a second direction transverse to the first tube , wherein the device comprises an opening for passing said first tube and at least one sleeve for receiving a tip of said second tube, wherein the sleeve comprises a first end for receiving said tip of the second tube, and a second end provided with at least one fixing means for fixing this second end to a set of modular elements, wherein the second end of said sleeve forms, with all the modular elements, the contours of said opening for passing said first tube.

The principle of the present invention consists in replacing a series of connection devices having a fixed configuration by a set obtained by interconnecting different modular elements and thus obtaining the connection device according to the user's choice. In the context of this description the phrase "all modular elements" refers to an assembly comprising one or more sleeves and the necessary amount of complementary elements to form, together with the sleeve, the desired device. The set of modular elements could include one or more sleeves. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the set of modular elements comprises at least one second sleeve, adapted to receive the tip of a third tube. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the set of modular elements comprises three elements, the second end of the sleeve and each of the modular elements being adapted to form a quarter of the contour of said opening. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening of the device is adapted to let a tube with a diameter of 25 / 40mm, and more particularly a 32mm diameter tube.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve is adapted to receive the tip of a 25 / 40mm diameter tube, more particularly a 32mm diameter tube.

The invention, the advantages and the possibilities of the use of the invention will be better appreciated on reading the present description and which refers to the figures in which: FIG. 1 shows a sleeve, for the device according to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a modular element, for the device according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows the device according to the invention, comprising a sleeve and a set of modular elements, FIG. 4 represents the device according to the invention. , comprising two sleeves positioned one in the continuity of the other and wherein said sleeves are interconnected by means of modular elements, Figure 5 shows the device according to the invention, comprising two sleeves and in which the two sleeves are connected to each other at an angle of 90 ° using two modular elements, Figure 6 shows the device according to the invention, comprising three sleeves connected to each other. to others together with a modular element to complete the device, and Figure 7 shows the device according to the invention, comprising four sleeves connected to each other to form the device.

Figure 1 shows a modular element in the form of a sleeve 1. The sleeve 1 is a modular element in that it can be attached to the other modular elements to form together the device according to the invention. The sleeve 10 comprises a first end 11 for receiving the tip of a tube. The sleeve 10 has a second end 12 for forming, when the sleeve has been attached to the other modular elements, an opening for passing a tube. The second end 12 of the sleeve 10, in its form according to FIG. 1, represents a quarter circle to form, together with three other modular elements, an opening in the form of circles. Figures 3 to 7 show the different options for using the sleeve 10 to obtain a device according to the invention. The second end 12 of the sleeve 10 is provided with fastening elements 13, 14 for fixing said sleeve 10 to the other modular elements. FIG. 2 shows a modular element in the form of a connection 20. Said connection 20 is provided with fixing means 23, 24 making it possible to fix said connection 20 to the other modular elements, all thus forming the device according to the present invention. The connection 20 is provided on its front face with a quarter-circle-shaped element 25. The connection 20, used with other connecting elements 20 and / or with sleeves 10 as shown in FIG. 1, makes it possible to obtain devices as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7. FIG. embodiment 30 of the device according to the invention. The device 30 according to FIG. 3 comprises a sleeve 10 which, with its second end, is fixed to a set of three connections 20. The result, as shown in FIG. 3, is a device provided with an opening 31 enabling let a first tube pass. The device 30 may be attached to the tube which passes through this opening 31 by suitable means, such as a screw (not shown). The sleeve 10 is adapted to receive the tip of a second tube and the device 30 is provided with means for fixing this tip inside the sleeve 10. This fixing means can be in the form of a screw (not shown).

With the aid of the device 30 according to FIG. 3, a first tube extending in a first direction may be attached to a second tube in a direction transverse to the first tube. The first tube passes through the opening 31 and the second tube extends to the inside of the sleeve 10. Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the device 40 according to the present invention. The device 40 is obtained using a first and a second sleeve 10. The two sleeve 10 are one in the continuity of the other. The two sleeves 10 are positioned so that their second end is directed towards each other. The two second ends of the sleeves 10 are interconnected by two connections 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the two sleeves 10 together with the two connections 20 form an opening 41 therein for passing a first tube. The ends of a second and a third tube can be received inside the sleeves 10. The device 40 can be used to fix a first tube which passes through the opening 41 to the ends of a second and a second tube. a third tube, said tips being received inside the sleeves 10. Figure 5 shows a device 50 according to the present invention. The device 50 includes first and second sleeves 10, which are interconnected by a first and a second connection 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the sleeves 10 are positioned to together form an angle of 90 °. The elements 10 and the connections 20 together form an opening 51 for passing a tube. A first tube and a second tube may be received and secured within the sleeves 10. The device 50 is adapted to secure a first tube, extending through the opening 51, to a second and third tube received 10. Figure 6 shows a device 60 according to the invention comprising three sleeves 10 and a connection 20. The device 60 comprises inside an opening 61 for passing a first tube. A second, third and fourth tube may be received and secured within the sleeve 10. The device 60 is adapted to secure a first tube, passing through the opening 61, at the end of a second, third and fourth tube. Figure 7 shows a device 70 according to the invention, which device comprises four sleeves 10 interconnected around the opening 71. The opening 71 is itself adapted to receive a first tube. A second, third, fourth and fifth tube can be received and fixed inside the sleeves 10. The device 70 is therefore adapted to connect the end of the four tubes to a fifth tube. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 each comprise four modular elements. These four modular elements comprise at least one sleeve 10 and three other elements for forming the contour of an opening for passing a first tube.

The devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 of the present invention can be used to attach tubes of any material, such as plastic. Alternatively, these devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 are also suitable for attaching aluminum or steel tubes to each other, but also tubes of any other suitable material. According to one embodiment preferred embodiment of the invention, the devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 are suitable for fixing 25 / 40mm diameter tubes but especially 32 mm outside diameter tubes.

A number of tubes with a number of devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 can be used to obtain a spatial structure with a great freedom of final shape. Only two basic elements, namely the sleeve 10 and the connection 20, are necessary to obtain the devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70.

The user can therefore keep in stock large quantities of sleeves 10 and connections 20 and can, at will, assemble the devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 he needs to achieve the spatial structures of his choice.

The production of sleeves 10 and connections 20, relatively easy and economical, represents a major advantage of devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 according to the invention. The modular elements 10 and 20 guarantee the freedom of the user in that he can obtain fixing devices of his choice and, as he wishes, make spatial structures using devices 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 in combination with tubes.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS1 connection device (30, 40, 50, 60, 70) for connecting a first tube, which extends in a first direction, to a second tube which extends in a second direction transverse to the first tube, wherein the device (30, 40, 50, 60, 70) includes an opening (31, 41, 51, 61, 71) for passing said first tube and at least one sleeve (10) for receiving a tip of said second tube , wherein the sleeve (10) comprises a first end (11) for receiving said tip of the second tube, and a second end (12) provided with at least one fastening means (13, 14) for securing said second end (12) a set of modular elements, wherein the second end (12) of said sleeve (10) forms, with all the modular elements, the contours of said opening (31, 41, 51, 61, 71) allowing to pass said first tube. 2. Device (30, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to claim 1 wherein the set of modular elements comprises at least one second sleeve, adapted to receive the tip of a third tube. 3. Device (30, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the set of modular elements comprises three elements, the second end of the sleeve and each of the modular elements being adapted to form a quarter of the contour. of said opening. 4. Device (30, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to claim 1 to 3 wherein the opening (31, 41, 51, 61, 71) of the device (30, 40, 50, 60, 70) is adapted to pass a tube with a diameter of 25 / 40mm, and more particularly a tube of 32mm in diameter. 5. Device (30, 40, 50, 60, 70) according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the sleeve (10) is adapted to receive the tip of a 25 / 40mm diameter tube, more particularly a 32mm diameter tube.