GB2036234A - Rod connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector for rod members such as garden canes comprises a body provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes extending into the body from its surface, each hole having an interior wall tapering inwardly capable of gripping an end of a rod 4 inserted therein and the longitudinal axes of the holes subtending angles with each other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rod connectors This invention relates to connectors for rodlike members and is especially, but not exclusively, suitable for the erection of garden frames and the like.

In gardens and elsehwere it is frequently desired to erect frames from rods, such as bamboo rods, which may not have a uniform width. The present invention is intended to provide a cheap and convenient connecting means which allows rapid erection and dismantling of such frames and which is reusable.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a connecting member for rod members comprising a body provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes extending into the body from its surface, the holes having an interior wall tapering inwardly to grip the ends of rods having different widths and being oriented at different angles.

Preferably the holes are arranged radially with regard to a geometrical centre of the body and they may be six in number and arranged on three orthogonal axes so that rods inserted in them define right angles. The angle of taper of the walls of the holes should be such as to allow rods of significantly different diameters to engage the walls while affording a satisfactory friction grip between the wall and a rod inserted in it. The friction grip may be reinforced by projections on the walls of the holes.

Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section of a connecting member according to one embodiment, Figure 2 is a section of a connecting member according to another embodiment, and Figure 3 is an isometric view of part of a frame structure using the connecting members of Fig. 2.

The connecting member of Fig. 1 is generally cube-shaped and may be made of a plastics material. The member is provided with six holes 1. The longitudinal axes of the holes are arranged on the three orthogonal axes of the cube and the holes all terminate at the central core 2 of the cube. In order to save weight and minimise the cost of material the cube may be hollow, the material of the walls defining the outside surface of the cube and extending inwardly towards the centre defining the interior surfaces of the holes 1.

In this embodiment the holes are of circular cross-section.

The holes are dimensioned so that their walls taper inwardly and are thus capable of engaging and holding by friction the ends of rod members such as bamboo canes having varying diameters.

The member of Fig. 2 is generally similar to that of Fig. 1 except that it is of spherical shape and the six holes are of square crosssection: also the inner surfaces of the holes are provided with projections 3 to grip a rod member inserted in the holes.

In both cases the material of the connecting member should have at least a small degree of resilience so that the inner walls of the holes are deformed slightly when the end of a rod is pushed into the hole. The resilience of the material then provides a frictional grip for the end of the rod, which consequently requires a positive pull to remove it. in the embodiment of Fig. 2 the projections 3 reinforce this grip.

Fig. 3 shows the manner in which a framework may be erected using the connecting members of Fig. 2. The rods 4 making up the frame may be of any more or less rigid material, such as bamboo, and need not be of uniform diameter as the holes of the connecting members can accept a variety of diameters: the maximum and minimum diameter of the rods is determined by the maximum and minimum widths of the tapering holes.

The connecting members of the invention thus provide a cheap, convenient and very adaptable means for building up a framework or like structure from rods which may be of uneven diameter. They are especially useful for erecting garden frames, for example for trailing plants, but they may be used in like structures in many other situations. The frame is easily dismantled when no longer required and the connecting members re-used.

1. A connector for rod members comprising a body provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes extending into the body from its surface, each hole having an interior wall tapering inwardly capable of gripping an end of a rod inserted therein and the longitudinal axes of the holes subtending angles with each other.

2. A corrector according to Claim 1, in which said walls are provided with inward projections to grip the end of a rod.

3. A connector according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the holes are six in number and arranged on orthogonal axes.

4. A connector according to any preceding Claim, in which the body is hollow.

5. A connector for rod members, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Rod connectors This invention relates to connectors for rodlike members and is especially, but not exclusively, suitable for the erection of garden frames and the like. In gardens and elsehwere it is frequently desired to erect frames from rods, such as bamboo rods, which may not have a uniform width. The present invention is intended to provide a cheap and convenient connecting means which allows rapid erection and dismantling of such frames and which is reusable. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a connecting member for rod members comprising a body provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes extending into the body from its surface, the holes having an interior wall tapering inwardly to grip the ends of rods having different widths and being oriented at different angles. Preferably the holes are arranged radially with regard to a geometrical centre of the body and they may be six in number and arranged on three orthogonal axes so that rods inserted in them define right angles. The angle of taper of the walls of the holes should be such as to allow rods of significantly different diameters to engage the walls while affording a satisfactory friction grip between the wall and a rod inserted in it. The friction grip may be reinforced by projections on the walls of the holes. Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section of a connecting member according to one embodiment, Figure 2 is a section of a connecting member according to another embodiment, and Figure 3 is an isometric view of part of a frame structure using the connecting members of Fig. 2. The connecting member of Fig. 1 is generally cube-shaped and may be made of a plastics material. The member is provided with six holes 1. The longitudinal axes of the holes are arranged on the three orthogonal axes of the cube and the holes all terminate at the central core 2 of the cube. In order to save weight and minimise the cost of material the cube may be hollow, the material of the walls defining the outside surface of the cube and extending inwardly towards the centre defining the interior surfaces of the holes 1. In this embodiment the holes are of circular cross-section. The holes are dimensioned so that their walls taper inwardly and are thus capable of engaging and holding by friction the ends of rod members such as bamboo canes having varying diameters. The member of Fig. 2 is generally similar to that of Fig. 1 except that it is of spherical shape and the six holes are of square crosssection: also the inner surfaces of the holes are provided with projections 3 to grip a rod member inserted in the holes. In both cases the material of the connecting member should have at least a small degree of resilience so that the inner walls of the holes are deformed slightly when the end of a rod is pushed into the hole. The resilience of the material then provides a frictional grip for the end of the rod, which consequently requires a positive pull to remove it. in the embodiment of Fig. 2 the projections 3 reinforce this grip. Fig. 3 shows the manner in which a framework may be erected using the connecting members of Fig. 2. The rods 4 making up the frame may be of any more or less rigid material, such as bamboo, and need not be of uniform diameter as the holes of the connecting members can accept a variety of diameters: the maximum and minimum diameter of the rods is determined by the maximum and minimum widths of the tapering holes. The connecting members of the invention thus provide a cheap, convenient and very adaptable means for building up a framework or like structure from rods which may be of uneven diameter. They are especially useful for erecting garden frames, for example for trailing plants, but they may be used in like structures in many other situations. The frame is easily dismantled when no longer required and the connecting members re-used. CLAIMS

1. A connector for rod members comprising a body provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes extending into the body from its surface, each hole having an interior wall tapering inwardly capable of gripping an end of a rod inserted therein and the longitudinal axes of the holes subtending angles with each other.

2. A corrector according to Claim 1, in which said walls are provided with inward projections to grip the end of a rod.

3. A connector according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the holes are six in number and arranged on orthogonal axes.

4. A connector according to any preceding Claim, in which the body is hollow.

5. A connector for rod members, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.