GB2067705A - A spigot coupler for coupling tubular members together - Google Patents
A spigot coupler for coupling tubular members together Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2067705A GB2067705A GB8000593A GB8000593A GB2067705A GB 2067705 A GB2067705 A GB 2067705A GB 8000593 A GB8000593 A GB 8000593A GB 8000593 A GB8000593 A GB 8000593A GB 2067705 A GB2067705 A GB 2067705A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- tubular members
- spigots
- plan
- spigot
- coupler
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 title claims description 8
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 title claims description 8
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 title claims description 8
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B7/00—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections
- F16B7/04—Clamping or clipping connections
- F16B7/0433—Clamping or clipping connections for rods or tubes being in parallel relationship
Abstract
A coupler (2) comprises a pair of generally parallel half-spigots (6, 8), extending outwardly from a support member (12), the support member having a pair of substantially perpendicularly extending sides (14, 16), each half-spigot having a peripheral shape in plan that is substantially one halt of the peripheral shape in plane of one of the tubular members 4 to be coupled together, and the spigots being positioned along the said sides of the support member such that if two couplers are adjacent each other than the adjacent spigots form a combined spigot that has substantially the peripheral shape in plan of the entire peripheral shape in plan of one of the tubular members to be coupled together. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
A coupler for coupling tubular members together
This invention relates to a coupler for coupling tubular members together.
Accordingly, this invention provides a coupler for coupling tubular members together, which coupler comprises a pair of spigots extending outwardly from a support member, the support member having a pair of substantially perpendicularly extending sides, each spigot having a peripheral shape in plan that is substantially one half of the peripheral shape in plan of one of the tubular members to be coupled together, and the spigots being positioned along the said sides of the support member such that if two couplers are adjacent each other then the adjacent spigots form a combined spigot that has substantially the periperal shape in plan of the entire peripheral shape in plan of one of the tubular members to be coupled together.
The couplers are especially useful for coupling tubular members together to form a framework.
The framework can have many sides and it can extend in many directions. If the framework is appropriately covered, for example draped with a material, a plurality of individual cubicles can easily be formed which are especially suitable for use as exhibition stands. Indeed, by using the couplers of the present invention, exhibition stands can be assembled and dismantled in a far shorter time than has hitherto been possible. This reduces manpower assembly and dismantling costs and may even generate sufficient free time in a given period for the number of exhibitions held in a single hall in that period to be increased.
Usually, each spigot will be hollow and in the form of a shell. Solid spigots can however be employed. Preferably, each spigot is concave and is thus half circular in plan. It is to be appreciated that the spigots may also be half square or half rectangular in plan if desired.
Obviously and as indicated above, tubular members that are circular in plan will be used with spigots that are half circular in plan, and tubular members that are square or rectangular in plan will be used with spigots that are half square or half rectangular in plan. In the formation of exhibition stands and similar structures, it is preferred to use cylindrical tubular members and half circular spigots since the cylindrical tubular members can then pivot around the spigots. Any horizontal frame members secured to the upstanding cylindrical tubular members can then be swivelled to any desired angle.
Advantageously, each spigot is provided with a tapered lead-in portion to facilitate the location of the tubular members on the spigots.
The support member will usually be a support plate. Also usually, the support plate will be a triangular support plate.
If desired, the support member may be provided with holes for receiving fixing means such for example as screws or nails, for fixing the
support member to a base structure. In the
majority of uses of the couplers, it will not be
necessary to fix the support members in position.
The free standing structures that can be produced with the couplers of the invention are surprisingly
rigid when fully assembled. Facia boards and/or outrigger members can also be employed to give
rigidity to the formed structures if desired.
The couplers are preferably made of metal, aluminium being a presently preferred metal since
it is light. The couplers can be cast as a single item or the spigots and the support member can be separately fabricated and then welded together.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a coupler;
Figure 3 is a plan view of two couplers; and
Figure 4 shows part of some exhibition stands which have been assembled using the couplers illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a coupler 2 for coupling two tubular members 4 together. The coupler 2 comprises a pair of concave spigots 6, 8 which are half circular in plan and which are each provided with a tapered leadin portion 10. The spigots 6, 8 are mounted on a support member in the form of a triangular support plate 12. The support plate 12 has two sides 14, 16 6 which are perpendicular to each other.
The open concave part 18 of each spigot 6, 8 is positioned adjacent the sides 14, 1 6. If two of the support plates 12 are bought together as shown in
Figure 3, the adjacent spigots 6, 8 form a combined cylindrical spigot that has substantially the same inner and outer peripheral shape in plan as the cylindrical tubular members 4. A tubular member 4 can then be placed over the combined cylindrical spigot 6, 8 and the tubular member 4 will then hold the two support plates 12 together whilst the combined spigot 6, 8 will hold the tubular member 4 in place.
Adjacent upstanding tubular members 4 can be firmly held in an upstanding position with their sides touching. A free standing arrangement of exhibition stands is shown in Figure 4 wherein it will be seen that horizontal frame members 20 have been fixed, for example by rivets, to the upstanding tubular members 4. The tubular members 4 can pivot around the spigots 6, 8 so that the members 20 can be swivelled in any desired direction. It will also be noticed that couplers 2 are employed in the top of the tubular members 4 to hold the tops of the tubular members 4 together.
The tubular members 4 can be arranged to be a close fit on the spigots 6, 8 and the entire structure illustrated in Figure 4 becomes rigid as it is formed. Since the spigots 6, 8 are inside the tubular members 4, the spigots 6, 8 do not hold the tubular members 4 apart. The tubular members 4 can thus support each other along their length. A clip on facia board 22 for each exhibition stand 24 adds to the rigidity. Outrigger members 26 can also be employed to add to the rigidity if required.
As shown in Figure 4, material 28 has been wrapped and draped over the tubular framework of the members 4 and 20. The material 28 can be held taught using various means such for example as spring stretch wire and clips (not shown).
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the spigots 6, 8 can be half solids instead of concave shells, or the spigots can be half square of halt rectangular in plan. Further, the third side 28 of each support plate 12 could be part of a circle so that four of the support plates 12 placed together would define a circle rather than a square.
Claims (8)
1. A coupler for coupling tubular members together, which coupler comprises a pair of spigots extending outwardly from a support member, the support member having a pair of substantially perpendicularly extending sides, each spigot having a peripheral shape in plan that is substantially one half of the peripheral shape in plan of one of the tubular members to be coupled together, and the spigots being positioned along the said sides of the support member such that if two couplers are adjacent each other than the adjacent spigots form a combined spigot that has substantially the peripheral shape in plan of the entire peripheral shape in plan of one of the tubular members to be coupled together.
2. A coupler according to claim 1 in which each spigot is hollow.
3. A coupler according to claim 2 in which each spigot is concave in plan.
4. A coupler according to any one of the preceding claims in which each spigot is provided with a tapered lead-in portion to facilitate the location of the tubular members on the spigots.
5. A coupler according to any one of the preceding claims in which the support member is a support plate.
6. A coupler according to claim 5 in which the support plate is a triangular support plate.
7. A coupler for coupling tubular members together, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. A structure having a tubular framework held together by a plurality of the couplers as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8000593A GB2067705B (en) | 1980-01-08 | 1980-01-08 | Spigot coupler for coupling tubular members together |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8000593A GB2067705B (en) | 1980-01-08 | 1980-01-08 | Spigot coupler for coupling tubular members together |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2067705A true GB2067705A (en) | 1981-07-30 |
| GB2067705B GB2067705B (en) | 1983-11-16 |
Family
ID=10510514
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8000593A Expired GB2067705B (en) | 1980-01-08 | 1980-01-08 | Spigot coupler for coupling tubular members together |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2067705B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5240230A (en) * | 1992-04-15 | 1993-08-31 | Dougherty Earle T | Fence panel with integral anchor fitting |
| US20110140061A1 (en) * | 2009-07-03 | 2011-06-16 | Wonderland Nurseygoods Company Limited | Playpen including a frame member and a fabric enclosure member |
| US11585360B2 (en) * | 2020-01-21 | 2023-02-21 | Shanghai NEOCRAFT Tool Co., Ltd | Connector and fence using same |
-
1980
- 1980-01-08 GB GB8000593A patent/GB2067705B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5240230A (en) * | 1992-04-15 | 1993-08-31 | Dougherty Earle T | Fence panel with integral anchor fitting |
| US20110140061A1 (en) * | 2009-07-03 | 2011-06-16 | Wonderland Nurseygoods Company Limited | Playpen including a frame member and a fabric enclosure member |
| US11585360B2 (en) * | 2020-01-21 | 2023-02-21 | Shanghai NEOCRAFT Tool Co., Ltd | Connector and fence using same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2067705B (en) | 1983-11-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |