GB2162277A

GB2162277A - Connector for tube or rod members

Info

Publication number: GB2162277A
Application number: GB8501700A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Brian O'hara
Original assignee: Hara J B O
Current assignee: Hara J B O
Priority date: 1982-05-26
Filing date: 1985-01-23
Publication date: 1986-01-29
Also published as: GB8501700D0; GB2162277B

Abstract

A connector for connecting together tube or rod members is formed in two parts each of which comprises a socket portion (29) and a connection portion (26, 27), the connecting portions being connectable together in different adjusted portions relative to one another so that the socket portions can be arranged with their axes in different angularly adjusted portions relative to one another, e.g. by each part having an annular web 28 with an array of holes 30 therein though which pins 31 can be placed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector for tube or rod members This invention relates to connectors for connecting together tube or rod members.

There are many occasions when it is desired to connect together tube or rod members and various means have been proposed for connecting such tube or rod members together.

For heavy duty applications, such as for scaffolding, heavy duty industrial racking and the like it is usual to use expensive clamp or like connectors. For light duty structures such as fruit cages for horticultural or agricultural use, light industrial or domestic racking or shelving systems and the like it is usual to use connector blocks having sockets therein for tightly receiving end portions of the tube or rod members spigot-and-socket fashion. Such connector blocks are usually square or rectangular sided blocks having sockets formed in some or all of the faces thereof or are in the form of solid spheres or balls having sockets formed at required angular positions therein.Such known connector blocks, being solid, are wasteful of material, which adds to the cost thereof, and the connector blocks having square or rectangular sides are not really suitable for applications such as the construction of a frame structure of a fruit cage since the netting which is draped over the frame structure tends to catch on the corners of the connector blocks.

There may be occasions when it is desired to connect together tube or rod members at angles with respect to one another other than a right angle. This is provided for according to the present invention by forming the connector in two portions which can be connected together in adjusted positions relative to one another so that the axes of the tube portions extend at a required angle to one another, e.g., at an angle of 30 , 45 , 90 , or 120 .

According to the present invention there is provided a connector for connecting together tube or rod members, the connector being formed in two parts each of which comprises a socket portion and a connecting portion, the connecting portions being connectable together in different adjusted positions relative to one another so that said socket portions can be arranged with their axes in different angularly adjusted positions relative to one another.

Each said connector part may comprise a circular, e.g., annular, connecting portion and a socket portion which extends outwardly, e.g., radially outwardly, thereof. Means may be provided for connecting said connecting portions together so that they are coaxial and such connecting means may comprise a pin or peg on and an annular or part annular series of apertures in each connecting portion, the pin or peg on each part being adapted to engage a selected aperture in the other part.

Said pins or pegs are preferably a friction fit in said apertures. The said connector parts may be identical to one another and may be moulded from synthetic plastics material.

The invention will be more particularly understood with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a side elevation of an embodiment of a connector according to the present invention.

In this embodiment the connector comprises two connector portions 26, 27 each having an annular web portion 28 and a tube portion 29 extending radially outwards from the annular web portion 28. The annular web portions 28 each have an annular series of spaced apertures 30 therein and the two web portions are connected together by pins or pegs 31 engaged in selected apertures 20. In the illustrated embodiment the tube portions 29 extend wholly radially outwardly of the web portions 28 although it will be understood that the tube portions 29 can, if desired, be inset at least partially into the web portions 28. if desired one or more further connector portions 26, 27 can be connected to the two illustrated to provide, e.g., a threeway or a four-way connector.

The connector has an aperture 37 in the centre of the web portion thereof adapted to receive a rod or tube member so that the connector can be used as a hinge.

The connectors of the present invention are preferably formed, e.g., moulded, from synthetic plastics material although it will be undersood that they may be formed or fabricated in any other suitable manner and from any other suitable material.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the connectors of the present invention are economical in the use of material and are easy to manufacture. Together with the connectors disclosed and claimed in my co-pending Patent Application No.

2,123,109 the connectors of the present invention are suitable for applications such as the construction of frames for fruit cages since the web portion or portions of these connectors also serves as a shield to help prevent the netting with which a fruit cage is covered from becoming tangled with the connectors.

In addition these connectors can be used to construct light racking or shelving for industrial or domestic use, frames, for garden cloches or small greenhouses, frames for the growing of climbing crops such as runner beans or peas, or for many other uses.

The present invention also includes a kit-ofparts comprising a plurality of connectors according to the invention, and a plurality of rod or tube members adapted to be connected together by means of the connectors. The rod or tube members may be of plastics or other suitable material, e.g., metal, and may be in one or more suitable lengths, e.g., 300mm and 900mm. The kit-of-parts may also include plant supports according to Patent No.

2,035,027 and having a disc-like base portion and an upstanding socket portion adapted to receive a rod or tube member.

Such plant supports may be used in the kit-ofparts as feed to provide a firm base for a structure formed from the kit-of-parts.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting together tube or rod members, the connector being formed in two parts each of which comprises a socket portion and a connecting portion, the connecting portions being connectable together in different adjusted positions relative to one another so that said socket portions can be arranged with their axes in different angularly adjusted positions relative to one another.

2. A connector according to Claim 1, wherein each said connector part comprises a circular connecting portion and a socket portion extending outwardly thereof and wherein means is provided for connecting said connecting portions together so that they are coaxial.

3. A connector according to Claim 2, wherein said connecting portions are annular.

4. A connector according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the socket portion of each part extends radially outwardly of the connecting portion.

5. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said connecting portions each comprise a pin or peg and an annular or part annular series of apertures, the pin or peg on each part being adapted to engage a selected aperture in the other part.

6. A connector for connecting together tube or rod members, the connector being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. A connector according to Claim 5, wherein said pins or pegs are a friction fit in said apertures.

7. A connector according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said connector parts are identical to one another.

8. A connector according to any one of the preceding claims when moulded from synthetic plastics material.

9. A kit-of-parts comprising a plurality of connectors according to any one of the preceding claims and a plurality of tube or rod members adapted to be connected together by means of the connectors.

1 0. A connector for connecting together tube or rod members, the connector being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claims 1-6 above have been deleted or textually amended.

1. A connector for connecting together tube or rod members the connector being formed in two identical parts each of which comprises an annular connecting portion and a socket portion extending radially outwards of the connecting portion, the annular connecting portions having cooperating annular side surfaces each of which surfaces has a pin or peg extending outwardly therefrom and a series of apertures therein adapted to receive the pin or peg of the other connecting portion, whereby said socket portions can be arranged with their axes in different angularly adjusted positions relative to one another by engaging the pin or peg of each connecting portion in a selected aperture of the other connecting portion.

2. A connector according to Claim 1, wherein said pins or pegs are a friction fit in said apertures.

3. A connector according to claim 1 or 2, when moulded from synthetic plastics material

4. A connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said annular connecting portions each define an aperture adapted to receive a said tube or rod member.

5. A kit-of-parts comprising a plurality of connectors according to any one of the preceding claims and a plurality of tube or rod members adapted to be connected together by means of the connectors.