GB2223071A

GB2223071A - Stud and socket connector for elongate members

Info

Publication number: GB2223071A
Application number: GB8817987A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dennis Stanley Garrison
Original assignee: GARRISON Ltd
Current assignee: GARRISON Ltd
Priority date: 1988-07-28
Filing date: 1988-07-28
Publication date: 1990-03-28
Also published as: GB8817987D0

Abstract

An intermediate device which comprises two parts (6, and 8) to be secured together in axial alignment. The device comprises an interfitment member (10) secured in an axial bore (12) of the part (8), protruding therefrom, and a sleeve (14) secured in an axial bore (16) in the other part (6). Both the member (10) and the sleeve (14) are knurled. The interfitment member (10) comprises a body part (10), in use located within the bore (12), an elongate stem (22), and a head (24) which is generally semi-circular in shape. Located within the sleeve (14), in screw-threaded engagement therewith, is an engagement member (38), provided with an axial slot (46) enabling the head of the interfitment member to be passed therethrough, behind shoulders (39). Rotation of the part (8) causes the head (24) to engage a face (48), whereupon further rotation of the part (8) causes the engagement member (38) to rotate in screw-threaded engagement with the sleeve (14) drawing the two parts securely together. The device can be used to join the parts of cues and fishing rods. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Axial Interfittment Devices" Description of Invention This invention is concerned with axial interfittment devices, particularly for use in the securing together of two elongate members in axial alignment.

Snooker cues (and it is to be understood that the term "snooker cue" is used herein generically as relating to cues for playing snooker and the like games, including pool and billiards) are for a number of reasons conventionally manufactured in two or more parts capable of axial interfittment. Thus a conventional snooker cue comprises a shaft and a butt which may be axially secured together for use, and separated for ease of storage or transport. Additionally the shaft itself may be manufactured in two parts, allowing a central part of the cue to be substituted by a longer central part when it is desired to provide the cue with an extension.

Conventionally parts of a snooker cue are secured together by providing in one end of one part a bore in which a threaded sleeve is located, and a threaded bolt is provided in the end of the other part, the two parts being secured together in axial alignment by screwing the bolt into the sleeve.

This procedure whilst seemingly simple, is in fact a fiddling and time consuming operation, and may involve a player with a loss in concentration.

According to this invention there is provided an axial interfittment device for use in securing together two elongate members in axial alignment, the device comprising a sleeve adapted to be located in an axial bore of one of the elongate members, an interfittment member adapted to be secured to the other of the elongate members so as to project axially therefrom, and an engagement member located in the sleeve and with which a head portion of the interfittment member may be engaged in a non-screw-threaded manner, engagement of the interfittment member with the engagement member causing axial movement of the engagement member to draw the two elongate members together.

In this manner apart from an initial setting up of the device, the engagement member will be close to a desired position enabling the interfittment member to be engaged therewith by an arrangement involving only a part turn, and continued rotation of the interfittment member will cause the engagement member to be drawn axially away from the interfittment member to tighten the two together.

Advantageously the head of the interfittment member is, when in one alignment, capable of insertion through an axial slot in the engagement member, and when so inserted may be turned through typically 450 out of alignment with the slot into engagement with shoulders on the engagement member to prevent retractive movement of the head. Such an arrangement is conventionally termed a "bayonet interfittment".

Preferably the engagement member is in screw-threaded engagement with the sleeve, the threads being of such a hand that insertion of the head of the interfittment member into the engagement member and turning as aforesaid will rotate the engagement member and move it axially away from the interfittment member, causing the shoulders of the engagement member against which the head of the interfittment member is seated to be moved firmly against the head, to prevent subsequent relative movement.

According to this invention there is provided a snooker cue comprising two parts adapted to be secured together by an interfittment device as set out above.

Whilst the present invention has been devised primarily for use in relation to snooker cues, and is so described hereinabove and hereinafter, it is to be appreciated that the invention may be used to advantage in similar fields where analogous problems arise, such as the securing together of two parts of a fishing rod.

There will now be given detailed descriptions, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a snooker cue, and an interfittment device therefor, both the snooker cue and interfittment device being illustrative of certain aspects of this invention, and having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE I is a longitudinal sectional view showing two parts of the snooker cue secured together by use of the interfittment device; and FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional end view of the interfittment device, on the line A-A of Figure 1 but with members of the device differently aligned.

The snooker cue which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises two parts 6 and 8, which may be two shaft portions, a shaft portion and a butt, or a butt and a butt-end extension, secured together by an axial interfittment device which comprises an interfittment member 10 secured in an axial bore 12 of the part 8 and protruding therefrom, and a sleeve 14 secured in an axial bore 16 in the part 6. Both the member 10 and the sleeve 14 are provided with raised outer portions provided with heavy straight knurls, to assist in the insertion thereof into the appropriate bore and subsequent retention therein.

The interfittment member 10 comprises a body part 18, adapted to be located in the bore 12, and a flange 20 having an outer diameter similar to that of the part 8, an outer portion 21 of the flange 20 being of reduced diameter.

Extending axially from the portion 21 is an elongate stem 22, at an end portion of which a head 24 is provided, the head being generally semi-circular as viewed in Figure I, but having a reduced dimension at right angles thereto, as can be seen from Figure 2.

A neck 26 of the stem 22 is also of reduced dimension, radiallyextending engagement surfaces or shoulders 28 being provided on the head 24 adjacent to the neck 26.

The sleeve comprises a body part 30 which is located in the bore 16, and an outer flange 32 having a diameter similar to that of the cue part 6, a portion 33 of the flange 32 being countersunk, to receive the portion 21 of the flange 20.

The body 30 is provided over an outer region thereof with internal helical threads 34, which terminate, at an inner end, in a shoulder 36.

Located within the sleeve 14 is an engagement member 38 which is provided over part of its exterior with helical threads 40 adapted to be engoged with the threads 34 of the sleeve 14. An inner end portion 42 of the engagement member is provided with a flange to limit axial movement thereof in an outer direction (to the right, as is seen in Figure 1).

An inner end of the engagement member 38 is provided with an axial slot 46, of dimensions such as to be capable of receiving the head 24 and neck 26 of the interfittment member, and permitting, on subsequent rotation of the stem 22 through an angle of about 450, reception of the shoulders 28 of the head by shoulders 39, on the engagement member.

In the use of the interfittment device in securing together the two parts 6 and 8 on the snooker cue, the head 24 of the interfittment member is inserted into the sleeve 14 and through the engagement member 38, and aligned so as to pass through the slot 46, as can be seen in Figure 2. The cue part 8 is then rotated relative to the cue part 6 by about 450, moving the shoulders 28 onto the shoulders 39 and into abutment with end faces 48 of the engagement member (Figure 1.) At this point, continued relative rotatative movement between the cue parts produces turning movement of the engagement member 38 relative to the sleeve 14, and in consequence axial movement thereof to the left (Figure I) drawing the shoulders 39 firmly against the shoulders 28, and drawing the flanges 20 and 32 into tight axial abutment.

On subsequent separation of the cue parts, the head will be moved through about 450, back into alignment with the slot 46, a few degrees of further movement causing rotational movement of the engagement member 38 to slacken off the engagement, allowing ready separation of the cue parts.

By the use of the invention it has been found that firm axial interfittment may be obtained by a relative rotation of less than 1800, typically about 900. This allows the two parts to be interfitted together very quickly and with a high degree of reliability of securement.

If desired the member 10 and/or the sleeve 14 may be provided with exterior threads to enable them to be screwed into their respective bores.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An axial interfittment device for use in securing together two elongate members in axial alignment, the device comprising a sleeve adapted to be located in an axial bore of one of the elongate members, an interfittment member adapted to be secured to the other of the elongate members so as to project axially therefrom, and an engagement member located in the sleeve and with which a head portion of the interfittment member may be engaged in a non-screw-threaded manner, engagement of the interfittment member with the engagement member causing axial movement of the engagement member to draw the two elongate members together.

2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein the head of the interfittment member is, when in one alignment, capable of insertion through an axial slot in the engagement member, and when so inserted may be turned out of alignment with the slot into engagement with shoulders on the engagement member.

3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the engagement member is in screw-threaded engagement with the sleeve, the threads being of such a hand that insertion of the head of the interfittment member into the engagement member and turning of the interfittment member will rotate the engagement member and move it axially away from said other elongate member, causing shoulders of the engagement member against which the head is seated to be moved firmly against the head.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the interfittment member comprises a body which is located within a bore of said other elongate member.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said sleeve is provided with a circumferential rebate into which a flange of said interfittment member may be seated.

6. A snooker cue comprising two parts adapted to be secured together by a device according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. A fishing rod comprising two parts adapted to be secured together by a device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

8. A device for use in securing together two elongate members in axial alignment, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A snooker cue comprising interfittment means constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.