IES20010978A2

IES20010978A2 - A Connector

Info

Publication number: IES20010978A2
Application number: IE20010978A
Authority: IE
Inventors: John Mchugh
Original assignee: John Mchugh
Priority date: 2001-11-09
Filing date: 2001-11-09
Publication date: 2003-06-11
Also published as: IE20020860A1; GB2381828A; GB0225967D0

Abstract

A connector for joining tubular members, for example window frame members, comprises a pair of arms 22 extending along a common axis in substantially opposite directions from a central hub 24 each for insertion into the open end of a respective first tubular member 18a, and a channel in the hub extending substantially at right angles to the arms for accommodating a second tubular member 18b passing fully through the hub. The connector comprises two parts 20a, 20b disposed in face-to-face registration on substantially opposite sides respectively of a plane containing the axis of the channel and the axis of the arms. <Figure 6>

Description

A Connector This invention relates to a connector for joining tubular members. The invention is especially but not exclusively applicable to the joining of tubular aluminium or other lightweight metal members in a window frame.

In Fig. 1 a window frame comprises an outer rectangular frame 10 containing a double glazed sealed unit 12.

The unit 12 comprises a pair of rectangular glass panels 14 disposed on opposite sides of, and sealed along their edges by, four tubular aluminium or other lightweight metal frame members 16. To give the appearance of divided lights, a pair of cross members 18 is sandwiched between the glass panels. The cross members 18 are also tubular aluminium or other lightweight metal members.

Conventionally, the cross-members 18 are actually four half-length members each extending from a respective frame member 16 to the centre of the window (i.e. the area encompassed by the circle in Fig. 1) and there joined by an X-shaped connector having four arms, one inserted into the open end of each half-length member.

The present invention is directed to a connector which allows two of the half-length members to be replaced by a single full-length member, so that the X-shaped configuration shown within the circled area of Fig. 1 can be created using only three, rather than four, tubular members. ΙΕΟ 1 09 7 8 According to the present invention there is provided a connector for joining tubular members, the connector comprising a pair of arms extending from a central hub each for insertion into the open end of a respective first tubular member, and a channel in the hub extending at an angle to the arms for accommodating a second tubular member passing fully through the hub.

Preferably the connector comprises two parts disposed 10 in face-to-face registration for embracing the second tubular member. Most preferably, the two parts of the connector are hinged together at one extreme end of each for folding over one upon the other into the said face-to-face registration.

In the preferred embodiment the arms extend along a substantially common axis in opposite directions from the hub, and the channel extends substantially at right angles to the arms.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1, previously described, is an example of a window frame with divided lights in which the present invention may be used; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of connector according to the invention; Fig. 3 is plan view of the outside surface of the connector in its unfolded state; pi29541.spc (09.11.01) IE Ο 1 Ο 9 7 8 Fig. 4 is plan view of the inside surface of the connector in its unfolded state; and Fig. 5 to 7 are successive steps illustrating the use of the connector.

Referring to Fig. 2, the connector 20 according to the embodiment of the invention is an integral moulding of plastics material and comprises a pair of arms 22 extending along a common axis A-A in substantially opposite directions from a central hub 24. Each arm 22 is adapted in use for insertion into the open end of a respective half-length tubular member 18a, Figs. 6 and 7, which is slid onto the respective arm right up to the hub 24. Each arm 22 has opposite lateral edges with a series of laterally projecting fingers 26 angled towards the hub 24 for resiliently gripping the inside surface of the half-length tubular members 18a.

The hub 24 is hollow and comprises a channel 28 whose axis B-B extends substantially at right angles to the axis A-A of the arms. The internal cross-section of the channel 28 is complementary to the external'cross25 section’ of a full-length tubular member 18b whereby the latter may be slidably accommodated in the channel 28 with the tubular member 18b passing fully through the hub.

Referring additionally to Figs. 3 to 5, the connector comprises two parts 20a, 20b disposed, in use, in faceto-face registration on substantially opposite sides respectively of a notional plane containing the axes Api29541.spc (09.11.01) IEQ 1 09 7 8 A and B-B, the two connector parts 20a, 20b being substantially symmetrical relative to such plane.

Although the two parts 20A, 20B may be formed as 5 separate components which are assembled together in face-to-face registration in use, they are preferably connected together at one extreme end of each by an integral hinge 30, formed by a thin and flexible part of the plastics moulding, so that the two parts may be folded over one upon the other (Fig. 5) into the desired face-to-face registration.

In use, the full-length member 18b is first laid in the channel part of one half 20a or 20b of the connector and the other half of the connector is folded over on top of the first half, Fig. 5, to embrace the member 18a within the channel 28. Alternatively, the fulllength member 18b could be slid into the channel 28 from one end after the connector parts have been folded over. Next, the half-length tubular members 18a are slid onto the arms 22, Fig. 6, which will maintain the two connector parts against unfolding. The final assembly is shown in Fig. 7.

It will be appreciated that the manufacture of the connector in two parts 20a, 20b both simplifies the moulding process and permits the connector to be fitted to the full-length member 18b after that latter has been fitted into the frame 16, i.e. when its ends are no longer accessible.

Although the foregoing has described an embodiment where the arms 22 extend from the hub 24 in opposite pi29541.spc (09.11.01) ¢0 10973 directions along a common axis A-A normal to the channel axis B-B, other embodiments are possible where the arms do not lie on a common axis and/or where they are not at right angles to the axis of the channel.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A connector for joining tubular members, the connector comprising a pair of arms extending from a 5 central hub each for insertion into the open end of a respective first tubular member, and a channel in the hub extending at an angle to the arms for accommodating a second tubular member passing fully through the hub.* 10

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector comprises two parts disposed in face-to-face registration for embracing the second tubular member and, preferably, wherein the two parts of the connector are hinged together at one extreme end of each for 15 folding over one upon the other into the said face-toface registration.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the arms extend along a substantially common 20 axis in opposite directions from the hub, and the channel extends substantially at right angles to the arms .

4. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, 25 wherein each arm has opposite lateral edges with resilient members for gripping the inside surface of the first tubular members.

5. A connector for joining tubular members 30 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.