IES86458Y1 - Connecting device and gate frame having the same - Google Patents

Description

CONNECTING DEVICE AND GATE FRAME HAVING THE SAME BACKGROUND OF‘ TH E INVENTION 1. TechnicaI Field

[0001] The preseilt invention 1‘t‘.lalcs geiierally to struct111'es that connect objects, and more particularly to El coimccting device for connecting tnbcs. 2. Description of Related Art

[0002] Conventionally; 21 connecting device used for connecting tubes includes :5 connector mztdc of plastic and two tubes in the shape oi'cy1ii1(11'icztl lube, wherein the conncctoi‘ has two opcniligs at two opposite ends, and the inner dimnetct of tho opciliiigs is slightly bigger than the outer into one of the openings and therefore connected to the connector. llIIl[J3l The afo1'c1ncntioncd device is widely applied to gate frames for ball games.

More specifically, such gate futlnes can be easily and quickly assembled by connecting multiple connecting devices togetlier with tubes. However, if the tubes applied to this kind of gate frarncs are made of metal mate1'ials in purpose of providing higher structural Strength, the conllcctftd c011I1ccTo1‘s tend to be dauutgcd 21l wlwus the tubes fitted into. This problem is c0n1nr1011l§-' sccn, cspccially when such gate frames zue used in 1"'00tl>z1ll games.

Ifa metal tube is hit by a football, the iinpacl will be traliisferred to the plastic COIIUCL‘-l.'Ol', which may lead to damage as :1 result. 111 addition, the comlcction between £1 metal lube and a C01Tl1BCI'0‘J' is merely established through the slight diitcrexlcc between the inilcrfoutcr dinmcteis, though such design allows them to be aligned and conncctcd quicldy, it also nlakcs them disconnect from cacli other easily. Tl1cn:l"om. a gale frame assembled with multiple conventional tubes is not convenient to use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In View of the above, the priniary objective of the prcscitt invention is to provide a connecting device, which not only provides more convenient and quicker 886458 installation, but also can be finnly connected with tubes.

[0005] The present invention provides a comieeling device, which includes St comiector and a plurality of fasteners. The eonnecto1'11as a plurality of mutuaily conncctecl tube segtnents, each of which has :1 plurality of flexible plates, an opening formed at 21 distal end thereof, and 21 male screw threztd provided on an outer side thereof, Wlicrt-:i11 the plates are provided at the same end thL‘.1'cof, and each of the plates extends P110111 the male screw thread to the distal end. The fastene1's ave respectively fitted onto the tube seginents, v/]1erei11 the 1}1stc11c1‘s arc in it shape of eylinclrical tube, each of wliieh is provided with 21 female screw t‘}1l‘ead, which is complementary to the male screw threztds, on an inner side tliereof, which forces the plates to flex inward while the fastener is screwed onto the tube segment.

[0006] The present invention further provide a gate fratiie, which includes a pair of first co1111ecto1s, a pair of second coinaectors, a pair of third connectors, a pair of fourth co1111ccto1's. a fii-st tube, a second tube, a third tube, :1 pair of fourth tubes, a pair of fit‘tI1 tubes, :1 pair of sixth tubes, :1 pair of seventh tubes, and a pturality oI:'faslenc1's. Each of the first connectois has it fimt tube segment, a second tube segment, and a t}1irrl tube augment wllicll arc pe1'pe11dicula1'ly and mumaliy co1'u‘1m{cd, and share a common connecting portion. E21011 of the .<.e:c011d co1u1ccto1's 11213 21 Iirst Lube scg1ne11t, :1 seofind t'uiJc segment, and 21 t'l11't'c1 tube scglltcrtt whicli are mtttttally <:011ncctc portion, wherein the first tube segment is pc1'pr:11dic.L1Ia1' lo the second tube segment, and an included mlgcl between the second tube segment and the tliird lube segnient is an obtuse angle. Each of the third connectors has a first tube segmeiit, :1 second tube segment, and 21 third tube segment which are mutually connected and share z1 cominon connecting portion, wlierein the first tube segment is penaendicular to the second tube segment, and an included angel between the second tube seginent and the third tube segment is an acute angle. Each of the fourth comiectors has a first tube segment and a second tube segment which are perpendicular connected to each other. The first tube is straiglil, and has two opposilc ends respectively inserted into the fust tube segments of the paired first connectors. The second tube is straight, and has two opposite ends respectively inserted into the first tube segments of the paired second conne<:tors. The third tube is stmigltt; and has two opposite ends respectively inserted into the first tube segments of the paired t'hiI'(l connectors. The fourth tubes are straight, wherein an end of each is i11Serw second tube segment of one of the first connectors, and another and Iihejvcof is inserted into the second tube scglncnt of 011e of the second connectors. The "fiftli tubes are straight, wliercin an end of each is inserted into the third lube segment of one of the second COl111CCl.'OI'S, and anothcr end thereof is inserted into the second tube segment of one oftl1e third connectors. The sixth tubes are straight, wherein an end of each is inserted into the third tube segment of one of the first connectors, and another end thereof is inserted into the first tube segment. of one of the fourth connectors. The seventh tubes are stmigllt. wherein an end of each is inserted into the third lube segment of one of the third connectors, and another end thereof is inserted into the second tube segment of o11c of the {’0url'h connectors. liach tube segment ofthc connectors is flexible at Wllerc inserted by the corresponding tubes; each of the i"a.<_:1:eneI's is rcspcctzivcly I"1t1.ccl onto one of the lube. segments to flex the tube segments inward to firmly hold the corrcsponcling tubes.

[0007] Whcrcby, each tube segment of each connector is dcl'o1-mahlc at 2: part thercol' where the corresponding tube is fitted into. 'l'he multiple fztsteneizs are iespectix-'cly fitted around each tube segment of each connector to deform each tube segment, and the tubes are firmly held as a result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The present invention will be best understood by 1efe1'ri11g to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying dmwings, i11 which

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the connecting device of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a sectional View showing the connection between the connector, one of the tubes, and one of the faSlC1'1Cl‘S in the first p1‘cfc1're(l einbodiment;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic View of the connecting device of 21 second preferred emhodiniemz of the present im-ention;

[0012] FIG. 4 is 21 schematic View of the connecting device of a third preferred embodiment of the p1'e$e.t1ti11vt:I1tion',

[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic View of the connecting device of :1 fourth ptcft-:1'red etnbodiment of the present invention 10014] FIG. 6 is a schematic View of the connecting device of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the connecting devices of the preferred embodiments applied to the gate frame for ball games; and

[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the colmection between the connector, two of the tubes, and two of the fasteners in the fifth preferrecl enlbociimciit.

DETAII .17.}? DESCRIPTION 0!? THE INVENTION W017] The connecting device provided in the §J1‘CS<‘-Ill i1'we11tion basically includes a connector and a plurality of fastt‘.11e1's; wherein the connector is made of plastic, and has :1 plurality of mutually connected tube segments. Each of the tube segments respectively allows insertion of’ :1 tube which is made of metal. Each of the fasteners is fitted anound one of the tube segments to deform the tube segmetlt, and thcret'ore to firmly hold the tube inserted therein. In different en1hodiment's, the number of the tube segments of the connector can be two, three, or more, which depends on iequirements; included angles between each tube segment can be predetermined too. A connector of the connecting device of the first prefened embodiment described below has three tube segments as an example for explanation. [001 81 As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the connecting device of the first preferred embodiment includes a connector 10 and three Iatsteners 60. The connector‘ 10 includes a first tube segment 101, a second tube segment 102, and a third tube segment 103 which are mutually eomtecterl, wherein these Lube segments I01, .102, 103 share at cmnmon connecting portion. The first tube segment 101, the second tube segment‘ 102, and the third tube segment 103 are perpetldieular to each other, and the three fasteners 60 respectively fit each of the Lube segments ll] I , l02, I03.

[0019] Raeh tube se,<_;1nenr 101, 102, 103 has iclcntical structure, and we take the first tube segment 101 for example herein. The fir.-at tube segment 101 has :1 plurality of plates 14, an opening 12, and 21 male screw thread 13. The opening 12 is formed at at distal end of the tube segment I01, and an axis of the tube segment 10] passes th1‘ou@ a center of the opening 12. The male screw tltread 13 is provided on an outer side of the tube segment 101 near the distal end thereof. The plates 14 are also provided at the distal end, and each of the plates 14 extends in parallel to the axis of the tube segment 10] with an end connected to where the male screw tluead 13 is pim-"tiled at. The plates J4 SIl1‘l‘0ul1tl the opening 12., and SI gap I l is tiaturally l'01'med between each two neighboring plates 14, wherein the gaps 11 are communicated with the Opening 12. Each plate 14 has an inclined surface I5 which inwardly inclines from the male screw tzhread '13 towétrcl the distal end.

In other words, a tliickness of each plate 14 gradually decreases tiem the male screw thread 13 toward the distal end.

[0020] E21011 fastener 60 is in the shape of cylindrical tube, and has a female screw thread 64 provided on an inner side 62 thereof, wherein the female screw thread 64 is complementary to the male screw thread 13 of each tube segment 101, 102, 103. The fastener 60 further has an inclined surface at the inner side behind the female screw thread and a stop wall projected from the inner side at an end of the inclined surface. The inclined surface of the fastener 60 is complementary to the inclined surface 15 of the tube segment. With such design, each fastener 60 is respectively screwed onto the tube segments 101, 102, 103 through the engagement‘ between the male screw thread 13 and the feinale screw thread 64. As shown in FIG. 2, a tube 200, which is made of metal, is i1'1SCI‘['cCl into the first tube segment. I01 rhrottgh the opening 19., and the fas-Lester 60 is fitted onto the first tube segment 10]. Since the female screw 1;hrea(l 64 is engaged with the male screw threzid 13, once the fastener 60 is fiirther rotated relative to the first tube segrnenl 101, the inner side 62 of the fztstener 60 presses each plate 14, and therefore flexes each plate 14 toward the axis of the first tube segment 101. As a result, the tube 200 is firmly held. The fit of the inclined surfaces makes the plates 14 be flexed more while the fastener 60 is being turned more tightly, and the stop wall against the distal ends of the plates 14 avoids the fastener 60 iirom over turning. 10021] As shown in FIG. 3, a connector 20 of the second p1‘Cf{‘.ITC(i embodiment of the present invention also includes mutually connected iirst tube segment 201, second tube segment 202, and third tube segment 203, wherein these tube segments share 21 common connecting portion too. Similarly, the first tube scgtncnt 201 is 1) tube segment 202. I-I0we\~'e1', the Liil'l’e1'e11c included angle between the second tube segnienl 202 and the third tube st-:g111<-3111 203 is an obtuse angle.

[0022] Again, as shown in FIG. 4, a C0n11{‘-C101‘ 30 of the third preferred embodiment includes mutually connected first tube segment 301, second tube segment 302, and third tube segment 303, wherein these tube segments share a common connecting portion. The first tube segment 301 is perpendicular to the second tube segment 302 as the afomtnentioned preferred embodiments, though an included angle between the second tube segment 302 and the third tube segment 303 is an acute angle.

{U023} As shown in FIG. 5, a connector 40 of the fourth prefened embodiment includes a first tube segment 401 and a second tube segment 402 which are mutually connected, wherein the first tube segment 40] is perpendlculal‘ to the second tube segment 402.

[0024] As shown in l-"I616, a conr1c<‘.tor 50 of the fifth preferred embodiment includes two tube seg,11'1e11ls 501 w11i¢h are connected coaxially.

[0025] Each tube segment in the n'l"0rc:nc111ioI1c same struc1ur<:, and therefore they are all adapted for the flastetler 60 to be filled thereon. A gate fmnre 100 shmvii i11 FIG. 7 is assembled with the connectors 1.0, 20, 30, 40 ofthc film to the fourth preferred emhodhnents and multiple tubes which are made ofmetal. For ease of explanation, the connector 10 of the first preferred embodiment is renamed as the firs-I connector 10 hereafter. Similarly, the connectors 20, 30, 40 of the second, the third, and the fourth preferred embodiment ave respectively renamed as the second, the third, and the fourth connectors 20, 30, 40. And the tubes are respectively defined as a first tube Pl , .1 second tube P2, a third tube P3, two fourth tubes P4, two fifth tubes P5, two sixth tubes P6, and two seve11l'l1 tubes P7. Tliese tubes Pl-P7 are basically the same in .<:tructure, except that tlu-sir lengths are dilTe1'e11t. An outer diarnete1' of each tube 1'1-P7 is slightly less than an inner diameter oi’ each tube segment 101-103, 201-203, 301-303, <10}-402 of the connectors J0, 9.0, 30, 40.

[0026] To assemble the gate frame 100, two ends of the first tube PI are first rcs_nectivc1y inserted into the first tube segments 101 of two paired cotmcctrns LO, lwo ends of the second Lube P2 are also respectively inserted into the fits: tube segments 201 of two paired connectors 20, and two ends of the third tube P3 are respectively inserted into the first tube segments 301 of two paired conr1cc.to1‘s 30. After that, one end of each fourth tube P4 is respectively inserted into the second tube segment 102 of one of the connectors 10, and another end thereof is inserted into the second tube segment 202 of one of the connectors 20. Similarly, an end of the fifth tube P5 is inserted into the thitid tube segment 203 of one of the connectors 20, and another end thereof is inserted into the second who segment 302 ofone of the com1ecIso1's 30. At this point, :1 top part and a back pant of the gate franie 100 is completely assembled.

[0027] Next, to finish assetublitig 21 lei t part and the right part of tlie gate frzune 100, an end of 03011 sixth tube P6 is respectively inserted into the third tube segment 303 of one of the first COI11lC(‘.{0l'S l0, and a11olh'.~:r end thereof is also rcspcctivehy inserted into the first tube segment 40] of one of the fourtli connectors 40. An end oteacli seventh tube 1’? is inserted into the third tube segment 303 of one of the third connectors 30, and another end thereof is inserted into the second tube segment 402 of one of the fourth connectors 40. As a result, once each tube segment 101-103, 201-203, 301-303, 401-402 01' the connectors 10, 20, 30, 40 is nsspectively fitted with one of the fasteners 60, each tube segrnent I0l~103, 201-203, 301-303, 401402 is flexed to firmly hold the con-csponding tubes Pl-P7. After 1‘url'het providing a net 300 on the gate frame 100, the installation ofa gate is then complete.

[0028] It is worth mentioning that any tube Pl-P7 can be formed by connecting two metal tubes to opposite ends of the connector 50 of the fifllt preI'errcd etnbodimeiit, as shown in FIG. 8. In more details, the inetal tubes are two tubes 200 as an example, and the tubes 200 are respectively inseited into the tube segments 501 of the connector 50.

Tlteiefoie, the size of the gate fraine 100 is adjustable by adding or removing multiple of the connectois 50 of the fifth preferred einbodimcnt.

[0029] in sutnniary, a tube can be quickly and firmly connected to the connector provided in the present invention through the design ofplznes and engagcinent between the female screw thread of the tube segments and the male screw thread ofthe fasteners.

[0030] It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred emliodirnents of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall Within the scope of the present invcntioll.

Claims (5)

1. A gate frame for ball games, comprising: a pair of first connectors each having a first tube segment, a second tube segment, and a third tube segment which are perpendicularly and mutually connected, and share a common connecting portion; a pair of second connectors each having a first tube segment, a second tube segment, and a third tube segment which are mutually connected and share a common connecting portion, wherein the tirst tube segment is perpendicular to the second tube segment, and an included angel between the second tube segment and the third tube segment is an obtuse angle; at pair of third connectors each having a first tube segment, a second tube segment, and a third tube segment which are mutually connected and share a common connecting portion, wherein the first tube segment is perpendicular to the second tube segment, and an included angel between the second tube segment and the third tube segment is an acute angle; a pair of fourth connectors, each having a first tube segment and a second tube segment which are perpendicuiar connected to each other; a first tube, which is straight, and has two opposite ends respectively inserted into the first tube segments of the paired first connectors: a second tube, which is straight, and has two opposite ends respectively inserted into the first tube segments of the paired second connectors; a third tube, which is straight, and has two opposite ends respectively inserted into the firsttube segrncnts of the paired third connectors; a pair of fourth tubes, which are straight, wherein an end of each of the fourth tubes is Inserted into the second tube segment of one of the first connectors, and another end thereof is inserted into the second tube segment of one of the second connectors; a pair of fifth tubes, which are straight, wherein an end of each of the fifth tubes is inserted into the third tube segment of one of the second connectors, and another end thereof is inserted into the second tube segment of one of the third connectors; a pair of sixth tubes, which are straight, wherein an end of each of the sixth tubes is inserted into the third tube segment of one of the first connectors, and another end thereof is inserted into the first tube segment of one of the fourth connectors; (ft 2 a pair of seventh tubes, which are straight, wherein an end of each of the seventh tubes is inserted into the third tube segment of one of the third connectors. and another end thereof is inserted into the second tube segment of one of the fourth connectors; and a plurality of fasteners; wherein each tube segment of the connectors is flexible at where inserted by the corresponding tubes: each of the fasteners is respectively fitted onto one of the tube segments to ftex the tube segments inward to firmly hold the corresponding tubes.

2. The gate frame of claim 1. wherein the connectors and the fasteners are made of plastic, while the tubes are made of metal.

3. The gate frame of claim 2, wherein each of the tube segments has a plurality of flexible plates, on opening formed at a distal end thereof. and a male screw thread provided on an outer side thereof; the plates are provided at the same end thereof, and each of the plates extends from the male screw thread to the distal end; each of the fasteners is respectively fitted onto the tube segments; the fasteners are in a shape of cylindrical tube, each of which is provided with a female screw thread, which is complementary to the male screw threads, on an inner side thereof, which forces the plates to flex inward to firmly hold the tubes.

4. The gate frame ofclalm 3, each plate has an inclined surface so that a thickness of each plate gradually decreases from the male screw thread toward the opening: the inner side of each of the fasteners forces the plates to flex by pressing the inclined surfaces thereof.

5. The gate frame of claim 1, wherein the connectors are made of plastic; at least one tube among the first to the fifth tubes further includes a fifth connector made of plastic and two tubes made of metal; an end of each of the metal tubes is inserted into an end of the fifth connector, and another end of each of the metal tubes is inserted into the tube segment of the corresponding connector.