US1579160A - Bracing coupling - Google Patents

Description

`March 30,1926. 1,579,160

A. R. SPIKINGS BRACING COUPLING Filed June 17, 1924 nur y,

inverte rea,

ALBERTV RICHARD srrkrnes, onrannrnacrn cnnnfnnw Yoan. y

lB12/AGING COUPLING.

Application filed June 17,1924: fSeralvNm 720,582.1

To @Zlio/7209i@ triep/concern.: f

Be it known that I, ALBERT RrcHARD SHK- INes, acitizenof th'e UnitedStates, residing at Lake Placid Club, in the county of Essex and `State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracing Couplings, o-f which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rIhis invention relates to bracing couplings and has relation more particularly -to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with railing structures, and it is an object of the invention to provide novel and improved means whereby a brace can be applied or removed without interfering with the structure or necessitating the taking down of the upper rail of the structure.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bracing coupling particularly adapted for use in connect-ion with rail fittings as disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 696,847, liled `March 4, 19211.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement` of the several parts of my improved bracing coupling wherebykcertain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more Y fully set forth.

The novel features oflmy invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating a bracing coupling constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through a coupling constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 3 is a View in bottom plan of the socket member as particularly illustrated in Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 9 denotes a supporting post or the like to the upper end portion of which is secured a fitting of a type .particularly disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 696,847 filed March 4, 1924, and. which fitting has oper-atit/'ely` engaged therewith a: socket member V12;which. may bel rotatableorv non rotatable desired: Theoliterportion of.. the member 12 is provided with a socket 16 in which is adapted to have threaded engagement an end portion of a railing section 17.

rEhe socket member 12 at its inner portion is provided with a hollow extension. or protuberance 1 substantially semi-spherical in form and which is provided in its peripheral wall with a slot 2 one end portion a of which being substantially circular and the opposite end portion Z) being restricted. The slot 2 is disposed lengthwise of the socket member 12 with the restricted portion b thereof adjacent to the socket 16.

A cap or head 3 is adapted to be threaded or otherwise connected with the brace member el. This cap or head 3 at its axial center is provided with an outstanding member 5 terminating in an enlargement or head 6 substantially spherical in form. This head 6 is readily insertable through the portion n, of the slot 2 but not through the portion Z). By this means the brace member d may be readily adjusted to the angle desired and can be applied or removed with respect to the socket member 12 without removing such socket member or in any way interfering with the associated railing section 17.

lVhile I disclose in the present embodiment of my inventiononly a single extension or protuberance 1 it is to be understood that a plurality of the same can be employed in cluster should the requirements of practice so necessitate. The particular location of the hollow extension or protuberance 1 as herein disclosed is also of essential advantage in materially strengthening or reinforcing the structure comprised in the assembly of the socket member' 12 as said hollow extension or protuberance provides added metal or material.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a. bracing coupling constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also bel obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modication without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

A rail structure comprising7 in combination, a socket member` having recesses provided at one end thereof for connection with a railing post, the opposite end portion of the socket member being tubular and internally threaded for engagement with a rail, the central portion of the socket member having formed integral therewith a laterally directed hollow extension, the wall of said extension having a slot, a portion of the slot being enlarged, a ap adapted for connection with a brace member, said cap being provided with an outstanding member terminating` in an enlargement, said enlargement being insertable through the enlarged portion ontl the Slot of the extension, and said outstanding member being movable within 20 the slot.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

ALBERT ll. SPIKINGS.

Images