US912788A

US912788A - Coupling or connector.

Info

Publication number: US912788A
Application number: US41484208A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Benson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1908-02-07
Filing date: 1908-02-07
Publication date: 1909-02-16
Anticipated expiration: 1926-02-16

Description

W. E. BENSON.

COUPLING 0R CONNECTOR.

APPLIOATION rum) 11:12.7. 190s.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

1n: NORRIS PETERS anoantoz ZWZZZZ'd/WZY amm WILLIAM E. BENSON, OF BENSON, ALABAMA.

COUPLING OR OONNECTGR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed February 7, 1908. Serial No. $14,842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, inux11 E. Bnrzson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Benson, in the State of Qrlabauia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Couplings or Connectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of metallic guys or stays and analogous devices, and particularly to couplings or connectors for the parts or sections thereof, the object of the invention being to provide a novel construction of coupling or connecting means by which the proximate ends of the sections may be quickly, conveniently and securely assembled in such a manner as to effectually withstand the strains falling thereon.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the proximate ends of the sections of a flat or metallic strap guy joined by my improved coupling or connector. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts of the same disassembled. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the coupling connection. Fig. =1 is a plan View showing the use of a sleeve of different length. Fig. is a similar view showing the adaptation of the invention to a metallic guy or stay formed of rods.

Referring to the drawing. 1 and 2 designate the sections of a metallic guy or stay, the same comprising straps or strips of sheetmetal of the desired length and width. and 3 designates asheet-metal coupling sleeve forming the major member of the connector. The said sleeve is constructed of sheet-metal bent into form and is preferably of oblong rectangular form in cross-section. in the illustrated embodiment the sleeve comprises a body portion 4. provided with right angular end walls 5, one of said walls being formed with an inturned flange 6, while the other is continued to provide a cover plate '7 adapted to fold down to a parallel position with the body 1 and to form with the flange 6 a wall corresponding in form and dimensions with said body. Normally the folding cover portion 7 is open or lies at an oblique angle to the body portion, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit of the application of the ends of the

strap sections

1 and 2 to the sleeve.

in order to provide for an interlocking engagement between the sections 1 and and the sleeve 3, the said. sections are respectively provided at their meeting ends with locking elements 8 and 9, consisting of hooks formed by bending the ends of said. sections real.- ward ly in opposite directions. In the opera tion of coupling the ends of the sections 1. and 2, such ends of the sections are inserted into the sleeve in overlapping relation, so that the outwardly and rearwardly projecting hook of the section 1 will engage one of the side edges of the bottom portion 1-, after which the cover section 7 of the sleeve is folded to closed position and the strap section 2 adjusted to bring the portion 9 thereof into engagement with the side edge of the ilange 6 and cover 7 at the opposite side of the sleeve from the point of engagement from the hook 8, the hook thus engaging edges of the sleeve at diagonally opposite points. The hooks and sleeve when thus connected may be flattened out to insure firm engagement, and it will be apparent that the hook 9 will prevent any tendency to outward movement of the cover section 3, while said hooks will be drawn into closer engagement with the sleeve by the pulling strain in opposite directions on the strap sections, the greater such strain the greater the firmness of the coupling engagement. hen it is desired to disconnect the strap sections, the section 2 is forced back and the cover portion 7 then pried open, whereupon both strap sections may be disengaged from the sleeve.

In practice, it is preferred to employ a series of sleeves *arying in length, so that the metallic guy or stay as a whole may be lenghtened or shortened, as occasion may require, and the ends of strap sections spaced a greater or less distance apart coupled with facility. In Fig. l I have shown the use of a coupling sleeve 3 of greater length than the sleeve 3, and it will he understood that by the substitution of such sleeve 3 for sleeve 3 the length of the strap sections as a whole may be shortened and coupled in shortened condition. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Fig. 5 I have shown the application of the invention to a guy or stay in which the

sections

1 and 2 consist of rods or bars of metal, which rods or bars are flatened at their proximate ends to fit within the sleeve and provide for the formation of the locking hooks thereon.

From the foregoing description, the advantages of my improved coupling will be readily understood. By its use the necessity of riveting the bands or straps together at their meeting ends will be avoided, thus preventing weakening of the material while at the same time providing for the detachable connection of the parts. Also, by the use of coupling sleeves of different lengths, strap sections spaced a greater or less distance apart at their meeting ends may be connected and the guy or stav as a whole lengthened or shortened, atwill. A continuous guy or stay may also be readily repaired when broken by simply forming hooks upon the sections at the joints and connecting the same by the improved coupling sleeve. The construction is further such as to secure the advangtages set forth at a comparatively low cost.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is In a coupling or connector, the combination of an oblong rectangular sleeve, having substantially parallel flat sides, one of said sides being transversely divided adjacent one end to provide a short flange and a cover portion, the latter being bent to a closed position in alineinent with said flange, whereby the meeting edges of the said cover portion and flange lie in abutting contact and their outer surfaces lie flush with each other, and flat straps projecting in opposite directions through the sleeve and having short hooks at their ends engaging the diametrically opposite side edges of the side walls of said sleeve, and overlapping and bearing upon the outer faces of said walls, said straps being substantially coextensive in width with the sleeve and the hook of the strap engaging the slitted side wall being arranged to bear upon the flush outer faces of the cover portion and flange and to extend over the joint between said cover portion and flange and to retain said cover portion in closed position.

In testimony whereol I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. BENSON.

Witnesses GEORGE D. LELAND, BERNARD HAHN.