GB2163512A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector for connecting together, end to end, two elongate members e.g. spigots 80 of superimposed frames 82, comprises an end member 30 fitted to the end of one member 80 and carrying loosely a sleeve 34 which can be screwed over an end member 30, 32 fitted to the end of the other member 80 to clamp the end members 32 end to end. The sleeve 34 is held captive on end member 30 but is slidable and rotatable thereon. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector THIS INVENTION relates to a connector for connecting together, end to end, two elongate members.

It is an object of the invention to provide a connector of this chacracter by means of which two elongate members may be firmly connected together end to end by a simple manual operation, without the use of tools, and may be as readily disconnected when required.

According to the invention there is provided a connector for connecting together, end to end, two elongate members, comprising a first end member adapted for fitting to the end of one of said elongate members, a second end member adapted for fitting to the end of the other of said elongate members, and a sleeve member engaged around said first end member and rotatable and longitudinally slidable thereon, said sleeve member and said first end member having cooperating abutment means preventing withdrawal of the sleeve member from the first end member over the end of the first end member remote from that from which the elongate member to which the first end member is attached extends, said abutment means, when in mutual engagement, nevertheless permitting relative rotation between the first end member and the second end member, the sleeve member affording, when said abutment means is in engagement, a socket for receiving the second end member, said socket extending from a free end of the sleeve member and terminating in the free end of the first end member within the sleeve member, complementary screw threads being provided with the socket member and around said second end member whereby said sleeve member can be screwed onto said second end member until the first and second end members engage one another, with said abutment means also in mutual engagement.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view in axial section showing a connector embodying the invention serving to connect together, end to end, two elongate members, and, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector.

The connector described below with reference to the drawings may be used, inter alia, in connecting together a piurality of structural framework members, in the form of rectangular sections each in the form of a rectangular metal frame comprising vertical elongate side members connected adjacent upper and lower ends thereof by elongate cross members.

Such sections may be of the general form disclosed in our U.K. Patent Specification No.

1,586,738 to which reference should be had.

In such a frame, the vertical elongate side members project upwardly and downwardly respectively above and below the upper and lower horizontal cross members. Connectors embodying the invention may be used in connecting together an upper frame of this type with a similar lower frame, with the upper frame being connected to t e lower frame directly below it by way of t e adjoining axially aligned projecting end portions of the vertical elongate side members. In Fig. 1, the projecting portions of axially aligned elongate vertical side members are indicated at 80, with the adjoining parts of the adjoining horizontal side members being indicated at 82.The projecting portions 80 may be in the form of end fittings comprising a larger diameter portion nearer the respective cross-member 82 and a reduced diameter end portion 81 which is received within the respective connector part.

The upper projecting portion 80 is secured to the lower projecting portion 80, in end to end axially aligned relationship therewith by way of a connector embodying the present invention and which comprises a first end member 30 secured to the lower end portion of the upper part 80 and a second end member 32 secured to the upper end portion of the lower part 80, the end member 30 and 32, and thus the adjoining parts 80, being held together by a sleeve member 34 embracing both member 30 and the member 32.

Where the projecting portions 80 are in the form of end fittings of the type referred to above, the external diameters of the parts of the end members 30 and 32 which directly adjoin the larger diameter portions of the end fittings to which they are attached are preferably the same as those of said larger diameter portions and form continuations of the cylindrical surfaces thereof.

The sleeve member 34 is held captive on the upper end portion 80, i.e. on the part formed by, in combination, the end part 30 and the end fitting which carries the end part 30. In the unfastened condition of the connector, the sleeve member 34 is freely rotatable and axially slidable on said upper end portion.

The second end part 32 has an external screw thread 36 which is engaged in a complementary internal screw thread 38 within the sleeve 34 when the connector is secured. In this condition, as shown in Fig. 1, the end part 32 is held with its upper end face firmly in abutment with the lower end face of the end part 30 by the screw threaded engagement between the sleeve 34 and part 32.

Considering the connector construction in greater detail, the sleeve 34 has an axial through passage providing a cylindrical portion 40 and a smaller diameter cylindrical portion 42 extending from one end of the portion 40 to the end face of the sleeve 34 which is uppermost in Fig. 1. The internal screw thread 38 is formed at the opposite end of the bore portion 40 from portion 42 and a flaring, frusto conical portion 44 extends from the thread 38 to the opposite, lower end of the sleeve 34, increasing in internal diameter towards said lower end. The first end part 30 provides an externally cylindrical first part 48 which is a free rotatable and sliding fit within the bore portion 40 but which has an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the bore part 42 and thus cannot pass therethrough.The end part 30 has a further portion 50, which is uppermost in Fig. 1 and which is externally of the same diameter as the larger diameter portion of the end fitting with which it forms a continuous cylindrical surface. The part 50 and the adjoining portion of the end fitting are a free rotatable and sliding fit within the bore portion 42. There is thus a formed, between the portions 48 and 50 on the exterior of the part 30, an upwardly facing annular shoulder 52 which opposes and can cooperate with an annular shoulder 54 formed in the sleeve 34 between the bore portions 40 and 42.

The second end part 32 comprises an intermediate, externally cylindrical part 60 and frusto conically tapering parts 62 and 64 at its upper and lower ends. The external screw thread 36 is formed on the exterior of part 60 adjacent the upper end thereof. The first end part 30 terminates at its lower end in a horizontal flat end face and the second end part 32 likewise terminates at its upper end in a horizontal flat end face. Each part 30, 32 has an axial blind bore extending from the end thereof remote from the respective said end face and which receives the end portion of the respective end fitting. The bore in each part 30, 32 is formed with longitudinally extending internal ribs which are deformed when the respective portion 81 is forced into the bore whereby the part 30, 32 is held firmly by friction on the respective parts.

In the embodiment shown, to facilitate moulding, the external screw thread 36 does not extend entirely around the member 32 but is cut away to leave only flange portions 66 (see Fig. 2) as part of the screw thread. To secure the two end parts 80 together end to end, the upper part 80 is simply placed verti cally above the lower part 80 with the sleeve 34 lifted so that the lower edge thereof is substantially at the same level as the lower end face of the member 30, which end face is engaged with the upper end face of the second end member 32, whereupon the sleeve 34 is lowered over the second end member 32 and is rotated so as to screw the screw thread 38 over the screw thread 36 and draw the sleeve 34 downwardly over the member 32 until the annular shoulders 54 and 52 are firmly in abutting engagement, as are the opposing end faces of the members 30 and 32.

The frusto conical flaring bore part 46 and the tapering end portion 62 of the member 32 assist in centering the sleeve 34 relative to the member 32.

As shown in Fig. 2, the sleeve 34 is provided externally with longitudinally extending ribs at intervals therearound to facilitate gripping the sleeve 34 by hand.

In a preferred embodiment, all of the rectangular frames or sections are substantially identical, each carrying members 32 at its upper end and members 30, with sleeves 34, at its lower end. Accordingly, when such frames or sections are used to form a structure which rests on a floor, the lower ends of some of the frames, provided with members 30, 34, engage the floor. The arrangement may be such that in its raised position, with the upper end face of the sleeve 34 engaging the adjacent cross bar 82, the lower edge of the sleeve 34 is not higher than the lower end face of the first end part 30, whereby the sleeve 34 can support part of the weight of the respective frame section and thus form a supporting foot, when the frame section rests upon the floor or ground. Alternatively, the weight of the respective frame section, and of any others it supports, may be carried entireiy by the members 30, with the sleeves 34 simply standing loosely around the members 30 which engage the floor.

The members 30, 32, and 34 are preferably formed from a suitable plastics material, by moulding.

Claims (1)

1. A connector for connecting together, end to end, two elongate members, comprising a first end member adapted for fitting to the end of one of said elongate members, a second end member adapted for fitting to the end of the other of said elongate members, and a sleeve member engaged around said first end member and rotatable and longitudinally slidable thereon, said sleeve member and said first end member having cooperating abutment means preventing withdrawal of the sleeve member from the first end member over the end of the first end member remote from that from which the elongate member to which the first end member is attached extends, said abutment means, when in mutual engagement, nevertheless permitting relative rotation between the first end member and the second end member, the sleeve member affording, when said abutment means is in engagement, a socket for receiving the second end member, said socket extending from a free end of the sleeve member and terminating in the free end of the first end member within the sleeve member, complementary screw threads being provided within the socket member and around said second end member whereby said sleeve member can be screwed onto said second end member until the first and second end members engage one another, with said abutment means also in mutual engagement.

2. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said first end member comprises a larger diameter portion adjacent its free end and a smaller diameter portion extending from said larger diameter portion to its other end, and said sleeve member has an internal axial passage including a portion which receives freely said larger diameter portion of the first end member and a portion of smaller diameter extending from said first portion of said passage to the end of the sleeve member remote from said socket, said smaller diameter portion of the first end member extending freely through said smaller diameter portion of said axial passage but the larger diameter portion of the first end member being too large to pass through said smaller diameter portion of said axial passage, said abutment means comprising an annular shoulder formed on the first end member between said larger and smaller diameter portions of said first end member and an opposing annular shoulder formed in said sleeve member between said larger and smaller diameter portions of said axial passage.

3. A structural framework element comprising a rectangular frame having spigots projecting therefrom at opposite ends of at least one side thereof, parallel with the further sides of the frame which extend to said one side, each said spigot comprising, in combination, an elongate frame part and a said first end part of a connector according to claim 1 fixed to the end of said elongate frame part, a said sleeve part being engaged around said spigot, said elongate frame part having a diameter no greater than said smaller diameter portion of said first end part, and the total length of each said spigot, measured from said one side to the free end of the first end part, being no greater than the length of said sleeve part, whereby, in use, the sleeve part can act as a foot to support at least part of the weight of the framework element, disposed vertically, with the free end of the sleeve part engaging the floor surface and the opposite end of the sleeve member engaging said one side.

5. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

6. A framework element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.