Patent Application
20080175660
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for a pipe frame. In particular, the present invention can facilitate the assembly, disassembly and firm connection between the pipe body and the connector.
2. Description of Prior Art
When pipes (plastic pipes or steel pipes) are to be arranged, it is necessary to use various kinds of connectors according to the environment and space of the working site. The current connectors are formed into a single component, such as a L-shaped pipe connector and a T-shaped pipe connector. When the pipe arrangement is performing, all operators can complete the pipe arrangement by means of the L-shaped pipe connector and T-shaped pipe connector together with the desired pipe bodies. However, after the pipe arrangement is completed, in case of changing the arrangement of the connectors or repairing or replacing the connectors due to the breakage of the pipe bodies, it is necessary to draw the connected pipe bodies out so as to perform the replacement. However, each pipe body and its connector have been arranged at predetermined positions when the pipe arrangement is completed. Thus, there is no space available for drawing the pipe bodies out. As a result, sometimes, it is necessary to disassemble several pipe bodies to perform the replacement of connectors.
Further, the L-shaped pipe connector or the T-shaped pipe connector is integrally formed into a sleeve, and no reinforcing structure is formed thereon. Therefore, after the pipe bodies is connected to the connector, the connector cannot bear the weight of the pipe bodies, causing the breakage of the connecting portion between the connector and the pipe bodies. As a result, the pipe bodies cannot be firmly connected with the connector.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to allow the desired pipe bodies to be disposed in first and second longitudinal grooves and first and second transverse grooves. Further, with fixing elements being locked into the fixing holes and the connecting holes, it is easy to perform the assembling and disassembling operations. Further, the stress between the pipe bodies and the connector can be dispersed after assembly, thereby to achieve a firm connection.
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention relates to a connector for a pipe frame, which comprises a first cover and a second cover connected to each other. The first and second covers have first and second longitudinal grooves and first and second transverse grooves corresponding to each other. Further, on both sides of the first and second longitudinal grooves, one end of the first and second transverse grooves, between the first longitudinal and transverse grooves and between the second longitudinal and transverse grooves, are respectively provided with fixing holes and connecting holes corresponding to each other. Further, fixing elements are provided in the fixing holes and the connecting holes corresponding to the first cover and the second cover, respectively.
With reference to
One surface of the first cover 1 has a first longitudinal groove 11, and an end adjacent to the first longitudinal groove 11 has a first transverse groove 12. The other surface of the first cover 1 has alternatively arranged reinforcing ribs 13. Further, on both sides of the first longitudinal groove 11, one end of the first transverse groove 12 and between the first longitudinal groove 11 and the first transverse groove 12, fixing holes 14 are respectively provided. The periphery of the fixing hole 14 can be formed into a polygon (such as hexagon).
The second cover 2 is connected with the first cover 1. One surface of the second cover 2 has a second longitudinal groove 21 and a second transverse groove 22 corresponding to the first longitudinal groove 11 and the first transverse groove 12, respectively. The other surface of the second cover 2 has alternatively arranged reinforcing ribs 23. On the second cover 2, connecting holes 24 are provided to correspond to the fixing holes 14 of the first cover 1. The periphery of the connecting hole 24 can be formed into a polygon (such as hexagon).
The fixing elements 3 are provided in the corresponding fixing holes 14 and connecting holes 24 of the first cover 1 and the second cover 2, respectively, so that the first cover 1 and the second cover 2 can be connected with each other. Therefore, with the above structure, a novel connector for a pipe frame can be formed.
Further, the first and second transverse grooves 12, 22 may be also provided with restricting portions (not shown) if necessary. The restricting portions 111, 211 can be grooves or bumps each formed into a polygon or circle. The desired pipe body 4 is thus provided with protrusions 31, so that the protrusions 41 can be inserted into the restricting portions 111, 211 of the first and second longitudinal grooves 11, 21. In this way, the pipe body 4 can be firmly disposed between the first and second covers 1, 2.
According to the above, the connector for a pipe frame in accordance with the present invention can allow the desired pipe bodies to dispose into the first and second longitudinal grooves and the first and second transverse grooves. Further, the present invention uses the fixing elements to be locked in the fixing holes and connecting holes. Therefore, it is easy to achieve the assembling and disassembling operations. Further, the stress between the pipe bodies and the connector can be dispersed after assembly, thereby to achieve a firm connection. With the above structure, the present invention indeed provides a more novel, inventive and practicable connector for a pipe frame, and thus conforms to the requirements for a utility model patent.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still be occurred to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
