Patent Application
20120005870
The general field of invention relates to couplers for hanging horizontal rods, such as a drape rod. Conventional, so-called hook-and-slot systems include vertically-positioned aluminum poles with slots formed in top regions for receiving hooks that extend from the ends of horizontally-positioned rods.
Limitations with these conventional designs include the requirement that the hook components need to engage the slot components at an angle of close to 90 degrees to make the desired connection. Also, the edge of the metal hook causes wear against the slots formed in the vertically-positioned aluminum poles. Over time and after use, the slots become enlarged which causes excessive and undesired play between the hook and the slot, making the system less effective.
Preliminarily, the coupler system of the present invention can be used for any suitable application. One of those applications is the so-called drape-and-rod industry, where horizontally-disposed poles or rods are placed between, and at the top of, vertically-positioned support poles or rods. Drapes are hung from the horizontally-positioned poles to form desired partitions. Configurations of these horizontally-positioned and vertically-positioned poles are used to form trade show booths, displays and other upright systems. The coupler of the present invention can be used in the drape-and-rod industry to provide an improved system for making desired configurations of the horizontally-positioned and vertically-positioned poles. Other applications of the coupler system of the present invention are for temporary barricades and stanchions.
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With respect to materials, ball and neck regions 26, 28 are preferably constructed from metal or high strength, fiber-reinforced plastic. The metal may be rolled or hardened steel. The plastic is preferably fiber-reinforced nylon products that are commercially available from Clariant Chemical Corporation. Angled region 30 is preferably constructed from the same reinforced plastic. In general, top-cap and ball-cap components 18, 24 are preferably constructed from materials that have the following features: (i) maintain ball regions in corresponding cavities under forces of about 2,000 lbs/in2; (ii) have memory so that ball regions return substantially to an original position after an application of force is removed.
Ball and neck regions 26 and 28 are preferably about 1⅛″ to 1¼″ in length. While shown at an angle of about 90 degrees from neck region 28, angled region 30 could be at any suitable angle, such as an angle that is greater than 90 degrees. Region 30 is preferably formed of plastic and the neck extends into the angled region either by forming the plastic around the neck, or by drilling an opening in the angled region that is sized to frictionally fit the neck portion in it.
Referring again to
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The top-cap, or socket, component is inserted into the top of a vertical support or tube and is fastened in place such as by riveting. It preferably includes four cavities, or sockets, having beveled edges that aid in fitting a ball region of a ball-cap component into one of the cavities, and are otherwise shaped as shown in the figures. The top-cap component and ball-cap components can be molded to fit into existing, industry-standard-sized poles or tubes.
To mount a horizontal tube with opposing ball-cap components between a pair of vertical poles or tubes with top-cap components, the user elevates a ball-cap component to rest on the top of the top-cap component above a cavity. The ball region of the ball-cap component will fall by gravity into the base of the cavity, and that cavity receives the ball and provides for full rotation of the ball within the socket, thereby allowing for a variety of angles at which the horizontal tube may be hung between two vertical support poles, while maintaining stability.
All of the Figures together with the above-identified description can be combined with the following further description of features of the invention for a better understanding of those features.
In operation, top-cap component 18 is inserted into an “upright” or vertical pole of various constructions and is riveted into place. This piece, with its multiple cavities/sockets is used as a receptacle for a variety of horizontal supports. Being made of plastic, the end-cap component is less likely to become damaged during normal use, as well as eliminating the normal “shredding” of the upright by the metal hook used in conventional systems. The depth of the socket allows for stable coupling with corresponding ball regions of ball-cap components 24. The socket also allows full articulation of the ball-cap component achieving a variety of angles between any two vertical poles while remaining stable. The top-cap component includes a ¼-20 threaded standard brass insert at the center of its apex to allow a variety of decorative and functional accessories to be attached to the crown in a safe and stable manner. The top-cap component is also molded to accommodate conventional hook and slot equipment as well, so that the coupler system may be used with conventional hook and slot products.
Ball-cap component 24 is inserted into a rod or tube, such as a telescoping one, and is secured to the tube with a pop rivet. The ball-cap component is inserted into opposing ends of the telescoping tube, and sized to frictionally fit within the corresponding inside diameters of that tube. As noted above, ball-cap component 24 is preferably constructed of high-strength plastic infused with glass fibers for rigidity. Once ball-cap components are attached to the ends of the telescoping tube, the tube can be mounted horizontally, as described above, between two upright or vertical poles that are fitted with the top-cap component.
The disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a preferred form or method, the specific alternatives, embodiments, and/or methods thereof as disclosed herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, as numerous variations are possible. The present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, properties, methods and/or steps disclosed herein. Similarly, where any disclosure above recites “a” or “a first” element, step of a method, or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure should be understood to include one or more such elements or steps, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements or steps.
Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, properties, steps and/or methods may be recited in claims of a related application. Such claims, whether they focus on a different invention or the same invention, and whether different, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/351,799, filed Jun. 4, 2010 and entitled “COUPLER SYSTEM”, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61351799 | Jun 2010 | US |
