The invention will be apparent from the description herein and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views.
The present invention provides a separable joint for use in joining beams. As used herein, the term “beam” is used to represent a wide variety of structural members. Examples include, but are not limited to, I-beams, tubes, poles, shafts, T-beams and rods. Applications can also vary widely and can include, but are not limited to, bicycles, structural members for buildings, bridges, towers, tents or any other application involving the coupling of ends of two members to form a longer overall member.
Examples of separable joints according to illustrative embodiments of the invention are provided in
The first and second protruding elements 130, 160 are provided with first and second end faces 126, 166, first and second bevel faces 132, 172 and optionally with first and second protruding element tip faces 131, 171. As illustrated by way of example, the first and second bevel faces 132, 172 may extend across a full cross section of their respective first and second portions 120, 160. Optional first and second side faces 124, 164 extend to first and second inner faces 127, 167. The protruding element tip faces 131, 171 and/or the first and second inner faces 127, 167 may optionally be of a very small width or be omitted altogether.
The first inner face 127 is provided with a transverse stabilizer 125 and the second end face 166 is provided with a transverse stabilizer receptor 165. The location of the transverse stabilizer 125 and transverse stabilizer receptor 165 are illustrated by way of example only, as they can be located in a wide variety of positions in order to maintain the transverse alignment of the beam joint. An optional fastener hole 168 is provided in the second portion 160 in which to locate a fastener that can extend into or through the first portion 120 to further secure the first portion 120 to the second portion 160. The fastener hole 168 may also be located in a wide variety of positions. If the fastener extends into the first portion 120, the hole (not shown) in the first portion 120 to receive the fastener may be configured to retain the fastener in the hole, coupled to the first portion 120. In one example, threads are provided in a hole in the first portion 120 such that a bolt provided through the fastener hole 168 in the second portion 160 may be secured to the first portion 120 by the use of the threads.
In another example, a quick-release cam assembly can be used on an end of a rod. For example, one end of the rod could have a ball or other enlarged cross-section that can be secured to a suitable structure at or near one end of the fastener hole 168. The opposing end of the rod could have a cam with a handle to enable the cam to be rotated to axially tighten against the ends of the fastener hole 168, thereby securing the first portion 130 to the second portion 160. Other examples of structures to secure the first portion 130 to the second portion 160 can include an outer sleeve or clamp assembly.
In operation, the separable joint 100A is configured to receive tensile, compression and shear loads, individually and in combination. The first portion 120 and second portion 160 are joined by a lateral or transverse motion to bring the first and second bevel faces 132, 172 into contact with each other and locate the transverse stabilizer 125 in the transverse stabilizer receptor 165. The first and second bevel faces 132, 172 contact each other to inhibit separation of the first and second inner faces 127, 167 from the first and second end faces 126, 166. By inhibiting separation of the first inner face 127 from the second end face 166, the transverse stabilizer 125 remains coupled to the transverse stabilizer receptor 165. The transverse stabilizer 125 and the transverse stabilizer receptor 165 maintain transverse alignment of the first and second portions 120, 160 by preventing the first and second portions 120, 160 from sliding past each other. In one embodiment, the first protruding element 130 and second protruding element 160 are configured to release from one another by movement that is opposite to the direction of movement for joining the first and second portions 120, 160 and is perpendicular to a direction of movement inhibited by the transverse stabilizer. The release movement may also be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a beam structure formed by the beam joint, e.g. the axis of the beam formed by the joining of an end of one beam to the end of another beam.
The optional fastener is configured to inhibit separation of the first and second bevel faces 132, 172. The fastener, if used, may, in some applications, not be subjected to substantial forces, as the fastener may be configured to not receive axial forces, but simply prevent a transverse or lateral force from separating the first and second bevel faces 132, 172. The majority of the forces applied to the beam joint are translated from one beam to the other by the protruding portions and the various mating bevel faces and mating inner and outer faces. Even in cases in which a fastener is not used, the transverse stabilizer 125 and the transverse stabilizer receptor 165 maintain transverse alignment of the beam joint.
To separate the separable joint 100A, any fastener used may be removed from the fastener hole 168 and is at least removed from engagement of the first portion 120. The separable joint 100A may then be separated by laterally separating the first and second portions 120, 160, sliding the transverse stabilizer 125 out from within the transverse stabilizer receptor 165.
The beam and/or separable joint may be formed of a wide variety of materials. Examples include metals, such as, for example, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, steel and others, plastics or wood. The first and second portions 120, 160 of the beam joint may be integrally formed from, with or on to, welded to, or otherwise secured to their respective beams. A wide variety of manufacturing methods for making the beam joint of the present invention will be apparent to one of skill in the art upon review of this description and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. In one example, the first and/or second portions may be hollowed out or formed with internal strengthening members to maintain the desired structural configuration. Such configurations can reduce overall weight and materials while maintaining the desired strength of the joint.
In one application, the transverse stabilizer 125 is formed of aluminum and welded at the first inner face 127. Optionally, the transverse stabilizer 125 may be formed of a high friction material to aid in retaining the transverse stabilizer 125 within the transverse stabilizer receptor 165. Examples of such high friction material can include rubber or plastics. Surface treatments may also be used to aid in retaining the transverse stabilizer 125 within the transverse stabilizer receptor 165. In such a case, the transverse stabilizer 125 and/or the transverse stabilizer receptor 165 may be provided with a high-friction surface treatment, such as, for example, a roughened surface, to seek to maintain the transverse stabilizer 125 within the transverse stabilizer receptor 165.
The bicycle 200 may optionally use the separable joint 100 along the main tube 210. The separable joint 100 may be located as illustrated in
The present invention has been described by way of example, and modifications and variations of the described embodiments will suggest themselves to skilled artisans in this field without departing from the spirit of the invention. Aspects and characteristics of the above-described embodiments may be used in combination.
The described embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is to be measured by the appended claims, rather than the preceding description, and all variations and equivalents that fall within the range of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/549,408, filed Mar. 1, 2004 and entitled A Single Main Beam Bicycle and A Separable Joint, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US05/06771 | 3/1/2005 | WO | 00 | 9/12/2007 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60549408 | Mar 2004 | US |