Patent Application
20240271729
The present disclosure generally relates to a tube connector. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a tube connector that is dimensioned and shaped to connect a first pipe to a second pipe.
Structures that include a plurality of pipes are typically connected via mechanical threaded engagements where an end of a first pipe has internal threads and an end of a second pipe has external threads such that the external threads engages the internal threads and is drawn into the first pipe. This structural arrangement is unforgiving and makes no provisions for two pipes that might be slightly mis-aligned or are too short to contact one another for threaded engagement.
One object of the present disclosure is to provide a tube connector with structures that join two pipes together that may be slightly mis-aligned with one another and/or may not be of sufficient length to directly contact one another.
In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a tube connector with a cylindrically shaped body having a hollow interior defining a cylindrical inner surface therein. The cylindrically shaped body has a first end with a first opening and a second end with a second opening. The first and second openings are both open to the hollow interior. The cylindrically shaped body has a pipe aligning structure within the hollow interior spaced apart from the cylindrical inner surface dimensioned and shaped to receive a hollow pipe and center the hollow pipe with the hollow interior.
Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring initially to
As shown in
The cylindrically shaped body 60 has a first end 66 with a first opening 68 and a second end 70 with a second opening 72. The first opening 68 and the second opening 72 are both open to the hollow interior 62, but at opposite ends thereof. The cylindrically shaped body 60 includes a pipe aligning structure 76. The pipe aligning structure 76 is located within the hollow interior 62 and is spaced apart from the cylindrical inner surface 64 of the cylindrically shaped body 60. The pipe aligning structure 76 is dimensioned and shaped to receive, guide and center the first pipe P1 (a hollow pipe) into the first end 66. The pipe aligning structure 76 is also dimensioned and shaped to receive, guide and center the second pipe P2 (another hollow pipe) into the second end 70 of the cylindrically shaped body 60.
As shown in
The wall 80 further divides the hollow interior 62 into a first hollow space 62a accessed by the first opening 68 and a second hollow space 62b accessed by the second opening 72. as shown in
The first and second projections 90 and 92 extend from the wall 80 through the first hollow area 62 to a location proximate the first opening 68 with the first and second elongated projections 90 and 92 defining an X-shape as viewed through the first opening 68.
Within the second hollow space 62b, the pipe aligning structure 76 also includes a third elongated projection 94 and a fourth elongated projection 96 that extends outward from the wall 80. More specifically, the third and fourth projections 94 and 96 extend from the wall 80 through the first hollow area 62 to a location proximate the second opening 72 with the third and fourth elongated projections 94 and 96 defining an X-shape as viewed through the second opening 72.
The first and second elongated projections 90 and 92 are dimensioned such that the first pipe P1 can easily slip around the first and second elongated projections 90 and 92. In other words, the width of each of the first and second elongated projections 90 and 92 is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the first pipe P1.
Similarly, the third and fourth elongated projections 94 and 96 are dimensioned such that the second pipe P2 can easily slip around the third and fourth elongated projections 94 and 96. In other words, the width of each of the third and fourth elongated projections 94 and 96 is slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the second pipe P2.
As shown in
The cylindrical inner surface 64 has an inner diameter D1 that is greater than the outer diameter D2 of the first and second pipe P1 and P2. The difference between these diameters defines a gap between the outer surface of each of the first and second pipe P1 and P2 and the cylindrical inner surface 64 of the cylindrically shaped body 60. This gap provides space for the elastic material 98. The elastic material 98 provides a cushioning effect between the first and second pipe P1 and P2 and the cylindrical inner surface 64 of the cylindrically shaped body 60. In other words, the elastic material 98 eliminates noises that might occur by contact between the first and second pipe P1 and P2 and the cylindrical inner surface 64 of the cylindrically shaped body 60 and eliminates vibrations that might occur between the first and second pipe P1 and P2 and the cylindrical inner surface 64 of the cylindrically shaped body 60. The elastic material 98 also provides a means for slight mis-alignments between respective ones of the first and second pipe P1 and P2 and the cylindrical inner surface 64 of the cylindrically shaped body 60.
As shown in
The second fastening structure 104 defines another projection 110. In the depicted embodiment, the projection 110 has a hexagonal shape. A central area of the projection 110 has circular opening 112 that extends to and is open to the second hollow space 62b of the hollow interior 62 of the cylindrically shaped body 60. Put another way, the first fastening structure 102 is on a first side of the wall 80 and the second fastening structure 104 is on an opposite side of the wall 80.
Fasteners F1 and F2 are inserted into the elongated slot 108 and the opening 112, respectively, for engagement with respective ones of the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2. Preferably, the respective portions of the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 that are inserted into the cylindrically shaped body 60 include corresponding threaded openings that receive respective ones of the fasteners F1 and F2 (
The cylindrically shaped body 60 can be made of any of a variety of materials, such as, steel, an iron alloy, aluminum or an aluminum alloy. However preferably, the cylindrically shaped body 60 is made of a plastic/nylon material, such as polyamide 6.
The tube connector 20 can be used in any of a variety of applications. For example, the tube connector 20 can be used to connect the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 where the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 are part of a fence structure, a child's play structure (a junglegym structure) or other similar structures where two hollow pipes or tubes are joined together.
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiment, the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”, “above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the tube connector. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the tube connector.
The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a structure that is constructed to carry out the desired function.
The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed.
While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such features. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
