Apparatus and method for coupling support members
US5779386A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/7077
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A joint for joining two tubes together that provides a connection that is highly resistant to relative rotational movement of the two tubes and that provides for connecting the tubes without requiring tools. A tube with a swaged end of smaller diameter that is to be joined to a second tube with a larger diameter contains an interconnection member disposed within the swaged end of the tube. The interconnection member is a button that is spring-biased to extend through a hole in the swaged tube. The end of the swaged tube also includes two slots, disposed on opposing sides of the tube, that receive within them a rivet that extends transversely through the larger diameter tube. As the swaged tube is inserted into the larger diameter tube, the button in the swaged tube springs into a corresponding hole in the larger diameter tube when the holes in the swaged tube and the large diameter tube are in alignment. Alignment of the button holes also aligns the slots of the swaged tube with the transversely extending rivet in the larger diameter tube such that the rivet is received within the slots of the swaged tube. Any rotational force that is applied to either tube will be resisted due to …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.