CONNECTOR FOR STRUCTURAL APPARATUS

Abstract

An assembly for joining a generally cylindrical post to at least one structural member wherein the assembly includes four C-shaped members and strips of an elastic material. Two of the C-shaped members encircle the post and form the top half of the assembly. Two of the C-shaped members encircle the post and form the bottom half of the assembly. The four C-shaped members mounted on a cylindrical post in this configuration provide a channel capable of holding the end of a structural member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an apparatus useful for connecting a cylindrical post to one or more structural members. Playground equipment is frequently comprised of a plurality of cylindrical posts secured to the ground and a plurality of other structural members attached to the cylindrical posts. The structural members support play-surfaces such as platforms, monkey-bars, slides, climbing surfaces, and the like. The apparatus used to connect the cylindrical post to the structural members must provide a solid connection, and must connect multiple structural members to a single post. Additionally, it is desirable for the connecting apparatus to connect and release from the cylindrical post without damaging or penetrating the cylindrical post or the cylindrical post's exterior finish. This will allow equipment to be adjusted or moved without replacing the cylindrical posts. Additionally, keeping the exterior finish of the cylindrical post intact will help prevent corrosion such as rust. The current invention accomplishes these goals.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A search of related art revealed various devices designed for the same general purpose, but not of like design or function. U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,580 discloses a connector for structural apparatus which attaches structural members to cylindrical posts using screws that pass through the connector into the cylindrical post. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,447 discloses a connector for structural apparatus which secures the connector with a set-screw. The current invention accomplishes the same goal, but does so without damaging the surface of the cylindrical post. Additionally, the current invention is less costly to manufacture than other clamps currently in use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post wherein multiple structural members can be connected to a single connector assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post wherein the post and its finish are not damaged or penetrated by the connector assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post wherein the manufacturing cost of the connector is reduced compared to other connectors in the art.

In one form thereof, the invention is an apparatus for connecting a cylindrical-shaped cylindrical post to at least one other member wherein the apparatus is comprised of four identical C-shaped members. Two of the C-shaped members fit together encircling the cylindrical post and forming the top half of the clamping assembly. Two of the C-shaped members fit together encircling the cylindrical post and forming the bottom half of the clamping assembly. The cross-section of the C-shaped members is such that when the top half and bottom half of the clamping assembly are positioned adjacent to each other on a cylindrical post a channel is formed around the outside circumference of the clamping assembly. This channel accommodates the end of at least one structural member. The structural members are the play-surfaces, or the structural members support play-surfaces.

The invention is further comprised of rubber strips to increase friction between the C-Shaped members and the cylindrical post. Each C-shaped member has an indentation on the inner face of the connector, the face that is against the cylindrical post when assembled. A rubber strip slightly thicker than the depth of the indentation is positioned in the indentation. When the C-shaped members are assembled around a cylindrical post, this rubber strip is compressed between the post and C-shaped member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one C-shaped member and one strip.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of 4 C-Shaped members, 4 strips, fasteners, the end of a structural member, and a cylindrical post.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp assembled on a cylindrical post with the end of a structural member in the channel.

FIG. 4 is cut-away view of the assembled clamp on a cylindrical post.

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DRAWINGS
10 C-shaped member
12 strips                 14 cylindrical post
16 first face             18 second face
20 alignment protrusion   22 alignment cavity
24 means for fastening    26 inner face
28 indentation            30 rib
32 outer surface          34 slot
36 third face             38 first C-shaped member
40 second C-shaped member 42 third C-shaped member
44 fourth C-shaped member 46 channel
48 end of structural member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is comprised of four, identical, C-shaped members 10, and four identical strips 12, as shown in FIG. 2. An individual C-shaped member 10 and strip 12 is show in FIG. 1. The four-identical C-shaped members 10 are each of an approximate half-circle or “C” shape. Each strip 12 has the shape of a rectangular box. The invention is assembled around a cylindrical post 14 having a generally cylindrical surface.

C-Shaped Members

As shown in FIG. 3, the four, identical, C-shaped members 10 form the clamping assembly. The C-shaped members must be made of a strong, rigid material, such as steel. The size of the C-shaped members will vary according to the seize of the cylindrical post 14 being encircled. The C-shaped members must be sized to fit tightly around the corresponding cylindrical post.

Referring to FIG. 1, each C-shaped member 10 has a first face 16 and a second face 18. The first and second faces are at the ends of the “C”. These faces show the cross-sectional shape of the C-shaped members. The cross-section of the C-shaped member is essentially uniform from the first face to the second face. The first and second faces are generally flat but have elements that aid in the alignment of the faces to the second and first faces of another C-shaped member. The first face 16 has an alignment protrusion 20 extending out of the face. The second face 18 has an alignment cavity 22 corresponding to the first face's alignment protrusion 20. Likewise, the second face 18 has an alignment protrusion 20 extending out of the face and the first face 16 has an alignment cavity 22 corresponding to the second face's alignment protrusion 20. Hence there is a protrusion and cavity on each of the first and second faces of the C-Shaped member. These means for alignment are shown in the figures as cylindrical, however these elements can be other shapes. Each first and second face also has a means for fastening 24 to fasten the face to another face. As pictured in the figures, this means for fastening is a hole which accommodates a bolt or screw.

The C-shaped members have an inner face 26. The inner face 26 is the face of the member that is against the cylindrical post 14 when the clamp encircles the cylindrical post. The inner face 26 has a indentation 28 with a rectangular cross-section. A rib 30 extends into the approximate center of the indentation and runs laterally in of the indentation 28 from the first face 16 to the second face 18.

The C-shaped members have an outer surface 32. The outer surface 32 of the C-shaped member is the surface opposite the inner face 26 of the C-shaped member. The shape outer surface 32 has a slot 34 which runs from the first face to the second face. The slot has a generally rectangular cross section. Three sides of the rectangular cross section are formed by the outer surface of the C-shaped member. The fourth side of the rectangular cross section is open. The open side of the rectangular cross section of the slot 34 is parallel to the radius of the cylindrical post. The open side of the rectangular cross section of the slot 34 is referred to as the slot opening.

The C-shaped members have a third face 36 which can be seen on FIG. 2. The third face 36 extends perpendicularly to the first and second faces and perpendicularly to the inner face and outer surface. The third face 36 and the slot 34 opening face the same direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two oppositely disposed C-shaped members encircle the cylindrical post. The first face and second face of one C-shaped member are placed against the second face and first face, respectively, of a second C-shaped member. In this configuration, the protrusions 20 and cavities 22 align. The fastening elements 24 also align. The two C-shaped members form a circle around the cylindrical post. The invention is composed to two sets or two C-shaped members encircling the vertical post. Referring to FIG. 2, the second set of two C-shaped members are inverted such that the third faces 36 of the first set of two C-shaped members abuts the third faces 36 of the second set of two C-shaped members. The first set of two C-shaped members are referred to as a first C-shaped member 38, a second C-shaped member 40. The second set of two C-shaped members are referred to as a third C-shaped member 42, and a fourth C-shaped member 44. In the configuration described above, the slots of the first C-shaped member 38, the second C-shaped member 40 faces the slots of the third C-shaped member 42, and the fourth C-shaped member 44. These slots form a channel 46 around the circumference of the assembled invention (FIGS. 3 and 4).

Strips

Retuning to FIG. 1, the invention is further comprised of four identical strips 12 of elastic material, such as rubber. Each of the four strips corresponds to one of the C-shaped members such that each C-shaped member is equipped with one strip. Each strip is the shape of a rectangular box. Each strip is of a length and width approximately equal to the length and width of the indentations 28 on the inner face 26 of the C-shaped members 10. The strips are slightly thicker than the indentation is deep. The strip 12 is placed between the C-shaped member 10 and the cylindrical post 14. The strip 12 is compressed between the inner face 26 of the C-Shaped member and the cylindrical post. The rib 30 increases the compression on the strip 12.

Structural Members

The invention connects structural members to the cylindrical post. As seen in FIG. 4, The structural members have an end 48 the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the channel 46. That is to say that one-half of the end of the structural member fits into the slot on one side of the channel; and an opposite one-half of the end of the structural member fits into the slot on the opposite side of the channel. Thus, when the channel is placed around the end of the structural member, the end of the structural member is held by the channel.

Assembly

An exploded view of the assembly is shown in FIG. 2. The invention is assembled by encircling a cylindrical post with first and second C-shaped members 38, 40 and encircling the cylindrical post with third and fourth C-shaped members 42, 44 adjacent to the first and second C-shaped members. A first C-shaped member 38 and a second C-shaped member 40 encircle the cylindrical post. The first and second C-shaped members are positioned around the cylindrical post by aligning the first face of the first C-shaped member 38 with the second face of the second C-shaped member 40. The faces are aligned such that the cavity on first C-shaped member's face is filled by the protrusion on the second C-shaped member's face. Likewise, the cavity on second C-shaped member's face is filled by the protrusion on the first C-shaped member's face. The fastening elements 24 of the first and second C-shaped members also align. As the C-shaped members 38, 40 are positioned around the cylindrical post 14, the strips 12 are placed between the C-shaped members and the post.

A third C-shaped member 42 and a fourth C-shaped member 44 encircle the cylindrical post adjacent to the first and second C-shaped members. The third and fourth C-shaped members are oriented such that the third face of the first and second C-shaped members abuts the third face of the third and fourth C-shaped members. Like the first and second C-shaped members described above, the third and fourth C-shaped members are positioned around the cylindrical post 14 by aligning the first face of the third C-shaped member with the second face of the fourth C-shaped member. The faces must be aligned such that the cavity on third C-shaped member's first face is filled by the protrusion on the fourth C-shaped member's second face. Likewise, the cavity on fourth C-shaped member's second face is filled by the protrusion on the third C-shaped member's first face. The means for fastening 24 of the third and fourth C-shaped members also aligns. As the C-shaped members 42, 44 are positioned around the cylindrical post 14, the strips 12 are placed between the C-shaped members and the post.

The assembled invention is shown in FIG. 3. When the first and second C-shaped members 38, 40 are fastened together the strips between those C-shaped members and the post are compressed. Likewise, when the third and fourth C-shaped members 42, 44 are fastened together the strips between those C-shaped members and the post are compressed. FIG. 4 shows a cut-away view of the assembled invention in which the compressed strips 12 are viewable.

Referring again to FIG. 4, with the four C-shaped members assembled around the cylindrical post, the slots of the first two C-shaped members and the slots of the second two C-shaped members face each other. The slots facing each other form the channel 46. The channel 46 holds the ends of the structural members 48. Because the channel runs the entire circumference of the assembly, multiple structural members can be attached to each assembly (FIG. 5).

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain embodiment thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiment contained herein.

Claims

1. An assembly for joining a cylindrical post having a generally cylindrically shaped surface to at least one structural member, the assembly comprising:

a) a first C-shaped member, a second C-shaped member, a third C-shaped member, and a fourth C-shaped member; each C-shaped member being identical and having a first face, a second face, a third face, an inner face, an outer surface, means for alignment on the first face and the second face, and means for fastening on the first face and the second face; said first C-shaped member being connected to said second C-shaped member so as to encircle said cylindrical post and such that the means for alignment and the means for fastening on the first face of said first C-shaped member align with the means for alignment and the means for fastening of the second face of said second C-shaped member and the means for alignment and the means for fastening on the second face of said first C-shaped member align with the means for alignment and the means for fastening of the first face of said second C-shaped member; said third C-shaped member being connected to said fourth C-shaped member so as to encircle said cylindrical post and such that the means for alignment and the means for fastening on the first face of said third C-shaped member align with the means for alignment and the means for fastening of the second face of said fourth C-shaped member and the means for alignment and the means for fastening on the second face of said third C-shaped member align with the means for alignment and the means for fastening of the first face of said fourth C-shaped member; said third C-shaped member and said fourth C-shaped member being positioned on said cylindrical post such that the third faces of said third C-shaped member and said fourth C-shaped member abut the third faces of said first C-shaped member and said second C-shaped member;

b) strips positioned between the inner face of the C-shaped members and said cylindrical post.

2. A method for joining a cylindrical post having a generally cylindrically shaped surface to at least one structural member, the method comprising:

a) encircling said cylindrical post with a first C-shaped member and a second C-shaped member, said first C-shaped member and said second C-shaped member each having a slot,

b) placing a strip between said first C-shaped member and said cylindrical post and placing a strip between said second C-shaped member and said cylindrical post,

c) fastening a first face of said first C-shaped member to a second face of said second C-shaped member and fastening a second face of said first C-shaped member to a first face of said second C-shaped member;

d) placing one-half of an end of at least one structural member in the slot of the first C-shaped member;

e) encircling said cylindrical post with a third C-shaped member and a fourth C-shaped member adjacent to said first C-shaped member and said second C-shaped member, said third C-shaped member and said fourth C-shaped member each having a slot, said third C-shaped member and said fourth C-shaped member being oriented so that the slot of said third C-shaped member and the slot of said fourth C-shaped member faces the slot of said first C-shaped member and the slot of said second C-shaped member, said third C-shaped member and said fourth C-shaped member being placed and oriented such that one-half of said end of at least one structural member is in the slot of the third C-shaped;

f) placing a strip between said third C-shaped member and said cylindrical post and placing a strip between said fourth C-shaped member and said cylindrical post;

g) fastening a first face of said third C-shaped member to a second face of said fourth C-shaped member and fastening a second face of said third C-shaped member to a first face of said fourth C-shaped member.