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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
MECHANICAL FASTENERS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2008/059463
Kind Code:
A9
Abstract:
A connector (10), which includes a socket shaped and dimensioned to receive an end of a first elongate member (56) axially into the socket, a saddle (14) disposed from the socket for fitting onto a second transversally extending elongate member (58), and fastening means (18.1, 18.2) for attaching the saddle to the second elongate member.

Inventors:
BASSON MARIUS CHRISTO (ZA)
FERREIRA JOHAN ANDRIES (ZA)
NELL BENITTO (ZA)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2007/054673
Publication Date:
May 07, 2009
Filing Date:
November 16, 2007
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
BASSON MARIUS CHRISTO (ZA)
FERREIRA JOHAN ANDRIES (ZA)
NELL BENITTO (ZA)
International Classes:
F16B7/04; A63B9/00
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
VAN WYK, Wessel, Johannes (0087 Pretoria, ZA)
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Claims:

CLAIMS:

1. A connector, which includes a socket shaped and dimensioned to receive an end of a first elongate member axially into the socket; a saddle disposed from the socket for fitting onto a second transversally extending elongate member; and fastening means for attaching the saddle to the second elongate member.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 , in which the saddle is flanged and the fastening means is disposed on the flanges of the saddle.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2 in which the fastening means is in the form of a set of apertures on the flanges.

4. A connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the socket, the saddle and the fastening means are of unitary construction.

5. A connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the connector is moulded.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 5, in which the connector is injection moulded.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6, which is provided with ribs extending radially from the second transversally extending elongate member.

8. A connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the socket is shaped and dimensioned to fit tightly onto a particular cross-sectional shape of elongate member.

9. A connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the saddle is shaped to fit onto the shape of the elongate member with little or no play between the saddle and the elongate member.

10. A fastener, which includes a body defining a saddle for fitting onto an elongate member; and fastening means on the body for fastening the body onto the elongate member.

11 . A fastener as claimed in claim 10, in which the saddle is flanged and the fastening means is disposed on the flanges of the saddle.

12. A fastener as claimed in claim 1 1 in which the fastening means is in the form of a set of apertures on the flanges.

13. A fastener as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the saddle and the fastening means are of unitary construction.

14. A fastener as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, in which the fastener is moulded.

15. A fastener as claimed in claim 14, in which the fastener is injection moulded.

16. A fastener as claimed in claim 15, which is provided with ribs extending radially from the elongate member.

17. A connector set, which includes at least one connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9; and at least one fastener as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 16.

18. A connector set as claimed in claim 17 in which the saddles of the at least one connector and the at least one fastener when connected together define a socket into which the second transversally extending elongate member is receivable.

19. A connector set as claimed in claim 18, in which the socket defined by the two saddles is matched to a cross sectional shape of the second transversally extending member.

20. A jungle gym, which includes a plurality of elongate members, the ends of which at least some of the elongate members are provided with connectors as claimed in claims 1 to 9; a plurality of fasteners as claimed in claims 10 to 16.

21 . A jungle gym as claimed in claim 20, in which the elongate members are manufactured of a lightweight material.

22. A jungle gym as claimed in claim 21 , in which the elongate members are manufactured from aluminium

23. A method of connecting two transversally extending elongate members to each other, which method includes fixing a connector onto one end of a first elongate member, the connector defining a saddle into which a second, transversally extending elongate member is receivable; and attaching the connector to the second transversally extending elongate member by providing a fastener around an open side of the second elongate member to define a T-shaped connection between the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, which includes the further step of connecting a second connector onto one end of a third elongate member and fastening the second connector to the second transversally extending elongate member co-axial to the first elongate member.

25. A connector as claimed in claim 1 , substantially as herein described and illustrated.

26. A fastener as claimed in claim 10, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

27. A jungle gym as claimed in claim 20, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

28. A method as claimed in claim 23, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

29. A new connector, a new fastener, a new jungle gym and a new method substantially as herein described.

Description:

MECHANICAL FASTENERS

THIS INVENTION relates to mechanical fasteners. In particular, the invention relates to a connector, to a fastener, to a connector set, to a jungle gym and to a method of connecting two transversally extending elongate members to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector, which includes a socket shaped and dimensioned to receive an end of a first elongate member axially into the socket; a saddle disposed from the socket for fitting onto a second transversally extending elongate member; and fastening means for attaching the saddle to the second elongate member.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastener, which includes a body defining a saddle for fitting onto an elongate member; and fastening means on the body for fastening the body onto the elongate member.

The saddle may be flanged and the fastening means may be disposed on the flanges of the saddle. In particular, the fastening means may be in the form of a set of apertures on the flanges.

In the case of the connector, the socket, the saddle and the fastening means may be of unitary construction. In the case of the fastener, the body and the fastening means may be of unitary construction. The connector may be moulded. In particular, the connector may be injection moulded from a Nylon material, such as glass filled nylon 6.

In order to provide strength to the connector and the fastener, the connector and fastener body may be provided with ribs extending radially from the second transversally extending elongate member.

In one embodiment, the socket may be shaped and dimensioned to fit tightly onto a particular cross-sectional shape of elongate member. For example, the socket may be press fit onto the elongate member.

The saddle may be shaped to fit onto the shape of the elongate member with little or no play between the saddle and the elongate member.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector set, which includes at least one connector as described; and at least one fastener as described.

A connector set as described in which the saddles of the at least one connector and the at least one fastener when connected together define a socket into which the second transversally extending elongate member is receivable.

The socket defined by the two saddles of the connector set may be matched to a cross sectional shape of the second transversally extending member.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a jungle gym, which includes a plurality of elongate members, the ends of which at least some of the elongate members are provided with connectors as described; and a plurality of fasteners as described connectable to the connectors on the ends of the elongate members.

The elongate members may be manufactured of a lightweight material such as aluminium, or the like. In particular, aluminium tubing may be used to provide a light weight, and strong structure for the jungle gym.

The invention extends to a method of connecting two transversally extending elongate members to each other, which method includes fixing a connector onto one end of a first elongate member, the connector defining a saddle into which a second, transversally extending elongate member is receivable; and attaching the connector to the second transversally extending elongate member by providing a fastener around an open side of the second elongate member to define a T-shaped connection between the first elongate member and the second elongate member.

The method may include the further step of connecting a second connector onto one end of a third elongate member and fastening the second connector to the second transversally extending elongate member co-axial to the first elongate member.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the follow diagrammatic drawings.

DRAWING(S)

In the drawing(s):

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional view of a connector in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of a fastener in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 shows a three dimensional view of a connector set in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 4 shows a jungle gym in accordance with the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a connector 10 which has a socket shaped and dimensioned to receive an end of a first elongate member axially

into the socket along the socket axis 12.1 . The connector includes also a saddle 14 into which a second elongate member is receivable along an axis 14.1 in a transversal direction.

The connector 10 has two flanges 16.1 and 16.2 radially extending from the circumference of the saddle 14. The connector 10 further includes fastening means in the form of two apertures 18.1 and 18.2 (18.2 not visible in Figure 1 ) in the two flanges 16.1 and 16.2 respectively for attaching the connector 10 to the second elongate member.

The connector 10 including the saddle 12, the flanges 16.1 and 16.2 and the fastening means 18.1 and 18.2 are all of unitary construction from a single injection mould.

In Figure 2 of the drawings there is shown a fastener 30, which includes a body defining a saddle 32 for fitting onto an elongate member extending in the direction of axis 32.1 . The fastener 30 also has two flanges 34.1 and 34.2 radially extending from the circumference of the saddle 32.

The fastener 30 further includes fastening means in the form of two apertures 36.1 and 36.2 in the two flanges 34.2 and 34.2 respectively for attaching the fastener 30 to an elongate member receivable in the saddle 32.

Similar to the connector 10, the fastener 30, including the saddle 32, the flanges 34.1 and 34.2 and the fastening means 34.1 and 34.2 are all of unitary construction from a single injection mould.

In Figure 3, there is shown a connector set 50 in accordance with the invention. The connector set 50 includes a connector 52 similar to the connector 10 and a fastener 54, similar to the connector 30. As can be seen the connector 10 is connected to an end of a first elongate member 56.

A second elongate member 58 is shown in position between the saddles of the connector 52 and the fastener 54. As can be seen the connector set connects the two elongate members 56, 58 in a T-shaped configuration.

Two inserts 60, 62 provided on the saddles 14, 32, respectively fits snugly around the elongate member 58, to prevent the connector 52 and the fastener 54 from sliding along the member 58.

However, by replacing the fastener 54 with a second connector, such as 52, two elongate members, 56 and another elongate member could be connected to the elongate member 58 in a cross configuration.

The attachment means 18.1 , 18.2 and 36.1 , 36.2 are secured together by means of screw and nut pairs being provided through the apertures.

In Figure 4 a jungle gym 70 is shown. The jungle gym includes a plurality of elongate members, generally referred to by reference numeral 72. The ends of the elongate members are provided with connectors and fasteners, generally referred to by reference numerals 74 and 76 respectively.

Advantageously, the elongate members 72 of the jungle gym can be pre- fitted with the connector and fastener pairs 74, 76 and can be packaged in a disassembled form. The jungle gym can then be assembled without the need for special tools.

The inventor believes that the invention as described provides a new connector and fastener pair which is easy to manufacture and assemble for use.

Furthermore, the jungle gym described provides a new jungle gym which can be sold in kit format and which can be assembled without the need of special tools. In particular

The invention as described and illustrated thus provides a playground installation which, in addition to serving as a roundabout, can also pump water, generate electricity

and, if desired, even drive a further rotationally driven device. Accordingly, it is an advantage of the invention that it can employ, in a playful fashion, muscle power to pump water and generate electricity in rural areas where potable water and electricity is not readily available.