Patent US1558983A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3969031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Assembly of structural members
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-11-15
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Granted: 1976-07-13
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Expires: 1994-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A coupling assembles structural members at least one of which has an opening and another of which has grooves extending along its outer surface. The coupling has two yieldably spaced body portions inserted within the opening of the one structural member. Each body portion has a claw which protrudes from the opening in the one member and is received in a groove of the other structural member. A fastener extends between the yieldably spaced body portions for moving the body portions until each claw grips a side of the groove in which it is received to assemble the structural members. The fastener also connects the structural member having the opening to the coupling and the claws and grooves have cooperatively inclined gripping surfaces for drawing the one structural member into firm butting engagement with the other when the claws grip the grooves.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl-Gunnar Kroopp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:21
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/96; E06B3/964; E06B3/968; E06B3/98; B; B62; B62D; B62D33/00; B62D33/04; B62D33/044; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/76; E04B2/766; F; F16; F16B; F16B7/00; F16B7/04; F16B7/044; F16B7/0446; F16B7/0473; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/34; Y10T403/349; Y10T403/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
An assembly of structural members comprising one structural member having an opening in one surface thereof, another structural member having spaced, parallel grooves extending along an outer surface, and a coupling inserted in the opening, the coupling comprising: yieldably spaced body portions, each body portion having a claw protruding from the opening and received in a different one of the grooves of the other structural member while the members are in assembled relation, each claw having an inclined, groove-gripping surface cooperative with the groove for drawing the coupling toward the grooved member when the claw grips the groove; and a fastener engaging the body portions for moving the body portions toward each other until the claws grip the grooves, the fastener also connecting the one structural member to the coupling for drawing the one structural member toward the other with the coupling until the structural members are in butting engagement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
An assembly of structural members comprising one structural member having an opening in one surface thereof, another structural member having spaced, parallel grooves extending along an outer surface, and a coupling inserted in the opening, the coupling comprising: yieldably spaced body portions, each body portion having a claw protruding from the opening and received in a different one of the grooves of the other structural member while the members are in assembled relation, each claw having an inclined, groove-gripping surface cooperative with the groove for drawing the coupling toward the grooved member when the claw grips the groove; and a fastener engaging the body portions for moving the body portions toward each other until the claws grip the grooves, the fastener also connecting the one structural member to the coupling for drawing the one structural member toward the other with the coupling until the structural members are in butting engagement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the grooves have inclined undercut sides cooperative with the inclined, groove-gripping surfaces of the claws for drawing the coupling toward the grooves when the claws grip the grooves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the fastener has a head at one end which engages one body portion of the coupling and engages one side of the one structural member in which the coupling is inserted, a threaded portion engaging another body portion for moving the body portions toward each other, and a projection at the threaded end engaging an opposite side of the one structural member from that engaged by the head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
An assembly of structural members comprising one structural member having an opening in one surface thereof, another structural member having spaced, parallel grooves extending along an outer surface, each groove having an inclined, undercut side, and a coupling inserted in the opening, the coupling comprising: yieldably spaced body portions, each body portion having a claw protruding from the opening and received in a different one of the grooves of the other structural member while the members are in assembled relation; and a fastener engaging the body portions for moving the body portion toward each other until the claws grip the inclined sides of the grooves for drawing the coupling toward the other structural member, the fastener also connecting the one structural member to the coupling for drawing the one structural member toward the other with the coupling until the structural members are in butting engagement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
An assembly of structural members comprising one structural member having an opening in one surface thereof, another structural member having spaced, parallel grooves extending along an outer surface, each groove having an inclined, undercut side, and a coupling inserted in the opening, the coupling comprising: yieldably spaced body portions, each body portion having a claw protruding from the opening and received in a different one of the grooves of the other structural member while the members are in assembled relation; and a fastener engaging the body portions for moving the body portion toward each other until the claws grip the inclined sides of the grooves for drawing the coupling toward the other structural member, the fastener also connecting the one structural member to the coupling for drawing the one structural member toward the other with the coupling until the structural members are in butting engagement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for assembling structural members comprising: two structural members each having an opening in one surface thereof and spaced, parallel grooves along but not through an outer surface, each groove having inclined, undercut sides; a generally U-shaped coupling inserted in the opening of one of the structural members and having yieldably spaced body portions; a claw on each body portion protruding from the opening in the one structural member and received in different ones of the grooves on the other structural member while the members are in assembled relation; an inclined groove gripping surface on each claw cooperative with the inclined sides of the grooves in which the claws are received for drawing the coupling toward the other structural member when the claws grip the sides of the grooves; and a fastener engaging the body portions of the coupling for moving the body portions toward each other until the claws grip the sides of the grooves, the fastener also having a head and a projection at opposite ends which are received in opposite sides of the one structural member for connecting the coupling to the one structural member whereby the one structural member moves with the coupling toward the other structural member until the structural members are in butting engagement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
210 words
Apparatus for assembling structural members comprising: two structural members each having an opening in one surface thereof and spaced, parallel grooves along but not through an outer surface, each groove having inclined, undercut sides; a generally U-shaped coupling inserted in the opening of one of the structural members and having yieldably spaced body portions; a claw on each body portion protruding from the opening in the one structural member and received in different ones of the grooves on the other structural member while the members are in assembled relation; an inclined groove gripping surface on each claw cooperative with the inclined sides of the grooves in which the claws are received for drawing the coupling toward the other structural member when the claws grip the sides of the grooves; and a fastener engaging the body portions of the coupling for moving the body portions toward each other until the claws grip the sides of the grooves, the fastener also having a head and a projection at opposite ends which are received in opposite sides of the one structural member for connecting the coupling to the one structural member whereby the one structural member moves with the coupling toward the other structural member until the structural members are in butting engagement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3338602A
Cited
US3811785A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |