Patent ID: 7240930
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: D06F,F16L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A connector for connecting a pair of tubular components together, comprising: a pair of generally semi-cylindrical members each having a first edge and a second edge, said semi-cylindrical members being rotatably connected together at said first edges and separable from one another at said second edges to thereby provide said semi-cylindrical members with an open position in which said second edges are separated from one another and a closed position in which said second edges are opposite one another, each of said semi-cylindrical members including a first engagement portion adapted to engage with a first one of the tubular components and a second engagement portion adapted to engage with a second one of the tubula components, only one of said semi-cylindrical members including an extension portion contiguous with said first engagement portion and extending axially outward from said first engagement portion in a direction away from said second engagement portion to thereby provide said semi-cylindrical member with a larger axial length than the other of said semi-cylindrical members which lacks an extension portion and such that the first tubular component is bendable away from said extension portion; and locking means arranged in connection with said semi-cylindrical members for locking said semi-cylindrical members to one another with said second edges opposite one another, said first and second engagement portions having different radii of curvature to thereby enable tubular components having different diameters to be coupled together by the connector.