Patent ID: 8070378
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: A01K,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A connector for a channeled track having a pair of flanges extending toward each other and spaced apart from each other, wherein the connector comprises: a) a base, with the base having an opening, with the base having a mount for mounting an object such that the object is connected to the channeled track through the connector; b) a slider, with the slider being slideable into and out of the opening of the base; c) a first receiver for engaging one of said flanges, with said first receiver comprising first and second opposing faces and an open face such that said first and second opposing faces engage said flange and such that said open face permits entry and exit of said flange, with the base having said first receiver such that said base forms said first opposing face, said second opposing face and said open face of said first receiver such that only said base forms said first receiver, with said mount, said base, said first opposing face and said second opposing face being integral and one-piece; and d) a second receiver for engaging the other of said flanges, with said second receiver comprising first and second opposing faces and an open face such that said first and second opposing faces of said second receiver engage said flange and such that said open face of said second receiver permits entry and exit of said flange, with the base having one of said first and second opposing faces of said second receiver and with the slider having the other of the first and second opposing faces of said second receiver, and with the open face of said second receiver confronting each of the slider and the base; e) such that, when the slider is engaged in the opening of the base, said second receiver is formed partially by the base and partially by the slider; f) such that, when the slider is engaged in the opening of the base, each of the first and second receivers are engaged to the flanges of the channeled track to engage the connector to the channeled track; g) wherein the opening includes a head opening portion and a neck opening portion, with the head and neck opening portions communicating with each other, with the head opening portion having a greater width than the neck opening portion, and wherein the slider includes a head and a neck, with the head having a greater width than the neck, with the head mating with the head opening portion and with the neck mating with the neck opening portion such that the opening is a key opening and such that the slider is a key; h) wherein the slider includes an axis along which the slider is slideable, with the slider engaging the opening when in the base such that the slider can slide along said axis, and further comprising a threaded pin between the base and the slider that draws, when said threaded pin is turned, the slider along an axis normal to said axis such that the second receiver of the slider is drawn away from the first receiver of the base such that the first and second receivers are drawn more tightly against said flanges to produce a greater friction fit to the channeled track such that sliding of the connector as a whole is minimized; and i) wherein the threaded pin extends through the head of the slider, with the threaded pin having a distal end, with the head opening portion having an inner face, with the distal end of the threaded pin bringing pressure to bear on the inner face of the head opening portion to draw the slider and base relatively apart and to draw the first and second receivers more tightly against said flanges.