Patent ID: 6203239
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
A joint comprising:a) a fastener having an elongate threaded shaft and an enlarged head;b) a hollow member with a long axis, a first wall having a first aperture therethrough dimensioned to pass said head, a second opposed wall having a second aperture therethrough aligned with said first aperture and dimensioned to pass said shaft;c) a tube having a long axis, an inner wall surface with a uniform non-rectangular cross section, and a first end for joining to the hollow member at an outer joining surface thereof containing said second aperture;d) a proximal wedge element having: a first surface constructed to securely engage said outer joining surface; a second surface connected to the first surface and extending perpendicular to the first surface and being configured to substantially correspond to a less than half portion of said inner wall surface; and a third, planar surface connecting said first and second surfaces; a channel extending through the element perpendicular to the first surface, the channel having first and second opposed walls closely corresponding to the shaft dimensions and spaced apart in a direction parallel to the first surface by a first distance that is sufficiently greater than the shaft diameter to permit movement of the proximal wedge element relative to the shaft in that direction only;e) a distal wedge element having: a first surface; a second surface connected to the first surface and being configured to substantially correspond to a less than half portion of said inner wall surface; a channel extending through the element parallel to the second surface and threaded to receive said shaft; and a third, planar surface connecting said first and second surfaces;f) said third surfaces of said proximal and distal wedge elements constructed to slide against one another to cause said second surfaces to move between: a first position in which the second surfaces are spaced apart from one another closely enough to enable the two wedge elements free insertion into the first end of the tube when the fastener passes through said joining surface, through said proximal wedge element and threadedly engages said distal wedge element; and a second position in which the fastener is advanced into the distal wedge element sufficiently to cause the second surfaces to move apart to securely engage a greater than half portion of the inner wall surface of the tube and draw the tube tightly against said outer joining surface of the hollow member;g) the channel in the proximal wedge element being so constructed and arranged to permit movement of the second surface in a first direction away from the shaft as the fastener is advanced into the distal wedge element, while restricting movement of the proximal wedge element in a second direction transverse to the first direction; andh) the second surfaces of the proximal and distal wedge elements being arranged to intimately contact the inner wall surface in both the first and second directions when in the second position for improved joining security.