Abstract:
A joint and method for connecting elongated members end to end in which outer sleeves are anchored in blind holes extending in from each end face and a threaded rod is advanced into threaded nut receptacles affixed to the inside end of each sleeve to draw the end faces into abutment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11,189,040 filed on Jul. 25, 2005 and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/191,877 filed on Sep. 12, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention concerns connections for establishing joints between members of a readily penetrable material such as wood timbers. 
         [0003]    In the patent application Ser. No. 11/189,040 filed on Jul. 25, 2005, U.S. Publication No. 2009/0133359 A1 connections are described for joining members in which one of the members is formed with a through hole of a short enough depth to allow driving the head of a threaded component at the bottom of the hole to complete the connection. 
         [0004]    This hole typically is formed through the side of one of the members and is aligned with the blind hole on the end of the other member. 
         [0005]    For end-to-end joining of long members the through hole which is necessary for assembling the components of the connection described therein must be too deep as a practical matter to assemble the components. 
         [0006]    The object of the present invention is to provide the general type of connector and method described in U.S. Ser. No. 11/189,040, (U.S. Publication No U.S. 2009/0133359 A1), but adapted to making an end-to-end connection between two long members. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The above object and other objects which will be apparent to these knowledgeable in the art are accomplished by drilling a blind hole into each end of the members to be abutted and inserting an outer sleeve having a threaded receptable at one end into each blind hole so that the sleeve is flush with the end of the receiving member and so that a threaded receptacle is positioned at the bottom of the respective blind hole. A smaller counterbore may be providing extending from the bottom of each hole for clearance for a threaded locking rod to be threaded at each end to a respective threaded receptacle described below. 
         [0008]    The outer sleeves are each anchored in their respective hole in which they are received by driving an inner slidably interfit sleeve into each outer sleeve causing a circumferential array of penetrating spikes formed around and along each of the outer sleeves to be forced out radially and set into the members and thus to anchor the outer sleeves positions in their respective blind holes. 
         [0009]    An elongated threaded rod, which may be welded to a carrier sleeve with ends protruding out from a respective opposite end wall thereof, has one protruding end threaded into the threaded receptacle of one of the outer sleeves. The other protruding rod end is advanced into the other threaded receptacle in the other outer sleeve and the two members relatively rotated to advance the other rod end into the threaded receptacle until the member ends are drawn together into abutment with each other. 
         [0010]    The two members are thereafter fixed together to not be relatively rotatable as a final step to prevent loosening of the joint. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are fragmentary sectional views of the end of a respective one of a pair of elongated members to be joined together end to end, with a hole drilled into each member end and an outer sleeve shown in a pair of partial section partially inserted into one of the holes in  FIG. 1A  and completely inserted in the other hole in  FIG. 1B . 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are fragmentary sectional views of the members shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , with one inner sleeve shown in section positioned to be inserted in the outer sleeve of one member in  FIG. 2A  and the other inner sleeve beginning to be inserted into the outer sleeve of  FIG. 2B . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a threaded rod included in the connection components welded to a carrier tube shown in partial section, with opposite ends protruding from opposite ends of the carrier tube. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of one member having inner and outer sleeves installed in the blind hole drilled in the end with the threaded rod and carrier tube in position to be inserted therein. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is the view of the components shown in  FIG. 4  with the threaded rod end fully advanced into the threaded receptacle at the inner end of the outer sleeve installed in one of the timbers end hole. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of both member ends aligned with each other and with the threaded rod and carrier tube ready to be inserted in the inner sleeve installed in the other member. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of both member ends drawn into abutment by full advance of the threaded rod end into the threaded receptacle on the inner end of the outer sleeve installed in the end hole in the other member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0019]    The present invention is a further development of the connection and method shown in parent application U.S. Ser. No. 11/189,040 for joining wooden timbers, logs, etc. or members of another material which is easily penetrable with spikes, etc. 
         [0020]    The present invention concerns joining elongated members such as poles, beams or logs which are too long as a practical matter to drill lengthwise holes completely through the members or to be able to access the connection components as necessary for assembly at the bottom of deep through hole drilled therein. 
         [0021]    In  FIGS. 1A and 1B , one end of a first elongated member  10 A is shown with an outer sleeve  12 A partially inserted in a blind hole  14 A drilled into an end face  16 A which is to be abutted against an end face  16 B of a second member  10 B shown in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0022]    The second member  10 B is shown after an outer sleeve  12 B has been fully inserted in a similar blind hole  14 B drilled endwise into the end face  16 B, with the outer sleeve  12 B being flush with the end face  16 B. 
         [0023]    Both holes  14 A,  14 B have smaller diameter counterbores  18 A,  18 B provided so as to receive an end of threaded rod as described below. 
         [0024]    The outer sleeves  12 A,  12 B are constructed of metal, preferably galvanized steel, and have a circumferential array of axially extending punch formed spike features  20  having pointed ends  21  bent to project radially out. 
         [0025]    A threaded receptacle  13 A,  13 B is welded to an end wall  11 A,  11 B of each outer sleeve  12 A,  12 B having a hole aligned with the center of the associated hole  14 A,  14 B and outer sleeve  12 A,  12 B. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B show the next step in which inner sleeves  22 A,  22 B are slidably fit into the inside of the outer sleeves  12 A,  12 B. 
         [0027]    A tapered front end portion  24 A,  24 B of each inner sleeve  22 A,  22 B facilitates insertion and presents an inclined camming surface to angled portions  26  of spikes  20 . 
         [0028]    As the inner sleeves  22 A,  22 B are driven into the inside of outer sleeves  12 A,  12 B, the engagement of tapered end portions  24 A,  24 B with inclined portions  26  of the spikes  20  drives the spike tips  21  out and into the surrounding penetrable material of the members  10 A,  10 B. 
         [0029]    The details of the spikes  20  is described in further detail in the above referenced parent application. This securely anchors the outer sleeves  12 A,  12 B in the respective holes  14 A,  14 B and the inner sleeves  22 A,  22 B and are left in their associated outer sleeve  12 A,  12 B to hold the spike tips  21  radially out and preventing retraction of the tip  21  and resultant loosening of the outer sleeves  12 A,  12 B over time. 
         [0030]    Threaded rod  28  is assembled within a carrier tube  30  having end caps  32  formed with holes allowing opposite ends  34 A,  34 B of the threaded rod  28  to protrude out from the carrier tube  30 . 
         [0031]    The threaded rod  28  is welded to the end caps  32  to be fixed in that position within the carrier tube  30 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , one end of the threaded rod  28  and carrier tube  30  is inserted into the inner sleeve  22 B of one of the members  10 B, the carrier tube  30  being a slidable fit therein. 
         [0033]    The rod end  34 B engages the threaded receptacle  13 B, and is rotated to be advanced therein until the carrier tube  30  bottoms against the inside of the tapered end  24 B of the inner sleeve  22 B. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show the completion of the joint, with the other member  10 A advanced over the right end of the carrier tube  32  and threaded rod end  34 A engaged with the threaded receptacle  13 A. The member  10 A is then rotated to advance the rod end  34 A into the threaded receptacle  13 A bringing the end faces  16 A,  16 B of members  10 A,  10 B into abutment as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0035]    An epoxy or other adhesive may be applied to end faces  16 A,  16 B prior to their being brought into abutment to prevent loosening. Alternatively, pins can be driven into drilled cross holes (not shown) to maintain the two members  10 A,  10 B in their joined position by preventing relative rotation therebetween after assembly.