Connection coupling for the releasable attachment of an end of a first rod with a second rod

A connection coupling or socket arrangement contains two coupling parts each possessing a bore and arranged at an angle with respect to one another. In order to be able to interconnect rods or the like with one another, without the use of further components, the one coupling part serving for receiving one of the rods is continuously lengthwise slotted over the length of its bore. The end regions of this one coupling part bounding at such lengthwise or longitudinal slot each carry a respective portion or section of the other coupling part which is divided into such two portions or sections transversely with respect to its bore. These portions are subjected to the action of a resilient or spring force which strives to mutually shift both of these portions with respect to one another transversely in relation to its bore. The connection coupling is suitable for the attachment or connection of rods or bars, which may be solid profile elements or tubular elements, having small transverse dimensions, and, in particular, such connection coupling is particularly suitable for the attachment of support struts at one of the transverse struts forming a load-carrying surface of a luggage carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of a 
connection coupling or socket arrangement for the releasable attachment or 
connection of an end of a first rod with a second rod. 
Generally speaking, the connection coupling or socket arrangement of the 
present development is of the type containing two coupling parts, each of 
which is provided with a respective bore intended for receiving one of the 
rods or the like to be interconnected, these coupling parts being located 
at an angle with respect to one another. 
In the context of this disclosure the term "rod" or "rod or bar member" is 
intended to mean a lengthwise extending element having essentially the 
same cross-section throughout its length. Therefore, in connection with 
the foregoing definition, and as used throughout this disclosure, there 
are to be understood that both solid profile shapes and also tubular 
elements are embraced by the terms rod or bar member or equivalent 
expressions. 
With heretofore known constructions of connection couplings or socket 
arrangements of the aforementioned type the rods which are to be attached 
to one another are anchored at the related coupling part by means of 
special clamping elements, for instance clamping screws, or by pinning or 
pegging such rods in their related coupling part. The state-of-the-art 
connection couplings therefore are constructed to possess a number of 
parts and the attachment of the rods with one another requires 
correspondingly numerous operations or manipulations, and the frictional 
or form-locking connection, as the case may be, between the connection 
coupling on the one hand, and, the rod on the other hand, is limited to 
comparatively small locations or limited regions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, with the foregoing in mind it is a primary object of the present 
invention to provide a new and improved construction of connection 
coupling for the positive releasable attachment or connection of two 
elements with one another in a manner not associated with the 
aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior art connection 
couplings. 
Another and more specific object of the present invention is directed to an 
improved connection coupling or socket arrangement for the releasable 
attachment of one end of a first rod with a second rod, wherein the 
connection coupling can be constructed as a one-part coupling, in fact can 
be formed of one-piece, and affords a reliable, at least force-locking or 
frictional attachment of the rods with one another. 
Still a further significant object of the present invention is directed to 
a new and improved construction of connection coupling for interconnecting 
rod-like members with one another, which connection coupling is relatively 
simple in construction and design, extremely economical to manufacture, 
highly reliable in operation, easy to use, and permits relatively rapid 
and easy connection and release of the rod-like members with and from the 
connection coupling, while affording a positive and sturdy interconnection 
of the rod-like members with one another. 
Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, 
which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the 
connection coupling or socket arrangement of the present development is 
manifested by the features that, the coupling part serving for the 
reception of the second rod is continuously longitudinally slotted 
throughout the length of its bore and at its end regions, bounding at the 
longitudinal or lengthwise slot, carries a respective portion of the other 
coupling part serving to receive the end of the first rod and subdivided 
transversely with respect to its bore into two portions or sections. These 
two portions or sections are exposed to the action of a spring or 
resilient force which strives to shift, relative to one another, both of 
these portions transversely with respect to the direction of extent of its 
bore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Describing now the drawings, there has been depicted therein an exemplary 
embodiment of a connection coupling or socket arrangement constructed 
according to the invention. In particular, by referring to FIG. 1 there 
will be seen a first rod or bar member 10 which is secured or connected at 
its there not particularly visible end to a second rod or bar member 12 by 
means of the inventive connection coupling or socket arrangement, 
generally designated in its entirety by reference numeral 11. As already 
mentioned, these rods 10 and 12 or the like can be solid profile sections, 
as has been illustrated, but also could be constituted by tubular 
elements. The connection coupling or socket arrangement 11 will be seen to 
comprise a coupling part or member 13 intended to receive the end of the 
first rod 10 when the connection coupling is in its assembled condition as 
well as a coupling part or member 14 extending approximately at right 
angles to the first mentioned coupling part or member 13. 
This coupling part 14 possesses a continuous longitudinal or lengthwise 
bore 15, as particularly well seen by referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, and this 
longitudinal bore 15 serves for receiving the second rod 12. Moreover, the 
coupling part or member 14 is lengthwise slotted over its entire length 
and in a direction extending essentially parallel to the related bore 15 
thereof. The linearly extending longitudinal or lengthwise slot, which is 
clearly visible in the illustration of FIGS. 3 and 4, has been 
conveniently designated by reference numeral 16. 
As evident by referring to FIG. 3 in particular, the coupling part or 
member 13 possesses a bore 17 intended to receive the end of the first rod 
10 and is divided, inclusive of the bore 17, into two coupling portions or 
sections 18 and 19 extending in a direction transversely with respect to 
the bore 17. The portion or section 18 is formed at the one end region of 
the coupling part or member 14 bounding one side edge of the lengthwise 
slot 16 and the other coupling portion or section 19 is formed at the 
other end region of the coupling part or member 14 bounding the other side 
edge of the lengthwise slot 16. The part of the bore 17 located in the 
portion or section 18 constitutes a blindhold bore 20. In the other 
portion or section 19 the related part of the bore 17 is continuous or 
open-ended. This coupling portion or section 19 is attached by means of a 
connection web 21 at the corresponding end region of the coupling part or 
member 14 bounding the aforementioned other side edge of the lengthwise 
slot 16. This connection web or portion 21 is elastically or resiliently 
bendable to a limited extent and laterally encloses or straddles, 
approximately over one half of its circumference, the coupling portion or 
section 18 in a bowl-like fashion, as best seen by also referring to FIG. 
1. 
At a further connection web or portion 22 formed at the coupling portion or 
section 18 and straddling or engaging in a bowl-like fashion the coupling 
portion or section 19 approximately over one-half of its circumference, 
there is formed a ring-shaped or annular portion 23 which axially engages 
over the portion 19. This annular or ring-shaped portion 23 has a bore 24 
which essentially is in alignment with the blindhole bore 20 provided in 
the coupling portion or section 18. 
From what has been previously explained and also from the shade lines shown 
in FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be apparent that the illustrated construction of 
connection coupling or socket arrangement 11 is formed of one-piece from a 
suitable plastics material. 
FIG. 2 approximately illustrates the appearance of the connection coupling 
of the invention prior to its assembly and before the rods 10 and 12 have 
been interconnected as has been depicted in FIG. 1. That part of the 
connection coupling 11 which, following the assembly thereof, forms the 
coupling part or member 14 is constituted by an elongate or longitudinally 
extending bendable intermediate element or piece 25 having an 
approximately U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and which is bendable 
about bending axes extending essentially parallel to its lengthwise 
direction. This intermediate or central element 25 has marginal or end 
regions 25' and 25" at which there are formed the coupling portions or 
sections 18 and 19, the coupling portion 19 being formed thereat by means 
of the connection web 21. These marginal or end regions 25' and 25" 
possess a greater thickness than the intermediate or central region 25"' 
of the intermediate element 25. Consequently, it is possible for the 
intermediate region 25"' in particular to also be elastically elongated to 
a limited degree in the circumferential direction, and this elastic 
elongatability has particular significance when the connection coupling 11 
is mounted or assembled, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. 
If the intermediate element 25, depicted in FIG. 2, is wrapped about the 
rod 12 in the direction of the arrows 26 and if pressure is exerted in the 
direction of the arrows 27 upon the coupling portion or section 19 and the 
connection web 22, as shown in FIG. 3, then the part of the bore 17 
provided in the coupling portion 19 is aligned with the blindhole bore 20 
and the bore 24. At the same time the connection web 21 is elastically 
bent and/or the intermediate region 25"' of the intermediate element 25 is 
elastically elongated. The coupling portion 19 therefore strives to again 
laterially move out of the intermediate space between the coupling portion 
or section 18 and the ring-shaped or annular portion 23. The longitudinal 
or lengthwise slot 16 is almost closed. This position of the connection 
coupling 11 which is then capable of receiving the end of the rod 10 has 
been depicted in FIG. 3. 
As also shown in the lower portion of the illustration of FIG. 3, at the 
end of the rod 10 there is machined an outwardly open continuous annular 
or ring-shaped groove 28, the width or height of which in the lengthwise 
direction of the rod 10 essentially corresponds to the length of the 
coupling portion 19. The actual end closure or termination of the rod 19 
is therefore constituted by a head portion 29 which merges at the annular 
groove 28, as shown in FIG. 3. This head portion or head 29 has a diameter 
which corresponds essentially to that of the blindhole bore 20 and its 
length approximately corresponds to the depth of the blindhole bore 20 or 
exceeds such by a small amount. 
In the position of the connection coupling 11 as has been depicted in FIG. 
3, the end of the rod 10 which has been designed in the aforedescribed 
manner, can be inserted without any difficulty through the bore 24 into 
the bore 17 and up to the base of the blindhole bore 20. Now there is 
released the pressure which previously was exerted in the direction of the 
arrows 27, and, as a result, the coupling portion or section 19 is shifted 
laterally in relation to the coupling portion or section 18, and equally 
in relation to the annular or ring-shaped portion 23, so that the coupling 
portion 19 penetrates or enters the ring-shaped groove 28 of the rod 10 at 
one side thereof, as has been clearly shown in FIG. 4. At the same time 
the longitudinal or lengthwise slot 16 enlarges by a small amount, however 
not to such an extent that the intermediate region 25"', namely the part 
of the coupling part of member 14 which wraps about the upper portion of 
the rod 12 in FIG. 4, would no longer be elongated, even if only slightly. 
This elongation ensures that the force, to which the coupling portion 19 
is exposed, not only exerts a lateral component but also a component 
directed towards the rod 12 and towards the bore 15, respectively. As a 
result, the coupling portion or section 19 not only laterally enters the 
ring-shaped groove 28 of the rod 10, but also presses the head 29 at the 
end of the rod 10 snugly into the blindhole bore 20. Hence, the rod 10 is 
now form-lockingly anchored in axial direction in the coupling part or 
member 13, whereas the rod 12 is force-lockingly or frictionally anchored 
in and throughout the entire length of the other coupling part or member 
14. 
To facilitate the insertion of the rod 10 into the coupling part 13, the 
head 29 can possess a conical bevel, as the same has been shown in broken 
lines at the lower portion of the illustration of FIG. 3. 
It is also possible to anchor the rod 12 in the coupling part or member 14 
with an axial form-locking connection. To this end, and as shown for 
instance in broken lines in FIG. 2, there can be formed or provided a 
form-locking element 30 at that side of the intermediate element 25 at 
which there comes to bear the rod 12 after the bending of such 
intermediate element 25 about this rod 12. It should be understood that, 
in this case, there also would be advantageously machined or otherwise 
formed at the rod 12 a profiled recess which is complementary to the 
form-locking element 30. 
The described connection coupling or socket arrangement can be used in all 
those instances where rods or the like, having comparatively small 
transverse dimensions, are to be interconnected at an angle with respect 
to one another. This is, for instance, the case during the building of 
shelve frames or shelving formed of rod elements, during the building of 
grids or the like formed of rod elements, and also during the construction 
of bicycles, especially the luggage carriers thereof. 
Accordingly, in the case of a pair of rods interconnected by means of a 
connection coupling of the type proposed according to the invention, the 
end of the first rod could be constituted by a support strut of a 
bicycle-luggage carrier, whereas the second rod could be constituted by a 
transverse strut of the load-carrying surface of the luggage carrier. 
While there are shown and described present preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced 
within the scope of the following claims. ACCORDINGLY,