Connector system

A novel system of connectors and elongated tubes joined together thereby to form a variety of rigid three-dimensional rectangular structures. The connectors of the present invention have a central body with a plurality of outwardly extending arms, the arms to seatably engage open ends of the tubes. The connectors are made from extruded components and hence require a minimum of machining. The elongated tubes have notched ends permitting tubes, internally situated within a three-dimensional structure formed therefrom, to be removed or reconfigured.

This invention relates to a novel system of connectors and elongated tubes 
joined together thereby to form a variety of rigid three-dimensional 
rectangular structures. More particularly the present invention relates to 
such systems in which the connectors have a central body with a plurality 
of outwardly arms or pins, such arms to seatably engage the ends of 
open-ended tubes, which tubes extend between such connectors. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In the past, such systems, when erected to form a three-dimensional 
structure, have had the disadvantage of requiring the tubes and connectors 
to be disconnected from the outer periphery of the structure to the 
inside, for example when it has been desired to modify the configuration 
of an inner portion of the structure. This has been because the ends of 
the tubes have had to be seated on the corresponding arms by longitudinal 
movement of the tubes to insert the arms into the open ends of the tubes. 
Thus, when it has been necessary to reconfigure an internal area of the 
structure, because of the rigid, overall construction of the structure, it 
has been necessary to start at the outside of the structure and remove 
tubes and connectors in sequence until they have been "eaten away" to the 
area where reconfiguration is desired. The time and effort required to do 
this may be excessive. 
Another difficulty with such systems has been the difficulty in 
constructing a suitable connector since such connectors have an unusual 
shape, with arms extending outwardly in many different directions. Thus, 
manufacturing such connectors has conventionally required a relatively 
complicated mold or relatively complicated machining operations, in this 
latter case with much wastage of material. 
The systems of the present invention provide demountable structures which 
have many applications, for example to form rigid three-dimensional 
display sections for museums, trade shows and the like. 
Canadian patent No. 1,017,525 of Florence issued Sept. 20, 1977 describes a 
conventional system of connectors and tubes of the type in question. Other 
patents of general background interest describing connector assemblies for 
tubular structures are Canadian patents Nos. 743,695 of Gatterre issued 
Oct. 4, 1966 and 321,611 of Ragsdale issued April 1932. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system of connectors 
and elongated tubes for forming a rigid three-dimensional rectangular 
structure, which system permits reconfiguration of internal portions of 
the structure without the need of having to dismantle outer portions of 
the structure. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide connectors for 
such a system which may be economically and simply cut from extrusions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a connector 
having a body with arms outwardly extending therefrom to seatably receive 
thereon the ends of elongated, open-ended tubes. The tubes when their ends 
are in position on other similar connectors form a rigid, 
three-dimensional rectangular structure. The connector is formed from a 
plurality of extrusions. A first extrusion is shaped with arms outwardly 
extending in sideways, normal fashion from a body with a hole in the 
middle thereof. A second extrusion is a bar of similar external 
configuration to that of the hole and of similar cross-sectional shape and 
size to that of the arms of the first extrusion. The second extrusion is 
received in the hole in orientation perpendicular to that of the arms of 
the first extrusion and is centrally secured in that hole so that the ends 
of bar constitute further arms of the connector. A securing means is 
provided to securely hold the bar in position in the hole of the first 
extrusion. 
In a preferred embodiment, the sides of the body are of rectangular 
configuration and the arms and bar are of similar rectangular 
configuration. The connector is further provided with similarly shaped 
third extrusions of rectangular shape and outer size to conform to that of 
the body and a central hole of size and shape to conform to that of the 
hole of the first extrusion. The third extrusions are securably seated on 
the second extrusion on opposite sides of the first extrusion. 
Connectors provided in conjunction with the present invention may be formed 
from extrusions of appropriate material (aluminum or other appropriate 
metal, for example) by simply cutting from long extruded pieces of the 
appropriate external shape, pieces of appropriate thickness. 
The present invention further relates to the system provided when such 
connectors are used in conjunction with open-ended tubes to be seatably 
received on the arms. The tubes have notches at each end to permit lateral 
passage therethrough of the corresponding arms of the connectors so that 
the tubes can be seated on the arms by lateral movement of the tubes with 
respect to the arms. Means are provided for releasably securing the ends 
of the tubes to corresponding arms of the connectors. 
The use of tubes of the construction in accordance with the invention, 
extending between connectors of this type, permits any tube, anywhere in a 
three-dimensional structure formed from such connectors and tubes, to be 
removed or replaced without the need of having to dismantle the structure 
from its outer edges until that particular tube is exposed. Because of the 
notched construction of the tubes, little or no structural strength is 
lost in the tubes when secured in position. (The tubes will normally be 
positioned on the connector arms with the notched side positioned below.)

While the invention will be described in conjunction with an example 
embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the 
invention to such embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all 
alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the 
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
In the drawings, similar features have been given similar reference 
numerals. 
Turning to FIG. 1 there is illustrated an exploded view of a connector 2 in 
accordance with the present invention. As can be seen, the connector is 
made of a first extrusion 4, second extrusion 6 and a pair of third 
extrusions 8. First extrusion 4 is shaped with arms 10, of square 
cross-sectional shape, extending outwardly from body portion 12 in normal 
fashion to each side. The sides of body portion 12 form a square. A hole 
14, of square appearance, is centrally disposed in body 12. 
The second extrusion bar 6 is elongated as illustrated, and has a length 
similar to the distance between opposite ends of opposite pairs of arms 
10. Bar 6 is centrally secured within hole 14 in extrusion 4 by means of a 
spring clip 18 seated in a hole through body 12 and extending into bar 6. 
Secured to bar 6, on either side of and adjacent to first extrusion 4 are 
similarly shaped third extrusions 8 as illustrated. The shape and outer 
size of the sides of extrusions 8 conform to that of the sides of body 12, 
as illustrated, so that, in this embodiment of the invention, these 
extrusions 8 in position on bar 6 as illustrated (FIG. 2), form, with 
central portion of first extrusion 4, a central body portion 22 for the 
entire connector of cubic shape, with arms 10 (including the ends of bar 
6) extending outwardly, an equal distance, as if from the center of each 
of the faces of the square formed by body portion 22. Third extrusions 8 
are secured in position on bar 6 by means of any appropriate securing 
mechanism such as, for example, by tapping (23). 
While illustrated as being respectively of square cross-section and square 
external shape, arms 10 and body 22 may be of other cross-sections and 
external shapes, e.g. rectangular. 
Cooperating with arms 10 are a plurality of hollow, open-ended tubes 26 
(FIG. 2). As can be seen in FIG. 2, tubes 26 are generally square 
cross-section, with a central passageway of square shape. The sides 28 of 
each tube 26 are provided with a longitudinal groove 30 extending the 
length of the tube. A notch 32 is provided at each end of each tube 26, on 
one side, the notch being of sufficient length and width to permit passage 
therethrough of an arm 10. In this manner, when a tube is to be seated, at 
each end, on the arms of connectors 2, it is not necessary to move the 
tube, relative to the arms 10 in a longitudinal fashion. Instead, when the 
opposite connectors are properly positioned, the tube 26 may be simply 
moved (in FIG. 2) downwardly (laterally) with respect to the arms, so that 
these arms pass through notches 32 into seated engagement with respect to 
the tubes. It is preferred that similarly positioned, tapped and threaded 
holes 34 be provided towards the ends of each of the sides of arms 10, so 
that tubes 26 may be secured to corresponding connectors 2 by means of 
appropriate threaded bolts 36 passing through aligned holes 37 in tubes 26 
as illustrated. 
The system of connectors 2 and tubes 26 in accordance with the present 
invention is very versatile. When it is desired to secure, for example, 
panels within the planes formed by a square or rectangle of tubes 26 and 
connectors 2, a clip 40 (FIGS. 4, 5) having flanges 42 normal to a central 
body portion 43 may be provided. A notch 46, to receive a corner portion 
of square body 22 is preferably provided at one corner thereof, and 
appropriate bolt receiving holes 48 provided in each of the flanges and 
appropriately positioned, so that when clip 40 is seated in a corner of 
the system as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is secured in position by means of 
the same threaded bolt 36 which holds the tubes 26 in place on arms 10. 
It is preferred that the cross-sectional dimensions of body 22 be slightly 
greater than the outer cross-sectional dimensions of tubes 26, to 
facilitate the placement and removal of tubes 26 on connectors 2. 
To corresponding clips 40 secured in the other corners of the square or 
rectangle formed by tubes 26, a panel 49 may be thereby securely 
positioned in the plane formed by these tubes. 
As can be seen in FIG. 4, within groove 30 may be seated a strap 50, with 
outwardly extending projections 52 normal thereto, these straps being 
securable, for example, by means of threaded bolts 36 to tubes 26 and arms 
2 as illustrated. When straps 50 are secured to adjacent, vertically 
oriented tubes, and projections 52 are similarly vertically positioned and 
properly oriented, they may support in horizontal fashion a panel 54 at an 
appropriate height intermediate vertically spaced connectors 2. 
While not illustrated, the grooves 30 of tubes 26 may be used to hold in 
position and support many different constructions of desired elements, 
such as railings, holders for screens and the like. 
As previously indicated, one of the main advantages in accordance with the 
present invention is that when it is desired to rearrange tubes and 
connectors at an interior location of a three-dimensional structure such 
as the one illustrated in FIG. 3, such rearrangement can take place by 
immediately removing and rearranging the desired tubes and connectors. It 
is not necessary, as was previously the case in such systems, to remove 
outer connectors and tubes progressively, in the direction towards the 
area where rearrangement was desired. 
Thus it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the 
present invention a connector and system utilizing same that fully satisfy 
the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has 
been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident 
that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to 
those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. 
Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, 
modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of 
the invention.