Abstract:
An assembly for joining a generally cylindrical post to at least one structural member wherein the assembly includes four C-shaped members and strips of an elastic material. Two of the C-shaped members encircle the post and form the top half of the assembly. Two of the C-shaped members encircle the post and form the bottom half of the assembly. The four C-shaped members mounted on a cylindrical post in this configuration provide a channel capable of holding the end of a structural member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention is an apparatus useful for connecting a cylindrical post to one or more structural members. Playground equipment is frequently comprised of a plurality of cylindrical posts secured to the ground and a plurality of other structural members attached to the cylindrical posts. The structural members support play-surfaces such as platforms, monkey-bars, slides, climbing surfaces, and the like. The apparatus used to connect the cylindrical post to the structural members must provide a solid connection, and must connect multiple structural members to a single post. Additionally, it is desirable for the connecting apparatus to connect and release from the cylindrical post without damaging or penetrating the cylindrical post or the cylindrical post&#39;s exterior finish. This will allow equipment to be adjusted or moved without replacing the cylindrical posts. Additionally, keeping the exterior finish of the cylindrical post intact will help prevent corrosion such as rust. The current invention accomplishes these goals. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    A search of related art revealed various devices designed for the same general purpose, but not of like design or function. U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,580 discloses a connector for structural apparatus which attaches structural members to cylindrical posts using screws that pass through the connector into the cylindrical post. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,447 discloses a connector for structural apparatus which secures the connector with a set-screw. The current invention accomplishes the same goal, but does so without damaging the surface of the cylindrical post. Additionally, the current invention is less costly to manufacture than other clamps currently in use. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post. 
         [0004]    It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post wherein multiple structural members can be connected to a single connector assembly. 
         [0005]    It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post wherein the post and its finish are not damaged or penetrated by the connector assembly. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide an improved connector assembly for use with a post to connect one or more structural members to the post wherein the manufacturing cost of the connector is reduced compared to other connectors in the art. 
         [0007]    In one form thereof, the invention is an apparatus for connecting a cylindrical-shaped cylindrical post to at least one other member wherein the apparatus is comprised of four identical C-shaped members. Two of the C-shaped members fit together encircling the cylindrical post and forming the top half of the clamping assembly. Two of the C-shaped members fit together encircling the cylindrical post and forming the bottom half of the clamping assembly. The cross-section of the C-shaped members is such that when the top half and bottom half of the clamping assembly are positioned adjacent to each other on a cylindrical post a channel is formed around the outside circumference of the clamping assembly. This channel accommodates the end of at least one structural member. The structural members are the play-surfaces, or the structural members support play-surfaces. 
         [0008]    The invention is further comprised of rubber strips to increase friction between the C-Shaped members and the cylindrical post. Each C-shaped member has an indentation on the inner face of the connector, the face that is against the cylindrical post when assembled. A rubber strip slightly thicker than the depth of the indentation is positioned in the indentation. When the C-shaped members are assembled around a cylindrical post, this rubber strip is compressed between the post and C-shaped member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one C-shaped member and one strip. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of 4 C-Shaped members, 4 strips, fasteners, the end of a structural member, and a cylindrical post. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the clamp assembled on a cylindrical post with the end of a structural member in the channel. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is cut-away view of the assembled clamp on a cylindrical post. 
       
    
    
       [0014]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 C-shaped member 
                   
               
               
                   
                 12 strips 
                 14 cylindrical post 
               
               
                   
                 16 first face 
                 18 second face 
               
               
                   
                 20 alignment protrusion 
                 22 alignment cavity 
               
               
                   
                 24 means for fastening 
                 26 inner face 
               
               
                   
                 28 indentation 
                 30 rib 
               
               
                   
                 32 outer surface 
                 34 slot 
               
               
                   
                 36 third face 
                 38 first C-shaped member 
               
               
                   
                 40 second C-shaped member 
                 42 third C-shaped member 
               
               
                   
                 44 fourth C-shaped member 
                 46 channel 
               
               
                   
                 48 end of structural member 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The invention is comprised of four, identical, C-shaped members  10 , and four identical strips  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . An individual C-shaped member  10  and strip  12  is show in  FIG. 1 . The four-identical C-shaped members  10  are each of an approximate half-circle or “C” shape. Each strip  12  has the shape of a rectangular box. The invention is assembled around a cylindrical post  14  having a generally cylindrical surface. 
         [0016]    C-Shaped Members 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the four, identical, C-shaped members  10  form the clamping assembly. The C-shaped members must be made of a strong, rigid material, such as steel. The size of the C-shaped members will vary according to the seize of the cylindrical post  14  being encircled. The C-shaped members must be sized to fit tightly around the corresponding cylindrical post. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , each C-shaped member  10  has a first face  16  and a second face  18 . The first and second faces are at the ends of the “C”. These faces show the cross-sectional shape of the C-shaped members. The cross-section of the C-shaped member is essentially uniform from the first face to the second face. The first and second faces are generally flat but have elements that aid in the alignment of the faces to the second and first faces of another C-shaped member. The first face  16  has an alignment protrusion  20  extending out of the face. The second face  18  has an alignment cavity  22  corresponding to the first face&#39;s alignment protrusion  20 . Likewise, the second face  18  has an alignment protrusion  20  extending out of the face and the first face  16  has an alignment cavity  22  corresponding to the second face&#39;s alignment protrusion  20 . Hence there is a protrusion and cavity on each of the first and second faces of the C-Shaped member. These means for alignment are shown in the figures as cylindrical, however these elements can be other shapes. Each first and second face also has a means for fastening  24  to fasten the face to another face. As pictured in the figures, this means for fastening is a hole which accommodates a bolt or screw. 
         [0019]    The C-shaped members have an inner face  26 . The inner face  26  is the face of the member that is against the cylindrical post  14  when the clamp encircles the cylindrical post. The inner face  26  has a indentation  28  with a rectangular cross-section. A rib  30  extends into the approximate center of the indentation and runs laterally in of the indentation  28  from the first face  16  to the second face  18 . 
         [0020]    The C-shaped members have an outer surface  32 . The outer surface  32  of the C-shaped member is the surface opposite the inner face  26  of the C-shaped member. The shape outer surface  32  has a slot  34  which runs from the first face to the second face. The slot has a generally rectangular cross section. Three sides of the rectangular cross section are formed by the outer surface of the C-shaped member. The fourth side of the rectangular cross section is open. The open side of the rectangular cross section of the slot  34  is parallel to the radius of the cylindrical post. The open side of the rectangular cross section of the slot  34  is referred to as the slot opening. 
         [0021]    The C-shaped members have a third face  36  which can be seen on  FIG. 2 . The third face  36  extends perpendicularly to the first and second faces and perpendicularly to the inner face and outer surface. The third face  36  and the slot  34  opening face the same direction. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , two oppositely disposed C-shaped members encircle the cylindrical post. The first face and second face of one C-shaped member are placed against the second face and first face, respectively, of a second C-shaped member. In this configuration, the protrusions  20  and cavities  22  align. The fastening elements  24  also align. The two C-shaped members form a circle around the cylindrical post. The invention is composed to two sets or two C-shaped members encircling the vertical post. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the second set of two C-shaped members are inverted such that the third faces  36  of the first set of two C-shaped members abuts the third faces  36  of the second set of two C-shaped members. The first set of two C-shaped members are referred to as a first C-shaped member  38 , a second C-shaped member  40 . The second set of two C-shaped members are referred to as a third C-shaped member  42 , and a fourth C-shaped member  44 . In the configuration described above, the slots of the first C-shaped member  38 , the second C-shaped member  40  faces the slots of the third C-shaped member  42 , and the fourth C-shaped member  44 . These slots form a channel  46  around the circumference of the assembled invention ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
         [0023]    Strips 
         [0024]    Retuning to  FIG. 1 , the invention is further comprised of four identical strips  12  of elastic material, such as rubber. Each of the four strips corresponds to one of the C-shaped members such that each C-shaped member is equipped with one strip. Each strip is the shape of a rectangular box. Each strip is of a length and width approximately equal to the length and width of the indentations  28  on the inner face  26  of the C-shaped members  10 . The strips are slightly thicker than the indentation is deep. The strip  12  is placed between the C-shaped member  10  and the cylindrical post  14 . The strip  12  is compressed between the inner face  26  of the C-Shaped member and the cylindrical post. The rib  30  increases the compression on the strip  12 . 
         [0025]    Structural Members 
         [0026]    The invention connects structural members to the cylindrical post. As seen in  FIG. 4 , The structural members have an end  48  the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the channel  46 . That is to say that one-half of the end of the structural member fits into the slot on one side of the channel; and an opposite one-half of the end of the structural member fits into the slot on the opposite side of the channel. Thus, when the channel is placed around the end of the structural member, the end of the structural member is held by the channel. 
         [0027]    Assembly 
         [0028]    An exploded view of the assembly is shown in  FIG. 2 . The invention is assembled by encircling a cylindrical post with first and second C-shaped members  38 ,  40  and encircling the cylindrical post with third and fourth C-shaped members  42 ,  44  adjacent to the first and second C-shaped members. A first C-shaped member  38  and a second C-shaped member  40  encircle the cylindrical post. The first and second C-shaped members are positioned around the cylindrical post by aligning the first face of the first C-shaped member  38  with the second face of the second C-shaped member  40 . The faces are aligned such that the cavity on first C-shaped member&#39;s face is filled by the protrusion on the second C-shaped member&#39;s face. Likewise, the cavity on second C-shaped member&#39;s face is filled by the protrusion on the first C-shaped member&#39;s face. The fastening elements  24  of the first and second C-shaped members also align. As the C-shaped members  38 ,  40  are positioned around the cylindrical post  14 , the strips  12  are placed between the C-shaped members and the post. 
         [0029]    A third C-shaped member  42  and a fourth C-shaped member  44  encircle the cylindrical post adjacent to the first and second C-shaped members. The third and fourth C-shaped members are oriented such that the third face of the first and second C-shaped members abuts the third face of the third and fourth C-shaped members. Like the first and second C-shaped members described above, the third and fourth C-shaped members are positioned around the cylindrical post  14  by aligning the first face of the third C-shaped member with the second face of the fourth C-shaped member. The faces must be aligned such that the cavity on third C-shaped member&#39;s first face is filled by the protrusion on the fourth C-shaped member&#39;s second face. Likewise, the cavity on fourth C-shaped member&#39;s second face is filled by the protrusion on the third C-shaped member&#39;s first face. The means for fastening  24  of the third and fourth C-shaped members also aligns. As the C-shaped members  42 ,  44  are positioned around the cylindrical post  14 , the strips  12  are placed between the C-shaped members and the post. 
         [0030]    The assembled invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . When the first and second C-shaped members  38 ,  40  are fastened together the strips between those C-shaped members and the post are compressed. Likewise, when the third and fourth C-shaped members  42 ,  44  are fastened together the strips between those C-shaped members and the post are compressed.  FIG. 4  shows a cut-away view of the assembled invention in which the compressed strips  12  are viewable. 
         [0031]    Referring again to  FIG. 4 , with the four C-shaped members assembled around the cylindrical post, the slots of the first two C-shaped members and the slots of the second two C-shaped members face each other. The slots facing each other form the channel  46 . The channel  46  holds the ends of the structural members  48 . Because the channel runs the entire circumference of the assembly, multiple structural members can be attached to each assembly ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0032]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain embodiment thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiment contained herein.