Abstract:
An attachment system for configured slots which utilizes pivotally opposed major and minor jaws which can be biased in a closed or in an open position. The major and minor jaws are aligned in the receptor cavity of a configured rectangular tube and are actuated to fully and to frictionally engage the receptor cavity. Such actuation also causes outwardly-facing grooves on the ends of the major and minor jaws to engage a suitably-shaped configured slot on a configured tube or other structure. Such preceding action connects a configured rectangular tube and a structure having a suitably-shaped configured slot by the use of the intermediate major and minor jaws. Provisions are also made for snapping engagement of the pivotally opposed major and minor jaws of biased open major and minor jaws with a suitably-shaped configured slot.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/736,778 entitled “Clamp Assembly” filed on Dec. 14, 2000, pending, which is a division of Ser. No. 09/398,970 entitled “Clamp Assembly” filed on Sep. 17, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,262, which is a division of Ser. No. 09/276,879 entitled “Clamp Assembly” filed on Mar. 26, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,317. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is for an attachment system for configured slots. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Representative prior art patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,015,897; 3,189,187; 3,338,602; 3,574,367; 4,101,231; 4,207,014; 4,360,286; 4,549,832; 4,572,694; 4,725,030; 4,907,388; 5,657,604; European Patent No. 0,336,915; French Patent Nos. 2,129,259; 2,298,721; 2,659,702; Dutch Patent No. 8,901,425; and Norwegian Patent No. 96,260. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention is to provide an attachment system for configured slots and, more particularly, to provide an attachment system for readily connecting a configured rectangular tube or other object to a suitably-shaped configured slot, such as in a configured tube which can be a configured round tube, a configured rectangular tube or any other appropriately configured geometrical tube structure or other structure having a suitably-shaped configured slot. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an attachment system including a jaw assembly the majority of which is accommodatingly engaged within one end of a configured rectangular tube or other geometrically configured structure. The jaw assembly includes opposing major and minor jaws aligned in close pivotal juxtaposition. The major jaw includes an inwardly-facing pivot bar which aligns to and which engages an inwardly-facing pivot receptor groove in the minor jaw. Outwardly-facing retainer grooves are located at one end of both the major and minor jaws for engagement with a suitably-shaped configured slot in a configured tube. At the ends of the major and minor jaws opposing the retainer grooves is a provision for the retention of a resilient plastic pin in either of two pre-determined locations. One such location biases the ends of the major and minor jaws (having the retainer grooves) to the open or spread position, and the other location biases the ends of the major and minor jaws to the closed position. Substantially, the entire jaw assembly with the exception of the retainer grooves is housed in one end of the configured rectangular tube and is secured therein by an actuator cap screw. The actuator cap screw extends through the configured rectangular tube to threadingly engage the major jaw. The actuator cap screw also extends beyond the major jaw to forcefully contact the minor jaw whereby the minor and major jaws are forcefully caused to spread apart, thereby causing frictional engagement of the retainer grooves with a geometrical tube structure having a suitably-shaped configured slot. Additionally, the actuator cap screw also forces planar and other surfaces of the major and minor jaws into intimate and aligned stabilizing forced contact with interior surfaces of the suitably-shaped configured rectangular tube. 
     One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an attachment system for configured slots for connecting a configured rectangular tube to a suitably-shaped configured slot by the use of a connecting jaw assembly. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a jaw assembly having pivotally opposing major and minor jaws where each jaw includes an outwardly-facing retainer groove. 
     Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the use of a resilient plastic pin placed in either of two positions at one end of pivotally opposing major and minor jaws to bias the jaws to either the closed or to the open position for subsequent acceptance and accommodation by a configured rectangular tube. 
     Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is major and minor jaws biased to the open position which can provide for initial snapping engagement with a suitably-shaped configured slot. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an actuator cap screw which secures a jaw assembly to a configured rectangular tube. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an actuator cap screw which actuates the major and minor jaws of a jaw assembly for forced frictional engagement with the receptor cavity of a configured rectangular tube. 
     Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an actuator cap screw which forces planar and other surfaces of the major and minor jaws into intimate and stabilized forced contact with interior surfaces of a configured rectangular tube to provide for a stabilized relationship between a configured rectangular tube and an object having configured slots herein exemplified as a configured tube. 
     Having thus described one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide an attachment system for configured slots. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the attachment system for configured slots; the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded isometric view of the jaw assembly; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the unassembled jaw assembly; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the assembled jaw assembly where the resilient plastic pin is located in a position to bias the major and minor jaws to the closed position; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the assembled jaw assembly where the resilient plastic pin is located in a position to bias the major and minor jaws to the open position; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of the configured rectangular tube; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a semi-exploded isometric view of the elements of the attachment system for configured slots. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cutaway view of the jaw assembly in the biased closed position and inserted into the receptor cavity of the configured rectangular tube prior to engagement of the jaw assembly and attached configured rectangular tube with a configured slot of a configured tube; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a partial cutaway view of the jaw assembly in the biased closed position and inserted into the receptor cavity of the configured rectangular tube in the initial stage of engagement of the jaw assembly and attached configured rectangular tube with a configured slot of a configured tube; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a partial cutaway view of the jaw assembly inserted into and secured in the receptor cavity of the configured rectangular tube in the final stage of engagement of the jaw assembly and attached configured rectangular tube with a configured slot of a configured tube; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a partial cutaway view of the jaw assembly in the biased open position and inserted into the receptor cavity of the configured rectangular tube prior to engagement of the jaw assembly and attached configured rectangular tube with a configured slot of a configured tube; 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a partial cutaway view of the jaw assembly in the biased open position and inserted into the receptor cavity of the configured rectangular tube just subsequent to snapping engagement of the jaw assembly and the attached configured rectangular tube with a configured slot of a configured tube; and, 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a partial cutaway view of the jaw assembly in the biased open position firmly securing the configured rectangular tube to a suitably-shaped configured slot of a configured tube by action of the actuator cap screw with the jaw assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the attachment system for configured slots  10  the components of which include a jaw assembly  12 , a configured rectangular tube  14 , and an actuator cap screw  16 . The jaw assembly  12  includes opposing major and minor jaws  20  and  22 , respectively, aligned in close pivotal juxtaposition, and a resilient plastic pin  18 . The major jaw  20  and the minor jaw  22  resemble each other for the most but the structure at one end of the major jaw  20  and the minor jaw  22  includes varying structure to accommodate the resilient plastic pin  18  in two different positions, as described later in detail. The one-piece major jaw  20 , which can be extruded, is generally planar and includes a main body  21  and various structures located on or extending from the main body  21  including, but not limited to, a planar surface  25  extending along the main body  21 , an end  29  having a chamfer  24  and an outwardly-facing retainer groove  26  adjacent to the chamfer  24 , a vertically-oriented and inwardly-facing pivot bar  28  near another end of the main body  21 , an extension  30  directed substantially at a right angle and inwardly from the main body  21 , a threaded hole  32  extending horizontally through the approximate mid-section of the main body  21 , and an undercut  33  at the exterior portion of the threaded hole  32 . Also included in the major jaw  20  is a vertically-oriented truncated circular channel  34  which is located at the junction of the main body  21  and the extension  30 , and another vertically-oriented truncated circular channel  36  located on the extension  30  adjacent to and inwardly of the truncated circular channel  34 . The one-piece minor jaw  22 , which can be extruded, is generally planar and includes a main body  23  and various structures located on or extending from the main body  23  including, but not limited to, an end  31  having a chamfer  38  and an outwardly-facing retainer groove  40  adjacent to the chamfer  24 , a vertically-oriented and inwardly-facing pivot receptor groove  42  near another end of the main body  23 , and a small extension  44  directed substantially at a right angle and inwardly from the main body  23 . Also included in the minor jaw  22  is a vertically-oriented truncated circular channel  46  which is located at the outward region of the extension  44  and another vertically-oriented truncated circular channel  48  located at the inward region of the extension  44  adjacent to and inwardly of the truncated circular channel  46 . A vertically-oriented contact bar  47  extending outwardly from the outwardly-facing surfaces of the minor jaw  22 , as also shown in FIG.  2 . The resilient plastic pin  18  can align between the truncated circular channel  34  of the major jaw  20  and the truncated circular channel  48  of the minor jaw  22 , or in the alternative, the resilient plastic pin  18  can align between the truncated circular channel  36  of the major jaw  20  and the truncated circular channel  46  of the minor jaw  22  to provide for biasing of the major jaw  20  and the minor jaw  22  to the opened or to the closed position, respectively, as later described in detail. 
     The configured rectangular tube  14  is structured to accommodate the jaw assembly  12  in a central location and to accommodate the actuator cap screw  16 , and includes upper and lower channels along the upper and lower regions to accommodate other structure. The configured rectangular tube  14  includes opposing vertically-oriented walls  50  and  52  having horizontally-oriented opposing walls  54  and  56  extending therebetween to form a receptor cavity  58  for the accommodation of the jaw assembly  12 . The opposing vertically-oriented walls  50  and  52  extend beyond the horizontally-oriented opposing walls  54  and  56  and at one end are directed inwardly to form opposing upper and inwardly-directed lips  60  and  62 , and at the other end are directed inwardly to form opposing lower and inwardly-directed lips  64  and  66 . The lips  60  and  62 , the horizontal wall  54 , and portions of the vertical walls  50  and  52  form an upper channel  68 , and, correspondingly, the lips  64  and  66 , the horizontal wall  56 , and portions of the vertical walls  50  and  52  form a lower channel  70 . The receptor cavity  58  extends the entire length of the configured rectangular tube  14  and can accommodate a jaw assembly  12  at either or both ends. Accordingly, body holes  72  and  74  are included to extend through the vertically-oriented wall  50  to allow passage of an actuator cap screw  16  therethrough to engage the threaded hole  32  of a jaw assembly  12  for actuation of the jaw assembly  12  and for positively locating and referencing the jaw assembly  12  within the configured rectangular tube  14 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded isometric view of the jaw assembly  12 , where all numerals correspond to those elements previously described. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the unassembled jaw assembly  12 . Illustrated in particular are the inwardly-facing tapered surfaces  76  and  78  which allow the areas at the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  to present a minimum profile across the width of the major and minor jaws  20  in the region of the chamfers  24  and  38 , as viewed in FIG.  4 . Such minimum profile is desirable with respect to engagement of the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  with a suitably-shaped configured slot. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the assembled jaw assembly  12 , where all numerals correspond to those elements previously described. In this figure, the resilient plastic pin  18  is located in a position to bias the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  to the closed position where the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  are forced together to facilitate engagement of the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  with a suitably-shaped configured slot. The resilient plastic pin  18  is located between the truncated circular channel  36  of the major jaw  20  and the truncated circular channel  46  of the minor jaw  22  to urge the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  to the closed position about the mutually engaged pivot bar  28  of the major jaw  20  and the pivot receptor groove  42  of the minor jaw  22 . The mutual engagement of the pivot bar  28  of the major jaw  20  with the pivot receptor groove  42  of the minor jaw  22  is such that lateral movement of the minor jaw  22  with respect to the major jaw  20  in the direction of the ends  29  and  31  is prevented, while pivotal action of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22 , respectively, is still allowed. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the assembled jaw assembly  12 , where all numerals correspond to those elements previously described. In this figure, the resilient plastic pin  18  is located in a position to bias the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  to the open position where the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  are forced apart to provide for snapping engagement of the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  with a suitably-shaped configured slot. The resilient plastic pin  18  is located between the truncated circular channel  34  of the major jaw  20  and the truncated circular channel  48  of the minor jaw  22  to urge the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  to the open position about the mutually engaged pivot bar  28  of the major jaw  20  and the pivot receptor groove  42  of the minor jaw  22 . Although the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  are forced apart by the action of the resilient plastic pin  18 , the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws can be actuated inwardly toward each other by members of a suitably-shaped configured slot for snapping engagement thereto, as later described in detail. The mutual engagement of the pivot bar  28  of the major jaw  20  with the pivot receptor groove  42  of the minor jaw  22  is such that lateral movement of the minor jaw  22  with respect to the major jaw  20  in the direction of the ends  29  and  31  is prevented, while pivotal action of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22 , respectively, is still allowed. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of the configured rectangular tube  14 . 
     MODE OF OPERATION 
     FIGS. 7-13 illustrate the mode of operation of the clamping system  12 . FIG. 7 illustrates a semi-exploded isometric view of the elements of the clamping system for configured tubing  10  substantially in alignment with a configured tube  80  having a plurality of suitably-shaped configured slots  81   a - 81   n  about the circumference thereof. The essential working geometry of the suitably-shaped configured slots  81   a - 81   n  and the working geometry of the channels  68  and  70  at the upper and lower regions of the configured rectangular tube  14  are similar, and thus it is to be noted that a jaw assembly  12  could be attached vertically to the upper channel  68  or to the bottom channel  70  for other connections thereto of other suitably-shaped objects. The resilient plastic pin  18  is shown prior to engagement at a suitable location near extension  30  of the major jaw  20  and extension  44  of the minor jaw  22 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the jaw assembly  12  in the biased closed position and inserted into the receptor cavity  58  of the configured rectangular tube  14  prior to engagement of the jaw assembly  12  and attached configured rectangular tube  14  with the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a  of the configured tube  80 . The configured rectangular tube  14  is shown in cross section. The jaw assembly  12  is assembled, as described in relation to FIG. 4, where the resilient plastic pin  18  is located in a position to bias the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  to the closed position where the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  are forced together to facilitate engagement of the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  with suitably-shaped configured slots  81   a - 81   n . The actuator cap screw  16  engages the threaded hole  32  of the major jaw  22  and the body hole  72  of the configured rectangular tube  14  to loosely secure the jaw assembly  12  in the receptor cavity  58 . The suitably-shaped configured slots  81   a - 81   n  of the configured tube  80  each includes an inwardly-located panel  82 , opposing lips  84  and  86  extending in a curved fashion from the panel  82  and planar surfaces  88  and  90  adjacent to the opposing lips  86  and  84 , respectively. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates the jaw assembly  12  in the biased closed position and inserted into the receptor cavity  58  of the configured rectangular tube  14  (shown in cross section) in the initial stage of engagement of the jaw assembly  12  and attached configured rectangular tube  14  with the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a  of the configured tube  80  which positions the configured rectangular tube  14  to contact the planar surfaces  88  and  90  of the configured tube  80 . The outwardly-facing retainer grooves  26  and  40  are loosely aligned with the lips  84  and  86  of the configured tube  80  to await tightening, as described in relation to FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the jaw assembly  12  inserted into and secured in the receptor cavity  58  of the configured rectangular tube  14  (shown in cross section) in the final stage of engagement of the jaw assembly  12  and attached configured rectangular tube  14  with the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a  of configured tube  80 . The actuator cap screw  16  is rotated and advanced through the major jaw  20  to bear against the minor jaw  22 , thus having the net effect of forcing the major and minor jaws  20  and  22 , respectively, to the open position. The jaw assembly  12  is secured to the configured rectangular tube  14  by multiple methods. The first method involves the relationship of the actuator cap screw  16  to the body hole  72  in the configured rectangular tube  14 . The head  17  of the actuator cap screw  16 , when in captured alignment with the body hole  72 , secures the jaw assembly  12  to the configured rectangular tube  14  and prevents the major jaw  20 , and thus the jaw assembly  12 , from lateral movement along the length of the receptor cavity  58  of the configured rectangular tube  14 . The second method of securing involves the rotation of the actuator cap screw  16  which brings the planar surface  25  of the major jaw  20  and the contact bar  47  of the minor jaw  22  into intimate and forced frictional opposing engagement with the portions of the opposing vertical walls  50  and  52  which in part form the receptor cavity  58 , to firmly secure the jaw assembly  12  to the configured tube  14 . Advancing the actuator cap screw  16  forces the planar surface  25  of the major jaw  20  and the contact bar  47  of the minor jaw  22  into stabilized forced contact with the vertical walls  50  and  52 . The planar surface  25  of the major jaw  20  forcibly aligns to the vertical wall  50 , another planar surface, to provide “planar-to-planar” stabilized contact to prevent rotation or twisting of the jaw assembly  12  with respect to the configured rectangular tube  14 . Also adding to stabilized contact is the forcible alignment of the contact bar  47  of the minor jaw  22  with the vertical wall  52  of the configured tube  14 . During advancement of the actuator cap screw  16 , the minor jaw  22  is positioned in generally parallel fashion and is held in a constant relative parallel position to the major jaw  20  by the slipping engagement of the appropriate vertical surfaces of the pivot bar  28  and the pivot receptor groove  42 , thus alignment of the retainer grooves  28  and  42  are held in a constant oppositional relationship. 
     Anchoring or securing of the jaw assembly  12  to the suitably-shaped configured slot  81  of the configured tube  80  occurs as the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  are forced apart to the open position, whereby the shorter angled surfaces of the outwardly-facing retainer grooves  26  and  40  are brought into sliding contact with the lips  84  and  86  (configured slot), respectively, of the configured tube  80  and bear against the lips  84  and  86 , respectively, in forced and locking contact therewith. The jaw assembly  12  and the attached configured rectangular tube  14  are repositioned slightly in the direction of the ends  29  and  31  as a result of the sliding contact, and as a result the ends of the vertical walls  50  and  52  are brought into close intimate forced and stable contact with the planar surfaces  90  and  88  of the configured tube  80  to create a strong and stable connection between the configured rectangular tube  14  and the configured tube  80 . 
     Such synergistic coupling creates an attachment system for suitably-shaped configured slots where outwardly acting forces promote and provide for stability distributed along and across the attachment of the configured rectangular tube  14 , the jaw assembly  12 , and the configured tube  80  having suitably-shaped configured slots  81   a - 81   n . A combination of the opposingly and outwardly forced major and minor jaws  20  and  22 , respectively, and of the engagement of the jaw ends  29  and  31  provides for multiple forced stable contact regions, thereby providing for a stable attachment. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the jaw assembly  12  in the biased open position and inserted into the receptor cavity  58  of the configured rectangular tube  14  prior to engagement of the jaw assembly  12  and attached configured rectangular tube  14  with the suitably-shaped configured slot  81 a of the configured tube  80 . The configured rectangular tube  14  is shown in cross section. The jaw assembly  12  is assembled, as described in relation to FIG. 5, where the resilient plastic pin  18  is located in a position to bias the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  to the open position where the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  are forced apart to facilitate snapping engagement of the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  with a suitably-shaped configured slots  81   a - 81   n . The actuator cap screw  16  engages the threaded hole  32  of the major jaw  22  and the hole  72  of the configured rectangular tube  14 , but the threads do not extend beyond the major jaw  20 , to loosely secure the jaw assembly  12  in the biased open position in the receptor cavity  58 . The outwardly-facing planar surface  25  of the major jaw  20  and the contact bar  47  of the minor jaw  22  are in intimate low force frictional engagement with the portion of the vertical walls  50  and  52  which in part form the receptor cavity  58 , thus securing the jaw assembly  12  to the configured rectangular tube  14  by low force frictional engagement. The major and minor jaws  20  and  22  must be flexed and displaced inwardly toward each other against the resistance provided by the resilient plastic pin  18  to allow entry of the ends  29  and  31  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  beyond the lips  84  and  86  of the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a  and fully into the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a . During engagement the chamfers  24  and  38  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  slidingly and displaceably engage the lips  84  and  86  of the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a , and the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  are flexed and displaced inwardly to allow subsequent snapping engagement of the outwardly-facing retainer grooves  26  and  40  of the major and minor jaws  20  and  22  with the lips  84  and  86  of the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a . Such snapping engagement is desirable especially when constructing large assemblies of multiple components where multiple jaw assemblies and configured rectangular tubes may be mated and then positioned prior to final tightening of the actuator cap screws  16 . 
     FIG. 12 illustrates the jaw assembly  12  in the biased open position and residing in the receptor cavity  58  of the configured rectangular tube  14  just subsequent to snapping engagement of the jaw assembly  12  and attached configured rectangular tube  14  with the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a  of the configured tube  80 . The configured rectangular tube  14  is shown in cross section. 
     FIG. 13 illustrates the jaw assembly  12  in the biased open position firmly securing the configured rectangular tube  14  to the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a  of the configured tube  80  by action of the actuator cap screw  16  with the jaw assembly  12 . Subsequent to snapping engagement of the jaw assembly  12  and the attached configured rectangular tube  14  with the configured tube  80 , the actuator cap screw  16  is rotated and advanced through the major jaw  20  to bear against the minor jaw  22 , as previously described in relation to FIG. 10 to secure the jaw assembly  12  to the suitably-shaped configured slot  81   a  of the configured tube  80 . 
     Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof.