Patent Publication Number: US-9903401-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/566,582, to Joseph Pomerantz, entitled Connector, which was filed on Aug. 3, 2012 and which further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/515,518, to Joseph Pomerantz, also entitled Connector, which was filed Aug. 5, 2011. Both of these applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entity by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to connectors, and more particular to connectors for a housing, such as a gazebo or kennel. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     There are many types of connectors for many types of uses. However, not all connectors can be used for all purposes. For example, for a kennel or gazebo, suitable connectors may include screws, bolts, plates, and brackets to connect walls of the structure. However, such connectors may be difficult to install, provide limited flexibility, and other disadvantages. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a specialized connector for use with a modular structure, such as a kennel or gazebo, that is easy to use, secure, and flexible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment, a connector includes at least two cavities or receptacles extending from a base to receive adjacent tubes of a wall or panel. The receptacles are closed at one end. At least two walls extend from the base in the same direction as the receptacles. The walls are positioned on the base and outside the receptacles such that the panels are secured to a specific angular orientation with respect to each other. A top connector and a bottom connector are used to secure rods or tubes of adjacent panels. A series of top and bottom connectors can be used to secure multiple panels to form an enclosure, such as a kennel or gazebo. The base of the connector also has a hole positioned between adjacent receptacles for allowing a rod or tube to be inserted therein. The rods extending from each connector can then be used to support a cover to cover the enclosure. 
     In one embodiment, a connector has two receptacles with walls that have an approximately 45° angle, where the two receptacles are between the two opposing walls. In another embodiment, a connector has three receptacles in a triangular pattern formed on a triangular base. A first side of the base has two straight walls, each adjacent and outside a receptacle, with a hole between the two straight walls. The two other sides of the base each have a right-angled walls between and exterior to two adjacent receptacles, with a hole within each angled wall. 
     Such connectors can be used to connect and lock tubular steel pieces together at a variety of angles from 45° to 315° at 45° intervals. These unique connectors incorporate walls that restrict the panels from movement once they are placed in the desired position. As a result, an enclosure can be easily set up (and changed or expanded). 
     These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments set forth below taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. These and other further features and advantages of the invention would be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taking together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a two receptacle connector; 
         FIG. 1B  is a view of one side of the connector of  FIG. 1A  according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 1C  is a view of the opposing side of the connector of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an enclosure secured with the connectors of  FIGS. 1A-1C , according to one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are pictures of an enclosure with a cover secured with the connectors of  FIGS. 1A-1C  according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a three receptacle connector; 
         FIG. 4B  is a view of one side of the connector of  FIG. 4A  according to one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4C  is a view of the opposing side of the connector of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, wherein showings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of the present disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  show a two-receptacle connector  100  according to one embodiment. In  FIG. 1A , a first receptacle  102  and a second receptacle  104  extend from a base  106 . Each receptacle has a close end  108 . Exterior to each receptacle is a wall  110  extending from base  106  in the same direction as receptacles  102  and  104 . Each wall is angled or curved approximately 45°, such that adjacent walls are kept at that 45° angle with respect to each other. Connector  100  can be manufactured from plastic or other suitable materials, such as through injection molding, and can be a unitary structure. 
       FIGS. 1B and 1C  show two opposing sides of connector  100 . In  FIG. 1B , a hole  112  is shown between receptacles  102  and  104 . Hole  112  is adapted to receive a cover rod or tube for supporting a cover over an enclosure formed using a plurality of connectors  100 . A panel tube or rod can be inserted into receptacles of  FIG. 1B .  FIG. 1C  shows the other side of connector  100 . If the connector is used as a top connector, hole  112  can be used to receive a cover rod or tube. If the connector is used as a bottom connector, walls  110  can be used as legs for the enclosure. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an enclosure  200  secured with a plurality of connectors  100  according to one embodiment. Here, there are eight panels, secured by eight top connectors  100  and eight bottom connectors  100 . Note that panels are referred to generically here, but can include a door panel (as shown), a window panel, or other suitable types of panels. Each panel has a tubular or cylindrical rod or tube that slides into receptacles  102  and  104 . Thus, each panel  202  is secured to an adjacent panel  202  with a top connector  100  and a bottom connector  100 . Walls  110  maintain each panel  202  at an approximately 45° angle to each other. Also shown are cover rods  204  that have been inserted into holes  112 . Thus, eight cover rods  204  can be used to form the support for a cover (not shown) to cover enclosure  200 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are pictures of an enclosure  200  with a cover  300  secured with eight of connectors  100  according to one embodiment. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  show a three-receptacle connector  400  according to one embodiment. In  FIG. 4A , three receptacles  402 ,  404 ,  406  are shown extending from a triangular base  408 . Each receptacle has a close end  410 . There are a plurality of walls extending from the base (described in detail with respect to  FIG. 4B ). A hole  412  extends through each side of connector  400 . As with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-1C , receptacles  402 ,  404 ,  406  receive a panel tube or rod along the interior of each receptacle. Holes  412  are adapted to receive cover tubes or rods, and the walls are adapted to maintain the panels in the desired positions. Connector  400  can be manufactured from plastic or other suitable materials, such as through injection molding, and can be a unitary structure. 
       FIGS. 4B and 4C  show two opposing sides of connector  400 . In  FIG. 4B , a first wall  414  is a 90° or right-angled wall between receptacles  402  and  404 . Hole  412  is within angled first wall  414 . Similarly, a second wall  416  is a 90° or right-angled wall between receptacles  404  and  406 , with hole  412  within angled second wall  416 . A pair of straight walls  418  is positioned along the third side of triangular base  408 , with each straight wall  418  adjacent receptacle  402  and  406 . Hole  412  is located between the pair of straight walls  418 . Similar to connector  100 , connector  400  can be used as a top or a bottom connector for an enclosure.  FIG. 4C  shows the other side of connector  400 . If the connector is used as a top connector, hole  412  can be used to receive a cover rod or tube. If the connector is used as a bottom connector, receptacles  402 ,  404 ,  406  can be used as legs for the enclosure. Note that the length of the walls and/or receptacles in different embodiments may vary. For example, the receptacles do not need to be longer than the walls in the three-receptacle connector and the walls do not need to be longer than the receptacles in the two-receptacle connector. 
     With connector  400 , two or three panels can be connected using a top and bottom connector. Using two panels, a straight connection (or 180°) between two panels can be made by inserting panel rods into receptacles  402  and  406 . Walls  418  keep the panels in a straight line position. Also, using two panels, a right angle or 90° connection between two panels can be made by inserting one panel rod into receptacle  404  and the other panel rod into either receptacle  402  or receptacle  406 . First wall  414  or second wall  416  keep the adjacent panels in a right angle relationship. Using three panels, a “T” configuration can be secured by inserting a panel rod into each of receptacles  402 ,  404 ,  406 . Walls  414 ,  416 ,  418  keep the three panels in the desired “T” relationship. 
     The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. For example, the above embodiments have described two and three receptacle connectors with specific wall orientations. However, connectors have more receptacles and/or different wall orientations are also suitable to achieve advantages of the present invention. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.