Patent Publication Number: US-2021180312-A1

Title: Rectangular extrusion connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/727,695, filed Oct. 9, 2017, and entitled “Connector for Pipes” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/417,121, filed Nov. 3, 2016, and entitled “Coupler for Pipes.” This application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/984,196, filed Mar. 2, 2020, and entitled “Rectangular Extrusion Connector.” This application is also a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. Design Application No. 29/739,477 filed Jun. 25, 2020 and entitled “Connector Accessory for Pipes.” The entire contents of the above-identified applications are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to couplers for drape rods of the type typically found in exhibit booths. In even greater particularity, the present invention relates to a coupler adaptor to affix to a rectangular extrusion tube to allow accessories to be mounted. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the prior art, exhibit booths and the like are constructed using a rectangular tube framework supporting drapes as walls and or covers. Many of these booths are constructed using hook-and-slot systems, which utilize upright aluminum tubes with slots formed near the top regions thereof for receiving hooks secured to and extending from the ends of horizontal tubular rods. Draping material is placed over the horizontal rods to form booths or partitions as may be required. Pipe and drape walls traditionally have a “bumpy” appearance due to the height difference of the vertical members in relation to the top of horizontally disposed connecting rods. Additionally, the steel hooks on industry standard horizontal drape rods have a tendency toward “tearing” the aluminum vertical uprights in a “can opener” effect when the steel hooks are inserted in the existing slots in the uprights. Past attempts to solve these problems involve proprietary connectors that are not compatible with the standard steel hooks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to enable the industry standard hooks on horizontal rods and other accessories to rest at such a height as to provide uniform appearance to the top of drape walls. A further object is to allow a coupler adaptor to mount on a rectangular extrusion end to allow one or more accessory connections to be affixed to the vertical rectangular extrusion. A further object is to allow multiple horizontal rods to be mounted in parallel from a single vertical rectangular extrusion. The coupler adaptor clamps onto the vertically configured rectangular extrusion via a stable clamp and a slidable clamp. The slidable clamp and the stable clamp are pulled together along the length of a coupler adaptor body via a screw tightener. Channel openings and channel walls on the coupler adaptor are mated with the grooves on the rectangular extrusion creating a clamped, friction mating with the rectangular extrusion such that the coupler adaptor is securely fastened to the rectangular extrusion. 
     A further object is to prevent the steel hooks on industry standard horizontal drape rods from “tearing” into the support pipes or extrusion tubes. Yet another object of the invention is to affix accessories for the industry standard hooks to be inserted at a wider angle of insertion and to allow easier connection as compared to the narrow industry standard slots. A still further object of the invention is to accomplish the foregoing objects using industry standard fasteners or hooks. 
     These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the example embodiments will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated example embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings, which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a coupler adaptor. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor attached to a rectangular extrusion. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a coupler. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor attached to a rectangular extrusion with a flat-mounted coupler. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The example embodiments described herein provide a coupler adaptor  40  that supports a flat-mounted coupler  10  for connecting substantially orthogonally disposed rods to vertical rectangular extrusions in a pipe and drape exhibit booth construction. The “Pipe and Drape” industry, is a subset of exhibition and convention services in which frameworks are constructed from horizontally and vertically disposed members in such a fashion to allow draperies or curtains to hang and create division of space in convention halls or other similar areas by arranging drapery walls and booths. The coupler accessory  11 , such as a castletop coupler, is designed to provide an improvement to form and function over the industry standard hook and slot technology, yet allowing users of existing systems to continue using their inventory of components. 
     The coupler adaptor  40  allows accessories, such as flat-mounted coupler  10 , to be affixed to the sidewall or end of the rectangular extrusion. The rectangular extrusion may be an extruded or otherwise formed member that is used as a frame for the pipe and drape assembly. The rectangular extrusion may be a linear tube that has a substantially rectangular cross section. For example, the rectangular extrusion may be any functional length, such as 2, 4, 8, 12, or 20 feet long. The cross-sectional dimensions of the rectangular extrusion may be any suitable size, such as 1 inch by 2 inches, 2 inches by 4 inches, 4 inches by 4 inches, or any other suitable size. The rectangular extrusion may include grooves, slots, channels, or any other suitable opening at two or more corners to allow accessories to be mounted to the rectangular extrusion. Throughout the specification, the openings will be referred to as “grooves.” The grooves may allow any type of clamp or other connection mechanism to grip onto the rectangular extrusion for mounting. The grooves may be an industry standard groove pattern for rectangular extrusions in the pipe and drape industry. 
     Various accessories might allow a flat-mounted coupler  10  to be affixed to the coupler adaptor  40  in an offset position. For example, a flat-mounted coupler  10  may be affixed to the coupler adaptor  40 . The accessories might allow a second and third coupler be affixed to the first coupler accessory  11  in offset positions to allow additional rods to be vertically supported. The coupler adaptor  40  allows additional rods to be connected to the top of a single vertical rectangular extrusion. In examples herein, when one coupler accessory  11  is being described, other examples that include two or more coupler accessories  11  in any configuration may be envisioned to operate substantially similarly. 
       FIG. 1  provides a limited isometric view of the coupler adaptor  40 , which is used to construct the aforesaid pipe and drape booths. Because the steel terminal hooks traditionally used on the transverse rods to connect to the vertical member are used in the technology herein to connect to a coupler accessory  11  or other attached accessory, the steel hooks are not illustrated. The coupler adaptor  40  includes features such as the channel openings  32  and  42 , channel walls  33  and  34 , coupler screwed connections  41 , adaptor body  43 , slidable clamp  44 , stable clamp  45 , screw tightener openings  46  and  47  (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ), screw tightener  49 , and an accessory, such as coupler  10  (as illustrated in  FIG. 7 ). Preferably, coupler adaptor  40  will be made from durable reinforced polymer material, ABS plastic, Delrin, polyurethane, or some other suitable material that has sufficient strength and rigidity to effectuate the connection. 
     The coupler adaptor  40  clamps onto a vertically configured rectangular extrusion  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , or other member. The coupler adaptor  40  is placed around the end of the rectangular extrusion with the screw tightener  49  loosened to allow the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  to envelop an edge of the rectangular extrusion. The width of the edge of the vertically positioned rectangular extrusion may be any suitable size, such as 1 inch, 2 inches, or 4 inches. The vertically positioned rectangular extrusion may be any suitable type of metal or plastic extrusion, tube, or other similarly rectangular member with edge grooves. 
     The slidable clamp  44  is slidably affixed to the coupler adaptor body  43 . The slidable clamp  44  is oriented perpendicular to the body of the coupler adaptor body  43 . The slidable clamp  44  is slidable along the length of the coupler adaptor body  43  from the end of the coupler adaptor body  43  nearest the stable clamp  45  to the opposite end of the coupler adaptor body  43 . The stable clamp  45  is affixed to the end of the coupler adaptor body  43  and is typically not slidable. The stable clamp  45  is oriented perpendicular to the body of the coupler adaptor body  43 . The slidable clamp  44  is slidably affixed to the coupler adaptor body  43  by a U-shaped channel on opposing ends of the slidable clamp  44  that envelop edges of the coupler adaptor body  43 . The slidable claim  44  is thus free to slide along a single axis along the length of the coupler adaptor body  43  but remains upright and perpendicular to the coupler adaptor body  43 . In an alternate example, the coupler adaptor  40  has two slidable clamps and does not have a stable clamp. That is, both clamps are slidable and connect similarly to the examples herein. 
     The slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  are pulled together along the length of the coupler adaptor body  43  via the screw tightener  49 . The screw tightener may be a screwed mechanism that is inserted in the screw tightener opening  46  of the stable clamp  45  and the screw tightener opening  47  (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) of the slidable clamp  44 . In an example, the screw tightener opening  46  of the stable clamp  45  and the screw tightener opening  47  of the slidable clamp  44  are located substantially in the center of each respective clamp  44 ,  45 . In an example, the screw tightener  49  is slidable into the openings  46 ,  47 , and a fastener, such as a wingnut or threaded nut, is threaded onto the screw tightener  49 . The fastener may be screwed onto the screw tightener  49  to pull the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  together across the rectangular extrusion. In another example, one or both of the openings  46 ,  47  are threaded. In this example, the screw tightener  49  is passed slidably through opening  46  and then threaded into the opening  47 . As the screw tightener  49  is turned, the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  are pulled together. Any other suitable method or mechanism may be used to pull the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  together to clamp onto a rectangular extrusion. 
     The screw tightener  49  may have any suitable head configuration to allow a user to tighten the screw tightener  49 . For example, the screw tightener  49  may have a screw drive system to allow tightening with a screwdriver, such as a slot drive or a cross drive. In another example, the screw tightener  49  is configured with a wingnut style drive system to allow a user to turn the screw tightener  49  manually without tools. In another example, the screw tightener  49  has a bolt head, such as a hex bolt or a hex washer head. In this example, a user may tighten the screw tightener  49  with a wrench or a ratcheting socket wrench. 
     In the alternate example, if both clamps are slidable, when the screw tightener  49  is tightened, both clamps may move toward each other along the length of the coupler adaptor body  43 . 
     When the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  are pulled together by the screw tightener  49 , the channel openings  32  and  42  and the channel walls  33  and  34  are mated with the grooves on the rectangular extrusion. The channel opening  32  is a rectangular opening extending the vertical length of the stable clamp  45 . In an alternate example, the channel opening  32  is another shape, such as cylindrical or hexagonal. The channel wall  34  forms an outer perimeter wall of the channel opening  32 . The channel opening  42  is a rectangular opening, or other suitably shaped opening, extending the vertical length of the slidable clamp  44 . The channel wall  33  forms an outer perimeter wall of the channel opening  42 . 
     When the coupler adaptor  40  is mounted onto the rectangular extrusion, the channel walls  33 ,  34  are clamped into the grooves on either side of the rectangular extrusion, as shown in  FIG. 6 . In an example, the channel wall  34  of the stable clamp  45  is placed into a first corner groove of the rectangular extrusion. The slidable clamp  44  slides to a position along the length of the coupler adaptor body  43  such that the distance between the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  is greater than the width of the rectangular extrusion. The screw tightener  49  is tightened to draw the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45  together until the channel wall  33  of the slidable clamp  44  is forced into the groove on the adjacent corner of the rectangular extrusion. When the channel walls  33 ,  34  are in the grooves on two adjacent corners of the rectangular extrusion, the edges of the grooves are inserted into the corresponding channel openings  32 ,  42 . That is, the groove edges are inserted into the respective channel openings  32 ,  42  and the channel walls  33 ,  34  are inserted into the grooves of the rectangular extrusion. The mating of the channel walls  33 ,  34  with the grooves forms a solid mount to support the coupler adaptor  40  and any accessories affixed to the coupler adaptor  40 . The screw tightener  49  is tightened sufficiently to create a clamped, friction mating with the rectangular extrusion such that the coupler adaptor  40  is securely fastened to the rectangular extrusion to allow the coupler adaptor  40  to support one or more rods or other accessories. 
     The screwed connections  41  are threaded openings to allow devices, such as a coupler  10  of  FIG. 7  with a flat mount connection, to be affixed to the coupler adaptor  40 . Any configuration of a connection accessory may be affixed to the coupler adaptor  40  via the screwed connections  41 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor  40 . The illustration of the coupler adaptor  40  includes features such as the channel openings  32  and  42 , channel walls  33  and  34 , coupler adaptor body  43 , coupler slidable clamp  44 , coupler stable clamp  45 , and screw tightener  49 , as described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The coupler adaptor  40  is illustrated as being closed with the screw tightener  49  extending through the stable clamp  45 . In an example, the screw tightener  49  may receive a wingnut or other threaded nut threaded onto the end of the screw tightener  49  to draw the stable clamp  45  and the slidable clamp  44  together. In alternate examples, the stable clamp  45  has a threaded connection and an external wingnut is not required. In alternate examples, the screw tightener  49  is fixed at the stable clamp  45  and extends through the slidable clamp  44 . That is, the wingnut may be affixed to the end of the screw tightener  49  that extends through the slidable clamp  44 . Any other configuration of screw tightener  49  and nut or other connection may be used. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor  40 . The illustration includes features such as the channel openings  32  and  42 , channel walls  33  and  34 , coupler screwed connections  41 , adaptor body  43 , slidable clamp  44 , stable clamp  45 , screw tightener openings  46  and  47 , and screw tightener  49 , as described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The coupler adaptor  40  is illustrated as being closed with the screw tightener  49  extending through the stable clamp  45 . In an example, the screw tightener  49  may receive a wingnut threaded onto the end of the screw tightener  49  to draw the stable clamp  45  and the slidable clamp  44  together or employ any other connection configuration as discussed herein. 
       FIG. 4  is a side plan view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor  40 . The illustration includes the slidable clamp  44 , the stable clamp  45 , and the screw tightener opening  46 , as described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor  40 . The illustration includes features such as the channel walls  33  and  34 , coupler adaptor body  43 , slidable clamp  44 , stable clamp  45 , and screw tightener  49 , as described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor  40  attached to a rectangular extrusion  30 . The illustration depicts the coupler adaptor  40 , which includes features such as the channel opening  32 , channel wall  34 , coupler screwed connections  41 , coupler adaptor body  43 , slidable clamp  44 , stable clamp  45 , and screw tightener  49 , as described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The coupler adaptor  40  is illustrated as being tightened with the screw tightener  49  extending through the stable clamp  45 . In an example, the screw tightener  49  may receive a wingnut threaded onto the end of the screw tightener  49  to draw the stable clamp  45  and the slidable clamp  44  together. As illustrated, when the stable clamp  45  and the slidable clamp  44  are drawn together, the coupler adaptor  40  is mated to the rectangular extrusion  30  such that the coupler adaptor  40  is sufficiently affixed to the rectangular extrusion  30  to allow accessories to be mounted to the coupler adaptor  40 . The channel wall  34  is inserted into the groove  35  of the rectangular extrusion  30 . The edge of the groove wall is similarly inserted into the channel opening  32 . Similarly, the slidable clamp  44  mates with the groove  36  on the adjacent corner of the rectangular extrusion  30 . The screw tightener  49  is tightened to create a squeezing force on the rectangular extrusion  30  groove walls. This squeezed mating of the groove  35  and the channel opening  32  allows the coupler adaptor to be suitably affixed to the rectangular extrusion  30 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a flat-mounted coupler  10 . The illustrated flat-mounted coupler  10  relates to a universal coupler for coupling transverse drape rods to fixed location supports for creating exhibit booths. In an example, the flat-mounted coupler  10  has a castletop style coupler accessory  11  as depicted. The flat-mounted coupler  10  in  FIG. 7  relates to a coupler adapted to be affixed via a wall or flat-mounted support. The holes  12  in the flat-mounted coupler mounting may be used to affix the flat-mounted coupler  10  to the screwed connections  41  of the coupler adaptor  40  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the coupler adaptor  40  attached to a rectangular extrusion  30  with a flat-mounted coupler  10 . The coupler adaptor  40  is illustrated as clamped onto the rectangular extrusion  30  as described in  FIG. 6 . The screw tightener  49  is illustrated with a wingnut  81  being used to tighten the coupler adaptor  40  onto the rectangular extrusion  30 . As described herein, the wingnut  81  is operable to tighten the slidable clamp  44  and the stable clamp  45 , as described with respect to  FIG. 1 , together to squeeze the coupler adaptor  40  onto the rectangular extrusion  30 . 
       FIG. 8  additionally illustrates a flat-mounted coupler  10  being mounted onto the coupler adaptor  40 . The flat-mounted coupler  10 , as described with respect to  FIG. 7 , may be used for coupling transverse drape rods to fixed location supports for creating exhibit booths. The flat-mounted coupler  10  is connected to the coupler adaptor  40  via screws  82  threaded through the screw holes  12 , as described with respect to  FIG. 7 , in the flat-mounted coupler  10  and the screw holes  41 , as described with respect to  FIG. 1 , of the coupler adaptor  40  as depicted herein. The screws  82  may be any type of threaded screws or bolts or other connector that inserts into the screw holes  41  to affix the flat-mounted coupler  10  to the coupler adaptor  40 .