Patent Publication Number: US-10760272-B2

Title: Rebar coupler

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0064058 filed on Jun. 4, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a rebar coupler. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Rebar couplers are used to connect rebars at industrial sites, such as construction sites. Examples of such rebar couplers are disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1643846 entitled “One Touch-type Automatic Rebar Coupler” and issued on Jul. 22, 2016 and Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-2010-0006764 entitled “Rebar Coupler Capable of Connecting Rebars in Cross Shape” and published on Jul. 2, 2010. 
     However, according to the conventional rebar couplers, the angles at which rebars are coupled to the rebar couplers are fixed, and thus it is impossible to adjust the connection angle between rebars to be connected. Accordingly, a problem arises in that when it is required to adjust the connection angle between rebars to be connected at an industrial site to which the rebars are applied, a separate rebar coupler must be fabricated. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a rebar coupler that enables the connection angle between rebars, to be connected, to be rapidly and conveniently varied at an industrial site to which the rebars are applied. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rebar coupler including: a first coupling member configured such that one of a plurality of rebars to be connected is connected thereto; a second coupling member configured such that another of the plurality of rebars to be connected is connected thereto; and a coupling means configured to connect the first coupling member and the second coupling member to each other; 
     wherein the connection angle between the first coupling member and the second coupling member is variable to a desired angle. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rebar coupler including: a first coupling member configured such that two of a plurality of rebars to be connected are connected thereto; a second coupling member configured such that other two of the plurality of rebars to be connected are connected thereto; and a coupling means configured to connect the first coupling member and the second coupling member to each other; 
     wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member cross each other at a right angle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a state in which a rebar coupler according to a first embodiment of the present invention is spread; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state in which the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention is bent; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state in which the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention is exploded; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a state in which the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention is spread; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a first coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing the first coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a second coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing the second coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view showing the combined appearance of a rebar coupler according to a second embodiment of the present invention when viewed from above; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a coupling body member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a coupling body member constituting part of a rebar coupler according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the combined appearance of a rebar coupler according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a first coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a coupling body member constituting part of a rebar coupler according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing the appearance of the rebar coupler according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention before combination. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Rebar couplers according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a state in which a rebar coupler according to a first embodiment of the present invention is spread,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state in which the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention is bent,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state in which the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention is exploded,  FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a state in which the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention is spread,  FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a first coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing the first coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a second coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing the second coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8  together, the rebar coupler  100  according to the present embodiment includes a first coupling member  110 , a second coupling member  120 , and a coupling means  105  and  106 . The connection angle between the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  may be varied to a desired angle. 
     One of a plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is connected to the first coupling member  110 . 
     In detail, the first coupling member  110  includes: a first coupling body  111  configured such that one of the plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is connected thereto; a first coupling connection portion  112  configured to extend from the part of the first coupling body  111  opposite to the part of the first coupling body  111  to which the one of the plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is connected; a coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113  configured to protrude from the surface of the first coupling connection portion  112 , engaging with the second coupling member  120 , in a ring shape; and a coupling inner ring-shaped protrusion  114  configured to protrude from the surface of the first coupling connection portion  112 , engaging with the second coupling member  120 , in a ring shape while having the same center as the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113  but a smaller diameter than the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113 . 
     The first coupling body  111  is formed in a long rod shape having a predetermined length. A first reception hole configured to receive one end portion of the one of the plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is formed in one end of the first coupling body  111 . 
     The first coupling connection portion  112  is formed on the side of the first coupling body  111  opposite to the side of the first coupling body  111  in which the first reception hole is formed. The surface of the first coupling connection portion  112  that engages with the second coupling member  120  is formed to a predetermined depth. 
     The coupling inner ring-shaped protrusion  114  and the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113  protrude from the surface of the first coupling connection portion  112 , engaging with the second coupling member  120 , in band shapes having a predetermined height while having the same center. 
     Meanwhile, the first coupling member  110  further includes a first coupling through hole  115 . The first coupling through hole  115  passes through the first coupling connection portion  112  while having the same center as the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113  and the coupling inner ring-shaped protrusion  114 . The coupling means  105  and  106  is inserted into the first coupling through hole  115 . 
     Another of the plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is connected to the second coupling member  120 . 
     In detail, the second coupling member  120  includes: a second coupling body  121  configured such that another of the plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is connected thereto; a second coupling connection portion  122  configured to extend from the part of the second coupling body  121  opposite to the part of the second coupling body  121  to which the other of the plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is connected; a coupling outer ring-shaped groove  123  depressed through the surface of the second coupling connection portion  122 , engaging with the first coupling connection portion  112 , in a ring shape, and configured to rotatably receive the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113 ; and a coupling inner ring-shaped groove  124  depressed through the surface of the second coupling connection portion  122 , engaging with the first coupling connection portion  112 , in a ring shape while having the same center as the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  123  but a smaller diameter than the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  123 , and configured to rotatably receive the coupling inner ring-shaped protrusion  114 . 
     The second coupling body  121  is formed in a long rod shape having a predetermined length. A second reception hole configured to receive one end portion of the other of the plurality of rebars  10  to be connected is formed in one end of the second coupling body  121 . 
     The second coupling connection portion  122  is formed on the side of the first coupling body  111  opposite to the side of the second coupling body  121  in which the second reception hole is formed. The surface of the second coupling connection portion  122  that engages with the first coupling member  110  is formed to a predetermined depth. 
     The coupling inner ring-shaped groove  124  and the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  123  are recessed through the surface of the second coupling connection portion  122 , engaging with the first coupling member  110 , in band shapes having a predetermined depth while having the same center. 
     Meanwhile, the second coupling member  120  further includes a second coupling through hole  125 . The second coupling through hole  125  passes through the second coupling connection portion  122  while having the same center as the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  123  and the coupling inner ring-shaped groove  124 . The coupling means  105  and  106  is inserted into the second coupling through hole  125 . 
     When the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113  and the coupling inner ring-shaped protrusion  114  are inserted into the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  123  and the coupling inner ring-shaped groove  124 , respectively, the first coupling through hole  115  and the second coupling through hole  125  communicate with each other. Accordingly, the coupling means  105  and  106  may be smoothly inserted into the first coupling through hole  115  and the second coupling through hole  125 . 
     The coupling means  105  and  106  connects the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  to each other. 
     In detail, the coupling means  105  and  106  includes a female coupler  106  and a male coupler  105 . 
     The female coupler  106  is brought from the outside of any one of the first coupling through hole  115  and the second coupling through hole  125 , and is sequentially passed through the first coupling through hole  115  and the second coupling through hole  125  that communicate with each other. A coupling hole is formed through one surface of the female coupler  106  to a predetermined depth in a longitudinal direction. 
     The male coupler  105  is brought from the outside of the other one of the first coupling through hole  115  and the second coupling through hole  125 , and is then fitted into the coupling hole of the female coupler  106  in the state of having been sequentially passed through the first coupling through hole  115  and the second coupling through hole  125 , thereby connecting the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  to each other. 
     For example, the female coupler  106  may be brought from the outside of the first coupling through hole  115  and be sequentially passed through the first coupling through hole  115  and the second coupling through hole  125 , and the male coupler  105  may be brought from the outside of the second coupling through hole  125  and be then fitted into the coupling hole of the female coupler  106 . 
     Threads are formed on the inner surface of the coupling hole and the outer surface of the male coupler  105  to be engaged with each other, and thus the female coupler  106  and the male coupler  105  may be screwed into each other. 
     As the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  are rotatably coupled to each other by the coupling means  105  and  106  as described above, the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion  113  and the coupling inner ring-shaped protrusion  114  may be rotated in the state of having been inserted into the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  123  and the coupling inner ring-shaped groove  124 . Accordingly, the connection angle between the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  may be rapidly and conveniently varied to a desired connection angle. 
     In the state in which the connection angle between the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  has been varied to the desired connection angle, the male coupler  105  is further rotated by the external force of an operator so that the male coupler  105  is more deeply fitted into the female coupler  106 , and thus the connection angle between the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  may be fixed. 
     It will be apparent that when it is necessary to adjust the connection angle between the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120 , the male coupler  105  may be rotated in the direction, opposite to the direction in which the connection angle between the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  is fixed, by the external force of the operator so that the male coupler  105  may be less deeply fitted into the female coupler  106 . 
     As described above, as the rebar coupler  100  includes the first coupling member  110 , the second coupling member  120 , and the coupling means  105  and  106 , the connection angle between the first coupling member  110  and the second coupling member  120  may be varied to a desired angle, and thus the connection angle between the connected rebars  10  may be rapidly and conveniently varied at an industrial site to which the rebars  10  are applied. 
     Rebar couplers according to other embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, descriptions that are the same as the descriptions already given in conjunction with the first embodiment of the present invention will be replaced with the latter, and will be omitted in the following description. 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view showing the combined appearance of a rebar coupler according to a second embodiment of the present invention when viewed from above, and  FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a coupling body member  230  constituting part of the rebar coupler according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10  together, the rebar coupler  200  according to the present embodiment further includes the coupling body member  230 . 
     At least one of first coupling members and second coupling members  220  is rotatably connected to the coupling body member  230  by a coupling means. 
     In the present embodiment, the coupling body member  230  includes a coupling body  231 , and a plurality of coupling portions  235  formed on a plurality of side surfaces of the coupling body  231  and configured such that at least one of the first coupling members and the second coupling members  220  is rotatably coupled thereto by the coupling means. 
     In this case, a case where the second coupling member  220  is connected to the coupling portions  235  will be described. 
     Each of the coupling portions  235  includes: a coupling extension  236  configured to extend from the coupling body  231 ; an extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  237  configured to protrude from the coupling extension  236  in a ring shape; an extensional inner ring-shaped protrusion  238  configured to protrude from the coupling extension  236  in a ring shape while having the same center as the extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  237  but a smaller diameter than the extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  237 ; and an extensional coupling through hole  239  configured to pass through the coupling extension  236  while having the same center as the extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  237  and the extensional inner ring-shaped protrusion  238  and to receive the coupling means. 
     The extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  237  and the extensional inner ring-shaped protrusion  238  are rotatably inserted into the coupling outer ring-shaped groove and coupling inner ring-shaped groove of the second coupling member  220 , respectively, and thus the connection angle of the second coupling member  220  relative to the coupling portion  235  may be varied. 
     In the state in which the second coupling member  220  and the coupling portion  235  have been engaged with each other, the coupling means is inserted into the extensional coupling through hole  239  and the second coupling through hole. 
     The plurality of the coupling portions  235  extends from the coupling body  231  in different directions, and the second coupling members  220  are connected to the plurality of the coupling portion  235  having extended above. Accordingly, the second coupling members  220  may be varied to desired connection angles relative to the coupling body  231 . 
     In the present embodiment, the coupling portions  235  are four in number, and the coupling portions  235  are each formed on each side surface of the coupling body  231  at a right angle. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a coupling body member constituting part of a rebar coupler according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , in the present embodiment, coupling portions  335  are six in number, with four of the coupling portions  335  being formed on side surfaces of the coupling body  331  while being perpendicular to each other, and two of the coupling portions  335  protruding in front of and behind the coupling body  331 , respectively. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the combined appearance of a rebar coupler  400  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a first coupling member constituting part of the rebar coupler  400  according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13  together, the rebar coupler  400  according to the present embodiment includes: a first coupling member  410  configured such that two of a plurality of rebars to be connected are connected both sides thereof; a second coupling member  420  configured such that other two of the plurality of rebars to be connected are connected to both sides thereof; and a coupling means configured to connect the first coupling member  410  and the second coupling member  420  to each other. The first coupling member  410  and the second coupling member  420  cross each other at a right angle. 
     In detail, the first coupling member  410  includes: a first coupling body  411  configured such that first reception holes  412  are formed in both sides thereof; a first coupling connection portion  413  formed in the center of the first coupling body  411  to a predetermined depth; a coupling outer ring-shaped groove  414  formed through the surface of the first coupling connection portion  413 , engaging with the second coupling member  420 , in a ring shape; a coupling inner ring-shaped groove  415  formed through the surface of the first coupling connection portion  413 , engaging with the second coupling member  420 , in a ring shape while having the same center as the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  414  but a smaller diameter than the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  414 ; and a first coupling through hole  416  configured to pass through the first coupling connection portion  413  while having the same center as the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  414  and the coupling inner ring-shaped groove  415 . 
     The second coupling member  420  includes the coupling outer ring-shaped protrusion, the coupling inner ring-shaped protrusion, and the second coupling through hole that correspond to the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  414 , the coupling inner ring-shaped groove  415 , and the first coupling through hole  416 , respectively. 
     The first coupling member  410  and the second coupling member  420 , which are formed as described above, engage with each other while crossing each other, and thus a plurality of rebars may perpendicularly cross each other in a cross shape. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a coupling body member constituting part of a rebar coupler  500  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing the appearance of the rebar coupler  500  according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention before combination. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15  together, the rebar coupler  500  according to the present embodiment further includes a coupling body member  530 . 
     At least one of a first coupling member and a second coupling member  520  is rotatably connected to the coupling body member  530  by a coupling means. 
     In the present embodiment, the coupling body member  530  includes: a coupling body  531  formed to a predetermined length; and a plurality of coupling portions  535  arranged on one surface of the coupling body  531  in parallel with each other and each configured such that at least one of the first coupling member and the second coupling member  520  is rotatably coupled thereto by the coupling means. 
     In this case, a case where the second coupling member  520  is connected to the coupling portion  535  will be described. 
     Each of the coupling portions  535  includes: an extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  537  configured to protrude from one surface of the coupling body  531  in a ring shape; an extensional inner ring-shaped protrusion  538  configured to protrude from one surface of the coupling body  531  in a ring shape while having the same center as the extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  537  but a smaller diameter than the extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  537 ; and an extensional coupling through hole  539  configured to pass through the one surface of the coupling body  531  while having the same center as the extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  537  and the extensional inner ring-shaped protrusion  538  and to receive the coupling means. 
     The extensional outer ring-shaped protrusion  537  and the extensional inner ring-shaped protrusion  538  are rotatably inserted into the coupling outer ring-shaped groove  523  and coupling inner ring-shaped groove  524  of the second coupling member  520 , respectively, and thus the connection angle of the second coupling member  520  relative to the coupling portion  535  may be varied. 
     In the state in which the second coupling member  520  and the coupling portion  535  have engaged with each other, the coupling means is inserted into the extensional coupling through hole  539  and the second coupling through hole  525 . 
     The plurality of the coupling portions  535  is arranged on one surface of the coupling body  531  in parallel with each other, and second coupling members  520  are connected to the coupling portions  535 , respectively. Accordingly, the second coupling members  520  may be varied to respective desired connection angles relative to the coupling body  531 . 
     In the present embodiment, the coupling portions  535  are three in number, and the coupling portions  535  are arranged on one surface of the coupling body  531  in parallel with each other. Then, the second coupling members  520  may be connected to the respective coupling portions  535  in different directions. 
     For example, two outer second coupling members  520  may be connected in opposite directions, and one center second coupling member  520  may be connected in a direction perpendicular to the two outer second coupling members  520 . 
     In the rebar coupler according to one aspect of the present invention, the rebar coupler includes the first coupling member, the second coupling member, and the coupling means, and thus the connection angle between the first coupling member and the second coupling member may be varied to a desired angle, with the result that the connection angle between rebars to be connected may be rapidly and conveniently varied at an industrial site to which the rebars are applied. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated and described in conjunction with the specific embodiments, it will be understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains that the present invention may be modified or altered in various manners without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the attached claims. Furthermore, all the modifications and alterations will fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.