Patent Publication Number: US-2003231925-A1

Title: Visual inspection coupler

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a coupler and, more particularly, to a visual inspection coupler, which enables the inspector to check the connection of the connected members visually.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0004] It has been more than two decades since the use of coupler means to connect, for example, reinforcing bars in a line. Nowadays, various coupler means for connecting reinforcing bars, profiled irons, or other building construction materials are known. According to one conventional design, a tubular steel connecting member is used and sleeved onto one end of each of the two reinforcing bars to be connected, and then deformed by a hydraulic press. According to another conventional design, a screw joint is employed for enabling two members to be connected in a line. According to still another conventional design, a sleeve is used and sleeved onto the two reinforcing bars to be connected, and then a bonding agent for example, cement mortar is applied to the inside of the sleeve to secure the sleeve and the reinforcing bars together. The common drawback of the conventional design is the difficulty in job-site inspection. When checking a big number of workpieces at the job-site, it consumes much time, and sampling inspection is commonly adopted. However, sampling inspection cannot eliminate quality issues, resulting in high risk of engineering safety.  
       [0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a visual inspection coupler that eliminates the aforesaid problem.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The main object of the present invention is to provide a visual inspection coupler, which enables the inspector to check the reliability of the connection of the connected members visually.  
       [0007] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention and according to one aspect of the present invention, the visual inspection coupler comprises a female connector and a male connector respectively fixedly fastened to a respective transverse side of each of the two members to be connected. The female connector has at least one transversely extended coupling groove. The male connector fits the female connector, having at least one transversely extended coupling rib adapted for engaging into the at least one coupling groove of the female connector respectively. The engagement between the at least one coupling groove and the at least one coupling rib enables the worker to inspect the connection of the two members visually. According to another aspect of the present invention, the female connector has a substantially U-shaped profile. The male connector is a block member adapted for fitting into the U-shaped female connector. The at least one coupling groove of the female connector and the at least one coupling rib of the male connector can be made having a dovetailed, rectangular, semicircular, or triangular cross section. The female connector and the male connector can be respectively fastened to the members to be connected by friction welding or screw joint. As an alternate form of the present invention, the visual inspection coupler is comprised of two female connectors respectively fixedly fastened to a respective transverse side of each of the two members to be connected, and a male connector adapted for engaging into the female connectors to secure the female connectors together. According to this embodiment, the female connectors each have at least one transversely extended coupling groove, and the male connector has a plurality of transversely extended coupling ribs adapted for engaging into the at least one transversely extended coupling groove of each of the female connectors. According to another alternate form, the visual inspection coupler is comprised of two male connectors respectively fixedly fastened to the members to be connected, and a female connector adapted for coupling to the male connectors to secure the male connectors together.  
       [0008] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a visual inspection coupler according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a sectional assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a sectional assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 6 is a sectional assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 7 is a sectional assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 8 is a sectional assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 9 is an elevational assembly view of a visual inspection coupler according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0018] With reference to FIG. 1, a coupler in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a female connector  10  fixedly fastened to one transverse side  100  of a first member, fore example, a first reinforcing bar, and a male connector  20  fixedly fastened to one transverse side  200  of a second member (second reinforcing bar) for connection to the female connector  10  to secure the second reinforcing bar to the first reinforcing bar in a line. The transverse side  100  or  200  (X-axis direction) is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the respective reinforcing bar. The female connector  10  is a substantially U-shaped block comprising two inner faces  102  disposed on the inside and facing each other and a plurality of coupling grooves  101  symmetrically transversely extended through the inner faces  102 . According to this embodiment, four coupling grooves  101  are disposed in each inner face  102 . The male connector  20  is a block member adapted for engaging into the female connector  10 , comprising a plurality of coupling ribs  201  respectively symmetrically protruded from the two opposite peripheral sides  202  thereof and extended in transverse direction corresponding to the coupling grooves  101  in the female connector  10 . By means of inserting the male connector  200  into the female connector  10  in transverse direction to force the respective coupling ribs  201  into engagement with the respective coupling grooves  101 , the two reinforcing bars are connected in a line. According to this embodiment, the female connector  10  and the male connector  20  are respectively welded to the respective reinforcing bars by friction welding. The coupling grooves  101  are dovetail grooves, having sloping sidewalls of {fraction (1/100)} slope. The coupling ribs  201  are dovetail ribs fitting the dovetail coupling grooves  101 .  
     [0019]FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the female connector  11  and the male connector  21  are respectively welded to the respective members to be connected. Alternatively, the connectors  11 , 21  can respectively be fastened to the respective members by a screw joint or friction welding. Further, the male connector  21  is a tapered block having a thickness gradually reducing in one direction. The female connector  11  fits over the tapered male connector  21 .  
     [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the coupling grooves  121  of the female connector  12  and the coupling ribs  221  of the male connector  22  have a rectangular cross section.  
     [0021]FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the coupling grooves  131  of the female connector  13  and the coupling ribs  231  of the male connector  223  have a semicircular cross section.  
     [0022]FIG. 5 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the female connector  14  and the male connector  24  are block members having the respective coupling grooves  141  or coupling ribs  241  respectively transversely disposed at the respective abutting side. According to this embodiment, the coupling grooves  141  and the coupling ribs  241  have a dovetailed cross section. Alternatively, the coupling grooves  141  and the coupling ribs  241  can be made having a rectangular or semicircular cross section.  
     [0023]FIG. 6 illustrates a sixth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the female connector  15  and the male connector  25  are angled blocks fitting each other. The coupling grooves  151  and the coupling ribs  251  may be variously embodied as stated above.  
     [0024]FIG. 7 illustrates a seventh embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is adapted for use to connect plate members, for example, steel plates together. The transverse direction (X-axis direction) and longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) are defined same as the aforesaid embodiments. According to this embodiment, the visual inspection coupler comprises two female connectors  16  respectively fixedly fastened to the respective transverse sides  160  of the plate members to be connected, and a male connector  26  adapted for engaging into the female connectors  16  to secure the female connectors  16  together. The female connectors  16  each have two opposite inner faces  612  and coupling grooves  161  in the inner faces  162 . The male connector  26  is a block member having coupling ribs  261  respectively protruded from two opposite peripheral sides  262  thereof adapted for engaging into the coupling grooves  161  in the inner faces  162  of the female connectors  16 .  
     [0025]FIG. 8 illustrates an eighth embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the visual inspection coupler comprises two male connectors  27  respectively fixedly fastened to the respective transverse sides  270  of the members to be connected, and a female connector  17  of substantially I-shaped profile adapted for coupling to the male connectors  27  to secure the male connectors  27  together. The male connectors  27  each have a plurality of coupling ribs  271  transversely protruded from the respective opposite peripheral sides  272 . The female connector  17  comprises coupling grooves  171  respectively transversely disposed in the opposite inner faces  172  thereof and adapted for receiving the coupling ribs  271  of the male connectors  27 .  
     [0026]FIG. 9 illustrates a ninth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the aforesaid seventh embodiment, but used for connecting H-beams.  
     [0027] As indicated above, the visual inspection coupler of the present invention can be employed to connect reinforcing bars, steel plates, H-beams, profiled irons, etc.  
     [0028] Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.