Abstract:
A connector for joining two tubular members together includes inner and out concentric rings that are joined together in a manner that permits the outer ring to turn relative to the inner ring. The inner side of the inner ring has two seats to engage the ends of the tubular members that are to be joined together. The outer side of the inner ring and the inner side of the outer ring have camming members that when engaged cause the outer ring to exert compressive forces on the inner ring that in turn causes the inner ring to firmly grip the tubular members. The inner ring preferably has a gasket-like material in each of the seats that firmly engages the ends of the tubular members. When the camming members are disengaged, the ends of the tubular members may be inserted into or removed from the connector so as to separate the parts from one another.

Description:
This invention relates to cage systems for small animals and more particularly relates to connectors used to join various parts of the system together. 
     A number of small animal cage systems are presently available to house such animals as hamsters, ferrets, gerbils etc. One of the best known and most popular of these systems is sold under the trademark HABITRAIL by Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. of Montreal, Canada and its United States subsidiary Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. of Mansfield, Mass. That system includes a large number of different items including cages, plastic enclosures such as living quarters, play stations, exercise and eating compartments, towers etc that are joined together by tubes of different length and connectors that couple the tubes and various items of the system with one another. Competitive systems have somewhat similar arrangements. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a connector that is easy to use and operates effectively to join the various parts of the system together. 
     Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a connector that does not require a specific circumferential orientation between the connector and either of the parts of the system to be joined by the connector. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector that creates a strong and secure connection between the two parts of the system that are joined together by it. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an object is to provide a connector that is easy to handle and has a good gripping surface so that it may be attached to and removed from any item to which it is joined. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an object is to provide a connector that accommodates a wide range of dimensional tolerances in the objects to which it is to be connected. 
     To accomplish these and other objects, the connector of the present invention includes an outer ring and an inner ring that are circumferentially movable with respect to one another. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the inner ring is discontinuous, composed of two or more sections with their adjacent ends closely spaced to form a substantially continuous ring. The discontinuity of the inner ring enables the effective diameter of the inner ring to be easily reduced so as to firmly grip a tube or other item that is to be engaged by the connector and greatly reduces manufacturing tool costs. The inner ring has a pair of parallel grooves on its inner surface that are designed to receive the ends of the members that are to be joined together by the connector. The ends of the members to be joined are essentially round so that they may fit within the inner rings and seat in the grooves. The connector and the mating ends of members to be joined by the connector may take many different forms that allow the connector to grip the members when the connector is in the locked position. 
     The outer surface of the inner ring and the inner surface of the outer ring carry a plurality of camming surfaces that are spaced apart a circumferential distance that is greater than that of the surfaces so that the rings can be moved relative to one another between a first position (unlocked) wherein the surfaces are disengaged in which case no compressive forces are applied to the inner ring by the outer ring, and a second position (locked) wherein they are engaged causing the outer ring to compress the inner ring to reduce its effective diameter so that it firmly grips the members. In the first position the inner ring is sized to receive the ends of the members that are to be joined together while in the second position the connector is locked onto the members so that they can not be pulled apart or otherwise separate from one another. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, separate camming surfaces are provided on both the inner and outer rings for each side of the connector that receives one of the members that are to be joined together. The camming surfaces on one side of the connector are axially aligned with the spaces between the cam surfaces on the other side so that the compression exerted on the inner ring by the outer ring when the camming surfaces are engaged is spread evenly about the connector. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the inner ring is co-injected or insert molded with a gasket made of a yieldable material so as to more firmly engage the ends of the members coupled by the connector. 
    
    
     The foregoing objects and features of the invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the connector of the present invention joining two tubular segments, one being straight and the other curved; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the assembly of connector and tubing shown in FIG. 1 taken along the section line  2 — 2  in that figure; 
     FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the portion of FIG. 2 encircled by arrows  2 A— 2 A; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the connector showing its various components; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector detached from tubing or other members of the assembly and showing the inner and outer rings in their unlocked position; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views of the connector in the unlocked and locked position, respectively; 
     FIGS. 7,  8  and  9  are cross sectional views of the connector taken along the corresponding section lines in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 10 is an end view of the connector ring shown; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the section line  11 — 11  in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a component and tube subassembly connected together in their normal assembled position and joined by the connector of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 13 is an end view of the subassembly of FIG.  12  and showing how the connector may engage and maintain the connection of the component and tube even when the tube slips from its intended position shown in full lines to the slipped position shown in broken lines. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In FIG. 1 a typical application of the present invention is shown wherein a pair of tubular members  10  and  12  are joined together by a connector  14 . While tubular members  10  and  12  are straight and curved tube segments respectively, it is to be understood that the connector of the present invention may be used to join any two members together that have a tubular collar-like end that preferably has a bead on its outer surface at its free edge. For example, the tubular member  12  is shown to have a bead  16  on its outer surface  18  adjacent its edge  20 . Each end of each of the tubular members  10  and  12  has such a bead. The end  22  of the tubular member  12  serves as a collar that may be inserted into the connector  14  as is described in detail below. The bead may be approximately ⅛ inch wide and {fraction (1/16)} inch high, and preferably it is beveled toward the end of the tube. It is to be understood however that the bead may be of different dimensions as dictated by the size and other physical characteristics of the connector  14 . Furthermore, the tubes  10  and  12  are only representative of any type of member that is connected as part of the cage assembly with other parts thereof, such as living quarters, play stations, exercise or eating compartments, towers etc. The number of different members that may be connected in such assemblies is almost limitless, and the connector of this invention may be used to connect any member to another so long as the ends of the members have a shape complimentary to the connector. In the following description, the members joined together by the connector are sometimes called tubes, but it is to be understood that when “tube” is used it includes by definition any other part of the assembly that is provided with a collar-like fitting to register with the connector. 
     The tube connector  14  is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-11. The connector  14  includes outer and inner rings  40  and  42  that are circumferentially movable with respect to one another. The outer ring  40  typically may be made of a variety of materials such as styrene, and may be injection molded by techniques well known in the art. The inner ring in the embodiment shown that may be made of polypropylene or other similar material is preferably discontinuous, that is, it is composed of two or more arcuate components  42 A and  42 B (two segments are shown in the illustrated embodiment) that together comprise an essentially continuous ring. Each segment is preferably co-injected or insert molded with an inner portion  46  that is relatively flexible and typically made of an elastomeric material. The inner portion  46  serves as a gasket identified in the following description and shown in the drawings at  106  to firmly engage the two collar-like ends on the members to be joined by the connector  14 . The two segments  42 A and  42 B in the embodiment illustrated, when inserted within the outer ring  40 , form a continuation of one another to define an essentially continuous inner ring  42  within the outer ring  40 . 
     The outer ring  40  is shown in detail particularly in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  and  11  and in FIG.  3 . The outer ring  40  has outer and inner surfaces  48  and  50 , and the outer surface carries a number of ribs  52  that facilitate gripping of the outer ring. It should, of course, be appreciated that while ribs are shown formed in the outer surface  48  of the outer ring for that purpose, the surface can be otherwise configured such as with knurls, bumps, etc. for accomplishing the same purpose. The inner surface  50  of the outer ring  40  carries a radially, inwardly extending rib  54  about the inner circumference of the outer ring  40  essentially midway between the outer edges  56 . The rib  54  in the embodiment shown is continuous. The rib  54  serves to stiffen the outer ring and also provides a track on which the inner ring  42  is mounted as is described in more detail below. Also disposed on the inner surface  50  of the outer ring  40  on each side of the rib  54  are inwardly extending protrusions  60  that bear upon the outer surface of the inner ring so as to compress the inner ring against the tubular members coupled together by the tube connector  14  of this invention. That action is described in substantial detail below. The protrusions  60  are shown in FIGS. 3,  5  and  6  to be equidistantly spaced about the inner circumference of outer ring  40 , with the protrusions on one side of the rib  54  being aligned with the space between adjacent protrusions on the other side of the rib. The circumferential ends of the protrusions  60  are defined by inclined ramps  62 . The gaps between adjacent protrusions  60  are identified at  64 . The circumferential length of the protrusions  60  is slightly less than the circumferential length of the gaps  64 . As is particularly evident in FIG. 3, the protrusions  60  on each side of the rib  54  are circumferentially displaced from one another so that the gaps  64  on one side of the rib  54  are aligned with the protrusions  60  on the other side thereof. 
     The inner ring  42  has outer and inner surfaces  70  and  72 , and the outer surface  70  has a pair of radially outwardly extending beads  74  that between them define a recess  76  that receives the rib  54  on the inner surface of the outer ring  40 . The recess  76  is equidistantly spaced from the edges  78  of the inner ring. The outer surface  70  of the inner ring carries a plurality of cams  80  and  82  that are spaced apart as suggested at  84  (see FIG.  3 ). The cams  80 , in the embodiment shown, are in the form of straight ribs that have smooth outer surfaces  86  and ramp-like ends  88 . The cams  82  have dimples  83  on their upper surface  90 , and their ends are ramped as suggested at  92 . Furthermore, the cams  82  are wider than the cams  80  so that their outer edges extend beyond the edges of the remaining portions of the inner ring. The dimples  83  in the embodiment shown, are, therefore, visible beyond the edges  56  of the outer ring. The radial height of the cams  80  and  82  are essentially the same. The cams  80  and  82  are alternately provided on the outer surface  70  of the inner ring on each side of the recess  76  and separated by the spaces  84 , and the cams are each circumferentially aligned with a space  84  on the opposite side of the recess. The cams  80  and  82  cooperate with the protrusions  60  on the inner surface of the outer ring so as to apply compressive forces to the inner ring causing the inner ring, in turn, firmly to engage the tubes joined by the connector. 
     The inner surface  72  of the inner ring  42  in the embodiment shown carries radially inwardly extending shoulders  100  disposed inwardly of the edges  78  and spaced from a central radially inwardly extending fin  102  disposed along the approximate center line of the inner surface  72  (see FIGS. 2A,  7 ,  8  and  9 ). The shoulders  100  and fin  102  define two spaced apart seats  104  into which the gasket  106  is co-injected or insert molded. As the gasket  106  is made of a yieldable material such as an elastomer, when pressed against a surface such as a bead on the collar-like coupling on the tubes, the gasket will firmly grip on it. 
     The gasket  106  of the inner ring  42  is shown separately in FIG. 3 before it is co-injected or insert molded with the ring. The gasket has a central circumferential slot  107  through which the fin  102  extends in the finished product (also see FIGS.  2 A and  7 - 9 ). The gasket segments shown in FIG. 3 have small feet  107   a  at each end that merge with the ends of the segments of the inner ring to firmly anchor the two parts  42   a  and  42   b  together and may also form a cushion between the ends of the parts of the inner ring when assembled in the outer ring  40 . The inner surface  108  of the gasket is shown in FIGS.  3  and  6 - 9  to provide inclined surfaces for engaging the couplings and more particularly the ends of the tubes when in use to couple segments of the assembly together. 
     As stated above, in the embodiment illustrated, the outer ring  40  is rotatable with respect to the inner ring while the inner ring remains in place connected to the outer ring by virtue of the registration of the rib  54  on the outer ring with the recess  76  on the outer surface of the inner ring  42 . When the outer ring  40  is disposed on the inner ring in a circumferential position such that protrusions  60  on the inner surface of the outer ring on each side of the rib  54  are out of registration with the cams  80  and  82  on the outer surface of the inner ring, and rather are disposed opposite the spaces  84  between the cams as shown in FIG. 5, the outer ring does not exert any compressive forces on the inner ring except as those that may be generated in reaction to an outward pressure exerted on the inner surface of the inner ring by the tubes to be coupled together by the connector  14 . That force, if any, however does not impede the rotation of the outer ring with respect to the inner ring so that the protrusions  60  may be caused to ride up on the cams and cause a compressive force to be exerted on the inner ring so as to essentially contract its diameter. In FIG. 6, the connector is shown in the operative position. It should be noted that the protrusions  60  engage the cams  80  and  82  so as to exert radially inwardly directed pressure on the inner ring  42  so as to cause the gasket  106  to tighten on the collar-like couplings on the ends of the tubes. It should be appreciated that the protrusions and cams on both sides of the connector  14  act together to either compress or release the inner ring. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate one of the many advantages of the present invention. The connector enables the two components to be joined together in any angular relationship. For example, the tube  120  extends upwardly one to the side of the compartment  122  as shown in FIG.  13 . If the weight of the tube for any reason is too much for the connector  14  to handle, the connector will act as a clutch and allow the tube  120  to slip slowly about the axis  124  of the coupling without separating from either the tube or compartment. The slippage will occur on the side  14 A of the connector  14  that engages the coupling  126  on the end of the tube, and not on the other side  14 B of the connector that engages the coupling  128  on the compartment  122 . While the elastomer portion  106  of the inner ring  42  will stick to the normally polished surface of the couplings under normal conditions, of the weight imposes a twisting torque on one of the components that exceeds the load the connector is able to resist, one of the components will rotate slowly and avoid server impact and thereby protect an animal in the tube, prevent detachment thereof so that the animal will not escape, and prevent breakage of the component. This is suggested by the broken line showing of the tube in FIG.  13 . The connector continues to maintain the secure connection between the components and resists all side impacts. 
     While in the foregoing description the inner ring has been described as being discontinuous and in the embodiment shown is made up of two segments, it will be appreciated that the inner ring may be divided into more than two segments or the inner ring may be continuous without any breaks therein depending upon the flexibility and compressibility of the material from which the inner ring is made. Therefore, variations as to the number of ring segments that are employed are within the scope of the present invention. It will also be appreciated that while in the illustrated embodiment, the inner ring is made by co-injection or insert molding and the gaskets are made of a different material than the remaining portion of the inner ring, the inner ring may be made from a single material as long as it is capable of compressing (contracting in diameter) in response to forces being applied to it by the outer ring. Furthermore, while in the embodiment illustrated four protrusions and four cams are provided on each side of the rib  54  of the outer ring  40  and on each side of the recess  76  of the inner ring  42 , different numbers may be employed. It is, however, advantageous to stagger the relationship of the cams and protrusions on the inner and outer rings as shown in the illustrated embodiment so as to promote the equalization of pressures about the circumference of the connector. 
     It is evident from the forgoing description that numerous modifications may be made of the illustrative embodiment without departing from the spirit of this invention. Therefore, scope of this invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of this invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.