Patent ID: 7267375

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a first duct having a rib formed on an exterior surface thereof, said rib having an outer surface with a side wall extending therefrom; a second duct having a rib formed on an exterior surface thereof, said first and second ducts extending in longitudinal alignment, said rib of said second duct having an outer surface with a side wall extending therefrom; a collar receiving said first and second ducts therein in generally end-to-end relationship, said collar having a first end portion at one end thereof and a second end portion at an opposite end thereof, said each of said first and second end portions being flexibly movable between a first position spaced away from the rib of the respective duct and a second position extending toward the respective ribs of the respective ducts so as to abut the respective side wall of the respective duct; a first coupler element translatably secured to said collar, said first coupler element translatable so as to push said first end portion from said first position to said second position; a second coupler element translatably secured to said collar, said second coupler element translatable so as to push said second end portion from said first position to said second position; said first end portion comprising a plurality of finger elements extending outwardly of said end of said collar, said second end portion comprising a plurality of finger elements extending outwardly of said opposite end of said collar, said plurality of finger elements of said first end portion being radially spaced from each other around said diameter of said collar, said plurality of finger elements of said second end portion being radially spaced from each other around said diameter of said collar; and each of the finger elements having a shoulder formed on an inner surface thereof, said shoulder of the finger elements at said first end portion contacting said side wall of said rib of said first duct when the first end portion is in said second position, said shoulder of the finger elements of said second end portion contacting said side wall of said rib of said second duct when said second end portion is in said second position.