Patent ID: 7513538

Claim:
A mechanical coupling mechanism for coupling two metal tubes end to end, comprising: a first coupler including a first central, half-shell portion adapted to surround approximately half of an outside dimension of a first metal tube of said two metal tubes to be coupled end to end, and a first pair of flanges, each flange of said first pair of flanges outwardly extending from said first central, half-shell portion, said first coupler being secured to a first side of said first metal tube yet of sufficient length to extend beyond a first end of said first metal tube; a second coupler including a second central, half shell portion adapted to surround approximately half of an outside dimension of a second metal tube of said two metal tubes to be coupled end to end, and a second pair of flanges, each flange of said second pair of flanges outwardly extending from said second central, half shell portion, said second coupler being secured to said second metal tube and of sufficient length to extend beyond a second end of said second metal tube; and said first coupler adapted to be joined to said second coupler by joining said first pair of flanges to said second pair of flanges to thereby couple and develop a full-strength structural connection between said first metal tube and said second metal tube with said first end of said first metal tube abutting said second end of said second metal tube, wherein said first coupler and said second coupler are fillet welded to said first metal tube and said second metal tube, respectively, at a seam formed between a portion of each flange of said pair of flanges and said respective tubes.