Patent ID: 7857540

Claim:
A connecting system connecting first and second mesh sheets each defining a plurality of transverse longitudinal members, the connecting system comprising: a first loop portion formed on an end of each of a plurality of the longitudinal members of the first mesh sheet; a second loop portion formed on an end of each of a plurality of the longitudinal members of the second mesh sheet, each second loop portion being aligned with a respective first loop portion to define aligned pairs of the longitudinal members of the first and second mesh sheets; a plurality of pin housings, each pin housing comprising a tubular elongated body having a longitudinal through-passage having an opening at each longitudinal end of the pin housing and defining a loop passageway defining a housing axis; wherein the first and second loop portions of each respective pair of aligned longitudinal members of the first and second mesh sheets extend through the loop passageway of a respective one of the pin housings in opposite directions along the housing axis such that the respective first and second loop portions extend out of opposing ends of the loop passageway to define first and second pin channels through the first and second loop portions on the opposing longitudinal ends of the pin housing; and wherein the first and second pin channels are substantially orthogonal to the housing axis and the plurality of pin housings are arranged such that the first and second pin channels of the plurality of first and second loop portions are axially aligned, respectively; a first pin member longitudinally extending through the aligned first pin channels between each first loop portion and each pin housing; and a second pin member longitudinally extending through the aligned second pin channels between the second loop portions and each pin housing; wherein tension loads on the first and second mesh sheets in opposite directions along the housing axis displace the first and second loop portions against the pin members, respectively, and the first and second pin members against the pin housings such that the tension loads are transferred between the first and second loop portions of the first and second mesh sheets through the first and second pin members and the pin housings.