초록 ▼

A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected tent poles. The connector device comprises male and female components coupled to one another to permit positioning of the poles such that the poles are axially aligned in an aligned configuration and such that the poles are pivoted 180 d

A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected tent poles. The connector device comprises male and female components coupled to one another to permit positioning of the poles such that the poles are axially aligned in an aligned configuration and such that the poles are pivoted 180 degrees substantially parallel and adjacent to each other in a folded configuration. The male component includes an axially extending first guiding member and a first locking member formed on the inner projection, and the female component includes a second guiding member and a second locking member. The first and second locking members are engaged so as to secure the poles in the aligned configuration, and the first and second guiding members are engaged when the poles are in the aligned and folded configurations so as to further secure the poles in the respective configurations and to prevent misalignment of the poles.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected poles, the connector device comprising: a male component comprising an outer section having a first cavity for receiving an end of one of the poles and an opposing inner section having an inner projection, the inner projection compris

1. A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected poles, the connector device comprising: a male component comprising an outer section having a first cavity for receiving an end of one of the poles and an opposing inner section having an inner projection, the inner projection comprising: an axially extending first pivoting hole, an axially extending guide pin and a first locking member extending along a bottom portion of the inner projection; anda female component comprising an outer section having a second cavity for receiving an end of the other one of the poles and an opposing inner section having a housing for receiving the inner projection of the male component, the housing comprising a lower portion and two opposing side portions, each of the side portions having an axially extending second pivoting hole substantially aligned with each other, each of the side portions having opposing guide grooves, each guide groove having opposing ends, a distal end of the lower portion of the housing having a second locking member extending therefrom;wherein the male and female components are pivotally coupled through the first and second pivoting holes, the first and second locking members are lockably engaged when the poles are aligned, and the guide pin and guide groove ends are engaged when the poles are aligned longitudinally and when the poles are pivoted 180 degrees substantially parallel and adjacent to each other;wherein the first and second pivoting holes have substantially the same size and shape; andwherein the bottom portion of the inner projection includes a void directly above the first locking member for receiving the second locking member. 2. The connector device of claim 1, wherein the first locking member is a bar extending longitudinally along the bottom portion of the inner projection and integrally thereto. 3. The connector device of claim 2, wherein the second locking member comprises a channel for engaging the bar. 4. A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected poles, the connector device comprising: a male component comprising an outer section having a first cavity for receiving an end of one of the poles and an opposing inner section having an inner projection, the inner projection comprising: an axially extending first pivoting hole, an axially extending guide pin and a first locking member extending along a bottom portion of the inner projection; anda female component comprising an outer section having a second cavity for receiving an end of the other one of the poles and an opposing inner section having a housing for receiving the inner projection of the male component, the housing comprising a lower portion and two opposing side portions, each of the side portions having an axially extending second pivoting hole substantially aligned with each other, each of the side portions having opposing guide grooves, each guide groove having opposing ends, a distal end of the lower portion of the housing having a second locking member extending therefrom;wherein the male and female components are pivotally coupled through the first and second pivoting holes, the first and second locking members are lockably engaged when the poles are aligned, and the guide pin and guide groove ends are engaged when the poles are aligned longitudinally and when the poles are pivoted 180 degrees substantially parallel and adjacent to each other;wherein the first and second pivoting holes have substantially the same size and shape; andwherein the guide pin is substantially cylindrical and each guide groove end is sized substantially similar to the ends of the cylindrical guide pin. 5. The connector device of claim 4, wherein each guide groove is disposed on an upper end of each housing side portion. 6. A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected poles, the connector device comprising: a male component comprising an outer section having a first cavity for receiving an end of one of the poles and an opposing inner section having an inner projection, the inner projection having opposing first and a second side walls, the inner projection having a first pivoting hole extending axially at a central portion;a first guiding member extending axially from the inner projection;a first locking member formed on the inner projection;a female component comprising an outer section having a second cavity for receiving an end of the other one of the poles and an opposing inner section having a housing for receiving the inner projection of the male component, the housing having a bottom wall and opposing first and second side walls, the first and second side walls having an axially extending second pivoting hole;a second guiding member extending axially from the housing; anda second locking member formed on the housing;wherein the male and female components are pivotally coupled together through the first and second pivoting holes, the first and second locking members are engaged so as to secure the poles in a substantially aligned configuration, and the first and second guiding members are engaged when the poles are in the aligned configuration and when the poles are pivoted 180 degrees substantially parallel and adjacent to each other in a folded configuration;wherein the first and second pivoting holes have substantially the same size and shape; andwherein the first guiding member comprises a substantially cylindrical pin integrally formed on opposing side walls of the inner projection and the second guiding member comprises a groove disposed on an upper end of each housing side wall, each groove having opposing ends and sized substantially similar to ends of the pin. 7. A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected poles, the connector device comprising: a male component comprising an outer section having a first cavity for receiving an end of one of the poles and an opposing inner section having an inner projection, the inner projection having opposing first and a second side walls, the inner projection having a first pivoting hole extending axially at a central portion;a first guiding member extending axially from the inner projection;a first locking member formed on the inner projection;a female component comprising an outer section having a second cavity for receiving an end of the other one of the poles and an opposing inner section having a housing for receiving the inner projection of the male component, the housing having a bottom wall and opposing first and second side walls, the first and second side walls having an axially extending second pivoting hole;a second guiding member extending axially from the housing; anda second locking member formed on the housing;wherein the male and female components are pivotally coupled together through the first and second pivoting holes, the first and second locking members are engaged so as to secure the poles in a substantially aligned configuration, and the first and second guiding members are engaged when the poles are in the aligned configuration and when the poles are pivoted 180 degrees substantially parallel and adjacent to each other in a folded configuration;wherein the first and second pivoting holes have substantially the same size and shape; andwherein the first locking member comprises a bar extending longitudinally along a bottom portion of the inner projection and integrally thereto, and the second locking member comprises a longitudinal channel sized substantially similar to the bar formed on a distal end of the bottom wall of the housing. 8. The connector device of claim 7, wherein the bottom portion of the inner projection includes a void directly above the first locking member for receiving the second locking member. 9. A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected poles, the connector device comprising: a male component comprising an outer section having a first cavity for receiving an end of one of the poles and an opposing inner section having an inner projection the inner projection comprising: an axially extending first pivoting hole, an axially extending guide pin and a first locking member extending along a bottom portion of the inner projection; anda female component comprising an outer section having a second cavity for receiving an end of the other one of the poles and an opposing inner section having a housing for receiving the inner projection of the male component, the housing comprising a lower portion and two opposing side portions, each of the side portions having an axially extending second pivoting hole substantially aligned with each other, each of the side portions having opposing guide grooves, each guide groove having opposing ends, a distal end of the lower portion of the housing having a second locking member extending therefrom;wherein the male and female components are pivotally coupled through the first and second pivoting holes, the first and second locking members are lockably engaged when the poles are aligned, and the guide pin and guide groove ends are engaged when the poles are aligned longitudinally and when the poles are pivoted 180 degrees substantially parallel and adjacent to each other;wherein the first and second pivoting holes have substantially the same size and shape;wherein the first locking member comprises an extension extending from the inner projection; andwherein the second locking member comprises a channel. 10. The connector device of claim 9, wherein the extension is engaged with the channel when the poles are aligned. 11. A connector device for retaining a pair of pivotally connected poles, the connector device comprising: a male component comprising an outer section having a first cavity for receiving an end of one of the poles and an opposing inner section having an inner projection, the inner projection having opposing first and a second side walls, the inner projection having a first pivoting hole extending axially at a central portion;a first guiding member extending axially from the inner projection;a first locking member formed on the inner projection;a female component comprising an outer section having a second cavity for receiving an end of the other one of the poles and an opposing inner section having a housing for receiving the inner projection of the male component, the housing having a bottom wall and opposing first and second side walls, the first and second side walls having an axially extending second pivoting hole;a second guiding member extending axially from the housing; anda second locking member formed on the housing;wherein the male and female components are pivotally coupled together through the first and second pivoting holes, the first and second locking members are engaged so as to secure the poles in a substantially aligned configuration, and the first and second guiding members are engaged when the poles are in the aligned configuration and when the poles are pivoted 180 degrees substantially parallel and adjacent to each other in a folded configuration;wherein the first and second pivoting holes have substantially the same size and shape; andwherein: the first locking member comprises an extension extending from the inner projection; the second locking member comprises a channel; and the extension is engaged with the channel when the poles are in the aligned configuration.