IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0667493
(2017-08-02)
|
등록번호 |
US-10014673
(2018-07-03)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Fortune Industries International, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
75 |
초록
▼
A connecting system for quickly securing a hollow tube to a structure or to another hollow tube using a connector that has a housing with a tapered interior edge that operably engages a locking element positioned therein. When the tube is inserted into the locking element, the locking element holds
A connecting system for quickly securing a hollow tube to a structure or to another hollow tube using a connector that has a housing with a tapered interior edge that operably engages a locking element positioned therein. When the tube is inserted into the locking element, the locking element holds and locks the tube in place in the connector. A guide ring may be provided within the connector to facilitate proper alignment of the tube within the connector and provide excellent electrical conductivity throughout the entire tube connecting system. One or more bearings may be provided as part of the locking element to facilitate initial tube insertion and then compression locking of the tube by the locking element. The connector can include a variety of structure engaging portions to allow the connector to be operably secured to a variety of structures such as electrical junction boxes, electrical conduits, tubes, armored cables, metal clad cables, flexible metal cables and the like.
대표청구항
▼
1. A hollow-tube connecting system comprising: a hollow tube;a connector for securing the hollow tube to a structure, the connector further comprising; a connector body having a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface causing the interior of the connector body to vary from a smaller s
1. A hollow-tube connecting system comprising: a hollow tube;a connector for securing the hollow tube to a structure, the connector further comprising; a connector body having a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface causing the interior of the connector body to vary from a smaller size to a larger size, the interior surface defining an interior chamber, the connector body having an opening into the interior chamber for receiving the hollow tube, the opening being located at one end of the connector body, the one end corresponding to the smaller size of the interior of the connector body;an annular element positioned inside the connector body to receive the hollow tube when the hollow tube is inserted into the connector body, the annular element including an aperture;a bearing secured within the aperture;a guide ring positioned within the connector body to receive the hollow tube after the hollow tube is received by the annular element;a resilient element positioned within the connector body operative to be compressed by the action of inserting the hollow tube into the connector body, the resilient element operating to force the bearing against the tapered interior surface of the connector body, thereby increasing a resistance on the tube and acting to assist in holding the tube in the connector body; anda structure engaging portion operative to secure the connector to the structure. 2. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the annular element includes a plurality of apertures. 3. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 2, wherein a bearing is secured within each of the plurality of apertures. 4. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 3, wherein each bearing is rotatably secured within one of the plurality of apertures. 5. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 4, wherein each of the bearings is a ball bearing. 6. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring, and further, wherein the coil spring is positioned within the connector body to receive the hollow tube after the hollow tube is received by the guide ring. 7. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a plurality of spring elements, and further, wherein the spring elements are attached to the guide ring. 8. The hollow-tube connection system of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube is an electrical conduit. 9. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 8, wherein the electrical conduit is selected from the group consisting of Electrical Metallic Tubing, Rigid Metal Conduit, Galvanized Rigid Conduit, Intermediate Metal Conduit, Polyvinyl Chloride conduit, plastic, fiber and fired clay. 10. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the structure engaging portion includes a threaded element and nut for securing the connector to a hole in an electrical junction box. 11. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the structure engaging portion includes two connector engaging portions for operably securing two connectors together. 12. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the tube is selected from the group consisting of a straight section, a T-shape, a U-shape, and an L-shape. 13. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, further comprising an annular ferrule positioned at one end of the connector body and secured to the one end. 14. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 13, further comprising a sealing sleeve or gasket positioned between the annular ferrule and the hollow tube after insertion of the hollow tube. 15. The hollow-tube connecting system of claim 1, wherein the tapered interior surface of the connector body has a taper angle between 3 to 25 degrees, inclusive. 16. A connector for use in coupling a tube to structure, comprising: a connector body having a tapered interior surface, the tapered interior surface causing the interior of the connector body to vary from a smaller size to a larger size, the interior surface defining an interior chamber, the connector body having an opening into the interior chamber for receiving the tube, the opening being located at one end of the connector body, the one end corresponding to the smaller size of the interior of the connector body;an annular element positioned inside the connector body to receive the tube when the tube is inserted into the connector body, the annular element including an aperture;a bearing secured within the aperture;a guide ring positioned within the connector body to receive the tube after the tube is received by the annular element; anda resilient element positioned within the connector body operative to be compressed by the action of inserting the tube into the connector body, the resilient element operating to force the bearing against the tapered interior surface of the connector body, thereby increasing a resistance on the tube and acting to assist in holding the tube in the connector body. 17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the annular element includes a plurality of apertures, and further wherein a bearing is rotatably secured within each of the plurality of apertures. 18. The connector of claim 16, wherein the resilient member is a coil spring, and further, wherein the coil spring is positioned within the connector body to receive the tube after the tube is received by the guide ring. 19. The connector of claim 16, wherein the resilient member is a plurality of spring elements, and further, wherein the spring elements are attached to the guide ring. 20. The connector of claim 16, further comprising a structure-engaging portion, wherein the structure-engaging portion includes a threaded element and nut for securing the connector to a hole in an electrical junction box. 21. The connector of claim 16, further comprising a structure-engaging portion, wherein the structure-engaging portion includes two connector-engaging portions for operably securing two connectors together.
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