US20080175660A1

US20080175660A1 - Connector for pipe frame

Info

Publication number: US20080175660A1
Application number: US11/654,645
Authority: US
Inventors: Chou-Lian Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-18
Filing date: 2007-01-18
Publication date: 2008-07-24

Abstract

A connector for a pipe frame includes a first cover and a second cover. The first and second covers have first and second longitudinal grooves and first and second transverse grooves. Further, on both sides of the first and second longitudinal grooves, one end of the first and second transverse grooves, between the first longitudinal and transverse grooves and between the second longitudinal and transverse grooves, are respectively provided with fixing holes and connecting holes. Further, fixing elements are provided in the fixing holes and the connecting holes corresponding to the first cover and the second cover, respectively. With the above structure, the desired pipe bodies can be disposed in the first and second longitudinal grooves and the first and second transverse grooves. Further, with the fixing elements being locked in the fixing holes and the connecting holes, it is easy to achieve the assembling and disassembling operations.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector for a pipe frame. In particular, the present invention can facilitate the assembly, disassembly and firm connection between the pipe body and the connector.
2. Description of Prior Art
When pipes (plastic pipes or steel pipes) are to be arranged, it is necessary to use various kinds of connectors according to the environment and space of the working site. The current connectors are formed into a single component, such as a L-shaped pipe connector and a T-shaped pipe connector. When the pipe arrangement is performing, all operators can complete the pipe arrangement by means of the L-shaped pipe connector and T-shaped pipe connector together with the desired pipe bodies. However, after the pipe arrangement is completed, in case of changing the arrangement of the connectors or repairing or replacing the connectors due to the breakage of the pipe bodies, it is necessary to draw the connected pipe bodies out so as to perform the replacement. However, each pipe body and its connector have been arranged at predetermined positions when the pipe arrangement is completed. Thus, there is no space available for drawing the pipe bodies out. As a result, sometimes, it is necessary to disassemble several pipe bodies to perform the replacement of connectors.
Further, the L-shaped pipe connector or the T-shaped pipe connector is integrally formed into a sleeve, and no reinforcing structure is formed thereon. Therefore, after the pipe bodies is connected to the connector, the connector cannot bear the weight of the pipe bodies, causing the breakage of the connecting portion between the connector and the pipe bodies. As a result, the pipe bodies cannot be firmly connected with the connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to allow the desired pipe bodies to be disposed in first and second longitudinal grooves and first and second transverse grooves. Further, with fixing elements being locked into the fixing holes and the connecting holes, it is easy to perform the assembling and disassembling operations. Further, the stress between the pipe bodies and the connector can be dispersed after assembly, thereby to achieve a firm connection.
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention relates to a connector for a pipe frame, which comprises a first cover and a second cover connected to each other. The first and second covers have first and second longitudinal grooves and first and second transverse grooves corresponding to each other. Further, on both sides of the first and second longitudinal grooves, one end of the first and second transverse grooves, between the first longitudinal and transverse grooves and between the second longitudinal and transverse grooves, are respectively provided with fixing holes and connecting holes corresponding to each other. Further, fixing elements are provided in the fixing holes and the connecting holes corresponding to the first cover and the second cover, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention taken from another view angle;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, 2 and 3, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention taken from another view angle. As shown in the figures, the present invention relates to a connector for a pipe frame, which is constituted of a first cover 1, a second cover 2 and fixing elements 3 and by which the desired pipe bodies can be disposed between the first cover 1 and the second cover 2. With the locking of the fixing elements 3, it is easy to perform the assembling and disassembling operations. Further, the stress between the pipe bodies and the connector can be dispersed after assembly, thereby to achieve a firm connection
One surface of the first cover 1 has a first longitudinal groove 11, and an end adjacent to the first longitudinal groove 11 has a first transverse groove 12. The other surface of the first cover 1 has alternatively arranged reinforcing ribs 13. Further, on both sides of the first longitudinal groove 11, one end of the first transverse groove 12 and between the first longitudinal groove 11 and the first transverse groove 12, fixing holes 14 are respectively provided. The periphery of the fixing hole 14 can be formed into a polygon (such as hexagon).
The second cover 2 is connected with the first cover 1. One surface of the second cover 2 has a second longitudinal groove 21 and a second transverse groove 22 corresponding to the first longitudinal groove 11 and the first transverse groove 12, respectively. The other surface of the second cover 2 has alternatively arranged reinforcing ribs 23. On the second cover 2, connecting holes 24 are provided to correspond to the fixing holes 14 of the first cover 1. The periphery of the connecting hole 24 can be formed into a polygon (such as hexagon).
The fixing elements 3 are provided in the corresponding fixing holes 14 and connecting holes 24 of the first cover 1 and the second cover 2, respectively, so that the first cover 1 and the second cover 2 can be connected with each other. Therefore, with the above structure, a novel connector for a pipe frame can be formed.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, when the present invention is in use, it can be used to connect the desired pipe bodies 4, 4 a and can be also used to connect into T-shaped or L- shaped pipe bodies 4, 4 a. When the pipe bodies 4, 4 a are arranged, one end of the pipe body 4 is disposed in the first longitudinal groove 11 of the first cover 1, and a proper portion of the other pipe body 4 a is disposed in the first transverse groove 12 of the first cover 1 (alternatively, an end of the pipe body 4 a is disposed in the first transverse groove 12 of the first cover 1 according to the desired T-shaped or L-shaped connection). Then, the second cover 2 is correspondingly disposed on the first cover 1, so that the second longitudinal groove 21 and the second transverse groove 22 are correspondingly connected to the pipe bodies 4, 4 a while the fixing holes 13 and the connecting holes 24 of the first cover 1 and the second cover 2 face to each other. Finally, the fixing elements 3 are locked into the corresponding fixing holes 14 and connecting holes 24, so that the first cover 1 and the second cover 2 are connected to each other while sandwiching the pipe bodies 4, 4 a therebetween. In this way, the fixing elements 3 are used to facilitate the assembling and disassembling operations of the first and second covers 1, 2 and the pipe bodies 4, 4 a. After the pipe bodies 4, 4 a are connected with the first and second covers 1, 2, the fixing elements 3 provided on both sides of the first and second longitudinal grooves 1, 21, one end of the first and second transverse grooves 12, 22, between the first longitudinal groove 11 and the first transverse groove 12 and between the second longitudinal groove 21 and the second transverse groove 22 are used to provide a further fixing action to the pipe bodies 4, 4 a. At the same time, with the reinforcing ribs 13, 23 and the fixing elements 3 dispersing the stress between pipe bodies 4 4 a and the first and second covers 1, 2, the pipe bodies 4, 4 a and the first and second covers 1, 2 can be firmly connected with each other.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the first and second longitudinal grooves 11, 21 of the first and second covers 1, 2 of the present invention may be respectively provided with restricting portions 111, 211 if necessary.
Further, the first and second transverse grooves 12, 22 may be also provided with restricting portions (not shown) if necessary. The restricting portions 111, 211 can be grooves or bumps each formed into a polygon or circle. The desired pipe body 4 is thus provided with protrusions 31, so that the protrusions 41 can be inserted into the restricting portions 111, 211 of the first and second longitudinal grooves 11, 21. In this way, the pipe body 4 can be firmly disposed between the first and second covers 1, 2.
According to the above, the connector for a pipe frame in accordance with the present invention can allow the desired pipe bodies to dispose into the first and second longitudinal grooves and the first and second transverse grooves. Further, the present invention uses the fixing elements to be locked in the fixing holes and connecting holes. Therefore, it is easy to achieve the assembling and disassembling operations. Further, the stress between the pipe bodies and the connector can be dispersed after assembly, thereby to achieve a firm connection. With the above structure, the present invention indeed provides a more novel, inventive and practicable connector for a pipe frame, and thus conforms to the requirements for a utility model patent.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still be occurred to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connector for a pipe frame, comprising:

a first cover having a first longitudinal groove on one surface thereof, an end adjacent to the first longitudinal groove having a first transverse groove, fixing holes provided on both sides of the first longitudinal groove, on end of the first transverse groove and between the first longitudinal groove and the first transverse groove;

a second cover connected with the first cover, one surface of the second cover having a second longitudinal groove and a second transverse groove corresponding to the first longitudinal groove and the first transverse groove, the second cover provided with connecting hole thereon to correspond to the fixing holes of the first cover; and

fixing elements provided respectively in the fixing holes and connecting holes of the first and second covers, thereby to the connect the first and second covers with each other.

2. The connector for a pipe frame according to claim 1, wherein the other surface of the first and second covers have alternatively arranged reinforcing ribs.

3. The connector for a pipe frame according to claim 1, wherein the first and second longitudinal grooves are provided with restricting portions thereon.

4. The connector for a pipe frame according to claim 1, wherein the first and second transverse grooves are also provided with restricting portions thereon.

5. The connector for a pipe frame according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the restriction portions are grooves each formed into a polygon or circle.

6. The connector for a pipe frame according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the restriction portions are bumps each formed into a polygon or circle.