The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 17, 1977
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1975
Irving L Berkowitz, Binghamton, NY (US);
Kason Hardware Corporation, Binghamton, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a convertible connector for coupling a plurality of elongated members having open or socket-like ends which may be either circular or polygonal in transverse, internal cross section. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the connector includes a base portion from which at least two integrally formed legs extend. The end of each leg adjacent the base is of a transverse cross section that may receive a member having either a circular or a polygonally shaped transverse, internal cross section. The end portion of each leg spaced from the base portion has a polygonal transverse cross section that is integral to the remainder of each leg by means of a severable or frangible neck. Thus, when members having a circular open or socket-like end are to be mounted on the connector, the polygonal ends of the legs are broken off. In cases when members having polygonal, socket-like ends are to be mounted on the connector, the polygonal ends of the legs remain and the members to be mounted slide thereover and over substantially all of the remaining portion of leg as well. This invention contemplates utilizing the convertible connector to join two or more such members of different open-end configurations at the same time (e.g., circular and polygonal). Each leg portion of the connector is preferably provided with at least two longitudinally oriented ribs that extend in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the leg and each rib is provided with stop means in the form of a radially oriented shoulder that limits the movement of the member thereon in an axial direction towards the base portion. The several embodiments of the invention include a connector having from two to six legs which are mutually perpendicular to each other. In one variation of the present invention all of the legs are in a single plane, while in another variation of the present invention the legs are in two different planes perpendicular with respect to each other.