Clamp joint for separated members

Abstract

A frame joint for releasably and rigidly joining two spaced apart bars includes a housing provided at one end with a first passage for receiving one of the bars therethrough. A second passage at the other end of the housing includes a hinged cover and threaded latch for removably securing the other bar. Between the two passages an internal cavity is disposed, with ports at each end communicating with both passages. A pin is movably disposed within the cavity barely impinging on both bars through the cavity ports. Securing and tightening the hinged cover on the other bar increases the impingement on the pin, driving it into the first bar and retaining it in the first passage, thereby rigidly immobilizing the two bars with respect to each other.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the orthopedic art it is well known to provide an auxiliary framework in conjunction with a hospital bed, the framework generally being used to support a patient in traction. Such framework generally includes upright bars supporting a lateral bar used to support the portion of the body undergoing traction treatment. The lateral and upright bars are joined together by frame joints.

The frame joints are quite critical, due to the fact that the frame must be as rigid and stable as possible to provide the required support for effective traction treatment, and for the comfort of the patient. Thus the frame joints must secure the bars rigidly, yet must be easily releasable to facilitate the necessary adjustments to the framework. In these respects the prior art frame joints are deficient, that is, they permit movement of the joined bars such as displacement or skewing under load, or they are complicated and inconvenient to use.

Furthermore, the prior art devices are generally designed to accommodate bars which are adjacent or intersecting. In this connection, reference may be had to my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,364 of Apr. 13, 1971. The prior art is devoid of devices for easily joining bars which are spaced apart or non-intersecting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally comprises a frame joint for rigidly and releasably joining two spaced apart elongated bars. The bars are provided with equilateral exterior facets, such as an octagonal configuration. The frame joint includes a housing provided with a pair of spaced apart octagonal passages therethrough for receiving the bars. Within the housing an internal cavity extends between the passages, the cavity including a port at each end communicating with each passage. Within the cavity is disposed a movable pin extending through the ports and dimensioned to barely impinge on the bars within the passages.

One of the passages in the housing is partly comprised of a cover hingeably secured to the housing. The cover includes a slot at one edge which is engaged by an arm pivotally secured to the housing. A handle threaded to the end of the arm impinges on the cover to tighten the cover about the bar enclosed within. Rotation of the handle tightens the cover and increases the impingement of the bar on the pin. The other end of the pin in turn is driven forcefully into the other bar, securing the other bar within its passage. Thus securing one bar within the housing automatically secures the other bar, both bars being retained rigidly in a fixedly spaced apart relation.

THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the frame joint of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the frame joint.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the frame joint taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the frame joint taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention generally comprises a frame joint 11 which joins together rigidly and removably two bars 12 and 13 which are spaced apart. In the preferred embodiment the bars are transverse and comprise elongated octagonal tubing with equilateral facets 14. The scope of the invention is not limited by the spacing or transverse relationship of the bars, nor by their octagonal configuration.

The housing 10 includes rectangularly shaped perpendicular faces 16, 17, 18 and 19, and arcuate ends 21 and 22. Near the end 21 an octagonal passage 23 extends through the housing between faces 16 and 18. The passage 23 is dimensioned to slidably receive bar 12 therethrough. At the end 22 of the housing an octagonal passage 24 extends therethrough between faces 17 and 19, perpendicular to passage 23 and similarly dimensioned to slidably receive bar 13. Passage 24 is comprised partly by a cover 26 which is pivotally joined to the housing by hinge 27 having a hinge pin 28. The cover is arcuate on the exterior and formed with concave octagonal surfaces interiorly to form half of the passage 24. The edge of the cover opposite the hinge includes a slot 29 formed therein. An arm 31 is pivotally secured between shoulders 32 by a pivot pin 33, and adapted to engage the slot 29. A handle 34 includes a threaded shank 36 which engages the threaded distal end of arm 31.

Within the housing a rectangular cavity 37 is disposed. The cavity is provided with opposed ports 38 and 39 which communicate with passages 23 and 24, respectively. A pin 41 disposed within the cavity is provided with chamfered ends 42 and 43 which extend into ports 38 and 39, respectively. The pin 41 includes a medial, diametrical hole 46 therethrough which receives a retaining pin 44 of smaller diameter than the hole. The ends of the retaining pin are force fit in holes in faces 17 and 19 and are retained thereby.

The pin 41 is fabricated at a precise length so that the ends thereof barely impinge on bars 12 and 13 when the cover 26 is open, or closed and loosely secured. In this disposition the bar 12 is slidable within the passage 23, and the bar 13 may be slided in or removed from passage 24. This disposition is appropriate for setting up or adjusting the framework of which bars 12 and 13 are a part.

To secure bar 13 within passage 24 the cover 26 is closed about the bar, and secured with handle 34. Tightening the handle forces the cover to impinge upon the bar 13, securing it tightly within the passage 24. At the same time the bar is forced by the cover to impinge firmly on the end 43 of pin 41. The pin is thus driven to engage a facet of the bar 12 with the end 42, thereby securing the bar 12 within the passage 23. The pin 41 is permitted to move between the passages within narrow limits determined by the difference in the diameter of hold 46 and retaining pin 44.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the pin 41 may be provided with a channel 51 in each end thereof, as shown in FIG. 5. Each channel 51 is transverse to the axis of the pin 41, and includes obliquely disposed opposed sides 52 which engage the facets 14 of the bar 12 or 13. In this embodiment the pin 41 impinges on three facets of each bar at each end, thereby increasing the frictional engagement therebetween and increasing the strength and rigidity of the frame joint.

Thus two spaced apart bars may be firmly joined together merely by tightening the hinged cover on one of the bars. The frame joint secures the bars without skewing or longitudinal displacement, and may be easily tightened or loosened and moved at will.

Claims

I claim:

1. A frame joint for joining two structural members, comprising:

a housing having first and second passages extending therethrough, each slidably receiving one of the structural members;

a first pin disposed within said housing between said first and second passages and impinging at either end on the structural members, said first pin including a hole extending diametrically therethrough, and a second pin extending through said hole and anchored at both ends thereof in said housing;

securance means joined to said first passage for releasably retaining the structural member therein and for increasing the impingement of said first pin on both structural members;

said securance means including a cover hingeably secured to said housing and forming a portion of said first passage, and tightening means for securing said cover to said housing and driving the structural member within said first passage to impinge on said first pin, said first pin being disposed in pressure transmitting relationship between the structural members to effect pressure clamping of the members in respective passages.

2. The frame joint of claim 1, wherein said first pin includes a diametrical channel in at least one end thereof for engaging longitudinally extending facets of at least one of the structural members.

3. The frame joint of claim 2, wherein said tightening means includes an arm pivotally joined to said housing, and handle means threadedly joined to said arm and adapted to adjustably impinge on said cover.