Adjustable fork connector for connecting trusses

{
  "publication_number": "US9863138B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Adjustable fork connector for connecting trusses",
  "abstract": "An adjustable fork connector to connect adjacent trusses. A hollow tube is mountable to the end of a first truss and has a pair of spaced apart flanges to extend vertically or horizontally. The flanges are longitudinally movable to position the flanges a selected distance outward from the first truss. A single flange is rotatably mounted to the second truss and is extendable between the pair of flanges and removably connected thereto.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A connector for connecting a first structure having a first hollow end to a second structure having a second hollow end comprising: a first tube having a longitudinal axis and removably mountable to a first hollow end of a first structure; and, a second tube removably mountable to a second hollow end of a second structure; a first shank removably connected to said first tube, said first shank slidably and telescopically mountable to said first tube, said first shank including a shank portion extending into said first tube and further having a flanged end, said flanged end being rotatable with said shank portion to position said flanged end to extend either in vertical or horizontal positions while also being slidable relative to said first tube while said flanged end remains in either said vertical or horizontal positons, said flanged end positionable between said first structure and said second structure with said flanged end positionable adjacent and removably connectable to said second structure; a first fastener securing said shank portion of said first shank to said first tube while allowing said first shank to slide relative to said first tube in a direction of said axis; and, a second shank removably connected to said second tube, said first shank and said second shank having mating flanges connectable together for connecting the first structure to the second structure.",
    "2. The connector of claim 1 wherein: said first shank and said second shank are respectively slidably into said first tube and said second tube.",
    "3. The connector of claim 2 wherein: said flanged end includes a first flange and a second flange, said second shank has a third flange, said second flange parallel to said first flange but positioned apart therefrom forming a gap, said flanged end rotatable to position said first flange and said second flange to extend vertically or horizontally to receive said third flange in said gap, said first shank is slidable to position said first flange and said second flange a selected distance from said first tube.",
    "4. The connector of claim 3 and further comprising: additional fasteners contacting said first flange, said second flange and said third flange together to limit relative motion therebetween.",
    "5. The connector of claim 4 wherein: said first shank has a slot shaped channel extending therethrough, said channel alienable with holes extending through said first tube with fasteners extending through said channel and said holes.",
    "6. The combination of: a tubular shaped receiver having a longitudinal axis; a first shank slidably and telescopically mounted to said receiver, said first shank including a shank portion extending into said tubular shaped receiver and further having a flanged end, said flanged end being rotatable with said shank portion to position said flanged end to extend either in vertical or horizontal positions while also being slidable relative to said receiver while said flanged end remains in either said vertical or horizontal positions; a first fastener securing said shank portion of said first shank to said receiver while allowing said first shank to slide relative to said receiver in a direction of said axis; a second shank having one flange which is matable with said flanged end of said first shank; and, a second fastener extending through said one flange and said flanged end removably connecting said flange and said flanged end together.",
    "7. The combination of claim 6 wherein: said flanged end includes two flanges fixedly mounted to said one shank, said two flanges spaced apart forming a gap into which said one flange extends while connected to said two flanges.",
    "8. The combination of claim 7 and further comprising: a tube with said second shank extending therein; a third fastener securing said second shank to said tube preventing relative motion between said second shank and said tube whereas said shank portion of said first shank has a slot through which said first fastener extends freely through allowing slidable motion along said axis between said first shank and said receiver."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/058,283 filed Mar. 2, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/134,861 filed Mar. 18, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.\n\nField of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates generally to the field of trusses used to support a variety of appliances, such as lights. More specifically, a connector is disclosed for connecting together adjacent trusses.\n\nDescription of the Prior Art\n\nTrusses typically have fixed lengths which may be of insufficient length to span the required distance. As a result, a multiple trusses are aligned to extend over the particular span. The trusses are connected together such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,028,488 wherein identical trusses are connected together at their adjacent ends by mating flanges and removable pins extending through the flanges. Such technique requires the adjacent trusses to be aligned to enable the pins to extend through the end flanges of one truss and the end flanges of the adjacent truss. As a result, time and effort is required to first align the trusses and then hold the trusses in alignment while the removable pins are inserted into the flanges. Disclosed herein is a new connector to be used to connect adjacent trusses which may or may not be in perfect alignment.\n\nA connector for connecting a first truss having a tube with a first hollow end to a second truss having a second hollow end.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04B 1/48",
    "E04B 1/2403",
    "E04B 2001/2439",
    "E04B 2001/2448",
    "E04B 2001/2472",
    "E04B 2103/06",
    "E04C 2003/0491",
    "E04C 3/04",
    "E04C 3/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04B 1/24",
    "E04B 1/48",
    "E04C 3/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Tyler Truss Systems Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jason Tello"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-04-11",
  "publication_date": "2018-01-09",
  "grant_date": "2018-01-09",
  "priority_date": "2015-03-18",
  "application_number": "US-201715484236-A",
  "family_id": "56924457",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
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}