Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 93897
Patent Application
of
Guy Begin and Yvan Cinq Mars
for a
Cable Connector
Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to the field of connectors and is particularly concerned with a
connector for connecting and ~ a pair of cables in a predetermined relationship
relatively to each other.
Background of the Invention:
Various situations exists wherein it is desirable to connect and l~ i" a pair of cables in
a predetermined relationship relatively to one another. For example, cables are frequently
20 used to build various structures in children playgrounds. The cables in children playground
are often connected together in a substantially perpendicular relationship relatively to each
other to form a net or mesh that is used by the children to climb thereon.
When the cables are used in a context such as a playground, the components that connect
25 the cables together must be childproof and safe. One of the requirement is that the outer
surface of such cable connecting components be relatively smooth and deprived of sharp
angles and protrusions so as to prevent injury when a cable connecting component is
imp~cted by a child.
~0 Another requirement is that the cable connecting components be able to selectively either
the cables in a predetermned relationship rerlatively to each other or allow thecables to slide relatively to each other so as to vary the configuration of the net or mesh.
A further requirement for cable connecting components used in various contexts such as
35 playgrounds is that the cable connecting component be easaly and readaly installed and
unin.~t~lled so as to allow for a quick assembly and disassembly of the net or for the
21 93897
replacement of some of its components.
The cable connecting components found in the prior art failed to meet some or all of the
above-mentionned requirements. Accordingly, there exists a neeed for an improved cable
connecting component.
Summary of the Invention:
lo It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cable connecting
component.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cable connector for
connecting a first cable to a second cable, the cable connector comprising:a male part
and a female part; the male part having a male body, the male body defining a generally
smooth male outer surface and a substantially flat male mating surface; a male slot
formed in the male mating surface, the male slot PxtP.n-ling through the male body
along a male slot longihl~in~l axis, the male slot longitu~in~l axis Iying in a geometrical
plane that is substantially parallel to the male mating surface; the male slot defining a
male slot wall; a col~e.;ling male protuberance extçn(ling integrally from the male
mating surface; a protuberance channel P.xtçnr1ing through the male protuberance, the
protuberance channel defining a protuberance channel wall, the protuberance channel
extP.n~ing along a protuberance channel longitl1~in~l axis that lies in a geometrical
plane parallel to the male mating surface; a female part having a female body, the
female body defining a generally smooth female outer surface and a substantially flat
female mating surface; a female cable receiving slot formed in the female matingsurface, the female cable receiving slot extçn-ling through the female body along a
female slot longitudinal axis, the female slot longitu-lin~l axis Iying in a geometrical
plane that is substantially parallel to the female mating surface; the female cable
receiving slot defining a female slot wall; a protuberance receiving means for slidably
receiving the male protuberance, the protuberance receiving means being formed in
the female body; whereby when the male protuberance is inserted in the protuberance
receiving means, the female cable receiving slot and the protuberance channel
cooperate to forrn a first cable channel adapted to encircle the first cable, the male slot
and the female mating surface cooperate to for a second cable channel adapted toencircle the second cable and the male outer surface cooperates with the female outer
surface to form a generally smooth connector outer surface.
21 93897
Preferably, the male slot wall has a substantially "U"-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
Preferably, the male protuberance includes a pair of legs that extend outwardly from the
5 male mating surface on both sides of the male slot.
Ple~l~bly, the legs extends generally outwardly from the male mating surface anddiverges away from a pro~h"a~e leg on the same side of the male slot so that each pair of
legs defines a generally "V"-shaped configuration;
o each leg defining a corresponding leg gripping surface that is angled relatively to the male
mating surface.
Conveniently, each leg also defines a leg abutment surface that extends in a geometrical
plane generally parallel to the male mating surface.
Preferably, each of the leg gripping surface forms a gripping angle having a value
subst~nti~lly in the range of 45 degrees with both the male mating surface and the leg
abutment surface.
20 Conveniently, the channel wall is interrupted intermediate both longit~ltlin~l ends thereof
by the male slot.
Preferably, the channel wall has a substantially "U"-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
25 Conveniently, the male connector further comprises a male aperture, the male aperture
ext~n~ing through the male body from the male outer surface to the male slot.
Preferably, the male aperture extends along a male aperture longitudinal axis, the male
aperture lonEitutlin~l axis eyt~n(linE in a direction substantially parallel to the male slot.
Conveniently, the female slot wall has a substantially "U"-shaped cross-sectional
configuration.
Preferably, the protuberance receiving means includes a pair of female grooves that are
35 formed in the female mating surface on both sides of the female cable receiving slot.
21 93897
Conveniently, each of the female grooves includes a groove wall having a generally "V"-
shaped cross-sectional configuration.
Preferably, each of the groove walls defines a groove abutment surface and a groove
5 gripping surface, the groove gripping surface intercepling the female mating surface and
e~tçn-ling into the female body while Iying in a geometrical plane that is radially at an
angle relatively to the female mating surface.
Conveniently, the groove abutment surface intercepts the groove gripping surface and lies
lo in a geometrical plane generally parallel to the female mating surface.
Preferably, the cable connector further comprises a female aperture, the female aperture
extPn~ling through the female body from the female outer surface to the female receiving
slot.
Advantages of the present invention include the fact that the outer surface of the cable
comle-;ling components is relatively smooth and deprived of sharp angles and protrusions
so as to prevent injury when the cable connecting component is impacted.
20 Another advantage is that the cable connecting components is able to selectively either
,.,~;"~ the cables in a predetermned relationship rerlatively to each other or allow the
cables to slide relatively to each other so as to vary the configuration of a net or mesh
formed by a pluraity of interconnected cables connected by cable connecting components
in accordance with present invenyion
A further advantage of the present invention is that the cable connector can be easaly and
readaly installed and uninst~lled on conventional cables.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that the cable connector includes a pair
30 of components that col~rol"~ to conventional forms of m~mlf~ctllring and are of simple
construction so as to produce a cable connector that is economically feasable long lasting
and relatively trouble free in operation.
35 Brief Description of the Drawings:
21 938~q7
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, in reference to
the following drawings in which similar numeral are used to denote simsilar components,
and in which:
5 Figure 1: in a top view, illustrates a cable connector in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention;
Figure 2: in a front elevational view, illustrates a cable connector in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3: in a side elevational view, illustrates a cable connector in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4: in an exploded view, illustrates a cable connector in accordance with an
15 embodiment of the present invention, a pair of cables being also shown, the cables being
about to be inserted into corresponding channels formed in the cable connector;
Figure 5: in an exploded view, illustrates a cable connector in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, a pair of cables being also shown, the cables being
20 inserted into colle~,onding çh~nn~l~ formed in the cable connector;
Figure 6: in an exploded view, illustrates a cable connector in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, the components of the connector being shown in an
aligned configuration as they are pushed towards each other, a pair of cables being also
25 shown, the cables being inserted into corresponding channels formed in the cable
connector;
Figure 7: in a perspective view, illustrates a cable connector in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention, the cable connector being sown in an assembled
30 configuration with a screw about to be inserted into a corresponding screw aperture, a
pair of cables being also shown, the cables being inserted into corresponding channels
formed in the cable connector.
3s
Detailed Description:
21 93897
Referring to figure 1, there is shown a cable connector 10 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The cable connector 10 includes a male part 12 and
a female part 14.
The male part 12 has a male body 16 defining a generally smooth and preferably
hemispherical male outer surface 18 and a substantially flat male mating surface 20. A
male slot 22 is formed in the male mating surface 20. The male slot 22 extends through the
male body 16 along a male slot longitu~in~l axis 24. The male slot longitu(lin~l axis 24 lies
in a geometrical plane that is substantially parallel to the male mating surface 20. The
o male slot 22 defines a male slot wall 26 that preferably has a substantially "U"-shaped
cross-sectional configuration.
A connecting male protuberance 28 extends integrally from the male mating surface 20.
Preferably, the male protuberance 28 takes the form of a pair of legs 30 that extend
outwardly from the male mating surface 20 on both side of the male slot 22.
Each leg 30 extends generally oulwardly from the male mating surface 20 and diverges
away from a proximate leg 30 on the same side of the male slot 22 so that each pair of
legs 30 defines a generally "V"-shaped configuration. Each leg 30 defines a corresponding
leg gripping surface 32 that is angled relatively to the male mating surface 20.
A protuberance channel extends 34 extends through the male protuberance 28. In the
prere.,ed embodiment, each pair of legs 30 also defines a section of the protuberance
channel 34 therebetween. The protuberance channel 34 defines a corresponding
protuberance channel wall 35. The channel wall 35 extends across the male body 16 and is
interrupted intermediate both longitll~in~l ends thereof by the male slot 22 is interrupted.
Each protuberance channel wall 35 preferably has a generally "U"-shaped cross-sectional
configuration.
The legs 30 on opposed sides of the male slot 22 are positioned so that both protuberance
channel 34 extends along a protuberance channel longitu-lin~l axis 36 that lies in a
geometrical plane parallel to the male mating surface 20. The protuberance channel
longitu-lin~l axis 36 is pr~r~-~bly oriented so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to
the male slot 22.
In a prere..ed embodiment of the invention, each leg 30 also defines a leg abutment
21 93897
surface 38 that extends in a geometrical plane generally parallel to the male mating surface
20. Also, in the prerelled embodiment, each male gripping surface 32 forms a gripping
angle 40 having a value substantially in the range of 45 degrees with both the leg abutment
surface 38 and the male mating surface 20.
A male aperture 42 extends though the male body 16 from the male outer surface 18 to
the male slot 22. The male aperture 42 extends along a male aperture longitutlin~l axis 44.
The male aperture longitll~lin~l axis 44 preferably extends in a direction substantially
perpendicular to the male slot 22. The male aperture 42 is configured and sized to fittingly
o receive a conventional f~tçning component such as a screw 46 having a threaded screw
stem 48 and a screw head 50.
Preferably, the screw head 50 as a generally conical configuration and the male aperture
has a correspondingly shaped bevelled section 52 for fittingly receiving the screw head 50
so that its outer surface is in register with the male outer surface 18 when the screw 46 is
threadably fitted into the male aperture 42. The screw stem 48 is sized so as to extend into
the male slot 22 and to act as a cable locking means for preventing lon~itutlin~l movement
of a cable in the male slot 22, as will be hereinafter disclosed.
The female part 14 has a female body 54 d~fining a generally smooth and preferably
hemispherical female outer surface 56 and a substantially flat female mating surface 58. A
female cable receiving slot 60 is formed in the female mating surface 58. The female cable
receiving slot 60 extends through the female body 54 along a female slot longitu-lin~l axis
62. The female slot longitu~lin~l axis 62 lies in a geometrical plane that is substantially
parallel to the female mating surface 58. The female cable receiving slot 60 defines a
female slot wall 64 that preferably has a substantially "U"-shaped cross-sectional
configuration.
A protuberance receiving means 66 for receiving the male protuberance 28 is formed in
the female body 54. The protuberance receiving means 66 preferably takes the form of a
pair of female grooves 68 that are formed in the female mating surface 58 on both sides of
the female cable receiving slot 60.
Each female groove 68 is configured and sized to slidably receive a corresponding male
protuberance 28. Each female groove 68 thus plerel~bly includes a groove wall 70 having
a generally "V"-shaped cross-sectional configuration, the "V"-shaped configuration being
21 93897
-
inclined relatively to the female mating surface 58.
The groove wall 70 defines an groove abutment surface 72 and a groove gripping surface
74. The groove gripping surface 74 preferably intercepts the female mating surface 58 and
extends into the female body 54 while lying in a geometrical plane that is radially at an
angle relatively to the female mating surface 58. The groove abutment surface 72pre~l~bly intercepts the groove gripping surface 74 and lies in a geometrical plane
generally parallel to the female mating surface 58.
0 A female aperture 76 extends though the female body 54 from the female outer surface 56
to the female cable receiving slot 60. The female aperture 76 extends along a female
aperture longitll-1in~l axis 78. The female aperture longitl1-1in~l axis 79 preferably extends
in a direction substantially perpendicular to the female cable receiving slot 60. Similarly to
the male aperture 42, the female aperture 76 is configured and sized to fittingly receive a
conventional f~t~ning component such as a screw 46 having a threaded screw stem 48
and a screw head 50.
Preferably, the screw head 50 as a generally conical configuration and the female aperture
76 has a correspondingly shaped bevelled section 78 for fittingly receiving the screw head
50 so that its outer surface is in register with the female outer surface 56 when the screw
46 is threadably fitted into the female aperture 76. The screw stem 48 is sized so as to
extend into the female cable receiving slot 60 and to act as a cable locking means for
preventing longitu~in~l movement of a cable in the female cable receiving slot 60, as will
be hereinafter disclosed.
2s
In use, the cable connector 10 is adapted to connect a first cable 80 and a second cable 82
together, the first cable 80 and the second cable 82 being in a predetermined relationship
relatively to one another. One of the main features of the present invention is that the cable
connector 10 allows for a pair of cables such as the first cable 80 and the second cable 82
to be connected together using a short sequence of easy steps, these steps beingillustrated in figures 4 through 7.
As illustrated in figure 5, the first cable 80 is nested into the male slot 22 while the second
cable 82 is nested into the female cable receiving slot 60. In the ple~lled embodiment, the
male slot 22 is sized so as to fittingly receive the first cable 80. The male slot 22 must be
deep enough to prevent the first cable 80 from protuding over the male mating surface 20
21 938~7
in order to allow the slidable assembly of the male part 12 and the female part 14 as will be
hereinafter described. Also, in the p~ led embodiment, the female cable receiving slot
60 is sized so that the female slot wall 64 only encircles approximatly half of the peripheral
surface of second cable 82.
As illustrated in figure 6, the male part 12 and the female part 14 are then move adjacçnt
each other in an aligned position wherein the male mating surface 20 and the female
mating surface 58 are in a substantially coplanar relationship relatively to each other and
the male protuberance 28 is aligned with the protuberance receiving means 66. The second
0 cable 82 being already partly nested in the female cable receiving slot 60 is also aligned
inside the protuberance channel 34. The protuberance channel 34 is sized so that the
protuberance channel wall 35 encircles the complementary fraction of peripheral surface of
the second cable 82 that is not encircled by the female slot wall 64.
15 Once in the aligned position, the male part 12 and the female part 14 pushed towards each
other, as indicated by the arrow 84. The pushing action causes the male protuberance 28
to slidably penetrate the protuberance receiving means 66 and the male mating surface 20
to contact the female mating surface 58.
20 The pushing action is continued until the male part 12 and the female part 14 reach an
assembled position illustrated in figure 7 wherein the male outer surface 18 and the female
outer surface 56 form a substantially continuous smooth outer surface. In the ple~lled
embodiment the outer surface formed by the male part 12 and the female
21 93897
part 14 in the assembled position has the general the configuration of a sphere.
When the male part 12 and the female part 14 are in the assembled position illustrated in
figure 7, the protuberance channel wall 35 and the female slot wall 64 form a substantially
continuous wall that encircles the second cable 82. Similarly, the female mating surface 58
cooperates with the male slot wall 26 to encircle the first cable 80. The first cable 80 and
the second cable 82 are thus ~"~ ed in a predetermined overlying relationship
relatively to each other.
Also, when the male part 12 and the female part 14 are in the assembled positionillustrated in figure 7, the male mating surface 20 abuts against the female mating surface
58, the leg abutment surfaces 38 abut against corresponding groove abutment surfaces 72
and the the leg gripping surfaces 32 abut against corresponding groove griping surfaces
74. These structures thus prevent the male part 12 and the female part 14 from being
separated by a relative movement other then a relative sliding action of the male
protuberance out of the protuberance receiving means.
The screws 46 are adapted to be used for releasably locking the sliding movement of the
male part 12 and the female part 14 respectively relatively to first cable 80 and the second
cable 82. As mentioned previously, the screw stem 48 is sized to extend into the male slot
22 and the female cable receiving slot 60 when it is respectively inserted into the male
aperture 42 and the female aperture 76.
The screw stem 48 is thus adapted to penetrate radially into the first cable 80 and the
second cable 82 for blocking the relative sliding movement of the first and second cables
80 and 82 relatively to the cable encircling channels formed respectively by the female
mating surface 58 with the male slot wall 26 and the protuberance channel wall 35 with
the female slot wall 64.
When a screw 46 is used to lock both the first cable 80 and the second cable 82 inside
their respective encircling ch~nnel~7 the relative movement between the male part 12 and
the female part 14 is also prevented. The screws 46 can thus also be used to releasbly lock
the male part 12 and the female part 14 together in the assembled position.
When the male part 12 and the female part 14 are in the assembled position and the screws
21 93897
46 are inserted in the male aperture 42 and the female aperture 76 with the screw head 50
inside the respective bevelled sections 52 the cable connector 10 provides a structure
having a smooth outer surface that releasably locks the first and second cables 80 and 82
in a predetermined relationship relatively to each other.
Another feature of the present invention is that by tightçning or loosening the screws 46.
The first and second cables 80 and 82 are respectively prevennted and allowed to slide
relatively to the cable connector 10. The cable connector 10 thus allows an intended user
to selectively either lock the connected cables 80 and 82 in a predetermined relationship
o relatively to one another or to slide the connected cables inside their corresponding
encircling channels so as to vary the configuration of a structure such as a net or mesh
formed out of a plurality of interconnected cables.
