MODULAR CONNECTOR SYSTEM CONFIGURED FOR SETTING VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL PIPING OR PREFAB ASSEMBLIES IN PLACE PRIOR TO WALL CONSTRUCTION
20230076808 · 2023-03-09
Inventors
- Edward L. Nicks, III (Chapin, SC, US)
- James W. Gable, JR. (Irmo, SC, US)
- Justin J. Gable (Chapin, SC, US)
Cpc classification
F16L41/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04G21/1841
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
F16L41/12
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F16L41/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16L41/08
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A modular connector system is designed and configured for setting various building material members in place prior to construction of a wall. The modular connector system includes a base plate, a vertical riser member, at least one horizontal arm, and a connection member for each of the at least one horizontal arms. The base plate is configured to support the modular connector system. The vertical riser member is affixed to the base plate in a vertical orientation. Each of the at least one horizontal arm is configured to be adjustably positioned along the vertical riser member. The connection member on each of the horizontal arms is configured to attach to one of the building material members. Wherein, the disclosed modular connector system is designed and configured for setting the building material members in place prior to construction of the wall.
Claims
1. A modular connector system for setting building material members in place prior to construction of a wall, the modular connector system comprising: a base plate configured to support the modular connector system; a vertical riser member affixed to the base plate in a vertical orientation; at least one horizontal arm, each of the at least one horizontal arm is configured to be adjustably positioned along the vertical riser member; and each of the at least one horizontal arm including a connection member, the connection member is configured to attach to one of the building material members.
2. The modular connector system of claim 1 being designed and configured for setting the building material members in place prior to construction of the wall.
3. The modular connector system of claim 2, wherein the building material members are vertical piping, horizontal piping, or prefab assemblies, where the modular connector system is designed and configured for setting the vertical piping, the horizontal piping or the prefab assemblies in place prior to construction of the wall.
4. The modular connector system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical riser member including an adjustable height.
5. The modular connector system according to claim 4, wherein the vertical riser member including: an outer tube riser member affixed to the base plate; an inner tube riser member telescopically engaged with the outer tube riser member; wherein: the adjustable height of the vertical riser member is configured to be lengthened by telescopically extending the inner tube riser member from the outer tube riser member; and the adjustable height of the vertical riser member is configured to be shortened by telescopically retracting the inner tube riser member into the outer tube riser member.
6. The modular connector system according to claim 5, wherein the adjustable height of the vertical riser member is configured to be locked into a desired length via a length locking mechanism.
7. The modular connector system according to claim 6, wherein the length locking mechanism including: a threaded length locking portion threadedly engaged through a threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member; an inner tube engaging end on an inner end of the threaded length locking portion, the inner tube engaging end is configured to engage the inner tube riser member inside of the outer tube riser member; a length locking T-handle portion end on an outer end of the threaded length locking portion, the length locking T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the threaded length locking portion; and wherein, the length locking mechanism is configured to securely position the inner tube riser member at the desired length about the outer tube riser member by rotating the threaded length locking portion engaged in the threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member via the length locking T-handle portion end, thereby, engaging and disengaging the inner tube engaging end against the inner tube riser member.
8. The modular connector system according to claim 7, wherein the length locking mechanism further including: a second threaded length locking portion threadedly engaged through a second threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member; a second inner tube engaging end on a second inner end of the second threaded length locking portion, the second inner tube engaging end is configured to engage the inner tube riser member inside of the outer tube riser member; a second length locking T-handle portion end on a second outer end of the second threaded length locking portion, the second length locking T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the second threaded length locking portion; and wherein, the length locking mechanism is configured to securely position the inner tube riser member at the desired length about the outer tube riser member by rotating the second threaded length locking portion engaged in the second threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member via the second length locking T-handle portion end, thereby, engaging and disengaging the second inner tube engaging end against the inner tube riser member.
9. The modular connector system according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is configured to be leveled.
10. The modular connector system according to claim 9, wherein the base plate including at least one independent leveling foot configured for leveling the base plate.
11. The modular connector system according to claim 10, wherein the base plate including four independent leveling feet, each of the four independent leveling feet are configured for independently leveling the base plate, and each of the four independent leveling feet are positioned approximate a corner of a rectangular shape of the base plate.
12. The modular connector system according to claim 10, wherein each of the at least one independent leveling feet including: a threaded leveling portion threadedly engaged through a threaded leveling hole in the base plate; a bottom surface engaging end on a bottom end of the threaded leveling portion, the bottom surface engaging end is configured to engage a surface below a bottom side of the base plate; a leveling T-handle portion end on a top end of the threaded leveling portion, the leveling T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the threaded leveling portion; and wherein, each of the at least one independent leveling feet is configured to level the base plate by rotating the threaded leveling portion engaged in the threaded leveling hole in the base plate via the leveling T-handle portion end, thereby, raising or lowering the bottom surface engaging end.
13. The modular connector system according to claim 1 further including at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckle, wherein each of the at least one horizontal arm is configured to be adjustably positioned along the vertical riser member via one of the at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckles.
14. The modular connector system according to claim 13, wherein each of the at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckles including: a vertical tube portion positioned along the vertical riser member, the vertical tube portion includes a first knuckle adjustment mechanism configured to securely position the vertical tube portion at a desired height and a desired radial orientation about the vertical riser member; a horizontal tube portion secured to the vertical tube portion in a horizontal orientation, the horizontal tube portion includes a second knuckle adjustment mechanism configured to securely position one of the at least one horizontal arms at a desired depth about the vertical riser member; and wherein, each of the at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckles is configured to orient one of the at least one horizontal arms at the desired height, the desired radial orientation, and the desired depth about the vertical riser member.
15. The modular connector system according to claim 14, wherein: the first knuckle adjustment mechanism including: a first knuckle threaded portion threadedly engaged through a first knuckle threaded hole in the vertical tube portion; a vertical riser engaging end on a first distal end of the first knuckle threaded portion, the vertical riser engaging end is configured to engage the vertical riser member inside of the vertical tube portion; a first knuckle T-handle portion end on a first proximal end of the first knuckle threaded portion, the first knuckle T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the first knuckle threaded portion; wherein, the first knuckle adjustment mechanism is configured to securely position the vertical tube portion at the desired height and the desired radial orientation about the vertical riser member by rotating the first knuckle threaded portion engaged in the first knuckle threaded hole in the vertical tube portion via the first knuckle T-handle portion end, thereby, engaging and disengaging the vertical riser engaging end against the vertical riser member; the second knuckle adjustment mechanism including: a second knuckle threaded portion threadedly engaged through a second knuckle threaded hole in the horizontal tube portion; a horizontal arm engaging end on a second distal end of the second knuckle threaded portion, the horizontal arm engaging end is configured to engage the horizontal arm inside of the horizontal tube portion; a second knuckle T-handle portion end on a second proximal end of the second knuckle threaded portion, the second knuckle T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the second knuckle threaded portion; and wherein, the second knuckle adjustment mechanism is configured to securely position the horizontal arm inside of the horizontal tube portion at the desired depth about the vertical riser member by rotating the second knuckle threaded portion engaged in the second knuckle threaded hole in the horizontal tube portion via the second knuckle T-handle portion end, thereby, engaging and disengaging the horizontal arm engaging end against the horizontal arm.
16. The modular connector system according to claim 1, wherein the connection member of each of the at least one horizontal arm including: an adjustable building material clamp removably attached to the horizontal arm; or an adjustable horizontal support removably attached to the horizontal arm, the adjustable horizontal support is configured for leveling the modular connector system by applying force to the wall or a fixed support.
17. The modular connector system according to claim 16, wherein: the adjustable building material clamp is configured for attaching to vertical piping, horizontal piping, or prefab assemblies; or the adjustable horizontal support including a support member configured to engage the wall or the fixed support for leveling the modular connector system.
18. The modular connector system according to claim 16, wherein: each of the at least one horizontal arms including a first threaded connection point; the adjustable building material clamp or the adjustable horizontal support including a second threaded connection point affixed thereto; and wherein, the adjustable building material clamp or the adjustable horizontal support is configured to be removably connected to one of the at least one horizontal arms by threadedly engaging the second threaded connection point affixed to the adjustable building material clamp or the adjustable horizontal support onto the first threaded connection point on the horizontal arm.
19. A modular connector system for setting building material members in place prior to construction of a wall, the modular connector system comprising: a base plate configured to support the modular connector system, the base plate is configured to be leveled, the base plate comprising: four independent leveling feet, each of the four independent leveling feet are configured for independently leveling the base plate, and each of the four independent leveling feet are positioned approximate a corner of a rectangular shape of the base plate; each of the four independent leveling feet including: a threaded leveling portion threadedly engaged through a threaded leveling hole in the base plate; a bottom surface engaging end on a bottom end of the threaded leveling portion, the bottom surface engaging end is configured to engage a surface below a bottom side of the base plate; a leveling T-handle portion end on a top end of the threaded leveling portion, the leveling T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the threaded leveling portion; wherein, each of the four independent leveling feet is configured to level the base plate by rotating the threaded leveling portion engaged in the threaded leveling hole in the base plate via the leveling T-handle portion end, thereby, raising or lowering the bottom surface engaging end; a vertical riser member affixed to the base plate in a vertical orientation, the vertical riser member including an adjustable height, the vertical riser member including: an outer tube riser member affixed to the base plate; an inner tube riser member telescopically engaged with the outer tube riser member; wherein: the adjustable height of the vertical riser member is configured to be lengthened by telescopically extending the inner tube riser member from the outer tube riser member; the adjustable height of the vertical riser member is configured to be shortened by telescopically retracting the inner tube riser member into the outer tube riser member; wherein the adjustable height of the vertical riser member is configured to be locked into a desired length via a length locking mechanism, the length locking mechanism including: a threaded length locking portion threadedly engaged through a threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member; an inner tube engaging end on an inner end of the threaded length locking portion, the inner tube engaging end is configured to engage the inner tube riser member inside of the outer tube riser member; a length locking T-handle portion end on an outer end of the threaded length locking portion, the length locking T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the threaded length locking portion; a second threaded length locking portion threadedly engaged through a second threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member; a second inner tube engaging end on a second inner end of the second threaded length locking portion, the second inner tube engaging end is configured to engage the inner tube riser member inside of the outer tube riser member; a second length locking T-handle portion end on a second outer end of the second threaded length locking portion, the second length locking T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the second threaded length locking portion; wherein, the length locking mechanism is configured to securely position the inner tube riser member at the desired length about the outer tube riser member by rotating the threaded length locking portion engaged in the threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member via the length locking T-handle portion end and rotating the second threaded length locking portion engaged in the second threaded length locking hole in the outer tube riser member via the second length locking T-handle portion end, thereby, engaging and disengaging the second inner tube engaging end against the inner tube riser member; at least one horizontal arm, each of the at least one horizontal arm is configured to be adjustably positioned along the vertical riser member; at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckle, wherein each of the at least one horizontal arm is configured to be adjustably positioned along the vertical riser member via one of the at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckles, each of the at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckles including: a vertical tube portion positioned along the vertical riser member, the vertical tube portion includes a first knuckle adjustment mechanism configured to securely position the vertical tube portion at a desired height and a desired radial orientation about the vertical riser member; a horizontal tube portion secured to the vertical tube portion in a horizontal orientation, the horizontal tube portion includes a second knuckle adjustment mechanism configured to securely position one of the at least one horizontal arms at a desired depth about the vertical riser member; wherein, each of the at least one vertical to horizontal transfer knuckles is configured to orient one of the at least one horizontal arms at the desired height, the desired radial orientation, and the desired depth about the vertical riser member, wherein: the first knuckle adjustment mechanism including: a first knuckle threaded portion threadedly engaged through a first knuckle threaded hole in the vertical tube portion; a vertical riser engaging end on a first distal end of the first knuckle threaded portion, the vertical riser engaging end is configured to engage the vertical riser member inside of the vertical tube portion; a first knuckle T-handle portion end on a first proximal end of the first knuckle threaded portion, the first knuckle T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the first knuckle threaded portion; wherein, the first knuckle adjustment mechanism is configured to securely position the vertical tube portion at the desired height and the desired radial orientation about the vertical riser member by rotating the first knuckle threaded portion engaged in the first knuckle threaded hole in the vertical tube portion via the first knuckle T-handle portion end, thereby, engaging and disengaging the vertical riser engaging end against the vertical riser member; the second knuckle adjustment mechanism including: a second knuckle threaded portion threadedly engaged through a second knuckle threaded hole in the horizontal tube portion; a horizontal arm engaging end on a second distal end of the second knuckle threaded portion, the horizontal arm engaging end is configured to engage the horizontal arm inside of the horizontal tube portion; a second knuckle T-handle portion end on a second proximal end of the second knuckle threaded portion, the second knuckle T-handle portion end is configured to be manipulated for rotating the second knuckle threaded portion; wherein, the second knuckle adjustment mechanism is configured to securely position the horizontal arm inside of the horizontal tube portion at the desired depth about the vertical riser member by rotating the second knuckle threaded portion engaged in the second knuckle threaded hole in the horizontal tube portion via the second knuckle T-handle portion end, thereby, engaging and disengaging the horizontal arm engaging end against the horizontal arm; each of the at least one horizontal arm including a connection member, the connection member is configured to attach to one of the building material members, the connection member of each of the at least one horizontal arm including: an adjustable building material clamp removably attached to the horizontal arm, the adjustable building material clamp is configured for attaching to vertical piping, horizontal piping, or prefab assemblies; or an adjustable horizontal support configured for leveling the modular connector system by applying force to the wall or a fixed support, the adjustable horizontal support including a support member configured to engage the wall or the fixed support for leveling the modular connector system; wherein: each of the at least one horizontal arms including a first threaded connection point; the adjustable building material clamp or the adjustable horizontal support including a second threaded connection point affixed thereto; wherein, the adjustable building material clamp or the adjustable horizontal support is configured to be removably connected to one of the at least one horizontal arms by threadedly engaging the second threaded connection point affixed to the adjustable building material clamp or the adjustable horizontal support onto the first threaded connection point on the horizontal arm; and wherein the building material members are the vertical piping, the horizontal piping, or the prefab assemblies, where the modular connector system is designed and configured for setting the vertical piping, the horizontal piping, or the prefab assemblies in place prior to construction of the wall.
20. A method of building a wall comprising: providing a modular connector system for setting building material members in place prior to construction of the wall, the modular connector system comprising: a base plate configured to support the modular connector system; a vertical riser member affixed to the base plate in a vertical orientation; at least one horizontal arm, each of the at least one horizontal arm is configured to be adjustably positioned along the vertical riser member; each of the at least one horizontal arm including a connection member, the connection member is configured to attach to one of the building material members; setting the building material members in place via the provided modular connector system; and constructing the wall with the building material members set in place via the provided modular connector system.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present disclosure will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:
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[0036] It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] Referring now to
[0038] Referring to
[0039] As shown in
[0040] Referring now specifically to
[0041] Still referring to
[0042] Referring now specifically to
[0043] Referring now specifically to
[0044] Referring now specifically to
[0045] In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces modular connector system 10 in any embodiment and/or combination of embodiments shown and/or described herein.
[0046] Referring now to
[0047] In sum, the disclosed modular connector system 10 has been designed to make the pre-installation of vertical/horizontal stands of piping, prefab assemblies, conduit and/or duct easier and more efficient. The disclosed modular connector system 10 may be fully adjustable in height and reach so that the user can set it up out of the way of the mason or other trades. The disclosed modular connector system 10 may be designed with removable and/or interchangeable adjustable building material clamps 125 so that different size pipes, conduit or duct can be held. Base plate 16 of the disclosed modular connector system 10 may feature 4 independent leveling feet 66, which can also serve as securing points for the assembly of the disclosed modular connector system 10.
[0048] The primary advantage of the disclosed modular connector system 10 may be its ability to set vertical or horizontal piping/prefab assemblies in place prior to wall construction, saving the user significant time and avoiding the potential errors.
[0049] The disclosed modular connector system may be fully adjustable to meet almost any application and clamp ends can be modified to hold a variety of materials.
[0050] The disclosed modular connector system 10 can be setup by one person eliminating the need for multiple men per piping run.
[0051] The disclosed modular connector system 10 may utilize a modular design allowing the user to configure the system in multiple ways. The disclosed modular connector system 10 can hold multiple horizontal sleeves or vertical sleeves depending on the configuration.
[0052] The disclosed modular connector system 10 may be designed to hold pipe, sleeve material, duct, etc. during the construction process. Modular connector system 10 may be designed to be used with various construction materials, sizes & configurations. Wherein, during the construction process it is necessary for plumbing pipes, electrical conduit, duct, etc. to be installed within the walls and having these materials in place prior to wall construction saves time and money for the contractor. As examples, and clearly not limited thereto, the disclosed modular connector system 10 can be configured to hold vertical stands of pipe, horizontal sleeves and/or block outs for duct. The modular design, adjustability and variety of attachment points may make modular connector system adaptable to almost any application or trade.
[0053] In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed. The present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.
[0054] The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein but is limited only by the following claims.