Structural couplings and system

Abstract

An annular collar-clamp attaches to a vertical post at selected height and radial orientation and includes an annular pattern of upper and lower dovetail mount sites receiving a bifurcated component mounting assembly having a corresponding inter-fitting pattern of semi-annular dovetail mounts whereby the mounting assembly engages the collar-clamp at a selected discrete position thereon. By use of discontinuous or non-concentric surface engagement in such orientation and pattern to lock together the collar-clamp and the associated mounting component assembly, better load distribution and overall strength results while retaining an ability to position a component at any selected radial orientation relative to the post.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In combination, 
 a structural component;    a cylindrical post, said cylindrical post defining a longitudinal axis therelong and defining a concentric path thereabout, said concentric path being equidistant from said longitudinal axis;    an annular clamp concentric to and engaging said post at a selected position therealong and at selected radial orientation thereabout, said annular clamp including a first contact surface, said first contact surface traversing said concentric path; and    a component coupling member attachable to said component, said component coupling member presenting a second contact surface traversing said concentric path and abutting said first contact surface.    
     
     
         2 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said second contact surface matingly inter-fits said first contact surface.  
     
     
         3 . A combination according to  claim 2  wherein said second contact surface engages in face-to-face relation said first contact surface and thereby transfers from said second contact surface to said first contact surface a load force originating from said component.  
     
     
         4 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said post is vertically disposed and said concentric path is horizontally disposed.  
     
     
         5 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said first contact surface and said second contact surface are each discontinuous surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second contact surfaces comprise a first and a second, respectively, set of planar surfaces.  
     
     
         8 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second set of planar surfaces define a dovetail pattern.  
     
     
         7 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said annular clamp is a bifurcated collar-clamp, each half thereof being at least partially C-shaped.  
     
     
         9 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said component coupling member is bifurcated.  
     
     
         10 . A combination according to  claim 1  wherein said combination further comprises a plurality of said components, a plurality of said posts, a plurality of said annular clamps, and a plurality of said component coupling members organized as a structure wherein said posts support said annular clamps and wherein each of said components span at least two of said posts coupled at each end thereto by way of one of said component coupling members.  
     
     
         11 . A device interposed between a post and a component, said device comprising: 
 an annular collar generally following an annular path equidistant from the post, attachable the post and presenting at least one contact surface transverse to said annular path; and    a coupling member attachable to the component and presenting a second contact surface transverse to said annular path and abuttable in face-to-face relation with said first contact surface.    
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein said collar is a bifurcated collar.  
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein said annular path lies in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of said post.  
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein upon establishing and by virtue of said face-to-face abutment between said first contact surface and said second contact surface, said coupling member is blocked against movement relative to said annular clamp.  
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 11  wherein said second contact surface engages according to said face-to-face relation said first contact surface to transfer from said second contact surface to said first contact surface a load force originating from the component.  
     
     
         16 . A method of mounting a component relative to a post, said method comprising: 
 attaching a bi-furcated annular collar to said post, said collar generally following a path concentric to a longitudinal axis of said post, said load receiving surface and said load delivering surface; and    attaching a bifurcated component coupling member to said annular clamp, said coupling member carrying the component, said coupling member presenting at least one component load delivering surface, said load receiving surface and said load delivering surface being in abutment to transfer a load force originating from said component, each of said load receiving surface and said load delivering surface traversing said concentric path.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said post is vertically disposed and said concentric path is horizontally disposed.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said collar is bifurcated along vertically disposed plane.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said component coupling member is bi-furcated along a horizontally disposed plane.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein said collar presents a plurality of load receiving surfaces and said component coupling member presents a corresponding plurality of said load delivering surfaces.