Joint connection

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a joint connection, a kit, a construction, and a method for joining items. The joining is accomplished, generally, by at least one post and at least one member, whereby the member is joined to the post. Generally, the post has at least one surface having at least one opening, and at least one surface having at least one tab-slot, and, generally, the member has at least one tab protruding from its end. Generally, the joining is accomplished by passing the member through the opening in the post and joining the tab to the tab-slot in the post.

1 . A joint connection, comprising: 
 at least one stabilizing surface, comprising at least one opening;    at least one securing surface, comprising at least one tab-slot;    at least one member, comprising at least one tab;    wherein said member passes through said opening in said stabilizing surface; and    wherein said tab engages said tab-slot in said securing surface.    
   
   
       2 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing surface and the securing surface are in a common surface.  
   
   
       3 . The joint connection of  claim 2 , wherein the stabilizing surface and the securing surface are in the outer surface of a post.  
   
   
       4 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing surface and the securing surface are not in a common surface.  
   
   
       5 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing surface is substantially parallel to the securing surface.  
   
   
       6 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the member may be solid, hollow, or partially filled.  
   
   
       7 . The joint connection of  claim 3 , wherein the post may be solid, hollow, or partially filled.  
   
   
       8 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the opening corresponds in shape and size to the member.  
   
   
       9 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealant along an edge of the opening.  
   
   
       10 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is located directly opposite at least one tab-slot, so that the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at an angle of about 90° relative to the stabilizing surface.  
   
   
       11 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is not directly opposite at least one tab-slot, but is offset from at least one tab-slot, so that the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at a non-90° angle relative to the stabilizing surface.  
   
   
       12 . The joint connection of  claim 11 , wherein the angle results in friction and grip between the member and the opening.  
   
   
       13 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the size and shape of the tab-slots corresponds to the tabs.  
   
   
       14 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealant along an edge of the tab-slots and connection between the tab-end of the member and the inner surface of the stabilizing surface.  
   
   
       15 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the said member is coupled to itself at said opening.  
   
   
       16 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is engaged with the tab-slot in a manner selected from the group consisting of bending, crimping, gluing, welding, pinning, screwing, twisting, bolting, and via a notch in the tab.  
   
   
       17 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one recess in the securing surface capable of receiving a bent tab.  
   
   
       18 . The joint connection of  claim 1 , produced by a process wherein the tab-slot is cut by a laser.  
   
   
       19 . A method of joining, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one stabilizing surface, comprising at least one opening;    providing at least one securing surface, comprising at least one tab-slot;    providing at least one member, comprising at least one tab;    passing said member through said opening; and    passing said tab into said tab-slot.    
   
   
       20 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the opening corresponds to the shape and size of the member.  
   
   
       21 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the stabilizing surface and the securing surface are in a common surface.  
   
   
       22 . The method of joining of  claim 21 , wherein the stabilizing surface and the securing surface are in the outer surface of a post.  
   
   
       23 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the stabilizing surface and the securing surface are not in a common surface.  
   
   
       24 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the stabilizing surface is substantially parallel to the securing surface.  
   
   
       25 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the member may be solid, hollow, or partially filled.  
   
   
       26 . The method of joining of  claim 22 , wherein the post may be solid, hollow, or partially filled.  
   
   
       27 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the opening is located directly opposite at least one tab-slot, so that when assembled, the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at an angle of about 90° relative to the stabilizing surface.  
   
   
       28 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the opening is not directly opposite at least one tab-slot, but is offset from at least one tab-slot, so that when assembled, the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at a non-90° angle relative to the stabilizing surface.  
   
   
       29 . The method of joining of  claim 28 , wherein the angle results in friction and grip between the member and the opening.  
   
   
       30 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the size and shape of the tab-slots corresponds to the tabs.  
   
   
       31 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the tab engages in the corresponding tab-slot without requiring welding or additional fastening.  
   
   
       32 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , wherein the tab is engaged with the tab-slot in a manner selected from the group consisting of bending, crimping, gluing, welding, pinning, screwing, twisting, bolting, and via a notch in the tab.  
   
   
       33 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a sealant along an edge of the opening.  
   
   
       34 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a sealant along an edge of the tab-slot.  
   
   
       35 . The method of joining of  claim 19 , further comprising bending said tabs over an edge of said tab-slots into a recess in said securing surface, such that when assembled, tabs are flush with said securing surface.  
   
   
       36 . A joint kit having component parts capable of being assembled, the kit comprising the combination of: 
 at least one post, capable of being joined to at least one member; and    at least one member, capable of being joined to at least one post;    said post comprising: 
 at least one stabilizing surface, comprising at least one opening; and  
 at least one securing surface, comprising at least one tab-slot;  
   said member comprising: 
 at least one tab;  
   wherein said member is capable of penetrating said opening in said stabilizing surface of said post; and    wherein said tab on said member is capable of engaging the tab-slot in said securing surface of said post, whereby said member may be joined to said post.    
   
   
       37 . The joint kit of  claim 36 , wherein the member may be solid, hollow, or partially filled.  
   
   
       38 . The joint kit of  claim 36 , wherein the post may be solid, hollow, or partially filled.  
   
   
       39 . The joint kit of  claim 36 , wherein the opening corresponds in shape and size to the member.  
   
   
       40 . The joint kit of  claim 36 , wherein the opening is located directly opposite at least one tab-slot, so that when assembled, the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at an angle of about 90° relative to the stabilizing surface.  
   
   
       41 . The joint kit of  claim 36 , wherein the opening is not directly opposite at least one tab-slot, but is offset from at least one tab-slot, so that when assembled, the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at a non-90° angle relative to the stabilizing surface.  
   
   
       42 . The joint kit of  claim 41 , wherein the angle results in friction and grip between the member and the opening.  
   
   
       43 . The joint kit of  claim 36 , wherein the size and shape of the tab-slots corresponds to the tabs.  
   
   
       44 . The joint kit of  claim 36 , further comprising at least one recess in the securing surface capable of receiving a bent tab.  
   
   
       45 . A construction, comprising: 
 at least one post, said post comprising: 
 at least one opening; and  
 at least one tab-slot;  
   at least one member, comprising at least one tab;    wherein said member passes through said opening in said post; and    wherein said tab engages said tab-slot in said post.    
   
   
       46 . The construction of  claim 45 , wherein the construction is at least selected from the group consisting of fences, gates, ladders, scaffolding, and walls.  
   
   
       47 . The construction of  claim 45 , wherein the opening is located directly opposite at least one tab-slot, so that when assembled, the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at an angle of about 90° relative to the longitudinal axis of the post.  
   
   
       48 . The construction of  claim 45 , wherein the opening is not directly opposite at least one tab-slot, but is offset from at least one tab-slot, so that when assembled, the longitudinal axis of the member is oriented at a non-90° angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the post.  
   
   
       49 . The construction of  claim 48 , wherein the angle results in friction and grip between the member and the opening.