Gravity aided connector

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for hanging an object from a fixed surface. Fixed bolts insert into tapered slots connecting the fixed surface with the object. Gravity and the weight of the object ensure that the connector stays firmly attached to the fixed surface.

1 . An apparatus for hanging an object from a fixed surface comprising: 
 (a) a connector comprising a body having central longitudinal axis and at least two faces, wherein each face defines a longitudinal slot, each slot having an open end and an enclosed end, and each slot having a transverse profile comprising a retaining lip, whereby the open end of the slot on one face is at an opposite end of the body than the open end of the slots on the other faces; and    (b) at least two bolts, each such bolt having an elongate shaft for attachment and a head comprising a shape matching the transverse profile of the slots, such that the head may be inserted into the open end of a slot, moved longitudinally within the slot and is retained within the slot by the retaining lip.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein following installation, the open end of the slot that received the bolt attached to the fixed surface is at the end of the body closest to the ground and wherein the open end of the other slot is at the end of the body that is furthest away from the ground.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each slot is inclined towards the central axis of the connector from the open end to the closed end.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the head of the bolt immediately adjacent to its attachment point to the elongate shaft is cylindrical in shape having a shoulder facing the shaft, the cylindrical shape extending for a distance away from the elongate shaft and then flaring to a wider diameter equal to or less than the width of an inside corner of the cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the bolt comprises a wedge shaped flange having a central passage for receiving a setscrew.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the connector comprises four faces each defining a slot wherein the four faces are substantially perpendicular to each other.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for hanging an object from a fixed surface comprising: 
 (a) a connector comprising a body having a first end and second end, a central longitudinal axis, and a substantially quadrilateral cross-section, whereby at least two faces define a longitudinal slot, each slot having an open end and an enclosed end, and each slot having a transverse profile comprising a retaining lip, whereby the open end of the longitudinal slot on at least one face is at the second end of the body and the open ends of the longitudinal slots on the other face is at the first end of the body; and    (b) at least two bolts, each bolt having an elongate shaft for attachment and a head comprising a shape matching the transverse profile of the slots, such that the head may be inserted into the open end of a slot, moved longitudinally within the slot and is retained within the slot by the retaining lip; and    whereby the slot on the one face that has an open end at the first end of the body is the slot that receives the bolt attached to the fixed surface.    
   
   
       8 . A method of hanging an object from a fixed surface comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching a bolt having a head with an enlarged portion into the fixed surface;    (b) attaching a bolt having a head with an enlarged portion into the object; and    (c) connecting the bolt in the fixed surface and the bolt in the object together by means of a connector body having a central longitudinal axis and at least two faces, wherein each face defines a longitudinal slot, each slot having an open end and an enclosed end, and each slot having a transverse profile comprising a lip, whereby the enlarged portion of a bolt head may slide longitudinally within a slot but is retained by the lip and whereby the open end of the longitudinal slot on one face is at an opposite end of the body than the other longitudinal slots on the other faces.    
   
   
       9 . A method of hanging an object from a fixed surface using the apparatus of  claim 7  comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching a bolt to the fixed surface;    (b) attaching a bolt to the object to be hung;    (c) orientating the connector vertically so that the second end of the body is closest to the ground;    (d) placing the face of the connector having the slot with the open end at the second end of the body immediately above the bolt attached to the fixed surface, and then moving the connector down towards the ground so that the bolt attached to the fixed surface slides up into said slot; and    (e) placing the bolt attached to the object immediately above any of the other slots and then moving the object down towards the ground so the bolt attached to the object slides down into said slot.