Radially Slotted Annular Coupling System

Abstract

A coupler including an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, the annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between the opposed annular body first and second faces; the annular body having opposed annular body first and second ends which connect the annular body outer and inner surfaces and the annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with the internal opening; the annular body sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of the radial slot; and a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from the annular body inner surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A coupler comprising:
 an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, said annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;   said annular body having opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;   said annular body sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; and   a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface.   
     
     
         2 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said annular body inner and outer surfaces are generally arcuate. 
     
     
         3 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said annular body further comprises an annular body thickness disposed between said annular body first and second faces, said annular body thickness greater than about 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The coupler of  claim 3 , wherein said annular body thickness is selected from the group consisting of: greater than about 2 millimeters; greater than about 2.5 millimeters; greater than about 3 millimeters; greater than about 3.5 millimeters; greater than about 4 millimeters; greater than about 4.5 millimeters; greater than about 5 millimeters; greater than about 5.5 millimeters; greater than about 6 millimeters; greater than about 6.5 millimeters; greater than about 7 millimeters; greater than about 7.5 millimeters; greater than about 8 millimeters; greater than about 8.5 millimeters; greater than about 9 millimeters; greater than about 9.5 millimeters; and greater than about 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said internal opening has a generally elliptical internal opening cross section. 
     
     
         6 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said opposed annular body first and second ends which define said radial slot dispose in angled relation to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The coupler of  claim 6 , wherein said angled relation is defined by an angle in a range of between about 20 degrees to about 120 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The coupler of  claim 7 , wherein said angle is in a range selected from the group consisting of: between about 20 degrees to about 120 degrees; between about 30 degrees to about 110 degrees; between about 40 degrees to about 100 degrees; between about 50 degrees to about 90 degrees; and between about 60 degrees to about 80 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein said annular body further comprises an aperture element bounding an aperture element opening communicating between said annular body first and second faces. 
     
     
         10 . The coupler of  claim 9 , further comprising a pair of said aperture elements, each disposed proximate one of said opposed annular body first and second ends. 
     
     
         11 . The coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising a hook element outwardly extending from said annular body outer surface. 
     
     
         12 . The coupler of  claim 11 , further comprising a pair of said hook elements outwardly extending from said annular body outer surface opposite one another. 
     
     
         13 . The coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising a matably engagable connecting element. 
     
     
         14 . The coupler of  claim 13 , wherein said matably engagable connecting element comprises a female connector having a female connector interior cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The coupler of  claim 13 , wherein said matably engagable connecting element comprises a male connector having a male connector protruding portion configured to removably matably engage within a female connector interior cavity of a female connector. 
     
     
         16 . The coupler of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of said matably engagable connecting elements configured as a female connector having a female connector interior cavity and a male connector having a male connector protruding portion. 
     
     
         17 . The coupler of  claim 16 , wherein said male connector is coupled to a hook element. 
     
     
         18 . The coupler of  claim 17 , wherein said female connector interior cavity is bounded by said annular body outer surface opposite said radial slot. 
     
     
         19 . The coupler of  claim 11 , wherein said hook element further comprises a pair of opposed elongate recesses, each extending across one of two opposing hook element faces proximate a hook element tip. 
     
     
         20 . The coupler of  claim 19 , wherein said hook element tip is configured to removably matably engage within a female connector interior cavity of a female connector. 
     
     
         21 . A method of producing a coupler, said method comprising:
 providing an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, said annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces;   connecting said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces with opposed annular body first and second ends to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening;   configuring said annular body as sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; and   radially inwardly projecting a plurality of spaced apart teeth from said annular body inner surface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , furthering comprising configuring said annular body inner and outer surfaces as generally arcuate. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising disposing an annular body thickness between said annular body first and second faces, said annular body thickness greater than about 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said annular body thickness is selected from the group consisting of: greater than about 2 millimeters; greater than about 2.5 millimeters; greater than about 3 millimeters; greater than about 3.5 millimeters; greater than about 4 millimeters; greater than about 4.5 millimeters; greater than about 5 millimeters; greater than about 5.5 millimeters;
 greater than about 6 millimeters; greater than about 6.5 millimeters; greater than about 7 millimeters; greater than about 7.5 millimeters; greater than about 8 millimeters; greater than about 8.5 millimeters; greater than about 9 millimeters; greater than about 9.5 millimeters; and greater than about 10 millimeters.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , furthering comprising configuring said internal opening to have a generally elliptical internal opening cross section. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising disposing said opposed annular body first and second ends which define said radial slot in angled relation to one another. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said angled relation is defined by an angle in a range of between about 20 degrees to about 120 degrees. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said angle is in a range selected from the group consisting of: between about 20 degrees to about 120 degrees; between about 30 degrees to about 110 degrees; between about 40 degrees to about 100 degrees; between about 50 degrees to about 90 degrees; and between about 60 degrees to about 80 degrees. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , furthering comprising disposing an aperture element within said annular body, said aperture element bounding an aperture element opening communicating between said annular body first and second faces. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , furthering comprising disposing a pair of said aperture elements within said annular body, each disposed proximate one of said opposed annular body first and second ends. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising outwardly extending a hook element from said annular body outer surface. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising outwardly extending a pair of said hook elements from said annular body outer surface opposite one another. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising coupling a matably engagable connecting element to said coupler. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising configuring said matably engagable connecting element as a female connector having a female connector interior cavity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising configuring said matably engagable connecting element as a male connector having a male connector protruding portion configured to removably matably engage within a female connector interior cavity of a female connector. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising coupling a pair of said matably engagable connecting elements to said coupler, said pair of said matably engagable connecting elements configured as a female connector having a female connector interior cavity and a male connector having a male connector protruding portion. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising coupling said male connector to a hook element. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising disposing said female connector interior cavity within said annular body outer surface opposite said radial slot. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising disposing a pair of opposed elongate recesses within said hook element, each said elongate recess extending across one of two opposing hook element faces proximate a hook element tip. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , configuring said hook element tip to removably matably engage within a female connector interior cavity of a female connector. 
     
     
         41 . A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
 obtaining said coupler comprising:
 an annular body having an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces, said annular body inner surface bounding an internal opening communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 said annular body having opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening; 
 said annular body sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; and 
 a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface; and 
   removably coupling said coupler with a support.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein removably coupling said coupler with said support comprises:
 forcibly resiliently flexing said annular body to provide a greater adjustable radial slot width; and   inserting said support through said radial slot having said greater adjustable radial slot width and into said internal opening.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising frictionally engaging said support with said plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface to removably retain said support within said internal opening. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 obtaining said coupler further comprising an aperture element bounding an aperture element opening communicating between said annular body first and second faces; and   inserting a supportive element into said aperture element opening.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 obtaining said coupler further comprising a hook element outwardly extending from said annular body outer surface; and   inserting a supportive element into a hook portion of said hook element.   
     
     
         46 . A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
 obtaining a first coupler further comprising a female connector having a female connector interior cavity;   obtaining a second coupler further comprising a male connector having a male connector protruding portion configured to removably matably engage within said female connector interior cavity; and   removably matably engaging said male connector protruding portion within said female connector interior cavity to couple said first and second couplers.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said female connector interior cavity is bounded by said annular body outer surface of said first coupler and wherein said male connector is coupled to a shank portion of a hook element coupled to said second coupler. 
     
     
         48 . A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
 obtaining a first coupler further comprising a female connector having a female connector interior cavity;   obtaining a second coupler further comprising a hook element having a pair of opposed elongate recesses, each extending across one of two opposing hook element faces proximate a hook element tip, wherein said hook element tip is configured to removably matably engage within said female connector interior cavity; and   removably matably engaging said hook element tip within said female connector interior cavity to couple said first and second couplers.   
     
     
         49 . A method of using a coupler, said method comprising:
 obtaining a first coupler further comprising a first coupler resiliently deformable hook element outwardly extending from said annular body outer surface of said first coupler;   obtaining a second coupler further comprising a second coupler resiliently deformable hook element outwardly extending from said annular body outer surface of said second coupler; and   resiliently deforming said first and second resiliently deformable hook elements to engage a first coupler resiliently deformable hook element hook portion with a second coupler resiliently deformable hook element hook portion to couple said first and second couplers.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 ,  48 , or  49 , further comprising coupling said coupler with an auxiliary element. 
     
     
         51 . A coupler, comprising:
 an annular body comprising:
 an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening; 
 wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; 
   a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;   a hook element coupled to said annular body; and   a pair of opposed elongate recesses disposed within said hook element, each said elongate recess extending across one of two opposing hook element faces proximate a hook element tip.   
     
     
         52 . The coupler of  claim 51 , wherein said hook element tip is configured to removably matably engage with a female connector interior cavity of a female connector of another said coupler. 
     
     
         53 . A coupler, comprising:
 an annular body comprising:
 an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening; 
 wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; and 
 wherein said annular body is devoid of a hinge; 
   a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface; and   a hole disposed in said annular body;   wherein said hole is disposed proximate one of said opposed annular body first and second ends; and   wherein said hole bounds a hole opening which passes through said annular body between said annular body first and second faces.   
     
     
         54 . The coupler of  claim 53 , further comprising a pair of said holes, each disposed proximate one of said opposed annular body first and second ends. 
     
     
         55 . The coupler of  claim 53 , further comprising a hook element coupled to said annular body. 
     
     
         56 . The coupler of  claim 55 , further comprising at least one of:
 a female connector having a female connector interior cavity; or   a male connector having a male connector protruding portion;   wherein said female connector interior cavity is configured to removably matably engage with said male connector protruding portion of another said coupler; and   wherein said male connector protruding portion is configured to removably matably engage with said female connector interior cavity of another said coupler.   
     
     
         57 . The coupler of  claim 53 , wherein said internal opening has a generally elliptical internal opening cross section. 
     
     
         58 . A coupler, comprising:
 an annular body comprising:
 an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening; 
 wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; 
   a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface; and   a pair of hook elements coupled to said annular body opposite one another, each said hook element comprising a shank portion connected to an arcuate hook portion;   wherein said shank portion outwardly extends from said annular body outer surface and said hook portion inwardly returns toward said annular body outer surface.   
     
     
         59 . The coupler of  claim 58 , further comprising an aperture element bounding an aperture element opening which passes through said annular body between said annular body first and second faces. 
     
     
         60 . The coupler of  claim 59 , further comprising at least one of:
 a female connector having a female connector interior cavity; or   a male connector having a male connector protruding portion;   wherein said female connector interior cavity is configured to removably matably engage with said male connector protruding portion of another said coupler; and   wherein said male connector protruding portion is configured to removably matably engage with said female connector interior cavity of another said coupler.   
     
     
         61 . The coupler of  claim 58 , wherein said internal opening has a generally elliptical internal opening cross section. 
     
     
         62 . A coupler, comprising:
 an annular body comprising:
 an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening; 
 wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; 
 wherein said annular body is devoid of a hinge; 
   a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;   a female connector having a female connector interior cavity inwardly extending into said annular body outer surface opposite said radial slot;
 wherein said female connector interior cavity is configured to removably matably engage with a male connector of another said coupler to secure a pair of said couplers to one another; 
 wherein said male connector comprises a male connector protruding portion configured to removably matably engage with said female connector interior cavity; and 
   a hook element coupled to said annular body.   
     
     
         63 . The coupler of  claim 62 , wherein said male connector is coupled to said hook element. 
     
     
         64 . The coupler of  claim 63 , further comprising an aperture element bounding an aperture element opening which passes through said annular body between said annular body first and second faces. 
     
     
         65 . A coupler, comprising:
 an annular body comprising:
 an annular body outer surface and an annular body inner surface connecting opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 only one internal opening (i) bounded by said annular body internal surface and (ii) communicating between said opposed annular body first and second faces; 
 opposed annular body first and second ends which connect said annular body outer and inner surfaces and said annular body first and second faces to define a radial slot which communicates with said internal opening; 
 wherein said opposed annular body first and second ends do not outwardly extend from said annular body outer surface; 
 wherein said opposed annular body first and second ends which define said radial slot dispose in angled relation to one another such that said radial slot outwardly flares from said annular body inner surface to said annular body outer surface; 
 wherein said annular body is sufficiently resiliently flexible to provide an adjustable radial slot width of said radial slot; 
 wherein said annular body is devoid of a hinge; 
   a plurality of spaced apart teeth radially inwardly projecting from said annular body inner surface;   an aperture element bounding an aperture element opening which passes through said annular body between said annular body first and second faces; and   a hook element coupled to said annular body.   
     
     
         66 . The coupler of  claim 65 , further comprising at least one of:
 a female connector having a female connector interior cavity; or   a male connector having a male connector protruding portion;   wherein said female connector interior cavity is configured to removably matably engage with said male connector protruding portion of another said coupler; and   wherein said male connector protruding portion is configured to removably matably engage with said female connector interior cavity of another said coupler.