Connector for elongate support member

Abstract

A connector is provided for connecting an elongate support member to a mount. The connector includes a collet assembly including a collet having an opening configured to receive the elongate support member therein. The collet includes a tapered outer profile. The collet assembly includes a collet sleeve extending around the collet. The collet sleeve is configured to move along a length of the collet such that engagement between the collet sleeve and the tapered outer profile of the collet compresses the collet radially inward. The collet sleeve includes a mounting provision configured to be releasably joined to the mount using a mechanical fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector for connecting an elongate support member to a mount, the connector comprising:
 a collet assembly comprising a collet having an opening configured to receive the elongate support member therein, the collet comprising a tapered outer profile, the collet assembly comprising a collet sleeve extending around the collet, the collet sleeve being configured to move along a length of the collet such that engagement between the collet sleeve and the tapered outer profile of the collet compresses the collet radially inward, the collet sleeve comprising a mounting provision configured to be releasably joined to the mount using a mechanical fastener.   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting provision of the collet sleeve comprises an opening configured to receive the mechanical fastener therein to releasably join the mounting provision to the mount. 
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting provision of the collet sleeve comprises a flange configured to engage the mechanical fastener to releasably join the mounting provision to the mount. 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a threaded fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fastener comprises at least one of a threaded fastener, a clamp, a clip, a rivet, a latch, a clevis, a pin, a cable, or a strap. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the collet sleeve comprises first and second collet sleeve plates joined together, the first collet sleeve plate being configured to compress the collet radially inward when the collet sleeve moves along the length of the collet in a first direction, the second collet sleeve plate being configured to compress the collet radially inward when the collet sleeve moves along the length of the collet in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the collet is cylindrical such that the opening is configured to receive a cylindrical elongate support member. 
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the collet comprises a grip configured to grip the elongate support member. 
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered outer profile of the collet comprises a frustum. 
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered outer profile of the collet comprises a frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered outer profile of the collet comprise first and second frustums that intersect at an approximate midpoint of the length of the collet. 
     
     
         12 . A connector for connecting an elongate support member to a mount, the connector comprising:
 a collet assembly comprising a collet having an opening configured to receive the elongate support member therein, the collet comprising a tapered outer profile, the collet assembly comprising a collet sleeve extending around the collet, the collet sleeve being configured to move along a length of the collet such that engagement between the collet sleeve and the tapered outer profile of the collet compresses the collet radially inward, the collet sleeve comprising a mounting provision configured to be joined to the mount, wherein the collet sleeve comprises first and second collet sleeve plates joined together.   
     
     
         13 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second collet sleeve plates are releasably joined together using a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second collet sleeve plates are releasably joined together using a mechanical fastener, the first and second collet sleeve plates comprising openings configured to receive the mechanical fastener therein to releasably join the first and second collet sleeve plates together. 
     
     
         15 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second collet sleeve plates are releasably joined together using a mechanical fastener, a distance between the first and second collet sleeve plates being adjustable using the mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second collet sleeve plates are releasably joined together using at least one of a threaded fastener, a clamp, a clip, a rivet, a latch, a clevis, a pin, a cable, or a strap. 
     
     
         17 . The connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first collet sleeve plate is configured to compress the collet radially inward when the collet sleeve moves along the length of the collet in a first direction, the second collet sleeve plate being configured to compress the collet radially inward when the collet sleeve moves along the length of the collet in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         18 . A method for connecting an elongate support member to a mount, the method comprising:
 installing a collet assembly including a collet and a collet sleeve to the elongate support member such that the elongate support member is received into an opening of the collet and such that the collet sleeve extends around a tapered outer profile of the collet; and   releasably joining a mounting provision of the collet sleeve to the mount using a mechanical fastener.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein releasably joining the mounting provision to the mount using a mechanical fastener comprises releasably joining the mounting provision to the mount using at least one of a threaded fastener, a clamp, a clip, a rivet, a latch, a clevis, a pin, a cable, or a strap. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein installing the collet assembly to the elongate support member further comprises:
 releasably joining together first and second collet sleeve plates of the collet sleeve using a mechanical fastener; and   adjusting a distance between the first and second collet sleeve plates using the mechanical fastener.