Frame system with releasable couplers

Abstract

Structure and method for assembling a structural frame for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures, which structural frame has a first component having at least one auxiliary elongated web section with an elongated entrance channel opening for allowing insertion into the hollow interior of a coupler component to which is attached a second component. The channel opening defines a wider gap portion through which a coupler component is inserted, and a narrower gap portion that secures the coupler therein attaching the coupler component to an end of the second component. The first and second components are firmly, yet removable, secured together by first inserting the first wider section of the coupler through the wider gap section of the entrance channel opening of the first component, and then sliding the coupler along the hollow interior of the first component until the wider section is located at and within the narrower gap section of the entrance channel opening of the first component.

1 . A structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures comprising: 
 a first component comprising an elongated main section defining a longitudinal axis and having a cross section defining a plurality of walls, said elongated main section having at least one elongated web section connected to and projecting from at least one wall of said elongated main section and having a plurality of wall surfaces and a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said main section, said at least one elongated web section comprising an elongated entrance channel opening located opposite to the wall of said main elongated section to which said at least one elongated web section is connected for allowing insertion into the hollow interior of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section of a coupler component; the entrance channel opening defining a wider gap portion through which a coupler component is inserted into the hollow interior and a narrower gap portion that restrains a coupler component in the hollow interior; a second component having a first end and a second end, and at least one coupler-component mounting element mounted to at least one of said first and second ends of said second component; and at least one coupler component for connection to said at least one coupler-component mounting element and for reception in the entrance channel opening of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section of said at least one first component; said at least one coupler component comprising a first wider section and a second narrower section connected to said wider section, said wider section being inserted through said first wider gap portion and thereafter slid in the hollow interior of said auxiliary web section until being located at said narrower gap portion for retention therein, whereby said second narrower section may project at least partially outwardly from said narrower gap portion for mounting said at least one second component to said first component.    
   
   
       2 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of wall surfaces of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section comprises a first side wall extending from one end of said at least one of said plurality of walls from which said at least one auxiliary elongated web section projects, and a second side wall parallel to said first side wall and extending from the other end of said at least one of said plurality of walls from which said at least one auxiliary elongated web section projects, each of said first and second side walls comprising at least one elongated interiorly-projecting ear, said ears defining therebetween said narrower gap portion.  
   
   
       3 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 1 , wherein said wider section of said at least one coupler component comprises a stop member for limiting the longitudinal passage of said coupler component past said narrow gap portion for assisting in retaining said coupler component therein.  
   
   
       4 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 3 , further comprising at least one locking retaining element for locking said at least one coupler component in said hollow interior of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section at said narrower gap portion thereof, said at least one locking retaining element having a first portion capable of being mounted to said wall of said main elongated section to which said at least one auxiliary elongated web section is connected and a second portion operatively connectable to a portion of said coupler component for urging said coupler component toward against said narrower portion of said entrance channel opening.  
   
   
       5 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality said first components, a plurality of second components, a plurality of coupler components, and a plurality of coupler components.  
   
   
       6 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 5 , wherein each said first component consists of a main elongated section defining a longitudinal axis and having cross-sectional shape defining a plurality of walls and a first end and a second end; and a plurality of auxiliary elongated web sections connected to and projecting from corresponding respective said walls of said plurality of walls and each said web section defining a longitudinal axis and a having cross-sectional shape defining a plurality of wall surfaces and a first end and a second end, said longitudinal axes of each said main elongated section and said elongated web section being parallel to each other; each said auxiliary elongated web section comprising a said elongated entrance channel opening located opposite to said corresponding respective wall of said main elongated section to which it is connected for allowing insertion into the hollow interior thereof said of a coupler component.  
   
   
       7 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said plurality of wall surfaces of each of said plurality of auxiliary elongated web sections comprises a first side wall extending from one end of said corresponding respective wall from which said auxiliary elongated web section projects, and a second side wall parallel to said first side wall and extending from the other end of said corresponding respective wall from which said auxiliary elongated web section projects; each of said first and second side walls comprising at least one elongated interiorly-projecting ear, said ears defining therebetween said narrower gap portion.  
   
   
       8 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 1 , wherein said coupler-component mounting element comprises receptacle-openings for receiving fasteners passing through said coupler component, the fasteners being received in said receptacle-openings for fixedly securing said coupler component to a said end of said second component.  
   
   
       9 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one slidable mounting sleeve slidable in the hollow interior of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section, said slidable mounting sleeve defining entrance channel along one surface thereof such as to form a first leg portion and a second leg portion, said entrance channel being in alignment with said entrance channel opening of said auxiliary elongated web section; said entrance channel being narrower in width than said entrance channel opening of said auxiliary elongated web section so that said first and second leg portions close off part of said entrance channel opening of said auxiliary elongated web section to thus define said narrower gap section of said entrance channel opening of said auxiliary elongated web section; and at least one actuating and mounting element for actuating and retaining said at least one mounting sleeve in said hollow interior of said auxiliary elongated web section in an actuated state; said first and second leg portion being capable of being moved toward each other into a clamping state.  
   
   
       10 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one actuating and mounting element consists of at least one chosen from the following group: an expandable bridge element having ends that grip the interior surface of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section; diametrically opposed camming elements projecting from opposite side surfaces of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section that actuate said mounting sleeve in said hollow interior by moving said first and second leg portions toward each other; and a pin element that extends through a portion of web section for maintaining said first and second leg portions in a clamping state.  
   
   
       11 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one retaining element for retaining said coupler component in said mounting sleeve, said at least one retaining element having a first portion mountable to a rear portion of said mounting sleeve in close juxtaposition to said wall of said main elongated section to which said at least one auxiliary elongated web section is connected, and a second portion extending away from said first portion toward said entrance channel opening for biasing engagement with a portion of said coupler component positioned in said mounting sleeve for urging.  
   
   
       12 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said first wider section of said coupler component comprises a bent end portion facing away from second narrower section, said bent end portion contacting a forward portion of said mounting sleeve in a camming action and entering into the interior of said mounting sleeve for pulling an attached end of a second component against the juxtapositioned surface of said first component as said wider section of said coupling component is slid into said mounting sleeve.  
   
   
       13 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of first components, a plurality of second rail components, and a plurality of coupler components; and further comprising at least one double coupler consisting of a pair of coupler components mounted side by side such that said second narrower sections face each other; said double coupler further comprising a spacer mounted between said facing narrower sections, said double connector being used to mount two first components together parallel to each other, each of said two first components also comprising at least one said mounting element mounted to at least one of the ends thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 9 , wherein said narrower section of said coupler component comprises first camming surfaces, and said first and second leg portions of said mounting sleeve having cooperating second camming surfaces for cooperating with said first camming surfaces during mounting of said coupler component in said mounting sleeve, said first and second camming surface forcing said first and second leg portions apart to widen said entrance channel to allow insertion of said coupler component therein and for retaining said coupler component therein after said first camming surfaces have cleared said second camming surfaces; 
 said narrower section of said coupler component further comprising third camming surfaces, and said first and second leg portions of said mounting sleeve further having cooperating fourth second camming surfaces for cooperating with said third camming surfaces during removal of said coupler component from said mounting sleeve, said third and fourth camming surface forcing apart said first and second leg portions to widen said entrance channel to allow removal of said coupler component therein and an attached second component from connection with a first component.    
   
   
       15 . The structural frame system for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said first components comprises an elongated post component, and each of said second components comprises an elongated rail component; each said post component comprising a main elongated section defining a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end, at least one auxiliary elongated web section connected to and projecting from at least one of walls of each said first component and defining a longitudinal axis and a having cross-sectional shape defining a plurality of wall surfaces and a first end and a second end, said longitudinal axes of said main elongated section and said elongated web section being parallel top each other, said at least one auxiliary elongated web section comprising an elongated entrance channel opening located opposite to said wall of said main elongated section to which said at least one auxiliary elongated web section is connected for allowing insertion into the hollow interior of said at least one auxiliary elongated web section of a coupler component;  
   
   
       16 . A coupler for use in a structural frame system used for erecting temporary or permanent structures, which coupler is attached to an end of a first component and received in a hollow interior of a second component, said coupler comprising: 
 a first wider plate section for entrance into an entrance channel opening of the second component and for subsequent sliding movement in the hollow interior of the second component, said first wider section having a width greater than the opening of a narrower gap portion of the entrance channel opening, whereby the coupler is restrained therein; said coupler component further comprising a second narrower plate section connected to said first wider plate section in face-to-face contact, said second narrower plate section being capable of projecting at least partially through the narrower gap portion of the entrance channel opening of the second component, whereby an end of a first second component affixed to said coupler projects outwardly from the entrance channel opening.    
   
   
       17 . The coupler for use in a structural frame system used for erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 16 , wherein said wider plate section comprises a stop member for limiting the longitudinal passage thereof past a narrower gap portion of an entrance channel opening; said first wider plate section comprising a bent end portion facing away from second narrower plate section for contacting a forward portion of a mounting sleeve in a camming action and entering into the interior of the mounting sleeve for pulling an attached end of a first component against the juxtapositioned surface of a second component as said wider plate section is slid into the mounting sleeve;  
   
   
       18 . The coupler for use in a structural frame system used for erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 16 , wherein said coupler is a double coupler consisting of a pair of couplers mounted side by side such that said second narrower sections face each other; said double coupler further comprising a spacer mounted between said facing narrower sections, said double connector being used to mount two first or second components together parallel to each other.  
   
   
       19 . The coupler for use in a structural frame system used for erecting temporary or permanent structures according to  claim 16 , wherein said narrower plate section comprises first camming surfaces and second camming surfaces for cooperating with mating surfaces associated with a mounting sleeve, said first and second camming surface forcing the mounting sleeve open during assembly and disassembly of the coupler thereto for connecting and disconnecting one component from another.  
   
   
       20 . A method of assembling a structural frame for use in erecting temporary or permanent structures, which structural frame comprises a first component having at least one elongated web section connected to and projecting from at least one wall thereof and having a plurality of wall surfaces and a first end and a second end, the at least one elongated web section comprising an elongated entrance channel opening located opposite to the wall of the main elongated section to which the at least one elongated web section is connected for allowing insertion into the hollow interior of the at least one auxiliary elongated web section of a coupler component; the entrance channel opening defining a wider gap portion through which a coupler component is inserted into the hollow interior and a narrower gap portion that restrains a coupler component in the hollow interior; a second component having a first end and a second end, and at least one coupler-component mounting element mounted to at least one of the first and second ends of the second component; and at least one coupler component for connection to the at least one coupler-component mounting element and for reception in the entrance channel opening of the at least one auxiliary elongated web section of the at least one first component; the at least one coupler component comprising a first wider section and a second narrower section connected to said wider section, said method comprising: 
 (a) attaching the coupler component to an end of the second component;    (b) inserting the first wider section of the coupler through the wider gap section of the entrance channel opening of the first component;    (c) sliding the coupler along the hollow interior of the first component until the wider section is located at and within the narrower gap section of the entrance channel opening of the first component;    (d) said step (c) comprising inserting the second narrower section of the coupler into and projecting out from the narrower gap section;    (e) securing the coupler within the hollow interior at the narrower gap section of the first component.