Extendable coupler accessory
View Patent ↗The extendable coupler accessory mounts on a coupler affixed to a vertical pipe. The extendable coupler accessory has a nested set of rods that are extendable into a horizontal cantilever position by an extension mechanism. The extendable coupler accessory has an adapter with a bridge that engages with the coupler and prevents the cantilevered rods from tipping vertically or twisting horizontally. The extendable coupler accessory when attached to the coupler by the bridge maintains a horizontal cantilever position with an affixed load.
1 . A system for mounting horizontal pipes to a vertical pipe, comprising:
a coupler device, comprising:
a rod, and
an adapter coupled to the rod, comprising:
an upper region comprising at least two opposing sides separated by openings,
a bottom opening, and
a bridge connecting the at least two opposing sides of the upper region and comprising notches on opposing ends; and
a coupler comprising a plurality of upwardly opening slots spaced radially around a central opening of the coupler and configured to receive the notches on the bridge,
wherein the notches are configured to engage with one or more sides of the upwardly opening slots, and
wherein the coupler is configured to receive a terminal connector affixed to a particular horizontal pipe into a particular upwardly opening slot of the plurality of upwardly opening slots through a particular opening in the upper region of the adapter.
2 . The system of claim 1 , the adapter further comprising a hollow structure.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each opening extends upward from a lower surface of the upper region.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge spans a central portion of a top opening of the upper region of the adapter.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge is an integral component of the adapter.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rod is an extendable rod comprising two or more rods in a nested configuration, each of the two of more rods comprising a stopping mechanism.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the extendable rod comprises an extension mechanism comprising one or more of a telescopic mechanism, a screw mechanism, or a guide cable.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the extension mechanism is reversable as a retraction mechanism.
9 . A method for horizontal pipes to be mounted from a single vertical pipe, comprising:
affixing a coupler to a vertical pipe, the coupler comprising a plurality of upwardly opening slots spaced radially around a central opening of the coupler;
affixing a coupler device to the coupler, the coupler device comprising:
a rod, and
an adapter coupled to the rod, comprising:
an upper region comprising at least two opposing sides separated by openings,
a bottom opening, and
a bridge connecting the at least two opposing sides of the upper region and comprising notches on opposing ends; and
affixing one or more horizontal pipes to the coupler by inserting a terminal connector of a particular horizontal pipe into one of the plurality of upwardly opening slots through one of the openings of the upper region of the adapter.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein affixing the coupler device to the coupler comprises:
positioning the coupler device above the coupler such that the notches of the bridge align with two of the plurality of upwardly opening slots disposed on opposing sides of the coupler; and
inserting the notches of the coupler device into the two upwardly opening slots of the coupler.