AU2014261595B2

AU2014261595B2 - Connecting means

Info

Publication number: AU2014261595B2
Application number: AU2014261595A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Franz Baur; Franz Haser; Patrick Jeker; Philipp Seiler
Original assignee: Lamello AG
Current assignee: Lamello AG
Priority date: 2013-04-30
Filing date: 2014-04-22
Publication date: 2017-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-22
Also published as: EP2992225A1; PL2992225T3; DK2992225T3; BR112015024151B1; DE102013207966A9; WO2014177425A1; EP2992225B1; DE102013207966A1; ES2663367T3; BR112015024151A2; ME02984B; AU2014261595A1; PT2992225T

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component, in particular for connecting furniture parts or machine parts, comprising a first connecting element arranged on the first component in the connected state of the components and a second connecting element arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components, wherein the first connecting element comprises a main body and a retaining element, which can be moved in relation to the main body of the first connecting element and which is designed to detachably connect the first connecting element to the second connecting element, wherein the movable retaining element has a first retaining contour, wherein the second connecting element has a second retaining contour, behind which the first retaining contour can engage, by means of which connecting means two components can be reliably and stably connected to each other. According to the invention the connecting means comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the second retaining contour in the connected state of the components.

Description

Connecting means

The present invention relates to a connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component, in particular for connecting furniture or machine parts, comprising a first connecting element which is arranged on the first component in the connected state of the components and a second connecting element which is arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components, wherein the first connecting element comprises a main body and a retaining element which is moveable relative to the main body of the first connecting element for connecting the first connecting element to the second connecting element in releasable manner, wherein the moveable retaining element has a first retaining contour, wherein the second connecting element has a second retaining contour which is configured to engage behind the first retaining contour.

Such a connecting means is known from EP 1 990 549 A1 for example.

The object of the present invention is to provide a connecting means of the type specified hereinabove by means of which two components are connectable to one another in a particularly reliable and stable manner.

In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in the case of the connecting means specified hereinabove in that the connecting means comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the second retaining contour in the connected state of the components.

Since, in accordance with the invention, the connecting means comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the second retaining contour in the connected state of the components, unwanted deformation of the connecting device can be counteracted so that the two components are connectable to one another in a reliable and stable manner.

In this description and the appended Claims, supporting the second retaining contour is to be understood in particular as a process of accommodating a compressive force by means of the at least one supporting element wherein the at least one supporting element is preferably arranged behind the element that is to be supported with respect to the direction of a compressive force (supporting direction) and in particular behind the second retaining contour. A movement of the second retaining contour toward the supporting element is preferably prevented or at least made more difficult by means of the supporting element.

It can be expedient for the first connecting element to comprise at least one supporting element for supporting the second retaining contour in the connected state of the components.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may be made for the second connecting element to comprise at least one supporting element for supporting the second retaining contour in the connected state of the components.

At least one supporting element is preferably in the form of a supporting projection of a main body of the first connecting element.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may be made for at least one supporting element to be in the form of a supporting projection of a main body of the second connecting element.

In particular, the main body of a connecting element is a housing of the connecting element.

Provision may be made for at least one supporting projection to taper from the main body in at least one direction oriented perpendicularly to a direction of the projection and in particular, a direction of connection.

In one embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the second retaining contour to be supportable by means of the at least one supporting element in a transverse direction of the connecting means.

In particular, a transverse direction of the connecting means is a direction oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the direction of connection of the connecting means.

In particular, the direction of connection of the connecting means is that direction in which the connecting elements are moved towards one another in order to connect the connecting elements and thus the components together.

In particular, the direction of connection is oriented perpendicularly to the contact surfaces of the connecting elements. Hereby, the contact surfaces are those surfaces of the connecting elements which abut one another when the connecting elements are in the connected state.

The second retaining contour is preferably supportable laterally by means of the at least one supporting element.

It can be advantageous if the second retaining contour is supportable by means of the at least one supporting element in a supporting direction which is oriented substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the retaining element.

The retaining element is arranged, in particular, such that it is pivotal on the first connecting element. The rotational axis of the retaining element is preferably oriented substantially perpendicularly to the direction of connection.

The main body of the first connecting element and in particular a housing of the first connecting element preferably comprises a seating opening through which the retaining element is accessible by a tool and in particular a hex key.

The rotational axis of the retaining element is preferably a central axis of the seating opening.

In particular, the seating opening is arranged in a side wall of the main body and in particular of the housing.

In one embodiment of the invention, provision may be made for at least one supporting element and in particular at least one supporting projection to be arranged on a side of the second retaining contour and in particular on an outer surface of the main body of the second connecting element that is remote from the retaining element in the connected state of the components.

In particular, provision may be made for at least one supporting element and in particular at least one supporting projection to be arranged on a side of a side wall which is remote from the retaining element and in which the second retaining contour is arranged and/or formed in the connected state of the components.

It can be expedient if at least one supporting element extends into at least one supporting recess and/or into at least one supporting element seating in the connected state of the components.

It can be advantageous if at least one supporting element is arranged on a connecting element. The at least one associated supporting recess and/or supporting element seating is then preferably arranged on the other connecting element.

In particular, provision is made for at least one supporting element and in particular at least one supporting projection to be arranged on the first connecting element.

At least one supporting recess and/or at least one supporting element seating is preferably arranged on the second connecting element.

It can be advantageous if the at least one supporting recess and/or the at least one supporting element seating extends to a greater extent than the at least one supporting element in a longitudinal direction of the connecting elements. In this way, any inaccuracies occurring when connecting the two components to one another can be compensated in a simple manner.

Provision may be made for the second connecting element to comprise at least two second retaining contours which are formed into side walls of a main body of the second connecting element.

In particular, provision may be made for a second retaining contour to be formed into a side wall of a main body of the second connecting element.

The two second retaining contours are preferably arranged on mutually opposite inner surfaces of the two side walls of the main body of the second connecting element.

It can be advantageous if the moveable retaining element comprises at least two first retaining contours which, in particular, are arranged on mutually opposite sides of a central section of the retaining element.

In one embodiment of the invention, provision may be made for the moveable retaining element to comprise at least two first retaining contours, for the second connecting element to comprise at least two second retaining contours which are formed into side walls of a main body of the second connecting element and are configured to engage behind the first retaining contours, wherein the moveable retaining element is arrangeable or is arranged between the two side walls.

In particular, provision may be made for the moveable retaining element to be insertible into a gap between the two side walls of the main body of the second connecting element and to be removable therefrom.

Furthermore, provision may be made for the first connecting element to comprise at least two supporting elements, for the moveable retaining element to be movable between two side walls of a main body of the second connecting element and for the two side walls to be arrangable or to be arranged between the at least two supporting elements particularly in the connected state.

The retaining element is thus preferably insertible between the two second retaining contours.

In particular in the connected state of the components, the retaining element and the two second retaining contours are preferably arranged between two supporting elements and in particular, are supported laterally by means of the two supporting elements. A deflection of the two second retaining contours in a transverse direction (in particular a thickness direction) is preferably preventable by means of the supporting elements.

Provision may be made for the at least one supporting element to protrude beyond a contact surface of the first connecting element with which the first connecting element abuts the second connecting element in the connected state.

In one embodiment of the invention, provision is made for at least one supporting element to be, at least to an approximate extent, flush with a side wall of the first connecting element.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may be made for at least one supporting element to be, at least to an approximate extent, flush with a side wall of the second connecting element.

In particular, provision may be made for at least one supporting element to be, at least to an approximate extent, flush with a side wall of the main body of the first connecting element and/or a side wall of the main body of the second connecting element.

Provision may be made for at least one supporting element to have, at least to an approximate extent, an arcuate longitudinal section and/or cross section.

It can be expedient if at least one supporting recess and/or at least one supporting element seating is formed such as to be complementary to at least one supporting element at least in sections thereof and to at least an approximate extent.

Provision may be made for at least one supporting element to be in the form of an extension of a side wall of a main body of a connecting element which extends beyond the positioning surface.

The at least one supporting element preferably does not protrude beyond the main body of one or both connecting elements in a transverse direction.

It can be expedient if at least one supporting element is formed in one piece with the main body and in particular in one piece with a side wall of the main body.

In particular, provision may be made for at least one supporting element to be a component of a main body of a connecting element.

At least one main body of at least one connecting element is preferably in the form of an injection moulded component of synthetic material.

It can be expedient if the first connecting element and the second connecting element are connected to one another in releasable manner in the connected state of the components.

Preferably, at least the first connecting element comprises a housing and at least one retaining element that is moveable relative to the housing of the first connecting element.

Provision may be made for the retaining element to cooperate with the second connecting element in a retaining position in such a way that relative movement of the first connecting element and the second connecting element along the direction of connection is prevented.

In particular, provision may be made for the retaining element to permit a relative movement of the first connecting element and the second connecting element along the direction of connection in a release position.

At least one retaining element is preferably movable relative to a housing of the first connecting element from the retaining position into the release position and/or from the release position into the retaining position by means of an effect occurring outside the connecting device.

In particular, the housing of the first connecting element comprises a curved bearing surface which is in the shape of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section and a substantially flat bearing surface which is located opposite this bearing surface and is placeable on the second connecting element.

Due to the fact that at least one of the connecting elements preferably has a curved bearing surface which is in the shape of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section, this bearing surface can slide on a groove base surface of a groove that is formed in one of the components and is likewise in the shape of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section, whereby the orientation of the connecting element concerned relative to the other respective connecting element can be varied within certain limits when connecting the connecting elements together in order to compensate for positional tolerances of the grooves in which the connecting elements are arranged, and/or manufacturing tolerances of the connecting elements.

Due to this additional degree of freedom of movement, further corrections with respect to the mutual positions thereof are possible when assembling the two components, this thereby significantly reducing the demands for precision in regard to the location of the grooves in the components and providing considerable simplification for the user.

If the connecting elements are locked together due to the movement of the retaining element into the retaining position, then preferably so much friction that is produced by tensile forces which are effective on the connecting elements in a direction of connection that is oriented transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the contact surfaces of the connecting elements is activated that the aforesaid degree of freedom of movement is neutralized and a fully solid connection between the components that are to be connected is established.

The connecting elements of the connecting means in accordance with the invention are inserted into grooves that are already provided in the components so that it is not necessary to exert a large amount of force when inserting the connecting elements into the components and consequently there is no danger of damage to these components.

If the retaining element of the connecting means in accordance with the invention have been moved from the retaining position into the release position, then the connecting elements can preferably be moved away from one another in a direction of connection that is oriented perpendicularly to the contact surfaces of the connecting elements upon which the connecting elements abut each other in the connected state of the components without previously having to move the connecting elements relative to each other in a direction parallel to the contact surfaces.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the substantially flat contact surface of the first connecting element is placeable on a likewise substantially flat contact surface of the second connecting element.

The substantially flat contact surface of the first connecting element and/or of the second connecting element is preferably oriented so that it is substantially parallel to the contact areas of the components on which the components are located upon one another in the connected state of the components.

Furthermore, in the connected state of the components, the curved bearing surface and the substantially flat contact surface of the first connecting element and/or of the second connecting element are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the direction of connection.

In particular, the curved bearing surface of at least one connecting element can be substantially in the form of a section of the surface of a right cylinder.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for at least one retaining element to be held on the first connecting element in pivotal manner.

In order to effect the connection of the two connecting elements in the retaining position of the retaining element, provision may be made for at least one retaining element to comprise a first retaining contour which, in the retaining position, engages behind a second retaining contour that is formed on the second connecting element.

Hereby, the first retaining contour and/or the second retaining contour can be arcuate.

In particular, provision may be made for the first retaining contour and the second retaining contour to be formed such that they are not mutually concentric so that the two connecting elements are drawn together by the movement of the retaining element from the release position into the retaining position.

For example, provision may be made for at least one retaining element to be movable from the retaining position into the release position and/or from the release position into the retaining position by means of a mechanical actuating means which is moveable into engagement with the retaining element from outside the connecting element.

For this purpose, it is expedient if at least one retaining element comprises a seating for an actuating section of a mechanical actuating means.

In particular, provision may be made for at least one retaining element to comprise a seating for a polygonal key, a hex key and/or a screwdriver.

In order to enable the mechanical actuating means to be effective on the retaining element, provision may be made for the first connecting element to comprise a housing incorporating a passage opening for allowing a mechanical actuating means to gain access to a retaining element.

In particular, provision may be made for the housing to comprise a side wall which extends transversely to the curved bearing surface of the first connecting element and for the passage opening to be arranged in the side wall.

As an alternative thereto, provision may also be made for the passage opening to be arranged in the curved bearing surface of the first connecting element.

In order to also enable shearing stresses to be removed by means of the connection between the connecting elements, it is of advantage if at least one of the connecting elements comprises at least one plug-in projection and if the other respective connecting element comprises at least one seating pocket for accommodating the plug-in projection in the connected state of the components. Additional pegs such as are necessary with most other connecting devices can thereby be dispensed with.

If at least one seating pocket extends in a longitudinal direction of the connecting device to a greater extent than the plug-in projection accommodated therein, then this offers the advantage that the first connecting element and the second connecting element are displaceable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction so as to compensate for tolerances in the connection between the components in this way.

In order to obtain particularly effective anchorage of at least one of the connecting elements in the associated component, provision may be made for at least one of the connecting elements to be provided with at least one retaining projection which has a curved supporting surface that is in the shape of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section.

With the aid of this curved supporting surface, the retaining projection can be supported on a likewise curved undercut surface of an undercut section of a groove in the associated component, wherein this undercut surface is likewise in the shape of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section and has the same radius of curvature as the curved supporting surface of the retaining projection. The engagement between the retaining projection and the undercut section of the groove gives rise to a positively-locking connection between the component and the connecting element.

The retaining projection of the connecting device in accordance with the invention is preferably not self-tapping.

Rather, the retaining projection is intended to be pushed into a groove which was already there before the insertion of the connecting element into the component, said groove having an undercut section in the component concerned and the insertion process being effected in the longitudinal direction of the groove. In this case, the retaining projection can be displaced in the undercut section of the groove in the tangential direction using little force so that the connecting element has yet another degree of freedom of movement in this direction whereby corrections with respect to their mutual positions are still possible when connecting the components.

In particular, the retaining projection may have blunt ends and/or it could have rounded-off sloping insertion faces in the end regions thereof.

The cross-sectional area of a non-self-tapping retaining projection may be of any size in order to increase the mechanical stability of the retaining projection.

In particular, the cross-sectional area of the retaining projection can amount to at least 1 mm2.

The retaining projection may have a substantially rectangular or a substantially trapezoidal cross section.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may be made for at least one retaining projection to taper with increasing distance from a main body of the respective connecting element.

On the other hand, provision may be made for at least one retaining projection to taper with decreasing distance from a main body of the respective connecting element.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, it is also conceivable for the outer contour of the cross section of at least one retaining projection to be curved at least in sections thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the surface of at least one retaining projection to be substantially flush with the curved bearing surface of the respective connecting element. In this case, the retaining projection is thus arranged on the outermost edge of the associated connecting element that faces the base of the groove.

As an alternative or in addition thereto, provision may also be made for at least one retaining projection to be off-set with respect to the curved bearing surface of the respective connecting element. In particular, the retaining projection can thus have a smaller radius of curvature than the curved bearing surface of the respective connecting element.

Furthermore, provision may be made for a plurality of retaining projections having different radii of curvature to be arranged on the same connecting element. In particular, a plurality of retaining projections having different radii of curvature can be arranged on the same side of the respective connecting element.

As an alternative to or in addition to the anchorage of the connecting elements by means of one or more retaining projections, provision may also be made for at least one of the connecting elements to be provided with at least one anchoring element for fixing the connecting element concerned to the groove base of a groove provided in one of the components.

Furthermore, provision may be made for at least one of the connecting elements to be provided with at least one anchoring screw for fixing the connecting element concerned to one of the components.

Further features and advantages of the invention form the subject matter of the following description and the graphical illustration of exemplary embodiments.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective illustration of two components that are to be connected together in the unconnected state, wherein each component comprises a respective groove having a central base section and two arcuate undercut sections protruding from the base section;

Fig. 2 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to Fig. 1 in which invisible edges are additionally depicted in broken lines;

Fig. 3 a schematic cross section through the first component depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 in the region of an access boring;

Fig. 4 a schematic side view of the first component depicted in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 a schematic perspective illustration of a connecting means for connecting the two components depicted in Figs. 1 to 4 which comprise a first connecting element with a retaining element and a second connecting element with a seating for the retaining element;

Fig. 6 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to Fig. 5 in which invisible edges are additionally depicted in broken lines;

Fig. 7 a schematic side view of the connecting means depicted in Figs. 5 and 6 in the unconnected state;

Fig. 8 a schematic side view of the connecting means depicted in Figs. 5 and 6 in the connected state;

Fig. 9 a further schematic side view of the connecting means in the unconnected state;

Fig. 10 a schematic cross section through the connecting means in the unconnected state;

Fig. 11 a schematic cross section through the connecting means in the connected state;

Fig. 12 a schematic perspective illustration of the two components that are to be connected in the unconnected state, wherein a respective one of the connecting elements is inserted into the groove of each component;

Fig. 13 a schematic perspective illustration corresponding to Fig. 12 in which invisible edges are additionally depicted in broken lines;

Fig. 14 a schematic side view of the first component wherein the first connecting element is inserted into the groove thereof;

Fig. 15 a schematic side view of both components with inserted connecting elements which are moved towards one another;

Fig. 16 a schematic side view of the components with the contact areas thereof located upon one another and a polygonal key which is in engagement with the retaining element of the first connecting element through an access boring; and

Fig. 17 a schematic side view of the two components and the polygonal key by means of which the retaining element is moved from a release position into a retaining position.

Similar or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference symbols in all of the Figures. A connecting means bearing the general reference 100 which is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 17 is described hereinafter using the example of a connection of a first substantially plate-like component 102 with a second, likewise substantially plate-like component 104 (see Figs. 1 to 4).

The two components 102 and 104 consist for example of wood or plywood, but could also consist of any other materials such as a metallic material or a synthetic material (e.g. Plexiglass) for example. Furthermore, provision may be made for the first component 102 and the second component 104 to consist of mutually different materials.

In the connected state of the two components 102 and 104 which is illustrated in Fig. 17, a contact area 106 forming a narrow side of the first component 102 rests on a contact area 108 of the second component 104 which forms a major face of the plate-like second component 104. A groove 110, which is formed in the respective component 102 and 104 and comprises a base section 112 in the form of a segment of a right circular cylinder or a section of a right circular cylinder and also two undercut sections 114 that extend away from the base section 112 in a thickness direction or transverse direction 116, opens out into each of the contact areas 106, 108.

The radius of curvature of the base section 112 is larger than the groove depth T (see Fig. 4) so that the domed surface 118 of the base of the groove intersects the respective contact area 106, 108 at an acute angle.

The base section 112 of the groove 110 has a width B of approximately 8 mm for example in the thickness direction 116.

Each of the undercut sections 114 of the groove 110 is bounded on the side thereof remote from the respective contact area 106 and 108 by a base surface 120 which is flush with the surface 118 of the base of the groove and is in the form of a section of the surface of a right circular cylinder and has the same radius of curvature as the surface 118 of the base of the groove of the base section 112.

In the direction towards the respective contact area 106 or 108, each undercut section 114 is bounded by an undercut surface 122 which is likewise in the form of a section of the surface of a right circular cylinder and is concentric with the base surface 120 and has a smaller radius of curvature.

Laterally, each of the undercut sections 114 is bounded by a lateral boundary surface 124 which extends perpendicularly to the respective contact area 106 and 108.

The width b, i.e. the extent in the thickness direction / transverse direction 116 amounts for example to approximately 1 mm for each of the undercut sections 114.

The height h, i.e. the distance between the base surface 120 and the undercut surface 122 amounts for example to approximately 2 mm for each of the undercut sections 114.

The base section 112 of each groove 110 is bounded by lateral boundary walls 126 which extend substantially perpendicularly to the respective contact area 106 and 108 and are spaced from each other by the groove width B.

As can be perceived from Fig. 3 for example, there opens out into the groove 110 of the first component 102 a substantially cylindrical access boring 128 which extends perpendicularly to one of the lateral boundary walls 126 whilst the other end thereof opens out into a major face 129 of the plate-like first component 102 and thus makes it possible for the base section 112 of the groove 110 to be accessed from the space outside the first component 102.

In order to produce the previously described grooves 110 in the components 102 and 104, use can be made of the groove milling device described in EP 1 990 549 A1 for example.

After the grooves 110 have been produced in the first component 102 and the second component 104, the access boring 128 connecting a major face 129 with the base section 112 of the groove 110 is then formed in the first component 102.

The connecting means 100 for connecting the two components 102 and 104 together comprises a first connecting element 184 for insertion into the groove of the first component 102 and a second connecting element 186 for insertion into the groove 110 of the second component 104 such as are illustrated in Figs. 5 to 11.

The first connecting element 184 comprises a main body 187. The main body 187 comprises a housing 188 which is substantially in the form of a section of a right circular cylinder having an arcuate curved bearing surface 190 that is in the form of an arc of a circle in a longitudinal section taken in the longitudinal direction 192 of the connecting element 184, and also having a flat contact surface 194 which is located opposite the curved bearing surface 190 as well as two lateral side faces 198 that extend substantially parallel to the direction of connection 196.

From the lower edge of the side faces 198, there extends a respective arcuate curved retaining projection 200 which projects in a transverse direction or thickness direction 202 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 192 and the direction of connection 196.

Each retaining projection 200 is bounded in the direction towards the contact surface 194 by an arcuate curved supporting surface 204 which is in the form of an arc of a circle in a longitudinal section taken along the longitudinal direction 192.

On the side thereof remote from the contact surface 194, each retaining projection 200 is bounded by a likewise arcuate curved bearing surface which is in the form of an arc of a circle in a longitudinal section taken along the longitudinal direction 192 and adjoins the bearing surface 190 of the housing 188 such as to be flush therewith.

The supporting surface 204 and the bearing surface 206 of each retaining projection 200 are connected to one another by a side face 208 that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction 192 and parallel to the direction of connection 196.

The profile of each retaining projection 200 substantially corresponds to the profile of the undercut section 114 of the groove 110 associated therewith, and the curvature of the retaining projection 200 corresponds to the curvature of the associated undercut section 114 so that the first connecting element 184 is insertible into the undercut sections 114 of the groove 110 by means of its retaining projections 200 and is displaceable therein in sliding manner.

Furthermore, the first connecting element 184 comprises a seating chamber 210 that is surrounded by the housing 188 and is used for accommodating a retaining element 212 which can emerge from the seating chamber 210 through a mouth opening 214 at which the seating chamber 210 opens out into the contact surface 194 of the first connecting element 184.

On the side thereof remote from the contact surface 194, the seating chamber 210 can extend to the curved bearing surface 190.

The retaining element 212 comprises a plate-like main body or central section 216 which is provided at one end with annular raised portions 218.

The annular raised portions 218 surround a seating opening 220 having a polygonal cross section which is aligned with a substantially circular passage opening 222 in one of the side faces 198 of the housing 188.

The annular raised portions 218 are supported against abutment members 219 that are arranged in the seating chamber 210 so that the retaining element 212 is held on the housing 188 such that it is rotatable about a central axis 224 of the seating opening 220.

The central axis 224 is thus a rotational axis 225 of the retaining element 212.

The free end of the retaining element 212 remote from the annular raised portions 218 is provided with arcuate projections 226 which protrude from the main body 216 on both sides thereof in the thickness direction / transverse direction 202.

Two first retaining contours 217 of the retaining element 212, which are arranged on oppositely-facing sides of the central section 216 of the retaining element 212, are formed by means of the projections 226.

Furthermore, the first connecting element 184 comprises a respective plug-in projection 228 in the form of a substantially cuboidal peg 230 on each side of the opening 214 of the seating chamber 210 with respect to the longitudinal direction 192, each peg extending from the contact surface 194 along the direction of connection 196 and being tapered towards the end thereof remote from the contact surface 194 in order to facilitate the insertion thereof into a respective seating pocket 232 of the second connecting element 186 which is complementary to the peg 230.

Hereby, the plug-in projections 228 of the first connecting element 184 fit very precisely into the seating pockets 232 of the second connecting element 186 in the transverse direction / thickness direction 202 so that the plug-in projections 228 can accommodate the shearing stresses of the connection between the components 102 and 104 in the thickness direction 202 and additional pegs such as are necessary with most other connecting means can be dispensed with.

On the other hand, the seating pockets 232 extend to a greater extent than the plug-in projections 228 in the longitudinal direction 192 so that the first connecting element 184 and the second connecting element 186 can be displaced relative to each other in the longitudinal direction 192 in order to compensate for tolerances in the connection between the components 102 and 104.

However, provision may also be made for the plug-in projections 228 and the seating pockets 232 to be provided with inter-engaging recesses and projections, in particular flutes, in order to allow the connecting elements 184, 186 and thus too the components 102, 104 to be already fixed relative to each other when they are plugged together.

The second connecting element 186 comprises a main body 233. The main body 233 comprises a housing 234 which is substantially in the form of a section of a right circular cylinder having an arcuate curved bearing surface 190 that is in the form of an arc of a circle in a longitudinal section taken along the longitudinal direction 192 of the connecting element 186, a flat contact surface 194 located opposite the curved bearing surface 190, side faces 198, and retaining projections 200 which project from the side faces 198 in the transverse direction 202 and have a curved supporting surface 204 that is directed towards the contact surface 194, a curved bearing surface 206 that is flush with the bearing surface 190 and a side face 208.

As can best be perceived from Fig. 6, the housing 134 of the second connecting element 186 further comprises in addition to the seating pockets 232 for the plug-in projections 228 of the first connecting element 184 an entry chamber 236 which is arranged centrally between the seating pockets 232 and opens out at a mouth opening 238 in the contact surface 194 and can extend up the bearing surface 190 at the opposite end thereof.

From both sides of the opening 238, there protrudes into the interior of the entry chamber 236 a restraining projection 240 which is in the form of a section of a right circular cylinder having an arcuate curved restraining surface 242 in the thickness direction / transverse direction 202 so that a gap having a width that is slightly larger than the thickness of the main body 216 of the retaining element 212 of the first connecting element 184 remains between the two restraining projections 240.

The second connecting element 186 thus comprises two second retaining contours 243 which are arranged and/or formed on mutually facing inner surfaces 245 of side walls 247 of the main body 233.

For the purposes of producing the releasable connection between the first component 102 and the second component 104 by means of the connecting means 100 consisting of the first connecting element 184 and the second connecting element 186 one proceeds as follows:

As is illustrated in Fig. 14, the first connecting element 184 is firstly pushed into the groove 110 of the first component 102 in such a way that the retaining projections 200 of the first connecting element 184 engage in the undercut sections 114 of the groove 110 and the passage opening 222 in the side face 198 of the housing 188 aligns with the access boring 128 in the first component 102 (see Fig. 15).

In like manner, the second connecting element 186 is pushed into the groove 110 in the second component 104 in such a way that its retaining projections 200 engage in the undercut sections 114 of the groove 110 and the housing 234 of the second connecting element 186 is accommodated substantially entirely in the groove 110 (see Fig. 15).

The retaining element 212 of the first connecting element 184 is then rotated entirely into the seating chamber 210 of the first connecting element 184 (see Fig. 15).

In this release position of the retaining element 212, the two components 102 and 104 can be moved relative to each other until their contact areas 106 and 108 as well as the contact surfaces 194 of the connecting elements 184 and 186 are located flatly upon one another and the plug-in projections 228 of the first connecting element 184 engage in the seating pockets 232 of the second connecting element 186 (see Fig. 16).

The actuating end of a bent polygonal key 244 is then inserted into the seating opening 220 of the retaining element 212 through the access boring 128 in the first component 102 and the passage opening 222 in the housing 188 of the first connecting element 184 and brought into engagement with the latter (see Fig. 16).

Subsequently, the retaining element 212 is rotated out from the seating chamber 210 of the first connecting element 184 by means of the polygonal key 244 so that the arcuate projections 226 of the retaining element 212 arrive in the entry chamber 236 of the second connecting element 186 through the mouth opening 238 and thereby engage behind the restraining projections 240 (see Fig. 17).

The first retaining contours 217 of the first connecting element 184 thus engage behind the second retaining contours 243 of the second connecting element 186.

Hereby, the curvature of the arcuate projections 226 of the retaining element 212 on the one hand and the curvature of the restraining surfaces 242 of the restraining projections 240 are matched to one another in such a way that the two connecting elements 184 and 186 are increasingly drawn together along the direction of connection 196 when the retaining element 212 is being rotated into the entry chamber 236 thereby giving rise to as large an area of contact between the restraining surfaces 242 and the arcuate projections 226 of the retaining element 212 as possible.

Compression stress points at the contact areas between the restraining projections 240 and the arcuate projections 226 of the retaining element 212 are thereby prevented and the strength of the material from which the retaining element 212 and the housing 234 of the second connecting element 186 are made is used as uniformly as possible.

The retaining element 212 and the main bodies 187, 233 and in particular the housings 188 and 234 of the connecting elements 184 and 186 can therefore be made, in particular, of an injectible synthetic material.

The retaining element 212 experiences substantially only tensile and compressive forces when the connection between the connecting elements 184 and 186 is loaded along the direction of connection 196, but experiences bending moments to only a negligibly small extent.

The seating chamber 210 of the first connecting element 184, the entry chamber 236 of the second connecting element 186 and the outer contours of the connecting elements 184 and 186 are formed in such a way that they can be produced in one piece.

The retaining element 212 can be pushed through the mouth opening of the seating chamber 210 at the bearing surface 190 of the first connecting element 184 into the seating chamber 210 so that the housing 188 of the first connecting element 184 does not have to be separable.

Consequently, a housing 188 of the first connecting element 184 of a halfshell construction can be dispensed with which thereby increases the stability of the first connecting element 184.

Since the curved bearing surfaces 190 of the connecting elements 184 and 186 have the same radius of curvature as the surface of the groove bases 118 of the grooves 110 on which the bearing surfaces 190 can lie flat and slide, and as the retaining projections 200 of the connecting elements 184 and 186 in the form of an arc of a circle can be displaced tangentially in the respectively associated undercut sections 114 of the grooves 110 with little effort and the connecting elements 184 and 186 therefore still have a certain degree of freedom of movement when establishing the connection, corrections with respect to the mutual position of the connecting elements 184 and 186 are still possible when connecting the components 102 and 104.

This significantly reduces the demands made on precision with respect to the location of the grooves 110 in the components 102 and 104 and makes it considerably easier for the user.

If the retaining element 212 is moved from the release position illustrated in Fig. 16 into the retaining position illustrated in Fig. 17, then a limiting frictional force between the supporting surfaces 204 of the retaining projections 200 on the one hand and the undercut surfaces 122 of the undercut sections 114 of the grooves 110 in contact therewith on the other which is produced by tensile forces that are effective on the connecting elements 184 and 186 in the direction of connection 196 will be so large that the previously described residual degree of freedom of movement is removed and a fully solid connection between the components 102 and 104 is established.

Consequently, due to the support of the retaining projections 200 on the undercut surfaces 122 of the undercut sections 114 of the grooves 110 in the components 102 and 104, the connecting elements 184 and 186 are securely anchored in the respectively associated component 102 and 104.

In the retaining position illustrated in Fig. 8, the retaining element 212 in cooperation with the restraining projections 240 prevents relative movement between the first connecting element 184 and the second connecting element 186 along the direction of connection 196.

In order to release the first component 102 and the second component 104 from each other again, it is only necessary to once more bring a polygonal key 244 into engagement with the seating opening 220 of the retaining element 212 through the access boring 128 in the first component 102 and then move the retaining element 212 from the retaining position into the release position illustrated in Fig. 16 in which the arcuate projections 226 of the retaining element 212 no longer engage behind the restraining projections 240 of the second connecting element 186 by rotating it in the opposite direction so that the connecting elements 184 and 186 can then be easily moved apart along the direction of connection 196.

As an alternative to the rectangular shape of the retaining projections 200, provision may be made for the retaining projections 200 to have a trapezoidal profile which tapers with increasing distance from the side faces 198 of the respective housing 188 and 234.

Furthermore, provision may be made for the profile of the retaining projections 200 to taper with decreasing spacing from the respectively associated side face 198.

Provision may also be made for the profile of the retaining projections 200 to comprise a curved outer contour at least in sections thereof such as a semicircular outer contour for example.

As can be derived particularly from Figs. 6, 10 and 11, the retaining element 212 is insertible into a gap 250 between the side walls 247 of the main body 233 of the second connecting element 186 for the purposes of connecting the connecting elements 184, 186.

The first retaining contours 217 of the retaining element 212 are thereby effective in the direction of connection 196 to at least an approximate extent on the second retaining contours 243 which are formed in the side walls 247 of the main body 233 of the second connecting element 186.

Here too, a force effective in the transverse direction 202 is exerted by the retaining element 212 on the second retaining contours 243 to at least a small extent.

This can lead to the result that the second retaining contours 243 and thus too the side walls 247 will be pressed apart, i.e. be distanced from each other.

The stability of the connection between the connecting elements 184, 186 can thereby be impaired.

As can be derived particularly from Figs. 5 and 11, the connecting means 100 comprises two supporting elements 252 by means of which the second retaining contours 243 can be supported in a supporting direction 246 extending parallel to the transverse direction 202.

In particular hereby, the supporting elements 252 are in the form of supporting projections 254.

The supporting projections 254 are formed in one piece with the main body 187 of the first connecting element 184.

In particular, the supporting projections 254 are extensions adjoining the side walls 247 of the main body 187 of the first connecting element 184 which protrude beyond the contact surface 194 in the direction of connection 196 (the direction of projection).

The supporting projections 254 are arranged on both sides of the retaining element 212.

The second connecting element 186 comprises two supporting recesses 256 or supporting element seatings 258 which cooperate with the supporting elements 252.

In particular, the supporting recesses 256 or the supporting element seatings 258 are formed such as to be substantially complementary to the supporting elements 252 so that the supporting elements 252 can be accommodated by the second connecting element 186 or placed on the second connecting element 186.

In particular, the supporting recesses 256 or the supporting element seatings 258 are formed in the side walls 247 of the main body 233 of the second connecting element 186.

Hereby, the supporting recesses 256 or the supporting element seatings 258 are arranged on outer surfaces 260 of the side walls 247 remote from the inner surfaces 245.

As can be derived particularly from Fig. 11, the supporting elements 252 embrace the main body 233 of the second connecting element 186 in the transverse direction 202 of the connecting means 100 in the connected state of the components 102, 104.

Thus in particular, a force effective in the transverse direction 202 by the retaining element 212 on the second retaining contours 243 can be accommodated by means of the supporting elements 252.

The second retaining contours 243 are thus effectively supported in the supporting direction 246 by means of the supporting elements 252 in the connected state of the components 102, 104.

As can be derived particularly from Figs. 5 and 6, the supporting recesses 256 or supporting element seatings 258 extend to a greater extent than the supporting elements 252 in the longitudinal direction 192 of the connecting means 100. The connecting elements 184, 186 can thereby be positioned variably relative to each other in the longitudinal direction 192 before the connecting elements 184, 186 are firmly connected together by rotating the retaining element 212 into the retaining position.

Due to the supporting elements 252 for supporting the second retaining contours 243, a particularly stable and reliable connection between two components 102, 104 is producible by means of the connecting means 100.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should be taken as an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. Connecting means for connecting a first component and a second component, in particular for connecting furniture or machine parts, the connecting means comprising: a first connecting element which is arranged on the first component in the connected state of the components, and a second connecting element which is arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components, wherein the first connecting element comprises a main body and a retaining element which is moveable relative to the main body of the first connecting element for connecting the first connecting element to the second connecting element in releasable manner, wherein the moveable retaining element has a first retaining contour, wherein the second connecting element has a second retaining contour which is configured to engage behind the first retaining contour, wherein the connecting means comprises at least one supporting element for supporting the second retaining contour in the connected state of the components, wherein the at least one supporting element in the connected state of the components is arranged on an outer surface of a side wall of the main body of the second connecting element, wherein the outer surface is remote from the retaining element in the connected state of the components, and wherein the second retaining contour is arranged on and/or formed in the side wall.
2. Connecting means in accordance with Claim 1, wherein at least one supporting element is in the form of a supporting projection of a main body of the first connecting element and/or as a supporting projection of a main body of the second connecting element.
3. A connecting means in accordance with Claim 2, wherein, commencing from the main body, at least one supporting projection tapers in at least one direction oriented perpendicularly to a direction of projection.
4. Connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 3, wherein the second retaining contour is supportable by means of the at least one supporting element in a transverse direction of the connecting means.
5. A connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 4, wherein the second retaining contour is supportable by means of the at least one supporting element in a supporting direction which is oriented substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the retaining element.
6. A connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one supporting element extends into at least one supporting recess and/or into at least one supporting element seating in the connected state of the components.
7. Connecting means in accordance with Claim 6, wherein the at least one supporting recess and/or the at least one supporting element seating is of greater extent than the at least one supporting element in a longitudinal direction of the connecting elements.
8. Connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 7, wherein the second connecting element comprises at least two second retaining contours which are formed into side walls of a main body of the second connecting element.
9. Connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 8, wherein the moveable retaining element comprises at least two first retaining contours which are arranged on mutually opposite sides of a central section of the retaining element.
10. Connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 9, wherein: the moveable retaining element comprises at least two first retaining contours, the second connecting element comprises at least two second retaining contours which are formed into side walls of a main body of the second connecting element and are configured to engage behind the first retaining contours, and the moveable retaining element is arrangeable or is arranged between the two side walls.
11. Connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 10, wherein: the first connecting element comprises at least two supporting elements, the moveable retaining element is movable between two side walls of a main body of the second connecting element, and the two side walls are arrangable or are arranged between the at least two supporting elements.
12. Connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 11, wherein at least one supporting element protrudes beyond a contact surface of the first connecting element with which the first connecting element abuts on the second connecting element in the connected state.
13. Connecting means in accordance with any of the Claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one supporting element is, to at least an approximate extent, flush with a side wall of the first connecting element and/or a side wall of the second connecting element.