DE29501159U1 - Connecting construction - Google Patents

Description

Connection construction

The innovation relates to a connecting structure for two parts to be connected and a coupling part, whereby this coupling part is provided with at least one recess for receiving the ends of the parts to be connected. Such a connecting structure is generally known in the prior art. For example, for the production of structures in which several such parts to be connected are arranged one above the other, coupling parts are used, such as stands which are provided with a slot on both sides. The parts to be connected are inserted one after the other from above and guided downwards along the coupling part. Such structures are used, for example, in the construction of fences, small garden sheds and the like. However, it will be clear that such connections are also used for other purposes.

The disadvantage of such a structure is that it is relatively complicated because the parts to be connected have to be lifted up piece by piece and moved down a considerable distance along the coupling part. This involves the problem of lifting, exerting a considerable force when moving downwards and the risk of jamming or interlocking during the downward movement.

One solution to avoid this problem is to produce an angle connection in which the parts to be connected cross each other and are provided with interlocking recesses/protrusions. This requires that a part of the parts to be connected always protrudes freely, which is not always desirable from an aesthetic point of view on the one hand and results in wastage of material on the other. The object of the present invention is to improve the connection construction described above in such a way that it is no longer necessary to "thread" the parts to be connected into the coupling part, while also using as little material as possible.

This object is achieved in a connection construction described above in that the coupling part comprises a single recess for the two parts to be connected, which recess comprises a base part and two elevations delimiting the base part, the ends of the parts to be connected being provided with recesses in order to receive these elevations in close connection, these elevations being designed in such a way that by movement substantially perpendicular to the base surface of the recess, the receptacle in the recess

wherein the base part comprises two adjacent base segments positioned at an angle of <. 180° and wherein the ends of the parts to be connected are provided with cooperating connecting means.

The invention is based on the understanding that the inclusion of the parts to be connected in the coupling part is not only achieved by inserting a part to be connected into the coupling part, but that the connection is only complete when the adjacent part to be connected is inserted into the coupling part. This adjacent part to be connected interacts with the first part to be connected. Based on the above idea, many variations are possible. Firstly, a distinction must be made between designs in which the angle between the adjacent parts to be connected is 180°, and designs in which this angle is less than 180°. In the first case, considerable demands are placed on the connecting means between the adjacent parts to be connected. These can, for example, be designed as a tongue and groove. In addition, it is required that the elevations converge towards one another in the direction away from the bottom surface. This means that the angle of each of the elevations is essentially less than 90° relative to the bottom surface of the recess. In both the first and the construction to be discussed below, it is always possible to attach a part to be connected by simply placing it on the coupling part, while the adjacent second part to be connected only needs to be adjusted across the width of one part to be connected in order to engage both the coupling part and the first part to be connected. This considerably limits lifting and a rigid connection is obtained by appropriate shape. This means that the coupling part can basically have an unlimited length without this making it difficult to make the connection.

In the variant in which the bottom part consists of two segments at an angle of less than 180° to each other, it is no longer necessary to let the elevations make the acute angle with the bottom surface. This can make the processing somewhat easier. It is self-evident that such an acute angle can well be present. In addition to the elevations being able to extend perpendicularly to the bottom surface, it is also not necessary to install complicated connecting means such as a tongue-and-groove construction between the front ends of the parts to be connected. It is only necessary to fix the parts to be connected at the front ends with

to be provided with such a bevel that they are connected to one another after the coupling part has been inserted. Here too, assembly is carried out by first placing the first part to be connected next to the coupling part and then adjusting the second part to be connected, which has already been inserted into the coupling part, across the width of the first part to be connected. If a number of parts to be connected are used one after the other, it is recommended that they have a fastening system such as a tongue and groove. In this way, a fence or other wall can be built.

It will be clear that the invention is not limited to an embodiment in which a series of consecutive parts to be connected is arranged. The construction according to the present invention can also be used in other constructions in which it is desired to fix parts in a simple, unambiguous manner.

The invention also relates to the design of the parts to be connected near their free ends as well as the coupling part used in the connecting structure.

The invention is explained below using three exemplary embodiments.

Shown here:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention at the time of superimposing two parts to be connected in the coupling part.

Figure 2 shows the construction according to Figure 1 when two parts to be connected are partially fitted together.

Figure 3 shows in plan view and in cross section the parts to be connected and the coupling part according to the first embodiment in the condition according to Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment in the view according to Figure 3;
and

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a third embodiment according to the invention.

In Figure 1, the coupling part according to the invention is indicated with 1. The purpose is to connect two parts 2, 22 or 3, 23 to be connected together with the coupling part to form a whole. For this purpose, it is proposed according to the invention to first

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binding part 3 is inserted into coupling part 1 at a very low height above the already arranged part 23, i.e. its end is inserted into the recess 4. This is possible by vertical mutual movement of part 3 relative to part 1, as can be seen from Figure 3. When inserting the part 3 to be connected, it is adjusted downwards over a small distance so that the groove 17 falls into the tongue 16 of part 23. Lifting and sliding is therefore no longer necessary. The part 2 to be connected is then arranged exactly above the part 3 to be connected, in the same way as described above. The part 2 to be connected is then moved downwards over the height of the part 3 to be connected. The state halfway through this sliding movement is shown in Figure 2. By pushing downwards and engaging the tongue and groove connection according to 16, 17 for the parts 3,23 a rigid construction is obtained.

All of this is illustrated in detail in Figure 3. This shows how the part 2 to be connected can be inserted into the recess 4 by simply moving in the direction of arrow 9. Part 2 is provided with an end 5. This end 5 is provided with a recess 8. This recess 8 corresponds to a raised area 7 which delimits the base 6 of the recess 4. This base 6 consists of base segments 10 and 11. Furthermore, the end 5 of the part 2 to be connected consists of a projection 13 which is designed to be received in the base segment 11. The front end of the projection 13 is indicated with 15 and extends at an angle <o> relative to the horizontal main surface.

This angle is less than 90°. When the parts are put together, a firm clamp is created.

The construction described above can also be used for an angle connection with an angle of 90°. This is shown in Figure 4. The parts that correspond to Figure 3 are indicated with the same reference symbol, but now supplemented by an accent mark (').

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a connecting structure, in which the parts to be connected are located in their respective extensions. The parts that correspond to the previous figures are indicated with the same reference symbol, but now supplemented by a double accent symbol {"). It turns out that the elevations 7 extend at a sharp angle to the base part 6. The base here consists of a continuous flat surface. Now it is no longer possible to chamfer the front ends of the projections.

to rest against each other. The simple construction has been replaced by a tongue 18-groove 19 construction. It will be clear that other constructions known in the art can be used.

Although the invention has been described above in terms of the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that numerous variations are possible. Thus, the sharply angled elevations 7" of Figure 5 can be used in the previous embodiments, as can the tongue and groove construction shown in that Figure.

These and other constructions are considered to be within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (12)

EXPECTATIONS 1. Connection structure for two parts to be connected (2, 2', 2"; 3, 3\ 3") and a coupling part (1, Γ, 1"), this coupling part being provided with at least one recess for receiving the ends (5, 5 ¹ , 5") of the parts to be connected, characterized in that the coupling part comprises a single recess (4, 4 ¹ , 4") for the two parts to be connected, which recess comprises a base part and two elevations (7, 7', 7") delimiting the base part, the ends of the parts to be connected being provided with recesses (8, 8', 8") in order to receive these elevations (7, 7', 7 ") in close connection, these elevations being designed in such a way that the recess is received by movement substantially perpendicular to the base surface of the recess, the base part having two adjacent floor segments (10, 10', 10"; 11, 11', 11") and wherein the ends of the parts to be connected are provided with cooperating connecting means. 2. A connecting structure according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the adjacent floor segments is less than 180° and wherein the connecting means comprise projections (12, 12'; 13, 13') which can be fitted closely in the floor segments, wherein the front ends (14, 15) of two adjacent end parts in the fitted position are opposite each other and the surface of each front end makes an angle <<x> of less than 90° to the main surface of the part to be connected. 3. A connecting structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting means comprise a projection (18) extending from one end and a corresponding groove (19) provided in the adjacent end. 4. Connecting structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elevations (7") form an angle to the bottom surface of the recess of substantially less than 90°. 5. Connecting structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front ends (14, 14'; 15, 15') are located near the boundary surface 7
before the two floor segments. 6. Connecting structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the side of the elevations which adjoins the base part is substantially perpendicular to this base part. 7. Connecting structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ends of the parts to be connected are mirror-symmetrical. 8. Connecting structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the parts to be connected comprise a sequence of parts (2, 22; 3, 23) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the coupling part. 9. Connecting structure according to claim 8, wherein connecting means {16, 17) are arranged between parts adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the coupling part. 10. Connecting structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections of the parts to be connected have a smaller thickness than the main part of the parts to be connected. 11. Part (2, 2 ¹ , 2"; 3, 3', 3") to be used in the angle connection according to one of the preceding claims, to be connected to a coupling part, which end comprises a recess (8) and a front end, which front end makes an angle (<a>) of less than 90° to its main surface. 12. Coupling part (1) to be used in an angle connection according to one of claims 1-10, provided with a recess (4) which comprises a single base part (6) consisting of at least two adjacent segments (10, 11) which make an angle (ß) of less than 180°, and delimited by elevations (7, 7').