DE9411067U1 - Connectors for hollow profiles - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION Connectors for hollow profiles

The invention relates to a connector for hollow profiles, in particular spacer hollow profiles of insulating glass panes.

Plug connectors are increasingly being inserted into hollow profiles by machine. They must be firmly, securely and correctly positioned in the hollow profiles. Follow-up inspection is time-consuming.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a connector which ensures a secure and positionally correct hold in the hollow profiles and which is particularly suitable for machine processing.

The invention solves this problem with the features in the main claim.

The connector according to the invention has one or more retaining elements, for example spring lugs, receiving openings for wall caulking, spreading and clamping deformations, etc., which ensure a secure hold in the hollow profiles and prevent or at least make it more difficult to pull out accidentally. The connector also has one or more fixed stops against which the hollow profiles hit when plugged in. The fixed stop does not give way in a springy manner, which reduces the risk of over-sliding compared to a springy stop. The fixed stop can be effective on one or two sides or for one or both hollow profiles. It is located at the intended connection point of the hollow profiles and usually approximately in the middle of the connector, which ensures a centered position in the hollow profiles.

The fixed stop can act on one or two sides and can be designed in different ways. In an advantageous embodiment, it consists of a bend-resistant stop nose that protrudes beyond the connector contour. Various advantageous embodiments are specified for this in the subclaims. In further preferred variants, the stop consists of a wedge- or knob-like projection.

An offset arrangement of one-sided stops has the advantage that the hollow profiles can be tightly connected to one another at the connection point; for this purpose it is also advantageous if the stops are each arranged a small distance back from the connection point.

The fixed stop can also be combined with a spring-loaded stop. This combines the advantages of both designs. When the counter hollow profile is pushed on, the spring-loaded stop disappears into its interior. The fixed stop ensures that the pushed-on hollow profile stops safely. It also acts as a starting bevel for the counter hollow profile pushed on from the back and improves the clamping fit of the connector in this hollow profile. This also has the advantageous effect that this hollow profile hits the opposite spring-loaded stop with greater certainty and is stopped by it. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the fixed and spring-loaded stops have different heights.

The design of the connector according to the invention is particularly suitable for stamped and bent parts made of sheet steel, in which the fixed stops are cut free and bent out or are taken into account as corresponding protruding noses during the punching cut. The connector can alternatively be made of plastic, die-cast or another suitable material. The connector can also have open or closed end faces for a locked or released engraving.

have a granular permeability.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims*

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The invention is illustrated schematically and by way of example in the drawing. In detail:

Fig. 1 a connector with closed end faces and hollow profiles pushed on one or both sides in various cut and folded views

Fig. 2 a variant of Fig. 1 with a front

open end connector and

Fig. 3 to 10 Design variants of the connector with

Stops for the hollow profiles and retaining elements in various folded views.

In Fig. 1 and 2, a connector (1) with hollow profiles (17, 18) is shown in different views. The connector (1) is preferably designed as a straight connector. The hollow profiles (17, 18) are made of steel, a light metal alloy or another suitable material and are part of a spacer frame for insulating glass panes (not shown). The spacer frame can be put together from several individual hollow profiles (17, 18), with a connector (1) located at each of the connection points (14). The hollow profiles (17, 18) can be straight or bent at the corners. It can also be a one-piece bent spacer frame.

In the embodiments shown, the connector (1) is designed as a stamped and bent part made of sheet steel. Alternatively, it can also be an injection-molded or cast part made of plastic, metal or another suitable material. In the embodiment shown and preferred, the connector (1) has a U-shaped cross-section and consists of a

Central web (12) and two side webs (13) connected to the edge. They surround a cavity (16) that is open on one side. Alternatively, the connector (1) can also have a closed box-shaped cross-section. In a further modification, an at least largely solid design, e.g. as a cast part, is possible. The connector (1) is preferably adapted in its cross-sectional design to the inner contour of the hollow profiles (17, 18).

In Fig. 1, the connector (1) has closed end faces (15) that act as a barrier for the drying agent granules in the hollow profiles (17, 18). In the embodiment of Fig. 2, however, the end faces are open and allow the granules to flow through the connector (1) and the connection point (14) of the hollow profiles (17, 18). The configurations of the connector (1) described below are valid for all of the aforementioned variants in the basic form of the connector (1).

The connector (1) has one or more fixed stops (3) near or at the connection point (14) of the hollow profiles (17, 18), which are shown and described in more detail in various variants in the embodiments described below in Figs. 3 to 10. The stops (3) or the connection point (4) are preferably located approximately in the middle of the connector (1). The stops (3) act on one or both sides as a stop for at least one of the two hollow profiles (17, 18) and ensure that the connector (1) is centered in the two hollow profiles (17, 18).

The connector (1) has one or more retaining elements (2) which hold the inserted connector (1) in the hollow profiles (17, 18). Fig. 3 to also show several variants of this.

The connector (1) of Fig. 3 has a bend-resistant, protruding, one-sided stop lug (7,8) on the lower edges of the two side webs (13) at the connection point (14). The stop lugs (7,8) are cut out of the web edge by a recess (20). The stop lugs (7,8) are offset from one another and are each set back and spaced a little from the connection point (14).

The two stop lugs (7, 8) protrude downwards from the edges of the side webs (13). They are essentially triangular in shape, gradually rising in a wedge shape from the back and steeply receding into the recess (20) in front of the connection point (14). This receding acts as a stop for the hollow profile pushed on from the opposite side. The stop lug (7) on the right in Fig. 3 acts on the hollow profile pushed on from below, while the stop lug on the left (8) acts as a stop for the hollow profile pushed on from the other side.

The hollow profile pushed on from the back of the stop lug (7,8) slides on the respective run-on slope of the stop lugs (7,8) without the stop lug (7,8) giving way. This takes up any tolerances in the adjustment between the connector (1) and the hollow profiles (17,18). In addition, the connector (1) is clamped in the hollow profiles (17,18). In the process, the stop lug (7,8) can dig into the hollow profile wall a little or bend and deform the hollow profile wall in question a little. The two hollow profiles (17,18) can abut each other tightly and essentially without gaps at the connection point (14). To take up lateral tolerances, the stop lugs (7,8) can also be bent out slightly to the side (not shown).

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The retaining elements (2) in Fig. 3 consist of four essentially triangular receiving openings (6) in the central web (12), which are evenly distributed on both sides of the central connection point (14) and with their triangular tips pointing towards the front sides (15). Plastic wall caulking of the hollow profiles (17, 18) can engage in the receiving openings (6) in a form-fitting manner. They are produced by pressing dies acting on the outside of the profile. Alternatively, instead of the wall caulking, a form-fitting connection can be achieved by inserting rivets or the like. In addition, the plug connector (1) shown in Fig. 3 has retaining elements (2) in the form of lateral spring lugs (4) which are punched out at the lower edge of the side webs (13) and bent out at the side. The spring lugs (4) are further away from the connection point (14) than the stops (3) and each point towards the connection point (14). They spring into the hollow profiles pushed on from the back and brace themselves against being pulled off.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the same stop lugs (7,8) are present as in Fig. 3. Instead of the lateral spring lugs (4), two central spring lugs (5) are arranged on the central web (5) on both sides of the connection point (14). They are set further back from the connection point (14) than the stop lugs (7,8). They also serve as retaining elements (2) and replace the lateral spring lugs (4) of Fig. 3. They can also be used as an alternative.

Fig. 5 shows a further variant in which a fixed stop (3) is combined with a central spring nose (5) as a spring-loaded stop. In this embodiment, the fixed stop (3) is located on the central web (12) and consists of a central, bend-resistant stop nose (9). The opposite spring nose (5) is longer and also angled. At the angle, the inclined upward bent starting slope changes into a part that is essentially horizontal and extends parallel to the central web (12).

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The spring nose (5) and the stop nose (9) are cut free via a common recess (20) and extend from the respective front edges of the recess (20). Due to the nose length, the recess (2) extends asymmetrically to the connection point (14).

The bend-resistant stop lug (9) is formed by a bulge of the front edge of the recess (20) produced with a stamp. As shown in the enlarged right-hand image of Fig. 5, the stop lug (9) has a spherical segment-shaped or dome-shaped form. On the one hand, it bulges upwards over the surface of the central web (12) and protrudes approximately by the thickness of the material above the web surface. In addition, the stop lug (9) is curved around the longitudinal axis of the connector. The spring lug (5) opposite at the connection point (14) protrudes further over the web surface and also protrudes over the stop lug (9). The spring lug (5) is also curved around the longitudinal axis of the connector.

If a hollow profile is pushed onto the connector (1) from above in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, it presses the spring nose (5) downwards into the recess (20) and, after passing the connection point (14), hits the bend-resistant stop nose (9). The hollow profile pushed on from the opposite side slides over the run-on slope of the stop nose (9). Depending on the tolerance position, it can be raised slightly or deformed slightly. Both hollow profiles (17, 18) are tightly against each other at the connection point (14).

Conversely, if the first hollow profile is pushed on from below, it slides on the fixed stop lug (9) and is possibly slightly raised or deformed at the edges. Due to the difference in height of the lugs, the front wall of the hollow profile comes exactly at the height of the opposite spring lug (5), which then acts as a stop for the hollow profile. By sliding on the stop lug (9), the spring lug (5) can be

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Hollow profile must not be driven under.

In the embodiment shown, the stop lug (9) and the spring lug (5) are located directly opposite each other at the connection point (14), with both being a small distance away from the connection point (3L4) to the rear. In a variation of this design, the two lugs can also be arranged offset from each other. There are various design options for this. For example, instead of the central spring lug (5), lateral spring lugs with a stop function can be arranged on the side webs (13), while the fixed stop lug (9) remains on the central web (12). On the other hand, the central spring lug (5) can also be combined with fixed lateral stop lugs (7, 8) of the type shown in Fig. 3 and 4. In a further variation, the right and left stop lugs (7, 8) can not be offset, but arranged in the same direction and both can be on the side of the connection point (14) opposite the spring lug (5). They then both act together as a fixed stop on the hollow profile pushed over the spring nose (5).

The retaining elements (2) of the design of the connector (1) shown in Fig. 5 correspond to the variant of Fig. 3. They are designed as receiving openings (6) and lateral spring lugs (4).

Fig. 6 shows another variant of the fixed stop (3). It is designed here as a wedge-shaped projection (10) on the lower edge of one or both side webs (13). The projection (10) preferably has an equilateral triangular shape and is aligned symmetrically to the connection point (14). This stop (3) acts on both hollow profiles (17, 18) on both sides.

The retaining elements (2) are again designed as receiving openings (6) and lateral spring lugs (4). In addition or alternatively, here as in the other

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In some embodiments, one or more spring lugs (5) can be arranged on the central web. The arrangement and design can correspond to Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 illustrates the next variant of the fixed stop (3). It consists of at least one knob-like projection (11) at the connection point (14). The knobs (11) are arranged in a point-like manner on the edges of the central web (12) and consist of preferably thin hemispherical or conical features of the central web wall. These projections (11) are produced using a suitable embossing tool. Alternatively, the projections (11) can also be strip-shaped and extend across the central web (12) at the connection point (14).

The point- or strip-shaped knobs (11) can act as one- or two-sided stops (3). In the hemisphere or cone shape, a two-sided effect is present. Alternatively, one half of the sphere or cone can be flattened, resulting in a one-sided effect with a shape, function and arrangement similar to the lateral stop lugs (7,8) in Fig. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 7, the knob-like projections (11) are combined with the previously described wedge-shaped projections (10) from Fig. 6. They compensate for the height of the connector (1) in the hollow profiles (17, 18). This is particularly advantageous in conjunction with the receiving openings (6) for the wall caulking. In addition, there may be lateral spring lugs (4) or central spring lugs.

Fig. 8 shows a variant of Fig. 7, in which only the knob-shaped projections (11) are present as a fixed stop (3). Otherwise, the connector (1) corresponds to the embodiment of Fig. 7.

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Figures 3 to 8 show connectors with closed front sides (15). Figures 9 and 10 show variants with open front sides (15).

In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the stops (3) are designed as stop lugs (7,8) corresponding to the embodiment of Fig. 3 and 4. The retaining element (2) is formed here by a spreading and clamping deformation (21) of the side webs (13). As Fig. 2 and 9 show in the cross-sectional representations, the side webs (13) are bent outwards at an angle from the central web (12). The distance between their edges is greater than the inner width of the hollow profiles (17,18), so that the side webs (13) are elastically bent inwards when the hollow profiles (17,18) are pushed on and clamp against the inner walls of the profile. Pushing on the hollow profiles (17,18) is made easier by the inward-facing bevels on the front of the side webs (13). Preferably, the shape of the hollow profiles (17, 18) is adapted to this connector design, wherein the hollow profiles (17, 18) have a longitudinal step at the transition between the side walls and the profile roof, which is gripped by the side webs (13) of the connector (1) in a clamping manner. At the transition between the central web (12) and the side webs (13), bulges can be provided in the connector material, which additionally ensure compensation of the height tolerances.

For the designs shown in Fig. 2, 9 and 10 with open end faces (15) and granulate passage, it is recommended to arrange the plug connector (1) in the hollow profiles (17, 18) so that its central web (12) points towards the inside of the frame (19). The inside of the frame (19) in a spacer frame for insulating glass panes points towards the inside of the window. The connector variant with closed end faces (15) is preferably arranged the other way around and points with its open hollow space (16) towards the inside of the frame (19). However, the arrangement can also be different.

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In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the central web (12) and the side webs (13) are smooth and uninterrupted except for the stop lugs (7, 8). Fig. 9 shows a variant with an additional retaining element (2) in the form of two spring lugs (5) that are arranged on both sides of the connection point (14) on the central web (12). Here too, as in the previously described embodiments, additional or alternative receiving openings (6) and/or lateral spring lugs (4) can be arranged. The stops (3) can also vary in the manner described above.

The above-described embodiments show variants of the design of the retaining elements (2) and the fixed stops (3), which can be interchanged and combined as desired. In addition, there are any combination options with the variants in the basic design of the connectors (1). For example, the spreading and clamping deformations (21) can also be combined with closed end faces (15).

In addition to the embodiments shown, the retaining elements (2) and the fixed stops (3) can also be designed in any other suitable manner.

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LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 connector

2 Retaining element

3 stop

4 spring nose, side

5 Spring nose, center

6 Recording opening

7 Stop lug, right

8 Stop lug, left

9 Stop lug, center

10 projection, wedge

11 projection, pimple

12 Central bridge

13 Side bridge

14 Middle, connection point

15 Front side

16 Cavity

17 Hollow profile

18 Hollow profile

19 Frame inside 2 0 recess

21 Spreading and clamping deformation

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Claims (19)

PROTECTION CLAIMS 1.) Connector for hollow profiles, in particular spacer hollow profiles of insulating glass panes, characterized in that the connector (1) has one or more retaining elements (2) and at least one fixed stop (3) for the hollow profiles (17, 18) in the area of the connection point (14). 2.) Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two fixed, unidirectional stops (3) are provided, which are arranged offset from one another on the connector (1). 3.) Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stops (3) are arranged at a slight distance from the connection point (14). 4.) Connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one fixed stop (3) effective on both sides is provided. 5.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the connector (1) has a resilient stop, in particular a spring nose (5), at the connection point (14) opposite the fixed stop (3). 6.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the stop (3) is designed as a bend-resistant protruding stop lug (7, 8, 9). - 15 - 7.) Connector according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the stop lug (9) is arranged on the central web (12) of the connector (1). 8.) Connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop lug (9) and the spring lug (5) are cut free from the central web (12) by a common recess (20). 9.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the stop lug (9) and the spring lug (5) are bent upwards from the central web (12), the spring lug (5) protruding over the stop lug (9). 10.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the stop lug (9) and/or the spring lug (5) are curved around the connector longitudinal axis. 11.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that a stop lug (7, 8) is arranged on one or both side webs (13). 12.) Connector according to claim 11, characterized in that the stop lugs (7, 8) are arranged on the lower edge of the side webs (13). 13.) Connector according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the stop lugs (7, 8) project downwards. 14.) Connector according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that the stop lugs (7, 8) point in opposite directions and are each slightly spaced from the connection point (14). - 16 - 15.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the stop (3) is designed as a wedge-like projection (10) on the lower edge of one or both side webs (13). 16.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the stop (3) is designed as a knob-like projection (11) on the central web (12). 17.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the retaining element (2) is designed as a spring nose (4, 5) on the central or side web (12, 13) and/or as a receiving opening (6) on the central web (12) for a wall deformation of the hollow profile (17, 18) and/or as a spreading and clamping deformation (21) of the side webs (13). 18.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the connector (1) has open or closed end faces (15). 19.) Connector according to claim 1 or one of the following, characterized in that the connector (1) has a U-shaped or box-shaped cross-section and is designed as a stamped and bent part made of sheet steel .