EP1380228A1

EP1380228A1 - Fixing member for fixing a body to a supporting frame

Info

Publication number: EP1380228A1
Application number: EP03077088A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Petrus Antonius Lauwrentius Van Bakel; Leonardus Hubertus Geertruda Van Der Steen
Original assignee: Koninklijke Ahrend NV
Current assignee: Koninklijke Ahrend NV
Priority date: 2002-07-12
Filing date: 2003-07-03
Publication date: 2004-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-03
Also published as: EP1380228B1; NL1021074C2; DE60332896D1; ES2346746T3; ATE470369T1

Abstract

The invention concerns a fixing member for fixing a body to a supporting frame comprising a first and a second part, intended for engaging one another, in which said first and second parts are designed in such a way, that the first part can engage the second part by translation or rotation, said second part is mounted on said body and is part of complementary positioning means for enabling positioning body and supporting frame in relation to one another, and in which the further means of the positioning means have been mounted on the supporting frame.

Description

The present invention relates to a fixing member for fixing a body to a supporting frame, comprising a first and a second part, intended for engaging one another, in which said second part is mounted on the body.
Such fixing members are known per se. The object of the invention is to provide a similar fixing member having as its most important properties that a connection can be established quickly and that at the same time the reliability of the connection can be guaranteed under all circumstances.
Accordingly, the invention provides for, that said first and second part are designed in such a way, that the first part can engage the second part by translation or rotation. Due to this feature, in which the parts of the connecting member engage one another with a relatively simple movement, a particularly quick realization of the connection is possible.
Preferably, it is further provided for, that the second part is part of complementary positioning means for enabling positioning body and supporting frame in relation to one another, in which the further means of the positioning means have been mounted on the supporting frame. With this structure, in which at least one fixing member is also part of a positioning system by which the body can be mounted on the exactly correct position on the supporting frame, one can effect a particularly efficient mounting.
According to a further elaboration, it has been provided for that the second part comprises one or more cams having such a length, that the can project through the supporting frame with their free outer ends, the cams having a cylindrical shape with a reduction in diameter at or near their outer ends. Through-holes for the cam or cams have been provided in the supporting frame, in which one or more of such assemblies of cam and hole provide for an exact positioning. It will be clear that in case of two or more of such assemblies, the position of the body in relation to the supporting frame will be completely fixed. However, it is also possible to have e.g. two self-righting elements largely determine the positioning and the ultimate position is determined by one cam and one through-hole and furthermore, that one single cam will realize the fixation.
The reduction in diameter of the cam is necessary for having the first part engage it, be it by rotation or be it by translation. Preferably, it has been provided for, that the cams are provided with a groove extending along at least a part of the circumference, that can be engaged by the first part. Through this, it is possible to check the movement of the first part in relation to the second part without any further aids being required for it.
According to a further elaboration it has been provided for, that the first part has one or more through-openings for receiving a cam, in which an opening comprises an inlet having an open end or an opening restricted all round, having a reduction in diameter in a lateral extension of the opening. An opening which has proven very effective in practice is an opening having a keyhole shape.
Preferably, it is further provided for, that the material of said first part is of reduced thickness along the openings for receiving the cam, in such a way that in case of translation or rotation of said first part, a cam is moved in axial direction. This structure provides for, that initially there is room enough for having the first part engage the second part of the connecting member, in which by further movement of the parts in relation to one another, they are pulled towards one another and the body is clamped against the supporting frame.
According to another elaboration it has been provided for, that the material of the first part has a reduction around the keyhole, in such a way that in case of translation or rotation of said first part, a cam is moved in axial direction and in which in the material at the end of the keyhole having the smallest diameter at the side opposite the free outer end of a cam shows a recess for receiving part of the cam. By this, it is achieved that the first part of the fixing member will contact the supporting frame and the cam will be pulled into the first part to beyond the plane of contact. This structure provides for that an additional force must be exerted on the first part for getting the cam out of the recess in order to be able to disengage the connection again and therefore operates as a locking.
This operation as a locking can be further supported by providing spring means exerting a force at least on reaching the outermost position of the first part, causing the first part to be clamped against the supporting frame.
Further means can be provided, with which the total movement of translation or rotation between two end positions is limited, which e.g. can be realized with a stop cam on the supporting frame and two stops in the first part. In the first end position, the cams of the second part can be led into the through-holes of the first part and in the second end position, the locking position has been achieved.
According to a preferred embodiment it has been provided for, that the first part engages the second part by rotation, the first part having a connecting shaft being provided with connecting means to be able to engage a snap connection on the supporting frame and with the connecting shaft being the rotating shaft as well. Further, the spring means are preferably designed to exert the spring force on the first part through the connecting shaft.
The spring means, which e.g. have been mounted on the first part, are designed such, that the first and second part can spring outwards in relation to one another. This feature prevents breakage in one or both parts from arising in case of possible assembly errors.
Finally, it has been provided for that the first part has an external shape which in the final position connects to the shape of the shape of the supporting frame, achieving an esthetic entirety.
Hereinafter, the invention is further explained by way of the example shown in the drawing, in which:

figs. 1A,B: illustrate perspective views of a supporting frame with first parts of the fixing member;
figs. 2A,B: illustrate perspective views of the supporting frame with a cam of the second part of the fixing member;
fig. 2C: illustrates a separate cam of the second part in more detail; and
figs. 3A,B: illustrate perspective views of the first part of a fixing member.

Figs. 1A,B illustrate a part of a supporting frame 1, more particularly a leg 2 for a desk or table to which a desk or table top, not further illustrated in the drawing for the sake of clarity, is to be fixed. The leg 2 comprises a vertical upright 3 and a horizontal or slightly sloping supporting part 4 onto which the top is to be fixed in the end. Facilities for receiving fixing members 5 are provided at the ends of said supporting part 4, see also figs. 2A,B, said facilities comprising through- openings 7, 8, intended for receiving cams 9 of a table top, said openings 7, 8 and cams 9 (see also fig. 2C) being part of positioning means with the help of which the desk or table top can be placed onto the supporting frame 1 in exactly the correct position.
Said openings 7, 8 give out into a circular space 11 defined by an edge 10 and intended for partly receiving the second part 6 of said fixing member 5. In the middle of the space 11, a further opening 12 is provided which is intended for receiving a connecting shaft 13, with which the second part 6 can be fixed to the supporting part 4. To this end, said connecting shaft 13 has its end provided with fixing means 14 which, by a snap connection, can engage a widening not further illustrated in the opening 12 in the supporting part 4 (see figs. 3A, B).
The connecting shaft 13 is at the same time the shaft around which said second part 6 of the fixing member can rotate across a predetermined angle between a position in which the cams 9 can be received and a final fixing position. A circular arc-shaped recess 16 is provided in the support part 15 of supporting part 4, into which recess the second part 6 of the fixing member will be fitted in the final position.
In fig. 2B, only the outside of first part 6 of fixing member 5 is visible, which is designed such, that it will connect exactly to the shape of the leg 2 in the final fixing position. Giving said first part 6 of said fixing member 5 the same finish as said leg yields an extremely attractive appearance which seems to be an entirety.
Fig. 2C illustrates a separate cam 9 comprising a fixing part 28, e.g. a fixing part provided with threading, by which said cam can be fixed to a desk top or other top and the actual cam 22, 29, 30, 31. These further parts are a cylindrical part 29 intended to lie in said supporting part 4, a groove 22 with which said cam can be received in keyholes 19 (see figs. 3A,B) of said second part 6 and an end part 30, which essentially is a continuation of said cylindrical portion 29. Said end part 30 is provided with an opening 31 for receiving a tool with which said cam 9 can be screwed into a desk top. The parts of said cam are rounded-off in such a way, that they can easily be inserted into the openings 7, 8 and the keyholes 19, respectively. The thickness of said supporting part 4 near the openings 7, 8 and the various portions of the cam 9 are further dimensioned such, that when removing a top having cams 9 from a supporting part, it is impossible that the cam will catch behind an edge or can remain stuck in the openings. This prevents the cams and/or the supporting part from getting damaged or that breakage will occur on removing the top from the supporting frame.
Figs. 3A,B illustrate the second part 6 of the fixing member 5 having an upright edge 17 at the top side, which will fall within the edge 10 in the supporting part 4. Edge portions 18 having openings 19 in the shape of keyholes for receiving said cams 9 have been provided along the edge 17, symmetrically in relation to said connecting, rotating shaft 13. Keyholes 19 have a portion 20 having a large diameter into which a cam 9 can be inserted and a narrower portion 21 into which cam 9 can be received near said groove 22 near the free end of cam 9. Edge portions 18 have a reduction, in downward direction in the drawing, from portion 20 towards narrower portion 21 as a result of which said cams 9 and therewith the desk or table top, is pulled against the supporting frame 1.
A depression 23 having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of cam 9 is provided around the outer end of the narrower portion 21 at the top of the edge portion 18. Said depression 23 makes it possible to move the cam 9 beyond the groove 22 in relation to the edge portions 18, so that the second part 6 of the fixing member 5 can be clamped tightly against the supporting part 4.
An assembly 24 formed in one piece comprising the connecting shaft 13 and a preformed strip 25 of a resilient material is mounted in the second part 6 of said fixing member 5. At a first end, said strip 25 is connected to said second part 6 of said fixing member 5 through a snap connection 26 and at the second, free end, said strip has two lips 27 projecting beyond the housing of said second part 6. On reaching the final fixing position, said lips 27 will abut the circular arc-shaped recess 16. There, the lips 27 will be compressed and a clamping force will be exerted on the circular arc-shaped recess 16. The strip 25 is preformed in such a way, that the connecting shaft 13 will at the same time experience a downward force as a result of which said second part 6 of said fixing member 5 will be clamped upward against said supporting part 4.

Claims

Fixing member for fixing a body to a supporting frame, comprising a first and a second part, intended for engaging one another, in which said second part is mounted on the body, characterized in that said first and second part are designed in such a way, that the first part can engage the second part by translation or rotation.
Fixing member according to claim 1, characterized in that the second part is part of complementary positioning means for enabling positioning body and supporting frame in relation to one another, in which the further means of the positioning means have been mounted on the supporting frame.
Fixing member according to claims 1-2, characterized in that the second part comprises one or more cams having such a length, that the can project through the supporting frame with their free outer ends, the cams having a cylindrical shape with a reduction in diameter at or near their outer ends.
Fixing member according to claim 3, characterized in that the cams are provided with a groove extending along at least a part of the circumference, near their ends.
Fixing member according to claims 3-4, characterized in that the first part has one or more through-openings for receiving a cam, in which an opening comprises an inlet having an open end or an opening restricted all round, having a reduction in diameter in a lateral direction of the opening.
Fixing member according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening is in the shape of a keyhole, its largest diameter being larger than the largest diameter of the cam and its smallest diameter being smaller than the largest diameter of the cam and larger than the smallest diameter of the cam or of the groove in the cam.
Fixing member according to claim 6, characterized in that the material of said first part is of reduced thickness along the openings for receiving the cam, in such a way that in case of translation or rotation of said first part, a cam is moved in axial direction.
Fixing member according to claim 6, characterized in that the first part has one or more openings in the shape of a keyhole for receiving a cam having a groove in which the material of the first portion around the keyhole is of reduced diameter, in such a way, that with translation or rotation of the first portion, a cam will be moved in axial direction, and in which in the material at the end of said keyhole having the smallest diameter at the side giving out opposite the free end of a cam has a recess for receiving a portion of the cam.
Fixing member according to claim 8, characterized in that spring means are provided, which, at least on reaching the outermost position of the first part, will exert a force by which the first part will be clamped against the supporting frame.
Fixing member according to claim 9, characterized in that the first part engages the second part by rotation, in which said first part is provided with a connecting shaft provided with connecting means for being able to engage the supporting frame with a snap connection and in which the connecting shaft is at the same time the rotating shaft.
Fixing member according to claims 9-10, characterized in that said spring means are arranged to exert the spring force on the first part through said connecting shaft.
Fixing member according to claim 11, characterized in that said connecting shaft and said spring means form an entirety and are received in said first part as separate units.
Fixing member according to claims 1-12, characterized in that said first part has an external shape which in the final position will connect to the shape of the supporting frame.