EP2963224A1

EP2963224A1 - Profile with a breakable fixation member

Info

Publication number: EP2963224A1
Application number: EP14175438.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Marie Plenet
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2014-07-02
Filing date: 2014-07-02
Publication date: 2016-01-06

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (1), such as a threshold profile, comprising:
- a profile section (10) comprising a first end (12) and a second end (14), and
- a fixation member (20), connected to the first end (12) of the profile section (10), wherein the profile section (10) and the fixation member (20) are integrally formed, and
- an incipient break (30) at the first end (12) of the profile section (10), said incipient break (30) being configured to enable the fixation member (20) to be separated from the profile section (10).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns the field of devices comprising a profile section. More particularly, the invention concerns the field of devices comprising a profile section adapted to be hung in a shelf, such as threshold profiles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, devices comprising a profile section such as thresholds are sold with a specific wrapping in order to provide information about the device itself (length, constitutive material, field of use, bar code, etc.) and to obtain a suspended device susceptible to be hung in a shelf. In most of the cases, the specific wrapping is discarded at the time of use of the device.
In that purpose, the profile section of the device is manufactured in an automatic process, by e.g. extrusion of the profile section and assembly with a fixation member. The fixation member generally includes e.g. a plastic hook tab, configured to hold and suspend the profile section in a shelf.
However, it appears that the fixation member is susceptible to break or get separated from the profile section during the assembly step. The automatic process is indeed not reliable, so that the fixation member are also susceptible to break at the time of their assembly with the profile.
The fixation member can also break or get separated from the profile section during storage of the device, while the device is being conveyed to its selling place or during its exposure in a shelf (due to its repeated manipulation).
Finally, the use of a plastic hook tab implies plastic wastes at the time of use of the device, which is detrimental to the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is therefore providing a device adapted to be hung in a shelf comprising a profile section and a fixation member, such as a threshold profile, which exhibits a better resistance to manipulation and improves the reliability of its manufacturing process, while reducing its manufacturing costs and decreasing its environmental impact.
In that purpose, the invention proposes a device, comprising:

a profile section comprising a first end and a second end, and
a fixation member, connected to the first end of the profile section,

Preferred but non-limiting features of this device are the following:

the fixation member comprises a hook tab,
the fixation member is connected to the profile section at the incipient break along a discontinuous connecting portion, which is adjacent the first end of the profile section,
the profile section comprises an extrusion profile,
the device is made of at least one of the following materials: steel, stainless steel, brass, covered steel, aluminum, plastics,
the incipient break comprises at least one of the following elements: at least one pre-cut formed in a side of the profile section, a weakening line, said weakening line extending at least partially between two opposite sides of the profile section, transversally to a main direction of extension of the profile section,
the weakening line comprises at least one of the following elements: a local thinning of the profile section, a series of precuts.

The profile section may also be produced by bending or profiling
In accordance with a second aspect, the invention proposes a manufacturing process of a device as previously defined, such as a threshold profile, the manufacturing process comprising the following steps:

providing a profile section integrally formed with a fixation member, said profile section comprising a first end and a second end and said fixation member being connected to the first end of the profile section, and
making an incipient break between the profile section and the fixation member to enable the fixation member to be separated from the profile section.

Preferred but non-limiting features of this manufacturing method are the following:

the profile section and the fixation member are formed by extrusion, by profiling and/or by bending; and
the incipient break is made by punching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawing, given by way of non-limiting example, and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of device 1 according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a detailed view of the fixation member 20 of the device 1 of figure 1, and
Figure 3 is a flow chart, which illustrates different steps of an embodiment of the manufacturing of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following, the invention is described with respect to a device 1 comprising a threshold profile. However, the invention applies to any device 1 including a profile section 10, be it adapted or not to be hung in a shelf.
A threshold profile according to the invention comprises:

a profile section 10 comprising a first end 12 and a second end 14, and
a fixation member 20, connected to and integrally formed with the first end 12 of the profile section 10, and
an incipient break 30 at the first end 12 of the profile section 10, said incipient break 30 being configured to enable the fixation member 20 to be separated from the profile section 10.

The profile section 10 corresponds to the portion of the threshold profile adapted to be used to cover the floor in a doorway or the doorway itself. The profile section 10 extends along a main direction, which defines a main axis X, and comprises a first side 16 and a second side 18, which extend along axis X between the first end 12 and the second end 14.
The fixation member 20 corresponds to a portion of the threshold profile which is adapted to be severed from the threshold profile thanks to the incipient break 30 before its fixation to a doorway. The fixation member 20 is connected to the profile section 10, and extends from the first end 12 of said profile section 10 along axis X.
The fixation member 20 can include a hook tab 20 or any element susceptible to connect the section profile to a shelf. Alternatively, the fixation member 20 can include a tool, configured to help a user during the fixation of the profile section 10 to a doorway. For example, the tool can comprise a cutting tool.
The incipient break 30 is formed at the first end 12 of the profile section 10. It is configured to enable an easy and precise cut of the fixation member 20 from the profile section 10, in order to obtain a profile section 10 including a straight first end 12.
In accordance with a first embodiment, the incipient break 30 is formed in the first side 16 and/or the second side 18 of the profile section 10. For example, the incipient break 30 can include a pre-cut formed in the first and/or the second side 18 of the profile section 10. In the embodiment of figure 1, the incipient break 30 comprises a pre-cut at each side of the profile section 10.
In accordance with a second embodiment, the incipient break 30 comprises a weakening line (not shown in the drawings), which extends transversally to the main axis X, between the first side 16 and the second side 18 of the profile section 10. The weakening line can comprise a series of precuts and/or local thinning (also not shown in the drawings) of the profile section 10.
In accordance with a third embodiment, the incipient break 30 can comprise one or several pre-cuts at the sides of the profile section 10 and a weakening line, which extends therebetween.
In any event, the incipient break 30 is preferably configured to enable a user to manually separate the fixation member 20 from the profile section 10, without using a cutting tool.
In an embodiment, the fixation member 20 comprises a hook tab 20. The hook tab 20 can comprise a plate 21, which extends from the first end 12 of the profile section 10, comprising:

two lateral edges 22, connected to the first end 12 in the extension of the first and second sides 18 of the profile section 10,
an inner edge 23, which is adjacent the first end 12 of the profile section 10 and extends between the lateral edges of the plate 21, and
an outer edge 24, which extends opposite the inner edge.

The hook tab 20 can be connected to the profile section 10 at the incipient break 30 along a connecting portion, which is adjacent the first end 12 of the profile section 10. The connecting portion that connects the fixation member 20 to the first end 12 of the profile section 10 can be discontinuous to facilitate the breaking of the hook tab 20 along said connecting portion.
For example, in order to facilitate separation of the hook tab 20 from the profile section 10, the inner edge 23 of the plate 21 can be discontinuously connected to the profile section 10. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the inner edge 23 is only connected to the first end 12 of the profile section 10 in the portion of the plate 21 which is adjacent to the first and second sides 18 of the profile section 10. A hole 25 is therefore formed between the first end 12 of the profile section 10 and the inner edge 23 of the hook tab 20. Such a hole 25 can be used to receive e.g. a portion of a shelf such as a rod or a shaft.
In this embodiment, the incipient break 30 can comprise pre-cuts, formed in the lateral edges 22 of the plate 21, at the first end 12 of the profile section 10. The precuts are preferably formed in order to obtain an easy and precise cut of the hook tab 20 from the profile section 10, so that the hook tab 20 separates from the profile section 10 along a straight line. For example, the pre-cuts can comprise a triangle-shaped notch having a first rim 32 and a second rim 34 as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The first rim 32 extends from the lateral edge 22 (the inner edge 23, respectively) of the plate 21 along the first end 12 of the profile section 10, while the second rim 34 extends from the lateral edge 22 (the inner edge 23, respectively) of the plate 21, at a distance from the first end 12 of the profile section 10 and meets the first rim 32 at the first end 12 of the profile section 10. Such a triangle-shaped notch therefore guarantees a straight and precise cut at the intersection of the first rim 32 and the second rim 34, along the first end 12 of the section profile.
Alternatively, the inner edge 23 can be connected in a central portion of the first end 12 of the profile section 10.
The profile section 10 and the fixation member 20 may for example be integrally formed by extrusion. They may also be formed by profiling or bending.
Besides, the profile section 10 and the fixation member 20 can be made of the same material, or of different materials. For example, the device 1 can be made of at least one of the following materials: stainless steel, brass, covered steel, aluminum, plastics.
A device 1 conform to the invention can be obtained in accordance with a manufacturing process S comprising the following steps.
As a first step S1, a profile section 10 integrally formed with a fixation member 20 is provided. The profile section 10 comprises a first end 12 and a second end 14, and the fixation member 20 is connected to the first end 12 of the profile section 10.
The profile section 10 and the fixation member 20 can for example be integrally formed by extrusion. They may also be formed by profiling or bending.
As a second step S2, an incipient break 30 is made between the profile section 10 and the fixation member 20, to enable the fixation member 20 to be manually separated from the profile section 10.
In an embodiment, the incipient break 30 can include pre-cuts. In such an embodiment, the pre-cuts can be obtained for example by punching.
Such a manufacturing process S including the steps S1 and S2 is very reliable, since it does not include any assembly step. Furthermore, such a manufacturing process is more cost-effective since it reduces the raw material necessary to obtain the device 1 as well as labor costs. It is also time-effective, since it is more rapidly implemented than with a conventional fixation member 20, which has to be assembled in a specific engine and is not reliable.
The manufacturing process S of the invention has a smaller impact on the environment, since no disposable plastic wrapping is necessary to hang the device 1 in a shelf. Besides, since the fixation member 20 and the profile section 10 can be integrally formed in a single constitutive material, the device 1 can be more easily refurbished, when necessary.
Finally, the fixation member 20 is not susceptible to be accidentally removed from the profile section 10, since it is integrally formed therewith.

Claims

A device (1), such as a threshold profile, comprising:
- a profile section (10) comprising a first end (12) and a second end (14), and

- a fixation member (20), connected to the first end (12) of the profile section (10),
the device (1) being characterized in that the profile section (10) and the fixation member (20) are integrally formed, and the device (1) further comprises an incipient break (30) at the first end (12) of the profile section (10), said incipient break (30) being configured to enable the fixation member (20) to be separated from the profile section (10).
The device (1) of claim 1, wherein the fixation member (20) comprises a hook tab.
The device (1) of anyone of claims 1 or 2, wherein the fixation member (20) is connected to the profile section (10) at the incipient break (30) along a discontinuous connecting portion, which is adjacent the first end (12) of the profile section (10).
The device (1) of anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein the incipient break (30) comprises a triangle-shaped notch having a first rim (32) and a second rim (34), wherein the first rim (32) extends from an edge (22, 23) of the fixation member (20) along the first end (12) of the profile section (10), while the second rim (34) extends from said edge (22, 23), at a distance from the first end (12) of the profile section (10) and meets the first rim (32) at the first end (12) of the profile section (10).
The device (1) of anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein said device is made of at least one of the following materials: steel, stainless steel, brass, aluminum, covered steel, plastics.
The device (1) of anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the incipient break (30) comprises at least one of the following elements:
- at least one pre-cut formed in a side of the profile section (10),

- a weakening line, said weakening line extending at least partially between two opposite sides of the profile section (10), transversally to a main direction of extension of the profile section (10).
The device (1) of anyone of claims 1 to 6, wherein the weakening line comprises at least one of the following elements:
- a local thinning of the profile section (10);

- a series of precuts.
A manufacturing process (S) of a device (1) according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, such as a threshold profile, the manufacturing process (S) comprising the following steps:
- providing (S1) a profile section (10) integrally formed with a fixation member (20), said profile section (10) comprising a first end (12) and a second end (14) and said fixation member (20) being connected to the first end (12) of the profile section (10), and

- making (S2) an incipient break (30) between the profile section (10) and the fixation member (20) to enable the fixation member (20) to be separated from the profile section (10).
The manufacturing process (S) of claim 8, wherein the profile section (10) and the fixation member (20) are formed by extrusion, profiling and/or bending.
The manufacturing process (S) of anyone of claims 8 or 9, wherein the incipient break (30) is made by punching.