EP3193674B1

EP3193674B1 - Mounting assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3193674B1
Application number: EP15835619.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anders AXEEN
Original assignee: Kondator AB
Current assignee: Kondator AB
Priority date: 2014-08-27
Filing date: 2015-07-07
Publication date: 2020-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-07
Also published as: SE538258C2; SE1450992A1; WO2016032387A1; EP3193674A1; PL3193674T3; EP3193674A4; DK3193674T3

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mounting assembly according to independent claim 1.

Background

Mounting assemblies are devices (or means) for mounting other device on a surface. In office environments the other device may e.g. be storage devices, support arms (brackets) for monitors, light devices, pencil holders, etc.
The surface is therefore often a vertical surface, such as a wall, or a sound/noise reducing screen mounted at a working desk or placed on an office floor. However, the surface may be horizontal, or have an extension which is between vertical and horizontal.

Fig. 1 shows, in cross section, a mounting assembly 100 according to prior art. The prior art mounting assembly comprises a first part 110 and a second part 120. The first part 110 and the second part 120 have corresponding engagement means at the top and bottom, as shown in Fig. 1, for engaging/securing the second part 120 to the first part 110.
Fig. 2 shows in perspective view storage devices of two different sizes mounted on a mounting assembly 100. It is shown in Fig. 2 that the mounting assembly 100 extends in a longitudinal direction L and is fastened to a vertical surface in this particular example.

JP S62 211014 A and US 4 942 498 A disclose a mounting assembly for mounting devices on a surface.

Summary

An objective of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a solution which mitigates or fully solves the drawbacks and problems of prior art mounting assemblies.
The above mentioned and other objectives are achieved with a mounting assembly for mounting devices on a surface, the mounting assembly including a first part and a corresponding second part extending in a longitudinal direction;

the first part comprising a back wall from which a top wall and a bottom wall extend in a forward direction to form an inside compartment together with the back wall,
the second part comprising a top section, a middle section and a bottom section, and the second part further comprising at least one mounting means located in the middle section for mounting devices on the second part,
wherein the top wall has first engagement means for engagement with corresponding second engagement means of the top section,
wherein the bottom wall has first locking means for locking engagement with corresponding second locking means on the bottom section; and wherein
the first engagement means extends from the top wall into the inside compartment for engagement with the second engagement means so as to secure the second part to the first part, wherein
the first engagement means is an engagement and guiding seat and the second engagement means is a corresponding protrusion, or vice versa, wherein
the engagement and guiding seat comprises two protrusions together forming the engagement and guiding seat widening into the compartment, wherein the two protrusions extends in an angle α between 0 to 90 degrees to the forward direction, and characterised by
further including a guiding assembly comprising a first guiding means (131) arranged on the back wall (111) of the first part (110) and a corresponding second guiding means (132) arranged on the middle section (122) of the second part (120).

With a mounting assembly according to the present invention, the space needed for engaging the second part to the first part is reduced since the first engagement means extends from the top wall into the inside compartment. This is especially advantages when the surface has a fastening recess for fastening the mounting assembly to the surface, i.e. integrating the mounting assembly into the surface. The present mounting assembly fits into fastening recesses having the same size/form as the first and/or second parts thereby providing an aesthetic appealing solution since the recess does not have to be larger than the first part and/or the second part which is the case for prior art mounting assemblies due to the design of the engagement means. When securing the second part to the first part the prior art mounting assembly needs "extra" space above the top engagement means.
Furthermore, the first and second parts are co-planar self-adjusting since the design of the engagement means and the locking means gradually grip into each other during the process of engaging/securing the second part to the first part by rotating the second part relative to the first part around the first engagement means.
Embodiments of the above mounting assembly are defined in the dependent claims.
Further applications and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The appended drawings are intended to clarify and explain different embodiments of the present invention, in which:

Fig. 1 shows in cross section a mounting assembly according to prior art;
Fig. 2 shows storage devices mounted on a mounting assembly;
Fig. 3 shows in cross section a mounting assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 shows in perspective view the mounting assembly of Fig. 3 when the first and second parts are apart;
Fig. 5 shows in perspective view the mounting assembly of Fig. 3 when the first and second parts are secured to each other;
Fig. 6-9 show how the first and second parts are engaged/secured to each other;
Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the first and second engagement means; and
Fig. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the first locking means.

Detailed Description

Fig. 3 shows, in cross section, a mounting assembly 100 according to the present invention. Fig. 4 and 5 shows the embodiment of Fig. 3 in perspective view when the first 110 and the second 120 parts are apart in Fig. 4, and engaged/secured to each other in Fig. 5.
The mounting assembly 100 comprises a first (rib) part 110 and a corresponding second (rib) part 120 both parts extending in a longitudinal direction L. Preferably, but not necessarily the first part 110 and the second part 120 have substantially the same height in a height direction H which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.
The first part 110 comprises a back wall 111, and from the back wall 111 a top wall 112 extends from the top of the back wall 111 in the forward direction F. Further, a bottom wall 113 extends from the bottom of the back wall 111 in the forward direction F. The back 111, top 112 and bottom 113 walls of the first part 110 together from an inside compartment 117 as shown in Fig. 3. The forward direction F may in an embodiment be perpendicular both to the longitudinal direction L and to the height direction H.
The second part 120 comprises a top section 121, a middle section 122 and a bottom section 123. Further, the second part 120 comprises at least one mounting means 124 which is located in the middle section 122 and is arranged for mounting devices 300 (e.g. storage devices, support arms (brackets) for monitors, light devices, pencil holders, tool holders, etc) on the second part 120.
The embodiment in Fig. 3 has two mounting means 124 in the form of two parallel mounting grooves extending in the longitudinal direction L (shown in Fig. 4 and 5). The grooves may form cavities in the second part 120 and extend in the longitudinal direction L as shown. The cavities have suitable shapes so that devices 300 can be mounted in the second part 120 in a secure manner. For example, the cavities in Fig. 3 encompass upper and lower collars which extend inwards from the surface of the second part 120 into the cavity in an opposite direction to the forward direction F. The cavities may further comprise means for receiving fastening means for mounting the devices 300 even more secure to the second part 120. The fastening means may e.g. be T-slot nuts, magnetic holders, and expander clamps.
Moreover, the top wall 111 has first engagement means 116 for engagement with corresponding second engagement means 125 of the top section 121. The bottom wall 113 has first locking means 115a for locking engagement with corresponding second locking means 115b on the bottom section 123.
According to the present invention the first engagement means 116 extends from the top wall 112 into the inside compartment 117 for engagement with the second engagement means 125 so as to engage and secure the second 120 part to the first 110 part. In the embodiment in Fig. 3 the first engagement means 116 extends partially downwards into the compartment. The first engagement means 116 may however extend in other angles α into the compartment than shown in Fig. 3 but preferably in an angle interval which from parallel (α = 0°) to the forward direction F to an downward perpendicular angle in relation to the forward direction F (α = 90°) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The angle α is illustrated in Fig. 6 which in this example takes a value between 0° and 90°, i.e. α = 0 to 90°.
It should further be noted that in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the first engagement means 116 is an engagement and guiding seat and the second engagement means 125 is a corresponding protrusion arranged to fit into the seat, but it is realised that the first engagement means 116 may instead be the corresponding protrusion and the second engagement means 125 the engagement and guiding seat, i.e. the reverse arrangement.
The shape of the protrusion may also vary and Fig. 10 shows an alternative embodiment in which one of the protrusions of the engagement and guiding seat extends in a straight angle (α = 90°) downwards into the compartment 117.
Further, the engagement and guiding seat comprises in this particular example two protrusions (having extension in the longitudinal direction L) which together form the engagement and guiding seat. There is an angle between the two protrusions such that the seat is widening into the compartment 117. The widening of the seat results in easier guiding of the corresponding protrusion into the seat, while still providing a tight fit for the corresponding protrusion in the bottom of the seat when the corresponding protrusion is inserted therein. The above protrusions have extensions in the longitudinal direction L as shown in Fig. 4 and 5.
The mounting assembly 100 can be fastened to the surface, such as a wall or screens, in a number of different ways. In one example the mounting assembly 100 can be fastened to the surface by using glue on the backside of the back wall 111. This is a very simple method for fastening the mounting assembly 100 to the surface. It is also possible to use self adhesive tape for fastening the mounting assembly 100 to the surface.
However, according to another embodiment the first part 110 comprises one or more fastening means arranged for fastening the first part 110 to the surface. The fastening means may be through holes arranged on the back wall so that screws are screwed into the holes and thereby fastening the first part 110 to the surface. Other types of fastening means are also possible which is realised by the skilled person, such as e.g. riveting and bolting.
According to another embodiment the first 115a and second 115b locking means together form a snap lock which is shown in Fig. 3. The snap lock is a simple but very functional lock for locking the first 110 and second 120 parts together at the bottom. The snap lock is also easy to manufacture which reduces the cost for producing the present mounting assembly 100. This is especially the case when the first locking means 115a is formed by the bottom wall 113 and a lower part of the back wall 111. Further, by choosing thickness and the extension of the part of the bottom wall 113 and the part of the back wall 111 that forms the snap lock, the spring force of the snap lock can be selected/determined. However, the shape of the snap lock also affects the spring force. The spring force determines the applied pressure force needed for locking the first 110 and second 120 parts to each other at the bottom.
Fig. 11 shows an alternative embodiment in which the shape of the first locking means 115a is different resulting in a lower spring force due to its longer member leg length but confined with the same available space so that the snap lock lance is located in the same position as shown in the other figures.
Furthermore, the mounting assembly 100 according to the present invention has, in an embodiment, a guiding assembly comprising first 131 and second guiding 132 means. The first guiding means 131 is arranged on the back wall 111 of the first part 110 and a corresponding second guiding means 132 is arranged on the middle section 122 of the second part 120, which means that the guiding assembly should be arranged between the top and bottom of the first 110 and second 120 parts. With a guiding assembly the method for engagement/securing of the second part 120 to the first part 110 (or vice versa) is much simplified.
According to a further embodiment the first guiding means 131 is a guiding seat and the second guiding means 132 is a corresponding protrusion which protrudes into the seat when engaged, or vice versa. The first case is shown in Fig. 3. With this arrangement, the engagement of the first part 110 to the second part 120 (or vice versa) is even more simplified.
Further, the protrusion which makes up the guiding means protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and to the back wall 111 in this example. Therefore, when the mounting assembly 100 is fastened to a vertical surface the guiding assembly also takes vertical load thereby providing a more robust mounting assembly 100 capable of taking large vertical loads. This also implies that the guiding assembly takes vertical forces from the first and second locking means meaning that first and second locking means do not have to be unnecessarily robust. Also, heavier devices 300 can be mounted on the mounting assembly 100 with the guiding assembly.
The present mounting assembly 100 can be produced in number of different materials such as metal, plastics, wood, composite material, etc. According to a preferred embodiment, the mounting assembly 100 is produced in aluminium or any other suitable metal.
Fig. 6 to 9 illustrate a method to engage and secure the second part 120 to the first part 110 according to the present invention. The method comprises using a mounting assembly 100 according to the present invention and performing the steps of:

Fastening the first part 110 to the surface;
Partially engaging the first engagement means 116 with the upper edge of the second part 120, hence positioning the second part 120 relative to the first part roughly as shown in Fig. 6;
Start rotating the second part 120 relative to a rotational axis at and formed by the first engagement means 116 thereby partially engaging the first engagement means 116 with the second engagement means 125, and continue rotating the second engagement means 120 around the rotating axis for further engagement, see Fig. 6 and 7;
Thereafter, partially engaging the first guiding means 131 with the second guiding means 132, and thereby increasing the engagement of the first 116 and second 125 engagement means, see Fig. 8; and
Securing the bottom wall 113 to the bottom section 123 by having the first 115a and second 115b locking means engaged to each other and thereby fully engaging the first 116 and second 125 engagement means and the first 131 and second 132 guiding means with each other, respectively, to fully secure the second 120 part to the first part 110.

Finally, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but also relates to and incorporates all embodiments within the scope of the appended independent claim.

Claims

Mounting assembly for mounting devices on a surface, the mounting assembly (100) including a first part (110) and a corresponding second part (120) extending in a longitudinal direction (L);
the first part (110) comprising a back wall (111) from which a top wall (112) and a bottom wall (113) extend in a forward direction (F) to form an inside compartment (117) together with the back wall (111),
the second part (120) comprising a top section (121), a middle section (122) and a bottom section (123), and the second part (120) further comprising at least one mounting means (124) located in the middle section (122) for mounting devices (300) on the second part (120),
wherein the top wall (112) has first engagement means (116) for engagement with corresponding second engagement means (125) of the top section (121),
wherein the bottom wall (113) has first locking means (115a) for locking engagement with corresponding second locking means (115b) on the bottom section (123); wherein
the first engagement means (116) extends from the top wall (112) into the inside compartment (117) for engagement with the second engagement means (125) so as to secure the second (120) part to the first (110) part, wherein
the first engagement means (116) is an engagement and guiding seat and the second engagement means (125) is a corresponding protrusion, or vice versa, wherein the engagement and guiding seat comprises two protrusions together forming the engagement and guiding seat widening into the compartment (117), wherein the two protrusions extends in an angle α between 0 to 90 degrees to the forward direction (F), and characterised by further including a guiding assembly comprising a first guiding means (131) arranged on the back wall (111) of the first part (110) and a corresponding second guiding means (132) arranged on the middle section (122) of the second part (120).
Mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the surface (200) is a vertical surface.
Mounting assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting means (124) is a mounting groove extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the second part (120).
Mounting assembly according to claim 3, wherein the mounting groove forms a cavity extending in the longitudinal direction (L).
Mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second part (120) comprises two parallel mounting grooves.
Mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first (115a) and second (115b) locking means together form a snap lock.
Mounting assembly according to claim 6, wherein the first locking means (115a) is formed by the bottom wall (113) and a lower part of the back wall (111).
Mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second guiding means (132) is a guiding seat and the first guiding means (131) is a corresponding protrusion, or vice versa.
Mounting assembly according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and to the back wall (111).
Mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first part (110) further comprising fastening means for fastening the first part (110) at the surface.
Mounting assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first (110) and second (120) parts have substantially the same extension in a height direction (H) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L).