FR2474616A1 - Slidable bracket for square section post - has screw to pivot inversely inclined collars together to give wedge effect - Google Patents

Abstract

The self-clamping slidable connector joins the perpendicular square sections (B,P,R) of a display stand frame. Each joint uses two slidable collars (A,B) fabricated from twin parallel 'L' shaped straps (2) connected by a plate (5) and round section pins (3,4). The pins are vertically offset and spaced so that a collar (A) subtends an acute angle to the normal (N) of the post (P). Two collars (A,B) in opposition subtend an angle which is bisected by the normal (N). A bolt (8) through the plates (5) may pivot the collars together to reduce the effective horizontal distance between the pins and wedge the collars in place. The bolt (8) also secures a traverse (R) on the rail (B).

Description

The present invention relates to a device. allowing the realization of metallic structures using tubes or bars of square or rectangular section, in particular shelving, displays etc ...

 Existing devices allowing the production of metal shelving generally use profiles specially designed for this use. Each angle of assembly requires the installation and tightening of several bolts.

Other devices use assembly collars with screw or key tightening. These latter systems are more readily used for assembling tubes of circular cross-section and are more suitable for scaffolding than for shelving. They are most often unsightly.

 Another device described in patent 72,256 14 and supplemented by the additive 77 287 66 uses the combination of a collar and a flexible clamping stirrup. The assembly thus formed does not have great rigidity and the assembled tubes are separated from one another.

The device according to the invention is basically constituted by a self-locking system. It has two parts of identical geometry in the form of a closed stirrup, which, thanks to the tightening of a single screw, come in the manner of a very powerful pliers, to tighten against the tube. The tightening is final when the bearing faces of each piece are in contact.

 Each stirrup consists of two parallel cheeks connected to each other by two crosspieces located in two parallel planes. This assembly delimits a passage of square or rectangular shape depending on the profile to be assembled.

 The distance between the two cheeks is slightly greater than one of the dimensions of the tube to allow free passage of the latter in the stirrup. The projection of the distance separating the internal edges of the crosspieces on the plane of the bearing face is slightly less than the other dimension of the tube. The straight line connecting the edges makes with the plane of the bearing face an angle favoring wedging.

A platform, whether or not integral with one of the crosspieces, connects the two cheeks of the stirrup. For one of the stirrups, the platform is pierced with a tapped hole with a diameter "d", for the other with a smooth hole with a diameter greater than "d".

 Once assembled, these two parts then appear as a platform perpendicular to the main axis of the tube and crossed by a long screw. The distance between the edge of the screw and the wall of the tube is such that it is possible to place on the platform a second tube, of any cross-section, which will therefore be at right angles to the first. This distance between the edge of the screw and the wall of the vertical tube will be equal to the width of the tube placed on the platform of the device or, if it is a round tube, to its diameter.

 A crosspiece of square or rectangular section, judiciously pierced with a hole at each end is then lowered onto the waiting screw and held in position by a washer and a nut. The hole is generally drilled so that the end of the cross member abuts on the first tube, which ensures the orthogonality of the three tubes with one another.

 The invention will be illustrated without being limited in any way by the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings in which FIG. 1 shows in perspective the constituent elements of the device.

Figure 2 shows in section the first phase of the positioning of the device on a square tube upright.

 Figure 3 shows in section the device clamped on the upright with the horizontal beam placed in position.

 Figure 4 shows in section the assembly mounted with spar and crosspiece.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled assembly supporting a panel of agglomerated wood.

 Figure 6 shows a cantilevered shelf assembly.

 Figure 7 shows a pivoting vertical panel assembly.

Figure 8 shows a variant in the embodiment of the device
Figure 9 shows a brace.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, it will be noted that a cylinder (3) has been juxtaposed with the platform (5) identical to the cylinder (4). The two cylinders and the platform are integral with the L-shaped cheeks (2).

 The spacing (1) between the generatrices of the cylinders is a few tenths of a millimeter less than the width of the side of the tube to be clamped. The angle cU made by the straight line joining the centers of the cylinders with the edge of the cheek is approximately 15 degrees, which makes the system self-tapping. If a load is applied to the platform, the part (A) being threaded on a vertical upright, it gets stuck and can no longer descend.

The piece is made of steel and is then covered with epoxy paint. This coating protects the part against corrosion and further promotes jamming.

 The moment of inertia of the cheek is such that it can support the bending moment applied lov's of the tightening.

 The screw (8) is threaded to the large diameter over a sufficient length to allow the approximation of (A) and (B) during installation (fig 2). Over the rest of its length, the screw is turned and threaded to a smaller diameter allowing free passage in the hole (7) fig 1, which accelerates assembly.

 When installing the device fig 2 and fig 3, there is a slight crushing of the metal because the force applied to the tube is intense. This is the reason why the tube, which has a certain elasticity, is chosen in preference to a solid profile.

 During the final assembly fig 4, the nut (10) must be brought by hand after fitting the washer (13), but not tightened. The front and rear faces of the shelving are then placed in position (there are generally at least two levels) and the nuts (10) are then tightened energetically.

 The device which is the subject of the invention is capable of being used in all cases where it is desired to build shelving at the lowest cost and practically without tools.

Commercial square steel tubes type 102 Vallourec are perfectly suitable and can be used without cutting over long lengths (up to 6 meters), both in height and in width. In depth, pierced sleepers must be prepared.

FIG. 5 represents a typical embodiment: vertical uprights in square tube of 30, horizontal beams in square tube of 30, cross members in tube of 20, agglomerated plates of 19 mm.

The plates are then supported in the direction of the large span and held in place between sleepers and uprights.

 The device, aesthetic in itself, can be used in decoration in conjunction with oxidized aluminum tube.

 It is possible on bars fixed between floor and ceiling, to mount cantilevered shelves, as shown in fig 6.

 Another use is the production of pivoting presentation panels often used in exhibitions. Fig 7 shows such an assembly or we see that the assembly screws (8) engage in the smooth blind holes (9) drilled in the parts (12) fixed by screws on the panel (11). The ends of the screws then serve as pivots for the entire device.

 Another more economical variant is shown in FIG. 8. The stirrup consists of a U-profile hollowed out with a rectangular passage and arched at an angle of 15 ". The passage obtained conforms to the description above. The edges are here constituted by one of the edges of the rectangular sections of the cross-member and the platform. We note the parts (A) and (B) which assume the same functions as in the previous embodiment. has been shown in plan view.

 It may be necessary for shelving having to support heavy loads to provide bracing between the vertical uprights either in the depth direction (sides of the shelving) or in the longitudinal direction (bottom of the shelving). Fig 9 shows a bracing made simply by parts (B) judiciously used and joined together by cables (14) and turnbuckles (15). As is schematically indicated, the direction of the tensile force (F) is sufficient to hold the parts (B) in position without the need at each point to use a pair of parts (A) and ( B).

Claims (10)

1. Self-locking device fixing on a profile generally of square or rectangular section comprising two parts of similar geometry (A) and (B), which when they arrive under the effect of the tightening of a screw (8) in contact l 'from one another on their bearing face, each have two edges which come to bear on the walls of the profile to be clamped. The line connecting these two edges makes an angle of a few degrees with the plane of the bearing surface, favoring wedging. The assembly thus formed has a flat surface or platform perpendicular to the main axis of the profile. This platform being crossed perpendicularly by the screw (8). 2. Self-locking device according to claim 1 characterized in that each piece is in the form of a closed stirrup whose free passage allows the introduction of the profile to be clamped. This passage being limited in one direction by two parallel cheeks, in the other direction by two crosspieces whose projection of the distance between the internal edges on the bearing face of the stirrup is slightly less than the width of the profile to be clamped  3. Self-locking device according to claim 2 characterized in that the cheeks are also joined by a platform secured or not to one of the crosspieces and drilled for one of the parts of a tapped hole intended to receive the assembly screw (8 ), for the other a smooth hole with a diameter much larger than the previous one. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the screw (8) has an extension intended to define the location of a second profile, located between the side of said screw and the wall of the first profile, and to cross a third profile pierced with a hole and placed perpendicular to the first two, this third profile being immobilized thanks to a washer and a nut screwing at the end of the screw (8).  5. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the third profile generally constitutes the depth element of a shelving or cross member and that this cross member is pierced with a hole at each end corresponding to the diameter of the screw (8), the distance between the axis of one of the holes and the adjacent end of the cross member, cut square, being such that it allows it to bear on the wall of the first profile, thus ensuring its orthogonality with the first and the second profile. 6. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the connecting screw (8) can be turned to two different diameters thus allowing faster assembly of the elements, the smallest diameter having to pass freely in the threaded hole of the piece ( A) and the end of the screw (8) being threaded to receive the nut (10). 7. Device according to claims 2 and 3 characterized in that each of the parts can be produced by cutting-bending with the press to obtain a hollowed out U-shaped profile and then bent (fig 8).  8. Device according to claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the screws constitute pivots for the manufacture of pivoting panels movable about a vertical axis, in particular for exhibitions (fig 7).  9. Device according to claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the screw (8) is turned to a length allowing the clamping of a shelf arm in cantilever on a simple vertical upright held ,. either between floor and ceiling, or by embedding, or by any support. 10. Bracing using devices according to claim 1 characterized in that only the parts with smooth hole (B) are used for the attachment points, these parts being joined diagonally by cables and turnbuckles , and thus being in the self-locking position.