FR2699234A1 - Modular structure allowing angle of assembly to be varied - comprises two rigid parts joined by joint,with spring allowing introduction of head in groove to lock system in place via hooking zone - Google Patents

Abstract

The structure has two rigid parts (3) forming a throat, joined at the ends by a joint (4). The opposing force of the spring (5) is exerted (from A) by the user which reduces the length (C) to a lesser size (D) allowing the introduction of the head (B) in the groove (1). Slackening the system makes it stick and then the system can be pivoted on two surfaces of rotation (6). It is locked with the device being gripped in the groove (1) at its hooking zone (7). USE - Partitions, "arched" structures with an aluminium frame used in expositions, fairs etc.

Description

 System adapted to a principle of modular structure making it possible to vary the angle of assembly of the profiles between them.

TECHNICAL AREA
The present invention relates to a system which finds its use in the aluminum structure of stands, exhibitions and fairs, fittings, etc.

 The most representative brand for this structure is "SODEM" with in particular its clamp "CBX" (SODEM patent) allowing simple and quick joining between two profiles.

Seen from above, the assembly between a profile groove, generally used as an upright, and a clamp (eg CBX) most often housed at the end of the crosspieces, is always and only carried out with the same angle, the clamp going in and out of the throat. This limits the number of possible angles to the number of grooves on the uprights
DESCRIPTION
The system according to the invention overcomes this constraint. It is an intermediary which is housed between the grooves of the uprights and the clamps (CBX type) and gives a freedom of assembly of approximately + 20 to -20 compared to the base angle.

 According to a first characteristic it consists of two rigid parts forming a groove of variable width and a rotation head; these two parts being connected by a joint.

 A spring housed at the head maintains a certain spacing of the groove.

 By pinching this system at the level of the throat, the user deforms it; it compresses the spring and decreases the width of the head, thus allowing it to be housed in an upright groove.

 Under the effect of the spring, the system, once released, tends to return to its initial position thus becoming wedged in this groove.

 Thus housed, the head has the particularity of being able to pivot on itself even thanks to its two rotation surfaces.

 After placing the clamp (CBX) in the groove, we resume the usual tightening procedure thus blocking the system at the chosen angle. It is anchored to the rounded bottom of the post groove thanks to its attachment zone located on its head. The strength of the grip is proportional to the tightening of the clamp.

 The height of the system can vary and adapt to the height of the clamps or crosspieces.

 According to a variant (not shown), the plastic core can be replaced by a "U" made of steel, the base of which would be in contact with the zone of reduced thickness.

 According to a second variant, a mini clip can connect the two rigid cheeks at the level of the head, thus eliminating the zone of reduced thickness and the plastic core.

The accompanying drawings illustrate:
Figure 1 shows in section a traditional assembly, here a cross end with a CBX spaced in a stud groove.

FIG. 2 shows in section the same assembly with the interposed system according to the invention.

FIG. 3 represents the variant of the invention seen from above.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 5 represents a top view of the invention.

 With reference to these drawings, this system only adapts to the grooves of the uprights having the same characteristics as that shown in the various figures.

 Without constraints, the head (in B) Figure 5, is characterized by a width greater than 8.5 mm (in C) which always corresponds to the width of the grooves on this type of profile (in D).

Pinched (at A) by the user, the system deforms:
-The two cheeks (in 3) are articulated around the thinner area (in 4).

 -The plastic core crashes (in 5). (It has been considered here in plastic or rubber).

 This deformation reduces the width of the head and C thus passes below 8.5 mm (Fig. 5).

 This makes it possible to accommodate the head of the face system in a groove without having to do so at one of the ends of the profile.

 Released, and under the spring effect of the core, the system tends to return to its initial position and its head (in B) gets stuck while pressing on its two rotation surfaces (in 6) and on its grip zone ( in 7).

 In place, the system can both slide in the groove of the upright and pivot on itself with an amplitude of about plus 20 to minus 20 relative to the usual fixing angle.

 Fig. l, the angle "a" is systematically zero. Fig 2, "a" can change, it is 10 here.

 It only remains to determine the angle chosen and to resume the usual assembly procedure: introduction and tightening of the clamp (in 2) Figure 2.

 This tightening tends to spread the throat of the system, this thus increases the forces exerted inside the groove of the upright by the head.

 So the larger the groove of the system, the better the anchoring at the level of the attachment zone, which blocks all the assembly at the chosen angle and height. Fig 2.

 The width of the system (at E) in FIG. 5, corresponds, once the clamp is spread in its groove, to the width of the profiles where the clamps are located, that is to say about 19 mm, this more for aesthetic than technical concern.

 This system is obtained by aluminum spinning. Its height (in H) in FIG. 4 can be adapted to that of the clamps or of the profiles. (On average between 40 and 100 mm).

The height of the system can also be different between the groove and the head. (not shown)
According to the variant, in FIG. 3, a mini clip pinches the two cheeks of the system, replaces the zone of reduced thickness and acts as an articulation (at 4).

 It also has an attachment zone (at 7).

 It ensures the spring effect and therefore replaces the core (in 5).

 For technical reasons, its height may be less than that of the system. If necessary, it can therefore be multiplied.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended to allow the production of "curved" partitions or structures with an aluminum frame.

Claims (7)

 1) Intermediate system adapted to a type of modular aluminum structure and allowing the angle of certain connections to be varied.  In section it is characterized by a groove of variable width and on the opposite side by a head. On this head there is a joint, two rotation surfaces, an attachment zone and a system which now maintains a distance between the two cheeks.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that a thinner zone forms the joint (4).  3) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that a spring core maintains a rib in C greater than D. (Without user constraints.)  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projecting parts allow a mechanical hooking of the system on the bottom of the groove of the upright.  5) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that a mini clip in the shape of "u", connects the two half profiles at the head. It ensures articulation; maintains a C score greater than D and has a mechanical grip zone.  6) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two rounded surfaces allow the rotation of the head.  7) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the groove of the system has, once it in place in an upright, a standard width of the crosspiece.