GB2093903A - Connecting element for connecting two members - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting element is intended particularly for attaching an additional profiled member 10 to the frame or other part of a window. The element comprises a flat plate-shaped body (3) which is partly sub-divided at each end by elongate recesses (4) to define a pair of spring fingers (5, 7) at each end with an intermediate region (6) between each pair of fingers. These intermediate regions are provided with anchoring means, which may be simply screw holes or may comprise engagement heads (11) for snap-engaging into a hole in a hollow profiled part of the frame. The finger tips have engagement projections (9) which snap engage with formations on the additional profiled member to secure it in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connecting element for connecting two members This invention relates to a connecting element for attaching a member to window or door parts, or the like. Connecting elements of this type serve, for example, for equipping window frames with an additional member, such as an extruded aluminium member.

Such a connecting element usually possesses an elongate body with an approximately rectangular cross-section perforated by three holes through which wood screws as anchoring means can pass. It goes without saying that this known connecting element is suitable only for a wooden frame or other part. There are provided resilient engagement projections which spring engage with the additional member. Although the additional member is then retained, it is not subject to any clamping effect. When applied to wooden window frames, the use of these known connecting elements is simple, in as much as the connecting elements can be positioned on the window frame without previous insertion into the additional member. After being screwed in firmly by means of wood screws, the additional member is pressed into position.A disadvantage of this connecting element is that it is not suitable for plastics frames and is of a thick design which presupposes the use of additional members of the same height, so that these stand out sharply. Not all constructional connections can be made satisfactorily in this way. Despite the thick design, these connecting elements have only an inadequate supporting effect because they are also very narrow. As a result of this, for example in the case of an additional member for a casement of normal width, two connecting elements of this type have to be arranged next to one another at each anchoring position, thus increasing the outlay and making assembly more complicated.

A further known connecting element consists of a rectangular plate-shaped body which has on its underside a resilient engagement head with undercuts, which can be inserted into a bore in a plastics part of a window. It is especially expensive to utilise this connecting element. Several connecting elements must first be pushed into the additional member to be attached. Drill-holes are marked by applying stamping ink to the engagement heads, the connecting elements are anchored and the additional member re-attached.

The bores must be made with a large diameter and a countersinking operation is necessary in order, whèn the additional member is subsequently attached by means of the connecting elements, to make the drill-holes coincide with the engagement heads. This connecting element is not suitable for the facing of wooden window frames.

It is also known to match additional extruded aluminium members directly to extruded plastics parts and to equip these with mutual clamping projections or engagement connection points.

Consequently, only the two associated members can then be connected to one another. It is neither possible to attach members of this type to plastics window frames consisting of other profiles or to wooden window frames.

The object of the invention is to permit a flat design of the connecting element which when attached, also retains the additional member by clamping, allows changes in the length of the additional profile as a result of temperature influences and can be utilized simply and universally.

The present invention provides a connecting element for attaching a profiled member to another member, the connecting element comprising a flat plate-shaped body which is partly sub-divided into three regions, by elongate recesses which extend parallel to opposed side edges of the body and open at an intervening end edge, the intermediate of the three regions being provided with anchoring means for fastening the element to said other member, and the other two regions defining spring fingers which carry engagement projections adjacent their tips for snap-engaging with formations on the profiled member.

This arrangement permits employment of relatively flat additional members and, nevertheless, achieves a support sufficiently secure against tilting, without the need to arrange several connecting elements of this type side by side. The spring fingers are simultaneously resilient in two directions perpendicular to one another and this makes it possible to introduce into the connecting element practically the entire flexibility required for attachment of the additional member. This is important for relatively flat additional members, because the shortness of engagement portions necessitates them having almost no spring effect. The connecting element also provides support secure against tilting.

The anchoring means may be such as to permit use selectively for connection to wooden members, or hollow plastics profiled members, so that it becomes substantially simpler to produce handle and keep in stock connecting elements of this type. The connecting elements only have to be pressed into holes in a profiled member or, in the case of a wooden member, have to be secured additionally by a wood screw. For this purpose, the central part of the body may possess a hole for the passage of a wood screw and symmetrically thereto, the anchoring means may comprise engagement heads having undercuts.

At the free ends of the spring fingers, the engagement projections are provided angled at right angles to the plane of the body. Only two spring arms, each with an engagement projection, may be provided, but it is also possible to choose a design which is symmetrical in this respect, and provide two spring arms at each end.

The engagement projections are provided to project outwards beyond the side edges of the body, so that the body does not impede the attachment and pressing-on of the additional profiled member.

The engagement projections preferably end in noses which have a cross-section consisting of two sloping faces. In this way, on the one hand, height tolerances arising from the manufacture of the additional profiled member are absorbed and, on the other hand, a clamping fit of the additional profiled member, which nevertheless allows changes in length as a result of the influence of temperature, is achieved.

The spring fingers can have on their top surfaces a stiffening rib. This contributes to increasing the rigidity. It is thus ensured that the clamping force is also largely preserved after the additiona! member has been attached.

Each engagement projection may have a third face for the direct support of the additional member, this face representing the highest elevation out of the plane of the body. The additional profiled member is thus supported over the best possible extent at four points of contact with the connecting element and consequently acquires a correct angularly accurate fit.

The recesses can terminate in rounded end regions in order to increase the resilient flexibility of the spring arms in this direction and, on the other hand, to counteract the emergence of dangerous notching stresses when the additional profile is attached.

The undercuts of the engagement heads may be formed by an encircling bead which is composed in cross-section of two sloping faces.

The first sloping face makes it easier to introduce the engagement heads into a bore of a hollow plastics profiled member. The second sloping face ensures that the connecting element is fastened, free of play, to the plastics member in question.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a part cf a casement and a connecting element according to a first embodiment prior to attachment to the casement, Figure 2 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a connecting element; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the connecting element according to Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side view of a third embodiment of a connecting element; and Figure 5 shows a plan view of the connecting element according to Figure 4.

Figure 1 illustrates part of a window casement 1, which may be a plastics extrusion. A connecting element 2 is snapped into holes in the casement by means of two engagement heads, not evident here. The connecting element 2 comprises a flat plate-shaped body 3 which has opposite portions subdivided by elongate recesses extending longitudinally of the body from the end edges of the body. Each opposite portion is so divided into a middle region 5 and two outer regions 6 and 7. The outer regions 6 and 7 form spring fingers 8 which have engagement projections 9 adjacent their tips. These engagement projections 9 interengage with undercuts on an extruded member 10 which is to be attached to the casement.

Figures 2 and 3 show a second embodiment of the connecting element 2, although it has a design very similar to that according to Figure 1. Here, there are in the middle region 5 not only two engagement heads 11 for anchoring the element to a casement, but also a centrally located hole 12 with a countersink for the passage of wood screw.

This permits use of the connecting element 2 with a wooden window frame. Each engagement head 11 has an encircling bead 13 which is composed of two sloping faces 14 and 1 5 to facilitate snap engagement in holes in the casement. To increase the spring properties of each engagement head 11, a central slot 16 is also provided. As is evident especially from Figure 2, each engagement projection 9 possesses a cross-section consisting of two sloping faces 17 8 18 defining a nose.

Moreover, there is also on each nose a third face 19 which represents the highest elevation on the body 2 and consequently, these faces 19 form -four support points for the member 10. On the top of the body adjacent each longitudinal edge is provided a stiffening rib 20 which extends along the two corresponding spring fingers 8.

The connecting element according to Figures 2 and 3 is used as follows. In relation to a wooden frame, three holes are drilled at each position on the frame at which a connecting element 2 is to be attached. The diameter of the drill-holes matches the diameter of the engagement heads and the wood screw to be used. After the three holes have been drilled, the connecting element is press-fitted into the outer holes by means of the two engagement heads 1 1. A wood screw is then screwed into the frame through the central drill hole 12. Three such connecting elements may be arranged over the length of a leg of a casement, for example, for engagement with the additional member, which is snap fitted on the spring fingers 8.During engagement, corresponding parts of the additional member 10 first encounter the sloping face 17 on each finger, so that the fingers 8 are deflected in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1. The fingers then spring back and the sloping faces 18 then retain the additional member by engaging beneath undercuts in the member.

When the connecting element is used in conjunction with an extruded casement, it is only necessary to drill two holes for the two engagement heads 1 1 and, in this case, the hole 12 does not fulfil any function. When the connecting element 2 is pressed into these two holes, the sloping faces 14 first engage the sides of the holes. After the passage of the bead 13, the inner face of the casement engages the sloping face 15, so that production tolerances are compensated and the connecting element is held free of play.

The embodiment of the connecting element according to Figures 4 and 5 is of a very similar construction, but is intended exclusively for use on wooden window frames. Of course, elements of this type can also be attached to other wooden parts, for example to ceilings, walls or the like, so as to fasten sliding members in this way. In this case, the two engagement heads 11 are omitted, and, instead, two holes 12 are provided at the location of these engagement heads for receiving wood screws, dowels, or the like.

Claims (11)

1. A connecting element for attaching a profiled member to another member, the connecting element comprising a flat plate-shaped body which is partly sub-divided into three regions, by elongate recesses which extend parallel to opposed side edges of the body at an intervening end edge, the intermediate of the three regions being provided with anchoring means for fastening the element to said other member, and the other two regions defining spring fingers which carry engagement projections adjacent their tips for snap-engaging with formations on the profiled member.

2. A connecting element according to Claim 1, wherein further elongate recesses are provided extending from the opposite end edge to define further spring fingers and a further intermediate region having anchoring means.

3. A connecting element according to Claim 2, wherein the central part of the body has a hole shaped for receiving a wood screw and the anchoring means are provided symmetrically therewith, each anchoring means comprising an engagement head having undercuts for engaging in a hole in a wall of a hollow profiled member.

4. A connecting element according to Claim 3, wherein the undercuts are defined by an encircling bead which in cross-section has two sloping faces.

5. A connecting element according to any preceding claim, wherein each engagement projection projects out of the plane of the body.

6. A connecting element according to any preceding claim wherein each engagement projection projects outward beyond the corresponding side edge of the body.

7. A connecting element according any preceding claim wherein each engagement projection has an outwardly projecting nose which is cross-section has two sloping faces.

8. A connecting element according to Claim 7, wherein each engagement projection has a third face for the direct support of the profiled member, this face representing the highest elevation out of the plane of the body.

9. A connecting element according to any preceding claim, wherein the body has stiffening ribs which extend along the spring fingers.

10. A connecting element according to any preceding claim, wherein the recesses terminate in rounded edges.

11. A connecting element constructed substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.