GB2296065A

GB2296065A - Connections for constructing partitions

Info

Publication number: GB2296065A
Application number: GB9525478A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michel Yermakoff
Original assignee: IDEALU
Current assignee: IDEALU
Priority date: 1994-12-13
Filing date: 1995-12-13
Publication date: 1996-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-13
Also published as: ITMI952616A0; ES2133206B1; ITMI952616A1; GB9525478D0; FR2728031A1; ES2133206A1; FR2728031B1; DE19546479A1; GB2296065B; IT1277075B1

Description

2296065 "A device for fitting together a first and a second profile" The

invention relates to a device for fitting together a first and a second profile extending in two intersecting directions, at least one profile (the second profile) being open and bearing against the first profile via its bearing surface under the action of a connecting part hooked behind the flanges on the first profile and pulling the second profile against the first profile, the web of the second profile has an orifice, the connecting part has a bearing surface which partly overlaps the orifice of the second profile when the first and the second profile and the connecting means are positioned after first simply resting on one another before clamping, and a cam extends through the orifice in the web of the second profile and bears against the bearing surface of the connecting part so as to pull the connecting part and, by reaction, push the bearing surface of the second profile against the surface of the first profile.

Various profile assembly devices are already known. These devces and profiles are generally used for constructing partitions. The partitions comprise uprights connected by cross-members to receive panels.

t, of Often, but not necessarily, the uprights and crossmembers are made from the same profiles.

Some existing profiles are "closed", i.e. tubes in which some or all of the sides are bounded by flanges for receiving the connecting parts of the crossmembers. Usually the tubes are disposed so that the major dimension of their cross-section corresponds to the thickness of the partition. The connecting parts are borne by the major sides of the tubes, whereas the minor sides have prolongations for snap-fastening protective or sealing or insulating strips.

There are also "open" profiles which generally have an H-shaped crosssection with "vertical" arms each ending in two flanges bent towards the interior, like the closed profiles.

These open profiles have the advantage of being less expensive than closed profiles, since they use less material.

When the parts are made by extrusion of aluminium, closed or open profiles can be made, depending on the choice of die.

On the other hand when the profiles are of steel, they are usually in the form of open profiles, particularly since their strength is more than enough for the forces to which the profiles may be subjected.

Steel profiles also have the advantage of being more fireproof, with the result that they are preferred or even stipulated in certain regulations e.g. for installations accessible to the public.

An assembly device described in document FR-A-88 11 987 dated 14 September 1988 relates to two open profiles assembled by means of a part in the form of an edge of an open U profile with edges bent towards the interior. The raised, bent edge forms a bearing for the cam, in addition to the orifice holding the cam, since the orifice in the connecting part and the orifice in the web of the second profile would not be enough by themselves to hold the cam. At one of the arms, the part has saw cuts which on each side form two superposed notches receiving the two flanges of the first profile for joining to a second profile. The edge of the second profile must be firmly pressed against the first profile by the connecting piece, hooked as indicated to the flanges on the first profile and pulled by a cam bearing on the second profile.

To this end, the second profile has an orifice at a defined distance from its edge and the connecting part, an orifice partly overlapping the orifice in the second profile. The cam, which is inserted into these two orifices and is rotated by a key during assembly, tends to move the orifices relative to one another by pulling the connecting part and pushing the second profile against the first. Dismantling, if required, is brought about by unlocking the cam by rotation in the opposite direction or by continuing the rotation.

The cam is a cylindrical part having a suitable crosssection and not being firmly held in the clamping 1 position except by bearing against the edge of the other arm of the connecting part. Under normal manufacturing conditions, the second bearing-place of the cam on the edge of the flange on the connecting part does not prevent the arm from elastically moving and does not sufficiently hold the cam in the locking position, and consequently does not fit the assembly together firmly. This difficulty is due inter alia to vibration.

The assembly has the further disadvantage of being relatively expensive to make.

The aim of the invention is to obviate these disadvantages and to this end relates to an assembly device of the kind defined and characterised in that it comprises a bolt received in the second profile above the connecting part, formed with an orifice similar in shape and position to the orifice in the web of the second profile so as to obtain a first and a second bearing for the cam, one on each side of the connecting part, a bearing surface pressing against the front surface of the first profile and pivoting of the cam in the orifices and against the bearing surface from its inoperative position to its clamping and locking position, pulling the connecting means and pushing the bearing surfaces of the second profile and the bolt against the surface of the first profile.

Accordingly the bolt. disposed on the side of the connecting part opposite the web of the second profile, co-operates with the web of the second profile to form a bearing means which sandwiches the connecting part. This arrangement results in two bearings operating in the same direction for the cam, since the axis of the orifice of the second profile and the axis of the orifice of the bolt against which the cam presses are situated on the same side (the side nearer the bearing surfaces) whereas the bearing surface of the connecting part diametrically opposite the two aforementioned bearing surfaces is between the bolt and the web of the profile.

The connecting part is pulled by the cam disposed in the two orifices in the core and in the locking plate, whereas the second profile and the bolt are pushed against the surface of the first profile.

The bolt and the connecting part are captured in the longitudinal recess bounded by the web, the sides and the flanges of the profile, so that the bolt cannot move away even under strong forces. It is always held against the flanges of the profile, a short distance above the edges of the connecting part gripping behind the flanges of the profile.

This feature results in a double bearing for the cam, resulting in very uniform distribution of forces between the two bearings and the bearing surface of the e connecting part against which the cam abuts. This also results in a stronger clamping force by the cam, which has a larger bearing surface.

The connecting part can have various shapes depending on the application, it being understood that in all cases it will have two edges coming behind the respective flanges of the first profile and at the front has a bearing surface for the cam, which pulls the connecting part. The cam is fitted in the two bearings formed by the two orifices, one in the web of the second profile and the other in the locking plate.

According to another feature, the connecting part and the bolt have a total thickness substantially less than the free height of the second profile between the web and the flanges so as to slide in the profile nonreleasably under the effect of the tension and opposing thrust exerted by the cam on the bolt, the web and the connecting part.

The connecting part and the plate forming the bolt have dimensions such that these two parts can easily slide in the second profile above the connecting means, under the flanges of the profile.

The plate can be reinforced by edges, e.g. raised edges, which stiffen it and facilitate guiding thereof by bearing under the flanges.

The invention will be described hereinafter in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

e Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the assembly device according to the invention; Fig. 1A is a larger-scale perspective view of an embodiment of the cam; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view in a plane through the first and the second profile, showing the forces produced at the moment of assembly; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic top view of the assembly device, the bolt being indicated by chain lines only; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the assembly device; Fig. 5 shows a section of a steel profile; Fig. 6 shows a section of the profile in Fig. 5, with a diagrammatically- represented connecting means; Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a connecting part and Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of a connecting part.

In Figs. 1 and 1A, the assembly device is adapted to connect a first profile 1 to a second profile 2 extending relative to one another in two intersecting directions. In general the two profiles will be perpendicular to one another. The bearing surface 26 (corresponding to the edge) of the second profile bears against the surface of profile 1. The latter surface is defined by flanges 11 on the profile 1 at the edge of sides 12.

The first profile 1 can be a closed profile or an open profile. It hasbeen diagrammatically shown as an open profile with a web 13.

The second profile 2 is an open profile having a web 23 and flanges 21 bent back on the sides 22.

The sides 22 and flanges 21 define a longitudinal space 24 which receives a connecting means described hereinafter.

The web 23 of the second profile 2 has an orifice 25 for the clamping and locking cam 5. The circular orifice is situated at a distance H from the bearing surface 26, the distance being conventionally measured from the side of the orifice nearest the bearing surface 26. Most commonly, the orifice 25 is a circular orifice, easy to manufacture, for uniformly guiding the cam during rotation thereof, generally through a quarter-turn.

The connecting part 3 is diagrammatically represented in the form of a part having two edges 31, 31 which come behind the flanges 11, 11 of the profile 1, and a bearing surface 32 connected to the edges 31 by arms 33. The assembly described hereinbefore has a U shape.

The connecting part 3 can be an edge of the section member having the aforementioned cross-section.

The connecting part 3 is rotated through a quarter-turn so that its edges 31 engage behind the flanges 11 and its arms 33 and head forming the bearing surface 32 slide in the recess 24 in the open profile 2.

In some cases it may be advantageous to duplicate the edges 31 by edges 34 which co-operate with edges 31 to bound a space receiving a respective flange 11. The duplication of the edges (31, 34) results in more efficient holding of the connecting part 3 in the second profile, and prevents the connecting part being moved crosswise by the rotation of the cam.

The edges 31 coming behind the flanges 11 may alternatively have claws or rough parts for improved locking, during clamping, in the rear surface of the flanges 11.

The assembly device comprises a bolt 4 e.g. in the form of a plate having a width corresponding to the free width of the recess 24. The bolt 4 is formed with an orifice 42 corresponding to the orifice 25 in the web 23 of the open profile 2. The bearing surface 43 of the orifice 42 is situated at the same distance H from its bearing surface 41, i.e. the front surface of the bolt 4, as the distance of the orifice 25 from the bearing surface 21 of the open profile 2, in the usual case of a cam having a cylindrical shape with a suitable cross-section, an example of which will be described hereinafter.

The orifices 25, 42 are circular so as to receive the rotating cam 5. The cam 5 is a cylindrical part having a rectangular cross-section with rounded sides. The side 51 of the cam has a radius of curvature equal to 1,11 that of the orifices 25 and 42. The side 51 rests in orifices 25, 42 (the bearing surface 43). On the other hand the other side 52 has a much smaller radius of curvature, substantially equal to half the width of the cam 5. It is adapted to roll on the bearing surface 32 of the connecting part 3. The end 52 advantageously has a flat part 53 for securing the cam in the clamped position and preventing it from being rotated by vibration.

Finally the cam 5 has a six-sided indentation 54 for receiving a key or wrench for rotating it from the inoperative position to the clamping and locking position or vice versa, generally through a quarterturn.

The bolt 4 comprising a flat part, e.g. a plate, has a sharp bearing surface 41, since it is usually the cut surface of the part. The sharpness of this surface can be increased by grinding or by forming teeth therein for biting into the surface of the flanges on the first profile.

The bolt 4 and the web 23 sandwich the connecting part 3. The width 1 of the plate 4 is practically equal to the width 1' of the recess 24, i.e. it is considerably greater than the spacing E between the edges of the flanges 21 of the profile 2. The bolt 4 is retained in the recess.24 and thus holds the connecting part 3.

When the cam 5 pulls the part 3 and pushes the bolt 4 and the web 23 of the second profile against the front - 11 surface of the flanges 11, the bolt 4 remains held in the recess 24 by the flanges 21.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section through the axis of the profiles 1 and 2.

Fig. 2 shows the connecting part 3 booked behind the flanges 11, the surface 52, 53 of the cam 5 bearing against the bearing surface 32 of the connecting part 3 and exerting a pull (arrow A) on the connecting part 3. Also the surface 51 of the cam 5 bears against the edge of the orifice 25 of the profile 2 and the bearing surface 43 of the orifice 42 of the bolt 4, thus pushing the profile 2 and bolt 4 against the front surface of the flanges 11 (arrows B).

Fig. 3 is a top view of an assembly device as in Fig. 1, the bolt being represented by broken lines. The orifice 42 in the bolt 4, which is exactly identical with the orifice 25, is omitted from the drawing.

Fig. 3 shows the edges 31, 34 of the arms 33 of the connecting part 3 disposed on the flanges 11 of the first profile 1, the second profile 2 also being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the second profile 2 showing the flanges 11 of the first profile and also showing the connecting means 3 and the bolt 4 superposed on the web 2, also showing the orifices 25 and 42 in the web 23 and the bolt 4.

Fig. 5 is a section through a steel profile 100 having sides 101 which are bent and curved to form flanges 102. The web 103, the sides 101 and the flanges 102 bound a recess 104 for receiving a connecting part 105 and a bolt 106 in the form of a plate, the profile 100 being shown turned over in Fig. 6. Usually the recess is given the maximum space bounded by the web, when the web is not in a symmetrical position.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the sides 101 have a reinforcing indentation 107. The indentation 107 is also a centring line for drill-holes receiving screws for securing the butt joint (not shown). This is important for aligning the butt joint relative to the post. At its centre, the web 103 has a reinforcement 108 for the cam; the orifice receiving the cam thus has a contour situated partly in the plane of the web and partly in the plane of the reinforcement. The result is a peripheral bearing for the cam, which is vertically offset depending on the thickness of the reinforcement, and thus has an offset peripheral bearing width for improved guidance of the cam, reducing any wear caused by notching of its peripheral surface by the edges of the orifice.

In a variant (not shown) the middle of the web, at the orifice receiving the cam, can be reinforced by a double fold, resulting in a quadruple thickness.

Fig. 6 shows only the contour of the connecting part 105. The height of part 105 does not fill the entire height of the recess 104, and also the reinforcing edges 109 of the bolt 106 fill the remaining space. The cam 110 is shown in Fig. 6.

Figs. 7 and 8 show two embodiments of connecting parts 120, 130 corresponding to edges of profiles.

The part 120, inscribed in a rectangle of width 1, like the plate forming the bolt 4, has edges 121 with claws 122, a second edge 123 and a curved arm 124. The two arms 124 are connected by a cross-member 125 forming the bearing surface 126 for the cam (not shown).

The cross-member 125, of width 1, firmly holds the part in the recess in the second profile.

The connecting part 130 in Fig. 8 has a similar shape except that the arms 134 are convex instead of concave.

The various components of part 130 are similar to those in Fig. 7 and are given the same references plus 10 and will not be described.

Other shapes of connecting parts are possible, inter alia a shape closed by a cross-member constituting the edges 121 and 131.

Claims

C L A I M S

A device for fitting together a first (1) and a second (2) profile extending in two intersecting directions, at least one profile (the second profile 2) being open and bearing against the first profile (1) via its bearing surface (21) under the action of a connecting part (3) hooked behind the flanges (11) on the first profile (1) and pulling the second profile (2) against the first profile (1), - the web (23) of the second profile (2) has an orifice (25), - the connecting part (3) has a bearing surface (32) which partly overlaps the orifice (25) of the second profile (2) when the first (1) and the second (2) profile and the connecting means (3) are positioned after first simply resting on one another before clamping, and - a cam (5) extends through the orifice (25) in the web (23) of the second profile (2) and bears against the bearing surface (32) of the connecting part (3) so as to pull the connecting part (3) and, by reaction, push the bearing surface (26) of the second profile (2) against the surface of the first profile (1), the assembly device being characterised in that it comprises a bolt (4) - received in the second profile (2) above the connecting part (3), -is- formed with an orifice (42) similar in shape and position to the orifice (25) in the web (23) of the second profile (2) so as to obtain a first and a second bearing for the cam (5), one on each side of the connecting part (3), a bearing surface (41) pressing against the front surface of the first profile (1) and pivoting of the cam (5) in the orifices (25, 42) and against the bearing surface (43) from its inoperative position to its clamping and locking position, pulling the connecting means (3) and pushing the bearing surfaces (26, 41) of the second profile (2) and the bolt (4) against the surface of the first profile (1).
2. An assembly device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting part (3) and the bolt (4) have a total thickness substantially less than the free height of the second profile (2) between the web (23) and the flanges (21) so as to slide in the profile (2) non-releasably under the effect of the tension and opposing thrust exerted by the cam (5) on the bolt (4), the web (23) and the connecting part (3).
3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the bolt (4, 106) is a plate (4; 106).
4. An assembly device according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting part (3) has a U shape in which the cross-member is the bearing surface (32) for the cam (5) and the two arms (33) of which end 11 'I in edges (31) which come behind the flanges (11) of the first profile (1).
5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the edges (31) of. the connecting part (3) are doubled (34) and used for guiding and holding the part in the first profile.
6. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that the plate (106) has reinforced or raised edges (109).