GB2436119A

GB2436119A - Device for connecting panels

Info

Publication number: GB2436119A
Application number: GB0610253A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivo Moresco
Original assignee: IK INTERKLIMAT SpA
Current assignee: IK INTERKLIMAT SpA
Priority date: 2006-03-17
Filing date: 2006-05-23
Publication date: 2007-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-23
Also published as: GB0610253D0; DE202006004298U1; GB2436119B

Abstract

A device (1) for connecting panels (60, 70) together in side-by-side relationship comprises, associated with a panel (60), a box casing (3) having two mutually associated parts and containing a hook (2) cooperating with an element (23) provided with a spiral guide (25) terminating at an edge (26) of the element (23), this latter being associated with said casing (3) and arranged to rotate about a central axis (A) when the hook (2) is extracted from the casing (3) and being arranged to translate perpendicularly to said axis (A) when said hook (2) abuts against a pin (200) of the second panel (70) to the side of the first (60), this translation causing the two panels (60, 70) to approach each other. The box casing (3) comprises a first part (4) provided with a guide (38) having a curved portion (39) and a straight portion (40) extending towards the edge (4A) of the casing part (4), the hook (2) comprising a curved tooth (17) projecting from an edge (18) thereof and arranged to cooperate with said guide (38).

Description

DEVICE FOR CONNECTING PANELS TOGETHER IN SIDE-BY-SIDE

RELATIONSHIP

The present invention relates to a device for connecting panels together in side-by-side relationship in accordance with the introduction to the main claim.

Devices of the stated type have been known for some time. However, they are currently produced from a plurality of parts fitted together, this involving considerable assembly time and cost.

Other known devices comprise a smaller number of parts, but are difficult to use by the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connection device which is easy to produce and is of low production time and cost.

These and other objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a connection device in accordance with the accompanying claims.

The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view taken from one side of the device of the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view taken from another side of the invention; Figure 3 is a front view of a part of the device of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of that device part of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front view of a portion of the device of the invention; Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a section through a device of the invention during use; and Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

With reference to said figures, these show a device I for connecting together and simultaneously bringing into side-by-side relationship two panels 60 and 70, to one (60) of which said device is fixed and the other (70) of which presents a pin within a supporting box casing 80 inserted into said panel 70, to cooperate with a hook 2 of the device.

More specifically, the device I comprises a casing 3 presenting two portions 4 and advantageously connected together by coupling members defined by elastic arms 100 engaging projections 101 projecting respectively from opposing sides 4H, 4Z and 5H, 5Z of said portions. When coupled together, the portions 4 and 5 define an internal compartment 6 of the device in which the movable hook 2 is present.

This latter comprises a substantially flat body 10 with a curved end part 11 projecting from a central part 12 having an elongate hole or slot 13 therein. A pin projects from a surface or face 14 of the central part, and a bent tooth 17 projects from a free edge 18 of the part 12; the tooth 17 is at the opposite end from the curved part.

The hole 13 houses a pin 22 rigid with a flat element 23 presenting on a surface 24 a recess or spiral 25 opening into the edge 26 of this element. The pin 15 of the hook 2 moves within said recess or spiral when the element 23 is rotated about its central axis A or about the axis of the pin 22 and of a pin 30 projecting from the opposite surface 31 to the said surface 24. By means of these pins 22 and 30 (inserted into holes 34 and 35 in the casing 3), which are suitably hollow and shaped to be able to receive an Allen key or the like, the flat element 23 can be made to rotate within the casing 3 about the axis A. A recess 38 provided in an inner (with respect to the compartment 6) face 36 of the portion 4, about the hole 34 (in which a seal ring 55 for the pin 22 is positioned), has an arcuate first portion 39 in proximity to the hole 31, and a straight second portion 40 terminating in proximity to an edge 4A of the portion 4.

These portions 39 and 40 of the recess 38 are of different widths and hence cross-sections: in this respect, the first portion 39 is able to slidably contain the tooth 17 in an edgewise position (Figure 4) whereas the portion 40 contains the tooth in a flat position (Figure 3) during the movement of the hook 2 until coupled to the pin 200, said tooth having different edge sections and cross-sections (see Figures 3 and 4).

It will now be assumed that the device of the invention is to be used, and which as described comprises substantially only three elements (in addition to the ring 55): namely the casing 3, the hook 2 and the flat element 23.

It will also be assumed that the hook 2 is initially within the casing 3.

By operating with the Allen key (or other tool) through the holes 22 and 30 of the element 23, this latter is rotated about the axis A. With this movement the hook 2 moves within the casing 3 (arrow K of Figure 7) guided by the pin 15 within the recess 25 and by the tooth 17 within the recess 38.

The hook moves outside the casing 3 to abut against the pin 200, but with its curved end part 11 spaced therefrom. When in this position the pin 15 emerges from the recess 25 and abuts against one end 47 of this latter. As the element 23 continues to rotate, the hook 2 is urged to slide along this element, guided in its movement by the straight portion 40 of the recess 38 and by the slot 13 in which the pin 22 is present. By this movement, the part 11 of the hook 2 engages the pin 200 and moves the two panels 60 and 70 relatively towards each other, to connect them together.

The described arrangement is easy to construct and use, has a small number of parts and can be rapidly assembled, at a smaller cost and within a shorter time than known arrangements.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A device (1) for connecting panels (60, 70) together in side-by-side relationship comprising, associated with a panel (60), a box casing (3) having two mutually associated parts and containing a hook (2) cooperating with an element (23) provided with a spiral guide (25) terminating at an edge (26) of the element (23), this latter being associated with said casing (3) and arranged to rotate about a central axis (A) when the hook (2) is extracted from the casing (3) and being arranged to translate perpendicularly about said axis (A) when said hook (2) abuts against a pin (200) of the second panel (70) to the side of the first (60), this translation causing the two panels (60, 70) to approach each other, characterised in that the box casing (3) comprises a first part (4) provided with a guide (38) having a curved portion (39) and a straight portion (40) extending towards the edge (4A) of the casing part (4), the hook (2) comprising a curved tooth (17) projecting from an edge (18) thereof and arranged to cooperate with said guide (38).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the two parts (4, 5) of the casing (3) are fixed together by coupling members (100, 101), each integral with said parts.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said coupling members are elastic arms (100) associated with a portion (4) of the casing (3) and arranged to engage parts (101) of the other portion (5) of said casing (3).

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the curved tooth (17) has different dimensions in its edge section and in its cross-section (Figure 3).

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the curved portion (39) of the guide (38) is provided about a seat (34) housing a pin (30) of the element (23) with the spiral guide (25).

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising the box casing (3), the element (23) with the spiral guide (25), the hook (2) and a seal ring for said element (23) to secure it to one of the portions (4, 5) of the device casing (3).