WO2014141073A1

WO2014141073A1 - Connection device for fastening two elements, in particular for building constructions

Info

Publication number: WO2014141073A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/059636
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco FEBBO; Corrado Femia
Original assignee: Febbo Franco
Priority date: 2013-03-11
Filing date: 2014-03-11
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Also published as: ITTO20130192A1; WO2014141073A8

Abstract

A connection device (1) for fastening two elements, in particular for building construction, has at least one support (12) carried in fixed position by one of the two elements (2) and having a first: plate (21), which protrudes in direction parallel to the axis (34) of the other element (3); the latter is provided with a slit (39) having a lower area (44) engaged by the first plate (21) and housing a second plate (42), which is substantially coplanar with the first plate (42) and rests on the first plate (42).

Description

"CONNECTION DEVICE FOR FASTENING TWO ELEMENTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION"

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a connection device for fastening two elements, in particular for building constructions, as defined in the preamble of claim 1, which corresponds to the solution shown in US4299509. In the building construction industry, there is the need to construct buildings having a supporting frame made from wood elements (pillars, beams, etc...), and to be able to assemble said frame quickly and easily without skilled labor. BACKGROUND ART

In the state of the art, it is known to build prefabricated houses by assembling wooden beams already having the shape, dimensions and structure such that they can be mounted with a low number of further processing. During assembly, in general, the beams are fixed to one another by bolts. This type of fastening is robust, but requires specialized equipment and involves relatively long periods of time, in particular to arrange and maintain the beams in the desired position, with respect to one another, during the tightening of the bolts.

Moreover, the holes for the bolts are normally made directly during the assembly operations, in order to obtain the required accuracy in the coupling of the beams. However, as mentioned above, it would be preferable to provide elements that do not require further processing during assembly.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Purpose of the present invention is to provide a connection device for fastening two elements, in particular for building construction, which allows to solve in a simple and economic way the abovementioned drawbacks, and in particular allows to assemble a wooden frame of a house quickly, without expert labor, but in extreme safety, preferably without electro- ools and specialized equipment, avoiding drilling operations before or during assembly.

According to the present invention a connection device for fastening two elements, in particular for building constructions, as defined in claim 1 is provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the connection device for ^"fastening two elements, in particular for building constructions, according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 and shows the connection device with parts in section;

- Figure 3 shows in enlarged scale a detail of Figure 2; and

- Figure 4 shows a variant of figure 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates a connection device for fastening two elements. The connection device 1 finds advantageous, but not exclusive, application in building constructions, for example for the construction of wooden frames for prefabricated houses, for the implementation of fencing or railings, etc.... Alternatively, the device 1 may also be used for the assembly of furniture elements (shelves, cupboards, etc... ) .

The connection device 1 comprises two elements, indicated by reference numbers 2 and 3 and, by way of example, defined by respective beams of a truss. The beam 2 extends along an axis 4 and comprises an attachment portion 5, which is bounded on the upper side by a surface 6, at the bottom by a surface 7 and laterally by two opposite sides 8. The portion 5 has two vertical slits 9, which extend orthogonally to the axis 4 and are axially spaced one from the other. As shown in Figure 2, the slits 9 have respective openings 10 at the sides 8 and, preferably, extend from the surface 6, without reaching the surface 7. However, alternative solutions could be envisaged, without affecting the surface 6, for example by making the slits 9 as milling_, starting from the sides 8.

For each slit 9, the device 1 comprises a respective support 12, which preferably is flat and perpendicular to the axis 4, is made of metallic material and comprises an attachment portion 13 engaging the slit 9. The portion 13 has a thickness substantially equal to that of the slit 9, so as to remain axially locked by the portion 5. The portion 13 is also locked in the other directions, in every way. As illustrated in Figure 2 by way of example, the portion 13 has a shape of an inverted U and is arranged astride a core 14 of the portion 5: the portion 13 comprises a cross member 15 supported on an upper surface of the core 14 , for preventing the support 12 to move vertically downwards; and two lateral arms 17 that extend downwards from the ends of the cross member 15 and are supported on respective lateral faces of the core 1 , to prevent horizontal movement of the support 12 perpendicular to the axis 4. The locking on the upper side, instead, is obtained by means of two dowels 19, each of which engages a corresponding retaining seat 20 obtained, in part, on one of the sides 8 and, in part, on the edge of an arm 17 and remains interposed between the beams 2 and 3 at the end of the assembly. However, different systems could be used to secure each support 12 to the beam 2.

With reference to Figure 3, the supports 12 comprise respective plates 21, which protrude laterally through the openings, 10 and have respective upper surfaces 22 defining a support. Preferably, each of the plates 21 comprises an arm 24 and an end portion 25, which is connected to the portion 13 by way of the arm 24 and defines a protrusion towards the upper side with respect to the arm 24. At the portion .25, the surface 22 defines an inclined surface 26, which has a slope directed from top to bottom leading towards the side 8. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the beam 3 extends along an axis 34 and comprises an end portion 35 having a front face 36, which is transverse to the axis 34 and rests on one of the sides 8. The axis 34 is parallel to the direction in which the plates 21 protrude from the side 8.

The portion 35 has two vertical slits 39, which are parallel to the axis 34 and are spaced one from the other by the same amount between the slits 9, so as to be respectively aligned with the slits 9. In correspondence of the face 36, the slits 39 have respective openings that are respectively engaged by the arms 24 of the plates 21. Preferably, the slits 39 are opened downwards, as well as towards the face 36, so as to insert the plates 21 in the slits 39 by lowering the portion 35 during assembly.

For each slit 39, the device 1 comprises a respective plate 42, which is housed in an upper area 43 of the slit 39, is fixed to the portion 35 (for example by screws) , is substantially coplanar with a corresponding plate 21 and rests, with its own bottom edge, on the surface 22 of such plate 21. Preferably, the plates 42 are made of metallic material. Below the plates 42, the slits 39 have respective areas 44 housing the portions 25, which therefore remain hidden. The thickness of the plates 21 is substantially equal to that of the areas 44 so as to remain locked by the portion Returning to Figure 3, preferably the lower edge of each plate 42 defines a bottom seat 45, which is engaged by the corresponding portion 25 and has a profile shaped so as to stop a possible sliding of the plate 42 with respect to the support 12 in a direction parallel to the axis 34.

In the particular illustrated example, the seats 45 have a shape complementary to the profile or edge of the portions 25, therefore they can exert a locking in both directions. Preferably, the seats 45 have respective inclined planes 46 which rest on the planes 26 and slide on the latter when the portions 25 enter in the seats 45 from the bottom during assembly, so as to force in an automatic way the face 36 against the side 8 during the downwards shifting of the portion 35, also due to the weight of the beam 3. Advantageously, the edge of each seat 45 comprises a straight shoulder 47, which extends orthogonally to the axis 34, faces and is parallel to a straight shoulder 48 defining the end of the corresponding portion 25.

To lock the beam 3 in the vertical direction, the device 1 comprises at least one latch 50 sliding between an inactive position, wherein it leaves the portions 25 free to engage the corresponding seats 45 during assembly, and a locking position, wherein it prevents any upwards movement of the plate 42 with respect to the plates 21. The latch 50 is slidable between the inactive and locking positions within the slit 39, for example in the direction parallel to the axis 34. In particular, the portions 25 have respective guides 51 engaged in a sliding manner by respective latches 50, which in the locking position engage corresponding locking seats 53 made in the plates 42 along the shoulder 47. Alternatively, the guides 51 form part of the plates 42, and the seats 53 are made in the plates 21. The displacement of each latch 50 towards its locking position can be of the automatic type, i.e. caused by a spring, not shown, housed for example in the guides 51; in this case, each latch 50 has a tip 54 with an upper edge inclined so as to cause an automatic retraction of the latch 50 towards its inactive position against the action of the spring when the tip 54 is ^' i contact with the plate 42. Alternatively, according to a solution not shown, the latch 50 may be shifted by acting from the outside, for example by using a control rod, which is inserted manually in the horizontal direction in the portion 35, through a lateral slot parallel to the axis 34, until engaging the latch 50 and is then manually moved along said slot to shift the latch 50. Figure 4 shows a variant where the various components of the device 1 have been identified by the same reference numbers used in Figures 1 to 3 , where possible. Unlike the solution of Figures 1 to 3 , the beams 3 are horizontal (not shown) and the beam 2 is vertical. The upper end of the beam 2 has two vertical slits 9a and two vertical slits 9b, which are orthogonal to the slits 9a. The supports 12 are four: two of them comprise respective portions 13a housed in the slits 9a, while the other two comprise respective portions 13b housed in the slits 9b. Each of the portions 13a has two vertical grooves 55 facing downwards and engaged respectively by the portions 13b; these latter have respective vertical grooves 56, which are made in correspondence of the grooves 55, face upwards and are engaged respectively by the portions 13a. In this way, the supports 12 remain bound to each other and can support two orthogonal horizontal beams 3.

As mentioned above, during the assembly step after having positioned and locked the supports 12 in the slits 9 by means of the dowels 19, the portion 35 of the beam 3 is lowered so as to insert the plates 21 in the slits 34. When the portions 25 come into engagement in the seats 45 and the planes 46 rest on the planes 26, due to the weight of the beam 3 the inclination of the planes 46,26 performs a wedge function that moves the portion 35 towards the side 8 and force the face 36 of the beam 3 against that side 8, locking also the dowels 19. At the same time, the plates 42, by coming into contact with the tips 54, cause the retreat of the latches 50. When the lowering of the beam 3 is complete, the latches 50 .snap into the seats 53 so as to lock the beams 2,3 one to the other. From the foregoing it appears evident that the device 1 allows to couple the beams 2,3 in a relatively simple and fast way, without having to carry out machining operations in the assembly step and without the use of specialized labor. With respect to the known solutions, moreover, the device 1 ensures greater safety on site and does not require the use of power tools and specialized equipment .

It is evident that the beams 2,3 remain locked to each other in every direction, thanks to the presence and the dimensioning of the slits 9,39 and thanks to the retention systems provided to prevent vertical movement of the plates 21,42 with respect to the beams 2,3.

Furthermore, the coupling between the inclined planes 26,46 enables to automatically bring the beam 3 into its final position, helps to maintain said final position and, at the same time, helps to lock the beam 3 in the direction parallel to the axis 34. Furthermore, the coupling between the beams 2,3 is particularly robust. In fact, by making the plates 21,42 in a relatively rigid and/or resistant material, compared to the wood of the beams 2,3, it is possible to obtain a strength at least equal to that obtainable by means of bolts.

At the same time, the wood of the beams 2,3 allows to obtain a high anti-seismic capacity in building construction.

Other advantages based on the characteristics described above are obvious and implicit for one skilled in the art.

From the foregoing it appears evident that the device 1 described with reference to the attached figures may be subject to modifications and variants which do not depart from the scope of protection of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims .

In particular, the device 1 could comprise a single support 12 and a single plate 42 engaging a single slit 39, arranged for example at approximately half of the portion 35. Moreover, the portions 13 of the supports 12 may be coupled to the beam 2 in a different way from that indicated by way of example, possibly even without the slits 9.

Claims

CLAIMS-

1. - A connection device (1) for fastening two elements, in particular for building constructions, the device comprising; - a first element (2) extending along a first axis (4) ;

- a second element (3) , which extends along a second axis (34) transverse to said first axis (4) and has at least one slit (39) ; . - at least one support (12) carried in a fixed position by said first element (2) and comprising a first plate (21) , which protrudes with respect to said first element (2) in a direction parallel to said second axis (34) and engages a first area (44) of said slit (39) ;

- at least a second plate (42) , which is housed in a fixed position in a second area (43) of said slit (39) , is substantially coplanar with said first plate (42) and rests on said first plate (42) ;

retention means (50,51) that prevent the distancing of said second plate (42) from said first plate (21) in a direction orthogonal to said second axis (34) , said retention means (50,51) comprising at least one latch (50) slidable between an inactive position, wherein it allows said second plate (42) to rest on said first plate (21) during assembly, and a locking position, wherein it locks said first plate (21) to one of said second elements (3) and said second plate (42) ; characterized in that said latch (50) is slidable along a direction lying in said slit (39) .

2. - The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said retention means comprise a guide (51) engaged in a slidable manner by said latch (5G) and forming part of one of said first and second plate (21,42) .

3. - The device according to any preceding claims, characterized in that said first plate (21) has a thickness substantially equal to that of said first area (44) .

4. - The device according to any preceding claims, characterized in that said first element (2) has at least one further slit (9) ; said support (12) comprising an attachment portion (13) arranged in said further slit (9) ; locking means (19) being ^' provided to retain said attachment portion (13) in a fixed position.

5. - The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said locking means comprise a dowel (19) arranged and hidden between said first and second element (2,3) .

6. - The device according to any preceding claims, characterized in that said first plate (21) comprises an end portion (25), which protrudes towards said second plate (42) and has an upper edge defining an inclined plane (26) having a slope directed from top to bottom leading towards said first element (2) .

7.- The device according to any preceding claims, characterized in that :

said first plate (21) comprises an end portion (25) which protrudes towards said second plate (42); and

said second plate (42) has a seat (45) engaged by said end portion (25) and having a straight shoulder (47) , which extends orthogonally to said second axis (34) and is facing and parallel to a straight shoulder (48) of said end portion (25) .