Joints and connections – Member ends joined by inserted section – Laterally inserted section
Patent
1998-11-18
2000-12-19
Kim, Harry C.
Joints and connections
Member ends joined by inserted section
Laterally inserted section
403341, 403 24, F16B 512
Patent
active
061619833
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for fastening structural elements. A fastening plate is already known from EP 0 645 215 B1, which can be connected to additional fastening plates by means of connecting arrangements. The connecting arrangements have the shape of a double-T and are anchored in T-shaped grooves, which are located opposite each other and formed on the longitudinal sides of the fastening plates.
The fastening plates are produced by means of an aluminum extrusion molding process. With thin fastening plates in particular, warping as a result of the production process can lead to the creation of gaps between the rows of fastening plates. In addition, the individual fastening plates are not very rigid, so that they can become bent when the structural elements are fastened. In order to close the gaps on the one hand and, on the other hand, to increase the rigidity of the device, it is necessary to fill the T-grooves of the longitudinal sides, which are located opposite each other, completely with coupling elements. This leads to elaborate assembly operations, in particular when using coupling elements which are seated with press fit in the T-grooves, since each individual coupling element must be pushed with the required force into the fastening plates. If the oppositely situated T-grooves of the fastening plates are not completely filled with coupling elements, and if the latter are slidingly seated, the coupling elements can slide out of place in the T-grooves. Since the coupling elements have a comparatively large volume, the weight is also correspondingly great.
EP 0 645 215 B1 furthermore provides the mounting of the fastening elements on support structures by means of fastening screws and angle brackets. To this end, the angle brackets must first be fastened on the fastening plates by means of screws. In the process, the legs of the angle brackets to be fastened on the support structure must be aligned in such a way that they all lie in one plane. Then the angle brackets can be attached to the support structures by means of further screws. This way of assembling is relatively elaborate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention the fastening plates are connected with each other by connecting elements which extend at least partially over a length of a row of front faces of the fastening elements, at least one coupling element is provided with an extension, and moldings are formed at least on outer edges of depressions located opposite to one another, which extend around the extension of the at least one coupling element.
In contrast to this, the device in accordance with the invention has the advantage that the device is very rigid, but still easy to mount. The fastening plates can be lined up with each other in a simple manner, since they are fastened with their front faces directly to connecting elements of any arbitrary length. Therefore the surface of the device can be changed in any arbitrary manner, yet only a few parts are required for this. It should be considered to be a further advantage that the coupling elements can be inserted into the depressions without an application of force, but are still fixed in place in the moldings by means of extensions.
It is particularly advantageous to embody the depressions as grooves extending over the entire length of the longitudinal sides, since in this way a cost-effective production of the fastening plates by means of an aluminum extrusion molding process is possible.
It is considered to be a further advantage that, because they are divided into sections of two different widths, the sliding blocks have an even lower weight without the device losing rigidity.
If the sliding block(s) extend(s) over the entire length of the grooves in the longitudinal sides of the fastening plates, a gap, which is created by possible twisting of the fastening plates, is invisible.
As another option for affecting the rigidity of the devices, it is possible to embody bores in the longitudinal sides of the faste
REFERENCES:
patent: 1126351 (1915-01-01), Beabes
patent: 2735146 (1956-02-01), Purviance
patent: 4082324 (1978-04-01), Obrecht
patent: 4535821 (1985-08-01), Anderson
patent: 5531539 (1996-07-01), Crawford
patent: 5681126 (1997-10-01), Lin
Mechanik Grundelemente, Robert Bosch GMBH, Waiblingen, pp. 2-0 to 2-09, 3-0 to 3-09, Mar. 1992.
"Das Profilsystem Mit Pfiff", Maytec Aluminumsystemtechnik GMBH, Dachau, pp. 4,8,9, May 1989.
Berger Johannes
Klemd Olaf
Koban Johannes
Kim Harry C.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
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