Joints and connections – Member ends joined by inserted section
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2004-07-20
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Joints and connections
Member ends joined by inserted section
C403S298000, C403S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06764247
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a plug-in connector for hollow sections, especially of spacers of insulating glass panes, and in particular to a plug-in connector with an essentially U-shaped or box-shaped cross section having at least one middle web and side webs, which has stops in the area of the connection point of the hollow sections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a plug-in connector has been known from DE-U-94 11 067. It has an essentially U-shaped cross section with a middle web and two side webs. At the free end of the side webs, it has a fixed stop acting in one direction, wherein the stops act in opposite directions and are arranged set back in relation to one another in the area of the connection point of the hollow sections. These stops can cooperate with exposed spring bosses in the middle area of the middle web. These spring bosses are set back far from the connection point and act as retaining elements, whose unintentional pulling out of the plug-in connector is also to prevent the hollow profiles. In addition, in another embodiment, this document shows a plug-in connector with two rigid stops in the form of knobs acting in two directions, which are arranged on the middle web and at a laterally spaced location from the side webs.
The prior-art plug-in connector is particularly suitable for relatively thick-walled hollow sections that have a high dimensional stability. However, very thin-walled sections made also of stainless steel have meanwhile also become available in the course of the development of sections. These sections do not have such a high dimensional stability and may undergo deformation during forming to size, such as by cutting or sawing. It is difficult in such sections to find the center during the introduction of the plug-in connector and to bring the stop intended for this purpose into contact. Because of the small wall thickness of the section, the stop should also have a relatively small height.
Such a plug-in connector has been known from EP-A 0 133 655. It is used to connect hollow sections of spacer frames which are provided for insulating glass panes. The plug-in connector is sealed at the connection or junction point of the hollow sections by a sealant consisting or butyl or the like, which is injected on the connector during the assembly of the hollow sections. The sealant is introduced into the space between the outside of the connector and the adjacent wall of the hollow section. The sealing is complicated and expensive. In addition, tightness is not always guaranteed reliably and does not act on all sides of the plug-in connector. Mainly moisture effects and diffusion phenomena at the connection point shall be counteracted with the butyl injected. The sealing of the connection point against the entry of the granulated desiccant present in the hollow sections is caused in the prior-art plug-in connector by a massive shape and by adaptation to the shape of the hollow sections, but this can be achieved only insufficiently because of the tolerances of the section.
A similar plug-in connector with a middle web trough and an outside butyl seal is shown in DE-G-92 09 382. This plug-in connector comprises two shell halves, which form with one another a tube, which is permeable to the desiccant and bridges over the connection point. Transversely extending bottom ribs are provided on the lower connector half for sealing against dust of the granular material.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to show a plug-in connector that is also suitable for thin-walled and dimensionally labile hollow sections.
This object is accomplished by the present invention with a plug-in connector having a middle web, and first and second side webs arranged at opposite lateral sides of the middle web to form one of a U-shaped or box shaped cross section for insertion into, and connection of, the hollow sections. A transition portion is formed between each of the side webs and the middle web. The plug-in connector according to the present invention is equipped with preferably fixed stops, which are arranged in the transition between the middle web and the side webs of the plug-in connector. As a result, guide slopes of the stops act in the corner areas of the hollow section, where they have sufficient resistance to deformation due to the bending deformation of the hollow section and sufficient support. Also corner areas of the hollow sections are usually deformed the least.
The hollow sections have a cross section is adapted to the plug-in connector, and can slide up the guide slope. The guide slopes pull the hollow section pushed on against the opposite edge of the side webs. The hollow section can be supported here, on the one hand, and it is reliably guided. The edge of the web may have a smooth, continuous edge for this purpose at least in the area of the connection point. As an alternative, additional fixed stops may, however, also be present here, with which the hollow section comes into contact.
Due to the guide slopes and the tensioning between the hollow section and the plug-in connector, the stops come reliably into contact with the front wall of the pushed-on hollow section. As a result, the center can be reliably found during the introduction of the plug-in connector even in the case of greatly deformed hollow sections. The sections can tightly abut against one another at the connection point.
It is particularly advantageous for the stops and their guide slopes to have an outwardly convexly arched shape. Due to their position and design, they can act exactly in the corner area of the hollow sections and improve as a result the above-mentioned stop and center-finding function and stabilize the hollow section itself.
The plug-in connector according to the present invention may have an elastic sealing body, which ensures a reliable, simple and inexpensive sealing at the connection or junction point of the hollow sections. The sealing body is especially more favorable than, e.g., the sealing known from EP-A-0 133 655, in which a sealing compound consisting of butyl or the like is sprayed into an inner free space during the assembly of the connection point in the hollow sections. The sealing body makes possible, in particular, a reliable sealing against fine dust, which may be formed from the granulated desiccant present in the spacer frame.
The elastic sealing body also offers the advantage that it can be handled with ease. Due to its oversize, it is compressed during the assembly and is in contact with the connection point of the hollow sections to be sealed under pressure. This ensures an improved sealing action.
The plug-in connector may have in its wall a plurality of openings, through which the elastic sealing body can exit during the compression and can come sealingly in contact with the wall of the hollow section. On the one hand, these may be the recesses on the stops and guide slopes located in the corner area. On the other hand, recesses may also be present at the opposite edge of the web for the lateral passage of the sealing body.
For fixing and guiding the sealing body, it is favorable for the plug-in connector to have a suitable hollow space, in which the molding may be arranged optionally with a fitting shape. It can be fastened in a simple manner, e.g., by a bonded connection.
To improve the compressive and sealing action, it is advantageous for the plug-in connector to have a projection at the wall or middle web located opposite the opening of the hollow space. The projection arches the sealing body increasingly through the opening of the hollow space to the outside in the area of the connection point.
The elastic sealant in one or more hollow spaces of the plug-in connector offers the advantage that it has improved sealing action and a larger area of influence. The sealing of the connection point of the hollow sections is guaranteed with a higher level of reliability. Even very fine dust of the granular desiccant ground during the bending of the hollow sections is
Browne Lynne H.
Dunwoody Aaron
McGlew and Tuttle , P.C.
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