Connecting element

Joints and connections – Rod end to transverse side of member – Utilizing opposite sides of member

Patent

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Details

403255, 403322, B25G 300

Patent

active

047877693

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a connecting element for the releasable connection of two structural parts of stands, in particular a support section and a frame section, wherein the connecting element is mounted stationarily in a hollow frame section and comprises a housing having therein at least one locking element, whereby the connecting element and thus the frame section may be connected releasably with the support section. In the housing of the connecting element an eccentric is rotatingly supported, whereby the locking element is guided in a longitudinally mobile manner in the housing and whereby a structural part protruding from the front side of the housing of the locking element may be introduced into an undercut groove of the support section and tightly clamped therein. An eccentric head of the eccentric is insertable into the housing and may be locked in a bore hole of the frame section.
Connecting elements of this type are known in numerous configurations and are used in particular for the joining of support sections and frame sections, whereby structures such as, exhibition stands are erected. This connection should be extremely strong, but also readily produceable and releasable.
A connecting element of this generic type is known from DE-OS No. 31 28 595, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,103. This connecting element consists of a bearing housing with a rising wedge surface and a locking element contained therein in a longitudinally displaceable manner and in the form of a strip of sheet metal and provided with a counter bevel pressed by the force of a spring against the wedge surface. By means of an eccentric the locking element in the form of a sheet metal strip may be moved longitudinally, whereby a joining hook on the end side of the locking element is displaceable both longitudinally and, by motion of the counter bevel on the wedge surface, also transversely. A spring tongue is cut from metal strip and bent down, with the end of such tongue being supported on an inner wall of the bearing housing and longitudinally guided thereon. The wedge surface extends between two joining projections and is overlapped by a bend of the holding element, which secures the eccentric bolt in a rear wall recess of the bearing housing.
A connecting element of this type is not only difficult to assemble, but there are considerable difficulties involved in its application, since if the locking element is tightened severely by means of the eccentric, the holding element loses contact with the wedge surface and the connection may be released. In addition, if the connecting element is stressed strongly as the result of the one-sided pressing of the joining hook on the undercut groove of the support section, the connecting element may be tilted, leading to problems in the assembly of, for example, an exhibition booth and in case of a heavy load the connection may be released unintentionally.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a connecting element of the abovementioned type, whereby a releasable connection capable of supporting a heavy load of two structural parts of a stand may be established and wherein the connecting elements have the dimensions of the known connecting elements and are readily assembled.
This object is attained according to the invention in that a structural part protruding from a housing of the locking element is capable of rotation around its longitudinal axis within a limited angular range, that the locking element is connected in a mobile manner by means of a tension or pulling element with an eccentric and that the free end of the projecting structural part terminates in a stay such as a transverse bar. In the case of a connecting element of this type the two structural parts of the stand are joined together exclusively by longitudinal and rotating movement of the locking element and it is no longer necessary to force it out of such longitudinal movement, which is effected in known connecting elements either by the af

REFERENCES:
patent: 4455103 (1984-06-01), Hackenberg
patent: 4641983 (1987-02-01), Strassle

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