Retaining clamp and fastening and installation system for mounting mounting rails

Abstract

Retaining clip (1) for connecting a mounting rail (2) to a fastening element (3), comprising • at least one basic element (6); • at least two spring-loaded side arms (4) arranged on opposite edges of the base element (6), which are suitable for connecting the retaining clip (1) to the mounting rail (2); • at least one retaining element (5) suitable for connection with the fastening element (3); wherein the side arms (4) are designed to engage and clamp the mounting rail (2) and wherein the side arms (4) and the retaining element (5) extend from the base element (6) along a vertical axis in opposite directions.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a retaining clip and a fastening and installation system for mounting mounting rails on a wall, a floor and / or a ceiling.

[0002] Especially when installing mounting rails, such as those on ships or for piping and electrical installation work, the work often has to be carried out in very confined spaces. Due to the use of tools and the need to align the mounting rail before permanent installation, several people are usually required to carry out the work. In an already confined space, each additional person further restricts freedom of movement. Furthermore, there are not always enough people available to assist with such an installation.

[0003] When installing mounting rails, a quick and easy job is beneficial for the installers. Time savings during installation mean cost savings. Easy installation means that the fastening is used for optimal use of the components, and even untrained personnel can install these components correctly.

[0004] Such mounting rails often have to be installed on ceilings, requiring overhead work during installation. This is more strenuous due to the posture involved than installation work at other working heights and often requires at least one additional person for assistance. The more workers required for such installation measures, the more time-consuming and costly they become.

[0005] Not all installation and fastening systems are suitable for securing loads to walls, floors, and / or ceilings. Some, for example, are only designed for vertical loads, not suspended loads. Furthermore, tools are usually required for installation.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a retaining clip as well as an installation and fastening system which are suitable for facilitating assembly work and for pre-fixing mounting rails to ceilings, floors and / or walls without the use of tools.

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims, the enclosed description and the figures.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, a retaining clip is provided for connecting a mounting rail to a fastening element. The mounting rail can be used, for example, to secure various objects. The fastening element serves to connect it to a wall, a floor, or a ceiling. The retaining clip therefore represents a connecting link for securing the mounting rail to the fastening element.

[0010] The retaining clamp has at least one base element. This base element is preferably substantially rectangular, for example, a rectangle with rounded corners, to minimize the risk of injury and prevent material damage when working with the clamp, for example, when inserting the mounting rail.

[0011] The retaining clip also has at least two resilient side arms arranged on opposite edges of the base element, which are suitable for connecting the retaining clip to the mounting rail. The side arms are designed to engage over and clamp the mounting rail. The side arms are therefore suitable for establishing and maintaining the connection of the retaining clip to the mounting rail. Because the side arms are arranged on two opposite edges of the base element, a gap extends between them, the width of which is defined by the inner sides of the side arms. This gap depends on the outer basic dimension of the mounting rail to be engaged. The retaining clip can be manually connected to the mounting rail by simply sliding it onto the mounting rail.The side arms are pushed apart so that the clamp is held in place by the spring force acting on the side arms without any additional connecting elements after it has been attached to the mounting rail.

[0012] In addition, at least one holding element suitable for connection to the fastening element is provided. This is preferably designed to be resilient. Due to its resilient nature, the holding element holds the fastening element in place after pressure is exerted when pushed onto it, but also allows the fastening element to be removed from the retaining clip by pulling the retaining clip off. In a preferred embodiment, two holding elements are provided, which are arranged on opposite outer edges of the base element. This allows the fastening element to be held centrally between the holding elements by pushing or clipping the retaining clip onto the fastening element. In order to achieve the simplest possible structure and optimal force distribution of the holding elements, it is advantageous to select those outer edges of the base element on which no side arms are arranged.

[0013] The side arms and the retaining element also extend from the base element along a vertical axis in opposite directions. This is advantageous because the retaining clip can be positioned as a connecting link between the fastening element and the mounting rail without requiring complex assembly work. The retaining clip can be easily pushed or slid onto the fastening element and connected to the mounting rail in the same way.

[0014] The length of the side arms is preferably aligned with the height of the mounting rail to which they are attached. Starting from the base plate of the retaining clamp, the length of the side arms preferably extends over 40-80% of the height of the mounting rail, particularly preferably over 50-60%. The length of the side arms can be individually adjusted and, for example, based on the weight of the mounting rail to be supported, to ensure secure fixation.

[0015] The retaining clip is preferably made of metal. This is advantageous for easily implementing the spring-loaded function of the side arms. Furthermore, it is durable and relatively resistant to environmental influences. The retaining clip is particularly preferably made of spring steel. This is particularly advantageous because spring steel is corrosion-resistant and therefore particularly durable.

[0016] The easy connection between the fastening element and the mounting rail using the tool-free retaining clip simplifies the installation of mounting rails or other elongated supports on ceilings, floors or walls and means that even with greater weight and dimensions of the mounting rail, this work can be carried out by a single person. This is particularly advantageous in confined spaces or in cases where work must be carried out overhead. The mounting rail can also be adjusted after the retaining clip has been attached: after being accommodated in the retaining clip, the mounting rail can be moved along its longitudinal axis or, if the retaining clip is already connected to the fastening element, can also be moved on the fastening element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to achieve optimal alignment.The retaining clip fixes the mounting rail, but also allows for subsequent alignment and fine adjustment.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding element is designed as a clamp for engaging over a head of the fastening element. This design allows the holding clamp to be easily and one-handedly slipped onto the preferably cylindrical head in a shoe-like manner and simplifies handling of the installation and fastening system. For example, it is conceivable to design the clamp in a U-shape, into which the fastening element is inserted from the open side, so that the holding function is also ensured by a single clamp. However, it is also conceivable to provide two holding elements designed as clamps.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the ends of the spring-loaded clip are spaced apart by a distance that is smaller than the diameter of a shaft of the fastening element adjacent to the head. The spring-loaded design makes it possible to push the shaft into the clip by exerting slight pressure, forcing the ends apart. As soon as the shaft is inside the clip, the ends of the clip grip the shaft, at least in part, so that the fastening element is held by the retaining clip. This ensures one-handed handling. It is also conceivable to provide two spring-loaded clips, the opposite ends of which are then spaced apart by a distance that is smaller than the diameter of the shaft, thus ensuring a secure connection here too.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention, at least one end of the clamp has an undercut portion to fix the shaft of the fastening element in an operating position. This enables the retaining clamp to be pushed onto the shaft of the fastening element by exerting slight pressure and the shaft to then snap into place in the undercut portion. Preferably, two clamps are provided, both of which comprise an undercut portion, because this ensures an even distribution of force when sliding on or removing the shaft, which facilitates targeted attachment. Once pushed on, the shaft is fixed between the clamps, thereby ensuring the connection between the retaining clamp and the fastening element.Such a connection also makes it possible to rotate the fastening element within the retaining clip, which makes it easy to adjust the mounting rail.

[0020] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the clamp has a retaining recess for receiving a portion of the head of the fastening element. The fastening element can preferably comprise a cylindrical head. The head can be pushed into the spring-loaded clamp and then snap into the recess. In a preferred embodiment with two clamps arranged opposite one another, both clamps have such a retaining recess to facilitate attachment. The security of the connection between the retaining clamp and the fastening element can thereby be further increased. The dimensions of such a retaining recess can be individually aligned to the fastening element to which the retaining clamp is to be connected, thereby increasing the accuracy of fit.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one side arm has a centrally arranged side arm recess. By providing such a side arm recess, the spring force for holding, inserting, and releasing the rail, as well as for longitudinal displacement to adjust the position of the mounting rail, can be adjusted. This side arm recess can be individually designed in terms of its dimensions and adapted to the mounting rail to be held. Preferably, both side arms each have a side arm recess.

[0022] According to a further embodiment of the invention, each side arm has a bevel provided at the end opposite the base element. This bevel increases the distance between the inner sides of the side arms, allowing the retaining clip to be slid more easily onto the mounting rail.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the base element is designed as a base plate having at least one opening through which a connecting element can be guided. The base plate's flat design also serves to distribute forces so that excessive forces do not act on the mounting rail at specific points. Any forces that occur are introduced and distributed by the fastening element through the base plate into the mounting rail. This strengthens the load-bearing capacity and increases the durability. The opening enables permanent fixation of the fastening element with the retaining clip and the mounting rail, which is vibration-resistant and suitable for continuous use. For example, the fastening element can have an internal thread and the connecting element can be designed as a screw.The mounting rail then preferably also has an opening, and this opening and the opening in the base plate of the retaining clip are then preferably designed to allow the screw thread to pass through, but the screw head, which has a larger diameter, cannot. This allows a permanently secure connection to be established. However, it is also conceivable for the mounting rail not to have an opening, but rather to have connecting elements firmly attached to it, which can be guided through the opening in the base plate of the retaining clip to connect it to the fastening element.

[0024] According to a further aspect of the invention, an installation and fastening system is provided. This installation and fastening system comprises at least one mounting rail for fastening one or more objects, at least one fastening element for establishing a connection to a wall, floor, and / or ceiling, and at least one retaining clip arranged between the mounting rail and the fastening element. The fastening element is preferably flattened at its ends to facilitate flush fastening. The installation and fastening system is designed to support both supporting and suspended loads and can be varied and individually adapted.

[0025] The order in which the individual components of the installation and fastening system are connected can vary: the retaining clip can first be attached to the fastening element and then the mounting rail can be inserted into the side arms of the retaining clip; however, the mounting rail can also be inserted between the side arms of the retaining clip first and then the fastening element can be inserted into the holding element of the retaining clip.

[0026] The installation and fastening system preferably comprises several retaining clips and several corresponding fastening elements. This increases the stability of the connection to the mounting rail and also improves force distribution along the mounting rail. Preferably, a retaining clip and a corresponding fastening element are provided along the rail at intervals of 50–100 cm, particularly preferably every 60–90 cm. A smaller spacing increases the mounting security, while a larger spacing facilitates installation. Therefore, the spacing should be selected to provide sufficient security while keeping installation effort to a reasonable level. The spacing can be varied depending on the location and purpose of use.It is also conceivable to provide several mounting rails if this proves advantageous, for example if the mounting rails have a high dead weight that increases with increasing length.

[0027] The installation and fastening system can be used for various mounting rails with individual outer dimensions and a nearly rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section, allowing a wide variety of objects to be attached. The installation system is therefore individually adaptable and suitable for various installation heights, wall thicknesses, materials, and surface coatings of mounting rails or other elongated supports. It is particularly advantageous in shipbuilding and in the installation of electrical and pipe fastening elements in technical building equipment, as it offers a high level of installation convenience and can be used preferably suspended from the ceiling, but also standing on the floor or on walls in a transverse and longitudinal direction to the rail axis of the mounting rail.

[0028] The mounting rail is preferably movable along its longitudinal axis and adjustable transversely to the fastening element. The retaining clamp serves this purpose. Once connected to the fastening element, it allows for pre-fixing of the mounting rail. The simple connection by sliding the spring-loaded side arms allows the mounting rail to be aligned within the retaining clamp until the desired position is achieved. This is particularly advantageous when one person is working alone with the installation and fastening system, because the installation and fastening system ensures pre-fixing of the mounting rail, allowing the person to concentrate on its precise adjustment.The installation and fastening system can then be screwed through an opening in the base plate of the retaining clip and through an opening in the mounting rail, for example a round or elongated hole, into a preferably provided internal thread of the fastening element in order to enable complete load absorption.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retaining clip can be attached to a rail slot side of the mounting rail or to a back side of the mounting rail. The mounting rail can have an inwardly open rail slot side, which is framed by two outer sides that determine the outer basic dimensions. The back side is connected to the rail sides on two opposite sides and has the same outer basic dimensions as the rail slot side. This makes it easy to connect the retaining clip to the rail slot side or the back side as desired. Depending on the type of installation or fastening, it would also be conceivable to attach retaining clips to both the rail slot and the back side along the course of the mounting rail.

[0030] An embodiment of the invention will be discussed in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0031] They show: Fig. 1a a retaining clip in perspective view; Fig. 1b the retaining clip according to Fig. 1a in side view; Fig. 2a A fastening element in perspective view; Fig. 2b the fastening element according to Fig. 2a in side view; Fig. 3 an installation and fastening system in perspective view; and Fig. 4 a retaining clip and a mounting rail of the installation and fastening system according to Fig. 3 in exploded view.

[0032] The Fig. 1a,b show a schematic illustration of a retaining clip 1, in Fig. 1a in perspective, in Fig. 1b in a side view. The retaining clip 1 has a base element 6, which in this embodiment is designed as a base plate. The base element 6 has a substantially rectangular outline. On two opposite sides, it has two side arms 4, and on the two other, opposite sides, it has retaining elements 5. The two retaining elements 5 each comprise an undercut portion 9 and a retaining recess 10. These serve to reinforce the fixing function of the retaining elements 5 and to facilitate the insertion of a fastening element 3 into the retaining clip 1. The side arms 4 each have a bevel 11 at the ends remote from the base element 6. The distance between the inner sides of the side arms 4 tapers from the base element 6 towards the bevels 11.The bevels 11 run counter to this and widen it again, thus facilitating the attachment of the retaining clip 1 to a mounting rail, for example a mounting rail. The side arms 4 are spring-loaded so that the retaining clip 1 can be easily attached to the mounting rail. The retaining clip 1 also has an opening 7 through which a connecting element can be guided, with which, for example, the fastening element 3 can be permanently fixed, for example by means of a screw that can be screwed into an internal thread of the fastening element 3.

[0033] The Fig. 2a,b show a schematic illustration of a fastening element 3, in Fig. 2a in perspective, in Fig. 2b in a side view. This fastening element 3 is part of a fastening and installation system and is provided with the Fig. 1a,b. In this exemplary embodiment, the fastening element 3 has a cylindrical head 16, which is suitable for being partially encompassed and held by the holding elements 5 of the retaining clip 1. As a result, the retaining clip 1 can be pushed onto the cylindrical head 16 in a shoe-like manner and connected to the fastening element 3. Furthermore, the fastening element 3 comprises a shaft 17, which is also cylindrical in this exemplary embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of an installation and fastening system 12. It has a fastening element 3, a retaining clip 1 and a mounting rail 2. The mounting rail 2 comprises a back side 14 as well as a rail slot side 15 and outer sides 18. In the present embodiment, the retaining clip 1 connects the back side 14 of the mounting rail 2 to the fastening element 3. The rail slot side 15 can then be used for fastening additional elements. However, it is also conceivable to attach the retaining clip 1 to the back side or to attach retaining clips 1 along the mounting rail 2 on both sides. This makes it possible for the basic outer dimension of the mounting rail 2 on the back side 14 to match that on the rail slot side 15 and for the retaining clip 1, which is designed according to this basic outer dimension, to fit both. The back side 14 has openings 13.These are advantageous if the fastening element 3 can be fixed in the operating state of the installation and fastening system 12 with a connecting element that can be guided through this opening 13 and through the opening 7 in the base plate 6 of the retaining clip 1. For example, the fastening element 3 can have an internal thread for this purpose, so that the connecting element can be a screw. The fastening element 3 is pushed into the holding elements 5 of the retaining clip 1. This can be done manually by exerting slight pressure. The fastening element 3 is then pressed into undercut partial areas 9 and holding recesses 10 of the two holding elements 5, where they are held. The fastening element 3 is held by the retaining clip 1 in this way, but can be removed from the retaining clip again by exerting pressure on the holding elements 5, should this be desired.For permanent fixation, the solution already mentioned using a connecting element can be used.

[0035] In Fig. 4 are the retaining clip 1 and the mounting rail 2 of the installation and fastening system according to Fig. 3 in an exploded view. This reveals the opening 13' through which the connecting element can be guided in order to create a permanent and secure connection between the mounting rail 2, the retaining clip 1 and the fastening element 3. As shown, the openings 13, 13' can have different shapes, for example as a round hole like the opening 13' or as an elongated hole like opening 13. Other shapes are also conceivable, as long as the dimensions allow the connecting element to be passed through at least partially. An elongated hole can, for example, have the advantage that the adjustment of the mounting rail 2 in the longitudinal direction of the mounting rail 2 is easier. Reference symbol 1 retaining clip 2 mounting rails 3 Fastening element 4 side arms 5 Holding element 6 Basic element 7 Opening 8 Side arm recess 9 Undercut section 10 Retaining recess 11 slope 12 Fastening and installation system 13.13' opening 14 Back 15 Rail slot side 16 heads 17 shaft 18 Outside

Claims

[1] Retaining clip (1) for connecting a mounting rail (2) to a fastening element (3), comprising • at least one basic element (6); • at least two resilient side arms (4) arranged on opposite edges of the base element (6) which are suitable for connecting the retaining clip (1) to the mounting rail (2); • at least one holding element (5) which is suitable for connection to the fastening element (3); wherein the side arms (4) are designed to engage over and clamp the mounting rail (2) and wherein the side arms (4) and the holding element (5) extend in opposite directions from the base element (6) along a vertical axis. [2] Retaining clip (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the holding element (5) is designed as a clamp for engaging over a head (16) of the fastening element (3). [3] Retaining clip (1) according to claim 2, characterized bythat ends of the spring-loaded clamp have a distance which is smaller than a diameter of a shaft (17) of the fastening element (3) adjacent to the head (16). [4] Retaining clip (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that at least one end of the clamp has an undercut portion (9) to fix the shaft (17) of the fastening element (3) in an operating position. [5] Retaining clip (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the clamp has a holding recess (10) for receiving a portion of the head of the fastening element (3). [6] Retaining clip (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that at least one side arm (4) has a centrally arranged side arm recess (8). [7] Retaining clip (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat each side arm (4) has a bevel (11) provided at the end opposite the base element (6). [8] Retaining clip (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the base element (6) is designed as a base plate which has at least one opening (7) through which a connecting element can be guided. [9] Installation and fastening system (12), comprising: • at least one mounting rail (2) for fastening one or more objects; • at least one fastening element (3) for establishing a connection to a wall, a floor and / or a ceiling; and • at least one retaining clip (1) arranged between the mounting rail (2) and the fastening element (3) according to one of claims 1 to 8. [10] Installation and fastening system (12) according to claim 9, characterized bythat the retaining clip (1) can be attached to a rail slot side (15) of the mounting rail (2) or to a back side (14) of the mounting rail (2).

Images