Connection system and connection body

Abstract

A connection system comprising at least one tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112), an expansion body designed as a sleeve body (118) having at least one slot (134, 136, 138) running in the longitudinal direction, an insert (140) surrounded by the expansion body and having a through-opening (144), and a connecting body (16, 116) connected to the expansion body, which in turn clamps the tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112), characterized in that the expansion body has a plurality of slots (134, 136, 138) running in the longitudinal direction, that the insert (140) has an internal thread (142) with the through-opening (144), into which, when aligned, an opening (148) in the tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112) to the through-opening (144) a first screw element (146) to be penetrated or penetrated through the opening (148) in the tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112) engages,wherein by screwing the first screw element (146) into the insert (140), the insert and the first screw element (146) are supported on regions (168, 170, 172) of the inner surface (154) of the sleeve body (118) and spread the latter.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connection system comprising at least one tubular element, an expansion body designed as a sleeve body having at least one slot running in the longitudinal direction, an insert surrounded by the expansion body having a through-opening, and a connecting body which is connected to the expansion body and which in turn fixes the tubular element by clamping.

[0002] Corresponding connection systems are used, for example, for furniture frames in which shelves, drawers, carrying compartments or similar furniture elements are arranged between cells formed by tubular elements.

[0003] As expansion bodies, telescopic expansion wings (DE 26 44 370 A1) or mutually adjustable anchoring and expansion bodies (EP 3 017 201 B1) can be used, which extend within the pipe elements and are connected with a connecting body.

[0004] DE 74 02 721 U discloses a pipe connection in which an expansion body made of solid material has a longitudinal slot, and the body halves separated by the longitudinal slot are pressed apart by a screw element. It is also possible for several corresponding expansion bodies to be integral sections of a connecting body for fastening pipe elements.

[0005] A generic connection system can be found in DE 298 13 772 U1.

[0006] In order to connect tubular elements with a cuboid-shaped connecting body, FR 2 234 806 A5 provides a sleeve element extending within the tubular element, which is spread over two conical bodies which are pulled towards each other by a screw element running in the longitudinal direction of the conical elements.

[0007] An arrangement for connecting tubular objects according to DE 201 10 322 U1 provides a plug-in system in which a tubular element can be pushed onto a pin-shaped section of a connecting sleeve, which in turn can be connected to a connecting screw that is screwed into a node element.

[0008] The present invention is based on the object of developing a connection system of the type mentioned above in such a way that secure fastening of the pipe element is possible using simple structural measures. At the same time, assembly should be simple.

[0009] To solve at least one of these aspects, the invention essentially provides that the expansion body has a plurality of slots running in the longitudinal direction, that the insert has an internal thread with the through-opening, into which a first screw element engages when an opening in the tubular element is aligned with the through-opening, which first screw element is to be or passes through the opening in the tubular element, wherein by screwing the first screw element into the insert, the insert and the first screw element are supported on regions of the inner surfaces of the sleeve body and spread the latter.

[0010] According to the invention, an insert penetrated by a first screw element is used to allow forces to act on the inner surface of the sleeve body via both the insert and the screw element in such a way that the sleeve body is spread and thus a clamping fixation of the pipe element is made possible.

[0011] If the screw element is screwed into the insert to such an extent that the screw element passes through the outlet opening of the through-hole and is supported on the inner surface of the sleeve body, then upon further rotation of the screw element, the insert is radially adjusted against the screwing direction of the screw element, so that the insert and the screw element act on the inner surface of the sleeve body in opposite areas and thus spreading is possible due to the slots running in the longitudinal direction.

[0012] The invention is therefore also characterized in that the screw element can be screwed into the insert and through it in such a way that the screw element is supported on a first region of the inner surface of the sleeve body while at the same time a force is applied to the insert in the direction of the second region of the inner surface opposite the first region.

[0013] The insert itself is in particular a cylindrical body, preferably a solid cylindrical body.

[0014] The sleeve body has a hollow cylindrical geometry with one open and one closed end, with the slots extending from the edge of the open end. One of the slots has an opening, such as a bore, through which the first screw element passes when screwed into the insert.

[0015] In order to ensure that the through-opening is aligned with the slot extension, a further development of the invention provides that the insert is designed to be non-rotatably displaceable longitudinally in the sleeve body, wherein when the opening in the sleeve body and the through-opening in the insert are aligned, the latter rests against a stop, such as a projection, in the sleeve body.

[0016] In order to achieve non-rotatability, it is particularly provided that the insert can be displaced in the longitudinal axis direction of the sleeve body in a type of tongue and groove connection.

[0017] To this end, the invention provides in particular that, in order to ensure that the insert cannot rotate, it has a recess running in the longitudinal axis direction and that a projection, in particular a web-shaped projection running in the longitudinal axis direction, extends from the inner surface of the sleeve body, or vice versa.

[0018] In particular, the invention is characterized in that the sleeve body has three longitudinal slots extending from the open end face, that a first longitudinal slot has an opening through which the first screw element can pass, that the first region of the inner surface runs between a second and a third longitudinal slot, and that the insert, with the screw element passing through this, rests on regions adjacent to the first longitudinal slot as the second region of the inner surface.

[0019] Thanks to appropriate design measures, the sleeve body exhibits sufficient strength. At the same time, expansion to the desired extent is ensured.

[0020] The slots can be equidistant from each other. However, it is also possible for the distance between the individual slots to differ. In particular, three slots are provided from the open edge area of ​​the sleeve body. Two of these slots can run symmetrically to a plane in which the longitudinal axis of the sleeve body and the third slot run.

[0021] With respect to the circumference of the sleeve body, the distance between the two slots running symmetrically to the plane may be greater than the distance between them and the slot running in the plane.

[0022] The closed end face of the sleeve body is formed by a bottom wall through which a second screw element can pass, by means of which the sleeve body can be connected to the connecting body.

[0023] In this case, the bottom wall can have on the outside a projection which surrounds the opening penetrated by the second screw element in a ring shape and which engages in a corresponding recess in the connecting body.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, an anti-twist mechanism is provided between the sleeve body and the connecting body, so that the sleeve body is always aligned at the same angle to the connecting body. This simplifies the connection of the tubular element to the sleeve body, the alignment of the tubular element to the sleeve body, and the insertion with respect to the expansion or perforation. Because if the tubular element is properly aligned with a sleeve body connected to a connecting body, the tubular element is automatically aligned with the sleeve body to be inserted in the opposite end area, which secures the tubular element.

[0025] To prevent rotation, it is particularly provided that a projection extends from the outer surface of the bottom wall of the sleeve body, which engages in a corresponding recess in the connecting body or vice versa.

[0026] When the opening in the sleeve body is aligned with the through-opening in the insert, the insert rests against a stop, such as a step or projection, in the sleeve body.

[0027] Furthermore, the wall of the sleeve body should have a conical tapered shape towards the bottom wall so that the insert is fixed in position when interacting with the stop.

[0028] Thus, the insert is held firmly in position, whereby the insert is fixed by pressing in the sleeve due to the conically tapered course of the wall.

[0029] An uncontrolled release of the tubular element from the sleeve body is impossible after spreading it.

[0030] When the pipe element is fixed, the first screw element can be flush with the outer surface of the pipe element or set back from it.

[0031] Recessed means that the outer end of the first screw element runs within the pipe wall.

[0032] The connecting body has a desired three-dimensionality, such as a cuboid or cylindrical shape, wherein bores running at right angles to one another, in particular through bores, can be provided into which the second screw elements can be screwed for fastening sleeve bodies.

[0033] In particular, the connecting body can have a basic geometry of a rotational body which has flattened portions through which the bores pass and against which the sleeve body rests with its bottom wall and, in a configuration, engages in sections in a preferably annular recess.

[0034] In particular, it is provided that through holes are provided along three axes running perpendicular to each other.

[0035] However, the invention is not limited by such a design. Rather, the connecting body can be designed as a single-arm or multi-arm connecting body, allowing racks of any height, width, and depth to be constructed. A single-arm connecting body can be used, for example, for a coat hook, with the connecting body located at the free end of a tubular element.

[0036] The invention is also characterized by a connecting element for fixing a tubular element, comprising a sleeve body with an open and a closed end face, that longitudinal slots extend from the edge of the open end face, that an insert with a through-opening having an internal thread is arranged in the sleeve body, and that the through-opening can be penetrated by a first screw element, wherein the insert is designed such that the first screw element is supported on the inner surface of the sleeve body running on the through-opening outlet side while at the same time force is applied to the insert in the direction of the opposite inner surface of the body.

[0037] Designs of the connecting body result from the previous explanations, which particularly concern the design of the sleeve body and the insert and their interaction with each other.

[0038] Further details, advantages and features of the invention emerge not only from the claims and the features derived therefrom - individually and / or in combination - but also from the following description of a preferred embodiment.

[0039] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of pipe elements emanating from a node, Fig. 2 a partially exploded view of a connection of a pipe element with a node, Fig. 3 a sectional view in the area of ​​a connection between pipe element and node, Fig. 4 a cross-section through a tubular element in the area of ​​an expansion body, Fig. 5 representations of the expansion body in different views and Fig. 6 a sectional view of the expansion body.

[0040] The invention is explained with reference to the figures in a connecting system or connecting body for connecting tubular elements or tubes to form a frame, which is used in particular for furniture. For this purpose, tubular elements 10, 11, 12, 14 are connected via a connecting body 16, which can be referred to as a node element. Fig. 1, four pipe elements 10, 11, 12, 14 extend from the node element, each forming a right angle to one another. A different number of pipe elements can also be connected to a node element, depending on the number of threaded holes in the corresponding node element. In particular, the connecting body 16 is provided with continuous threaded holes extending along three axes at right angles to one another to enable the fastening of pipe elements. Unused threaded holes can be closed with a blind plug.

[0041] In general, the connecting elements can have a number of threaded holes designed for the intended use. Depending on the number of pipe elements to be connected with a node element, one-, two-, three-, four-, five-, or six-arm node elements are possible. Depending on the dimensions of the node element and pipe elements, a different number of arms may also be possible.

[0042] In order to connect the pipe elements with the node element, a construction according to the invention is chosen, as shown in the Fig. 2 to 5 are explained.

[0043] In Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional connecting body 116, from which a hollow cylindrical tube element 110 already connected to it extends.

[0044] The connecting body 116 has rounded areas and flat areas extending between them, on which hollow cylindrical tubular elements rest with their end faces or are aligned with them in the manner described below. In this respect, the drawings are self-explanatory.

[0045] In the extended part of the Fig. Figure 2 illustrates how a corresponding tubular element 112 is connected to the connecting body 116. The essential elements are a sleeve, referred to as the sleeve body 118, which has a hollow cylindrical geometry with an open end face and a closed end face formed by a bottom wall 122. The sleeve body 118 is designed as an expansion body, as explained below.

[0046] The bottom wall 122 has a central opening 124 through which a (second) screw element extends, which in one embodiment is designed as a flat-head screw 126. The flange-like head 128 extends into a correspondingly adapted recess 130 in the bottom wall 122.

[0047] The flat-head screw 126 can be screwed into a hole 132 of the connecting body 116, as is self-explanatory from the drawing. This connects the sleeve body 118 to the connecting body 116.

[0048] As in particular the Fig. As can be seen from Figure 5b), the opening 124 is surrounded by an annular elevation 133 extending from the outer surface of the bottom wall 122. A corresponding annular recess 135 in the connecting body 116 is associated with the annular elevation 133, enabling easy centering. Furthermore, a projection 137 extends from the outer surface of the bottom wall 122, engaging a corresponding recess or cutout 141 in the connecting body 116, providing clear orientation and anti-twist protection, simplifying assembly. It is also possible for the bottom wall 122 to have a cutout and the connecting body 116 to have an adapted projection to prevent twisting.

[0049] The recess 141 extends into the flattened region 143 of the connecting body 116, against which the bottom wall 122 of the sleeve body 118 rests after assembly.

[0050] The sleeve body 118 has longitudinal slots 134, 136, 138 extending from the open end face, which end at a distance from the bottom wall 122. As can be seen from the Fig. 2, the three longitudinal slots 134, 136, 138 are arranged distributed around the circumference of the sleeve body 118.

[0051] The longitudinal slots 134, 136, 138 can be evenly distributed around the circumference of the sleeve body 118. Preferably, however, they are distributed such that the spacing of the longitudinal slots 134, 136 is less than the spacing of the slots 134, 136 from the slot 138.

[0052] The slots 134, 136 may be symmetrical to a plane in which the slot 138 and the longitudinal axis of the sleeve body 118 lie.

[0053] An insert 140, which can be referred to as an axle nut, can be inserted into the sleeve body 118 and is designed as a solid cylinder with a through opening 144 having an internal thread 142, as can be seen in particular from the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. A screw element 146, for example, which can be screwed in as a threaded pin, can be screwed into the internal thread 142 of the through-hole 144 or through-bore. This screw element 146 penetrates an opening 148 in the sleeve body 118, which is intersected by the slot 138. The opening 148 is thus an extension of the slot 138.

[0054] The insert 140 has a longitudinal groove 150 into which, when the insert 140 is pushed into the sleeve body 118, a web-like or bead-like projection 152 protruding from the inner surface 154 of the sleeve body 118 and extending in the longitudinal axis direction engages in the manner of a tongue and groove connection, so that the insert 140 cannot be rotated, with the result that the opening of the through-opening 144 can be aligned with the opening 148 in the sleeve body 118.

[0055] For this purpose, the insert 140 is pressed into the sleeve body 118, which tapers towards the bottom wall 122, as the Fig. 6. Thus, the peripheral wall of the sleeve body 118 forms an angle α with its longitudinal axis, with α < 90°. Furthermore, the sleeve body 118 has an inner shoulder, i.e., a projection, against which the insert 140 rests when the through-opening 144 is aligned with the opening 148 in the first longitudinal slot 138.

[0056] Due to the conical geometry of the sleeve body 118, the insert 140 is firmly positioned in the sleeve body 118, virtually pressed into the sleeve body 118, so that the insert 140 cannot be lost.

[0057] The tubular element 112 is pushed onto the sleeve body 118, wherein an opening 156 in the tubular element 112 extends to its end face 158 in such a way that when the latter rests against the connecting body 116 (region 143) and after any necessary rotation, the opening 156 is aligned with the opening or perforation 148 and the through-opening 144. Then, the threaded pin designated as the first screw element 146 is screwed into the insert 140 (arrow 160), and then, when the inner end face 162 of the threaded pin rests on the inner surface 154 of the sleeve body 118, the insert 140 is adjusted in the direction of the arrows 163, 164 upon further rotation of the threaded pin, whereby the sleeve body 118 is spread and thus pressed against the inner side 166 of the tubular element 112 and thus fixed.

[0058] In other words, the threaded pin rests on a first region 168 of the inner surface 154 and the insert 140 rests on regions 170, 172 designated as the second region, so that upon further screwing in of the threaded pin, the desired spreading occurs by applying force to the sections 174, 176, 178 of the sleeve body 118 separated by the longitudinal slots 134, 136, 138. This is also evident from the Fig. 4, which illustrates that the threaded pin or the first screw element 146 applies a force to the inner surface 154 in the direction of arrow 180 and via the insert 140 in the direction of arrows 162, 164.

[0059] The forces acting on the inner surface 154 of the sleeve body 118 are symbolized by the arrows 190 and 192, 194, respectively, whereby the arrows 190 indicate the forces acting on the inner surface 154 by the threaded pin and the arrows 192, 194 indicate the forces acting on the inner surface 154 by the insert 140 for spreading the sleeve body 118.

[0060] From the graphic representation of the Fig. 4 it can further be seen that the threaded pin, i.e. the first screw element 146, is aligned with the bead-shaped or web-shaped projection 152 extending in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve body 118 to prevent rotation of the insert 140 in such a way that when the screw element 146 is screwed in, its inner end face 162 interacts with the projection 152, i.e. acts on the slotted sleeve body 118 to spread it apart.

[0061] The length of the threaded pin, i.e. the first screw element 146, should be designed such that when the tubular element 112 is properly fixed, the outer surface 182 of the threaded pin is at least flush with the outer surface of the tubular element 112, in particular set back from it.

[0062] To the Fig. 1 it should be noted that in the Fig. 1a) Four tubular elements 10, 11, 12, 14 extend from the connecting body 16, thus forming a four-armed node element. Trays 13, 15, 17 are arranged between and extending from the tubular elements 10, 12, 12, 11, and 11, 14, respectively.

[0063] In the Fig. 1b) the tubular elements 10, 11, 12, 14 are removed and the connecting body 16 and the sleeve bodies 118 forming the expansion bodies connected to it can be seen. Furthermore, rows of holes in the trays 13, 15 can be seen.

[0064] In the Fig. 1c) the connecting body 16 is furthermore compared to Fig. 1b) is removed so that the flat head screw or the second screw element 126 to be connected to the connecting body 16 can be seen. List of reference symbols for DE 10 2021 102 248.7 10, 11, 12, 14 pipe element 13, 15, 17 shelves 16 connecting bodies 116 connecting bodies 110 pipe element 112 Pipe element 118 sleeve bodies 122 floor wall 124 Breakthrough 126 Flat head screw, second screw element 128 heads 130 Deepening 132 bore 133 increase 135 recess 137 lead 134, 136, 138 longitudinal slots, slots 140 deployment 141 recess 142 internal threads 143 Area 144 passage opening 146 screw element 148 Breakthrough 150 longitudinal groove 152 lead 154 interior surface 156 Opening 158 front side 160 Arrow 162 frontal area 163 Arrow 164 Arrow 166 Inside 168 1. Area 170 area 172 Area Section 174 Section 176 Section 178 180 Arrow 182 exterior area 190 Arrow 192 Arrow 194 Arrow α angle

Claims

[1] Connection system, comprising at least one tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112), an expansion body designed as a sleeve body (118) having at least one longitudinally extending slot (134, 136, 138), an insert (140) surrounded by the expansion body and having a through-opening (144), and a connecting body (16, 116) which is connected to the expansion body and which in turn clamps the tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112), characterized bythat the expansion body has a plurality of slots (134, 136, 138) extending in the longitudinal direction, that the insert (140) has an internal thread (142) with the through-opening (144), into which, when an opening (148) in the tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112) is aligned with the through-opening (144), a first screw element (146) engages, which is to be penetrated or penetrated through the opening (148) in the tubular element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112), wherein by screwing the first screw element (146) into the insert (140), the insert and the first screw element (146) engage at regions (168, 170, 172) of the inner surface (154) of the sleeve body (118) and spread it. [2] Connection system according to claim 1, characterized bythat the first screw element (146) can be screwed into the insert (140) and through it in such a way that the first screw element (146) is supported on a first region (168) of the inner surface (154) of the sleeve body (118) while at the same time a force is applied to the insert (140) in the direction of a second region (170, 172) of the inner surface (154) running opposite the first region (168). [3] Connection system according to at least claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the insert (140) is a cylindrical body, in particular a solid cylindrical body. [4] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the sleeve body (118) is a hollow cylinder with an open and a closed end face, that the closed end face is formed by a bottom wall (122) and that the bottom wall (122) can be penetrated by a second screw element (126) which can be screwed into the connecting body (116). [5] Connection system according to the preceding claim 4, characterized by that the bottom wall (122) has on the outside an annular elevation (133) which surrounds an opening (124) to be penetrated by the second screw element (126). [6] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims 4 or 5, characterized by that a projection (137) extends from the outer surface of the base wall (122), to which a recess (141) provided in the connecting body (16, 116) is assigned to prevent rotation, or vice versa. [7] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the sleeve body (118) has three slots (134, 136, 138) extending from the open end face, that a first slot (138) has an opening (148) through which the first screw element (146) can pass, that the first region (168) of the inner surface (154) runs between a second and a third slot (134, 136), and that the insert (140) rests against regions adjacent to the first slot (138) as the second regions (170, 172) of the inner surface (154) when the first screw element (146) passes through it. [8] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the insert (140) is arranged non-rotatably in the sleeve body (118) so as to be longitudinally displaceable, wherein when the opening (148) in the sleeve body (118) is aligned with the through-opening (144) in the insert (140), the latter bears against a stop, such as a step or projection, in the sleeve body (118). [9] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that, in order to prevent the insert (140) from rotating, a recess extending in the longitudinal axis direction extends from the insert and a projection (152), in particular a web-shaped projection (152) extending in the longitudinal axis direction, extends from the inner surface (154) of the sleeve body (118), or vice versa. [10] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims 8 or 9, characterized by that the sleeve body (118) tapers conically in the direction of the bottom wall (122) such that the insert (140) is fixed in position when interacting with the stop. [11] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that when the pipe element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112) is fixed, the first screw element (146) runs flush with the outer surface (158) of the pipe element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112) or is set back from it. [12] Connection system according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting body (116) is a three-dimensional body with bores (132) preferably extending at right angles to one another, in particular through-bores, preferably through-bores extending along three axes extending perpendicular to one another. [13] Connecting body (16, 116) for fixing a pipe element (10, 11, 12, 14, 110, 112) of a connecting system according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a sleeve body (118) with an open and a closed end face, wherein slots (134, 136, 138) extend from the edge of the open end face in the longitudinal direction, wherein an insert (140) with a through-opening (144) having an internal thread (142) is arranged in the sleeve body (118), and wherein the through-opening (144) can be penetrated by a first screw element (146), wherein the insert (140) is designed such that the first screw element (146) is arranged on the inner surface (154) of the sleeve body (118) extending on the through-opening outlet side, with simultaneous force being applied to the insert (140) in the direction of the opposite inner surface (154) of the sleeve body (118).

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