Adapter designed for insertion into a hole to adapt the hole to a fastener to be fixed there.

Abstract

Adapter (6) designed for insertion into a hole (47) to adapt the hole to a fastening element (2) to be fixed therein, wherein the adapter is an elongated body which has in a first end face (61) of the same an adapter hole (611) for receiving one end of the fastening element, characterized in that - that the adapter has a second adapter hole (621) in a second end face (62) opposite the first end face, - that the first adapter hole formed in the first end face and the second adapter hole formed in the second end face are differently shaped adapter holes adapted to differently shaped fastener ends, and - that the adapter is adapted to the hole into which it is to be inserted in such a way that it can be inserted into the hole either with the first end face forward or with the second end face forward.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Adapters of this type include, for example, the dowels that have been around for decades. Dowels are primarily intended for holes in masonry, concrete, or slab walls in which a fastener such as a screw would not hold because screwing in the screw cannot cut a strong thread into the wall that would secure the screw in the hole.

[0003] As is well known, such wall plugs are not, or at least not optimally, suitable for holes not intended for use in walls.

[0004] In addition, anchors must be perfectly adapted to the hole they are intended for, the material in which this hole is intended, and the screw that is to be screwed into the anchor. In practice, it is therefore not uncommon for the hole, the anchor to be inserted into it, and the screw to be screwed into it to not fit together optimally. In such a case, either the work must be interrupted until compatible connecting components are available, or a substandard connection must be accepted due to the suboptimal fit. Both are disadvantageous.

[0005] The holes for which the known dowels are not, or at least not optimally, suitable include, for example, but by no means exclusively, the holes provided in an insulating body of a fastening device for thermally bridging-free fastening of an object to a substrate having an insulating layer, for example, to a building wall insulated by means of a thermal insulation composite system. A known insulating body of this type is described, for example, in document EP 1 724 412 B1.

[0006] The insulating body described therein is an elongated, for example frustoconical body made of plastic, which has axial holes on its opposite end faces. A first end of a first fastening means, such as a threaded rod, is fastened in the inner hole of the insulating body, which is located on the inside when installed. The second end of this threaded rod is anchored in the substrate, more precisely in a load-bearing section thereof, so that the insulating body is firmly connected to the substrate via the threaded rod. A second fastening means, such as a screw, can be screwed into the outer hole of the insulating body, which is located on the outside, and can be used to fasten an object to be attached to the wall.

[0007] The type and size of the screw or threaded pin required or suitable for attaching the object depends, for obvious reasons, on the object being attached. For example, attaching an awning to the wall requires a much larger and more stable screw than attaching a mailbox. Attaching a mailbox using the same screw used for attaching an awning is not only not optimal, but usually not even possible.

[0008] Consequently, several insulating bodies suitable for different screws, in particular insulating bodies with different external holes, must be available, and the insulating body to be used in each individual case must be selected depending on the screw to be used.

[0009] The present invention is therefore based on the object of developing the adapter according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that holes in insulating bodies or other devices can also be easily adapted to screws or other fastening means to be screwed into them.

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention by the adapter claimed in claim 1.

[0011] The adapter according to the invention can be inserted into a hole, for example in the outer hole of an insulating body, if necessary, and thus makes it possible for at least three different, differently designed fastening means to be fixed in the hole that can be adjusted by the adapter. The first possibility is for the fastening means to be mounted directly, i.e. without an adapter, in the hole that can be adjusted by the adapter and thereby fixed. A second possibility is for the adapter to be inserted into the hole that can be adjusted by the adapter with the second end face first, and for the fastening means to be mounted in a hole in the first end face of the adapter and thereby fixed.A third possibility is that the adapter is inserted with the first end face first into the adaptable hole, and the fastener is mounted and secured in the hole in the second end face of the adapter. Among other things, if the aforementioned holes are designed for screwing in a fastener with an external thread, and for this purpose, axial ribs are provided, for example, on the sections laterally bordering the holes, into which a fastener with an external thread can cut a thread when screwed into the hole in question, fasteners with differently designed external threads can also be mounted in the holes in question.For example, but not exclusively, screws with a metric standard thread, a fine thread, a coarse thread, a Whitworth thread, a trapezoidal thread, and any other threads that can cut a thread into the ribs can be mounted in holes formed in this way.

[0012] Irrespective of all this, it is also possible to insert a second adapter according to claim 1 into an adapter, more precisely into one of the holes provided therein.

[0013] The adapter according to the invention eliminates the need for screws or other fasteners to be adapted to the adaptable hole. Rather, the adaptable hole can be adapted to several different fasteners using a single adapter.

[0014] Advantageous further developments of the invention can be found in the following description, the figures and the dependent claims.

[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. Fig. 1A is a perspective view of a fastening device, including a dowel for anchoring the fastening device in the substrate, a seal for sealing a substrate opening receiving the fastening device, and an object to be attached to the substrate using the fastening device, Fig. 1B is another perspective view of the Fig. 1A shown arrangement, Fig. 1C a side view of the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B shown arrangement, Fig. 1D a sectional view of the Fig. 1A to 1C (section AA as in Fig. 1C), Fig. 2A a perspective view of the fastening device without dowel, without seal and without object to be fastened, Fig. 2B is another perspective view of the Fig. 2A shown arrangement, Fig. 2C a side view of the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B shown arrangement, Fig. 2D a top view of the Fig. 2C front side of the arrangement shown on the right, Fig. 2E a plan view of the Fig. 2C left side of the arrangement shown, Fig. 2F a sectional view of the Fig. 2A to 2E (section BB as in Fig. 2C), Fig. 3A is a perspective view of an insulating body of the fastening device shown in the preceding figures, Fig. 3B is another perspective view of the insulating body, Fig. 3C a side view of the insulating body, Fig. 3D a top view of a Fig. 3C right-hand side of the insulating body, which also forms a first end face of the insulating body, Fig. 3E a plan view of a second end face of the insulating body opposite the first end face, Fig. 3F a sectional view of the Fig. 3A to 3E (section CC as in Fig. 3C), Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a (second) fastening means used for anchoring in the ground of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown fastening device Fig. 4B a side view of the second fastening means, Fig. 4C is a plan view of a Fig. 4B right-hand side of the second fastening means, Fig. 4D is a plan view of a second end face of the second fastening means opposite the first end face, Fig. 4E a sectional view of the Fig. 4A to 4D shown second fastening means (section DD as in Fig. 4B), Fig. 5A is a perspective view of an adapter that can be inserted into the insulating body if required, Fig. 5B another perspective view of the adapter, Fig. 5C a side view of the Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B shown adapter, Fig. 5D a sectional view of the Fig. 5A to 5C shown adapter (section EE as in Fig. 5C), Fig. 5E one of the Fig. 5C corresponding side view of the adapter, Fig. 5F is a plan view of the Fig. 5E front side of the adapter shown on the right, Fig. 5G a top view of the Fig. 5E left side of the adapter shown, Fig. 5H a sectional view of the Fig. 5A to 5H shown adapter (section FF as in Fig. 5E), Fig. 5I another sectional view of the adapter (section GG as in Fig. 5E), Fig. 6A to 6G show selected examples of how various (first) fastening means for fastening the object to be attached to the substrate can be screwed into the insulating body of the fastening device or into an adapter inserted therein, and Fig. 7 a sectional view of a modified insulating body into which a modified adapter is inserted.

[0016] In the following, an adapter intended for insertion into a hole to adapt the hole to a fastening device to be fixed therein is described in more detail.

[0017] The hole into which the adapter can be inserted can be any hole. This means that there are basically no restrictions. - in relation to where and in what the hole is located, - in relation to the material in which the hole is located, - in terms of the shape and size of the hole cross-section (section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis), - whether the shape and size of the hole cross-section are the same over the entire hole length, - regarding the length of the hole and whether it is a blind hole or a through hole, - in relation to how the hole was made (by drilling, by milling, by forming a recess in a casting, etc.).

[0018] The adapter presented here is described below using a practical application example. In the example considered, the hole in question is a hole in an insulating body of a fastening device for thermally bridge-free attachment of an object to a substrate with an insulating layer. Such fastening devices are often also referred to as standoff mounting systems because, when attached, the object to be attached to the substrate by the fastening device rests at a distance from the section of the substrate in which the fastening device is anchored.

[0019] However, as mentioned above, the adapter can also be used with any other hole.

[0020] In this case, the substrate in question is formed by the thermally insulated wall of a building.

[0021] In the example considered, the wall therefore contains a load-bearing wall and a thermal insulation layer applied to it. The load-bearing wall in this case is made of bricks or concrete, although in principle the wall could also be constructed using any other wall building material into which the fastening device can be anchored. In the example considered, the thermal insulation layer is formed by external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) panels. Such panels are usually made of foamed plastic, for example expanded polystyrene, but can also be made of any other insulating material. A layer of plaster can be applied to the side of the insulation layer facing away from the substrate. This is probably even the norm in practice. Any layer of plaster provided on the insulation layer is counted as the insulation layer in this case.When we talk about an insulation layer in the following, we are talking about an insulation layer with or without a plaster layer, depending on whether the insulation layer is plastered or not.

[0022] As will be described in more detail later, the fixing device is anchored in the wall (or other load-bearing section of the wall) and the object to be fixed to the wall using the fixing device is attached to the fixing device in such a way that it lies adjacent to the outside of the insulation layer.

[0023] For the sake of completeness, it should be noted at this point that the aforementioned insulating body is the fastening device component that enables the aforementioned thermal-bridge-free fastening by the fastening device. This is because the insulating body is designed in such a way that the other fastening device components attached to it are thermally separated from each other by the insulating body.

[0024] The complete fastening device is designated in the figures with the reference number 1. The Fig. 1A to 1D show the fastening device 1 together with a dowel 8 for anchoring it in the wall, a seal 50 for sealing a wall opening receiving the fastening device, and the object 9 to be attached to the wall using the fastening device. Fig. 2A to 2F show the fastening device 1 without the dowel 8, without the seal 50, without the object 9, and without a (first) fastening means 2 for fastening the object 9 to the fastening device 1, more precisely to an insulating body 4 thereof. To illustrate the intended assembly of the fastening device 1, Fig. 1C also illustrates the position of the fastening device 1 relative to the wall. More specifically, the position of the load-bearing wall M and the insulation layer DS, which forms the outer wall surface, are illustrated there.

[0025] The dowel 8 can be any dowel designed and suitable for anchoring the fastening device 1 in the wall with the required load-bearing capacity. More specifically, the dowel 8 is inserted into a previously drilled hole in the wall M, and by screwing the fastening device 1, or more precisely a second fastening element 3 of the same, into the dowel 8, the fastening device 1 is anchored in the wall M. How this can be accomplished particularly efficiently will be described in more detail later.

[0026] The intended position of the fastening device 1 in the wall is shown in the Fig. 1C. Accordingly, when properly installed, the anchor 8 is positioned in the wall M such that it is flush with the outer side of the wall M. The fastening device 1 screwed into the anchor 8 passes through the insulation layer DS and protrudes slightly from the outer side thereof. More precisely, the seal 50 and a head 46 of the insulating body 4 are positioned outside the insulation layer DS, with the seal 50 being pressed against the outer side of the insulation layer by the head 46, thereby covering, closing, and sealing the opening in the insulation layer DS that accommodates the fastening device 1.

[0027] For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that it is not absolutely necessary to anchor the fastening device 1 in the wall using the dowel 8. Anchoring without a dowel is also possible. With an appropriate design of the end of the second fastening element 3 facing away from the insulating body 4, it could also be screwed directly into wood, concrete, etc., or into pre-drilled holes therein (without the dowel 8). Alternatively, the end of the fastening element could simply be inserted into a pre-drilled hole and secured therein with mortar or adhesive.

[0028] In the example considered, the seal 50 is formed by a sealing ring that is pushed onto the fastening device from the front until it abuts against the head 46 of the insulating body 4, which forms the rear end of the fastening device. In the example considered, the sealing ring 50 is not connected to the fastening device by adhesive or similar joining techniques. Preferably, the sealing ring 50 is held to the fastening device 1 by friction. However, there is no restriction as to whether and, if so, how the sealing ring 50 is connected to the rest of the fastening device 1. Nor does the seal necessarily have to be formed by a sealing ring. Regardless of the details of the practical implementation, the seal 50 prevents moisture, such as rainwater, from penetrating the wall opening it covers.

[0029] The object 9 is symbolically represented in the figures as a rectangular plate, but in principle it can also be any other object that can be fastened to the wall using the fastening device 1.

[0030] As can be seen from the Fig. 1A to 1D and 2A to 2F, the fastening device 1 shown there comprises the following components already mentioned above: - the insulating body 4, - the first fastening means 2, which can be attached directly or via an adapter 6 to the insulating body 4, and by means of which the object 9 to be attached to the wall can be mounted on the insulating body 4, - the second fastening means 3, which can also be attached to the insulating body 4, for anchoring the fastening device 1 in the substrate, - the sealing ring 50 which can be attached to the insulating body 4 and which, when the fastening device 1 is mounted on the wall as intended, is pressed against the wall from the outside and thereby covers the wall opening receiving the fastening device 1 and seals it watertight, and - the adapter 6, which can be inserted, if necessary, into a hole in the insulating body 4 associated with the first fastening means 2 in order to adapt said hole to the first fastening means 2.

[0031] The components mentioned are individual parts that can be assembled. In the example considered, - the insulating body 4 can be screwed onto the second fastening means 3, more precisely the rear end thereof, - the first fastening means 2 can be screwed into the insulating body 4 or the adapter 6 inserted therein, - if necessary, before screwing the first fastening means 2 into the insulating body 4, the adapter 6 is inserted into the insulating body 4, and - the sealing ring 50 is pushed onto the insulating body 4 from behind.

[0032] The fastening device 1, more precisely the end of the second fastening means 3 facing away from the insulating body 4, is, as already mentioned above, anchored in a load-bearing section of the wall, for example in a wall M made of bricks or concrete. In the example considered, this is done by first inserting the dowel 8 into the wall M in a known manner, and then screwing the end of the second fastening means 3 facing away from the insulating body 4 into the dowel. When the fastening device 1 is used as intended, the arrangement as shown in Fig. 1C and already explained above. This means that, with the exception of a head 46 of the insulating body 4 and the adjoining seal 50, the fastening device 1 is located entirely within the wall. The dowel 8 and the end of the second fastening means 3 screwed into it are located in the wall M, and the rest of the fastening device 1 (with the exception of the head 46 and the sealing ring 50) is located within the insulation layer DS.

[0033] The object 9 to be attached to the wall is screwed to the insulating body 4 by means of the first fastening means 2. The object 9 lies on the head 46 of the insulating body 4, i.e., adjacent to the outside of the wall.

[0034] The first fastening means 2 in the example considered is formed by a screw which, as will be described in more detail later, is screwed either directly into an associated hole in the insulating body 4 or into the adapter 6 inserted therein. As can be seen from the Fig. 1D, is the case in the Fig. 1A to 1D, the screw 2 is screwed directly into the insulating body 4, i.e. without an inserted adapter. In the arrangement shown in the Fig. 2A to 2F, as can be seen particularly from the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2F, an adapter 6 is inserted into the hole in the insulating body 4 into which the screw 2 is to be screwed in order to adapt the hole to another screw.

[0035] The first fastening means does not necessarily have to be a screw. It could, for example, also be a threaded pin with an external thread, one end of which, like the screw 2, is screwed into the insulating body 4 or the adapter 6 inserted therein, and onto the other end of which a nut is screwed, serving to fasten the object 9 to the wall. The object 9 could also be fastened to the wall using any other first fastening means that can be connected to the insulating body 4 directly or via an adapter 6 inserted therein.

[0036] From the above statements regarding the first fastening means 2 and due to the possibility that the first fastening means 2 can be connected either directly to the insulating body 4 or via an adapter 6 inserted therein to the insulating body 4 or the fastening device 1, a large number of differently designed and / or differently dimensioned fastening means can be used as the first fastening means 2. Some selected fastening means that can be used as the first fastening means 2 in the application under consideration, and their connection to the insulating body 4, are described in the Fig. 6A to 6G illustrates.

[0037] The second fastening means 3 in the example considered is a hanger bolt. However, it should be noted at this point that the second fastening means can also be formed by other types of fastening means that can be connected to the insulating body and anchored in a substrate. And the other types of fastening means can also have at least certain of the special features of the hanger bolt 3 described below. The hanger bolt 3 in the example considered is as shown in the Fig. 4A to 4E. This means that it has a first thread 31 at the front end and a second thread 32 at the rear end, which is different from the first thread 31. In the example considered, the first thread 31 is a self-tapping thread for wood or dowels, and the second thread 32 is a standard thread. To avoid misunderstandings, it should be noted that both threads 31, 32 are external threads. As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 1A to 1D, the front end of the hanger bolt is designed with the thread 31 for screwing into the dowel 8, and the rear end of the hanger bolt is designed with the standard thread for screwing the insulating body 4 onto the hanger bolt.

[0038] For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the two threads 31, 32 do not have to be threads of the aforementioned type. Rather, - that the first thread 31 must be suitable for anchoring the second fastening means 3 in the substrate, and consequently it must be “only” any thread adapted to the chosen type of anchoring, and therefore not necessarily a self-tapping thread, and - that the second thread 32 must be suitable for connecting the second fastening means 3 and the insulating body 4, and consequently must be “only” any thread adapted to the selected type of connection, and not necessarily a standard thread.

[0039] Between the threads 31, 32 is a threadless section 33. The threadless section 33 has a circular cross-section and, over part of its length, has a tool attachment section. In the example considered, two radially opposite, parallel surfaces 331 are formed on the outside of this tool attachment section. For example, a wrench or pliers can be attached there, with the aid of which the hanger bolt 3 can be held while the insulating body 4 is being screwed on, or the hanger bolt 3 can be screwed into the insulating body 4. Of course, the tool attachment section can also be designed differently, i.e., designed to accommodate a different tool.

[0040] In the example considered, the first thread 31 can be divided into three different thread sections, namely - a first (rear) threaded section, which begins at the unthreaded section 33 and ends in the example considered approximately in the middle of the first thread, but could also end further forward or further back, - a second (middle) threaded section located between the first threaded section and a third threaded section, and - the third (front) thread section forming the front end of the first thread 31.

[0041] The first (rear) threaded section and the second (middle) threaded section have the same outer diameter, which does not change over their entire length, but different thread core diameters, with the core diameter of the first threaded section being larger than the core diameter of the second threaded section. At the boundary between the first threaded section and the second threaded section, the thread core has a stepped taper 311. The third (front) threaded section is the thread section formed on a tip region of the hanger bolt 3, in which the hanger bolt tapers conically and comes to a point. This design of the hanger bolt 3 / of the first thread 31 makes it easier to screw it into the dowel 8. However, it is not absolutely necessary for the core diameter to change in steps; other types of changes to the core diameter are also conceivable.Furthermore, it is not absolutely necessary for the first thread 31 to have a core diameter that changes over its length, except in the third thread section.

[0042] The second thread 32 is formed by a series of several shorter threaded sections 321, which are separated from one another by unthreaded sections 322. In the example considered, the outer diameter of the unthreaded sections 322 corresponds to the core diameter of the threaded sections 321, but can also differ from this, for example, be smaller. The unthreaded sections 322 enable particularly easy adjustment of the length of the hanger bolt 3 to the given conditions, for example, to the thickness of the insulation. More precisely, the unthreaded sections 322 allow the hanger bolt 3 to be shortened without damaging the thread 32 or the threaded sections 321.Because of the intended design of the thread 32, it is not necessary to shorten the hanger bolt 3 by sawing, cutting or other separation methods in one of the threaded sections 321, but the separation of the hanger bolt section to be removed can also take place in one of the threadless sections 322.

[0043] As mentioned, the first fastening means 2 and the second fastening means 3 are connected directly or indirectly to the insulating body 4. When the components are connected to one another as intended, they are arranged such that the insulating body 4 lies between the fastening means 2, 3, and that the longitudinal axes of the fastening means 2, 3 and the elongated insulating body 4 are aligned with one another.

[0044] As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 3A to 3F, the insulating body 4 has the already mentioned head 46, a cylindrical shaft 41 adjoining it, and a truncated cone-shaped drill bit 42 adjoining the shaft 41 with blades 43 formed thereon, more precisely on the outer surface. The drill bit 42 can also be any other designed drill bit which can be used for its function which will be explained in more detail later.

[0045] The insulating body sections mentioned are different sections of a coherent unit and are inseparably connected to one another. This means that the insulating body 4 is formed in one piece in the example considered. It is made of plastic in this case and can be formed by an injection-molded part.

[0046] The head 46 has the largest outer diameter of the insulating body sections mentioned. The outer diameter of the drill bit 42 is largest at its end facing the shaft 41 and smallest at its end facing away from the shaft 41. The largest outer diameter of the drill bit is at least as large as the diameter of the shaft 41, but can also be slightly larger. More specifically, the blades 43 can protrude radially further outward than the shaft 41.

[0047] The blades 43 (or other drill bit sections) are designed to drill the hole drilled for the anchor 8 in the insulation layer DS, which is too small to accommodate the insulating body 4, along with the intended positioning of the insulating body 4 in the wall (see Fig. 1C) to such an extent that the insulating body 4 can lie in the widened hole thus formed.

[0048] The intended positioning and anchoring of the fastening device 1 in the wall can be achieved, for example, by carrying out the following assembly steps in the specified order:. 1. Drill a hole in the insulation layer DS and the wall M, with a hole diameter approximately corresponding to the outer diameter of the dowel 8, 2. Shortening the second fastening means 3 to the required length, preferably by cutting it in one of the threadless areas 322, for example with a flex, 3. Screw the insulating body 4 onto the second fastening element, 4. Widening the hole drilled in step 1, but too narrow for the insulating body 4, in the insulation layer DS, in particular a plaster layer applied to the outside of the insulation layer, using the drill bit 42 of the insulating body 4, wherein the insulating body 4 is rotated about its longitudinal axis and the drill bit 42 of the insulating body 4 is pressed against the insulation layer and plaster sections to be removed, so that the blades 43 of the drill bit 42 remove the insulation layer and plaster sections to be removed, 5. Place the dowel 8 on the end of the second fastening element 3 facing away from the insulating body, 6. Insert the assembly with the dowel 8 first into the hole drilled in step 1 and widened in step 4 until the dowel hits the end of the hole, and 7. Rotating the insulating body 4 around its longitudinal axis using a tool attached to the tool attachment 46 thereof, wherein the second fastening means 3 connected to the insulating body 4 in step 3 rotates and is screwed into the dowel 8, and wherein the insulating body 4 is pulled into the insulation layer DS by screwing the second fastening means 3 into the dowel 8 until it finally reaches its intended position within the insulation layer DS.

[0049] In the example considered, the blades 43 run primarily in the longitudinal direction of the insulating body 4 and extend over the entire length of the drill bit 42. However, this is not a restriction. The blades 43 or comparable other drill bit sections are shaped, dimensioned, and aligned such that they can achieve the hole expansion specified in the above assembly step 4 without removing or damaging the insulation layer DS and the plaster layer provided thereon beyond the required extent.

[0050] In the head 46 of the insulating body 4, a first cylindrical recess 47 is provided centrally in the longitudinal direction of the insulating body. In the example considered, this recess 47 extends through the head 46 and the shaft 41 into the drill bit 42, but could also be shorter, i.e., end in the shaft 41. The recess 47 is provided for connecting the first fastening means 2 to the insulating body 4. More precisely, the first recess 47 can be used either for screwing in the first fastening means 2 or for inserting the adapter 6. It is designed such that a first fastening means 2, which is screwed directly into the first recess 47 or into an adapter 6 inserted into the recess 47, is firmly connected to the insulating body 4. Additional fastening, such as by gluing, is not required.

[0051] At the opposite end of the insulating body 4, i.e. at the end facing away from the head 46, a second cylindrical recess 44 is provided centrally in the longitudinal direction of the insulating body 4.

[0052] This second recess 44 extends into the drill bit 42 near the first recess 47 and is provided for receiving one end of the second fastening means 3. More precisely, the second recess 44 is designed for screwing in the hanger bolt 3 or another second fastening means 3. It is formed such that a hanger bolt, when screwed into it as intended, is firmly fixed therein. Additional fastening, such as by gluing, is not required.

[0053] As mentioned, the respective fastening elements 2, 3 can be screwed directly into both recesses 47, 44 of the insulating body 4. This means that the said recesses 47, 44 must either have a corresponding internal thread or be designed such that the fastening elements 2, 3 screwed into them can form a thread there themselves. In the example considered, the second option is used. More precisely, axial ribs are formed on the inner walls laterally bordering the recesses 47, 44, into which the fastening elements 2, 3 can cut, groove, or form a thread when screwed into the recesses.

[0054] The insulating body 4, the first recess 47, and the second recess 42 are arranged such that their longitudinal axes are aligned with one another. The inner ends of the recesses 42, 47 are close to one another but are spaced apart. In the example considered, however, they are not completely separated from one another, in particular not separated from one another by a partition wall. The latter is not absolutely necessary, however. It is also possible to provide a partition wall. In the example considered, the recesses 42, 47 are connected via a channel whose cross-section is designed and dimensioned such that neither the first fastening means 2 nor the second fastening means 3 can pass through it into the other recess. However, at least certain fastening means can extend into the channel between the recesses 42, 47.For example, for a particularly good hold in the insulating body, a chipboard screw can be screwed into the insulating body 4 so far that the screw tip rests in the channel. An example of this is shown in . Fig. 6B.

[0055] Preferably, the insulating body 4 and the fastening means 2, 3 connected thereto are adapted to one another in such a way that the fastening means 2, 3 cannot come into contact with one another when connected to the insulating body 4.

[0056] For this reason, and because the insulating body 4 is made of a plastic, for example a glass fiber reinforced plastic, and thus has relatively good thermal insulation properties, the first fastening means 2 and the second fastening means 3, both of which are made of metal, are thermally separated from one another by the insulating body 4, so that the object to be fastened to the substrate using the fastening device 1 can be anchored to the substrate without thermal bridges.

[0057] It proves advantageous if a tool attachment is provided on the side of the head 46 facing away from the insulation layer DS, to which a tool can be attached, using which the insulating body 4 can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. In the example considered, this tool attachment is formed by a recess 48 in the head 46, which is designed for the insertion of an Allen key. Of course, the tool attachment 48 can also be designed for the attachment of any other tool for screwing the insulating body into the insulation layer.

[0058] The tool attachment recess is provided in the center of the head and is arranged concentrically to the first recess 47, but is larger than this, so that the rear end of the first recess 47 lies within the larger recess 48.

[0059] As already mentioned several times, the adapter 6 described in more detail below can be inserted into the recess 47 of the insulating body 4 if necessary to adapt this hole to the first fastening means 2. Fig. 5A to 5I show different views of the adapter 6.

[0060] The adapter 6 is an elongated, essentially tubular body with a round (or any other) cross-section, on the inside and outside of which various - ribs or other elevations running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter, - grooves or other recesses or recesses running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter, and - slots are provided running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter.

[0061] In the example considered, adapter 6 is designed for insertion into a substantially cylindrical hole. However, with appropriate adaptation to the given conditions, the adapter can also be used for holes of other shapes.

[0062] The adapter 6 has a first end face 61 at a first end and a second end face 62 at a second end opposite the first end.

[0063] A first hole 611 begins in the first end face 61, extending axially into the adapter 6, and a second hole 621 begins in the second end face 62, also extending axially into the adapter 6 and reaching the first hole 611. The holes 611, 621 are aligned holes, which, in the example considered, merge into one another where they meet inside the adapter. However, the holes could also be separated by a partition.

[0064] Both holes are designed to receive one end of a fastening means. In the example considered, this fastening means is the first fastening means 2. The said holes 611, 621 are differently designed holes adapted to differently designed first fastening means 2. This means that the first hole 611 is designed to receive a first embodiment of the first fastening means 2, and the second hole 621 is designed to receive a second embodiment of the first fastening means 2. Since the first fastening means in the example considered is formed by a screw, this means that a first screw 2 can be screwed into the first hole 611 (see Fig. 6D), and a second screw 2 different from the first screw 2 can be screwed into the second hole 621 (see Fig. 6C).

[0065] As can be seen from the Fig. As can be seen from Figures 5A to 5I, the differences in the design of the adapter holes 611, 621 in the example considered essentially consist in the fact that the adapter holes have different diameters and different lengths, so that the adapter can be used for correspondingly different pairs of fastening means (depending on how the adapter is inserted into the hole receiving it).

[0066] Additionally or alternatively, however, other differences between the adapter holes can also be provided, which make the adapter usable for pairs of fasteners that differ from each other by other features.

[0067] To avoid misunderstandings, it should be noted that in the example considered here, it is not provided that a first screw 2 is screwed into the first hole 611 and, at the same time, a second screw 2 is screwed into the second hole 621.

[0068] Rather, the adapter is adapted to the hole into which it is to be inserted in such a way that it can be inserted into the hole either with the first end face 61 facing forward or with the second end face 62 facing forward. In relation to the present example, this means that the adapter 6 can be inserted into the recess 47 of the adapter 4 either with the first end face 61 facing forward or with the second end face 62 facing forward, whereby in the first case, only the hole 621 provided in the second end face is accessible from the outside and can be used for screwing in a screw 2 (see Fig. 6C), and in the second case only the hole 611 provided in the first end face is accessible from the outside and can be used to screw in a screw 2 (see Fig. 6D).

[0069] Although in the example considered it is not intended that two screws are screwed into the adapter 6 at the same time, this is not excluded and can be advantageous in other applications, for example when the adapter is inserted into a through hole accessible from both sides.

[0070] As already mentioned above, the first adapter hole 611 and the second adapter hole 621 are for screwing in fastener ends having an external thread, for example for the Fig. 6C to 6E and 6G. Therefore, the adapter holes in the example considered have one or more ribs on the walls that laterally border them, extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective adapter hole and projecting inwards into the adapter hole, into which a thread can be cut, forged, or formed by the fastening means that are screwed into the adapter holes. The ribs provided in the first hole 611 are particularly in the Fig. 5H and designated there by reference numeral 612. The ribs provided in the second hole 621 are particularly Fig. 5I and designated there by reference numeral 622. The size, shape, arrangement, and number of ribs 621 and 621 can, but do not have to, be identical and can be determined independently of each other. Alternatively, the adapter holes can be provided with corresponding threads already formed in them, i.e., they are not created through use.

[0071] In this context, it should be noted that the two holes 611, 621 do not necessarily have to be designed for screwing in fasteners with an external thread. It is also possible for one or both of the holes to be designed for other types of fasteners. For example, one of the adapter holes can be designed for screwing in a screw, and the other adapter hole for driving in a nail. In such a case, the other adapter hole is designed for driving in and securing a nail, i.e., similar to a nail anchor.

[0072] The outer side of the adapter 6 does not necessarily have to be, but is preferably formed by ribs or other elevations running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter and / or grooves or other depressions or recesses running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter complementary to the contour of the hole into which the adapter is to be inserted.

[0073] However, in the example considered, the formation of the outer side of the adapter 6 is independent of the shape, size and design of the holes 611, 621 provided in the adapter.

[0074] As already explained above, ribs 49 extending in the longitudinal direction of the recess 47 are provided in the recess 47, into which the adapter 6 is to be inserted if necessary. In order to form the outer side of the adapter 6 complementary to the contour of the recess 47, grooves or depressions 63 (see Fig. 5F) are provided, in which the ribs 49 of the recess 47 come to rest when the adapter 6 is inserted into the recess 47 as intended. This design of the adapter, on the one hand, creates the largest possible contact area between the adapter and the recess 47, and on the other hand, prevents the adapter 6 from rotating when the screw 2 is screwed in. It should be obvious and requires no further explanation that the anti-twist device can be implemented in another way.

[0075] In the example considered, there are no further contours in the recess 47, so that no further adjustment of the adapter exterior is necessary.

[0076] The adapter 6 has at least one longitudinal slot, which, when the adapter 6 is engaged as intended with a fastening means to be fixed thereto, has a greater width than without a fastening means. In relation to the example considered, this means that the adapter 6 is spread by screwing the screw 2 into one of its holes 611, 621. As a result, the adapter is pressed by the screw 2 against the wall laterally delimiting the hole 47 of the insulating body 4, i.e., clamped between the screw 2 and the insulating body. The insulating body 4, the adapter 6 inserted therein, and the screw 2 are thus connected to one another in a force-fitting manner. It may prove advantageous if the insulating body 4 and the adapter 6 are additionally or alternatively connected to one another in a form-fitting manner.This can be achieved, for example, by forming an undercut in the hole 47, with lateral projections on the adapter 6 being located in the lateral recess in the hole wall forming the undercut.

[0077] In the example considered, the longitudinal slots include one (1) longitudinal slot that extends over the entire length of the adapter 6. This continuous longitudinal slot is in the Fig. 5F and Fig. 5G is particularly well visible and is designated there with the reference number 64.

[0078] In the example considered, the adapter 6 further comprises a plurality of longitudinal slots which begin at one of the end faces of the adapter and end in front of the opposite other end face of the adapter.

[0079] More precisely, in the example considered - three longitudinal slots 65 are provided, which begin at the second end face 62 and end more or less far in front of the first end face 61 (see in particular Fig. 5H), and - two longitudinal slots 66 are provided, which begin at the first end face 61 and end more or less far in front of the second end face 62 (see in particular Fig. 5I)

[0080] In the present case, the longitudinal slots 65 are provided at the bottom of the grooves or recesses 63, and the longitudinal slots 66 in the higher adapter areas located therebetween.

[0081] In the case of the longitudinal slots 65, 66 which do not extend over the entire length of the adapter, in the example considered, these each end in the adapter section which is traversed by the adapter hole which begins at the end face in front of which the said longitudinal slots 65, 66 each end.

[0082] It should be obvious and requires no further explanation that the number of different types of longitudinal slots can be any size, independently of one another. For the longitudinal slot 64 extending over the entire length of the adapter 6, this applies with the restriction that the maximum number of this type of slot may not exceed 1. The lengths of the shorter longitudinal slots 65, 66 can also be any size, independently of one another. Furthermore, the positions of the longitudinal slots on the adapter and their relative positions to one another can be selected differently than in the example considered.

[0083] The Fig. 6A to 6G show some examples of the additional possibilities opened up by the provision of adapter 6.

[0084] In the in the Fig. 6A and Fig. 6F, various first fastening means 2 are each connected directly, i.e. without the adapter 6, to the insulating body 4, wherein the fastening means 2 in the case of Fig. 6A is a screw, and in the case of Fig. 6F is a special threaded pin that has a first diameter at one end and a different diameter at the opposite end. A normal, non-stepped threaded pin could also be used for this purpose.

[0085] In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 6C, a screw having a smaller diameter is screwed into the second hole 621 of an adapter 6 inserted into the insulating body 4.

[0086] In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 6D, a screw having an even smaller diameter is screwed into the first hole 611 of the adapter 6 inserted differently into the insulating body 4.

[0087] In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 6E, a screw having a different type of external thread (wood or dowel thread instead of standard thread) is screwed into the first hole 611 of the adapter 6 inserted into the insulating body 4.

[0088] In the Fig. The example shown in Figure 6G is compared to the one shown in Fig. In the example shown in Figure 6F, the other end of the threaded rod is screwed into the second hole 621 of an adapter 6 inserted into the insulating body 4.

[0089] And Fig. Figure 6B illustrates how a screw is screwed into a less flexible, or more precisely, non-reversible, adapter.

[0090] Preferably, the adapter 6 and the hole into which it is to be inserted, for example the recess 47 of the insulating body 4, are adapted to one another as described above by way of example.

[0091] Preferably, however, the hole and the adapter 6 are so specially designed and so closely adapted to each other, - that the adapter is arranged within the hole in a rotation-proof manner after it has been inserted into the hole, i.e. that it cannot be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the hole (rotation protection), and - that the adapter is held in the hole in the axial direction already after the adapter has been inserted into the hole and / or by screwing the fastening means, for example the first fastening means 2, into the adapter, but at the latest after the fastening means have been screwed into the adapter (pull-out protection).

[0092] In the above-described embodiments of adapter 6 and recess 47, an anti-twist device is already provided. This anti-twist device can be improved if - the recess 47, or any other hole into which the adapter 6 is to be inserted, is not cylindrical, i.e. does not have a circular or substantially circular cross-section, and - the adapter is designed to complement it.

[0093] This means that to improve the anti-twist protection, it could be provided, for example, to design the hole so that it has a polygonal cross-section, for example, a hexagonal cross-section, and to design the adapter 6 complementary to the hole, i.e., also polygonal. It should be obvious and requires no further explanation that the anti-twist protection can also be improved by any other non-circular hole cross-sections and adapters designed to complement them.

[0094] In the above-described embodiments of adapter 6 and recess 47, an anti-pull protection is already provided that is effective at the latest after the fastening means has been screwed into the adapter 6. This anti-pull protection can be improved if - the recess 47, or any other hole into which the adapter 6 is to be inserted, has an undercut, i.e. is undercut, and - the adapter is designed to complement it.

[0095] This means that, to improve the pull-out protection, it could be provided to design the hole so that it has a varying cross-section in the axial direction, with at least one first hole section in which the hole cross-section is larger than the hole cross-section in a second hole section located closer to the start of the hole. Because the adapter introduced into the hole from the start of the hole is designed to be complementary to the hole, the second hole section, which has the smaller hole cross-section, prevents the adapter from being pulled out of the start of the hole because the adapter section, which is designed to be complementary to the first hole section, cannot pass through the second hole section, at least when a fastening means is inserted into the adapter as intended.

[0096] The Fig. Figure 7 shows an example of such an arrangement. More specifically, an insulating body 4 is shown, in whose recess 47 an adapter 6 is inserted. Fig. 7 The end of the recess 47 shown on the right is the beginning of the recess from which the adapter 6 was inserted into the recess 47.

[0097] The recess has a cross-section that is not constant over the entire length of the recess, but varies. In the example shown, the size of the cross-section of the recess 47 increases continuously (conically) from the beginning of the recess to approximately half the length of the recess, and then decreases continuously (conically) again to the end of the recess. The cross-sections of the recess at the beginning and at the end of the recess are the same size in the example considered and represent the recess sections with the smallest cross-sections in the example considered. The recess section located in the middle of the recess is the recess section with the largest recess cross-section. This recess section has a larger cross-section than the recess sections located closer to the beginning of the recess.

[0098] The adapter 6 is designed to complement the recess 47. When inserted into the recess 47 as intended, the adapter 6 completely or almost completely fills the recess 47.

[0099] When the adapter 6 is inserted into the recess 47, there is no fastening means in the adapter 6. If an adapter section has to pass through a recess section that has a smaller cross-section than the passing adapter section, this is easily possible because the adapter can be compressed accordingly.

[0100] The insertion of the adapter 6 into the recess 47 is particularly easy and simple due to the conical design of the adapter 6 as described.

[0101] Pulling the adapter out later in the opposite direction is no longer possible, at least if there is already a fastening device in the adapter, because the adapter can then no longer be compressed or at least not far enough.

[0102] There is no absolute need to create the undercut as in the Fig. 7. It is only necessary that the recess 47 and the adapter 6 are designed in such a way that, at least when a fastening means has already been screwed into the adapter, pulling the adapter out of the recess would require an adapter section to pass through a recess section which has a cross-section so much smaller than the adapter section which has to pass through the recess section in question that the adapter section cannot pass through there even when compressed to its maximum extent.

[0103] As can be seen from the above explanations, adapter 6 proves to be very advantageous. It allows a hole in which a fastener is to be fixed to be quickly and easily adapted to differently shaped fasteners. Thus, a single adapter 6 can create several additional options for fixing a fastener in a hole. List of reference symbols 1 fastening device 2 first fastening means (for attaching the object to be fastened) 3 second fastener (for anchoring 1 in the ground) 4 insulating bodies 6 in 4 usable adapter 8 dowels 9 object to be attached to the surface 31 self-tapping thread at the front end of 3 32 standard thread at the rear end of 3 33 threadless section between 31 and 32 34 Tool attachment in the rear face of 3 41 shaft of 4 42 drill bit 43 Longitudinal ribs / drilling blades on 42 44 recess for 3 in 42 45 rib running longitudinally from 44 in 44 46 Head of 4 47 Recess for 2 or 6 in 46 and 41 48 tool approach in 46 49 rib running longitudinally from 47 in 47 50 sealing ring 61 first front side of 6 62 second front side of 6 63 Groove or recess on the outside of 6 for receiving 49 64 longitudinal slot extending over the entire length of 6 in 6 65 not extending over the entire length of 6 longitudinal slot in 6, which begins at 62 66 not extending over the entire length of 6 longitudinal slot in 6, which begins at 61 311 step-wise reduction of the core diameter from 31 321 threaded section of 32 322 threadless area between two 321 331 radially opposite parallel surfaces in 33 611 hole in 61 612 Longitudinal ribs on side wall of 611 621 hole in 62 622 Longitudinal ribs on side wall of 621 DS insulation layer M Wall QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1 724 412 B1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Adapter (6) designed for insertion into a hole (47) for adapting the hole to a fastening means (2) to be fixed there, wherein the adapter is an elongated body having in a first end face (61) thereof an adapter hole (611) for receiving one end of the fastening means, characterized by , - that the adapter has a second adapter hole (621) in a second end face (62) opposite the first end face, - that the first adapter hole formed in the first end face and the second adapter hole formed in the second end face are differently shaped adapter holes adapted to differently shaped fastener ends, and - that the adapter is adapted to the hole into which it is to be inserted so that it can be inserted into the hole either with the first end face first or with the second end face first. [2] Adapter according to claim 1, characterized by that it is designed for insertion into a substantially cylindrical hole (47). [3] Adapter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that it is essentially tubular in shape. [4] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first adapter hole (611) and the second adapter hole (621) have different diameters. [5] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first adapter hole (611) and the second adapter hole (621) open into each other within the adapter (6) or are separated from each other by a wall. [6] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first adapter hole (611) and the second adapter hole (621) are designed for screwing in fastener ends having an external thread. [7] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the adapter holes (611, 621) have a formed thread, or have on the walls laterally delimiting them one or more ribs (612) running in the longitudinal direction of the respective adapter hole and projecting inwards into the adapter hole, into which a thread can be cut, formed or grooved by the fastening means (2) to be screwed into the adapter holes when screwing in. [8] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer side of the adapter (6) is formed by ribs or other elevations running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter and / or grooves or other depressions or recesses (63) running in the longitudinal direction of the adapter, complementary to the contour of the hole (47) into which the adapter is to be inserted. [9] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat it has at least one longitudinal slot (64, 65, 66), and that the at least one longitudinal slot has a greater width when the adapter (6) is intended to engage with a fastening means (2) to be fixed thereto than without fastening means. [10] Adapter according to claim 9, characterized by that it has a longitudinal slot (64) which extends over the entire length of the adapter. [11] Adapter according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by that it has at least one longitudinal slot (65, 66) which begins at one of the end faces (61, 62) of the adapter and ends in front of the opposite other end face (62, 61) of the adapter (6). [12] Adapter according to claim 11, characterized bythat the at least one longitudinal slot (65, 66) which does not extend over the entire length of the adapter ends in the adapter section which is traversed by the adapter hole (611, 621) beginning at the other end face (62, 61) of the adapter (6).

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