Component connectors

Abstract

Component connector (100, 100a-e, 200, 200a, 300, 400), comprising two or three substantially rectangular surface pieces (FS1, FS2, FS3) which are connected along a connecting line (VL), wherein the connecting line (VL) is formed as a bending line and / or fracture line by a material weakening.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a component connector with which, in particular, components made of wood, such as wooden beams and / or wooden panels, can be connected to one another.

[0002] Component connectors for wood elements are known in various designs. In the simplest case, this is a sheet metal plate bent at a 90° angle, with through holes in its flat sections for screws and / or nails. More complex three-dimensional configurations with more than two flat sections are also known. Such component connectors must be manufactured individually for each configuration. Due to their three-dimensional shape, they are also relatively bulky, which complicates storage and transport.

[0003] Against this background, the object of the present invention was to provide component connectors which have better properties with regard to production, transport and / or storage.

[0004] This object is achieved by component connectors having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are contained in the subclaims.

[0005] As explained above, a component connector according to the invention serves, for example, to connect wooden elements such as wooden beams, wooden panels, and the like. Of course, components made of other materials, such as plastic, concrete, or metal, can also be coupled using such a component connector. The component connector contains at least two (preferably two or three) substantially rectangular surface pieces connected along a connecting line. It is characterized in that this connecting line is formed as a bending line and / or fracture line by a material weakening.

[0006] The surface pieces of the component connector are typically essentially flat, although minor deviations from the flat shape (e.g., due to reinforcing ribs or beads) should be included. Furthermore, the surface pieces are generally intended to be connected to different components in order to couple them together. Furthermore, the surface pieces are preferably formed integrally with one another.

[0007] The connecting line typically runs in a straight line between two surface pieces and from one edge to the opposite edge of the component connector. Structurally, the connecting line is reflected in a weakening of the material. Thus, if corresponding forces are exerted on the surface pieces, these will predominantly cause buckling along the connecting line and thus bending of the component connector. The connecting line thus acts as a bending line. In this way, two surface pieces that originally lay in a common plane can be brought into a three-dimensional configuration at an adjustable angle to each other. Such bending often occurs up to an angle of 90°, but any other angles are also possible.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively, the connecting line or the material weakening can also be designed as a fracture line, along which the component connector breaks apart when corresponding forces are applied to the surface pieces in order to separate the surface pieces from one another.

[0009] It is particularly preferred if the material weakening is designed such that, at the onset of a force application, the connecting line acts as a pure bending line, along which the surface pieces bend toward each other, while the firm connection between the surface pieces remains intact. Only with continued or excessive stretching, and especially with repeated bending in different directions, can material fatigue occur, leading to a fracture along the connecting line, so that the latter fulfills the function of the fracture line.

[0010] One advantage of the component connector described is that it can be manufactured, stored, and transported as a single, flat product. Only on site can a user then arrange the flat pieces of the component connector into the desired configuration, advantageously also adapting them individually to the on-site conditions.

[0011] The material weakening along the connection line can be formed in various ways. In particular, it can take the form of recesses (e.g., round holes, elongated holes, or slots) extending through the material of the component connector. Such recesses can be produced relatively easily using a punching process.

[0012] Depending on the intended application, the raw material of the component connector can vary. The component connector is preferably made of a flat material, in particular a flat metal (sheet metal) such as iron, stainless steel, brass, or the like. Furthermore, the component connector is preferably coated on its surface, for example, galvanized or chrome-plated.

[0013] In many designs of the component connector, the surface pieces are essentially the same size. However, depending on the application, different sized surface pieces can also be provided.

[0014] Furthermore, at least one (preferably all) of the surface pieces can optionally have one or more holes. Nails, screws, or other fasteners can then be passed through these prefabricated holes to connect the component connector to a component (e.g., a wooden beam). The holes can be round, elongated, or square, for example.

[0015] As already mentioned, the component connector can have two, three, or even more surface pieces. A preferred embodiment results when the component connector has three substantially rectangular surface pieces, wherein a first surface piece is connected to a second surface piece along a first edge and is connected to a third surface piece along a second edge adjacent to the first edge. A variety of three-dimensional configurations can then be produced from the initially flat, L-shaped contour by bending the second and / or third surface pieces.

[0016] The component connector according to the invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with the aid of the attached figures. Herein: Fig. 1 a plan view of a first embodiment of the component connector with three surface pieces arranged in an L-shaped contour; Fig. 2 the component connector of Fig. 1 after a 90° bend of a surface piece; Fig. 3 the component connector of Fig. 2 after another 90° bend of another surface piece; Fig. 4 the component connector of Fig. 2 after a further 90° bend of the other surface piece in a different direction than Fig. 3; Fig. 5 the component connector of Fig. 1 after demolition of a piece of land; Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a component connector with two surface pieces in the original planar configuration; Fig. 7 the component connector of Fig. 6 after bending a surface piece into an angular configuration; Fig. 8 a third embodiment of a component connector, which, compared to the component connector of Fig. 1 has other shapes and arrangements of the through holes and recesses on the connecting line; Fig. 9 a fourth embodiment of a component connector, which compared to the component connector of Fig. 6 has other shapes and arrangements of the through holes and recesses on the connecting line.

[0017] The Fig. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a component connector 100 in various configurations.

[0018] Fig. Figure 1 shows the initial configuration of the component connector 100 after production. The component connector 100 is flat, allowing for easy and space-saving storage and transport. It is typically manufactured from a flat material through a stamping process. The material can be iron, for example, which is galvanized after the stamping process. A typical material thickness is between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, preferably approximately 1.5 mm.

[0019] Geometrically, the component connector 100 has an L-shaped contour with three surface pieces, namely a first central surface piece FS1, to which a second surface piece FS2 adjoins at a first edge and a third surface piece FS3 adjoins at a second edge (which adjoins the first edge). In the example shown, all three surface pieces are approximately the same size and square, but this is not necessarily the case. The dimensions of the surface pieces can vary depending on the application. Typically, the edge length of the surface pieces is between approximately 30 mm and approximately 100 mm, preferably approximately 42.5 mm. The configuration of Fig. 1 can be used, for example, as corner connector 100.

[0020] The three surface pieces FS1, FS2, and FS3 contain an array of drill holes 121 and 122 inside, which can be used to connect the surface piece to a component (e.g., a wooden beam) by accommodating nails and / or screws. Drill holes of various sizes are optionally provided.

[0021] The central surface piece FS1 is connected in one piece to the second surface piece FS2 and the third surface piece FS3 via a connecting line VL (one of the connecting lines VL is in Fig. 1 by a dashed line). However, the connecting lines are not just imaginary geometric lines, but are constructed by a material weakening in the form of a series of recesses 111. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 these recesses are formed by round holes 111.

[0022] Due to the linear material weakening, the connecting line VL becomes a bending line and possibly also a fracture line if corresponding forces are exerted on the adjacent surface pieces in different directions.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows the result when the component connector 100 of Fig. 1, for example, the second surface piece FS2 was bent by 90° relative to the first surface piece FS1. Such a bending can be achieved, for example, by clamping the first surface piece FS1 in a vice and bending the second surface piece FS2 until the desired configuration is achieved. The configuration of Fig. 2 can be used, for example, as frame connector 100a (typical dimensions: 85 mm × 42.5 mm × 42.5 mm × 1.5 mm).

[0024] The component connector 100a from Fig. 2 can also optionally be bent further into the configurations of Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 be transferred.

[0025] In the configuration of Fig. 3, the two outer surface pieces FS2 and FS3 have been bent 90° toward different sides of the central surface piece FS1. This configuration can be used, for example, as a frame connector 100b (typical dimensions: 42.5 mm × 42.5 mm × 42.5 mm × 1.5 mm).

[0026] When configuring Fig. 4, the two outer panels FS2 and FS3 are bent toward the same side of the central panel FS1. This configuration can be used, for example, as a box connector 100c (typical dimensions: 42.5 mm × 42.5 mm × 42.5 mm × 1.5 mm).

[0027] Fig. 5 further shows that the connecting lines in the component connector 100 of Fig. 1 can also serve as fracture lines. For example, the second flat piece FS2 is bent back and forth several times in different directions until a fracture occurs along the connection line due to material fatigue. In this way, the user can produce two separate flat connectors 100d (typical dimensions: 85 mm × 42.5 mm × 1.5 mm) and 100e (typical dimensions: 42.5 mm × 42.5 mm × 1.5 mm) from the original L-shaped component connector 100.

[0028] The Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show a second embodiment of a component connector 200. Basically, its structure is the same as the first component connector, so that only the differences will be discussed below (identical or similar parts are given reference numerals increased by "100").

[0029] Fig. Figure 6 shows the component connector 200 in its flat configuration after production or for storage and transport. The component connector 200 has only two adjacent surface pieces FS1 and FS2 along the connecting line VL, with the connecting line again formed by a series of holes 211 as a bending or breaking line. The surface pieces have an arrangement of drilled holes 221 (one of which also lies on the connecting line VL). The flat configuration of the component connector 200 can be used, for example, as a flat connector (typical dimensions: 85 mm × 42.5 mm × 1.5 mm).

[0030] Fig. 7 shows how the component connector 200 can be used to create an angle for connecting two wooden elements by bending the surface pieces FS1, FS2 along the connecting line VL (where the angle is not equal to 90° in the case shown).

[0031] Fig. 8 shows a component connector 300 as a modification of the component connector 100 of Fig. 1. In particular, the recesses along the connecting line are formed by S-shaped slots 311. Furthermore, the boreholes 321, 322 in the surface pieces are arranged differently.

[0032] Fig. 9 shows a component connector 400 as a modification of the component connector 200 of Fig. 6 in a right-angled configuration. Here, too, the recesses along the connecting line are formed by S-shaped slots 411. Furthermore, there is another arrangement of drill holes 421, 422, and 423 in three different sizes.

Claims

[1] Component connector (100, 100a-e, 200, 200a, 300, 400), comprising two or three substantially rectangular surface pieces (FS1, FS2, FS3) which are connected along a connecting line (VL), wherein the connecting line (VL) is formed as a bending line and / or fracture line by a material weakening. [2] Component connector (100, 100a-e, 200, 200a, 300, 400) according to claim 1, characterized by that the material weakening is formed by at least one recess (111, 211, 311, 411). [3] Component connector (100, 100a-e, 200, 200a, 300, 400) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it is made of a flat material. [4] Component connector (100, 100a-e, 200, 200a, 300, 400) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that all patches (FS1, FS2, FS3) are essentially the same size. [5] Component connector (100, 100a-e, 200, 200a, 300, 400) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one of the surface pieces (FS1, FS2, FS3) has one or more holes (121,122, 221, 321, 322, 421, 422, 423). [6] Component connector (100, 100a-e, 300) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it has three rectangular surface pieces (FS1, FS2, FS3), in which a first surface piece (FS1) is connected to a second surface piece (FS2) at a first edge and is connected to a third surface piece (FS3) at a second edge adjacent to the first edge.

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