Spacer socket for panels with captive cover and variable length adjustment
The spacer bushing with a captive cover and ribbed design addresses the issue of lost screws and separate bushings by ensuring screw retention and adaptable thickness adjustment, reducing costs and simplifying assembly.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KAGANOV MAXIM
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing spacer bushings for insulated doors or panels suffer from screws and covers falling out, leading to loss and requiring separate bushings for varying thicknesses, increasing production costs and assembly complexity.
A spacer bushing with a captive cover that blocks the screw when open and includes ribs for positive attachment, allowing standard spacer washers to accommodate varying panel thicknesses, eliminating the need for individual molds.
Ensures screws remain captive, simplifies assembly, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows universal use across different panel thicknesses.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a spacer bushing (2), in particular a spacer or fastening bushing (2) for insulated doors or panels, with a screw (4) arranged in the spacer bushing (2) and a captive cover (3).
[0002] Spacer bushings are known from the prior art in which screws and covers can fall out of the spacer bushing when opened or loosened and thus be lost.
[0003] Furthermore, solutions are known in which different door or panel thicknesses are compensated for either by spacer bushings of different lengths or by separate spacer washers.
[0004] This leads to a large assortment of spacer bushings, the production of which involves costly tools, increased assembly effort, and potential sources of error during installation.
[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a spacer bushing in which • a screw is held captive in the spacer sleeve, even when the cover is open, and • simple and safe adjustment to different door or panel thicknesses is possible.
[0006] This problem is solved by a spacer bushing (2) having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
[0007] The spacer sleeve (2) has a captive cover (3) which, when fully opened by turning or sliding, blocks the internal screw (4) so that it remains inside the spacer sleeve.
[0008] The captive arrangement of the cover (3) and screw (4) enables better handling as well as simplified assembly and disassembly on the panels, especially for systems located on the building roof, such as ventilation or air purification systems.
[0009] On the inner side of the door, a press-fit nut (5) is arranged on the inner door sheet (1b), into which the screw (4) is screwed to connect the panels together.
[0010] Ribs (2a) are provided at the ends of the spacer sleeve (2) for the positive and / or force-fit attachment of spacer washers (6). This allows the spacer sleeve to be used for doors or panels of varying thicknesses. The spacer washers (6) are standardized and available in different sizes from several suppliers.
[0011] By using a uniform spacer bushing, it can be used in panels of different thicknesses, thus eliminating the need to produce separate injection molds for individually adapted spacer bushings, which significantly reduces manufacturing costs.
[0012] Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the figures. These show: Fig. 1 - Door with spacer socket, front view Fig. 2 - Door with spacer bushing in section Reference symbol: 1 door 1a Door panel exterior 1b Door panel inside 2 Spacer bushing 2a ribs 3 lids 4 screws 5 Press-fit nuts 6 spacer
Claims
Spacer sleeve (2) with a cover (3) and a screw (4), in particular for doors or panels, characterized in that the cover (3) is captive attached to the spacer sleeve (2) and is arranged such that the screw (4) is held inside the spacer sleeve (2). Spacer bushing according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (3) is captive connected to the spacer bushing (2) via a swivel joint or a snap connection. Spacer bushing according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the screw (4) is blocked in the axial direction by an interfering edge of the cover (3) when the cover (3) is opened and is thereby held captive. Spacer bushing according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that ribs (2a) are provided on the spacer bushing (2) which form a positive locking connection with a spacer disc (6). Spacer bushing according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that several spacer discs (6) of different lengths can be attached to the spacer bushing (2). Spacer bushing according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spacer bushing (2), the cover (3) and / or the ribs (2a) are made of plastic.