Fittings and connectors for building components

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fitting for a component, in particular a wooden component, which has a groove with a circular arc-shaped concave groove base in the longitudinal direction of the groove and circular segment-shaped groove flanks, which fitting has a section with a circular arc-shaped convex end face in the longitudinal direction and two parallel lateral sides for inserting into the groove, wherein each lateral side is provided with at least one laterally projecting cutting edge which is circular arc-shaped concentric to the end face and by means of which the fitting can be inserted into the groove from one end thereof in a circular arc-shaped movement, and wherein the fitting is further designed to be detachably or permanently connected to a second fitting on its side facing away from said section. The invention further relates to a connector having two such fittings for connecting two components.

[0002] Connectors of this type are known, for example, from DE 196 04 243 C2 by the same inventor. The cutting edges secure the fitting in the groove against being pulled out transversely to the longitudinal direction of the groove. Similar connectors are known from DE 10 2014 101 158 A1. These connectors are intended for components with grooves featuring circular undercuts. For these components, the fitting has non-self-tapping circular ribs for engaging the undercuts. To anchor the fitting to the associated component, the fitting is inserted into the groove from its end in a circular motion and is then secured by the undercuts against being pulled out of the component transversely to the groove.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known connectors is that the fitting can shift in the groove in the longitudinal direction of the groove, which in the worst case could cause the components to fall apart. In DE 10 2014 101 158 A1, it was therefore proposed to provide an additional bore in the respective component that runs across the groove. This bore can be used to accommodate an eccentric or a drive shaft for a locking hook that can hook into the opposite fitting to clamp the fittings against each other. At the same time, the eccentric inserted into the bore of the component prevents the fitting from sliding out in the longitudinal direction of the groove. However, this design is mechanically complex and not very suitable for use as a cost-effective mass-produced item.

[0004] The invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to create a fitting or connector that provides a permanent and secure connection of the components in a cost-effective, simple and safe manner.

[0005] This objective is achieved in a first aspect of the invention with a fitting of the type mentioned above, which is characterized in that the end face is provided with at least one cutting rib extending in a circular arc in the longitudinal direction. The cutting rib according to the invention on the end face (outer peripheral side) of the insertion section cuts into the groove base when the fitting is inserted into the groove, for example, when driven in with a hammer, and thus fixes the fitting through frictional engagement to prevent it from slipping in the longitudinal direction of the groove.

[0006] The cutting rib(s) according to the invention on the front side of the fitting is / are particularly advantageous in conjunction with the circular arc-shaped lateral cutting edges: The cutting edges secure the fitting in the groove against being pulled out transversely to the longitudinal direction of the groove, and the cutting rib(s) running on the front side secure(s) the fitting against slipping in the longitudinal direction of the groove.

[0007] According to the invention, the second fitting, with which the said fitting can be detachably or permanently connected on its side facing away from the said section, can either be connected in turn to a second component or can itself be the second component, so that the said fitting is designed to create a direct or indirect, permanent and fixed - detachable or permanent - connection in a cost-effective, simple and safe manner via the second fitting.

[0008] The cutting rib preferably has a triangular cross-section and is beveled at its ends, viewed longitudinally, opposite the end face. This allows the cutting rib to be driven particularly easily into the groove base, especially when driving in the fitting in a circular arc.

[0009] It is particularly advantageous if the cutting rib is shorter than the end face in the longitudinal direction and is located centrally on the end face, which makes it easier to insert the fitting into the groove at the beginning of the circular driving movement.

[0010] In a first preferred variant, the cutting rib is located centrally on the face, viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction. In a second preferred variant, the face can be provided with two parallel cutting ribs that are symmetrically off-center, viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction. Both variants result in a symmetrical force distribution in the groove.

[0011] It is particularly advantageous if the cutting edges each have a sawtooth-shaped cross-section, with the sawtooth side facing away from the front end perpendicular to the respective lateral side. These normal sawtooth sides thus form a good support surface to prevent the fitting from being pulled out transversely to the longitudinal direction of the groove.

[0012] Furthermore, this design is also suitable for inserting the fitting into a groove whose groove flanks are each undercut near the groove base. The sawtooth side of a cutting edge, running perpendicular to the respective lateral side of the fitting, thus forms a particularly good contact surface for the inner shoulder of the groove flank formed by the undercut, and the sawtooth tip cuts into the base of the undercut.

[0013] An alternative preferred design of the cutting edges for plunging into an undercut groove consists in each cutting edge having a cross-section in the shape of a rectangle with a triangle attached to the side. The rectangular part of the cutting edge engages the undercut of the groove flank, while the adjacent, further protruding triangular part of the cutting edge cuts into the base of the undercut.

[0014] In all designs with cutting edges for lateral circular cutting into an undercut or non-undercut groove, the cutting rib running along the front side of the fitting provides additional bracing of the lateral cutting edges against the groove flanks or their optional undercuts.

[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the fitting is equipped on its side facing away from the aforementioned section with at least one projecting tab for insertion into a pocket of another fitting. Alternatively, the fitting is equipped on its side facing away from the aforementioned section with at least one slot-shaped pocket for slidingly receiving a projecting tab of another fitting. This allows two fittings to be secured against mutual slippage in the longitudinal direction of the groove by interlocking the tabs and pockets.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment of the inventor, the fitting is equipped on its side facing away from the aforementioned section with locking means for locking with a complementary other fitting. The locking means can, in particular, be resilient locking hooks for engaging in an undercut recess of the other fitting or an undercut recess for engaging resilient locking hooks of the other fitting. This allows two fittings to be releasably (or even permanently) locked together to connect two components.

[0017] In the version with an undercut recess for the engagement of spring-loaded locking hooks, a web can optionally be provided in the recess for the entry between the two locking hooks of the other fitting. This makes it difficult or largely impossible for the locking hooks to accidentally slide out of the undercuts of the recess when the fittings are assembled, in which the locking hooks of one fitting engage the undercut recess of the other fitting.

[0018] In a second aspect, the invention provides a connector with two fittings of the type presented here, which are designed to be screwed, hooked, or latched together to connect two components. A corresponding complementary design of the two fittings, particularly on the sides facing away from their insertion sections into the component grooves, can be implemented, for example, as described in DE 196 04 243 C2 or DE 10 2014 101 158 A1.

[0019] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a connector of the invention, which is composed of two fittings according to the invention, each in a different embodiment, in a perspective view in the unconnected state; Fig. 2 an exemplary component with a groove for receiving a fitting according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 3 a partial sectional view through two with the connector of Fig. 1 connected components; and Fig. 4 another embodiment of the connector of the invention in a side view in the connected state.

[0020] In the Fig. 1 , 3 und 4 is a connector 1 for connecting two components 2, 3 (see Fig. 2 , 3). The components 2, 3 can be any desired type of component made of any desired material, be it wood, metal, plastic or the like. The connector 1 is particularly intended for connecting wooden components 2, 3, for example in furniture construction or industrial wood construction. Depending on the strength requirements, the connector 1 can in turn be made of any desired material, for example wood, plastic, metal or combinations thereof. Especially for small-format connectors 1 in furniture construction, the connector 1 can be made entirely of plastic; for higher strength requirements, e.g. for load-bearing structures in industrial wood construction, the connector can be made entirely of metal.

[0021] The connector 1 essentially consists of a first fitting 4 and a second fitting 5. The first fitting 4 is anchored to the first component 2, and the second fitting 5 is anchored to the second component 3. By connecting the two fittings 4, 5, e.g., by screwing, hooking, or locking, as described in more detail later, the components 2, 3 are firmly connected to one another—either permanently or detachably.

[0022] For anchoring the first fitting 4, the first component 2 has a groove 6 with a groove base 8 which is concave in the longitudinal direction 7 of the groove 6 and circular segment-shaped groove flanks 9, 10 on both sides, see Fig. 2 . The groove 7 runs along the upper side 11 of the component 2 in the groove longitudinal direction 7 and has its greatest depth in its center, measured from the upper side 11 of the component 2 to the groove base 8. The groove 6 optionally has a circular arc-shaped undercut 12, 13 on at least one of its groove flanks 9, 10, preferably on both groove flanks 9, 10.

[0023] To anchor the second fitting 5 to the second component 3, essentially the same construction can be used, ie the second component 3 ( Fig. 3 ) is equipped with a similar groove 6, optionally with circular undercuts 12, 13. One of the fittings 4, 5 can also be a component itself, e.g., a coat hook, cladding component, lighting fixture, supporting or load-bearing component, etc.

[0024] Each of the fittings 4, 5 has a section 14 for anchoring in the respective groove 6. In the Fig. 1 In the embodiment of the first fitting 4 shown, the section 14 occupies the entire fitting 4, ie the fitting 4 is completely immersed in the groove 6 in the position anchored in the component 2 and ends with its upper side 15 flush with the upper side 11 of the component 2. In the Fig. 1 In the embodiment of the second fitting 5 shown, the section 14 of the fitting 5 that extends into the groove 7 takes up only part of the fitting 5; its other part 16 protrudes from a contact surface 17 of the section 14 that extends into the groove 7, which is flush with the upper side 11 of the component 3 when the fitting 5 is anchored in the component 3. The part 16 of the fitting 5 that protrudes from the insertion section 14 serves to engage in the other fitting 4 in order to connect the fittings 4, 5 to one another, for example, to screw, hook, or lock them, as will be described in more detail later.

[0025] For engagement in the respective groove 6, the section 14 of each fitting 4, 5 has a circularly convex end face 18 in the longitudinal direction 7 of the groove 6, the curvature of which is complementary to the curvature of the groove base 8, and two parallel lateral sides 19, 20 which come into contact with the groove flanks 9, 10.

[0026] On its lateral sides 19, 20, each fitting 4, 5 has a laterally projecting cutting edge 21 which is concentric with the circular arc shape of its front side 18. With the help of the cutting edges 21, the fitting 4, 5 can be pushed into the respective groove 6 from one end thereof in a circular arc-shaped movement, whereby the cutting edges 21 engage in the undercuts 12, 13 as well as cut with their tips into the bottoms of the undercuts 12, 13, ie the material of the respective component 2, 3, see the penetration or cutting depth D 1 of the cutting edges 21 into the components 2, 3 in Fig. 3 .

[0027] In the Fig. 3 In the example shown, each cutting edge 21 has a cross-section in the shape of a sawtooth, the sawtooth side 22 of which faces away from the end face 18 is normal to the respective lateral side 19, 20. As a result, the sawtooth side 22 forms a support surface for bearing against the inner shoulder 23 of the groove 6, which is formed by the respective undercut 12, 13 and faces away from the groove base. This embodiment of the cutting edges 21 is therefore particularly suitable for interaction with a groove 6 with undercuts 12, 13. At the same time, this embodiment of the cutting edge 21 is also suitable for non-undercut grooves 6, if the cutting edges 21 protrude correspondingly less far and their entire sawtooth part protruding from the lateral sides 19, 20 is used for cutting into the groove flanks 9, 10.

[0028] Specifically for undercut grooves 6, the cutting edges 21 can also have a cross-section other than the aforementioned sawtooth cross-section, for example, a cross-section in the shape of a rectangle with a triangle attached to the side. The rectangular section of the cross-section then forms a rib with the contact surface 22, which can be inserted into the undercut 12, 13, and the triangle of the cross-section attached to the side then forms the cutting edge of the cutting edge 21, which cuts into the base of the undercut 12, 13 with a penetration depth D 1.

[0029] If desired, the lateral sides 19, 20 of the fittings 4, 5 can also be provided with further cutting edges 21' concentric with the cutting edges 21 in the form of an arc of a circle for cutting into the groove flanks 9, 10.

[0030] On the end face 18, each fitting 4, 5 is provided with (at least) one cutting rib 24 running in the longitudinal direction 7 of the groove and following the circular arc shape of the end face 18. The cutting rib 24 has, for example, a triangular cross-section, but could also have any other cross-section forming a "knife edge." At its two ends 25, 26, viewed in the longitudinal direction 7, the cutting rib 24 can be beveled relative to the end face 18 ( Fig. 4 ).

[0031] The cutting ribs 24 can extend over the entire length of the respective end face 18 or, as shown, can be shorter than the respective end face 18 when viewed in the longitudinal direction 7 and then lie in particular centrally on the end face 18. In the Fig. 4 In the example shown, the cutting rib 24 of the first fitting 4 extends centrally over approximately one-third of the entire length of the end face 18, whereas the cutting rib 24 of the second fitting 5 extends over approximately two-thirds of the entire length of the end face 18. It is also possible to provide more than one cutting rib 24 on the end face 18, for example two parallel cutting ribs 24 arranged symmetrically and off-center as viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction 7, e.g. one cutting rib 24 near each of the longitudinal edges of the end face 18.

[0032] When inserting the section 14 of the respective fitting 4, 5 into the groove 6, the cutting rib 24 penetrates into the material of the respective component 2, 3, see penetration depth D 2 in Fig. 3 The insertion of the respective fitting 4, 5 into the groove 6 can be assisted, for example, with hammer blows to drive the cutting ribs 24—and also the cutting edges 21, if present—into the material of the components 2, 3. The bevels at the ends 25, 26 of the cutting rib 24 facilitate the insertion; similar bevels can also be provided on the cutting edges 21.

[0033] The cutting ribs 24 - as well as the cutting edges 21, if present - secure the fitting 4, 5 in the anchoring position in the groove 6 by frictional engagement against slipping in the longitudinal direction 7 of the groove. In addition, the cutting ribs 24 in a groove 6 with undercuts 12, 13 also cause an additional tensioning of the contact surfaces 22 of the cutting edges 21 against the inner shoulders 23 of the undercuts 12, 13, as can be seen from Fig. 3 The cutting ribs 24 also eliminate any possible play by varying the penetration depth D 2 according to the available installation space in the groove 6.

[0034] Even in the case of non-undercut grooves 6, the cutting ribs 24 support the clamping of cutting edges 21 in the grooves cut by them in the material of the components 2, 3 when using cutting edges 21.

[0035] After the fittings 4, 5 have been anchored to the components 2, 3 by inserting their sections 14 into the grooves 6, the two fittings 4, 5 can be connected to one another in a detachable or non-detachable manner in any manner known in the art. The fittings 4, 5 can, for example, be screwed together, e.g., by machining corresponding access holes through the components 2, 3 to create screw connections between the fittings 4, 5. Alternatively or additionally, the fittings 4, 5 can be fixed to one another by means of snap hooks, sliding guides, bayonet locks, etc., e.g., only transversely to the longitudinal direction 7, in order to prevent the components 2, 3 from lifting off from one another.

[0036] In the Fig. 1, 2 and 4In the embodiment shown, for connecting the fittings 4, 5, each fitting 4, 5 is equipped on its side 15 or 17 facing away from the immersion section 14 with locking means for locking with complementary locking means of the other fitting. In the example shown, the locking means are resilient locking hooks 27, 28 on the fitting 5, which engage in an undercut recess 29 of the other fitting 4. Optionally, a web 30 ( Fig. 4 ) in the recess 29, which engages between the incoming locking hooks 27, 28, the locking hooks 27, 28 in the connected position ( Fig. 4 ) against unintentional rebound from the undercuts of the recess 29.

[0037] It is understood that any other design of locking hooks, snap hooks, spring elements, etc. can also be used to mutually lock the fittings 4, 5.

[0038] Furthermore, the fittings 4, 5 can also be provided with sliding guides to facilitate connection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 7. In the example shown, one fitting 5 is provided on its side 17 facing away from section 14 with one or more projecting tabs 35, which can slidably engage in complementary, slot-shaped pockets 36 of the other fitting 4. This guides the fittings 4, 5 during connection in the direction perpendicular to the component top surfaces 11 and ensures correct locking of their locking means, here the locking hooks 27, 28 in the recess 29.

[0039] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but includes all variants, modifications and combinations thereof that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fitting for a component (2, 3), in particular a wooden component, which has a groove (6) with a groove base (8), which is concave in the form of a circular arc in longitudinal direction (7) of the groove (6), and groove flanks (9, 10) in the form of circular segments, which fitting (4, 5) has a section (14) with a face side (18), which is convex in the form of a circular arc in longitudinal direction (7), and two parallel lateral sides (19, 20) for insertion into the groove (6), wherein each lateral side (19, 20) is provided with at least one laterally protruding cutting edge (21, 21') in the form of a circular arc concentric to the face side (18), by means of which the fitting (4, 5) can be slid into the groove (6) from its one end in a circular arc-shaped movement, and wherein the fitting (4, 5) is further configured to be detachably or non-detachably connected with a second fitting (5, 4) via its side (15, 17) facing away from said section (14), characterized in that the face side (18) is provided with at least one cutting rib (24) extending in the form of a circular arc in longitudinal direction (7).

2. The fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting rib (24) has a triangular cross-section and, when viewed in longitudinal direction (7), is beveled at its ends (25, 26) with respect to the face side (18).

3. The fitting according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cutting rib (24), when viewed in longitudinal direction (7), is shorter than the face side (18) and is centered on the face side (18).

4. The fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cutting rib (24) is centered on the face side (18) when viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (7).

5. The fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the face side (18) is provided with two parallel cutting ribs (24) which are symmetrically eccentric when viewed perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (7).

6. The fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cutting edges (21) each have a cross-section in the form of a saw tooth, the saw tooth side (22) of which facing away from the face side (18) is perpendicular to the respective lateral side (19, 20).

7. The fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for inserting into a groove (6), the groove flanks (9, 10) of which are each undercut close to the groove base (8), characterized in that the cutting edges (21) each have a cross-section in the form of a rectangle with a laterally attached triangle.

8. The fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fitting (5) is provided with at least one projecting lug (35) on its side (17) facing away from said section (14) for inserting into a pocket (36) of another fitting (4).

9. The fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fitting (4) is provided with at least one slit-shaped pocket (36) on its side (15) facing away from said section (14) for the slide-guided reception of a projecting tab (35) of another fitting (5).

10. The fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fitting (4, 5) is provided with latching means (27 - 29) on its side (15, 17) facing away from said section (14) for latching with another fitting (5, 4) complementary thereto.

11. The fitting according to claim 10, characterized in that the latching means are elastic latching hooks (27, 28) for engagement in an undercut recess (29) of the other fitting (4).

12. The fitting according to claim 10, characterized in that the latching means are an undercut recess (29) for the engagement of elastic latching hooks (27, 28) of the other fitting (5).

13. The fitting according to claim 12, characterized in that a bar (30) is provided in the recess (29) for insertion between two latching hooks (27, 28) of the other fitting (5).

14. A connector for two components, comprising two fittings (4, 5) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which are configured to be screwed, hooked or latched together.