CLIPPING BLOCK

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal block.

[0002] The website http: / / www.bricklink.com lists, under part number 731c04 (alternative part numbers: 4255c04 and 76537), a clamping brick in the form of a spring strut for plugging into a plug-in connection system in a space spanned by a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a vertical direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and transverse to the transverse direction. The known clamping brick comprises a first brick part, which has a first plug-in connection element on the top side, and a second brick part with an interior space delimited by a wall on both sides in the longitudinal and transverse directions and on the bottom side in the vertical direction. The second brick part has a second plug-in connection element on the bottom side.The second building block is larger both longitudinally and transversely than the first building block, with the first building block extending telescopically into the interior of the second building block, counter to the vertical direction. The two building block sections are supported against each other by a common return element.

[0003] EP 412 352 A1 discloses a terminal block according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The object of the invention is to improve the known terminal block.

[0005] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a terminal block for plug-in connection in a plug-in connection system in a space which is spanned by a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and a height direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and transverse to the transverse direction comprises: a first building block part with an interior space which is delimited in the longitudinal and transverse directions on both sides and in the vertical direction at the top by a wall, wherein the first building block part has a first plug-in connection element on the top, a second building block part with an interior space which is delimited in the longitudinal and transverse directions on both sides and in the vertical direction at the bottom by a wall, wherein the second building block part has a second plug-in connection element on the bottom which can be plugged into the first plug-in connection element, wherein the second building block part is larger in both the longitudinal and transverse directions than the first building block part, wherein the first building block part is pushed telescopically into the interior space of the second building block part against the vertical direction,and wherein the two building block parts are supported against each other by a common return element arranged in the interior spaces. ,

[0007] The specified interlocking brick is based on the idea that the well-known interlocking brick, as a spring strut, is very slim, but also very uniquely constructed. It cannot be installed with other interlocking bricks without additional coupling elements because the two connectors are not designed to complement each other. The specified interlocking brick takes advantage of this idea by cutting open an interlocking brick with a Hilary Page grid dimension, used by Lego A / S since 1955, and mounting the two parts telescopically against each other via a spring. Such an interlocking brick is not only fully compatible with the grid dimension, it can also be connected to other interlocking bricks defined according to this grid dimension without additional coupling elements.According to the invention, the wall of the second building block part has, on its surfaces facing the interior, form-locking elements directed into the interior. These elements guide the first building block part vertically and block movement of the first building block element in the longitudinal and transverse directions. This reduces friction between the two building block parts during the telescopic movement.

[0008] In a further development of the specified clamping block, the relative movement path of the first block part within the second block part is limited in the vertical direction by a limiting device. This not only prevents the two block parts from accidentally separating from each other, but also allows the two block parts to be mounted against each other with a definable preload.

[0009] In an additional development of the specified clamping module, the limiting device has a snap-hook connection consisting of a first hook formed on the wall of the first module part facing outward as viewed from the interior, and a second hook formed on the wall of the second module part facing inward as viewed from the interior. In this way, the movement limitation between the two module parts in the vertical direction can be releasably established.

[0010] In a further development of the specified clamping block, the wall of the first block section is slitted next to the first hook. The width of the slit allows the elasticity of the first hook to be adjusted, so that the movement limit can be designed to be sufficiently mechanically stable while still remaining detachable.

[0011] In a further development of the specified clamping block, the wall of the second block part has an access opening on the underside in the area of ​​the second hook towards the interior, through which the hooks are then accessible in order to release the movement limitation in a simple manner.

[0012] In yet another development of the specified terminal block, the return element is a spring, which is not only inexpensive to produce but can also be realized with any desired degree of elasticity.

[0013] In a special development, the specified terminal block includes a guide sleeve in which the spring is guided vertically. This prevents unintentional bending of the spring, which would otherwise render the spring's return function ineffective.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the guide sleeve is attached to the first component or the second component. This allows the spring to be securely mounted on one of the two components in the space between the two components.

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the specified clamping module, hook-type form-locking elements are formed on the guide sleeve, which guide a hook vertically and limit movement of the hook toward the guide sleeve. This prevents overstretching of the aforementioned hooks.

[0016] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. Fig. 1 an exploded view of a terminal block from a first perspective, and Fig. 2 an exploded view of the terminal block of the Fig. 1 from a second perspective.

[0017] In the figures, identical technical elements are provided with identical reference symbols and are described only once. The figures are purely schematic and, above all, do not represent the actual geometric relationships.

[0018] It is based on the Fig. 1 and 2 Reference is made to the drawing, which shows from two different perspectives a terminal block 2 for plug-in connection in a plug-in connection system not shown in more detail in a space which is spanned by a longitudinal direction 4, a transverse direction 6 transverse to the longitudinal direction 4 and a height direction 8 transverse to the longitudinal direction 4 and transverse to the transverse direction 6.

[0019] The terminal block 2 comprises a first block part 10 and a second block part 12.

[0020] The first building block part 10 has an interior space 14, which is delimited in and against the longitudinal direction 4 and in the transverse direction 6 by a wall 16, which forms a square with an edge length 15 in the cross-section seen from the height direction 8. The edge length 15 is only shown in Fig. 1 interpreted. In the vertical direction 8, the interior space 14 of the first building block part 10 is delimited by a cover 17, on the upper side of which first plug-in connection elements in the form of studs 18 are formed. The studs 18 are designed in terms of their size and spacing according to the Lego grid dimension, as described, for example, in the revelation Pawel Sariel Kmiec, The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide, No Starch Press; 2nd Edition (October 1, 2016), ISBN: 978-1593277604. For further information on the Lego grid dimension, please refer to the relevant literature.

[0021] The wall 16 of the first building block part 10 has, as seen in the transverse direction 6, a recessed wall section 19 on each side, which is arranged centrally as seen in the longitudinal direction 4 and is directed towards the interior space 14. The recessed wall section 19 is recessed into the wall 16 with a recess depth 20. For the sake of clarity, the recess depth 20 is only shown in Fig. 2 indicated. The recessed wall section 19 is separated from the remaining wall 16 by slots 22 and has a hook 24 on its underside, viewed in the vertical direction 8.

[0022] Analogous to the first building block part 10, the second building block part 12 also has an interior space 26, which is delimited in and opposite to the longitudinal direction 4 and in the transverse direction 6 by a circumferential wall 28. The interior space 26 of the second building block part 12 is formed in its cross-section as seen from the height direction 8 in the shape of a square with an edge length 27. Opposite to the height direction 8, the interior space 26 of the second building block part 12 is delimited by a base 30, on the underside of which second plug-in connection elements are formed in the form of stud receptacles 32, as are basically known from the disclosure US 3,005,282 A. The geometry of the stud receptacles 32 is matched to the studs 18 according to the Lego grid dimension.

[0023] The edge length 15 of the square first building block part 10 is selected to be smaller than the edge length 27 of the square interior space 26 of the second building block part 12, so that the first building block part 10 can be inserted telescopically into the interior space of the second building block part 12. To reduce friction between the two building block parts 10, component form-locking elements 32 can be formed on one of the walls 16, 28 of one building block part 10, 12, which limit movement of the corresponding other building block part 12, 10 in the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6.

[0024] In the present embodiment, these component form-locking elements 32 are formed on the wall 28 directed into the interior 26 of the second building block part 12. Viewed in the longitudinal direction 4, two component form-locking elements 32 are arranged on each side of the aforementioned square, while viewed in the transverse direction 6, only one component form-locking element 32 is arranged on each side of the aforementioned square. In principle, a single component form-locking element 32 is sufficient on each side to achieve the desired form-locking in the longitudinal and transverse directions 4, 6 and thus guidance in the vertical direction 8. However, the arrangement of two component form-locking elements 32 on one side is recommended so that, despite the hook 24 on the first building block part 10, stable guidance between the two building block parts 10, 12 can be achieved.

[0025] On the wall 28 of the second building block part 12, a hook 34 is formed on each side of the square with two component form-locking elements 32, to the underside of which, viewed in the height direction 8, a guide channel 36 is connected. If the first building block part 10 is pushed telescopically into the interior 26 of the second building block part 12 against the height direction 8, the hooks 24, 34 of the respective building block parts 10, 12 are directed towards one another. From a certain immersion depth of the first building block part 10 into the second building block part 12, the hooks 24 of the first building block part 10 snap over the hooks 34 of the second building block part 12 and thus form a form-locking connection in the height direction 8, so that the first building block part 10 can no longer be removed from the interior 26 of the second building block part.In order to be able to release this form-lock connection in the vertical direction 8 again, the second building block part 12 has an access opening 38 on its base 30 on each side of the square with two form-locking components 32, through which a lever (not shown) can be pushed and the hook 24 of the first building block part 10 can be lifted in or against the transverse direction 6. The first building block part 10 can then be released again in the vertical direction 8 from the interior space 26 of the second building block part.

[0026] Furthermore, a guide sleeve 40 is arranged on the base 30 of the second building block part 12. A return element in the form of a spring 42 can be inserted into this guide sleeve 40 and serves as a returnable spacer between the cover 17 of the first building block part 10 and the base 30 of the second building block part 12. The length of the spring 42 is dimensioned such that when the hooks 24, 34 abut one another in the vertical direction 8, the spring 42 is subjected to a predetermined preload force. If the cover 17 is subjected to a force opposite to the vertical direction 8, the first building block part 10 is pressed further into the interior 26 of the second building block part 12. If the force is released, the spring 42 moves the first building block part 10 out of the interior 26 of the second building block part 12 until the hooks 24, 34 strike each other again in the height direction.In this way, a damping function can be achieved which can be scaled as required by stacking or arranging several of the terminal blocks 2 next to one another, because a parallel arrangement of the terminal blocks 2 increases the overall spring constant and a series arrangement of the terminal blocks 2 reduces the overall spring constant.

[0027] The guide sleeve 40 can, in principle, be arranged loosely between the cover 17 of the first building block part 10 and the base 30 of the second building block part 12. However, it is preferably fastened either to the cover 17 of the first building block part 10 or to the base 30 of the second building block part 12. In the present embodiment, the guide sleeve 40 is fastened to the base 30 of the second building block part 12 and further has shoulder-shaped hook-locking elements 44 that are directed toward the hooks 34 of the second building block part 12. In this way, a movement space for the hooks 24 of the first building block part can be defined between each hook 34 of the second building block part 12 and the corresponding hook-locking element 44, for example, to prevent overstretching.

[0028] To assemble the terminal block 2, as shown in the Fig. 1 and 2As shown, the spring 42 is first inserted into the guide sleeve 40 on the base 30 of the second building block part 12. Subsequently, the first building block part 10, with its hooks 24 leading and aligned with the hooks 34 of the second building block part 12, is inserted into the interior 26 of the second building block part 12 until the hooks 24, 34 engage. The clamping block 2 can then be used, for example, as a damping element in a higher-level clamping block model.

Claims

1. Clamping block (2) for plug-connecting in a plug-connection system in a space, which is spanned by a longitudinal direction (4), a transverse direction (6) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4), and a height direction (8) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4) and transverse to the transverse direction (6), comprising: - a first block part (10) with an inner space (14), which is limited in the longitudinal direction (4) and the transverse direction (6) on both sides, and in the height direction (8) on the upper side (17) by a wall (16), wherein the first block part (10) on the upper side (17) has a first plug-connection element (18), - a second block part (12) with an inner space (26), which is limited in the longitudinal direction (4) and the transverse direction (6) on both sides, and in the height direction (8) on the underside (30) by a wall (28), the second block part (12) on the underside (30) has a second plug-connection element (32), which can be plugged with the first plug-connection element (18), - wherein the second block part (12) is larger in both the longitudinal direction (4) and the transverse direction (6) than the first block part (10), - wherein the first block part (10) is telescopically inserted in the opposite height direction (8) into the inner space (26) of the second block part (12), and - wherein the two block parts (10, 12) are supported against each other by a common return element (42) arranged in the inner spaces (14, 26), characterized in that the wall (28) of the second block part (12) has form-fitting elements (32) directed towards its inner space (26) on its inward-facing surfaces, which guide the first block part (10) in the height direction (8) and block movement of the first block part (10) in the longitudinal direction (4) and the transverse direction (6).

2. Clamping block (2) according to claim 1, wherein a relative movement path of the first block part (10) in the second block part (12) in the height direction (8) is limited by a limiting device (24, 34).

3. Clamping block (2) according to claim 2, wherein the limiting device (24, 34) consists of a snap-hook connection from a first hook (24), which is formed on the wall (16) of the first block part (10) seen from the inner space (14) directed outwards, and a second hook (34), which is formed on the wall (28) of the second block part (12) seen from the inner space (26) directed inwards.

4. Clamping block (2) according to claim 3, wherein the wall (16) of the first block part (10) is slotted (22) next to the first hook (24).

5. Clamping block (2) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the wall (28) of the second block part (12) on the underside (30) in the area of the second hook (34) to the inner space (26) has an access opening (38).

6. Clamping block (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the return element (42) is a spring.

7. Clamping block (2) according to claim 6, comprising a guide sleeve (44), in which the spring (42) is guided in the height direction (8).

8. Clamping block (2) according to claim 7, wherein the guide sleeve (40) is attached to the first block part (10) or the second block part (12).

9. Clamping block (2) according to claim 8, wherein form-fitting hook elements (44) are formed on the guide sleeve (40), which guide a hook (24) in the height direction and restrict movement of the hook (24) towards the guide sleeve (40).