LIGHT METAL PROFILE CONNECTION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a light metal profile connection consisting of a horizontal and a vertical profile which are at an angle of 90° to each other and are connected by means of a screw channel in conjunction with a connecting element in a force-fit and form-fit manner.

[0002] CH 563 536 A5 discloses a snap-in connection device for hollow profile bars that meet at an angle. These profile bars are used for frames, mullions, and muntins of divided windows or partition walls, with one profile bar abutting a longitudinal side of the other profile bar at one end.

[0003] Another connection is known from WO 2021 / 059175 A1. In this connection, a sliding mechanism is used to lock the device in a groove of a frame profile. This sliding mechanism allows for lateral movement in the groove with a certain amount of lateral play and a locking mechanism. This provides the locking mechanism, which is provided with a first and a second side edge. The second side edge has a chamfer designed to slide automatically and move the locking mechanism into a first outer sliding position when the glazing bead is clipped in, thus preventing the glazing bead from being unintentionally unclipped in the hardware groove.

[0004] EP 4 015 755 A1 also discloses an additional surface element for the butt joint design; furthermore, the profile becomes significantly heavier through the use of a reinforcing element.

[0005] DE 20 2019 105111 U1 and DE 70 16 821 U disclose further metal profile connections.

[0006] These lightweight metal profiles are hollow chambered and have very small cross-sectional dimensions in their walls. This thinness of the various leg sections provides the profiles with the necessary resistance to twisting, resulting in a very stable structure when used in a frame construction with corner connectors. Such profiles are designed to be cost-effective to manufacture and, in addition to high resistance, also low in weight. For example, in the case of sectional doors or garage doors that can be moved, the individual lightweight metal profiles contribute to the overall weight. The greater the weight of a door leaf, the greater the need for a more powerful and therefore more expensive drive unit.Furthermore, additional parts, as described in WO 2021 / 059175 A1, are not used, because such use of additional components is problematic in the mass production of gates or doors and can inevitably lead to a reduction in quality. At the same time, the use of additional components increases the cost of such butt joints.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a lightweight metal profile connection that requires no additional components for its execution. Such a connection should be simple and reliable to mass-produce, with particular emphasis placed on ensuring that lightweight metal profiles are not warped when connected to each other by a screw connection.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 2. The subsequent dependent claims describe a further embodiment of the inventive concept.

[0009] To create a lightweight metal profile connection using a horizontal and a vertical profile arranged at a 90° angle to each other, a reinforced integral support is incorporated into the horizontal profile. This integral support runs parallel to an external lower bearing surface within the horizontal profile, which butts into contact with the vertical profile. This type of integral support is referred to as an integrated internal support because the wall thickness of the lightweight metal profile is reinforced only in this area, while the remaining wall thicknesses of the profiles remain unchanged. Such an integrated wall reinforcement is at least 400% thicker than the other profile wall surfaces or similar components.At the same time, a continuous longitudinal groove runs through the integral support, the width of which is matched to the nominal diameter of a connecting element used for connecting light metal profiles.

[0010] This cost-effective, design-based measure significantly simplifies the assembly of a butt joint between two lightweight metal profiles with at least one enclosed cavity. The locating groove extends along the horizontal profile. This allows for drilling holes at any point along the horizontal profile for connection to a vertical profile. The hole in the base of the locating groove in the horizontal profile always aligns with a screw channel in the vertical profile. This simplifies the insertion of a connecting element between the horizontal and vertical profiles. The connecting element alone guarantees the precise connection of the two lightweight metal profiles. Because the width of the locating groove has virtually no lateral play compared to the nominal diameter of the connecting element used, the execution of a butt joint is considerably simplified.The connecting element preferably has a round, cylindrical head equipped with an internal hexagon socket or the like. The head has a flat bearing surface on its underside, which rests on the integral support after assembly and is tightened against it in the operating position. The shank of the connecting element preferably has a screw helix of the same diameter, the diameter of which is matched to the inner diameter of the screw channel.

[0011] This type of connection between lightweight metal profiles can be carried out quickly and easily, and tightening the connecting element does not lead to unwanted distortion of the horizontal profile of the butt joint. Depending on the size of the lightweight metal profiles and the connecting elements, it is possible for the height of the integral support to be more than 400% greater than the other existing profile wall thicknesses.

[0012] Since this type of lightweight profile connection is simple, cost-effective, and simultaneously force-fit and form-fit, it can be used, particularly for parts of sectional doors, garage doors, or other doors. This is even possible with a thermally broken profile design. In such a design, the integral support with its reinforced wall thickness would be located in the area of ​​the lightweight profile's cross-section that is not affected by the thermal break, preferably on the inside of the door leaf or similar.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below using different exemplary embodiments. Figure 1 shows a schematic embodiment of a butt joint between two light metal profiles, where a horizontal profile and a vertical profile abut each other. These are represented according to section line AA in the following exemplary embodiments. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a vertical profile configuration. Figure 3 shows a joint embodiment with thermally broken light metal profiles according to section line AA. Figure 4 shows a joint embodiment with standard light metal profiles without thermal break according to section line AA. Figure 5 shows another preferred embodiment of a joint embodiment with light metal profiles according to section line AA.

[0014] The one in Figure 1 Example of a butt joint between two profiles in a section view: a horizontal profile 1 with a vertical profile 2. Such designs occur, for example, in sectional doors, garage doors, or other doors. The views of the following Figures 3 to 5 run along the intersection line AA to Figure 1 .

[0015] A first preferred embodiment according to Figure 3 The upper side shows a horizontal profile 1 which is connected to a vertical profile 2 via a connecting element 12 in a force-fit and form-fit manner. The representation of the Figure 2 to aid understanding, because a screw channel 3 is shown within the vertical profile 2, into which the connecting element 12 engages.

[0016] In the preferred embodiment according to Figure 3The horizontal profile 1 is depicted as a thermally broken light metal profile with a separating web 9. The separating webs 9 are attached between an outer leg 10 and an inner separating leg 18. To the left of the separating leg 18, there is another chamber of the light metal profile, which is closed off to the outside by a leg 11. The lower end of the left part of the horizontal profile 1 is formed by an integral support 14 for the connecting element 12. The integral support 14 is significantly stronger, at least in its height and thus in its cross-sectional shape, than the other legs of the horizontal profile 1. The integral support 14 is closed off on the underside by a bearing surface 15. This bearing surface 15 is in contact with a cut edge of the vertical profile 2 to be joined.To ensure sufficient dimensional stability of the horizontal profile 1, the area below the integral support 14 up to the support 15 is designed with a significantly larger and stronger cross-section. This area-specific increase in cross-section stabilizes the horizontal profile 1 so that when the connecting element 12 is tightened, its head rests on the integral support 14, preventing any distortion and thus any alteration of the profile connection. This is crucial because the connection between the horizontal and vertical profiles must also be sufficiently watertight. For this reason, the absolute height difference between the integral support 14 and the bearing surface 15 is at least 400% greater than the other cross-sectional thicknesses of the profile elements.This height increase in the area below the head of the connecting element 12 counteracts a change in the shape of the horizontal profile 1 when the connecting elements 12 are tightened against the vertical profile 2.

[0017] Within the integral support 14, a locating groove 13 is machined into the longitudinal extent of the horizontal profile 1. The width of the locating groove is matched to the nominal diameter of the connecting element 12. This means that there is no significant play between the shank of the connecting element 12 and the width of the locating groove 13. Such a design is particularly advantageous due to reduced assembly time, as there is no risk of wobbling when inserting the connecting elements 12. Furthermore, it also results in more precise assembly, because, for example, the outer side of the leg 11 and the inner leg 8 are perfectly aligned.

[0018] By precisely aligning the inner outer surfaces of the horizontal profile 1 and the vertical profile 2 to be joined, a perfectly fitting connection is possible even outdoors. This requires consideration of the Figure 2 The vertical profile 2 is provided with a step 4, so that the outer leg 10 of the horizontal profile 1 can rest on the surface of the step 4 with a projecting leg 6.

[0019] In the exemplary embodiments of the Figures 3 and 4 The horizontal profile 1 contains a glazing bead receptacle 17 for a glazing bead (not shown). The projecting part of the outer leg 10 contains a sealing receptacle 5 for a continuous seal for external sealing against water ingress.

[0020] The preferred embodiment according to the Figure 4This design is characterized by the fact that no thermally broken horizontal profile 1 is used. However, here too, the previously described integral support 14 with the fitting groove 13 for the connecting element 12 is located between the separating leg 18 and the leg 11 of the horizontal profile 1.

[0021] Another preferred embodiment of a light metal profile connection shows the Figure 5 with a modified horizontal profile 1. In this preferred embodiment, in addition to the integral support 14 on the inside of the building, there is at least one additional cavity. This stiffening acts together with the integral support 14 to prevent distortion of the horizontal profile 1.

[0022] By selectively reinforcing the horizontal profile 1 in the connection area with the integral support 14 and the locating groove 13, a highly effective design for torsionally rigid light metal profile connections has been created. This area, with its increased cross-section due to the integral support 14 above the bearing surface 15, eliminates the need, according to current technology, for the laborious insertion of components into the profile connection using additional tools. This represents an enormous time saving, particularly in the mass production of elements for sectional doors or garage doors. Reference sign

[0023] 1 Horizontal profile 2 Vertical profile 3 Screw channel 4 Recess 5 Seal receptacle 6 Leg 7 Dividing web 8 Inner leg 9 Dividing web 10 Outer leg 11 Leg 12 Connecting element 13 Groove 14 Integral support 15 Bearing surface 16 Bore 17 Glazing bead receptacle 18 Dividing leg

Claims

1. A light-metal profile connection, substantially consisting of a horizontal profile (1) and a vertical profile (2) which are arranged at an angle of 90° to one another and connected to one another via a connecting member (12) which can be inserted into a screw channel (2), characterised in that the horizontal profile (1) has an integral support (14) which extends over a straight supporting surface (15) situated below it and is formed, in its height dimension formation, measured relative to the supporting surface (15) of the horizontal profile (1), at at least 400% and more compared to the other profile thicknesses, and in that in the integral support (14), in its longitudinal extent there runs a fitting groove (13) whose width corresponds to the nominal diameter of the connecting member (12) and in that the head of the connecting member (12) in the connection design bet-ween the horizontal profile (1) and the vertical profile (2) is supported on the integral support (14).

2. A light-metal profile connection as part of a sectional door or a garage door or a door, substantially consisting of at least one horizontal profile (1) and at least one vertical profile (2) which are arranged at an angle of 90° to one another and connected to one another via connecting members (12) which penetrate into screw channels (3), characterised in that the horizontal profile (1) has an integral support (14) which runs substantially parallel to an external supporting surface (15), wherein the integral support (14), in its height dimension formation, measured relative to the external supporting surface (15) of the horizontal profile (1), is configured at at least 400% and more compared to the other profile thicknesses, and in that in the integral support (14), in longitudinal extent there runs a fitting groove (13) whose width corresponds to the nominal diameter of the connecting member (12), the head of which, in the connection design between the horizontal profile (1) and the vertical profile (2), is supported on the integral support (14).

3. The light-metal profile connection according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the vertical profile (2) has, on the outside, a stepped shoulder (4) which is covered by a protruding part of the horizontal profile (1) with an outer limb (10).

4. The light-metal profile connection according to claim 3, characterised in that the outer limb (10) has a seal receptacle (5) for a sealing element at the end facing the vertical profile (2).

5. The light-metal profile connection according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the vertical profile (2) and the horizontal profile (1) are configured as thermally separated light-metal profiles, wherein the integral support (14) lies outside of insulating separating ribs (7).

6. The light-metal profile connection according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the head of the connecting member (12) has a cylindrical shape and has an internal hexagon or equivalent.

7. The sectional door leaf or garage door leaf with at least one part or segment configured from light metal sections in a connection type with several profile sections according to one or more of the preceding claims.