DEVICE FOR COVERING A FENCE POST PROFILE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for covering a fence post profile having an axially extending chamber on its end face according to claim 1.

[0002] Fencing systems with profile rails and fence slats are known for the manufacture of fences. The profile rails have a rectangular cross-section and are provided with longitudinal grooves on their sides into which the fence slats or panel elements are inserted. The profile rails form the fence posts. The longitudinal grooves are covered by a cap that is attached to the upper end of each profile rail. Such a fencing system is described, for example, in DE 20 2021 100 466 U1. A device for covering a fence post profile having an axially extending chamber at its end face is known from DE 20 2005 006766 U1.

[0003] A disadvantage of the previously known systems is that the cap, which is attached to a profile rail, can come loose due to heat exposure, creating a risk of corrosion from water penetrating the profile rail. Furthermore, the cap is easy to steal.

[0004] The invention aims to remedy this problem. The invention is based on the objective of providing a device for covering a fence post profile having an axially extending chamber at its end face, in which unintentional loosening is prevented. According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a device with the features of claim 1.

[0005] The invention provides a device for covering a fence post profile having an axially extending chamber at its end face, preventing unintentional loosening. The device comprises a post cap with a shoulder on its underside for insertion into the chamber of the fence profile. This shoulder has a bore through which a screw is guided. The screw is screwed into a clamping element, which can be laterally expanded by pressing against the shoulder and clamped against at least two boundary surfaces of the chamber. This enables a force-fit connection between the post cap and the fence profile.

[0006] In a further development of the invention, the clamping element is formed by a convexly curved sheet metal plate facing away from the shoulder. This causes the clamping element to clamp against the boundary surfaces of the chamber in the direction of pull of the post cap.

[0007] In one embodiment of the invention, the sheet metal has at least two wings angled towards the shoulder of the post cap. This increases the clamping effect of the clamping element.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, the sheet metal is provided with a threaded sleeve into which the screw is screwed. This ensures a uniform movement without tilting of the clamping element when the screw is tightened.

[0009] In a further development of the invention, the post cap is pyramid-shaped, with the step preferably being arranged centrally on the underside of the post cap. This results in a pleasing appearance of the post cover.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, at least one retaining pin is arranged on the underside of the post cap, spaced apart from the shoulder. This provides additional fixation of a surface element held by the fence post profile.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the arranged retaining pins has a reduced-diameter section at its end and / or is slotted. This results in improved fixation of a received surface element.

[0012] In a further development of the invention, the post cap has a recess on its upper side that aligns with the bore of the shoulder and is closed by a cover cap that is detachably attached to the post cap. This conceals the screw, resulting in an improved appearance of the post cap.

[0013] The present invention further relates to a fence post profile with such a device, with an axially extending chamber at the end face and at least one side provided with a longitudinal groove extending over the entire length for receiving a surface element, wherein the device is arranged on an end face of the fence post profile, the shoulder of which has a cross-section that essentially corresponds to the cross-section of the chamber, wherein the screw is tightened in such a way that the clamping element is clamped against at least two boundary surfaces of the chamber.

[0014] In a further development of the invention, a surface element is inserted into a longitudinal groove of the fence post profile, wherein at least one retaining pin is arranged on the underside of the post cap, spaced apart from the shoulder, which rests against and / or engages the surface element. This provides additional axial fixation of the surface element by the post cap.

[0015] Other embodiments and configurations of the invention are specified in the remaining dependent claims. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in detail below. The drawings show: Figure 1: a schematic spatial representation of a fence section; Figure 2: a representation of the fence post profile of the fence section made of Figure 1 a) in a first spatial representation from above; b) in a second spatial representation from below; Figure 3 shows the representation of an upper fence post profile section of the fence section made of Figure 1 in longitudinal section.

[0016] The fence section chosen as an embodiment comprises a fence post profile 1, the longitudinal groove 11 of which accommodates surface elements in the form of panels 5 and which is covered on its upper end face with a post cap 2, which is connected to the fence post profile 1 via a tensioning body 3.

[0017] In the exemplary embodiment, the fence post profile 1 is designed as an extruded aluminum hollow profile with a substantially square cross-section. On three longitudinal sides, the fence post profile 1 has a first longitudinal groove 11 centrally located, extending over its entire length and having a circular arc cross-section spanning an angle of 240°, thus forming an undercut on both sides of its longitudinal opening. The fourth side is closed. The longitudinal grooves 11 define a chamber 12, which has a square cross-section and extends along the central axis of the fence post profile 1. In the exemplary embodiment, panels 5 are inserted into one longitudinal groove 11, while the remaining longitudinal grooves 11 are each closed by a cover strip 6.

[0018] In this embodiment, the post cap 2 is made of aluminum and is shaped like a square prism, to which a circumferential collar 21 is attached. The inner contour of the collar 21 essentially corresponds to the outer contour of the cross-section of the fence post profile 1, which the collar 21 encompasses when the post cap 2 is in place. On its underside, the post cap 2 has a shoulder 22 for insertion into the chamber 12 of the fence profile 1. In this embodiment, the shoulder 22 is cuboid in shape and has a rectangular cross-section. The outer surface of the shoulder 22 essentially corresponds to the inner surface of the chamber 12. The shoulder 22 has a bore 23 that transitions into a stepped bore 24 that passes centrally through the tip of the post cap 1. A screw 4 passes through the bore 23, and its screw head 41 rests on a step 25 of the stepped bore 24.The screw head 41 is concealed by a prismatic cover 26, which is mounted centrally on the post cap 2 and forms the tip of the post cap 2. Four retaining pins 27, which in the exemplary embodiment are essentially cylindrical, are arranged at intervals from the center of each side edge of the shoulder 22.

[0019] The clamping element 3 comprises a substantially square clamping plate 31, on each of whose sides a wing 32 is angled, thus forming a convex shape. A non-circular, in this case hexagonal, recess 33 is formed in the center of the clamping plate 31, into which a threaded sleeve 34 is inserted. The threaded sleeve 5 has a hexagonal collar 35 with which it engages in the hexagonal recess 33 of the clamping plate 1 and is firmly connected to it.

[0020] The clamping element 3 is inserted into the chamber 12, with the screw 4 screwed into the threaded sleeve 34. The wings 32, which are angled towards the post cap 1 and are attached to the clamping plate 31, yield springily towards the recess 33 when inserted into the chamber 12.

[0021] During assembly, the post cap 2 is placed onto the fence post profile 1, with the collar 21 resting against the fence post profile 1, framing it. A retaining pin 27 is pressed against the uppermost panels 7, thus axially fixing them. The screw 4 is then tightened, causing the tensioning element 3 with its wings 32 to move against the shoulder 22 of the post cap 2. This pushes the wings 32 outwards against the boundary surfaces of the chamber 12, where they wedge themselves in place. The post cap 2 is thus firmly connected to the fence post profile 1. Subsequently, the cover 26 is placed centrally onto the post cap 2, concealing the screw head 41 of the screw 4. For this purpose, a recess 28 with a square cross-section is provided in the post cap 2, framing the stepped bore 24. The cover 26, which is in the shape of a prism with a square base, is inserted into this recess.

Claims

1. Device for covering a fence post profile (1) that has a chamber (12) that extends axially on the front face, comprising a post cap (2) that has a step (22) on its bottom to be inserted into the chamber (12) of the fence post profile (1), characterised in that the step (22) has a bore (23) through which a screw (4) is passed that is screwed into a clamping body (3) that can be laterally expanded by pressing it against the step (22) via the screw (4) and clamped against at least two boundary surfaces of the chamber (12).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the clamping body is formed by a clamping sheet (31) curved convex opposite to the step (22).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the clamping sheet (31) has at least two wings (32) angled in the direction of the step (22) of the post cap (2).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the clamping sheet (31) is provided with a threaded sleeve (34) into which the screw (4) is screwed.

5. Device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the post cap (2) is formed in a pyramid shape, with the step (22) preferably being arranged centred on the bottom of the post cap (2).

6. Device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one holding journal (27) is arranged on the bottom of the post cap (2) at a distance from the step (22).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that at least one of the arranged holding journals (27) has a section with a reduced diameter on the end side and / or is formed with a slit.

8. Device in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the post cap (2) has a recess (28) on its top that aligns with the bore (23) of the step (22) and that is closed via a cover (26) that is attached to the post cap (2) in a removable manner.

9. Fence post profile with a chamber (12) that extends axially on the front face and at least one side that is provided with a longitudinal groove (11) that extends across the entire length to take up an area element, wherein a device according to one of the preceding claims is arranged on the front face of the fence post profile (1), the step (22) of which has a cross-section that essentially corresponds to the cross-section of the chamber (12), wherein the screw (4) is tightened so that the clamping body (3) is clamped against at least two boundary surfaces of the chamber (13).

10. Fence post profile according to claim 9, characterised in that an area element is inserted into a longitudinal groove (11), wherein at least one holding journal (27) that is contacting the area element and / or enclosing it is arranged on the bottom of the post cap (2) at a distance from the step (22).