Plug-in connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (10) with at least one connector arm (12) integrally formed at a node region (14) and extending accordingly in the longitudinal direction of the arm between an integrally formed arm end and a free arm end, comprising a base body (100) from which several first fixing bodies (200) project laterally outwards, wherein each first fixing body (200) comprises: - a stem (202) integrally formed on one side of the base body (100), which extends in a stem longitudinal direction predominantly perpendicular to the arm longitudinal direction between an integrally formed stem end and a free stem end, and - a beam (204) integrally formed at the free stem end, which extends in a beam longitudinal direction predominantly in the arm longitudinal direction and has a beam outer surface facing away from the base body (100) and a beam inner surface facing the base body (100).The invention is characterized in that the stem (202) has a convex curvature (206) in the area of ​​its free stem end facing the free arm end, which transitions continuously into the flatter convexly curved outer surface of the beam.

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a connector with at least one connector arm integrally formed at a node area and extending accordingly in the longitudinal direction between an integrally formed arm end and a free arm end, comprising a base body from which several first fixing bodies project laterally outwards, wherein each first fixing body a trunk formed on one side of the base body, extending in a trunk longitudinal direction predominantly perpendicular to the arm longitudinal direction between a formed trunk end and a free trunk end, and a beam formed at the free trunk end, extending in a beam longitudinal direction predominantly in the arm longitudinal direction and having a beam outer surface facing away from the base body and a beam inner surface facing the base body, includes. State of the art

[0002] Such a connector is known from DE 10 2008 014 189 B4.

[0003] Connectors of the aforementioned type are frequently used to join hollow profiles, which can serve to construct spacer frames for insulating glass units. Depending on the number and orientation of the connector arms, the following types are known: linear connectors with exactly two collinearly aligned connector arms, T-connectors with exactly three T-shaped connector arms, cross connectors with exactly four cross-shaped connector arms, and so-called plug-in plugs with only one connector arm and an end cap arranged on the other side of the node area. Other connector designs are also conceivable and, in principle, amenable to the application of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, the following description is limited to the discussion of a single connector arm as a component of a connector that is otherwise largely arbitrarily designed.

[0004] The connector arm always comprises a base body and fixing elements projecting laterally from it. The latter are often formed on the base body in the form of herringbone-patterned, elastic lamellae. DE 10 2010 016 310 A1 serves as a purely exemplary example in this regard. This patent discloses a connector with a base body consisting of a bottom and side webs projecting perpendicularly from it, the lamellae being formed on the outer surfaces of which.

[0005] However, it is also known from EP 2 551 438 B1 to do without said side ribs and to mold the lamellae directly onto the base of the main body.

[0006] In any case, the operating principle of such a connector is to allow the connector arm to be inserted into the lumen of a correspondingly shaped and dimensioned hollow profile in a force-fit manner. During insertion, the elastic lamellae, which are angled in the opposite direction to the insertion, conform to the base body. When attempting to withdraw the connector from the hollow profile, the lamellae spread open and counteract any relative movement between the connector and the hollow profile, acting like barbs. Depending on the specific design of the lamellae on the one hand and the inner wall of the hollow profile on the other, the tips of the lamellae can dig into the inner wall of the hollow profile. However, it has been shown that connectors equipped with purely herringbone lamellae lose holding force in the hollow profile over time when inserted.However, since it is particularly economical not to insert the connectors into the hollow profiles immediately before the assembly of a spacer frame, but rather to manufacture assemblies consisting of hollow profiles and pre-inserted connectors and to store them for a longer period of time, especially for several months, until the spacer frame is assembled, this lack of fatigue strength is a serious disadvantage.

[0007] Therefore, more complexly shaped fixing elements were developed, such as those disclosed in DE 10 2012 004 043 B4. This document also discloses the possibility of providing only one side of the base body with the fixing elements in question.

[0008] The aforementioned, genre-defining publication also reveals more complex, namely T-shaped, fixing elements. These consist of a T-shaped stem oriented essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connector and a T-shaped crossbar oriented perpendicular to it, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the connector. However, this type of fixing element has proven largely unusable. Firstly, there is a risk that the edges of the hollow profile, when inserted, will catch under the end of the beam facing the free arm end and shear off the fixing element as it is inserted further. Secondly, the opposing beam ends of immediately adjacent fixing elements easily collide with each other, which hinders both the proper positioning of the fixing elements during insertion and their spreading when attempting to pull the connector out of the hollow profile. Task

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of fixing bodies which, on the one hand, enable particularly easy insertion of the connector into the hollow profile and, on the other hand, ensure a very long-term holding force between the hollow profile and the connector. Description of the invention

[0010] This problem is solved in conjunction with the features of the preamble of claim 1 by the fact that the stem has a convex curvature in the region of its free stem end, facing the free arm end, which transitions continuously into the flatter, i.e., with a larger radius of curvature, convexly curved outer surface of the beam. In simplified terms, the shape of the first fixing elements can therefore be roughly described as approximately L-shaped with a curved outer transition area between the L-stem and the L-beam, wherein the L-beam is oriented towards the molded arm end.

[0011] Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] When the connector according to the invention is inserted into the lumen of the hollow profile, the first fixing body closest to the free arm end collides with the lateral end face of the hollow profile in its curved transition area between stem and beam. Due to the curvature, the first fixing body can easily slip into the lumen of the hollow profile, even if the connector is inserted at a slight angle, whereby the actual contact area between the first fixing body and the hollow profile is minimized – also due to the curvature. This keeps the frictional forces opposing insertion low. With correct relative dimensioning of the connector and hollow profile, the first fixing bodies bend slightly in the area of ​​their respective stems during insertion, specifically towards the molded arm end.Due to the convex curvature extending across the entire outer surface of the beam, high lateral manufacturing tolerances can be compensated for. Regardless of whether the hollow profile fits the connector more tightly or loosely due to manufacturing tolerances, and whether the bending of the log is therefore greater or less pronounced, the size and orientation of the immediate contact area between the outer surface of the beam and the inner surface of the hollow profile are always approximately the same.

[0013] However, when attempting to pull the connector according to the invention out of the hollow profile, the trunk straightens up again, with the outer surface of the beam pressing against the inner surface of the hollow profile and generating a high frictional force that resists being pulled out. Here, too, significant manufacturing tolerances can be compensated for.

[0014] This mechanism is particularly efficient when, as preferably intended, the outer surface of the beam is oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the arm, such that the free end of the beam facing the molded arm end is further away from the base body than the end of the beam facing the free arm end and molded onto the free end of the stem. In other words, in addition to their outer curvature, the beams are slightly inclined to form chamfers that facilitate insertion.

[0015] The surface of the stem facing the free end of the arm can be largely flat, although a slight inclination in the insertion direction is particularly possible. This inclination, which is the opposite of the usual lamella inclination against the insertion direction in known connectors, increases the lateral forces generated when attempting to pull the connector out of the hollow profile. Without the curvature according to the invention in the transition area between the stem and the beam, this counterintuitive inclination could not be achieved, and the associated improvement in the holding force could not be realized.

[0016] As an alternative to the largely flat design of the stem surface facing the free end of the arm, the curve can be designed as a convexly arched bulge facing the free end of the arm. In other words, in this embodiment, the first fixing elements are foot-shaped, with the stem representing the ankle area, the aforementioned bulge the heel area, the outer surface of the beam the sole area, and the free end of the beam the toe area. The mechanism described above for amplifying the lateral forces that arise when the connector is pulled out of the hollow profile is further enhanced by this specific design of the first fixing elements.

[0017] The opposite surface of the stem, i.e., the surface facing the molded arm end, is preferably provided entirely with a monotonically concave curve that transitions smoothly into the more shallowly concave inner surface of the beam. In the foot model described above, the latter represents the instep. The continuous concave curve, extending across both the stem and the beam, allows for particularly easy attachment of the first fixing elements to the base body when inserting them into the hollow profile.

[0018] Advantageously, the outer surface of the beam is designed to have an outline with the basic shape of a trapezoid that widens symmetrically from the free end of the arm to the molded end. Functionally, this means that the frictional interaction between the first fixing element and the hollow profile increases disproportionately when the connector is inserted into the hollow profile. This allows any initial misalignments during assembly to be more easily tolerated and then corrected.

[0019] Preferably, the first fixing elements have two cover surfaces oriented perpendicular to the outer and inner surfaces of the beam, at least one of which is provided with a first fixing element toothing extending in the longitudinal direction of the beam. The cover surfaces thus each lie in a plane spanned by the longitudinal direction of the arm and the longitudinal direction of the beam. Preferably, the upper cover surface, i.e., the cover surface facing away from the bottom of the base body, carries said first fixing element toothing. The first fixing element toothing reduces the friction between the cover surface and the corresponding inner surface of the hollow profile to the cutting edges of the teeth, which facilitates insertion. Furthermore, with a suitable tooth inclination opposite to the insertion direction, an additional barbing effect is triggered, which makes it more difficult to pull the connector out of the hollow profile.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the outer surface of the first fixing elements can be provided with an additional second fixing element serration running perpendicular to the arm extension direction. In this area, the first fixing elements make particularly extensive contact with the inner wall of the hollow profile. The second fixing element serration reduces the friction between this outer surface of the beam and the corresponding inner surface of the hollow profile, thus facilitating insertion. Furthermore, with a suitable tooth inclination opposite to the insertion direction, an additional barb effect is triggered, making it more difficult to pull the connector out of the hollow profile. This effect is further enhanced by the lateral spreading of the first fixing elements during withdrawal, which presses the teeth of the second fixing element serration against the inner wall of the hollow profile.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first fixing bodies is associated with a second fixing body adjacent to it in the vertical direction, i.e., transversely to both the arm and the longitudinal direction of the stem. This second fixing body can be designed as a preferably rigid, and in particular, laterally angled, barb-like lamella projecting obliquely to the arm extension direction. This design is due to the frequently encountered shaping of hollow profiles with varying widths along their height. In areas of particularly narrow profile widths, there is insufficient space to form the inventive shape of the first fixing bodies. Due to the given material properties of the thermoplastics preferably used to form the connectors according to the invention, arbitrary scaling, in particular arbitrary downsizing, is not possible.The first fixing elements are therefore reserved for height ranges with large profile widths. However, in order to create an interaction between the connector and the hollow profile that improves the overall fatigue strength even in height ranges with small profile widths, the aforementioned second fixing elements are provided, of which preferably exactly one is assigned to each first fixing element, advantageously fitting directly against its stem, preferably merging into it laterally.

[0022] The advantages associated with the inventive design of the first fixing elements, with regard to the achieved holding force, make it possible to limit the arrangement of such first fixing elements—or indeed of fixing elements in general—to one side of the base body. Such a connector arm is therefore only fitted with said fixing elements on one side. This allows the base body to be made wider, which, particularly in the case of a base body consisting only of a thin base and possibly narrow side ribs extending from it, leads to the formation of a particularly wide molecular sieve channel. A "molecular sieve" is understood by those skilled in the art to be a granular, hygroscopic substrate with which the spacer frames of insulating glass units are typically filled to bind moisture and prevent condensation in the space between the panes.When filling the spacer frames with molecular sieve, the connectors linking the hollow profiles often represent constrictions that impede the flow.

[0023] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specific description and the drawings. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] They show: Figure 1: a first perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector according to the invention, Figure 2: a second perspective view of the connector of Fig. 1 Figure 3: a bottom view of the connector of Fig. 1 Figure 4: a side view of the connector of Fig. 1 Figure 5: a front view of the connector of Fig. 1 Figure 6: a top view of the connector of Fig. 1 Figure 7: a detailed view of a first fixing body of the connector of Fig. 1Figure 8: a side view of a second embodiment of a connector according to the invention, and Figure 9: a top view of the connector. Figure 8 . Description of preferred embodiments

[0025] Identical reference symbols in the figures indicate identical or analogous elements.

[0026] The Figures 1 to 6 show different representations of a particularly preferred embodiment of a connector 10 according to the invention. Figure 7 Figure 10 shows a detailed representation of a first fixing element of this connector. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the figures are to be described collectively below, whereby, for the sake of clarity, not all elements in all drawings are labelled with reference numerals. However, a person skilled in the art will easily be able to make the correct identification by comparing the drawings together.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 10 is designed as a linear connector having two connector arms 12 that are collinear with each other and integrally formed on both sides of a central node area 14. Thus, each connector arm 12 has an integrally formed arm end and a free arm end.

[0028] Each connector arm 12 comprises a base body 100 and laterally projecting fixing bodies molded onto it, wherein in the illustrated embodiment first fixing bodies 200 second fixing bodies 300 and third fixing bodies 400 are provided.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the base body 100 has a U-shaped profile, as is particularly evident in Figure 5It comprises a base 102 and side webs 104 projecting perpendicularly from it on both sides. The base 102 and the side webs 104 together form a so-called molecular sieve channel. At each free end of the arm, the base 102 is provided with a groove 106 and chamfered like a cutting edge. The side webs 104 are also provided with chamfers 108 in this area. These features serve, in slightly different ways, as chamfers for the interaction of the connector 10 with a hollow profile (not shown) or a molecular sieve flow (also not shown). The side webs are equipped with serrations 110 on their upper edges.

[0030] On the outer side of one of its side webs 104, first fixing elements 200 are integrally formed on the base body 100. The first fixing elements 200 are essentially L-shaped, as shown particularly in the Figures 3, 6 and especially evident in Figure 7As shown, each first fixing body 200 comprises a stem 202, the molded end of which is attached to the side web 104, and a beam 204 is molded to its other, free end. While the stem 202 extends essentially laterally, i.e., transversely to the longitudinal direction of the connector arm, the beam 204 extends essentially in the longitudinal direction of the arm. Its free end points opposite to the insertion direction, i.e., away from the free end of the arm or towards the molded end of the arm.

[0031] The special feature of the present invention lies in the specific shape of the first fixing bodies 200. The transition area from the stem 202 to the beam 204 is provided with a convex curve 206 in the direction of the free arm end. In the three first fixing bodies 200 located axially further inwards, i.e., closer to the molded arm end, this curve 206 is formed as a heel-like bulge 208. In contrast, no such bulge is provided in the first fixing body 200 located closest to the free arm end. Here, the surface of the stem 202 facing the free arm end is slightly inclined in the direction of the free arm end, but is essentially flat and transitions into the aforementioned convex curve 206 without any special bulge. On the opposite side, the surface of the stem 202, from the molded stem end, across the free stem end, to the free beam end, is provided with a monotonically concave curve 210.

[0032] The lateral outer surface of the beam 204, i.e. the outer surface of the beam, is also provided with a convex curvature 212, but this has a significantly larger radius of curvature than the convex curvature 206 of the stem 202, into which it smoothly transitions.

[0033] Especially in the Figures 6 and 7 The first fixing bodies 200, on the recognizable upper surface, are provided with a first fixing body toothing 214 oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the stem. Its sawtooth-like profile is particularly evident in Figure 4 recognizable.

[0034] As particularly in Figure 4 As can be clearly seen, the outer surface of the beam is essentially trapezoidal in outline, with the narrower side of the preferably symmetrical trapezoid facing the free end and the wider side of the trapezoid facing the molded arm end.

[0035] Below the first fixation bodies 200, second fixation bodies 300 are arranged. These extend parallel to the trunk 202 of each of the first fixation bodies 200 and are designed as rigid, tooth-like beveled lamellae. They extend significantly less far laterally outward than the first fixation bodies 200.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, additional, third fixing bodies 400 are provided near the respective molded arm end, which are designed as preferably elastic lamellae and beveled against the insertion direction.

[0037] The node area 14 between the two connector arms 12 is provided on one of its lateral outer sides with so-called stop sails 500, the form and function of which are generally known to those skilled in the art.

[0038] The entire connector 10 is preferably manufactured in one piece and using a uniform material in an injection molding process made of thermoplastic material.

[0039] The Figures 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of a connector 10 according to the invention, which is subsequently described only on the basis of its differences from the embodiment of the Figures 1 to 7 The following will be discussed. In this embodiment, the first fixing bodies 200 have a second fixing body serration 216 on their lateral outer surface, which, in the final assembly position, rests against the lateral inner surface of the hollow profile. This creates additional resistance when attempting to pull the connector 10 out of the hollow profile. Particularly with soft or soft-coated hollow profile material, the second fixing body serration 216 can dig into the hollow profile wall.

[0040] A further difference from the previously described embodiment lies in the sequence of different fixing elements along each connector arm 12 and in details of their design. Here, the first fixing elements 200 are not paired with second fixing elements 300 arranged below them. Rather, this is the case for some, in the illustrated embodiment two, of the third fixing elements 400. Furthermore, two third fixing elements 400 are arranged between the axially innermost first fixing elements 200 and the knot area 12. In addition, the first and third fixing elements 200 and 400, respectively, are alternately distributed along the length of the connector arms 12. In this embodiment as well, the connector is fundamentally asymmetrical. However, its outer web surface, which does not support the first to third fixing elements 200, 300, 400, is not smooth but is also reinforced with fixing elements, namely fourth fixing elements 600.These are designed as rigid shark teeth inclined axially inwards.

[0041] To reliably prevent the escape of molecular sieve material even if the joint between the interconnected hollow profiles is not completely closed, the molecular sieve channel in this embodiment is spanned by a bridge 700 in the area 12. This bridge has a groove 106 at its edges, which is omitted at the end edges of the base 106 in this embodiment.

[0042] Furthermore, reference can be made to the explanation of the first embodiment.

[0043] Of course, the embodiments discussed in the detailed description and shown in the figures represent only illustrative examples of the present invention. In light of the disclosure herein, a wide range of variations is available to those skilled in the art. In particular, the connector according to the invention can also be designed as a T-connector, a cross connector, or a plug-in connector. Symmetrical embodiments are also conceivable, i.e., embodiments equipped on both sides with fixing elements 200, 300, 400, and / or 600 and / or stop lugs 500. It is also conceivable to omit at least one or both side webs 104 for at least a portion of the length, so that in this case the fixing elements 200, 300, 400, and / or 600 are integrally formed directly on the base 102. Reference symbol list

[0044] 10 Connector 12 Connector arm of 10 14 Node area 100 Base body 102 Bottom 104 Side web 106 Groove 108 Chamfer 110 Web edge serration 200 First fixing body 202 Trunk 204 Beam 206 Convex curve of 202 208 Bulge 210 Concave curve of 202 / 204 212 Convex curve of 204 214 First fixing body serration 216 Second fixing body serration 300 Second fixing body 400 Third fixing body 500 Stop wing 600 Fourth fixing body 700 Bridge

Claims

1. Plug connector (10) with at least one connector arm (12) molded to a node region (14) and extending correspondingly in the longitudinal direction of the arm between a molded arm end and a free arm end, comprising a base body (100) from which a plurality of first fixing bodies (200) project laterally outwards, wherein each first fixing body (200) comprises - a stem (202) molded at one of its ends to the base body (100), which stem extends between a molded stem end and a free stem end in a longitudinal direction of the stem which is predominantly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm, and - a beam (204) molded to the free end of the stem, which beam extends in a longitudinal direction of the beam that is predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the arm and has an outer beam surface facing away from the base body (100) and an inner beam surface facing the base body (100), characterized in that the stem (202) has in the region of its free stem end a convex curvature (206) facing the free arm end, which curvature merges continuously into the flatter convexly curved outer beam surface2. Plug connector (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the curvature (206) is designed as a convexly curved bulge (208) facing the free arm end.

3. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer beam surface is orientated obliquely to the longitudinal direction of the arm in such a way that the free stem end facing the molded arm end is spaced further away from the base body (100) than the stem end facing the free arm end and molded to the free stem end4. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the stem (202) facing the molded arm end is completely provided with a monotonously concave curvature (210), which merges continuously into the flatter concavely curved inner beam surface5. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer beam surface has an outline with the basic shape of a trapezoid widening from the free arm end to the molded arm end.

6. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first fixing body (200) has two cover surfaces aligned perpendicular to the outer and inner beam surface, of which cover surfaces at least one is provided with a first fixing body toothing (214) extending in the longitudinal direction of the stem7. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer beam surface of the first fixing body (200) is provided with an additional second fixing body toothing (216) extending perpendicularly to the extension direction of the arm.

8. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the first fixing bodies (200) is assigned a second fixing body (300) which is adjacent to it in the height direction and is designed as a barb-like lamella projecting laterally at an angle to the extension direction of the arm.

9. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and - if present - second fixing bodies (200, 300) are molded exclusively on one side of the base body (100).

10. Plug connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (100) has a base (102) and two side webs (204) projecting perpendicularly thereto from the base body, the first and - if present - second fixing bodies (200, 300) being molded to at least one of the side webs (204).

11. Plug connector (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the base body (100) has a base (102) on which the first fixing bodies (200) are molded directly.

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