Corner connector with expanding element

Abstract

A corner connector for joining two mitered hollow chamber profiles of windows, doors or the like, preferably made of weldable plastic, is described, wherein the corner connector (1) comprises: a shaft part (2) for insertion into one of the hollow chamber profiles (56), which extends along a longitudinal axis (16) defining an axial direction (12) and has two longitudinal sides (52, 54) and two cover sides (26, 28), wherein a wedge structure is formed on at least one of the longitudinal sides; a spreading element (6) for arrangement between at least the longitudinal side and the hollow chamber profile (56), wherein the spreading element (6) has a counter-wedge structure which interacts with the wedge structure in such a way that a displacement of the spreading element (6) on the longitudinal side pushes the spreading element (6) outwards transversely to the longitudinal side and thus clamps the shaft part (2) transversely to the longitudinal sides (52, 54) in the hollow chamber profile (56). and a clamping element (4),which is axially displaceable on the shaft part (2) and is designed such that the axial displacement of the clamping body (4) displaces the spreading element (6) on its longitudinal side, wherein the clamping body (4) carries the spreading element (6) with it in the axial direction (12) and thus causes an axial displacement of the spreading element (6), and the wedge structure and the counter-wedge structure are aligned such that the axial displacement of the spreading element (6) pushes the spreading element (6) outwards transversely to the longitudinal side.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a corner connector for connecting two mitred hollow chamber profiles of windows, doors or the like., wherein the corner connector comprises: a shaft part for insertion into one of the hollow chamber profiles, which extends along a longitudinal axis defining an axial direction and has two longitudinal sides and two cover sides, wherein a wedge structure is formed on at least one of the longitudinal sides; an expansion element for arrangement between at least the longitudinal side and the hollow chamber profile, wherein the expansion element has a counter-wedge structure which interacts with the wedge structure such that a displacement of the expansion element on the longitudinal side presses the expansion element outwards transversely to the longitudinal side and thus clamps the shaft part transversely to the longitudinal sides in the hollow chamber profile; and a clamping body which is axially displaceable on the shaft part and is formed such that the axial displacement of the clamping body displaces the expansion element on the longitudinal side.

[0002] Corner connectors are used to connect two mitered hollow chamber profiles in which they are fixed. An important requirement is that the corner connector inserted into a hollow chamber profile is fixed particularly firmly within the hollow chamber profile so that the corner connector can fulfill its intended stiffening and fastening function. For this purpose, corner connectors are known that are driven into the corresponding hollow chamber profile with a slight excess and additionally secured there with screws. An alternative approach, which is advantageous in terms of installation precision, is clampable corner connectors. These can be inserted into the hollow chamber profile, i.e., have an outer dimension that is slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the hollow chamber profile, and are then clamped in the hollow chamber profile.

[0003] A new class of these clampable corner connectors was created by EP 0 698 720 A1, which features the aforementioned shaft part and the aforementioned clamping body. The latter's axial displacement raises the clamping body relative to the shaft part and thus clamps the shaft part in the hollow chamber profile. The aforementioned publication provides for inclined surfaces as a wedge structure. Understandably, these wedge structures can also be designed differently, for example, with round surfaces, as provided in DE 10 2007 030 618 B3.

[0004] In these designs, the clamping body ensures reliable clamping of the shaft part in the hollow chamber profile, but this clamping only acts in one direction, namely transversely to the upper cover side, at which the clamping body is lifted during axial displacement.

[0005] DE 10 2007 030 618 B3 represents a further development in this regard by providing an expansion element. It is designed as a downwardly open U-shaped component that is inserted over the shaft part. The clamping body lies between the cover side of the shaft element and the base (the crossbar) of the U. The clamping body lifts the expansion element during its axial displacement. This lifts the base of the "U" and pushes it away from the upper cover side against the inner wall of the hollow chamber profile. This clamps the shaft part transversely to the upper cover side. The expansion element further comprises two expansion plates, which form the legs of the "U" and are located on the long sides of the shaft part. The long sides of the shaft part and the inner surfaces of the expansion plates facing these long sides are designed with inclined surfaces that press the expansion plates outward from the long sides when the expansion element is lifted by the clamping body.In this way, the shaft part is also braced transversely to the long sides.

[0006] However, the design according to DE 10 2007 030 618 B3 has the problem that, on the one hand, the expansion plates are intended to move outward parallel to the long sides of the shaft part, but on the other hand, they are attached to the base of the "U," which is pushed upwards. DE 20 2008 008 250 U1, considered in the generic term, therefore forms the expansion element, which has the same effect as in DE 10 2007 030 618 B3, as two L-shaped bodies between which the clamping body is located. The vertical line of the "L" forms the expansion plates. The transverse line of the "L" forms a short leg and is located on the cover side of the shaft part. Compared to DE 10 2007 030 618 B3, the base of the "U" is thus severed. The clamping body engages under each short leg to raise it. This allows any L-shaped body to be designed with a flexible connection as a solid joint between the short leg and the spreader plate.

[0007] However, the implementation of this flexural hinge poses problems: On the one hand, the connection must be flexible so that the expansion plates can move slightly outward in the area of the connection and does not hinder lifting and thus bracing in the direction perpendicular to the deck sides. On the other hand, the connection must be rigid to pull the expansion plates upward and achieve good bracing in the direction perpendicular to the long sides. This creates a design conflict for the two bracing directions.

[0008] DE 100 39 403 C1 further develops the approach of EP 0 698 720 A1 in that the clamping element not only lifts transversely to the cover sides, but also clamps itself at the upper edge of the hollow chamber profile between the long sides of the hollow chamber profile due to a spring-loaded end that expands when pulled out. This can cause the corner connector to tilt.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a generic corner connector in such a way that the bracing is improved in both bracing directions.

[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by a corner connector according to claim 1. The subclaims relate to preferred developments.

[0011] The corner connector is generically designed for connecting two mitered hollow chamber profiles of windows, doors, or the like. Such hollow chamber profiles preferably comprise weldable plastic. Most hollow chamber profiles additionally contain a metal profile to achieve greater rigidity. The corner connector has a shaft part for insertion into one of the hollow chamber profiles. The shaft part extends along a longitudinal axis which defines an axial direction. It has two long sides and two cover sides. A wedge structure is formed on at least one of the long sides. Arranged between this long side and the hollow chamber profile is an expansion element which has a counter-wedge structure which interacts with the wedge structure such that a displacement of the expansion element on the long side presses the expansion element outwards transversely to the long side.This displacement clamps the shaft section transversely to the longitudinal sides in the hollow chamber profile. The axial displacement of the expansion element is achieved by a clamping element that can be moved axially along the shaft section. Its axial displacement displaces the expansion element along the longitudinal side.

[0012] According to the invention, the axial displacement of the clamping body carries the expansion element along in the axial direction. The displacement of the expansion element, which pushes the expansion element outward transversely to the longitudinal side, is therefore an axial displacement and not a lifting action, as in the generic prior art. The cooperating wedge and counter-wedge structures are understandably aligned such that the axial displacement of the expansion element pushes the expansion element outward transversely to the longitudinal side.

[0013] Since the expansion element does not need to be lifted and its axial movement causes the expansion transverse to the longitudinal sides, the design conflict is avoided. A flexible and therefore ultimately fragile flexural joint on the expansion element is no longer required.

[0014] Unlike the prior art, the wedge structures do not act through inclined surfaces parallel to the axial direction, but rather through cooperating wedge structures that cause movement essentially perpendicular to the axial direction. For example, wedge or inclined surfaces are used that are inclined relative to the axial direction.

[0015] Because the expansion element is pushed outward when axially displaced, its position relative to the cover sides remains essentially unchanged, reliably clamping the shaft part transversely to the long side not only in the area of the cover side where the shaft part is located, but also in the area of the opposite and thus lower cover side. This also ensures reliable clamping transversely to the long sides in this area of the lower cover side of the shaft part.

[0016] It was further demonstrated that play on the lower cover side of the shaft section, which is opposite the cover side, can now be easily eliminated, as the expansion element can essentially maintain its position relative to the lower cover side of the shaft section. This is impossible with the generic expansion plates because they are raised, thus reducing the bracing effect in the area of the lower cover side of the shaft section.

[0017] For the spreading effect according to the invention, it is sufficient to arrange one spreading plate on one longitudinal side of the shaft part. However, for reasons of symmetry, it is particularly preferred to design the spreading element as two spreading plates, one of which is arranged on each longitudinal side. Any reference below to such a spreading element having two spreading plates, which can each be separate components or connected to each other in the form of a bracket, is to be understood merely as an example.

[0018] The principle of the expansion element can particularly preferably be combined with the clamping body performing the clamping in the orthogonal direction, i.e. transversely to the cover sides or along the long sides. The clamping body is then arranged on an upper cover side of the shaft part. It has a clamping wedge structure on its underside facing the shaft part, and the shaft part has a corresponding clamping counter-wedge structure on the upper cover side. These two structures are designed such that the clamping body is pushed away from the upper cover side by its axial displacement and thus clamps the shaft part transversely to the cover sides or along the long sides in the hollow chamber profile. In this way, the clamping transversely to the cover sides is taken over by the clamping body, and the clamping transversely to the long sides by the expansion element. This functional separation is particularly preferred.

[0019] The displacement of the expansion element is caused by the axial displacement of the clamping body. Therefore, the clamping body and expansion element are preferably separate components that are coupled for axial movement by coupling elements (e.g., driver structures) formed on the two components. For axial movement, the clamping body and expansion element are preferably coupled in such a way that play exists transversely to the axial direction to the extent that the expansion element moves outward. This further avoids the aforementioned design conflict.

[0020] To enable the clamping body to drive the expansion element during its axial displacement, it is particularly preferred that the expansion element and the clamping body engage with each other via at least one projection and at least one recess. The aforementioned coupling (e.g., the aforementioned play) can be easily provided. For example, the projection can be arranged on the expansion element, and the recess on the clamping body. It is particularly preferred to design the expansion element in an L-shape, with a long leg of the "L" extending along the long side and the short leg overlapping the upper cover side and having the projection that engages in the recess on the clamping body. Of course, the arrangement of projection and recess can also be inverted, so that the clamping body has a projection that engages in a recess in the short leg of the L-shaped expansion element.Likewise, it is also possible for the clamping body to have a side surface which interacts with an end face of the short leg of the L-shaped expansion element in such a way that the axial displacement of the clamping body axially entrains the expansion element.

[0021] Since the clamping body, in the embodiment in which it clamps the shaft part transversely to the cover sides in the hollow chamber profile, moves parallel to the long side by an amount necessary for this clamping, i.e. is raised relative to the upper cover side, it is preferred to design the expansion element such that it engages over the upper cover side and is provided with a lifting structure that also lifts the expansion element by essentially the same amount by which the clamping body is lifted, so that the recess and projection reliably engage with each other. It should be emphasized that this lifting of the expansion element is not related to the expansion element being pushed outwards transversely to the long side. The axial displacement of the expansion element is still crucial for this. The slight lifting merely serves to reliably ensure that the expansion element is carried along in the axial direction by the clamping body.The lifting of the expansion element by the lifting structure therefore does not have to keep the distance between the clamping element and the expansion element completely constant. Rather, a consistency sufficient to ensure that the expansion element is carried along by the clamping element is sufficient. It is therefore sufficient that the distance, in particular the distance measured transversely to the axis, remains essentially constant. "Essentially" refers, for example, to the length of a projection that engages a recess to achieve the carrying. This projection must not slip out of the recess despite the clamping element being lifted, for example, for bracing transversely to the deck sides.

[0022] To ensure particularly reliable bracing across the long sides (the height represents the dimension across the deck sides), it is preferred that the expansion element extends along the long side both over the upper third, which is closer to the clamping body, and into the lower third of the long side. During axial displacement, the lower edge of the expansion element preferably remains within a band that constitutes the lower 10% of the long side.

[0023] The wedge structure on the shaft part can be implemented particularly simply by having the shaft part taper along its longitudinal axis in a wedge section, which forms the wedge structure. The expansion element, with a corresponding counter-wedge, can slide along this wedge structure when it is moved axially.

[0024] The axial movement of the clamping body and the axial movement of the expansion element usually occurs from the hollow chamber profile, i.e., toward the mitered surface formed on the shaft part. To drive the axial movement, the clamping body can be equipped with a detachable pull tab, a pull eye, etc., or a thread into which a screw engages.

[0025] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which also disclose features essential to the invention. These exemplary embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. For example, a description of an embodiment with a large number of elements or components should not be interpreted to mean that all of these elements or components are necessary for implementation. Rather, other embodiments may also contain alternative elements and components, fewer elements or components, or additional elements or components. Elements or components of different embodiments may be combined with one another unless otherwise stated. Modifications and variations described for one of the exemplary embodiments may also be applicable to other embodiments.To avoid repetition, identical or corresponding elements in different figures are designated by the same reference numerals and are not explained more than once. The figures show: . Fig. 1 an exploded view of a corner connector in a first embodiment, Fig. 2 and 4 the corner connector of the Fig. 1 in the assembled state in two different spread positions, Fig. 3 and 5 the corner connector of the Fig. 1 in sectional view in these two spread positions, Fig. 6 and 7 a longitudinal section of the corner connector of the Fig. 1 in these two spread positions, Fig. 8 a modification of the corner connector of the Fig. 1 regarding the design of an expansion element and Fig. 9 and 10 further developments of the corner connectors according to Fig. 1 and 2 regarding a one-piece design of the expansion element.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a corner connector 1, which comprises a shaft part 2, which is inserted into a (in Fig. 1 The shaft part 2 is inserted into the interior (not shown) of a hollow chamber profile, which is to be mitered to another hollow chamber profile. A clamping body 4 serves to clamp the shaft part 2 in the hollow chamber profile in a vertical direction. Additionally, a spreading element 6 is provided for transverse clamping. This element is designed in two parts and comprises two spreading plates 8, 10.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows the assembled state of the corner connector 1. In this state, the corner connector 1 is first inserted into the hollow chamber profile (in Fig. 1 and 2not shown). The clamping body 4 is then pulled out along an axial direction 12 opposite a miter surface 14 of the shaft part 2 and thus parallel to the axial longitudinal extent 16 of the clamping body 4. The pull tab shown, which protrudes from the miter surface 14, is used for this purpose. The clamping body 4 is lifted in the vertical direction 27 due to a (clamping) wedge structure formed on the underside of the clamping body 4. In the illustrated embodiment, this wedge structure has two inclined surfaces 18, 20, which interact with a (clamping) counter-wedge structure, comprising inclined surfaces 22, 24, which is formed on the upper cover side 26 of the shaft part 2.The displacement of the clamping body 4 along the axial direction 12 thus clamps the shaft part 2 between the upper cover side 26 and a lower cover side 28, since the upper side 30 of the clamping body 4 is pushed away from the upper cover side 26 and pressed against the inner wall of the hollow chamber profile.

[0029] During this axial movement, the clamping body 4 carries the expansion element 6 along in the axial direction. For this purpose, the expansion plates 8, 10 are each L-shaped and engage with the short legs 32, 34 the upper cover side 26, which is formed here with corresponding recesses 36, 38. Furthermore, projections 40, 42 are formed on the upper legs 32, 34, which are inserted into corresponding recesses 44, 46 on the clamping body 4. As a result, the clamping body 4 carries the expansion plates 8, 10 along in the axial direction during the axial displacement. Wedge surfaces are formed on the inside of the expansion plates 8, 10, of which in the perspective view of the Fig. 1 only the wedge surface 48 of the expansion plate 10 is visible. During the axial movement, they slide on corresponding wedge surfaces, of which only the wedge surface 50 is visible, which are provided on the longitudinal sides 52, 54 of the shaft part 2. Thus, during axial movement by the clamping body 4, the expansion plates 8, 10 are pressed outwards relative to the longitudinal sides 52, 54 by the wedge surfaces and clamp the shaft part 2 transversely to the longitudinal sides 52, 54 (and parallel to the vertical direction 26 and the cover sides 26, 28). The expansion element thus exerts a transverse effect.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 16 in the area of the end of the shaft part 2 in the state of Fig. 2 , ie with the clamping body 4 not yet axially displaced. It can be seen that there is a gap between the outer surfaces of the expansion plates 8, 10 and the inner surfaces of the hollow chamber profile 56, of which only an inner and stiffening metal tube is shown here, in which the shaft part 2 is clamped.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a representation similar to the Fig. 2 , however, the clamping body 4 is already axially displaced. One can see the axial displacement of the expansion plate 8 and the clamping body 4 in comparison to the Fig. 2 This can also be seen in the cross-sectional view of the Fig. 5 , which in their view the Fig. 3 Now, the outer sides of the expansion plates 8, 10 rest against the inner sides of the hollow chamber profile 56. The same applies to the upper side 3 of the clamping body 4. The shaft part 2 is thus clamped in two orthogonal spatial directions in the hollow chamber profile 56, namely over the entire extension of the long sides as well as over the entire extension of the cover sides.

[0032] The Fig. 6 and 7 show the unstressed or stressed state in a sectional view transverse to the long sides 52, 54 at the level of the long axis 16. Fig. 6 shows the relaxed, Fig. 7 the clamped state in which the expansion plate 8, 10 has slid onto the corresponding wedge surface on the long side 54, 52 of the shaft part 2 and has been pressed outwards accordingly.

[0033] Since the clamping body 4 in the design according to Fig. 1 lifts during axial displacement, the short legs 34, 32 of the expansion element 6 are provided with (lifting) inclined surfaces on their undersides, of which in the perspective view of the Fig. 1 only the inclined surface 58 on the short leg 34 is visible. They slide on corresponding inclined surfaces 60, 62 formed on the upper side of the shaft part 2, and ensure that the projections 40, 42 lie reliably in the recesses 44, 46 during axial displacement.

[0034] These inclined surfaces 58 are an example of a lifting structure which ensures that the transverse axial distance (height position) between the spreader plates 8, 10, namely their short legs 32, 34, and the clamping body 4 remains substantially the same during the axial displacement.

[0035] This measure is not required in the design according to Fig. 8 , in which the expansion element 6 is modified in such a way that the short legs 32, 34 encompass the clamping body 4 from above, so that the projections 40, 42 are inserted into the recesses 44, 46 from above. The clamping body 4 has corresponding recesses 64, 66 for this purpose, so that the short legs 32, 34 do not protrude beyond the upper side 30 of the clamping body 4. The expansion element 6 thus continues not to participate in the bracing transversely to the cover sides. However, the expansion plates 8, 10 are also raised by the corresponding amount during the axial displacement of the clamping body 4, so that the projections 40, 42 reliably remain in the recesses 44, 46. Otherwise, the design corresponds to the Fig. 8 as described in Figures 1ff.

[0036] Fig. 9 shows a modification with regard to the design of the expansion element 6, which is now formed in one piece, in that the expansion plates 8, 10 are connected via a bracket 68, on the upper side of which the projections 40, 42 are arranged. Fig. 10 shows this design for the variant with projections 40, 42 engaging from above.

[0037] All wedge structures described here are preferably designed to be locking, i.e., with a suitable microstructure, e.g., corrugation. This applies in particular to the wedge surfaces (including 48 and 50), which provide the transverse action of the expansion element 6. Thus, the axial position of the expansion element 6 can be fixed without the need for the wedge structures, which push the expansion plates 8, 10 away from the longitudinal sides.

[0038] As far as wedge structures and counter-wedge structures are concerned, these refer to structures arranged on two bodies and cooperating with each other, which convert a displacement of one body relative to the other in a direction of displacement into a movement of the other body perpendicular to the direction of displacement. In the embodiments, cooperating inclined surfaces are used as wedge or counter-wedge structures. However, this is not the only possible implementation. Rounded surfaces, non-planar slopes, or even structures with levers, etc., can also be considered as cooperating wedge and counter-wedge structures.

Claims

1. Corner connector for connecting two miter-cut hollow chamber profiles of windows, doors or the like, preferably made of weldable plastic, wherein the corner connector (1) comprises: - a shaft part (2) for insertion into one of the hollow chamber profiles (56), which extends along a longitudinal axis (16) defining an axial direction (12) and has two longitudinal sides (52, 54) and two cover sides (26, 28), wherein a wedge structure (50) is formed on at least one of the longitudinal sides, - an expanding element (6) for arrangement between at least the longitudinal side and the hollow chamber profile (56), wherein the expanding element (6) has a counter-wedge structure (48) which interacts with the wedge structure (50) in such a way that a displacement of the expanding element (6) on the longitudinal side presses the expanding element (6) outwards transversely to the longitudinal side and thus braces the shaft part (2) transversely to the longitudinal sides (52, 54) in the hollow chamber profile (56), and - a clamping body (4) which is axially displaceable on the shaft part (2) and is designed in such a way that the axial displacement of the clamping body (4) displaces the expanding element (6) on the longitudinal side, characterized in that - the clamping body (4) entrains the expanding element (6) in the axial direction (12) during its axial displacement and thus causes an axial displacement of the expanding element (6), and - the wedge structure (50) and the counter-wedge structure (48) are aligned in such a way that the axial displacement of the expanding element (6) presses the expanding element (6) outwards transversely to the longitudinal side.

2. Corner connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping body (4) is arranged on an upper (26) of the cover sides (26, 28) of the shaft part (2) and has at least one clamping wedge structure (18, 20) on its underside (28) facing the shaft part (2), wherein the shaft part (2) has a clamping counter-wedge structure (22, 24) on the upper cover side (26), and the clamping wedge structure (18, 20) and clamping counter-wedge structure (22, 24) are designed in such a way that the clamping body (4) is pressed away from the upper cover side (26) by its axial displacement and clamps the shaft part (2) transversely to the cover sides (26, 28) in the hollow chamber profile (56).

3. Corner connector according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the expanding element (6) and the clamping body (4) engage in one another by means of at least one projection (40, 42) and at least one recess (36, 38), via which the clamping body (4) entrains the expanding element (6) in the axial direction (12).

4. Corner connector according to a combination of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the expanding element (6) engages over the shaft part (2) on the upper cover side (26) and is provided with a lifting structure, preferably designed as a lifting wedge structure (58), which lifts the expanding element (6) relative to the upper cover side (26) during the axial movement of the clamping body (4) and keeps the transverse axial distance between the clamping body (4) and the expanding element (6) essentially constant.

5. Corner connector according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the expanding element (6) extends along the longitudinal side (52, 54) both over the upper third of the longitudinal side (52, 54), which is closer to the clamping body (4), and into the lower third of the longitudinal side (52, 54), which is further away from the clamping body (4).

6. Corner connector according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the expanding element (6) comprises two expanding plates (8, 10), each of which is arranged on one of the longitudinal sides (52, 54) of the shaft part (2), wherein each expanding plate (8, 10) has the counter-wedge structure (48) on its surface facing the longitudinal side and each longitudinal side of the shaft part (2) has the wedge structure (50).

7. Corner connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the two expanding plates (8, 10) are separate components which the clamping body (4) entrains in the axial direction (12) during its axial displacement.

8. Corner connector according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the shaft part (2) tapers along the longitudinal axis (16) on the longitudinal side (52, 54) in a wedge section which forms the wedge structure (50).

9. Corner connector according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the expanding element (6) and the clamping body (4) are designed as separate components and have coupling elements (40-46) which couple the expanding element (6) to the clamping body (4) for axial entrainment.

10. Corner connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the coupling elements are designed as carrier structures (40-46).

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