Variable clamp adapter

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which comprises a housing (1) which has an insertion channel (6) extending in the axial direction (6) for inserting a free end of a slide bar (15) of a clamp, wherein the slide bar (15) can be axially secured to the housing (1) by means of a lock element (7) which can be brought into a release position, in which the slide bar (15) can be removed from the device, with a stabilising element (25) having an insertion opening (5) and a stabilising flank arrangement (25) which is adjacent to the insertion opening and is adapted to the cross-section contour of the slide bar (15), for supporting surface portions of the slide bar (15). According to the invention, the stabilising element is fastened to the housing (1) in a rotatable manner and has several angle-offset stabilising flank arrangements (25) which are adapted to the outline contours of different slide bars (15).

Description

Description Variable clamp adapter field of technology

[0001] The invention relates to a device with a housing which has an insertion channel extending in an axial direction for inserting a free end of a slide rail of a clamping clamp, wherein the slide rail can be axially clamped to the housing by means of a locking element which can be brought into a release position in which the slide rail can be removed from the device, with a stabilizing element having an insertion opening and a stabilizing flank arrangement adapted to the cross-sectional contour of the slide rail for contacting surface sections of the slide rail. State of the art

[0002] WO 2014 / 118379 describes such a device. The housing described therein has two diverging insertion openings, each with an adjoining insertion channel for inserting a free end of a rail. A stabilizing element can be inserted into each of these openings. The stabilizing element has an insertion opening with stabilizing flanks adapted to the rectangular cross-sectional contour of a slide rail, reducing the free opening cross-section of the housing's insertion channel. This allows a slide rail with a smaller cross-sectional contour to be inserted into the channel. The stabilizing element has a stabilizing flank arrangement adapted to the cross-sectional contour of only one slide rail. When using slide rails with different cross-sectional contours, the stabilizing element must be replaced. This results in the... The servant always has to use a variety of different stabilizing elements.

[0003] From DE 101 31966 Al, a clamping jaw is known which can be released at one end of a slide rail of a clamping clamp with a locking device and which has an insertion opening that is adapted only to a cross-sectional contour.

[0004] The state of the art also includes DE 202022101 658 Ul, US 2008 / 0256775 Al, DE 202009013416 Ul and US 2017 / 0043453 Al. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of further developing one of the previously described devices of the generic type in a way that is advantageous for use and of expanding its range of applications.

[0006] The problem is solved by the invention specified in the claims.

[0007] The dependent claims are not only advantageous further developments of the invention characterized in the dependent claims, but also represent independent solutions to the problem.

[0008] The primary purpose of the device is to use it as an adapter for sliding rails with differing cross-sectional contours. For this purpose, the stabilizing element features several stabilizing flank arrangements adapted to these different cross-sectional contours. The stabilizing flank arrangements can be broad and narrow sides, at least to a certain extent. The stabilizing flanks partially grip one narrow side of the slide rail. Two diametrically opposed stabilizing flank arrangements each encompass one narrow side of the slide rail. These stabilizing flank arrangements rest against the narrow and broad sides of the slide rail with only a small gap to absorb torques generated by the clamping force applied to the clamping clamp and prevent wobbling. The various stabilizing flanks can be arranged at angular offsets from each other and can optionally be aligned with the insertion channel of the housing by rotating the stabilizing element. This means that the stabilizing element, in conjunction with the housing, can be moved or adjusted to different positions. This is achieved with minimal play to prevent wobbling of the slide rail inserted into the device.Alternatively, the stabilizing element can also be repositionable, for example, removed from the housing and reinserted in a different position. The stabilizing flank arrangements can define open areas with different widths and / or lengths, in particular rectangular open areas. A stabilizing element can have several, in particular three, individual open areas of different sizes arranged at angular intervals of 60°. The preferably multiple open areas can overlap in such a way that a total area is formed which has the shape of a star whose arms end bluntly and have different lengths. The stabilizing flanks can form an oval shape in cross-section, with two parallel broadside flanks each adjoining a narrowside flank. The broadside flanks do not necessarily have to be parallel to each other.The cross-sectional shape can also be a "rounded" U-shape; the two U-legs can be straight or curved and transition into the U-bridge with a kink. Alternatively, they can transition smoothly into the U-bridge, which may be rounded. The broad sides have broad-sided flank ends that point towards the axis of the housing's insertion opening, aligning with the... The housing can have two diverging insertion channels, each with a stabilizing element for connecting two sliding rails. The sliding rails can have the same or different cross-sectional contours. Identical stabilizing elements can be inserted, or elements whose pairs of stabilizing flanks have a spacing that the other stabilizing element does not. Another embodiment can also provide only one stabilizing element, for example, as a clamping jaw, as described in DE 101 31 966 A1. To identify the stabilizing flanks adapted to different cross-sectional contours of sliding rails, the end face of the stabilizing element has markings, in particular numbers, indicating the spacing between two stabilizing flank assemblies forming a pair.A flange, in particular a plug-in flange, can be attached to the housing. This flange forms a bearing recess in which the stabilizing element is rotatably mounted or rotatably attached. The stabilizing element can be adjusted by applying a torque to a handling zone extending over the edge of the plug-in flange. It can be rotated or adjusted, in particular, between rotary and detent positions. In the detent positions, the stabilizing flanks are angularly positioned, allowing the free end of a slide rail to be inserted into the insertion channel of the housing. Detent recesses can be provided as detent devices. These recesses are arranged circumferentially at uniform angular intervals on a section of the stabilizing element adjoining the handling zone.The section can provide a cylindrical bearing surface to which a cylindrical section forming a detent section is attached, on which the detent recesses can be located. In other embodiments, the stabilizing element can also be attached to the outer surface of the insertion flange in various rotational positions using detent devices. or directly on the housing. Hooks arranged on the inside or outside of the bearing recess can engage elastically in the detent recesses that create an azimuthal locking action. The hooks have a stop surface on their end face facing the housing. When inserted, this stop surface is engaged by a counter-stop surface of a shoulder formed on the edge of the cylinder section facing the housing, thus axially securing the stabilizing element to the housing. Furthermore, a stabilizing ring, in particular a C-shaped snap ring, can grip the hooks attached to the bearing recess in such a way as to prevent unintentional release of the axial locking action between the hooks and the detent recesses. However, the azimuthal locking action can be released by applying a torque to the stabilizing element.The insertion flange has a circumferential groove in which the stabilizing ring sits, such that it acts on the hooks in a radial inward direction. The stabilizing ring can be made of plastic, specifically a soft plastic, or it can be made of metal. The hooks can be tongues integrally molded into the insertion flange, featuring projections at their ends that point toward the locking recesses. These projections have chamfers that facilitate insertion of the stabilizing element into the flange's bearing recess during assembly. These chamfers allow the hooks to slide over the contact shoulder and into the locking recesses. The hooks attached to the bearing recess are cut out from the wall of the insertion flange.The stabilizing element's bearing surface section features U-shaped cutouts, each containing a hook spaced from the inner edge of the cutout. The section of the stabilizing element adjoining the handling zone forms a cavity adjacent to the insertion opening, through which the free end of the slide rail can be inserted. The cavity has an inner wall that forms broad and narrow side walls corresponding to the cross-sectional contour of the stabilizing flank arrangement. The stabilizing flank extends over at least a portion of the axial length of the stabilizing element. In the locking position, the locking element exerts an axially confining effect on the slide rail. A torque exerted on the device during the intended use of a clamping arrangement is transferred into the device via the stabilizing flanks. A locking bolt can be provided for locking, which can engage in a locking opening in the slide rail. In the locking position, the locking element can cross the insertion channel of the housing. By actuating a pressure element, as disclosed in DE 101 31 966 A1, the locking element can be moved into a release position.The pressure element is located in a recess in the housing and can be moved into the recess against the restoring force of a spring element. The pressure element is connected via an actuating pin to a carrier that supports the locking element. The housing, the adjoining insertion flange, and the stabilizing element can be made of plastic, with the individual parts being manufactured by compression molding or injection molding. Dimensions indicating the length of the cross-sectional area of ​​a slide rail in millimeters can be marked on an end face of the stabilizing element. In the exemplary embodiment, these are 18 mm, 20 mm, and 22 mm. Other embodiments have different cross-sectional dimensions. Brief description of the drawings Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and explained below. They show: Fig. 1 shows a view of a first embodiment according to the invention, wherein a plug-in socket adjoins a housing 1. flange 2 each has a stabilizing element 4 mounted in which the slide rail 15 of a clamping clamp is inserted; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of the housing 1 according to Fig. 1 without the slide rails 15 inserted into the stabilizing elements; Fig. 3 shows a view of the front face of the stabilizing element 4 according to the viewing direction III from Fig. 2, prepared for inserting a 20 mm wide slide rail into an insertion opening 5; Fig. 4 shows a representation according to Fig. 3, wherein the stabilizing element 4 is rotated 60° clockwise so that a 22 mm wide slide rail 15 can be inserted into the insertion opening 5; Fig. 5 shows a representation according to Fig. 3, wherein the stabilizing element 4 is rotated 60° counterclockwise so that an 18 mm wide slide rail 15 can be inserted into the insertion opening; Fig. 6 a rear view of the housing 1 without the slide rail 15 inserted into the stabilizing element 4; Fig. 7 shows an enlarged and partially broken-up view of the insertion flange 2 adjoining the housing 1 without the slide rail 15 inserted into the stabilizing element 4, wherein detent recesses 9 arranged circumferentially spaced apart from one another are visible on a section of the stabilizing element 4 adjoining a handling zone 11; Fig. 8 shows a partially broken first exploded view of the housing 1 without stabilizing elements 4 mounted in the insertion flanges 2; Fig. 9 shows a cross-section according to the section line IX-IX in Fig. 2, but with the slide rail 15 inserted; Fig. 10 shows a cross-section according to the section line XX in Fig. 2, wherein the locking element 7 crosses an insertion channel 6 of the housing 1 in a locking position; Fig. 11 shows a partial view of a section along line XI-XI in Fig. 2; Fig. 12 shows a representation according to Fig. 11, but with the slide rail 15 inserted, wherein the locking element 7 in the locking position passes through an opening 16 of the slide rail 15, crossing the insertion channel 6; Fig. 13 shows a representation according to Fig. 12, but with the locking element 7 brought into a release position by relocating the pressure element 19 into a recess 23; Fig. 14 shows a longitudinal section along line XIV in Fig. 4; Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment according to the invention without an inserted slide rail 15, wherein a stabilizing ring 33 is located in the circumferential groove 34 of the insertion flange 2; Fig. 16 shows a section according to the section plane XVI in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 shows part of the section according to section plane XVII in Fig. 15. Description of the embodiments

[0009] The first embodiment according to the invention consists of a housing 1 having two diverging insertion channels 6 for inserting one free end of each of a substantially rectangular slide rail 15 of a clamping clamp. The insertion channels 6 have a base formed by a bottom rib 31. The free ends of the slide rail 15 can be supported against this base. The insertion channels 6 can also be connected to each other. Each insertion channel 6 is connected to an insertion flange 2. The insertion flange 2 forms a bearing recess 3 in which a stabilizing element 4 is rotatably mounted. The stabilizing element 4 has an insertion opening 5 into which the free end of a slide rail 15 is inserted. When inserted, the free end of the slide rail is pushed into the insertion channel 6 of the housing 1.There, the free end of the slide rail 15 is axially clamped to the housing 1 by means of a locking element 7 that passes through an opening 16 in the free end of the slide rail 15. The device is shown in Figure 1 with two inserted free ends of slide rails, each connected to clamping jaws. The locking elements 7 can withstand tensile forces.

[0010] The stabilizing elements 4 have several stabilizing flank arrangements 25 on their end face facing away from the housing, adapted to different contours of slide rails. These form narrow-side flanks 13, 13', 13" and wide-side flanks 14, 14', 14" and the wide-side flanks 14, 14', 14" have wide-side flank ends 26 pointing towards the axis of the insertion opening 5 of the housing 1, which are connected to the wide-side flank the 26 adjacent stabilization flank arrangements 25 may be connected.

[0011] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the stabilizing flanks form a U-shaped arrangement in cross-section. Two parallel broad flanks 14, 14', 14" each border a narrow flank 13, 13', 13", which define rectangular free areas with different widths b (b', b") and / or lengths 1, 1', 1". The distance between two stabilizing flank arrangements 25 forming a pair is indicated by markings 32 located on the end face of the stabilizing element 4. The differently sized free areas are arranged at an angle to each other, preferably 3 by 60°, and can be selectively rotated from the orientation shown in Figure 3, either clockwise as shown in Figure 4 or counterclockwise as shown in Figure 5, to align with the insertion channel 6 of the housing 1.

[0012] The dimensions for the cross-sectional length of the slide rail 15 specified on the end face of the stabilizing element 4 are only examples. Other versions are suitable for slide rails with a different cross-sectional length and width.

[0013] As shown in Figure 9, in the inserted state, two diametrically opposed stabilizing flank arrangements 25 each encompass a narrow side 15' of the slide rail 15. In order to absorb torques on the slide rail 15 generated by a clamping force exerted on the clamping clamp, the stabilizing flank arrangements 25 bear against the narrow sides 15' and wide sides 15" of the slide rail 15 with only a small gap.

[0014] The stabilizing element 4 is rotatably mounted in the bearing recess 3 of the insertion flange 2. A handling zone 11 extends over the edge of the insertion flange 2. By applying a torque to the handling zone 11, the stabilizing element 4 is adjusted between detent positions in which the stabilizing flanks are angularly positioned to allow the insertion of a free end of a slide rail 15. Detent recesses 9 are provided as detent devices, spaced at uniform angular intervals around the circumference on a cylindrical section 27 adjoining the handling zone 11 and a cylindrical bearing surface 10. Hooks 8 are attached to the bearing recess 3 and engage elastically in the detent recesses 9, thereby creating an azimuthal detent between the stabilizing element 4 and the insertion flange 2.

[0015] At the edge of the cylinder section 27, a bead-shaped contact shoulder 12 is formed in the viewing direction III shown in Figure 2. In the locked position, a stop surface 36 located on the end face of the hooks 8 facing viewing direction III is acted upon by a counter-stop surface of the contact shoulder 12, thereby axially securing the stabilizing element 4 to the housing 1. The hooks 8 are tongues integrally formed with the insertion flange 2, which have projections 38 at their ends directed towards the locking recesses 9. These projections have ramps 35 that allow the hooks 8 to slide over the contact shoulder 12 into the locking recesses 9, thus facilitating the insertion of the stabilizing element 4 into the bearing recess 3 of the insertion flange 2 during assembly of the device.

[0016] The mounting shoulder 12, which is formed as a bead, has depressions which follow the detent depressions 9 in the axial direction.

[0017] U-shaped cutouts are formed in the wall of the insertion flange 2, in each of which a hook 8 is arranged at a distance from the inner edge of the cutout. The cutouts can also have a different shape.

[0018] The cylindrical bearing surface 10 adjoining the handling zone 11 and the cylindrical section 27 form a cavity 28 at the insertion opening 5 of the stabilizing element 4. The cavity 28 has an inner wall 29 that forms broad side walls 39 and narrow side walls 40 corresponding to the cross-sectional contour of the stabilizing flank arrangements 25. In the inserted state, the narrow sides 15' and the broad sides 15" of the slide rail 15 can abut these walls with slight play or directly. The stabilizing flank arrangements 25 extend at least over a portion of the axial length of the stabilizing element 4.

[0019] The slide rail 15 is fastened to the housing 1 by the locking element 7. The locking element 7 is attached to a support 22. The support 22 is connected to a pressure element 19, in particular by a screw connection, via an actuating pin 21 that crosses the insertion channel 6 of the housing 1. The pressure element 19 is inserted into a recess 23 of the housing 1 and is actuated by a spring element 20. Such a pressure element arrangement is disclosed in DE 101 31 966 A1. Reference is made to the relevant details in the aforementioned document.

[0020] By applying pressure to the pressure element 19, it is displaced into the recess 23 against the restoring force of the spring element 20. When the pressure element 19 is moved into the release position shown in Figure 13, the locking element 7 fully extends out of the insertion channel 6, so that either an already inserted slide rail 15 is removed from the device. or a slide rail 15 can be inserted. In the release position, the supports 22 emerge from a recess 24 in the housing 1.

[0021] The pressure element 19 can have a circular cross-section, but other shapes, such as a square cross-section, are also possible. To move the locking element 7 into a release position, the pressure elements 7 must be pressed into the recess 23.

[0022] In a further embodiment, a stabilizing ring 33, in particular a C-shaped snap ring, surrounds the insertion flange 2 in the area of ​​the hooks 8 attached to the bearing recess 3. The stabilizing ring sits in a circumferential groove 34 of the insertion flange 2 in such a way that it acts on the hooks in a radial inward direction, thereby preventing an unintentional release of the axial locking between the hooks 8 and the locking recesses 9.

[0023] The slide rail 15 forms a projection 17 at its free end, which, when inserted, enters a niche 18 formed by the insertion anal 2.

[0024] The foregoing statements serve to explain the inventions covered by the application as a whole, which each independently further develop the prior art at least through the following combinations of features, whereby two, several or all of these combinations of features may also be combined, namely:

[0025] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the stabilizing element 4 has several differently shaped cross-sectional contours of slide rails 15 adapted stabilizing flanges ken 25, which can optionally be brought into an alignment position with the insertion channel 6 of the housing 1.

[0026] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the insertion opening 5 of the stabilizing element 4 rotatably attached to the housing 1 has several angularly offset stabilizing flank arrangements 25 which are adapted to the outline contours of various slide rails 15 and define rectangular free areas with different widths b, b', b" and lengths 1, 1', 1".

[0027] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the stabilizing flank arrangement 25 forms narrow side flanks 13, 13', 13" and wide side flanks 14, 14', 14" for at least partially gripping a narrow side 15' of the slide rail 15.

[0028] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the stabilizing flank arrangement 25 has a U-shaped cross-section and two parallel broad flanks 14, 14', 14" are each connected to a narrow flank 13, 13', 13" wherein the broad flanks 14, 14', 14" have broad flank ends 26 pointing towards the axis of the insertion opening 5, which adjoin broad flank ends 26 of adjacent stabilizing flank arrangements 25, wherein two diametrically opposed stabilizing flank arrangements 25 each comprise a narrow side 15' and / or broad side 15" of the slide rail 15.

[0029] A variable clamping adapter, characterized in that a flange on which the stabilizing element 4 is rotatably mounted, which in particular is a plug-in flange 2 with a bearing recess 3 in which a section of the stabilizing element 4 is inserted, wherein the stabilizing element 4 is rotatably mounted, is provided by a flange on which the stabilizing element 4 is rotatably mounted, the flange being in particular a plug-in flange 2 with a bearing recess 3 in which a section of the stabilizing element 4 is inserted, wherein the stabilizing element 4 is rotatably mounted. The bilization element 4 is held in different rotational positions by locking means 8, 9, 12.

[0030] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the stabilizing element 4 forms a handling zone 11 extending over an edge of the insertion flange 2, wherein by applying a torque to the handling zone 11 the stabilizing element 4 can be adjusted between detent positions in which the stabilizing flank arrangement 25 is in an angular position enabling the insertion of the free ends of slide rails 15.

[0031] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that a cylindrical bearing surface 10 and a cylindrical section 27 are connected to the handling zone 11 of the rotatable stabilizing element 4.

[0032] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the cylinder section 27 has several detent recesses 9 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction at uniform angles, into which hooks 8 arranged on the inside of the bearing recess 3 can engage elastically and retractably, wherein the edge of the cylinder section 27 pointing towards the housing 1 forms a contact shoulder 12 which, in conjunction with the hooks 8, prevents the stabilizing element 4 from being pulled out of the bearing recess 3.

[0033] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that a stabilizing ring 33, in particular a C-shaped snap ring, surrounds the hooks 8 and the bearing recess 3 in such a way that they cannot unintentionally release from the detent with the detent recesses.

[0034] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the stabilizing element 4 forms a two-sided open cavity 28 adjoining the insertion opening 5, through which the free end of the slide rail 15 can be guided and which has an inner wall 29 which is shaped according to the outline contour of the stabilizing flank arrangement 25, wherein the stabilizing flank arrangement 25 extends at least over a part of the axial length of the inner wall 29.

[0035] A variable clamping adapter characterized in that the front face of the stabilizing element has 4 markings 32 which are assigned to different stabilizing flanks 25.

[0036] All disclosed features are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure of this application hereby incorporates in full the disclosure content of the associated / attached priority documents (copy of the earlier application), also for the purpose of including features of these documents in the claims of the present application. The dependent claims characterize, even without the features of a referenced claim, independent inventive developments of the prior art, in particular for the purpose of filing divisional applications based on these claims. The invention specified in each claim may additionally comprise one or more of the features described above, in particular those identified by reference numerals and / or listed in the reference numeral list.The invention also relates to design forms in which individual features mentioned in the preceding description are not realized, in particular insofar as they are recognizably unnecessary for the respective purpose or can be replaced by other technically equivalent means. List of reference symbols 1 Housing 23 Recess 2 Insert flange 24 recess 3 bearing recesses, 25 stabilizing flank arrangement 4 stabilizing element nung 5 Insertion opening 26 Transition area 6 Insertion channel 27 Cylinder section 7 bar element 28 cavity 8 hooks 29 inner wall 9 resting recesses 30 nose 10 Cylindrical storage area 31 Floor walkway 11 Handling zone 32 Markings 12 Attachment shoulder 33 Stabilizing ring 13 Narrow side flank 34 Circumferential groove 13' Narrow side flank 35° ramp angles 13" narrow side flank 36 stop surface 14 Broadside flank 37 Clamping jaw 14' Broadside 38 lead 14" broadside 39 broadside wall 15 Sliding rail 40 Narrow side wall 15' narrow side b width 15" broad side b' width 16 Opening b" Width 17 lead, 1 length 18 Niche T Length 19 Pressure element 1" length 20 spring element 21 Actuating pin 22 carriers

Claims

Claims 1. Device with a housing (1) which has an insertion channel (6) running in an axial direction for inserting a free end of a slide rail (15) of a clamp, wherein the slide rail (15) can be axially secured to the housing (1) by means of a locking element (7) which can be brought into a release position in which the slide rail (15) can be removed from the device, with a stabilizing element (4) having an insertion opening (5) and adjoining it in the insertion direction and having a stabilizing flank arrangement (25) adapted to the cross-sectional contour of the slide rail for contact with surface sections of the slide rail (15), characterized in that the stabilizing element (4) has a plurality of stabilizing flanks (25) adapted to mutually different cross-sectional contours of slide rails (15), which can be selectively brought into alignment with the insertion channel (6) of the housing (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the insertion opening (5) of the stabilizing element (4) rotatably attached to the housing (1) has a plurality of angularly offset stabilizing flank arrangements (25) which are adapted to outline contours of different slide rails (15) and delimit rectangular free areas with different widths (b, b', b") and / or lengths (1, 1', 1").

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stabilizing flank arrangement (25) forms narrow side flanks (13, 13', 13") and broad side flanks (14, 14', 14") for at least partially encompassing a narrow side (15') of the slide rail (15).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stabilizing flank arrangement (25) is of II-shaped cross-section and two parallel broad side flanks (14, 14', 14") are each connected to a narrow side flank (13, 13', 13"), wherein the broad side flanks (14, 14', 14") have broad side flank ends (26) pointing towards the axis of the insertion opening (5), which broad side flank ends (26) adjoin broad side flank ends (26) of adjacent stabilizing flank arrangements (25), wherein two diametrically opposed stabilizing flank arrangements (25) each comprise a narrow side (15') and / or broad side (15") of the slide rail (15).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a flange on which the stabilizing element (4) is rotatably mounted, which is in particular a plug-in flange (2) with a bearing recess (3) into which a section of the stabilizing element (4) is inserted, wherein the stabilizing element (4) is held in different rotational positions by locking means (8, 9, 12).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stabilizing element (4) forms a handling zone (11) extending over an edge of the insertion flange (2), wherein by applying a torque to the handling zone (11) the stabilizing element (4) can be adjusted between locking positions in which the stabilizing flank arrangement (25) is in an angular position allowing insertion of the free ends of slide rails (15).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handling zone (11) of the rotatable sta- bilization element (4) a cylindrical bearing surface (10) and a cylinder section (27).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder section (27) has a plurality of locking recesses (9) spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction at a uniform angular distribution, into which hooks (8) arranged on the inside of the bearing recess (3) can engage in an elastically resettable manner, wherein the edge of the cylinder section (27) pointing in the direction of the housing (1) forms a contact shoulder (12) which, in interaction with the hooks (8), prevents the stabilizing element (4) from being pulled out of the bearing recess (3).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a stabilizing ring (33), in particular a C-shaped snap ring, which surrounds the hooks (8) and the bearing recess (3) in such a way that they cannot accidentally become detached from the locking connection with the locking recesses (9).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stabilizing element (4) forms a cavity (28) which is open on two sides and adjoins the insertion opening (5), through which the free end of the slide rail (15) can be guided and which has an inner wall (29) which is designed corresponding to the outline contour of the stabilizing flank arrangement (25), wherein the stabilizing flank arrangement (25) extends at least over part of the axial length of the inner wall (29).

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end face of the stabilizing element (4) has markings (32) assigned to different stabilizing flanks (25).

12. Device characterized by one or more of the characterizing features of one of the preceding claims.

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