Side-panel connection and locking dowel

Abstract

The invention relates to a side-panel connection for producing frame-shaped structures, such as drawers, wall boxes, and the like. The side-panel connection comprises at least one side-panel connector (2), which is situated between side panels (1), and at least two locking elements, wherein the side-panel connector (2) is designed in the form of a bar which has at least two recesses (21) that are arranged in an offset manner on two respective surfaces angled relative to each other. The recesses (21) in a lateral wall (22) comprise keyhole-shaped receiving openings (23) for the locking elements, which are in the form of mushroom head-shaped locking dowels (3) that engage with the recesses (21) and can be locked therein.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] FRAME CONNECTION AND LOCKING DOWEL

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present invention relates to a frame connection for producing frame-shaped structures, such as drawers, cabinet elements, wall units, and the like. The frame connection comprises at least one frame connector arranged between frame panels and at least two locking elements per frame panel.

[0005] The frame connection is particularly applicable for the angular connection of two frame panels, which preferably form a frame, but can generally also represent only a corner connection of two furniture panels, which are each releasably locked with connecting elements and can also have angular dimensions deviating from the right angle.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007] There are many different connection options available for producing frame-shaped structures such as drawers, wall boxes and the like.

[0008] Finger jointing is a traditional way of joining frame parts, with finger-shaped prongs arranged at the ends of the parts so that they can be pushed into one another.

[0009] A combined screw and dowel connection is also possible for connecting frame parts at the corners. A combined eccentric and dowel connection is often used. These latter two connection types are inexpensive and designed for self-assembly by the customer.

[0010] Less expensive and delivered pre-assembled, the so-called folding frame is a more economical option. This folding frame typically consists of frame sections wrapped in film. For folding, there are two folding points at the inner ends of the frame sections, usually milled at angles of 45° each to the wrapping film. This allows two frame sections to be aligned at a right angle at the folding point. These pre-assembled folding frames are fully assembled to create the desired furniture pieces, but they require a lot of space for transport and are prone to damage.

[0011] The state of the art also includes the furniture connector claimed in utility model DE 20 2015 006 757 U1 for connecting at least two furniture panels to form a rigid right-angled corner. This connector comprises an inner clamp and an outer clamp, whereby the two clamps, when connected, form at least two cavities in which furniture panels are held.

[0012] PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Based on the cited prior art, the present invention is based on the object of reducing the costs for the pre-assembly of the frames and for the transport of finished pieces of furniture as well as the risk of damage during shipping and enabling customers to easily assemble the frames.

[0014] The frame connection according to the invention is defined by the features of independent claim 1, and the locking dowel according to the invention for a frame connector is defined by the features of claims 9 and 10. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the frame connection are the subject of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on independent claim 1.

[0015] The frame connection according to the invention is accordingly characterized in that the frame connector, which comprises at least one frame connector and at least two locking elements, is designed as a (rectangular) rod having at least two offset recesses on each of two surfaces at right angles to one another. The recesses in a lateral wall comprise keyhole-shaped receiving openings for the locking elements, which engage in the recesses as mushroom-head-shaped locking dowels and can be locked there. Advantageously, the keyhole-shaped receiving opening is designed such that the opening has a wide area and a narrow area, wherein the wide area is adapted to the diameter of a dowel head and the narrow area is adapted to the diameter of a dowel neck of the locking dowel.

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the frame connection according to the invention is characterized in that the lateral wall of the recess has a first thickness in the wide region of the receiving openings and a second thickness in the narrow region of the receiving openings and the first and second thicknesses of the wall are connected by a transition region referred to as a ramp, wherein the first thickness is smaller than the second thickness.

[0017] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the frame connection provides that the dowel head of the locking dowel can be inserted into the wide area of ​​the keyhole-shaped receiving opening and can be moved by a lateral movement over the ramp into the narrow area of ​​the keyhole-shaped receiving opening, whereby the locking dowel reaches a firmly locked position on the frame connector.

[0018] A further particularly preferred embodiment of the frame connection according to the invention is characterized in that in the narrow region of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening on the wall with the second thickness there is a one-sided step located on the circumference of the narrow region of the opening in order to prevent the inserted locking dowel from moving back into the wide region of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening.

[0019] A further advantageous aspect of the frame connection is that, in order to spatially stabilize the connection between the frame connector and the locking dowel, each locking dowel has a dowel shoulder ring that projects beyond the dowel diameter, which is arranged on the dowel neck opposite the dowel head and is larger than the keyhole-shaped receiving opening.

[0020] Preferably, the frame connector of the frame connection is adjustable in length to accommodate different frame dimensions. Depending on its length, the frame connector preferably has four or more recesses for four or more locking dowels.

[0021] The locking dowel according to the invention for a frame connector is characterized in that the mushroom-head-shaped locking dowel comprises a dowel head, an adjacent dowel neck and a dowel shaft, wherein the dowel head is provided above the dowel neck for locking in the frame connector and the dowel shaft of each locking dowel is embedded in the frame panels in order to connect the frame panels at a right angle by means of the frame connector.

[0022] Another advantage of the locking dowel is that there are dowel beads running parallel to the axis of the dowel shaft around the circumference for glue when pressing in the locking dowel and the dowel shaft is provided with additional bead points on the circumference for anchoring the glue.

[0023] The frame connectors and locking dowels according to the invention can be used to construct a drawer, so that a particular embodiment of the drawer, in addition to two frame connectors and eight locking dowels, also comprises a frame back panel, two frame sides, a frame bottom, and a frame front panel. Furthermore, an eccentric and two grooved dowels are used on each frame side to mount the frame front panel, and an eccentric cover protects each of the eccentrics. Different designs of the drawer are possible, differing, for example, in the number of locking dowels per frame connector.

[0024] The frame connectors and locking dowels mentioned can be used for further configuration in the form of a wall box, so that a special design of the wall box comprises, in addition to four frame connectors and sixteen locking dowels, four frame sides and a frame base, as well as additional elements for hanging the wall box on a wall. Different designs of the wall box are possible, which differ, for example, in the number of locking dowels per frame connector. It is particularly advantageous that the frame connectors and the locking dowels are manufactured as injection-molded plastic parts. Furthermore, for simple and uncomplicated installation, it is preferred that the locking dowels are already glued into the frame panels.

[0025] Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the features further recited in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments given below. The features of the claims may be combined with one another in any way, provided they are not obviously mutually exclusive.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The invention is described and explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. The features shown in the description and the drawings can be used individually or in any combination. They show:

[0028] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the invention in an advantageous embodiment as a drawer frame, in which two frame sides are connected to a frame rear wall via a frame connector according to the invention,

[0029] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an advantageous embodiment of the frame connector according to the invention with the associated locking dowels,

[0030] Fig. 3a is a side view of an advantageous design of a locking dowel, which is divided into dowel head, dowel neck, dowel shoulder collar and dowel shaft,

[0031] Fig. 3b is a schematic sectional view of the individual locking dowel of Fig. 3a, which is engaged with the frame connector cut in a cross-sectional plane to its longitudinal extent,

[0032] Fig. 4a is a detailed perspective view of the locking dowel to illustrate the area when inserted into the frame connector in a wide area of ​​a keyhole-shaped opening of the frame connector, Fig. 4b is a detailed perspective view of the locking dowel when engaging in the narrow area of ​​a keyhole-shaped opening of the frame connector in the locked state, and

[0033] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the invention in an enlarged view of the frame connector 2 with one end of a frame plate with two locking dowels to illustrate the insertion and locking of the locking dowels.

[0034] Fig. 6 is a perspective exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention as a box-shaped furniture part with four frame panels as pairs of identical side frames with locking dowels and four identical frame connectors.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the frame connection according to the invention. In a perspective exploded view of a drawer box, four frame panels 1 are visible, i.e., a frame rear wall 11, two frame sides 12, a frame front wall 14, and a frame bottom 13. The connecting elements include two eccentrics 15, two eccentric covers 16, and four ribbed dowels 17. Two frame connectors 2 according to the invention and eight mushroom-shaped locking dowels 3 are provided for connecting the two frame sides 12 to the frame rear wall 11.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows a detail of a single frame connector 2 with four associated mushroom-head-shaped locking dowels 3. The frame connector 2 is designed as a rectangular bar having at least two offset recesses 21 on each of two surfaces at right angles to one another. The recesses 21 comprise, in a lateral wall 22, keyhole-shaped receiving openings 23 for the locking elements, which engage in the recesses 21 as mushroom-head-shaped locking dowels 3 and can be locked there. The keyhole-shaped receiving opening 23 is designed such that the receiving opening 23 has a wide area 24 and a narrow area 25, wherein the wide area 24 is adapted to the diameter of a dowel head 31 and the narrow area 25 is adapted to the diameter of a dowel neck 32 of the locking dowel 3. The length of the frame connector 2 can be adapted to different frame dimensions.In this exemplary embodiment, the frame connector 2 has four recesses 21 for four locking dowels 3. In further exemplary embodiments, the frame connector 2 can contain more than four recesses 21 for more than four locking dowels 3, depending on its length.

[0037] The detailed structure of a mushroom-headed locking dowel 3 is shown in Fig. 3. According to Fig. 3a, the mushroom-headed locking dowel 3 comprises, from right to left, a dowel head 31, an adjacent dowel neck 32, a dowel shoulder rim 33, and finally a dowel shaft 34. The dowel head 31 above the dowel neck 32 is provided for locking in the frame connector 2, and the dowel shaft 34 of each locking dowel 3 is embedded in the frame panels 1 in order to connect the frame panels 1 at a right angle by means of the frame connector 2. In addition, dowel beads 35 running parallel to the axis of the dowel shaft 34 around the circumference are shown for glue when pressing in the locking dowel 3, and the dowel shaft 34 is provided with additional bead points 36 around the circumference for anchoring the glue. Fig. 3b shows a single locking dowel 3 which is already inserted in the frame connector 2.

[0038] Fig. 4 illustrates the essential elements of the mushroom-shaped locking dowel 3 before and after insertion into the frame connector 2.

[0039] Fig. 4a shows a locking dowel 3 with part of a frame connector 2 in an inserted state, while Fig. 4b shows the same section in a locked state. The change between the inserted and locked state is responsible for the changed thickness of the lateral wall 22 of a recess 21. The lateral wall 22 of the recess 21 has a first thickness 26 in the wide region 24 of the receiving openings 23 and a second thickness 28 in the narrow region 25 of the receiving openings 23. The first and second thicknesses 28 of the lateral wall 22 are connected by a transition region referred to as a ramp 27, wherein the first thickness 26 is smaller than the second thickness 28.The dowel head 31 of the locking dowel 3 can be inserted into the wide area 24 of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening 23 and, by a lateral movement over the ramp 2, can be moved into the narrow area 25 of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening 23, whereby the locking dowel 3 reaches a firmly locked position on the frame connector 2. Furthermore, in the narrow area 25 of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening 23, on the lateral wall 22 with the second thickness 28, a one-sided step 29 is provided on the circumference of the narrow area 25 of the receiving opening 23 in order to prevent the inserted locking dowel 3 from spontaneously moving back into the wide area 24 of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening 23.In a particular embodiment, for the spatial stabilization of the connection between frame connector 2 and locking dowel 3, each locking dowel 3 has a dowel shoulder ring 33 which projects beyond the dowel diameter and which is arranged on the dowel neck 32 opposite the dowel head 31 and is larger than the keyhole-shaped receiving opening 23.

[0040] Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of a frame connector 2 and one end of a frame panel 1 or a side frame 12. In this example, two locking dowels 3 are provided at the end of the frame panel 1. The number of locking dowels 3 can be increased depending on the width of the frame panel 1, in which case a corresponding number of receiving openings 23 in the side wall 22 of the recesses 21 must be provided in the frame connector 2. The procedure for connecting the frame panel 1 to the frame connector 2 using the locking dowels 3 should be explained simply here. For this purpose, the frame panel 1 can be placed vertically on the floor or a flat work surface, and the frame connector 2 is pushed with the wide area 24 of its receiving openings 23 over the dowel heads 31 of the locking dowels 3 (indicated by the two horizontal arrows).When the frame panel 1 rests against the frame connector 2, the latter is pressed downward (indicated by the vertical arrow next to the frame connector 2) and the dowel shafts 32 slide from the wide area 24 into the narrow area 25 of the side wall 22. Due to the different thicknesses of the side wall 22, the mushroom-shaped dowel head 31 slides (with varying frictional forces) from the first thickness 26 over the ramp 27 to the second thickness 28 of the side wall 22 and engages firmly there. The locking mechanism against accidental sliding back is ensured by the one-sided step 29 in the narrow area 25 of the side wall 22.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of a further embodiment of the invention as a box-shaped piece of furniture, which can preferably be used as a wall shelf. In this example, four frame connectors 2 according to the invention are each arranged between identical frame panels 1, namely pairs of identical frame sides 12, in which two or more locking dowels 3 are provided at each end of a frame panel 1. The number of locking dowels 3 can be increased depending on the width of the frame panels 1. The procedure for connecting the frame panels 1 via the frame connector 2 using the locking dowels 3 is the same as explained in the description of the previous figures. There is no need to differentiate between the assembly of the frame front wall 14. However, if a frame base 13, in this case as a furniture rear wall, is desired, this would have to be done before the last two frame connectors are locked into the grooves provided for this purpose.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Frame connection for producing frame-shaped structures, such as drawers, wall boxes and the like, comprising at least one frame connector (2) which is arranged between frame panels (1), and at least two locking elements, wherein the frame connector (2) is designed as a rod which has at least two offset recesses (21) on each of two surfaces which are at an angle to one another, wherein the recesses (21) in a lateral wall (22) comprise keyhole-shaped receiving openings (23) for the locking elements, which engage in the recesses (21) as mushroom-head-shaped locking dowels (3) and can be locked there.

2. Frame connection according to claim 1, characterized in that a keyhole-shaped receiving opening (23) is designed such that the opening (23) has a wide area (24) and a narrow area (25), wherein the wide area (24) is adapted to the diameter of a dowel head (31) and the narrow area (25) is adapted to the diameter of a dowel neck (32) of the locking dowel (3).

3. Frame connection according to claim 2, characterized in that the lateral wall (22) of the recess (21) has a first thickness (26) in the wide region (24) of the receiving openings (23) and a second thickness (28) in the narrow region (25) of the receiving openings (23) and the first and second thicknesses (28) of the lateral wall (22) are connected by a transition region referred to as a ramp (27), the first thickness (26) being smaller than the second thickness (28).

4. Frame connection according to claim 3, characterized in that the dowel head (31) of the locking dowel (3) can be inserted into the wide area (24) of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening (23) and can be moved by a lateral movement over the ramp (27) into the narrow area (25) of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening (23) in order to thereby place the locking dowel (3) on the frame connector (2) in a locked position.

5. Frame connection according to claim 4, characterized in that in the narrow region (25) of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening (23) on the lateral wall (22) with the second thickness (28) there is a one-sided step (29) located on the circumference of the narrow region (25) of the opening (23) in order to prevent the inserted locking dowel (3) from moving back into the wide region (24) of the keyhole-shaped receiving opening (23).

6. Frame connection according to claim 5, characterized in that for the spatial stabilization of the connection of frame connector (2) and locking dowel (3), each locking dowel (3) has a dowel shoulder ring (33) projecting beyond the dowel diameter, which is arranged on the dowel neck (32) opposite the dowel head (31) and is larger than the keyhole-shaped receiving opening (23).

7. Frame connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame connector (2) can be adapted in its length to different frame widths.

8. Frame connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame connector (2) has, depending on its length, four or more recesses (21) for four or more locking dowels (3).

9. Locking dowel (3) for a frame connector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mushroom-head-shaped locking dowel (3) comprises a dowel head (31), an adjacent dowel neck (32) and a dowel shaft (34), wherein the dowel head (31) is provided above the dowel neck (32) for locking in the frame connector (2) and the dowel shaft (34) of each locking dowel (3) is embedded in the frame panels (1) in order to connect the frame panels (1) at a right angle by means of the frame connector (2).

10. Snap-in dowel (3) according to claim 9, characterized in that dowel beads (35) extending parallel to an axis of the dowel shaft (34) on the circumference are provided for glue when pressing in the snap-in dowel (3), and the dowel shaft (34) is provided on the circumference with additional bead points (36) for anchoring the glue.

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