Profile joining device

The profile joining device uses interlocking cube corners to efficiently connect multiple profiles, addressing the inefficiencies of existing systems by simplifying the assembly process and reducing the number of required connecting elements.

FR3156184A1Inactive Publication Date: 2025-06-06SOC INNOVATION DU BATIMENT
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Patent Information

Application Number
FR2023013548
Authority / Receiving Office
FR · FR
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-05
Publication Date
2025-06-06
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A device (1) for joining profiles, comprising two cube corners (10, 10A, 10B) fitting into each other to form a parallelepiped-shaped connecting nut, each of the two cube corners comprising: a first panel (11); a second panel (12), perpendicular to the first panel, having a first edge connected to a first edge of the first panel; a third panel (13), perpendicular to the first panel and to the second panel, having a first edge connected to a second edge of the first panel and a second edge connected to a second edge of the second panel; and an eyelet (14) extending parallel opposite the third panel and connected to a free end of the first panel and the second panel, the first panel, the second panel and the third panel each forming a profile fixing plate. FIGURE OF THE ABSTRACT: Fig. 4A
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Description

Title of the invention: Device for joining profiles

[0001] The present invention relates to the assembly of profiles and more particularly to a joining device for assembling profiles for the production of panel frames, garden furniture structures, etc.

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Numerous systems are known for assembling profiles having a square or rectangular section. These assembly systems generally comprise connecting means composed of a plurality of connecting elements (flanges, connectors, lugs, brackets, etc.), and fixing means appropriately immobilizing these elements to the profiles to be assembled.

[0004] It then appears that a significant number of connecting elements must be available depending on whether the profiles to be assembled are intended to form right angles, 180 degree angles, trihedrons, etc. between them.

[0005] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention therefore aims to propose a profile joining device making it possible to at least partially overcome the aforementioned drawback. Summary of the invention

[0007] To this end, the invention proposes a profile joining device, comprising two cube corners fitting into each other to form a parallelepiped-shaped connecting nut, each of the two cube corners comprising: • a first panel; • a second panel, perpendicular to the first panel, having a first edge connected to a first edge of the first panel; • a third panel, perpendicular to the first panel and to the second panel, having a first edge connected to a second edge of the first panel and a second edge connected to a second edge of the second panel; and • an eyelet extending parallel opposite the third panel and connected to an end portion of a third edge of the first panel and the second panel.

[0008] The first panel, the second panel and the eyelet each comprising a fixing hole, and the third panel comprising a radially open hole forming a housing for receiving the eyelet of the other of the cube corners during the mutual nesting of said cube corners, so that the first panel, the second panel and the third panel each form a plate for fixing a profile to the cube corner.

[0009] Such a joining device makes it possible to connect two to five profiles, forming between them right angles or 180 degree angles.

[0010] According to a particular characteristic, the fixing holes of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel and the eyelet have central axes intersecting at the same point forming a center of the connecting nut.

[0011] According to another particular characteristic, the fixing holes of the first panel, the second panel and the eyelet are of the same diameter.

[0012] According to another particular characteristic, the cube corner internally comprises an angle reinforcement in the shape of a trirectangular trihedron comprising a first branch connecting the first panel and the second panel, a second branch connecting the first panel and the third panel, and a third branch connecting the second panel, the third panel and the eyelet.

[0013] In particular, the second branch and the third branch each comprise a free end forming a stop during the mutual interlocking of said cube corners by coming to be housed in a complementary shape provided at an angular end of the first panel and the second panel of the other cube corner.

[0014] According to another particular characteristic, the cube corner comprises angular ends provided with a trirectangular trihedron-shaped edge forming centering stops for the profiles on external faces of the first, second and third panels.

[0015] According to another particular characteristic, the cube corners are identical.

[0016] According to another particular characteristic, the cube corner has a plane of symmetry.

[0017] According to another particular characteristic, the junction device further comprises at least one cover arranged to cover an external face of the connecting nut.

[0018] The invention also relates to an assembly of profiles comprising at least two profiles and such a joining device. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] The invention will be better understood in light of the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, among which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a structural part of a piece of furniture garden;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a sectional view of one of the profiles illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the joining device illustrated in [Fig.l];

[0023] [Fig.4A] [Fig.4A] is a first perspective view of one of the cube corners of the joining device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0024] [Fig.4B] [Fig.4B] is a second perspective view of the cube corner illustrated in [Fig.4A];

[0025] [Fig.5A] [Fig.5A] represents a first mode of use of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0026] [Fig.5B] [Fig.5B] represents a second mode of use of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0027] [Fig.5C] [Fig.5C] represents a third mode of use of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0028] [Fig.5D] [Fig.5D] represents a fourth mode of use of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0029] [Fig.5E] [Fig.5E] represents a fifth mode of use of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0030] [Fig.5F] [Fig.5F] represents a sixth mode of use of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0031] [Fig.5G] [Fig.5G] represents a seventh mode of use of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.3];

[0032] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view illustrating the installation of a cover on an external face of the junction device illustrated in [Fig.5G];

[0033] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of the cover illustrated in [Fig.6]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] With reference to [Fig. 1], the invention is described in application to the production of a structure S of garden furniture. The structure S comprises a plurality of profiles P connected to each other by joining devices 1. The profiles P, here made of aluminum, have identical cross sections and have different lengths adapted to the need.

[0035] Each of the profiles P comprises, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], a tubular central core Pi from which four identical fins P2 extend radially projecting over the entire length of the profile P. The central core Pi defines a fixing channel P3 which coaxially crosses said central core Pi along an axis X to open onto a first end face of the profile P and onto a second end face of said profile P, opposite the first end face. The fins P2 are generally rectangular in shape and extend two by two in the same plane, so that the cross-section of the profile P is generally cross-shaped. Each of the fins P2 extends here orthogonally with respect to the adjacent fins P2 and comprises a longitudinal edge which defines a first longitudinal face P21 and a second longitudinal face P2 2 forming a right angle with the first longitudinal face P21. The first longitudinal face P21 and the second longitudinal face P2 2 each form an angle α equal to 45 degrees with the plane in which the fin P2 extends

[0036] The following description relates to one of the junction devices 1 of the structure S, the junction devices 1 here all being identical but also being able to be different.

[0037] With reference to Figures 3, 4A and 4B, the connecting device 1 comprises two cube corners 10 together forming a connecting nut of generally cubic shape. The two cube corners 10 are here identical and are distinguished in [Fig.3] by the addition of the letters A and B. Each of the cube corners 10 comprises: • a first panel 11; • a second panel 12 having a first edge connected to a first edge of the first panel 11, • a third panel 13 having a first edge connected to a second edge of the first panel 11, and a second edge connected to a second edge of the second panel 12.

[0038] The first panel 11 is perpendicular to the second panel 12, and the third panel 13 is perpendicular to the first panel 11 and to the second panel 12.

[0039] The first panel 11 externally forms a first fixing plate for a profile P and for this purpose comprises a first cylindrical fixing hole 11.1, having a central axis Xn perpendicular to said first panel 11. The first hole 11.1 opens onto an internal face 111 and an external face 11c of the first panel 11.

[0040] The second panel 12 externally forms a second fixing plate for a profile P and for this purpose comprises a second cylindrical fixing hole 12.1, having a central axis Xn perpendicular to said second panel 12. The second hole 12.1 opens onto an internal face 12i and an external face 12e of the second panel 12, and has a diameter identical to that of the first hole 11.1. The second panel 12.

[0041] The third panel 13 externally forms a third fixing plate for a profile P and for this purpose comprises a third cylindrical fixing hole 13.1, having a central axis Xn perpendicular to said third panel 13. The third hole 13.1 opens onto an internal face 13i and an external face 13e of the third panel 13, and has a diameter greater than that of the first and second holes 11.1, 12.1. The third hole 13.1 is provided with a lateral opening opening towards free edges of said third panel 13: said third hole 13.1 is said to be radially open.

[0042] The central axes Xn, Xi2, Xn of the first, second and third fixing holes 11.1, 12.1, 13.1 intersect at the same point O forming a center of the connecting nut formed by the joining device 1.

[0043] The cube corner 10 also comprises a fixing eyelet 14 extending parallel- facing the third panel 13, from an end portion of a third edge of the first and second panels 11, 12. The eyelet 14 comprises a fourth cylindrical fixing hole 14.1, having a central axis XM coaxial with the central axis Xn of the third hole 13.1 of the third panel 13. The fourth hole 14.1 opens onto an internal face 14i and an external face 14e of the eyelet 14, and has a diameter identical to that of the first and second holes 11.1, 12.1. The eyelet 14 has, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the third panel 13, an external shape complementary to the third open hole 13.1 of said third panel 13: said third hole 13.1 forms a radially open cylindrical housing intended to receive the eyelet 14 of another cube corner 10, and said eyelet 14 is intended to be received in the radially open cylindrical housing formed by the third hole 13.1 of the third panel 13 of the other cube corner 10 when the two cube corners are interlocked.

[0044] The first edges of the first and second panels 11, 12 define a first edge of the cube corner 10, the first edge externally comprising a first central parallelepiped-shaped notch 15.1. The second edge of the first panel 11 and the first edge of the third panel 13 define a second edge 15.2 of the cube corner 10, the second edge externally comprising a second central parallelepiped-shaped notch 15.2. The second edge of the second panel 11 and the second edge of the third panel 13 define a third edge of the cube corner 10, the third edge externally comprising a third central parallelepiped-shaped notch 15.3. The first, second and third notches 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 of the cube corner 10 are identical.

[0045] The first edge 15.1, the second edge 15.2 and the third edge 15.3 each have a free end defining respectively a first corner 16.1, a second corner 16.2 and a third corner 16.3 of the connecting nut formed by the joining device 1. The first, second and third edges have a common end defining a fourth corner 16.4 of the connecting nut formed by the joining device 1.

[0046] The first, second, third and fourth corners 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4 comprise external edges provided with a border 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 in the shape of a trirectangle trihedron to form, as will be seen later, centering stops for the P profiles on the external faces 12th, 13th, 14th of the first, second and third panels 12, 13, 14 of the cube corner 10, but also on the external faces 12th, 13th, 14th of the first, second and third panels 12, 13, 14 of the other cube corner 10.

[0047] The first, second and third edges of the cube corner 10 are internally provided with an angle reinforcement 18 or cornice forming a trirectangular trihedron for reinforcing said cube corner 10. The angle reinforcement 18 comprises a first branch 18.1 extending along the first edge to connect the first panel 11 and the second panel 12, a second branch 18.2 extending along the second edge to connect the first panel 11 and the third panel 13, and a third branch 18.3 extending along the third edge to connect the second panel 12, the third panel 13 and the eyelet 14. The first, second and third branches 18.1, 18.2, 18.3 are generally of square section and of identical dimensions. The second branch 18.2 and the third branch 18.3 have identical free ends extending respectively along the second corner 16.2 and third corner 16.3.

[0048] The first panel 11 and the second panel 12 comprise a free angular end comprising respectively a first notch 19.1 and a second notch 19.2 having shapes complementary to the free ends of the second branch 18.2 and the third branch 18.3 of the corner reinforcement 18: said first and second notches 19.1, 19.2 each form a parallelepiped housing intended to receive the free end of the second and third branches 18.2, 18.3 of the corner reinforcement 18 of another cube corner 10, and said free ends of the second and third branches 18.2, 18.3 are intended to be received in the first and second notches 19.1, 19.2 of the other cube corner 10 to form stops for the mutual imbrication of the two cube corners 10.

[0049] Several modes of use of the junction device 1 will now be detailed, the junction device 1 comprising two cube corners 10 distinguished in FIGS. 5A-5G by the addition of the letters A and B.

[0050] With reference to [Fig.5A], a first mode of use of the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect two P profiles arranged in the extension of one another.

[0051] For this, a free end of one of the two profiles P is brought into contact with the external face 11c of the first panel 11 of the cube corner 10A, then the profile D is screwed to the first panel 11 using a cylindrical-head screw Vj which passes through the hole 11.1 of said first panel 11 and which has a thread cooperating with one end of the fixing channel P3 of the profile P. It will be noted that the edges 17.1, 17.2, 17.4 of the first panel 11 are substantially in contact with free ends of the longitudinal faces P2b P22 of the fins P2 of the profile P, said edges 17.1, 17.2, 17.4 making it possible to center the profile P on the external face 11c of the first panel 11 and preventing any rotation of the profile P when it is screwed onto said first panel 11.

[0052] Similarly, a free end of the other of the two P profiles is brought into abutment against the external face 12e of the second panel 12 of the cube corner 10B, then is screwed to the second panel 12 using a cylindrical-head screw Vj (not visible in [Fig.5A]) which passes through the hole 12.1 of said second panel 12 and which has a thread cooperating with one end of the fixing channel P3 of the P profile. It will be noted that the edges 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 of the second panel 12 are substantially in contact with free ends of the longitudinal faces P21, P22 of the fins P2 of the profile P, said edges 17.1, 17.2, 17.3 making it possible to center the profile P on the external face 11c of the second panel 12 and preventing any rotation of the profile P when it is screwed onto said second panel 12.

[0053] The cube corner 10A and the cube corner 10B are then brought together until the central axes Xu of the eyelets 14 are aligned, then are assembled by means of a translation of the cube corner 10B along the central axis Xu of its eyelet 14 so as to form a connecting nut of generally cubic shape. The cube corner 10A and the cube corner 10B are held together by means of a headless screw V2 having a thread cooperating with the holes 14.1 of the eyelets 14.

[0054] With reference to [Fig.5B], a second mode of use of the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect two P profiles at 90 degrees.

[0055] For this, a free end of one of the two profiles P is brought into contact with the external face 11c of the first panel 11 of the cube corner 10A, then the profile D is screwed to the first panel 11 using a cylindrical-head screw Vj (not visible in [Fig.5B]) which passes through the hole 11.1 of said first panel 11 and which has a thread cooperating with one end of the fixing channel P3 of the profile P.

[0056] Another cylindrical head screw Vj is then inserted internally into the hole 14.1 of the eyelet 14 of the cube corner 10B, then the cube corner 10A and the cube corner 10B are brought closer to each other until the central axes XM of the eyelets 14 are aligned, and are assembled by means of a translation of the cube corner 10B along the central axis XM of its eyelet 14 so as to form a connecting nut of generally cubic shape.

[0057] A free end of the other of the two P profiles is then brought into contact with the external face 13e of the third panel 13 of the cube corner 10A, then the D profile is screwed to the eyelet 14 of the cube corner 10B using the screw Vi which passes through the hole 14.1 of the eyelet 14 and which has a thread cooperating with one end of the fixing channel P3 of the P profile. It will be noted that this screw Vi also makes it possible to keep the cube corner 10A and the cube corner 10B assembled by pressing the P profile against the third panel 13 of the cube corner 10A. The screwing of said screw Vi is carried out via the hole 14.1 of the eyelet 14 of the cube corner 10A.

[0058] With reference to [Fig.5C], a third mode of use of the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect three P profiles at 90 degrees in the same plane.

[0059] For this, the operations necessary for the production of the third mode are identical to those of the second embodiment illustrated in [Fig.5B], with the difference that a profile P is first screwed to the second panel 12 of the cube corner 10B.

[0060] With reference to [Fig.5D], a fourth mode of use of the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect three P profiles at 90 degrees to form a trirectangular trihedron.

[0061] For this, the operations necessary for the production of the fourth mode are identical to those of the second embodiment illustrated in [Fig.5B], with the difference that a profile P is first screwed to the second panel 12 of the cube corner 10A.

[0062] With reference to [Fig.5E], a fifth mode of use of the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect four P profiles at 90 degrees in the same plane.

[0063] For this, the operations necessary for producing the fifth embodiment are identical to those of the first embodiment illustrated in [Fig.5A], with the difference that a profile P is previously screwed to the second panel 12 of the cube corner 10A and to the first panel 11 of the cube corner 10B.

[0064] With reference to [Fig.5F], a sixth mode of use of the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect four P profiles at 90 degrees to form two adjoining trirectangular trihedrons.

[0065] For this, the operations necessary for the production of the sixth mode are identical to those of the third embodiment illustrated in [Fig.5C], with the difference that a profile P is first screwed to the second panel 12 of the cube corner 10A.

[0066] With reference to [Fig.5G], a seventh mode of use of the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect five P profiles at 90 degrees to form four adjoining trirectangular trihedrons.

[0067] For this, the operations necessary for the production of the sixth mode are identical to those of the third embodiment illustrated in [Fig.5C], with the difference that a profile P is previously screwed to the second panel 12 of the cube corner 10A and to the third panel 11 of the cube corner 10B.

[0068] It is therefore understood that the joining device 1 makes it possible to connect two to five profiles together.

[0069] It will be noted that the cube corners 10A, 10B have a plane of symmetry passing through the central axes Xn, XM of the third and fourth holes 13.1, 14.1 and forming an angle of 45 degrees with the first panel 11 and the second panel 12.

[0070] With reference to [Fig.6], the external face(s) 11e, 12e, 13e of the panels 11, 12, 13 of the cube corners 10A, 10B not receiving a profile P may optionally be covered with a protective cover or mask 20 such as that illustrated in [Fig.7].

[0071] The cover 20 is generally flat and comprises a circumference of a shape complementary to the edges 17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4 of the external faces 11e, 12e, 13e of the panels 11, 12, 13 to prevent any rotation of said cover 20 in position on an external face 11c, 12e, 13e of the cube corner 10. The cover 20 further comprises a central fixing pin 21 extending perpendicularly projecting from a lower face of said cover 20. The central pin 21 is arranged to be inserted by force into the hole 11.1, 12.1, 13.1 of the external face of the cube corner 10 intended to be covered by the cover 20.

[0072] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0073] Although the P profiles are identical here, they can also be different.

[0074] Although the P profiles are here in the shape of a cross, they can be of different shapes. (square, rectangular section, etc.)

[0075] Although the cube corners 10A, 10B are identical here, they can also be different.

[0076] Although the cube corners 10A, 10B are here arranged to form a connecting nut of generally cubic shape, they can also be arranged to form a connecting nut of generally parallelepiped shape.

Claims

Claims

1. A device (1) for joining profiles, comprising two cube corners (10, 10A, 10B) fitting into each other to form a parallelepiped-shaped connecting nut, each of the two cube corners comprising: • a first panel (11); • a second panel (12), perpendicular to the first panel, having a first edge connected to a first edge of the first panel; • a third panel (13), perpendicular to the first panel and to the second panel, having a first edge connected to a second edge of the first panel and a second edge connected to a second edge of the second panel; and • an eyelet (14) extending parallel opposite the third panel and connected to an end portion of a third edge of the first panel and of the second panel, the first panel, the second panel and the eyelet each comprising a fixing hole (11.1, 12.1, 14.1), and the third panel comprising a hole (13.1) which is provided with a lateral opening and which forms a housing for receiving the eyelet of the other of the cube corners during the mutual nesting of said cube corners, so that the first panel, the second panel and the third panel each form a profile fixing plate.

2. A joining device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing holes (11.1, 12.1, 13.1, 14.1) of the first panel (11), the second panel (12), the third panel (13) and the eyelet (14) have central axes (Xn, X[2, Xn, XM) intersecting at a single point (0) forming a center of the connecting nut.

3. A joining device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixing holes (11.1, 12.1, 14.1) of the first panel (11), the second panel (12) and the eyelet (14) are of the same diameter.

4. A joining device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the cube corner (10, 10A, 10B) internally comprises a corner reinforcement (18) in the shape of a trirectangular trihedron. comprising a first branch (18.1) connecting the first panel (11) and the second panel (12), a second branch (18.2) connecting the first panel (11) and the third panel (13), and a third branch (18.3) connecting the second panel (12), the third panel (13) and the eyelet (14).

5. Joining device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second branch (18.2) and the third branch (18.3) each comprise a free end forming a stop during the mutual nesting of said cube corners (10, 10A, 10B) by coming to be housed in a complementary shape arranged at an angular end of the first panel (11) and of the second panel (12) of the other cube corner.

6. Joint device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cube corner (10, 10A, 10B) comprises angular ends provided with edges (17.1, 17.2, 17.3, 17.4) in the shape of a trirectangle trihedron forming centering stops for the profiles (P) on external faces (lie, 12e, 13e) of the first, second and third panels (11, 12, 13).

7. A joining device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the cube corners (10, 10A, 10B) are identical.

8. A joining device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the cube corner (10, 10A, 10B) has a plane of symmetry.

9. Junction device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one cover (20) arranged to cover an external face (11e, 12e, 13e) of the connecting nut.

10. Profile assembly, comprising at least two profiles (P) and at least one joining device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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