Connector for structural profiles

Abstract

FIELD: construction.SUBSTANCE: connector for structural profiles (4), especially for dry construction of building walls and sanitary equipment, comprising a pair of parallel faceplates (1a, 1b), each of which is equipped with at least two curved edges (11) for fastening to the structural profiles (4), wherein the connector additionally comprises a fastening element (3) that transversely connects the faceplates (1a, 1b), and at least one spring element (2) is located between the faceplates (1a, 1b). The spring element (2) comprises a pair of bases (21a, 21b), each of which is located on at least a portion of the inner surface of the corresponding faceplate (1a, 1b), wherein the bases (21a, 21b) are interconnected by at least one spring elastic element (24), which is formed by a longitudinal arm bent in the assembled form of the connector.EFFECT: connector for structural profiles is provided.9 cl, 4 dwg

Description

[0001] Technical field

[0002] The invention relates to a connector for structural profiles, especially for dry construction of buildings and plumbing fixtures, which comprises a pair of parallel faceplates, each of which is equipped with at least two bent edges for fastening to structural profiles, wherein the connector additionally comprises a clamping element connecting the faceplates in the transverse direction, and at least one spring element is located between the faceplates.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] The supporting frames of drywall building systems for buildings with prefabricated sanitary fixtures, such as flush modules, wash modules, etc., are usually composed of elongated structural sections, such as pipes, rails, U-shaped sections, C-shaped sections, etc., and then various kinds of connectors and couplings for connecting these elongated structural elements and for attaching the sanitary fixture to the supporting frame.

[0005] German utility model DE 202004017856 discloses a sheet metal connector with two parallel faceplates at the edges, firmly connected transversely by a sheet metal base, which allows flexible movement of the faceplates. The most commonly used sheet metal connector for the rectangular connection of structural elements according to DE 202004017856 comprises a pair of parallel flat faceplates in the shape of right-angled isosceles triangles, which are provided with locking projections / grips at the edges, on the legs of the triangle, for fixing in the grooves of the longitudinal structural elements to be connected. The connector is additionally provided with a fastening screw passed through a hole in the first faceplate and screwed into the thread of the hole in the second faceplate of the connector for tightening the ends of the connector and, thus, for fixing the locking projections in the grooves of the structural elements to be connected.

[0006] Also known from practice is a connector whose faceplates are joined at their edges, instead of being rigidly connected by a transverse sheet metal base, as in the case of DE 202004017856, by locking claws formed on two opposite, curved edges of the metal faceplates. This connection of the faceplates allows for their mutual rocking motion along a circle. The connector is equipped with a metal coil compression spring, which is placed on the fastening screw and cushions the rockingly connected faceplates.

[0007] Document DE102004040589A1 describes a profile rail system that has an angular connecting element with two faceplates inserted into the contact side of the profile rails and / or located on the longitudinal side of the rails. The faceplates are connected to the rails and / or to the transition element by expanding the faceplates and guide devices relative to the contact side using a spacer element. The rails are held in a resting position relative to each other by the outer contour of the element and / or the guide devices. EP 1213490A1 discloses a connecting element for profile rods, which is provided with at least one screw and two faceplates that can be removably secured to at least one profile rod, each faceplate having inclined clamping surfaces for clamping in the grooves of one or more profile rods. Two faceplates are held at a certain distance from each other by a spring, so that the faceplates can elastically snap into the grooves of the profile rods. A disadvantage of known connectors with faceplates at the edges, flexibly and / or oscillatingly connected by a base and / or grips, is that when the connector is tightened, the faceplates with handles move along the circumference, but are pulled to the straight longitudinal grooves or straight longitudinal edges of the structural profiles.With rigid tightening, this leads to permanent deformation of the connector and / or profile, requiring significant clamping force applied to the tightening element for tightening. At the same time, it is impossible to manufacture connector faceplates from rigid, strong, and inflexible sheet steel. Furthermore, when the connector and / or structural profile are deformed during tight tightening, the connected parts may shift due to the deformation. Such a deformed connector and / or structural profile, once firmly tightened, usually cannot be reused if the structure needs to be rebuilt.

[0009] Another disadvantage of such known connectors is that, in the compact design of the connector with triangular-shaped faceplates at the base, the connector can only be used to connect two structural profiles at one specific angle, usually at a right angle, but it cannot be used for any other profile connection angle and / or for connecting three structural profiles. Although DE 202004017856 describes even other connector shape variants that allow for connecting two structural profiles not only at a right angle, but also at another angle and / or connecting three structural profiles, the ends of such connectors are shaped as a quadrilateral or hexagon, which, while maintaining the required connection strength, necessarily increases the connector's size compared to a triangular connector.

[0010] The aim of the invention of the connector of structural profiles is to eliminate or at least minimize the above-mentioned disadvantages of the existing level of technology.

[0011] Disclosure of invention

[0012] The objective of the invention is achieved by a connector for structural profiles, particularly for drywall construction of buildings and sanitary fixtures. Like known connectors, the connector comprises a pair of parallel faceplates, each provided with at least two curved edges for fastening to the structural profiles. The connector also comprises a fastening element that transversely connects the faceplates. A spring element is located between the faceplates, said spring element comprising a pair of bases for connecting to the faceplates, each of which is located on at least a portion of the inner surface of the corresponding faceplate and which are connected to each other by at least one spring-resilient element, for example, one formed by a longitudinal arm bent in the assembled form of the connector, which facilitates handling of the connector during the installation of structural profiles.The longitudinal elastic arm flexibly connects the opposing bases of the spring element, bending as they approach and straightening as they move apart. Another advantage of this connector is that it does not require a connecting base at the edge, so this free edge can be used to form a grip, and the connector can be used to connect multiple profiles at different connection angles, a feature unavailable with other similarly shaped connectors known from the prior art.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the connector described above, the spring element comprises at least one spacer element, ideally located between the bases, to determine the distance between the bases and prevent deformation of the spring elastic element located between them when handling the connector.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the connector described above, the pair of bases of the spring element is formed by a pair of essentially parallel flat plates, adapted in shape and size for placement on the inner surfaces of the faceplates, thereby facilitating the production of the connector described above.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of a connector with a spring element with a pair of bases formed by a pair of substantially parallel flat plates, each base contains an opening for the passage of a transverse fastening element, ideally located in the middle or mainly in the middle of the base, and both bases are connected to each other by a pair of spring elastic elements located on the sides of the openings for the fastening element, due to which lateral balanced suspension of the ends of the connector is achieved.

[0016] It is advantageous if a main spacer element is located between the spring elastic elements, ideally next to the hole for the fastening element, which, when the connector is tightened, prevents the faceplates from getting too close together, which could compress and damage the spring elastic elements.

[0017] It is further advantageous for at least one of the bases to be equipped with regularly spaced auxiliary spacers around its perimeter. These auxiliary spacers serve to limit the distance between the opposite edges of the elastic element bases, thereby limiting the distance between the opposite curved edges of the ends, thereby increasing the ease of use of the connector when connecting structural profiles. Auxiliary spacers located on one base are ideally designed so that they are 5-50% lower than the main spacer located on the same base, allowing the bases, and therefore the end edges, to swing around the main spacer.

[0018] At least one connector faceplate in any of the above-described embodiments of the connector with a spring element with a pair of bases interconnected by a longitudinal spring elastic element is preferably provided with means for installing and / or fixing the base of the spring element on the inner side of the faceplate, for example, holes for inserting protrusions of the base of the spring element, protrusions for insertion into holes in the spring element, handles for gripping the edge of the base of the spring element, etc.

[0019] Each connector faceplate in any of the above-described designs is preferably manufactured from a single sheet of metal, for example, by cutting, stamping, bending, etc., while the spring element is manufactured from a single plastic plate using injection molding. Faceplates made of sheet metal provide sufficient connector strength and are economical to manufacture using cutting and / or stamping of sheet metal. The plastic spring element can be manufactured economically by injecting plastic into a mold as a single, corrosion-resistant part; however, using another material could reduce the functionality of the spring element in particular. When assembling such a connector, the sheet metal faceplates are simply connected to each other by shrinking and / or snapping onto the bases of the plastic spring element, and there is no need to connect them at the edges with a metal base.

[0020] In an advantageous design, the faceplates have a triangular shape at the base, and each of the faceplates is provided with three curved edges for fastening to structural profiles, which increases the variability of the widely used triangular-shaped basic connector, which, thus, unlike known triangular connectors, can be used to connect three structural profiles with one triangular connector.

[0021] Brief description of drawings

[0022] The technical solution is schematically shown in the drawings, where Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of a connector of structural profiles according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a disassembled view of the connector according to the second embodiment, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spring element of the connector according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 4 shows three structural profiles interconnected by a connector.

[0023] Examples of the invention

[0024] A connector for structural profiles 4, such as profile pipes, rails, U-shaped profiles, C-shaped profiles, etc., according to the present invention comprises a pair of parallel faceplates 1a, 1b, each of which is equipped with at least two curved edges 11 for forming a grip for fastening the connector to the structural profiles 4, to the elements of their longitudinal fastening 41 (Fig. 4), wherein the faceplates 1a, 1b of the connector in assembled form (Fig. 1) define the internal space 5 of the connector. In addition to the above, the connector is provided with a transversely located fastening element 3, for example a screw, a fastening eccentric, etc., for transversely connecting the faceplates 1a, 1b and for firmly fastening the connector to the longitudinal structural elements 4 to be connected.In the inner space 5 of the connector between the faceplates 1a, 1b, at least one spring element 2 is arranged for the rocking springing and the rectilinear pushing connection of the faceplates 1a, 1b. The spring element 2 comprises a pair of bases 21a, 21b, which rest on at least a part of the inner surface of the faceplates 1a, 1b and are interconnected by at least one spring elastic element 24, due to which, in contrast to the connectors known from the prior art, the connector is adapted for simple installation, on which the faceplates 1a, 1b, connected by the spring element 2, can elastically rotate relative to each other on all their edges 11 and simultaneously elastically rectilinearly approach / move closer in the direction S of fastening / loosening of the connector by the fastening element 3.

[0025] In the first embodiment, schematically shown in Fig. 1, the connector is provided with two spring elements 2, located in the internal space 5 of the connector around the fastening element 3. Each spring element 2 contains two bases 21a, 21b, wherein each of them rests on a part of the internal surface of one of the faceplates 1a, 1b. Two opposite bases 21a, 21b of one spring element 2 are each connected by one spring elastic element 24.

[0026] The faceplates 1a, 1b in the first version of the connector are equipped with spacer elements 60 (Fig. 1) for determining the shortest distance between the ends 1a, 1b of the assembled connector and for preventing damage to the spring element 2 by the front ends 1a, 1b approaching each other by tightening the fastening element 3.

[0027] In the second embodiment, schematically shown in Fig. 2, the connector is equipped with only one spring element 2, which contains two bases 21a, 21b, resting in principle on the entire inner surface of the faceplates 1a, 1b and connected by two spring elastic elements 24, made in the form of longitudinal arms.

[0028] In another embodiment not shown, the connector may be equipped with two, four or another suitable number of spring elements 2, depending on the size and shape of the connector, which are located in the internal space 5 of the connector, ideally symmetrically around the fastening element 3.

[0029] Furthermore, the connector in the second embodiment (Fig. 2) is equipped with at least one spacer element 6 for determining the shortest distance between the ends 1a, 1b of the assembled connector and for preventing damage to the spring element 2 by the front ends 1a, 1b approaching each other by tightening the fastening element 3.

[0030] The pair of bases 21a, 21b of the spring element 2 is, in the second embodiment (Fig. 2, 3), a pair of parallel or, in principle, parallel flat plates, which are adapted in shape and size to the internal space 5 of the connector, wherein the first base 21a is adapted in shape and size for installation in the first faceplate 1a, and the second base 21b is adapted in shape and size for installation in the second faceplate 1b.

[0031] The base 21 of the spring element (Fig. 2, 3) is equipped with projections 25 for insertion into the holes 13 of the faceplate 1a, 1b.

[0032] Furthermore, each base 21a, 21b comprises an opening 22 for the passage of a fastening element 3, which in this second embodiment of the connector is represented by a screw. On the sides of the opposite openings 22 (Fig. 2, 3), a pair of spring elastic elements 24 are located, ideally symmetrically, longitudinal arms that transversely connect the bases 21a, 21b and which, in the assembled form of the connector, are bent in the direction inward of the connector.

[0033] In the second example of the embodiment of the connector, a main spacer element 61 is located between the spring elastic elements 24 (Fig. 3) on the inner side of the base 21, oriented toward the center of the connector, limiting the mutual distance of the faceplates 1a, 1b. The main spacer element 61 is located next to the opening 22 for the fastening element 3, ideally so that it adjoins it and / or surrounds it.

[0034] At the edges, at least one base 21 of the spring element 2 (Fig. 3) is placed, optionally equipped with auxiliary spacer elements 62, ideally evenly distributed along the perimeter of the base 21 of the spring element 2, for limiting the mutual distance of the edges of the faceplates 1a, 1b when they are tilted towards each other / from each other around the main spacer element 61 and during their mutual rotation around the axis of the transverse fastening element 3, during fastening of the connector to the structural profiles 4. Auxiliary spacer elements 62 are 5-60%, preferably 10-30% lower than the main spacer element 61, located on the same base 21.

[0035] The spring element 2 is preferably produced as a single plastic component by injection molding, ideally from a single piece of polyamide Pa6 or from a single piece of polyoxymethylene (POM), polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), etc.

[0036] In other embodiments, the spring element 2 may be made of another suitable elastic material and may consist of several parts, for example, of two bases 21 and of self-made spring elastic elements 24 and spacer elements 61 and / or 62.

[0037] The faceplate 1 (Fig. 1, 2) with curved edges 11 is preferably produced by stamping from a single sheet of metal, for example steel, aluminum, duralumin, etc., wherein in the middle or mainly in the center of the faceplate 1 an opening 12 is formed for a fastening element 3, which can be equipped with an internal thread 121. Around the opening 12 for the fastening element in the faceplate 1, additional openings 13 are preferably made for installing the base 21 of the spring element 1.

[0038] In another embodiment not shown, the faceplate 1 may comprise other suitable means for mounting and / or securing the base 21 of the spring element 2, such as one, three or substantially any number of holes, protrusions, recesses, handles, pressure tabs, and so on.

[0039] In both of the above-described examples of embodiments (Fig. 1, 2, 4), the connector has a basic triangular shape, wherein each of the pair of parallel-arranged faceplates 1a, 1b has a basic triangular shape and is provided with three curved edges 11 for forming a grip for fastening to the structural profiles 4. In an advantageous second embodiment, the spring element 2 of such a connector has a shape of a triangle (Fig. 3), in the middle of which, or mainly in the middle of which, an opening 22 is located for the fastening element 3 and for the main spacer element 61, on the sides of which a pair of spring elastic elements 24 are located. Three auxiliary spacer elements 62 are optionally located at the vertices of the triangular base 21 of the spring element 2.

[0040] Each of the faceplates 1a, 1b at the triangular base is equipped with three curved edges 11 for forming a grip, wherein the curved edges 11 of one faceplate 1 together form three acute angles on the surface of the faceplate 1, if the connector has a base in the shape of a right triangle, they create two acute angles and one right angle. A connector equipped with such faceplates can be used, in contrast to triangular connectors known from the prior art, for connecting two structural profiles 4 at a right and acute angle and / or for connecting three structural profiles 4 (Fig. 4).

[0041] In other embodiments not shown, the connector may have a base in the shape of any polygon and may be equipped with faceplates 1a, 1b in the shape of the base of such a polygon to achieve the required combinations of connection angles of the structural profiles 4.

[0042] When assembling the connector according to the presented invention, the spring element 2 is placed between the faceplates 1a, 1b in the inner space 5 of the connector and is installed in the corresponding faceplates 1a, 1b. Then, the fastening element 3 is inserted through the holes 12, 22 for the fastening means 3 and is fixed in the connector, for example, by screwing it into one of the ends 1a, 1b of the connector, pushing it through both ends 1a, 1b of the connector and fastening it using a quick-release device (not shown), etc.

[0043] When connecting the structural profiles 4, the procedure is such that the assembled connector is installed with its curved edges 11 in the longitudinal fastening elements 41 and is freely pressed against the profiles by the fastening element 3. Then, the structural elements 4 are installed in the required positions, and the faceplates 1a, 1b are moved rectilinearly and firmly clamped by the fastening element 3 in the direction S of clamping / loosening the faceplates 1a, 1b, due to which the structural profiles 4 to be connected are firmly connected to each other by means of the connector.

[0044] In the embodiment examples of the connector shown in Fig. 1, 2 and 4, the curved edges 11 of the connector in the assembled form are oriented towards the inside of the connector, so that the opposite edges 11 are inclined towards each other, and the connector is adapted in such a way that when the connector is fastened using the fastening element 3, the faceplates 1a, 1b approach each other rectilinearly in the direction S of fastening the connector. When connecting the structural profiles 4, such a connector is first installed on the structural profile 4 in such a way that the longitudinal fastening elements 41 of the structural profile 4 are placed between the opposite curved edges 11 of the faceplates 1a, 1b of the connector (Fig. 4), then the connector is fixed with the fastening element 3, and the faceplates 1a, 1b approach each other rectilinearly and against the longitudinal fastening elements 41 on the structural profile 4.

[0045] In another embodiment of the connector, not shown, the curved edges 11 of the connector in the assembled form are oriented outward from the connector, so that the opposite edges 11 are inclined from each other, and the connector is designed in such a way that when the connector is fastened using the fastening element 3, the faceplates 1a, 1b move away from each other rectilinearly in the direction S of fastening the connector. When connecting the structural profiles 4, such a connector is first installed in the structural profile 4 in such a way that the opposite curved edges 11 of the faceplates 1a, 1b of the connector are located between the longitudinal fastening elements 41 of the structural profile 4 and then the connector is clamped by the fastening element 3, and the faceplates 1a, 1b move away from each other rectilinearly, against the longitudinal fastening elements 41 in the structural profile 4.

[0046] List of reference marks

[0047] 1 faceplate

[0048] 1a first faceplate

[0049] 1b second faceplate

[0050] 11 edge

[0051] 12 hole for fastener in faceplate

[0052] 121 thread

[0053] 13 hole for installing the spring element base

[0054] 2 spring element

[0055] 21 base

[0056] 21a first base

[0057] 21b second base

[0058] 22 fastener hole in spring element

[0059] 24 spring elastic element

[0060] 25 protrusion

[0061] 3 fastener

[0062] 4 structural profile

[0063] 41 Longitudinal Fastening Element

[0064] 5 connector internal space

[0065] 6 spacer element

[0066] 60 faceplate spacer element

[0067] 61 main spacer element

[0068] 62 auxiliary spacer element

[0069] S directions of fastening / loosening

Claims

1. A connector for structural profiles (4), especially for dry construction of building walls and sanitary equipment, comprising a pair of parallel faceplates (1a, 1b), each of which is equipped with at least two curved edges (11) for fastening to the structural profiles (4), wherein the connector additionally comprises a fastening element (3), which transversely connects the faceplates (1a, 1b), and at least one spring element (2) is located between the faceplates (1a, 1b), characterized in that the spring element (2) comprises a pair of bases (21a, 21b), each of which is located at least on a part of the inner surface of the corresponding faceplate (1a, 1b), wherein the bases (21a, 21b) are interconnected by at least one spring elastic element (24), which is formed by a longitudinal arm bent in the assembled form of the connector.

2. The connector according to item 1, characterized in that the spring element (2) contains at least one spacer element (61, 62).

3. A connector according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the pair of bases (21a, 21b) of the spring element (2) is formed by a pair of generally parallel flat plates.

4. The connector according to item 3, characterized in that each base (21a, 21b) contains an opening (22) for the passage of the fastening element (3), and both bases (21a, 21b) are interconnected by a pair of spring elastic elements (24) located on the sides of the openings (22) for the fastening element (3).

5. The connector according to item 4, characterized in that the main spacer element (61) is located between the spring elastic elements (24), next to the opening (22) for the fastening element (3).

6. A connector according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the bases (21a, 21b) is equipped with regularly spaced auxiliary spacer elements (62) around the circumference.

7. A connector according to any one of paragraphs 1-6, characterized in that at least one of the pair of faceplates (1a, 1b) is equipped with means for installing and / or securing the base (21) of the spring element (2).

8. A connector according to any one of paragraphs 1-7, characterized in that each of the faceplates (1a, 1b) is made from a single sheet of metal and the spring element (2) is made from a single plastic plate.

9. A connector according to any one of paragraphs 1-8, characterized in that the faceplates (1a, 1b) have a triangular base shape, and each of the faceplates (1a, 1b) is equipped with three curved edges (11) for fastening to the structural profiles (4).

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