AT527495A4 - connecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device comprising a male part (1), a female part (4), and a drum (6). The drum (6) comprises a circular ring having inner pins (8), outer pins (9), and a handle (7), and which can be inserted into the female part (4) and onto the male part (1). The male part (1) comprises a pin (2) and a housing (3), the pin (2) having recesses (10) extending along the outside from the free end. The female part (4) comprises a circular ring in which inner recesses (11) and an opening (12) are formed, wherein the recesses (10, 11) of the female (4) and male part (1) each have sections for inserting the inner mandrels (8) and outer mandrels (9) of the drum (6) as well as a corresponding section in the opening (12) for inserting the handle (7) of the drum (6) and, adjoining these sections, each have guide sections (13) for bracing, wherein the guide sections (13) are slightly inclined with respect to a contact surface between the male (1) and female part (4), so that the male (1) and female part (4) brace against one another when the drum (6) rotates.

Description

a male part, a female part and a drum.

EP 0344120 A1 shows a multi-part connecting device. Here, a cube (connecting element) is connected to furniture edge pieces via bolts that are screwed into the cube and have a clamping sleeve. Screwing the bolts requires a tool in the form of an open-end wrench and is therefore not easily

hand to operate.

DE 740659 shows a connection between an intermediate piece and several bars. The connection is achieved by using retaining pins with locking devices. However, this construction tends to be unstable, and therefore plates can be inserted between the bars to allow the connection to withstand higher loads.

can withstand.

DE 202020106708 U1 shows a connector that can be secured using a clamping lever. When actuated, the clamping lever ensures that the expansion sleeves and the housing are spread open, thus securing them in the holes of the corresponding components.

can.

The aim of the present invention is to create a cost-effective and sustainable alternative that enables a precise and secure connection, as well as being easy to lock and unlock without tools. This should enable all possible reversible connections between components, which is particularly important for sustainable, reusable

connection systems should be advantageous.

This is achieved according to the invention by a connecting device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the drum comprises a circular ring which has both inner and outer mandrels and a handle and which is inserted into the female and onto the male

Part is pluggable, the male part has a pin and a housing

are lockable.

Thus, a three-part connecting device is provided. The drum can first be inserted into the female part. Then, the male part can be inserted into the female part and the drum. Finally, a positive and non-positive connection can be achieved by simply rotating the drum using the handle. It will be understood by the average person skilled in the art that the drum can also be arranged externally, encompassing the female part in a ring-like manner, and is then guided by internal mandrels of different lengths both in the female part and engages with the longer internal mandrels in corresponding recesses in the male part. Alternatively, the guided connection between the external drum and the female part can also be achieved via external mandrels on the female part, which are guided in corresponding recesses in the drum. All of these variants represent equivalent arrangements of the parts.

which are therefore also encompassed by the invention.

According to the invention, when the connecting device is closed, a flat annular surface of the housing of the male part and a flat annular surface of the female part form the

Because the adjacent surfaces are on the outside

Areas located further inside are transferred.

Furthermore, according to the invention, it can be provided that the drum has four inner mandrels, three outer mandrels and a handle, and that the male and female parts have the corresponding number of recesses. The four mandrels (or three mandrels and the handle) can ensure a continuous contact pressure between the male and female parts (in the absence of external forces). In the presence of external forces, the load on the mandrels and consequently the contact pressure changes accordingly. It is clear to the average person skilled in the art that, depending on the application, the number of mandrels can also be increased or decreased, whereby the existing mandrels are each arranged in uniform

should be distributed at intervals around the circumference.

According to a further preferred feature, a locking lug is provided in the opening in the female part to secure the handle in the closed position. This ensures that the connection is secured in the closed position, even in the event of vibrations, for example, and cannot come loose. Depending on the application, locking lugs can also be provided in the other recesses for the pins to

To reinforce the safety in the closed position.

Furthermore, it is a further preferred feature that the free end of the handle is shaped to have engagement surfaces for a tool, or is shaped to be connectable to a tool for extending the handle. In the simplest case, the handle is designed as a manually operable lever, which protrudes sufficiently far to be able to be operated by a user without tools. In special applications, it may be advantageous to design the handle differently, so that in addition to the

Operation by hand also operation by means of a tool

to solve.

Finally, a further advantageous feature is that a tearable seal can be applied as a connection between at least the drum and the female part or between the drum and the male part. If the connection device is used, for example, in a reusable packaging system, it may be desirable to provide a corresponding seal after filling, which tears upon the first actuation after filling, thus ensuring the integrity of the packaging before sale.

Seal can be reapplied with each subsequent filling process.

The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Fig. la-lc the assembly of the connecting device;

Fig. 2a-2c the male part;

Fig. 3a-3c the female part;

Fig. 4a-4c the drum.

In Fig. 1a, the drum 6 is already inserted into the female part 4. Here, the drum 6 is not yet rotated into the closed position. The male part 1 is inserted into the female part 4 in Fig. 1b, and in Fig. 1c, the drum 6 is rotated (via the handle) into the closed position. The protrusion in the form of a locking lug 5 in the female part 4 holds the handle in the

Fixing position secured.

The arrangement shown in Figures 1a-1c can be used, for example, to connect pieces of furniture. Depending on the dimensions, the connection can also be used in other applications, such as scaffolding, connecting components or modules, or as a detachable connection for textiles, tarpaulins, clothing, etc. The female part 4 (with the drum 6 already inserted) in a first element to be connected and the housing of the

male part 1 in a second connecting element

elements can be achieved.

It can be seen that the user of a connecting device according to the invention does not require any tools and the use

the connection device is intuitive and simple.

The parts of the connecting device according to the invention can be made of metal to ensure the most resilient fastening possible. They can also be produced from plastic using a more cost-effective process, for example, by injection molding or 3D printing. Of course, the use of other materials is also possible, provided they are advantageous. Furthermore, it is also possible to produce different parts from different materials or

made of composite materials.

Figures 2a-2c show a male part 1. This consists geometrically of two cylinders arranged next to each other. The larger cylinder is called the housing 3 and the smaller cylinder the pin 2. The pin 2 has recesses for receiving mandrels. The recesses are designed in such a way that a section for inserting the mandrels is provided and then an inclined guide section, the inclination of which is designed such that when the drum 6 rotates, the male part 1 and female part 4 are pressed against each other.

be pressed.

Figures 3a-3c show a female part 4. This consists of a ring with recesses. The recesses of the female part 4 preferably do not extend through the entire ring, whereby an opening for the handle must always extend through the ring. Here, the recesses are only subjected to pressure in the assembled and locked state, as they are pressed against the housing 3 of the male part 1. Thus, the female part 4 can withstand high forces.

The recesses are as in the male part 1

Part 4 are pressed together.

It should be noted that a certain angle must be provided between the slightly inclined surfaces in order to achieve the clamping between the male 1 and female part 4. This angle depends on the adhesion limit coefficient and the desired properties (contact pressure, rotational travel of the drum 6). A steeper angle enables higher contact pressure through increased preload of the drum 6. A larger angle, however, ensures that the drum 6 may possibly come loose (particularly in the event of vibrations). A corresponding elevation in the form of a locking lug 5 can prevent spontaneous twisting. A smaller angle is generally preferable, provided that the desired preload force can be achieved, as this reduces or eliminates the risk of spontaneous loosening of the connection. Furthermore, the shape and length of the handle can be adapted according to the required force to be transmitted or the required torque. Appropriate engagement surfaces, connecting surfaces, or projections can also be provided for

the coupling of a tool with the handle can be provided.

In any case, for both the male part 1 and the female part 4, the fastening in the components to be connected must be sufficiently strong to prevent breakage. The housing 3 of the male part 1 and the female part 4 can, for example, be pressed or glued into a hole-shaped recess in the components to be connected. In the recess for the female part 4, the necessary space for the handle and its movements must be provided in the corresponding component. The specific type of fastening of the female part and the male part to the component to be connected naturally depends on the specific application. For example, when used on flexible materials, such as fabrics

or tarpaulins, the connecting device can also be attached to the surface

Recessed installation is not possible or desired.

Figures A4a-4c show drum 6. This has four mandrels on the inside and three on the outside, as well as a handle. Because the mandrels are arranged directly on drum 6, they are not subjected to high torque, which means they are mainly subjected to shear stress.

Thus, the connecting device according to the invention allows an efficient and intuitive connection that can be made without tools

can be.

List of reference symbols:

1 male part

2 cones

3 housings

4 female part

5 locking lug

6 drum

7 Handle

8 inner mandrels

9 outer spines

10 recesses pin 11 inner recesses female part

12 Breakthrough 13 Guide sections 14 Ring surface male part

15 Ring area female part

Claims (1)

Connecting device comprising a male part (1), a female part (4) and a drum (6), characterized in that the drum (6) comprises a circular ring which has both inner pins (8) and outer pins (9) and a handle (7) and can be plugged into the female part (4) and onto the male part (1), the male part (1) comprises a pin (2) and a housing (3), wherein the pin (2) has recesses (10) extending along the outside from the free end, the female part (4) comprises a circular ring in which inner recesses (11) and an opening (12) are formed, wherein the recesses (10, 11) of the female part (4) and male part (1) each have sections for inserting the inner pins (8) and outer pins (9) of the drum (6) as well as a corresponding section in the opening (12) for inserting the handle (7) of the drum (6) and subsequently to these sections Each having guide sections (13) for clamping, wherein the guide sections (13) of the recesses (10, 11) of the female (4) and/or the male part (1) are slightly inclined relative to a contact surface between the male (1) and female part (4), so that the male (1) and female part (4) clamp against each other when the drum (6) rotates and These can therefore be locked together. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the connecting device is closed, a flat annular surface (14) of the housing (3) of the male part (1) and a flat annular surface (15) of the female part (4) form the contact surface. Connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drum (6) has four inner mandrels (8), three outer mandrels (9) and a handle (7), and that the male (1) and the female part (4) have the corresponding number on recesses (10,11). closed position. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the free end of the handle (7) is shaped to have engagement surfaces for a tool, or is shaped to be engaged with a tool for extending the Handle to be connectable. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that between at least the drum (6) and the female part (4) or the drum (6) and the male part (1) a tearable seal can be applied as a connection.