DE29821204U1 - Support profile for a body system for creating bodies - Google Patents

Description

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* . PATENT ATTORNEYS - EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

D-70174 STUTTGART HOSPITALSTRASSE 8 Telephone (0|7l 1) 2281IO Fax (0711)2281122

Applicant: 27.11.1998

G12810

Octanorm-Vertriebs-GmbH PW/mö

for components
Raiffeisenstrasse 39

70794 Filderstadt

Support profile for a construction system for the creation

of superstructures

The invention relates to a support profile for a construction system for the construction of structures, in particular for trade fair or shop construction, which is provided on the outside with longitudinal grooves and in its core area with at least one receiving chamber for the insertion of at least one turnbuckle, which serve to connect further support profiles or structural parts of the construction system.

A support profile of this type is known from EP 0 144 030 Bl. There, an octagonal tube is provided, the eight long sides of which are each provided with an undercut longitudinal groove, which is created by a slot starting from the outside opening into a chamber that runs parallel to the axis of the support profile. Clamping bolts of turnbuckles can be inserted into these longitudinal grooves in a known manner, which, when actuated by an eccentric, press the hooks of the bolts against the wall of the undercut groove. In the known design, a hollow interior is provided in the inner area adjacent to the longitudinal chambers, which is provided with four pairs of recesses in the form of triangular grooves, each of which is spaced apart so that a turnbuckle can be inserted into the recesses formed by four grooves.

can be inserted from the front, the cross-section of which corresponds to the dimensions of the grooves. Since the actuating eccentrics of the turnbuckles are located on their side surfaces, the support profiles are provided with openings in their side surfaces for actuating the eccentrics of the turnbuckles.

There are a whole series of applications in which, instead of the octagonal support profiles mentioned at the beginning, one wants to use profiles with other cross-sections, for example with a square or round cross-section, which are also so large in their dimensions that the arrangement of a tubular core area with the arrangement of an insertion option for the known turnbuckles would lead to additional material expenditure and an increase in the weight of such support profiles. Nevertheless, it is sometimes desirable to be able to connect pipe cross-sections with undercut grooves on their outside at the front if necessary.

The object of the invention is to create a track profile of the type mentioned at the beginning, which can also be inserted into the longitudinal grooves of other profiles and fastened there, especially with the help of the known turnbuckles, when larger cross sections are provided.

This object is achieved in that the at least one receiving chamber for the at least one turnbuckle is integrated in at least one adapter piece which is inserted in guides facing the interior of the support profile, and in that holes penetrating the guides are provided for inserting securing means which take over the axial securing of the at least one adapter piece in the guides.

The solution according to the invention merely requires that the existing or known! support profile cross-sections be provided on their inside with appropriate guides for inserting an adapter piece, which is then in the area of the

front end of this support profile and offers the possibility of inserting at least one turnbuckle into an open and appropriately dimensioned receiving chamber on the front side and anchoring it there in a known manner. The support profile can then also be attached to other components on the front side using a turnbuckle.

In a further development of the invention, threaded holes are provided in the adapter piece for the screws serving as securing means, which enable a particularly good and firm arrangement of the adapter piece on the support profile. In a further development of the invention, the adapter piece is provided with side openings for receiving the eccentric end pieces serving as the actuating device, which enable clamping. In a further development of the invention, the adapter piece itself can be plate-like and provided with strips arranged on opposite edges for insertion into the guides on the inside of the support profile. This design has the advantage that the adapter piece can be provided with a receiving chamber for a turnbuckle on both sides of a central tube area and the actuating eccentrics pointing to the sides of the adapter piece are then easily accessible.

In order to make this possible even in the pre-assembled state of the support profiles, in which the front side rests against a mounting surface, it is provided that the support profiles are provided with through-openings running transversely to their longitudinal axis for an actuating tool for the eccentric. In a further development of the invention, it can also be provided that a type of guide funnel in the form of a sleeve is provided for the shaft of the actuating tool immediately adjacent to the side opening of the adapter piece in which the eccentric comes to rest, and that this sleeve is provided with an edge that can be inserted into a corresponding longitudinal guide of the adapter piece. This design is relatively simple and enables safe actuation of the turnbuckles.

In a further development of the invention, assembly of the support profiles can be made easier before tightening the turnbuckles by providing an angled retaining slide which, during assembly, is inserted into the top longitudinal groove of the support profile in a form-fitting manner and is hooked with its hook part into the open front side of the support profile running at right angles to it. This design ensures

The positioning of the support profiles already allows the formation of the upper end of a structure, so that when the turnbuckles are operated, it is not necessary to ensure that the support profiles for assembly must be held at a certain height or relative position to another support profile before the turnbuckles guarantee fixation.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the adapter piece has a cross-shaped profile, with at least one receiving chamber integrated into each cross leg. This means that turnbuckles can be used either vertically one above the other or horizontally next to each other. The cross-shaped profile also enables improved stiffening of a support profile and is particularly suitable for square hollow profiles.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the adapter piece in the area of the turnbuckles is assigned a securing arrangement on the front side, which supports the support profile in the longitudinal direction of the groove of the adjacent profile, into which the turnbuckles engage, in a form-fitting manner against the profile. In particular, when the support profile is connected at right angles to another support profile or a differently designed structural part, this solution reliably prevents the support profile from shifting longitudinally to the adjacent profile, especially if the turnbuckles are not clamped sufficiently. This makes it possible to withstand high loads.

to reliably accommodate the load-bearing structure without causing a change in the positioning of the support profiles relative to one another.

The invention is illustrated by means of exemplary embodiments in the drawing and is explained below. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the components for a support profile according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows the cross-section of the support profile according to Fig. 1 in the assembled state,

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a corner of a frame produced using the support profile according to the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 shows an assembly step for joining support profiles according to Fig. 1 and 2,

Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a variant of a support profile cross-section,

Fig. 6 another variant of a support profile cross-section,

Fig. 7 a third variant of a support profile cross-section,

Fig. 8 the cross-section of the support profile according to Fig. 5 with inserted adapter,

Fig. 9 the cross-section of the support profile according to Fig. 7 with inserted adapter,

Fig. 10 shows the cross section of another embodiment of a supporting profile according to the invention,

Fig. 11 another variant of a support profile cross-section,

Fig. 12 a variant of an adapter for the support profile according to Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 the cross-section of the support profile according to Fig. 11 with the inserted adapter according to Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 shows a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of a support profile according to the invention, which is connected at the front to a vertical support column, and

Fig. 15 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a support profile according to the invention with a cross-shaped adapter piece.

Fig. 1 shows a drawn profile tube 1, made in particular of aluminum, serving as a support profile with a square cross-section that changes into a circular cross-section on the inside. Each of the four sides of the profile tube 1 is provided with an undercut longitudinal groove 2, which is formed by a slot starting from the outside opening into an underlying hollow chamber 3 with larger dimensions than the width of the slot. The walls of the hollow chambers 3 change into the circular core 4 on the inside and each form, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 2, longitudinally running grooves 5 that point towards the inside of the circular tube area 4. An adapter piece 6 is inserted from the free end of the profile tube 1 into two diametrically opposed grooves 5 with a web 30 in their middle, which can be clearly seen from Fig. 1. The adapter piece 6 is designed in the form of a drawn and cut-to-length plate-shaped profile, which has three continuous hollow chambers 7 and 8, of which the

both chambers 7 are adapted in their cross-section to the cross-section of turnbuckles 9, which can be inserted into the chambers 7.

The hollow chamber 8 can be provided with a thread in order to insert screw bolts centrally and to be able to attach the profile tube 1 to known connecting heads (see DE patent application 197 14 996 of 10.04.1997) which do not have grooves for fastening turnbuckles.

The adapter piece 6 has the profile of a guide strip 10 on its two opposite narrow sides, the cross section of which is adapted to the cross section of the grooves 5 and the web 30. Fig. 2 shows that these guide strips serve to hold the adapter piece 6 within the pipe cross section 4 in the position shown in Fig. 2. The adapter piece 6 is secured longitudinally to the front side of the profile pipe 1 by screws 11, which are guided through corresponding openings 12 in the area of the grooves 2 from the outside through the profile pipe 1 into threaded holes 13 in the adapter piece 6.

The adapter piece 6 is provided with openings 14, each of which opens into the chambers 7 and is designed and arranged in such a way that an actuating eccentric 15 of a turnbuckle, which snaps into the opening 14 in a known manner under the action of a spring when a turnbuckle is pushed into the chamber 7 in order to secure the axial position of the turnbuckle 9, is accessible for actuation through the opening 14. The eccentrics 15 have a multi-tooth recess (Torx key attack) and can be turned using a special key 16, whereby they then spread apart in a known manner two clamping hooks 17 arranged pivotably in the turnbuckle 9, which hook in a likewise known manner in one of the undercut grooves 2 of another profile tube which is perpendicular to the profile tube 1 with its axis.

In order to enable access to the opening 14 and the eccentric 15 on the outside of the profile tube 1, the profile tube 1 is provided with through openings 18 at the appropriate points, through which, as Fig. 2 shows, the special key 16 can be passed in the direction of the axis 19 in order to operate the turnbuckle. The openings 18, as also shown in Fig. 2, naturally extend through to the inner circular profile part 4 and it is also possible to provide guide sleeves 20 for the special key 16 in these openings, as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 2, which enable it to be threaded in. Fig. 1 also shows that insertion funnels in the form of sleeves 21 can be provided in front of the openings 14, which also make it easier to insert the special key 16 into the multi-tooth engagement of the eccentric. These sleeves 21 have in the embodiment a stop edge 22 with two opposing flats 23. The adapter piece 6 has two guide webs 24 assigned to one another, each of which runs in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the opening 14. The sleeve 21 can now initially be inserted into these guide webs 24 so that the flats 23 run parallel to the webs 24. If the sleeve 21 is then rotated by 90°, its edge 22 grips behind the guide webs 24 and the sleeve 21 is held on the adapter piece 6.

Fig. 3 shows that, through this design, the profile tube 1 can be attached with its front side to a side surface of an identically designed but vertically standing profile tube la and secured there, so that if another profile tube 1b is used, the design according to the invention can be used to form a corner of a frame that is used, for example, to set up an exhibition stand. Fig. 3 schematically indicates that, for aesthetic reasons, the end section of the standing profile tube la can be covered with panels 25, so that the optical impression of a connecting node can be achieved.

which is not technically necessary for the invention.

In order to reduce the assembly effort when constructing such a frame for a trade fair or exhibition stand, locking hooks 26 can be provided which, in a manner not shown in detail, have a type of dovetail profile on their underside facing away from the viewer in Fig. 4, with which they can be inserted into the upper groove 2 of the profile tube 1. With these locking hooks 26 it is therefore possible, as Fig. 4 also shows, to put profile tubes 1 and 1a together in a relatively simple manner before the turnbuckles - not shown in Fig. 4 - are actuated through the openings 18. The profile tubes 1 are temporarily secured in the later end position by the locking hooks 26 and therefore do not need to be held in the desired end position on the standing profile tube column 1a for the actual clamping process using the turnbuckles. They are secured in height by the locking hooks 2 6 and can then be easily fastened using the adapter piece 6 and the turnbuckles 9.

Fig. 5 to 9 show profile tubes 27, 28 and 29, which have a circular tube cross-section, which can also be used instead of the profile tube 1 with a square cross-section for the production of quickly assembled and quickly dismantled structures. The profiles 27 to 29 also have the longitudinal grooves 2, which open into chambers 3. The same reference numerals have therefore been chosen for these grooves and chambers as well as for all parts that correspond to those of the embodiment in Fig. 1 and 2. Even in these profiles, which initially only differ from one another in that the profile 27 has a lateral opening 31 and the profiles 29 and 28 only differ in the number of grooves 2, the inwardly directed hollow chambers 3 have a continuous web 30 on their side facing the interior, which, as in the

Embodiment according to Fig. 1 and 2 serves to guide the strip part 10 of the adapter piece 6. Finally, openings 18 again allow access to a special key 16, as in the embodiment of Fig. 1 and 2, whereby here too the adapter piece 6, which is secured in the same way through openings 12 with screws, can be provided with the guide strips 24 for inserting a guide sleeve 21, which allow the special key 16 to be inserted into the eccentrics IEi (not shown).

Fig. 10 shows a modification of a profile according to Fig. 2, but in which the inner circular tube part 4 is missing. The profile 3 2 therefore has a square cross-section with four inward-facing chambers 3, on which in turn the web 3 0 is arranged for guiding the adapter piece 6. Such profiles can also be used according to the invention for constructing frames.

Fig. 11 to 13 show variants of a profile tube 33 with square cross-sectional dimensions, one side of which is open, so that, for example, a transparent wall 34 can be used if special effects are to be achieved. Here too, however, the guide webs 3 0 for the adapter piece 6 are provided on two opposite chambers 3, the turnbuckles of which in this case are accessible from the open side in the direction of the arrows 3 5.

Fig. 12 now shows an adapter piece 36, which is also equipped with two chambers 7 for inserting turnbuckles 9 (not shown), but which differs in its other construction from the adapter piece 6, apart from the guide strips 24 for possible sleeves 21. This adapter piece 36 can be inserted into the profile 33 from the open side and then engages with a guide web 37 in a groove of a chamber 38, which is adjacent to a hollow chamber 3 and a groove slot 2 running on the outside. The adapter piece 36 has on the

On the side facing away from the web 3 7 there are two wing-like tabs 39 which extend outwards and, as shown in Fig. 13, engage in the gap 4 0 between the outer wall of the profile tube 3 and the hooks 41. The adapter piece 3 6 is held in the profile in this way. It can be secured axially by using screws 11, as described in the previous figures. However, it is also possible here to hold the tabs 3 9 axially if corresponding clamping strips 42 are held in the guide formed by the gap 4 0 and a guide web 43.

As is clear from the above description, the invention therefore enables the use of profiles with different cross-sectional shapes for the construction of frames, which was previously not possible in such a simple manner.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 14, an adapter piece 46, which has a cross-shaped profile, is inserted into the front of a horizontal, upwardly open support profile 44. The support profile 44 has a guide 45 on the opposite side walls and in the area of its base, which guides 45 run in the longitudinal direction of the profile and, according to the previously described embodiments, are directed inwards at the level of the external grooves. The cross-shaped adapter piece 46 has a correspondingly designed guide profile 50 on the free longitudinal edges of the two lateral cross legs and the lower cross leg, which also runs in the longitudinal direction of the profile. The adapter piece 46, like the support profile 44, is made from an extruded profile, in particular from a light metal material. The cross legs of the adapter piece 46 are designed as hollow profiles and each have a receiving chamber 47 into which turnbuckles 51 can be inserted in a known manner. Centrally in the middle area of the adapter piece 46 between the four receiving chambers 47, a hollow chamber 48 is also provided which serves to receive a locking bolt 52 on the front side. The see

The securing bolt 52 is part of a securing arrangement which positively secures the adapter piece 46 and thus also the support profile 44 relative to an adjacent, vertically aligned support profile 54. For this purpose, the adjacent support profile 54 is provided with a counterbore at the level of its longitudinal groove 55, into which the turnbuckles 51 engage, which serves as a securing recess 53. The securing bolt 52 protrudes beyond the front side of the adapter piece 46 in such a way that the securing bolt 52 simultaneously penetrates into the counterbore 53 when the turnbuckles 51 are inserted into the longitudinal groove 55. This securing arrangement thus forms a positive securing against the support profile 44 sliding downwards along the support profile 54 if the turnbuckles 51 are not tightened sufficiently or if there are corresponding overloads.

The upper cross leg of the adapter piece 46 according to Fig. 14 is provided with a receiving groove 49, which can be used to hold a further structural part, primarily also to hold a cover wall closing the open side of the support profile 44.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 15, the square support profile 56 is designed as a closed hollow profile, which is reinforced in its interior by a cross-shaped adapter piece 57 similar to the adapter piece 46 described with reference to Fig. 14. The adapter piece 57 according to Fig. 15 is provided with external guide profiles 50 on all four cross legs, which engage in corresponding, internal guides of the support profile 56 on all four long sides of the support profile 56. These guides correspond to the guides 45 of the support profile 44 according to Fig. 14. The arrangement of the turnbuckles and the axial fixation of the adapter piece in the support profile otherwise corresponds to the previously described embodiments.

The adapter piece 46 can be axially secured in the support profile 44 by means of laterally insertable screws. For this purpose, the

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previously described description of the preceding embodiments. This also applies to all other parts and features shown in the drawings that have already been explained using the previous embodiments.

I28IO.TXI

Claims (16)

Protection claims' 1. Support profile for a construction system for the construction of structures, in particular for exhibition or shop construction, which is provided on the outside with longitudinal grooves and in its core area with at least one receiving chamber for the insertion of at least one turnbuckle, which serve to connect further support profiles or structural parts of the construction system,
characterized, that the at least one receiving chamber (7, 48) for the at least one turnbuckle (9, 51) is integrated in at least one adapter piece (6, 36, 46, 47) which is inserted into guides (30, 45) pointing towards the interior of the support profile, and that holes (12) penetrating the guides (30, 45) are provided for inserting securing means (11) which take over the axial securing of the at least one adapter piece (6, 36, 46, 57) in the guides (30, 45). 2. Support profile according to claim 1, characterized in that threaded holes for screws (11) serving as securing means are provided in the adapter piece (6). 3. Support profile according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter piece (6, 36) is provided with lateral openings (14) for receiving actuating eccentrics (15) of the turnbuckles (9). 4. Support profile according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the adapter piece (6) is designed like a plate and is provided on its opposite narrow sides with guides (10) corresponding to the guides (3 0). 5. Support profile according to claim 4, characterized in that the adapter piece (6) is provided with two receiving chambers (7) for turnbuckles (9). 6. Support profile according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a through opening (18) is provided for the passage of an actuating tool (16) for the eccentrics (15) of the turnbuckles (9). 7. Support profile according to claim 6, characterized in that a guide funnel in the form of an attachable sleeve (21) is provided for the shaft of the actuating tool (16). 8. Support profile according to claim 7, characterized in that the sleeve (21) can be inserted into a guide (24) of the adapter piece (6, 36). 9. Support profile according to claim 1, characterized in that hook-shaped locking slides (26) are provided, which are provided on their part facing away from the hook with a guide fitting into the grooves (2) on the outer sides. 10. Support profile according to claim 5, characterized in that between the two receiving chambers (7) a central hollow chamber (8) is provided, which is provided with a thread for receiving a fastening bolt. 11. Support profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter piece (46, 57) has a cross-shaped profile, with at least one receiving chamber (48) being integrated in each cross leg. 12. Support profile according to claim 11, characterized in that the outer longitudinal edges of at least two cross legs are provided with guide profiles (50) corresponding to the guides (45). 13. Support profile according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a cross leg is provided on its longitudinal edge with a receiving groove (49) for holding a cover wall or another structural part. 14. Support profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter piece (46) in the area of the turnbuckles (51) is assigned a securing arrangement (52, 53) on the front side, which supports the support profile (44) in a form-fitting manner relative to the profile (54) in the longitudinal direction of the groove (55) of the adjacent profile (54) into which the turnbuckles (51) engage. 15. Support profile according to claim 14, characterized in that the securing arrangement is formed by a securing bolt (52) positioned on the front side in the region of the at least one receiving chamber (47) in the adapter piece (46) and projecting beyond the front side _, on the ^one hand, and by a corresponding securing recess (53), in particular a bore, on the adjacent profile (54), on the other hand, wherein the securing bolt ⁽ 52) engages in the securing recess (53) as soon as ^the turnbuckles (51) dip into the groove (55) of the adjacent profile (54). 16. Adapter piece for a support profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one receiving chamber (7, 47) for at least one turnbuckle (9, 51) is integrated in the adapter piece, and that the adapter piece (6, 36, 46, 57) is provided with guide profiles (10, 50) for insertion into corresponding guides (30, 45) of the support profile (1, 1a, 44, 56).