EP0688913A1

EP0688913A1 - Angle joint to connect several converging linear elements

Info

Publication number: EP0688913A1
Application number: EP95830213A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Angelo Gritti
Original assignee: RETI GRITTI SpA
Current assignee: RETI GRITTI SpA
Priority date: 1994-06-20
Filing date: 1995-05-19
Publication date: 1995-12-27
Also published as: IT234615Y1; ITBS940050V0; ITBS940050U1

Abstract

An angle joint to connect the contiguous ends of several tubular elements or sections extending out in several directions and destined to form a framework or a composite structure. The joint comprises an external cap (11) and a complementary internal cap (12) shaped to define together, when coupled, housings (11', 12') for the contiguous ends of the elements (14) to be connected and to be locked in situ by a central screw (13).

Description

The present invention concerns an angle joint to connect several converging linear elements, for example tubular elements or sections destined to form three-dimensional structures such as frameworks for kiosks or other constructions composed of elements extending out in several directions.
Making frameworks starting out from linear elements such as tubes or sections always involves the use of means to connect elements converging at the same corner. At present, angle joints are known which are however rather complicated and which moreover require several screws or other locking means to ensure assembly of all the elements involved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a particularly simple angle joint, handy and easy to use and suitable to hold simultaneously the ends of several linear elements extending in several directions by means of a single locking screw.
Another object of the invention is to provide an angle joint configured in the form of two complementary caps which can be made from any material and which can be superimposed and locked with a central screw to lock at the same time all the elements to be connected, which may be three, four, or even more.
Said objects are achieved by an angle joint comprising an external cap and a complementary internal cap, shaped so as to define together, once coupled, housings for the contiguous ends of several elements to be connected and to be locked in situ by a single central screw.
The accompanying drawings illustrate an example of practical embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the joint;
Figures 2 and 3 show, respectively, the perspective views from the outside and from the inside of the joint connecting several elements; and
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the installed joint.

The angle joint 10 according to the invention comprises an external cap 11, an internal cap 12 and a locking screw 13.
The internal cap 11 and external cap 12 have complementary configurations with similar concavities/convexities to be superimposed to one another. The shape of the external cap 11 comprises half-seats 11' open inwards; the internal cap 12 comprises half-seats 12' open outwards. When the two caps 11, 12 are coupled and superimposed, their half-seats 11', 12' are one in front of the other thus complementarily defining housings. These housings are spaced angularly and are destined to receive the contiguous ends of several linear elements 14, such as tubes or sections, extending in several directions starting out from the joint itself.
In the illustrated example, the joint is suitable to receive and connect four differently oriented elements 14 simultaneously, but the elements could also be of a different number. The contiguous ends of said elements are inserted in the housings defined by the two coupled caps 11, 12 and are tightly enclosed therein and locked for secure connection thereof by locking the two caps together by means of the central screw 13.

Claims

An angle joint to connect the contiguous ends of several tubular elements or sections extending out in several directions, and destined to form a framework or a composite structure, characterized in that it comprises an external cap (11) and a complementary internal cap (12), shaped to define together, when coupled, housings (11', 12') for the contiguous ends of the elements (14) to be connected and to be locked in situ by a central screw (13).
An angle joint as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the external cap (11) comprises half-seats (11') open inwards and oriented in different directions, in that the internal cap (12) has half-seats (12') open outwards and oriented correspondingly to the half-seats (11') of the external cap, and in that the external and internal caps can be superimposed so that their half-seats (11', 12') define complementarily the housings for the contiguous ends of the elements to be connected, the superimposed caps being locked together by the central screw (13) to enclose and tightly hold the ends of said elements.