WO2003027514A1 - Connection element - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a substantially spherical, pyramidal or parallelepiped connection element (5, 8, 11, 12, 13). According to said invention, the connection between a connection element (5, 8, 11, 12, 13) and at least one counterpart is designed, such that the connection axis is off-centred from the connection element (5, 8, 11, 12, 13) centre.

Description

Title: Connecting element

description

The invention relates to a connecting element according to claim 1. Such fasteners are used in rod-like elements for rail systems, handrails, connections for glass panes, etc.

On sliding door systems, rails are used along which trolleys drive, which carry door leaves. Such rails are usually made of tubular rods that extend above the opening and closing inputs or passages. For this purpose, the tubular rods, depending on the requirements, either straight or at a predetermined angle (90 °) to each other by means of connecting elements connected to each other. Known connecting elements are formed angularly and have threaded holes, which are bolted to threaded rods of the rods. Here, the connecting axes of the screw congruent with the associated center line of the connecting element.

In known connections between two tubular or full bars and a connecting element for forming a running rail for a sliding door system or handrails have the disadvantage that in the region of a spherical connecting element a little attractive appearance is achieved especially in angled connections of the two rods, as in Relative to the angle facing outward spherical surface is relatively large and thus dominant with respect to the two auflaufenden on the spherical connector rods. At the same time, the inner surface in relation to the angle is between rule the two rods of the spherical connecting element relatively small, so that purely optically an asymmetry at the transition between the two rods, ie at the location of the spherical connecting element results. Furthermore, such Verbindungsele- elements are only in fixed angular degrees produce.

The object of the invention is to provide a connecting element, in particular for rail systems, handrails or connections for glass panes, which improves the aforementioned disadvantages, d. H. a more pleasing to the viewer visual perception and also offers the possibility to realize different angular positions of two rods to each other, taking into account the building tolerances that occur.

The invention solves this problem with the teaching of claim 1. Hereinafter, the connecting element is substantially spherical, pyramidal or cuboid, wherein the connection with at least one counterpart is designed such that the connecting axis is eccentrically with respect to the center of the connecting element , In contrast to the aforementioned prior art, this creates a connection between two counterparts and a connecting element, which leads to the viewer to an optically symmetrical appearance, since due to the "eccentric" connection between the connecting element and counterpart with respect to the angular arrangement between two counterparts outer region of the connecting element relative to the known connection element smaller and inevitably the inner region is greater.

Further advantageous features of the invention are represented by the features of the subclaims. In the following description, it is assumed that a track system with movable on the track rail elements. However, the invention is also applicable to angular connections of all kinds, such. As handrails, etc., apply at each angular position.

Since mounted rail systems often also experience a change and adaptation on site, advantageously, the connection between the connecting element and counterpart is designed releasably and in each angular position composable.

As particularly preferred has been found to design the connecting element with at least one threaded hole into which a counterpart with threaded pin is screwed. On the one hand, this type of connection is highly loadable, which is necessary in particular in the case of running rail systems, and on the other hand, this type of connection can be provided cost-effectively under a wide variety of angular positions.

In order to produce a visually more even transition between connecting element and counterpart, a transition element is preferably provided.

It has proved to be favorable that the transition element is adapted at one end to the shape of the connecting element and / or at the opposite end to the shape of the counterpart. As a result, it is also possible, by a suitably selected transition element, a visually appealing transition between an approximately square cross-section tube to a substantially spherical connecting element, as well as vice versa between a circular cross-sectional tube to a cuboid connecting element to accomplish. At the same time, of course, the transition element should in turn be releasably connected to the connecting element and / or the counterpart.

Since the main application of the connecting element according to the invention at the angular transition between two counterparts, the connecting element should preferably allow blunt and acute-angled connections, depending on the specific embodiment.

Finally, it is also conceivable to use the connecting element as an end piece in order to achieve a special visual appearance or perception through the "eccentric" connecting axis between the counterpart and the connecting element.

The invention will be explained below with reference to various embodiments.

It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a track system with connecting elements according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a connecting element according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic two-dimensional representation of the connecting element according to the invention from FIG. 2 with a bore in side view; Figure 4: a schematic two-dimensional representation of

Connecting element of Figure 2 in plan view, relative to the bore,

FIG. 5A shows a second exemplary embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention in a schematic two-dimensional representation,

FIG. 5B: a two-dimensional view, rotated by 90 °, of the connecting element of FIG. 5A,

FIG. 5C shows a further schematic two-dimensional representation of the connecting element of FIG. 5A,

FIG. 5D: a schematic two-dimensional representation of the connecting element rotated by 90 ° with respect to FIG. 5C,

FIG. 6A: a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a connecting element according to the invention with a 90 ° connection angle,

FIG. 6B: a schematic two-dimensional representation of the FIG

Connecting element of Figure 6A,

FIG. 6C shows a further schematic two-dimensional representation of the connecting element of FIG. 6A,

FIG. 6D shows a third schematic two-dimensional representation of the connecting element of FIG. 6A, FIG. 7A shows a connection between two transition elements and a connecting element according to the invention according to FIG. 6A,

FIG. 7B shows a connection between two transition elements and a connecting element according to the invention according to FIG. 5A,

FIG. 8A: a schematic perspective illustration of a transition element,

FIG. 8B: a schematic perspective view of the

Transition element of Figure 8A in another view,

FIG. 8C is a schematic two-dimensional side view of the transition element of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8D: a schematic two-dimensional representation of the transition element of FIG. 8A and FIG

FIG. 8E: a plan view of the transition element of FIG

8A.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a running track system 1. In this case, the track rail system 1 has two counterparts arranged at right angles to one another in the form of rails 2, 2, which each support a stationary glass part 3, 3 by means of one or two holders 4. The two rails 2, 2 are connected via an inventive, in Figure 1 as a spherical connecting element 5. Between the connecting element 5 and the two rails 2 each transition elements 6 are arranged. Similarly, two additional transition elements 6 are formed with associated connecting elements 8 according to the invention in the form of end pieces at the respective opposite ends of the rails 2.

Various exemplary embodiments of the connecting elements 5 according to the invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an inventive connecting element 11 with a through hole 9 with thread 10, as can be seen in particular the two-dimensional representation of the connecting element 11 in Figure 3. Here, the bore 9 with associated thread 10 is configured such - as Figure 3 shows - that from both sides of each rails 2 or, as outlined below in connection with Figures 7 and 8, two transition elements 6 are screwed.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, in the case of the connecting element 11 according to the invention, the bore 9 with thread 10 is introduced into the spherical connecting element 11 such that the connecting or center axis V of the bore 9 does not intersect the center M of the spherical connecting element 11 or with this is congruent. Hereinafter, this falling apart between the connection axis V and center M is referred to as eccentric arrangement of the bore 9 with respect to the center M of a spherical connecting element 5, 11, 12, 13. The connecting element 11 according to the invention thus enables a straight-line connection between two rails 2 by means of the connecting element 11 according to the invention.

In Figure 5, a second embodiment of the connecting element 12 is shown in the various representations A to D. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 5, in the case of the connecting element 12 according to the invention according to FIGS. 5A to 5D, the bore 9 splits into two sections 16 and 17 whose center axes are arranged at 135 ° to one another, as is apparent in particular from the two-dimensional representations of the connecting element 12 according to the invention of FIGS. 5C and 5D. Accordingly, when using the connecting element 12 in conjunction with two runners 2, not shown, a running rail system 1 is achieved with an angle of 135 °. It can be seen in particular from FIGS. 5C and 5D due to the eccentric arrangement of the two bore sections 16 and 17 that, in a two-dimensional representation according to FIGS. 5C and 5D, the circumferential line of the connecting element 12 lies at an angle to the 135 ° angle shorter than in a known connecting element, in which the center lines of two arranged at 135 ° angle bore sections would intersect the center of a known spherical connecting element.

FIGS. 6A to 6D show, as a third exemplary embodiment, a connecting element 13 according to the invention which has two bore sections 16 and 17 which enclose a 90 ° angle to one another. Here, the two-dimensional representation of the connecting element 17 according to the invention of FIG. 6B differs from the representation according to FIG. 6C or FIG. 6D in that the connecting element 13 according to FIG. 6B in FIG. 6C is related to FIG. 6B about its horizontal axis and in Figure 6D has been rotated by 90 ° about its vertical axis with respect to Figure 6B.

It can be seen from FIG. 6 in a simple form that when the connecting element 13 is used in conjunction with two running rails 2, a running rail system with a 90 ° angle results.

Although not shown with a bore, of course, the connecting element 5 according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, can also be designed only with a bore, corresponding to a bore section of FIGS. 5 and 6, to thereby act as an end piece, as in FIG shown to serve. At the same time, of course, the connecting elements according to the invention can be produced both from plastic and from metal. This depends on the particular application and the load to be carried. Finally, the connecting elements according to the invention not only in track systems, but also in handrails and other systems can be used with similar requirements and can of course be configured instead of the threaded holes themselves with threaded rods or other connecting means.

In conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8, the transition elements 6 of FIG. 1 will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 7 shows two transition elements 6 in conjunction with a connecting element 13 (see FIG. 7A) and in combination with a connecting element 12 (see FIG. 7B).

As can be seen in Figures 8A and 8B, the transition element

6 a threaded tubular portion 14 which is screwed to an associated track rail 2 and as Figure 1 shows, has the same shape and the same diameter as the associated track rail 2. The opposite end of the transition element 6 is formed essentially as a hemispherical section 1.5 and thereby adapted to the shape of the connecting element 5 to be coupled. This adaptation is required on the one hand for an adequate and resilient connection between the connecting element 5 and guide member 6 and also for a visually handsome appearance necessary because of the eccentric arrangement of the bore in the connecting element 5 according to the invention in coupling between connecting element 5 and transition element 6 a rugged and otherwise optically unattractive transition would result. FIGS. 8C to 8E show a two-dimensional illustration of two side views and a plan view of the transition element 6, wherein the concrete embodiment of the transition element 6 is regarded as the disclosure content of the application by reference to FIGS. 8A to 8E.

Also, the transition element 6 may be made of either plastic or metal according to the choice of material of the connecting element 5, 11, 12, 13 and the running rail 2. Of course, the transition element 6 can be formed for connection to the components 2, 5 with adequate connection means.

It should also be noted that both the rails 2 and the connecting elements 5, 11, 12, 13 and the transition elements 6 may have other geometric shapes and still have the inventive features. D. h., The connecting element 5, 11, 12, 13 may also be substantially pyramidal or cuboidal. These different types of geometric shapes of the connecting element according to the invention would especially with rails with offer triangular or quadrangular cross-section. Likewise, of course, the sections 14 and 15 of the transition element 6 would have to be adapted to the modified geometric shapes of the rails and / or connecting elements. It is also conceivable that the transition element 6 serves as an optically harmonic transition, for example, between a cross-sectional track rail and a cuboid connecting element, ie, the section 14 of the transition element 6 would have to the tubular track rail 2 and the section 15 to the cuboid shape of the connecting element 5 be adapted. Accordingly, of course, the most diverse geometric transitions are conceivable.

The foregoing description of the embodiments according to the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention. Various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention and its equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 track system

2 track rail

3 glass part

4 bracket

5 connecting element

6 transition element

7 hemispherical section

8 connecting element (tail)

9 hole

10 threads

11 connecting element

12 connecting element

13 connecting element

14 section

15 section

16 bore section

17 bore section

V connection axis

M center point

Claims

claims 1. connecting element (5), which is substantially spherical, pyramidal or cuboid, wherein the connection with at least one counterpart (2) is designed such that a connecting axis (V) with respect to the center (M) of the Connecting element (5) is off-center. 2. Connecting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection is designed as a detachable connection. 3. Connecting element according to claim 2, characterized in that it has at least one bore (9) with thread (10) into which a counterpart (2) with threaded pin can be screwed. 4. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that between connecting element (5) and counter piece (2) a transition element (6) is provided which is adapted to the shape of the connecting element (5). 5. Connecting element according to claim 4, characterized in that the transition element (6) is adapted at a portion 15 to the shape of the connecting element (5) and / or at the opposite portion 14 to the shape of the counterpart (2). 6. Connecting element according to claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the transition element (6) releasably connected to the connecting element (5) and / or counterpart (2) is connectable. 7. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 6, character- ized in that blunt or acute-angled connections can be produced in any angular position. 8. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it can be formed as an end piece (8). 9. Connecting element according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (5) in connection with the transition element (6) is used in rail systems, handrails, connections for glass elements with each other.