CORNER PIECE FOR ATTACHING TWO PROFILES AT AN ANGLE, PROFILE, SET, CORNER ELEMENT, FRAME, STAND CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT, STAND AND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MAKING THEREOF
20170218995 · 2017-08-03
Inventors
Cpc classification
F16B11/006
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04B2001/5881
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
F16B2012/505
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
E04B2/7836
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
F16B12/50
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16B7/0473
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
A corner piece for mounting two profiles at an angle, the corner piece comprising at least a first and a second leg mounted mounted together at an angle to each other, wherein the first leg is arranged to be slid into a mounting channel of a first profile along the first direction and the second leg is arranged to be slid into a mounting channel of a second profile along the second direction, characterized in that at least the first leg comprises at least one protrusion extending along a height direction of the mounting channel, so that when sliding the first leg into the mounting channel of the first profile, the protrusion clamps the first leg into a predetermined position in the mounting channel of the first profile.
Claims
1-40. (canceled)
41. A corner piece for mounting two profiles at an angle, the corner piece comprising: at least a first leg; a second leg, wherein the first and the second leg are mounted together at an angle to each other and the first leg extends along a first direction and the second leg extends along a second direction; wherein the first leg is arranged to be slid into a mounting channel of a first profile along the first direction and the second leg is arranged to be slid into a mounting channel of a second profile along the second direction; at least the first leg comprising at least one protrusion which is arranged to extend along a height direction of the mounting channel, so that when sliding the first leg into the mounting channel of the first profile, the profile clamps the first leg into a predetermined position in the mounting channel of the first profile.
42. The corner piece according to claim 41, wherein the protrusion slopes downward in the first direction.
43. The corner piece according to claim 42, wherein the protrusion has a triangular cross-section.
44. The corner piece according to claim 41, wherein the first leg is substantially flat and is delimited in its width direction by at least two opposing edges defining the length direction of the first leg and extending along the first direction, wherein the protrusion extends in the height direction of the first leg.
45. The corner piece according to claim 44, wherein the protrusion extends from one of the edges of the first leg.
46. The corner piece according to claim 41, wherein the corner piece comprises at least one subsequent protrusion.
47. The corner piece according to claim 45, wherein the first leg comprises at least one subsequent protrusion.
48. The corner piece according to claim 47, wherein the protrusion extends from a first edge of the first leg and the subsequent protrusion extends from a second edge of the first leg, wherein the second edge of the first leg is located opposite the first edge of the first leg.
49. The corner piece according to claim 46, wherein the second leg comprises at least one subsequent protrusion.
50. The corner piece according to claim 49, wherein the second leg is substantially flat and is delimited in its width direction by at least two opposing edges defining the length direction of the second leg and extending along the second direction.
51. The corner piece according to claim 50, wherein the at least one subsequent protrusion extends in the height direction of the second leg.
52. The corner piece according to claim 51, wherein the at least one subsequent protrusion extends from one of the edges of the second leg.
53. The corner piece according to claim 52, wherein the second leg comprises at least two subsequent protrusions.
54. The corner piece according to claim 53, wherein a first subsequent protrusion extends from a first edge of the second leg and a second subsequent protrusion extends from a second edge of the second leg, wherein the second edge of the second leg is located opposite the first edge of the second leg.
55. The corner piece according to claim 54, wherein the at least one of the first leg tapers along the first direction, and the second leg tapers along the second direction; wherein the side facing away from the protrusion is shorter than the opposite side.
56. The corner piece according to claim 55, wherein at least one of the first leg and the second leg is formed from steel.
57. The corner piece according to claim 56, wherein the steel at least one of the first leg and the second leg is in sheet form.
58. A profile, comprising: a first mounting channel extending along a first direction, wherein the first mounting channel is arranged to at least partially surround a first leg of a corner piece; and at least one protrusion in the first mounting channel, configured wherein the first leg is clamped into the first mounting channel in the predetermined position by means of the protrusion.
59. The profile according to claim 58, wherein the protrusion slopes downward in the first direction.
60. The profile according to claim 59, wherein the protrusion has a triangular cross-section.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The invention will be further elucidated by means of the following description and the appended figures.
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038]
[0039]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] Prior art methods comes with the disadvantage that the assembly of a frame must be carried out over several phases, providing time for the glue to dry. For instance, in a first phase, a first set of corner pieces are glued into associated profiles. For instance, in a first phase, the first legs of pairs of first corner pieces are glued into the respective ends of first rectilinear profiles so as to yield a set of prepared profiles with a corner piece glued into each of their ends. The glue must then dry for the profiles to be attached to the corner pieces. Then, in a second phase, the frame must be assembled using the dried glued prepared profiles, and a frame is assembled by means of two prepared profiles, wherein second profiles are glued between two opposing prepared profiles by gluedly sliding the second legs of the pairs of corner pieces into the prepared profiles and gluing them into the mounting channels of the second profiles, after which the frame thus obtained needs to dry again. In this final step, a tensioning belt is also tightened around the frame so as to assure that the frame retains the desired shape during drying.
[0041] However, such a method comes with the disadvantage that two drying periods must be taken into account for manufacturing the frame, a first drying period for allowing the corner pieces to dry inside the first profiles and a second drying period for allowing the assembled frames to dry. Moreover, applying and removing the tensioning belts requires additional operations which in turn take up more time.
[0042] Although one could consider eliminating the first drying period by omitting it and proceeding directly to the assembly of the frame by means of four profiles and four corner pieces, this has the effect that the resulting frame is too unstable before drying and as a result usually does not assume the desired shape after drying.
[0043] It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a corner piece that allows a frame to be formed in a stable manner in a shorter time.
[0044] The corner piece according to the present invention is thereto characterized in that at least the first leg comprises at least one protrusion which is arranged to extend along a height direction of the mounting channel, so that when sliding the first leg into the mounting channel of the first profile, the profile clamps the first leg into a predetermined position in the mounting channel of the first profile.
[0045] Such a corner piece offers the advantage that when mounting the first leg of the corner piece into the mounting channel of the first profile, the profile is clamped into a predetermined position. Clamping the profile in the predetermined position allows the first drying period to be eliminated, making it possible to proceed directly to, for instance, mounting the second leg of the corner piece into the second profile, for instance by gluing. It was found that such a protrusion makes it possible to still provide the connection between the profile and the corner piece with sufficient stability, especially when the first leg is also glued into the mounting channel of the first profile. In other words, the corner piece provided with the protrusion allows a corner element, and thus a frame, to be manufactured in a shorter time.
[0046] It was also found that such a protrusion makes it possible to mount the first leg of the corner piece into the mounting channel of the first profile in a single movement, namely, by sliding the first leg up to the predetermined position in the mounting channel.
[0047] Moreover, in many cases the corner piece can be provided internally inside the profile, for instance by providing the mounting channel on the inside of the profile, so that the external appearance of the corner element, and therefore also of the frame comprising said corner profile, is not affected by the presence of the corner piece, which is often important for stands, where appearance matters greatly. This means that the corner piece allows, for instance, mounting two or more profiles together while the use of additional, often externally visible mounting means, such as for example welding seams or bolts, can be omitted or even eliminated.
[0048] Moreover, it was found that the use of this protrusion even allows the gluing of the legs of the corner piece into the respective profiles to be eliminated altogether, and that a sufficient attachment of the legs in the respective profiles can be achieved, so that drying times as a whole no longer apply.
[0049] The invention also relates to a profile, wherein the profile comprises a first mounting channel, with the first mounting channel extending along a first direction, in this case preferably the length direction of the profile, wherein the first mounting channel is arranged to at least partially surround a first leg of a corner piece. The profile comprises at least one protrusion in the first mounting channel. The protrusion may be arranged in the profile by, for instance, punching or alternative methods or by affixing an element to a profile, in ways known to the person skilled in the art, wherein the element comprises the protrusion. The first leg is clamped into the first mounting channel in the predetermined position by means of the protrusion. Preferably, the protrusion slopes downward in the first direction. Preferably, the profile presents a triangular cross section.
[0050] The invention also relates to a set comprising the corner piece and at least two profiles, or a corner piece, wherein the corner piece comprises at least a first and a second leg, mounted together at an angle to each other and extending along a first and a second direction, respectively, and at least two profiles, at least one of which being according to the present invention, or the corner piece according to the present invention and at least two profiles, at least one of which being according to the present invention, wherein a first profile of the set comprises a first mounting channel and a second profile of the set comprises a second mounting channel, the first and the second mounting channel extending along the first and the second direction, respectively, wherein the first mounting channel is arranged to at least partially surround the first leg of the corner piece so that the first leg is clamped in the first mounting channel in the predetermined position by means of the protrusion, and wherein the second mounting channel is arranged to at least partially surround the second leg of the corner piece.
[0051] Preferably, the material of the profiles does not deform when clamping the legs of the corner piece in the respective profiles, so that the appearance of the profiles is not affected, the corner piece being deformed instead, for instance by inward resilient deformation of the protrusion, preferably when the corner piece is made of steel.
[0052] The invention also relates to a corner element comprising at least two profiles connected at an angle by means of the corner piece according to the invention, or at least two profiles connected at an angle by means of a corner piece, at least one of which being according to the present invention, wherein the corner piece comprises at least a first and a second leg, mounted together at an angle to each other and extending along a first and a second direction, respectively, or at least two profiles connected at an angle by means of a corner piece according to the present invention, at least one of which being according to the present invention, wherein the first profile comprises a first mounting channel and the second profile comprises a second mounting channel, the first and the second mounting channel extending along the first and the second direction, respectively, wherein the first mounting channel at least partially surrounds the first leg of the corner piece and wherein the second mounting channel at least partially surrounds the second leg of the corner piece, and wherein the first leg is clamped in the first mounting channel in the predetermined position by means of the protrusion.
[0053] According to embodiments of the present invention, the second leg is clamped in the second mounting channel in the predetermined position by means of the at least one subsequent protrusion. Providing subsequent protrusions on the second leg also allows a clamping of the second leg inside the second profile, similar to the clamping of the first leg inside the first profile.
[0054] According to embodiments of the present invention, the corner element is a miter joint of the two profiles. Such a miter joint offers the advantage of being deemed more esthetically pleasing, which is particularly deemed important when using the corner element.
[0055] According to embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the profiles of the corner element is provided with at least one opening which extends through the profile. One or more such openings allow the weight of the profiles to be reduced without significantly affecting the sturdiness of the profile. Moreover, the openings can be used for attaching several profiles, for instance profiles of different frames, to each other in different ways. It also becomes possible to affix, for instance, panels, curtains, lighting and other decorations. An example of the use of such openings is for instance described in DE202005002572 U1.
[0056] According to embodiments of the present invention, the first and/or the second profile is made of metal, for instance of aluminum. According to alternative embodiments, the first and/or the second profile is made of plastic.
[0057] According to embodiments of the present invention, the first leg is glued into the first mounting channel and/or the second leg is glued into the second mounting channel. It was found that a glued mounting of the first and/or the second leg into the first en/or second mounting channel, preferably the first and the second leg into the first and second mounting channel respectively, yields a good mounting of the corner piece to the respective profiles, and thus of the profiles to each other.
[0058] The invention also relates to a frame comprising the corner element according to the present invention.
[0059] According to embodiments of the present invention, the frame comprises at least four, preferably four, corner elements according to the present invention, interconnected by means of four profiles.
[0060] The invention also relates to a stand construction element wherein the stand construction element is the frame according to the present invention.
[0061] The invention also relates to a stand comprising the stand construction element according to the present invention.
[0062] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the corner element according to the present invention, wherein the first leg is slid into the first mounting channel along the first direction and the second leg is slid into the second mounting channel along the second direction, and wherein the protrusion clamps the first leg in a predetermined position inside the first mounting channel of the first profile.
[0063] According to embodiments of the present invention, the first leg is glued into the first mounting channel.
[0064] According to embodiments of the present invention, the subsequent protrusion clamps the second leg in a predetermined position inside the second mounting channel of the second profile.
[0065] According to embodiments of the present invention, the second leg is glued into the second mounting channel.
[0066] According to embodiments of the present invention, the glue is applied to a side facing away from the protrusion and/or from the subsequent protrusion of the respective leg on which said protrusion is located. It was found that with such an application of the glue an improved gluing is realized, as the corner piece and the protrusion are mutually pressed together by the protrusion. It was also found that a smaller quantity of glue suffices to still achieve a sufficiently strong connection between the corner piece and the respective profiles. In such an embodiment, the glue may for instance be applied directly onto the corner piece, or it may be applied onto the parts of the profile that contact or will contact with the side facing away from the protrusion and/or from the subsequent protrusion of the respective leg on which said protrusion is located, for instance parts of the respective mounting channel.
[0067] The invention also relates to a device for implementing the method according to the invention, wherein the device comprises a compression mechanism for sliding the first leg along the first direction into the first mounting channel and the second leg along the second direction into the second mounting channel, and wherein the protrusion clamps the first leg in a predetermined position inside the first mounting channel of the first profile. By providing such a device, the manufacturing of the corner element according to the present invention can be sped up even more, and the connection between the corner piece and the profiles can be made even more rigid since, for instance by applying a predetermined force while sliding the legs of the corner piece into the respective mounting channels, a stronger corner element can be obtained.
[0068] According to embodiment examples of the present invention, the compression mechanism comprises a first guiding element for guiding the first leg and/or profile, and a second guiding element for guiding the second leg and/or profile, while sliding the first and second profile relative to the corner piece. Such a configuration allows greater control while manufacturing the corner element, allowing further control over the strength of the corner element.
[0069] According to embodiment examples of the present invention, the first and/or second guiding element comprises at least one wheel for rolling guidance of the respective leg and/or profile. As such a wheel rollingly guides the respective leg, scratches on the corner element and/or the profile are avoided, preventing loss of strength and, in the case of avoiding scratches to the profile, deterioration of its appearance.
[0070] According to embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises a compression frame for manufacturing and enclosing a frame according to the present invention, wherein the compression frame comprises a respective compression mechanism for the respective corner elements of the frame. It was found that such a mechanism allows speedier manufacturing of the frame according to the present invention.
[0071] The profiles shown in
[0072] Such profiles are used for manufacturing frames, and said frames are in turn used for constructing stands, wherein the frames constitute the stand construction elements. For interconnecting the different frames, among other things, the profiles are provided with openings 7 extending through the profiles.
[0073]
[0074] The corner piece 1 according to the present invention is arranged for mounting two profiles 21, 22, 23, 24 at an angle, and is shown in more detail in
[0075] Although the corner piece 1 shown in
[0076]
[0077] However, such a configuration is not necessary for the present invention, and the first and the second leg may also be provided as non-flat, rectangular elements. The shape and dimensions of the first and the second leg 11, 12 are primarily determined by the shape and dimensions of the profiles 21, 22, 23, 24, and furthermore by the shape and dimensions of the mounting channels 41, 42.
[0078] As further shown in
[0079] Preferably, the first leg 11 and/or the second leg 12 of the corner piece 1, preferably the entire corner piece 1, is made from a metal, preferably a resilient metal, more preferably steel.
[0080] Preferably, the corner piece 1 is generally symmetrical in shape, for instance with an axis of symmetry where the first 11 and the second 12 leg meet, and the first 11 and the second 12 leg are for instance substantially equal in shape and dimensions, as shown in
[0081] As can be seen in the
[0082] The shape and dimensions of the corner piece 1 may further also be determined by the person skilled in the art as a function of the configuration of the finished corner element 3, for instance partly determined by the dimensions of the corner element, the forces the corner element needs to withstand, etc.
[0083] As discussed above, at least the first leg 11 preferably comprises at least one protrusion 10. Although not shown in the figures, the at least one protrusion 10 may also be provided in a profile in a mounting channel. However, by providing the protrusion 10 on the corner piece, the existing profiles can be used without adaptations in combination with the corner piece according to the present invention.
[0084] The protrusion 10 is arranged to extend along a height direction 100 of the mounting channel 41, so that when sliding the first leg 11 into the mounting channel 41 of the first profile 21, the profile 10 clamps the first leg 11 in a predetermined position in the mounting channel 41 of the first profile 21.
[0085]
[0086] The protrusion 10 shown in
[0087] As shown in
[0088] The triangular shape of the cross-section of the protrusion 101 is for instance shown in
[0089] As shown in
[0090] As mentioned just above, the corner piece 1 may indeed also comprise subsequent protrusions 101, 102, 103, as shown in
[0091] As may be seen in
[0092] The subsequent protrusions 101, 102, 103 may be located on the same leg 11 and/or on the second leg 12. Preferably, the corner piece 1 comprises at least one subsequent protrusion 102, 103 on the second leg 12. More preferably, the corner piece 1 comprises further protrusions 101, 102, 103 on the first leg 11 and on the second leg 12. More preferably, as shown in
[0093] As shown in
[0094] As shown in
[0095] As mentioned above, the protrusion 10, 101, 102, 103 is preferably triangular in shape, wherein the side 27 has been omitted, and the protrusion 10 further preferably extends from an edge. It was found that in such a configuration, such a protrusion 10 may be manufactured by providing a cut which extends from the edge, and then folding up a part of the leg 11, 12 located along the edge. It was found that such a manufacturing method can be implemented with relative ease.
[0096]
[0097]
[0098]
[0099] Furthermore,
[0100]
[0101]
[0102] Furthermore,
[0103] The first leg 11 is for instance glued into the first mounting channel 41, and/or the second leg 12 is glued into the second mounting channel 42. The gluing is not necessary for the present invention and the type of glue, when used, may be determined by the person skilled in the art, wherein the glue should of course be suited for gluing the materials of the profiles and the material of the corner piece 1. Thus, the glue is for instance suited for affixing steel to aluminum.
[0104]
[0105] The frame 6 shown in the
[0106] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the corner element 3 according to the present invention. In the method according to the invention, the first leg 11 of the corner piece 1 is preferably slid into the first mounting channel 41 along the first direction 31, as shown in
[0107] As it is often required for the profiles 21, 22, 23, 24 to form a nicely finished corner element, the profiles are preferably mitered in a first phase, as shown in
[0108] As already mentioned above, the first leg 11 is preferably glued into the first mounting channel 41. 11
[0109] As mentioned above, the subsequent protrusion 101 will preferably also clamp the second leg 12 in a predetermined position in the second mounting channel 42 of the second profile 22, and/or the second leg 12 is preferably also glued into the second mounting channel 42. The glue is in that case preferably applied to a side facing away from the protrusion 10 and/or from the subsequent protrusion 10 of the respective leg 11, 12 on which said protrusion 10 is located. Preferably, the glue is for instance applied directly in the respective mounting channels, whereupon by inserting the respective legs of the corner piece 1 the glue is transferred and applied to the afore-mentioned sides of the respective legs.
[0110] The invention also relates to a device 6 for implementing the method according to the invention. The device 6 thereto for instance comprises a compression mechanism 16 for sliding the first leg 11 along the first direction 31 into the first mounting channel 41 and the second leg 12 along the second direction 32 into the second mounting channel 42. The protrusion 10 clamps the first leg 11 in a predetermined position inside the first mounting channel 41 of the first profile 21.
[0111] This device 6 is for instance shown in
[0112] The compression mechanism 16 comprises a first guiding element 17 for guiding the first leg 11 and/or profile 21, and a second guiding element 18 for guiding the second leg 12 and/or profile 22 while sliding the first and second profile 21, 22 relative to the corner piece 1. The compression mechanism shown in
[0113] Preferably, the first and/or the second guiding element 17, 18 comprises at least one wheel 19, 20 for rollingly guiding the respective leg 11, 12 and/or profile 21, 22.
[0114] Preferably, the device 6 comprises a compression frame 25 for manufacturing and enclosing a frame 4. The compression frame 25 comprises a respective compression mechanism 16 for the respective corner elements 3 of the frame 4. The compression frame 25 as shown in
[0115] If glue was used in connecting the different corner pieces 1 and the respective profiles, the frame 4 may further dry after clamping the corner pieces 1 together with the respective profiles, without any need for further operations.