CONNECTING DEVICE AND FURNITURE

Abstract

In order to provide a connecting device which allows reliable pre-positioning without restricting too severely the freedom of movement of the components and/or articles that are to be connected together during the assembly and/or the connecting process, it is proposed that the connecting device comprise the following: a connecting element which comprises a main body that is positionable in a component; one or more spring elements for establishing a connection to a counterpart, in particular for insertion into one or more openings in a mating connecting element, wherein the one or more spring elements each comprise the following: a spring portion and/or a stabilizing portion, wherein the spring portion projects away from the main body and/or wherein the stabilizing portion extends from the spring portion in the direction of the main body.

Claims

1. Connecting device, in particular for connecting a first component to a second component for connecting furniture or machine parts for example, and/or for connecting a component to an object, wherein the connecting device comprises the following: a connecting element which comprises a main body that is positionable in a component; one or more spring elements for establishing a connection to a counterpart, in particular for insertion into one or more openings in a mating connecting element, wherein the one or more spring elements each comprise the following: a spring portion and/or a stabilizing portion, wherein the spring portion projects away from the main body and/or wherein the stabilizing portion extends from the spring portion in the direction of the main body.

2. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion projects away from the main body and borders on the stabilizing portion at an end of the spring portion remote from the main body and wherein the stabilizing portion extends in the direction of the main body from the end of the spring portion remote from the main body.

3. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stabilizing portion extends into the main body in a relaxed state of the spring element.

4. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main body comprises at least one spring seating for accommodating a part of at least one spring element or for accommodating at least one spring element as a whole.

5. A connecting device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the stabilizing portion of the at least one spring element in a direction running perpendicularly to a connecting direction of the connecting device and/or in a transverse direction has a width (B.sub.A) which amounts to at least approximately 90%, in particular at least approximately 95% of the width (B.sub.B) of the associated spring seating.

6. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion and the stabilizing portion are formed together in one-piece manner.

7. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion and the stabilizing portion merge into one another in a spring projection of the spring element, wherein the spring projection is an end of the spring element that is at maximum distance from the main body.

8. A connecting device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the spring projection is a spring cap which is rounded-off or chamfered in particular on one side, two sides, three sides or four sides.

9. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion is in the form of a leaf spring.

10. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein an end of the spring portion of the spring element facing the main body merges into the main body.

11. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein an end of the spring portion facing the main body is arranged on the main body in such a manner that an upper side of the spring portion at this end is at least approximately parallel to an upper side of the main body from which the spring element projects.

12. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion comprises two wide sides and two narrow sides which connect the respective two ends of the spring portion to one another.

13. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion is curved in a relaxed state of the spring element.

14. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a tangent, which, in a relaxed state of the spring element, is applied to the end of the spring portion remote from the main body at a wide side and in particular the upper side of the spring portion, includes an angle with an upper side of the main body from which the spring element projects of at least approximately 20°, in particular of at least approximately 30° and/or of at most approximately 70°, preferably of at most approximately 55°.

15. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein an upper side of the spring portion at an end of the spring portion facing the main body is at least approximately flush with an upper side of the main body or is arranged underneath an upper side of the main body.

16. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion projects into an outer contour of the main body and wherein one or more side walls of the main body, that adjoin the spring portion laterally, comprise one or more recesses which are formed in particular such as to be at least approximately complementary to a shape of the spring portion in that region in which the spring portion projects into the outer contour of the main body.

17. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a lower side of the spring portion facing the main body comprises one or more chamfered or rounded-off edges, in particular at one or at both transitions between a lower wide side of the spring portion and one or both lateral narrow sides of the spring portion.

18. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the main body and the one or more spring elements are manufactured with one another in one-piece manner, in particular in the form of a one-piece injection moulded component.

19. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spring portion at an end of the spring portion facing the main body has a width (B.sub.F) which corresponds at least approximately to 20%, preferably to at least approximately 30% of the maximum width (B.sub.V) of the main body.

20. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises two spring elements which are arranged and/or formed such as to be at least approximately mirror symmetrical to one another taken with respect to a transverse centre plane of the connecting element.

21. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a mating connecting element which comprises one or more openings that are formed such as to be at least approximately complementary to a shape of an upper side of the at least one spring element.

22. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises the connecting element which is arranged on a first component in the connected state of two components and a mating connecting element which is arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components.

23. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting element comprises a retaining element that is moveable relative to the main body for the purposes of releasably connecting the connecting element to a mating connecting element, in particular, to a further connecting element, an object and/or a component.

24. A connecting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting element and/or a mating connecting element are each provided with one or more retaining projections which each comprise a curved supporting surface that is in the form of an arc of a circle in a longitudinal section.

25. An item of furniture comprising a plurality of components and one or more connecting devices in accordance with claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0139] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a connecting element of a connecting device, wherein a movable retaining element is arranged in a release position;

[0140] FIG. 2 a schematic side view of the connecting element depicted in FIG. 1;

[0141] FIG. 3 a schematic vertical cross section through the connecting element depicted in FIG. 3 along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

[0142] FIG. 4 a schematic vertical cross section through the connecting element depicted in FIG. 1 along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

[0143] FIG. 5 a schematic plan view of an upper side of the connecting element depicted in FIG. 1;

[0144] FIG. 6 a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the connecting element depicted in FIG. 1;

[0145] FIG. 7 an enlarged illustration of the region VII in FIG. 6;

[0146] FIG. 8 a schematic illustration corresponding to FIG. 1 of the connecting element depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the movable retaining element is arranged in a retaining position;

[0147] FIG. 9 a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the connecting element depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the movable retaining element is arranged in a retaining position and wherein a mating connecting element as well as two components are indicated in a dashed-line illustration; and

[0148] FIG. 10 a schematic sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 of the connecting element depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the movable retaining element is arranged in a retaining position.

[0149] Similar or functionally equivalent elements are denoted in all of the Figures by the same reference symbols.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0150] An embodiment of a connecting device designated as a whole by 100 that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10 is described in the following on the example of a connection of a first, substantially panel-like component 102 to a second, likewise substantially panel-like component 104 (see FIG. 9).

[0151] The two components 102 and 104 consist of wood or plywood for example, but could also consist of any other materials, for example of a metallic material or a plastics material (for example Plexiglas). Furthermore, provision may be made for the first component 102 and the second component 104 to consist of mutually differing materials.

[0152] The connecting device 100 can find usage in particular in the field of furniture making for the production of furniture 106 which comprises a plurality of components 102, 104.

[0153] The connecting device 100 can however also serve for the purposes of connecting a component 102 to any other sort of object 108.

[0154] The connecting device 100 then comprises in particular just one connecting element 110 which is directly connected to or is connectible to the object 108.

[0155] In general therefore, a counterpart 112 of the connecting element 110 is referred to as a mating connecting element 114, in particular independently of whether this constituent of the connecting device 100 is connectible or connected to the component 102 or else only by using the connecting device 100.

[0156] In the following, we will go into more detail of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10 in the case where, merely exemplarily, two panel-like components 102, 104 are connected to one another using a connecting device 100 (see in particular FIG. 9).

[0157] In the assembled state of the components 102, 104 that is illustrated in FIG. 9, a surface 116 of the first component 102 abuts on a surface 118 of the second component 104. The components 102, 104 are fixed in this position by means of the connecting device 100. To this end, the connecting device 100 comprises the connecting element 110 and a mating connecting element 114 which are arranged in respective mutually complementarily shaped grooves 120 that are formed in the two components 102, 104.

[0158] These grooves 120 in the components 102, 104 can be produced for example with the groove milling device which is described in EP 1 990 549 A1.

[0159] Numerous further details for the production of a connection between two components 102, 104 using a connecting device 100 are also known from EP 1 990 549 A1.

[0160] The connecting element 110 preferably comprises a main body 122. The main body 122 comprises a housing 124 that is in the form of a section of a substantially right circular cylinder which comprises an arc-shaped curved contact surface 126, an upper side 128 opposite the contact surface 126 and two side walls 132 running substantially parallel to a connecting direction 130 and substantially perpendicularly with respect to the upper side 128.

[0161] From an edge region of the side walls 132 facing the contact surface 126, there projects from the respective side wall 132 in a transverse direction 136 a respective arc-shaped curved retaining projection 134.

[0162] In particular thereby, the transverse direction 136 is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the side walls 132. Furthermore, the transverse direction 136 is oriented in particular perpendicularly to the connecting direction 130.

[0163] In at least one of the side walls 132, there is arranged a through-opening 138 through which a retaining element 140 of the connecting element 110 is accessible.

[0164] In particular, an actuating opening 142 in the retaining element 140 is accessible through the through opening 138.

[0165] The retaining element 140 is, in particular, held in the main body 122 such as to be rotatable about a rotary axis 144, whereby it is moveable from a retaining position (see in particular FIGS. 8 to 10) into and back out of a release position (see in particular FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) by actuation by means of a tool such as a hexagon key for example.

[0166] In particular, the rotary axis 144 of the retaining element 140 is parallel to the transverse direction 136 and/or perpendicular to the connecting direction 130.

[0167] In the case of the previously mentioned publication EP 1 990 549 A1, the connecting elements must first be fixed in the components 102, 104 and in particular be slid into the respective grooves 120, before the components 102, 104 can then be plugged into one another. This plug-in process is necessary in order to enable the pins of the connecting element that are permanently protruding from the one component 102 to be brought into engagement with associated receptacles in the counterpart.

[0168] Now however, there are also applications in which the components 102, 104 cannot be directly plugged into one another or be moved in some other way along the connecting direction 130 in order to establish a connection. For example, there are numerous applications in which the surfaces 116, 118 of the components 102, 104 are already abutting on one another and are then displaced relative to each other in a direction running perpendicularly to the connecting direction 130 and only then can they be fixed.

[0169] Parts of the connecting device 100 which project out from a connecting element 110 and thus protrude over a surface 116 of the component 102 get in the way of such a type of application.

[0170] Consequently, in the embodiment of the connecting device 100 that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10, there are provided spring elements 146 which project out from the main body 122 of the connecting element 110 in a relaxed state but which however are arranged in the main body 122 in a compressed state.

[0171] Thus in particular, the spring elements 146 can then be moved out from a path of movement of the component 104 when this is moved relative to the component 102 whilst the surfaces 116, 118 are already abutting on one another.

[0172] One or more openings 148 are preferably arranged and/or formed in the mating connecting element 114 which in particular is arranged in the component 104.

[0173] In particular, the openings 148 can be formed at least in portions thereof such as to be complementary to an upper side 150 of each spring element 146.

[0174] Consequently, the spring elements 146 can in particular spread out into the openings 148 as soon as the components 102, 104 are positioned relative to each other in a pre-determined position and hence the connecting element 110 and the mating connecting element 114 are also arranged in a pre-determined position.

[0175] The interaction between the spring elements 146 and the openings 148 enables in particular the components 102, 104 to be pre-positioned and/or prefixed relative to each other. In particular, assembly of the connecting device 100 as a whole and/or of the furniture 106 as a whole can thereby be simplified. In particular, by appropriate dimensioning of the effective spring force it can be ensured that the components 102, 104 are then held in the openings 148 solely by the effect produced by the resilience of the spring elements 146, in particular, until the retaining element 140 of the connecting device 100 has eventually been moved out from the release position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 for example into the retaining position illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0176] In particular the retaining element 140 then engages in a second retaining contour 154 of the mating connecting element 114 by means of a first retaining contour 152 of the retaining element 140 or interengages therewith, whereby locking of the connecting device 100 along the connecting direction 130 finally results (see in particular FIG. 9).

[0177] In particular too, by suitable configuration of the spring elements 146, the components 102, 104 can be separated from each other again by displacement in a direction running perpendicularly to the connecting direction 130 after the retaining element 140 is released. Alternatively, a permanent fixation in this direction could also be provided by using the spring elements 146.

[0178] In the following, there will be explained in further detail the embodiment of the spring elements 146 that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10 in which in particular, provision is made for a releasable connection of the type in which the components 102, 104 are displaceable along the transverse direction 136 in order to move the spring elements 146 into the main body 122 in particular, due solely to the movement of the components 102, 104 relative to each other and thus to release the connection between the connecting element 110 and the mating connecting element 114.

[0179] As is apparent in particular from FIGS. 1 and 8, each spring element 146 comprises a spring portion 156 which is arranged on the main body 122 of the connecting element 110 and projects away therefrom.

[0180] Furthermore, each spring element 146 comprises a stabilizing portion 158 which is arranged on the spring portion 156 of the respective spring element 146.

[0181] In particular thereby, the stabilizing portion 158 projects away from the spring portion 156 in the direction of the main body 122.

[0182] In particular, the stabilizing portion 158 extends from an end 160 of the spring portion 156 remote from the main body 122 at least approximately along the connecting direction 130 in the direction of the main body 122, at least in the relaxed state of the conveying element 146.

[0183] The spring portion 156 is fixed to the main body 122 at the end 162 thereof facing the main body 122. In particular, there is provided a substance-to-substance bond.

[0184] Preferably, the entire spring element 146 and the main body 122 are in the form of a one-piece injection moulded component of plastics material.

[0185] In particular, the end 160 of the spring portion 156 remote from the main body 122 forms a transition region between the spring portion 156 and the stabilizing portion 158.

[0186] Preferably, the end 160 of the spring portion 156 remote from the main body 122 is a part of the spring element 146 that is maximally distanced from the main body 122 at least in the relaxed state of the spring element 146.

[0187] Thus in particular, this end 160 of the spring portion 156 forms a spring projection 164 of the spring element 146.

[0188] The spring projection 164 is, in particular, a spring cap 166. Each spring element 146 abuts on the surface 118 of the component 104 by means of this spring cap 166 when the components 102, 104 are displaced relative to each other in a direction running perpendicularly to the connecting direction 130 until the spring elements 146 can finally enter into the openings 148.

[0189] In particular thereby, the spring caps 166 are rounded-off or chamfered in order to prevent insofar as possible unwanted damage to and in particular scratching of the surface 118.

[0190] Furthermore, the previously explained variation of the releasability of the connecting device 100 can arise from a rounding-off or a chamfering of the spring cap 166 and/or a rounding-off or chamfering of the flanks 168 of each spring element 146 adjoining the spring cap 166.

[0191] In particular when the spring cap 166 and/or all the flanks 168 are oriented at an angle to the connecting direction 130 and in particular thereby have surfaces which run along planes that intersect on a side of the spring element 146 remote from the main body 122, the spring elements 146 can easily be moved out of the openings 148 and into the main body 122, in particular, independently of the direction running perpendicular to the connecting direction 130 in which the components 102, 104 are displaced relative to each other.

[0192] In particular in the case where individual flanks 168 and/or the spring caps 166 are only partly rounded-off or chamfered, a relative movement of the components 102, 104 in one or more directions running perpendicularly to the connecting direction 130 can be blocked.

[0193] It may be expedient if it can be ensured by means of the spring elements 146 that the components 102, 104 require no further fixing once the spring elements 146 have entered into the openings 148. Preferably only for the purposes of final assembly need the optional retaining element 140 then be actuated.

[0194] The preferred temporary positioning process is ensured in particular by the large spring force of the spring elements 146.

[0195] To this end, the spring elements 146 preferably each comprise a leaf spring 170 which in particular is a constituent of the spring portion 156 or is formed thereby.

[0196] In particular, the leaf spring 170 comprises two wide sides 172 which are connected to one another by means of two narrow sides 174.

[0197] In addition, both wide sides 172 as well as both narrow sides 174 connect the ends 160, 162 of the spring portion 156 to one another.

[0198] A wide side 172 of the leaf spring 170 preferably forms an upper side 150 of the spring portion 156 and/or at least forms a constituent of an upper side 150 of the spring element 146.

[0199] As can be gathered from FIG. 4 for example, the spring portion 156 of the spring element 146 preferably extends over a width B.sub.F which amounts to at least approximately 20%, preferably to at least approximately 30% of a width B.sub.V of the connecting element 110.

[0200] In particular thereby, the width is a maximum extent along the transverse direction 136.

[0201] Furthermore, as can be gathered from FIGS. 1, 2, 8 and 9 for example, the side walls 132 of the main body 122 are respectively provided with two recesses 176 in the region of the end 162 of the spring portion 156 facing the main body 122. The spring portions 156 can thereby be formed especially wide and also especially long without the side walls 132 getting in the way. Nevertheless, an arrangement of the respective spring element 146 of this type results in the end 162 of the spring portion 156 located on the main body 122 being arranged thereon within an outer contour of the main body 122.

[0202] In particular, an upper side 150 of the spring portion 156 is flush with or even underneath the upper side 128 of the main body 122 at the end 162 facing the main body 122.

[0203] In the main body 122, there are arranged one or more and in particular two spring seatings 178 which serve in particular for receiving a respective spring element 146. In particular, exactly one spring element 146 is arranged to be accommodated in each spring seating 178.

[0204] In particular, when a spring element 146 is arranged in the spring seating 178, it no longer projects beyond an upper side 128 of the main body 122. Thus in particular, in such a position, the components 102, 104 can be displaced in directions running perpendicularly to the connecting direction 130 without the spring elements 146 obstructing this movement.

[0205] In particular in the case where the spring elements 146 are actuated relative to each other by a relative displacement of the components 102, 104, large transverse forces can result which place a load on the spring elements 146 in particularly in a transverse direction 136 and this can lead to damage of the spring elements 146.

[0206] Consequently, the spring elements 146 are provided with the stabilizing portion 158 which in particular is intended to prevent such a large load in the transverse direction 136.

[0207] To this end, each stabilizing portion 158 preferably comprises a foot portion 180.

[0208] In the relaxed state of each spring element 146, this foot portion 180 of the stabilizing portion 158 and thus too each spring element 146 projects into the main body 122 and in particular into the spring seating 178 of the main body 122 (see in particular FIG. 7).

[0209] Hereby, the foot portion 180 preferably has a width B.sub.A which corresponds at least approximately to a width B.sub.B of the spring seating 178, in particular in each case taken with respect to the transverse direction 136 (see FIG. 3).

[0210] In particular, the width B.sub.A of the foot portion 180 of the stabilizing portion 158 amounts to at least approximately 95%, preferably to at least approximately 98% of a width B.sub.B of the associated spring seating 178.

[0211] Due to the fact that the foot portion 180 of the stabilizing portion 158 always projects into the spring seating 178 and/or additionally has a very small degree of play within the spring seating 178, an unwanted sideways movement of the end 160 of the spring portion 156 remote from the main body 122 can be minimized when the components 102, 104 are displaced relative to each other in the transverse direction 136.

[0212] It therefore follows that high spring and/or holding forces can also be realized without the fear of damage to the connecting device 100 and/or the components 102, 104 in case of an intentional release of the components 102, 104 from each other.

[0213] In particular, the foot portion 180 forms a free end of the spring element 146.

[0214] The spring element 146 is preferably connected firmly to the main body 122 exclusively at the end 162 of the spring portion 156 facing the main body 122.

[0215] Finally, it can also be advantageous if the narrow sides 174 of the spring portion 156 and/or edges between the narrow sides 174 and one of the lower sides 182 of the spring portion 156 opposite the upper side 150 are tapered and/or rounded-off. In particular thereby, unwanted jamming of the spring portion 156 against the side walls 132 can be avoided when the spring elements 146 fold-in in the main body 122.

[0216] In further (not illustrated) embodiments of the connecting device 100, just one spring element 146 or possibly even more than two spring elements 146 can be provided in place of two spring elements 146.

[0217] It may be expedient but not compellingly necessary if the spring elements 146 are arranged and/or formed such as to be mirror-symmetrical to one another taken with reference to a transverse centre plane 184 of the connecting element 110.

[0218] In particular the spring elements 146 are arranged on the connecting element 110 in such a manner as to project towards one another commencing from two mutually remote ends 186 of the main body 122 of the connecting element.

[0219] However, provision may also be made for two spring elements 146 of a connecting element 110 to project away from one another commencing from the respective end 162 facing the main body 122.

[0220] In each case however, an optimal positioning of the components 102, 104 relative to each other preferably results due to the use of at least one spring element 146, in particular, by enabling displacement of the components 102, 104 relative to each other whilst the surfaces 116, 118 of the components 102, 104 are already abutting on one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0221] 100 connecting device

[0222] 102 first component

[0223] 104 second component

[0224] 106 furniture

[0225] 108 object

[0226] 110 connecting element

[0227] 112 counterpart

[0228] 114 mating connecting element

[0229] 116 surface

[0230] 118 surface

[0231] 120 groove

[0232] 122 main body

[0233] 124 housing

[0234] 126 contact surface

[0235] 128 upper side

[0236] 130 connecting direction

[0237] 132 side wall

[0238] 134 retaining projection

[0239] 136 transverse direction

[0240] 138 through opening

[0241] 140 retaining element

[0242] 142 actuating opening

[0243] 144 rotary axis

[0244] 146 spring element

[0245] 148 opening

[0246] 150 upper side

[0247] 152 retaining contour

[0248] 154 second retaining contour

[0249] 156 spring portion

[0250] 158 stabilizing section

[0251] 160 end

[0252] 162 end

[0253] 164 spring projection

[0254] 166 spring cap

[0255] 168 flank

[0256] 170 leaf spring

[0257] 172 wide side

[0258] 174 narrow side

[0259] 176 recess

[0260] 178 spring seating

[0261] 180 foot portion

[0262] 182 lower side

[0263] 184 transverse centre plane

[0264] 186 end

[0265] width B.sub.F

[0266] width B.sub.V

[0267] width B.sub.A

[0268] width B.sub.B