Fastening unit

Abstract

A fastening unit for fastening an object to a profile element includes a first layer of vibration isolating material arranged on an underside of a washer element and a second layer of vibration isolating material arranged on an upper side of an oblong anchoring element. The oblong anchoring element and the second layer of vibration isolating material each have a width that allows them, preferably in unity, to be aligned with a longitudinal slot of the profiled element inserted therein, and then turned to receive flanges of the profile element between the first layer of vibration isolating material and the second layer of vibration isolating material, so as to provide, at least in a fastened state of the fastening unit, a barrier for vibrations between the washer element and the flanges and between the oblong anchoring element and the flanges.

Claims

1. A fastening unit for fastening an object to a profile element, the profile element comprising: side walls extending in a longitudinal direction, a bottom that connects the side walls, and an upper side that is formed by a pair of opposing flanges, each flange extending inwards with respect to a respective sidewall, the flanges defining between them a longitudinal slot; the fastening unit comprising: a washer element, adapted to be placed on the upper side of the profile element, an oblong anchoring element having a threaded bore, the oblong anchoring element being spaced apart from the washer element, and adapted to be placed inside the profile element, beyond the flanges thereof, and a support element, interconnecting the washer element and the oblong anchoring element; wherein the support element comprises a first layer of vibration isolating material arranged on an underside of the washer element and a second layer of vibration isolating material arranged on an upper side of the anchoring element, and wherein the oblong anchoring element and the second layer of vibration isolating material each have a width that allows them to be aligned with the longitudinal slot of the profiled element, inserted therein, and then turned to receive the flanges of the profile element between the first layer of vibration isolating material and the second layer of vibration isolating material, so as to provide, at least in a fastened state of the fastening unit, a barrier for vibrations between the washer element and the flanges of the profile element and between the oblong anchoring element and the flanges of the profile element.

2. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the vibration isolating material is an elastomeric material.

3. The fastening unit according to claim 2, wherein the elastomeric material is a rubber.

4. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the support element comprises a central body portion connecting the first layer of vibration isolating material and the second layer of vibration isolating material, the central body portion being sized to fit through the longitudinal slot of the profile element.

5. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the support element comprises a lower portion that includes the second layer of vibration isolating material, said lower portion comprising a receiving pocket in which the oblong anchoring element is received.

6. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the support element comprises an upper portion that includes the first layer of vibration isolating material, said upper portion comprising an inlay area for the washer element, the inlay area being recessed with respect to a rim of the upper portion.

7. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the first layer of vibration isolating material and the second layer of vibration isolating material are sized such that in the fastened state they engage at least a part of the flanges of the profile element.

8. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the first layer of vibration isolating material is sized such that in the fastened state it engages an upper edge of the sidewalls of the profile element.

9. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the first layer of vibration isolating material, seen in a longitudinal direction thereof, has gripping end portions formed as engagement wings that, in an unloaded state, are inclined with respect to the washer element to engage and grip the upper side and the side walls of the profile element.

10. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein substantially the entire support element is made of said vibration isolating material.

11. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the support element is made in one piece that is made of said vibration isolating material.

12. The fastening unit according to claim 1, wherein the support element is an injection-moulded part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be further elucidated in the following detailed description with reference to the drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a front view of a first embodiment of the fastening unit according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2A schematically shows an isometric views of the fastening unit of FIG. 1 without a washer;

(4) FIG. 2B schematically shows an isometric views of the fastening unit of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 2C schematically shows an exploded view of the fastening unit of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 3 schematically shows a front view of the fastening unit of FIG. 1 when it is inserted in a profile element; and

(7) FIG. 4 schematically shows a front view of a second embodiment of the fastening unit according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a fastening unit 1, 41 for fastening an object to a profile element 100 is shown. FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C show only the fastening unit 1 in a first embodiment thereof, respectively in a front view, two isometric views, and an exploded view, while FIG. 3 shows the fastening unit 1 mounted on a profile element 100 that is formed as a slotted channel body. FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the fastening unit 41.

(9) With respect to FIG. 3, the profile element 100 comprises side walls 101, 102, extending in a longitudinal direction, a bottom 103 that connects the side walls 101, 102, and an upper side 106 that is formed by a pair of opposing flanges 104, 105. Each flange 104, 105 extends inwards with respect to a respective sidewall 101, 102. The flanges 104, 105 define between them a longitudinal slot 107. The profile element 100 may for example be an extrusion part, or may be formed by bending a metal sheet in the desired shape.

(10) As shown, the flanges 104, 105 comprise inwardly extending portions that are arranged substantially parallel with the bottom 103 of the profile element 100, the inwardly extending portions extending from respective side walls 101, 102 of the profile element 100. In this embodiment, the profile element 100 is of the C-section type.

(11) In a further embodiment not shown here, the flanges 104, 105 may comprise a bent portion, bent towards the bottom 103 of the profile element 100 with respect to the inwardly arranged portion of the flange 104, 105.

(12) The profile element 100 as shown in FIG. 3 is a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a profile element 100. Many other types and shapes of profile elements comprising flanges 104, 105 are known. A fastening unit falling within the scope of the invention can be designed to be suited for virtually all types and shapes of profile elements that comprise flanges.

(13) With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the fastening unit 1 comprises a washer element, here a metal washer element 2, an oblong anchoring element, here a metal oblong anchoring element 3, and a support element 4. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a first embodiment of the fastening unit 1. FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the fastening unit 41. In the following description, like parts are indicated with like reference numerals. The washer element 2 is adapted to be placed on an upper side of the profile element. The oblong metal anchoring element 3 has a threaded bore 13 for cooperation with a threaded rod. The anchoring element 3 is spaced apart from the washer element 2 and is adapted to be placed inside the profile element, beyond the flanges 104, 105 thereof. The support element 4 interconnects the metal washer element 2 and the oblong metal anchoring element 3.

(14) The support element 4 comprises a body of vibration isolating material including a first layer of vibration isolating material 14 arranged on an underside of the metal washer element 2 and a second layer of vibration isolating material 24 arranged on an upper side of the metal anchoring element 3. Preferably, the vibration isolating material is an elastomeric material, more preferably a rubber.

(15) With reference to FIG. 3 mainly, the support element 4 comprises a central body portion 34 connecting the first layer of vibration isolating material 14 and the second layer of vibration isolating material 24, the central body portion 34 being sized to fit in the longitudinal slot 107 of the profile element 100.

(16) The first layer of vibration isolating material 14 and the second layer of vibration isolating material 24 may be sized such that in a fastened state they engage at least a part of the flanges 104, 105 of the profile element 100, which is shown in FIG. 3. The first layer of vibration isolating material 14 engages an outer side 106 of the flanges 104, 105, while the second layer of vibration isolating material 24, being arranged inside the profile element 100, engages an inner side of the flanges 104, 105.

(17) More specifically, the first layer of vibration isolating material 14 may be sized such that in a fastened state it engages an upper edge of the sidewalls 101, 102 of the profile element 100, e.g. by providing it, seen in a longitudinal direction thereof, with gripping end portions 15, 16 (cf. FIG. 3) formed as engagement wings that, in an unloaded state, are inclined with respect to the metal washer element 2 to engage and grip the upper side and the side wall 101, 102 of the profile element 100. In this embodiment, the support element 4 substantially grips around the profile element 100, providing a relatively large contact area between the layers of vibration isolating material 14, 24 and the flanges 104, 105 of the profile element 100.

(18) As is best visible in FIGS. 1 and 3, the support element 4 may comprise a lower portion 124 that includes the second layer of vibration isolating material 24, said lower portion 124 comprising a receiving pocket 125 in which the oblong metal anchoring element 3 is received. As is visible, the oblong metal anchoring element 3 is surrounded by the lower portion 124 of vibration isolating material.

(19) With reference to FIG. 2A, it is visible that the support element 4 may comprise an upper portion 114 that includes the first layer of vibration isolating material 14, said upper portion 114 comprising an inlay area 115 for the metal washer element, the inlay area 115 being recessed with respect to a rim 116 of the upper portion 114. Further visible in FIG. 2A are positioning protrusions 117, that position and hold the washer element when it is placed in the inlay area 115 of the upper portion 114.

(20) In FIG. 2A, the metal washer element is omitted, to more clearly show the inlay area 115 and the positioning protrusions 117. Shown in FIG. 2B is the support element 4 of FIG. 2A, here with the metal washer element 2 placed in the inlay area 115.

(21) FIG. 2C shows an exploded view of the support element 4, the metal washer element 2, and the oblong metal anchoring element 3 of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

(22) Preferably, substantially the entire support element 4 is made of said vibration isolating material. More preferably, the support element 4 is made in one piece that is entirely made of said vibration isolating material. The support element 4 is preferably an injection-moulded part.

(23) With reference to FIG. 3, the metal washer element 2 is adapted to be placed on the upper side 106 of the profile element 100, in a fastened state of the fastening unit 1. The metal washer element 2 provides rigidity for fastening an object, e.g. a pipe clamp or a pipe hanger, to the fastening unit 1. In embodiments a male fastening element, e.g. a threaded rod, extends away from the profile element 100, through the metal washer element 2. This male fastening element then allows an object to be fastened to the fastening unit 1, for example with tensioning means, e.g. by threading a nut onto the threaded rod.

(24) The oblong metal anchoring element 3 and the second layer of vibration isolating material 24 each have a width that allows them, preferably in unity, to be aligned with the longitudinal slot 107 of the profiled section element 100, inserted therein, and then turned to receive the flanges 104, 105 of the profile element 100 between the first layer of vibration isolating material 14 and the second layer of vibration isolating material 24. In a fastened state of the fastening unit 1 the second layer of vibration isolating material 24 engages an inner side of the flanges 104, 105.

(25) An accommodation space is defined between the oblong metal anchoring element 3 and the washer element 2, for the accommodation of the flanges 104, 105 of the profile element 100 in a fastened state of the fastening unit 1.

(26) In FIG. 3, an inserted state is shown, where the oblong metal anchoring element 3 and the second layer of vibration isolating material 24 are inserted in the profile element 100. Here, an unfastened and unloaded state of the fastening unit 1 is shown, where the second layer of vibration isolating material 24 is spaced apart from the flanges 104, 105 of the profile element 100. This makes the different components in the Figure better visible. As will be understood, in a fastened state, the second layer of vibration isolating material 24 will be forced towards the inner side of the flanges 104, 105, clamping the flanges 104, 105 between the first layer of vibration isolating material 14 and the second layer of vibration isolating material 24. In such a fastened state, the first layer 14 and/or second layer 24 of vibration isolating material may substantially deform, although embodiments are conceived where the deformation is absent or substantially absent.

(27) At least in said fastened state of the fastening unit 1, a barrier for vibrations is provided by the first layer of vibration isolating material 14 and the second layer of vibration isolating material 24 between the metal washer element 2 and the flanges 104, 105 of the profile element 100 and between the oblong metal anchoring element 3 and the flanges 104, 105 of the profile element 100.