COUPLING DEVICE FOR THE MODULAR CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURES OR OBJECTS

Abstract

A coupling device for the modular construction of structures or objects includes a main body having at least one through-opening or at least one recess and being adapted to be coupled to at least one component of a structure or object. The at least one through-opening or the at least one recess is designed to interact with a coupling means for coupling the at least one component to the main body. The main body is formed as a corner element or edge element of a module of the structure or object.

Claims

1. A coupling device for the modular construction of structures or objects, comprising a main body which has at least one through-opening or at least one recess and which can be coupled to at least one component of a structure or object, wherein the at least one through-opening or the at least one recess interacts with a coupling means for coupling the at least one component to the main body, wherein the main body is a corner element or edge element of a module of the structure or object.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein at least one first connecting element acting substantially between the main body and the at least one component is assigned to the main body.

3. The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein at least one second connecting element coupling two or more main bodies is assigned to the main body.

4. The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one first connecting element and/or the at least one second connecting element (5) each have at least one positioning element for interacting with at least one corresponding mating element of the main body, complementary to the at least one positioning element.

5. The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one positioning element is an engagement element projecting from the at least one first or second connecting element and the at least one mating element is a recess in the main body, or wherein the at least one positioning element is a recess in the at least one first or second connecting element and the at least one mating element is an engagement element projecting from the main body.

6. The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one positioning element and/or the at least one mating element are or is formed centrally or in the center on or in a respective planar region of the main body or of the at least one first or second connecting element.

7. The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one positioning element and/or the at least one mating element have a substantially rectangular or square shape.

8. The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one first connecting element has at least one positioning element for interacting with at least one corresponding mating element of the at least one component, complementary to the at least one positioning element.

9. The coupling device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one positioning element is formed as an insertion or engagement element projecting from the at least one first connecting element and the at least one mating element is formed as a recess or through-hole in the at least one component, or wherein the at least one positioning element is formed as a recess or through-hole in the at least one first connecting element and the at least one mating element is formed as an insertion or engagement element projecting from the at least one component.

10. The coupling device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one positioning element and/or the at least one mating element are or is formed centrally or in the center on or in a respective planar region of the at least one first connecting element or of the at least one structural element.

11. The coupling device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one positioning element and/or the at least one mating element has or have a substantially rectangular or square shape or cross-sectional shape.

12. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one through-opening or the at least one recess in the main body has an internal thread for interacting with the coupling means.

13. The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one first connecting element and/or the at least one second connecting element have or has at least one through-opening for the coupling means.

14. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one through-opening for the coupling means in the at least one first connecting element and/or in the at least one second connecting element have or has an oblique or conical depression or indentation for the coupling means.

15. The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein in at least one positioning element or mating element of the main body, the at least one first connecting element, and/or the at least one second connecting element, a through-opening for the coupling means is formed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows, in two perspective views, an exemplary embodiment of the coupling device according to the present disclosure, one in an assembled state and one in an exploded view, FIG. 2 shows, in two perspective views, the first connecting element of the coupling device from FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 3 shows, in a perspective view, the second connecting element of the coupling device from FIG. 1,

[0028] FIG. 4 shows, in a perspective view, partially as an exploded view, a module of a structure to be built up with a coupling device according to the disclosure,

[0029] FIG. 5 shows, in a perspective view, partially as an exploded view, an expanded module of a structure to be built up with the coupling device according to the disclosure,

[0030] FIG. 6 shows, in a perspective view, partially as an exploded view, the joining together of several modules of a structure using the coupling device according to the disclosure, and

[0031] FIG. 7 depicts, in a perspective view, the modules from FIG. 6 in the assembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows, in two perspective views, an exemplary embodiment of the coupling device according to the present disclosure, wherein in an upper region of FIG. 1, an assembled state of a part of a structure or object to be erected is shown, and in the lower region of FIG. 1, the corresponding components from the upper region are shown in an exploded view. In this case, a coupling device for the modular construction of structures or objects is shown which has a main body 1 which has a plurality of through-openings 2 and which can be coupled to a component 3 of the structure. The through-opening 2 is designed for interacting with a coupling means, for example a screw or other type of coupling device, for coupling the component 3 to the main body 1. In this case, the main body 1 and the component 3 are coupled to one another via a first connecting element 4 made of metal, preferably steel. Furthermore, in FIG. 1, a planar second connecting element 5 made of metal, preferably steel, is also shown, which serves to couple two or more main bodies 1 to one another.

[0033] With regard to a particularly simple and secure coupling of several components 3 or modules of a structure or object, the main body 1 is designed as a corner element or edge element of such a module.

[0034] The first connecting element 4 is also shown in two enlarged perspective views of different sides from different sides in FIG. 2. The second connecting element 5 is also shown in an enlarged perspective view in FIG. 3.

[0035] Both the first connecting element 4 and the second connecting element 5 have through-openings 6 for inserting or passing through of a coupling means, which have a depression 7 for countersinking or sinking the coupling means, which recess can be formed obliquely or conically.

[0036] Furthermore, the first connecting element 4 has a positioning element 8 for form-fitting interaction with a mating element 9 of the main body 1 that is complementary to the positioning element 8. In this case, the positioning element 8 is formed as an engagement element protruding from the first connecting element 4, and the mating element 9 as a depression in the main body 1. Both the positioning element 8 and the mating element 9 are formed centrally in each case in a planar region of the first connecting element 4 and of the main body 1. A through-opening 6, 2 for a coupling means is formed both in the positioning element 8 and in the mating element 9.

[0037] The positioning element 8 and the mating element 9 each have a substantially square shape with beveled side surfaces 10, wherein the square shape forms a safeguard against a mutual rotation of the first connecting element 4 and the main body 1 in the assembled state. This ensures the positioning security with respect to rotation. The beveled side surfaces 10 facilitate the insertion of the positioning element 8 into the mating element 9 and thus the positioning of the first connecting element 4 relative to the main body 1 during assembly.

[0038] Furthermore, the first connecting element 4 has a positioning element 11 for form-fitting interaction with a mating element 12 of the main body 3 that is complementary to the positioning element 11. The positioning element 11 is designed as an insertion or engagement element protruding from the first connecting element 4 and the mating element 12 as a through-opening in the component 3. Both the positioning element 11 and the mating element 12 have a rectangular cross-sectional shape in order to ensure a safeguard against an undesired rotation of the first connecting element 4 relative to the component 3 when the insertion or engagement element is inserted into the through-opening. Both the positioning element 11 and the mating element 12 are formed centrally in each case in a planar region of the first connecting element 4 and of the component 3.

[0039] The second connecting element 5 has a rectangular shape in order to cover two square outer surfaces of two main bodies 1 and thus provide a coupling between the two main bodies 1. The main body 1 is thus designed as a “two-part element.” In order to cover and couple three or four main bodies 1, the second connecting element 5 can be designed as a “three-part element” or “four-part element.” A “four-part element” could have a substantially square shape.

[0040] In the present exemplary embodiment, the main body 1 is formed as a cube. The planar region of the first connecting element 4 has a square basic shape. The component 3 has the configuration of a square tube with a rectangular internal through-opening. However, other configurations of the main body 1, the connecting elements 4 and 5 and the component 3 are also possible.

[0041] The second connecting element 5 can have positioning elements 8 not only on the front side 13 shown in FIG. 3, but also on the rear side (not shown in FIG. 3) or only on this rear side. In a particularly versatile and advantageous manner, the positioning elements 8 are formed both on the front side 13 and on the rear side. This particularly advantageous design can be inferred implicitly from FIG. 1, since there the rear side of the second connecting element 5 comes into contact with the main body 1.

[0042] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the construction of a module 16 of a structure by way of the coupling device according to the present disclosure. In this case, according to FIG. 4, a respective component 3 is coupled to three outer surfaces of the main body 1 by way of a first connecting element 4. To fix the first connecting element 4 to the main body 1 in this example, coupling means in the shape of bolts 14 are used, wherein suitable internal threads are formed in corresponding through-openings 2 of the main body 1 for screwing in the screws 14. The screws 14 have heads which are countersunk in recesses 7 of the through-openings 6 of the first connecting elements 4 in the assembled state of the module 16.

[0043] In FIG. 5, coupling elements designed as rods 15 are shown, which are insertable into through-openings 6 of the positioning elements 11 of the first connecting elements 4 and extend in the assembled state of the module 16 through the components 3 in order to enable a secure coupling of the components. In this case, the rods 15 or coupling elements can have external threads for engagement with internal threads in through-openings 2 of the main body 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, in the assembled state of the components, a substantially cuboid module 16 results, wherein the main elements 1 are formed as corner elements of the module 16 and thus form an integral component of the module 16.

[0044] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the construction of an object composed of four modules 16, wherein the four modules 16 each correspond to the module 16 shown in FIG. 5. With regard to the assembly of the modules 16, reference may therefore be made to the description relating to FIGS. 4 and 5 in this regard. In accordance with FIGS. 6 and 7, the four modules 16 are joined together to form a cuboid, wherein second connecting elements 5 are used for coupling main bodies 1 arranged next to one another. In the middle of an upper outer surface of the cuboid, a second connecting element 5 designed as a “four-part element” is used for connecting and covering four main bodies 1 arranged next to one another. The four main bodies 1 are arranged next to one another in a suitable manner for forming a square shape. With regard to a particularly high stability of the cuboid produced from the four modules 16, a second connecting element 5 can be attached at any point at which two or more main bodies 1 are arranged next to one another. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, this could additionally take place on the side surfaces and/or on the bottom side of the cuboid.

[0045] In order to further increase the stability and improvement of the statics of the cuboid or object or structure produced, a second connecting element 5 can also be arranged in clearances 17 between main bodies 1 arranged next to one another. In this case, a second connecting element 5 designed as a “two-part element” can be arranged, for example, in the clearance 17 below the “four-part element.” Also, “half” “two-part elements” can be arranged in clearances 17, see the clearance 17 designated in the lower region of FIG. 7.

[0046] Furthermore, rods 15 as coupling elements on some main bodies 1 are shown by way of example in FIG. 7, for example to couple further modules 16 or further cuboids composed, for example, of four modules 16 to different sides of the cuboid. For example, two cuboids of the type shown in FIG. 7 can be arranged one above the other and can be coupled with regard to a secure connection by way of the rods 15. Of course, rods 15 can be arranged independently in a plurality of or in all main bodies 1, which are required or useful for secure coupling, for example, of further modules 16 or cuboids. On the basis of the modules 16 shown here, it is possible to implement very different structures, such as high-rise buildings or objects.

[0047] With the coupling device according to the present disclosure, it is possible to erect virtually any large structures such as buildings or houses in a simple, secure and quick manner in a modular design.

[0048] With regard to further advantageous designs of the coupling device according to the disclosure, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetitions.

[0049] Finally, it is expressly pointed out that the above-described exemplary embodiments serve only to explain the claimed teaching, but do not restrict it to the exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 1 main body [0051] 2 through-opening [0052] 3 component [0053] 4 first connecting element [0054] 5 second connecting element [0055] 6 through-opening [0056] 7 depression [0057] 8 positioning element [0058] 9 mating element [0059] 10 side surface [0060] 11 positioning element [0061] 12 mating element [0062] 13 front side [0063] 14 screw [0064] 15 rod [0065] 16 module [0066] 17 clearance

[0067] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to provide yet further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.