Connecting element with profile rails

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting element for connecting two aligned C-shaped profile rails (12). The connecting in element (10) is in the form of a sheet metal profile the cross-section of which, adapted to the profile rails (12) to be connected, is such that said sheet-metal profile can be slid into said profile rails (12) from the fronts thereof in a captive manner. A handling tab (14) that is accessible after the connecting element has been slid into a profile rail (12) is moulded onto or mounted on said connecting element.

Claims

1. A connecting element for connecting two aligned C-shaped profile rails, wherein the connecting element is constituted as a sheet metal profile comprising a holding plate with lateral legs, the cross-section of the sheet metal profile, adapted to the profile rails to be connected, is constituted in such a way that said sheet metal profile can be slid from front sides thereof into the profile rails in a captive manner, wherein there is moulded onto or mounted on the connecting element between the front sides a handling tab that is accessible both before and after the sliding-in into the profile rail, wherein the handling tab is repositioned downwards in the holding plate between the lateral legs, and wherein a resilient detent lug for snapping into a joint between the profile rails is provided on the holding plate of the connecting element, and wherein the lateral legs extend beyond the handling tab in a direction in which the handling tab extends from the holding plate.

2. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the connecting element has a C-shaped cross-section.

3. The connecting element according to claim 2, wherein the lateral legs of the connecting element comprise two regions stepped by means of a shoulder.

4. The connecting element according to claim 3, wherein the ends of the legs of the connecting element are configured to contact the inner sides of the legs of the profile rails to facilitate crimping the connecting element to the profile rails.

5. The connecting element according to claim 3, wherein there are provided at the front sides canted portions or rounded portions for facilitating the sliding-in into the profile rails.

6. The connecting element according to claim 5, wherein first canted portions or rounded portions in the region of the holding plate of the connecting element are formed by bent-off sheet metal tabs.

7. The connecting element according to claim 5, wherein second canted portions or rounded portions in the region of the ends of the legs are constituted by sheet metal tabs repositioned inwards.

8. The connecting element according to claim 5, wherein the shoulders comprise canted portions or rounded portions at the front sides, wherein the ends of the legs are shorter than the regions lying between the holding plate and the shoulders.

9. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the detent lug is moulded onto the holding plate as a resilient sheet metal tab.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An example of embodiment of the invention is dealt with below in greater detail with the aid of the appended drawings. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a connecting element;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of the connecting element from FIG. 1 from beneath;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a profile rail with the slid-in connecting element with a profile rail to be connected;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of an assembly position with the connecting element in an end position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a connecting element 10, which is intended for connecting C-shaped profile rails 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), when the latter lie aligned with one another. The connecting element comprises a holding plate 14 with lateral legs 16 and is formed in one piece completely from sheet metal. The lateral legs are divided by shoulders 18 into connecting regions with a smaller distance from one another and edge regions 22, wherein the spacing of edge regions 22 is adapted to the width of the profile rails to be connected, so that the outer surfaces of these regions 22 can lie with a contact area against the inner sides of the profile rails. The stepped structure of the legs enables elastic yielding of edge regions 22 inwards, so that in the initial state the spacing of the outer surfaces of these regions can be slightly greater than the inner width of the profile rails. Especially with regard to measurement tolerances in the commercially available C-shaped profile rails, this can be advantageous for rendering the sliding forces in the profile rails more uniform.

(7) A handling tab 24 is repositioned downwards in holding plate 14, i.e. between legs 16. A detent lug 26 is constituted at the upper side, said detent lug being disposed on a resilient sheet metal tab 28. Furthermore, cross braces 30 can be seen, which increases stability of the connecting element.

(8) First canted sheet metal tabs 32 are provided at the front sides of holding plate 14, said sheet metal tabs ensuring, like second canted sheet metal tabs 34 on the front sides of edge regions 22 of legs 16, that the connecting element can be slid more easily into a profile rail. Edge regions 32 of legs 16 are constituted shorter than regions 20 between shoulders 18 and holding plate 14, wherein the front sides of shoulders 18 have correspondingly rounded areas 35, alternatively also canted areas, in order also to simplify the sliding-in into the profile rail.

(9) FIG. 3 shows a connecting element which is slid into a profile rail 12. The figure shows an oblique view from above, wherein profile rail 12, into which connecting element 10 is slid, is already fixed at the ceiling side.

(10) Second profile rail 12a shown in FIG. 3, which can also already be fixed at the ceiling side, is aligned and is intended to be connected permanently aligned with the profile rail 12. For this purpose, the assembler can access profile rail 12 from above and touch handling tab 24. He can slide connecting element 10 into profile rail 12a to be fixed, until detent lug 26 snaps into joint 36 between profile rails 12, 12a. This snapping-in is on the one hand perceptible and also visible when viewed from beneath, so that the assembler receives reliable feedback that the connecting element has arrived in the optimum end position.

(11) In order to achieve a permanent connection, it is readily possible to employ a crimping tool in order to connect edge regions 22 of legs 16 of connecting element 10 permanently with legs 38 of the profile rail.