DE20116365U1 - Plug connector for hollow profiles in double glazing pane spacer frame, has length rib for press fitting into groove in profile - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector (1) has at least one length rib (15) adjoining the central stops (17, 18). The orientation and shape of the rib corresponds to that of a length direction groove in the hollow profiles (2, 3), so that a form-fit is achieved between the rib and groove. The connector is preferably a straight connector and its cross-section corresponds to that of the hollow profiles. The connector has several retainer parts (22, 23) and also several central stops in the edge region (14). The stops are fixed and have a trailing edge (24) on their rear side.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Connectors

The invention relates to a connector, in particular a straight connector with the features in the preamble of the main claim.

Such a connector is known from WO 99/13192. It is used to connect high profiles of spacer frames for insulating glass panes and its cross-sectional shape is adapted to the shape of the hollow profiles. The connector has several retaining elements in the form of flared spring lugs and openings in its upper wall, which serve to accommodate wall caulking of the hollow profile. The known connector also has two fixed and one-sided center stops arranged in the edge area or transition area between the upper and side walls, which are equipped with a rear run-on slope. The center stops allow a tight hollow profile closure at the connection point due to their design and arrangement. The connector is designed as a stamped and bent part made of sheet metal. It is particularly intended and suitable for thin-walled hollow profiles, especially stainless steel hollow profiles.

DE-A-44 44 888 deals with a similar connector. It is designed as a hollow part made of metal or plastic and also has flared spring lugs, which have a dual function in that they serve as spring-loaded retaining elements on the one hand and can also accommodate the wall caulking of the hollow profile with their underlying openings in the upper wall on the other.

EP-A-O 133 655 shows another connector which is designed as a solid cast metal part and also has openings on the top wall for caulking the hollow profile. The center stop is designed as a circumferential rib which acts on both sides and which distances the hollow profiles a little at the connection point. The resulting gap is unfavorable for diffusion reasons and because of the risk of unwanted leakage of granulated drying agent from the hollow profiles and requires careful sealing with an injected sealant. This connector is less suitable for thin-walled hollow profiles.

Solid plastic connectors are known from EP-A-O 339 319 and EP-A-O 687 790. They have toothed strips as retaining elements on one or more sides of the connector and have spring-loaded retaining lugs or a rigid cross rib with adjacent cutting edge brakes as a center stop. This design is also less suitable for thin-walled hollow profiles.

Finally, DE-200 14 789 U1 shows a straight connector made of plastic, which has a double trough shape that is open at the top and is each bordered at the front by solid crossbars.

It is the object of the present invention to improve previously known

Connectors can be greatly improved.
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The invention solves this problem with the features in the main claim.

The longitudinal rib adjacent to the center stops has the advantage that it additionally stabilizes and guides the hollow profile at the stop point, thereby improving the stop function and making it safer. This also makes the connector better overall in

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Hollow profile and positioned in the insertion position. The connector can also stabilize the hollow profiles, which are susceptible to deformation, particularly well and correct any deformations.

The hollow profiles have one or more longitudinal groove-shaped recesses to accommodate the longitudinal ribs of the connector. These recesses ensure increased dimensional stability of the hollow profile, particularly in the sensitive roof area and corner area or transition area to the side walls. In addition to the connector, the invention also includes the combination of connector and hollow profile.

In the connector, the center stops are formed on the side of the adjacent longitudinal rib, which improves the sliding process of the hollow profile that is plugged in from the back and slides up the ramp. The stop function for the second hollow profile plugged in from the opposite side is also improved. The center stops also offer better lateral guidance for the hollow profile, which is additionally stabilized on the longitudinal rib.

The connector preferably has several different retaining elements. Firstly, there are sawtooth-like transverse ribs on the top and bottom walls, which engage with a corresponding transverse corrugation on the top and bottom walls of the hollow profiles. On the top side, the connector also has several recessed openings for wall caulking of the hollow profiles. These are teardrop-shaped, which enables even better engagement and form-fitting of the wall caulking.

Side skirting boards on the connector ensure support and lateral guidance in the bottom area of the hollow profiles. The recessed bottom wall also covers any perforation lines in the bottom area of the hollow profiles, which is usually on the inside of the spacer frame and faces the interior space between the insulating glass panes.

The connector is preferably designed as an at least largely solid component, which also has closed end faces. This allows the granulated drying agent to be kept away from the connection point of the hollow profiles and kept away. The connector is preferably made of plastic or metal and in particular as an injection-molded or cast part.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

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The invention is illustrated by way of example and schematically in the drawings. In detail:

Figure 1: a top view of a straight connector with two ends

Piece of pushed-on hollow profiles,

Figure 2: a cross section through the connector

according to section line II-II of Figure 1, 10

Figure 3: a side view of the connector of

Figure 1 according to arrow III,

Figure 4: a folded bottom view of the connector of Figures 1 and 3 and

Figure 5: a cross section through the connector

with a hollow profile pushed on at the connection point.
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Figures 1 to 4 show various views of a connector (1), which in the embodiment shown is designed as a straight connector. In an alternative variant not shown, it can also be a corner angle. The connector (1) is intended for hollow profiles. These are preferably thin-walled metallic hollow profiles, e.g. made of stainless steel or another thin sheet. The hollow profiles (2, 3) are components of a spacer frame for insulating glass panes. The spacer frame is bent over four corners from a straight hollow profile, for example, and connected and fixed to a straight leg via the connector (1) inserted into the profile ends.

These profile ends are shown as hollow profiles (2,3) in the drawings. Alternatively, they can also be individual and separate hollow profile pieces.

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The connector (1) has a cross-sectional shape adapted to the interior design of the hollow profiles (2,3) and is, for example, essentially rectangular. It has several retaining elements (22,23) and preferably two center stops (17,18) in the area of the center line (6). The center line (6) is also the connection point at which the hollow profiles (2,3) meet just above the connector (1).

The center stops (17, 18) are arranged on both sides of the center line (6) and are laterally offset from one another around the longitudinal axis. The center stops (17, 18) are designed as fixed stops that only act on one side, with a run-on slope (24) on the back, which preferably has a rounding or curvature (25) in the upper area. On the front, the center stops (17, 18) each have a stop edge or stop surface (19) aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis. The left center stop (17) shown in Figure 1 acts as a stop for the hollow profile (3) attached from the opposite side along the feed direction (9). The other hollow profile (2) fed from the opposite side in the direction (8) hits the right center stop (18). The two center stops (17, 18) can be directly flush with their stop surfaces (19) on the center line or connection point (6). Alternatively, they can also be set back a little.

The center stops (17, 18) are arranged in the edge region (14) of the connector on its side and top wall (11, 10). The top side (10) faces the outside of the spacer frame. The edge region (14) is the corner or transition region between the essentially flat top wall (10) and the respective side wall (11).

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The connector (1) has a protruding longitudinal rib (15) in the vicinity of the center stops (17, 18), which is also arranged in the edge region (14) on the top (10) of the connector (1). The longitudinal ribs (15) preferably run along at least a large part of the connector length and preferably have a cross-sectional shape that remains constant over the length. The individual longitudinal rib (15) is preferably designed as a continuous and one-piece strip. Alternatively, it can also consist of several smaller sub-elements arranged one behind the other in the form of a dotted or dashed line.

The longitudinal ribs (15) protrude upwards on the upper wall (10) of the connector (1) and engage in a form-fitting manner in recesses (13) of the hollow profiles (2, 3) that also run longitudinally and are recessed in a groove-like manner and are also located there in the edge area or corner or transition area (5) between the roof side (4) and the side walls of the hollow profiles (2, 3). The longitudinal ribs (15) preferably have a substantially rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section. On the inside, they preferably project vertically downwards back to the lowered upper wall (10). On the outside, the longitudinal ribs (15) merge into a slanted outer wall (16) that ends at the bottom in an outwardly projecting base (20). The side wall (11) preferably slopes downwards vertically from the base (20).

The center stops (17,18) are preferably formed on the outside and side of the adjacent longitudinal rib (15) and extend with their upper edge on the stop surface (19) to the same height as the top of the longitudinal ribs (15). The ramp (24) starts from the top of the base (20), which protrudes a little bit laterally beyond the center stops (17,18). Due to this design, the

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Insert the centre stops (17,18) with their run-on slope (24) onto the top and the side walls of the hollow profiles (2,3) which are each attached from the rear.

As Figure 5 shows, the hollow profiles (2, 3) in the preferred embodiment have a wall that adjoins the channel-shaped and upwardly bulging recess (13) on the outside and slopes outwards, which also merges into a small base at the lower end and then slopes vertically downwards to the base area (7). The base area (7) is directed towards the inside of the spacer frame. In the base area (7), the hollow profiles (2, 3) can have loop-shaped feet that protrude downwards on the edges and one or two longitudinal perforation lines (34) and a transverse corrugation (29) in the wall area between them. Such corrugation (29) can also be present in the roof area (4) between the recesses (13). In the embodiments shown, the hollow profiles (2, 3) are bent in one piece from a thin-walled stainless steel sheet, with the ends overlapping at the lower end of one side wall with an indentation and connected at this point by a weld seam or in another suitable way. This creates the flat side wall on the outside required for the flat glass support.

Figure 5 illustrates the effect of the center stop (17) on the hollow profile (2) pushed on from the rear. This slides with its slanted wall (35) adjoining the recess (13) on the ramp (24) rising diagonally upwards from the base (20), whereby the slanted wall (35) is deformed outwards from the initial position shown in dashed lines in the figure and is pushed away from the ramp (24). At the same time, the hollow profile (2) is held laterally by the transition point between

Roof area (4) and recess (13) on the inside of the adjacent longitudinal rib (15). This sliding action widens the inclined wall (35), while at the same time stabilizing the hollow profile (2) in the corner area (5).

Any deformations are absorbed and corrected in this area. In the corner area (5), the inclined wall (35) also adjusts to the curve (25) of the ramp (24). During this sliding, any tolerances of the hollow profile (2) are also absorbed. The same happens on the other side with the center stop (18) and the other hollow profile (3) pushed onto it. This means that the hollow profiles (2,3) are tightly abutted against one another at the connection point (6).

Various retaining elements (22, 23) ensure that the connector (1) is held in place in the attached hollow profiles (2, 3). Retaining elements (23) are provided for the temporary hold, which in the embodiment shown are designed as sawtooth-like transverse ribs. Such transverse ribs (23) are located on both sides of the upper wall (10) in the area of the connection point or center line (6). They can be axially spaced a small distance from the center line (6).

On the underside there is a narrow ribbed strip running longitudinally and centrally

(26) with similar transverse ribs (23). As Figure 3 shows, the sawtooth-like transverse ribs (23) on the two halves of the connector (1) are directed towards each other, forming a relatively flatly rising back flank (28) and a steeply falling front flank

(27). The front flanks (27) of the connector halves each point to the center line (6). The cross ribs (23) can also be axially spaced a little in the area of the center line (6) in the rib strip (26), with two narrow and

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Transverse ribs are present.

The top wall (10) also has retaining elements (22) in the form of four recessed openings (22) on both connector halves, which are arranged between the central and end transverse ribs (23). The openings (22) have a teardrop shape in plan view, with the wider area directed towards the center line (6) and the narrower ends directed towards the end faces (31) of the connector (1).

The connector (1) is designed as an at least largely solid part with closed end faces (31). This holds back the granulated or powdered drying agent (30) located in the hollow profiles (2, 3) and distances it from the connection point (6).

The connector (1) can be completely solid. Alternatively, it can also have recessed cavities (32) with transverse intermediate webs (33) on the underside (12) on both sides of the ribbed strip (26). On the two edges of the underside (12) there are also small downwardly projecting foot strips (21) which are connected to the

Perforations (34) of the hollow profiles (2,3). The transverse ribs (23) or the rib strip (26) engage with the upper and lower corrugations (29) of the hollow profiles (2,3).
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Variations of the embodiment shown are possible in various ways. Firstly, the number and arrangement of the longitudinal ribs (15) and the center stops (17,18) can vary. Instead of pointing towards the roof area (4), they can also point towards the floor area (7) or be arranged laterally. Instead of two, there can also be four center stops (17,18). The

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Cross-sectional designs of the hollow profiles (2,3) and the correspondingly formed connector (1).

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 connector, straight connector

2 hollow profile

3 Hollow profile

4 Roof area

5 Corner area of the hollow profile

6 Junction, joint, center line

7 Frame inside, interior

8 Mounting direction, first hollow profile

9 Mounting direction, second hollow profile

10 Top, middle wall, upper wall

11 Side wall

12 Bottom, middle wall, lower wall

13 Recess

14 Edge area, connector transition

15 Longitudinal rib

16 External wall, sloping wall

17 Center stop

18 Center stop

19 Stop edge, stop surface

20 sockets

21 Skirting board

22 Retaining element, opening

23 Retaining element, cross rib

24 ramp

25 Curvature

26 Ribbed strip

27 Front flank

28 Back flank

29 Grooving hollow profile

30 Desiccant, granulate

31 Front side

32 Cavity

33 Intermediate bridge

34 Perforation hollow profile

35 Inclined wall

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Claims (14)

1. Plug connector, in particular straight connector, for hollow profiles ( 2 , 3 ) of spacer frames for insulating glass panes, with a cross-sectional shape adapted to the hollow profiles ( 2 , 3 ) and with several retaining elements ( 22 , 23 ) and with several fixed, one-sided center stops ( 17 , 18 ) arranged in the edge region ( 14 ) of the plug connector ( 1 ) with a rear run-on slope ( 24 ), characterized in that the plug connector ( 1 ) has at least one protruding longitudinal rib ( 15 ) in the vicinity of the center stops ( 17 , 18 ), the arrangement and shape of which is adapted to a longitudinal groove-shaped recess ( 13 ) of the hollow profiles ( 2 , 3 ) and is intended for positive engagement in the recess ( 13 ). 2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the center stops ( 17 , 18 ) are formed laterally on the adjacent longitudinal rib ( 15 ). 3. Connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the center stops ( 17 , 18 ) extend to the height of the upper side of the longitudinal ribs. 4. Connector according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that two edge-side, upwardly projecting longitudinal ribs ( 15 ) are arranged on the upper side ( 10 ) of the connector ( 1 ) facing the outside of the frame. 5. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ( 1 ) has two edge-side center stops ( 17 , 18 ) which are arranged with mutually facing stop surfaces ( 19 ) on both sides of the center line ( 6 ) of the connector ( 1 ) with a lateral offset. 6. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal rib ( 15 ) has an obliquely flared outer wall ( 16 ). 7. Connector according to claim 6, characterized in that the outer wall ( 16 ) merges into a flared base ( 20 ). 8. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ( 1 ) has on the underside ( 12 ) at least one longitudinally projecting rib strip ( 26 ) with tooth-like transverse ribs ( 23 ). 9. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ( 1 ) has on the upper side ( 10 ) between the longitudinal ribs ( 15 ) a plurality of tooth-like transverse ribs ( 23 ) in the region of the center line ( 6 ) and optionally at its ends. 10. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ( 1 ) has on the upper side ( 10 ) between the longitudinal ribs ( 15 ) several recessed openings ( 22 ) for wall caulking of the hollow profiles ( 2 , 3 ). 11. Connector according to claim 10, characterized in that the openings ( 22 ) are drop-shaped, the narrow region being directed towards the adjacent end faces ( 31 ). 12. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ( 1 ) has narrow base strips ( 21 ) projecting from the edges of the underside ( 10 ). 13. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ( 1 ) is designed as an at least largely solid part with closed end faces ( 31 ). 14. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ( 1 ) is designed as a cast or injection-molded part made of plastic or metal.