IE44137B1

IE44137B1 - Imrpovements in or relating to connecting devices

Info

Publication number: IE44137B1
Application number: IE280476A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Alulok Ltd
Priority date: 1975-12-22
Filing date: 1976-12-21
Publication date: 1981-08-26
Also published as: NL7614237A; DK566476A; FR2336582A1; FR2336582B3; GB1543588A; IE44137L; NL159162B; BE849612A

Description

The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting two hollow section rails together at an angle to each other, to a construction system comprising such rails and connecting device, and to a structural element comprising such a system.

In the construction of a structure having rails connected together at an angle to each other, as for example in a door frame, it may be expedient to-join the rails via an intermediate connecting device separately secured to the rails, rather than by directly screwing or bolting the rails together. It is, however, necessary to ensure that the connection is sufficiently rigid to withstand reasonable loads imposed on the frame, and in particular to resist relative movement of the rails under the strain of such loads. The mode of application of known connecting devices to connect hollow section rails does not always result in the requisite degree of rigidity, and considerable effort may be required to align the devices with the rails before they can be secured in position.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connecting device for connecting two hollow section rails together at an angle to each other, the device comprising a connecting member having a connecting portion which is securable - 2 44137 to one of the rails across an end thereof to provide a bearing surface to bear against a side of the other rail, the connecting portion being provided with two spaced apart bracing arms adapted to project into the interior of said one rail when the connecting portion is secured thereto, and a clamping member which is made of a stronger material than that of the connecting member, is arranged to be located between the bracing arms and is provided with means to anchor fastening means extending through said side of the other rail and through the connecting portion.

The bracing arms of the connecting member preferably extend substantially at right angles to the connecting portion, and are preferably provided with grooves in mutually facing surface portions thereof to slidingly receive the clamping member, the arms serving the purpose both of increasing the rigidity of the attachment of the connecting member to said one rail and of locating the clamping member. The connecting portion itself may be provided with abutment means engageable in a recess in said side of the other rail to resist angular displacement of the connecting member relative to the other rail member. For securement of the connecting member to said one rail, the connecting portion may be provided with two spaced apart apertures to receive suitable securing means, for example, screws, and with an opening for passage therethrough of the fastening means to be anchored by the clamping member.

Conveniently, the connecting member consists of an extruded aluminium profile, the necessary grooves and abutment means being formed during the extrusion process. The clamping member expediently consists of a rigid metal plate, preferably of a material such as steel so as to more readily accept the loading imposed by the fastening means connecting the clamping member and connecting member to the other rail. The clamping member may also be provided with suitable means for anchoring the fastening means for example - in the case of threaded fastening means such as a screw or bolt a threaded aperture. - 3 44137 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a construction system comprising two hollow section rails and a connecting device according to the first aspect of the invention for connecting the rails together at an angle to each other.

Expediently, each of the rails is of generally rectangular section and, as in the case of a preferred form of the cleat of the connecting device, consists of an extruded aluminium profile.

One of the rails, to which the connecting portion of the TO connecting device is intended to be secured to provide the bearing surface,'may be provided with receiving means to receive securing means for securing the connecting portion, such receiving means conveniently comprising two spaced apart tubular members each adapted to receive a threaded securing device, for example a self15 tapping screw, each connected by a respective web portion to a respective one of two opposite interior surfaces of said one rail and each extending longitudinally of the rail. In this arrangement, the tubular members may be so arranged as to permit the clamping member of the connecting device to be located therebetween with the arms of the connecting member passing on either side of each tubular member.

The tubular members and connecting web portions are preferably formed integrally with said one rail, for example as part of the extrusion process in the case of an extruded rail.

The use of receiving means extending over the full length of the rail and of consistent cross-section allows the rail to be cut to any length with the receiving means immediately available at either end of the rail for securement thereto of the connecting members. In addition to reception of screws or other threaded securing devices 30 for securing the connecting member, the tubular members and web portions form abutments to abut against and support the connecting portion of the connecting member.

The other rail may be provided on one side therof, against which the connecting portion of the connecting member of the 33 connecting device is intended to bear, with a recess for engagement therein of complementary abutment means on the connecting portion, the seating of the abutment means in the recess serving to resist - 4 4 413 7 lateral and angular displacement of the connecting member relative to the rail. The other rail may be provided with an aperture for reception of a tool for operating the fastening means.

During the step of connecting the rails together in the production of a structural element, the fastening means, for example a screw or bolt, may be adjusted to so draw the rails tightly together so as to substantially eliminate any tendency of the rails to move relative to each other at the point of connection. By this means, a particularly rigid connection may be provided to assist the structural element, which may for example have other rails similarly connected thereto, to withstand loads.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structural element comprising the system according to second aspect of the invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of a construction system embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a construction system comprising two hollow section rails 10 and 11, of which only end portions are shown, and a connecting device 12 for connecting the rails together at a right angle to construct a structural element, which may form part of a frame, for example a door frame, with additional interconnected rails.

The connecting device 12 consists of a connecting member 1 3 and a clamping plate 14, the connecting member being an extruded aluminium profile and the plate being made of steel.

The connecting member 13 consists of a portion 15 which is provided with two spaced apart · apertures 16 to receive two selftapping screws 17 for securing the connecting member to one end of the rail 10 and with two spaced apart parallel bracing arms 18 adapted to project into the interior of the rail when the connecting member is secured thereto. The size and spacing of the arms 18 is such that when the connecting member is secured to rail 10, the arms either engage or are located closely adjacent to the - 5 interior surfaces of the rail. The arms thus serve to increase the rigidity of the attachment of the connecting member to the rail.

The arms 18 are provided in mutually facing surfaces thereof with two aligned grooves 19 to slidingly receive and firmly locate the plate 14, the length of the plate 14 being less than the distance between the two screw apertures 16. The plate is of generally oblong shape and is provided centrally thereof with a threaded aperture 20 which, when the plate is located in the grooves 19 at equal spacings from the apertures 16, is aligned with an aperture 21 formed in the connecting portion 15 of the connecting member intermediate the apertures 16. The connecting portion 15 is further provided, on a side thereof intended to bear aoainst the rail 11, with an abutment 22, which is formed with a shallow channel to accommodate the heads of the screws 17.

Each of the rails 10 and 11 consists of a generally rectangular section extruded aluminium profile and is provided with various extensions and recesses appropriate to the mounting or intended function of the completed frame. The rail 10 is additionally provided in its interior with receiving means for receiving the screws 17 securing the connecting device 12, the receiving means comprising two spaced apart tubular members 23, which extend longitudinally of the rail and which are each connected by a respective web portion to a respective one of two opposite interior surfaces of the rail. To assist the reception of the screws, each of the tubular members is provided with a longitudinal slot permitting expansion of the tubular member during insertion of the respective screw. The tubular members also serve as abutments to abut against and support the connecting portion 15 of the connecting member 13, and are so arranged in the interior of the rail 10 that when the connecting member is secured to the rail the arras 18 of the connecting member extend on either side of each tubular member. The spacing of the tubular members is greater than the length of the plate 14. - 6 44137 Both the tubular members and the connecting web portions are integral parts of the rail, and are formed during the extrusion process. As the tubular members extend for the full length of the rail and are of consistent shape and cross-section, they are immediately available for reception of securing means such as the screws 17 at any point in the length of the rail. This arrangement allows the length of the rail to be selected without concern for the location of the receiving means for the screws 17 and obviates the need for separate provision of such receiving means.

The rail 11 is provided on one of its sides with a recess to accommodate and firmly locate the abutment 22 of the connecting member 13, whereby the connecting member may be secured against lateral and angular movement relative to the rail 11. An aperture 25 is formed in the base of the recess to receive a tap bolt 26, which is adapted to extend through the aperture 21 in the connecting member and to threadably engage in the aperture 20 in the plate 14. In a side of the rail 11 opposite to the side provided with the recess 24 there is formed an aperture 27, which is aligned with the aperture 25 so that a suitable tool, for example an alien key, may be inserted into the rail to operate the bolt 26.

To assembled structural element from the rails 10 and 11 and connecting device 12, the plate 14 is inserted into the grooves 19 of the connecting member 13, and when the plate is located betwean the apertures 16 in the connecting member the screws 17 are inserted through the apertures. The connecting member is then inserted into an end of the rail 10, the rail having already been cut to a desired length, and the screws 17 are tightened into the tubular members 23 to firmly secure the connecting member to the rail 10.

The rail 10 together with the connecting device 12 is then offered up to the rail 11 until the abutment 22 of the connecting member is seated in the recess 24 of the latter rail and the apertures 20 and 21 of, respectively, the plate 14 and the cleat are aligned with the aperture 25 in the recess 24, the apertures and 27 having been provided in the rail 11 at a desired point - 7 4 4 i- 3 r7 in its length. The bolt 26 is inserted through the apertures 25 and 21 and tightened, by means of a tool inserted through the aperture 27, into the threaded aperture 20 in the plate 14. The plate clamps the connecting member against the rail 11, and the rails 10 and 11 are thus drawn tightly together to provide a rigid connection in which the parts co-operate to resist relative movement of the rails.

In the foregoing assembly procedure it will be obvious that the rail 11 may be offered up to the connecting device 12 and the rail 10, rather than vice versa.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A connecting device for connecting two hollow section rails together at an angle to each other, the device comprising a connecting member having a connecting portion which is securable to one of the rails across an end thereof to provide a bearing surface to bear against a side of the other rail, the connecting portion being provided with two spaced apart bracing arms adapted to project into the interior of said one rail when the connecting portion is secured thereto, and a clamping member which is made of a stronger material than that of the connecting member, is arranged to be located between the bracing arms and is provided with means to anchor fastening means extending through said side of the other rail and through the connecting portion.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracing arms extend substantially at right angles to the connecting portion.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bracing arms are provided with grooves in mutually facing surface portions thereof to slidingly receive the clamping member.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting portion is provided with abutment means engageable in a recess in said side of the other rail to resist angular displacement of the connecting member relative to the other rail.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting portion is provided with two spaced apart apertures to receive securing means for securing the connecting portion to said one rail.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member consists of an extruded aluminium profile. - 9

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping member consists of a rigid metal plate.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping member is provided with a threaded aperture for anchoring threaded fastening means.

9. A construction system comprising two hollow section rails and a connecting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims for connecting the rails together at an angle to each other.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of the rails is of generally rectangular section.

11. A system as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10, wherein each of the rails consists of an extruded aluminium profile.

12. A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein one of the rails, to which the connecting portion is intended to be secured to provide the bearing surface, is provided with receiving means to receive securing means for securing the connecting portion.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the receiving means comprises two spaced apart tubular members each adapted to receive a threaded securing device, each connected by a respective web portion to a. respective one of two opposite interior surfaces of said one rail and each extending longitudinally of the rail.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tubular members are so arranged as to permit the clamping member of the connecting device to be located therebetween with the bracing arms of the connecting member passing on either side of each tubular member. - 10 44137

15. A system as claimed in either claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the tubular members and connecting webs are formed integrally with said one rail.

16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein 5 the other rail is provided on one side thereof, against which the connecting portion of the connecting member of the connecting device is intended to bear, with a recess for engagement therein of complementary abutment means on the connecting portion.

17. A system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein 10 the other rail is provided with an aperture for reception of a tool for operating the fastening means.

18. A structural element comprising the system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17.

19. A connecting device for connecting two hollow section rails 15 together at an angle to each other, the connecting device being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

20. A construction system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.