FR2764670A1 - Assembly unit containing longitudinal tubes or rods for assembly of three-dimensional structures, e.g. shelving - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly unit (1) containing longitudinal elements (2a,2b) such as rods tubes or extruded sections, is of a type consisting of an assembly flange (3) made up of flange pieces (4,4a,4b,4c) able to be assembled and clamped up by a clamping piece (5). The pieces of the flange (4,4a,4b,4c) are in the form of a disc (6) of which at least one of their transverse faces (6a,6b) contains an assembly of grooves or throats (7a,7b,7c), parallel and/or convergent and also that of an assembly of holes (8a,8b) passing through the flange piece (4).

Description

LONGITUDINAL ELEMENT ASSEMBLY DEVICE
The present invention relates to a device for assembling longitudinal elements such as tubes, rods or profiles, intended to allow the construction of structures, in particular three-dimensional structures, or of furniture such as shelves, for example.

 Numerous assembly devices are known making it possible to assemble tube portions together, such as, for example, the fittings described in French patent application No. 93 00614 of the applicant or devices formed by flanges in the form of balls. separated into two parts, which allow tubes to be assembled in several directions. However, these types of devices have drawbacks as to their sometimes complex use, as well as to the degrees of freedom authorized for the assembly of two tubes which are limited. only in certain directions In addition, these flanges often present implementation difficulties and require for the assembly of a structure the presence of several people to hold the tubes, place the flanges and tighten them.

 Furthermore, another drawback of the known devices is that, most often, they do not prevent rotation around one of the longitudinal elements when a couple is created, the assembly elements being interconnected by a single longitudinal element.

 Other devices damage the tubes or profiles during their assembly, thus preventing their re-use by the user. In addition, they generally only allow the assembly of a specific type of longitudinal element without being able to adapt to elements of different size or profile.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by means of a simple, reliable, solid, inexpensive and easy to implement assembly device, intended to allow the development of any structure with a large number of types of longitudinal elements possible.

 Thus, according to its main characteristic, the device for assembling longitudinal elements such as rods, tubes or profiles is of the type comprising at least one assembly flange consisting of at least two clamping parts which can be assembled and tightened by at least one clamping member and is characterized in that the clamping pieces consist of a disc of which at least one of the transverse faces comprises a set of parallel and / or convergent grooves or grooves as well as a set of holes crossing the clamping piece.

 According to an alternative embodiment, the assembly flange comprises three clamping pieces, an intermediate clamping piece, located between two end clamping pieces, said intermediate piece having on its two transverse faces a set of holes and grooves .

 According to an additional characteristic, the grooves have in a longitudinal plane a rounded profile substantially in the shape of an arc of a circle.

 According to another characteristic, the grooves form on the transverse face of the clamping piece a square inscribed in the disc, its perpendicular bisectors and its diagonals.

 According to the preferred embodiment of the assembly device, the holes of the clamping pieces are intended for the passage of the clamping members and are arranged at the four corners of the square slightly inside of them and in the middle of each of the sides. of said square.

 Furthermore, the holes comprise at at least one of their ends an upper part of holes whose shape is that of a blocking imprint so as to be able to immobilize in rotation a nut which constitutes, with a complementary screw, the tightening member.

 According to an additional characteristic, the assembly device comprises at least one connecting piece intended to connect at least two assembly flanges to each other, the connecting piece having at least two wall portions provided with a set of lights and / or holes going through them.

 According to another characteristic, the connecting pieces consist of a set of wall portions each provided with holes and / or lights, said wall portions being able to be coplanar or inclined with respect to each other so as to form rigid planar or three-dimensional figures.

 Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment, each wall portion comprises two slots of circular shapes and two transverse slots separating them.

 It should also be noted that the clamping pieces have a central hole intended to allow them to be assembled by means of a fixing member to other clamping pieces and / or to connecting pieces which also have a central fixing hole in the central area of their wall portions which constitute them.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples
Figures 1 to 13 illustrate the assembly device according to the invention.

 Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an application of the assembly device.

 Figure 1 shows in perspective a shelf made using the assembly device according to the invention.

 Figure 2 shows a detail of Figure 1 showing assembly flanges and connecting parts.

 Figures 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b and 5 show assembly flanges in different configurations.

 FIG. 3a illustrates in section along AA a connecting flange constituted by three clamping pieces.

 Figure 3b illustrates in a view similar to Figure 3a an assembly flange consisting of two clamping parts.

 FIG. 4a illustrates in section along AA a piece of end clamping.

 FIG. 4b illustrates a top view of an intermediate or end clamping piece and more particularly the arrangement of its grooves and its holes.

 Figure 5 illustrates in section along AA, an intermediate clamping piece.

 Figures 6 to 13 illustrate the connecting pieces, their different types and their assembly with assembly flanges.

 Figure 6 shows a top view of a connecting piece composed of two wall portions.

 Figure 7a illustrates a top view of a wall portion.

 Figure 7b illustrates a top view of a wall portion and an assembly flange in a first configuration.

 Figure 7c illustrates in a view similar to Figure 7b a second configuration.

 FIG. 8a schematically illustrates a three-dimensional corner connection piece in top view.

 Figure 8b illustrates a planar connecting piece with three wall portions.

 Figure 9a is a sectional view along BB of a connecting piece with two wall portions.

 Figure 9b is a top view of said connecting piece before folding.

 Figure 10a illustrates another planar connecting piece in a view similar to Figure 9a.

 Figure 10b illustrates said part in a view similar to Figure 9b.

 Figure 11a illustrates a planar connecting piece with four wall portions viewed from above.

 Figure 11b illustrates in a view similar to Figure 11a a connecting piece with five wall portions.

 FIG. 12a represents a three-dimensional connecting piece with six portions of wall in section along BB.

 FIG. 12b represents said three-dimensional connecting piece in top view.

 FIG. 13 illustrates in section an example of a structure capable of being assembled using the assembly device.

 According to the invention, the assembly device bearing the general reference (1) is of the type intended for the assembly of longitudinal elements (2a, 2b) such as rods, tubes or profiles but can advantageously also make it possible to securing complementary elements with a structure of assembled longitudinal elements.

As shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 2, the assembly device makes it possible to secure boards (20) to a structure constituted by tubes making it possible, for example, to make a shelf (15) or to retract said shelf structure as illustrated in FIG. 13. The assembly device (1) comprises at least one assembly flange (3, 3a, 3b) formed by at least two identical clamping pieces (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) or different which can be assembled and clamped by at least one clamping member (5) so as to secure together several longitudinal elements.

 According to the invention, the clamping piece or pieces (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) consist of a substantially flat element such as a disc (6) of which at least one of the transverse faces (6a, 6b) comprises a set of convergent and / or parallel grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) as well as a set of holes (8a, 8b) passing through said clamping piece.

 Thus, according to the preferred embodiment of the assembly device (1) illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 13, the clamping pieces (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) are of two possible types, namely, clamping pieces of end (4a, 4c) of which only one transverse face (6a) has grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) and is thus intended to bear against longitudinal elements (2a, 2b) and intermediate clamping pieces (4b) whose two transverse faces (6a, 6b) are provided with a set of grooves allowing each of them to be used to come into abutment against longitudinal elements. Therefore, an assembly flange (3, 3a, 3b) can be formed, as shown in Figure 3a, by several clamping pieces (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) such as two end clamping pieces (4a, 4c) surrounding an intermediate clamping piece (4b) thus making it possible to assemble longitudinal elements in identical or different directions, in the same plane and / or in parallel planes or, for example, be constituted by two pieces end (4a, 4c), as illustrated in Figure 3b.

 According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping pieces of the end piece type (4a, 4c) are formed by a disc (6) having a substantially flat transverse face (6b) which has no groove or groove , while its other face (6a) advantageously comprises grooves or grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) intended for positioning in support of the longitudinal elements (2a, 2b). According to this embodiment, the grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) have in a orthogonal longitudinal plane a rounded profile as, for example, in a portion of a circle, as shown in FIG. 4a. it goes without saying that the grooves or grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) could have a different profile depending on the elements that are to be assembled without departing from the claimed protective field of the invention.

 The grooves or grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) are arranged on the transverse face (6a) so that four grooves (7a) constitute a square whose perimeter of the disc (6) is the circumscribed circle and that four diametric grooves respectively represent the diagonals (7b) and the perpendicular bisectors (7c) of said square and extend over diameters of said disc, as shown in FIG. 4b. Thus, it is possible to assemble longitudinal elements (2a, 2b, 2c) in several different positions, in parallel or intersecting.

 According to this embodiment, the disc (6) constituting the clamping piece comprises a set of holes (8a, 8b) extending between its two transverse faces (6a, 6b). The holes are advantageously arranged for four of them (8b) at the intersections between the perpendicular bisectors and the sides of the inscribed square formed by the respective grooves (7a, 7c), while four other holes (8a) are arranged in the grooves ( 7b) forming the diagonals substantially inside the corners of said square as illustrated in FIG. 4b. It goes without saying that the grooves and the holes have a particularly advantageous arrangement on the disc, however said grooves could have a slightly different arrangement.

 The holes (8a, 8b) are advantageously intended for the passage of clamping members (5, 5a, 5b) allowing two clamping parts (4a, 4b) to be clamped together in order to assemble longitudinal elements (2a, 2b) positioned between said parts. The clamping members (5) are advantageously constituted by bolted devices of the screw (5a) / nut (5b) type, for example.

 According to the preferred embodiment, the holes (8a, 8b) consist of two parts of holes of different dimensions, a lower part (9b) being intended only for the passage of the screw (5a) and an upper part (9a) of greater diameter being advantageously intended for positioning the nut (5b) which is thus retracted with respect to the transverse faces (6a, 6b) of the disc. In addition, said upper part (9a) advantageously comprises means for locking in rotation (14) of the nut (5b) such as a star print (14) intended in a manner known per se to allow the locking in rotation of a hex nut (5b).

 Note that in the case of a clamping piece (4a, 4c) called end with a single face (6a) having grooves (7a, 7b, 7c), the upper part (9a) of the holes (8a, 8b ), which includes the locking imprint (14) of the nut, is located on the side of the face (6b) which is substantially planar and which does not have the grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) as shown in the figure 4a.

 Note, moreover, that the disc (6) constituting each clamping piece (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) has a central fixing hole (16) intended for the passage of a fixing member (17) such as a bolted assembly of the screw / nut type, the function of which can be, on the one hand, to make it possible to join and clamp together two clamping pieces and, on the other hand, to allow the fixing of a clamping piece (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) to a connecting piece (10) as will be described later.

 According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the second type of clamping piece (4b), called intermediate piece, comprises on each of its transverse faces (6a, 6b) a set of grooves or grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) identical to those of an end clamping part (4a, 4b) such as those previously described, as shown in FIG. 5. The sets of grooves on each of the transverse faces (6a, 6b) are thus identical and advantageously arranged in the same orientation. It goes without saying that according to a variant not shown, the sets of grooves on each of the faces of the intermediate clamping pieces could be angularly offset, the grooves thus being oriented differently from one face to the other. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain an assembly of longitudinal elements in parallel planes so that they form between them any desired angle, for example by making a flange not shown, formed by four clamping pieces d 'end, two of them being associated so as to constitute an intermediate piece whose orientation of the grooves has the desired angular difference.

 According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the intermediate type clamping pieces (4b) illustrated in FIG. 5 are also provided with a set of holes (8a, 8b), arranged identically to the set of holes in the end clamping parts (4a, 4c) previously described. However, said holes (8a, 8b) formed in two parts, one of which is intended for blocking a nut, are arranged so that their blocking impressions (14) are located half of them on the transverse face (6a) and for the other half on the other transverse face (6b). Note, moreover, that two symmetrical holes with respect to the central axis of revolution (ZZ ') of the disc have their blocking imprint (14) on the same face.

 Thus, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, each assembly flange (3) consists of several clamping pieces (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) of different types which, when tightened one against the other by means of clamping members (5a, 5b) make it possible to assemble and maintain longitudinal elements (2a, 2b) advantageously such as tubes of diameter comprised, for example, between 6 and 14 mm, positioned in the grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) of the transverse faces (6a, 6b) of the clamping parts which are arranged opposite as shown in Figures 3a and 3b. Note that in the case of an assembly flange with three clamping pieces (4a, 4b, 4c) illustrated in FIG. 3a, such a flange can assemble several longitudinal elements (2a, 2b, 2c) in parallel planes and according to intersecting directions for example.

 According to this preferred embodiment, the assembly between the clamping parts (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) making it possible to obtain an assembly flange is advantageously carried out using a fixing member (17) such that 'a device of the screw / nut type for example. To do this, said clamping parts have a central fixing hole (16) which can advantageously be provided with a blocking imprint not shown on one of its transverse faces (6a, 6b) such as an imprint having the form of 'a hex nut for example. Note that the so-called end clamping pieces advantageously have said imprint on the face (6a) which includes all of the grooves and that for a clamping piece of intermediate type, this could be located on one or the other of its faces. Furthermore, the intermediate clamping pieces could possibly include a blocking imprint on each of their faces or not include any at all.

 Furthermore, according to the invention, the assembly device (1) also comprises connecting parts (10) intended to connect at least two assembly flanges (3a, 3b) together. Said connecting pieces (10) have at least two wall portions (11a, 11b) on which lights (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) and / or holes are arranged.

Thus, the connecting pieces (10) are constituted by several wall portions (1a, îîb, îîc, îîd) coplanar or non-coplanar forming different two-dimensional or three-dimensional geometric figures in space.

 According to the preferred embodiment of said connecting pieces (10), the wall portions (lla, ilb, lic, lld) are in line with one another or are joined together as, for example, by welding. Said connecting parts can advantageously be obtained for most of them by folding starting from a plate comprising said wall portions (11a, llb, lic, îîd) in sufficient number and in respective portions desired to obtain the geometrical figure sought after folding and / or welding.

 The wall portions (11, 11a, 11b, lic, 11d, city) each carry two circular slots (12a, 12b) and two transverse slots (12c, 12d). One of the circular lights (12a) has the shape of an arc of a circle of diameter D1 identical to the distance Li between the center of the disc and one of the holes (8a) located on the middle of the side of the square , while the other circular light (12b) has the shape of an arc of a diameter D2 identical to the distance L2 between the center of the disc (6) of a clamping piece (4) and one of the holes (8b) located inside the corners of the square formed by the grooves (7a) as shown in Figures 7a, 7b and 7c; the two circular slots being centered on a central fixing hole (18) intended to allow the fixing of the connecting piece (10) to an assembly flange (3) thanks to the fixing member (17). Said fixing can be carried out between the wall portion (lla, llb, lic, lld) and any one of the clamping pieces (4a, 4b, 4c) which make up the assembly flange (3).

 Furthermore, the transverse slots (12c, 12d) diametrically separate the two circular slots (12a, 12b) and are arranged so that they extend by a distance L1 from the center of the central fixing hole (18) up to a distance L2, as defined above and illustrated in FIGS. 4b and 7b, so that when fixing a clamping piece (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) on the portion of wall (11, lia, 11b, lic, lld) the holes (8a, 8b) of said wall or at least a part of them can be positioned opposite either transverse lights or circular lights.

 According to the preferred embodiment, five of the eight holes (8a, 8b) are advantageously positioned opposite said openings, three of them advantageously forming a triangle opposite the two circular openings, whatever the fixing position of the room and the wall portion, as shown in Figures 7b, and 7c.

 According to the preferred embodiment, the connecting pieces (10) can be of various planar or three-dimensional geometric shapes and be composed of two, three or more wall portions (1 la, llb, lîc, lld, vile) as previously described. According to the different embodiments of the connecting pieces illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 12b, they can form corners with three wall portions (11a, 11b, lic) folded at right angles then welded, or angles of several different inclinations illustrated in FIGS. 9a , 9b, 10a and 10b where the connecting piece drawn in dotted lines corresponds to its starting state before the folding of the two wall portions (1 la, nib), but also planar figures as shown by the three wall portions ( 1 la, 1 lob, 1 lc) illustrated in FIG. 8b, which can also, by folding and welding, constitute a wedge as illustrated in FIG. 8a.

 Figures 11a, 11b, 12a and 12b illustrate connecting pieces comprising a large number of wall portions in a planar configuration or in a three-dimensional configuration. It goes without saying that said connecting parts (10) have been illustrated in particular configurations, but they could be of any other possible form, without however departing from the claimed protective field of the invention.

 Thus, according to the invention, the assembly device (1) makes it possible to construct structures by means of assembly flanges (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) which, when tightening the clamping pieces (4a, 4c) the components, make it possible to assemble several longitudinal elements (2a, 2b) together, said flanges being able to be rigidly connected together by connecting pieces (10) of various shapes so as to allow the constitution of a structure such that 'illustrated, for example, Figure 13. Note that, according to the illustrated structure, it may include walls (20) fixed by means of the fixing member (17) to the connecting pieces and the assembly flanges.

 Such an assembly device makes it possible, as shown in FIG. 13, to be able to produce, thanks to its design, any rigid planar or three-dimensional structure such as presentation panels for exhibition stand structures or any other structure. .

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (10)

 1. An assembly device (1) of longitudinal elements (2a, 2b) such as rods, tubes or profiles of the type comprising at least one assembly flange (3), consisting of at least two clamping pieces ( 4, 4a, 4b, 4c) which can be assembled and clamped by at least one clamping member (5), characterized in that the clamping pieces (4a, 4b, 4c) consist of a disc (6) of which at least one of the transverse faces (6a, 6b) comprises a set of grooves or grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) parallel and / or convergent as well as a set of holes (8a, 8b) passing through the clamping piece (4 ).  2, assembly device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly flange (3) comprises three clamping pieces (4a, 4b, 4c) and in that the intermediate clamping piece (4b) located between the two end clamping pieces (4a, 4c), has on its two transverse faces (6a, 6b) a set of holes (8a, 8b) and grooves (7a, 7b, 7c).  3. An assembly device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) have in a longitudinal plane (P) a rounded profile substantially in the form of a circular arc .  4. Assembly device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grooves (7a, 7b, 7c) compose on the transverse face (6a, 6b) a square (7a) inscribed in the disc (6), its perpendicular bisectors (7c) and its diagonals (7b).  5. An assembly device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the holes (8a, 8b) are intended for the passage of the clamping members (5) and are arranged at the four corners (8a) from square to inside of these and in the middle (8b) of the sides of said square.  6. An assembly device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holes (8a, 8b) comprise at at least one of their ends an upper part of hole (9a) whose shape is that a locking imprint (14) so as to be able to immobilize in rotation a nut (Sa) which constitutes, with a complementary screw (5b), the clamping member (5).  7. An assembly device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one connecting piece (10) intended to connect at least two assembly flanges (3a, 3b, 3c , 3d) between them, the connecting piece (11, lia) having at least two wall portions (lia, iib, lic) provided with a set of lights (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) and / or holes crossing them.  8. An assembly device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the connecting pieces (10) consist of a set of wall portions (11, lia, iib, lic) each provided with holes and / or of lights (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d), said wall portions being able to be coplanar or inclined with respect to one another so as to form rigid planar or three-dimensional figures.  9. An assembly device (1) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that each wall portion (11, lia, iib, lic, iid) comprises two slots of circular shapes (12a, 12b) and two transverse lights (12c, 12d) separating them.  10. An assembly device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the clamping pieces (4, 4a, 4b, 4c) have a hole central (16) intended to allow them to be assembled by means of a fixing member (17) to other clamping pieces (4) and / or to connecting pieces (10) which have a central fixing hole ( 18) in the central zone of their wall portions (lia, lib, lic, lld) which constitute them.