CONNECTING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A CHANNEL SECTION

Abstract: Connecting means for attachment to a channel section with an inner cavity having a longitudinal opening, comprising a metal wire (3) which at one of its ends is bent to form an eye (4), which fits snugly in the internal cross-sectional shape of the channel section. The metal wire extends from the eye transversally of its plane in the form of a locking portion (5), which in the installed condition of the connecting means will lie generally in the longitudinal opening of the channel section. In order to enable the connecting means to withstand forces in the longitudinal direction of the channel section and thus enable its use in a supporting function when the channel section is installed vertically, the locking portion (5) is provided with an end portion (6) forming an angle to the locking portion and extending inwards for abutment against the bottom of the cavity of the channel section in the installed condition of the connecting means. The connecting means may e.g. be used as an attachment bracket for a sheet section for retaining insulating material on a building.

Description: CONNECTING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A CHANNEL SECTION The present invention relates to connecting means for attachment to a channel section, as recited in the preamble of claim 1. Attachment means and channel sections of this type are known i.a. from US-PS No. 4 389 830, which hereby is incorporated as reference. After having been introduced in the channel section, this known type of connecting means may pivot both longitudinally and -transversally of the channel section. Usually this will pose no problems in appli¬ cations where the connecting means is constituted by e.g. a tie for the attachment of a brick facing, or where the connecting means and the channel section are used for ceiling suspension of objects that will not be submitted to noticable sideways movement. However, this previously known form of the connecting means cannot be used where one has to expect sideways loads at its free end, particu¬ larly not if the connecting means will have to withstand sideways forces. Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide connecting means of the type discussed above, which in a simple and reliable manner will be able to withstand forces in the longitudinal direction of the channel section. This is achieved according to the invention by means of the features recited in the characterizing part of claim 1. Further advantageous features of the invention are recited in the dependent claims . For better understanding of the invention it will be described more closely with reference to the exempli¬ fying embodiments shown in the appended drawings . Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the use of connecting means according to the invention for suspending insulation material on a building. Fig. 2 shows perspectively a connecting means according to the invention as utilized in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the connecting means in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows perspectively an alternative embodi¬ ment of the connecting means according to the invention. Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the connecting means in Fig. 4. The application of the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a channel section 1 which is vertically mounted on the wall of a building (not shown). The channel sec¬ tion has a cavity with generally circular cross section and with a longitudinal slot-like opening 2. In the channel section a connecting means 3 is arranged, the shape of which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The connecting means is comprised by a metal wire which at one of its ends is bent to an eye 4, which eys has an external diameter which makes it fit snugly in the cross-sectional shape of the inner cavity of the channel section 1. From the eye 4 a locking portion 5 extends generally trans- versally of the plane of the eye. In the installed condition of the connecting means the locking portion will lie generally in the opening 2 of the channel section in order to prevent rotation of the connecting means about its longitudinal axis . According to the invention the locking portion 5 is provided with an end portion 6 forming an angle with the locking portion and extending inwards towards the bottom of the cavity of the channel section 1 in the installed condition of the connecting means . Thus, the end portion rests against the bottom of the cavity of the channel section in that posision of the connecting means which is shown in Fig. 1, so that the connecting means can with¬ stand vertical forces . In the application shown in Fig. 1, the connecting means is used to retain insulating material 7 on the wall of the building, the free end of the connecting means being attached to a sheet section 8 having a generally Z-shaped cross section, against which the edges of the plate-like insulating material rest. As it best appears from Fig. 2, the free end of the connecting means is provided with an undulated and folded portion 9, which grips the middle portion of the sheet section 8 when in use. In order to facilitate installation of the sheet section on the connecting means 3, the outer flange of the sheet section is provided with a number of slots 10 for penetration of the folded portion 9 of the connecting means . The undulated shape of the folded portion provides for friction locking contact between the connecting means and the sheet section. It will be apparent that the connecting means 3 readily may be displaced in the vertical direction during the installation in order to assume the correct position as the insulating material is brought in place. This is done by lifting the connecting means somewhat at its free end. However, when the connecting means has been brought in place and is loaded by the weight of the insulating material, the end portion 6 of the connecting means will bite into the bottom of the cavity of the channel section and prevent further movement of the connecting means . It will also be understood that the connecting means according to the invention is particularly advantageous in securing insulation material because it forms a very small heat leak. Figs. 4 and 5 show one of the many possible alter¬ native embodiments of the connecting means. Here, the free end is provided with a threaded portion 11 for screwing on a nut or the like. It will also be understood that the free end of the connecting means may be given the form of an eye or a hook, or any other suitable form adapted to the intended use of the connecting means . In the embodiment shown in Figs . 2 - 5 the end portion 6 forms an angle of approximately 60 to the locking portion 5. It will be understood that this angle may be varied within the scope of the invention. Further- more, the end portion 6 may be a curved extension of the locking portion 5 if this should prove more suitable based on manufacturing considerations .

Claims: C l a i s 1. Connecting means for attachment to a channel sec- tion (1) with an inner cavity having a longitudinal ope¬ ning (2), comprising a metal wire (3) which at its one end is bent to form an eye (4) which fits snugly in the cross- sectional form of the cavity of the channel section, and a locking portion (5) which extends from the eye transver- sally of its plane, and which is adapted to the cross- sectional shape of the channel section (1) so that it lies generally in said longitudinal opening (2) in the channel section in the installed condition of the connecting means, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking portion (5) is provided with an end portion (6) forming an angle to the locking portion (5) and extending inwards to¬ wards the bottom of the cavity of the channel section (1) in the installed condition of the connecting means . 2. Connecting means according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking portion (5) is longer than said end portion (6). 3. Connecting means according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said end portion (6) forms a curved extension of the locking portion (5). 4. Connecting means according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said metal wire (3) at its other end is provided with an undulated and folded portion ( 9) . 5. Cc -meeting means according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said metal wire at its other end is provided with threads (11). 6. Use of connecting means according to any one of the claims 1 - 4, together with a generally vertically mounted channel section (1), as attachment bracket for a sheet section (8) for retaining insulating material (7) on a building .

Inventors: INGEBERG BJOERN, INGEBERG, BJOERN
Applicants: INGEBERG BJOERN, INGEBERG, BJOERN
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1, E04F13, F16B2