Method of connecting profiled sections for movable modular panel systems

Abstract: The device is provided with a U section profile guide (3) screwed inside a hollow profile (2). The hooked connection part (14) is slidably driven by a crank disk (6) through the connecting rod (9) along the U profile (3). The crank disk (6) is actuated by means of a lever (7) which is pulled upwards to an unlocked position and pushed downwards to a locked position.

Description: The invention relates to a method of connecting profiled sections for use when assembling movable panels to form closed spaces, and it solves, by using a very quick assembly system, the problem of long assembly times. Using the invented system, the assembly and disassembly do not need preparatory operations for preparing the various parts, maintenance costs are avoided almost completely, and savings are quickly achieved since the parts have a life which is much longer in comparison with the life of systems currently used. Two fundamental parts are used for assembling the movable panels of known systems (for example the prior art taught in the Patent US-A-3 534 517); in this the present system is not different from previous systems. These parts are a vertical support and a horizontal connecting rail. To assemble the panels of the current known system, the vertical support, which is provided with vertical grooves, is positioned vertically. One end of a lower horizontal connecting rail is housed within the grooves, and the opposite end of the connecting rail is housed in the grooves of a second vertical support. A second upper horizontal connecting rail is similarly housed between the vertical supports. A panel is inserted between the upper and lower rails, and further panels are similarly assembled, creating a continuous wall. The connection between the vertical support and the connecting rail is achieved by clamping, by means of a screw, an expansion chuck inserted into the connecting rail, thereby exerting pressure on the vertical support. This clamping operation must be carried out four times for each panel, since two screws are necessary for each connecting rail, and two connecting rails are necessary for each wall panel. Moreover this operation requires the continuous employment of a skilled worker, who, by means of a hexagonal allen key fitted in the screw head, must tighten the screw and hence the chuck, and must check the state of the connection. A worker is required for all these operations, which take a lot of time. Morevoer, the thread of the screw may fail, due to the thread material being overstressed. Although still using a vertical support and horizontal connecting rails, the method of connecting profiled sections for movable modular panel systems according to the invention provides a new connection method that avoids all the aforementioned clamping operations and the use of tools, since the connection is achieved by means of finger pressure without the need for screws or chucks. This is achieved with a method according to claim 1. Reference is now made to the drawings. Figure 1 is a view of the connecting clamp in the open position with the fastening lever raised. Figure 2 is a view of the connecting clamp in the closed position with the fastening lever down, providing a clamping restraint between the vertical support and the connecting rail. Figure 3 is a perspective view (part broken) of the tie rod device, with the fastening lever raised. Figure 4 is a view of the connecting rail with the tie rod device inside. In order to assemble the connecting rail 2, within the hollow body 1 of which is fitted the connecting clamp in a "U" shaped block 3 fixed to the connecting rail by means of a pin 4, the end of the rail 2 is inserted in the vertical support 20 by inserting the "T" shaped clamping member 14 in a corresponding groove in the vertical support 20. The connecting clamp is in the open position. The connecting rail 2 is brought to the desired height on the vertical support 20, and the connecting clamp is closed by lowering the fastening lever 7 which causes the crank disc 6 to rotate. The crank disc 6 is restrained on its rotational axis by a lateral pin 5 connected at each end to the "U" shaped block 3. The rod 9 is attached by means of a pivot 10 to the crank disc 6 at a point which is off-centre relative to the axis of the disc. The opposite end of the rod 9 is attached by a second pivot 11 to the clamping member 14. The lowering of the fastening lever 7 causes the clamping member 14, which is connected to the fastening lever 7 by means of the rod 9, to pull the vertical member and the connecting rail 2 together. The firm connection of the vertical member and the connecting rail 2 is assured by the "T" shaped clamping member 14. Further lowering of the fastening lever 7 ensures that the vertical support 20 remains clamped against the connecting rail 2, since the tie rod remains in tension and ensures that there is a frictional bond between the vertical support 20 and the clamping rail 2. In the first phase of lowering the fastening lever 7, until the fastening lever is inclined at 15° to the horizontal, the force in the tension rod 9 is directed such that it tends to pull the fastening lever 7 upwards and consequently cause the vertical support 20 to move away from the connecting rail 2. In the second phase, when the lever is inclined at less than 15° to the horizontal, the force in the tension rod 9 is directed such that by rotating the crank disc 6 it tends to pull the fastening lever 7 downwards, bringing the fastening lever 7 into a longitudinal slot 8 in the connecting rail 2, and into bearing contact with the surface 16 on the body 12 of the clamping member 14. The end of the tension rod 9 is now positioned above the pin 5 on the axis of the crank disc 6 (as illustrated in figure 2). With the fastening lever 7 completely lowered, the clamping member 14 stays in tension, thus ensuring the connection between the vertical support 20 and the connecting rail 2, and thus holding the two parts in an assembled position. This assembled position is a permanent position, since the clamping member 14 in this phase tends to cause the fastening lever to rotate downwards, but the fastening lever 7 is restrained by the surface 16 on the body 12 of the clamping member 14; thus the fastening lever 7 maintains the clamping member 14 in tension, and maintains the connection between the vertical support 20 and the connecting member 2. In order to release the connecting member 2 from the vertical support 20, a light upward pressure must be applied to the fastening lever 7 until the fastening lever is at 15° to the horizontal. Once the lever passes this inclination, the pivot 10 at the end of the tension rod 9 passes below the axis 5 of the crank disc 6, and the tension still present in the clamping member 14 will by means of the tension rod 9 raise the fastening lever 7, and release the connecting member 2 from the vertical support 20.

Claims: Method of connecting profiled sections for movable modular panel systems, the connection comprising a connecting rail (2) within which is fitted a connecting clamp in a "U" shaped block (3), said connecting clamp consisting of a fastening lever (7); a crank disc (6) supported on the "U" shaped block (3) by a lateral pin (5); a "T" shaped clamping member (14); and a rod (9) connected by a pivot (10) to the crank disc (6) and by a second pivot (11) to the clamping member (14), characterized in that the connecting rail (2) is inserted at the desired height on a vertical support (20); the fastening lever (7) is lowered by applying finger pressure; the lowering of the fastening lever (7) in a first phase, until the fastening lever (7) is inclined at 15° to the horizontal, causes the clamping member (14) to pull the vertical member (20) and the connecting rail (2) together by clamping action of the "T" shaped clamping member (14) on the vertical support (20), the tension in said clamping member (14) tending to pull the fastening lever (7) upwards; and the lowering of the fastening lever (7) in a second phase, when the lever (7) is inclined at less than 15° to the horizontal, maintains the clamping action between the vertical member (20) and the connecting rail (2), the force in the tension rod (9) being directed such that by rotating the crank disc (6) it tends to pull the fastening lever downwards, into a longitudinal slot (8) in the connecting rail (2), and into contact with a surface (16) on the body (12) of the clamping member (14). Method of connecting profiled sections for movable modular panel systems according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to release the connecting member (2) from the vertical support (20), a light upward pressure is applied to the fastening lever (7) until the lever is at 15° to the horizontal; when the fastening lever (20) had passed an inclination of 15° to the horizontal, the tension still present in the clamping member (14) and the tension rod (9) causes the fastening lever (7) to be raised, and the connecting member (2) to be released from the vertical suppor (20).

Inventors: CINTI STEFANO, CINTI, STEFANO
Applicants: CINTI STEFANO, CINTI, STEFANO
Application year: 1987
Main classification: E04B2
IPC codes: E04B2, F16B7