Abstract:
The invention relates to an adapter for fastening a support profile, comprising a profile receptacle having a supporting section, and a fastening side which at least in some areas is spaced from the supporting section, wherein a cable maneuvering compartment is formed between the supporting section and the fastening side and is spatially connected to a feedthrough of the supporting section and at least one cable feedthrough. Using said design, cables coming from a wide variety of directions can be fed to the adapter in a simple and organized manner.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an adapter for fastening a support profile comprising a profile receptacle having a support section and a fastening side which at least in some areas is spaced from the supporting section. 
     Adapters of this type are used for support arm systems. Support arm systems regularly consist of one or more support profiles and adapter parts. As adapter parts, for example wall/floor attachments are used which may be screwed to a wall or floor surface. A support profile may be inserted into the profile receptacle of the adapter and may be secured therein. Cables on the wall or at the bottom are guided into the interior of the support profile via the adapter. To this end, the support profile comprises a cable duct extending in longitudinal direction. In order to ensure a proper insertion of cables, the cable coming up from the wall or the floor, respectively, is dragged through an opening in the support section. That opening is aligned with the cable duct of the support profile. Now, it may occur often that several cables must be introduced into the support profile via the adapter, however, these cables are not lead out in the same location at the wall or floor, respectively. In this situation, the support profile is laterally opened by means of a milling cutter, so that access to the cable duct of the support profile results. The cable may then be pushed into the opening produced. Since this procedure is elaborate, some times open cable ducts are provided in support profiles. They may be closed by a cover. If now a cable is to be introduced laterally, the cover is broken and the cable is simply pushed into the cable duct of the support profile. 
     This way of cable installation, however, does not always meet the highest optical requirements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to provide an adapter of the type mentioned in the introductory via which laterally guided cables may be introduced into the support profile in a simple manner. This object is achieved in that a cable manoeuvring compartment is formed between the supporting section and the fastening side which is spatially connected to a feedthrough of the support section and at least one cable feedthrough. 
     Cables coming centrally up from the floor or the wall, respectively, may be introduced directly into the support profile in a known manner via the feedthrough. If now an additional cable is to be introduced laterally, this is simply possible via the additional cable feedthrough which also leads into the cable manoeuvring compartment. In the cable manoeuvring compartment, the cable may then be dragged into the cable duct of the support profile together with the cable coming up from the floor or the wall, respectively. Thus, a proper introduction of a laterally guided cable may be realized by the adapter in optically appealing manner. 
     According to a preferred variant of the invention it may be provided that two cable feedthroughs lead into the cable manoeuvring compartment at opposite sides or that four cable feedthroughs lead into the cable manoeuvring compartment at pairwise opposing sides. Thereby, flexibility of the adapter is further increased. 
     An adapter according to the invention may be characterized in that the cable feedthrough or the cable feedthroughs, respectively, are closed by means of closure pieces which are molded thereto and can be broken away therefrom. 
     The user may now, depending on his individual installation situation, decide which cable feedthroughs he may use. He must then merely break out the relevant closure piece to access the cable manoeuvring compartment. He may keep the remaining cable feedthroughs closed, to that tightness is maintained in that region. 
     According to the invention it may be provided that the cable manoeuvring compartment can be accessed via the cable feedthroughs in a direction transverse to the fastening plane defined by the fastening side, so that laterally feeding through cables is made possible without any problems. Hereby, it is in particular advantageous that the cable feedthroughs are open towards the fastening side. Then, cables already installed when mounting the adapter may be inserted laterally into the cable feedthroughs. 
     Stable fastening and unique alignment of the support profile connected to the adapter is made possible in that on a side of the support section facing away from the cable manoeuvring compartment a profile receptacle is formed which is delimited by support surfaces for engaging the outer geometry of a support profile to be inserted into the profile receptacle. 
     A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is such that a further cable feedthrough is provided on a side of the support section facing away from the cable manoeuvring compartment. A subsequent cable installation is possible via this cable feedthrough when an adapter is already installed. In this case, the cable is dragged through the further cable feedthrough and is introduced into the support profile via the outside surface of the support profile. Hereby, it turns out to be in particular advantageous that the support profile comprises a laterally open cable duct which is directly aligned with the further cable feedthrough. Thus, in particular no final machining must be performed at the support profile. If it is further provided that the base part comprises a tap extending in the region of the further cable feedthrough, that the tab comprises one or more openings leading into the fastening side and that the cable feedthrough and the openings can be closed by a common lid, both the fastening assembly for fastening the adapter to a wall or a floor and the further cable feedthrough are optically shielded with the aid of a single lid. 
     Herein, it may be in particular provided that the tab comprises an integrally molded wall forming, together with the lid, a spatial enclosure to the environment. In this way, a simple construction results and additionally a stable construction which is in particular suited for deployment in rough industrial operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be explained in detail below with the aid of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings. It is shown in: 
         FIG. 1  an adapter in a perspective side view; 
         FIG. 2  an end view of a support profile; 
         FIG. 3  the adapter of  FIG. 1  in a perspective view from the bottom and in combination with the support profile of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  the physical unit of  FIG. 3  in a perspective side view; and 
         FIG. 5  the physical unit of  FIG. 3  or  4 , respectively, in a perspective view from the bottom. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an adapter, in particular a wall/floor attachment for a support arm system. The adapter comprises a basis part  10  surrounding, together with side walls  11  and  12 , a profile receptacle  13 . Side walls  11  and  12  form support surfaces  11 . 1  or  12 . 1 , respectively, facing to profile receptacle  13 . At the bottom, profile receptacle  13  is delimited by a support section  14  which in the region of the two opposing side walls  11  respectively forms support surfaces. Both support surfaces lie in a common plane and serve to support the flat end side of a support profile  30 , as explained in detail below. 
     Through bores as fastening receptacles  14 . 1  are machined into support section  14 . Further, support section  14  comprises adjusting receptacles  14 . 2 . Support section  14  is broken by an opening  14 . 3 . Opening  14 . 3  gives access to a cable manoeuvring compartment  17 . Cable manoeuvring compartment  17  is more clearly shown in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in this representation, cable manoeuvring compartment  17  is in spatial connection with profile receptacle  13  via feedthrough  14 . 3 . Cable manoeuvring compartment  17  terminates in the region of the bottom side of the adapter in a fastening side  18 . Fastening side  18  is plan parallel to the support surface for support profile  30  formed by support section  14 . 
     Cable manoeuvring compartment  17  is open towards the bottom side of the adapter, i.e. through the fastening side  18 . Thus, a cable  15  coming up from the connected floor or wall, respectively, may be immediately introduced into the cable manoeuvring compartment  17 , dragged through feedthrough  14 . 3  and brought into the region of the profile receptacle  13 . Furthermore, the adapter comprises closure pieces  17 . 1 ,  17 . 3 ,  17 . 5  at pairwise opposing sides which can be broken out. They are attached to the adapter via predetermined breaking points such that they may be broken away easily with the aid of a tool, for example a screw driver. Closure pieces  17 . 1 ,  17 . 3 ,  17 . 5  broken away result in cable feedthroughs  17 . 2 ,  17 . 4 ,  17 . 6 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , cables  50  may be laterally introduced via these cable feedthroughs  17 . 2 ,  17 . 4 ,  17 . 6 . Cable feedthroughs  17 . 2 ,  17 . 4 ,  176  are open towards fastening side  18 , so that cables  50  ready-made with plugs may be brought easily into the region of the cable manoeuvring compartment  17 . Due to the generously dimensioned feedthrough  14 . 3 , the plugs of these cables may also conveniently be pushed through and brought into the region of profile receptacle  13 . 
     It may further be recognized in  FIG. 1  that in addition to cable feedthroughs  17 . 2 ,  17 . 4 ,  17 . 6  further cable feedthroughs  12 . 2  are provided in the region of side walls  12 . These further cable feedthroughs  12 . 2  provide a spatial connection between the environment and the profile receptacle  13 . Further cable feedthroughs  12 . 2  are arranged in the region of tabs  15  laterally protruding beyond side walls  12 . Tabs  15  comprise plate shaped sections which are provided with key-hole like openings  15 . 2 . Tabs  15  are laterally equipped with walls  15 . 1  which optically appealing merge into the outer surfaces of side walls  12 . Furthermore, tab  15  comprises respectively two clamping receptacles  15 . 5  serving to fix a lid  20 . The design of lid  20  is better seen in  FIG. 3 . As shown in this illustration, lid  20  comprises two lateral tabs  21 , respectively bearing a pin-shaped clamping element  22  having spring elements molded thereto. Clamping elements  22  may be pushed into an associated clamping receptacle  15 . 5  such that they clamp in a press fit with their spring elements. Having mounted lid  20 , it rests on a rim  15 . 4  of tab  15  with its rim-shaped dimensional border and abuts thereto. In the middle region of tab  15  two parallel delimiting walls  15 . 3  delimit further cable feedthrough  12 . 2 . Lid  20  is further supported on the free ends of these delimiting walls  15 . 3  so that a secure fastening of lid  20  is achieved. 
     In  FIG. 2  a support profile  30  in the form of an extruded aluminium profile is shown. Support profile  30  comprises two parallel side walls  31  terminating at their longitudinal ends in corner pieces  33 . Two lower corner pieces  33  are integrally connected via a transition piece  32 . Two upper corner pieces  33  respectively bear a tab  37  which is formed bar-like and delimits an insert opening in longitudinal direction of the profile. Two indentations  37 . 1  and  37 . 2  in the form grooves are machined into both tabs  37 . Indentations  37 . 1  and  37 . 2  extend in longitudinal direction of the profile. Tab  37  further carries an upwardly protruding counter latching element  36 , to which end a latching protrusion  36 . 1  is molded. Counter latching element  36  together with a wall of corner piece  30  delimits a groove  35 . As already mentioned previously, two tabs  37  delimit an insert opening via which a receiving space A can be accessed. Receiving space A is enclosed by the two upper corner pieces  33  of tabs  37  and by delimiting bars  38 . 1 . Delimiting bars  38 . 1  respectively connect integrally to upper corner pieces  33  and extend at an angle inwardly to the profile center. Delimiting bars  38 . 1  are molded to a connecting element  38 . 2  at the end facing away from corner pieces  33 . Facing away from receiving space A, connecting element  38 . 2  carries two further connecting bars  38 . 3 . These are in turn integrally molded to the two lower corner pieces  33  and extend also at an angle. A star-shaphed stiffening structure is created by delimiting elements  38 . 1  and  38 . 3  and connecting element  38 . 2  which considerably increases stiffness of support profile  30 . 
     Corner pieces  33  are respectively equipped with two integrally formed screw channels  39  extending continuously in longitudinal direction of the profile. The adapter may be screwed to these screw channels  39  with the aid of connecting screws. To this end, support profile  30  is pushed into profile receptacle  13  until the end of support profile  30  rests on the support surface of support section  14 . Subsequently, fastening screws are introduced into fastening receptacle  14 . 1  from the bottom side of the adapter through the fastening side  18  and screwed into the associated screw channels  39  of support profile  30 . Support profile  30  is accordingly screwed to the outer four screw channels  39  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Inner screw channels  39  may be used for adjusting support profile  30  with respect to the adapter. To this end, screws may be screwed into these screw channels  39 . Screw channels  39  posses lenticular screw heads which may be accommodated within the indentations of the adjusting receptacles  14 . 2  (see  FIG. 1 ). Adjusting receptacles  14 . 2  comprise through bores which allow access to the lenticular head of the screw through the fastening side  18  by means of a tool. If now the screw is rotated with the aid of the tool, the end side of the support profile  30  may be easily tilted with respect to the support surfaces of support section  14 , so that angular adjustment of support profile  30  is made possible. 
     In a mounted state, support profile  30  is supported by support surfaces  11 . 1  and  11 . 2  at its outer contour. For a tightening free of play, threaded receptacles  11 . 2  lead into profile receptacle  13  which may accessed from the outer side of side walls  13 . Accordingly, threaded bolts  11 . 3  (see  FIG. 3 ) may be screwed through threaded receptacles  11 . 2  until they abut at the outer contour of support profile  30  and are tightened against it. In the mounted state, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , support profile  30  with receiving space A is aligned with respectively associated further cable feedthrough  12 . 2 . Thus, a cable  50  may be pushed through further cable feedthrough  12 . 2  and introduced into receiving space A of support profile  30 . Since cable feedthrough  12 . 2  is generously dimensioned, cables  50  ready-made with plug elements may be guided therethrough. In this way, a subsequent installation of cables is easily possible for an already installed adapter unit. To this end, cable  50  is pushed through the insert region formed by the both tabs  37  of support profile  30  into receiving space A. The insert opening formed between tabs  37  may be covered by means of a cover  40 . Cover  40  is formed with a plastic molded part and comprises a convex blind  41  to which the two downwardly protruding tabs  42  are integrally molded. Tabs  42  are parallel and spaced. The free ends of tabs  42  terminate in latch elements  43 . For mounting cover  40  it is set onto the support profile  30  such that tabs  42  immerse into grooves  35  of support profile  30 . Thereby, latching elements  43  are diverted outwardly at counter latching element  36  until they snap behind latching protrusion  36 . 1 . Convex blind  41  merges into connecting surfaces of corner pieces  33 , so that a harmonical closure is created which corresponds to the closure formed on the opposite side by means of transition piece  32 .