Abstract:
The invention relates to a device to be connected to a screw. Said device comprises a plurality of connecting elements ( 5, 6, 7 ) which have respective openings ( 14 ) and which can be engaged with a thread of the screw. Said connecting elements ( 5, 6, 7 ), in a preassembly configuration, are loose pieces. Along the edge of the opening ( 14 ) of the connecting elements ( 5, 6, 7 ), a pitch section ( 15 ) of a threaded structure is configured. A connecting system ( 8 ) allows to maintain, in a final assembly configuration, the connecting elements ( 5, 6, 7 ) in a predetermined spatial relationship to each other, thereby increasing the variability of use of the device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Phase Patent Application based on International Application Serial No. PCT/EP2006/009424 filed Sep. 28, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a device for effecting connection by means of a bolt. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    One known device for effecting connection by means of a bolt is known from WO98/20262. The prior device for effecting connection by means of a bolt comprises a number of connecting elements, each of which comprises an opening, and which can be brought into engagement with a thread of the bolt. The connecting elements in a pre-assembly configuration are loose pieces, a turn segment of a thread structure being formed along the edge of the opening in each connecting element. Also present is a connecting system in which the connecting elements of a final assembly configuration are held in a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to one another. The connecting elements are configured as flat plates and comprise orienting structures in the form of orienting notches that are aligned with one another when the connecting elements are arranged as intended in the final assembly configuration. 
         [0006]    Known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,319 is a device in the form of a cage nut having a number of connecting elements, configured as flat plates, that can be connected to one another via side walls of a cage member that engage in marginal clearances in the connecting elements. 
         [0007]    Known from DE 199 20 619 A1 is a device for effecting connection by means of a bolt, in the form of a stacked arrangement of connecting elements configured as flat plates and comprising projecting turn segments of a thread structure and projections for spacing apart the connecting elements. 
         [0008]    A further device for effecting connection by means of a bolt is known from DE 33 27 055 A1. This device is configured as an anchoring body that is to be arranged in a material clearance, and comprises a number of flat connecting elements made of sheet metal, which are connected to one another via webs. Each connecting element comprises a clearance, and the clearances are aligned with one another when the connecting elements are arranged as intended in spaced parallel relation. When a bolt is tightened in the device of the generic kind, the connecting elements move sideways and come into engagement with the material. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a device for effecting connection by means of a bolt that is distinguished by high stability of the stacked connecting elements prior to engagement with the connecting system. 
         [0010]    By virtue of the inventive configuration, the mutual engagement of the orienting elements in the form of recesses and rings bring about the mutual fixation of the flat connecting elements when placed one on top of the other and their subsequent interconnection to form the thread segment. 
         [0011]    In one advantageous embodiment of the device according to invention, the turn segment is preferably a complete thread turn. In an improvement of this embodiment, the turn segments of the plates form a continuous internal thread. 
         [0012]    In one type of embodiment, the connecting structure in a final assembly configuration indissolubly connects the connecting elements to one another. For example, in this exemplary embodiment the connecting structure comprises weld seams or adhesive bonds. 
         [0013]    In another type of embodiment, the connecting structure comprises a cage member, by means of which the connecting elements in a final assembly configuration are indissolubly connected to one another. In this type of embodiment, in an improvement, the connecting elements are provided at their edges with marginal clearances and the cage member comprises a baseplate and, attached to the baseplate, side walls which are disposed in the marginal clearances and which by their ends directed away from the baseplate overengage the connecting element farthest from the baseplate. 
         [0014]    In one form thereof, the present invention provides a device for effecting connection by means of a bolt, including a number of connecting elements, each of which comprises an opening, and which are able to be brought into engagement with a thread of the bolt, the connecting elements in a pre-assembly configuration being loose pieces, a turn segment of a thread structure being formed along the edge of the opening in each connecting element, a connecting system being present in which the connecting elements, in a final assembly configuration, are held in a predetermined spatial arrangement relative to one another, and the connecting elements including flat plates and at least one orienting structure, which orienting structures are aligned with one another when the connecting elements are arranged as intended in the final assembly configuration, characterized in that mutually adapted first and second orienting elements are configured on the flat sides of each plate, the first orienting elements being recesses configured in clearances and having a diameter that is at least sectionally larger than the clearances, and the second orienting elements being rings whose dimensions accord with the corresponding dimensions of the recesses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]    The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention comprising plural connecting elements, which are mounted by means of a cage member on a fixing clamp; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a connecting element from the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a section through the connecting element according to  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cage member according to  FIG. 1 , with three connecting elements according to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  arranged as intended in the cage member in a final assembly configuration; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a further configuration of a connecting element for a device according to the invention, viewed from the front in an insertion direction of a bolt; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the configuration according to  FIG. 5 , viewed from the back in an insertion direction of a bolt. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fixing clamp  1  known per se, which is provided to connect two flat parts and comprises a first leg  2  and a second leg  3  that is configured with an upwardly bent insertion flap, the legs being disposed opposite each other and each being provided with an opening through which a bolt (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) can be passed in order to fix the parts. The inventive device according to  FIG. 1 , which in the exemplary embodiment shown is implemented as a laminated-thread block  4 , is mounted on the second leg  3 . 
         [0024]    The laminated-thread block  4  comprises, as connecting elements, a number of flat stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  stamped from sheet metal, which in the pre-assembly configuration are loose and which in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  are placed one on top of the other. In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  are arranged detachably from one another in a cage member  8 , also stamped from sheet metal, as an example of a connecting system. The cage member  8  is configured with a baseplate  9 , which is mounted on the second leg  3  of the fixing clamp  1 . The cage member  8  further comprises a first side wall  10  and a second side wall  11 , which serve to fix the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  in the final assembly configuration of the inventive device, i.e., the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the middle stacking plate  6  from the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the other, outer stacking plates  5 ,  7  being configured identically to said middle stacking plate  6 . As is clearly evident from  FIG. 2 , stacking plate  6  is configured as substantially square and has, on each of two opposite sides, a respective outwardly open marginal clearance  12 ,  13 . It can further be seen from  FIG. 2  that stacking plate  6  has a centrally disposed, circular opening  14 , along the rim of which a circumferential partial thread turn  15  is formed. In the described exemplary embodiment, the partial thread turn  15  of each stacking plate  5 ,  6 ,  7  corresponds to a complete thread turn of an internal thread. Finally,  FIG. 2  shows stacking plate  6  to be configured with an orienting notch  16 , which is part of an orienting structure and extends from the wall of the opening  14  outward in the radial direction. The orienting notch  16  also serves the purpose that a bolt flank of a bolt can be applied and the bolt tightened. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a section through the stacking plate  6  according to  FIG. 2 . It is particularly clear from  FIG. 3  that partial thread turn  15 , which is formed by stamping, rises sectionally above the flat sides of stacking plate  6 , such that a continuous internal thread is formed when the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  are placed on top of one another. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the cage member  8  according to  FIG. 1  with the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  arranged in the prescribed final assembly configuration in a fixed spatial arrangement relative to one another, i.e., in the exemplary embodiment shown, lying flat atop one another and detachably held in place. In conjunction with  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the side walls  10 ,  11  of the cage member  8  engage in the respective marginal clearances  12 ,  13  of the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  and thereby fix the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7 . Meanwhile, the free ends of the side walls  10 ,  11  overengage the outer stacking plate  5  farthest from the baseplate  9  by end pieces that are bent for easy insertion of the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  and are wider than the marginal clearances  12 ,  13 . 
         [0028]    It can further be seen from  FIG. 4  that the baseplate  9  also has mutually opposite, outwardly open marginal clearances  17 ,  18 , which serve to secure the laminated thread block  4  by engaging with corresponding counterparts, for example configured on a fixing clamp  1 . 
         [0029]    Finally, it can be appreciated from  FIG. 4  that the orienting notches  16  of the final assembly configuration are aligned with one another, thereby permitting simple random visual inspection or automatic mechanical verification of the proper orientation of the stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another configuration of a connecting element for a device according to the invention, viewed from the front in an insertion direction of a bolt. The connecting element according to  FIG. 5  is also implemented as a stacking plate  19 , it being noted that like features of stacking plates  5 ,  6 ,  7  described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 to 4  and stacking plate  19  according to  FIG. 5  are provided with the same respective reference numerals and will not be described in more detail below. Stacking plate  19  according to  FIG. 5 , whose flat basic shape is rectangular, is here provided in its four corner regions with substantially cylindrical clearances  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 , each of which has a diameter on the front side, visible in the representation according to  FIG. 5 , that is at least sectionally larger than the diameter of the remaining section passing through the stacking plate  19 , so as to form a recess  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 , as an example of first orienting elements. In the embodiment illustrated, each recess  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27  has a circular cross section and is arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the associated cylindrical clearance  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 . 
         [0031]    It can further be appreciated from  FIG. 5  that formed on the uninterrupted edge faces are studs  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31  that jut out from the respective edge faces, to facilitate handling. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the stacking plate  19  according to  FIG. 5 , viewed from the back in the insertion direction of a bolt. It can be seen from  FIG. 6  that, as an example of second orienting elements configured as complementary to the first orienting elements, a respective ring  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  is formed on the back side at each clearance  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 , which rings are also disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the clearances  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and whose dimensions accord with the corresponding dimensions of the recesses  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 . 
         [0033]    The mutual engagement of the orienting elements in the form of recesses  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27  and rings  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  in this embodiment thus brings about the mutual fixation of the stacking plates  19  when placed one on top of another and their subsequent interconnection to form the turn segment. 
         [0034]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.