Patent ID: 12247690

FIG.1Ashows an embodiment of the invention comprising a profile rail (2.0) with a groove (3.0) and a mounting slide (4.0) that can be inserted into this groove. The arrow indicates the direction of insertion.FIG.1Bshows a mounting slide (4.0) fixed within the groove (3.0) in a locked position, comprising a mounting element (4.1) and a spring latching element (4.3).

FIGS.2,3,4A, andFIG.4Bdepict the same embodiment asFIGS.1A and1B, differing for clarity in the number of reference characters shown. The engagement of the groove latch projections causes both a mechanical coupling/form-fit connection of the spring latching element (4.3) with the groove (3.0) and also a tactile feedback, informing the user of successful attachment.

FIG.5displays an embodiment of a profile rail (2.0) with illustrated angular positions, where a 0° axis, starting from a 0° angle, is defined as perpendicular to the profile rail surface (2.2). The mounting slide (4.0), not shown here but in the previous figures, is inserted such that the central axis of the spring latching element (4.4) is substantially parallel to the 0° axis. Rotation of the mounting slide (4.0) around the longitudinal axis of the spring latching element (4.7) results in the engagement of the groove latch projections (3.9,3.11) into the recesses of the spring latching element (4.8,4.10), and contact between the top edge of the spring latching element (4.13) and the second groove latch projection (3.10), as well as contact between the groove opening edge support rail (4.5) and the edge of the groove opening (3.7).

FIG.6illustrates various embodiments of the inventive device consisting of a profile rail (2.0) and a mounting slide (4.0), wherein the grooves of the profile rails (2.0) differ in the number of groove latch projections (3.9,3.10,3.11) and the spring latching elements (4.3) differ in the number of spring latching element depressions (4.8,4.10).

FIG.7demonstrates another embodiment, wherein the upper edge of the spring latching element (4.13) is configured as a second spring latching element depression (4.9), into which the second groove latch projection (3.10) engages form-fittingly.

FIG.8depicts an embodiment where the recesses of the spring elements are configured as spring element latching projections (5.1,5.2,5.3) that engage in groove latching recesses (6.1,6.2,6.3). To enable the engagement of a spring element latching projection (5.1,5.2,5.3) into a groove latching recess (6.1,6.2,6.3), the spring latching element projection (5.1,5.2,5.3) may, for example, be mounted within the spring latching element (4.3) via a tension spring (7.0), so that the tension spring (7.0) tensions the spring element latching projection during insertion into the groove and relaxes upon reaching the groove latching recess (6.1,6.2,6.3), thereby pressing the spring element latching projection (5.1,5.2,5.3) into the groove latching recess (6.1,6.2,6.3) and thus enabling a form-fitting connection of the mounting slide (4.0) with the profile rail (2.0).

The embodiment shown inFIG.9of the device according to the invention illustrates a mounting slide (4.0) secured within a profile rail (2.0), wherein the mounting element (4.1) has a slide locking attachment (4.14) that can engage form-fittingly within the slide locking recess (2.3), ensuring that the mounting slide (4.0) cannot slip along the longitudinal axis of the profile rail (2.0). The slide locking attachment (4.14) and/or the slide locking recess (2.3) may incorporate a magnetic element, advantageously preventing unintentional detachment of the form-fitting connection.

FIG.10presents an alternative embodiment of a spring latching element (4.3), made from a flexible material (here: metal). To secure the spring latching element (4.3) within the groove (3.0), the spring latching element is compressed at locations1and/or2to insert or remove it into the groove (3.0), enabling the engagement of groove latch projections (3.9,3.10,3.11) into spring element locking recesses (4.8,4.9,4.10). This embodiment brings the advantage of weight/material savings of the spring latching element (4.3). To further reduce the thickness of the spring latching element, the spring latching element depressions (4.8,4.9,4.10) could also, as described above, be designed as spring latching element projections, which engage into groove latch recesses.

FIG.11depicts an exemplary application of the inventive device as a mounting system for laboratory operations (8.0), where mounting slides (4.0) are secured within the profile rail (2.0), with glass flasks (9.0) suspended therein. The profile rail (2.0) can be positioned at various heights.

FIG.12shows an embodiment of the invention, where a seat (10.0) can be secured within the profile rail (2.0). Between the profile rail surface (2.2) and the groove opening edge support rail (4.5), a friction-increasing medium (e.g., rubber coating) may be applied to prevent the unwanted slipping of the seat (10.0) under load. Alternatively, the mounting element (4.1), as illustrated inFIG.9, may comprise a slide locking attachment (4.14) engaging into a slide locking recess (2.3).

FIGS.13A to E show an embodiment of the mounting element (4.0) with a groove opening edge support rail (4.5)/spring latching element projection (5.1) acting as a pressure contact (14.0), where the reversible attachment to the profile rail (2.0) is shown in steps A to E. The spring latching element (4.3) of the mounting element (4.0) is inserted into the groove (3.0) of the profile rail (2.0) until the pressure contact (14.0) is reached. This is overcome by further inserting and partially rotating the spring latching element (4.3) about the unillustrated central axis (4.4) of the spring latching element (4.3), generating a tactile feedback while the groove opening edge support rail (4.5)/the spring latching element projection (5.1) is pressed towards or away from the spring latching element center (14.1), depending on the shape and tolerances of the groove opening edge (3.7) and the design of the groove opening edge support rail (4.5)/the spring latching element projection (5.1). In step E, the mounting element (4.0) is connected to the profile rail (2.0).

FIGS.14A to E also show an embodiment of the mounting element (4.0) with a pressure contact (14.0) (shown within the circle) acting as a spring latching element projection (5.1), where the reversible attachment to the profile rail (2.0) is shown in steps A to E. The spring latching element (4.3) of the mounting element (4.0) is inserted into the groove (3.0) of the profile rail (2.0) until the pressure contact (14.0) is reached. This is overcome by further inserting and partially rotating the spring latching element (4.3) about the unillustrated central axis (4.4), generating tactile feedback, depending on the shape and tolerances of the groove opening edge (3.7) and the design of the spring latching element projection (5.1). In step E, the mounting element (4.0) is connected to the profile rail (2.0). It is noted here that the first spring latching element depression (4.8) and the second spring latching element depression (4.9) themselves do not contribute to tactile feedback. In this case, both provide a space in which the groove opening edge can fit.

Reference Character List1Clamp slide rail mounting device2.0Profile rail2.1Concave curvature2.2Profile rail surface2.3Slide locking recess3.0Groove3.1Groove cavity3.2Groove depth3.3Groove base3.4Groove width3.5Groove opening3.6Groove opening width3.7Groove opening edge3.8Groove opening edge support rail longitudinal axis3.9First groove latch projection3.10Second groove latch projection3.11Third groove latch projection3.12Groove opening center3.13Groove center4.0Mounting slide4.1Mounting element4.2Mounting element central axis4.3Spring latching element4.4Spring latching element central axis4.5groove opening edge support rail4.6Convex curvature4.7Spring latching element longitudinal axis4.8First spring latching element recess4.9Second spring latching element recess4.10Third spring latching element recess4.11Spring latching element top surface4.12Spring latching element bottom surface4.13Spring latching element upper edge4.14side locking Attachment5.1First spring latching element projection5.2Second spring latching element projection5.3Third spring latching element projection6.1First groove latching recess6.2Second groove latching recess6.3Third groove latching recess7.0Tension spring8.0Mounting system for laboratory use9.0Flask10.0Fit14.0Pressure contact14.1Spring latching element center