Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
P/2107-10
21814QO
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]~ECHANICAL FASTENFR
BAc~KOuNU OF TT~ INVENTION
The presellt invention relates to a fastener for
csnnF-ct i n~ structur;~l parts to each other at an
adjustable angle.
It is kno~Arn to use fasteners of different types
for assembly of structural parts. These fasteners enable
the structural part6 to be arranged in desired positions
relative to each ot1ler. Known fasteners having a joint,
or the like, enable adjustment of the angle between the
assembled structural parts.
The invention also relates to a fastener for
connecting :,L~ Lu~ 11 parts, which enables adjustment of
the relative angle of the parts. In addition, the
fastener is desiqned for a particular aesthetic effect,
i . e. the fastener itself constitutes an element of design
in addition to its ]nechanical function. This also
assures a high degree of flexibility while also providing
a constant and characteristic shape of the fastener,
2 0 regardless of its type of use .
SUMMARY oF THE INV~l~TION
A fastener according to the invention has a
preferably ball shaped body which is comprised of two
fastener parts, preEerably symmetric to the parting plane
between them, preferably of the same dimensions, and most
preferably half bodies which are rotatable with respect
to each other and w]lich can be locked to each other at a
selected rotative position.
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At least ol~e ball half has at least one
connector element which is fastened to it and extends
radially away from t]le ball body. One half (or side) of
connector element protrudes over the other half of the
5 ball body but does not contact that body half. This
assures that regardless of the relative rotation angle
between the two ball halves, as the ball halves can be
rotated and then loc]ked in a selected position with
respect to each other, the ball shape is retained
continuously and thus is present as a characteristic
element between the structural parts which are to be
connected. The radial position, i.e., distance from the
center and orientati~n of the connector element along a
radius, is retained regardless of the rotative position
of the ball halves relative to each other. Therefore, an
imaginary extension ~of the longitudinal center axis of
the connector element always extends through the center
of the ball. Viewed in the radial direction of the
connector element, the one side or half of the connector
element is firmly associated with one half of the ball,
i.e., it is fastened there, and the other side or half of
the same connector element is so associated with the
other half of the ball that it protrudes in a
circumferential direction past the parting plane between
the ball halves and protrudes over that other ball half
but it is not fastened to the latter. This means that
the connector element extends beyond the parting plane of
the two halves of the ball , e . g ., by a distance of one
half of the width of the connector element. Despite the
relative rotatability of the ball halves, there is a
symmetry which permits any desired position of mounting.
However, the ball shape is retained unchanged.
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In a furt~ler development of the invention, the
longitudinal center axis of the connector element extends
radially of the bod~r of the ball and is located in the
parting plane of the ball halves. In particular, the
rnnn~ctnr element i~; developed in a pin shape along its
longitudinal center axis. The pin shaped connector
element is preferably introduced into a hole in the
corr~crnn~l;n~ struc1:ural part to be connected and is
f astened there .
It is fur1:her advantageous for the size of the
cross section of the pin shaped connector element to be
less than the diamel_er of the ball body. To this extent,
the ball body remaills visually prPd- m; n~nt and the ball
body thus det~rm; n,-c the design of the attachment.
In a further development, the connector element
is developed with rotational symmetry with respect to its
longitudinal center axis. "Rotational ~y -tLy" also
includes a connector element having a thread. In other
words, the envelopi]lg surface is considered to have
rotational :,y ~Ly despite the thread. This permits
angular adjustability around the longitudinal center axis
of the connector element relative to the structural part
and permits a large number of mounting positions, in
which, as mentioned, the ball shape of the ball body is
always retained unc]langed as a design feature.
For attaclling the connector element to the
structural part, the connector element has a rear
engagement edge. I ~ is so arranged on the connector
element that it is ]?rotected against being pulled out.
3 0 The rear engagement edge serves as stop, in combination
with the fastener elements to be associated with the
structural part, so that the connector element is
reliably held in a receiving hole, or the like, in the
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structural part . The rear engagement edge is pref erably
part of an annular groove which is f ormed on the
connector element. In this connection, it is
advantageous if the rear engagement edge forms an acute
or obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal center
axis of the connector element . For f astening, it is
particularly advantageous if a transverse pin, a grub
screw, or the like, acts on the rear engagement edge
which is inclined to the longitudinal center axis such
that as a result of the obtuse orientation of the rear
engagement edge, an inward pulling force is exerted which
pulls the connector element into its receiving hole.
Clamping elements are preferably provided for
clamping the ball halves. The longitudinal axis of the
clamping elements extends transversely, and particularly
at a right angle, to the longitudinal center axis of the
connector element. When the two ball halves are aligned
relative to each other in their selected angular
position, the ball halves are then clamped by the
clamping elements for producing firm holding at a fixed
angular position. The clamping elements preferably
def ine a screw j oint . In addition to its function of
holding the ball halves together, this screw joint can
also be used to fasten at least one additional structural
part to the ball body.
Finally, it is advantageous if at least one
ball half has a receiving groove for attaching structural
parts, and particularly f lat parts, f or instance
perforated plates, plexiglas panes, and the like to the
ball half.
Other f eatures and advantages of the present
invention will l~ecome apparent from the following
SPEC~16~616
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2 1 8 1 40~
description of the invention which refers to the
~r- nying drawings.
13RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN~tS
F ~or~;r-ntS of the invention are shown in the
drawing6, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a railing having ~LU~;~ULCIl parts
which are f astened to each other by f asteners in
accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side view of a fastener;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the fastener of
Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a side view of the fastener of Fig.
2, seen in the direction of the arrow IV;
Fig . 5 is a rear view of another ~mhor1; r-nt of
a fastener;
Fig . 6 is a section through the f astener of
Fig. 5 turned 90 with respect to Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a front view of the fastener of Fig.
5;
Fig. 8 shows a fastener provided with four
connector elements, as well as corresponding structural
parts, partially in section;
Fig . 9 shows a f astener in accordance with the
invention for producing a T-attachment; and
Fig. 10 shows a connector element of a fastener
in accordance with another ~h~ nt.
n DESCRIPTION OF
PREFERRFn FMRr'DIMEN~'S OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 shows a railing 1, which can be used,
for instance, for balconies, or the like. The railing 1
has structural elements 2 which are in the f orm of tubes
SPE!C\~62616
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3 having closure pieces 4 at their ends. Other shape and
size structural elements may be connected to the
fasteners hereof. Fasteners 5 fasten the structural
elements to the closure pieces 4 . The f asteners 5 can be
further used for attaching a flat structural element 2,
for instance, a plexiglas pane 6, to structural elements.
An PmhQr~;r--~t of a fastener 5 shown in Figs. 2
to 4 has a fastener body in the form of a ball body 7
which is comprised of two body parts or ball halves 8 and
9. There is a parting plane 10 or interface between the
two ball halves 8 and 9. The body parts are symmetric at
opposite sides of the parting plane between them.
A respectiYe connector element 11, 12 is
developed on each ball half 8, 9, and is preferably
integral with it. However, it is also possible to
develop the connectcr elements 11, 12 separately from the
ball halves 8, 9. In the latter case, a different
material can be used for the connector element than for
the ball halves 8, 9. The ball halves are preferably
comprised of aluminum, while the connector elements are
preferably of steel. When they are separately developed,
the connector elements 11, 12 are fastened on the ball
halves 8, 9 by measures or parts known from fastening
technique .
Each conn~ctor element 11 and 12 has a
longitudinal central axis 13 which extends radially of
the ball. The conn~ctor element is placed so that its
axis passes through the center 14 of the ball. Each
connector element 11, 12 is developed in the shape of a
pin, particularly with rotational symmetry to the
longitudinal center axis 13.
With resp~ct to the parting plane 10, the
connector element 11 which points downward in Fig. 2 is
SPEC\16~616
21 ~ l 4~0
divided in an imaginary manner into a first half 15 and a
second half 16 by the parting plane 10, so that the first
half 15 is associated with and c~nnPrt~cl to the ball half
8 while the second half 16 is associated with the ball
5 half 9 but is not connected to that ball half. The
entire connector element 11, however, is developed in a
single piece.
The connector element 12 which faces upward in
Fig. 2 has the same construction. Its first half 15 is
connected in one piece only with the ball half 9 and lies
on the left half in Fig. 2 of the parting plane lO, while
its second half 16 i s above but not connected with the
ball half 8 and lies to the right of the imaginary
parting plane 10. ~ccordingly, the remaining half body
of the connector element 12 protrudes in part over the
ball half 8.
A narrow slot shaped free space 18 is formed
between the surface of the ball half 8 and the upper
connector element 12 which is set back by means of a step
17. This enables relative motion of the ball halves
without r-~h~nic~l interference by the body of the
connector element 12. The same construction is present
for the lower connector element 11, wherein there is a
free space 18 present with respect to the ball half 9.
Each connector element 11, 12 has a radically
inward cylindrical ~;ection 19 which is associated with
the ball body 7. Atl end, radially outward, further
cylindrical section 20 has the same diameter as the
respective cylindrical section 19. An annular groove 21
is defined between the two cylindrical sections 19 and
20. It has a side 22 which is associated with the ball
body 7. Adjoining it there is a groove bottom 23 which
extends approximately parallel to the longitudinal center
SPEC~162616
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2181~00
axis 13. Ad~oining that radially to the outside, there
i5 a rear engagement edge 24 which forms the other side
25 of the annular gr~ove 21 and forms an acute angle
with an extension of the longitudinal center axis 13
5 which protrudes beyond the end of the corresponding
connector element 11, 12.
Starting f rom the parting plane 10, each ball
half 8, 9 has a step shaped opening 26 which has a
radially inner section 27 of larger diameter and a
radially outer section 28 of smaller diameter. Each
section 27 of larger diameter is developed with a
hexagonal contour. Each section 28 of smaller diameter
i5 a hole of circular cross section which passes into a
countersunk hole 29 in the region of the outer surface of
the ball body 7. The two step shaped opPn;n~c 26 of each
ball half are aligned. The two sections 27 of larger
diameter of the two ball halves 8, 9 cooperate to receive
a bushing 31 which is provided with a threaded inner hole
3 0 . The bushing is developed as hexagonal in cross
section over half its length inside one of the ball
halves 8, 9, and as circular in its other length region
so that the ball halves 8 and 9 may be rotated
relatively. Other designs of bushings for that purpose
may be designed by persons skilled in the art. The
cylindrical half of the bushing 31 has a diameter which
~CIL e~,~oll~s to the inner circle of the corresponding
hexagonal section 27 so that relative angular adjustment
of the ball halves is possible. Into the threaded hole
30 of the bushing 31, in each case a countersunk screw 32
i5 screwed in. The countersunk head 33 of each screw is
received by the corresponding countersunk hole 29 of the
two ball halves 8, 9. This enables the two ball halves
8, 9 to be clamped f irmly together. In their loosened
SPEC~162616
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state, it is possible to turn the two ball halves
relative to each other so that, unlike Figs. 2 to 4, the
two connector elements 11 and 12 are not diametrically
180 apart but instead form an angle which can be set as
5 desired.
Figs. 5 to 7 show a fastener 5 which differs
from the fastener of Figs. 2 to 4 in that only a single
connector element 11 is provided, and it is integral with
the ball half 8. The ball half 9 has an angular incision
34 adjoining the parting plane 10, defining with the ball
half 8 a groove shaped receiving space 35 which may
receive the edge region of a f lat structural element 2,
as can be noted from Fig. 1. The edge of a plexiglas
pane 6 may be held within the receiving spaces 35 of the
fasteners 5. Otherwise, the f.mho~lir--nt of Figs. 5 to 7
corresponds to the ~mhorl; r -nt of Figs . 2 to 4, which are
explained above.
Fig. 8 shows a typical use of a fastener 5.
That fastener 5 has a total of four connector elements
11, 12. The first ball half 8 has two connector elements
11 lying diametrically 180 from each other, and the
other ball half 9, which is not visible in the direction
of view of Fig. 8, has two connector elements 12 which
also lie 180 diametrically from each other. In order to
fasten the structural elements 2, which in the ca6e of
Fig. 8 are oval tubes 3, to the connector elements 11,
12, the oval tubes 3 are provided with receiving holes 3 6
into which the connector elements 11, 12 are inserted.
Furthermore, a grub screw 38 is threaded in a threaded
hole 37 in each oval tube 3 so that its inner end comes
against the side 25 of the connector element. This forms
a rear engagement edge 24 of the corresponding annular
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groove 21, whereby the connector element is f ixed in
position in the tube 3.
In the lower connector element 11 of Fig. 8, if
an end attachment of the tube 3 is effected, a closure
piece 4 is then introduced into the end of the lower
element 11 which has a receiving hole 36 for the
connector element. A threaded hole 37 extends
transversely in the tube 3 and/or in the connection piece
4. A grub screw 38 is threaded in the hole. It also
acts on the corrPcprmfl;ng rear engagement edge 24 of the
corresponding connector element 11.
In the embodiment of Fig. 8, however, only one
or more tubes may be connected by the f astener 5 . In
that case, the attachment of an oval tube 3 can be
effected in the region of the short axis of the oval (top
tube 3 ) or of the long axis of the oval ( left tube), or
else also in a corrPr:pon~lin~ intr~ ~l;Ate position (right
tube), as can be noted from Fig. 8. In addition or in
the alternative, it is also possible to fasten the
connection piece 4 on the fastener 5 or to connect
several such connection pieces 4 with the f astener 5 .
Therefore, a large number of different variant
r~horlir ~S can be realized.
Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of a fastener
in which, as described above, connection pieces 4 are
fastened by connector elements 11 and 12 (not shown) of
the ball halves 8 and 9. In addition, one of the two
countersunk screws 3 2 is extended so that it passes
through an axial hole 4 0 in a connection piece 4 . This
clamps the connection piece 4 against the ball body 7.
The end of a tube 3 (not shown) can then be pushed over
the stepped connection piece 4. In this way, a T-
connection can be obtained. Of course, it is possible
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21814~0
that the first countersunk screw 32 lying opposite the
extended countersunX screw 3 2 also can be used in order
to fasten a connection piece 4 there so that, as a whole,
a further attachment to a structural element 2 is
5 created.
In the Fig. g embodiment, it is also possible,
a6 an alternative, f or only one connection piece 4 to be
fastened to the fastener 5, or, for instance, for two
connection pieces 4 to be connected to the fastener 5.
To this extent, Fig. 9 is to be understood merely as an
example which can be modified as required.
Fig. 10 shows another embodiment of a connector
element 11 or 12 whi ch is also developed in the shape of
a pin and which also extends radially of the ball body 7.
But it does not have an annular groove and is instead
provided with an external thread 41. This threaded pin
can be screwed into a corresponding threaded hole in a
structural element 2 or a connection piece 4. In order
to obtain a precise angular alignment upon screwing in,
the corresponding irlternal thread of the structural
elements 2 or connection piece 4 are preferably deformed
to a certain extent by the screwing in movement. This
means that the external thread 41 is screwed in until a
stop is reached. Then at least one further turn is
possible with deformation of the corresponding internal
thread in order to obtain the desired angular position.
For example, for this reason the internal thread can be
made of a special metal or of plastic. In the event that
it is made of plastic, the internal thread is preferably
3 0 developed on a dowel shaped insertion part which can be
inserted into the corresponding structural part or
connection piece.
SPEC\161616
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Although the present invention has been
de~cribed in relation to particular r~ l i r -ntS thereof,
many other variations and modif ications and other uses
will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ic
pre~erred, therefore, that the present invention be
limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only
by the appended claims.
Si'EC\162616
