Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~069 2
Connection system, in particular for consl~ .h accomodation units and
~ssembled furniture
Description
The invention relates to a connection system or &ssell.bly systern, respectively, whose
demountable components may also be made of wood and which is intPnfle~7 in particular, for the
construction of accomodation units and ~Qcembled furn~ture as well as for complex configuration~
for intenor design plans (shop-in-shop systems) and exhibiti~ns
Demountable components for the construction of accomodation units and assembled fi~rniture are
usually made of metal parts. These metal parts invo1ve high m7nllf~eturing effort. Frequently~ they
are very heavy ant have no or only n~inor decorative e~ect with constmction details o~en
~Indesirably visible.
From D~ 39 33 845 A I, a framework joint is known for the detachable jointing t)f a support
element having a recess at its front end with at least one purlin elemeM, via a supporL head. The
support head has a body e~ment whose shape, at least partly, corresponds with the shape of the
recess in the support ele~nent. The subsequent flange element has one or several connection
elements projecting in the opposite tirection ofthe body elemPnt, which can be e~gaged 4ith a
purlin joint plate protruding from the front ent ofthe purlin el~mPnt
This approach features a complex structure connected urith high assembly or di.~a~se~nbl~
respectively, efforts
}n G 92 11 ?.30.3 a flexible wood component is tescribed which is designed for the construction
of accomodation units and assembled fun~iture. This wood component coniists in a com-ection
joint with up to 8 frarne couplin~s, supports, connec~ion screws, cover plates and base elements
On assembly the frame elements or the horizontal girders are only hung in the connection joint
using one-sided do~els.
A decisive disadvantage of this approach is the danger that the ~rame element w~ll be sheart:~l o~l
at lhe resting point. Due to the one-sided rest of the frame element the joint does not hold an~les,
despite of the hi~h material expenditure also the total stabili~y is unsatisfactoly.
~069 2
In EP-A-0126657 a connection joint is described which is characterized particularly by its Inetallic
assembly elements.
The connector is tubular, hol ;~onlally divided, and the tube walls have slots starting fron~ the
plane of tivision.
The ~ame elements are hung in these slots and bears against a dovetail recess on the inner wall ol`
the tubular connector.
To clamp the connection joint a through screw, which cooperates with a separate clamping
device, passes axially thorugh both tube se-.;ors ofthe connector.
Based on this state-of-the-art, it is the object of the invention to ~limin~te the above drawbacks
and to extend the filnetior~ ty and therewith the application range of tho e connc~,l;on or
assembly systems. Additionally, a connPrt;on system is intended v~hich, even if the demountable
components are made of wood, balances the disadvantage ofthe wood's low strength in spite of
minim~l dimensions of the constructional parts.
Accor~iing to the invention, this problem is sol~ed by the features of Claim!i 1, 4 and 5: the
subclaims present other useful developments of the invention.
Sturdy connection of the skeleton stmcture of the connection system is reached by the pressing
pressure of the supports acting on the frarne ~IA ~f ~ which are anchored in the connector by
means of the connection screw.
In addition, the plate elements, which are mounted between the frarne elements, for example by
tongue Md groove, see Claim 2, or the two-sidedly supported consoles suspended between
filnctiona~ supports according to (:~laim 9, provide the nec~cc~ly angular ~tability.
l`he characteristic feature of the conrlectors according to the invention is that they are horizon~ally
divided and that up to 8 recesses with holes and lon~tu~in~l grooves can be made on th~ opposite
inner sides of the connector halves to accomotate and adjust the frame ~-le~2-ts. Each ~ame
element has matching notches on both resting ends and is inserted in the associated bore~ orthe
~ ~ 0 ~ 6 ~ 2
._
connector halves by means of a, for example, pin-like locking cle.,~ which extends thr- ugh Ihc
part remaining a~er notching and projects on both sides of it.
By this invention, a constn~ctionel principle has been created which offers extended applications
also if madc of wood with the wood's sll ~ lh values. Assembly and disas~n~bly can be done
extremely cimply and rapidly w~th a durability if made of wood appru~in~at-31y equivalent to that if
made of metal components.
l`he cc)nnection system according to the invention can be horizontally extended without limits,
and can be vertically raised until the static ~I.e33dbility has been reached. Up to ~ firame elements
can be jointed to a conne~,lor in one plane, This allows conigurations llp to octagonal
construction~.
In addition to spatial constnuctions assembled of wall building components, reception desks,
tables, platforms, cabinets~ shelves, showcases, bF -rl ~ etc., can be assembled.
C~laim 2 enables the extension of the connection system ~th functional and aesthetically appealin~,
plate elements.
The functionality of the conn~ctiQn system can, as described below, further be extended by th~
construction, according to the invention~ of functional supports inserted in particular sections of
the frarne structure, accord~ng to Claims 4 and 5.
These tùnctional supports can be designed, first, such that they have a lon,~it~ in~l slot which
divides the solid support over its full length or over sections and is located between the thre~d~d
bushings in the front ends of the filnctional supports (for screwing with the connectors).
In the range of the longitudinal slot or the lo~gitutlin~l division, for example, pin-like couplers are
fitted vertically lo the longitudinal axis ofthe filnctional support at grid po~ition~. which connect
the halves of the fi~nctional support each to the other.
Then, these fiJnctional supports can be longitudinally divided to form two ~alves of any cross-
section, which are spaced from each other and connected by the pin-like couplers. A~ain, the
threaded bushin~s for the ~ssemhly with the connectors are inserted in the front end~. One nr
7. ~ ~ ~ 6 ~ ~
.
~everal consoles or other holding devices can be vertically atjustably slided into the longitudinal
slot of the functional support and subseq~ y be hung in and fixed using the couplers.
It follows that the width of the lon~;h~ nq' slot or the ~ist~nee between the two halves of the
functional support, rc;,~ecl;~rely, must correspond with the th;AL nPs~ of the consoles or other
holding devices in the sliding area.
The consoles can be hung in functional supports one-sidedly or two-sidedly; they are intended to
bear, among other things, shelves, rails and cabinet components.
Any console which has been slided in the long1t~in~l slot, is locked using indents which are made
in the ents of the console. The on~si~ed console has, on the assembly site, two indents for a
given angular position of the console ant three indents to select one of two given an~ular
positions of the console.
The two-sidedly suspended console must have only one indent on each end of the console.
The free lengths ~outside the areas where the consoles are slided in the longitu~l;n~l glots of the
tùnctional supports) ofthese two-sidedly sucppnr1~ consoles can carly additional riding elements
to balance for height differences and ensure certain functions.
Instead of consoles, ring mounts as punctual supporting elements can be fitted over the whole
len~,th ofthe functional supports. They slide on the functional support and thus, can be vertically
adjusted. They are locked on the desired height of the functional support by means of a bo]t~
which transversely passes through the ring mount and the longitudinal slot of the filnctional
support and which, in analogy to the consoles descnbed, ~ng~ges with the ~csocisted coupler by
means of an indem on its lo~er side when pushed in place.
In assembled condition the locking bolt passes through the longitutinal slot of the functional
support and engages with the wall of the ring mount opposite to the ~olt handle.Bores are in the ring moùnt in which, for c~a~.,pl~, clothes rail~ can be put.
Other details~ fea~ures and advantages ofthe invention ensue frorn the following description of
examples of embodiment with reference to the drawings. The figures sho~
6 9 ~
Fi~. I pr~,scn~s the tesign principle ofthe c~nn~ct;on system comprising connector, ~ame
elements and supports by means of the cl~...e~ prepared for assembly,
Fi~, 2 presents the overall view of an ~c~mhled ~onnec~ion according to Fig, 1,
Fig. 3 prese"ls the front and top views of a connector with frame elemant
Fig. 4 shows the inner sides of the horizontally divided connectQr with 8 radial junctions tO
accomodate the fiame el~ ..,ts,
Fi~. S shows an assembled segrnç~lt of the ~amework of the connection system accordin~ to
the invention,
Fig. 6 shows the functional support and the one-sided console with detailed views of the
connection of the two components,
Fig. 7 shows an Psselnhly unit including two fi-nctional supports and two-sidedly suspended
consoles.
Fig. 8 presents a detailed view concerning the assembly ofthe one-sidedly suspended
console,
Fi~. 9 shows the ring mount sitting on the functional support and enclosing it, and
Fig. I O shows the ring mount of Fig. 9 rotated 90.
ln the chosen example of embodiment to Fig. 1 to 5, all components of the connection system~
with the exception of the connection screw 3 ant threaded bushing 1 1, are made of wood as the
material but~ of course, other s~lit~hle materials may al~o be used.
Fi~. 1 and 2 show the design principle of the connection system in the range of a connection joinl .
The filndamental element is a vertically adjustable base element 6 with the integral lower half of
the connector 1. This half takes in its notch 7 and bore 8 the frame member 4 by means )f ~he
dowel 12 (as lockin~ element). ~he connection screw 3 is screwed in the threaded bushing I l of
~ ~ o n 6 ~ 2
-
the base element 6 and the upper half of the ~nn~lor I is pushed on through the hole 10. The
support 2 is turned on the conn~ction screw 3 by means of the inserted threaded bushin~g I I . Thc
on~itudinal grooves 9 prevent any tilting of the ~ame elemeMs 4, and the firame elements 4
anchored now in the connector 1, are pressed be~veen the base element 6 and the support 2 by
means of the connPction screw 3 re~chir~g angular stability.
l hen the assembly operation is repeated by screwing the con-lection screw 3 into the threaded
bushing I 1 of the support 2 and pushing-on the lower half of the coMector I . Af~er inserting the
plate element 14 into the groove 13 of the lower frame mAmhPr 4 by means of the tongue 15. lhe
upper frame ,nc.l-bcr 4 is pushed into the lower half of the connector 1 and ~n the tongue 1 5 Or
the plate element 14, the upper half of the connector 1 is pushed on and screwed by f~rce. I`he
connection element S (Fig. 5) cornplet~ the construction on top.
Fig. 3 and 4 present the invention by its details w~th proportioned dim~ cns; Fi~. S shows an
assembled segment of the framework.
ln this example of embodiment
- the di~mPters of conneclor I and support 2 are approx. 60 mm; the ~ tnPtpr of the connector
I in the connection zone is 70 Tr~n,
- the length of the connector 1 in assemblet con~ Qn is l 00 mm,
- the cross-sections of the frame .lle"~ ,. s 4 are approx. 30 mm x 15 mrn or 60 mm x 1 S mn1,
respectively,
- the diameter of the vertical through hole 10 is 1 I rnm and of the bore 8 is approx. 4 mm.
The connector 1 is made as a standard compo~ent and has always 8 joints for frame members In
~pecialty designs the connector 1 has only the required number of joints.
The connection screw 3 should be made of plastics or metal, the threaded ~ushing 1 1 of plastics.
The system parts of the wooden framework are, as a rule, natur81 wood; they may be stained in
RAL colours.
The plate elements 14 are made of plastics, metal, glass or wood, depending on the application.
Frame structures are possible.
The filnctional supports 16 and consoles 19, 23 chosen for the example of embodiment in ~ig. 6
to ~, are made of woot; the filnctional supports 16 have circular sections.
~ ~ n ~ 6 ~ 2
Of course~ other materials and sections may be used.
The filnctional suppons 16 to Fig. 6 are column-shaped with a longitudinal slot 17, which e~tends
over the entire distance ofthe filncti~m~l supports 16 between the threaded bu~hing~ 11 in both
front ends.
The threaded bu~hing~ l l enable a connection (assembly) to the joint elementsJconnectors 1 not
shown, of Fig. I to 5 .
To ac~ as pin-like couplers 18 dowels are inserted in grid distances of, say~ 60 rnrn.
These dowels 18 are, for vertica~ position of the filnctional supporb 16, horizontal and vertical to
the section plane of the support halve~ and in this way~ connect the two halves of the fi~nctional
supports l 6 in a defined ~ t~nce~
The width of the lon~itudinal slot l7 depends on the thisl~n~cc of the consoles 19 and 23 and i~i~
for example~ approx. 13 mm for a support d;~tcr of 60 mm and a console thickness of l 2 mm.
The one-sidedly sucp~nded console 19 has in a first form of embc~lim~nt~ see also Fig. 8, on the
assembly side two indents 20.1 and 20.~, which in CQn~r~lion with the shape ofthe assembly side
ofthe console, evident from Fig. 6 and 8, ensure an easy mounting between two adjacent dowels
1 8 in the longitudin~l slot 17 of the filnctional supports 16.
H~ngin~ c)f the console 19 in the fimctional supports 16 is done in such a way that the console is
slided into the longitudinal slot 17 in a upwards pointing an~ular position until the upper dowel
18.1 engages ~ith the indent 20.1 and seats, aflcer a rot~tion~l movement ~tilting downwards) of
the console 19 with the indent 20.2 on the lower dowel 18.2.
Thc fi~nctional side of the console 1~ opposite to the assembly side, is intended to accomodale
supporting elements~ as for example shelve 21, clothing rail 22 and cabinet components.
Tn a second design of embodi~ent~ see Fig. 6, the console l9 has three indents 20, l, 20.2 and
20.3 on the assembly side and is ~sig~ed such that it can be positioned in tw~ diff`erent an~ular
positions, for exarnple 90 to the filnctional support 16, or 30 to the horizontal.
In ~he chosen example of embodiment, the ~i~m~ter ofthe dowel 18 is 12 mm and the diarnete~ ol
the indents is approx. 13 mm.
2 ~ ~ ~ 6 ~ 2
Fig. 7 pres~nls the con~ole 23 which is two-sidedly suspended in two fiunctional support~ 16.
Both ends of this console 23 are as~embly sides and each ent of the console 23 ha~ on its l~wer
site an indent 2û.4.
Thc console 23 is assembled by pushing it th~ough or into~ respc~ rely, the longitudinal slot 11 of
both fi.mctional support~ 16 and ch n~r~g the ~lictAnce ofthese fi-n~tiQt ~I supports 16 until the
indents 2û.4 engage ~ith the a~coci~ted dowels 18.
The free length of the console 23 can carry riding elempr~t~ 24, which ensure the heiBht balance as
well as they fillfill certain ~nctir~nc Such fi)nrtio~ are, ~n particular~ the enh~ncernP~t of the
stability of the console 23 or the coupling to suppo, lii~g elements as, for ex~mple, ~helves 21 and
clothes rails 22.
The riding elern~nts 24 are conne~lcd to the console 23, for example, by means of a groove 25 in
the lower side of the rid~ng elements.
The riding element 24 is slided onto the upper side of thc console 23 by means of this groove 25.
Fig. 9 and lO show the vertically ~djustable nng mount seated, as a punctual supporting element,
on the fi~nctional support I6.
When the bolt 28 is pushed out by the bolt handle 29 the ring mount slides, guided by the
enclosed filnctional support 16, ant can be moved up or down into the de~ired position on the
fi~nctional suppor~.
In order to lock the ring mount 26 the bolt 28 is pushed radially into the ring mount until the
indent 20.5 on the lower side ofthe bolt er~g~grs with the dowel I8 prov~ded on the appropriate
height level. In this assembled position, the bolt 28 passes transversely through the longitudinal
slot 17 ofthe filnctional suppor~ 16 and engages with the rece~s ofthe ring mount 26 on the
opposite slte of the bolt hantle.
Bores 27 are in the wall of the ring mount 26 in which, for example, clothes rails 22 or any other
rail can be put.
In Fig. 9 and 10, two bores 27 exist which are provided in the ring mount 90Q
to the bolt plane.
~ ~ n o 6 9
List of reference numbers
connector
2 support
3 connection screw
4 frame member
S coMection element
6 base element
7 notch
8 bore
9 lo~git~ n~l grooves
vertical thrQllgh hole
I I threaded bushing
12 locking elements/dowels
1 3 grooves
14 plate element
1 5 tongue
16 fiunctional support
17 longt,tudinal slot
1 8 coupler
19 console (one-sidedly ~upported)
indents
2 1 shelve
22 clothes rail
23 console (two-sidedly supported)
24 riding el~ nte
groove
26 ring mount
27 seating holes
28 bolt
29 bolt handle
