Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Connecting means for two crossing cable strands of cable play
systems
Description
The invention relates to a connecting means for two crossing
cable strands of cable play systems having a cloverleaf-shaped
inner cable guide opening in which, in a wraparound region, ca-
ble strands deflected by a wraparound angle are fixed.
Connecting means for crossing cable strands of nets, particu-
larly of nets used in cable play systems for children, are
known in the art. DE 29 14 885 C2 describes a ring-shaped con-
necting means for crossing cable strands, wherein the connect-
ing means is curved inwardly in the corners of the crossing ca-
ble strands to form a cross-like inner contour having rounded
outer ends and roundings at the inwardly curved portions so
that a cloverleaf-like shape results. These connecting means,
which are also referred to as cloverleaf rings, are advanta-
geous over a type of connection having partially press-fitted
crossing points where either steel, s-shaped hooks or aluminium
mouldings are used. With these cloverleaf rings it is possible
to achieve easy mounting and positioning as well as easy unfas-
tening of the connection without any auxiliary means. In this
way, individual cable elements may be replaced as necessary
whithout using heavy tools and without affecting the other un-
damaged cable strand. The disadvantages of these so-called clo-
verleaf rings are that a precise geometry within the net is re-
quired and the tensions within the cable strands have to be as
equal as possible so as to guarantee that the crossing point of
the two cable strands does not shift under direct load. The
partly intended flexibility of the cable strands may, in the
case of a non-uniform load acting on the strands, disadvanta-
geously lead to a change in the position of the cloverleaf ring
in the cable wraparound region such that the one cable strand
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is barely deformed by the cloverleaf ring any longer and may
easily slip across the other cable element when under load.
The object of the invention is to provide a connecting means
which combines the advantages of a firm press-fitting, the im-
movability and the quick mounting or dismounting of the so-
called cloverleaf rings. Here, a shape should be found which
effects a more precise deformation of the cable strands in the
wraparound region and wherein the wraparound region is pre-
cisely fixed, if necessary through an additional element.
This object is achieved by means of a connecting means for two
crossing cable strands of cable play systems having a clover-
leaf-shaped inner cable guide opening in which, in a wraparound
region, the cable strands deflected by a wraparound angle can
be fixed and which is characterised in that a height of the
connecting means is equal to or greater than a cable diameter
of the cable strands to be connected.
A greater height of the connecting means results in a greater
wraparound angle of the two cable strands thus increasing the
friction between the cable strands and therefore also the dura-
bility of the connection point.
Advantageous further developments are given in the subclaims.
In one embodiment of the invention the height is the distance
between an upper and lower edge of a wall against or on which
the cable strands which can be guided out of the cable guide
opening on both sides in an angled manner and in opposite di-
rections are supported.
In a further embodiment the wall of the connecting means has
holes. This advantageously enables material to be saved without
affecting the stability of the connecting means.
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A further embodiment provides for the upper and lower edge of
the wall on which the cable strands which can be guided out of
the cable guide opening on both sides in an angled manner and
in opposite directions are supported to be formed as a support-
ing recess for the cable strands. The supporting recesses en-
able a secure, slip-proof fixing of the guided-through cable
strands.
A further embodiment of the invention provides for the wall to
have two opposing bores perpendicular to the axis of the con-
necting means for accommodating a pin. A pin, which is intro-
duced into the bores between the two cable strands immediately
after threading the cable strands, or also later, and which is
orthogonal to the centre line of the connection, precisely de-
fines the wraparound region and ensures a maximum frictional
adhesion between the cables and the connecting means.
In the known connecting means, which, in relation to the cable
diameter, has a height of half the cable diameter, the cable
strands are deflected ideally by 900. A deflection in the oppo-
site direction of the actual bending direction does not occur,
however. The connecting means of the invention, in contrast, is
designed such that the cable is bent, prior to the actual
change of direction, by up to 45 in the opposite direction of
the wraparound direction and, after a short straight distance
corresponding to approximately half the height of the connect-
ing means, is deflected by 180 in the wraparound region and
then, with a further bend of 45 , leaves the wraparound region.
The greater the wraparound angle, the greater the friction be-
tween the cable strands and thus the durability of the connec-
tion point of the two cable strands.
The invention is explained in more detail and by way of example
with reference to the drawings, in which:
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Fig. la shows a sectional, schematic illustration of the con-
necting means of the invention having a wraparound
angle of the cable strands of 1800;
Fig. lb shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a con-
nection means of the invention having a wraparound
angle of the cable strands of 180 ;
Fig. 2a shows a sectional, schematic illustration of a con-
necting means of the prior art having a wraparound
angle of the cable strands of 90 ;
Fig. 2b shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a con-
necting means of the prior art having a wraparound
angle of the cable strands of 90 ;
Fig. 3a shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a con-
necting means of the invention having two clover-
leaves angled upwardly and downwardly, respectively;
Fig. 3b shows a top view of the connecting means of Fig. 3a;
Fig. 3c shows a side view of the connecting means of Fig. 3a;
Fig. 3d shows a further side view of a connecting means of
Fig. 3a;
Fig. 4a shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a con-
necting means having holes;
Fig. 4b shows a top view of the connecting means of Fig. 4a;
Fig. 4c shows a side view of the connecting means of Fig. 4a;
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Fig. 4d shows a sectional illustration of the connecting
means of Fig. 4a;
and
Fig. 4e shows a further sectional illustration of the con-
necting means of Fig. 4a.
Fig. la shows a sectional view of a connecting means 1 of the
invention. In a cable guide opening 5 of the connecting means 1
there are two crossing cable strands 2.1 and 2.2. A wall 8 of
the connecting means 1 has a height 3. The cable strand 2.1 and
the cable strand 2.2 cross in a wraparound region 6. The wrap-
around angle 7 formed thereby is approximately 180 so that in
the wraparound region 6 close contacting is effected with
strong frictional adheasion between the cable strand 2.1 and
the cable strand 2.2, which largely prevents slipping of the
cable strands 2.1 and 2.2. This is due to the height 3 of the
wall 8 which forces the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 into this
wraparound angle 7. The height 3 of the wall 8 of the connect-
ing means 1 is in this case approximately twice the cable di-
ameter 4.
Fig. lb shows the connecting means 1 of the invention in a per-
spective illustration. The connecting means 1 has a cloverleaf-
shaped cross-section. The cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 cross in
the cable guide opening 5 and form a wraparound angle 7 of ap-
proximately 180 due to the height 3 of the wall 8.
In Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b a connecting means 1 of the prior art is
illustrated. The connecting means 1 is also cloverleaf-shaped
and has a planar shape. The height 3 of the wall 8 is consid-
erably smaller than the cable diamter 4 so that a wraparound
angle 7 of the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 of only approximately
90 forms, disadvantageously leading to a smaller contacting
surface of the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 in the wraparound re-
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gion 6, resulting in a considerably smaller frictional adhesion
of the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2.
In Fig. 3a another embodiment of a further connecting means 1
of the invention is illustrated perspectively. Two opposing
cloverleaves 11.1 and 11.3, and 11.2 and 11.4 are angled up-
wardly and downwardly, respectively, resulting in a height 3
which is larger than the cable diameter 4, thus advantageously
obtaining a wraparound angle 7 of approximately 1800 in the
wraparound region 6 of the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2.
In Fig. 3b, Fig. 3c and Fig. 3d, this connecting means 1 is il-
lustrated in a top view and in a side view. The top view of
Fig. 3b shows the cloverleaf-shaped cross-section with the op-
posing cloverleaves 11.1 and 11.3, and 11.2 and 11.4. The cable
strands 2.1 and 2.2, not shown here, are fixed in insertion re-
cesses 12 of the cable guide opening 5.
In Fig. 4a a further embodiment of the connecting means 1 of
the invention is illustrated perspectively.
Further views of this connecting means are illustrated in Fig.
4b, Fig. 4c, Fig. 4d and Fig. 4e. This connecting means 1 has
two opposing bores 10 in the wall 8 through which advanta-
geously a pin, not shown here, can be inserted and may serve as
an additional fixing element for the wraparound region 6. The
pin is inserted through the one bore 10 between the two cable
strands 2.1 and 2.2 through the wraparound region 6 into the
second bore 10. Holes 9 result in a reduction of the mass of
the connecting means 1 to relieve the connecting means 1 of
masses not necessary for ensuring the precise wrapping-around
of the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2. Both the cloverleaves 11.1
and 11.3 opposing each other in one plane and the cloverleaves
11.2 and 11.4 in a lower plane each have a supporting recess 13
within which the cable strands 2.1 and 2.2 leading out of the
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insertion recesses 12 of the cloverleaves 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 and
11.4 are precisely guided.
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List of reference numerals
1 Connecting means
2.1 Cable strand
2.2 Cable strand
3 Height
4 Cable diameter
Cable guide opening
6 Wraparound region
7 Wraparound angle
8 Wall
9 Hole
Bore
11.1 Cloverleaf
11.2 Cloverleaf
11.3 Cloverleaf
11.4 Cloverleaf
12 Insertion recess
13 Supporting recess
