Screw Connection, More Particularly For Use In Metallic Window Or Door Frames

Abstract

A screw connection, more particularly for use in metallic window and door frames which are made up from profiled sectional rods and in cross-section are formed with a T-shaped longitudinal groove and serve as support or bearing for the nut of the connecting screw, comprising an axially divided nut whose opposed nut portions are arranged in elastically deformable holding means so that they are movable diametrically in relation towards and away from each other and are adapted to be positively held under compression between the interior walls of the longitudinal groove.

Description

The invention relates to a screw connection, more particularly for use in metallic window and door frames which are made up from profiled rod sections in cross-section are formed with a T-shaped longitudinal groove holding the nut of the screw connection.

When assembling such frames it is frequently necessary to insert the nut of the screw connection from above into the groove, that is vertically to the axial direction of the profiled rod since the groove is either already closed or welded together at its ends or the nut cannot be moved to its intended location from the ends. It is then necessary for insertion of the nut to detach or pry apart the lips of the groove or to use a nut with one dimension narrower than the opening of the groove so that it can be inserted therein but must be turned so that it is retained in the groove. However, when this is not possible or the diameter of the screw bolt makes it impossible to use a nut whose width is less than the groove opening, the problem of such a connection can be solved by means of an axially divided (bipartite) nut, whose two parts are successively inserted in the opening of the groove and are re-assembled at the point of the connection. This makes the assembly more difficult since care has s to be taken that the two nut halves are exactly in line with the threaded hole and are retained in this position until the screw bolt has been screwed in and the position of the two nut portions has in this way been secured.

The object of the invention is to remove the drawbacks of the known constructions. In particular it is proposed to provide a screw connection which can be readily and quickly assembled even when the nut cannot be inserted from the end of the groove.

According to the invention, we provide a screw connection more particularly for use in metallic window and door frames which are made up from profiled rod sections and in cross-section are formed with a T-shaped longitudinal groove holding the nut of the screw connection, comprising an axially divided nut whose opposed nut portions are held between elastically deformable holding means so that they are movable diametrically in relation towards and away from each other and are adapted to be positively held under compression between the interior walls of the longitudinal groove.

In this way the advantage is obtained that by means of the holding means the two nut portions are again joined to form a structural unit which, however, is elastically deformable to such an extent that the nut portions can be inserted in a single movement in the groove of the profiled rod through its opening at the desired point of fastening. It is only necessary here to bring the two nut portions together by forcing together the holding means until the width (of the nut) is reduced to permit its insertion in the groove.

After insertion, the nut unit again automatically returns to its original shape by virtue of the elasticity of the holding means. The two nut portions are forced against the inside walls of the grooves and the resulting cross-sectional form of the threads is that required for the reception of the screw bolt.

The positive hold of the nut unit in the groove results in its being securely fixed in position at the desired point for the connection and any additional securing, in particular against axial displacement along the profiled section, is not necessary.

A particular advantage of the invention resides in that the nut unit can be assembled in a very short time period and no special tools are required.

In a particular advantageous constructional form of the invention, the holding means are formed by a substantially elliptically shaped ring made from springy material whose width measured in the direction of the minor axis exceeds the distance between the inner walls of the groove in order to achieve therein a positive holding action under compression.

Such fixing and holding device can be produced with simple means and thus at reasonable cost which is of not inconsiderable importance for the mass production of such articles. Moreover, this nut unit can be easily grasped with one hand and used in the desired manner.

According to a further feature of the invention the minor axis of the elliptical ring diametrically intersects the threaded segments of the nut portions.

In this way the two nut portions are arranged practically centrally in the elliptical ring whereby good guidance of the nut portions is achieved on elastic deformation of the elliptical ring.

A further characteristic of the invention resides in that the holding means are formed by two arcuate curved sections made from band material such as spring steel whose free ends abut each other and if required are connected together to form a substantially lozenge-shaped opening in whose central area the nut portions are located.

The invention also includes holding means which are formed by a hair pin-shaped clamp made for example from springy band steel to the legs of which the nut portions are secured, preferably centrally with respect to their length.

A further feature of the invention is that the free ends of the legs of the clamps are relatively curved and bear against each other.

In a clamp made from bent springy round wire the head forms a multi-wound screw or section spring.

Several constructional forms of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows in an exploded perspective view the parts of a first form of the screw connection according to the invention for securing a wall anchor to the frame of a window or door;

FIG. 2 shows in perspective the manner of inserting the nut of the screw connection in a T-shaped longitudinal groove of the window or frame;

FIG. 3 shows in perspective another constructional form of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a similar view of yet another form of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a similar view of still another form of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view from another angle of the first form of the screw connection according to FIG. 1 with the assembly nearly completed;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another application of the screw connection of the invention, the parts being shown in FIG. 7 in their assembled state and in FIG. 8 in an exploded view;

FIG. 9 shows a nut according to the invention in plan view;

FIG. 10 shows a section of the nut shown in FIG. 9 taken along line X--X in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 shows the nut of FIG. 9 in perspective.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, in order to secure a wall anchor 1 in a T-shaped longitudinal groove of a profiled member 2 such as the metal frame of a door or window, a nut 7 constructed according to the invention is inserted in the longitudinal groove 3 by forcing it through the gap formed between the projecting lips 5 and 6 of the groove. The center of the nut 7 is aligned with a threaded hole 4 in the bottom of the groove.

The nut 7 is made in one piece from flexible or resilient material such as steel or plastics and consists of an elliptical outer ring member and similar nut portions 8 and 9 held within the ring member to form a split nut. The axis of the threaded interior of pieces 8 and 9 is located at right angles to the shorter axis of the elliptical member.

The width of the ring member 11 along its shorter axis is slightly greater than the distance between inside end walls 31 and 32 of groove 3 so that when the nut is inserted in the groove a certain amount of elastic deformation is required and the nut is held in place in the groove under compression.

The dimension (length) of the elliptical member along its major axis is selected in such a manner that the arcuate ends have a certain amount of give and permit the sides of the member to be relatively easily compressed, the width of the nut in the compressed state corresponding to the gap or opening of groove 3. On the other hand, the ring member should be made of such a material and its cross-section should be selected so that the ring retains its general shape. Thus the deformation of the elliptical member for the purpose of insertion in groove 3 should not lead to longitudinal displacement in an axial direction of the threaded nut portions 8, 9. The two nut portions 8 and 9 are made of such a width that compression of ring member 11 for the purpose of inserting it in groove 3 is possible.

Instead of a one piece elliptical ring member 11, this may be in two halves which could be held together by means of nut portions 8 and 9. This would considerably simplify the manufacture. In the constructional form shown in FIG. 9, the nut 7 is in plan generally rectangular and is formed with conically converging end portions. Both nut half portions 8 and 9 are made in one piece with the ring-shaped outer piece 11 and are also each provided with mating threaded recesses 7a, 7b and 7c for the reception of screw bolts.

When using a closed ring 11 as holding means, the arcuate end portions may be made of such a diameter that the ring 11 is given particularly good elasticity and stability.

For small grooves, the holding and fixation means may be constructed according to FIGS. 3 to 5 although the constructional forms of FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 may in practice be preferred.

The holding means according to FIG. 3 consist of two spring steel portions 13 and 14 with their free arc-shaped ends in abutting relationship and interconnected so that a lozenge-shaped opening is formed between the bands for reception of the nut portions 8 and 9 in a central location.

In the constructional form according to FIG. 4, the holding means consists of a hair-pin-shaped bent clamp made of spring steel, whose limbs likewise form a lozenge-shaped opening in which the nut portions 8 and 9 are centrally located.

In the constructional form according to FIG. 5, the holding means are formed by a bent clamp 17 made of round spring wire whose head portion 18 is constituted in known manner in the form of a bent spring. In a preferred embodiment of this form, the head portion 18 may be constructed as a multi-wound helical spring.

In the constructional form according to FIGS. 7 and 8, a first section piece 33 is secured to a second section 2 by a screw connection according to the invention in such a manner that a screw bolt 34 (if desired made from plastics) extends through the two halves of the nut 7 and the through opening 4 of the profiled section 2. The screw bolt 34 is here likewise centrally disposed in relation to holes 35 in section piece 33 or hole 36 in the second section 2 in such a manner that, if required, a self-cutting screw 36a can be screwed into and through the hollow screw bolts 34 and holes 35 and 36 to hold the section piece 33 in its position. In this way an easy and rapid assembly and adjustment is possible. The screw bolt 34 can be screwed into the nut 4 so far that it acts as a distance piece in relation to the section piece 33. The screw connection illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 moreover renders possible a screw connection which is invisible from the outside of the section piece 33.

In some instances, the holes 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, can be omitted. Or instead a blind hole may be provided in which the screw 37 engages with its tip. Finally it is conceivable to construct the screw 37 in such a manner that the two portions 8 and 9 of nut 7 are forced apart thereby during the screwing action so that the nut 7 is held under position tension in groove 3. In this way the formation of a hole in the section piece 2 is altogether rendered unnecessary.

Claims

We claim:

1. A screw connection more particularly for use in metallic window and door frames which are made up from profiled rod sections and in cross-section are formed with a T-shaped longitudinal groove holding the nut of the screw connection, comprising an axially divided nut whose opposed nut portions are maintained at a pre-determined distance one from the other by elastically deformable holding means so that they are movable diametrically in relation towards and away from each other whereby the nut can be inserted into said groove by compression and then, upon release of the compressing force, the nut being held between the interior walls of the groove.

2. Screw connection according to claim 1, wherein the holding means are formed by a substantially elliptically shaped ring made from springy material whose width measured in the direction of the minor axis exceeds the distance between the inner walls of the groove in order to achieve therein a positive holding action under compression.

3. Screw connection according to claim 2, wherein the minor axis of the elliptical ring diametrically intersects the threaded segments of the nut portions.

4. Screw connection according to claim 1 wherein the holding means are formed by two arcuate curved sections made from band material such as spring steel whose free ends abut each other and if required are connected together to form a substantially lozenge-shaped opening in whose central area the nut portions are located.

5. Screw connection according to claim 1, wherein the holding means are formed by a hair-pin-shaped clamp made for example from springy band steel to the legs of which the nut portions are secured, preferably centrally with respect to their length.

6. Screw connection according to claim 5, wherein the free ends of the legs of the clamp are relatively curved and bear against each other.