PROFILED FRAME ELEMENT
A profiled frame element to be mounted on a longitudinal profiled element (L) having at least one groove (3). The profiled frame element (R, R1) has a bottom support (1) and a guiding projection (2). At least one channel (4) is provided which is suitable for accommodating different wall thicknesses.
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The invention relates to a frame profile for attachment to a longitudinal profile and to a cladding profile.
The prior art has disclosed longitudinal profiles with grooves which are used as corner pillars of exhibition walls. For this purpose, the exhibition walls are inserted into the groove. The exhibition walls thus realized however generally do not offer adequate insulation action, or entail disproportionately high outlay. In general, use is made of simple plastics panels or textile walls which are connected directly to the corner pillars. The so-called corner pillars will be referred to as longitudinal profiles throughout the remainder of the patent application. The prior art has disclosed a combination of textile and solid walls, in particular of different wall depths.
A disadvantage of the prior art is that the erection and dismantling of exhibition walls is relatively expensive, and the scope for the use of creative possibilities is severely limited. A further disadvantage of the prior art is that the erection and dismantling of walls in room-in-room systems is cumbersome and relatively expensive, and furthermore, meaningful scope for creative variety is severely limited. Furthermore, the devices known from the prior art meet the modern demands only to a certain extent. This is the case specifically with regard to comfort, through maximum flexibility for rapid reconfiguration with very easy handling, without the need for specialist personnel for this purpose. Furthermore, the devices known from the prior art likewise do not meet modern demands with regard to design.
A problem addressed by the invention is that of providing a frame profile which, in interaction with the longitudinal profiles known from the prior art, enables a user to satisfy various requirements with regard to comfort and design. Here, by means of an extremely simple design and through the use of a modular principle, it is sought to be able, using a small number of main elements, to satisfy as far as possible all the requirements of users. In particular, the walls that can be used for the frame profile should also be suitable for medium-term to long-term use in open-plan offices. Furthermore, the invention should make it possible for room-in-room systems and exhibition stands to be easily erected even by non-specialist personnel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention solves the problem described above and provides a frame profile for attachment to a longitudinal profile. The frame profile should advantageously be configured such that it can be attached to conventional longitudinal profiles such as are already customary from the prior art and widely used. The advantage of the invention is in this case that, by means of the frame profile, a wall element can be created which projects beyond the width of the longitudinal profile. Here, the frame profile should advantageously provide a main element, whereby the user can react to its various requirements in flexible fashion. The frame profile is preferably manufactured from a metal. The frame profile may however ultimately also be manufactured from plastic. In this context, it must rather be ensured that the technical demands placed on the frame profile can be fulfilled by the material. For this purpose, a person skilled in the art may make a corresponding selection from a multiplicity of metal or plastics elements. Metallic elements generally offer a longer service life, whereas plastics elements offer not only improved and more varied color configuration but also a cost saving factor. An advantage of the frame profile is the fact that it can be docked or inserted, or introduced in some other way, directly onto a longitudinal profile. The longitudinal profile is generally also manufactured from a metallic main element. The statements made regarding the materials of the frame profile also apply with regard to the longitudinal profile. The longitudinal profile has a groove. Said groove serves for the easy and advantageous attachment of walls in the case of, for example, exhibition stands and/or room-in-room systems. In general, a longitudinal profile has four grooves. The aim of this is to make it possible for up to four walls to be inserted so as to extend away from one another in stellate form. It is however ultimately also possible for only one groove to be provided.
Longitudinal profiles having more than four grooves are also known. The number of grooves in the longitudinal profile and the exact configuration of the longitudinal profile are not intended to be of importance here. Rather, it is intended to be of importance that the frame profile can interact with the groove of the longitudinal profile. Specifically, this means that a detachable connection can be produced which does not yield material damage either to the frame profile or to the longitudinal profile. An advantage of the longitudinal profile is the fact that it is already customary and known. The user of the frame profile can thus resort to items already in stock in order to improve its range of products for its customers. Even customers or consumers that already use such longitudinal profiles for example as folding frames such as are known from EP 1 409 815 A1 can, by means of the frame profile according to the invention, utilize such folding frames multifunctionally for exhibition stands and/or room-in-room systems, for example. The disclosure of EP 1 409 815 A1 should expressly be regarded as being incorporated in the disclosure of the present patent application.
Furthermore, the frame profile has a main member and a guide lug. The main member is generally in the form of an elongate panel. A guide lug may then be formed on one side of the main member. Said guide lug is intended to serve for the connection of the frame profile to the longitudinal profile. For this purpose, the guide lug of the frame profile is introduced into the groove of the longitudinal profile. Said connection should be releasable without material damage. At least one slot should be formed on the other side of the main member. Said slot should be integrally formed preferably eccentrically with respect to the centrally attached guide lug. Specifically, this means that the guide lug is integrally formed centrally on one side of the main member, and the slot is arranged on the other side of the main member so as to be offset with respect to the guide lug.
It is advantageously achieved in this way that the main member, in interaction with the guide lug and the slot, an offset of a wall element from the wall hitherto mounted centrally in the groove of the longitudinal profile is now integrally formed eccentrically, depending on configuration, length, form and/or width of the main member, eccentrically with respect to the guide lug.
In the preferred exemplary embodiment according to the invention, the slot has at least one abutment which divides the interior region of the slot. It is also preferable for two abutments to be arranged in the interior region of the slot such that the interior space can be divided. For this purpose, the second abutment is attached so as to be tilted through 90° with respect to the first abutment. In general, this means that the second abutment is formed on an outer wall or inner wall of the slot. The abutments divide the interior space of the slot by projecting into the interior space.
An advantage here is the fact that, as a result of the division of the interior space of the slot, different wall depths of walls can be accommodated. It is for example possible for a thin wall to be inserted between the outer wall of the slot and the first abutment which is formed on a base element. Here, a thin wall refers to a wall which has a thickness of preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, more preferably of 3 mm. Furthermore, by means of the interaction of the outer wall and of the two abutments, the slot is configured such that a medium wall can be inserted. For this purpose, the medium wall is held clamped by the face sides of the abutments and by the outer wall. A medium wall preferably has a thickness of between 4 mm and 8 mm, more preferably of 6 mm. Finally, by means of the second abutment, which projects at an angle of 90° from the inner wall or outer wall and which is situated outside the area of influence of the first abutment, a support for a thick wall can be realized which then utilizes the full width of the slot. A thick wall is preferably between 8 mm and 15 mm thick, more preferably between 9 mm and 12 mm thick, most preferably 10 mm thick. Here, thickness refers to the wall depth of a wall. It is advantageously possible here for one and the same slot to be used in an extremely flexible manner for different wall depths of walls. Wall depths are also referred to as wall thicknesses. Both expressions describe substantially the present thin, medium and thick walls.
The invention is concerned primarily with the possibility of different wall depths of walls being received in one and the same slot. An advantage of the slot is the fact that a simple facility for the connection of walls of different wall depths to a longitudinal profile is provided.
It is furthermore preferable for a groove to be provided on the main member according to the invention. Said groove serves for the retention of a textile wall. The groove preferably runs parallel to the slot base of the slot. The groove is constructed such that a flat welt, which is formed as part of the textile wall, can be inserted.
It is not sought to place any restrictions on material, size and color configuration of the textile wall. In the course of the selection by a person skilled in the art, it must rather be ensured that the textile wall meets the demands of the user and has an adequate service life. The textile wall serves for simple and fast cladding of a wall inserted into the slot. The flat welt is preferably manufactured from silicone or from some other plastic. Here, too, the selection of different materials is not of importance as long as the demands with regard to use can be allowed for within the concept of the invention. Specifically, this means that the flat welt must be configured such that it can be readily pushed into the groove without it subsequently sliding out of the groove again. Said flat welt should thus ensure a fast and simple connection of the textile wall to the frame profile.
Furthermore, a faceplate is integrally formed in a main member according to the invention. In another preferred exemplary embodiment, it is also possible for two faceplates to be provided. It is however particularly preferable for one faceplate to be formed on the main member. The faceplate serves for example for realizing a visually appealing border between the frame profile and the longitudinal profile. For this purpose, the faceplate extends in a direction away from the slot proceeding from an edge of the main member, on the same side as the guide lug. In relation to the guide lug, the length of the faceplate is approximately equal to or one and a half times or two times the length of the guide lug. Said faceplate extends over an extent substantially equal to the depth of the groove of the longitudinal profile. A further advantage of the faceplate is that, in the event of the attachment of a further frame profile with a cladding profile, the further frame profile can be supported on the faceplate of the first frame profile. This permits for the user an even greater broadening of an intermediate space between two walls. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the frame profile has a second slot. It is preferable for the two slots to be integrally formed in each case on the ends of the length of the main member. In this way, over the length of the main member, an intermediate space is created which is suitable for insulation materials. Said intermediate space may then again be correspondingly reduced in size by introduction of walls into the slots. It is however also possible merely that, on both sides, a textile wall forms an intermediate space through interaction of the flat welt and of the groove. In such a case, the slot for receiving walls would not be of importance. The concept of the invention ultimately also encompasses a situation in which, for example through the attachment of textile walls, an intermediate space is created which can be utilized with insulation elements. Numerous materials are conceivable as insulation elements. It is mentioned merely by way of example that polystyrene is extremely well suited to the insulation of heat or cold, for example. It is however ultimately also possible for use to be made of special insulation elements for the absorption of noise and sound. The second slot serves for the simpler and more advantageous configuration of a wall, with an intermediate space additionally created. Here, by means of the length of the main member, the user substantially also determines the width of the intermediate space for accommodating insulation elements. The intermediate space need not imperatively be utilized for accommodating insulation elements. Mounting of heating or cooling elements is preferably also possible. It is however also possible for illumination elements to be introduced into said intermediate space. In this way, advertising measures hitherto considered impossible on exhibition stands are made possible. This means in particular that projectors or loudspeakers, for example, may be mounted between the different types of walls composed of a solid material or textile walls, which projectors or loudspeakers then project corresponding advertising onto the outer surface from the intermediate space of the walls. A combination of the insulation elements with illumination or the like within one and the same wall is also possible. Highly flexible use of this intermediate space that is formed is advantageous.
Another preferred exemplary embodiment of a frame profile has a groove. Said groove is integrated into the main member. The groove serves for receiving transverse connectors which can project at right angles from the frame profile for the purpose of stabilizing the wall. This permits a division of the wall. Depending on the material used, this is necessary in particular in the case of long walls. The transverse connectors are inserted into the groove with clamping locks, known from the prior art, with spreading jaws. Subsequently, by means of a screw element integrated in the transverse connector, the spreading jaws are firmly applied to the groove such that the transverse connector is, at the end, fixedly connected to the frame profile. An advantage of the formation of the groove approximately centrally at the same level as the guide lug has the effect that the transverse connectors are likewise situated within the intermediate space and are thus concealed by the walls or the textile wall. This yields an even more appealing design. The groove is formed, approximately at the same level as the guide lug, on the other side of the main member. If two slots are used per main member, the groove is situated approximately centrally between the two slots. This is not imperatively necessary but is preferable. Also provided for is a cladding profile according to the invention. Said cladding profile likewise serves for attachment to a longitudinal profile. For this purpose, the cladding profile has a receptacle. Said receptacle serves for interaction with the guide lug of the frame profile according to the invention. The cladding profile is ultimately an adapter which newly adapts the groove of the longitudinal profile through a 90° angle. In this way, it is advantageously possible for the user to attach a further frame profile to the receptacle, as in the case of the first frame profile.
Exemplary embodiment preferred in another location, the guide lug should also be able to form a positively locking connection with a welt rail, such that a fixed connection is produced. It should also be possible for the guide lug to be implemented as a welt rail. Said welt rail should in particular be formed correspondingly to a welt groove.
An outer surface of the cladding profile refers to the contact surface, which can be connected to a frame profile, of the cladding profile. An inner surface of the cladding profile is regarded as the contact surface that can be connected to a longitudinal profile.
The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of a number of schematic drawings, wherein the drawings show the following:
It is firstly expressly pointed out that, in the case of repeated reference signs for repeated elements, the respective disclosures in the individual Figures are intended to supplement one another. In the course of the description of the Figures, elements of the same name and reference sign will not be repeated again for each Figure. Nevertheless, the disclosure of the element of the same name and reference sign is intended to apply in each case interchangeably for all Figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAll of the main elements from
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For the connection of the modular roof profile D to a transverse connector Q, a welt groove 47 engages into a transverse connector groove 48, 49 of the transverse connector Q. Furthermore, it can be seen in
The connection of the modular roof profile D to a frame profile R is realized by means of the likewise provided guide lug groove 46. The guide lug 2 of the frame profile R (not shown) is inserted therein. Furthermore, in
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Claims
1. A frame profile for attachment to a longitudinal profile (L), the frame profile comprising at least one groove (3), a main member (1), a guide lug (2), and at least one slot (4) for receiving different wall depths of walls.
2. The frame profile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main member (1) has a groove (7.1, 7.2) for retention of a textile wall (5.1, 5.2).
3. The frame profile as claimed in claim 2, wherein the textile wall (5.1, 5.2) comprises a flat welt (6.1, 6.2).
4. The frame profile as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one faceplate (9) is integrally formed on the main member (1).
5. The frame profile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide lug (2) forms a connection with the at least one groove (3).
6. The frame profile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot (4) comprises at least one abutment (10, 11).
7. The frame profile as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second slot (17) is integrally formed on the main member (1).
8. The frame profile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main member (1) has a groove (13).
9. The frame profile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide lug (2) can be connected to a groove (22, 23) of a cladding profile (M) which has at least one resilient web (20, 21), wherein the resilient web (20, 21) is attached to an inner surface of the cladding profile (M), wherein the groove (22, 23) is integrally formed on an outer surface of the cladding profile.
10. A transverse connector for connecting to a frame profile as claimed in claim 9, comprising at least one slot (24, 25, 26, 27), suitable for receiving different wall depths of walls, and at least one transverse connector groove (48, 49).
11. The transverse connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein a further slot (24, 25, 26, 27) is provided which shares in each case one side of a common slot base (40, 41) with the slot (24, 25, 26, 27).
12. The transverse connector as claimed in claim 10, including a duct (30, 31) suitable for receiving a clamping lock (35) with spreading jaws.
13. A modular roof profile for connecting to a frame profile (R) as claimed in claim 9 or to a transverse connector (Q, Q1) as claimed in claim 11, further including a panel profile (42), wherein the panel profile (42) is partially suitable for the support of a ceiling panel and of a guide lug groove (46) that can be connected to the guide lug (2) of the frame profile (R, R1), wherein the guide lug groove (46) projects substantially at right angles from the panel profile (42), or a grooved key (47) for connecting to a transverse connector groove (48, 49).
14. The modular roof profile as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one textile roof groove (43) is provided which projects substantially at right angles from the panel profile (42) and is suitable for receiving a flat welt (44) with a textile roof (45).
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 6, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 20, 2014
Applicant: PATEA GMBH (Zug)
Inventor: Heinz Stoeckler (Rueti)
Application Number: 14/343,016
International Classification: E04D 3/36 (20060101); E04B 2/78 (20060101);