The present invention relates to a metal elongate profile element having a bottom, sidewalls extending from the bottom substantially at right angles and an upper side opposite the bottom, wherein the upper side comprises flanges which extend from the respective sidewalls towards each other and which delimit between them a longitudinal slot extending over the length of the profile element. The flanges are bended inwards such that the free end of the flanges is directed towards the bottom and extends in a direction substantially at right angles with the bottom.
Such a profile element with inwardly bended flange edges is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 2,696,139 and in the relevant technical field is often referred to as a “strut rail”.
The present invention proposes to provide an alternative profile element.
This object is achieved by a profile element according to claim 1 or claim 10.
The invention also relates to a fastening system according to claim 9.
The invention furthermore relates to a profile element according to claim 14.
The profile element and the fastening system according to the invention advantageously provide the possibility to use anchoring elements fit for strut rails on both the upper side of the profile element as the bottom of the profile element.
Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.
The invention will be elucidated in the following description with reference to the drawing, in which:
In
In the bottom 2 of the profile element 1 is provided a series of oblong recesses 7. The recesses 7 are spaced apart by a bottom portion or connection web 8, which define the front and rear edges of the recesses 7. The recesses 7 furthermore have longitudinal side edges 9 or flanges 9, which are bended inwards such that their free end portions 9a point towards the upper side 4 of the profile element 1. In the embodiment shown the side edges 9 run parallel to the flanges 5.
It is also possible in a not shown embodiment that the side edges run perpendicular to the flanges 5, thus that the longitudinal direction of the recesses 7 in the bottom extends in the transverse direction of the profile element 1. It is also possible that the recesses 7 in the bottom are arranged alternating with their longitudinal direction aligned with the longitudinal direction of the profile element 1 and with their longitudinal direction transverse, preferably at right angles, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the profile element 1.
In another possible embodiment, which is not shown, the recesses 7 may be alternated with other cutouts, such as round or oblong through holes, through which attachment means such as screws can be passed, for example to attach the profile element to a support structure.
The side edges 9 of the recesses 7 in the bottom 2 essentially have the same cross sectional shape as the flanges 5 at the upper side of the profile element, as is clearly visible in
The connection webs 8 and the side walls 3 are integrally connected and are made out of one piece. The profile element 1 may be made out of a flat steel blank in which the contours of the inturned edges are punched out. The flat blank is bended into the channel-like shape of the profile element 1 as is shown. The edges 9 are folded inwards to form the longitudinal edges of the recesses 7. The profile element 1 may however also be made by bending a steel blank into the profile and then punch the recesses 7 out with the contours of the inturned edges. Next the edges can be folded into their inturned state.
The connection webs 8 in the embodiment shown have a dimension in the longitudinal direction of the profile element 1, which is at least 25% of the width of the recesses 7 between two connection webs 8. In an example the recesses 7 may have a length 80 mm, a width of about 20 mm and the bridging webs 8 may have a dimension of 20 mm seen in the longitudinal direction.
In a possible embodiment (not shown) the side walls 3 of the profile element 1, can be provided with recesses that are the same as the recesses 7 in the bottom 2 which are described in the above, thus with inturned longitudinal edges. The profile element may have such recesses in one or both of the side walls 3. Also an embodiment is conceivable, in which in the bottom the recesses 7 are omitted and only one or two of the side walls 3 have the recesses.
In
The fastening unit 20 furthermore comprises a metal washer 22 which in the preassembled state is situated a small distance above the flanges 5 of the profile element 1.
The fastening unit also comprises a support element 23 which is made of plastics material. The support element 23 carries the oblong anchoring element 21 and supports it from on the underside 21b with a bottom portion 23a. The support element 23 furthermore has a head portion which is situated above the bottom portion and which is coupled to the washer 22 by means of studs 23b extending through holes in the washer 22. The head portion is connected to the bottom portion 23a by means of legs 23d.
The head portion of the support element 23 furthermore comprises a pair of generally half-ring shaped spring members 23c which extend from the level of the washer 22 in an inclined fashion downwards as can be seen in
A fastening unit 20 can also be mounted at a recess 7 in the bottom 2, or when present in the side walls 3, of the profile element 1. The oblong anchoring element 21 has preferably a length which is smaller than the length of the recess 7. The fastening unit then cooperates with the flanges 9 instead of the flanges 5 as is described in the above.
The anchoring element 21 preferably has a threaded hole (not shown) in it in which a bolt or a threaded rod can be screwed. The washer 22 has a central hole, through which the bolt or rod extends. When the bolt is tensioned or a nut is screwed from above on the threaded rod, the washer 22 is tensioned from the preassembly state into engagement with the upper side of the flanges 5 or 9.
In
Another embodiment is conceivable, which is shown in a cross sectional view in
It is noted that all the inturned flanges in the above described embodiments of the profile element may be provided with teeth, which inhibits an attachment unit to slide in longitudinal direction when it is fixed to the profile element.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/NL2010/000086 | 5/19/2010 | WO | 00 | 11/11/2012 |