Patent Application
20120134739
The invention relates to a transverse web for connecting two side parts of an element of a line guiding device, wherein the transverse web is lockable to the side part to be connected there at least on one end thereof, wherein the transverse web comprises a toggle lever closure having an actuating part and a locking part, the locking part is connected to the actuating part via a toggle lever, the actuating part is connected to the transverse web by a bearing section provided at its end and is supported for swiveling about a swivel axis, and the locking part can be displaced by means of the actuating part at least substantially in the longitudinal direction of the transverse web toward the end of the transverse web connectible to the side part and to a locking position in which the transverse web is lockable to the side part and in which the actuating part is integrated in the outer contour of the transverse web, and can be displaced away from this end to an unlocking position in which the transverse web can be unlocked from the side part and in which the actuating part, for its operation from outside, penetrates the outer contour of the transverse web through an opening provided on the outside of the transverse web, with a free end spaced from the bearing section, a recess for engaging the tool in the transverse web and for a applying a force by means of the tool with a least one force component in the direction of the swivel motion of the actuating part to the unlocking position thereof being provided, wherein the recess is laterally delimited by the opening edge of the opening and the actuating part.
A transverse web of like kind is described in WO 2008/125084 A1 or DE 20 2007 005 566 U. Here the actuating part for opening the toggle lever closure is operated in two steps, wherein an initial opening is caused in first step using a tool, with the free end of the actuating end protruding over the outer contour thus far that it can be usually manually gripped in a second step and can be further introduced into the unlocking position. This two-step opening operation using a tool and involving a continued operation by hand is relatively complicated and time-consuming.
In WO 2007/076987 A1, a transverse web having a transverse pin at its end is described as a swivel axis for the connection of two side parts of a line guide conduit, wherein the transverse pin interlocks with an elastic locking member in a top side seat of the associated side part. The locking can be released by means of a tool. In US 2007/0071544 A1, a line guide conduit comprising transverse webs and lateral lugs is disclosed, wherein the transverse web includes claw-shaped locking element on both ends thereof, each of which can be displaced in a locking manner via a provided on the top side of the side parts. For releasing the connection, a tool engages in top side openings on the transverse web.
The invention is thus based on the object of providing a transverse web of the above-described kind, of which the toggle lever closure is easier to handle.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the attached subclaims. The object is achieved particularly in that the actuating part can be swiveled from the locking position completely to its unlocking position in one step by means of a tool, and that the recess is laterally arranged in an engagement area at a distance to the free end of the actuating part and to the swivel axis, which engagement area is arranged on the actuating part between a connection area of the actuating part in which the actuating part is pivotably connected to the toggle lever, and the swivel axis of the actuating part.
As a result of the arrangement of the recess laterally in an engagement area at a distance to the free end of the actuating part and the swivel axis, a force lever is formed corresponding to the distance to the swivel axis which is reduced compared to prior art. As a result of this reduced force lever, the actuating part can be swiveled from its locking position to the unlocking position in one working step by means of the tool. Accordingly, no additional, second step is required for swiveling the actuating part to its unlocking position, such as grabbing and engaging the tool in the recess again.
Preferably, the actuating part can be operated by means of a lever action of the tool thus facilitating the manual application of force by means of the tool. The edge of the opening in the engagement area of the lateral recess can be formed as a lever support or fulcrum for the tool. Thus the tool can be engaged at the actuating part via a tool load arm which in the engaged position of the tool extends from the opening edge of the recess towards an engagement point. In a corresponding manner, a moment of force can be exerted on the load arm via a tool lever arm which in the engaged position of the tool extends from the opening edge to an engagement point of the force application to the tool. In the case of a slotted screw driver comprising a grab handle, a shaft and a flat tool end, the load arm can merely comprise the short end of the tool, whereas the lever arm can be formed by the shaft and, corresponding to the engaging hand of a user, by a part of the grab handle. Thus the tool lever arm can comprise a multiple of the tool load arm. By means of the relatively large tool lever arm, the actually short lever arm of the actuating part which extends from the engagement point of the tool at the actuating part to the swivel axis of the actuating part, can be compensated with regard to the force to be applied by the user easily and in such a manner that swiveling from the locking position to the unlocking position is possible without high efforts on part of the user.
For the purpose of facilitation, especially for the inexperienced user, the edge of the opening or the recess can be optically clearly emphasized regarding the opening process, either in a visually striking and/or self-explaining manner, by optical marks such as printed and/or cast arrows and/or pictograms. For additionally facilitating the actuation of the toggle lever closure, said recess for the engagement of the tool can be respectively provided on both sides of the actuating part. The engagement openings are preferably at the same level with regard to the longitudinal extension of the actuating part, i.e. the engagement openings face each other with regard to the longitudinal axis.
Preferably, the recess in the locking position of the actuating part is slit-shaped. To this end, the recess can longitudinally extend in the longitudinal direction of the transverse web.
Constructionally, the recess can be formed by the opening and/or the actuating part having an incision in the engagement area. The recess can be formed by the actuating part being mutually spaced laterally with respect to the opening edge in the engagement area.
It is considered as an advantage if the recess is designed in an inwardly expanding manner. This provides for a corresponding inwardly expanded free space for the tool movement. The recess can expand in a wedge or cone-like fashion. The tool can thus be inserted in the transverse web more easily and swiveled against the actuating part in the free space, with the edge of the opening forming the fulcrum. By its engagement at the edge of the opening which serves as a lever support or fulcrum, the end of the tool which is inserted towards the transverse web can be more easily positioned for engaging the actuating part.
The actuating part, while delimiting the recess, can include a guide surface for the tool. The tool can slide with its working end engaging in the recess against this guide surface as far as to a lower edge or lower side of the actuating part. The guide surface can be adapted in a manner corresponding to the tool to be preferably used. The guide surface can be laterally delimited while forming a groove so that the tool, in order to be guided, can strike laterally. Preferably, a plane guide surface can be provided which together with the swivel axis can include an angle smaller than 90°, preferably smaller than 70°.
In order to form a swivel joint for the actuating part, the bearing section can include a transverse bead forming the swivel axis. The transverse bead can extend over the entire width of the actuating part. Moreover, the transverse bead can be designed in such a manner that it is bent at right angles away from the outwardly facing top side of the actuating part. This enables the actuating part to be completely sunk in the transverse web in the locking position of the actuating part.
In a further development of the transverse web, the bearing section can include two protrusions which substantially extend in the longitudinal direction of the transverse web and are designed as engagement arms. These engagement arms can each have an end thickening forming a section of the transverse bead. For forming the swivel joint, the bearing can include a transversely extending bearing groove which is adapted to the transverse bead and in which the transverse bead can be fixed to the transverse web for pivoting into a locking seat, preferably under the formation of a snap fit. Concerning the direction of the swivel axis, the engagement arms can be spaced from each other and can each be mounted preferably laterally on the outside. Moreover, the engagement arms can be resiliently deflected in the direction of the swivel axis in such a manner that in the engagement position in the bearing, the engagement arms engage in the bearing while being at least slightly elastically biased, with the spring forces thereof being directed oppositely to each other. Thanks to the elastic engagement arms, the insertion of the toggle lever closure in the transverse web or the insertion of the actuating part in the swivel joint are facilitated by the actuating element which can be pressed into the transverse web under resilient deflection of the engagement arms in the bearing. Moreover, due to the elastic biasing, the toggle lever closing can be more strongly anchored in the transverse web.
The engagement arms can be lockable in the bearing. To this end, the engagement arms can be designed in a hook-like manner, and the thickening at the end thereof can each preferably protrude laterally in the direction of the swivel axis. Preferably, the thickenings are each formed in such a manner that they taper on the outside thereof in the direction away from the free end and in the longitudinal direction of the actuating part in a conical or wedge-like fashion. Thus an inclined plane can be formed on the outer surface on the protrusions through which the engagement arms can be resiliently deflected into the bearing more easily while being engaged by the protrusions.
The bearing section can extend over the entire width of the stop element. For forming the engagement arms, two slits extending in the longitudinal direction can be provided at the ends thereof. Thus a stop element extending in the direction of the engagement arms for limiting the resilient deflection of the engagement arms can be formed centrally with respect to the width of the bearing section. The stop element can be disposed between the engagement arms and respectively spaced from the engagement arms by said slit. The stop element can have the same cross-sectional extension as the engagement arms including the thickening, here for forming a central portion of the transverse bead. Furthermore, the stop element can limit the resilient deflection of the engagement arms towards the center of the bearing section. The central portion of the transverse bead contributes to the stabilization of the swivel joint. The slits can expand towards the bead and, concerning the swivel axis, preferably solely towards the center. Thus an optimum can be achieved between a free space for swiveling the associated engagement arm provided by the slit, and a mechanical stability of the stop element.
Besides, especially with regard to the design of the toggle lever as a lever part and with regard to the locking part, the toggle lever closure can be designed in the manner as explicitly described in DE 20 2007 005 566 U1. Similarly, the actuating part with the exception of the above described features can be designed in the same or in a similar manner as the actuating part of the locking closure in DE 20 2007 005 566 U1. For this reason the disclosure content of DE 20 2007 005 566 U1 is herewith included by reference.
The toggle lever can include a lever part, which is connected to the actuating part by a first end via a first hinge and to the locking part by a second end disposed oppositely to the first end and via a second hinge. The hinges are preferably film hinges. The actuating part, the lever part and the locking part can thus be integrally formed as a plastic part, e.g. by injection molding.
In a useful further development, the actuating part, the lever part and the locking part include limit stops limiting the swiveling of the lever part relative to the actuating part and the locking part to the respective substantially stretched position.
In a preferred further embodiment, the actuating part includes on its end opposite the swivel bearing in or at the transverse web a lug part which extends over the lever part. The lug part increases the lever length of the actuating part of the toggle lever so that the locking can be effected with only a relatively small manual force being required.
The lug part preferably protrudes in a region of the actuating part having an increased material thickness.
In the locking position, the actuating part and the toggle lever can be connected to each other by means of a snap connection, and the snap connection can be released by pivoting the actuating part from the locking position to the unlocking position. To this end, the actuating part can include a snap tab pointing to the toggle lever preferably on the bottom side of its free end, and in the locking position said snap tab can snap in place in a locking groove provided on the top side of the toggle lever. The snap connection can also be formed by mutually engaging locking hooks on the bottom side of the free end or on the top side of the toggle lever.
One element of a line guiding device that can be composed of several mutually pivotable elements can include two opposite side parts and a transverse web interconnecting the same according to one of the above-described embodiments.
One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings wherein it shown by:
The
The toggle lever closure 2 of the illustrated embodiment of the transverse web 1 is designed as a one-piece injection-molded plastic part. It comprises an actuating part 3 and a locking part 4, and the locking part 4 is connected to the actuating part 3 via a toggle lever 5. The actuating part 3 is supported with an bearing section 6 at the end thereof in a bearing 7 of the transverse web 1 for swiveling about a swivel axis s in or on the transverse web 1. In the illustrated embodiment of the transverse web 1, a toggle lever closure 2 is provided on each of its two ends. For locking the transverse web 1, the respective locking part 4 can be moved by means of the associated actuating part 3 in the longitudinal direction 1 of the transverse web 1 towards the end of the transverse web 1 connectible to the side part into a locking position in which the transverse web 1 can be locked to the side part S. In a corresponding manner, the respective locking part 4 can be moved away from the associated end to an unlocking position in which the transverse web 1 can be unlocked from the side part S. As shown by
According to the invention, the actuating part 3 can be swiveled from the locking position according to
The actuating part 3 can be moved by means of a lever action of the tool W. The opening edge 12 in the engagement area of the recess 11 serves as a lever support or fulcrum for the slotted screw driver. The slotted screw driver S is inserted with its flat working end A in the recess 11 until it grips under the bottom side of a lower edge 13 of the actuating part 3. Furthermore, it is supported against the opening edge 12. The slotted screw driver S can thus engage the actuating part 3 via a tool load arm Wl which in the inserted position of the slotted screw driver S extends from the opening edge 12 up to the lower edge 14 of actuating part 3. The remaining length of the slotted screw driver S from the opening edge 12 up to its handle end G can serve as a tool force arm Wk. As shown solely by the illustration of
As it can be seen in
The recess 11 expands inwards in a wedge-like fashion. To this end, the actuating part 3 includes a guide surface 14 on which the tool W with its working end A can slide along towards the lower edge 13. The guide surface 14 together with the swivel axis s forms an angle of less than 90°. This can be clearly seen particularly in the
In the illustrated embodiment of the transverse web, two opposing recesses 11 are provided on both sides which can be selectively used for inserting the tool W. On the top side of the actuating part 3 arrows 16 are additionally provided, each of which pointing to an associated recess 11.
At the end of its bearing section 6 the actuating part 3 has a thickening 18 in the form of a transverse bead 17 which for forming a swivel joint 19 engages in the bearing 7. The bearing 7 on its part includes a bearing groove 20 for receiving the transverse bead 17. On the end of the transverse web 1 and extending in the longitudinal direction 1 thereof, two slits 21 are formed in the bearing section 6. As shown by the
As is can be seen particularly in
With the mounting of the toggle lever closure 2 in the transverse web 1 the actuating part 3 is placed with its bearing section 6 in the bearing 7. To this end, the engagement arms 22 are swiveled in the transverse direction towards the center of the bearing section, with the thickening 18 at the end of the engagement arms 22 sliding against the lateral walls 24 of the transverse web 1. As soon as the bearing opening 23 is reached, the engagement arms 22 swivel laterally into the bearing opening with the thickening 18 provided at the end thereof so that the actuating part 3 becomes locked in the bearing 7. In this way, the engagement arms 22 can engage in their respective bearing opening 23 while being slightly elastically biased. In this way, the toggle lever closure 2 can easily click into the transverse web with the actuating part 3 thereof. For further facilitating the mounting, the end thickenings 18 of the engagement arms 22 are designed so as to taper in the direction away from the free end in a wedge-like manner while respectively forming an outwardly facing guide surface 25. The guide surface 25 act as inclined planes when the actuating part 3 is mounted with its bearing section 6 into the bearing 7 of the transverse web 1.
Concerning the direction of the swivel axis s, a stop element 26 for limiting the elastic deflection of the engagement arms 22 is provided centrally and between the engagement arms 22. The stop element 26 has the same longitudinal cross section as the engagement arms 22 comprising the end thickening 18 for forming the swivel axis s.
As further shown by the
The
As also described in DE 20 2007 005 566 U1 referenced herein, the toggle lever 5 is arranged below a lug section in the locking position thereof. The lug section 30 serves for manually moving the actuating part 3 from the unlocking position to the locking position. The toggle lever 5 is connected to the actuating part 3 or locking part 4 via film hinges 31. The locking part is supported in the transverse web 1 for displacement in the longitudinal direction 1. By actuating the actuating part 3 the locking part 4 can be moved in the transverse web 1 between the locking position and the unlocking position.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 2009 005 737.2 | Apr 2009 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP10/54978 | 4/15/2010 | WO | 00 | 1/17/2012 |
