Frame closing for U-profile frame

Abstract

 A frame closing is provided for a frame of U-profile closable in itself. Said frame closing comprises two U-profile segments to be closed together, of which the first (1) has U-legs (4) having inwardly bent U-edges (5), and the second (2) is extended over its U-bottom (6) with a locking strip (10). Said locking strip shows U-bent resilient sides (11) insertable into the bent edges (5) of the first segment (1). The U-bottom (3) of the first segment (1) and the locking strip (10) of the second segment (2) present cooperating locking devices for fixing of the closing. For such a fixing are snap-in tabs (13), turned opposite to the closing direction, mounted in the U-bottom (3) of the first segment, cooperating with corresponding recesses in the locking strip (10). There can further be provided limiter tabs (14) in the U-bottom (3) of the first segment (1) limiting the mutual insertion of the two U-profile segments.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a frame closing for a frame of U-profile, closable in itself, as well as to a frame provided with such a closing.

[0002] Such frames, manufactured of sheet strips of metal or plastic, are used extensively. Dutch patent application No. 85 01740 for example discloses frames made of steel or aluminum, which, filled with sound-insulating material, are used as sound-damping panels.

[0003] The manufacture of frames of this type is usually carried out by making incisions in a U-profile at desired corners and bending at right angles for obtaining a shape of frame, that ultimately should be closed at the still open corner. It is also possible to bend a U-profile in a U-shape and to position and assemble a cover segment over it, for example such as described in Dutch patent application No. 85 01740.

[0004] In conventional frame closings in general use is made of separate auxiliary parts or techniques, such as clamping, which makes closing of preshaped frames more elaborate, while in addition during transportation there is the risk of these auxiliary parts going astray, whereby the final assembling may be delayed undesirably.

[0005] It is now the object of the invention to provide a frame closing for a U-profile frame, closable in itself, that is integral therewith, does not require extra parts, and with which the frame can be closed and locked in an extremely simple manner by one action.

[0006] To that end the invention provides a frame closing for a U-profile frame, closable in itself, characterized in that, of two U-profile segments to be closed onto each other, at least the first one has U-leg sides with inwardly bent U-edges, and the second one is extended over its U-bottom with a locking strip, provided with U-bent resilient sides, which are insertable into the bent edges of the first segment, and that the U-bottom of the first segment and the locking strip of the second segment present cooperating locking devices for fixing of the closing.

[0007] Efficiently the invention utilizes an insertion facility easy to apply during the manufacture of such frames. In addition it is preferable in many cases to provide the U-profile of the frame throughout with such U-bent edges, thus said frame presenting no sharp cutting edges.

[0008] The design may efficiently be such, that snap-in tabs opposite the closing direction are mounted into the U-bottom of the first segment cooperating with correspon­ding recesses in the locking strip for fixing the closing.

[0009] Thus an efficient snap lock is obtained keeping this closing efficiently locked, if both U-profile segments are telescoped into each other.

[0010] According to a practical embodiment of the invention the frame closing may be realized such, that the locking strip adjacent the end of the second U-profile segment is narrowed by side recessses, and that after these side recesses the strip is widened to almost the width of the bottom of the U-profile segments and having there said U-bent sides, and that, near the sides of the U-­bottom of the first segment the snap-in tabs opposite to the closing direction, are mounted such, that they will snap over the rear end of the widened strip portion on closing both segments together.

[0011] Limiter tabs may further efficiently be mounted onto the U-bottom of the first segment, limiting the mutual insertion of the two U-profile segments. Thus, in coopera­tion with the snap-in tabs for maintaining the lock, a very solid closing is obtained.

[0012] In a particularly efficient embodiment the proper distance between the U-bent sides of the locking strip is adjusted by take-in grooves parallel thereto. These take-in grooves have a double function therein; on the one hand they provide some resilient action of both U-sides of the locking strip, on the other hand they simplify the manufacture considerably, as it is possible to start from one and the same U-profile size both for U-profile segments and locking strip, and subsequently bringing the U-legs of the locking strip closer together by press-in grooves.

[0013] In most practical cases the locking strip is bent at right angles with respect to the second U-profile segment in order to obtain a corner closing. It is, however, also possible that the locking strip extends in the extension of the end part of the second segment, and that the first and second segments are shifted straight onto each other, and depending on the possibilities it can then be considered whether or not the locking strip will be bent at right angles or not.

[0014] The invention also provides a frame of U-profile, closable in itself, provided with such an integral frame closure, and manufactured integrally therewith from one piece of metal sheet or plastic sheet strip, whereby the manufacture may be realized in one single process step by means of modern sheet processing and profiling technics.

[0015] The invention will be illustrated in more detail by means of the drawing of an examplary embodiment. It will, however, be obvious that the invention is not restricted to this specific embodiment.

[0016] In the figure is shown the end of a first U-profile segments, indicated in general with the reference number 1, that has to be connected at a right angle with a second U-profile segment, indicated in general with 2, of which only the end to be connected is shown as well. Both profile segments are for example made of steel or aluminum sheet and form part of a U-profile frame not shown any further.

[0017] The first U-profile segment has a U-bottom 3, with at both sides thereof U-leg sides 4, which present U-bent edges. Care is taken therein for some space within these bent edges for reasons, which will be explained further.

[0018] The second U-profile segment has in the same way a U-bottom 6 and U-leg sides 7. The U-leg sides 4 and 7 of the first and second U-profile segments are both bevelled at their front ends 8 and 9 respectively over 45° in order to fit together on mutual closing.

[0019] The U-bottom 6 of the second U-profile segment 2 has integral therewith a locking strip 10, bent at right angles, starting with a part narrowed by recesses, followed by a widened part, that shows U-shaped bent sides 11.

[0020] In the vicinity of these side grooves 12 are made parallel therewith, which on the one hand causes a desired reduction of the width of strip 10 at the position of the sides 11, and on the other hand provides these sides with some resilience.

[0021] The mutual spacing of the deflected sides 11 of the locking strip 10 is made such that the first U-profile segment 1 can be shifted over the locking strip 10 of the second segment, whereby the U-bent sides 11 thereof engage and can be inserted into the bent U-edges 5 of the first segment.

[0022] For a proper locking there are provided in the bottom 3 of the first U-profile segment 1 snap-in tabs 13 of which the distance from the end of the tab to the end edge of the U-bottom 3 has the same length A as the length of the narrowed part of the locking strip 10. In this way it is achieved, that during shifting the profile segment 1 over the locking strip 10 a snap locking is obtained, after the snap-in tabls 13 have been passed over the length of the bent sides 11 of the locking strip.

[0023] In order to block passing too far, limiter tabs 14 are also provided in the bottom 3 of the first U-profile segment 1, said tabs having their left side ends extending downward, and preventing passing too far by abutment of said tabs against the free end of the locking strip.

[0024] Such a corner closing for U-profile segments is efficient and has the great advantage, that the closing can be realized by one single action. Moreover there are no separate auxiliary parts, which might go astray undesirably.

[0025] Another advantage is, that the manufacture of the locking strip in one piece with the remainder of the second U-profile segment 2 can be realized in one combined step with modern profiling and punching technics. The narrowing of the first part of the locking strip is done by some cutting operation, and the original U-profile of the remainder of this locking strip, originally in the same size as the U-legs of the profile segment, is efficiently crimped somewhat by means of the applied grooves 12. Thus both U-sides 11 of the locking strip are positioned slightly closer to each other than the U-legs 4 of the first profile segment, so that they can be passed fittingly into these, provided that care has been taken that the heights I of the sides 11 of the locking strip are slightly lower than the heights J of the U-legs 4 of the first profile segment. The snap-­in tabs 13 and the limiter lips 14 can also be cut in a simple way in the profile segment, and the complete operation is excellently suitable for an automatically controlled procedure.

[0026] It will be obvious that the invention is not restricted to frames of U-profile, closable in themselves, with only one corner closing for completion of the frame. It is possible to construct a frame with more than one of such corner closings, and this need not be a corner closing by necessity, but for example also two profile segments interconnected in mutual extension. Also the means for locking may vary. Thus for example it is possible that the locking strip has the same width everywhere, and that openings are provided therein, into which snap lugs or tabs, made in the other profile segment, will snap. Instead of snap tabs use may also be made of dents and other customary auxiliary means for locking.

[0027] Further variations and modifications within the scope of the invention will be obvious to the man skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Frame closing for a frame of U-profile, closable in itself,
characterized in
that of two U-profile segments to be closed together, at least the first one (1) has U-legs (4) with inwardly bent U-edges (5), and the second one (2) is extended over its U-bottom (6) with a locking strip (10), showing U-bent resilient sides (11), which are insert­able into the bent edges (5) of the first segment, and that the U-bottom (3) of the first segment and the locking strip (10) of the second segment present cooperating locking devices for fixing of the closing.

2. Frame closing according to claim 1,
characterized in
that snap-in tabs (13), turned opposite to the closing direction, are mounted in the U-bottom (3) of the first segment, cooperating with corresponding recesses in the locking strip (10) for fixing the closing.

3. Frame closing according to claim 2,
characterized in
that the locking strip (10) adjacent to the end of the second U-profile segment (2) is narrowed at both sides by side recesses, and that after these side recesses the strip is widened to almost the width of the bottom of the U-profile segments and has there the U-bent sides (11), and that in the vicinity of the sides (4) of the U-bottom (3) of the first segment (1) the snap-­in tabs (13) turned opposite to the locking direction, are mounted in such a way, that they snap over the rear end of the widening of the strip on closing both segments together.

4. Frame closing according to claim 2 or 3,
characterized in
that limiter tabs (14) are provided in the U-bottom (3) of the first segment (1) limiting the mutual insertion of the two U-profile segments.

Frame closing according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in
that the proper distance between the U-bent sides (11) of the locking strip (10) is adjusted with reducing grooves (12) applied parallel therewith.

6. Frame closing according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in
that the locking strip (10) at the second segment (2) for providing a corner closing between both U-profiled segment is bent at right angles.

7. Frame of U-profile, closable in itself, provided with a frame closing according to any one of the preceding claims and made integrally therewith of metal sheet or plastic sheet strip.

Drawing