US 12,215,731 B2
Sandwich plate element connection system and method for connecting sandwich plate elements
Håkan Glanton Lutz, Nyköping (SE)
Assigned to LUVLY AB, Nykoping (SE)
Filed by Luvly AB, Nyköping (SE)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/504,090.
Claims priority of application No. 21202797 (EP), filed on Oct. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0124611 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. F16B 5/01 (2006.01); F16B 5/06 (2006.01); B62D 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 5/01 (2013.01) [F16B 5/0614 (2013.01); B62D 27/026 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sandwich plate element connection system, comprising:
two sandwich plate elements each comprising a plate core and a first and second plate skin,
wherein the first and second plate skin are made from a fibre-reinforced polymer material or from metal, wherein the first plate skin is arranged to at least partly cover a first major surface of the plate core, thereby forming a first major outer surface of the sandwich plate element, and
wherein the second plate skin is arranged to at least partially cover a second major surface of the plate core thereby forming a second major outer surface of the sandwich plate element, said first and second major outer surfaces being opposite to each other, and
a connection element connecting said two sandwich plate elements by means of an adhesive joint and defining two recesses,
wherein each recess comprising a first and a second inner surface and holds an edge portion of one of the two sandwich plate elements such that at least a portion of the first major outer surface of the sandwich plate element interacts with the first inner surface of the recess and at least a portion of the second major outer surface of the sandwich plate element interacts with the second inner surface of the recess,
wherein the connection element comprises a first part and a second part connected to each other by a snap fit joint comprising interlocking features wherein the first part and the second part are locked by mechanical engagement from being separated with respect to each other, for formation of at least one of said two recesses in which the first inner surface is arranged on the first part and in which the second inner is arranged on the second part, and
wherein the adhesive joint comprises an adhesive which for each sandwich plate element is arranged between the first inner surface of the associated recess and the first major outer surface of the associated sandwich plate element and between the second inner surface of the associated recess and the second major outer surface of the associated sandwich plate element;
wherein the interlocking feature of the first part is formed by at least one first hooking flange having a first hook portion, the at least one first hooking flange extending from the first part,
the interlocking feature of the second part is formed by at least one second hooking flange having a second hook portion, the at least one second hooking flange extending from the second part,
wherein the first hook portion of the at least one first hooking flange engages behind the second hook portion of the respective at least one second hooking flange, and
wherein the first and/or second part of the connection element comprises a stop configured to restrict a motion of the first part of the connection element in relation to the second part of the connection element in a direction of connecting the snap fit joint.