US 12,258,766 B2
Locking connection assembly and mounting method
Andreas Schoch, Marburg (DE)
Assigned to ELKAMET KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK GMBH, Biedenkopf (DE)
Appl. No. 17/779,138
Filed by Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Biedenkopf (DE)
PCT Filed Nov. 26, 2020, PCT No. PCT/DE2020/101001
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 24, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/104578, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 3, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 008 336.9 (DE), filed on Nov. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0412100 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. E04F 19/06 (2006.01); E04F 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC E04F 15/02011 (2013.01) [E04F 15/02038 (2013.01); E04F 19/062 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0115 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0146 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0511 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0517 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0523 (2013.01); E04F 2201/0535 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A snap-fit connection arrangement comprising:
a groove strip having a groove and a first attachment region extending along the groove for placement of the groove along a first component, the groove strip extending in a first longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the groove strip,
a tongue strip having a tongue and a second attachment region extending along the tongue for placement of the tongue along a second component, the tongue strip extending in a second longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the tongue strip, and
a rib strip having a rib,
wherein cross-sectional contours of the tongue and the groove correspond to each other through use of latching elements so that a snap-fit connection can be established between the tongue and the groove as the tongue is inserted in a joining direction into the groove, the snap-fit connection allowing for relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip along at least one of the longitudinal directions and preventing relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip transversely to at least one of the longitudinal directions,
wherein the first and second attachment regions lie in a common plane or in two different planes that intersect each other,
wherein the tongue includes a latching recess that extends along and within the tongue, the latching recess comprising an undercut and being configured for latching engagement with the rib of the rib strip, and
wherein cross-sectional contours of the rib and the latching recess of the tongue correspond to each other through use of further latching elements so that a further snap-fit connection can be established between the rib and the latching recess of the tongue by the rib elastically deforming the latching recess as the rib is inserted into the latching recess until the rib latchingly engages with the undercut of the latching recess.