Pin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188509-B2
Application number	US-202117308296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2021
Priority date	May 6, 2020
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A pin comprises a metal body extending along a longitudinal insertion axis (Ox) and has a first and a second end along the longitudinal axis (Ox), an upper face and a lower face opposite the upper face. The pin has two convex portions each having an inclined inner wall and an inclined outer wall, the inclined walls of each convex portion forming a ridge and extending along the longitudinal axis. At least one ridge has on its lower face a protruding blade obtained by cutting and folding the metal body along the longitudinal axis. A concave portion of the pin connects the inner walls of each convex portion via a central surface. The pin has at least one blocking member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pin, comprising:
a metal body extending along a longitudinal insertion axis and having a first and a second end along the longitudinal insertion axis, an upper face and a lower face opposite the upper face;
two convex portions each defined by an inclined inner wall and an inclined outer wall, the inclined walls of each convex portion joining together to form a ridge extending along the longitudinal insertion axis, at least one ridge of the two convex portions having on its lower face a protruding blade obtained by cutting and folding the metal body along the longitudinal insertion axis;
a concave portion connecting the inner wall of each convex portion via a central surface; and
at least one blocking member;
wherein each inclined outer wall extends along a transverse axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal insertion axis, to define a wing presenting a surface parallel to the central surface.

2. The pin of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the wings of the inclined outer walls has a shoulder along the transverse axis, the shoulder being located between the second end and the at least one blocking member.

3. The pin of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blocking member is formed by a projecting rib on the upper face, obtained by cutting and folding the metal body along a transverse axis.

4. The pin of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blocking member is defined by a lug extending outwardly along a transverse axis.

5. The pin of claim 4 , wherein the lug is folded back toward the lower face.

6. The pin of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of blocking member comprises two blocking members, wherein one of the two blocking members is respectively disposed on each of the wings, the two blocking members being aligned on the transverse axis.

7. The pin of claim 1 , further comprising at least one protruding blade on the ridge of each convex portion.

8. The pin of claim 7 , further comprising two protruding blades aligned along the longitudinal insertion axis on the ridge of each convex portion.

9. The pin of claim 7 , further comprising exactly one protruding blade on the ridge of each convex portion, the protruding blades being offset with respect to one another along the longitudinal insertion axis.

10. The pin of claim 7 , wherein each ridge has a plateau, each protruding blade being cut in only part of the width along a transverse axis of the plateau.

11. The pin of claim 1 , wherein the first end has a beveled shape.

12. The pin of claim 1 , wherein the metal body comprises tempered steel.

13. The pin of claim 1 , wherein each wall has a hole, wherein the holes face one another along a transverse axis and are arranged between the first end and the at least one protruding blade, the at least one blocking member comprising a rod capable of passing through all the holes.

14. A method of retaining two elements in a U-shaped rail that extends along a transverse axis, the rail having a closed horizontal side, an open horizontal side for receiving the elements in a retaining position and two side walls that are extended opposite the closed horizontal side by a horizontal wall extending outward from the rail along a rail longitudinal axis, each side wall having an opening, the openings facing one another along the rail longitudinal axis and extending at least in part along the horizontal wall, each element having a through-passage located opposite the openings when the elements are in the retaining position, the method comprising:
providing a pin including:
a metal body extending along a longitudinal insertion axis and having a first and a second end along the longitudinal insertion axis, an upper face and a lower face opposite the upper face;
two convex portions each having an inclined inner wall and an inclined outer wall, the inclined walls of each convex portion forming a ridge and extending along the longitudinal insertion axis, at least one of the ridges of the two convex portions having on its lower face a protruding blade obtained by cutting and folding the metal body along the longitudinal insertion axis;
a concave portion connecting the inner wall of each convex portion via a central surface; and
at least one blocking member; and
inserting the pin in the openings and through-passages along the longitudinal insertion axis into an assembly position in which the protruding blade and the at least one blocking member have passed through one of the openings of the rail, the protruding blade coming into forced contact with the elements, the at least one blocking member forming a stop against the rail to prevent removal of the pin.

Assignees

• A Raymond Et Cie

Inventors

• Friedrich Christian
• Le Gall Antoine

Classifications

• Y10T403/75

  having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members · CPC title

• H02S30/10

  Frame structures · CPC title

• F16B3/00 Primary

  Key-type connections; Keys (F16B2/00 takes precedence; for rods or tubes mutually F16B7/00) · CPC title

• Y02B10/20

  Solar thermal · CPC title

• Y02B10/10

  Photovoltaic [PV] · CPC title