Multipart plug-type connector

A plug-in connector for hollow sections, the connector comprising:

• a longitudinal center axis;
• an inner connector part extending along said longitudinal center axis and having a substantially U-shaped cross section with inner side walls;
• an outer connector part extending along said longitudinal center axis and having a substantially U-shaped cross section with outer side walls and narrowed end walls at distal ends, said outer connector part configured to be inserted into a hollow region of a spacer frame, said inner and outer side walls of said connector parts being shaped to have said inner connector part fit into said outer connector part in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal center axis;
• a positive locking connection arranged on said sidewalls of said connector parts and positively connecting said inner and outer connector parts when said connector parts are fit into each other, wherein said positive locking connection is defined by a plurality of embossed areas formed on at least one of said inner side walls of said inner connector part and a plurality of openings formed on at least one of said outer side walls of said outer connector part with said embossed areas corresponding to and positively engaging material surfaces of said openings at said side walls and substantially prevent relative movement between said inner and outer connector parts in all directions.

A plug-in connector for hollow sections formed by the process of:

• providing an outer connector part configured to be inserted into a hollow region of a spacer frame, said outer connector part extending along a longitudinal center axis with an essentially U-shaped transverse cross section and a substantially flat bottom middle wall having a first and a second outer side walls dogleggedly connected to corresponding side edges of said bottom middle wall, wherein said first outer side wall includes a first portion of a means for locking at a particular area;
• providing an inner connector part extending along said longitudinal center axis with an essentially U-shaped transverse cross section and a substantially flat inner middle wall having a first and a second inner side walls dogleggedly connected to corresponding side edges of said flat inner middle wall, wherein said first inner side wall includes a corresponding second portion of said means for locking placed to interact with said first portion;
• plugging said inner connector part inside said outer connector part so that said first inner side wall is adjacent to said first outer side wall;
• and
• moving said inner side wall alongside said outer side wall so that said first portion and said second portion of said means for locking lock said inner connector part with said outer connector part by a positive material engagement, wherein said inner connector part includes a central indentation in at least one of its inner side walls so as to form a portion set back in relation to an adjacent portion of said outer connector part, and wherein said inner connector part further includes a projection forming an outwardly extending bulge at each end of at least one central indentation in a direction along said longitudinal center axis, such that said means for locking substantially prevents relative movement between said outer and inner connector parts in all directions.