AU665405B2

AU665405B2 - A channel member

Info

Publication number: AU665405B2
Application number: AU35521/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Baron
Original assignee: Australian Slatwall Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Trishul Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-03-26
Filing date: 1993-03-26
Publication date: 1996-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-26
Also published as: AU3552193A

Description

-1 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT "A CHANNEL MEMBER" This invention concerns a channel member, and in particular a channel member for residing within a slot in a slotted panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present applicants market a product comprising panels made from medium density fibreboard into which Tshaped slots are routed. Extruded aluminium or plastics channels are fed into the slots in order to provide a .0 decorative effect, and to add strength to the structure.

S The panels are used to partition shops and other commercial premises, and a variety of fittings have been designed for 0 attachment to the panels by hooking into the slots.

25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a channel member for residing within a slot in a slotted panel, comprising: o a steel strip roll-formed into a web interconnecting two flanges, wherein the steel is folded outwards and back on itself to form a double thickness in the region of both flanges, and in use the flanges extend to the surface of the panel along either edge of the slot such that the distal end of each of the flanges is visible on the surface of the panel.

The recognition that additional strength in the flange region alone would enable the channel to resist the forces S: 19375BR 1.

acting on it and the panel in use, has allowed a rollformed channel member to be contemplated for the first time in this application.

In a preferred embodiment one surface of the steel strip is colour bonded, and the channel member is formed such that the colour bonded side extends along the inner surface of the web, and both the inner and outer surfaces of the flanges. This allows the colour bond to be seen both along the edges of the slot and at the rear of the slot, maximising the cosmetic attraction of the product.

The web is preferably shaped to conform to the crosssectional shape of the slot. In tbe preferred product the slot is T-shaped so the flanges of the channel extend parallel to each other along either side of the stem of the T, and the web extends around the top of the T.

In the flanges it is advantageous to fold back the o° steel so that its raw edge approaches the web. In this way 00o 0 it is possible to form a square shape which allows a snug fit in the slot. This overcomes the problem of being S:00 20 unable to roll-form a precise 900 bend in the steel.

SPreferably the steel strip has a thickness in the i range of 0.55 to 0.6 mm.

0 o BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: figure 1 is a cross-section through a channel member embodying the present invention; and figure 2 is a section of a panel incorporating the channel of Figure 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Channel member 1 is T-shaped to fit in a T-shaped slot routed in a medium density fibreboard panel. Two flanges 2 and 3 extend parallel to each other defining either side of the stem of the T, and they are joined by a web portion 4 which extends around the top of the T.

S:19375BR

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pp 3 The channel member is roll-formed from a strip of steel, and one thickness of the steel extends around the web 4, but the steel is folded back on itself in the region of flanges 2 and 3. The steel is folded to provide double thickness over substantially the entire region of the flanges and the cut edges of the steel are positioned adjacent the web 4 to provide an accurate square shape 9.

This allows the channel to sit very snugly in an accurately routed T-shaped slot.

One side 5 of the steel strip is colour bonded, and this side is oriented to face the interior of the web.

This results in the colour bond extending over both the interior and exterior of flanges 2 and 3, and it forms a visible surface, 6 and 7, at the edges of the slot in the panel.

Referring now to Figure 2 a panel 10 has a T-shaped slot 11 routed in it. Channel member 1 is inserted into o the slot 11 where. it forms a snug fit. A typical accessory is indicated generally at 12, and this comprises a wire hook 13 mounted on a bracket 14. The upper edge of the 0 bracket is shaped into a foot having a heel portion 15 and a toe portion 16 which, in use, are inserted into the channel member.

ooo o 0 The weight of bracket 12, and any attachments to it 0o 25 result in a downward bearing load which causes rotation of toe 16. The rotation can be resolved into a horizontal force acting against upper front portion 17 of web 4.

The web, even of 0.55 mm thick steel, is sufficiently strong to prevent the toe punching through it into the 30 medium density fibreboard, but the channel requires o o sufficient strength to resist horizontal deflection towards the surface of the panel. If this occurred it would not only cause unsightly bulging on the surface of the panel, but could also damage the fibreboard in the region of the upper edge of the slot. The strength required to resist horizontal deflection is provided for by the double thickness flanges which resist horizontal flexion.

L S:19375BR f7" 4 Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment it should be appreciated that other embodiments are possible. For instance, the channels need not be T-shaped and could be Lshaped.

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Claims

1. A channel member for residing within a slot in a slotted panel, comprising: a steel strip roll-formed into a web interconnecting i two flanges, wherein the steel is folded outwards and back on itself to form a double thickness in the region of both flanges, and in use the flanges extend to the surface of the panel along either edge of the slot such that the distal end of each of the flanges is visible on the surface of the panel.

2. A channel member according to 1, wherein one surface of the steel strip is colour bonded, and the channel member is formed such that the colour bonded side extends along the inner surface of the web, and both the inner and outer surfaces of the flanges.

3. A channel member according to 1 or 2, wherein the web is shaped to conform to the cross-sectional shape of °oo the slot.

4. A channel member according to any preceding |oL claim, wherein the slot is T-shaped so the flanges of the o o; channel extend parallel to each other along either side of the stem of the T, and the web extends around the top of the T. i A channel member according to any preceding claim wherein the raw edges of the steel approach the web to form a square shape.

6. A channel member according to any preceding claim, wherein the steel strip has a thickness in the range of 0.55 to 0.6 mm.

7. A channel member substantially as herein S' described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 25th day of March 1993 AUSTRALIAN SLATWALL INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD. A.C.N. 002 570 989 By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. S:19375BR ABSTRACT This invention concerns a channel member for residing within a slot in a slotted panel. The channel member comprises a steel strip roll-formed into a web interconnecting two flanges. The steel is folded outwards and back on itself to form a double thickness in the region of both flanges. In use the flanges extend to the surface of the panel along either edge of the slot such that the distal end of each of the flanges is visible on the surface of the panel. t 4 4 4 a o 4 II 0 e 0040 a a a a I ee c. a o e t o o oa c 6 0 ft o