AU668373B2

AU668373B2 - Panel mounting

Info

Publication number: AU668373B2
Application number: AU32063/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ian Thomas Howe
Original assignee: HOWE IAN T
Current assignee: HOWE IAN T
Priority date: 1992-01-28
Filing date: 1993-01-28
Publication date: 1996-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-29
Also published as: AU3206393A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICA~TION FOR A STA~NDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Applicant(s): IAN THOM1AS HOWE Actual Inventor Ian Thomas Howe 0 0 Address for Service: PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES 26 Ellingworth Parade Box Hill Victoria 3128 Australia Title: PANEL MKOUNTING Associated Provisional Applications: No(s).:PL 0600 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 1 Ia PANEL MOUNTING This invention relates to mounting of panels, particularly although not exclusively in the building and construction fields.

In the building and construction industries, tile mounting of panels to structural members is carried out in various ways. One particular technique used for mounting of a soffit beneath the eaves of a building is particularly expensive in both materials and labour. The system commonly used for mounting of a soffit to extend between the fascia board and the wall of the building involves firstly mounting timber pieces to the projecting ends of the roof trusses so that these pieces extend downwardly generally adjacent to the building wall. A longitudinal beam is then fastened to the bottom ends of tile downwardly extending pieces so as to be at the level of the S, groove normally provided along the inside face of the fascia board near the bottom edge. The soffit is then fitted into the groove in the fascia board and its inner edge adjacent to the building wall is nailed upwardly into the longitudinal beam. A concealing timber piece such as a triangular piece is then mounted beneath the inner edge of the soffit to conceal tile fixing nails and also to finish the appearance, particularly since the soffit may not be cut with precision and may therefore not extend closely adjacent to the building wall along its length. This system of mounting a soffit is expensive both in the amount of materials required and also in the builder's labour required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting section which enables relatively simple and effective mounting of a panel edge to an adjacent member within a structure.

i i I I~ _L 2 It is a preferred object to provide a mounting section which is particularly suitable for mounting of a soffit beneath the eaves of a building structure.

According to the present invention there is provided a mounting section for operative engagement with an edge of a panel, the mounting section being securable to a structure to thereby enable mounting of the panel edge to tile structure, the mounting section including a base portion for securing to the structure and a channel portion for receiving the panel edge, the channel portion having a mouth facing away from the base portion and through which the panel extends in use, the channel portion including a first jaw defining one side of the mouth and an opposed second jaw defining the opposite side of the mouth, both the first and second jaws being mounted or mountable to the base portion prior to the panel edge being located in the general position in which it will be mounted by the mounting section to the structure, the second jaw adopting an initial position during location of the panel edge in its generally desired final position and in which the second jaw enables the panel edge to enter the mouth, the second jaw being movable from its initial position to an operative position during or subsequent to the location of 1i the panel edge within the mouth of the channel portion, the second jaw when in its operative position confining the panel edge in the mouth, the mounting section further including retaining means operable between the second jaw and the base portion so ap to retain the second jaw against movement away fiom its operative position following location of the panel edge within the mouth of the channel portion, the retaining means being connected to second jaw by a flexible connection enabling the retaining means to adopt a first position which does not obstruct 3 the location of the panel edge in its final position and being subsequently movable relative to the second jaw to a retaining position to perform its function of retaining the second jaw against movement.

The flexible connection by which tile retaining means is connected to the second jaw may comprise a hinge which enables the retaining means to be moved with a hinging mcvement about that hinge during assembly of the panel edge with tile mounting section. The retaining means may be formed integrally with the second jaw and the hinge may be defined by a flexible connecting portion between the retaining means and the second jaw.

The retaining means may be connected to the base portion at a hinge which enables the retaining means to be moved relative to the base portion with a hinging movement. For example, the retaining means may be formed integrally with the base portion and the hinge between the retaining means and the base portion may be defined by a flexible connecting portion between the retaining means and the base portion. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining means in its first position is at an acute angle to the base portion and is movable about the hinge between the retaining means and the base portion towards the first jaw so that the acute angle approaches a right angle thereby reducing the width of the mouth of the channel portion after lateral insertion of the panel edge into the mouth of the channel portion. In this embodiment, the second jaw in its initial position may be at an obtuse angle to the retaining means and is movable after the panel edge has been moved into its generally desired final position relatively towards the retaining means so as to decrease the angle at the flexible connection between the retaining means and the L WM M M 4 second jaw, and so as to move the second jaw towards the first jaw and narrow the width of the mouth of the channel portion and confine the panel edge within tile mouth of the channel portion.

The second jaw may form a snap fit connection to the base portion when the second jaw is moved into its operative position. The snap fit connection may comprise cooperating male and female formations, at least one of the male and female formations being resilient to enable the snap fit connection thereof and to enable selective release of the snap fit connection.

The mounting section may further include a key formation enabling securing of the base portion to the structure by securing means which cooperates with the key formation and with the structure to secure the base portion to the structure. For example, the key formation may comprise a plurality of projections and concave formations provided on the base portion and facing generally towards the structure, the securing means comprising a hardenable adhesive which is located between the mounting section and tile structure and which in use conforms to the shape of the projections and concave formations and which adheres to the structure so that when the adhesive has hardened it secures the mounting section to the structure.

Preferably tile mounting section comprises an elongated section of generally constant cross-sectional shape so that the mounting section mounts the panel edge along a substantial length of the panel.

Possible and preferred features of the present invention will low be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described wvith reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the iavention. In the drawings: p Fig. 1 shows a mounting section having some features useable in the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a mounting section according to one possible embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 shows the operations in mounting of a panel edge using the mounting section of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 shows a mounting section having a key formation.

In the drawings there is shown a mounting section 10 having an elongated form of constant cross-section e.g. an extrusion made of a suitable plastics material. The section includes a channel portion 11 having a mouth 12, the mouth being defined between a lower movable front jaw in the form of a wall 13 and an upper opposed jaw forming a wall 14. A panel edge 21 such as the edge of a soffit is laterally moved past the movable wall, and engages with the opposed wall 14. The movement of the wall 13 to enable lateral movement of the panel edge 21 into the o a 15 mouth 12 in the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 will be described later. In the embodiment of Fig.

4, the movable wall 13 resiliently moves inwardly towards the base web 16 allowing the panel edge 21 to pass the tip of the wall 13 and engage with the 0 0 opposed wall 14.

When the panel edge 21 passes the tip of the movable wall 13, the movable wall 13 will spring back towards its rest position and will adopt the supporting position for the panel edge 21 shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that the movable wall 13 also provides a finished aesthetically satisfactory result.

The mounting section 10 can be provided with a mounting flange forming a continuation of the plane of the base web 16 and extending upwardly beyond the opposed wall 14. This flange 30 can enable fastening means such as adhesive to be applied to secure the I0 section to the adjacent structure.3f Alternatively, fasteners such as nails or screws can be passed through the flange 30 into the structure to which the panel 20 is to be mounted.

In Fig. 4, the base web 16 is provided with a key formation 63 provided at intervals or extending along the web 16 and which is shown as a number of projections 64 which define concave formations In use of this section, adhesive can be placed along the web 16 and the adhesive will enter the concave formations 65. The mounting section can then be located in position against the structure, e.g. a masonary wall, so that the adhesive also contacts the structure.

When the adhesive has set, the mounting section will be firmli secured to the structure because the adhesive that has entered the concave formations 65 will mechanically retain the section in position. The provision of the key formation 63 therefore enables a plastics or other material extrusion to be used without oil or other Scontamination of the surface of the extrusion interfering with or weakening the bond that an adhesive material might make with the mounting section. Such a key formation can be provided on the base portions 16 of the sections shown in Figs. 1 and 2 if desired.

The resilient movement of the opposed wall 14 enables a clamping effect to be achieved at the panel edge 21 to assist in stable support of the panel edge. The width of the mouth 12 between the tip 15 of the movable wall 13 and the opposed wall 14 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the panel edge 21 so as to promote clamping of the panel edge 21 as a result of the resilience of the two facing walls 13, 14.

The channel portion 11 in Fig. 4 further includes a resilient biasing tongue 40 located internally of the channel portion 11. The 4 xi'? i biasing tongue 40 is operative to engage with the panel edge 21 and adopt a deformed position as shown in broken line so as to apply a biasing force to that edge 21 in a direction out of the channel portion 11.

This biasing force can therefore assist in engagement of the remote panel edge with a structural member at the remote edge.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there are shown two part mounting sections.

In Fig. 1 th main section comprises base web 16 and opposed wall 14. The opptsed wall 14 is resiliently movable upon contact by a panel edge from beneath. The front wall 13 comprises a separate member 55 which is mountable to the base web 16 after the panel edge has been moved into its generally desired position and bears upwardly against the opposed wall 14. The front wall 13 is fitted to the lower edge of the base web 16 by complementary male and female formations 50, 51 which permit at least limited pivoting movement of the front wall 13. The separate member 55 has a main wall 56 which defines the front wall 13 so that the main wall extends in use from the bottom edge of the base web 16 to the mouth 11 and to thereby contact and support the panel edge. The separate member 55 also includes a retaining web 57 which extends from the main wall 56 towards the base web 16 and is connected to the base web 16 after location of the panel edge in position so as to thereby retain the member 55 to the base web 16, The hinging movement of the front wall 13 about the connection 50, 51 enables the member 55 to be hinged upwardly into contact with the panel edge. The retaining web 57 is connected to the base web 16 with a snap fit between complementary formations 58 provided by the retaining web 57 and the base web 16.

The resilient downward force applied by the opposed wall 14 clamps the panel edge.

The panel mounting section in Fig. 1 could also be made in one piece with the main wall 56 integral with the base web 16. A weakened portion at the base of the main wall 56 where it joins the base web 16, or located a short distance up the base web, can enable pivoting of the main wall 56. The integral retaining web 57 can initially be spaced from the base web 16 and when the main wall 56 is hinged upwardly after the panel edge is in position, the complementary formations 58 engage to retain the main wall 56 in position as shown in Fig. 1.

I--L1 d--4~ The panel mounting section in Fig. 2 is generally similar to the section in Fig. 1 and the same reference numerals have been used. However, in Fig. 2, the formations 58 are complementary male and female formations similar to the formations 50, 51 at the lower connection. With this arrangement, the formations 58 can enable pivoting movement of the web 57 about the base web 16 as shown in Fig. 3 to allow the panel edge 21 to laterally pass into the mouth 12. Subsequently the connection 50, 51 connects the main wall 56 to the base web 16 to secure the wall 13 and web 57 in final position.

Also the section shown in Fig. 2 includes a weakened area at the elbow 60 between the front wall 13 and the web 57 so as to provide a hinging line during the assembly of the panel edge with the mounting section. In particular, the connection 50, 51 can be assembled while the formations 58 are disassembled and the front wall 13 and web 57 can be hinged about the elbow region 60 to enable he panel edge to be located in position, the front wall 13 to be then hinged upwardly to contact the panel edge at the region 60 and the formations 58 then being connected with a snap fit. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3, a hinge connection can be provided at 58 with the connection 50, 51 not yet assembled and the web 57 can be pivoted downwardly away from the opposed wall 14 and the front wall 13 can be hinged away from the web 57 about the elbow region 60. The panel edge 21 can th'en be lc'ated in position by lateral movement in the direction of arrow A and the web 57 pivoted upwardly so that engagement with the panel edge occurs at the region 60, the connection 50, 51 then being completed with a snap fit.

It will be seen that the mounting sections illustrated and described with reference to the accompanying drawings will enable relatively simple and effective mounting of a panel edge to a structure. In particular, a mounting section can be readily mounted to a structure by adhesive applied to the key formations 64 and/or applied to the structure. A panel edge 21 can be moved laterally past thr tip 15 or elbow 60 of the movable front wall 13 which is moved to a position to allow the panel edge 21 to pass. The panel edge engages the opposed wall 14 and resiliently moves it away from its rest position. In Fig 4, the movable front wall 13 springs back to its initial rest position when the panel edge 21 has passed the tip 15. The panel edge 21 can then be held within the channel L i 8 portion 11 with a clamping force applied by the front and opposed walls 13, 14. In Figs. 1 to 3, the panel edge 21 engages opposed wall 14 enabling front wall 13 to be subsequently connected and the panel edge to be clamped. The assembly operation is particularly simple and effective and the resulting structure can be aesthetically satisfactory.

In one possible variation of the embodiments shown in Figs. 2 to 3, the retaining web 57 may be integral with the base web 16 so that there is an integral hinge connection 58, and an integral hinge at elbow 60, and a snap fit connection 50, 51 generally as shown in Fig. 3. This integral construction of the mounting section may be achieved by forming the hinges at 58 and 60 of a flexible plastics materials, the remainder of the mounting section being composed of a stiff but resilient plastics material. Such a construction can be produced by co-extrusion of the two plastics materials.

It is to be appreciated that the mounting section can be used in other situations where a panel edge is to be mounted to a structure. For example, the panel may be a vertical panel being joined to a vertical post or wall.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention as herein described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A mounting section for operative engagement with an edge of a panel, the mounting section being securable to a structure to thereby enable mounting of the panel edge to the structuie, the mounting section including a base portion for securing to the structure and a channel portion for receiving the panel edge, the channel portion having a mouth facing away from the base portion and through which the pane! extends in use, the channel portion including a first jaw defining one side of the mouth and an opposed second jaw defining the opposite side of the mouth, both the first and second jaws being mounted or mountable to the base portion prior to the panel edge being located in the general position in which it will be mounted by the mounting section to the structure, the second jaw adopting an initial position during location of the panel edge in its generally desired final position and in which the second jaw enables the panel edge to enter the mouth, the second jaw being movable from its initial position to an operative position during or subsequent to the location of the panel edge within the mouth of the channel portion, the second jaw when in its operative position confining the panel edge in the mouth, the mounting section fuirther including retaining means operable between the second jaw and the base portion so as to retain the second jaw against movement away from its operative position following location of the panel edge within the mouth of the channel portion, the retaining means being connected to second jaw by a flexible connection enabling the retaining means to adopt a first position which does not obstruct the location of the panel edge in its final position and being subsequently movable relative to the second jaw to a retaining position to perform its function of retaining tile second jaw against movement, L

2. A mounting section as claimed in claim i wherein the flexible connection by which the retaining means is connected to the second jaw comprises a hinge which enables the retaining means to be moved with a hinging movement about that hinge during assembly of the panel edge with the mounting section.

3. A mounting section as claimed in claim 2 wherein the retaining means is formed integrally with the second jaw and the hinge is defined by a flexible connecting portion between the retaining means and the second jaw.

4. A mounting section as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the retaining means is connected to the base portion at a hinge which enables the retaining means to be moved relative to the base portion with a hinging movement.

A mounting section as claimed in claim 4 wherein the retaining means is formed integrally with the base portion and the hinge between the retaining means and the base portion is defined by a flexible connecting portion between the retaining means and the base portion. a 15

6. A mounting section as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the retaining means in its first position is at an acute angle to the base portion and is movable about the hinge between the retaining means and the base portion towards the first jaw so that the acute angle approaches a right angle thereby reducing the width of the mouth of the channel portion after lateral insertion of the panel edge into the mouth of the channel portion.

7. A mounting section as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second jaw in its initial position is at an obtuse angle to tile retaining means and is movable after the panel edge has been moved into its generally desired final position relatively towards the retaining means so as to decrease IL. -I I the angle at the flexible connection between the retaining means and the second jaw, and so as to move the second jaw towards the first jaw and narrow the width of the mouth of the channel portion and confine the panel edge within the mouth of the channel portion.

8. A mounting section as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second jaw forms a snap fit connection to the base portion when the second jaw is moved into its operative position.

9. A mounting section as claimed in claim 8 wherein the snap fit connection comprises cooperating male and female formations, at least one of the male and female formations being resilient to enable the snap fit connection thereof and to enable selective release of the snap fit connection.

A mounting section as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including a key formation enabling securing of the base portion to the structure by securing means which cooperates with the key formation and with the structure to secure the base portion to the structure.

11. A mounting section as claimed in claim 10 wherein the key formation comprises a plurality of projections and concave formations provided on the base portion and facing generally towards the structure, the securing means comprising a hardenable adhesive which is located between the mounting section and the structure and which in use conforms to the shape of the projections and concave formations and which adheres to the structure so that when the adhesive has hardened it secures the mounting section to the structure. L I I t 12

12. A mounting section substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Dated this 19th day of January 1996 PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES Attorneys for IAN THOMAS HOWE Abstract 1. A mounting section (10) securable to a structure to enable mounting of a panel edge (21) to the structure. A base portion (16) is secured to the structure and a channel portion (11) receives the panel edge, the channel portion having a mouth (12) and two jaws (13, 14) defining the mouth and which are mounted to the base portion while the panel edge is being laterally moved into position. One jaw (13 or 57) is mounted to the base portion (16) by a hinged mounting (51, 52 or 58) enabling hinging movement during or 10 subsequent to the location of the panel edge within the mouth. I0 Retaining means (57 or 56) later retains the jaw against hinging movement. The retaining means forms a snap fit connection which is operable when the hinged jaw has been moved into its operative position confining the edge of the panel in the mouth of the channel S; portion. The retaining member is formed integrally with the hinged jaw with a flexible connecting portion between the retaining member and the hinged jaw, The wall defining the hinged jaw extends downwardly from the mouth to join the base portion and the retaining member extends from the mouth directly towards the base portion so that the base portion, retaining member and wall together define a triangular configuration in side sectional view. A key formation (63) comprising a plurality of projections (64) and concave formations (65) are provided on the base portion enabling a hardenable adhesive to secure the mounting section to the structure.