EP3810867A1

EP3810867A1 - Bracing device for securing a facing

Info

Publication number: EP3810867A1
Application number: EP19790606.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Manel BEN SAAD; Patrice FRESLON; Jean-Claude Leguay
Original assignee: Saint Gobain Isover SA France; Saint Gobain Placo SAS
Current assignee: Saint Gobain Isover SA France; Saint Gobain Placo SAS
Priority date: 2018-06-19
Filing date: 2019-06-19
Publication date: 2021-04-28
Also published as: FR3082543A1; FR3082543B1; US20210115662A1; US11566418B2; CN112534106A; WO2019243738A1; US20230160198A1; CA3104029A1

Abstract

A bracing device (100) for securing at least one facing panel to the front of a structure comprises a plate (60) having a generally flat bearing face (62) against which the facing panel is able to bear, said bearing face (62) having at least one transverse dimension greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm, and a body (10) which extends in an axial direction (X) and is provided at a front end (10a) with means (24) for securing it to the plate (60) and at a rear end (10b), which is opposite the front end (10a), with means (14, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b) for securing it to the structure.

Description

MAINTAINING DEVICE FOR FIXING A SIDING

TECHNICAL AREA

The present disclosure relates to a bracing device for fixing at least one facing panel to the front of a structure, in particular in the production of a lining of a structure, for example the lining of a wall. , a partition, a ceiling, a crawling, or in the realization of a dividing partition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The lining of a structure such as a wall, a ceiling, etc., is frequently practiced, in renovation or in new construction, to obtain or improve the thermal insulation of the building.

A facing panel is, in this context, attached to a frame which is itself fixed to the wall to be doubled, at a given distance from it, by means of regularly spaced bracing accessories.

The frame is made up of metal profiles, also called furring strips, typically with a C section, arranged vertically between and fitted into two horizontal profiles, also called high beam and low beam.

Each bracing accessory typically comprises a main rod-shaped body extending transversely to the wall to be doubled and to the facing, one end of which is provided with means for its cantilever fixing to the wall to be doubled and whose the other end carries means for its assembly with the metal lining framework. These assembly means typically comprise a notch in which the edges of the metal profiles can engage in the manner of a clip. Such a bracing accessory is for example known from document W02006 / 061538. On the frame is fixed a finishing element in the form of a facing panel, for example a plasterboard, cement, wood, OSB, etc.

In the same way, a dividing partition is generally formed by two facings fixed on either side of a framework comprising a plurality of metal uprights, generally equidistant, arranged vertically between and fitted into two horizontal uprights, also called high beam and smooth base, fixed respectively to the ceiling and the floor. The installation of such metal frames presents many constraints: profiles of specific sections, long and bulky, must be delivered in number on site. Cutting these metal elements to adapt to the height of the wall also poses safety issues. Finally, the installation of the frame requires a significant amount of time, because of the many stages that it involves: installation of the top and bottom rails, installation of each vertical profile, adjustment of the verticality and flatness of the backbone.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the objectives of the present invention is to simplify the fixing of at least one facing panel to the front of a structure, in particular in the production of a lining of a structure, for example a wall, a partition, a ceiling, a crawling, or in the realization of a separating partition, by proposing a device limiting the number of elements and necessary operations.

This objective is achieved with a bracing device for fixing at least one facing panel at the front of a structure, comprising

a plate provided with a generally planar bearing face for the facing panel, said bearing face having at least one transverse dimension greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm, and

- A body extending in an axial direction and provided, at a front end, with means for fixing it to the plate and, at a rear end opposite the front end, with means for fixing it to the structure.

The structure at the front of which the bracing device can be implemented can be any structure to be doubled, for example a wall, a partition, a ceiling, a crawling (in the production of a doubling partition). It can also be formed by one or more panel (s) intended (s) to form a first facing of a separating partition (the device then forming a spacer between the first and the second facing of the partition). By facing panel is therefore meant here any plate intended to form a decorative or separating wall in front of an existing wall or construction.

The plate of the bracing device according to the invention is provided with a generally planar bearing face on which the facing panel can come to rest and be fixed in a sufficiently solid manner to guarantee good mechanical strength of the assembly. . By generally planar is meant here that the high points of this face are located substantially in the same plane, or more generally, that its envelope surface is substantially planar. A sufficient transverse dimension of the bearing face of the plate makes such fixing possible and also contributes to the mechanical stiffness of the lining.

As will be described in more detail below, the fixing of the facing panel on the plate can be carried out by gluing, and / or the plate can be configured to be pierced by one or more fixing screws when fixing the panel by screwing.

The realization of a doubling using a bracing device according to the invention thus comprises the installation of the bracing devices and of the facing panel (s) on the bracing device (s) , but, unlike what was the case with the methods of the prior art, does not require the installation of complementary metal profiles on the bracing devices, before fixing the facing panels. It is therefore carried out quickly, with a minimum of successive steps.

Furthermore, the organization of the site is facilitated in that the dubbing implements a limited number of parts and of small bulk.

Similar advantages appear in the production of a separating partition with the aid of a bracing device according to the invention, the vertical metal profiles which can also be omitted there.

In the mounted position of the bracing device, the bearing face of the plate is defined in a plane substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the bracing device.

According to one example, the minimum transverse dimension of the plate is greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm. By minimum transverse dimension of the plate, is meant the smallest dimension of the plate measured in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction, when the plate is fixed to the front end of the body. The maximum transverse dimension of the plate is preferably less than or equal to 600 mm, in particular less than or equal to 400 mm and even less than or equal to 200 mm.

The plate may for example have a generally circular axial section. As an alternative, it can also be square, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal or have any other suitable shape.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the plate can be provided with gripping means - for example gripping lugs - at its periphery, facilitating its handling and its mounting on the body.

According to one example, the body has at its front end a rod extending in the axial direction, and the plate is adapted to be engaged on said rod by a mounting opening formed in said plate.

Preferably, the body is configured, at its front end, to receive an insulator and / or a membrane plugged thereon. When, as indicated above, the body comprises a rod, then this rod may advantageously have a tapered end, preferably pointed.

In this case, the bracing device may include a mechanism for fine adjustment of the positioning of the plate on the rod, in the axial direction.

According to one example, the means for fixing the plate on the rod comprise primary ribs formed at the periphery of a section of said rod and the plate has at least one secondary rib projecting towards the inside of the mounting opening. , the secondary rib being adapted to cooperate with primary ribs for locking in translation of said plate on the rod, in the axial direction.

The primary ribs formed at the periphery of the rod section may form a thread or be distinct from each other, and parallel to each other.

In the latter case, they may be perpendicular to the axial direction, or form with said direction an angle other than 90 °. For example, the primary ribs can be staggered at a fine pitch p, in particular between 0.1 and 5 mm, in particular between 0.2 and 2 mm, and more particularly between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

According to one arrangement, the plate can be mounted on the body rod by a bayonet or quarter-turn type system.

In this case, the primary ribs of the stem section can be truncated on at least one truncated primary angular portion, and the at least one secondary rib can be truncated on at least one truncated secondary angular portion.

The plate is then engaged by matching the non-truncated secondary angular portion with the truncated primary angular portion, then by relatively pivoting the plate and the rod section so as to make the secondary rib cooperate with the primary ribs and thus block the axial displacement of the plate.

Advantageously, at least one of the secondary ribs is provided with an end-of-travel stop configured to block the rotation of the plate relative to the rod section in a direction of rotation about the axis, by cooperating with a side edge of a primary rib or two adjacent parallel primary ribs.

Advantageously, to increase its rigidity, the plate is provided with reinforcing means, in particular stiffeners, on its side opposite to the bearing face.

Preferably, the bearing face is provided with attachment means able to cooperate with means for fixing the facing panel.

According to one example, the bearing face is textured. By “textured face”, it is meant that the face in question presents a relief, composed of a succession of peaks and valleys. This relief can be periodic or random. The texturing of the surface can also have a plurality of different reliefs, distributed regularly or randomly. For example, the bearing face may be provided with concentric and / or honeycomb ribs and / or grooves, or else with a set of concentric ribs and radial ribs.

The texturing of the support surface allows improved grip of the fixing screws of the facing panel, or, in the case of a fixing by means of an adhesive, increases the contact surface of the adhesive with the plate.

Advantageously, the plate comprises means of connection to a profile, in particular means of clip-on connection with slide of the plate with a profile, in particular at least one notch adapted to receive re-entrant edges of the profile in the manner of a clip. The bracing device according to the invention can thus be used in combination with a profile, for example to locally reinforce the lining in certain singular points (near windows for example).

The plate can be adapted to be fixed to the body reversibly. In other words, the plate can indifferently be mounted on the body so that its bearing face is directed forwards or backwards. The clip-on sliding connection means are provided on the rear face of the plate.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the body comprises

- a rod extending in the axial direction, at its front end,

a fixing base carrying the means of fixing to the structure, and

- a mechanism for adjusting the length of the body in steps by relative sliding of the fixing base and the rod.

According to one example, the adjustment mechanism is configured so that the fixing base and the rod are adapted to slide relative to each other in the axial direction in a first relative angular position, and the fixing base and the rod are adapted to pivot to a second relative angular position in which they are locked in axial translation in a plurality of adjustment positions staggered in the axial direction.

Thanks to the mechanism for adjusting the length of the body, the operator can use the same bracing device for different thicknesses of partition (lining or separator).

According to one example, the fixing base and the rod are adapted to pivot towards a second relative angular position in which they are locked in axial translation only in a plurality of adjustment positions staggered in the axial direction in a coarse pitch P between 0.5 and 5 cm, preferably between 0.5 and 2 cm, even more preferably between 0.8 and 1.3 cm. The adjustment mechanism being staggered in a coarse step, the adjustment is done quickly. The operator can only choose between different adjustment positions, regularly spaced. A simple calculation allows him to adjust the device to the desired length.

According to one example, the bracing device further comprises means for locking in rotation the fixing base and the rod, in the second angular position.

According to one example, the locking means comprise clipping means.

According to one example, the fixing base comprises an adjustment part adapted to receive the rod and provided with a plurality of notches, in particular notches spaced axially from the coarse pitch P, and the rod comprises lugs formed at its periphery and adapted for cooperate with said notches.

According to one example, the clipping means comprise a clipping tab delimiting a notch of the adjustment part called the locking notch, adapted to move by cooperating with a lug of the rod during a rotation from the first to the second position angular and to prevent the return of the lug, once the second angular position is reached.

Preferably, the device comprises means allowing the return to the first angular position under the effect of a relative rotational movement of the rod and of the fixing base, or of the combined effect of a translation and of relative rotation of the rod and the fixing base.

According to an example, the rod has at least one axial groove and the adjustment part has at least one internal allowance located near its front end, and adapted to slide in said groove when the rod and the adjustment part are in the first angular position. These arrangements allow the operator to easily identify the first angular position, in which the length of the body can be adjusted by relative sliding of the rod and of the fixing base.

According to an advantageous example, the rod also has a plurality of circumferential grooves extending from the axial groove and parallel to each other, the internal excess thickness of the adjustment part being adapted to penetrate one of said circumferential grooves during the passage of the first to the second angular position. These provisions allow the operator easier access to the adjustment positions of the device.

According to one example, the means for fixing to the structure comprise a plate provided with screw holes.

According to one example, the means for fixing to the structure comprise means for connecting to a profile, in particular clipped connection means with slide, in particular at least one notch adapted to receive reentrant edges of the profile in the manner of a clip.

According to another example, the means for fixing it to the structure comprise a second plate provided with a generally planar bearing face for a panel, said bearing face having at least a transverse dimension greater than or equal to 30 mm, of preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm. It is understood that the respective bearing faces of the first and of the second plates are then oriented in opposite directions. The fixing of the second plate to the structure can be carried out by gluing, and / or the second plate can be configured to be pierced by one or more screws for fixing by screwing.

This presentation also relates to an assembly, in particular a doubling of a structure (in particular a wall, a ceiling, a crawling) or a dividing partition, comprising

- at least one bracing device as defined above,

- At least one facing panel, in direct support against the bearing face of the plate of the bracing device and fixed to said plate.

If the assembly is a lining of a structure, then the lining is in particular an interior lining, in other words a lining in which a facing panel is put in place in front of a structure of a construction, inside said construction .

The facing panel, in direct contact with the plate, can for example be fixed to said plate by screws, or by bonding means, in particular an adhesive or an adhesive element of the film or tape type, or even by association of screwing and bonding means.

By "direct support" therefore means direct support or by means of a thin layer of glue or a thin adhesive element. The facing panel can be a plasterboard, with or without a decorative, monolithic coating or with a sandwich or laminated structure composed of several plates bonded together.

The facing panel can also be a plate of cement, wood, wood composite (chipboard, OSB). It can also be made in a plastic or metallic material, or in any other suitable material.

The material of which it is made (plaster, plastic, etc.) may possibly be reinforced with fibers (mineral, cellulosic, etc.).

The facing panel advantageously has a flexural module greater than or equal to 3 GPa, preferably less than or equal to 10 GPa, preferably between 3 and 10 GPa, even more preferably between 4 and 8 GPa, even more preferably between 4 and 6.5 GPa. It is thus possible to reduce the number of bracing devices required, and therefore the exposure time.

Preferably, the assembly, in particular structure lining or dividing partition, comprises on average between 1 and 2 bracing devices per square meter. Excluding singular points (doors, windows ...), the average number of bracing devices per square meter is preferably between 0.5 and 1.5, in particular equal to 1.

The bending module is obtained by a 3-point bending test in accordance with point 5.7 of standard NF - EN 520: A test piece is cut to dimensions 400mm x 300mm x 12.5mm. The test piece is placed on two parallel cylindrical supports having a radius between 3mm and 15mm, their center being spaced by (350 ± 1) mm. The test piece is subjected to a constant force of (250 ± 125) N / min at the center ± 2 mm of the span. Force and displacement are measured. The applied force (N) is plotted as a function of the displacement (m), forming the stress / strain curve.

The flexural module (Ebend) is then obtained by the formula

With

L = distance between supports (0.350m)

F = applied force in newton (N) w = width of the test piece (0.300m)

h = thickness of the test piece (0.0125m)

d = displacement (m)

F / d = slope of the stress / strain curve in the elastic domain

According to one example, at least one layer of thermal and / or acoustic insulation is plugged into or inserted between the bracing devices.

The present description finally relates to a method of fixing at least one facing panel in front of a structure, comprising at least the following steps, in this order:

- a plurality of bracing devices as defined above are provided,

- the bodies of the bracing devices are fixed to the structure, by their rear end,

- the plates are fixed to the bodies of the bracing devices, at their front end,

at least one facing panel is placed in direct support on at least one plate, and

- The facing panel is fixed to said at least one plate.

The facing panel can for example be fixed to the plate by screwing, or by gluing, in particular by means of a liquid or pasty glue, for example a mastic, applied to the bearing face of the plate before positioning the facing panel, or by means of an adhesive element, of the film or tape type, in particular a double-sided tape.

Several embodiments or examples of embodiment are described in the present description. However, unless otherwise specified, the characteristics described in relation to any mode or example of embodiment can be applied to another mode or example of embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be clearly understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of several embodiments shown by way of nonlimiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a bracing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, comprising a body formed by a base for its attachment to the structure and by a rod, and a plate, mounted on said rod, for fixing a facing panel;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the device of Figure 1;

Figures 3 A and 3 B are detailed views of the base;

Figure 4 shows the rod in more detail;

Figure 5 is a front view of the plate;

- Figures 6A to 6F illustrate the successive steps of a first mode of implementation of the method of the invention (making a lining partition in front of a wall M);

FIG. 7 illustrates a bracing device according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which the means for fixing the body to the structure comprise a second plate;

FIGS. 8A to 8D illustrate the successive steps of a second embodiment of the method of the invention (production of a separating partition).

- Figure 9 is a front view of the plate, according to a variant of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT

A bracing device 100 according to the invention is intended to be used for fixing a facing panel to the front of a structure, in particular for making a lining in front of a wall.

According to a non-limiting mode of implementation illustrated in FIG. 6E, a plurality of bracing devices 100 is fixed to a wall to be lined M, an insulation lining G is plugged into or interposed between the bracing devices , and facing panels P are fixed to the front of said bracing devices, covering the insulation lining.

A bracing device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.

At a minimum, it is formed of a main body 10 adapted to be fixed on the wall M or another structure, and of a plate 60 adapted to be mounted at the front end 10a of the body 10 and intended to receive in support a facing panel P.

The body 10 and the plate 60 are for example made of a polymer material, reinforced or not, for example a polyamide loaded with glass fibers (for example between 20 and 40% by mass) or polypropylene.

Throughout the present description, the rear of a part is designated as its side closest to the structure, and the front of the same part, as its side closest to the facing panel or panels P, in position Assembly.

In the example illustrated, the body 10 comprises:

o at its rear end 10b: a fixing base 12 to the wall M, provided with means for fixing the body 10 to the structure to be doubled M

o at its front end 10a: a rod 20 on which the plate 60 is fixed

The means for fixing the body 10 to the structure to be doubled M here comprise a fixing plate 14 provided with holes 16 for its fixing by screwing.

Advantageously, the fixing plate 14 has at least one oblong hole 16a, 16b, allowing fine adjustment of the positioning of the fixing base 12 on the wall M. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fixing plate 14 comprises two oblong holes 16a, 16b whose large dimensions are parallel to each other. Alternatively, the large dimensions of the oblong holes can be perpendicular to each other in order to facilitate fine adjustment of the positioning of the base both vertically and horizontally.

Advantageously, the fixing plate 16 is also provided with notches 18a, 18b adapted to cooperate by clipping with a profile previously fixed on the structure to be doubled, in particular adapted to receive flanges returning from said profile. By profile is generally meant a metal profile, preferably C, applied to the structure to be doubled with the bottom of the C facing the structure to be doubled and the opening of the C facing the lining to be received. The example of the fixing plate 14 illustrated is not, however, limiting, and the means for fixing the body 10 to the structure can take other forms, for example suitable for fixing by nailing.

The rod 20 of the body, illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4, extends along an axis XI defining an axial direction of the bracing device 100.

According to an advantageous arrangement, it is configured to allow the piercing of the insulation lining G or, where appropriate, of a sealing membrane attached to the front of said lining G, and may therefore have a tapered termination. , preferably pointed 21.

The rod 20 is also provided with means for fixing to the plate 60.

In the example, it comprises at its periphery, on at least one section 22 situated at its front end, a plurality of ribs 24 called primary ribs, here regularly spaced from one another, parallel to each other, and orthogonal to the axial direction X.

For example, the primary ribs 24 can be staggered at a fine pitch p, in particular between 0.1 and 5 mm, in particular between 0.2 and 2 mm, and more particularly between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

Each rib 24 is here truncated on two angular portions

(said truncated primary portions) 26a, 26b and thus formed of two rib portions (said non-truncated primary portions) 24a, 24b, of angle less than 90 °, diametrically opposite.

Rigidifying ribs 28 can advantageously be provided to reinforce the rod 20 at each truncated primary angular portion.

The plate 60 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

For the rest, a central axis (here of symmetry) X2 of the plate 60 is defined. In a direction parallel to this axis X2, the plate 60 is delimited by a bearing face 62 intended to receive the support or the panels facing P, and by an opposite face 64 substantially parallel to said bearing face.

In standard mounting (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2), the bearing face 62 of the plate 60 is located towards the front of the device spacer. The bearing face 62 is therefore considered as the front face of the plate 60, and the opposite face 64, as its rear face.

Once the plate 60 is mounted on the rod 20, in standard assembly as in reverse assembly, the axis X2 is found to coincide with the axis XI corresponding to the axial direction X of the bracing device 100. Throughout the present description, an axial direction mentioned in connection with the plate corresponds to the direction of the axis X2 and therefore to the axial direction X of the bracing device in the mounted position. A radial direction is orthogonal to this axial direction.

For its engagement on the rod 20 of the body 10, the plate 60 has a central mounting opening 70, centered on the axis X2.

In the example, this central mounting opening 70 is extended, beyond the rear face 64 of the plate 60, by a cylindrical sleeve 72.

In the detail of FIG. 5, it can be seen that several ribs 74, called secondary ribs, project towards the inside of the mounting opening 70.

These secondary ribs 74 are adapted to cooperate with the primary ribs 24 of the rod 20 for locking in translation of the plate 60 on the body 10, in the axial direction X.

They are regularly spaced from each other, parallel to each other, and orthogonal to the axis X2.

The plate 60 is mounted on the rod 20 by a system of the bayonet or quarter-turn type:

For this, the secondary ribs 74 are truncated on two angular portions (called truncated secondary portions) 76a, 76b, each secondary rib thus being formed of two non-truncated secondary angular portions 74a, 74b.

The plate 60 is engaged on the rod 20 by matching the non-truncated secondary angular portions 74a, 74b with the truncated primary angular portions 26a, 26b, then by relatively pivoting the plate 60 and the rod section 22 so as to making secondary ribs 74 cooperate with primary ribs 24 and thus block the axial movement of the plate.

Advantageously, the secondary ribs 74 are provided with an end-of-travel stop 78 configured to block the rotation of the plate 60 with respect to the rod section 22 in a direction of rotation about the axis X, by cooperating with a lateral edge of a primary rib 24 or of two adjacent primary ribs 24 which are parallel.

The above example is not, however, limiting and the means for fixing the plate 60 on the body 10 can take any other suitable form, allowing or not adjusting the axial positioning of the plate 60 on the body 10. These means can for example be means for fixing by clipping, or else a continuous thread for mounting by screwing without blocking.

The particularities of the plate 60, allowing a solid fixing of the facing plate (s) on its bearing face, will be described in more detail below.

According to an essential arrangement, the bearing face 62 of the plate has at least one transverse dimension greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm. By transverse dimension is meant a dimension measured in a plane orthogonal to the axis X2 (in other words to the axial direction X when the plate 60 is fixed to the front end 10a of the body 10). A sufficient transverse dimension of the bearing face 62 of the plate 60 allows the fixing of the facing panel P on said plate 60 in a sufficiently solid manner to guarantee good mechanical strength of the assembly.

A minimum transverse dimension of the plate 60 is preferably greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm. The maximum transverse dimension of the plate 60 is preferably less than or equal to 600 mm, in particular less than or equal to 400 mm and even less than or equal to 200 mm.

In addition, the total area of the bearing face 62 is preferably greater than at least 900 mm ² , preferably greater than 2025 mm ² . By total area here is meant the area of the envelope surface of the bearing face 62.

In the example illustrated, the plate 60 has a generally circular axial section, of diameter D equal to 9 cm.

As an alternative, it can obviously be square, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal or have any other suitable shape. It is advantageously provided, at its periphery, with gripping means facilitating its handling and mounting on the body 10. These gripping means may for example comprise gripping lugs 66a, 66b regularly distributed over its circumference, preferably at minus two diametrically opposite lugs.

The bearing face 62 of the plate 60 can be smooth or, according to an advantageous arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5, it can be textured. By “textured face”, it is meant that the face in question presents a relief, composed of a succession of peaks and valleys. This relief can be periodic or random. The texturing of the surface can also have a plurality of different reliefs, distributed regularly or randomly.

In all cases, whether smooth or textured, the bearing face 62 remains generally flat. By “generally planar face” is meant that the envelope surface of this face is substantially planar.

In the example illustrated, the front face 62 of the plate 60 has a plurality of continuous concentric ribs 80, centered on the axis X2. These ribs 80 have a whole same height h, constant, measured in the direction X2, typically between 1 and 3 mm. The distance dl between two ribs 80, measured in a radial direction, is also between 2 and 5 mm.

The example illustrated is obviously not limiting: the ribs 80 could be discontinuous. They could form a different pattern, for example honeycomb, or even a random pattern.

The ribs 80 form attachment means dedicated to cooperate with the means for fixing the facing panel.

The texturing in fact allows improved fixing of the possible fixing screws of the facing panel P, or, in the case of fixing by means of an adhesive, increases the contact surface of the adhesive with the plate 60.

According to a variant illustrated in Figure 9, the front face 62 of the plate 60 has, in addition to the concentric ribs 80, radial ribs 81. These radial ribs 81, arranged between the concentric ribs 80, all have the same height hl, constant , and less than the height h of the concentric ribs 80. Such a configuration makes it possible, when screwing on the facing panel P, to prevent the screw from rotating the plate or driving it in at an angle. At certain singular points, in particular around windows or doors, it is sometimes preferable to have a continuous support of the facing panels P in the form of metal profiles as used in the systems of the prior art.

To meet this requirement, the plate 60 can advantageously fulfill a double function, of supporting the facing panels P on the one hand, and supporting a framework element such as a metal profile on the other hand.

For this, in the example, the plate 60 is adapted to be fixed on the body 10 in a reversible manner and comprises, on its side opposite to the bearing face 62, means 82 for connection to a profile, in particular means of clip-on sliding connection of the plate with a profile.

Reversibility is here made possible by the fact that the primary 24 and secondary 74 ribs are orthogonal to the axial direction X and can thus cooperate in an identical manner whether the plate 60 is in standard mounting or in reverse mounting (front face oriented towards the rear of the bracing device 100).

In the example, the clip-on sliding connection means comprise two notches 82a, 82b adapted to receive re-entrant edges of the profile in the manner of a clip.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the plate 60 can advantageously be reinforced, on its side opposite to the bearing face 62, by stiffeners 84a, 84b connecting the rear face 64 to the cylindrical sleeve 72.

The cooperation of the primary 24 and secondary 74 ribs allows fine adjustment of the position of the plate 60 in the axial direction. This fine adjustment makes it possible, for example, to compensate for certain surface irregularities of the structure M.

In some cases, for example in renovation applications, these irregularities are much greater. In this case, it is advantageous for the bracing device to be provided with a step-length adjustment mechanism for the length of the body 10, in particular by relative sliding of the fixing base 12 and of the rod 20.

The rod 20 typically has a total length L1 of between 5 and 20 cm. For example, the length L of the body 10 can, thanks to the adjustment mechanism, be between 5 and 25 cm.

The length is adjusted by relative sliding of the fixing base 12 and of the rod 20 in the axial direction X, then locking in axial translation by relative rotation of the two parts 12, 20.

In the example, the locking in translation is done in one of several possible adjustment positions, staggered according to a coarse pitch P comprised for example between 0.5 and 5 cm, preferably between 0.5 and 2 cm, even more preferably between 0.8 and 1.3 cm, for example equal to 1 cm, as described in more detail below.

On its portion 30 located at the rear of the ribbed rod section 22, the rod 20 has a circular section with constant diameter.

At its periphery, it is furthermore provided with a plurality of pins 32 regularly spaced apart from the pitch P.

In the particular example shown, the rod 20 actually comprises two diametrically opposite rows of pins 32 identical or similar, axially aligned and regularly spaced from the pitch P (here three for each row).

Between these two rows of pins 32, the rod 20 also has two diametrically opposite grooves 34, each of them being straight and continuous up to the rear end of the rod, and extending in the axial direction XI. Only one of these grooves 34 is visible in FIG. 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the rod 20 also comprises a plurality of grooves 36 extending in the same circumferential direction from each axial groove 34. These grooves 36, called circumferential grooves, extend here over only part of the circumference of the rod 20. They are mutually parallel and spaced apart by the pitch P, and they are offset axially with respect to the above-mentioned lugs 32, by a distance for example equal to P / 2 (in the example, a lug is respectively centered axially between two circumferential grooves 36).

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A and 3B, the fixing base 12 is provided with an adjustment part 40 of tubular shape extending along an axis X3 and integral with the means of fixing to the structure to be doubled, here the fixing plate 14. The adjustment part 40 here forms a hollow tube adapted to internally receive the rod 20, the axes XI and X3 then being confused. It has for this a central open portion 42 of circular internal section, of diameter slightly greater than that of the rod 20, extended by two diametrically opposite housings 44a, 44b intended to receive the lugs 32 of the rod 20 in a first angular position.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the adjustment part 40 is provided, on its central part 42, with a plurality of notches 46 aligned in the axial direction and spaced apart by the pitch P.

More particularly, the adjustment part 40 here comprises two rows of respectively five notches 46, diametrically opposite.

In the example, the notches 46 are through holes, which allows the installer to view the setting. In a variant, however, the notches 46 could be formed by non-through recesses made on the internal wall of the adjustment part 40.

At the same time, the adjustment part 40 has (see FIG. 3B), in the vicinity of its front end, two internal thickeners 41a, 41b diametrically opposite and dimensioned to slide each in one of the axial grooves 34 of the rod 20 when the rod 20 and the adjustment part 40 are in the first angular position.

In the first position, the rod 20 is adapted to slide axially in the adjustment part 40, so as to adjust the total length L of the body 10.

Relative rotation of the rod 20 and the fixing base 12 is permitted when each lug 32 of the rod 20 located inside the adjustment part 40 is positioned axially opposite a notch 46 of this same part 40 , and that each internal allowance 41a, 41b of the adjustment part 40 is positioned axially opposite one of the circumferential grooves 36 of the rod 20. The corresponding positions are called, in the following, adjustment positions.

In these adjustment positions, the rod 20 and the fixing base 12 can pivot, in a direction of rotation, so as to cause the lugs 32 of the rod 20 to penetrate into the notches 46 of the adjustment part 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the rod 20 preferably has an upper safety section 38 devoid of circumferential grooves 36. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the first circumferential groove 36 is located between the second and the third lug 32 , in starting from the rear end 20b of the rod 20. Thus, pivoting towards the second angular position is only authorized when at least the first two pins 32 have entered the adjustment part 40. Thanks to these provisions, prevents the installer from fixing the rod 20 on an insufficient number of lugs 32 to take up the compression / traction and possibly bending forces to which the bracing device 100 is subjected in operation.

The fixing base 12 and the rod 20 are held in position after adjusting the length L of the body 10 by means of locking in rotation of the two elements in the second angular position.

These blocking means here comprise mechanical means with stop, and more particularly clip means, which will be described in more detail below.

In the remainder of this description, the locking notches 46a denote the notches having a rotation locking function and the intermediate notches 46b the notches ensuring exclusively a locking function in translation (see FIG. 3A).

In general, any notch 46 forms a housing extending in a circumferential direction, and having, in this direction, a first end 51 by which a lug 32 of the rod 20 deviating from the first angular position enters the notch , and a second end 52 towards which the same lug 32 points during the rotation from the first to the second angular position.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, an intermediate notch 46b is generally delimited, in the axial direction, by two walls 53a, 53b orthogonal to the axis X2 and spaced at a distance equal or very slightly greater than the length of a lug 32 measured in the axial direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a locking notch 46a is itself delimited by a fixed wall 53a, and, in the example, by a clip tab 54, fixed by a proximal end 54a at the level of the first end 51 of notch 46a and extending in a circumferential direction to its opposite distal end 54b where it is free.

A free space 55 located on the side of the tongue 54 opposite the notch allows the tongue to move towards said side under the pressure exerted by the lug 32 moved in the notch during a rotation from the first to the second angular position . The tongue 54 also has elasticity properties allowing it to automatically return to its initial position where it forms a non-return stop for the lug, once the second angular position has been reached.

As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the clip tab 54 defines with the opposite wall an engagement section 56 comprising a progressive throttle 56a of minimum width less than the length of a lug 32 measured in the axial direction.

Beyond this constriction 56a, the engagement section 56 is extended by a blocking section 57 adapted to receive the lug 32 once the second angular position has been reached.

In the example, the tongue 54 is shaped so that a return to the first angular position is possible under the effect of a relative rotational movement of the rod 20 and of the fixing base 40, or of the combined effect of a relative translation and rotation of the rod 20 and the fixing base 40.

Advantageously, as illustrated in FIG. 1, only certain notches 46, generally located at the ends of the adjustment part 40, are provided with clipping means. Thus, the force necessary for unclipping is not too great and the blocking is reversible. If the installer is mistaken in adjusting the length, he can, a posteriori, easily undo the blocking and adjust the length again. Clipping, by the sound it produces, also allows the installer to ensure that the rotation is complete and that the rod is properly secured to the fixing base.

The successive stages of a doubling process according to the invention will now be described in conjunction with FIGS. 6A to 6E.

In FIG. 6A, a masonry wall defining a room 90 is illustrated, and which one wishes to double to improve the thermal insulation of said room. Note that if the illustrated embodiment relates to a masonry wall, the invention is suitable for all types of walls (concrete, concrete blocks, bricks, wood ...).

Angles, low 91 and high 92, are first fixed, generally by screwing, respectively to the floor and the ceiling of the room, at a given distance from the wall M, depending on the thickness of the insulation lining G planned for dubbing. L-shaped angles are sufficient here for fixing the facing panels, but they could also be replaced by U-section beams of the type used in the metal frames of the prior art.

Halfway up the wall M, a horizontal line 93 is drawn, marking the level at which the bracing devices 100 according to the invention must be fixed.

In a second step illustrated in FIG. 6B, the bodies 10 of the bracing devices are fixed, here by screwing their fixing plate 14 directly to the wall M, at the level of the previously drawn horizontal line 93.

The horizontal spacing between two bodies 10 is chosen to be sufficiently small to guarantee sufficient stiffness of the lining. This spacing may also depend on the width and mechanical performance of the facing panels.

We typically place 1 bracing device per square meter, on average and excluding singular points.

In the case where, as in the example illustrated, the length L of each body 10 is adjustable, this length will preferably be adjusted by the installer before fixing the body to the wall M.

In a third step illustrated in FIG. 6C, a bracing trim G is interposed between the bodies 10 of the bracing devices. This lining G generally consists of one or more layer (s) of thermal and / or acoustic insulation, for example mineral wool, in particular glass or rock wool. As an alternative, the strips of insulation can also be plugged into the protruding rods of the bracing devices.

In addition, the lining may include at least one waterproofing membrane disposed at the front of the insulation lining. This waterproofing membrane can be plugged into the bodies of the bracing devices, once the insulation lining is in place. In other cases, it may be integral with said insulation lining (insulation panels covered on their front face by a waterproofing membrane).

In a fourth step illustrated in FIG. 6D, the plates 60 of the bracing devices are mounted and fixed on the rods 20, thus partially covering the insulation lining G. If necessary, the parts of the rods 20 projecting from the plate 60 after assembly are cut, for example by means of a grinder or cutting pliers. The alignment of the bearing faces 62 of the plates 60 is checked using a level placed horizontally, bearing against said bearing faces 62. For each bracing device 100, the axial position of the plate 60 on its rod 20 can be adjusted, if necessary, thanks to the quarter-turn system.

Similarly, the alignment of the bearing face 62 of each plate 60 with the front face of the low and high angles 91, 92 is checked using a level placed vertically, pressing against the face d 'support 62 of the plate 60 on the one hand and against the front faces respectively of the bottom angle 91 and the top angle 92 on the other hand. Again, an adjustment is made if necessary.

In a fourth step illustrated in FIGS. 6E and 6F, the facing panels P are supported on the plates 60 of the bracing devices 100 and then fixed to said plates.

In the example illustrated, the facing panels are fixed to the plates 60 by screwing: the bracing devices being fixed to the wall to be doubled about halfway up, and spaced from each other by a distance equivalent to half the width of a plate, each plate is fixed by at least two fixing points: a fixing point in the center (which can easily be determined because halfway from the side edge of the plate), and a point fastening near each side edge (except when this edge adjoins one end of the wall to be doubled and is pressed against the adjacent wall).

As an alternative or in addition, the panels could also be fixed by gluing, in particular by means of a liquid or pasty glue, for example a mastic, or by means of an adhesive element, of film or tape type, in particular a double scotch tape. face.

A bracing device 200 according to the invention can also be used for the production of a separating partition, formed of a first and a second parallel facing.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the rear end 10b of the body 10 of the device 200 can be provided with means for its attachment to at least one panel PI of the first facing and the plate 60 of the device 200 is intended for the fixing of a panel P2 of the second facing. For the rest, we define a primary panel as a panel belonging to the first facing of the partition and a secondary panel, like a panel belonging to the second facing.

The means for fixing to the primary panel PI, present at the rear end 10b of the body 10, may be in the form of a second plate 160 similar to that described above, in other words a plate provided with a generally planar face d support for the primary panel PI (and therefore oriented towards the rear of the device), said support face having at least one transverse dimension greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm. Advantageously, the second plate 160 is in one piece with the body 10. In the illustrated case where the body comprises a rod 20 extending in the axial direction X, at its front end 10a, and a fixing base 12, the second plate 160 is in one piece with said fixing base 12.

The structural and dimensional characteristics described above in connection with the first plate 60 are applicable in the same way to the second plate 160. In particular, the minimum transverse dimension of the second plate 160 is greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater or equal to 45 mm. It can also be textured, in particular provided with concentric or honeycomb ribs or grooves.

FIGS. 8A to 8D illustrate the production of a separating partition C using a device 200 according to this second exemplary embodiment.

In a first step, a first primary panel PI is fixed to low and high angles 9, 92 ′ respectively fixed to the floor and to the ceiling.

In a second step illustrated in FIG. 8B, the bracing device 200 is fixed to the face of the first primary panel PI oriented in the direction of the interior of the partition, and therefore in the direction of the second facing. For this, the second plate 160 is positioned with its bearing face against the face of the PI panel and fixed to this face, for example by screwing and / or by bonding.

In a third step illustrated in FIG. 8C, the first plate 60 of the device is engaged and adjusted in position on the body 10. Previously, an insulation layer I, in particular a layer of material fibrous insulator, in particular mineral wool, or of animal or vegetable origin, has possibly been skewered on the rod of the device or inserted between several rods of adjacent devices.

Then a secondary panel P2 is placed in direct support on the first plate 60 (FIG. 8D), and fixed to the first plate 60, for example by screwing and / or gluing, in the manner described above in connection with FIG. 6F.

Claims

1. Bracing device (100) for fixing at least one facing panel to the front of a structure (M), comprising

- a plate (60) provided with a generally planar face (62) of support for the facing panel (P), said support face (62) having at least a transverse dimension greater than or equal to 30 mm, of preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm, and

- a body (10) extending in an axial direction (X) and provided, at a front end (10a), with means (24) for its attachment to the plate (60) and, at a rear end (10b) opposite the front end (10a), means (14, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b) for its attachment to the structure (M).

2. Device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the minimum transverse dimension of the plate (60) is greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm.

3. Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body (10) comprises at its front end (10a) a rod (20) extending in the axial direction (X), and the plate (60) is adapted to be engaged on said rod (20) by a mounting opening (70) formed in said plate (60).

4. Device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the means for fixing the plate (60) on the rod (20) comprise primary ribs (24) formed at the periphery of a section (22) of said rod (20) and the plate (60) has at least one secondary rib (74) projecting towards the inside of the mounting opening (70), the secondary rib (74) being adapted to cooperate with primary ribs (24 ) for locking in translation of said plate (60) on the rod (20), in the axial direction (X).

5. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the bearing face (62) is provided with attachment means (80) able to cooperate with means for fixing the facing panel ( P).

6. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the bearing face (62) is textured, in particular provided with ribs or grooves, concentric (80) and / or radial (81), or honeycomb.

7. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the plate (60) comprises means (82a, 82b) for connection to a profile, in particular means for clip-on connection with slide of the plate with a profile, in particular at least one notch adapted to receive re-entrant edges of the profile in the manner of a clip.

8. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plate (60) is adapted to be fixed to the body (10) reversibly.

9. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the body (10) comprises

- a rod (20) extending in the axial direction (X), at its front end (10a),

a fixing base (12) carrying the means for fixing to the structure (14, 16a, 16b, 18a, 18b), and

- a mechanism for adjusting the length of the body in steps by relative sliding of the fixing base (12) and the rod (20).

10. Device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured so that the fixing base (12) and the rod (20) are adapted to slide relative to each other in the axial direction in a first relative angular position, and the fixing base (12) and the rod (20) are adapted to pivot towards a second relative angular position in which they are locked in axial translation in a plurality of adjustment positions staggered in the axial direction (X).

11. Device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the means for fixing it to the structure (M) comprise a second plate provided with a generally planar bearing face having at least one transverse dimension greater than or equal to 30 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 45 mm.

12. Set including

- at least one bracing device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11

- At least one facing panel (P), in direct support against the bearing face (62) of the plate (60) of the bracing device (100) and fixed to said plate (60).

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the facing panel (P) is fixed to the plate (60) by screws.

14. The assembly of claim 12 or 13, wherein the facing panel is fixed to the plate (60) by bonding means, in particular an adhesive or an adhesive element of film or tape type.

15. An assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising a layer of thermal and / or acoustic insulator (G) plugged on or interposed between the bracing devices (100).

16. Method for fixing at least one facing panel in front of a structure, comprising at least the following steps, in this order:

- a plurality of bracing devices (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 are provided,

- the bodies (10) of the bracing devices (100) are fixed to the structure (M), by their rear end,

- the plates (60) are fixed to the bodies (10) of the bracing devices (100), at their front end,

at least one facing panel (P) is placed in direct support on at least one plate (60), and

- The facing panel (P) is fixed to said at least one plate (60).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the facing panel (P) is fixed to the plate (60) by screwing.

18. The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the facing panel (P) is fixed to the plate (60) by gluing.

19. Method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, in which a layer of thermal and / or acoustic insulator (G) is plugged on the bracing devices (100), or in which a layer of thermal and / or acoustic insulator (G) between the bracing devices (100).