FR2546939A1 - Connection, and possibly suspension, component for intersecting furring elements belonging to different frameworks - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a component suitable for the connection, and possibly the suspension, of two intersecting furring elements 12A, 12B. According to the invention, it comprises, for this purpose, in combination, on the one hand, two tabs suitable for fastening it, by quarter-turn mounting, to a first one of the said furring elements, and, on the other hand, snap-fitting means suitable for fastening the other of the said furring elements to it. Application to the installation of a false ceiling 10.

Description

 The present invention relates generally to the suspension of a false ceiling on any floor or any slab.

 It relates more particularly to the case where such a suspension uses two different frameworks each formed from a network of parallel furs, said furs being crossed, that is to say established perpendicular to each other of one of said frameworks The other.

 It turns out that, at least in certain installations, it is desirable, in particular to minimize the anchoring points in the floor or the support slab, to successively provide, for the suspension of a false ceiling, two frameworks, namely, a first framework, or primary framework, which, formed of parallel furs, is suitably suspended from said floor or said slab, with a minimum number of anchoring points, and a second framework, or secondary framework, which , itself formed of furs arranged orthogonally with respect to the preceding ones, at a step possibly different from that of the latter, is itself suitably suspended from this primary framework, for fixing the plates or panels specific to the constitution of the false - sought ceiling.

 Most often, in practice, the furs used for the constitution of one and / or the other of these frameworks are profiles and each have two wings provided with angled returns directed towards one another. along their free edge.

 The present invention generally relates to a very simple piece of implementation and allowing the connection, from place to place, of two frames formed of such furs, and, possibly, and this is the case in one form. preferred embodiment, the suspension of the assembly to a floor or a slab.

 The connecting piece, and possibly of suspension, according to the invention, which is therefore intended for crossed furs belonging to different frameworks and each comprising two wings provided with angled returns directed towards each other along their free edge, is generally characterized in that, in combination, it comprises, on the one hand, directed in opposite directions with respect to each other, a pair of lugs suitable for its attachment by mounting in quarter turn on a first of said furs, and, on the other hand, latching means specific to the attachment to it of the other of said furs.

 In practice, the connecting piece, and optionally a suspension piece, according to the invention, is reduced to a plate and the lugs which it comprises protrude from said plate, extending parallel to the latter, the assembly coming for example in one piece of the same initial blank, in metallic practice, by appropriate cutting and shaping of such a blank.

 Anyway, the establishment of such a part on a fur of the primary framework is advantageously done by a simple quarter turn: presented parallel to the direction of allbngement of such fur, it is pivoted from 900 until the tabs it presents for this purpose engage on its square returns.

 It then suffices to hang a fur belonging to the secondary framework to have the desired connection.

 Indeed, the latching means which it presents for this purpose comprise laterally, in a manner known per se, two bearing surfaces each disposed respectively at the end of generally oblique edges on the longitudinal axis of the assembly: the fur snap-in of the secondary frame being engaged by one of its square returns on one of said support surfaces, it suffices to constrain it, by pivoting around its line of contact with the latter, to be followed, by its other square return, the generally oblique edge associated with the other of said support surfaces, until, when said square return reaching it, it engages in turn on this surface of support.

 Preferably, for the maintenance of such a fur, there is associated with said bearing surfaces a heel, which extends axially in the direction opposite to said bearing surfaces, and which constitutes with them conjugate abutment means.

 According to a development of the invention, and in accordance with the preferred embodiment mentioned above, the connecting part according to the invention can also constitute by itself a suspension part.

 To this end, it has, crosswise with the first, a second pair of legs, and, for its suspension from a hanger, it is associated with an auxiliary suspension part, which itself has an opening suitable for allowing the 'hooking on it by its second pair of legs, by a quarter-turn mounting of the same type as that described above, and which is adapted to be engaged with said hanger.

 Of course, if desired, such an auxiliary suspension part can be permanently fixed to the connecting part, and possibly of suspension, according to the invention, or even be in one piece with it, for example by cutting and appropriate shaping of the same initial blank.

 But, preferably, they are separate parts.

 The connecting piece, and optionally of suspens ion, according to the invention can thus be advantageously used at the single connection of two crossed furs, as indicated above, without expensive implementation of any unused auxiliary suspension piece in such a case.

 In addition, the connecting piece, and possibly the suspension piece, according to the invention, and the auxiliary suspension piece which is associated with it, can advantageously, in the case of separate pieces, be made of different materials, more appropriate to their respective functions.

 In the case of steel parts, for example, the grades of steel used can advantageously be different in both cases.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which
Figure 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating the implementation of the connecting piece, and optionally suspension, according to the invention
Figure 2 is an elevational view of this connecting piece, and optionally of suspension, along arrow II of Figure 3
Figure 3 is a side view, along the arrow
III of figure 2
Figure 4 is a plan view, along the arrow
Figure 2 IV
Figure 5 is a larger scale, a partial view in axial section along the line VV of Figure 2
Figure 6 is an elevational view, along arrow VI of Figure 7, of an auxiliary suspension part capable of being associated with the connecting part, and possibly of suspension, according to the invention;
Figure 7 is a side view of this auxiliary suspension part, according to arrow VII of Figure 6
Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 and relates to an alternative embodiment.

 As illustrated in Figure 1, it is to suspend any false ceiling 10, formed of any plates.

or panels 11 suitably placed side by side, on any floor or on any support slab, not shown, by successive implementation, horizontally, in two different layers, on the one hand, of a primary framework 12A, and , on the other hand, of a secondary framework 12B, the said frameworks 12A, 12B each being respectively formed of parallel furs 13A 13B arranged orthogonally to each other, and therefore crossed, of one of these frameworks 12A, 12B to l 'other.

 The primary frame 12A is intended to be hung, from place to place, by lines 14, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1, on the floor or the support slab concerned, while the frame 12B is intended to bring the false ceiling 10, being itself properly hung, from place to place, as detailed below, to the primary framework 12A.

 In the. form of implementation illustrated in the figures, the furs 13A, 13B constituting these frames 12A, 12B are identical to each other, for an advantageous simplification of supplies.

 In practice, these are profiles, produced for example by folding with rollers, and they each comprise a bottom 15 and two lateral wings 16 provided with angled returns 18 directed towards each other along their free edge.

 In the embodiment shown, bottom 15 and lateral wings 16 are from place to place assigned longitudinally of stiffening ribs 20 projecting inward, the bottom 15 having in particular a stiffening rib 20 along its midline.

 In this embodiment, in addition, the angle returns 18 are folded back on themselves, for their own stiffening.

 Such furs 13A, 13B are well known in themselves, and not forming part of the present invention, they are not described in more detail here.

 It will suffice to emphasize that, overall, they have in cross section a C-shaped profile which is inscribed in a rectangle, the wings 16 being substantially perpendicular to the bottom 15 which they frame.

 Traditionally, the furs 13B constituting the secondary framework 12B are arranged with their bottom 15 parallel to the floor or to the support slab to be fitted, to enable it to be brought there; for example by screwing, on the external face of such a bottom 15, the plates or panels 11 constituting the false ceiling 10 to be put in place.

 On the other hand, the furs 13A constituting the primary framework 12A are arranged with their bottom 15 perpendicular to the floor or to the support slab to be fitted.

 According to the invention, the attachment of the secondary frame 12B to the primary frame 12A is done using connecting pieces, and possibly suspension, 22.

 Such a connecting piece, and possibly a suspension piece, 22, shown in isolation in FIGS. 2 to 4, is generally characterized in that, in combination, it comprises, on the one hand, directed in opposite directions. relative to each other, a pair of lugs 23 suitable for hooking it by quarter-turn mounting on a fur 13A of the primary framework 12A, and, on the other hand, as detailed below, latching means specific to the attachment on it of a fur 13B of the secondary framework 12B.

 In the embodiment shown, the connecting piece, and optionally of suspension, 22 according to the invention is essentially reduced to a plate 25, formed for example by cutting and shaping suitable any blank, and , in practice, of any metallic blank.

 The tabs 23 which it comprises protrude from said plate 25, on the same side of the latter, extending parallel to this plate, and each connected to it by a foot 26.

 In practice, the tabs 23 are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the plate 25, each being directed respectively towards the ends of the latter, and they are each formed by means of a puncture 27 of this plate.

 The foot 26 by which they each connect to the plate 25 preferably has, as shown, a rounded profile.

 At their end, they are themselves at least partially rounded.

 Preferably, however, and as shown, only the edges of the end of each of the legs 23 are thus rounded, the end edge of said legs 23 being itself truncated, perpendicular to their direction of elongation, and therefore perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plate 25, and for reasons which will appear below, the distance D1 separating one from the other the end sections, thus truncated from these legs 23, is made slightly greater than that separating one from the other the side wings 16 of the furs 13A.

In addition, the distance D2 separating the feet 26 from the legs 23 from one another, measured between their external faces
opposite, Figure 2, is substantially equal to that separating from one another the square returns 18 of the furs 13A, while being slightly less than the latter, and the distance d from which such a tab 23 is separated from the plate 25, Figure 5, is substantially equal to the thickness of such a return square 23, while being slightly greater than the latter.

 As a corollary, the latching means that a connecting piece, and possibly a suspension piece, 22 according to the invention comprise, laterally, two bearing surfaces 30 each disposed respectively on either side of the longitudinal axis of the 'together at the end of edges 32 generally oblique with respect to said axis.

 In the embodiment shown, said generally oblique edges 32 are rounded.

 According to the invention, the bearing surfaces 30 is associated with a heel 29, which extends axially in the direction opposite to said bearing surfaces 30, and which constitutes with them conjugate abutment means.

 In practice, the heel 29 and the bearing surfaces 30 are arranged at the lower end of the plate 25, which is transversely widened.

 The heel 29 extends downward along the longitudinal axis of the assembly.

 In the embodiment shown, it has, transversely, only a limited extension, and it is therefore axially projecting from the corresponding end edge of the plate 25.

 In the median zone of its free edge, it has a notch 33, by which, as will appear below, it is adapted to engage transversely on the stiffening rib 20 which has, along its median line, the bottom 15 of a fur 13B.

 In the embodiment shown, the bearing surfaces 30 that comprises the connecting piece, and possibly of suspension, 22 according to the invention each belong respectively to two tongues 35 which extend substantially perpendicularly to the plate 25, of the same side of it.

 They form the upper surface, opposite the heel 29, of these tongues 35, and these are established by means of recesses which form laterally, relative to the current part of said plate 25, the enlarged lower end of this one. this.

 In the embodiment more particularly shown in Figures 1 to 4, the tongues 35 are transversely flush with the end of the generally oblique edges 32 with which they are associated, and, in plan, Figure 4, they have a generally rectangular outline .

 In addition, in this embodiment, they extend both on the side of the plate 25 opposite the legs 23 which the latter carries.

 In the embodiments shown, the connecting piece, and possibly of suspension, 22 according to the invention having to effectively constitute a suspension piece, it has a second pair of lugs 37, in cross with the first pair of lugs 23.

 Like the legs 23, the legs 37 protrude from the plate 25, extending parallel to the latter, and each connecting to it by a foot 38.

 Like the legs 23, too, they are each formed by means of a flat 39 in the plate 25.

 Finally, as for the legs 23, the foot 38 by which each of them is connected to the plate 25 has a rounded profile, and, at their end, they themselves have a rounded profile.

 But, unlike the legs 23, the rounded profile of their end is not truncated.

 In practice, in the embodiments shown, the lugs 37 protrude from the plate 25 on the side of the latter opposite the lugs 23.

 They extend transversely with respect to this plate 25, that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the latter along which the legs 23 extend, between said legs 23.

 Finally, they extend in opposite directions with respect to each other, each in the direction of the corresponding lateral edge of the plate 25.

 As is easy to understand, and as already underlined, the connecting piece, and possibly of suspension, 22 according to the invention can easily be produced from any blank, and in practice from any metal blank, by cutting and shaping thereof, plate 25, legs 23 and 37, tabs 35 and heel 29 thus being in one piece.

 It is associated, in practice, with an auxiliary suspension part 40, for its suspension from a hanger 14.

 In the embodiment shown, this auxiliary suspension part 40 is in the general form of a stirrup comprising a base 41, and, each disposed respectively on either side thereof, two elastically deformable wings 42, which, for their rest configuration, as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, extend substantially obliquely relative to the base 41, diverging from one another from the latter.

 In the illustrated embodiment, the hanger 14 being a simple round rod, the wings 42 of the auxiliary suspension part 40 each have, in correspondence with one another, a hole 43r of circular outline, for their engagement on such a rod.

 As it is easy to understand, and in a manner known per se, such engagement supposes the bringing together, one with respect to the other, of the wings 42, and these, once released, tending to resiliently resume their initial rest configuration, they are blocked by jamming on the hanger 14, on which they are engaged, and thus ensure, by anchoring, proper maintenance of the assembly on such a hanger.

 According to the invention, the base 41 of such an auxiliary ion suspension part 40 has, in its central zone, an opening 45 adapted to allow it to be hooked onto a connecting part, and possibly of suspension part 22 according to the invention, by the second pair of legs 37 thereof, and following a quarter-turn mounting.

 To this end, this opening 45 is elongated in a buttonhole, with a direction of elongation going from one of the wings 42 to the other; its outline is, by its ends, of sufficient size to allow penetration of the legs 37, its total length D3 being substantially equal to the length separating from one another the end of these legs 37, and in practice slightly greater than this, and, in its median zone, it has, facing one another, two notches in a half-moon 47, the maximum deviation of which D4 is substantially equal to the distance separating one on the other, the feet 38 of said legs 37 while being slightly higher than the latter, and whose profile is complementary to that of said feet 38.

The fitting of a fur 13A of the primary framework 12A is done as follows
For each of the lines 14 provided for such an installation, we proceed, first, to assembly, on an auxiliary suspension part 40, of a connecting part, and possibly of suspension, 22 according to the invention .

 This assembly is done by presenting such a connecting piece, and optionally a suspension piece, 22 and such an auxiliary suspension piece 40 in a cross, so that the tabs 37 of the first penetrate into the opening 45 of the second, then by straightening the connecting piece, and possibly the suspension piece, 22, so that its legs 37 come to engage on the base 41 of the auxiliary suspension piece 40, by means of the half-moon notches 47 of the opening 45 thereof, as shown schematically in broken lines in FIG. 6, and as shown in solid line in FIG. 1.

 A quarter turn assembly is therefore sufficient for such an assembly, the relative movement of the two parts in question one with respect to the other assuming only a pivoting of 900 of one of these parts with respect to the other between the position in which they are presented to each other for this assembly and the position they occupy in relation to each other at the end of it.

 Each of the connecting parts, and possibly of suspension parts 22 according to the invention, thus equipped, on one of its faces, with an auxiliary suspension part 40, is presented, by the other of these faces, on the right of the fur 13A to be used, being disposed substantially parallel to the direction of elongation thereof, then, following a quarter-turn assembly comparable to the previous one, it is straightened with respect to such fur, so that, bearing by its plate 25 on the square returns 18 thereof, its legs 23 each engage respectively on each of these returns, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines, in FIG. 3.

 In practice, due to the dimensional conditions specified above, the pivoting necessary for ul1 such engagement, favored by the rounded edges 23, supposes a moderate elastic spacing of the lateral wings 16 of fur 13A considered, and, in its term, bearing on said wings by the truncated end edge of said legs, the connecting piece, and possibly, suspension, 22 according to the invention, is advantageously locked in rotation on said fur 13A.

 Of course, along the fur 13A, it is thus put in place, from place to place, as many connecting pieces, and possibly of suspension, 22 according to the invention equipped with an auxiliary suspension piece 40 that it there are lines 14 provided for such fur 13A.

 The fur 13A thus equipped is presented at the right of the corresponding lines 14, and, by action on the wings 42 of the auxiliary suspension parts 40 concerned, it is engaged on these lines 14 and suitably adjusted in height with respect to these, according to the process described above.

 This is done for all the furs 13A to be used for the constitution of the primary framework 12A.

The fitting of a fur 13B of the secondary framework 12B is then carried out in the following manner
The corresponding connecting pieces, and possibly of suspension, 22 being substantially aligned from one fur 13A to the other, the fur 13B to be put in place is engaged, by one of its returns at square 18, on the surfaces support 30 of said connecting parts, and possibly suspension, 22 on the same side thereof, then it is pivoted about its line of contact with these bearing surfaces 30, so that its other back to square 18 comes to bear on the generally oblique edge 32 opposite of said connecting parts, and possibly of suspension, 22, and, following this generally oblique edge 32, comes to engage in turn, by elastic deformation, on the surface corresponding support 30 of said connecting parts, and possibly of suspension, 22, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 2.

 Thus, the mounting of such a fur 13B is done by simple snap-fastening.

 In practice, a slight clearance may remain between the wings 16 of such a fur 13B and the end of the oblique edges 32 of the connecting parts, and possibly of suspension, 22 on which it is engaged.

 However, any substantial vertical movement with respect to them is prohibited because of the combined abutment means which constitute for it the bearing surfaces 30 and the heel 29 of these connecting parts, and possibly of suspension, 22.

 As will be understood, the tongues 35 of a connecting piece, and possibly of suspension, 22 according to the invention allow, by abutment against the wings 16 of a fur 13B, to avoid that by a movement fortuitous relative pivoting, such a connecting piece, and possibly of suspension, 22 does not come to escape from such fur 13B, or vice versa.

 In practice, also, the furs 13B necessary for the constitution of the framework 12B most often having to be established at a pitch greater than that of the furs 13A, it is used, whenever necessary, from place to place , and as illustrated in FIG. 1, connecting pieces, and possibly suspension pieces, 22 according to the invention ensuring only one connecting function, between two furs 13A, 13B, and no longer also a function suspension.

 For these connecting parts, and possibly suspension parts, 22, which are no longer subjected to lines 14 opposing their tilting, the rotation blocking on the furs 13A described above makes it possible to avoid that the locking of the furs 13B they are effectively the object of an untimely tilting which would lead them to escape the furs 13A.

 The furs 13B of the secondary frame 12B being in abutment against the heel 29 of the connecting parts, and possibly of suspension, 22 according to the invention on which they are snapped on, it is easy, then, to attach thereto, for example by screwing, the plates or panels i1 to be used for the constitution of the desired false ceiling 10.

 According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the tongues 35 that a connecting piece, and possibly a suspension piece, 22 according to the invention are slightly set back relative to the end of the generally oblique edges 32 with which they are associated , to favor the snap-fastening of a fur, and their outer edge is chamfered at its end.

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant.

 In particular, for at least those which must be subjected to a hanger, the connecting parts, and possibly of suspension, according to the invention do not necessarily include lateral tabs for their locking in rotation on the furs of the secondary framework; in fact the width, or transverse dimension, of the auxiliary suspension part which is then associated with them, or at least of the lower part thereof, can if desired be made sufficient to ensure this blocking in rotation, this width, or transverse dimension, then being made substantially equal to the distance between returns in square of the furs of the secondary frame, while being slightly less than this distance, for cooperation with said returns in square, by penetration between them.

 Likewise, it is not necessary, although this is desirable, for the furs to be used for both of the frames to be identical.

 Finally, the lines can be any, the auxiliary suspension part, suitably shaped for this purpose, which can advantageously allow the adaptation of the suspension part, and possibly of suspension, according to the invention to any type of hanger .

Claims (14)

 1. connecting piece, and possibly suspension piece, for crossed furs (13A, 13B) belonging to different frameworks (12A, 12B) and each comprising two wings (16) provided with angle returns (18) directed one towards the other along their free edge, characterized in that, in combination, it comprises, on the one hand, directed in opposite directions with respect to each other, a pair of legs (23) suitable for its hooking by quarter-turn mounting on a first (13A) of said furs, and, on the other hand, latching means (30,32) suitable for hooking on it the other (13B) of said furs.  2. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension piece, according to claim 1, characterized in that, being reduced to a plate (25), said tabs (23) project from said plate (25), extending parallel to this one.  3. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension, according to claim 2, characterized in that said tabs (23) are each formed in favor of a punctured (27) of said plate (25)  4. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension, according to any one of claims 2, 3, characterized in that the foot (26) by which each of said legs (23) is connected to said plate (25) has a profile round.  5. Connecting piece, and optionally suspension, according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, at their end, said legs (23) are at least partially rounded, while preferably having a slice d end truncated perpendicular to their direction of elongation.  6. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension piece, according to claim 5, characterized in that the distance D1 separating from one another the end sections thus truncated, of said tabs (23) is made slightly greater than that separating one from the other the wings (16) of the furs (13A) in question.  7. Connecting piece, and optionally suspension, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said latching means comprise two bearing surfaces (30) each disposed respectively on either side of the longitudinal axis of the assembly, at the end of edges t32) generally oblique with respect to said axis, characterized in that, to said bearing surfaces (30) is associated a heel (29), which extends axially in the opposite direction to said bearing surfaces (30), and which constitutes with them combined stop means.  8. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension, according to claim 7, characterized in that, being reduced to a plate (25), said bearing surfaces (30) each belong respectively to two tongues (35) which are extend substantially perpendicular to said plate (25).  9. Connecting piece and possibly suspension, according to claim 8, characterized in that said tongues (35) are transversely slightly recessed relative to the end of the generally oblique edges (32) with which they are associated.  10. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension piece, according to any one of claims 8,9, characterized in that the outer edge of said tongues (35) is chamfered at its end.  11. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it has a second pair of legs (37) r cross with the first.  12. Connecting piece, e-. ópendant suspension, according to claims 2 and 11, taken together, characterized in that the second pair of legs (37) extends from the side of the plate (25) opposite to the first.  13. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension piece, according to any one of claims 11, 12, characterized in that, for its suspension from a hanger (14), there is associated with it an auxiliary suspension piece (40), which has an opening (45) suitable for allowing it to be hooked onto it by its second pair of legs (37), by a quarter-turn mounting, and which is adapted to be engaged with said hanger (14).  14. Connecting piece, and possibly suspension piece, according to claim 13, characterized in that the width, or transverse dimension, of the auxiliary suspension piece (40) associated therewith, or at least of the lower part of that -ci, is substantially equal to the distance between square returns (18) of the furs (13B) in question, while being slightly less than this distance.