FR2719089A1 - Automatically fastening clip for assembling partition to section - Google Patents

Abstract

The removable partition (2,3) and a section (4) are assembled by an elastic clip (6) mounted in the gutter (5). One of the partition edges (2a,3a) abuts against one of the gutter lateral walls (5b) and one of the partition internal faces (2b,3b) abuts against the section assembly face (4a).The clip has a U-shaped base whose lateral faces have outwards projecting lugs (9) which lock the clip in position in the gutter as the lugs are forced into contact with the gutter lateral walls. A part of the clip base lateral face is extended at the top by an L-shaped locking web whose branch (10b) overlaps the external face of the partition. The two lateral faces of the clip are extended in the upper part by two facing ratchet feet (11) forming an internal groove (12) in which is ratcheted the cover joint (7).

Description

DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING A REMOVABLE PARTITION AND A
PROFILE. USING ELASTIOUES SELF-LOCATING CLIPS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A CLIP
The main object of the present invention is a device for assembling a removable partition and a profile, by means of one or more elastic clips, which are mounted in a longitudinal gutter of the profile, and which allow both to lock the partition in position relative to the profile, and to put in place a joint cover along the gutter of the profile. It relates more particularly to such an assembly device, in which the clip is self-locking. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a self-locking clip.

 It is known, in particular from document FR2.630.145, to assemble a removable partition and a profile, by means of elastic clips, which come to be mounted in the longitudinal groove of the profile, and which make it possible to perform both the function of fixing a joint cover, and the function of locking in position of the partition. In this document, the clip consists of a spring steel blade, which is profiled to have a body in the form of a loop, which body is terminated, on either side of a groove, by lateral wings. At least one of these wings is a long wing, which straddles the partition, by applying it against the profile, when the loop-shaped body of the clip is placed in the gutter of the profile. This gutter necessarily has two internal longitudinal grooves, which allow to elastically tighten the body in the form of a loop, when the latter is introduced into the gutter. Once this clip has been placed in the gutter, it is locked in position using a joint cover, comprising a rigid central part, which snaps into the groove delimited by the two wings side of the clip, preventing it from tightening. The main disadvantage of these clips is that they are not reliably locked in position until the joint cover has been put in place. As a result, in the absence of a joint cover, the partitions are not reliably locked in position. Another drawback of this mounting device is that it requires the use of gutters having a particular profile, due to the presence of the internal longitudinal ribs, for tightening the clip.

 The main object of the invention is to provide an assembly device, which uses clips to ensure the dual function of locking in position of the partition relative to the profile and fixing a joint cover, but which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks in that they are self-locking, that is to say that they lock themselves reliably in the gutter of the profile, and do not need to be locked in position by the joint cover.

This object is perfectly achieved by the device of the invention, allowing
I'assembly of a removable partition and a profile of which at least one of the faces, called assembly face, comprises a longitudinal gutter. In known manner, in particular in document FR.2.630.145, one of the edges of the partition abuts against one of the side walls of the gutter, and one of the faces of the partition, called the internal face, comes in abutment against the assembly face of the profile, the partition is locked in position against the profile by means of at least one elastic clip which is mounted in the gutter, and on which a joint cover is snapped.

According to the invention, the clip comprises in the lower part, a base in the form of
U, each side face of which is provided with at least one locking lug projecting outwards, so that the clip is perfectly locked in position in the channel of the profile by the two locking lugs which come into force by contact side walls of the gutter; in addition, at least one lateral face of the base of the clip is extended at the top by an L-shaped locking wing, one branch of which overlaps the external face of the partition, and the two lateral faces of the base of the clip extend in the upper part by at least two snap-on lugs, facing each other, delimiting an inner groove which is narrower than the base of the clip, and into which the cover is snapped attached.

 To assemble the partition and the profile, one or more clips are put into place in the gutter, by forcefully inserting the base of each clip between the two side walls of the gutter. Each clip is then in contact with the interior of the gutter, only through its two locking lugs. Due to the presence of these two pins, the clip is extremely difficult to remove from the gutter, and the partition is perfectly held in place by the clip's locking wing. Once all the clips have been put in place, and are therefore perfectly locked in position, a joint cover is fixed, by snapping it into the narrower inner groove formed by the clips' snap tabs.

 In a preferred embodiment, it has been sought to optimize the size of the clip, by reducing the width of the latching tabs, in favor of that of the partition locking wing, so that a wing of locking has a sufficient surface to ensure its locking function in position of the partition.

However, this reduction in the width of the latching tabs in favor of the width of the locking flange comes at the expense of the reliability of the fixing of the joint cover. In order to overcome this problem, in a preferred embodiment, at least one lateral face of the base of the clip is extended at the top by a central locking wing and two latching tabs of smaller width, located symmetrically on the side and on the other side of the central locking wing. Thanks to this particular arrangement of the latching lugs relative to the locking wing, it is possible to obtain a latching of the joint cover which is reliable, with a very small latching lug width.

 In a particular embodiment, the joint cover has two fixing wings which each have a longitudinal retaining bead, and which tighten elastically towards one another when the catching of the joint cover is made on the clip, passing each retaining bead through the inner groove of the snap tabs. In this case, the upper end of each clip latching lug is preferably supported on the side wall of the gutter, when fitting the joint cover, so as to make the latching of this cover more reliable seal.

 Another subject of the invention is a manufacturing method which makes it possible to obtain a preferred embodiment of a self-locking clip, and which has the advantage on the one hand of being able to be very easily implemented by operations simple cutting and shaping of a rectangular metal plate, and on the other hand not requiring or almost no removal of material.

 According to the invention, this manufacturing process consists of a) practicing in the central area of a rectangular metal plate, at least two substantially U-shaped cutouts, symmetrical to one another with respect to the transverse axis and centered on the longitudinal axis of the plate, so as to produce at least two locking lugs, b) to be practiced in each end zone of the plate and symmetrically with respect to both the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis of the plate, a first transverse cut of small width from a longitudinal edge of the plate followed by a second longitudinal cut, so as to produce at least four latching tabs, c) folding the plate by giving it substantially the shape of a U, d) to fold outward of the U formed by the plate, the part of each end zone of the plate located beyond the cutouts made in step b) so to form each branch a locking wing intended to overlap a partition, e) spreading towards the outside of the U, the locking pins produced in step a) so as to make them protruding, f) in bending each latching tab produced in step b) by giving it substantially the shape of a V, the point of which is oriented towards the inside of the U.

 Of course, the above succession of steps a) to f) is not necessarily carried out in this chronological order. Indeed, it is possible within the framework of the invention, for example to reverse the order of the cutting steps a) and b), or even to carry out in a different order the shaping steps c) paf) .

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of an assembly device of the invention, which is given by way of nonlimiting example, and with reference to the appended drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a top view of an assembly device comprising a tubular profile on which four partitions are assembled by means of two self-locking clips of the invention, one of the two clips further receiving by snap-fastening a joint cover, - Figure 2 is a perspective representation of the clips of Figure 1, - Figures 3A and 3B are side views of the clip of Figure 2, - Figure 4 is a view flat of the clip of FIG. 2, making it possible to illustrate the steps for manufacturing this clip, - and FIG. 5 is a top view of an assembly device forming part of the known state of the art, and described in particular in the documen t FR.2.630. 145.

 FIG. 5 shows a device 1 ′ which has been described in document FR2,630,145, and which allows the assembly of two partitions 2 ′ and 3 ′ on a profile 4 ′, comprising a longitudinal gutter 5 ′. This assembly is carried out by means of an elastic clip 6 'and a joint cover 7'. The elastic clip 6 'has a body 6'a in the form of a loop, which is terminated on either side of a groove 6'b, by a long wing 6' ~ and a short wing 6 '~. The gutter 5 'of the profile 4' has two internal longitudinal ribs S'a which allow the clip 6 'to be locked, when the loop-shaped body 6'a is introduced between the two ribs 5'9.

This pre-locking of the clip 6 'is not reliable, and does not allow the clip 6' to ensure its function of holding in position the removable partition 2 'against the profile 4', by means of its wing. long 6'ç. To obtain reliable locking of the clip in position in the gutter 5 ', use the joint cover 7', which has a rigid central part 7'a, which snaps into the groove 6'b of the clip 6 ', so to prevent it from tightening enough so that the clip 6 'is released from the groove. Once the Test joint cover is in place, the partition 2 'is held in position by both the long wing 6' ~ of the clip 6 'and by the joint cover 7', while the partition 3 'is maintained against the profile 4 ′ only by means of the joint cover T. It is understood that with such clips locked in position by fitting a joint cover, it is imperative to quickly install the joint covers, if one wishes to avoid any risk of disassembly of the partitions with respect to the profile. In practice, as soon as all the clips have been placed in the gutter of a profile, we immediately lock them in position using a joint cover.

 In comparison, there is shown in Figure 1, a device I of the invention which allows the assembly of two pairs of partitions 2 and 3 relative to a profile 4, on either side of two longitudinal gutters 5 of the profile. This device of the invention uses elastic clips 6, which allow the snap-fastening of a joint cover 7, but which have the main characteristic of being self-locking when they are placed in a gutter 5, unlike the clip 6 'of figure 5.

 In a preferred variant of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, the clip 6 comprises in the lower part 61, a base 8 substantially in the shape of a U, the lateral faces 8a of which are each provided with a locking pin 9 which makes protruding outwards from the U formed by the base 8. If reference is made to FIG. 3A, the lower part 6a of the clip 6 corresponds to the part of the clip situated below the separation line AA. In the upper part 6h, that is to say in the part of the clip 6 located above the line AA, each lateral face 8a of the base 8 is extended by a central locking wing 10 in the shape of an L, and two latching tabs 11 of smaller width, which are located on either side of the central locking wing 10, and which are symmetrical to one another with respect to this locking wing. Each locking wing 10 comprises a first branch which comes in the extension of the corresponding side face 8a of the base 8, and a second branch 10k making substantially a right angle with the first branch 10a and oriented towards the outside of the U formed by the base 8 of the clip 6. The four latching tabs 11 of the clip 6, of which only three of them are visible in FIG. 2, each have substantially the shape of a V whose tip 11k is oriented inwards of the U formed by the base 8 of the clip. In addition, each latching lug 1 1 located in the extension of a side face 8a are located opposite a latching lug 1 1 located in the extension of the opposite side face 89. Thus two latching lugs 1 1 opposite each other define between their points 1 lb an internal groove 12 whose width 1 is less than the width d of the base 8 of the clip 6 (Figure 3A) .

The grooves 12 delimited respectively by each pair of latching tabs 11, on either side of the central locking wings 10, are substantially aligned with respect to each other.

 The clip 6 can advantageously be very simply manufactured in a metal plate 13, of rectangular shape and of small thickness. This manufacturing process will now be detailed with reference to FIG. 4.

In a central zone Z1 of the plate 13, which zone corresponds to the lower part 6a of the clip, two cutouts 14 are practically substantially in the form of
U, which are each symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis 13a of the plate 13 and which are symmetrical with each other with respect to the transverse axis 13b of the plate 13 (step a). The two locking lugs 9 of the clip 6 are thus produced. Then, in each end zone Z2 and Z3 of the plate 13, one practices symmetrically with respect to both the longitudinal axis 13a and the transverse axis 13b of the plate 13, a transverse cut 15 of small width from a longitudinal edge of the plate, followed by a longitudinal cut 16 (step b). The four latching tabs 11 of the clip 6 are thus produced. Steps a) and b) which have just been described can of course be carried out in reverse order. Then, the plate 13 is folded along two transverse fold lines BB, so as to give it substantially the shape of a U (step c).

The base 8 of the clip 6 is thus formed. The portion of each end zone Z2 and Z3 situated beyond the cutouts 15 and 16 made in step b is folded outwardly of this U, along a transverse fold line CC, so as to form the second branch 10h from each locking wing 10 (step d). We move outwards from the U, the locking lugs 9 of the clip 6 produced in step a), (step e), then the four latching tabs 1 1 formed in step b) are shaped. , by bending them towards the inside of the U. The above manufacturing steps make it possible to obtain a clip quite similar to the clip of FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B. However, to obtain exactly the clip of FIG. 2, it is necessary to include in the manufacturing process an additional cutting step, making it possible to give the ends 1a of each of the latching tabs 11 a pointed shape, by making for example a small V-shaped cutout at the end 11a of these latching tabs II. This pointed shape given to the ends 11a of the latching tabs is an optional improvement made to the clip 6.

 If one refers to FIG. 3A, the shaping of the latching tabs is done in such a way that the end I la of each latching tab it is located outside the U formed by the clip 6, when this clip is at rest. This results in a distance between two ends 11a of two latching lugs 11 facing each other, which is greater than the width d of the base 8 of the clip 6. This distance d is however less than the distance D separating the two edges 9a of each locking lug 9, which protrude relative to the lateral faces 8a of the base 8 of the clip.

 Referring now to Figure 1, the tubular profile 4, having two opposite assembly faces 4a Each of these assembly faces 4a has a longitudinal gutter 5, substantially U-shaped, with a bottom 5a and two side walls 5b. The inner face of each side wall 5b of a gutter 5 is further provided over its entire length, near the bottom 5a, with a series of longitudinal grooves 5c, which in Figure 1 are three in number. When for example the partition 2 is put in place with respect to the profile 4, its longitudinal edge 2a abuts against one of the side walls 5b of the gutter S, while the internal face 2k of the partition 2 abuts against the assembly face 4g of the profile 4. The partition 3 comes symmetrically with respect to the gutter 5 is applied against the profile 4. When two partitions 2.3 are positioned with respect to the profile 4, it is put in place in the longitudinal gutter S of the profile several clips 6 as will now be described.

The number of clips 6 used depends on the height of the partitions 2 and 3, that is to say on the length of the longitudinal edges 2a and 3a of these two partitions, which come into contact with the gutter 5.

 The width L of each gutter 5 is greater than the width g of the base 8 of a clip 6, but is less than the distance D separating the two projecting edges 9a of the locking lugs 9. Thus, the introduction of a clip 6 inside the gutter 5 is made by force. The clip 6 being produced in a spring steel, which gives it a slight elasticity, the introduction of the base 8 of the clip 6 into the gutter 5 is accompanied by a slight tightening of the lateral faces 8a of this base 8. If the 'We refer to Figure 3A, each side face 8g makes an angle a of a few degrees, relative to the vertical. Thus, the tightening of the side faces 8a of the clip 6 during its introduction advantageously makes it possible to bring each side face 8j in a plane substantially parallel to the side walls 5b of the gutter 5. Once the clip 6 is introduced into the gutter 5, the branch lOb of each locking wing 10 is perfectly applied against the external face 2c or 3c of the partition 2 or 3. If we refer to the clip 6 mounted in the lower gutter 5 of the profile 4, when the clip is put in place in the gutter 5, and that no joint cover has been put in place, the clip 6 comes into contact with the interior of the gutter only by means of its locking lugs 9, which come s anchoring in the longitudinal grooves 5c of the gutter 5, by means of their projecting edge 9a. The clip is thus perfectly locked in position, and thereby ensures reliable blocking of the partitions 2 and 3 relative to the profile 4. In practice that, once a clip 6 has been put in place, it is impossible to remove it manually from the gutter 5, without using a tool. Thanks to this principle of self-locking clip, it is possible, on a site, to set up all of the removable partitions by means of clips 6. The assembly of the joint covers can therefore advantageously be carried out at the end of the site, during the finishing operations, once all the partitions have been fitted.

 Referring to FIG. 1, the joint cover 7 which is preferably used in the assembly device of the invention, with the clip 6 which has been described, is a particular joint cover 7, with in the central part two divergent attachment wings 7a, terminated by two longitudinal retaining beads 7b. These two fixing wings 7a have the characteristic of being able to be tightened elastically with respect to one another. Thus, when the joint cover 7 is introduced into the internal grooves 12 delimited by the two pairs of latching lugs 1 1 of the clips 6, the longitudinal flanges 7k of the joint cover 7 first come into contact with the lugs d 'snap 11, at their inner point Ilh. When the joint cover 7 is at rest, the distance separating the two beads 7b is slightly greater than the width d of each groove 12 of a clip 6 at rest. It should be noted that the introduction of the clip 6 into the gutter 5 results in a slight approximation of the latching tabs opposite, and thereby a slight decrease in this width d. The pressure exerted by the beads 7b of the joint cover 7 on the latching lugs 1 1 results initially in a very slight spacing of these latching lugs, until their ends 1 1; come into contact with the internal face of the side walls 5b of the gutter 5. Then, since these side tabs 11a are rigid and their ends 1 rest on the side walls 5b of the gutter 5, they offer resistance to the introduction of the joint cover, which results in an elastic approximation of the two locking wings 7a of the joint cover, until the beads 7b have passed through each internal groove 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The joint cover is thus perfectly locked in position between the latching tabs 11 of the clips 6 mounted in the gutter 5. The pointed profile of the ends 1a of the latching tabs 1 1 has the function of facilitating the attachment of the ends 11a of the latching tabs 11, during the passage of the retaining beads 7b between the latching tabs.

 In a specific embodiment of a clip 6 intended to be mounted in a gutter 5 of width L of approximately 10 mm, the width d of the base of the clip was 8 mm, the distance D between locking pins was approximately 12 mm, the width I of the interior grooves 12 of the clip before introduction into the gutter was approximately 7mm.

 In addition, the width e of each latching tab 11 was about 3mm, and the width e 'of the branch 10; of a central locking wing 10 was worth approximately 6mm (Figure 3B). Grke at their particular disposition on either side of the locking wing, the latching lugs 1 1 of a clip 6 made it possible to obtain a very reliable fixing of the joint cover, although their width e is small.

Claims (6)

I. Device for assembling a removable partition (2,3) and a profile (4) of which at least one of the faces (4a), called the assembly face, comprises a longitudinal gutter (5), device in which on the one hand one of the edges (2,3a) of the partition (2,3) abuts against one of the side walls (Sb) of the gutter (S) and one of the faces (26 , 3of the partition (2,3), called the inner face, abuts against the assembly face (430 of the profile, and in which on the other hand the partition (2,3) is locked in position against the profile ( 4) by means of at least one elastic clip which is mounted in the gutter (5) and on which a joint cover is snapped on, characterized in that the clip (6) comprises in the lower part (6a), a U-shaped base (8), each side face (8a) of which is provided with at least one locking lug (9) projecting outwards, so that the clip (6) is perfectly locked in position in the gutter (S) of the profile (4) by the two locking lugs (9) which forcefully come into contact with the side walls (5b) of the gutter1 and in that on the one hand at least one lateral face (8 ~) of the base (8) of the clip ( 6) extends in the upper part (6b), by an L-shaped locking wing (10), one branch (10 of which overlaps the external face of the partition, and on the other hand the two lateral faces (8;) of the clip (6) are extended in the upper part (6b) by at least two latching tabs (11), facing each other and delimiting between them an inner groove (12) which is more as narrow as the base (8) of the clip and into which the joint cover (7) snaps. 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the inner face of each side wall (5b) of the gutter of the profile comprises one or more longitudinal grooves (5c) which have been made near the bottom (5S) of the gutter ( 5), and in which the projecting edge (9) of each locking lug (9) of the clip (6) is anchored. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that at least one lateral face (8;) of the base (8) of the clip is extended at the top (6k) by a central locking wing (10) and two latching lugs (11) of smaller width, located symmetrically on either side of the central locking wing (10). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the joint cover (7) has two fixing wings (7a) which each comprise a longitudinal bead (7k) for retaining, and which mistakenly tighten one towards the other when the joint cover (7) is snapped onto the clip (6) by passing each retaining bead (7k) through the internal groove (12) of the snap tabs (11) of the clip (6). 5. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the upper end (lla) of each latching tab (11) of the clip (6) bears on the side wall (5b) of the gutter (5), during the installation of the joint cover (7), so as to obtain a snap-fit of the joint cover (7) more reliable. 6. A method of manufacturing a clip used in the assembly device of one of claims 3 to 5 characterized in that it consists of a) practicing in the central area of a rectangular metal plate, ( 13) at least two cutouts (14) substantially U-shaped, symmetrical to each other with respect to the transverse axis (130 and centered on the longitudinal axis (13a) of the plate (13), sort of making at least two locking lugs (9), b) to be practiced in each end zone of the plate (13) and symmetrically with respect to both the transverse axis (13b) and the longitudinal axis (13a) of the plate (13), a first transverse cut (1S) of small width from a longitudinal edge of the plate (13) followed by a second longitudinal cut (16), so as to produce at least four latching tabs (I 1), c) folding the plate (13) giving it substantially the shape of a U, d) folding out of the U formed by the plate (13), the part of each end zone of the plate (13) located beyond the cutouts (15,16) made in step b) so as to form the branch (10k) of each locking flange (10) intended to overlap a partition, e) to spread outwards from the U, the locking lugs (9) produced in step a) so as to make them protruding, f) to bend each latching tab (11) produced in step b) giving it substantially the shape of a V whose tip (11b) is oriented towards the inside of the U.