FR2887310A1 - Object e.g. decorative plate, fixing device for e.g. building, has sleeve, fixed to object, with section engaged with boss on base fixed to support, and cam movable between opening and closing positions to insert and lock sleeve in base - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a cylindrical sleeve (4) fixed to an object (2) to form a male element projecting with respect to an inner side (22) of an object (2). A tubular base (5) is fixed to a support (3) for forming a female element projecting with respect to an outer side (31) of the support. The sleeve has a reduced section on its length to be engaged with a boss arranged on the base. A cam, engaged with the sleeve, is movable between an opening position for the insertion of the sleeve in the base and a closing position for locking the sleeve in the base.

Description

DEVICE FOR FIXING AN OBJECT SUCH AS A PLATE TO A

ADJACENT SUPPORT

  The present invention relates to a device for fixing an object such as a plate and in particular a glass plate to (or on) an adjacent support.

  The present invention finds its application in the fixing of facing plates or information on the walls, in particular when several plates are arranged adjacent with a small space between them.

  The object of the invention is to provide a fastening system that is both reliable, easy to install and inexpensive.

  The present invention thus relates in its broadest sense to a device for fixing at least one object on an adjacent support, characterized in that it comprises firstly a cylindrical sleeve intended to be attached to the object. or the support so as to form a male element projecting from an inner face of said object or with respect to an outer face of said support and secondly a tubular base intended to be respectively fixed to the support or the object of so as to form a female element projecting from an outer face of said support or with respect to an inner face of said object, said sleeve or said base having along its length at least one reduced section intended to cooperate with at least one boss provided respectively on said base or said sleeve, at least one movable cam between at least two positions from outside said base being further provided within said s ocle to allow in one position the introduction of the sleeve into the base or the withdrawal of the sleeve of the base and in another position the blocking of the sleeve in the base.

  The cam can be movable between these two extreme positions by rotation, in the manner of a key or by translation in the manner of a pin. The movement from one position to another may even be a combined movement of translation and rotation.

  Said boss is preferably composed of at least one retractable element such as a spring-loaded ball pusher or a spring tongue.

  The element attached to the object, that is to say said sleeve or said base is preferably attached to said object with a nut opening or not to the outer surface of said object and the element fixed to the support, that is to say respectively said base or said sleeve is then preferably attached to said support by means of a screw or a nut introduced into said support by the interior said base or sleeve.

  At the attachment to the support, at least one washer provided with an oblong hole is further preferably interposed between the screw or the nut and the bottom of said base or sleeve.

  A free end of the cam may comprise drive means having a particular configuration, other than well known rectilinear or cruciform configurations, and thus prevent theft of the object failing not to have a tool having a configuration compatible with this particular configuration.

  The present invention also relates to a device for fixing two adjacent objects comprising two cylindrical sleeves, two bases and a single cam.

  The fixing device according to the invention is said to double hold because a double hold is performed, firstly by clipping the sleeve in the base and secondly thereafter by rotational movement and / or translation of the cam compared to the sleeve and the base preventing the decoupling.

  Advantageously, the fixing device according to the invention is thus easy to install because as soon as the sleeve (s) is (or are) well arranged (s) relative to the (x) base (s), a simple thrust on the object to fix already allows a correct retention of the weight of the object; however, to prevent declipping, a cam lock is then realized.

  Advantageously also, the fixing device according to the invention allows easy attachment of adjacent objects and allows the replacement of an object without requiring the prior removal of one or more adjacent objects.

  In addition, the fastening system is simple to manufacture and inexpensive.

  The present invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures: FIG. 1 illustrates an axial sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates an axial sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a front view of a sleeve; Figure 4 illustrates an axial sectional view of a pedestal; Figure 5 illustrates a top view of a sleeve; Figure 6 illustrates a top view of a pedestal; Figure 7 illustrates a front view of a cam; FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of the step of introducing the sleeve into the base; Figure 9 illustrates a sectional view along AA 'of Figure 8; FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of the clipping step of the sleeve in the base; Figure 11 illustrates a sectional view along BB 'of Figure 10; FIG. 12 illustrates a front view of the sleeve locking step in the pedestal; Figure 13 illustrates a sectional view along CC 'of Figure 12; and Fig. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a dual sleeve and double pedestal but single-core variant for attachment of two adjacent objects.

  It is specified that the proportions between the various elements represented are not rigorously respected in these figures in order to facilitate their reading.

  An exemplary embodiment of a fixing device (1) according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. This device makes it possible to fix an object (2), materialized here by a plate, on an adjacent support (3), materialized here by the surface of a wall.

  The object (2) may be for example a glass or plastic plate or metal or metal alloy having a thickness e for example of the order of 1 cm or more.

  It may be a monolithic glazing, that is to say consisting of a sheet of single material, or a multiple glazing, that is to say consisting of several sheets of material between which is inserted at least one layer of adherent material in the case of laminated glazing, or at least one intermediate space in the case of double glazing. The sheets of material may be mineral, in particular glass, or organic, especially plastic.

  In a particular application of the invention, it is an information plate having on an outer face (21) an inscription or a drawing, such as a plate such as those that can be found at the entrance. buildings to indicate the presence in these premises of a professional corporation.

  In another application of the invention, it is a decorative plate whose primary function is to hide or mask at least partially an outer face (31) of the support (3).

  In Figure 1, the outer face (21) of the object (2) and the outer face (31) of the adjacent support (3) are oriented horizontally. It is obvious that these faces can be oriented according to the vertical and in all possible variants.

  The fixing device (1) according to the invention comprises at least three elements: - a cylindrical sleeve (4), - a tubular base (5), and - a cam (10) movable between at least two positions, the mobility being here a rotation along its axis.

  The sleeve (4) forms a male element that can be inserted into the base (5) which forms a corresponding female element and the cam (10) at least partially passes through the base (5) and cooperates with the sleeve (4) to allow in a so-called opening position the introduction of the sleeve (4) in the base (5) or the withdrawal of the sleeve (4) of the base (5) and in another position, said closure of the sleeve (4) in the base (5).

  For the implementation of the fixing device (1) according to the invention, one element (male or female) protrudes with respect to an inner face (22) of said object (2) and the other element (respectively female or male ) protrudes from an outer face (31) of said support (3).

  The cylindrical sleeve (4) can be attached optionally to the object (2) or the support (3) and the base (5) tubular is then fixed respectively to the support (3) or the object (2).

  In all the exemplary embodiments illustrated here, the sleeve (4) is fixed to the object (2) and the base (5) is fixed to the support (3).

  In all these examples, the sleeve (4) is hollow and is fixed to said object (2) by means of a nut (6, 6 '). For this, the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve is provided with a thread corresponding to the thread of the nut.

  In the variant of Figure 1, the nut (6) is introduced into a hole (8) passing through the object (2) and opening on both the inner face (22) and the outer face (21) of the object (2). In this variant, the nut (6) is thus introduced by the outer face (21) of the object (2). To make it possible to dispose the nut (6) just flush with the surface of the object (2), for aesthetic and / or practical reasons, the hole (8) is designed to accommodate both the threaded body than the head of the nut (6). A washer (12) having a thickness e 'is interposed between the inner face (22) of the object (2) and the adjacent surface of the sleeve (4).

  In the variant of Figure 2, the nut (6 ') is introduced into a hole (8') located in the object (2) and opening only on the inner face (22). In this variant, the head of the nut (6 ') is thus embedded in the constituent mass of the object (2).

  In this variant also, four washers (12) are interposed between the inner face (22) of the object (2) and the adjacent surface of the sleeve (4), in order to compensate for the difference in depth between the inner face (22). and the adjacent surface of the sleeve (4).

  In all the exemplary embodiments illustrated here, the base (5) is hollow and is fixed to said support (3) by means of a screw (7) or a nut inserted into said support (3). from the interior of said base (5).

  At least one washer (9) provided with an oblong hole is preferably interposed between the screw (7) or the nut and the bottom of said base (5) or sleeve (4), inside thereof. to provide a clearance in the positioning of the sleeve (5) vis-à-vis the screw (7) by rotation of the washer.

  Figure 2 illustrates such a situation where the oblong hole has been used to shift the axis of the base (5) relative to the axis of the screw (7).

  In all the exemplary embodiments illustrated here, the sleeve (4) is hollow and has an identical inner diameter as well as an outer diameter throughout its entire length, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 3 and 5.

  In all the exemplary embodiments illustrated here, the base (5) is hollow and has an identical inner and outer diameter throughout its entire length, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 4 and 6, the inside diameter of the corresponding base (5). substantially to the outer diameter of the sleeve (4). However, the base (5) is provided with a bottom pierced to allow the passage of the screw (7), the inner diameter of the hole being greater than the outer diameter of the screw (7).

  To perform the first clipping hold, the sleeve (4) has on its outer surface at least one reduced section intended to cooperate with at least one boss formed respectively on the inner surface of the base (5).

  In the examples illustrated here, this reduced section consists of a first annular groove (14) with a semicircular section, as illustrated in particular in FIG.

  In a variant not shown here, the boss may be a simple annular bulge of longitudinal section substantially similar to that of the groove.

  In a preferred version of the invention, the boss is a retractable element (11) consisting of a ball pusher whose ball is mounted on a spring, this pusher being inserted into a hole (15) passing through the wall of the base (5). ) and opening on both the outer surface of the base and on its inner surface and whose axis is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the base (5) as illustrated in particular in Figure 4. The apparent section of the ball mounted on spring is substantially identical to the section of the annular groove (14).

  It could well be provided that the reduced section formed in the outer surface of the sleeve (4) is a spherical hole whose section substantially identical to the apparent section of the ball; however, it is preferred that the reduced section be an annular groove as thus it is not necessary to perform a particular angular positioning of the sleeve (4) relative to the base (5). In all the angular positions the ball can be housed in the corresponding groove.

  It is also possible to provide two ball pushers positioned diametrically opposed, or more.

  The base (5) is also provided with a circular hole (15 ') made tangentially to the wall and opening inside the base (5) as well as outside, as can be seen in FIG. diameter of this hole is substantially identical to the average diameter D of the cam (10) to allow the passage and rotation of the latter in this hole.

  A second annular groove (14 ') of semicircular or conical section is also formed in the outer wall of the sleeve (4). The configuration of this groove, that is to say its opening angle a and its width L, is such that it allows the passage and rotation of the cam (10) through the hole (15 ') and the groove (14 ') when the sleeve (4) is positioned in the base (5).

  The cam (10), illustrated in FIG. 7, is formed of a cylinder (16) having a mean diameter M and a portion (17) of length P having a semicircular section. The length P corresponds to the outside diameter of the sleeve (4) at the bottom of the groove (14 '), as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, in order firstly to allow the sleeve (4) to pass when the portion (17) ) is out of the groove (14 ') and on the other hand to prevent the withdrawal of the sleeve (4) when the cam (10) is turned on itself so that this portion (17) comes into the groove (14 ').

  The rotational drive can be operated by positioning a particular tool, here round or oval end, in drive means (18) also respectively round or oval located at one end of the cam (10).

  In the following description of the operation of the fastening system according to the invention, it will be considered that the object (2) is a plate that is to be fixed on a support (3) vertical formed by a wall.

  Considering that the sleeve (4) has been previously correctly fixed against the inner face of the object (2) and that the base (5) has previously been correctly fixed against the outer face of the support (3), FIGS. 9 illustrate the first step of implementing the invention. This step corresponds to the positioning of the object (2) vis-à-vis the support (3) so that the axes respectively of the sleeve (4) and the base (5) merge.

  In this step, it is important to check that the cam (10) is in the so-called opening position allowing the insertion of the sleeve (4) into the base (5), ie to verify that the portion (17) is not in the groove (14 ').

  The second step of implementation of the invention is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. It corresponds to the step of clipping the sleeve (4) in the base (5).

  When the sleeve (4) is introduced into the base (5) by a translation movement along the common axis, as indicated by the arrow F, the ball of the ball pusher is pushed inside its housing by the walls. the sleeve (4) and is positioned in the groove (14) corresponding when the sleeve (4) abuts in the bottom of the base (5). In this position a hold is ensured because to remove the sleeve from the base it is then necessary to pull in the opposite direction of the arrow F with a relatively large force to force the ball of the pusher to enter its housing.

  In order to obtain the definitive retention which prevents declipping, it is necessary to carry out the third step of implementation of the invention, the locking step, illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.

  In this step a rotation of the cam (10) on its axis and on 90 is operated. Actuation of the cam (10) is from outside the base (5) using the drive means (18). This rotation causes the positioning of the cam portion (17) in the groove (14 ') formed and has the effect of retaining the sleeve in the base.

  FIG. 14 illustrates a particular variant in which a single cam (10 ') is used to fix two adjacent objects (2) to a single support (3).

  In this figure, the songs of the objects coincide in such a way that the inner and outer surfaces of the objects also coincide; however, it is also conceivable that some or all surfaces do not coincide.

  In this figure also, the objects (2) have a thickness e smaller than in the example of Figure 1 and the difference in thickness e 'is compensated by a larger number of washers (12) between the sleeve (4 ) and the inner surface (22) of the objects.

  For a proper attachment, the most important parameter is the center distance g, i.e. the distance between the respective axes of each of the sleeve / base assemblies due to the use of a single cam (10 '). ). However, in the event of a slight deviation from the nominal value, the use of one or two washers (9) with an oblong hole as illustrated in Figure 2 must allow mounting.

  The cam (10 ') used in this variant comprises, like that of FIG. 7, at one end a cylinder (16) having a mean diameter M, and a portion (17) having a length P having a semicircular section. It also comprises drive means (18), but for the cam (10 '), the drive means (18) are located in the center and the other end of the cam also comprises a cylinder (16) having a mean diameter M, and a portion (17) of a length P having a semicircular section. The cam (10) thus has a symmetry with respect to a central plane perpendicular to its axis.

  The rotation of the cam (10 ') on its axis will cause at each end the positioning of each cam portion (17) in each groove (14') in order to hold each sleeve in each base, or to release each groove ( 14 ') in order to allow declawing each sleeve.

  The present invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the skilled person is able to achieve different variants of the invention without departing from the scope of the patent as defined by the claims.

Claims (7)

  1. Device (1) for fixing at least one object (2) on an adjacent support (3), characterized in that it comprises firstly a sleeve (4) cylindrical to be fixed to the object (2) or to the support (3) so as to form a male element projecting from an inner face (22) of said object (2) or with respect to an outer face (31) of said support (3) and of on the other hand a tubular base (5) intended to be fixed respectively to the support (3) or to the object (2) so as to form a female element projecting from an outer face (31) of said support (3) or relative to an inner face (21) of said object (2), said sleeve (4) or said base (5) having along its length at least one reduced section intended to cooperate with at least one boss formed respectively on said base (5). ) or said sleeve (4), at least one cam (10, 10 ') movable between at least two positions from outside said base (5) being furthermore provided u inside said base (5) to allow in one position the introduction of the sleeve (4) in the base (5) or the withdrawal of the sleeve (4) of the base (5) and in another position the blocking of the sleeve (4) in the base (5).   2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said boss consists of at least one retractable element (11).   3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, said sleeve (4) or said base (5) is fixed to said object (2) with a nut (6, 6 ') opening or not on the outer surface (21) of said object (2).   4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said base (5) or said sleeve (4) is fixed to said support (3) by means of a screw (7) or a nut inserted into said support (3) from the inside of said base (5) or sleeve (4).   5. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one washer (9) provided with an oblong hole is interposed between the screw (7) or the nut and the bottom of said base (5) or sleeve (4).   6. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a free end of the cam (10, 10 ') comprises drive means (18) having a configuration other than rectilinear or cruciform.   7. Device (1) for fixing two adjacent objects (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two cylindrical sleeves (4), two bases (5) and a cam (10 '). unique.