GB2106211A - Improvements in or relating to fasteners - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a device 10 for connecting a pair of panels 20. The device comprises a cylindrical shaft 12 having a lever 13 extending at right angles thereto. A pair of diametrically opposed pins 14 are formed near each free end of the shaft 12 to engaging respective socket portions 22 in the edges of the panels. The sockets 22 are formed with helical camming surfaces 23 so when the shaft 12 is rotated by the lever 13, the pins run along the surfaces 23 drawing the panels together. The arrangement is such that the lever 13 can lie in a gap below the end of the panels in the fully locked position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to fasteners This invention relates to fasteners and particularly, though not exclusively, to fasteners for connecting together wall panels for use in modular buildings or in cold storage units.

Conventional wall panels often have sealant strips along their edges which are compressed when the panels are connected together edge to edge and the connection can be made simply by bolting the edges of the panels together, or by clamping them.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple device which can be quickly and easily attached to the panels to provide a strong, secure connection.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in a device for connecting together a pair of walls or other panels, comprising a connecting member having a pair of oppositely facing projecting portions each of which is designed to engage with a connecting element on a panel such that rotation of the device can draw the panel and device together, and means for rotating the device when engaged with the panels to cause relative movement of both panels simultaneously towards each other.

Preferably, the means for rotating the device includes a transverse arm or lever formed with or attached to the device at a position between the free ends of the projecting portions. The projecting portions may be cylindrical in form and, in a particularly preferred embodiment, each portion is provided with at least one transverse pin. The pins can then engage with inclined camming surfaces in sockets in the edges of the panels, so that rotation of the device causes the pins to ride up the camming surfaces and draw the panels together.

The device may carry a compression spring for engaging each of the panels to allow for manufacturing tolerances.

In a separate embodiment the projecting portions may be formed with camming or guide surfaces, which engage projections or members on the panels so that on rotation of the device the projections or members are caused to travel along the camming or guide surface to draw and/or lock the panels together. Preferably the camming surfaces are defined by slots, which may extend through the projecting portions and which may be open at the free ends of the projecting portion. The projections or members may be spring loaded or they may be in the form of springs.

An important advantage of the device is that rotation of the lever to draw the panels together can allow the lever to move into a gap between the panels caused by the thickness of a sealant strip on the shape of the panels. The outside faces of the panels then present a smooth appearance without unsightly or dangerous projections.

Additionally the fastener can be transported separately from the panels, reducing the risk of handling damage.

A plurality of the devices of the invention may be spaced along the edges of a pair of panels for a strong, secure connection.

The invention also consists in an assembly of panels interconnected by a connecting device as defined above.

From another aspect the invention consists in an assembly of panels interconnected by a connecting device, which engages with a connecting element on each panel such that rotation of the connecting device can lock the panels together, the arrangement being such that substantially the whole of the connecting device lies between or inside the panels when the device is in its locking position.

Preferably the connecting device includes an arm or lever, for rotating the device, dimensioned to extend from between the panels prior to locking rotation of the device.

The assembly may include a seal between the panels adjacent one face of the panels, which may space the panels to define a groove or channel to receive the lever. Alternatively the panels may be shaped to define such a groove or channel when abutted edge to edge.

The invention may be performed in various ways, specific embodiments of which will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view from above of a connecting device and a pair of wall panels; Figure 2 is a view from above of a joint formed between the two panels by the connecting device; Figure 3 is a side view of the joint of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an exploded view from above of a further connecting device and a pair of wall panels; Figure 5 is a view from above of a joint formed with the elements shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a side view of the joint of Figure 5.

The invention as shown in the illustrated embodiments is applied to a connecting device having cylindrical parts for insertion into apertures in the wall panels to engage a socket or projection, the device being rotated by a lever.

In Figure 1, a connecting device 10 consists of a cylindrical steel shaft 12 having a lever 1 3 extending at right angles thereto and located approximately half-way between the free ends of the shaft. The lever 1 3 is conveniently made of sheet steel, and may be welded to the shaft 12. A pair of diametrically opposed pins 14 are formed near each free end of the shaft 12, the pins 14 extending in a direction parallel to that of the lever 13. A compression spring 11 is provided on the shaft 12 between each pair of pins 14 and the lever 13.

Each panel 20 of a pair, which are to be connected together, has an apertured metal plate 21 fixed to an interior edge to surround an opening 25 in its respective panel. The plate 21 having an upstanding cylindrical socket portion 22 formed with part helical camming surfaces 23.

The socket portion includes a pair of longitudinal slots 24 which extend into lateral gaps in the plate 21. Each or either panel 20 also carries a strip 30 of resilient sealant material on its exterior edge (see Figure 2).

In order to connect the panels together, one end of the shaft 1 2 of the device is inserted into a socket portion 22 on one of the panels. The pins 14 are guided into the socket 22 by means of the gaps and the slots 24, and the shaft 1 2 is left temporarily in position while the other panel is aligned with the other end of the shaft. Since the pins 14 are positioned in the slots 24, the device 10 is effectively prevented from rotation while the panels are being positioned on the shaft.

Once the two panels are aligned on the shaft, they can be pushed towards each other so that the pins move down the slots 24 and into engagement with the camming surfaces 23. In order to tighten the panels together, the lever 13 is moved from position A to position B (see Figure 3), causing the pins to ride up the inclined camming surfaces 23 and hence draw the panels towards each other. Each camming surface 23 is provided with a stop 31 which the pin 14 engages at the end of the tightening procedure. The panels are formed to define a gap 40 between them, on the opposite side to the sealant 30 (see Figure 2).

The thickness of the lever 1 3 is such that it can move into the gap 40 at the end of its rotational movement, at the position B shown in Figure 3. A smooth surface between the panels is thus created, without dangerous or unsightly projections.

If desired, the free end of the lever 1 3 can be formed with a lifting tab (not shown), which projects slightly from the gap 40, and this can facilitate the disconnection of the fastener.

As the panels 20 tighten up against compression springs 11, rather than, for example, against the enlarge portion 1 5 of the lever, manufacturing tolerances in the sockets 22 or the connecting device 10 can be accommodated.

Although a pair of panels can easily be connected together using, for example, two of the devices of the invention, one at each end of the panel edge, it is also possible to use a number of devices spaced along the edges of the adjacent panels. This arrangement would produce a firm, secure connection.

An alternative embodiment of the connecting device 10 is shown in Figures 4 to 5. In describing this embodiment the same reference numerals have been used as before for parts which are unchanged.

In this embodiment the shaft 1 2 is formed with an axially extending crook shaped slot 41 at either end. Each slot 41 extends across the width of the shaft 12 and axially into the shaft 12 to a curved closed end 42, which defines a camming surface 43. An S-shaped spring 44 is mounted at each end on either side of each opening 25 by rivets 45, so that its centre bar 46 extends across the opening 25 (see Figure 6).

In use, the panels 20 are aligned on the shaft 12, so that they can be pushed towards each other causing the bars 46 move down the slots 41. The lever 1 3 is rotated from position A to B, which causes the bars 46 to be held in the closed ends 42 of their respective slots (see Figure 5). As the springs 44 will act in a sense to force the ends of shafts 12 apart, the panels 20 will be held tightly together. The springs 44 will also accommodate manufacturing tolerances.

It will be observed that in each of the connecting devices the panels as used have smooth faces with sockets or springs only rivetted into their interior edges. The connecting devices are separate from the panels and thus any damaged or substandard devices may be simply rejected. Further the risk of damage in transit is reduced.

In addition the connecting device gives accurate edge to edge location of the panels and compression of the sealant strips between the panels.

The fact that the lever of the connecting device moves into a gap between the panels, in use, means that it is possible to provide a smooth surface on both sides of the panels, and the construction of the device is such that no additional tools are required to assemble the panels. Indeed the connecting device is simple and robust and contains no springs or hinges.

The system is symmetric thus avoiding the need for "left-handed" or "right-handed" components.

Claims (16)

1. A device for connecting together a pair of walls or other panels, comprising a connecting member having a pair of oppositely facing projecting portions each of which is designed to engage with a connecting element on a panel such that rotation of the member can draw the panel and member together, and means for rotating the member when engaged with the panels to cause relative movement of both panels simultaneously towards each other.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for rotating the device includes a transverse arm or lever formed with or attached to the member at a position between the free ends of the projecting portions.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the projecting portions are cylindrical.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each portion has a transverse pin.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising sockets which can be formed or disposed in respective edges of the panels and which define respective inclined camming surfaces which the pins can engage so that rotation of the member causes the pins to ride up the camming surfaces and draw the panels together.

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a compression spring for engaging each of the panels to allow for manufacturing tolerances.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the projecting portions are formed with camming or guide surfaces for engaging projections or members on the panel so that on rotation of the connecting member the projections or members are caused to travel along the camming or guide surfaces to draw and/or lock the panels together.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the camming surfaces are defined by slots.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the slots extend through the projecting portions and are open at the free ends thereto.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the projections or members are spring loaded or in the form of springs.

11. A device for connecting together a pair of walls or other panels substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. An assembly of panels interconnected by a connecting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the panels are interconnected by a plurality of devices spaced along the abutting edges of the panels.

14. As assembly of panels interconnected by a connecting device, which engages with a connecting element on each panel, such that rotation of the connecting device can lock the panels together, the arrangement being such that substantially the whole of the connecting device lies between or inside the panels when the device is in its locking position.

1 5. An assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connecting device includes an arm or lever, for rotating the device, dimensioned to extend from between the panels prior to rotation locking of the device.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, further including a seal between the panels adjacent one face of the panels, which may space the panels to define a groove or channel to receive the lever.

1 7. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the panels are shaped to define a groove or channel for receiving the lever when abutted edge to edge.

1 8. An assembly panel interconnected by a connecting device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.