GB2149829A

GB2149829A - Improvements in or relating to a panel assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2149829A
Application number: GB08400557A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas John Dekker
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas International NV
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas International NV
Priority date: 1983-11-18
Filing date: 1984-01-10
Publication date: 1985-06-19
Also published as: ES8604330A1; ES537710A0; JPS60109457A; ZA848955B; GB8400557D0; AU2148383A; GB2149829B

Abstract

A clip 20 for a panelling system which includes a support carrier 10, at least one first oblong panel 21, 22 having an upturned rim 23 on each longitudinal edge and at least one second oblong panel 24 having a downturned rim 25 on each longitudinal edge, said panels being mounted on said support carrier with longitudinal edges in overlapping relation, said clip comprising a body, said body comprising:- a). A supporting part or parts 31, 32 for holding a second panel; b). a space 40, 41 on each of two opposite sides of the clip, each for accommodating an edge of a first panel 21 and at least one of said spaces being formed so as to allow said edge of said first panel to be brought into said space by relative displacement of said first panel and clip parallel to the carrier; and c). means 35, 36, 39 for mounting the clip on a support carrier. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to panel assembly This invention relates to a panelling system for ceilings or walls of building constructions or for use with awning-, shelter-, carport constructions etc, and also relates to a clip for mounting the panels of such a panelling system.

One conventional form of panelling system uses oblong panels with longitudinal, inturned edges and special ceiling support members which are attached to a base construction mostly in parallel relation. The ceiling support members of this type were elongate rails often having a U-shaped cross-section and usually incorporating integral mounting lugs having oppositely directed bearing shoulders which engage upper panels, whereas they also function to hold intermediate panels, in such a manner that there is an overlapping relation between the adjacent panels.

It is now proposed, according to one aspect of the present invention, to provide a clip for a panelling system which includes a support carrier, at least one first oblong panel having an upturned rim on each longitudinal edge and at least one second oblong panel having a downturned rim on each longitudinal edge, said panels being mounted on said support carrier with longitudinal edges in overlapping relation, said clip comprising a body, said body comprising: a) a supporting part or parts for holding a second panel; b) a space on each of two opposite sides of the clip, each for accommodating an edge of a first panel and at least one of said spaces being formed so as to allow said edge of a first panel to be brought into said space clip by relative displacement of said first panel and clip parallel to the carrier; and c) means for mounting the clip on a support carrier.

The clip according to the invention relates a combination of advantages such as ease of mounting the clip on a carrier rail, ease of mounting the panels due to the ease of engaging the panels with the clip, cheap and economic manufacture of clips as well as of rails and forming a basis for a versatile, multiple possibility panelling system with variable panel sizes allowing a wide range of panelwidth-combinations while maintaining the ease of mounting and engagement.

While it has also been previously proposed to use special clips to hold individual panels in mutually parallel spaced relation, these clips do not provide the above indicated advantages.

In one embodiment of clip according to the invention a projecting portion of the body overhangs each space has a bottom surface to prevent the first panel from lifting from the carrier on which it is mounted and an upper surface so shaped as to accommodate a second panel with its rim held by said projecting portion in overlapping relation to said first panel.

With such a construction it is possible readily to insert the edges of the first panel into the spaces formed in the sides of the clips without the necessity for use of special tools.

The second or upper panels are then urged downwardly and are held by the projecting portions in overlapping relation to the first panels. The structure can be made relatively inexpensively and one can use standard support carriers which in themselves are of generally inexpensive construction.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide two or more different sizes of clip so that one can mount readily two or more different sizes of panels to give a desired decorative effect and to give a desired width of the panelling system itself.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a panelling system comprising at least one support carrier, at least one first oblong panel having an upturned rim formed on each longitudinal edge and at least one second oblong panel having a downturned rim formed on each longitudinal edge, at least one clip to hold the panels on the carrier or carriers, the or each clip comprising a body, means for mounting the body on a support carrier, a supporting part or parts on the body for holding a second panel and a space on each of two opposite sides of the clip, each for accommodating an edge of a first panel and being formed so as to allow said edge of the first panel to be brought into said space relative to the clip by displacement of said first panel parallel to the carrier.

The space may be formed by a notch in one side of the body portion and advantageously the retaining means are provided to engage the rim of a first panel or both first panels engaging the clip to retain the rim of the panel(s) in the space(s), thereby fixedly interconnecting the clip and panel(s). These retaining means probably comprise a finger cantilevered out from said body portion and having a hook at the free end which is inwardly engageable over the rim of the first panel.

However, other forms of retaining means such as engageable by the resiliency of the panel material, by its own resilience or to be manually brought in its locking position may be provided. A retaining means acting with its own resilience is especially advantageous as it functions quickly and easily, being independent from panel material and from the assembling worker.

Various types of mounting means for mounting the clip on the support carrier may be provided but in a preferred construction they comprise at least one front leg and at least one rear leg, said legs each having a foot extending transversely to the length of the leg, said feet each being engageable under an edge of the carrier to hold the clip thereon. In fact there are preferably two front legs and two rear legs, to provide one at each corner of the clip.The clip is advantageously of a generally H-shaped cross-section as viewed from the side, with said legs forming the parts of the H which extend in one direction and with two arms forming parts of the H which extend in the opposite direction, whereby when the arms are pressed towards or away from one another, the legs are urged apart or towards one another to facilitate engagement with the carrier, the legs springing back after the arms are released, to enable the feet to engage said edge or edges of the carrier. The arms may be shaped to form said projecting portions with the spaces thereunder. The cross piece of the H may also have at least downwardly projecting element, and preferably two, engageable in a groove in a carrier.

The panelling system according to the invention combines low cost manufacture, smaller stock and shipping volume and versatility of the system, due to standard railstock and several clip and panel sizes, that provides wide possibilities from a decorative and constructional viewpoint.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of ceiling panelling system according to the invention; Figure 2 shows in subfigures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D four different arrangements of the panelling system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation of one embodiment of clip according to the invention; Figure 4 is an end view of the clip of Figure 3 shown in position on a carrier; Figures 5 and 6 are views simlar to Figures 3 and 4 of a second embodiment of clip; and Figures 7 and 8 are a perspective view and a front elevation of a further embodiment of clip, Figure 8 showing the clip mounted on a carrier supporting three panels.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a support carrier rail 10 which is of inverted top hat cross-section having a web 11 and two arms 1 2 and 1 3 forming therebetween a groove 14. At the end of the arms 1 2 and 1 3 are flanges 1 5 and 1 6 formed with downturned rims 1 7 and 18 respectively.

Mounted on the support rail is a clip indicated by the general reference numeral 20 and this clip is used in the mounting of three adjacent panels of the panelling system. The panels illustrated in the drawing comprise two relatively narrow first panels 21, 22 each having upturned rims 23 on each edge, these rims being of curved form. A second panel 24 which is rather wider than the panels 23, is illustrated, this having a downturned rim 25 on each edge.

The actual form of the clip is illustrated more clearly in Figures 3 and 4. As can be seen particularly from Figure 4 the clip is of a generally H-shaped crosssection and includes a cross piece 30 and two upstanding arms 31 and 32 bent out of the same metal stock. At the end of the arms there are formed downwardly extending legs 33 and 34 provided with inturned feet 35 and 36. The cross piece 30 is also formed with downwardly projecting elements 37 and 38.The upper edges of each of the legs 33, 34 are provided with inturned tabs 39 which, in use, rest on the upper surfaces of the flanges 1 5, 1 6 of the carrier support rails 1 0. It can be seen that by pressing the arms 31 and 32 together the legs 33 and 34 will be urged apart so that the feet 35 and 36 can pass on each side of the rims 1 7 and 18 and can be engaged under the lower edges thereof, when the arms 31 and 32 are released to hold the clip in place.

The elements 37 and 38 engage in the groove 14 in the support carrier rail.

If reference is now made to Figure 4, it can be seen that the edges of the body portion of the clip formed by the arms 31 and 32, the legs 33 and 34 and the cross piece 30 are provided with notches 40 and 41 which define a space located underneath a projecting portion 42, 43, the upper surfaces of which are provided with curved camming surfaces 44, 45.

At each end the cross piece 30 is provided with an outwardly and upwardly projecting cantilevered finger 50, 51 and having a hook 52, 53 at its free end.

For mounting the system as illustrated, first panels 21, 22 and a first clip 20 are placed on the upper surfaces of the flanges 1 5, 1 6 and by effecting a relative sliding movement the clip and panel or panels and the rims 23 thereof can be brought freely into the space formed by the notches 40, 41. At the end of the relative movement engaging the panel edges in these notches the spring fingers 50, 51 flex back and the hooks 52, 53 on the ends thereof engage by their resilience over the rims 23 to hold the panels 21, 22 in place. The projecting portions 42 and 43 will thereby prevent the panels from lifting.

Thereafter the panels 24 are lowered on top of the clips, and are snapped into place over the curved camming surfaces 44, 45 and are held in place by the projecting portions 42, 43.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a similar construction to that of Figures 3 and 4, but in this form of the clip the longitudinal length of the body portion is significantly less than that in Figures 3 and 4. In Figures 5 and 6 parts similar to those in Figures 3 and 4 have been indicated by similar reference symbols with the addition of 100, so that, for example, the clip is indicated by reference 20 in Figures 3 and 4 and by reference 1 20 in Figures 5 and 6. There is, in this construction, however, no downwardly extending element corresponding to the elements 38, the latter serving to centre the larger clip 20 in place and assisting in preventing the clip from twisting about a vertical axis.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically four different configurations which the panels can take using the elements so far described. In Figure 2A the clips illustrated are all of the type illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and the upper and lower panels are of a small lateral extent similar to the panels 21, 22.

Figure 2B employs clips 1 20 similar to those of Figures 3 and 4 and the lower and upper panels are of the same type as illustrated in Figure 1. Thus the lower or first panels are narrow and the upper or second panels are wide. Using the same clips and upper panels as in Figure 2B the construction in Figure 2C employs lower panels of the same size as the upper panels. Finally Figure 2D uses the same clips as in Figure 2A and here the lower panels are of the wider type and the upper panels are of the narrower type.Thus it is clear that one can use with a standard type support rail, several different sizes of clips and panels at free choice and nut just the two illustrated in the drawings, to provide various decorative effects for the panels and to provide the correct width for a particular awning-, ceiling-, cladding- or other structure to be made using the panelling system of the present invention.

The invention is not limited to any specific form and shape of the carrier rail and of the rail mounting means of the clip in respect of the mounting of the clip on the rain other than that both are able to cooperate in such a way that the clip is displaceably engaging the rail.

The construction illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, has similar parts to those of Figures 3 and 4 indicated with similar references to those of Figures 3 and 4 but with the addition of 200.

Thus it includes a body portion 230 and two downwardly extending front legs 234 with rearwardly extending feet 236 and two downwardly extending rear legs 233 with forwardly extending feet 235. Forwardly and rearwardly extending tabs 239 are provided. Adjacent and above each leg is an outwardly extending side portion 242, 244 having a downward detent 252, 253 at each end and having formed thereunder a space 240, 241. A cantilevered tongue 260, 261 projects upwardly and outwardly centrally from each side and has a rim 262, 263 turned down at its free end.

The clip is used in much the same way as previously and as can be seen in particular from Figure 8, in which the clip is shown mounted on a carrier 10. Two lower panels 21, 22 can be slid along the upper surface of the carrier so that the rim portions pass into the spaces 240, 241 and are retained therein by the detents 252, 253 engaging the upper edges of the panel rims.

A second panel 24 can then be urged downwardly and can spring over the free ends of the tongues 260, 261 with the rims engaging over the beads 262, 263.

Claims

1. A clip for a panelling system which includes a support carrier, at least one first oblong panel having an upturned rim on each longitudinal edge and at least one second oblong panel having a downturned rim on each longitudinal edge, said panels being mounted on said support carrier with longitudinal edges in overlapping relation, said clip comprising a body, said body comprising: a) a supporting part or parts for holding a second panel; b) a space on each of two opposite sides of the clip, each for accommodating an edge of a first panel and at least one of said spaces being formed so as to allow said edge of said first panel to be brought into said space by relative displacement of said first panel and clip parallel to the carrier; and c) means for mounting the clip on a support carrier.

2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein a projecting portion of the body overhangs each space and has a bottom surface to prevent the first panel from lifting from the carrier on which it is mounted and an upper surface so shaped as to accommodate a second panel with its rim held by said projecting portion in overlapping relation to paid first panel.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each space is formed by a notch in one side of the body portion.

4. A clip according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein retaining means are provided to engage the rim of a first panel, to retain the rim of the panel in the space.

5. A clip according to claim 4, wherein the retaining means comprise a finger cantilevered out from said body portion and having a hook at the free end resiliently engageable over the rim of the first panel.

6. A clip according to any preceding claim, wherein said mounting means comprise at least one front leg and at least one rear leg, said legs each having a foot extending transversely to the length of the leg, said feet each being engageable under an edge of the carrier to hold the clip thereon.

7. a clip according to claim 6, wherein the clip is of a generally H-shaped cross-section, as viewed from the side, with said legs forming the parts of the H which extend in one direction and with two arms forming parts of the H which extend in the opposite direction, whereby when the arms are pressed towards or away from one another, the legs are urged apart or towards one another to facilitate engagement with the carrier, the legs springing back after the arms are released, to enable the feet to engage said edge or edges of the carrier.

8. A clip according to claim 7, wherein said arms are shaped to provide said projecting portions with the spaces thereunder.

9. A clip according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the cross piece of the H has at least one downwardly projecting element engageable in a groove in a carrier.

10. A clip for a panelling system substan orally as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A clip for a panelling system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A clip for a panelling system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A panelling system comprising at least one support carrier, at least one first oblong panel having an upturned rim formed on each longitudinal edge and at least one second oblong panel having a downturned rim formed on each longitudinal edge, at least one clip to hold the panels on the carrier or carriers, the or each clip comprising a body, means for mounting the body on a support carrier, a supporting part or parts on the body for holding a second panel and a space on each of two opposite sides of the clip, each for accommodating an edge of a first panel and being formed so as to allow said edge of the first panel to be brought into said space relative to the clip by displacement of said first panel parallel to the carrier.

14. A panelling system according to claim 13 wherein the or each clip includes a projecting portion of the body which overhangs each space and has a bottom surface to prevent the associated first panel from lifting from the carrier on which it is mounted and an upper surface so shaped as to accommodate the second panel with the rim held on said pro ;ecting portion in overlapping relation to said first panel.

1 5. A panelling system according to claim 1 3 or 14, wherein each space is formed by a notch in one side of the body portion of the or each clip.

16. A panelling system according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein retaining means are provided to engage the rim of a first panel, to retain the rim of the panel in the space.

1 7. A panelling system according to claim 16, wherein the retaining means comprise a finger cantilevered out from said body portion and having a hook at the free end residently engageable over the rim of the first panel.

1 8. A panelling system according to any one of claims 1 3 to 17, wherein said mounting means of the or each clip comprises at least one front leg and at least one rear leg, said legs each having a foot extending transversely to the length of the leg, said feet each being engaged under an edge of the carrier to hold the clip thereon.

1 9. A panelling system according to claim 18, wherein the or each clip is of a generally H-shaped cross-section, as viewed from the side, with said legs forming the parts of the H which extend in one direction and with two arms forming parts of the H which extend in the opposite direction, whereby when the arms are pressed towards or away from one another the legs are urged apart or towards one another, to facilitate engagement with the carrier, the legs springing back after the arms are released, to enable the feet to engage said edge or edges of the carrier.

20. A panelling system according to any one of claims 1 3 to 19, wherein at least two sizes of clips are provided in the system to accommodate second panels of different widths and whereby one can select panels of different widths, either as first panels or as second panels, to provide a particular constructional effect.

Agents letter filed 5.6.84 Claims 21 and 23 deleted Claim 22 now renumbered to Claim 21.

21. A panelling system, including oblong panels arranged parallely and of the type having upturned parallel longitudinal edges, and are mouonted with these edges in overlapping position, the edges of consecutive panels pointing in opposite direction, said system using a basic, standard supporting rail, and separate clips displaceably engageable with said rail for holding the panels. said panels having at least two different width sizes and said clips having at least one size.

22. A panelling system substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

23. All the novel features disclosed herein.