GB2156399A

GB2156399A - Framework for panelling such as wood panelling

Info

Publication number: GB2156399A
Application number: GB08507390A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Patrick Mccarthy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-03-22
Filing date: 1985-03-21
Publication date: 1985-10-09
Also published as: GB2156399B; GB8407479D0; GB8507390D0

Abstract

An assembly, for example for forming wood panelling for the interior or a building, comprising first and second sets of elongate members adapted to be interconnected with the members 50 of the first set extending transversely to the members 60 of the second set. Each member has a decoratively profiled outer portion (52 Fig 9), 62. Each member 50 of the first set has a depth greater than that of each member 60 of the second set and has recesses (58 Fig 9) spaced at predetermined intervals along its length. A member (60) of the second set can fit slidably into one of the recesses (58). In one embodiment each member 50 of the first set has a base portion 51 formed with longitudinal grooves 55 to receive the edges of infill panels 70, each panel extending beneath one or more members 60 of the second set. In another embodiment (Figure 1), the members (10,12) of both sets have base portions (20,30) with grooves (28,38) to receive the edges of panels (14). The elongate members may be mass-produced from wood or other suitable material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Framework This invention relates to frameworks consisting of interconnected elongate members and to elongate members for use in such a framework.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention is concerned with wood panelling consisting of a framework of wooden members supporting wooden panels.

The traditional method of cladding the walls of a room with wood panelling, consisting of intersecting horizontal and vertical wooden members which support the panels, is complicated and time consuming. In particular, forming the joints between the horizontal and vertical members, which are often decorated with more or less complicated "moulding", is a skilled job, and is not readily adapted to mass production.

It is an object of this invention to provide an assembly of elongate members which can be interconnected simply and which can be used, for example, to enable wooden panelling to be installed without the need for skilled labour.

According to this invention there is provided an assembly comprising first and second sets of elongate members adapted to be interconnected with the members of the first set extending transversely to the members of the second set, each member including a decoratively profiled outer portion whose width generally increases in a direction away from an outer face of the outer portion, in which each member of the first set has a dcpth greater than that of each member of the second set and has recesses spaced at predetermined intervals along its length, each recess extending through the profiled portion and having a shape complementary to the shape of the profiled portion of each member of the second set, so that a member of the second set can fit slidably into one of the recesses in the first set.

Preferably, each member of the first set has a base portion formed with at least one longitudinally extending groove to receive the edge of one of a set of panels to be fitted to the elongate members so that the panels fill the apertures defined by the elongate members when they are interconnected, the outer profiled portions of the members being visible from one side of the panels. Each member of the second set may have an inner face positioned to lie flat against the outer face of a panel when opposite edges of the panel are engaged in the grooves of adjacent members of the first set.

Alternatively, each member of the second set may have a base portion formed with at least one longitudinally extending groove to receive the edge of one of the panels, the grooves in the first and second members being aligned when the members are interconnected.

The profiled portions of the members of the first and second sets may be identical or similar in cross-section.

Preferably, the outer faces of the profiled outer portions of the members of each set are flat, and lie in the same plane when two members are interconnected.

In one form of the invention, an assembly for cladding a wall with wood panelling is provided, the assembly including sets to elongate members as defined above, the elongate members being lengths of wood, and rectangular panels adapted to fill the rectangular apertures defined by the elongate members when they are interconnected.

The assembly can be installed easily and quickly, the sliding connection between the elongate members allowing their relative positions to be adjusted easily during installation. The elongate members could be mass-produced and supplied in standard lengths, so that little or no cutting is required during installation.

In another form of the invention, each member of the first set has two outer profiled portions formed one on either side of a base portion provided with grooves to receive the edges of panels, so that the two outer profiled portions lie one on each side of the panels, each outer profiled portion being formed with a series of recesses to receive members of the second set. This enables "doublesided" panels to be produced, for example for use as partitions or in making panelled doors.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a panelling assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vertical member of the assembly, Figure 3 is a cross-section on line Ill-Ill of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a horizontal member of the assembly, Figure 5 is a side elevation of the horizontal member, Figure 6 is a plan view of the horizontal member, Figure 7 is a cross-section on line VII-VII of Figure S.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of a second embodiment of a panelling assembly in accordance with the invention, Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vertical member of the assembly, Figure 10 is a side elevation of the vertical member, Figure 11 is a plan view of the vertical member, Figure 12 is a cross-section through a horizontal member of the assembly, and Figure 13 is a side elevation of a vertical member of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, an assembly for cladding the interior wall of a building with wood panelling comprises two sets of elongate wooden members 10 and 12 which can be fitted together to form a framework to receive wooden panels 14. The members 10 are referred to in the following description as vertical members and the members 12 as horizontal members, though as mentioned below the two sets of members could be interchanged.

Each vertical member 10 is a length of wood of uniform cross-section. As seen in cross-section, the member 10 has a rectangular base portion 20 and a profiled outer portion 22. The outer portion 22 has a flat outer face 24 of width less than that of the base portion 20, and curved side faces 26 which extend from the edges of the outer face 24 to the base portion. The curved faces 24 could take various forms, as in conventional wooden mouldings. The base portion 20 has two longitudinally extending grooves 28 to receive the edge portions of panels 14.

Each horizontal member 12 also consists of a length of wood of uniform cross-section, having a base portion 30 and an outer profiled portion 32.

The outer portion 32 has a cross-section identical to that of the outer portion 22 of the vertical members 10, having a flat outer face 34 and curved sidefaces 36. The base portion 30 of each horizontal member 12 has a rectangular cross-section which is the same as that of the base portion 20 of the vertical members except that its depth (measured at right angles to the outer face 34) is greater.

The base portion 30 has longitudinal grooves S8 to receive the edge portions of panels 14.

Each horizontal member 12 is formed with a series of recesses 40 cut at predetermined intervals along its length.

As shown in Figure 5, each recess 40 has a cross-section which is complementary to the crosssection of each vertical member 10 (except for the longitudinal slots 28), so that one of the vertical members 10 can be received as a sliding fit in the recess 40.

Each recess 40 thus extends through the profiled portion 32 and partway through the base portion 30 of the horizontal member 12.

As shown in Figure 1, when a vertical member 10 is fitted into one of the recesses 40 in a horizontal member 12, the outer faces 24 and 34 of the two members are flush with one another, and the curved faces 26 and 36 meet one another to give the appearance of a 45 mitre The longitudinal grooves 28 and 36 intersect, so that a panel 14 can be fitted into the grooves.

To install wood panelling using the described assembly, the appropriate number of vertical members 10 are fitted to the wall, by any suitable means, at horizontal spacings corresponding to the spacing between the recesses 40 of the horizontal members. The lowermost horizontal member 12 is fixed in position, and panels 14 are fitted between each pair of the vertical members 10, the side edges of each panel being fitted into the grooves 28 and the panel slid into position with its lower edge engaging in the groove 38 in the lowermost horizontal member. The next horizontal member 12 is then fixed onto the vertical members 10 and is slid downwards until the upper edge of each panel 14 engages in the lowermost groove 38 of the horizontal member. The next row of panels can then be fitted into place, and the process repeated until the wall has been panelled to the desired height.

The grooves 28 and 38 may be made sufficiently deep to allow some lateral freedom of movement of the panels 14, to facilitate sliding the panels into position.

The panelling can therefore be assembled and fitted easily.

It will be appreciated that, whilst the separation between the vertical members 10 is predetermined by the spacing between the recesses 40 in the horizontal members 12, the vertical spacing between the horizontal members can be varied, so that panels of any desired height can be fitted, and rows of panels of different height can be used in the same assembly.

Alternatively, the members 10 could be used as horizontal members 12 as vertical members, so that the spacing between vertical members could be varied.

In some circumstances, it may be easier to assemble the panelling before it is fixed to the wall, for example by assembling it on the floor and then lifting it bodily into place. One advantage of doing so is that it enables final adjustment of the positions of the horizontal and vertical members after the panels have been fitted into place. The joints between the members may be made tight enough to ensure that the assembly holds together as it is fixed to the wall.

The members 10 and 12 could be supplied in a number of standard lengths, with a number of standard spacings between the recesses in the members 12. The purchaser would thus be enabled to install panelling in one of a considerable number of different designs.

It will be appreciated that modifications could be made in the described embodiment. For example, the inner part of the base portion 20 of each member 10 could have a width less than that of the outer part of the base portion (the inner and outer parts being separated by the grooves 28), the cross-sections of the recesses 40 in the members 12 being similarly modified.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, in which the panels fit into grooves only in the elongate members of one set, the panels fitting behind the members of the other set.

Referring to Figures 8 to 12, an assembly for cladding the interior wall of a building with wood panelling comprises sets of vertical members 50 and horizontal members 60, and panels 70.

Each vertical member 50 is a length of wood of uniform cross-section. As seen in cross-section, the member 50 has a rectangular base portion 51 and a profiled outer portion 52.

The outer portion 52 has a flat outer face 53 of width less than that of the base portion 52, and curved side faces 54 which extend from the edges of the outer face 53 to the base portion S2. The curved faces 54 could take various forms, as in conventional wooden mouldings. The base portion 51 has two longitudinally extending grooves 55 to receive the edge portions of panels 70.

Each horizontal member 60 also consists of a length of wood of uniform cross-section, having a base portion 61 and an outer profiled portion 62.

The outer portion 62 has a cross-section identical to that of the outer portion 52 of the vertical members 50, having a flat outer face 63 and curved side faces 64. The base portion 61 of each horizontal member 60 however has a depth equal only to that of the outer part 56 of the base portion 51 of vertical member 50, between the curved faces 54 and the groove 55.

Each vertical member 50 is formed with a series of recesses 58 cut at predetermined intervals along its length. As shown in Figure 9, each recess 58 has a cross-section which is complementary to the cross-section of each horizontal member 60 so that one of the horizontal members 60 can be received as a sliding fit in the recess 58.

As shown in Figure 8, when a horizontal member 60 is fitted into one of the recesses 58 in a vertical member 60, the outer faces 53 and 63 of the two members are flush with one another, and the curved faces 52 and 62 meet one another to give the appearance of a 45 mitre. The inner flat face 65 of the horizontal member 60 is at the samc level as the outer faces of the grooves 55 in the vertical member 50, so that face 65 lies flat against the outer faces 71 of panels 70 fitted into the grooves 55.

Each panel 70 can therefore extend behind each horizontal member 60 so that each panel can extend the full height of the panelling to be installed.

The number of separate panels required is therefore considerably reduced, compared with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7, thus facilitating manufacture and installation of the assembly.

To install wood panelling using the assembly of Figures 8 to 12, each panel 70 is fitted into the grooves 55 in adjacent vertical members 50, and the horizontal members 60 are slid into position.

To increase the stability of the structure, the panels 70 may be secured to the horizontal members 60, for example by stapling through the reverse sides of the panels into the reverse sides of the horizontal members. The assembly is then lifted into position and secured to the wall.

Where panelling is required to cover only part of a wall, the elongate members at the or each edge of the panelling could be modified, for example by forming a groove only on one side of the member, the other side being suitably profiled to form a finishing strip along the edge of the panelling.

The described assemblies could be used in other applications, for example as a cladding for ceilings.

The invention could also be used in applications other than cladding for existing surfaces, for example in built-in furniture, or as a bath surround. Two assemblies could be arranged back-to-back to form a partition wall or divider, or to form a door. The assembly of vertical and horizontal members could be used without panels, for example to form mirror or picture frames.

The members of the assembly could be made in materials other than wood, for example plastics.

Figure 13 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which each vertical elongate member 80 is formed with two profiled portions 82, formed one on each side of a single base portion 81. Each profiled portion 82 has a series of recesses 83, shaped to receive separate horizontal members (not shown), which may be identical to the horizontal members of the embodiment of Figures 8 to 12. The base portion 81 is formed with grooves 84, to receive the edges of panels (not shown). When the members are assembled, the horizontal members lie flat against respective opposite faces of the panels.

This embodiment can therefore be used where the assembly is visible from both sides, for example as a partition, or as a door. In the latter case, the vertical members on the two edges of the door may be formed with a groove only on one side, so that the faces forming the outer edges of the door are unbroken. Suitable finishing strips are provided at the top and bottom of the door.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising first and second sets of elongate members adapted to be interconnected with the members of the first set extending transversely to the members of the second set, each member including a decoratively profiled outer portion whose width generally increases in a direction away from an outer face of the outer portion, in which each member of the first set has a depth greater than that of each member of the second set and has recesses spaced at predetermined intervals along its length, each recess extending through the profiled portion and having a shape complementary to the shape of the profiled portion of each member of the second set, so that a member of the second set can fit slidably into one of the recesses in a member of the first set.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which each member of the first set has a base portion formed with at least one longitudinally extending groove to receive the edge of one of a set of panels to be fitted to the elongate members so that the panels fill the apertures defined by the elongate members when they are interconnected,the outer profiled portions of the members being visible from one side of the panels.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2. in which each member of the second set has an inner face positioned to lie flat against the outer face of a panel when opposite edges of the panel are engaged in the grooves of adjacent members of the first set.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which each member of the second set has a base portion formed with at least one longitudinally extending groove to receive the edge of one of the panels, the grooves in the first and second members being aligned when the members are interconnected.

5. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which each said base is generally rectangular in cross section in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the profiled outer portions of the members of the first and second sets are substantially identical in cross-section in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of each member.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the outer faces of the profiled outer portions of the members of the first and second sets are flat and lie in the same plane when the members are interconnected.

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each member of the first set has two outer profiled portions formed one on either side of a base portion provided with grooves to receive the edges of panels, so that the two outer profiled portions lie one on each side of the panels, each outer profiled portion being formed with a series of recesses to receive members of the second set.

An assembly for cladding a wall with panelling is provided, the assembly including sets of elongate members claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, and panels adapted to fill the rectangular defined by the elongate members when they are interconnected.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the elongate members and panels are of wood.

11. A panelling assembly constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 7, or Figures 8 to 12, or Figure IS of the accompanying drawings.