GB2245615A

GB2245615A - Partitions: clips

Info

Publication number: GB2245615A
Application number: GB9014717A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Finn Andersen
Original assignee: MILLCORE Ltd
Current assignee: MILLCORE Ltd
Priority date: 1990-07-03
Filing date: 1990-07-03
Publication date: 1992-01-08
Also published as: GB9014717D0

Abstract

Partition panels are connected to the studs 4 by means of clips which are secured to the rear face of the panels and hook over plates 3 secured to the studs. Alternatively the clips can directly engage the flanges of I-section studs. The clips have teeth for driving into the panel and may have a detent for engaging an opening in plate 3. Alternatively the clip may be folded to form a channel 16 for gripping the plate 3. Clips may be attached to the outer face of the partition for securing e.g. radiators. <IMAGE>

Description

PARTITION STRUCTURE The invention relates to a partition structure comprising substantially vertical bars formed by a planar web part with bent flanges along the rims.

A known partition structure comprises vertical bars with bent flanges along the rims for the securing of cover plates by means of substantially U-shaped strips with flanges bent outwards and gripping about the cover plates.

The object of the invention is to provide a partition structure which is easy to mount and where the cover plates can abut one another in a less visible manner. The partition structure according to the invention is characterised in that plate-shaped fitting means are secured to the vertical bars, said fitting means supporting clips secured to cover plates for the partition structure. The plate-shaped fitting means comprise advantageously a lowered portion for the head of a securing screw. The clips are driven into the cover plates by means of a hammer.

According to an alternative embodiment, the partition structure comprises substantially I-shaped bars, the cover plates and the clips being secured directly to the projecting flanges of the vertical I-shaped bars. As a result the plate-shaped fitting means can be omitted.

The invention is described in greater details below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a known partition structure, where the cover plates are secured to the vertical bars by means of U-shaped strips with flanges bent outwards, Fig. 2 illustrates a partition structure according to the invention, where the cover plates are secured to pro jecting plate members by means of clips secured to the cover plates, Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the partition structure according to the invention, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the partition structure of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is an end, front and perspective view of the clip in a first embodiment, Fig. 6 illustrates the clip in a second embodiment with a locking member pressed out, Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate alternative embodiments of the clip with pressed out load absorbing portions, Fig. 9 illustrates a clip capable of absorbing a particularly high load, Figs. loa and 10b illustrates the securing concept used in connection with outer panels, Fig. 11 illustrates how two cover plates can be connected by means of an intermediary strip, and Fig. 12 illustrates the vertical post and the horizontal bar secured thereto.

Fig. 1 illustrates a known partition structure comprising vertical bars with bent flanges along the rims for the securing of cover plates by means of substantially Ushaped strips with flanges bent outwards and gripping about the cover plates.

According to the invention, the cover plates are secured to the vertical bars by means of particularly formed clips, cf. Fig. 5. The particularly formed clip is composed of a resilient plate-shaped member with V-shaped pointed portions 1 turned inwards, said pointed portions being driven into the cover plate 2 by means of a hammer. The resilient portions of the clips 8 are then used for gripping about projecting plate members 3 secured to the bent flanges along the rims of the vertical bars 4 by means of screws.

The plate members 3 are of a length of approximately 11 cm and a height of approximately 4 cm and provided with a lowered portion in such a manner that the screw to be secured to the bar 4 is not in the way of the cover plates 2. The cover plates 2 are for instance made of gypsum and provided with a coating, such as a steel plate of a thickness of 0.4 mm. Elongated cover plates may for instance be horizontally arranged and be separated by intermediary strips 5, cf. Fig. 11, defining fields. Previously, it was almost always necessary to arrange the cover plates 2 vertically and to form said plates with a width substantially corresponding to the distance between the vertical bars 4. The latter is no longer necessary. The intermediary strips 5 may be of an arbitrary width and colour. As a result a wide range of variation possibilities is rendered possible.

According to a particularly inexpensive embodiment, U-shaped bars 6 are used in the bottom and at the top, cf. Fig. 3. The U-shaped bars 6 are of a width of approximately 6 cm. I-shaped bars 7 are inserted in the U-shaped bars 6, said bars 7 being of a height corresponding to the width of the U-shaped bars 6. The cover plates 2 can be secured to the flanges of the I-shaped bar 7 by means of clips 8 secured to the cover plates 2, said clips 8 being horizontally arranged, cf. Fig. 3. Such a system does not require particular high tolerances. The partition is mounted by initially securing the U-shaped bars 6 in the bottom and at the top. Subsequently, the first I-shaped bar 7 is inserted in the U-shaped bars, whereafter a vertical cover plate is secured to the I-shaped bar 7 by means of clips 8. Thereafter the following I-shaped bar 7 is mounted in the U-shaped bars 6 etc.

The securing principle can also be used in connection with base boards or radiator panels being secured on the outside of the cover plates 2 by means of clips 8 secured on the outside of said cover plates, cf. Figs. 10a and lOb. According to the embodiment of Fig. lOa a bent portion of the panel 9 extends behind the resilient clamping means of clips 8 turned upwards. According to the embodiment of Fig. lOb, a securing fitting means 10 has been secured by means of horizontally arranged clips 8 whereafter the panel 11 has been pushed over the securing fitting means 10. The panels can also be used for conduits etc., in which case switches and contacts may be provided in the panels.

The plate members alone can be used for interconnecting cover plates, also cover plates forming a predetermined angle with one another, in which case the plate members should be bent correspondingly.

Insulating material may be inserted between the cover plates.

Fig. 12 illustrates the vertical post 4 and the horizontal bars 12 secured thereto. The vertical post 4 is provided with such an opening 13 that the upper portion of said opening allows the projecting portions of the horizontal bars 12 to move freely in the longitudinal direction of the bars and to be turned about their longitudinal axis.

As a result the horizontal bars 12 can be easily positioned just above their final position during the mounting procedure. The intermediary portion of the openings 13 are shaped in such a manner that the projecting portion of the horizontal bar 12 must be deformed in order to enter the lower portion of said opening 13 during the mounting procedure.

The lower portion of the opening 13 is shaped in such a manner that the rim thereof engages a recess in the projecting portion of the horizontal bar 12. As a result the horizontal bar 12 is fixedly connected to the vertical post 4.

The latter connection resists rather strong effects from the bottom because the sudden transition between the lower portion of the opening 13 and the intermediary portion thereof serves as an abutment.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment the plate-shaped clip is provided with an embossed portion 13, cf. Fig. 6, capable of optionally engaging a corresponding opening in a plate-shaped fitting means so as to be locked thereto.

According to an alternative embodiment, cf. Fig. 7, the clip is provided with an embossing 14 engaging the plate-shaped fitting means and ensuring that the plateshaped fitting means does not effect the clips in the locations where the pointed portions 1 have been driven into the cover plate. Otherwise the clip could be released from the cover plate, especially when said cover plate is made of a fragile material. According to the embodiment of Fig.

8, the pressed out resilient member 15 is provided on the outside, said resilient member 15 engaging a plate-shaped fitting means and ensuring that the plate-shaped fitting means does not effect the clips in the locations where the pointed portions 1 have been driven into the cover plate.

As an alternative, the clip may be a profile of a varying length, cf. Fig. 9. As a result the securing is particularly strong. In this case, the plate-shaped clip is provided with a bent, folded portion 16 capable of engaging the plate-shaped fitting means so as to absorb a possible load therefrom.

It is important to all clips that the pointed portions 1 are arranged completely perpendicular to the cover plate before they are driven into said plate by means of a hammer.

The clips and the partition structure according to the invention may be modified in many ways without thereby deviating from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Partition structure comprising substantially vertical bars formed by a planar web part with bent flanges along the rims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that plateshaped fitting means are secured to the vertical bars, said fitting means supporting clips secured to cover plates for the partition structure.

2. Partition structure as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plate-shaped fitting means comprise a lowered portion for securing screws.

3. Partition structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the clip comprises pointed portions being driven into the cover plates.

4. Partition structure as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plate-shaped fitting means are used for interconnecting two cover plates optionally forming a predetermined angle with one another.

5. Partition structure as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the clips are driven into the outer side of the cover plate and are used for the securing of panels, such as radiator panels or base boards.

6. Partition structure comprising substantially vertical I-shaped bars, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that cover plates with clips are secured directly to the projecting flanges of the vertical I-shaped bars.

7. Partition structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plate-shaped clip comprises an embossed locking portion.

8. Partition structure as claimed in the preceding claims 1 to 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plate-shaped clip comprises an embossed portion, the free end of which engages the plate-shaped fitting means and absorbs a possible load therefrom.

9. Partition structure as claimed in claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the embossed portion is provvided on the inside.

10. Partition structure as claimed in claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the embossed portion is provided on the outside.

11. Partition structure as claimed in the preceding claims 1 to 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plate-shaped clip comprises a bent, folded portion capable of engaging the plate-shaped fitting means so as to absorb a possible load therefrom.

12. A clip optionally used in connection with a partition structure, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plate-shaped clip comprises an embossed portion.

13. A clip as claimed in claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the embossed portion is locked in an opening optionally provided in a plate-shaped member.

14. A clip as claimed in claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the plate-shaped clip comprises an embossed portion, the free end of which is capable of engaging the plate-shaped fitting means so as to absorb a possible load therefrom.

15. A clip as claimed in claim 14, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the embossed portion is provided on the inside.

16. A clip as claimed in claim 14, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the embossed portion is provided on the outside.

17. A clip optionally used in connection with a partition structure, c h a r a c t e r i s ed d in that the plate-shaped clip comprises a bent, folded portion capable of engaging the plate-shaped fitting means so as to absorb a possible load therefrom.

18. A method of securing a clip to a plate, such as a cover plate, of a partition structure, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by placing the clip in such a way that the pointed portions thereof are arranged perpendicular to the plate, whereafter said clip is fixed by way of driving for instance by means of a hammer.

19. Partition structure substantially as described above and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. Clip substantially as described above and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. Method substantially as described above and disclosed in the accompanying specification.