GB2268524A

GB2268524A - Framed panels

Info

Publication number: GB2268524A
Application number: GB9312240A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Newnham
Original assignee: METALMESH Ltd
Current assignee: METALMESH Ltd
Priority date: 1992-06-13
Filing date: 1993-06-14
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-14
Also published as: GB2268524B; GB9312240D0

Abstract

A framed panel has tubular preferably box-section, frame members (3,) surrounding an infill member (1,) which may be a metal mesh or grid, or a metal sheet. Along the inner face of each member there is a gap (4,) through which extends an edge portion of the infill member. Within the tubular members (3,) these edge portions are made captive. With a mesh or grid (1) a toothed strip (5) may interdigitate with the strands to prevent escape through the gap (4). Otherwise, the gap may be at the base of a valley in the associated inner face and the tubular -members (7) may have a resilience allowing thickened edge portions of the infill member (1,) to snap through and then become captive. Such framed panels can be interconnected and supported by intermediate plates or strips with lugs which engage apertures in the outer faces of the tubular frame members so as to make a fence. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relatina to Framed Panels" This invention relates to framed panels. It is primarily concerned with the metal framing of wire or thin rod mesh to form rigid panels which have many uses. The invention will be described mostly in those terms. However, it can be adapted for the framing of other sheet material, and be of other materials. It could be of plastics, for example, with netting framed by plastics extrusions.

Conventionally, a wire mesh panel has a rigid frame of steel, and often this is of box section. The extremities of the wires of the mesh are welded to this frame, all on one face. This is an expensive and timeconsuming operation, and of course it makes the panel asymmetrical. On one side, the mesh is substantially flush with the face of the frame, but looked at from the other side, the frame stands proud of the mesh.

Another drawback is that it is not possible to use coated steel for this construction, or at least if such steel is used the welding will destroy the coating where it is carried out, and further treatment will be necessary.

Also, later modifications, to reduce the panel in size for example, are virtually impossible to carry out on site, particularly with current safety regulations on welding, and the panel would have to be returned to the workshop or factory.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a panel construction where welding can be eliminated altogether, where the completed panel is symmetrical, and where coated steel components can be used and not require repair to the coating after construction. It should also enable framed panels to be "tailor made" on site to almost any desired dimensions.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a framed panel comprising frame members of tubular form but each with a longitudinal gap facing inwardly of the frame and an infill member whose edge portions extend through these gaps into the tubular frame members, wherein there are means within the tubular frame members for preventing escape of each edge portion through the associated gap.

Conveniently, the frame members will be of box section, with the gap of each one substantially along the centre of one face. However, there could be other shapes if desired.

The infill member may be a mesh or grid. In that case the preventing means may be toothed strips, the teeth engaging through the mesh or grid. The teeth are conveniently separated and defined by parallel slots open to the same longitudinal edge of the strip and inclined with respect to that edge. The gaps should closely embrace the strands of the grid or mesh.

Although it will generally be preferred to have one toothed strip for each side of the frame, with large frames it might be more practical to use two or more short strips, and of course they can be cut to length as necessary.

With a rectangular frame, the fitting of the frame members to three edge portions of the grid or mesh presents no problems. However, when it comes to fitting the fourth frame member, the associated edge of the grid or mesh must be moved clear of the two adjacent frame members which will be at right angles to the fourth side. This means that the frame member parallel to and opposite the fourth side will have to move temporarily between the other two. Thus, certain types of corner junctions, such as mitres, will not be possible.

This problem of fitting the fourth side can, however, be avoided altogether, and the toothed strips eliminated.

The preferred way of doing this is for the preventing means to be provided by the infill member itself.

It can be made thicker, at least in parts, along the outer margin of the edge portions than the gap width and the infill member immediately inwards of that margin.

When the infill member is a mesh or grid in which the strands extending in one direction are in a plane offset from that of the strands extending in the transverse direction, at each edge the strand extending along that edge can serve as the thickening of the infill member.

When the infill member is a metal sheet, the thickening of the margin can be provided by deformation of the sheet, as by doubling back the extreme edge portions, striking out a series of barbs, or stamping or pressing out a series of pimples.

In all these arrangements, each gap is preferably defined between two flanges sloping into the tubular member to provide a valley, and each tubular member will then have a resilience whereby, when an infill member is located in the valley and urged towards the frame member, the thicker part or parts can snap through the gap.

Such panels are usually assembled in groups, to form an enclosure or an extended barrier or fence. Therefore, they need to be attached edge-to-edge, and supported.

It is convenient if they can be rapidly put together and disassembled, and it is another aim of this invention to provide means for doing this.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a connecting system between tubular frame members, wherein the frame members to be attached in side-by-side relationship have holes in the adjacent sides, and an intermediate strip or plate has projections on opposite sides which can enter the holes in one relative position and be shifted longitudinally of the sides to another relative position to engage behind the peripheries of the holes and so secure the frame members together.

Conveniently, these projections are lugs punched out of the sheet metal strip or plate. The projections will generally be aligned and alternate from one side to the other. The distribution of holes in the sides of the frame members will of course correspond so that, when mutually attached, the frames will line up.

The strip or plate may form part of a stand or bracket which can also serve to support the frames.

For a better understanding of the invention, some embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a face view of a framed mesh panel, Figure 2 is a cross section, to an enlarged scale, on the line II-II of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a locking strip forming part of the panel, Figure 4 is a cross section of part of another framed mesh panel, Figure 5 shows edge portions of metal sheet that can be framed by the member shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a corner of a frame, Figure 7 is a perspective view of parts of frames and an intermediate supporting bracket before assembly, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of one frame with the bracket engaged therewith.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, wire or rod mesh 1 is enclosed by a rectangular frame 2. Each frame member 3 is almost of box section, but along one face, which is inwards with respect to the frame 2, there is an elongate gap 4 of a width just capable of accepting a strand of the mesh 1.

The edge portions of the mesh 1 are made captive to the frame members 3 by a flat metal strip 5 into one longitudinal edge of which are cut slots 6. Their spacing corresponds to the pitch of the strands of the mesh 1 and preferably they will all be similarly inclined as shown in full lines, as this gives greater security than if they were at right angles to the longitudinal sides, as shown in broken lines. The width of the strip 5 is slightly less than the internal width of the member 3 measured across the gap 4.

For assembly of the panel, a toothed strip 5 is engaged with an edge portion of the mesh 1. Strands of the mesh extending perpendicularly to that edge enter the slots 6 and seat against their inner ends. A strand extending along the edge is thus trapped behind the strip in relation to the rest of the mesh. Then a frame member 3 is slid longitudinally over this edge portion, capturing the strip 5 as shown in Figure 2. The strands of the mesh slide into the gap 4.

This operation is easily accomplished for three sides of the frame. For the fourth side, the mesh is slid with respect to the two parallel frame members already in place to make that fourth side project while the other fitted frame member moves between the parallel ones. The fourth frame member can then be fitted and the mesh moved back again.

The securing of the corners of the frame may be done by various means, but for reasons explained above it will be preferred to avoid welding. A suitable joint is described below with reference to Figure 6.

When the frame is thus completed, the mesh will be fully trapped along all sides and it will be as secure as if welded. Furthermore, the frame will be symmetrical as viewed from either face.

Although the toothed strips are one way of making the mesh captive, it will be understood that many alternative locking elements are possible, provided that they can remain engaged with the mesh, enter the frame members, and not escape through the longitudinal gap.

The frame described could be used as the surround for other panels. For example rigid sheet material, such as metal plate, plywood or glass, could be enclosed. They would not need the locking strips, of course. It would also be possible to construct a hybrid panel, for example half mesh and half plate.

Referring to Figure 4, a tubular frame member 7 is also generally box section with a gap 8 along the centre of the side facing inwardly of the frame. But this gap is at the base of a valley formed by two flanges 9 bent to incline inwardly of the tube.

For assembly of the panel, the mesh can be slid into engagement with three of the frame members, as with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. But the fourth frame member can be offered up so that the free edge of the mesh nests in the valley. It is then pressed firmly, and there will be sufficient elasticity in the section of the frame member for the flanges 9 to be wedged apart, allowing the edge strand of the mesh to snap through the gap 8. It is then trapped by hooking behind the edge of one of the flanges 9. Thus the mesh does not have to be shunted to and fro, and mitred frame corners are possible.

With the gaps 4 and 8 along the centre of each frame member, there will have to be some distortion of the strands of the mesh, particularly at the corners. As can be seen in Figure 4, having the vertical strands centred inevitably means that the horizontal ones must be off centre. However with a large mesh gauge and with bendable wire or thin rod, this is not a problem. If necessary, it could be solved by making the frame members with the gaps 4 or 8 slightly off-centre.

There could be a mixture of the embodiments described above. A frame could consist of one, two or three members 3, with their toothed strips 5, completed by one or more members 7.

As with the first embodiment, the frame of Figure 4 could accept sheets other than of wire or rod mesh. If desired, with suitable material such as sheet metal, the edges could be deformed as shown in Figure 5 to give the added security of being positively trapped by the frame members. For example the edge of a sheet 10 could have a flange 11 turned back and flattened against it as at (a), barbs 12 could be stuck out as at (b) or there could be an array of dimples 13 as at (c). Tools could be available to make these deformations on site.

A possible corner joint is shown in Figure 6 where an upright frame member 14, of similar section to the member 7, is connected to a horizontal frame member 15. The sides of the latter are drilled to receive a cross-pin whose head is shown at 16. A bolt 17 engages to this, its threaded shank projecting beyond the end of the member 15 and through the slot in the member 14 to its head 18, and a U-shaped clamping element 19 being captive on the bolt between the head and the slot. The bolt head 18 has a hex socket to receive a key (not shown) by which it can be turned, the web of the member 14 opposite its slot having an aperture 20 to provide access. The assembly is made by passing the bolt 17 with the clamping element 19 already loosely fitted down through the slot in the member 14 until the nut head 18 registers with the aperture 20.The key is then inserted and turned to clamp the limbs of the element 19 against the inside of the member 14 and draw the member 15 tightly against the outside.

It will be seen that this type of joint offers a convenient solution to the completion of a frame where the fourth frame member has to be slid longitudinally onto the associated edged infill member with the latter shifted from its ultimate position.

There are of course alternatives to the bolt 17.

For example, the bolt could be reversed and become an eye bolt with its eye captive to the cross-pin 16, and with a nut where the head 18 is shown.

As an adjunct to these frame constructions, there is also proposed means for keeping them erect as a fence or barrier.

In Figures 7 and 8, the frames have vertical, tubular side members 21, the cross section being substantially square. At intervals in the outer face there are holes 22 and 23, conveniently formed in a flat blank before the tube is folded. The top and bottom holes 22 are each of "fat" T-form while the central hole 23 is of "fat" cross shape. There may be similar holes near the other end of the member 21 with which another connector can co-operate, and also so that it does not matter which way up the frame is used. The opposite, parallel member of each frame (not shown) will be similarly apertured.

A support bracket 24 has a vertical, generally isosceles triangular shaped plate 25 from the lower edge of which project symmetrical flanges 26 apertured at 27 to enable securing to a floor by bolts or screws and spaced to receive and locate the bottom corner of a frame. Along the vertical line of symmetry lugs 28 and 29 are punched out of the plate 25, the top and bottom ones 28 to project to one side and the middle one 29 to the other, flanged side.

Their shape is also like a fat T, complementary to the holes 22, and their narrow parts incline away from the plate 25 to form wedges. The spacing of the lugs 28 and 29 corresponds to the spacing of the holes 22.and 23. In addition, there is an aperture 30 on the vertical line of symmetry just above the central lug 29 with a tooth upstanding from its lower edge.

The bracket 24 is first attached to a loose frame on its flanged side, which has the single, central projecting lug 29. The bracket is offered up and pressed down. With relative longitudinal movement, the margins of the wider portion of the central lug 29 can engage behind the shoulders defining the lower, narrower portions of the hole 23 and thus hold the frame to the bracket. As this movement continues, a progressively firmer grip is exerted by virtue of the wedging action trying to force the plate 25 away from the frame.

To lock the bracket and frame together once the bottom of the bracket is level with the bottom of the frame, the tooth 31 is bent into the aperture 23, using a light hammer or even just a screwdriver, so that it engages under the top edge of that aperture. The bracket is thus prevented from being pulled up again.

While the one lug 29 may not appear to provide sufficient stability, another intermediate connector can be fitted between the adjacent upper corners of connected frames, and at the opposite vertical edge there is likely to be another bracket, similarly oriented to engage two holes at the bottom of that vertical. Also, as the flanges 26 are on the side with the single projecting lug 29, the bottom corner of the frame locates between those flanges, and this.

will add to its stability.

The loose frame member with the bracket 24 fixed to it can then attach to an already positioned frame in a similar way, offering up the bracket to engage the top and bottom lugs 28 in the holes 22 and then pressing down.

There will of course be no locking tooth to deform.

It will be understood that the holes and lugs could be reversed, so that the bracket would be secured first and then the frame fitted by being pressed down.

If two frames are to be joined at right angles (or indeed at some other angle) the intermediate connectors can take the form of L-section strips, with lugs projecting outwardly from each limb.

Claims

1. A framed panel comprising frame members of tubular form but each with a longitudinal gap facing inwardly of the frame and an infill member whose edge portions extend through these gaps into the tubular frame members, wherein there are means within the tubular frame members for preventing escape of each edge portion through the associated gap.

2. A framed panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame members are of box section with the gap of each one being substantially along the centre of one face.

3. A framed panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the infill member is a mesh or grid.

4. A framed panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein - the preventing means are toothed strips, the teeth engaging through the mesh or grid.

5. A framed panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the teeth are separated and defined by parallel slots open to the same longitudinal edge of the strip and inclined with respect to that edge.

6. A framed panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the preventing means are provided by the infill member itself being thicker, at least in parts, along the outer margin of the edge portions than the gap width and the infill member immediately inwards of that margin.

7. A framed panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the infill member is a mesh or grid in which the strands extending in one direction are in a plane offset from that of the strands extending in the transverse direction, and wherein at each edge the strand extending along that edge serves as the thickening of the infill member.

8. A framed panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the infill member is a metal sheet and the thickening of the margin is provided by deformation of the sheet.

9. A framed panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the deformation is a doubling back of the extreme edge portions.

10. A framed panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the deformation is a series of barbs struck out of the sheet.

11. A framed panel as claimed in claim 8, wherein the deformation is a series of pimples stamped or pressed out of the sheet.

12. A framed panel as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein each gap is defined between two flanges sloping into the tubular member to provide a valley, and wherein each tubular member has a resilience whereby, when an edge portion of the infill member is located in the valley and urged towards the frame member, the thicker part or parts can snap through the gap.

13. A framed panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, Figure 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A connecting system between tubular frame members, wherein the frame members to be attached in sideby-side relationship have holes in the adjacent sides, and an intermediate strip or plate has projections on opposite sides which can enter the holes in one relative position and be shifted longitudinally of the sides to another relative position to engage behind the peripheries of the holes and so secure the frame members together.

15. A connecting system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the projections are lugs punched out of sheet metal strip or plate.

16. A connecting system as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the projections are aligned and alternate from one side to the other.

17. A connecting system as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein the strip or plate forms part of a stand or bracket which can also serve to support the frames.

18. A connecting system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A fence or barrier comprising a plurality of framed panels as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 connected by a system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18.