GB2283071A - Joining of panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A joint 10 is formed between two panels 11, 12, each of which comprises an end member 13 and two sheet metal sides 14, the panels 11, 12 being locked together by U-shaped spring clips 23 which are engaged around abutting pairs of transverse flanges 19, formed on respective end members 13 and which locate in detents 21 defined in the flanges 19. Plastics inserts 26 are push fitted into the openings 25 through which the clips 23 are applied, and hold the clips 23 in position. The sheet metal sides 14 have bent-over edges 15 which clip into detents 20 in the end members 13. <IMAGE>

Description

Imnrovements relatina to Joints and Panels This invention relates to improvements in joints and panels.

It is known to divide internal spaces within offices, warehouses etc. using panels abutted end-to-end and a variety of joint systems exist. In a number of cases, where wide joint spaces are provided single panels can be dismounted from a run. However, in the food industry, or when clean rooms are required, narrow joints are greatly to be preferred. Existing narrow joint systems include members which extend across the joints such that if a panel is to be removed or changed the whole run, up to that panel, has to be dismantled. In this type of use it is desirable, also, that the very clean lines are produced. For the purpose of this specification the term panel includes a door or window unit and connection units, such as corners or three-or-four-way junctions.

Thus from one aspect the invention consists in a butt joint between a pair of room-defining panels, comprising respective end members, each for forming the end of a respective panel and each defining a transverse flange to lie adjacent the corresponding flange on the other end member when the end members are abutted and clip means for holding the flanges and, hence the end members, to form the joint.

It will be appreciated that simply by undoing the clip means a single panel can be removed from the middle of a run of panels connected by such a joint.

In a preferred embodiment each end member defines a pair of opposed transverse flanges for co-operating with the corresponding flanges on the other member and there are clip means for each adjacent pair of flanges.

In any of these cases the clip means may be in the form of a generally U-shaped spring clip, which may extend over a substantial part of the length of the joint. The flanges may include detents for receiving and releasably retaining the free ends, or part thereof, of the clip.

The end members may together form a chamber or chambers in which the flanges lie and together may define an opening or openings through which the clip means can pass. In this case the butt joint may further include a plastic insert for releasably closing each opening. The inserts preferably engage the clip means to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

The invention further includes a panel including an end member, having a pair of opposed transverse flanges, and sheet material sides which extend inwardly across the face of the end member to locate in detents on the flanges.

From a further aspect the invention includes a panel assembly incorporating butt joints as defined above and/or a panel as defined above.

Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a scrap view of two abutted panels showing the joint between them; Figure 2 is a view from one end of an end member of a panel as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3(a) and (b) respectively illustrate an end view and a front view of a clip used in the joint; and Figure 4 is a section taken through a door section arranged between two panels; and Figure 5(a), (b) and (c) respectively are sectional views through a four-way junction, a three-way junction and a corner.

Figure 1 illustrates a joint 10 between two panels 11, 12. Each panel comprises a pair of extruded end members 13 and sheet metal sides 14 which are bent over at their ends 15, in a manner which will be described in more detail below. Each panel may be fitted with insulating material.

Each end member 13 comprises a base 16, having sides 17 at each edge, and a central a projection 18 formed with a pair of half-arrowhead shaped transverse flanges 19. The flanges defining two sets of detents 20, 21. The first set 20 are for locating the ends 15 of the side walls 14, whilst the second set 21 locate one arm of a spring clip as set out below.

As can be seen in Figure 1 the ends 15 are bent around the sides 17 of the base 16 and then outwardly to clip into the respective detents 20. Because the sides 17 project less far than the projection 18, the sides 14 of the panels do not extend beyond the front surface of the flanges 19.

Accordingly, the panels 11, 12 can be butted together so that their flanges lie substantially parallel to each other. Because the flanges 19 are formed with small elongate seats 22, their free ends are spaced slightly apart.

When thus located, the panels 11, 12 can be locked together by means of spring clips 23 being engaged around the free ends of respective abutting pairs of flanges 19 and locating in the detents 21. Spring clips 23 are entirely contained within the chambers 24 defined by the abutting end members 13 and can be introduced into these chambers 24 through the openings 25 defined by the aligned sides 14.

These openings 25 can then be closed by push-fit plastic inserts 26 which are preferably shaped so that they engage against the rear of their respective associated spring clips 23.

It will be appreciated that the joint 10 can be made extremely narrow, typically 6mm, and has a number of important other features. Firstly, the only members which extend across the plane of abutment are the spring clips 23 which can readily be removed from any joint, once the plastic inserts 26 are themselves taken out. Thus any joint in a run of panels can be dismantled without disturbing any other panels in the run. It is therefore easy to remove a panel for repair or maintenance, substitute a three-or-four-way junction for a corner or to substitute a panel with a window or a door unit if a re-configuration is required. Figure 3 illustrates how a door 27 can be located within a panel using exactly the same joint arrangement. A further advantage of the construction is that the panels are very easily formed but that the side walls 14 are securely held within the end members 13. Finally the plastic inserts provide a very smooth surface at the joint which is ideal for clean room or food usages.

Claims (11)

1. A butt joint between a pair of room defining panels, comprising respective end members, each for forming the end of the respective panels and each defining a transverse flange to lie adjacent to the corresponding flange on the other end member when the end members are abutted, and clip means for holding the flanges and, hence the end members, together to form the joint.

2. A butt joint as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each end member defines a pair of opposed transverse flanges for cooperating with the corresponding flanges on the other members and wherein there are clip means for each adjacent pair of flanges.

3. A butt joint as claimed in any one of the preceeding Claims wherein the clip means is in the form of a generally U-shaped spring clip and the flanges include detents for receiving, and releasably retaining, the free ends, or part thereof, of the clip.

4. A butt joint as claimed in any one of the preceeding Claims wherein the end members may together form a chamber or chambers in which the flanges lie and together define an opening or openings to the chamber or chambers through which the clip means can pass.

5. A butt joint as claimed in Claim 4 further including a plastic insert for releasably closing each opening.

6. A butt joint as claimed in Claim 5 wherein insert or inserts engage the clip means to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

7. A butt joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A panel including an end member having a pair of opposed transverse flanges and sheet material sides which extend inwardly across the face of the end member to locate in detents on the flanges.

9. A panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A panel assembly incorporating butt joints as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 and/or a panel as described in Claims 8 or 9.

11. A panel assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.