GB2374612A

GB2374612A - Jointing assembly for demountably attaching two adjacent panels

Info

Publication number: GB2374612A
Application number: GB0205496A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Jesse
Original assignee: NORWOOD INTERIOR SOLUTIONS Ltd; NORWOOD PARTITION SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: NORWOOD INTERIOR SOLUTIONS Ltd; NORWOOD PARTITION SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-15
Filing date: 2002-03-08
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-08
Also published as: GB0106382D0; GB2374612B; GB0205496D0

Abstract

A jointing assembly comprises two elongate U shaped channels (11a, b) one of which, in use, is attached to each of two panels (10a, b) and an elongate core member (30), where the core is adapted to demountably engage with the channels, preferably by means of ribs (31a, 32a) on the core engaging with inwardly facing projections on the channels (12a, b, 13a, b). In a preferred embodiment the core member has at least one elongate C shaped channel (50, 51 Figure 3) in which a correspondingly shaped portion (44, 45 Figure 3) of a seal is located.

Description

JOINTING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a jointing assembly, in particular to a jointing assembly for use in joining two panels in edge-to-edge abutment.

Certain rooms, for example in pharmaceutical plants and/or in hospitals, must be maintained in clean and aseptic condition. These rooms must also be isolated from extraneous matter which could compromise the aseptic nature of said rooms.

Such"clean rooms"require wall, floor and ceiling surfaces which can readily be assembled, dismantled, cleaned and maintained in a clean and aseptic condition. The surfaces are customarily formed from a plurality of panels which are joined in edge-to-edge abutment. Clearly, the joint between abutting panels must be capable of being sealed so as to maintain cleanliness and asepsis of the room.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide demountable jointing means in which the assembled joint can be sealed against the ingress of any extraneous matter.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a jointing assembly for demountably attaching together two panels in edge-to-edge abutment, the assembly comprising a pair of elongate, generally U-shaped channel members, one of which, in use, is attached to each of said two panels, and an elongate core member adapted, in use, to demountably engage each said U-shaped channel member.

Each channel member includes location means to receive and demountably engage complementary location means provided on the core member.

The location means on each channel member may comprise one or more inwardly-projecting securing members, which may be of generally Ushaped section and may comprise, for example, a rib.

Each rib may comprise a unitary portion extending over substantially the entire length of the or each inwardly-projecting securing member.

Alternatively, each rib may comprise a plurality of discrete, uniformly spaced portions, extending over substantially the entire length of the or each inwardly-projecting securing member.

Each panel may conveniently comprise a pair of skin members defining a cavity, a channel member being received in and engaged with said cavity.

Each skin member may suitably be of substantially planar configuration and may include at least one projection adapted to engage a channel member.

The skin member may preferably have two diametrically opposed projections. For example, one at each end.

The projections on each skin member are preferably of complementary configuration relative to the location means on a channel member.

The assembly may further include a sealing member adapted, in use, to be engaged by complementary location means provided on a skin member.

The channel member is preferably manufactured from a metal.

Alternatively, the channel member may be made from a plastics material, e. g. Nylon@.

The complementary location means on the core member may comprise one or more ribs.

Each rib preferably extends for substantially the entire length of the core member, in a generally longitudinal direction. Alternatively, each rib may comprise a plurality of discrete portions substantially uniformly disposed along the core member, in a generally longitudinal direction.

The core member preferably has one, two or more pairs of ribs.

The core member may further provide at least one elongate channel of generally C-shaped section which, in use, is adapted to locate in sliding engagement a portion of a sealing member which is of complementary configuration with said elongate channel.

The core member may be of generally quadrilateral section. Preferably, one of the sides of the quadrilateral may be partly or fully removed so as to confer resilience on the core member.

The core member is preferably separable from the channel member.

Alternatively, the core member may be secured to the channel member, for example by means of bolts, rivets, screws, adhesive or the like.

The core member is preferably manufactured from a metal.

Alternatively, the core member may be manufactured from a plastics material, e. g. Nylon@.

The skin member is manufactured from a metal. The skin member can either be formed in a precoated metal or powder-coated after forming.

The sealing member is preferably substantially T-shaped, the stem of the T acting, in use, to locate the seal in engagement with a channel member and the top of the T acting, in use, to seal the joint between two panels in edge-to-edge abutment.

The stem of the T may be made from a plastics material, e. g. rigid, clear polypropylene.

The top of the T may also be manufactured from a plastics material e. g. soft, black Santoprene@ (medical grade). The choice of materials for the seal depends on the intended application. For example, medical grade materials will be used for seals in the partitioning or panelling constituting a"clean room"or the like.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 is a section through a jointing assembly according to the present invention, shown in a first, inoperative condition; Figure 2 is a section through the assembly of Figure 1, shown in a second, operative condition; Figure 3 is a section through a joining assembly in accordance with the present invention showing an alternative core member, in which the jointing assembly is in a first, inoperative condition; and Figure 4 is a section through the assembly of Figure 3, shown in a second, operative condition.

In the drawings, like numerals denote like parts.

Referring to Figure 1, a jointing assembly 1 is shown wherein each of two panels 10A and 10B houses a U-shaped channel member 11A and 11B. Each panel comprises two skin members 21A, 21B, 22A and 22B and each skin member is provided with a projection to engage a complementary U-shaped inwardly projecting securing member 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B on the channel member.

On one panel 10A the said inwardly-projecting securing members 12A and 13A are in demountable engagement with a pair of ribs 31A and 32A on a core member 30.

On the other panel 10B the inwardly-projecting securing members 12B and 13B are in engagement with the stems 43 and 44 of T-shaped sealing members 40 and 41, the tops of said sealing members 42 and 43 forming a seal between the two panels 10A and 10B when in edge-to-edge abutment.

Referring to Figure 2, the channel member 11B of the panel 10B is now in co-operative demountable engagement with a pair of ribs 33 and 34 on the core member 30.

The sealing members 40 and 41 are in a sealing engagement between the two panels of the jointing assembly.

Referring to Figure 3, a jointing assembly is shown, wherein each of two panels 10A and 10B houses a U-shaped channel member 11A and 11B. Each panel comprises two skin members 21A, 21B, 22A and 22B and each skin member is provided with a projection to engage a

complementary U-shaped inwardly projecting securing member 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B on the channel member.

The core member 30 is provided with elongate channels 50 and 51 of generally C-shaped section which locates and receives sealing members 40 and 41 by their stem portions 44 and 45. The tops of said sealing members 42 and 43 forming a seal between the two panels.

Referring to Figure 4, the channel member 11B of the panel 10B is now in co-operative demountable engagement with a pair of ribs 33 and 34 on the core member 30.

The sealing members 40 and 41 located in the elongate channels 50 and 51, are in a sealing engagement between the two panels of the jointing assembly.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A jointing assembly for demountably attaching together two panels in edge-to-edge abutment, the assembly comprising a pair of elongate, generally U-shaped channel members, one of which, in use, is attached to each of said two panels, and an elongate core member adapted, in use, to demountably engage each said U-shaped channel member.
2. An assembly according to Claim 1, in which each channel member includes location means to receive and demountably engage complementary location means provided on the core member.
3. An assembly according to Claim 2, in which the location means comprises one or more inwardly-projecting securing members.
4. An assembly according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the location means comprises a rib.
5. An assembly according to Claim 4, in which each rib comprises a unitary portion extending over substantially the entire length of the or each inwardly-projecting securing member.
6. An assembly according to Claim 4, in which each rib comprises a plurality of discrete, uniformly-spaced portions, extending over substantially the entire length of the or each inwardly-projecting securing member.
7. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which each panel comprises a pair of skin members defining a cavity, a channel member being received in and engaged with said cavity.

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8. An assembly according to Claim 7, in which each skin member is of substantially planar configuration and includes at least one projection adapted to engage a channel member.
9. An assembly according to Claim 8, in which each projection is of complementary configuration relative to the location means on a channel member.
10. An assembly according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, further including a sealing member adapted, in use, to be engaged by a complementary location means provided on a skin member.
11. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the channel member is made from a metal.
12. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the channel member is made from a plastics material.
13. An assembly according to any one of Claims 2 to 12, in which the location means on the core member comprises one or more ribs.
14. An assembly according to Claim 13, in which each rib extends for substantially the entire length of the core member, in a generally longitudinal direction.
15. An assembly according to Claim 13, in which each rib comprises a plurality of discrete portions substantially uniformly disposed along the core member, in a generally longitudinal direction.
16. An assembly according to Claim 13,14 or 15, in which the core member has one, two or more pairs of ribs.

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17. An assembly according to any one of Claims 13 to 16, in which the core member has at least one elongate channel of generally C-shaped section which, in use, is adapted to locate in sliding engagement a portion of a sealing member which is of complementary configuration with said at least one elongate channel.
18. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 17, in which the core member is of generally quadrilateral section.
19. An assembly according to Claim 18, in which one of the sides of the quadrilateral is partly or fully removed so as to confer resilience on the core member.
20. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, in which the core member is made from a metal.
21. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 19, in which the core member is made from a plastics material.
22. An assembly according to any one of Claims 10 to 21, in which the sealing member is substantially T-shaped, the stem of the T acting, in use, to locate the seal in engagement with a channel member and the top of the T acting, in use, to seal the joint between the panels in edge-toedge abutment.
23. A jointing assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.