KR19980702803A - Panel with connecting means on side edge - Google Patents

Abstract

The panel includes a rail member, an insertion member and a connecting member 16. The connecting member has an intermediate portion 17, two side walls 19, 20 and a front web 25, 30. The webs 25, 30 end in the channels 27, 33 and the distal flanges 26, 32. The connector is designed to be connected to the opposite side device on the adjacent panel by lateral movement of the panels towards each other.

Description

Panel with connecting means on side edge

Removable panel assemblies used in the construction of office compartments and workplaces are well known. This panel system typically includes a plurality of interconnected panels that are difficult to assemble and include a significant number of raised metal parts.

The present invention aims to provide a removable panel assembly that is reliable and useful for alleviating and using at least one of the above disadvantages.

The present invention relates to a panel, an assembly comprising the panel and a method of assembling the assembly.

The present invention is particularly used in structures of compartments, workshops and the like, but is not limited to the panels for exhibition purposes. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be used for other purposes, such as the construction of walls, floors, ceilings and fences.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.

1 is a perspective view of a panel assembly assembled according to the invention,

2 is a perspective view from above of the right corner of the panel assembly panel illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG.

3 is a perspective view from below of the right end of the panel illustrated in FIG. 2;

4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views from above illustrating in detail a method of connecting two adjacent panels of the type illustrated in FIG.

7 is an end view of the top rail assembly of a panel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

8 is an end view of a bottom rail assembly of a panel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

9 is a rear perspective view of an insert constructed in accordance with the present invention;

10 is a front perspective view of the insert illustrated in FIG. 9, FIG.

11 is a front view of the insert illustrated in FIG. 9, FIG.

12 is a side view of the insert illustrated in FIG. 9, FIG.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the insert illustrated in FIG. 9;

14 is a top view of the insert illustrated in FIG. 9.

In view of the above, an aspect of the invention resides in a panel comprising connecting means adapted to engage the connecting means of adjacent panels by lateral movement of the two panels towards each other. Preferably, the connecting means of this panel is structured such that the above-mentioned lateral movement takes place only once and the partial engagement of the two panels occurs by the longitudinal movement of the two panels towards each other.

Preferably, the connecting means connecting the two panels are identical, substantially identical, and arranged in opposite directions to each other.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a panel assembly comprising two panels, each panel having connecting means for engaging the connecting means of adjacent panels by lateral movement of the two panels towards each other. Preferably, the connecting means of each panel is configured such that partial engagement of the two panels occurs by longitudinal movement of the two panels before the lateral movements described above.

Preferably, the connecting means connecting the two panels are identical, substantially identical, and arranged in opposite directions to each other.

The panel may be in any suitable form. For example, the panel can be substantially square or rectangular and can be constructed of various materials.

The connecting means may extend along all or part of the edge of the panel, wherein the connecting means may be a part integral with the edge portion of the panel and may comprise a connecting member attached thereto. For example, the connecting member may comprise a cast or extruded portion and may include attachment means for attaching to the panel.

In one aspect, the connecting member may include one or a pair of channels adapted to support or support panel lining material, such as sheets of gypsum board, veneer plywood, particle board, glass, and the like. In addition, the lining material may be covered with a suitable material such as paper, fabric, or the like.

The connecting means comprise recesses or channels which, when used individually or in combination with opposing connecting means, can facilitate attachment of other articles, such as work stages, desk plates, drawer sets, article supports, shelves, etc., in use. can do. For example, the connecting means may comprise a recess or channel comprising projections, such as walls extending across the inlet of the recess or channel, individually or in combination with the opposing connecting means, behind or thereafter. With respect to this, mountings such as mounting of complementary shapes of the article to be attached can be engaged with the connecting means.

The connecting means may also comprise engaging portions such as protrusions adapted to engage the walls of the channels or recesses of the adjacent connecting means.

The panel assembly may also include locking means adapted to lock with the adjacent panel. For example, the locking means may comprise a locking member that connects and locks with an adjacent panel. Alternatively, the locking means may comprise a locking member adapted to prevent release of the interlocking connecting means connecting with the adjacent panel.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of connecting adjacent panels, which method comprises

Providing two panels each having opposing connecting means adapted to be engaged with opposing connecting means by lateral movement of the two panels towards each other;

Arranging the two panels so that corresponding connecting means are adjacent; And

Laterally moving the two panels towards each other such that the connecting means of the panels are engaged with each other.

Preferably, the connecting means of each panel is structured such that the two panels are partially engaged by the longitudinal movement of the two panels towards each other before the lateral movement described above. Thus, preferably, the assembly method described above also includes moving the two panels in the longitudinal direction towards each other such that the two connecting members engage in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the assembly method described above also includes the application of locking means to prevent disassembly of the interlocking connecting means.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a typical removable panel assembly 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Panel assembly 10 comprises a plurality of panels 11 arranged end to end at the top of each other to form a wall,

Each panel is substantially rectangular and includes a pair of opposing vertical edges 13, top edges 14, and bottom edges 15.

Each vertical edge 13 comprises a connecting member 16 extending to its length. The connecting member 16 is formed from the extruded aluminum and comprises a channel shaped middle portion 17 comprising a web 18 separating two side walls 19 and 20 lying in a plane parallel to the middle face of the panel member. Side walls 19 and 20 include outward walls 21 and 21a respectively and walls 21 and 21a end at flanges 22 and 22a respectively. Walls and flanges 19, 21 and 22, and 20, 21a and 22a, respectively, define a pair of rearward facing channels 23 adapted to receive corresponding panel sheets 24 therein.

Panel sheet 24 may be of a composite material, such as gypsum board sheet with an outer fabric cover. However, other panel sheets can also be used, including particle boards, metal or glass sheets.

The connecting member 16 also includes a web 25 extending forward from the wall 21a and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the intermediate plane described above. The distal end of the web 25 includes an outward flange 26 where the web 25, sidewalls 21a and flange 26 define a channel 27. The inlet of the channel 27 is partially closed by the distal end 28 of the flange 22a.

The connecting member 16 also comprises a web 30 extending forward from the wall 21 and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the intermediate plane. The distal end of the web 30 includes a distal portion, such as a step, that ends in the transverse flange 32 towards the web 25. Web 30, wall 21 and flange 22 define another channel 33.

The connecting member 16 also includes a tongue 34 extending laterally from the web 30, wherein the tongue comprises a forwardly inclined end portion 35.

Each panel member also includes a top rail member 40 formed from the extruded aluminum. Top rail member 40 includes a channel-shaped intermediate portion 41 that includes a web 42 that separates two opposing sidewalls 43 that lie in a plane parallel to the middle plane of the panel member. Each of the side walls 43 includes an outward wall 44 ending at the downward flange 45. Side walls 43, walls 44 and flanges 45 define a pair of downward channels 46 adapted to receive the upper edge of the corresponding panel sheet 24 therein.

The web 42 also includes two inner screw grooves 47 extending the length of the protrusions.

The top rail member also includes a pair of flanges 48 each extending upwardly from the corresponding wall 44, wherein the distal ends of each flange 48 extend outwardly and downwardly inclined nibs 49, extending their length. Include.

The top rail member is adapted to engage a cap 50 comprising a top plate 51 located halfway opposite the rounded edge 52. The cap includes a pair of downward flanges 53 each having an inwardly and upwardly inclined nip 54 extending to its length, where the nip 54 is adapted to snap into a corresponding nip 49 as shown in FIG. 7. have.

Each panel member also includes a bottom rail member 60 formed from the extruded aluminum. The bottom rail member 60 comprises a channel-shaped intermediate portion 61 comprising a web 62 separating two opposing side walls 63 lying in a plane parallel to the middle plane of the panel member. The side walls 63 each include an outward wall 64 ending at the up flange 65. Side walls 63, walls 64 and flanges 65 define a pair of upstream channels 66, each adapted to receive the bottom edge of panel sheet 24 corresponding therein.

Sidewalls 63 each include an inwardly, upwardly inclined nip 67 that is adapted to snap into engagement with the corresponding nip 49 of the top rail member 40, as shown in FIG. 8.

The panel assembly also includes a height adjustment component 7 comprising a base plate 71 and a transverse sidewall 73 having a pair of opposing upwardly inclined sidewalls 72 lying in a plane substantially parallel to the middle plane of the panel member ( 3). The transverse sidewall 73 includes a pair of notches 74 formed therein through which a corresponding threaded groove fastener 75 can extend.

The height adjustment part also includes a jack member comprising a base 76 and a stem 77 extending therefrom. The stem includes a free end with threaded grooves suitable for screwing into threaded holes 78 formed in the base plate 71.

In use, a panel member 11 comprising two opposing panel sheets 24 maintained in a spatial relationship by a top rail member 40, a bottom rail member 60 and a pair of connecting members 16 and arranged oppositely has one or more height adjustments therein. By attaching the part it can be kept straight. In particular, a single panel that is allowed to stand alone may require height adjustment components to be attached to opposite ends of the panel member. However, one height adjustment component may be sufficient for the panel member to be connected to the adjacent panel member.

Attaching the height adjustment component to the panel member involves fastening the wall 73 of the base plate 71, which is engaged with the web 18 and extends through the corresponding notch 74, to the web 18 using screws 75, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Is achieved.

Immediately the sun panel member 11 can connect to a similar standing but slightly misaligned panel member 11 'having an opposing connecting member 16 opposite the interlocking connecting member, as illustrated in FIG. However, before positioning the connecting member 16 of the panel member 11 'in the connecting member 16 of the panel member 11, the panel member 11' is lifted about 30 mm higher than the panel member 11 to solve the wall 72 of the height adjusting part 70. .

The connection between panel members 11 and 11 'is shown in Figure 5 by first moving the two panels in longitudinal direction towards each other so that flange 32 abuts wall 21a and the distal edge of flange 22a is at the stepped portion of wall 31. By making contact with each other. The panels then move laterally toward each other such that walls 34 and 32 support against walls 21a and 27, respectively, as illustrated in FIG.

Finally, by lowering the panel member 11 'so as to lie on the plate 71, the protruding wall 72 of the height adjusting part 70 of the panel member 11 prevents any other lateral movement of the panel which may allow the connection member 16 to disengage. As a result, the bottom parts of the two panels are locked together.

Typically the top portion of the panel can be locked together by snapping the top rail 40 and the cap 50 of the adjacent panel where the cap hooks the connection between the two panels. The method of connecting the top rail 40 and the cap 50 is illustrated in FIG. 7. However, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the cap 50 is attached to the top rail 40 of the panel members 11 and 11 'and the two opposing parallels in which the gap between the end cap 80' and the top cap 50 'is separated by the web 92. It will be noted that it is filled by an insert 90 comprising a flange 91 of. The flange 91 is adapted to be inserted into the channels 27 and 33 of the end portion 16, respectively, so that the side walls 25 and 30 and the flange 91 support with frictional force.

The web includes round portions 93 and 94 extending outwardly at right angles from each other from the flange, wherein the profile of each portion substantially coincides with that of the end cap 80 'and the top cap 50' supported when the portion is used.

Panel 11 may be stacked over the top of the other as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein adjacent panel members 11 ′ and 11 are interconnected by a snap engagement of the top rail 40 of panel member 11 ′ and the bottom rail 60 of panel member 11. Can be attached.

This wall assembly can be completed by the addition of end caps 80 and 81 there.

While the foregoing is given by way of exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will of course be understood that all other changes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art fall within the broad scope and perimeter of the invention as defined in the appended claims. .

Claims (11)

Panels comprising connecting means adapted to engage with connecting means of adjacent panels by lateral movement of the two panels towards each other. The panel according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means is structured such that said lateral movement takes place only once and the partial engagement of the two panels occurs by longitudinal movement of the two panels towards each other. The panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting means are adapted to engage with connecting means in the same or substantially the same mutually opposite directions. The panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting means is an extruded member. The panel according to claim 1, wherein further connecting means are provided on opposite edges of the panel, the further connecting means being the same as or substantially the same as the connecting means on the opposite side. A panel assembly comprising the two panels of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the panels are connected by mutual engagement of opposing connecting means. 7. A panel assembly according to claim 6, further comprising locking means adapted to lock together with adjacent panels. 8. A panel assembly according to claim 7, wherein said locking means comprises a locking member adapted to prevent release of said interlocking connecting means. Arranging the two panels so that corresponding connecting means are adjacent; And Laterally moving the two panels towards each other such that the connecting means of the panels are engaged with each other; A method of connecting adjacent panels of the type of claim 1. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising longitudinally moving the two panels toward each other such that the two connecting members are longitudinally engaged prior to the lateral movement. The method according to claim 10, wherein a locking means is inserted to prevent its disassembly between the interlocking connecting means.