US3837133A

US3837133A - Panel clip

Info

Publication number: US3837133A
Application number: US00273731A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Mollman
Original assignee: Alside Inc
Current assignee: United States Steel Corp; Associated Materials LLC
Priority date: 1972-07-21
Filing date: 1972-07-21
Publication date: 1974-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-24

Abstract

A panel clip for mating lateral edges of adjacent panels and securing them to each other. The clip is U-shaped with foldedover edges which have serrated sections at each end. A plurality of holes allow the mated panels to be secured by nailing to a structural element like a stud which may not occur at the seam of the mated edges.

Description

United States Patent 1 Mollman Sept. 24, 1974 PANEL CLIP [75] Inventor: Robert E. Mollman, Moreland Hills,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Alside, Inc., Akron, Ohio [22] Filed: July 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 273,731

[52] US. Cl 52/483, 24/73 PC, 24/259 SG, 52/357, 52/582, 403/405 [51] Int. Cl. E06b 3/54, A44b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 24/259 R, 259 FS, 259 B, 24/259 PW, 259 FF, 259 GC, 259 PF, 259

SP, 259 SH, 259 SG, 259 TF, 73 PC, 73 SC,

73 FT, 85 B; 52/357, 579, 582, 584, 483; 287/189.35; 52/753 J; 403/405 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 949,394 2/1910 Daly 24/73 PC 2,200,649 5/1940 Wardle 52/582 2,295,444 9/1942 Woodward 24/73 FT 2,367,322 1/1945 Wright et al. 24/259 R 2,871,998 2/1959 Cross 287/l89.35 X 2,903,753 9/1959 Nelsson 52/582 2,974,383 3/1961 Bright 24/85 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 532,246 1/1930 Germany 24/259 GC 1,038,847 8/1966 Great Britain 24/259 Primary ExaminerBobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fidelman, Wolfe, Leitner &

Hiney [5 7 ABSTRACT A panel clip for mating lateral edges of adjacent panels and securing them to each other. The clip is U- shaped with foldedover edges which have serrated sections at each end. A plurality of holes allow the mated panels to be secured by nailing to a structural element like a stud which may not occur at the seam of the mated edges.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB SEP 24 ISM SHEET 2 0F 2 PANEL cur BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART To obtain a satisfactory installation of exterior simulated stone or brick panels or indoor panels, each panel should be secured at each end of the panel plus at least once in the middle of the panel. This procedure is simple when the panels are applied over solid sheeting or wood siding. There are many types of applications where it is not possible to nail each end of some panels unless furring is first installed over the entire area to be covered. The furring is needed because with normal 2 X 4 studs, it is not possible to nail the adjoining ends of both panels into the same stud.

Typical wall constructions for application of exterior simulated panels which would be a problem are:

A. Open Studs B. Insulating Fiber Board Sheeting C. Plaster or Gypsum Board D. Old, Unsound Wood Covered Walls E. Foam insulatmgsheets By using the panel clip of the present invention, simulated stone and brick panels can be installed over all of the above structures without the added expense and time consuming process of furring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a U" section steel clip with an internal serrated edge for receiving the right and left horizontal edge of adjacent panels and retaining them to prevent movement relative to each other. When a clip is firmly in place over the horizontal edge of the mated panels, a nail or other securing means may be placed in one of the plurality of holes or apertures in the clip which is best in line with the center of the stud or other rigid structures. Thus the mated edge of adjacent panels need not occur upon the center of a stud when used with the present panel clip. The clip also reinforces and stiffens the vertical joint between panels when the clip cannot be secured to a rigid structure.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a clip for securing adjacent panels to each other and reinforcing the mated seam, even though the clip cannot be secured to a rigid structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for securing adjacent panels to each other and to a rigid structure which may not occur at the mating edge of the adjacent panels.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive panel clip to secure panels to pre-existing structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means for securing panels to previously problematic wall constructions.

Still another object is to provide a panel clip which secures panels to the wall without the expense of furring.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the panel clip;

FIG. 2 is the cross-sectional view along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a preferred cross-sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an alternate cross-sectional view along section line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 displays the use of the nailing clip in the installation of paneling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the subject panel clip indicated generally as 10. The clip has three

holes

12, 14 and 16 in

side walls

18 and 19. Hole or aperture 14 is centered on the clip and

holes

12 and 16 are equally distanced therefrom. Two parallel legs or

walls

18 and 19 extend from base 17 and are curled under and terminated at edge 20. The edge 20 is serrated at either end 22. The serrations engage and help retain the inserted panels.

Close to each end of the clip and communicating with the base 17 and

walls

18 and 19 are two indentions or ribs 24. The structure is more fully displayed in FIG. 5, which is a view along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the indentions or ribs 24 are smaller than the general clip base and wall structure l7, 18, 19 and are generally U-shaped.

FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of clip 10. The

parallel walls

18 and 19 meet the base 17 at right angles. The progender extensions of

walls

18 and 19 form keeper 20. The angle formed between keeper 20 and

walls

18 and 19 is approximately 12, but, may be any acute angle.

Another embodiment of the clip 10, as displayed in FIG. 4, shows the base 17' and walls 18' and 19 forming a U-shaped member whose curled under ends 20 run parallel to the legs 18, and 19'. Independent of which embodiment the nailing clip takes, the ribs 24 will be as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5.

The clip as displayed has been made to be approximately 4 inches long and a half inch in height. It has been made out of galvanized steel but may be made out of any material which can be bent in a simple machine operation to form the embodiments described in FIGS. 1 through 5.

The use of the panel clip is to install panels as shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen in FIG. 6, there are four

panels

40, 50, 60, and 70. The vertical edges of

panels

40 and 50, shown as 42 and 52, are laid adjacent to each other and mated. The mating edge formed by

edges

42 and 52 is parallel to and lies over stud 30. Panel clip 10 is placed on the horizontal edge of

panels

40 and 50 so that the right end of the clip is on the left end of the nailing hem of panel 50 and the left end of clip 10 is over the right end of the nailing hem of panel 40. When the clamp is firmly in place, ribs 24 grip and serrated elements 22 hold the clip securely to the two panels and prevent motion of the two panels relative to each other. Thus the clip reinforces and stiffens the vertical seam of the adjacent panels.

Now that the clip is firmly emplaced on the panels, a nail may be placed in one of the clip holes that is best in line with the center of the stud. As illustrated in P10. 6, this hole is center hole 14. The panel clip, when nailed into the stud with a nail whose length is adequate enough to grip the stud after passing through nonstructural material, securely holds the adjoining ends of the adjacent panels in place.

If the

mated edges

42 and 52 of

panels

40 and 50, respectively, would lie other than on the center of the stud 30,

hole

12 and 16 would be selected to secure the panel clip and the secured and retained panels to the stud. Also, the remaining adjacent panels that are mated other than at the center of a rigid structural element, as a stud, are to be securely held to such stud by the use of clip in the appropriate hole. Even ifa stud occurs at a location greater than the length of the clip, the clip reinforces the mating seam and eliminates the natural tendency of the seam to bow away from the wall.

The panel clip 10 is generally hidden from. view by the overlap of horizontal edges of the adjacent panels. This is shown where the panel clip 10 has been inserted over

horizontal edges

64 and 74 of

panel

60 and 70, respectively, and the bottom edge 54 of panel 50 overlaps the panel clip and hides it thereby. FIG. 6 shows an attractive arrangement of panels, where the horizontal rows of paneling are staggered by using alternate staggered studs. The panels will be nailed in the center of the stud through which every hole is superimposed thereon.

Since stud spacing is generally it) inches and 24 inches on center and the simulated indoor or outdoor panels are 48 inches, it can be seen that when one panel is in line with a stud, the other panels can be attached to studs in the same manner. If the first panel-is installed at the corner on a stud, us other vertical edge may lie on the very tip of the stud 48 inches away. Thus the mated edge formed between this first panel and the next adjacent panel will not lie centered on the stud. By using the panel clip 10, the two panels are retained together by the serrated edge and the ribs, and then secured to a rigid structure by nailing through the appropriate hole which will be centered on the stud.

An additional important feature of the serrated section 22 and ribs 24 is their use when siding or panels are installed from the top down. In such cases, the nailing hem is down. The serrated section and the ribs 24 retain the clip in location until it is nailed into place. The folded edge 20 of clip 10 also has a primary function of providing adequate stiffness to the panel clip.

Though the invention has been described using nails, any securing means may be inserted through the holes or apertures to secure the retained adjacent panels to a rigid structure. These may include screws or other securing means. Also the clip may take any cross-.

sectional form such that it has a base and two legs or walls extending therefrom. The material which the clip can be made of may include any inexpensive, machinable material. The angle that the keeper elements 20 form with walls or legs l8and 19 may be any angle which will allow for the insertion of the panels and the retention thereof. Though the invention has been described for the installation of paneling or siding, it can be used for the installation of any decorative sheet material. Also, the clip has been described as being secured to a stud but may be used to retain panels and secure them firmly to any rigid structure which the panels are to cover.

The panel clip has been described for retaining mated lateral edges of panels and securing them, when nailed, to a rigid structure which may not occur at the seam of the mated edges. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. The dimensions given are but examples and in no way are meant to be limiting.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a panel clip, two panels, a fastener and a rigid element for attaching said two adjacent panels lying in a single plane to said rigid element, said panel clip comprising:

a base parallel to said panels horizontal edge;

two parallel walls extending from said base, thereby forming a three-sided closure receiving said horizontal edge of said panels therebetween;

said base and walls having a length greater than the horizontal dimension of said rigid element;

a plurality of pairs of holes, one part of each pair being in each of said walls, spaced, in a plane parallel to said base, whereby only one pair of said holes is superimposed on said rigid element and said pair receives said fastener passing through at least one of said panels and into said rigid element.

2. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base and said walls meet to form a U-shaped element, including retention means extending from the ends of said U" and projecting parallel to said walls for engaging and retaining said panels, and wherein said holes are above said retention means.

3. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base and walls meet at right angles, including retention means extending from the end of said walls, said retention means not meeting said base and projecting inwardly, forming an acute angle with said walls for engaging and retaining said panels, and wherein said holes are above said re tention means-'- 4. A clip as in claim 3 including at least two U-shaped ribs communicating with the interior of said base and said walls, each adapted to grasp one of said adjacent panels-- 5. A clip for securing two panels adjacent at their edge to lie in a single plane comprising: a body with a base and two parallel legs affixed to lie generally per-- pendicularly to said base, thereby forming a three-sided closure receiving an edge of said panels inserted between said legs;

two keeper means, one for each leg, and extending the length of said leg, having a first end attached to a leg and a second end extending inside said closure, and having a serrated edge, each for engaging and retaining said inserted panels in said plane and reinforcing a seam at which said adjacent panels mate; at least two pairs of holes, one part of each pair being in each leg, positioned above said keeper means, each of said pair of holes being aligned to receive a nail which will pass through at least one of said panels and a pair of U-shaped ribs projecting toward the interior of said body, each adapted to grasp one of said adjacent panels. 6. A clip as in claim 5 including a third pair of holes positioned in line with said two pairs and centered therebetween.

Claims

1. In combination a panel clip, two panels, a fastener and a rigid element for attaching said two adjacent panels lying in a single plane to said rigid element, said panel clip comprising: a base parallel to said panels'' horizontal edge; two parallel walls extending from said base, thereby forming a three-sided closure receiving said horizontal edge of said panels'' therebetween; said base and walls having a length greater than the horizontal dimension of said rigid element; a plurality of pairs of holes, one part of each pair being in each of said walls, spaced, in a plane parallel to said base, whereby only one pair of said holes is superimposed on said rigid element and said pair receives said fastener passing through at least one of said panels and into said rigid element.

2. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base and said walls meet to form a U-shaped element, including retention means extending from the ends of said ''''U'''' and projecting parallel to said walls for engaging and retaining said panels, and wherein said holes are above said retention means.

3. A clip as in claim 1 wherein said base and walls meet at right angles, including retention means extending from the end of said walls, said retention means not meeting said base and projecting inwardly, forming an acute angle with said walls for engaging and retaining said panels, and wherein said holes are above said retention means.--

4. A clip as in claim 3 including at least two U-shaped ribs communicating with the interior of said base and said walls, each adapted to grasp one of said adjacent panels.--

5. A clip for securing two panels adjacent at their edge to lie in a single plane comprising: a body with a base and two parallel legs affixed to lie generally perpendicularly to said base, thereby forming a three-sided closure receiving an edge of said panels inserted between said legs; two keeper means, one for each leg, and extending the length of said leg, having a first end attached to a leg and a second end extending inside said closure, and having a serrated edge, each for engaging and retaining said inserted panels in said plane and reinforcing a seam at which said adjacent panels mate; at least two pairs of holes, one part of each pair being in each leg, positioned above said keeper means, each of said pair of holes being aligned to receive a nail which will pass through at least one of said panels and a pair of U-shaped ribs projecting toward the interior of said body, each adapted to grasp one of said adjacent panels.

6. A clip as in claim 5 including a third pair of holes positioned in line with said two pairs and centered therebetween.