WO2005085552A1

WO2005085552A1 - Assembly for securing panels to a support structure

Info

Publication number: WO2005085552A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/000564
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Peter Carter
Original assignee: Aea Technology Plc
Priority date: 2004-03-05
Filing date: 2005-02-17
Publication date: 2005-09-15
Also published as: GB0404917D0

Abstract

An assembly is provided for forming a joint between two panels at a corner and for securing the panels to a support structure (48, 49), comprising first and second strips (12, 14) each having a raised edge portion (18) to overlie an edge of a panel and a portion (17) to be secured to the support structure, the first strip defining a projecting curved flange (22) of part-cylindrical shape, and the second strip defining a projecting part (28, 30) in which is defined a curved slot with which the curved flange (22) can mate. This assembly is usable for corners between walls which may not be accurately at right angles. Also disclosed is a strip to secure a panel to a support structure, having a cross-section with a raised edge portion to overlie an edge of the panel and a portion adapted to be secured to the support structure, and means to secure a cover strip to conceal the strip.

Description

ASSEMBLY FOR SECURING PANELS TO A SUPPORT STRUCTURE

This invention relates to an edging strip for enabling panels to be secured to a support structure, either at an edge or at a corner, and to an assembly for linking two panels to each other and to the support structure at a corner, and to a method of forming a joint between two panels at a corner using the assembly. The invention is particularly but not exclusively suitable for walls which are to be covered by decorative or protective panels, in contexts where the corners may not be accurately at right angles, or the edges may not be accurately parallel. For example this may be the case in compartments or cubicles in railway vehicles. In this case the walls themselves may form the support structure, or may enclose a structural framework which acts as a support structure . According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a securing strip to enable a panel to be secured to a support structure, the securing strip having a constant cross-section throughout its length defining a raised edge portion to overlie an edge of the panel and a portion adapted to be secured to the support structure, and defining means to secure a cover strip to conceal the securing strip.

Such a securing strip may be used to secure a decorative panel along an edge next to, for example, a window frame or a doorframe. Where the surface to be covered with the panels includes a projecting corner, two such securing strips would be used, one along each side of the projecting corner. Although the same design of securing strip can be used in each of these situations, the cover strips would preferably be different; in the case of the projecting corner, a cover strip preferably extends around the corner and is secured to the securing strips on each side of the corner. It will be appreciated that the corner need not be a right angle, and that the cover strip is preferably sufficiently resilient and flexible to accommodate a range of angles, for example between 250° and 290°.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly for forming a joint between two panels at a corner and for enabling the panels to be secured to a support structure, the assembly comprising first and second securing strips each securing strip defining a raised edge portion to overlie an edge of a panel and a portion adapted to be secured to the support structure, the first securing strip also defining a projecting curved flange of part-cylindrical shape, and the second securing strip also defining a projecting part in which is defined a curved slot with which the curved flange can mate.

The mating flange and slot enable the securing strips to be turned relative to each other about an axis which is at the corner, so that the two securing strips can lie against walls (or another support structure) where the angle between the two walls is not exactly a right angle. Preferably the flange and slot are shaped such that the securing strips can be turned so as to lie against walls meeting at a range of angles. For example, one such assembly may be suitable for any angle between

80° and 110° (for corners that are nominally at 90°) ; another such assembly may be suitable for any angles between 120° and 150° (for corners that are nominally at 135°) . The flange and slot effectively act as a hinge allowing angular movement through a limited range of angles . The securing strips, whether for the first or the second aspect of the invention, may be made by extrusion, for example, and may be of a metal such as aluminium, or of a substantially rigid plastics material. The securing strips may extend along the entire length of the edge of the panels. Each securing strip may be of a standard length, preferably between 100 mm and 600 mm; a plurality of the securing strips may be used end-to-end along an edge of a panel, and indeed gaps may be left between one such securing strip and the next along the edge .

As regards the second aspect of the invention, preferably each securing strip in an assembly is of the same length. Preferably the first securing strip defines at least one additional projecting curved element defining an additional part-cylindrical surface that is centred on the same axis as the first-mentioned flange. In this case, the second securing strip should define at least one projecting element to engage with the additional projecting curved element.

Preferably the assembly also incorporates a cover strip to conceal the joint. Preferably the cover strip, whether for the first or the second aspect of the invention, is of the same length as the edges of the panels, and may for example be of a flexible and resilient material such as silicone rubber. The cover strip is preferably held by engagement between one or more elements on the rear surface of the cover strip and one or more mating elements defined on one or other of the securing strips . For example one or both of the securing strips may define a projecting rib, and the cover strip define one or more slots to mate with that rib or those ribs. Equivalently the rib or ribs may be defined on the rear surface of the cover strip, and the securing strips define the slots with which the rib or ribs are to mate .

The invention also provides a method of forming a joint between two panels at a corner, using such an assembly.

The invention will now be further and more particularly described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an assembly of the invention, each part being shown in cross-section; Figure 2 shows the assembly of the invention in its installed position, the assembly being shown in cross section;

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of an edge securing strip of the invention for use with a single panel; and

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of edge securing strips for use at a projecting corner. Referring to figure 1, an assembly 10 for forming a joint between two panels at a corner consists of two aluminium extrusions 12 and 14, and a silicone rubber cover strip 16. Each extrusion 12 and 14 has a rear surface of which one part 17 is flat so it can lie against a flat surface of a wall or support structure, and an end part 18 stepped so as to accommodate the edge of a protective or decorative panel. (The wall and the panels are not shown in figure 1.) The rear surface of the stepped part 18 is ridged to enhance frictional engagement with the panel. One of the extrusions 12 defines two part- cylindrical flanges 20 and 22 projecting inward from its front surface, and defining arcuate surfaces 23, 24 and 25 all of which are centred on an axis 26. The other extrusion 14 similarly defines two part-cylindrical flanges 28 and 30 projecting inward from its front surface and defining arcuate surfaces 31, 32 and 33 all of which are centred on an axis 34, of the same radii as the surfaces 23, 24 and 25 respectively. Consequently the flanges 20 and 22 can mate with the flanges 28 and 30, flange 28 fitting between flanges 20 and 22, and flange 22 fitting between flanges 28 and 30.

Along the surface of the flange 30 furthest from the axis 34 is a ridge 36 defining a slot 38 with a narrow opening. On both extrusions 12 and 14 the stepped part 18 is ridged on both its front and back surfaces. The cover strip 16 of silicone rubber is flat in its relaxed state, with ridged edge parts 42, and has a projecting rib 43 along its centreline, the rib 43 having a bulbous outer edge 44.

Referring now to figure 2, in this example the edges of two decorative panels 46 and 47 of melamine laminate are to be secured to walls 48 and 49 meeting at a corner. A single assembly 10 may be provided, in which each extrusion 12 and 14 is cut to the same length as the edges of the panels 46 and 47; but it is simpler to provide several pairs of extrusions 12 and 14 each of a standard length (say 300 mm or 600 mm) installed end to end along the edges. But in either case the cover strip 16 is preferably cut to the length of the edges. The panels 46 and 47 may be secured with suitable adhesive to the walls 48 and 49. One or more pairs of extrusions 12 and 14 are fitted together, flange 28 fitting between flanges 20 and 22, and flange 22 fitting between flanges 28 and 30. The or each extrusion 12 is fixed to the wall 48, for example with screws 50, so that the edge of the panel 46 is secured by the stepped part 18. The or each extrusion 14 is fixed to the wall 49 similarly, so that the edge of the panel 47 is secured by the stepped part 18. Finally the cover strip 16 is installed along the entire length of the corner, the projecting rib 43 being held within the slot 38. The ridged edge parts 42 seal against the ridged outer edges of the extrusions 12 and 14.

In figure 2 the walls 48 and 49 are shown as being at right angles, but the lengths of the flanges 20, 22, 28 and 30 are such that the extrusions 12 and 14 can lie flush against surfaces at angles between about 110° and 80°; angular movement of one extrusion 12 relative to the other 14 can occur. Furthermore, since the extrusion 12 does not project beyond the inner flange 20 towards the axis 26, the assembly 10 does not extend right into the corner, and so is suitable for use even where there is a small bead in the corner. It will also be appreciated that, although the extrusions 12 and 14 have been shown as being attached to walls 48 and 49, they might instead be attached directly to a framework, for example to wooden studs (vertical posts) or noggins (horizontal bars) . The panels 46 and 47 can therefore completely cover the support structure, their edges being covered and secured by the extrusions 12 and 14, and the extrusions 12 and 14 and the fixing screws 50 are hidden by the cover strip 16.

It will be appreciated that a jointing assembly may differ from that shown and described above, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example there might be just a single protruding part-cylindrical flange (such as the flange 22) on one extrusion, locating in a part-cylindrical slot on the other extrusion. The stepped parts of the extrusions might not be ridged on their inner surfaces, and might not be ridged on their outer surfaces. The extrusions might be fixed to the support structure by means other than screws 50. And the cover strip 16 might be attached in a different way; by way of example there might be projecting ribs on each extrusion at the inside edge of the stepped part, the cover strip defining recesses to engage those ribs . Furthermore the external appearance of the cover strip might also be different, for example the rounded lips along the edges might be slightly longer, so as to abut the panel 46 or 47 and so completely hide the edges of the securing strips 12 and 14.

The securing strips 12 and 14 have been referred to above as extrusions made from aluminium, but it will be appreciated that they might be extruded from a different material . For example they might be made of a substantially rigid plastics material such as PVC . And indeed they might be made by moulding rather than extrusion; in this case holes for the screws 50 may be produced during the moulding process; and the cover strip may be secured by engagement with several clips or other securing means spaced apart along the length of each securing strip, for example at 25 mm spacing.

The assembly described above is suitable for corners that are nominally at 90°, but it will be appreciated that the flanges 20, 22, 28 and 30 might be of a different length, for example so that the mean position of the securing strips would be at a different angle, say 135°, so that the assembly will cope with corners between say 120° and 150°. The flanges are not required where the corner is a projecting corner, and also are not required where there is only a single panel edge to be secured. Referring now to figure 3 there is shown a sectional view of a securing strip 60 and a cover strip 62 for securing the edge of a single panel (not shown) to a support structure, for example where a panel comes up to a doorframe. As with the examples discussed above, the securing strip 60 may be of aluminium, while the cover strip 62 may be of silicone rubber. The securing strip 60 has a rear surface of which one part 64 is flat so it can lie against a flat surface of a wall or support structure (not shown) , and an end part 65 stepped so as to accommodate the edge of a protective or decorative panel . The rear surface of the stepped part 65 is ridged to enhance frictional engagement with the panel . In this example the stepped part 65 is 20 mm wide, to allow for tolerances in the panel widths, and in the accuracy of the construction of the support structure. The securing strip 60 can be attached to the wall by screws 50 as described in relation to figure 2 (the screws are not shown in figure 3) .

Along the outer surface of the securing strip 60 on the opposite side from the stepped part 65 is a ridge 66 defining a slot 68 with a narrow opening. The cover strip 62 has a projecting rib 70 along its length, the rib 70 having a bulbous outer edge that can locate in the slot 68, so as to secure the cover strip 62 along the securing strip 60.

Referring to figure 4, securing strips 60 can also be used to secure panels to a projecting corner 72. In this case a cover strip 74 is wide enough to cover both the securing strips 60, and defines two projecting ribs 76 along its length each having a bulbous outer edge that can locate in the slot 68 of one of the strips 60, so that the cover strip 74 is attached firmly on both sides of the projecting corner 71.

Claims

1. An assembly for forming a joint between two panels at a corner and for enabling the panels (46, 47) to be secured to a support structure (48, 49), the assembly comprising first and second securing strips (12, 14) each securing strip defining a raised edge portion (18) to overlie an edge of a panel and a portion (17) adapted to be secured to the support structure, the first securing strip (12) also defining a projecting curved flange (22) of part-cylindrical shape, and the second securing strip (14) also defining a projecting part (28, 30) in which is defined a curved slot with which the curved flange (22) can mate .

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flange and slot are shaped such that the securing strips can be turned so as to lie against walls meeting at any angle between 80° and 110°.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first securing strip (12) defines at least one additional projecting curved element (20) defining an additional part-cylindrical surface (23) and that is centred on the same axis (26) as the first-mentioned flange (22) , and the second securing strip (14) defines an element (31) to mate with the additional projecting curved element (20) .

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also incorporating a cover strip (16) to conceal the joint.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cover strip (16) is of a flexible and resilient material.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the cover strip (16) is held by engagement between one or more elements (44) on the rear surface of the cover strip and one or more mating elements (36, 38) defined on one or other of the securing strips.

7. A method of forming a joint between two panels at a corner, using an assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims .

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the joint is formed by a plurality of such assemblies end to end, and covered by a single cover strip that covers all the assemblies .

9. A securing strip (60) to enable a panel to be secured to a support structure, the securing strip having a constant cross-section throughout its length defining a raised edge portion (65) to overlie an edge of the panel and a portion (64) adapted to be secured to the support structure, and defining means (68) to secure a cover strip (62) to conceal the securing strip.

10. An assembly for securing panels to each side of a projecting corner, comprising a plurality of securing strips (60) as claimed in claim 9, for use on each side of the corner (71) , and a cover strip (74) to extend around the corner and defining means (76) by which it may be secured to the securing strips (60) on each side of the corner.