ASSEMBLY UNIT FOR PANELS

The invention relates to an assembly element for attaching rails or laths to a support structure consisting of a U-shaped structural section with two upright sides facing each other, whereby said assembly element comprises a support member with a base upon which there is an upright fastening element with an anchor flange and fasteners with which the U-shaped structural section is fastened to the upright side via an open edge on said upright side, for example. Moreover, said assembly element comprises a guard element to prevent the upright side of a U-shaped section secured to the anchor flange from coming loose from the anchor flange, and a fastening member for securing the support member to the support structure.

Under the current state of the technology, these assembly elements are designed for fastening metal rails to the underside of a support structure, whereby ceiling panels are then fastened to said rails. Here, the rails consist of structural sections with a U-shaped cross section having two upright sides facing each other and extending lengthwise from the section, from which the open edges are bent inwards toward each other. This can be provided with a guard element to prevent the rails from deforming under the downward force exerted by the weight of the ceiling panels, for example. This deformation could result in the rails coming loose from the fasteners.

Such guard elements have already been in use since 2003 and consist of U-shaped metal clips that are inverted over the upright side of the U-shaped section, preferably as closely as possible next to the anchor flanges of the assembly elements.

Spanish patent number 2 245 269 describes such a guard element that is located between two facing anchor flanges of the assembly element's support member. As with the guard element described above, this guard element is inverted over the upright sides of the section after it is fastened to the anchor flanges. Another currently existing guard element consists of a metal cam- shaped plate that is located between and facing the anchor flanges and, as with the U- shaped metal clips, are slid over the upright sides of the sections, thereby preventing

said profiles from being drawn open, resulting in the upright sides being removed from each other.

However, these guard elements are always separate components that are added to the assembly element, resulting in rather complex construction. These assembly elements are also not suitable for rails consisting of structural sections with a U-shaped cross section having two upright sides facing each other and extending lengthwise from the section, from which the open edges are bent outwards away from each other.

Moreover, the assembly elements also include a piece of insulation to acoustically insulate the support member, the rails, and the ceiling panels fastened to them from the fastening member and the support structure.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide an assembly element, as described in the claims appended hereto, whereby the rail attachment is protected, and whereby said assembly element is, on the one hand, of a very simple construction and can be assembled quickly and easily while ensuring at the same time, on the other hand, that preferably no acoustic bridge is formed between the fastening member and the rails, which are mostly made out of metal.

Thus, the invention is characterized in that the fastening element of the assembly element comprises an anchor flange and a guard element, between which there extends a recess into which the upright side of the structural section can fit at least partially. Additionally, the guard element comprises at least one notch similarly extending between the anchor flange and the guard element, into which the open edge of the upright side can fit at least partially. The guard element assumes at least a first, open position, in which it is removed from the notch so that the edge of the upright side of the structural section can enter the notch, and a second, closed position, wherein it is turned towards the notch so that the upright side of the structural section is immobilized in the recess between the anchor flange and the guard element. In this manner, the guard element prevents the U-shaped section from deforming, whereby the facing upright sides are pushed or pulled away from each other and come loose from the fasteners.

It is expedient that the guard element be pliable, bendable, and/or can rotate in relation to the support member, enabling it to switch from the first position to the second position and vice versa.

Preferably, this guard elements is plastic or elastically ductile according to a direction that lies in a plane perpendicular to the anchor flange and the base of the support member, and is rigid in a direction pointing transverse to this plane.

The notch preferably extends substantially perpendicular relative to the recess.

According to an embodiment, the guard element comprises an axis on one side, with which it is connected to the base and/or the anchor flange and on which said guard element rotates.

According to a particular embodiment, the guard element in a first position extends from the base up to the notch, at a distance from the base, which is smaller than the distance between the base and the notch, whereby said guard element allows to secure the upright sides of the structural section to the anchor flange by means of the notch, and in a second position extends from the base to over the notch, at a distance from the base which is larger than the one between the base and the notch, whereby said guard element extends over the upright side of a structural section secured to the anchor flange thereby preventing said upright side from coming loose from the anchor flange.

In another particular embodiment of the invention, the guard element comprises a guard flange standing upright on the base, which is located beside the anchor flange and has an open end that can be moved relative to the base and the anchor flange. In one specific embodiment of the invention, the fasteners comprise a notch in the anchor flange, into which an inward-bent edge of the upright sides of the U- shaped section is inserted when said U-shaped section is attached to the support member and whereby, after the U-shaped section is fastened to the support member, the guard element in the second position prevents the inward-bent edge from coming back out of the notch.

In another specific embodiment of the invention, the fasteners comprise a notch in the anchor flange, into which an outward-bent edge of the upright

sides of the U-shaped section fits when said U-shaped section is attached to the support member and whereby, after the U-shaped section is fastened to the support member, the guard element in the second position prevents the outward-bent edge from coming back out of the notch. In yet a further specific embodiment of the invention, the support member comprises two upright anchor flanges positioned opposite each other on the base, each of which are provided on each side with flanking guard flanges, whereby there is a recess between an anchor flange and a nearby flanking guard flange in order to place an upright side of a U-shaped section across the anchor flange and the nearby guard flange.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the support member forms one physical whole that comprises the base, the anchor flange, and the guard element. Thus, according to a method under the invention, a support member is folded out of one single plate along with the base, two facing anchor flanges, and at least two guard flanges.

The descriptions of a few of the preferred embodiments of an assembly element according to the invention, which are provided below, will clarify other characteristics and advantages of the invention. These descriptions are provided as examples only and do not limit the scope of the invention. In the descriptions provided below, the reference numbers shown relate to the relevant figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective diagram of an assembly element according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention with a U-shaped section attached to it.

Figure 2 is a diagram of a side view according to the II-II line of

Figure 1 of an assembly element according to this first preferred embodiment of the invention with a U-shaped section attached to it, and with the guard flange in a first position, whereby the U-shaped section can be brought over the anchor flange to enter the notch of the fastener.

Figure 3 is a diagram of the assembly element similar to that in Figure 2 with the guard flanges in a second position, whereby the U-shaped section is blocked in the notch of the fastener.

Figure 4 is a diagram of the frontal view along the IV-IV line of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a diagram of the frontal view along the V-V line of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a diagram of the support member in an unfolded position according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 is a diagram of a specific variant of said first embodiment according to the invention with the guard flanges in the first position, whereby the U- shaped section can be brought over the anchor flanges to enter into the notches of the fasteners.

Figure 8 is the assembly element from Figure 7, whereby the U- shaped section is pushed upward and engages in the notches of the fasteners.

Figure 9 is a diagram of the assembly element from Figure 8 with the guard flanges in a second position, whereby the U-shaped section is blocked in the notch of the fastener, and whereby said section is pulled down, by the weight of a ceiling panel, for example. Figure 10 is a perspective diagram of an assembly element according to a second preferred embodiment for the invention with a U-shaped section attached to it, and with the guard elements in a closed position.

Figure 11 is a perspective diagram of an assembly element according to a second preferred embodiment for the invention with the guard elements in the open position.

Figure 12 is a side-view diagram along line XII-XII of Figure 11 of an assembly element according to this second preferred embodiment of the invention with a U-shaped section immobilized between the anchor flanges and the guard elements. The reference numbers in the various figures referred to the same or similar components.

The invention relates to an assembly element that is intended for fastening rails to a support structure, whereby the rails preferably extend parallel to each other, at a certain distance next to each other and at a certain distance from the support structure. In particular, the invention relates to an assembly element for attaching rails, such as metal U-shaped sections to which panels, such as ceiling panels are fastened, to a support structure, such as an existing ceiling made of concrete or wooden beams. In

this manner, a suspended ceiling, for example, can be installed, which is acoustically insulated from the support structure.

The assembly element according to the invention comprises a support member provided with fastening elements for attaching a rail to the assembly element, guard elements for preventing the rail from coming loose from the assembly element, and a fastening member for securing the assembly element to a support structure.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly element is suitable for fastening rails horizontally, such that they extend parallel at a certain distance next to each other relative to the support structure. Ceiling panels can then be fastened to these horizontal rails.

According to this first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 through 5, the assembly element consists of a U-shaped support member 1 with a rectangular base 2, from which two sides facing each other form two facing upright fastening elements 34, each comprising an anchor flange 3 with fasteners and an open end 3'. These anchor flanges 3 serve to attach the rails consisting of a section

8 with a U-shaped cross section and two upright sides 18 facing each other and extending lengthwise from the section, from which the open edges 18' are bent toward each other.

The lateral edges 16 of the anchor flanges 3 have two facing notches 17 and are slanted somewhat so that flanges 3 become narrower toward their open ends 3'. Consequently, anchor flanges 3 are narrower at the open ends 3' than at the base 2. Likewise, the open ends 3' are narrower than the distance between the open edges 18' of the U-shaped section 8, such that said section 8 can be slid over the open ends 3' of the anchor flanges 3. The distance between the facing notches 17 of a single anchor flange 3 is the same as or smaller than the distance between the open edges 18' of the U-shaped section 8, which are bent towards each other. In this first preferred embodiment, the total distance between the notches 17 and the open ends 3' is substantially no greater than the thickness of section 8 or the height of sides 18. Moreover, the width of anchor flanges 3 between notches 17 and open ends 3' is greater than the distance between open edges 18', so that when the U-shaped section 8 is slid through slanted lateral edges 16 across open ends 3' of anchor flanges 3, said section 8 has elastic give and open

edges 18' automatically insert into notches 17. Thus, section 8 is snapped securely into notches 17 and can support open edges 18' on the underside of notches 17.

According to a variant of this first preferred embodiment, the distance between the two facing notches 17 of a single anchor flange 3 can be somewhat greater than the distance between open edges 18' of sides 18 of profile 8, by which, in the notches 17, anchor flange 3 is clasped between open edges 18'.

By pressing anchor flanges 3 elastically, in a right angle between the sides 18 of rails 8, the assembly elements can be snapped securely at a random distance from each other, between the upright sides 18 of rails 8. In order to prevent sections 8 from elastically deforming and open edges 18 from pulling out of notches 17, fastening elements 34 have a guard flange 4 on both sides of anchor flanges 3.

Guard flanges 4 consist of flanges 4 with an open end 4', standing upright on the base 2 and facing each other two by two. The guard flanges 4 are located straddling anchor flanges 3 and are connected herewith at the base 2.

There is a recess 24 between the guard flanges 4 and the anchor flanges 3. This recess 24 preferably extends substantially perpendicular in relation to notch 17 and enables open end 4' of guard flange 4 to move relative to anchor flange 3 by folding, bending or rotating it according to a direction in a plane that is perpendicular to the base 2 and the anchor flange 3. This results in open end 4' being moved upwards or downwards, when the assembly element is fastened to the bottom of a support structure 7.

Thus, guard flange 4 can mainly assume two different positions relative to notch 17 of anchor flange 3. In a first position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, guard flange 4 is folded or bent and extends away from notch 17 such that notch 17 is freely accessible to open edge 18' of side 18 of section 8, through which it can be snapped into anchor flange 3 of the support member 1.

In this first position, the guard flange therefore extends from base 2 to a distance A which is shorter than distance B between base 2 and notch 17.

In a second position, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, end 4' of guard flange 4 extends beyond notch 17 up to over side 18 of section 8 such that the open edge 18' can no longer be moved out of notch 17.

In this second position, the guard flange 4 therefore extends from base 2 to a distance C which is greater than distance B between base 2 and the fasteners.

Here, recess 24 between guard flange 4 and anchor flange 3 is wide enough for side 18 to be able to be placed between anchor flange 3 and guard flange 4, yet narrow enough for guard flange 4 fits snugly enough to prevent open edge 18' from moving out of notch 17. More specifically, width D of recess 24 is greater than thickness E of side 18 and less than width F of folded edge 18'. Guard flange 4 prevents section 8 from elastically deforming, which would cause open edge 18' to come loose from notch 17.

In this second position, guard flange 4, as well as anchor flange 3, are preferably perpendicular to side 18. Because guard flange 4 is perpendicular to side 18 of section 8, it is relatively rigid in this direction, specifically perpendicular to section 8. Thus, it offers the most resistance to any potential deformation of the rail, whereby the distance between edges 18' increases. Moreover, preferably, in this second position guard flange 4 is substantially in the same plane as anchor flange 3. This is the case when, for example, guard flange 4 is fully extended. In order to switch from the first position to the second position, guard flange 4 preferably has a fold line with axis 25, as illustrated in Figure 1, which is located between base 2 and notch 17 and which is substantially parallel to base 2 and anchor flange 3. When section 8 is fastened to anchor flange 3, fold line 25 stands substantially perpendicular to side 18 of section 8. Due to this fold line 25, guard flange 4 is ductile in a direction which is within a plane that is perpendicular to anchor flange 3 and base 2. By folding guard flange 4 along fold line 25, end 4' rotates with said fold line 25 as a rotation axis. In the first position, end 4' of guard flange 4 does not extend beyond notch 17. In the second position, end 4' extends well beyond notch 17.

However, according to the invention, it is also possible for guard flange 4 to change position by bending and/or curving it. Hence, guard flange 4 can, for example, be bent in the second position so that it at least partially extends beyond notch 17 while end 4' is between notch 17 and base 2.

Support member 1 also has a fastening member 6 that can be securely mounted to support structure 7.

This first preferred embodiment of the invention is, preferably, also provided with a somewhat elastic, compressible piece of acoustic insulation 5 that is positioned between fastening member 6 and support member 1 to acoustically separate them from each other, and thus precluding the forming of any acoustic bridge between support structure 7 and section 8. Base 2 of the support member fits to insulation piece

5, which is located between flanges 3 and 4, and preferably consists of a cork-based material or cork itself, although other materials such as rubber, foam rubber, etc., may also be suitable.

Insulation piece 5 may be cylinder or cube-shaped, for example, with a central opening 19, into which fastening member 6 extends.

In order to further prevent the emergence of an acoustic bridge between fastening member 6 and support member 1, the base 2 of support member 1 is provided with a circular through-opening 12, the diameter of which is such that fastening member 6 extends a certain distance from the edge of said opening 12. Thus, fastening member 6 does not come into any direct contact whatsoever with support member 1.

Fastening member 6 consists of a vertical bar fitted with a screw thread, the upper-most end 13 of which is secured to support structure 7, with the other end intended to be secured to a central opening of a median piece 9, which is provided with an internal screw thread, which median piece 9 grips insulation piece 5 on the side of said insulation piece 5 away from base 2.

Additionally, median piece 9 is such that there is no acoustic bridge formed between section 8 and support structure 7. This is joined by the weight of any panels 10 fastened to section 8, which exert a downwards force on the assembly element, and is such that median piece 9 is brought to a certain distance and held relative to section 8.

Thus, in this manner, sections 8 are indirectly fully supported, with any ceiling panels 10 attached to them, by the elastic, compressible piece of insulation 5 of the assembly element, with which they are hung from the support structure.

According to a specific variant of this first preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 7, median piece 9 forms a contact 11 against section 8 when pressure is exerted on support member 1, in the direction of support structure 7, when a ceiling panel 10 is fastened to section 8. In this embodiment of the assembly element, as illustrated in Figures 7 through 9, the median piece if formed by a rigid sheet of zinc- plated iron, the ends of which extend laterally between both flanges 3 of support member 1 relative to said flanges 3 and thereby form contact 11. More specifically, said ends, which form contact 11, comprise a bent edge 9' that laterally presses on the insulation piece 5 and that fastens the plate forming median piece 9 to insulation piece 5.

Optional a second piece of acoustic insulation 15 is provided on the outer side of base 2 of the U-shaped support member 1 aimed at support structure 7. This second piece of insulation 15 is preferably made of cork or a cork-based material and serves to prevent base 2 from coming into any contact with support structure 7, thereby forming an acoustic bridge. Generally, however, this base 2 is placed at a certain distance from support structure 7, so that, in this case, such a piece of insulation is not required.

Lastly, it should be mentioned that both support member 1 and median piece 9 can be made of metal, more specifically of zinc-plated sheet steel, approximately 1 mm thick, for example, as this is generally the case for the rails, which are known as such. In the preferred embodiment above, anchor flanges 3 are approximately 40 mm high and about 40 mm wide; rectangular base 2 is approximately

40 mm wide and 60 mm long; guard flanges 4 are approximately 10 mm wide and about

30 mm high. Recess 24 between anchoring flange 3 and guard flange 4 is about 1.5 mm wide and approximately 20 mm high; insulation piece 5 is 15 mm thick, whereas insulation piece 15 is 3 mm thick.

Such a support member 1, according to this first preferred embodiment of the invention, may simply be made of a flat metal plate, as illustrated in Figure 6. This plate contains recesses 24 between anchor flanges 3 and guard flanges 4, beveled edges 16 with notches 17, and a round through-opening 12 in base 2. Base 2 is formed with upright anchor flanges 3 and guard flanges 4 since the plate is folded over lines 26. This gives rise to a substantially U-shaped support member 1. Furthermore,

guard flanges 4 are folded over fold lines 25 such that facing ends 4' are folded toward each other and are closer to base 2 than notches 17. In this position, notches 17 are free for rails to be attached. Ends 4 ^r of the facing guard flanges 4 can also, for example, be folded away from each other so that notches 17 are free for rails to be attached. According to a variant of the first preferred embodiment, fold lines 25 of guard flanges 4 can be located between fold lines 26 of facing anchor flanges 3. For this purpose, recesses 24 between anchor flanges 3 and guard flanges 4 must further extend to fold lines 25 beyond fold lines 26.

According to yet another variant, fold lines 25 of guard flanged 4 can extend at somewhat of a slant relative to fold lines 26 of anchor flanges 3 so that when switching from the first position to the second position, these guard flanges 4 are folded toward anchor flanges 3.

For further illustration of the inventions, a brief explanation is provided later on one method for using the assembly element, as described in the first preferred embodiment above, for placing ceiling panels on a random ceiling. For this, reference is made, particularly, to Figures 2 through 5 and 7 through 9.

For a wooden ceiling, it suffices to screw helical fastening members 6 with their ends 13, as normal, into the ceiling at a substantially constant distance from each other and in strings parallel to each other, the distance of which is dictated by the dimensions of the ceiling panels 10.

For concrete ceilings as shown in the Figures, end 13 of each fastening member 6 can either be screwed to the ceiling in questions with a plug in between, or be poured in when pouring the concrete.

Then, an assembly element is slid in at each open end of said fastening members 6, with the open ends of flanges 3 and 4 pointing downwards. For this purpose, insulation piece 5 has a central opening or through-hole 19 that extends from through-opening 12, in base 2 of insulation piece 1, to opposite-facing central opening

14, in median piece 9, which thus fastens to insulation piece 5 via its folded edges 9'.

Said insulation piece 5, in turn, is held in place between the two flanges 3 using barbs 20 punched out in it, which slant inwards towards base 2 of support member 1 and lock into said insulation piece 5.

Also, the second insulation piece 15, which is attached to the outer side of base 2 of the support member 1, has a central opening 21 opposite through- opening 12. The diameter of both opening 21, as well as through-hole 19 in insulation piece 5 substantially corresponds to that of the bar-shaped fastening member 6. In this manner, it is possible to screw the assembly element, which consists of insulation plate 15, support member 1, insulation piece 6, and median piece 9, to fastening member 6 in the same way as a bolt, whereby median piece 9 then acts as a bolt for screwing it through central opening 14 to fastening member 6, such that the ceiling 7 is at the desired distance from the support structure. Also, care must be taken that anchor flanges 3 in the same row of assembly elements are parallel to each other so that a section 8 can be attached by pressing it into said anchor flanges, as described above.

Before inserting sections 8, the assembly elements are first aligned horizontally using a laser beam that detects the open ends of anchor flanges 3. By tightening or loosening median piece 9 on fastening member 6, the assembly elements that are not at the required height can be adjusted.

After, sections 8 are placed, as already mentioned above, by snapping edges 18' into notches 17 of anchor flanges 3, guard flanges 4 are folded downward over sides 18 of sections 8 to prevent sections 8 from unfolding under the influence of downward force and edges 18' from coming out of notches 17.

Lastly, ceiling panels 10 are fastened to the bottom side. For this purposes, said panels 10 are pressed against the rails and fastened to them using, for example, screws that are not depicted.

Because of the presence of contact 11 on median piece 9, according to the specific variant of the preferred embodiment above, axial shift in the assembly element at fastening member 6 is limited when pressing section 8 in. By pressing upwards on panels 10, as depicted by arrow 22, contact 11 of median piece 9 is pressed against the rails, as shown in Figure 8.

Once panels 10 are fastened and their support is removed, support element 1 displaces downward under the weight of panels 10, as shown by arrow 23 in Figures 3, 5 and 9, until the assembly element is in its original position, such that panels 10 obliquely rest freely on insulation pieces 5 via base 2 of support member 1.

According to the specific variant of the first preferred embodiment with contact 11 as shown above, the acoustic bridge between contact 11 and the rails is again broken.

It should also be noted that a flexible insulation which is not depicted, such as rock wool, can be inserted into the entire space between the rails and the assembly element.

According to this first preferred embodiment, the fasteners comprise a notch 17 in anchor flange 3, in which the inward folded edge 18' of upright side 18 of the U-shaped section is inserted when said U-shaped section 8 is fastened to support element 1. With this, the guard element prevents the inward-folded edge 18' from coming back out of notch 17 after U-shaped section 8 is fastened to support element 1. Naturally, it is also possible for section 8 to have a notch 17, into which anchor flange 3 can be inserted. Hereby, the guard element 4 similarly prevents anchor flange 3 from coming back out of notch 17 after U-shaped profile 8 is fastened to support element 1. According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, this assembly element is intended to horizontally fasten rails consisting of structural sections 8 with a U-shaped cross section having two upright side 18 extending lengthwise from section 8, which have open edges 18' folded outwards, away from each other.

According to this second preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 10 through 12, the assembly element in question consists of a support element 1 with a U-shaped cross section. Support element 1 has a rectangular base 2 with two facing sides, whereon two facing upright flanges are located, substantially perpendicular to base 2. These flanges form fastening elements 34.

These flanges are provided with two slot-shaped recesses 24 that extend substantially transverse to base 2. Hereby, these flanges are each divided into an anchor flange 3 and two guard flanges 4. Guard flanges 4 are located straddling anchor flange 3 and are at least partially separated from it by recesses 24.

Anchor flange 3 has an open end 3' with facing beveled sides 16 which border the recesses 24. The height and width of this end 3' is such that it fits into U-shaped section 8, between and perpendicular to facing upright sides 18. Because of beveled sides 16, anchor flange 3 becomes narrower towards its open end 3', which facilitates attaching section 8 to anchor flange 3.

When section 8 is slid over end 3', the upright sides 18 of section 8 can be at least partially inserted into recesses 24 between anchor flange 3 and guard flanges 4. The inner sides of section 8 and upright sides 18 can thus rest against guard flange 3. Straddling anchor flange 3, recess 24 runs out to notch 17, into which open edges 18' of upright sides 18 fit at least partially. This notch 17 preferably extends substantially perpendicular relative to the recess 24.

Notches 17 run substantially parallel to base 2 and lie, facing each other, straddling anchor flanges 3, such that the folded open edges 18' of the facing upright sides 18 fit into them.

Each of the guard flanges 4 is connected to anchor flange 3 by a hinge or rotary axis 25 that, per this second embodiment, is substantially perpendicular to base

2. This axis 25 is also substantially transverse lengthwise to upright side 18 of a section

8 that is fastened to anchor flange 3 and is consequently substantially parallel to said upright side 18.

By rotating on this axis 25, guard flange 4 can assume a first open position on the one hand, and a second closed position on the other hand.

In the first open position, guard flange 4 is removed from recess 24 and notch 17, such that they are freely accessible to the upright side 18 of structural section 8 and edge 18' of said upright side 18, respectively. Thus, open edge 18' can enter notch 17.

In the second, closed position, guard flange 4 is turned toward notch 17 and recess 24. Upright side 18 of structural section 8 is thus immobilized in recess 24 between anchor flange 3 and guard element 4. In this second, closed position, guard flange 4 is substantially perpendicular to upright side 18 of a section 8 that is attached to anchor flange 3. According to this second preferred embodiment, guard flange 4 is substantially on the same plane as anchor flange 3.

In this position, edge 4' of guard flange 4, which faces axis 25, fits at least partially to the upright side 18 of a section 8 fastened to anchor flange 3, by which upright side 18 is located at least partially in recess 24 and open edge 18' of said upright side 18 is at least partially in notch 17.

In order to allow guard flanges 4 to rotate between these two positions, an extension 4" is provided, which extends beyond axis 25, such that it serves as a lever.

Consequently, in this second embodiment, as in the first preferred embodiment, guard element 4 is formed by a rigid plate that comprises open end 4' and that can move relative to base 2 and anchor flange 3, such that, in the second position, the guard flange is at least partially perpendicular to an upright side 18 of the U-shaped section 8.

Moreover, as with the first preferred embodiment, this second preferred embodiment can also be provided with a contact 11 constructed in a manner similar to that described above. This contact 11 facilitates the fastening of the rails and/or any ceiling panels.

The invention is by no means restricted to the specific embodiments describe above. Rather, several modifications can be considered within the scope of the invention, as concerns the form of the component parts of this assembly unit, among other things.

Thus, for example, upright edges having a certain height may be provided on base 2 between flanges 3 and 4, in the same sense as the latter, and between which insulation piece 5 can also be attached. Also, rectangular insulation plate 15 above the outer side of the base of support member 1 can be formed by a somewhat elastic ring. In some cases, the fastening member with the helical bar can be replaced with an equivalent fastening member, such as a snap system, for example, where median piece 9 can be attached so that it can be adjusted. Moreover, the guard element can also consist, for example, of a resilient curved plate that is fastened to two facing sides of base 2 of a support structure 1, next to and parallel with facing upright anchor flanges 3, and extends with the convex side in the direction of open ends 3' of anchor flanges 3 beyond recess 17.

When fastening section 8, edges 18' press against the convex side of the curved plate that gives and deforms lengthwise to anchor flanges 3, such that recesses 17 are opened to edges 18', which then snap into recesses 17. After edges 18' are snapped into recesses 17, the curved plate resumes its original shape, by which it

extends next to sides 18. The curved plate thereby prevents edges 18' from coming loose from recesses 17, since it is rigid when perpendicular to sides 18.

Thus, upright sides 18 can be provided with recesses that include open edges 18', which can snap into notch 17 of anchor flanges 3. Thus, according to another embodiment, the assembly element can serve to fasten panels with rails to a wall.

Lastly, the various properties and characteristics of the first and second preferred embodiments can be combined with each other such that, for example, a notch 17 is provided, in which both ends 18' of upright sides 18 of a U-shaped section, which are folded toward each other, as well as those folded away from each other can fit.