TITLE: COMPONENTS FOR SECURING ARTICLES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a component for securing articles, and to a set of cooperating components for securing articles. The components of the present invention have been designed specifically for securing wall panels, and will be described with particular reference to that application. However, the components of the present invention may also be used for securing articles to supporting surfaces in a variety of different applications.

Background Art

A wide variety of components have been designed for securing panels and other articles. However, the known prior art components either have a limited range of applications or require the production of a large range of significantly different component shapes to cover a variety of applications.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is the provision of a component capable of securing an article either semi-permanently or releasably, which is capable of use in a wide range of applications but which for most of these applications uses a component which is a variant of a single basic design.

The present invention provides a component for securing an article, wherein the component includes, in cross-section, a substantially straight elongated first portion, one end of which is connected to an end portion which is substantially straight; the longitudinal axis of the end portion being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the first portion at an obtuse angle; and wherein said first portion includes a groove formed at or adjacent the joint between the first portion and the end portion, on the side of the component opposite to said obtuse angle.

As used herein, the term Obtuse angle ¹ means an angle greater than 90° but less than

Preferably, said groove is formed adjacent a first protrusion formed by the end of said end portion adjacent said first portion. Preferably, said first portion and said end portion are formed integrally.

Preferably, the component further including a substantially straight up stand at the other end of the end portion, that end of the up stand furthest from the first portion being formed with a second protrusion dimensioned to be a snap fit in the groove.

Said component may be used as part of a variety of different connectors for trimming/supports/joining panels. The component of the present invention may be used in combination with known connectors.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the basic component of the present invention;

Figure 1a is a sectional side view of the basic locking component of the present ^* invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the simplest form of a double ended connector;

Figure 3 is a sectional side view of one form of end connector;

Figure 4 is a sectional side view of a second form of end connector;

Figure 5 is a sectional side view of a trim strip; Figure 6 is a sectional side view of a first type of jointing connector;

Figure 7 is a sectional side view of a second type of jointing connector;

Figures 8-14 inclusive are diagrammatic sectional side views showing the use of the components of the present invention in a variety of different applications; and

Figure 15 is a sectional side view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention

Figure 1 shows a cross-section through the core component 10 of the present invention. The component 10 includes a substantially straight elongated portion 11 (which may be of any desired length) which has a longitudinal axis A-A and which is formed integrally with an end portion 12 which is substantially straight and the

longitudinal axis B-B of which is inclined at an angle a to the longitudinal axis of the portion 11.

The angle a is shown as an angle of about 135°, but may be any obtuse angle. Portion 11 and portion 12 lie in the same plane, but could lie in different planes.

At the joint between the end portion 12 and the portion 11 , a protrusion 13 is formed:- the protrusion 13 has a rounded surface 14 which extends outwards from the component 10 on the side of the component opposite to the angle a; the effect of the protrusion 13 is to provide a groove 15 which may be used to lock the components together as hereinafter described. However, the groove 15 could be formed without the presence of the protrusion 13, e.g. by forming a groove in the side of portion 11.

Figure 1a shows the locking variant 10a of the core component 10. In this variant, the free end of the end portion 12 is formed with a short up-stand 16 terminating in a rounded protrusion 17 which projects from the same side of the component 10a as the protrusion 13. The protrusion 17 is dimensioned to be a snap fit in the groove 15.

The core components 10/1Oa shown in Figures 1/1 a could be used in the form shown for a limited range of applications, but it normally would be incorporated in a larger connector, as shown in the subsequent Figures.

For example, the core component 10/10a may form one end of an end connector as shown in Figure 3 or Figure 4; this type of connector is used at the upper or lower end of a panel, to finish off the edge of the panel as well as connecting that panel to a support surface.

For other applications, the core component 10/10a forms each end of a double ended connector, the core components being connected together by a connecting portion which may be straight as shown in Figure 2 or any of a wide range of different shapes examples of which are shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 2 shows the simplest form 20 of double ended connector:- the connector 20 essentially consists of two of the connectors 10/10a joined- together by a connecting portion 21. The components 10/10a are arranged symmetrically about the centre line c - c of the connector 20. The connecting portion 21 is substantially straight, with a

longitudinal axis s - s which is parallel to but displaced from the longitudinal axis b - b of the aligned first portions 11. Both the components 10/1Oa in the connector 20 may be components 10a or may be components 10, or one may be a component 10, the other component 10a, as shown.

Figure 8 shows the use of a pair of double ended connectors 20 to removably secure a panel 40 to a vertical supporting surface 41 , such as a wall. A first connector 20a is secured to the surface of 41 with the longitudinal axis of the connector substantially vertical, by inserting a series of spaced fasteners 43 through indentations 42 in the connector, into the wall 41. If the wall 41 is made of wood, the fasteners 43 may be in nails or screws; if the wall 41 is a plaster or masonry wall, suitable plaster or masonry fasteners are used.

The connector 20a is depicted as having an upper end formed by a component 10, and a lower end formed by a component 10a. However, the lower end could be a component 10, since locking is not required at the lower end of the connector for this application.

A second connector 20b is then secured to the rear face of the panel 40, using a series of spaced fasteners 44 inserted through indentations 42 in the connector, into the underlying panel 40. The connector 20b is formed with a component 10 at its lower end; the panel 40 is then lowered into the position shown in Figure 8, with the component 10 of the connector 20b in contact and coplanar with the component 10 of the connector 20a, to support the panel 40 relative to the wall 41. In this position, the upper component 10a of the connector 20b and the lower component 10a of the connector 20a serve as spacers and stabilisers to hold the panel 42 the desired distance away from the wall 41.

The panel 40 can be removed simply by lifting the panel off the connector 20a.

It will be appreciated that the length of the connectors 20a, 20b used depend upon the weight of the panel 40:- for a lightweight panel, short sections of connectors at spaced intervals across the width of the panel may be sufficient to provide adequate support; heavier panels will require connectors extending across the full width of the panel.

Figure 9 shows a variant of the arrangement described with reference to Figure 8; in this variant, the second connector 20b has a locking component 10a at its lower end:- when the panel 40 and its attached connector 20b is positioned as shown in Figure 9, the protrusion 17 on the component 10a is a snap fit into the groove 15 on the component 10 at the top of the connector 20a. This effectively locks the panel 40 in position on the wall 41 , although the connectors 20a, 20b, can be sprung apart if necessary.

Figure 10 shows a further variant, in which both the upper component of the connector 20a and the lower component of the connector 20b are locking components 10a:- when the panel 40 is positioned as shown, the protrusions 17 on the opposed components 10a snap into the corresponding grooves 15, locking the panel 40 securely to the wall 41.

Apart from the locking features referred to above, the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 otherwise function in the same manner as that described with reference to Figure 8.

Figure 11 shows the use of a double ended connector 20 in combination with a capping connector 50, of the type shown in Figure 3. The capping connector 50 consists of a component 10 (which may be a locking component 10a if desired) in which the lower end of the first portion 11 is formed integrally with a channel-section portion 51. The portion 51 provides a partial box section having parallel first and second sides 52,53 both of which lie in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connector. The sides 52,53 are connected by a face 54 which lies in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector, but displaced from it.

The outer edge 55 of the side 53, which in use contacts the wall 41 , may be in-turned as shown, or may be formed without an in-turn, like the side 52.

The side 53 is extended to form a flat capping surface 53a which provides an attractive finish along the top or bottom of a panel. A fir-tree connector 56 of known type is formed integrally with the surface of side 53 opposite to the capping surface 53a; the spacing between the connector 56 and the end of the capping surface 53a, and between the connector 56 and the face 54, is such that a panel 40, formed with a slot 57 along its upper edge to accommodate the connector 56, is a tight press fit, as shown in Figure 11.

The portion 11 of the connector 50 is formed with a projecting ledge 58 to space the lower portion of the connector from the panel 40.

The connector 50 is secured to the panel 40 by driving the connector 56 into the slot 57 and then inserting a series of spaced fasteners 59 through indentations 86 in the connector 50 into the panel 40. The panel 40 is then supported from the wall 41 using a connector 20 which is arranged as described with reference to Figures 8 - 10. The arrangement shown in Figure 11 shows the panel 40 removably supported, i.e. it is not locked into position. However, the panel 40 can be locked into position by forming one or both of the components 10 on the connector 20 and the connector 50 as locking components 10a.

The connector 50 may also be used to trim the lower edge of a panel 40, as shown with reference to connector 50a in Figure 13. If the connector 50 is to be used to support the lower edge of the panel 40 as well as to trim it, then a series of spaced fasteners 85 are inserted through indentations 86 formed in the connector 50 through into the supporting wall 41.

Figure 12 shows the use of a connector 20 in combination with a jointing connector 70 of the type shown in Figure 6. The jointing connector 70 is designed to join two vertically aligned panels 40,40a and provides a pair of components 10 (which may be formed as locking components 10 a if a locking mounting is desired), arranged one at each end of the connector, formed integrally with a U cross-section channel 71. The vertical face of the channel 71 carries a plate 72 which supports two opposed fir-tree connectors 73,74. The outer end of the plate (i.e. that in which in use is visible on the outside of the panels 40,48) may be cut flush with the edges of the panels or may be formed with a flange 75 to conceal the joint between the panels.

The jointing connector 70 is secured to the aligned panels 40,40a by driving the fir-tree connectors 73,74 into slots 76,77 formed in the opposed edges of the panels, and by inserting a series of spaced fasteners 78 through indentations in the_connector 70 into the underlying panels. Once the panels have been joined together in this manner, the assembly is supported from a connector 20 secured to a supporting wall 41 , as shown in Figure 12. If a locking mounting is required, a component 10a is substituted for one or both of the components 10.

Figure 7 shows a further variation of the connector shown in Figure 6; the connector 80, like the connector 70, is designed to join two vertically aligned panels, but to space the panels apart and to accommodate a trim strip 81 of the type shown in Figure 5, in the channel 82. The trim strip 81 is of known type and provides a pair of parallel, slightly resilient, legs 83 with their outer surfaces formed in a barbed shape, connected by a flat plate 84. The outer edges of the channel 82 also are formed in a barbed shape, so that the trim strip 81 can be pressed into the channel 82 and securely held in position.

The connector 80 provides a wider spacing between the components 10, to accommodate the width of the trim strip, but is otherwise identical to the connector 70, and is used in the same manner.

It is emphasised that all of the connectors shown in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7 can be used alone, (i.e. to connect panels directly to a supporting surface) or can be used in combination with a connector of the type shown in Figure 2. Figure 13 illustrates this versatility:- this Figure shows a first connector 50a used at the bottom of a panel 40 to connect the panel directly to the supporting wall 41. In this type of application, the connector 50a is secured to the wall 41 using a series of spaced fasteners 85 inserted through indentations 86 in the connector, and the connector 50a is then engaged with the bottom of the panel 40 by pressing the fir-tree connector 56 into a corresponding slot 57 formed along the lower edge of the panel.

In contrast, the top of the upper panel 40a is secured using a second connector 50b, which is identical to the connector 50a, but which is used to secure the panel to the wall 41 via a connector 20; the connectors 50b,20, are arranged as described with reference to Figure 11.

Figure 13 also illustrates the use of a connector 70, of the type shown in Figure 6, to connect the joined panels 40,40a, directly to the wall 41. This is achieved by first securing the connector 70 to the lower panel 40 using a fir-tree connector 74 and a series of spaced fasteners 78 (as described with reference to Figure 12). The upper portion of the connector 70, (i.e. that corresponding to upper panel 48) is in secured directly to the wall using a series of spaced fasteners 87. The lower edge of the panel 40a is then engaged with the second fir-tree connector 73 to secure the panel in place.

Figure 14 shows the use of a connector 70 in the same manner as described with reference to Figure 13, plus supporting the upper edge of upper panel 40a and the lower edge of lower panel 40 with a connector 90 of the type shown in Figure 4. This connector provides the same components as that described with reference to Figure 3, but with the addition of a lower portion 91 which is designed to receive a trim of the type shown in Figure 5. The portion 91 provides a pair of spaced parallel slightly resilient legs 93 which are arranged to receive a trim strip 81 with the barbed legs 83 of the trim strip 81 engaged with the barbed legs 93 to hold the. trim strip securely in place. As shown in Figure 14, the connectors 90 are secured directly to the wall 41 by inserting a series of spaced fasteners 94 through indentations 95 formed in a lower plate 96 which is hidden behind the trim strip when the trim strip is in place.

Figure 15 shows the use of a resilient securing clip 100 to give a strong and semipermanent mounting for the edge of a panel 101. Figure 15 shows the lower edge of the panel secured in this manner, but the same method could be used to secure the upper edge.

The securing clip 100 consists, in cross-section, of a fir tree connector 102 secured at its lower end to a J-cross-section spring plate 103. The free end of the plate 103 is formed as a second, slightly rounded foot 104.

The securing clip 100 is used in combination with a connector of the type shown in Figure 3, which is secured to a wall or other supporting surface by inserting fasteners 105 through indentations 86 in the connector. The securing clip is mounted along the lower edge of the panel 101 by forming a rebate 106 along the lower inside edge of the panel, (i.e. the lower edge which in use lies adjacent the wall), forming a slot 107 dimensioned to receive the fir tree connector 102 in the portion of the panel immediately above the rebate 106, mounting the securing clip 100 by push-fitting the fir tree connector 102 into the slot 107, and then pushing the panel 101 and the securing clip 100 into the position shown in Figure 15; as the clip is pushed into place, the foot 104 at the free end of the plate 103 resiliently rides up over the top of the fir tree connector 56, and then snaps down into the position shown, semi-permanently securing the panel in place.

With the exception of the component shown in Figure 2, the connectors of the present invention may also be used with the longitudinal axis of the connector in a horizontal, rather than a vertical, plane. If used in this manner, the locking action of the components 10,10a are not utilized:- the component is secured to the panel and supporting surface by fasteners inserted through the component.