The invention relates to a connecting device, particularly but not exclusively to a device for connecting cladding panels to framework to form demountable partitioning.

Some known connectors suffer from the disadvantage that the cladding panels cannot be fitted closely to the supporting framework. Other known connectors require to be fixed to the panels on site and this can result in misalignment of the connectors with respect to the framework.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector which is cheap and simple to produce and enables a panel to be fitted closely to supporting framework. It is a further object of the invention to provide a connector which can be fixedly attached to a panel in accurate alignment easily and cheaply. A further object is to provide a connector which can be used with all known systems of cladding and framework.

The invention provides a connecting device for releasably connecting two objects, comprising a base plate fixedly attachable to first of the objects and at least one projection extending therefrom so as to

cooperate with receiving means located on the second object, characterised in that the projection is releasably mounted on the base plate via interengaging means. This arrangement allows accurate alignment of the base plate at any convenient time up to connection of the two objects, particularly during formation or immediately after formation of the first object. The projection can be attached at any subsequent convenient time which means that the first object can be stored, transported and handled without the projection attached. This makes storage, transportation and handling easy and economical.

Preferably, the projection comprises hook means for hookingly engaging the receiving means. The hook means are preferably adapted so as to facilitate accurate and secure location of the objects with respect to one another. Any profile that achieves a suitable locating action may be employed, but an inverted V-shaped or diamond-shaped profile is preferred to a curved profile. Particularly, the hooks means may be adapted to bring the first object closer to the second object upon cooperation of the hook means with the receiving means. This arrangement is particularly advantageous for but not restricted to use in connecting cladding panels to framework. The arrangement enables a panel to be fitted closely, accuratly and easily to the supporting framework.

In a preferred embodiment, the interengaging means comprise at least one tongue located on a connecting plate attached to the projection, and at least one corresponding panel located on the base plate and adapted to receive the at least one tongue. Such an arrangement enables the projection to be easily, quickly and accurately connected to the base plate. The base plate is preferably fixedly attachable to the first object by means of a series of metal prongs or gang nails. Alternative fixing means could also be employed, such as screws or nails which may be passed through appropriate apertures in the base plate.

It will be appreciated that in its preferred construction the connector lends itself to being fabricated as simple sheet metal pressings. However, the connector portions may also be fabricated by any other suitable means, such as moulding from a suitable plastics or composite material.

The invention also provides a method of releasably connecting two objects utilising a connecting device as described above comprising the step of (a) fixedly attaching the base plate of the connecting device to a first of the objects, (b) releasably securing the at least one projection to the base plate, and (c) bringing the projection into cooperation with receiving means located on the second object.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be

described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a base plate of a connecting device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a projection of a connecting device according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of the projection according to Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a preferred use of the connecting device of Figures 1 to 4.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a base plate 10 forming part of a connecting device according to the invention. The base plate 10 is generally planar and has a central section 10a which has been punched to form a series of metal prongs 12 or gang nails. These prongs 12 allow the base plate 10 to be fixedly attached to a first object, for example, a plasterboard panel.

Adjacent either end of the base plate 10 are located channels 14a and 14b. The channels 14a and 14b are formed by pressing a portion of the base plate adjacent a transverse cut therein out of the plane of the rest of the base plate 10.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a projection portion 20 which is used in conjunction with the base plate of

Figures 1 and 2. The projection portion 20 consists of a connecting plate 22 having longitudinally extending tongues 24a and 24b at either end thereof. Slots 26 define the transverse edges of the tongues 24a and 24b. One side of the connecting plate is connected to a projection 28 which extends perpendicularly from the connecting plate 22. The connecting plate 22 has a generally diamond-shaped recess 30 having an upper edge 32 inclined toward the connecting plate 22. The tongues 24a and 24b also carry protruding deformations 34 whose function will be described below. Both the base plate 10 and the projection portion 20 are pressed from sheet steel blanks.

A method of utilising the connecting device described above will now be described with reference to Figure 5. It is envisaged that this ^' type of connecting device will be utilised in the releasable connection of a cladding panel to a framework comprising horizontal tubular members. The prongs or gang nails 12 are initially forced into the inner surface of the cladding panel 40 in order to fixedly attach the base plate 10 thereto. Advantageously, this step is carried out before the cladding panel is transported to its on site location in order that accurate alignment of a series of base plates required to be attached to the panel can be carried out either during production of the panel or shortly thereafter. The base plate 10 can be affixed to

the cladding panel 40 by any appropriate method. At this stage, the projection portion 20 is not attached to the base plate 10 in order to facilitate transportation of the panel 40 to the on site location.

When the cladding panel 40 is required to be releasably attached to the framework, a projection portion 20 is attached to the base plate, or to each base plate if more than one such plate is provided on the cladding panel. This is carried out by inserting the lower tongue 24b fully into the lower channel 14b and subsequently inserting the upper tongue 24 a into the upper channel 14a. It will be noted that the upper tongue 24a is of a shorter length than the tongue 24b. The relative lengths are such that, when the upper tongue 24a is fully inserted into the upper channel 14a, the lower tongue 24b remains engaged with the lower channel 14b. Only by inserting the lower tongue 24b fully into the lower channel 14b can the projection portion 20 be removed from the base plate 10. The slots 26 are engaged with the walls of the channels 14a and 14b when the projection portion 20 is connected to the base plate 10 to reduce lateral play of the tongues 24a and 24b in the channels 24a and 24b.

The channels 14a and 14b have openings 14a' and 14b' which are marginally wider than the width of the material of the tongues 24a and 24b. The protruding deformations reduce the amount of play between the

tongues 24a and 24b and the channels 14a and 14b.

Once the projection portion 20 has been connected to the base plate, the substantially diamond-shaped recess 30 can be used as locating means to locate the cladding panel 40 on the supporting framework 50. The inclined surface 32 encourages the framework 50 to be located at the upper end of the recess 30 or until the panel 40 abuts vertical portions of the framework without further guiding means being necessary. The weight of the cladding panel 40 maintains the upper tongue 24a of the projection portion 20 in an uppermost position in the upper channel 14a of the base plate 10 wherein the base plate 10 and the projection 20 cannot become detached.

Clearly, it is a simple matter for the cladding panel 40 to be removed from the framework 50 for any reason whatsoever, for example, to provide access to a void in the partition to allow the installation or maintainance of services such as electrical or data wiring or to relocate the entire partition. The panel merely has to be lifted so as to disengage the projection portion 20 from the framework 50 and the panel 40 becomes freely moveable. However, this releasing of the panel does not in any way render useless the components of the connecting device. The panel 40, base plate 10 and projection portion 20 can be re-used elsewhere as desired.

The above described embodiment is not intended to be

limitative. It is envisaged that various modifications and alterations could be made to the described connecting device without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the base plate could be attached to a first object by any appropriate means, eg. screwing, in which case screw holes would advantageously be provided. Fixing by adhesion may also be appropriate under some circumstances. Furthermore, it is not essential that the fixing means located on the base plate be located between the channels by means of which the projection is attached to the base plate. In the case where gang nails are provided, the channels could be located centrally of the base plate with gang nails provided adjacent the ends of the base plate. The channels may also be arranged longitudinally of the base plate or at any other convenient angle. It is envisaged that the projection means may be connected to the base plate by other interengaging means such as spring clips or snap fitting devices. As with the channels and tongues described above, these alternative interengaging means may be located at any convenient position on the base plate and projection portion.

It is also envisaged that more than one projection could be provided on the connector plate. For example, a second projection 28 could be provided on the right side of the connector plate as viewed in Figure 3. This would be advantageous when the object to be supported is

particularly massive or likely to be put under considerable loading. Alternatively, separate interengaging means could be provided on the base plate for receiving a second projection portion.

In a further adaption of the invention, the base plate could be dispensed with and fixing means such as gang nails could be provided directly on the projection portion. In this way, the projection portion can be fixedly attached to the panel at any convenient time.

A connecting device according to the present invention is not limited in its application to connecting cladding panels to a framework. Many other uses are envisaged in any situation where an object is desired to be connected to another object in a releasable manner. Also, the design of the projection can be varied so as to provide other types of connection rather than a hooking device. A sprung clip could, for example, be used as an alternative to or be incorporated into the projection.