Field of the invention

The present invention concerns the technical field of quick fixing devices of panels or panelings to supporting surfaces , as well as the reciprocal fixing between panels , in particular a panel to a wall and even more preferably in the naval field or nautical in general .

More in particular, the invention refers to an accessory which i s generally cooperating with the said preexisting quick fixing devices which, after a detachment of the panel , for example because of a maintenance work, acts to keep the panel suspended at a desired height , therefore avoiding its manual removal , sustainment and therefore placement on the ground by the operator .

Brief overview of the known art

It has been known for a long time the European publication EP1950430 in the name of the same inventor Ciacchini Enri co which describes a quick fixing system for connecting a panel to a supporting surface as well as even two panels between them .

Indeed, especial ly in the nautical field, there was the need of having the possibility to fix the covering panelings to the fixed supporting surfaces as per a method enabling a quick application and above all a quick disassembly .

The panelings , indeed, often cover cable runs and other material that can require an inspection or a maintenance service and therefore their operation of removal can be necessary . Firstly, the panels were fixed permanently, but their removal , exactly for that reason, was often complicated and it could also determine a damage or destruction of the panel itsel f , which needed to be replaced with a new one .

The solution proposed by the known publication EP1950430 solves such technical di sadvantages and therefore provides two respective fixing elements structured for engaging reciprocally in a releasable and snap-like manner . Both have a flat anchoring disk-shaped surface enabling each one ' s connection to a surface , for example one to a panel and the other one to a fixing wall whereto fixing the panel . In this way, when the first element is connected to the panel and the second element is connected to the wall , through them it is possible to connect the panel to the wall in a quick and releasable way .

Structurally, therefore , one of the two elements forms a receiving channel of a pre-determined axial length and diameter having therefore a generally cylindrical shape and emerging from its disk-shaped surface . The channel , internally, has a speci fic conformation below described . Therefore , it is a female engaged to a male element .

The other element , that is the male , shapes a penetrating cylindrical body emerging from its disk-shaped surface . Such penetrating body is constituted by a plurality of teeth emerging from the disk-shaped base and arranged around a circumference so that they form such cylindrical body or a kind of a penetrating cup . Such teeth are spaced from each other and therefore they are flexible so that they can inflect or towards the axis of central symmetry of the disk-shaped body from which they emerge ( therefore towards the inside ) or towards the outside ( that is , from the opposite part of the axis of symmetry) to then return elastically to the initial position when the force determining their inflection is released . Therefore , by fixing, for example , the said male element onto a panel and the female element onto a supporting surface , it is possible to fix the panel to the surface by pressing the penetrating cylindrical body within the receiving channel .

In this way, during the penetration, the teeth flex towards the inside ( that is , towards the axis of central symmetry) thanks to the speci fic conformation of the receiving channel which shrinks its diameter until arriving, after a penetration, into a locking position where such teeth snap elastically for returning to the rest position, thanks to the presence o f a diametral broadening on the top of the receiving channel ( that is , the cylindrical housing ) , which broadening forms a locking step . In this simple and functional way, the two elements are locked between them, determining the blocking of the corresponding panel to the surface .

The disassembly is rather quick, since applying a traction to the panel is suf ficient . Thus , the teeth, pulled towards the extraction, flex elastically for releasing the housing where they are and for then returning to the position of rest once passed over the step of the lock .

The disk-shaped elements are obviously equipped with holes for the passage of the screws for enabling the application of the male and the female to the corresponding surfaces .

The described system enables , thanks to a speci fic tangential clearance , even a tangential regulation of the cup of teeth, so that it can compensate for potential inaccuracies and let each panel translate tangentially a few millimeters in order to find the correct position or the best possible position .

This system, commerciali zed since long ago , is also known with the tradename "fi t -l ock" , whereto we refer in the description hereinafter for the sake of simplicity .

The description concerning EP1950430 is here furthermore considered as integrated in the present description as a reference .

A technical problem particularly felt and not solved yet by the hereinabove system (nor by other alternative quick fixing systems developed at a later time and commerciali zed) concerns , however, the need to place onto the ground the removed panel with a speci fic care for avoiding any break .

Therefore , the operator must provide the detachment of the panel and, at the same time , must pay close attention in keeping in his hands the panel for avoiding that it falls to the ground inadvertently during the removal .

The procedure is rather complicated when the panels intended to be removed are the ones of a ceiling .

Indeed, when the panels are removed from a ceiling, the detached panel tends to fall to the ground quickly and the operation becomes more complex in the case of heavy panels ( for example with a weigh over 10 kilograms ) .

For such reason, two operators are often needed to work, i . e . the one removing the panel and the other one securing the work by supporting the panel for avoiding that this one falls to the ground ruinously or that it hits the operator .

This operation, carried out on the panels arranged on a ceiling, is not easy and it needs , moreover, the aid of tools such as ladders which make the work even more dangerous .

According to what was said, it is added the fact that such panelings are often used in naval environments , in particular on luxury yachts . It is clear that in such environments it is required to operate with the maximum care , since , for example , the inadvertent fall to the ground of a panel implies not only the potential break of the panel itsel f ( that should be substituted) , but also the damage to the wooden floor, therefore causing a signi ficant damage .

Summary of the invention

Hence , supplying an innovative solution for solving the hereinabove technical problems is the aim of this invention .

Particularly, it is the aim of this invention to supply an accessory which can be used preferably in combination with the pre-exi sting quick fixing systems of panels ( for example not only the Fit-lock types described in EP1950430 , but also other potential types ) and this accessory operates as a support for the removed panel .

More in particular, it is the aim of this invention the supply of an accessory which enables to keep hung to the wall , for example to the ceiling, the panel which has been detached from the said wall to which it was connected, so as to avoid the risk of an inadvertent fall to the ground and therefore easing its removal work by the operator .

Even more particularly, it is the aim of this invention to provide an accessory which enables to keep hung the panel at the desired height and with any inclination so that the operator can ful fill the intervention operations needed .

These and other aims are therefore achieved through this anti- fall security assembly of the panel as per claim 1 .

This assembly comprises :

A hooking element ( 10 ) comprising first fixing means ( 12 ) for fixing it to a first surface ( 100 ) , for example the panel to be detached from a fixed wall ; A support device ( 1 ) comprising second fixing means ( 4 ) for being able to fix it to the second surface ( 200 ) , for example a fixed wall ( 200 ) ;

Said support device comprising a rotor element rotatable around an axis thereof , and around which a support cable is wound so that the rotation of the rotor element towards a direction causes the unwinding of the support cable and a rotation towards an opposite direction causes the winding of the support cable therearound;

The free end of the support cable being configured to be fixed to the hooking element ( 10 ) .

Thus , advantageously, the unhooked panel remains hung and the operator can intervene without the need to handle it by hands to place it onto the ground .

The unwinding towards a direction enables to lower the hung panel to the wanted height and the winding of the cable enables to bring it again close to the surface wherefrom it has been detached for connecting it to the wall again .

Advantageously, in order to have a controlled descent of the panel , as well as a lock at the desired height and an automatic ascent , then torsional controlling means (M, F) can be comprised, configured so as to enable the rotation of the rotor element towards the cable unwinding direction when a predetermined traction value on the cable is reached, and to cause an opposite rotation of the rotor element , determining an automatic winding of the cable around the rotor element , when the traction on the cable descends below the preset threshold value .

It is not necessary that aforesaid threshold values are the same . The system can be adj usted so that the attainment of a first traction value on the cable is needed ( therefore , a tension acting on the cable ) for causing the unwinding of the cable ( for example , a value equal to the weight of the panel , a part of such weight or higher values ) and an ascent with an automatic rewinding obtained with a second tension value on the cable which can be , for example , equal to or near zero .

Advantageously, therefore , the said torsional controlling means can further be configured so as to keep a balanced condition wherein neither an unwinding nor a winding of the cable occur for a predetermined range of tension values applied to the cable .

Thus , further technical disadvantages are solved . In particular, the panel , through the cable , is now fixed on the wall through a rotor by which it is possible to monitor the unwinding or winding speed of the cable .

By setting to a desired strength torsional value on the basis of the panel weight conveniently, it is possible that , after detachment of the panel , the rotor element rotates releasing the cable in a controlled way, when for example the operator supports the lay down of the panel which remains hung . Thus , it is possible to have a controlled descent .

The setting can be such that the system does not unwind, so keeping the panel hung and secured in balance , when only the weight of the panel acts . Therefore , a soft push of the user is necessary for making the panel descend, in a controlled way, to the desired height where , after its release , it will stop still in balance .

In the same way, such torsional controlling means determine a controlled rewinding of the cable automatically, for example when the panel is hand-supported towards the ascent therefore reducing the traction on the rewinding cable , for example to values near zero .

Thus , at whatever position the panel is left , it remains in balance , and by acting on it softly it is possible to make it descend or go up again .

Through this solution, it is no more needed to handsupport the overall panel , since it remains suspended thanks to the cable . It is possible , for example , to provide four of such assemblies arranged at the angles of each panel and in this way each panel easily and quickly becomes monitorable and it can be left in balance in any angular position .

Advantageously, therefore , further torsional controlling means (M, F) are comprised, configured so as to enable the rotation of the rotor element towards an unwinding direction of the cable when a predetermined threshold value of traction of the cable is reached or exceeded and to cause an opposite rotation of the rotor element , determining an automatic winding of the cable around the rotor element , when the traction acting on the cable descends below a second predetermined threshold value of traction .

A preferred setting of said torsional controlling means is such that the unwinding occurs when a threshold of traction on the cable is exceeded which corresponds to the weight of the panel ( or a part of it i f there are more assemblies acting on the panel ) and to which a value is added, for example obtainable through a hand-supporting action by the user .

In the same way, the winding can occur when the traction on the cable is near zero .

With this preferred setting, wherein the two threshold values of the traction on the cable are di f ferent , the panel remains in balance i f the weight o f the panel acts on it and it descends i f such weight increases ( thereby, for example , by hand-supporting it ) whereas the rewinding starts by resetting the tension on the cable , thereby hand-supporting the panel .

In this case , as per such preferred setting, the two threshold values of the traction on the cable are di f ferent and in particular , the first threshold value needed for the descent is generally higher, even much higher, with respect to the traction value on the cable suitable for enabling a rewinding ( generally a tension equal to or almost near to zero ) .

Advantageously, therefore , said torsional controlling means are further configured so that the rotor element does not rotate for traction values on the cable comprised between the first and the second threshold value .

In substance , i f a traction that does not exceed the first threshold value or does not descend below the second threshold value acts on the cables ( for example a traction on the cable equal to zero ) , the system is in balance , with the result that the panel remains still at the height whereto it has been brought .

Advantageously, the said torsional means of control ( F, M) comprise at least one torsional spring (M) cooperating with a friction element ( F) .

In particular, advantageously, the said friction element enters into action by acting on the rotor element ( 23 , 23_i ) , when the rotor element tends to rotate towards the unwinding direction of the cable so that the rotation of the rotor element occurs when a first value of the threshold traction is reached or exceeded on the cable , suf ficient to overcome the torsional resistance of the friction .

When such first threshold value is released, the torsional spring can prevail and tends to make the rotor element to counter-rotate .

In such case , therefore , the friction element is disengaged to the opposite direction of rotation, thus releasing the rotor element in the winding direction of the cable , said rotation in the winding direction of the cable occurring through the said torsional spring when the traction on the cable is lower than a second threshold value .

In substance , to give an example , i f the overcoming of the friction needs a force greater than 20kg whereas the winding is possible when the force acting on the cable is lower than 0 , 5kg, this entails that for traction values on the cable compri sed between 20kg and 0 , 5kg the system is balanced and the panel is still . Because of a force greater than 20kg on the cable the panel descends and because of a force on the cable lowered below 0,5kg (for example a zero force) automatic winding occurs.

Therefore, the friction has teeth configured to be engaged with the housing into which it is placed when it rotates towards the rotating direction of winding whereas it disengages towards the opposite direction (see figure 9, for example) .

Thus, if the traction on the cable descends below a value such that the torsional spring prevails, the torsional spring makes the rotor element counter-rotate towards the winding direction and the friction does not act.

On the contrary, if the traction is greater than the torsional value of the spring, then the assembly either remains in balance or rotates towards the unwinding direction. In particular, as it has been said, for rotating towards the unwinding direction it must be such as to overcome the torsional resistance of the friction.

Thus, the assembly ensures the panels to remain still in position or they can be lowered or raised on purpose by the user.

Advantageously, the supporting device (1) comprises a frame (2) forming a housing (2' ) within which the rotor element (23, 23_i) is rotatably positioned, the rotor element forming above, in its turn, an own housing (22) within which a torsional spring (M) is housed and of which an end of the torsional spring (M) is fixed on the said housing (22) and the opposite end is fixed to a closing cap (21) configured to close the housing (2' ) of the frame through a fixing to the rim of the housing (2' ) of the frame.

Advantageously, the closing cap (21) comprises means (21' ) configured to enable to rotate the closing cap (21) with respect to the rim of the frame to which it is applied when it grips to the torsional spring so as to be able to pre-charge said spring at a predetermined torsional value and having hooking means (26a) for fixing it to the said rim once the desired pre-tensioning value has been reached .

Advantageously, the said rotor element forms a groove ( g) within which the said cable is wound .

Here , it is also described the use of an assembly, as described, for removing a panel from a surface to which it is j oined through quick connection means , so that it remains hung and then reapplying it to the surface .

Here , it is also described a method for operating a maintenance which requires the removal of a panel from a surface to which it is j oined through quick connection means , the method providing the application to the panel o f one or more assemblies according to what has been described, so that the operator detaches the panel which remains hung through the said assembly .

Brief description of drawings

Further features and the advantages of the present assembly, as per the invention, will become apparent with the description below of some of its embodiments , made as an example and not as a limitation, with reference to the attached drawings , wherein :

- Figure 1 is an overall view of the device 1 whereas figure 2 shows the device 1 from which a part of the cable has been unwound;

- Figure 2A shows the uncovered device for highlighting the torsional internal spring;

- Figure 3 is a further symmetric view;

- Figure 4 shows a cross-section for highlighting the internal components of the device 1 ;

- Figure 5 is an exploded view drawing of the device 1 ;

- Figure 6 is a detail concerning the structure of the upper edge of the frame whereon the closing cap 21 is applied;

- Figure 6A and figure 6B show the assembly made up by the device cooperating with the hooking element 10 when they are applied one to the panel and the other one to the f ixed wall in a state of use ;

- Figure 7 better shows an application wherein the panel is visible hanging on the wall through the cables 5 exiting from the device 1 ;

- Figure 8 shows onlt the hooking element ;

- Figure 9 , at last , shows the engaging teeth ( three in this case ) detached from the holes into which they are engaged throughout the use .

Description of some preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows , through an axonometric view, the device 1 subj ect of this invention which is cooperating with the hooking element 10 shown in figure 8 , so that both elements , together, produce the assembly which is the subj ect of the invention .

The idea of functioning is quite easy meaning that the hooking element 10 , described in detail hereinafter, actually is a hook which can be fixed onto a first surface through an anchoring surface thereof . The end of a cable can be connected to it , for example with a noose or a knot ( a cable of any material as , for example , a steel wire or fabric cables , etc . ) .

The device 1 is the device containing the cable wound up within it and indeed figure 1 shows the end of the cable exiting from the same device and forming a ring 6 ( see also figure 2 ) which is the one hooking to the hook 13 to the hooking element 10 ( therefore , a noose 6 hooking to the hook) .

The cable can exit from the casing of the device 1 through a speci fic passing hole .

The cable is wound up around a disk having a speci fic groove forming therefore a sort of winding/unwinding rotor . The disk, arranged within the structure of the device 1 , is therefore rotatable around its axi s of central symmetry ( Z ) and, on the basis of the rotational direction, it determines the winding and the unwinding of the cable .

A torsional control system, for example through the use of a torsional spring which can be pre-charged to the desired values , ensures that , after the unwinding, it is possible to proceed with an automatic winding more or less like as in a "yo-yo" .

The overall assembly, as it is better described hereinafter, therefore enables to have a controlled unwinding and a likewise controlled and automatic winding of the cable .

Because of the structure of the assembly, and as it is clari fied hereinafter, it is necessary to exceed a first threshold tension value ( or traction) on the cable for determining the unwinding of the cable whereas it is necessary to reduce the tension to a second tension value , lower than the said first one , for determining the rewinding thus causing the returning torsional spring to prevail .

At last , the assembly, because of its structure , is such that the cable is not wound nor unwound (but it remains in balance ) i f the tension values applied are lower than the said first threshold value and contextually greater than the said second threshold value ( therefore comprised between the first and the second threshold value with the first threshold value greater than the second threshold value ) . In this way, the panel remains in balance at the desired height .

In the case of use of a torsional spring, as the rotor rotates towards the unwinding direction of the cable , the torsional spring continues winding up on itsel f thus accumulating torsional potential energy which is then used for winding the cable automatically, when it is needed (precharging of the spring) .

Thus , for example , by fixing the hook to the fixed surface and the device 1 to the panel to be removed ( or vice versa ) , it is possible to detach the panel from the fixed surface with the panel that not only remains easily hung, but it also can be further lowered thanks to the unwinding of the cable and return to the position close to the fixed surface thanks to the automatic rewinding of the cable .

Obviously, the device 1 can be equally applied to a fixed wall or to a panel to be removed and the same is for the hooking element . Therefore , it would be possible to fix the hooking element to a fixed wal l , and therefore the device 1 to the panel to be removed from the fixed wall whereto it is hooked or vice versa .

Going more into the descriptive details of the invention, figure 5 shows in an exploded view drawing some components constituting the device 1 .

SUPPORTING DEVICE 1 :

Firstly, it is provided a containment frame 2 for the components .

This is preferably a disk-shaped type element , but obviously, other forms could be provided .

Therefore , the frame 2 forms a containment chamber 2 ' for the components described below and with such containment chamber 2 ' delimited by a wall ( 2p ) so that a sort of cup is formed .

The shape of the cup in the example of figure 5 is circular, thereby forming a sort of cylindrical body, but other forms could be possible .

On the one hand the housing 2 ' of the cup is closed by a speci fic removable closing cap 21 , which is also better described below, and on the opposite side the wall ( 2p ) connecting ( generally through a single piece ) to a flat base radially exceeding from the wall ( 2p ) thereby determining a flange 6 ( see also figure 4 ) , preferably a circular flange 6 or a disk-shaped one .

This flange 6 is then equipped with one or more holes 4 , preferably four holes , for the passage of fixing screws , inserts or the like .

Thus , the whole device 1 can be fixed to a surface through any fixing screws or inserts ( or similar systems ) which, passing through the holes 4 , penetrate the wall ( or panel ) , for example as per figure 6A.

Figure 6A shows a surface , for example a fixed wall 200 or the panel 200 to be removed, where the device 1 , which is fixed through inserts , screws or similar systems , is built in .

By moving forward with the structural description of the device 1 , as it is still shown in figure 1 and also in figure 2 , a cable 5 ending with a noose 6 is then provided .

The cable is wound within the device 1 , around a rotor disk-shaped element ( see figure 5 ) .

As it has been said, the noose can be hooked to a hooking element ( the one shown in figure 8 ) which is fixed to a second surface , and therefore when the panel is unhooked, it remains hung through the cable 5 which is in its turn hooked to the hooking element .

Preferably, as it is always better detailed hereinafter, the device 1 is built into the fixed wall whereto the panel is hooked .

In particular, the traditional Fit-locks are generally fixed into the wall , in particular, the female Fit-lock elements or equal systems together with devices 1 .

On the other hand, the movable panels are generally equipped with the Fit-lock traditional male ( or equivalent systems ) with the hooking elements .

In accordance with the invention, therefore , one or more fixing positions for the described devices 1 are provided, which are arranged at speci fic points of the fixing wall next to or near the traditional Fit-locks female . The panels are therefore equipped not only with the male Fit- lock, but also with one or more of the hooking elements 10 arranged in speci fic positions as a function of the position of the corresponding devices 1 so that , before coupling the Fit-locks together for the fixing of the panel , the fixing of each noose 6 to the corresponding hook is also performed . In this way, when it is needed to carry out the detachment of the panel by unhooking the Fit-lock system ( or another equivalent system) the panel remains hung to the wall given that is hooked, through the noose 6 , to the device 1 which, in its turn, is fixed to the wall .

Therefore , this enables to avoid inadvertent falls to the ground of the panel and enables the operator to intervene with disassembly works without the help of any further operator .

Indeed, figure 6A shows the fixed wall 200 into which the device 1 is built in with the panel 100 hooked to the fixed wall 200 through a hooking system of the known art , for example the fi t -l ock, but wherein the device , which cable is hooked to the hooking element in its turn fixed on the panel 100 , is provided installed into the fixed wall 200 .

As it is shown in figure 6B or figure 7 , the detachment of the panel from the fixed wall ensures that the device 1 can release a speci fic cable length keeping the panel hung in suspension .

By moving forward, therefore , with the structural description of the invention, figure 4 shows therefore the cap 21 arranged for closing the cup of the frame and which delimits , together with the back of the rotor element , a housing 22 into which torsional means are arranged .

Such torsional means are capable of carrying out a returning torsional momentum on the element whereon they act , thereby enabling an automatic and controlled rotation thereof towards at least one direction of rotation, generally the winding direction of the cable .

More speci fically, it is preferably used a torsional spring which is in the form of a strip wound over itsel f like a spiral and which is therefore housed within the housing 22 , as it is also shown in figure 2 from top and figure 2A.

The housing 22 is therefore delimited by the closing cap 21 above and by the additional cup 23 ( see figure 5 ) below, which is a disk-shaped element with the lateral circular wall 23 ' which defines the volume of the cup into which the spring is housed, as it is highlighted in figures 2 and 2A.

As it is possible to well deduce from figure 4 and 5 , the cup 23 comprises an appendix 23 ' ’ integral with it whereon a free end of the torsional spring is fixed, for example by simply bending this end into a U shape .

As hereinbefore explained, actually the torsional spring is a metal strip wound over itsel f like a spiral which, when housed into the hous ing, takes the shape of a cylindrical body having a free end (EM_2 ) within the internal part of the winding and a free end (EM_1 ) external to the winding .

Figure 2A shows the end (EM_1 ) o f the spiral spring folded into a U shape for fixing therefore to such appendix ( 23 ’ ) whereas the other free end (EM_2 ) of the spring, the internal one , is also bent but it is shown as free in figure 2A.

Instead, such internal bent end (EM_2 ) is engaged with an appendix integral to the cap 21 so that , when the cap is used for closing the housing, the cap appendix must be engaged with such spring bending . This ensures that a rotation of the cap towards a direction, or rather the implementation of a speci fic rotation number towards a direction made on the cap, determines a winding increase of the spring which is torsionally pre-charged increasing its torsional potential energy, with a sort of initial precharge .

Indeed, the spring is fixed to the appendix 23 ' ’ on one end, and to the cap appendix on the other end, so that a cap rotation towards the winding direction of the spiral determines a torsion increase.

The cap, as shown in figure 5, provides hooking means 21' which enable to apply on them a tool for rotating it, for example a specific screwdriver.

Preferably, such hooking means are in the form of at least two holes 21' , preferably three holes 21' , which enable to insert the tips of a screwdriver having more tips through which it is possible to apply a torsion on the cap.

Even a single hole with an undercut shape (for example a hexagonal-shape for a hexagonal socket screw key) could be possible anyway.

By rotating the cap for a predetermined number of times, for example eight, the internal spring torsionally pre-charges itself.

The cap 21, preferably disk-shaped, provides lateral tongues (26a) which are configured so as to be able to engage with the housings (26b) obtained on the top of the wall (2p) of the cylinder, that is, the first cup (2' ) .

Once the cap 21 has been placed onto the upper edge of the cylinder (2p) below, taking care, as it has been said before, that the tooth appendix is engaged with the free end of the spring (EM_2) , it is possible to move forward rotating for a specific number of times the cap which touches lightly the said upper edge, until a desired pre-tensioning value is reached .

At this point, one carefully makes the lateral tongues (26a) penetrate the housings (26b) during the rotation, such that the tongues can be engaged for example interlocking and the cap remains well fixed in a closing position, while keeping the torsional spring inside the housing in the precharged condition.

Figure 5A shows the housing structure (26b) with an enlarged view in which the tongue (26a) of the cap 21 is inserted . By moving forward to figure 4, the second cup 22 (the one relative to the rotor element) is rotatably assembled within the housing 2' of the frame 2 and, in this regard, the cup 22 provides a pivot (P) with a passing channel which is rotatably inserted into a cylindrical channel (C) of the cap 21. When the cap is therefore fixed integral with the cylindrical wall (2p) , the cup 23 can obviously rotate with respect to it and to the inner external frame around the longitudinal axis (Z) of figure 4.

The cup 23 has a lower part (23_i) integral with it (see figure 4) such that as a whole a disk-shaped body rotatable around the axis Z, which forms a groove (g) into which the cable is wound (see figure 4) , is produced. In particular, the disk-shaped component forms a groove as a whole assuming the shape of a sort of a sheave rotatable around the axis Z whose rotation is somewhat controlled through the described torsional spring.

Therefore, the exploded view drawing of figure 5 shows the lower part (23_i) detached from the cup 23, notwithstanding these, instead, are a single block shaping the rotor element around which the cable (or strip) is wound through the groove. This because costruttively by moulding, it is necessary to produce the two detached pieces which will later be joined and even glued for keeping them firm to each other realizing a single body.

This is the reason why even in the other section figures they appear as two detached elements but joint and integral to form a single body.

Figure 6A shows therefore the overall assembled assembly and shows the cable 5 wound in the groove of the disk-shaped element as a sheave with an end therefore knotted or fixed within the groove and the other free end which connects to the hooking element 10.

Figure 6A shows therefore the torsional spring (M) placed in housing 22 and having one end fixed to the appendix 23 ' integral with the cup 23 and one end fixed to the cap made integral with the edge of the frame 2 with respect to which the cup 23 , as it has been said, rotates around the axis Z .

The frame 2 forms obviously a base (B ) where the rotor element , highlighted in figure 5 ( also see figure 6A) , goes in support rotatably .

As it is possible to well deduce from figure 5 , it is further provided a friction ( F) in the form of at least one disk which is fixed to the rotor element through a screw which is inserted into the axial channel of the friction, which channel is aligned with the axial hole of the rotor element .

The coupling is therefore such that the rotor element can rotate with respect to the friction disk ( F) with which it is in contact with a speci fic friction grade which changes as a function of the clamping adj ustable through the connection screw .

Therefore , the more the coupling between friction ( F) and rotor element is clamped the more will be the needed torsion for causing a relative rotation of the rotor element with respect to the friction disk, in the case the friction disk is kept fixed .

For this reason, going for example to figure 4 , it is shown the friction disk F which provides a series of teeth or protuberances ( F_d) in correspondence of its lower support surface which are engaged within holes ( F_d' ) designated and arranged on the bottom of the hous ing 2 ' where the whole is inserted .

Figure 9 shows even better in an axonometric view such teeth ( F_d) which are engaged within the designed holes ( F_d' ) .

Thus , the rotation of the friction disk F is blocked with respect to the anchoring base to which it is fixed through the said teeth ( or rather the bottom of the housing 2 ' ) and the overall rotor element ( see figure 5 ) , on which the cable is wound, can instead rotate with respect to the friction disk with a predetermined resistance grade adj ustable on the basis of the clamping which is ful filled with the screw that connects the said two parts ( frictionrotor element ) .

Such solution enables the advantage of adj usting a resistance such that , throughout the cable unwinding, this starts to unwind leading the rotor element into rotation only when a predetermined traction value is reached on the cable which is therefore adj ustable (blocked friction) . Therefore , on the basis of the panel weights which are attached to the hereinabove described system, a suitable resistance value can be adj usted with the friction F so that the rotor, for example , does not rotate until a traction value on the cable overcoming the panel weight is not exceeded or is lower than the value of the panel weight by a speci fic amount . Thus , it is eas ily possible to carry out a setting such that , when the panel is detached, it is needed that the operator hand-supports it downwards by adopting a little force , thereby obtaining a slow and controlled descent .

Obviously, the system could also work without friction but , in this case , it will not be possible to adj ust the tension value , therefore having a panel descent which cannot be modi fied in terms of speed and as a function of the panels weights .

The friction disk ( F) can also be constituted by more overlapping disks and even in metal materials or di f ferent materials from the metallic one , such as plastics . The disks can also be in di f ferent materials among them .

Preferably, the described teeth ( F_d) are in the shape of an inclined plane thereby having a steep back, as it is also clear in figure 9 . This creates a pilot hole at the teeth insertion into the designated holes of the housing 2 ' . Indeed, initially, the overall rotor element with its friction is arranged in the housing 2 ' without the said teeth ( F_d) being arranged within the designated holes in an engaged condition necessarily . As soon as the rotor element starts to rotate towards the unwinding direction of the cable , it has a rotation without resistance until , as soon as the rotation has started, the teeth pass on the holes and mesh with the holes and the friction blocks obliging the overall rotor element assembly to rotate within the housing 2 ' with respect to the friction which, on the other hand, remains integral with the housing 2 ' , thereby being able to rotate only i f the resistance made by the friction is overcome .

This happens towards the direction of the unwinding rotation and ensures , therefore , that the unwinding occurs when a first traction threshold value on the cable , which is adj ustable as a function of the friction clamping, is exceeded .

The friction teeth, which form an inclined plane as it is possible to see also in figure 9 , therefore have a vertical wall (V) shown in figure 5 and figure 9 which is the one engaging into the corresponding hole locking the friction in rotation with respect to the housing into which it is inserted . The inclined plan conformation forming a pilot hole ensures , however, that towards the opposite rotation direction the teeth are released by sliding onto the hole in which they were engaged in contrast through the vertical wall (V) and never lock within the holes inasmuch the insertion of the vertical wall of the inclined plane is prevented from inserting in contrast against the hole .

Indeed, moving forward to figure 5 , it is clear that in the clockwise rotation the vertical wall (V) is locked against the hole wall (V' ) , but with a counterclockwise rotation the overall tooth, because of its structure , slides onto the holes without locking them, the back of the inclined plane going to slide on the hole .

The opposite part to the vertical wall (V) , indeed, is beveled so as to slide with respect to the hole edge ( F_d' ) .

This means that through the winding direction of the cable , the friction is released, and therefore the overall rotor element , including its friction, is free to rotate around its axis Z through the torsional spring which acts .

It is therefore suf ficient to adj ust the spring so that it winds below a tension value on the cable , for example close to zero .

Thus , when it is requested to proceed with the cable automatic winding it is suf ficient to support the panel by hand so as to reduce close to zero the tension . In this way, the spring has a suf ficient torsional force for counterrotating the rotor element which rewinds the cable towards the winding direction .

Hence , towards an unwinding direction, the cap 21 , the housing 2 ' and the friction are al l still and integral with each other, whereas the rotor element rotates within the housing 2 ' with respect to the cap and the friction, both fixed to the housing 2 ' .

The rotation occurs after the overcoming of a traction value on the cable which overcomes the friction and the torsional spring .

Towards the winding direction, the friction structure is such that it does not lock so that the rotor element and the friction become as a rotatable whole with respect to the housing 2 ' , and therefore the rotation towards the winding direction is controlled by the torsional spring which must not overcome the friction resistance force anymore (which only acts towards the unwinding direction) .

Thus , is it poss ible to obtain an assembly with the right settings such that the panel can remain suspended and still at any height and, for lowering it , it is needed a support by hand . For li fting it , it is still needed to support it by hand bringing to zero the traction on the cable .

The internal spring, as it has been said, is precharged in itsel f with a pre-charge value besides adj ustable through the cap, as hereinbefore described .

During the unwinding rotation of the cable , the spring will be positioned with one end fixed to the appendix of the cap, which is fixed, and one end fixed to the tooth ( 23 ’ ’ ) integral with the cup of the rotor, and therefore the rotation of the rotor element will determine an additional pre-tensioning of the spring which, besides the initial precharge , will increase its torsional potential energy, by further winding on itsel f .

That is needed for the return inasmuch it is thanks to such torsional potential energy of the spring increasing progressively with the unwinding of the cable that the rotor element can counter-rotate automatically to automatically rewind the cable , when it is needed .

The proper setting, therefore , foresees that the panel remains still in position at any height it is carried to enable the operator to carry out the work then rewinding automatically when the operator supports by hand the panel towards the top .

THE HOOKING ELEMENT :

By moving forward with the description of the invention, figure 8 shows the hooking element in the form of a small plate 11 equipped with holes 12 for the passage of the screws , inserts or the like so as to also be able to be fixed to a surface . It ends with a handhold element 13 which can be a simple hook, a spring hook or any other element to which the end of a cable can be connected, for example with a knot or with such end already closed as a noose .

FUNCTIONING : In use , therefore , when the panel 100 is detached from the wall , it remains hung .

The weight of the panel , which is imparted to the rotor element of the device 1 through the cable , would tend to make the rotor element rotating towards the unwinding direction, being able to overcome the spring opposite torsional force ( the spring acts towards the winding direction) . The rotation of the rotor element towards the unwinding direction is blocked by the friction which is engaged with the frame of the device 1 ( the holes ) , so that the rotor element can rotate there fore only i f the traction on the cable is able to overcome the friction force of the torsional resistance (besides , obviously, the opposite torsional force of the spring for the rewinding) .

Therefore , the setting can be carried out so that the single panel weight cannot enable a descent ( that is , the rotor element does not rotate because it is blocked by the friction) . In such way, the panel therefore remains hung to the ceiling, until the operator does not lower it to the ground by applying an additional force , in addition to the panel ' s weight , which enables to overcome the torsional resistance of the friction .

In this way, the rotor element rotates with respect to the friction and the cable unwinds . During its rotation, the torsional spring continues pre-charging itsel f .

The operator, therefore , can bring the panel to the desired height where , once released, it remains hung still in position inasmuch the traction on the cable tends always to make the rotor element rotate , which, though, is blocked by the friction . Thanks to the traction on the cable , caused by the weight of the hung panel , the friction remains engaged to the frame with its engaged teeth .

The operator can carry out the necessary work and at the and can support the panel 100 towards the wall 200 so resetting the tension on the cable . In such way, by li fting the panel for example with a hand and reducing the tension on the cable , the torsional force of the spring can prevail tending to make the rotor element rotate towards the oppos ite rewinding direction, direction in which the friction unhooks from the holes thanks to the teeth with an inclined plane and does not mesh, that is , does not engage with the frame thereby rotating integrally with the rotor element . In such way, an automatic rewinding of the cable occurs , until bringing the panel 100 against the wall for operating the lock through the provided fit-locks .

Indeed, figure 7 shows four fit-locks ( or the like ) on four angles which find the corresponding on the panel 100 as per the known art . The four assemblies described are added to them .

This system, also enables to incline the panel only towards one side . For example , referring to figure 7 , it is possible to act onto one side causing the unwinding of the two assemblies arranged on a side and leaving the other two ass emb lies still .

Generally, the preferred applicative field is the nautical one . The described technology is well applicable to panels fixed on the ceiling, particularly, as per hereinbefore said, in nautical fields like boats and the like .

Both for the hooking element and the supporting device , the fixing means to fix them on surfaces , as it has been said, are screws , inserts or the like preferably, even because , i f needed, they are movable .

Nothing excludes the use of other connection systems like adhesives and the like .