BARBUIO MAURO (IT)
| US4621474A | 1986-11-11 | |||
| US5966887A | 1999-10-19 |
| 1. | An inverted Tshaped profile bar provided with an improved coupling element characterised by comprising: at at least one end of the web (4) of the profile bar (6), an appendix comprising at least one longitudinal rib (14) and a notch defining a tab consisting of a first portion (16) coplanar with the surface of the appendix and a second portion (18) at an angle to said first portion (16), said first profile comprising a tooth (20) obtained from a part of said first profile by cutting and plastic deformation, said tooth (20) being positioned on the same side of said appendix as said second profile (18), in the central part of the web (4), at least one aperture (22) having a height corresponding to the height of the appendix (6) so that said aperture is suitable for the insertion and stable retention of an appendix of another T shaped profile bar (6) by means of the tooth (20) and said second portion (18). |
| 2. | A profile bar as claimed in claim 1 , characterised by comprising two grooveshaped longitudinal ribs. |
The present invention relates to an inverted T-shaped profile bar provided with an improved coupling element. Structural elements for false ceilings are known consisting of profile bars of inverted T cross-section provided at their ends with coupling elements formed directly within the central web of the T-shaped profile bar or formed separately and applied to each profile bar during its construction.
These profile bars are provided in the central region of their web with notches in which the coupling element of a profile bar engages perpendicular thereto, to form a grid structure which is suspended from the ceiling generally by steel hangers, and which by means of the horizontal flanges of its profile bars supports panels and/or slats or whatever else is required to form the false ceiling. A known type of inverted T-shaped profile bar is provided at the end of its central web with a coupling element formed separately and applied by traditional riveting techniques to each profile bar during its construction.
The coupling element comprises a first substantially rectangular portion which extends into a V-bent second section of lesser height, with a portion coplanar to the first portion and a second portion comprising a tooth obtained by cutting and plastic deformation, the free end of the tooth substantially facing the end of the first portion.
This coupling element has however proved susceptible to improvement with regard to its construction, to its rigidity, and to the operations involved in disengaging it from the web.
This improvement is obtained according to the invention by an inverted T-shaped profile bar as described in claim 1.
The present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a profile bar provided with the coupling element of the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the coupling element shown during its engagement with the web, and
Figure 3 is a section through two profile bars inserted into the central web of a third T-shaped profile bar.
As can be seen from the figures the improved coupling element of the invention is indicated overall by 2 and is applied to the central web 4 of a profile bar 6 of inverted T cross-section.
The coupling element is formed separately and comprises substantially a rectangular plate 8 which is applied by rivets 10 to a drawn portion 12 of the end of the web 4.
In a variant, not shown in the drawings, the coupling element is obtained directly during the production of the profile bar.
In the plate 8, which comprises two longitudinal grooves 14, a blade 16 is formed by cutting and plastic deformation, to extend into a tab 18 disposed at an angle to the blade.
The blade comprises an engagement tooth 20 also obtained by cutting and plastic deformation.
The central web - comprises a substantially rectangular aperture 22 provided with four angular notches 24.
To assemble the grid structure, two coupling elements are inserted from opposite sides into the aperture 22 in the web 4, with the tabs positioned externally so that the edges of the grooves 14 become inserted into the notches 24. As insertion continues, the tooth 20 interferes with the edge 26 of the aperture 22, to then pass over said edge and become positioned on the other side of the web, to retain it in cooperation with the tooth 20' of the other profile bar 6' (see Figure 3).
When the profile bars are to be mutually disengaged, the operator presses the tab 18 towards the plate 8 so as to disengage the undercut formed by the tooth 20 from the edge 26 of the aperture, and then withdraws the coupling element therefrom.
From the aforegoing it is apparent that the improved coupling element of the invention presents numerous advantages, and in particular: - easy construction as only cutting and bending operations are used,
- a strengthened structure in the regions in which it engages the web, by virtue of the presence of the ribs, while at the same time being elastic to enable this engagement to take place,
- easy disengagement by virtue of the accessibility of the tab, without having to use tools or laborious operations.