PRESSURE FIXING DEVICE OF PANEL-WORKS, IN PARTICULAR

COVERING PANELS IN NAUTICAL FIELD

Technical field

The present invention relates to the technical field of device for the quick fixing of panels or panel-works to support surfaces, as well as the reciprocal fixing between panels, in particular a panel to a wall in naval or nautical fields.

More particularly, the invention relates to an innovative type of quick snap-like fixing capable of enabling the adjustment of the reciprocal distance between the two surfaces which are connected, therefore an adjustment according to a vertical direction Z.

Brief outline of the prior art

There has long been known the EP publication EP1950430 in the name of Ciacchini Enrico which describes a quick fastening system for connecting a panel to a support surface as well as two panels to each other.

In fact, above all in nautical field, there is the need to fix covering panel-works to fixed support surfaces according to a method which enables a quick application and above all a quick disassembly.

In fact, panel-works often cover passages of cables or other material which may request an inspection or a maintenance call-out and therefore their removal may be necessary.

Initially, panels were fixed permanently but their removal, for this reason, was often complicated and may cause a damage or a destruction of the panel itself which had to be replaced by a new one.

The solution proposed in the known publication EP1950430 resolves such technical drawbacks and therefore it provides two respective fixing elements structured for being engaged reciprocally in snap-like releasable manner. Both elements have a plain anchoring surface of discoidal form which enables to connect each one to a surface, for example one of them to a panel and the other one to a fixing wall where to fasten the panel. In this manner, when the first element is connected to the panel and the second element is connected to the wall, it is possible to connect the panel to the wall in quick a releasable manner through them.

Therefore, structurally, one of the two elements forms a receiving channel of predetermined axial length and diameter with a generally cylindrical shape and protruding from the disc surface thereof. Internally, the channel has a certain shape described thereinafter. Therefore, it is a female element which is constrained to a male element.

The other element, i.e. the male element, shapes a penetrating cylindrical body protruding from the disc surface thereof. This penetrating body is formed by a plurality of teeth protruding from the discoidal base and arranged around a circumference so as to form this cylindrical body or a sort of penetrating bucket. Such teeth are distanced from one another and are then flexible so as to inflect either towards the central axis of symmetry of the disc body from which they protrude (therefore inwards) or outwards (i.e. the opposite part to the axis of symmetry) to return afterwards elastically to the original position when the force which determines their inflection is released. Therefore, for example, by fixing the said male element onto a panel and the female element onto a support surface, it is possible to fix the panel onto the surface by pushing the cylindrical penetrating body within the receiving channel.

In this way, during the penetration, the teeth bend inwards (i.e. towards the central axis of symmetry) by means of the suitable shape of the receiving channel which tightens its diameter to reach a locking position after the penetration where such teeth snap elastically to return to the locking position, by means of the presence of a diametral broadening on top of the receiving channel (i.e. the cylindrical housing), whose broadening forms a locking step. In this simple and functional way, the two elements are locked to each other, thus determining the locking of the relative panel to the surface.

The disassembly is quite quick, since it is sufficient to apply a traction to the panel. In this way, the teeth pulled towards the extraction bend elastically to release the housing where they are housed to return afterwards to the rest position once they have exceeded the locking step.

The disc elements are obviously fitted with holes for the passage of screws to enable the application of the male element and the female element to the relative surfaces .

The system described above also enables, by means of a certain tangential backlash, a tangential adjustment of the bucket of the teeth, so as to counterbalance possible inaccuracies and make each panel translate tangentially of some millimeters in order to find the correct position or the best possible position.

This system, available on the market for a long time, is known under the trade name "fit-lock". A technical drawback of the described system which is particularly felt and unresolved yet concerns the frequent need to adjust the axis Z to the vertical direction .

After the application of the panel to the wall, it may occur that panels are not perfectly coplanar to each other and the same panels may have slight deformations. Obviously, the missed coplanarity cannot be accepted aesthetically but current systems do not enable a ready correction of coplanarity and gaps or steps are often present between a panel and the next one which one can hardly hide.

The publications US2018/0313381 e US6238123 are further known.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide an innovative solution with a quick attachment, which resolves said technical drawbacks.

In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide an innovative solution of quick attachment capable of enabling the connection of a panel to a surface, as well as to connect two panels to each other and wherein it is possible to adjust the final distance between the two surfaces which are connected to each other through the said system of quick attachment, thus enabling an adjustment along the vertical axis Z which ensures coplanarity between all the assembled panels.

These and other aims are achieved through the fixing device to enable the reciprocal fixing of two bodies (100, 200) to each other, for example the fixing of a panel (100) to a wall (200) or of two panels (100) to each other, according to claim 1. This device comprises:

A male element (A) comprising a support base (10) and an engaging element (15), said support base having a rear surface (lOp) for leaning onto one of said two bodies to be connected to each other and a front surface (10a) from which said engaging element (15) protrudes ;

A female element (B) comprising a support base (10B) having a rear surface (lOBp) for leaning onto the other body and a receiving channel (25) configured for receiving inside said engaging element (15) of the male element (A) so that said engaging element, when inserted into the said receiving channel (25), is locked inside it in detachable manner thus enabling the releasable coupling of the said two bodies;

According to the invention, the said fixing device is now configured for enabling to select two or more different distances along the axis Z so that, once coupled to each other the male element with the female element, the rear surface (lOp) of the male element (A) and the rear surface (lOBp) of the female element (B) are at the specific selected distance.

Therefore, this causes the possibility of selecting or adjusting with a certain tolerance the final distance that connected bodies will have between them, thus compensating possible missing coplanarities.

In fact, it is now possible to adjust the device according to settings such that a final distance along the axis Z between coupling bodies corresponds to each setting. This adjustability enables to correct possible missing coplanarities.

In the event that after the assembly there are panels which are not coplanar, then it is sufficient to remove the panel by simply drawing it, thus releasing the male element connected to the panel by the female element integral to the body to which the panel is connected and the desired setting of the device is carried out for compensating the millimeters of the missed coplanarity .

In a possible embodiment, advantageously, the female element (B) may be formed by a first element (B' ) forming a central hole and a second element (B' ' ) comprising the receiving channel (25) within which the engaging element (15) locks itself and with the said receiving channel (25) which inserts itself within the said central hole of the first element (B' ) .

According to this embodiment, the first and the second element (B' , B'’ ) are coupled to each other in rotatable manner and such that the reciprocal rotation also determines contextually a translation along the axis (Z) of the second element (B' ' ) with respect to the first element (B' ) or vice versa.

In this manner, it is sufficient to rotate an element with respect to the other one to adjust the value of translation which determines the final position afterwards. Therefore, if there is a problem of coplanarity, one acts with this rotation to adjust a translation along the desired axis Z in the order of a millimeter .

In greater details, advantageously, the first element (B' ) forms at least one sliding track (14B) with a predetermined inclination, the said second element (B' ' ) having at least one appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) which is positioned onto said sliding track (14B) when the said second element (B' ' ) is coupled with the said first element (B' ) . In this manner, through the said rotation of a predetermined guantity of the second element with respect to the first element or vice versa, the said appendix moves along the sliding track whose inclination determines contextually to the rotation also said translation along the axis Z of the second element (B' ' ) with respect to the first element (B' ) or vice versa .

In this manner, the adjustment of position along the axis Z occurs by readily rotating the two elements to each other of a predetermined quantity. A predetermined lowering/raising corresponds to each quantity of rotation which may vary on the overall range in the order of some millimeters, for example from 0 to 5 mm.

Obviously, different ranges may be realized.

Advantageously, the first element (B' ) forms four sliding tracks (14B) in succession to one another so as to delimit a circular path. In this case, each sliding track is equal to the other remaining ones and with the same inclination. As a consequence, the said second element (B' ' ) will have four appendixes (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) which extend radially from the cylindrical body forming the receiving channel (25) and such as to position each one in a respective sliding track (14B) .

Advantageously, the said sliding track is in form of a groove with a predetermined inclination.

Advantageously, the/each sliding track comprises a notch (14B ^f ) passing through the whole thickness thereof which goes along at least a part of the sliding track on the centre-line thereof.

Advantageously, the appendixes have a through hole (11B) for the passage of screws or fixing inserts fit to enable the fixing of the female element (B) to the body (100, 200) to which is applied.

Advantageously, the said through hole ( 1 IB) is aligned with the through notch (14B'), the width of the through notch being such as to enable the passage of the screw or insert insertable into the relative appendix so that the rotation of the first element with respect to the second element or vice versa can also occur when the screw is inserted into the hole of the appendix.

Advantageously, the engaging element (15) is formed by a plurality of flexible teeth (12) which form as a whole a cylindrical bucket fit to insert and lock itself in snap-like manner inside the receiving channel (25) .

Advantageously, the said cylindrical bucket is fixed to the support base so as to have a predetermined tolerance of tangential mobility along the said support base .

Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present fixing device, according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given only by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figures 1, 3, 6, and 8B depict axonometric views of the device subject of the invention and formed by a fist male element (A) which can be coupled in snap-like manner, in releasable manner to a second female element

(B) ;

Figure 2 depicts an accessory 50 usable for making an adjustment along the longitudinal axis Z according to the invention;

Figure 4A and figure 4B are view and relative section of the two separated parts which composes the female element (B) ; in particular, figure 4A depicts the component B' formed by the disc base and by the cylindrical channel to which the component B' ' , depicted in view and section in figure 4B, is coupled in sliding manner along the axis Z; Figure 5 is always a view and relative section of the female element B, as mentioned formed by the component B' connected to the component B' ' ;

Figure 7 is a section which depicts the device formed, as mentioned, by the male element A fixed to the relative body thereof, for example a panel 100, and the female element B fixed to the body 200, for example a wall 200, so that through the device they can be connected to each other, thus enabling, as mentioned, an adjustment along the axis Z which enables to vary depending at will and depending on needs the final distance between the disc base 10 of the component A and the fixed disc base of the component B;

Figure 8A depicts in axonometric view the component B' and the component B also depicted as mentioned in section in figure 4A and 4B;

Figures 9A and 9B depict in succession, in section a movement along the axis Z to exemplify the described operation;

Figure 10 depicts an enlarged detail to highlight the inclination of the track which determines the movement along the axis Z of the component B' with respect to B' to which it is coupled in sliding manner.

Description of some preferred embodiments

Figure 1 depicts in axonometric view, the device in accordance with the present invention, depicted in figure 3, in figure 6 and in figure 8B as well.

It is provided with a male element A adapted to be inserted in snap-like manner and then to be locked in releasable manner into a female element B .

Therefore, the said male element A (or fixing male A) is formed by and anchoring base 10, preferably a flat disc 10, which is provided with holes (four holes 11 are depicted in the example of figure 1) which enable the insertion of screws or other similar inserts for fixing this said male element A for example to a panel 100 (not depicted in figure 1 for simplicity purposes) or to another body.

In greater detail, as depicted in the section of figure 7, the anchoring base 10 is provided with a rear surface (lOp) which leans in use onto the body where to connect the said male element A. The front surface (10a), opposite to the rear one, is where an engaging element 15 protrudes orthogonally and locks itself in snap-like manner, as described thereinafter, into a female element substantially in the same manner as described in the prior art EP1950430.

In this way, each panel to be fixed onto the wall, such as covering panels of a wall of a boat, may be fitted with its relative fixing male A which is coupled to the female element B fixed to the wall, for example.

This male element A, as it was already present in the prior art and as already described before, is therefore provided with a locking protuberance 15 also depicted in section of figure 7 and formed by a series of teeth 12 arranged according to a circular shape and which protrude orthogonally from the disc base 10 (see figure 1) .

The tooth 12, as better depicted in figure 7, is then formed by a vertical shank 12' which protrudes orthogonally from the base 10 and shaped at the top so as to lock itself in snap-like manner against the receiving housing of the female element B where it is inserted, exactly as described in the prior art. In particular, always as depicted in figure 7, the top is provided with a protuberance 12' ' which enlarges from the vertical shank 12' towards the outside of the shank itself. Always with reference to figure 7, exactly as in the prior art, the protuberance is preferably formed by a first section (12a) which branches off from the shank 12' outwards to enter again through a second section (12b), both sections being inclined of a predetermined angle so that both of them form a chamfering in the phase of coupling/release . Therefore, the two sections (12a) and (12b) form an overturned V.

In particular, as explained thereinafter and also according to prior art, the second section (12b) forms a chamfering which facilitates the phase of coupling when the tooth 12 is penetrating and therefore it bends towards the axis of symmetry Z while the first section (12a) favours the release of the tooth, always causing an inflection towards the axis of symmetry Z.

For this purpose, the female element B is composed by an anchoring base, preferably a disc base 10B as well, and by four holes, (11B) obtained through the said disc base 10B and through which fastening a surface, for example to the wall 200, this second part B through suitable screws.

As depicted in figure 7, the disc base 10B is provided with a rear surface (lOBp) which in use is abutting against the body to which this female element B must be fixed, exactly as it occurs and is described for the male element A.

The disc base 10B is holed axially and shapes a cylindrical receiving channel 12B (see for example figure 1) delimited by a cylindrical wall 25 shaped for receiving the circular ring 15 formed by the teeth 12 of the male component A, so that the teeth lock themselves in a snap ^¬ like manner within the cylindrical receiving channel 12B exactly as in prior art (see for example the section of figure 7 as well) . In fact, as depicted in figure 7, the shape of the channel 12B is such that the teeth 12, during the penetration buckle inwards, i.e. bending themselves towards the axis Z (vertical central axis of symmetry) and reducing the overall diameter of the circular ring that they form to exceed afterwards a step formed in the receiving channel 12B and return elastically to the rest position .

In greater detail, figure 7 depicts that the first part of the channel 12B, delimited by the wall 25, is bulging towards the axis of symmetry Z, thus causing a progressive reduction of the diameter. Therefore, then the ring gear 15 inserts itself into the channel of the female component B, the chamfering 12b of each tooth 12 forming the ring gear 15 favours the penetration by dragging onto the bulging of the channel 12B, thus causing an inflection of each tooth 12 of the ring gear which inflects itself towards the central axis Z of symmetry. This bulging ends with a cusp 12' B from which a new broadening 12' L branches off .

Therefore, the cusp forms a sharp angle which, once exceeded by the chamfering 12b, enables the tooth 12 to lock itself in snap-like manner in the housing since the chamfering 12a contrasts this broadening (12' L) after the elastic return of each tooth to the rest position (uninflected position) .

For the unlocking, it is sufficient a traction opposite to that for the coupling, which moves away the body 100 from the body 200, thus making the inclined side 12a act as chamfering in the phase of releasing and readily sliding along the side 12' L, thus causing again an inflection of the whole tooth towards the axis Z. Once exceeded the cusp 12' B, the tooth returns elastically to the rest position. Anyway, this concept of snap-like locking/unlocking is prior art as per publication EP1950430 to which reference is made.

Therefore, only for clarity purposes, figure 7 depicts how the male element A connects itself through screws or other inserts to the body 100 which may be a panel or a wall and, in the same way, with the female body B which connects itself to the body 200, such as a panel or a wall. In that case, the housing which houses the cylindrical part 12B of the female B is obtained in the body 200.

Then, the female element B is built into the body 200 with the surface (lOBp) thereof which abuts against the body and with the fixing which occurs through screws and/or inserts in general, as mentioned.

Therefore, if the body 100 is a covering panel for a boat wall and 200 is the wall, the fixing of the panel 100 to the wall 200 is quickly made through said system.

Always with reference to figure 7, and as per prior art as well, the male component A has a tangential tolerance of adjustment, as highlighted by the double direction of arrow. This is possible since, structurally, the ring 15 gear 12 is formed by a circular base 13 (substantially a disc 13) from which the shanks 12' protrude distanced and separated from one another and which form the teeth 12 (see also figure 1) . Therefore, as a whole, the circular or disc base 13 is a whole with the teeth, thus forming a bucket-shaped body centrally holed so as the centering pin 17, pin orthogonal to the disc base 10, passes through this hole. The disc body 13 is therefore a circular ring gear with central hole of predetermined diameter, which, as well depicted in figure 7, enables the passage of the centering pin 17 with a certain backlash. Therefore, the bucket 12, is fixed in position at the disc base through a fixing disc 18 locked through nut and screw 19, as depicted in figure 1, so that said bucket does not move along the axis Z. However, through the said tangential backlash, the whole bucket can slide laterally along the plane formed by the disc plane 10, until the perimeter of the central hole relative to the base 13 touches the pin 17.

As mentioned, this serves for compensating errors in tangential positioning such that, in the coupling phase, the bucket 12 is clear to move tangentially for centering the channel 12B with tolerances which may be in the order of a millimeter.

According to the invention, as described thereinafter, the described device is now configured for enabling an adjustment along the axis Z as well, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the two elements A and B so as to make possible an adjustment of distance between the two bodies 100 and 200 which must be connected to each other.

Therefore, this enables to make the created surface of the panels really flat, thus avoiding steps which create discontinuity.

For this purpose, the female part B is in turn realized in two parts, disjointed and coupled to each other, so as to be reciprocally movable between one another .

Figure 4A and figure 4B depict these two parts.

The first part B' is formed by a disc body 30 holed centrally thus forming a sort of circular ring. A circular wall 32 protrudes orthogonally from the disc body 30, on the central hole 31, thus forming a cylindrical channel 31.

Curved paths 20 are obtained on the surface of the disc body comprised between the external perimeter thereof and the cylinder 32. They are arcs of circumference and there are provided preferably four arcs of circumference in succession which draw as a whole discontinuous sections of a circumference comprised between the external perimeter of the disc and the cylinder 32.

These four segments are indicated in figure 4A with the numbers 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d.

As well depicted by the section of figure 4B, the second part B' ' is in the form of a cylindrical body 42 as well which forms the receiving channel 12B of figure 7, i.e. the one delimited by the wall 25 of figure 1, and from whose base four appendixes (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) extend radially. Each appendix is configured with such a size as to insert itself into the above-mentioned relative curved path (or guide) so as to move along it in a way that is described thereinafter.

Figure 8A, for greater purpose of clarity, depicts an axonometric view of the two parts B' and B' ' which compose as a whole the female component B and depicted disjointed from one another.

Figure 1 and figure 2, as well as the above- mentioned figure 8A, well depict such appendixes (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) .

Instead, figure 5 always depicts, in front and section view, this female element B formed by this second part B' ' combined with the first part B' such that such appendixes are positioned in the relative guide.

The coupling of the part B' ' and the part B' is not fixed since the two components B' and B' ' are movable with respect to one another.

In particular, the second component B' ' is rotatable with respect to the component B' and/or vice versa.

Therefore, they are not welded to one another but they are rotatable with respect to one another. In addition to the reciprocal rotation, the coupling is such that it is possible a translation along the axis Z of the first component B' with respect to the second B' ' or vice versa.

More particularly, through said rotatable coupling, as described thereinafter, it is possible to vary along the axis Z the position of the component B with respect to B' , thus adjusting de facto in this manner a reciprocal distance along the axis Z between the two panels or surfaces 100 and 200 which are connected to one another.

Substantially, the channel 25 translates along the axis Z after the said rotation.

In fact, as depicted in figure 4A, each one of such guides (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) has an incision line (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) passing through the whole thickness and which forms a sort of centre-line.

This incision line ends on a part with a broadening (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) from which the relative appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) is visible and overlooks.

The incision has such a width as to enable the passage of the insert or fixing screw and this insert or fixing screw may slide along it.

Therefore, with reference to figure 3 for example, if screws are inserted into the hole 11B, as long as such screws do not penetrate within the body 200 (therefore, considering the component B clear) , it is possible to rotate the component B' with respect to B' (or vice versa) , since the insert or screws which passes through the holes 11B slides along its own centre-line notch (21a, 21b, 21c, 2 Id) .

Each sliding guide (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) is obtained by digging and removing material from the surface from which it is obtained.

More particularly, as depicted in greater detail in figure 10 but visible in figure 1 as well, the guide is realized by removing material so as to create a path with a certain inclination.

In fact, the figure depicts a removal of material which creates a track with inclination.

The lateral wall (PL) starts indeed from a starting point which has a height (PL1) greater than that at the end of the said track where the height (PL2) tends to become zero.

The appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) which slides into its relative guide, after the rotation of the component B' ' with respect to B' , moves from the starting position of figure 10 to the end-stroke position (FC) (always depicted in figure 10), thus being forced to go up the inclined track and causing a translation of B' ' with respect to B' along the axis Z.

Depending on the direction of rotation B' ' translates towards a direction or towards the opposite direction along the axis Z.

The succession of figures 9A and 9B depicts in section the movement (dz) which can be obtained through this solution.

In particular, figure 9A depicts the condition highlighted in figure 10 with each appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) arranged at the end of the inclined path.

In this case, the component B'’ is at the end-stroke and when the male element A is inserted into the female element B, the result is that the panel 100 is distanced from the wall 200 of a quantity (dl+d2) indicated in figure 9A.

When B' ' is rotated clockwise with respect to B' (or equally B' rotates counterclockwise with respect to B' ' ) , each appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) moves to the end-stroke point (FC) of figure 10 or anyway towards any intermediate position which entails a movement along an inclined path which goes up.

This causes a translation along the axis Z of B' ' with respect to B' (i.e. a movement of the channel 25 along the axis Z) and figure 9B depicts the position where, with reference to figure 10, the appendix 43a (and the remaining appendices) reaches the end-stroke (FC) .

Substantially, the channel 25 moves by going up of a certain quantity (dz) such that, as it is inferable from figure 9B, it determines after the coupling a distance between the two panels 100 and 200 which corresponds to the value (dl+dz+d2) > of the preceding one (dl +d2) .

Therefore, depending on the rotation, a value dz which enables a corrective margin is determined.

The adjustment of the distance between the bodies

100 and 200 entails equally the adjustment of the distance between the surfaces (lOp) and (lOBp) of figure 7.

The process of adjustment may advantageously occur through the use of an accessory in the form of a knob 50 depicted in figure 2, which is fitted with engaging teeth

101 arranged so as to engage themselves with the notches 101' obtained onto the perimeter of the disc B' .

The knob has a cylinder 51 which is inserted into the channel 25 of the female component B for acting as a guide for the coupling and during the coupling, the teeth 101 must fit in the notches 101' . In this way, through the knob, the disc B' may be rotated with respect to the component B' ' clockwise or counterclockwise, thus causing the translation of B' ' with respect to B' (or vice versa) as described.

Therefore, in use, the adjustment along the axis Z may occur at any moment of the installation without the need of the whole disassembly of the fixing elements.

As previously described, the adjustment is obtained only by acting onto the component B while the component A is fixed through its own assembly screws at it cannot be adjusted along the axis Z.

Unless the necessity of translation along the axis Z is known during the anchoring phase of the component B, the assembly of the element B' ' within the disc body B' occurs in the fully rotated position so that the radial extensions (or, in other words, appendices 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) are directly in contact onto the surface of the wall without interposition of the inclined sliding guide and then with the translation along the axis Z to the minimum (position of figure 9A) .

Once determined the need to adjust the coplanarities of the panels or anyway the distance between the panel and the anchoring wall (axis Z), an adjustment may be performed, which occurs by acting onto the assembly screws which are partially unscrewed of 2 maximum 3 mm in order to enable the axial rotation of the body B' ' (the axial rotation of 15° corresponds to a delta onto the axis Z of 0,5 mm and may occur by 60° maximum with the maximum movement of 2 mm) .

The adjustment has no fixed positions and therefore all the intermediate positions are possible.

The teeth of the knob and the above-described notches are arranged to help the user to determinate the necessary rotation.

Through the knob, the adjustment of the desired position occurs which determines the achievement of a certain relative position of B' with respect to B' ' along the axis Z, this position is consolidated by tightening again the screws or inserts passing through the holes of the appendices 11B' .

At the end of the quick adjustment, the assembly screws will be screwed and in this way the movement of rotation will be locked and the desired distance between the panel and the wall will be obtained.