The present invention refers to a device at upright like support rails and transverse to said rails connectable panel elements which are buildable to a panel- lining, with groove shaped receiving spaces formed between the panel elements and in which support elements intended for coupling are receivable.

A previously known structural design of a panel lining according to SE-B-8404021-1 (Publication number 449822) includes panel elements which are connectable to wall anchored vertical module hole-rails via separate loose, horizontally displaceable hooks interconnectable to horizontal profile elements, by means of which the panel lining is fastened to module hole-rails anchored at definite horizontal spaces. Thereby the module distance between the module hole-rails determines the density of similar rails and which can not be changed, that is at a fixed 900 mm, 1800 mm, 2700 mm distance from a fixed point. If the strain would become very large along one or several portions of said panel lining, no extra module hole-rails and hook means may easily be added in order to increase the support ability.

The main object of the present invention is therefore at first hand to solve said problem with simple but yet with efficient functioning means. Said object is achieved by means of a device according to the present invention which in the main is characterized therein that rail shaped fastening profiles exhibit each other off facing integrated portions o ϊ a hook

part and a coupling means respectively with groove shaped receiving spaces formed between the panel elements and in which support elements intended for coupling are receivable, that the support rail is formed by a number of lateral flanges,preferably two, extending from a base fastening part through which several in vertical direction at a mutual distance from each other distributed receiving slots extend which exhibit an opening portion which surpasses in a towards the bottom of the slots widening,downwards tapered, receiving portionand that said rail shaped fastening profiles have a hook part with an anterior flange directed downwards which is receivable and vertically insertable in said slot portion widening in a direction inwards and can be pressed down and fastened in said receiving portion tapering in a direction downwards.

The invention is described in the following as a number of preferred embodiments, whereby is referred to the enclosed drawings, on which

Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a portion of a panel lining along the line I-I in Figure 6,

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a support rail,

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a portion of a support rail of a certain type,

Figure 3A shows a perspective view of a portion of a support rail of another type,

Figure 4 schematically shows a part of a support rail with an interconnectable fastening profile.

Figure 5 shows a variant of a further

rail shaped fastening profile,

Figure 6 shows part of a built up panel lining, Figure 7 shows a variant of the panel element,. Figure 8-10 shows examples of further fastening methods of support rails contained in a panel lining, whereby

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a rail design Figure 8A shows a part included in the fastening device, Figure 9 shows an exploded view of different parts of the panel lining, and

Figure 10 shows variant of a rail and a fastening profile.

The device as defined in the patent claims differs substantially from prior art, and the invention as defined in claim 1 refers to the following:

A) A device 1 in relation to upright like support rails 4 and transverse to said rails 4 connectable panel elements 5 which are buildable to a panel lining 2 with groove shaped receiving spaces 6 formed between the panel elements 5 and in which support elements 7 intended for coupling are receivable.

B) The device is characterized therein, that rail shaped fastening profiles 8 exhibit each other off faced integrated portions of hook part 11 and coupling means 12 respectively with groove shaped receiving spaces 6 formed between the panel elements 5 and in which intended support elements 7 for coupling are receivable,

C) and that the support rail 4 is formed by a number of lateral flanges 14, preferably two, protruding from a base fastening part 4A through which several receiving, slots 13 extend distributed in vertical direction H at a mutual distance B from each other which slots exhibit an opening portion 19 which surpasses in a towards the bottom 13A of the slots widening, downwards 20 tapered, receiving portion 21,

D) that said rail shaped fastening profiles 8 have a hook part 11 with an anterior downward flange 11A which is receivable and vertically insertable in said widened slot portion 13 in a direction inwards 9 and can be pressed down and be fastened in said, in direction downwards 20 tapered, receiving portions 21. All below stated patent publications

I: SE,B, 8404021-1 (publication number 449 822)

II: EP,A1, 0 397 516 and

III: US,A, 3,005,293 disclose devices according to the preamble of the patent claim 1. However, the resemblance thereby ends even if certain details can be regarded to resemble the device defined in the characterizing part of the patent claim 1. For instance, the device according to the present invention has the features such that B) "rail shaped fastening profiles 8 exhibit each other off facing integrated portions of a hook part 11 and coupling means 12 respectively with groove shaped receiving spaces 6 formed between the panel elements 5 and in which support

elements intended for coupling are receivable".

None of the devices hitherto known exhibits said feature.

C) Further the device according to the present invention is constituted such: "that the support rail 4 is formed by a number of lateral flanges 14 protruding from a base fastening part 4A through which several receiving slots 13 extend distributed in vertical direction H at a mutual distance B from each other which slots exhibit an opening portion 19 which surpasses in a towards the bottom 13A of the slots widening^ downwards 20 tapered, receiving portion 21

Known slots exhibit a shape that widens itself upwards as well as downwards or which is formed by a longish slot.

Finally the device according to the invention exhibits the feature

D) that said rail shaped fastening profiles 8 are provided with a hook part 11 with an anterior downwards directed flange 11A which is receivable vertically insertable in said in a direction inwards widening slot portion 13 and can be pressed down and fastened in said, in a direction downwards 20 tapered, receiving portion 21. Known fastening profiles which have hook parts with flanges that extend upwards as well as downwards respectively a hook part that 'extends merely upwards is insertable in fitting slots by displacing the whole fastening profile in its longitudinal direction and

is displaceable respectively in a direction upwards and vertically.

Thus the device defined where the support rails stabilize the built up panel lining differs substantially from prior art.

According to the present invention a device 1 at a panel lining 2, which is buildable from several upright like support rails 4, attachable to for instance a wall 3, and a number of horizontally at the edge end transversely arranged panel elements 5, which are connectable to said rails 4 with groove shaped receiving spaces 6 formed between in vertical direction arranged panel elements 5,5, and in which support elements 7 intended for coupling are receivable with a fastening portion 7A, includes rail shaped fastening profiles 8 that exhibit in each other off faced directions 9,10 directed integrated portions of hook part 11 and coupling means 12 respectively. The hook part 11 is thereby receivable in receiving slots 13 provideded in a number of lateral flanges 14 which protrude in a direction 15 from a fastening location 16 of the rails to a wall etc. 3.

Said fastening profiles 8 exhibit a length extension L which at least conforms to the distance A laterally 17,18 between in pairs support prepared support rails 4,4.

Preferably the support rail 4 is formed by a number of lateral flanges 14, preferably two, protruding from a base fastening part 4A. Through said lateral flanges

14 several receiving slots 13 distributed in vertical direction H extend at a mutual distance B from each other. The receiving slots 13 preferably exhibit an opening portion 19 which surpasses in a receiving portion 21, widening towards the bottom 13A of the slots which receiving portion is shape adapted to the hook part 11 and tapered in a direction downwards 20.

Further said rail shaped fastening profiles 8 can have a hook part 11 which exhibits an anterior downwards directed flange 11A which is receivable and vertically insertable in said in a direction inwards 9 widened slot portion 13 and can be pressed down and fastened in said in a direction downwards 20 tapering receiving portion 21.

A laterally 9 widening portion 22 of the hook part 11A can form a pressing means for said hook part 11A, for instance a longish bank 22 that presses against the lateral edge 21A of the slot portion 21 and necessitates that the fastening profile 8 with force has to be pushed downwards into the slot portion 21, for instance by hitting it downwards with a mallet.

In the purpose of being able to connect panel linings 5 to the vertical rails 4 said rail shaped fastening profiles 8 can have coupling means in pairs located at a mutual distance C from each other which means are formed from angle shaped flanges 23,24. Said angle shaped flanges 23,24 are directed towards each other to form groove shaped receiving spaces 6 between the same.

The flanges 23,24 preferably exhibit end flange

portions 25,26 which are directed to protrude in the main perpendicularly from belonging intercoupling wall 27. Thereby is made possible for said end flange portions 25,26 to achieve enclosure of the panel element 5 from ^' its respective upper side 5A and underside 5A.

Opposite to the flanges 25,26 there are provided vertically directed flanges 28,29 which are receivable in fitting longish grooves 30,31 at the upper and underside of the panel elements respectively 5A,5B, and which prevents the panel elements 5 from falling off the rails 4.

In figure 5 is shown an embodiment in which there is a flange 32 in the lower flange 24 which is directed to protrude inwards towards the rails 4 and which is receivable in a fitting slot 33 in support rails 4, preferably in all rails 4 at a common level.

According to a further embodiment which is shown in the drawings in Figure 7, the panel element 105 instead of being formed from homogenous boards, of wood, fibre or metal material is formed from a thin profile rail 150 which in addition to upper and lower slots 130,131 in which the fastening profiles 8 engage with respective vertical flanges 28,29 also exhibit fastening parts intended to fasten panel plates 151, along the profile rails 150, for instance decoration pictures etc. , in addition to intended support elements 7, such as for example brackets, shelves, rods for example which are fixed to the fastening profiles 8.

Mounting of a panel lining 2 to for instance a wall 3 is carried out according to the following:

At optional locations along said wall 3 or other fastening surface the support rails are screwed tight by means of suitable fastening means, for instance screws 34 which are received in holes 35 of the base 4A of the support rails 4 in question, either these are formed from I—I -shaped pro¬ files, square pipes or other design. One then begins to possibly place a horizontal base across the rails 4 in the lower part and which at the top are anchored by means of a start mounting, which can be formed by a short-—'-shaped profile piece or by a longish profile which exhibits a hook part which can be fastened in a fitting receiving portion 21 of said rails 4. The intended panel lining 2 is then built on in vertical direction H by alternating fasten the panel element 5 to a mounting situated below, respective fastening profile 8 and thereon fasten further fastening profiles at the top of respective panel element 5. Steady fastening is thereby achieved which is necessary in order to be able to resist the considerable forces F that may occur for those support elements 7 that are intended and designed to be able to be inserted in receiving spaces 6 of the fastening profiles 8 between in pairs mounted panel elements 5. The panel lining 2 is consequently very simple to mount and even to dismantle when needed and can,o ing to the unlimited ability to set out support rails 4 on any desired locations late- rally 27,28 along a wall 3, support considerable forces F, for instance at supporting of TV- and stereo equipments.

An alternative fastening method of upright like support rails 4 is shown in the drawings in Figure 8-10,

whereby instead of screw holes 35 of similar rails 4 or as complement thereto, the rails 4 may exhibit slot shaped αrecesses 75 on their back. Said recesses 75 are form adapted to fastening rails 76 in the shape of longish profiles which can be screwed or in another appropriate way can be hanged up horizontally on a wall 3 or the like. By hooking on the rails 4 to one or several horizontally fixed fastening rails 76, such as is shown diagrammatically in figure 9 by the arrow 77, so that said fastening rail(-s) 76 are received in fitting recess (-es) 75 of the rails 4, the desired number of rails 4 with a desired spacing can easily be hung up close to a wall 3 without a lot of screwing being necessary. Subsequently, fastening profiles 8 in their turn are interconnected in the direction of the arrow 78 according to above. Lateral displacement of rails 4 can thereby be easily performed at desired occasions, for instance when heavy loads are intended to be supported by the panel.

In Figure 10 is also shown a suspension of rails 4 to a wall according to further principles known per se with a suspension on a support fastening strip 76 via slot shaped inclined recesses 75 on the back of the rails. A fastening profile 8 according to the above is then fixed to said rail 4 so that a backwards directed flange 32 is brought into a slot 33 at the front of the rail at the same time as a hook part 11 is received in vertical receiving slots 13 in the lateral flanges of the rails 14.

The invention is made possible to be applied also to upright like support rails which stand arranged for

instance by means of lower but also by upper support parts spaced from a wall, for instance at screening off occasions etc.

The invention is neither limited to the embodi¬ ments described above and shown in the drawings but can be varied within the scope of the present invention without departing from the inventive concept.