Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a wall panel connection device, and especially to wall panel connection device for mounting a wall accessory to a wall panel system, and method of mounting a wall accessory to a wall panel system.

Background

The exterior of buildings may be provided with arrangements of wall panels. The flat surface of the building is thereby provided with arrangements and solutions for mounting wall panels. The mounted wall panels may be designed to provide important facade functions such as thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, or improved weather resistance. Additionally, the wall panels may be designed to provide an aesthetic impression.

In many solutions, the wall panel system comprises structural rails fastened to the surface of the building, and wherein the wall panels are fastened to the rails by for example screws, nails or bolts. The structural rails may be prefabricated with threads so as to engage the screws or bolts used to fasten the wall panel to the structural rails. The structural rails may be specifically configured to engage a certain type of wall panel with a certain type of bolt or screw which facilitates installation of the wall panel against the structural rail.

A problem with a building exterior covered with such wall panel system arises when an accessory is needed to be arranged to the building, since the accessory typically needs to be anchored in the building. It may be difficult to reach the building surface behind the wall panel system, and the wall panels may not be of a material or having a surface that is suitable for anchoring accessories.

Consequently, there is a need for a solution to the above identified problem when there is a need to anchor an accessory to a building having a wall panel system. Summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved solution that alleviates the mentioned drawbacks with present devices. Furthermore, it is an object to provide a device and method for anchoring an accessory to a wall panel system.

The invention is defined by the appended independent claims, with embodiments being set forth in the appended dependent claims, in the following description and in the drawings.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a wall panel connection device is provided, the wall panel connection device comprising at least one insertion member configured to be inserted into at least one opening in a wall panel mounting rail; and a protruding portion comprising at least one protruding member connected to the at least one insertion member, the protruding portion configured to, when in use, extend away from said wall panel mounting rail. The protruding portion comprises an accessory anchor receiving opening, and the at least one insertion member and/or the at least one protruding member is moveable between an insertion position in which the wall panel connection device is insertable into the at least one opening in the wall panel mounting rail, and a fixed position in which the wall panel connection device is fixed to the wall panel mounting rail.

The wall panel mounting rail may be part of a wall panel system, in which wall panel mounting rails are arranged to a surface of a building, and wall panels are arranged to the wall panel mounting rails. Besides the wall panels arranged to the wall panel mounting rails, there may be a need to attached other accessories to the building via the wall panel system, temporarily or long-term. Such accessory may be a scaffold, a sign or additional wall panels of some kind. The present invention provides a device for receiving such accessory anchor for arranging the accessory to the wall panel mounting rail. The wall panel mounting rail may be arranged in a horizontal manner. Alternatively, the wall panel mounting rail may be arranged in a vertical manner.

The wall panel mounting rail may comprise at least one opening for receiving the wall panel connection device. The at least one insertion member may be inserted into the opening of the wall panel mounting rail. The at least one insertion member and/or the at least one protruding member may be moveable between the insertion position and the fixed position. The insertion position may be a position wherein the components of the wall panel connection device is arranged to enable or facilitate insertion of the wall panel connection device into the opening of the wall panel mounting rail. The fixed position may be a position wherein the components of the wall panel connection device is arranged to enable fixation of the wall panel connection device to the wall panel mounting rail.

By providing a wall panel connection device that may be easily arranged to a wall panel mounting rail for receiving an accessory anchor, a reliable and secure connection between the accessory and the wall panel system may be provided. The connection between the accessory and the wall panel system may further not be dependent on being arranged before any wall panels are arranged to the wall panel mounting rails, or be dependent on an attachment to the wall panels itself. Instead, a high degree of freedom in connecting the accessory to the building via the wall panel system at any time, when the need occurs, may be provided.

When in use in the fixed position, the wall panel connecting device may be locked to the wall panel mounting rail at least in a direction perpendicular to a front surface of the wall panel mounting rail. Further when in use in the fixed position, the wall panel mounting device may be lock to the wall panel mounting rail in a direction in parallel to the plane of the front surface of the wall panel mounting rail, which direction may be the direction in which gravity acts. Hence, the wall panel connection device may in the fixed position to a wall panel mounting rail be secured from being removed in said directions.

The accessory anchor to be received in the accessory anchor receiving opening may be a hook, a catch, a snaplink, a screw, a bolt, a sprint or the like, configured to connect the accessory to the wall panel connection device. In some embodiments, the wall panel connection device may be locked in the fixed position by arrangement of an accessory anchor and/or an accessory to the wall panel connection device. The wall panel connection device may be locked in the fixed position when the accessory anchor is arranged in the at least one accessory anchor receiving opening.

In some embodiments, the at least one insertion member may comprise a groove configured to engage with the wall panel mounting rail when moved from the insertion position towards the fixed position. The groove may engage with an edge of the at least one opening of the wall panel mounting rail. When the groove engages with the wall panel mounting rail, the wall panel connection device may be fixed to the wall panel mounting rail in at least one, two, three or four directions.

In some embodiments, the at least one insertion member may comprise a first insertion member and a second insertion member, and the first and second insertion members may be moveable relative to each other. Each of the first and second insertion member may be configured to, when in use in the fixed position, engage with the wall panel mounting rail to fix the wall panel connection device to the wall panel mounting rail. Both the first and the second insertion member may comprise a groove, each configured to engage with the wall panel mounting rail. Each groove may engage with an edge of an opening of the wall panel mounting rail. The groove of the first insertion member may engage with an edge of one opening of the wall panel mounting rail, and the groove of the second insertion member may engage with a different edge of the same opening, or an edge of a different opening of the wall panel mounting rail.

In some embodiments, the first and second insertion members may be moveable relative to each other between the insertion position and the fixed position. By being moveable relative to each other it may be meant that when being moved from the insertion position to the fixed position, at least one of the first and second insertion member is being moved relative to the other insertion member. One of the insertion members, e.g. the second insertion member, may, when the wall panel connection device is moved from the insertion position towards the fixed position, be static relative to the wall panel mounting rail, and the other (first) insertion member may be moved relative to the second insertion member, and relative to the wall panel mounting rail. In one embodiment, both insertion members move relative to the wall panel mounting rail when being moved towards the fixed position. The relative movement between the two insertion members may be a linear movement or a rotational movement. When moving relative to each other towards the fixed position, at least one of the insertion members may be moved into engagement with the wall panel mounting rail, which engagement may provide that the wall panel connection device may be prevented from being moved relative to the wall panel mounting rail in at least one, two, three or four directions. In some embodiments, the protruding portion may comprise a first protruding member and a second protruding member, and wherein the first protruding member is moveable relative to the second protruding member when moving the wall panel connection device between the insertion position and the fixed position. The first and second protruding members may be configured such that the relative movement between the two protruding members may cause the relative movement between the two insertion members. This may further cause the wall panel connection device to move between the insertion position and the fixed position. The wall panel connection device may comprise a first part and a second part, wherein the first part may comprise the first insertion member and the first protruding member, and the second part may comprise the second insertion member and the second protruding member. The two parts may be moveable relative to each other. The movement of the two parts relative each other may provide the movement of the wall panel connection device between the insertion position and the fixed position.

In some embodiments, the at least one protruding member may be integrally formed with at least one of said at least one insertion member. When the wall panel connection device comprises a first and second insertion member and a first and second protruding member, the first protruding member may be integrally formed with the first insertion member and/or the second protruding member may be integrally formed with the second insertion member. A solid connection between the respective protruding and insertion members may thereby be provided. Further, any movement between respective protruding members may be directly transferred to the respective insertion members.

In some embodiments, the first and second insertion members may be moveable relative to each other by means of operation of the at least one protruding member. The at least one protruding member may be operable to move at least one insertion member such that the moved insertion member moves relative to the other insertion member. In an embodiment wherein the wall panel connection device comprises a first and second insertion member and a first and second protruding member, either one or both of the protruding members may be operated to cause movement of either one or both of the insertion members. In one embodiment, the first protruding member is operated to move the first insertion member. In one embodiment, the first and the second protruding members are operated to move the first and second insertion members. The first protruding member may be operated to move the first insertion member, and the second protruding member may be operated to move the second insertion member.

In some embodiments, the at least one insertion portion may comprise a first insertion member and a second insertion member, and the protruding portion may comprise a first protruding member and a second protruding member, and the first insertion member may be integrally formed with the first protruding member and the second insertion member may be integrally formed with the second protruding member. The wall panel connection device may comprise a first part and a second part, wherein the first part may comprise the first insertion member and the first protruding member, and the second part may comprise the second insertion member and the second protruding member. Further, the two members in the respective parts may be integrally formed, or at least in direct connection and fixed to each other. The two parts may be moveable relative to each other. The movement of the two parts relative each other may provide the movement of the wall panel connection device between the insertion position and the fixed position. The two parts may in some embodiments be identically shaped, or mirror copies of each other. When in the fixed position, the two parts may be in contact with each other. Alternatively, when being moved towards the fixed position, the two parts may move towards each other, but when in the fixed position, the two parts may be distanced from each other.

In some embodiments, each of the first and second protruding members may comprise an accessory anchor receiving opening, wherein the respective openings are configured to, when in the fixed position, be aligned. The two protruding members may be moveable relative each other when moving between the insertion position and the fixed position. The two protruding members may in the fixed position at least partly abut each other, for instance by laying as two layers against each other. Each protruding member may comprise an accessory anchor receiving opening. When in the fixed position, the two protruding members may have moved into a position wherein the two accessory anchor receiving openings are aligned. An accessory anchor may thereby be inserted into the accessory anchor receiving opening such that it extends through both protruding members. The two protruding members, and thereby the entire wall panel connection device, may thereby be locked in the fixed position.

In some embodiments, the first and second insertion members may be configured to be inserted into different respective openings in the wall mounting rail and moved towards each other into respective engagement with the wall panel mounting rail when moved towards the fixed position. Each insertion member may be provided with a hook shape or a groove, or the like, in order to engage with the wall panel mounting rail. When in the insertion position, each insertion member may extend into the respective opening without engagement with the wall panel mounting rail. When moving towards the fixed position, the shape of the insertion members provide respective engagement with the wall panel mounting rail. The engagement between the insertion members and the wall panel mounting rail may locks the wall panel connecting device to the wall panel mounting rail at least in a direction perpendicular to a front surface of the wall panel mounting rail. The engagement between the insertion members and the wall panel mounting rail may further lock the wall panel connecting device to the wall panel mounting rail in a direction in parallel to the plane of the front surface of the wall panel mounting rail, which direction may be the direction in which gravity acts.

In some embodiments, the first and second protruding members may each comprise at least one sprint receiving opening configured to, in the fixed position, be aligned such that a sprint received through both sprint receiving openings fixes the wall panel connection device in the fixed position. The two protruding members may be moveable relative each other when moving between the insertion position and the fixed position. The two protruding members may in the fixed position at least partly abut each other, for instance by laying as two layers against each other. Each protruding member may comprise a sprint receiving opening. When in the fixed position, the two protruding members may have moved into a position wherein the two sprint receiving openings are aligned. A sprint may thereby be inserted into the sprint receiving opening such that it extends through both protruding members. The two protruding members, and thereby the entire wall panel connection device, may thereby be locked in the fixed position. The sprint receiving openings may be provided in addition to the accessory anchor receiving opening. The sprint receiving openings may provide a function for locking the wall panel connecting device in the fixed position by arranging a sprint therein. The spring may be formed as a spring cotter pin.

In some embodiments, the wall panel connecting element may further comprise a spring configured to spring bias the at least one insertion member and/or the at least one protruding member towards the fixed position. When spring biased towards the fixed position, the spring may provide a function of locking the wall panel connecting device in the fixed position. In order to remove the wall panel connecting device from an engagement with the wall panel mounting rail, or to introduce the wall panel connecting device into the opening of the wall panel mounting rail, the spring force needs to be overcome. When in the insertion position, the spring may be compressed. When the force counteracting the spring force is released, the spring acts on the insertion member and/or the protruding member to move towards the fixed position.

In some embodiments, the at least one insertion member may comprise a first insertion member and a second insertion member moveable relative to each other between the insertion position and the fixed position, the protruding portion may comprise a first protruding member and a second protruding member, wherein the first insertion member may be connected to the first protruding member and the second insertion member may be connected to the second protruding member, and wherein the spring is configured to act on the first and second protruding members. By being connected it may be meant that the respective insertion and protruding members are integrally formed, directly connected to be moveably fixed relative each other, or connected such that movement of one of the members is directly transferred to the other of the members. The wall panel connecting device may be described as comprising two parts, wherein a first part comprises the first insertion member and the first protruding member, and a second part comprises the second insertion member and the second protruding member, the two parts being moveable relative to each other. In one embodiment, the two parts may be arranged in a scissor arrangement relative to each other. The two parts may rotate relative each other in the scissor arrangement around a rotation point provided by a rotation axis. The spring may act on the respective protruding members. The spring may be arranged between the two protruding members, biasing the protruding members to move away from each other. The scissor arrangement thereby provides that the two protruding members biased to move away from each other also biases the insertion members to move away from each other. When in use on a wall panel mounting rail, the insertion members being biased to move away from each other may provide that each insertion member, in the fixed position, may engage with a side edge of the opening in the wall panel mounting rail. Each insertion member may have an end portion for instance formed as a shoulder, hook or similar that may be configured to abut a back surface of the wall panel mounting rail. When removing the wall panel connection device from the wall panel mounting rail, the spring may be compressed such that the insertion members move towards each other, and releases their engagement with the wall panel mounting rail.

With the first and second parts of the wall panel connecting device in a scissor arrangement, the accessory anchor receiving opening may be in the protruding portion between the rotation point and the insertion members. The insertion of an accessory anchor may thereby prevent the wall panel connection device from moving to the insertion position, preventing the wall panel connection device from being removed from engagement with a wall panel mounting rail.

In some embodiments, the protruding portion may further comprise a connection member comprising the accessory anchor receiving opening, the first and second protruding members being moveable relative to the connection member. The connection element may be formed as a housing at least partly enclosing the protruding members. The accessory anchor receiving opening may be provided in said connection element. End portions of the two protruding members may extend out through a first end side of the connection member. End portions of the two insertion members may extend out through a second end side of the connection member. The first and second end sides may be opposite of each other, and may be open. The connection member may be formed of a top side, a bottom side and two longitudinal side portions. The top side and the bottom side may be connected to each other by said two longitudinal side portions. Each longitudinal side portion may extend between the first and second end sides. The two longitudinal side portions may each have a bent shape following the scissor arrangement of the two parts of the wall panel connection device. In some embodiments, the second insertion member may be a fixed insertion member configured to, when in use, be inserted into the opening of the wall panel mounting rail and to abut a back surface of the wall panel mounting rail, and the first insertion member may be a moveable insertion member configured to, when in use, be inserted into the opening of the wall panel mounting rail and moveable to the fixed position to abut said back surface of the wall panel mounting rail. In the insertion position, the first insertion member may not be in contact with the back surface of the wall panel mounting rail. The first insertion member may be moveable relative to the second insertion member. The first insertion member may further be moveable relative to at least one of the first and second protruding members, and/or relative to the wall panel mounting rail when inserted into the opening. The second insertion member may be fixed relative to at least one of the first and second protruding members, and/or relative to the wall panel mounting rail when inserted into the opening.

In some embodiments, the second protruding member is a fixed protruding member configured to, when the wall panel connection device is arranged to the wall panel mounting rail, abut a front surface, opposite said back surface, of the wall panel mounting rail. The second protruding member may further be fixed relative to the second insertion member. The second insertion member and the second protruding member may, when arranged to the wall panel mounting rail, either in the insertion position or in the fixed position, abut respective opposite sides of the wall panel mounting rail.

In some embodiments, the first protruding member may be moveable to move the first insertion member between the insertion position and the fixed position. The first protruding member may be operable, rotatably and/or axially, to move the first insertion member. After insertion into the opening of the wall panel mounting rail, the first insertion member, being moveable relative to at least the second insertion member, may be operated by moving the first protruding member.

In some embodiments, the first protruding member may be connected to the first insertion member via a shaft, and the first insertion member, when being moved towards the fixed position, may rotate around said shaft and move axially along said shaft. The first protruding member may be operated to move the first insertion member both rotatably and axially into the fixed position. When in the fixed position, an end portion of the first insertion member may abut the back surface of the wall panel mounting rail, thereby locking the wall panel connection device to the wall panel mounting rail. The shaft may be a threaded shaft, and the first insertion member may receive the shaft in a threaded opening, providing a threaded engagement between the first insertion member and the shaft. The first protruding member may be rotationally and axially fixed relative to the shaft. Rotation of the first protruding member may cause both rotational and axial movement of the first insertion member, depending on the orientation of the first insertion member. Without any further influence from other components, a rotation of the first protruding member may cause a rotation of the first insertion member. If the first insertion member is in contact with the back side of the wall panel mounting rail, a rotation of the first protruding member may cause an axial movement of the first insertion member towards the back side of the wall panel mounting rail, by means of the threaded shaft. In an alternative embodiment, the axial movement of the first insertion member may be provided by a spring biasing the first insertion member towards the back surface of the wall panel mounting rail, and the rotational movement of the first insertion member may be provided by rotation of the first protruding member.

In some embodiments, the at least one protruding member extends in a plane perpendicular to a plane in which the at least one insertion member extends. The plane in which the at least one protruding member extends may, when in use, be substantially in parallel to a front surface of the wall panel mounting rail.

According to a second aspect of the invention, wall panel connection system is provided, comprising a wall panel mounting rail having at least one opening and a wall panel connection device according to any of the embodiments above. The wall panel mounting rail may be configured to be arranged to the wall of a building. The wall panel mounting rail may be configured to receive a plurality of wall panels.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a method for mounting an accessory to a wall panel system is provided, the method comprising the steps of: providing a wall panel mounting rail on a wall, said wall panel mounting rail comprising at least one opening, providing a wall panel connection device having at least one insertion member and at least one protruding portion comprising at least one protruding member and an accessory anchor receiving opening, arranging said at least one insertion member and/or the at least one protruding member of the wall panel connection device in an insertion position, inserting the at least one insertion member into at least one opening in the wall panel mounting rail, such that the protruding portion extends away from said wall panel mounting rail, moving said at least one insertion member and/or the at least one protruding member relative the wall panel mounting rail into a fixed position in which the wall panel connection device is fixed to the wall panel mounting rail. The method may provide a secure and reliable solution for arranging an accessory anchor to a wall panel system. The accessory may be a scaffold to be arranged to a building via the wall panel system, a sign to be arranged outside the wall panel system, additional wall panels to be arranged on or outside the wall panels of the wall panel system. The method may further be provided in embodiments reflecting the embodiments of the wall panel connecting device presented in any of the embodiments above. The method may further comprise a step of arranging an accessory anchor of an accessory in the accessory anchor receiving opening.

In some embodiments, the at least one insertion member may comprise a first insertion member and a second insertion member, and the step of moving said at least one insertion member and/or the at least one protruding member may comprise moving said first and second insertion members relative to each other. The method according to this embodiment may further comprise steps corresponding to features as in any of the embodiments of the wall panel connection device as described above.

In some embodiments, the step of moving said at least one insertion member may be performed by operating said at least one protruding member.

In some embodiments, the method may comprise steps for mounting an accessory to a wall panel system by means of a wall panel connection device according to any of the embodiments above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connecting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an insertion member according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a back view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail with attached attachment anchor according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a wall panel according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a wall panel according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connecting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connecting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 15 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 16 shows a back view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connecting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connecting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 19a-h show perspective views of a wall panel connecting device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 20 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connecting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 21 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 22 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 23 shows a perspective view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 24 shows a front view of a wall panel connective device and wall panel mounting rail in a wall panel system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 25 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 26 shows a perspective view of a wall panel plate arranged in a wall panel system;

Fig. 27 shows a perspective view of a wall panel plate arranged in a wall panel system;

Fig. 28 shows a detail perspective view of a wall panel plate arranged in a wall panel system;

Fig. 29 shows a detail perspective view of a wall panel plate arranged in a wall panel system; and

Fig. 30 shows a perspective view of a wall panel plate arranged in a wall panel system and cross-sectional views of the wall panel plate.

Description of Embodiments

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

Fig. 1 illustrates a wall panel connection device 1 according to an embodiment. The illustrated wall panel connection device 1 comprises parts 2, 3, each comprising a insertion member 11, 12 and a protruding member 21 , 22. Both protruding members 21, 22 comprises a respective accessory anchor receiving opening 31, 32. Each protruding portion 21 , 22 further comprises two sprint receiving openings 41 , 42. In another embodiment, each protruding member 21 , 22 may comprise only one sprint receiving opening 41 , 42 each. The two parts 2, 3 are identically formed. The two protruding members 21 , 22 may be seen as together forming a protruding portion 20 configured to, when in use on a wall panel mounting rail 100, extend away from the wall panel mounting rail 100.

Figs. 2-9 further illustrates how the wall panel connection device 1 is arranged to a wall panel mounting rail 100. The wall panel mounting rail 100 is part of a wall panel system and configured to be arranged on a building surface, and to support wall panels on the exterior of the building. The wall panel connection device 1 may then be used to arranged accessories to the wall panel system.

In fig. 2 it is illustrated a wall panel mounting rail 100 comprising a first opening 110 and a second opening 120. The embodiment of the wall panel connection device 1 illustrated in figs. 1-9 is configured to be arranged into two openings 110, 120 of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The first part 2 of the wall panel connection device 1 is arranged to the first opening 110. In fig. 3 it is seen how the insertion member 11 of the first part 2 is first moved into the opening 110. The protruding member 21 extends from the insertion member 11 away from the wall panel mounting rail 100. The second part 3 is equally arranged to the second opening 120 such that the insertion member 12 extends into the second opening 120 and the protruding member 22 extends away from the wall panel mounting rail 100. This is further seen in fig. 4.

As seen in fig. 4, when the two insertion members 11, 12 are inserted into the openings 110, 120 in the wall panel mounting rail 100, the first part 2 and the second part 3 are moved towards each other in respective directions A1 and A2. The two parts 2, 3 are moved from the insertion position illustrated in fig. 4, to a fixed position illustrated in fig. 5. In the fixed position, the accessory anchor receiving openings 31 , 32 are aligned. In the fixed position, the sprint receiving openings 41, 42 are also aligned.

Further, as illustrated in detail in fig. 6, the insertion members 11, 12 each comprises a groove 13 configured to engage with the wall panel mounting rail 100 when in the fixed position. Fig. 7 further illustrates how the insertion members 11 , 12 engages, by means of the groove 13, with the wall panel mounting rail 100 when in the fixed position at the openings 110, 120.

When the wall panel connection device 1 is in the fixed position, the position may be secured by inserting a sprint 44 in in the aligned spring receiving openings 41, 42. In the aligned accessory anchor receiving openings 31 , 32, an accessory anchor 50 can be received, as illustrated in fig. 9. The accessory anchor 50 may be an anchor for a scaffold arranged to the building to which the wall panel system is arranged. Alternatively, the accessory anchor 50 may be an anchor for a sign to be arranged to the building, or an additional panel of some kind to be arranged to the building. Figs. 10 and 11 further illustrates the wall panel connection device 1 arranged in a wall panel system 5 comprising wall panels 6 arranged to a wall panel mounting rail 100 (not seen in figs 10-11) by means of panel clips 7.

Fig. 12 illustrates a second embodiment of a wall panel connection device 201. The wall panel connection device 201 comprises of a first part 202 and a second part 203. The first part 202 comprises of a first insertion member 211 and a first protruding member 221. The second part 203 comprises of a second insertion member 212 and a second protruding member 222. The two insertion members 211, 212 are moveable relative to each other. Fig. 12 illustrates the wall panel connection device 201 in a fixed position wherein the two insertion members 211, 212 are distanced to each other.

The two protruding members 221 , 222 together forms a protruding portion together with a protruding housing 223. The protruding housing 223 encloses the two protruding members 221, 222. The protruding housing 223 has at least a top side, bottom side and two longitudinal side portions connecting the top side with the bottom side. Two end sides, between the longitudinal side portions, are open such that the first and second parts 202, 203 can extend out of the protruding housing 203 at the respective ends.

The protruding housing 223 further comprises an accessory anchor receiving opening 230 configured to receive an accessory anchor when in use.

Fig. 13 illustrates the wall panel connection device 201 with a transparent protruding housing 223, which further visualizes the function of the wall panel connection device 201 . The first and second parts 202, 203 are arranged in a scissor arrangement, rotatably connected to each other at a rotation point 225. By moving the protruding members 221 , 222 towards each other, thereby causes the two insertion members 211 , 212 to move towards each other.

The wall panel connection device 201 further comprises a spring 224 configured to bias the wall panel connection device 201 towards the fixed position. The spring 224 is part of the protruding portion and extends between the first protruding member 221 and the second protruding member 222. The spring 224 thereby provides a biasing spring force to move the protruding members 221 , 222 away from each other.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the wall panel connection device 201 to be arranged to a wall panel mounting rail 100, in an opening 110. In fig. 15 the wall panel connection device 201 is illustrated in the insertion position. The two protruding members 221 , 222 are moved towards each other in respective directions B1 and B2. The spring 224 is thereby compressed. When in the insertion position, the two insertion members 211 , 212 are closer to each other as seen in fig. 15. The insertion members 211 , 212 can thereby be inserted into the opening 110 in the wall panel mounting rail 100. Fig. 16 further illustrates the wall panel connection device 201 in the fixed position in the opening 110 of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The insertion members 211 , 212 are in the fixed position arranged to abut to a back surface of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The back surface of the wall panel mounting rail 100 may be a surface opposite to the surface facing the wall panel connection device 201 when being inserted into the opening 110. The insertion members 211 , 212 are kept in the abutment with the back surface due to being kept in the fixed position by means of the spring 224 acting on the protruding members 221 , 222. As illustrated in figs. 12-16, the accessory anchor receiving opening 230 is arranged between the rotation point 225 of the scissor arrangement of the first and second parts 202, 203 and the insertion members 211 , 212. When an accessory anchor is inserted into the receiving opening 230, the accessory anchor thereby locks the wall panel connection device 201 in the fixed position by preventing the insertion members 211 , 212 from moving towards each other to the insertion position.

Figs. 17-19 illustrate a third embodiment of the wall panel connection device 301. The wall panel connection device 301 comprises a protruding portion comprising of a first protruding member 321. The protruding portion further comprises a second protruding member 322. The wall panel connection device 301 further comprises a first insertion member 311 . The wall panel connection device 301 may further comprise a second insertion member 312.

The wall panel connection device 301 further comprises a shaft 323 extending from the first protruding member 321 and the first insertion member 311. The first protruding member 321 is rotationally fixed to the shaft 323. The shaft 323 is rotatable by means of the first protruding member 321. The first insertion member 311 is rotatable relative to the shaft. The first insertion member 311 is further axially moveable along the shaft 323. In a preferred embodiment, the shaft 323 is a threaded shaft, and the first insertion member 311 comprises a threaded opening in threaded connection with the shaft 323. By rotation of the shaft 323, the first insertion member 311 may either be rotated relative to the shaft 323, or moved axially along the shaft 323 depending on the force presently applied to the first insertion member 311. In another embodiment (not illustrated), the first insertion member 311 may be spring biased to move axially along the shaft 323 when in a specific rotational position.

The first protruding member 321 comprises an accessory anchor receiving opening 330. When in use, when an accessory anchor is received in the receiving opening 330, the accessory anchor may prevent the first protruding member 321 from rotating, thereby preventing the first insertion member 311 from moving axially along the shaft 323.

Fig. 17 illustrates the wall panel connection device 301 in an insertion position. The first insertion member 311 is in the insertion position arranged in a first rotational position. Fig. 18 illustrates the wall panel connection device 301 in a fixed position. The first insertion member 311 is in the fixed position arranged in a second rotational position, in which it is rotated about 90 degrees relative to the first rotational position. The first insertion member 311 is further moved axially along the shaft 323 when in the fixed position relative to the insertion position. When moving axially along the shaft 323 towards the fixed position, the first insertion member 311 moves towards the projecting portion of the wall panel connection device 301.

The second insertion member 312 extends away from the first insertion member 311 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the shaft 323. The second protruding member 322 extends away from the first protruding member 321 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the shaft 323. The second insertion member 312 and the second protruding member 322 may extend in opposite directions away from and perpendicular to the shaft 323.

Figs. 19a-h illustrates the arrangement of the wall panel connection device 301 to a wall panel mounting rail 100 having an opening 110. With the wall panel connection device 301 in the insertion position, figs. 19a-c illustrate the insertion of the wall panel connection device 301 into the opening 110. When inserted such that the insertion members 311 , 312 are arranged at a back surface 130 of the wall panel mounting rail 100 and the protruding members 321, 322 are arranged at a front surface 120 of the wall panel mounting rail 100, the wall panel connection device 301 is moved in direction C1 to engage with an edge of the opening 110. The direction of the movement in direction C1 , and the direction of the edge of the opening 110, may depend on the orientation of the wall panel mounting rail 100 and/or orientation of the wall panel connection device 301.

When arranged to the opening 110, the second protruding member 322 abuts the front surface 120 of the wall panel mounting rail 100. As further seen in figs. 19e-g, the second insertion member 312 abuts the back surface 130 of the wall panel mounting rail 100.

Fig. 19e illustrates the insertion members 311 , 312 when inserted in the opening 110, in the insertion position. In fig. 19f, the first insertion member 311 is rotated in either of directions C2 to the second rotational position by means of the first protruding member 321 and the shaft 323. In fig. 19g, the first insertion member 311 has been moved axially along the shaft 323 in direction C3 by means of the first protruding member 321 and the shaft 323. The threaded connection between the shaft 323 and the first insertion member 311 provides the axial movement of the first insertion member 311 upon rotation of the first protruding member 321 and the shaft 323. The first insertion member 311 is thereby moved to the fixed position. In the fixed position, the first insertion member 311 abuts the back surface 130 of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The wall panel connection device 301 is thereby fixed to the wall panel mounting rail 100. Fig. 19h illustrates the wall panel connection device 301 at the front surface 120 fixed to the wall panel mounting rail 100. An accessory anchor may thereby be arranged in the accessory anchor receiving opening 330 of the protruding portion.

Figs. 20-24 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the wall panel connection device 401. As seen in fig. 20, the wall panel connection device 401 comprises a first part 402 and a second part 403. The first part 402 comprises a first insertion member 411 and a first protruding member 421. The first protruding member 421 comprises at least one accessory anchor receiving opening 431, in the illustrated embodiment two accessory anchor receiving opening 431. The second part 403 comprises a second insertion member 312 and a second protruding member 422. The second protruding member 422 comprises at least one accessory anchor receiving opening 432, in the illustrated embodiment two accessory anchor receiving opening 432. Each of the insertion members 411, 412 comprises a groove 413. The protruding members 421 , 422 extend in a plane perpendicular to a plane in which the respective insertion members 411, 412 extend. The plane in which the protruding members extend is further in parallel to a plane of the front surface 130 of the wall panel mounting rail 100, and/or in parallel to a plane of wall panels 406 arranged to the wall panel mounting rail 100.

In fig. 21, the first part 402 is illustrated in the insertion position. The wall panel connection device 401 is to be arranged to the wall panel mounting rail 100, which comprises at least one opening 110. In fig. 22, the first part 402 of the wall panel connection device 401 is illustrated in the fixed position. The wall panel mounting rail 100 is illustrated in transparent manner to visualize the first insertion member 411 in the fixed position. The groove 413 of the first insertion member 411 engages with the wall panel mounting rail 100, in particular to an edge of the opening 110.

Fig. 23 illustrates the first part 402 of the wall panel connection device 401 wherein accessory anchors 450 in the form of screws are arranged in the accessory anchor receiving openings 431 to arrange an accessory 460 to the wall panel mounting rail 100. The accessory 460 may be a sign, a panel or the like.

Fig. 24 illustrates a wall panel system 405 with an accessory 460 arranged to the wall panel mounting rail 100 by means of the wall panel connection device 401. The wall panel system 405 further comprises a plurality of wall panels 406 arranged to the wall panel mounting rail 100 by means of panel clips 407. The two parts 402, 403 of the wall panel connection device 401 is attached to the accessory 460 by means of accessory anchors as seen in fig. 23. When the wall panel connection device 401 is arranged to the wall panel mounting rail 100, the first part 402 is arranged in the insertion position at opening 110, as seen in fig. 21. The second part 403 is correspondingly arranged in the insertion position at another opening 120 (not shown in this embodiment) of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The first and second parts 402, 403 are then moved towards each other in directions D1 and D2 respectively. The two parts 402, 403 thereby reaches the fixed position. When the accessory 460 is attached to the two parts 402, 403 by means of respective accessory anchors 450, the wall panel connection device 401 is locked in the fixed position, and to the wall panel mounting rail 100. The first insertion member 411 is formed in one integral part with the first protruding member 421. The second insertion member 412 is formed in one integral part with the second protruding member 422.

Fig. 25 illustrates a flow chart of a method 400 for mounting an accessory to a wall panel system 5. The method 400 first comprises a step of providing S1 a wall panel mounting rail 100 on a wall, wherein the wall panel mounting rail comprises at least one opening 110. The wall may be a wall of a building, such as an exterior wall. The accessory may be a scaffold, a sign, an accessory panel or the like, mounted to the wall panel system 5 by means of an anchor 50. The method 400 further comprises a step of providing S2 a wall panel connection device 1 , 201 , 301 having at least one insertion member 11 , 12, 211 , 212, 311 , 312 and a protruding portion comprising at least one protruding member 21 , 22, 221, 222, 321 , 322 and an accessory anchor receiving opening 31 , 32, 230, 330. Next, the method 400 comprises a step of arranging S3 the at least one insertion member 11 , 12, 211, 212, 311 , 312 and/or the at least one protruding member 21 , 22, 221, 222, 321, 322 of the wall panel connection device in an insertion position, and a step of inserting S4 the at least one insertion member 11 , 12, 211 , 212, 311 , 312 in the at least one opening 110, 120 in the wall panel mounting rail 100.

Finally, the method 400 comprises the step of moving S5 the at least one insertion member 11 , 12, 211, 212, 311 , 312 and/or the at least one protruding member 21 , 22, 221, 222, 321, 322 relative the wall panel mounting rail 100 into a fixed position in which the wall panel connection device 1, 201 , 301 is fixed to the wall panel mounting rail 100.

Figs. 26-30 illustrate an embodiment of a wall panel plate 500. The wall panel plate 500 may be arranged on a wall panel system comprising of at least one wall panel mounting rail 100 and a plurality of wall panels 506. The wall panel plate 500 may be used to arranged a wall panel system accessory to the wall panel system.

The wall panel mounting rail 100 comprises at least one opening 110, 120, 130. In the illustrated embodiment the wall panel mounting rail 100 comprises three openings 110, 120, 130. The wall panel mounting rail 100 may comprise both horizontal and vertical sections. The openings 110, 120, 130 may be located at both the horizontal and vertical sections of the wall panel mounting rail 100. In the illustrated embodiment, a first opening 110 and a second opening 120 are located on a horizontal section of the wall panel mounting rail 100, and a third opening 130 is located on a vertical section of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The sections of the wall panel mounting rail 100 may be interconnected.

The wall panel plate 500 may comprise of a front sheet 502. The front sheet 502 may comprise at least one fastening opening 530. The at least one fastening opening 530 may be configured to receive a fastening means, such as a screw, bolt, nut, rivet, or the like, or a hook, a catch, a snaplink or the like. The wall panel plate 500 may further comprise at least one top hook 510 configured to engage with at least one of the openings 110, 120 on the wall panel mounting rail 100, preferably at least one of the openings 110, 120 on the horizontal section of the wall panel mounting rail 100. In one embodiment, the wall panel plate 500 may comprise two top hooks 510 each configured to engage with a respective opening 110, 120 on the wall panel mounting rail 100. The two top hooks 510 may be located at respective transversal end portions of the wall panel plate 500. The two top hooks 510 may be arranged at a top edge of the wall panel plate 500, which top edge may be a top edge for the front sheet 502.

The wall panel plate 500 may further comprise a bottom hook 520 configured to engage with an opening 130 on the wall panel mounting rail 100, preferably an opening 130 on the vertical section of the wall panel mounting rail. The bottom hook 520 may be offset the plane of the front sheet 502 such that the bottom hook 520 may engage with the wall panel mounting rail 100 arranged behind the wall panel plate 500 and any wall panel 506 that may be arranged between the wall panel plate 500 and the wall panel mounting rail 100. The bottom hook 520 may be arranged centrally in a transverse direction of the front sheet 502. The bottom hook 520 may be located with a distance from a bottom edge of the front sheet 502, such that a recess is provided from the bottom edge of the front sheet 502 to the location of the bottom hook 520. Alternatively, the bottom hook 520 may be arranged at the bottom edge of the front sheet 502.

Fig. 26 illustrates the wall panel plate 500 in an insertion position wherein the top hooks 510 may extend into the openings 110, 120 of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The bottom hook 520 may further extend into the opening 130 of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The wall panel plate 500 is then configured to be moved in the direction E1 into an arranged position as illustrated in fig. 27. The top hooks 510 may thereby engage with the wall panel mounting rail 100 by engaging with edges of the openings 110, 120. The wall panel plate 500 may in the arranged position be supported by the wall panel mounting rail 100 and/or the wall panels 506. Further, the bottom hook 520 may engage with the wall panel mounting rail at the opening 130. The bottom hook 520 may engage with an edge of the opening 130. In the arranged position, the wall panel plate 500 may be arranged to the wall panel mounting rail 100 such that it is prevented from moving in at least a downward direction (provided by e.g. gravity) and the direction perpendicular to the plane of the front surface 502 and/or the plane of the wall panels 506. Fig. 28 illustrates in more detail one of the top hooks 510 arranged in the opening 110 being moved in direction E1 towards the arranged position.

Fig. 29 illustrates in more detail the bottom hook 520 in the insertion position, arranged at the opening 130. When being moved towards the arranged position in direction E1, the bottom hook 520 may engage with the wall panel mounting rail 100 at the opening 130.

Fig. 30 illustrates cross-sectional views of the wall panel plate 500 along lines A-A and B-B. In view A-A the shape of the top hook 510 is illustrated. The top hook 510 may be configured to extend above an edge of a wall panel 506 and into the opening 110, 120 of the wall panel mounting rail 100. The top hook 510 may have an edge portion 512 being in parallel with the plane of the front sheet 502. The edge portion 512 may be offset the front sheet 502. Between the edge portion 512 and the front sheet 502, the top hook 510 may comprise an intermediate portion 514 extending perpendicular to the edge portion 512 and the front sheet 502. In view B-B, the bottom hook 520 is illustrated. The bottom hook 520 may have an edge portion 522 being in parallel with the plane of the front sheet 502. The edge portion 522 may be offset the front sheet 502. Between the edge portion 522 and the front sheet 502, the bottom hook 520 may comprise an intermediate portion 524 extending perpendicular to the edge portion 522 and the front sheet 502.

The wall panel plate 500 illustrated in figs. 26-30 may be defined as follows: A wall panel plate 500 configured to be arranged to a wall panel mounting rail 100 comprising at least a first opening 110, 120 and a second opening 130, the wall panel plate 500 comprising a front sheet 502, at least one top hook 510 at a top edge of the front sheet 502, and a bottom hook 520, wherein when the wall panel plate 500 is in an insertion position, the top hook 510 is configured to extend into the first opening 110, 120 of the wall panel mounting rail 100 and the bottom hook 520 is configured to extend into the second opening 130 of the wall panel mounting rail 100, and wherein, when the wall panel plate 500 is moved to an arranged position, the at least one top hook 510 engages with the wall panel mounting rail 100 at the at least one first opening 110, 120, and the bottom hook 520 engages with the wall panel mounting rail 100 at the second opening 130. The wall panel plate 500 may further comprise features as discussed above in embodiments of the wall panel plate 500.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.