GB2032568A

GB2032568A - Panel frame joint

Info

Publication number: GB2032568A
Application number: GB7841701A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BACO ALU SUPPLY
Current assignee: BACO ALU SUPPLY
Priority date: 1978-10-24
Filing date: 1978-10-24
Publication date: 1980-05-08

Abstract

A joint is formed between two members each having two longitudinally extending asymmetrically disposed tongues 2, 4 arranged so that they may be interengaged by movement therebetween transverse to the longitudinal direction of the formation. The tongue 2 has a recess symmetrically disposed in the wall 2b so that a locking member 8 can be inserted after assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Panel frame This invention relates to interlocking members and to panel framing incorporating such members.

It is known to provide a member with first and second asymmetrically disposed longitudinally extending interlocking formations each having a tongue and a recess such that identical formations on another member may be engaged therewith by a longitudinal sliding action the tongue of the first formation on the member engaging within the recess of the second formation on the other member and the tongue of the second formation on the member engaging within the recess of the first formation on the other member. It is convenient to produce the members by extrusion either of metallic or plastics material.

With such arrangements the tongues are either undercut on at least one surface or are otherwise shaped to permit the longitudinal sliding interengagement of two members but to preclude disengagement of the members in any directions transverse to that direction.

The necessity for engagement only by a longitudinal sliding action is disadvantageous in the case of particularly long members and it is desirable to provide members having the facility of longitudinally extending identical formations from the point of view of production simplicity but which can be interengaged by relative movement of the members in directions transverse to that longitudinal direction.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a member having on an outer surface thereof first and second asymmetrically disposed longitudinally extending formations each comprising a tongue and a groove, a surface of the tongue of the first formation constituting a wall of the groove of the second formation and being formed with a symmetrically disposed recess the shape of the tongues and grooves being such that identical formations carried by another member may be engaged therewith by relative movement of the members in directions transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tongues until the recesses of each member are in register with one another to form a longitudinally extending aperture for receiving a locking element to prevent disengagement of the members by relative movement therebetween in directions opposite the engaging directions.The tongue of the first formation and the groove of the second formation may each be formed with parallel walls so that interengagement between two members may be in a single direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the tongues. Alternatively the tongue of the first formation, at its outer extremity, may be spaced from the tongue of the second formation a distance greater that the width of the tongue of the first formation so that interengagement between two members may be in two directions mutually at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the tongues and so that when so interengaged the aperture comprises the space between the tongues of the first formations of the members. Preferably the locking elements prevents longitudinal sliding movement of the members.

The invention also provides panel framing for extending along or around the edges of a panel element the framing comprising at least one member according to the immediately preceding paragraph having its formations on the outer surfaces thereof. Preferably the framing has limbs to embrace the faces of the panel and means for joining together adjoining ends of the members.

The limbs may incorporate inwardly facing projections spaced from a base carrying the formations to define a slot between the projections and the base so that a panel edge may abut the projections and a non-reversible clip may be inserted in adjoining slot ends. Preferably the framing for a straight sided panel is a single member bent to extend therearound and the clip extends into opposite ends of the slot thereof.

The invention also provides coupling devices for joining together panel framing according to the immediately preceding paragraph or for coupling such framing with other articles comprising members according to the penultimate paragraph.

The devices may have two or more groups of first and second formations so disposed that the devices constitute edge to edge connections, angle connections or three way connections.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a known construction, Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a construction according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a modification of the arrangement of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows a development of the construction of Fig. 2, applied to a panel frame, Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically how a panel may be assembled, Fig. 6 is a detailed view to a larger scale of part of Fig. 5, and, Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 show coupling devices.

Referring to Fig. 1 this shows an end view of an arrangement typical of known constructions in which a member 1 is formed with two longitudinally extending asymmetrically disposed formations at one edge, the first formation comprising a tongue 2 and a groove 3 and the second formation comprising a tongue 4 and a groove 5. A member 1 a having identically formed asymmetric formations, that is to say with a groove 3a and a tongue 4a a groove 5a and a tongue 6a is engaged with the member 1 by a longitudinal sliding action and the members cannot then be separated by movement transverse to the longitudinal direction of their tongues. Such an arrangement however present practical difficulties when for example the members are several feet long and the formations have small cross-sectional dimension.

Fig. 2 shows one arrangement according to the invention and it will be seen on the member I the wall 2b of the tongue 2 is inclined to be parallel with the wall 4b of the tongue 4 so that the members I and la may be interengaged by movement of the member la in the direction of the arrow A that is to say by movement in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tongues.

Symmetrical of its depth the wall 2b is formed with a recess 7, in this case of semicircular crosssectional shape so that with a corresponding recess 7a of the member la a circular aperture is formed capable of receiving a plug 8. After insertion of the plug the members land la cannot be separated by movement of the member la in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow A. The plug 8 need not extend the entire length of the aperture but two such plugs may be inserted one at each end of the members. The plug is preferably of the expansion kind so that subsequent longitudinal separation of the members is prevented.

Fig. 3 shows a development of the arrangement of Fig. 2 in which the aperture 7, 7a is of rectangular cross-sectional shape and it is provided by cutting back the entire side walls such as 2b of the tongues 2 and 2a. With this arrangement the members I and la may be interconnected as described in Fig. 2 but they may also be located one within the other by moving the member la first in the direction of the arrow B and then in the direction of the arrow C.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement in which the members I and la respectively constitute bases of panel frames having symmetrically outwardly extending parallel limbs 9 and 9a, each formed with inward projections 10 and 1 Oa spaced from the bases I and la to define partially open slots II and Ila.

The asymmetric formations of the bases land la and the apertures 7 and 7a are formed partially in the wall of the tongues 2 and 2a and partially in the body of the bases themselves so as to provide a much larger aperture for receiving plugs such as 8.

Fig. 5 shows a length of panel frame 12 formed with tapered ends 13 and 14 and -V- shaped cuts 15 to enable it to be folded as indicated by the arrow D to embrace the edges of a rectangular panel 1 6; the edges of the panel nesting against the projections 10. As shown in Fig. 6 the ends 13 and 14 are connected by an angled clip 17. As shown the clip is of an aluminium alloy and is inserted into the slots II of the frame 12 when the latter approach one another by the appropriate distance to receive the ends 18 8 of the clip. The latter is deformed as the frame ends are finally moved together and holds these ends in their closed position. Alternatively the clip 17 could be replaced by a metal or plastics clip (not shown) having limbs with 'Christmas tree' formations.

Fig. 7 shows a three way coupling device 19 having three sets of formations 20, 21 and 22 enabling three framed panels to be erected into a -T- shaped formation. This coupling device can also, for example, be used in short lengths to couple other elements to the side edge of a panel.

Fig. 8 is a four way coupling device 23, Fig. 9 is a reversing coupling device 24 and Fig. 10 is a coupling device 25 which may be engaged with panel framing and extended to form feet: or it may be used as a bracket for fastening other members to a panel.

It will be understood that hinged coupling devices (not shown) may also be provided.

Claims

1. A member having on an outer surface thereof first and second asymmetrically disposed longitudinally extending formations each comprising a tongue and a groove, a surface of the tongue of the first formation constituting a wall of the groove of the second formation and being formed with a symmetrically disposed recess the shape of the tongues and grooves being such that identical formations carried by another member may be engaged therewith by relative movement of the members in directions transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tongues until the recesses of each member are in register with one another to form a longitudinally extending aperture for receiving a locking element to prevent disengagement of the members by relative movement there between in directions opposite the engaging directions.

2. A member according to claim 1 in which the tongue of the first formation and the groove of the second formation are each formed with parallel walls so that interengagement between two members may be in a single direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the tongues.

3. A member according to claim 1 in which the tongue of the first formation, at its outer extremity, is spaced from the tongue of the second formation a distance greater than the width of the tongue of the first formation so that interengagement between two members may be in two directions mutually at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the tongues and so that when so interengaged the aperture comprises the space between the tongues of the first formations of the members.

4. A member according to any one of the preceding claims in which the locking element prevents relative longitudinal sliding movement of the members.

5. Panel frame for extending along or around the edges of a panel element the framing comprising at least one member according to any one of the preceding claims having its formations on the outer surfaces thereof.

6. Panel framing according to claim 5 in which the framing has limbs to embrace the faces of the panel and means for joining together adjoining ends of the members.

7. Panel framing according to claim 6 in which the limbs incorporate inwardly facing projections spaced from a base carrying the formations to define a slot between the projections and the base so that a panel edge may abut the projections and a non-reversible clip may be inserted in adjoining slot ends.

8. Panel framing according to claim 7 in which the framing for a straight sided panel is a single member bent to extend therearound and the clip extends into opposite ends of the slot thereof.

9. Coupling devices for joining together panel framing according to any one of claims 5 to 8 or for coupling such framing with other articles comprising members according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

10. Coupling devices according to claim 9 having two or more groups of first and second formations so disposed that the devices constitute edge to edge connections, angle connections or three way connections.