GB2128707A

GB2128707A - Screening

Info

Publication number: GB2128707A
Application number: GB08328444A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Ralph Arnold; Anthony Peter Cohen
Original assignee: CONCEPTS INTERNATIONAL
Current assignee: CONCEPTS INTERNATIONAL
Priority date: 1982-10-25
Filing date: 1983-10-25
Publication date: 1984-05-02
Also published as: GB8328444D0; GB2128707B

Abstract

A linkage 6 for connecting two screen members 2, 4 together extends between said members, at least one end of said linkage being located in a housing 12, 14 carried by or forming part of one of said members to be connected, said housing and said one end of said linkage each having a surface which in combination forms in said housing a bore or passageway 48, 50, 52, 54 for the reception of a self-tapping screw or other fastening means. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, said linkage will be a one-piece member comprising two identical halves, each of said halves having two such surfaces which in combination with two surfaces on each of two housings form four bores or passageways for the reception of a corresponding number of self-tapping screws or other fastening means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Screening This invention relates to screening and is particular lyconcerned with the linking togetherofscreening panels, and the formation of a screening assembly.

To provide for easy connection when linking screening panels together, or when forming a screening assembly, the mating parts ofthe screens and associated accessories are usually formed such that there is ample room orspaceto allow these mating parts to slide very freely relative to each other.

Because ofthis allowance-often quite generousto facilitate easy interconnection, the resultant screen -consisting as it does oftwo or more panels-is no morethan a loosely interfitting assembly. Thus the screen assembly is able to move undesirably, such movement causing the screen to rattleorvibrate which can be very annoying.

This relative movement between the mating parts of the screening panels, and hence the panels themselves, could easily be solved bytightening up on fitting tolerances, but this would lead to difficulties in assembling the screen. The problem could also be solved by other means, but it isthoughtthatthis would add to the cost ofthe assembly, or it would result in unsightly securement means, or both.

The present invention therefore seeks to obviate the disadvantages referred to above whilst maintaining sufficient clearance between interfitting parts to enable easy assembly.

According to the present invention there is provided a linkage for connecting two members together, said linkage extending between said members, at ieast one end of said linkage being located in a housing carried byorforming part of one of said members to be connected, said housing and said one end of said linkage each having a surface which in combination forms in said housing a bore or passagewayforthe reception of a self-tapping screw or other fastening means.

Preferably, said housing and said one end of said linkage each have two surfaces which in combination form in said housing two bores or passageways for the reception of self-tapping screws or otherfastening means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment ofthe invention each end of the linkage will have two surfaces which in combination with two surfaces of each two housings will form two pairs of bores or passageways for the reception of self-tapping screws orotherfastening means.

Preferably, the linkage will be a one-piece member comprising two identical halves.

Said housings will preferablyform part ofthe structure secured to the members to be connected.

Said members may comprise screening panels which are to be connected directly through the intermediaries ofthe housings and linkage in which casethehousingswill be supported by said panels, or a connecting member may be interposed between the screening panels to be connected, the housings being additionally provided on or in said connecting piece.

In orderthatthe invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa plan view of a screening panel arrangement embodying the invention; Figure2 is a plan view,to a larger scale, ofpartof Figures; Figure 3 is a perspective view, to a larger scale, illustrating the interfitting relationship of screening panels and showing the interposition of a corner connecting piece; Figure 3A shows a detail of Figure 3; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the parts of Figure 3 in position; Figures 5 to 11 are plan views of differing forms of screening panel connectors.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Figure 1, screening panels 2 and 4 are shown connected together by a linkage 6 extending between housings 8 and 10 ofthe panels 2 and 4 respectively. The housings 8and 10form part of members 12 and 14 respectively which are secured by self-tapping screws 16 and 18to holders 20 and 22 in which the ends ofthe panels 2 and 4are located.

Reference to Figure 2 will show with greater clarity the specific forms of the holders 20 and 22,the member12and 14,andthelinkage6. In Figure2,the holder, for example the holder 20 of Figure 1, comprises a preformed member, preferably of aluminium, which includes two recesses 24 and 26 for accommodating the opposed facings ofthe panel, and two inwardly directed flanges 28 and 30 which, as will be seen from Figure 1, abut identical flanges on the holder 22. The holder 20 is punch-marked and drilled at 32 and 34, the screws 16 (Figure 1) passing through these positions to secu re the member 12 to the.holder 20. The member 12, which is a slide fit in the holder 20 consists of a preformed member including the housing 8 which is spaced from the surface 1 2A ofthe member 12 and which is of the form shown.The member 12 is drilled at 36 and 38. One limb 6A ofthe linkage 6 is shown located in the housing 8.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the limb 6A ofthe linkage 6 has opposed arcuate surfaces 40 and 42, and the innerwall of the housing 8 includes arcuate surfaces 44 and 46, these arcuate surfaces in combination forming bores or elongate recesses 48 and 50 for receiving self-tapping screws -- not shown in Figures 1 and 2-the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

The holder 22, member 14 and limb 6Bof linkage 6 are identical to those described above with reference to Figure 2,the resultant arrangement forming bores or recesses 52 and 54 in the housing 10.

The method of connecting togethertwo screening panels is indicated in Figure 3, and whilst Figure3 shows the interposition of a corner piece 56, the principles of connecting two screening panels in in-line relationship are the same. Thus, referring to Figure 3, the panelsto be connected carrying the holders 20 and 22 and the housings 8 and 10 are slid into engagement with the corner piece in the direction of a rrow 60 such that the projecting limbsofthe linkage 6 slides into the housings formed in the corner piece 56, so as to connect the panels together.In the absence of the corner piece 56, the panels would be connected directlyto each otherasshown in the centre portion of Figure 1.Although notshown in the drawings, it is preferred to have two vertically spaced interconnections between the panels, and more preferably to have such spaced interconnections such thatthe projecting limbs ofthe linkage projecting in opposing directions, i.e. one from one panel and one from the other.

In the Figure 3 arrangement, there will preferably be four interconnections, two at either side of the connector, and again it is preferable that the projecting limbs ofthe linkages in each pair of connections project in opposing directions.

The connected panels are shown in Figure 4, and the bores or recessesformed upon such interconnection are clearly shown. In order to tighten up the connections, self-tapping screws-two are indicated by reference numerals 62 and 64-are screwed into the said bores or recesses.

As will be seen from Figure 4, capping members 66 and 68 and a cornercapping member70 are fitted to the panels and the corner connecting piece 56.

To preventthe projecting limbs of the linkage travelling too far downwardly during interconnection, a self-tapping screw 58-Figure 3nazis inserted transversely within the housing such thatthe head 58A of the screw is proud ofthe rear surface of the housing. Such a self-tapping screw will preferably be inserted into each housing, or into selected housings only.

From a consideration of the left-hand portion of Figure 1, itwill be seen that at the end of a run of connected screening panels, the end panel - in this casethepanel 2-isprovidedwith an end capping member 72 which by means of inwardly projecting arms 74 and 76 clips over the outer profiled surfaces 78 and 80 ofthe housing.

Differing forms ofangular connectors- corner pieces-are shown in Figures 5 to 8, each corner piece including two housings for the reception of limbs of linkages 6 as shown in Figure 2. The corner pieces shown have differing included angles so that the resultant angles of disposition between the connected panels (not shown) will vary accordingly. The corner piece of Figure 5 is that shown in the right-hand portion of Figure 1.

Figure 9to 11 show differing forms of connectors for use where the screening panels areto extend in differing directions, the connector of Figure 9 having four housings, and the connectors of Figures 10 and 11 having three housings, all incorporating the features described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated thatthe linkage and the housing may be provided with only one surface each for the reception of a single self-tapping screw or other fastening means, in which case the other end ofthe linkage will probably be formed integrally with one of the members to be connected. Or the linkage may be provided with two such surfaces at one end, which in combination with two surfaces on or in a single housing provide two bores orpassagewaysforthe reception of self-tapping screws or otherfastening means. Further,the linkage may havetwo such surfaces at one end and a single such surface at the other end, so that these bores or passageways may be formed.

It will also be appreciated that the connectors may take forms otherthan those shown, and thatfastening means otherthan self-tapping screws may be used.

The screening panels will preferably, but not necessarily, be of hollow construction, and will preferably include provisionforthe housing of service cables therein. The screening panels will also be provided with level adjustment means, preferably in the form of adjustable feet or levellers.

Claims

1. Alinkageforconnectingtwomembers together, said linkage extending between said members, at least one end of said linkage being located in a housing carried by orforming part of one of said members to be connected, said housing and said one end of said linkage each having a surface which in combination forms in said housing a bore or passagewayforthe reception ofaself-tapping screworother fastening means.

2. A linkage according to Claim 1 wherein, said housing and said one end of said linkage each have two surfaces which in combination form in said housing two bores or passagewaysforthe reception of self-tapping screws or otherfastening means.

3. A linkage according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the other end of said linkage is located in a housing carried by orforming part ofthe other of said membersto be connected, said other end of said linkage and said housing each having a surface which in combination form in said housing a bore or passageway forthe reception of a self-tapping screw orotherfastening means.

4. A linkage according to Claim 3,wherein said other end of said linkage and said housing each have two surfaces which in combination form in said housing two bores or passageways for the reception of self-tapping screws or otherfastening means.

5. A linkage according to Claim 4, wherein said linkage is a one-piece member comprising two identical halves.

6. A linkage according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein said members to be connected are screening panels which are to be connected directlythrough the intermediaries ofthe housings and linkage, said housings being carried by said panels.

7. A linkage according to Claim 6, wherein a connecting member is interposed between the screening panels to be connected, said housings being additionally provided on or in said connecting members.

8. A linkage according to anyofthe preceding Claims, wherein the linkage is composed of metal or an alloy or a plastics material.

9. A linkage for connecting two members together substantially as herein described.

10. Screening panels connected together by a linkage according to any of Claims 1 to 9 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.