WO2003007761A1

WO2003007761A1 - Stave-structured panels, including their fittings

Info

Publication number: WO2003007761A1
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000461
Authority: WO
Inventors: Novello Giovanelli; Patrizio Patrignani
Original assignee: Cean Company S.P.A.
Priority date: 2001-07-20
Filing date: 2002-07-15
Publication date: 2003-01-30
Also published as: ITPS20010029U1

Abstract

The invention concerns a stave-structured panel, and its fittings, to be used on walls equipped with fittings and generally by exhibitors. The present panel, in contrast to commonly used panels, may be also be formed of plywood, and it does not require channel-shaped elements to cover the slots; moreover it is easier to manufacture and has an improved appearance. The panel (1) is traversed by narrow horizontal milling slots (2), having enlarged internal seats (3), which, due to their reduced vertical sizes, do not appreciably weaken the panel, do not require a reinforcement coating, and moreover are hardly visible from a distance. The respective fittings (6) are provided with attachment portions (5) with ends shaped like small teeth (4), allowing a straightforward insertion and a reliable holding action of the kind of a restrained joint inside the slots or grooves; in the latter, it is also possible to insert brackets or supporting plates or shelves of suitable thickness.

Description

STAVE-STRUCTURED PANELS, INCLUDING THEIR FITTINGS

Field of the invention

The present invention concerns a stave-structured panel, with respective fittings

(fixtures), for fitted out walls, and generally for exhibitors.

Background Art

The stave-structured panels commonly used in this field, have T-shaped horizontal slots or grooves of considerable cross-sectional area, to allow the introduction therein of attachment portions of the fittings, that are bent in a stepped configuration. Since wide milling slots noticeably weaken the panel structure, the latter may not be formed of inferior quality materials: therefore, to this end, generally materials like the expensive MDF are used. Moreover, the grooves must be coated with channel sections, or reinforcement channel-shaped elements, due to the exiguous thickness of the surrounding material. The use of channel sections increases costs and time required for the layout, since they have to be inserted after the panel has been mounted on the wall, and they must be fixed by screws introduced in the slots themselves.

Furthermore, these slots or grooves of noticeable dimension are visible also at a distance, and consequently they negatively influence the appearance of these furnishings.

Disclosure of Invention

The objects of the present invention are to allow the realisation of stave-structured panels also with materials of inferior quality, like plywood - for instance - , and moreover to avoid the use of channel-shaped elements for covering said slots; moreover, it is envisaged to render more rapid and economic the layout of the structure, to improve its aesthetics, and to allow the direct insertion of shelves or supporting plates of corresponding thickness inside said grooves or slots. The stave-structured panel to be described, is traversed by narrow horizontal milling slots, with small cavities on the internal side which, due to their modest transversal (vertical) dimension, do not appreciably weaken the structure, do not require a reinforcement coating, and are hardly visible at a distance. The respective fittings have attachment portions with curvilinear cross- section, or in any case bent in a way as to permit their insertion inside the narrow grooves, and with end teeth or hooks insuring an adequate holding action - of the restrained joint type - of the mounted component. Brackets, or supporting shelves, may be directly inserted inside the grooves of corresponding thickness.

Brief Description of Drawings The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed sheets of drawings showing only a possible embodiment for illustrative purposes.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a portion of a stave-structured panel;

Fig. 2 shows the corresponding section along a vertical plane;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are three views of a fitting to be assembled with the panel;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the attachment portion to be introduced in a groove of the stave-structured panel. Best modes of carrying out the Invention

In these figures, reference number 1 denotes a panel that could also be made of plywood. Reference number 2 indicates narrow milling slots that extend horizontally on the panel, at appropriate mutual distances. The milling slots typically have a width of 3.5 mm, and they end on their inner side forming a widened part 3 adapted to receive a hook-shaped end 4 of the attachment portion 5 of a fitting 6, in such a way that the attachment portion is prevented from disengagement. The attachment portions 5 are bent or curved, so that they may be inserted into the respective small-sized grooves 2, by first rotating upwards an attachment portion. Once the positioning has been performed, the tooth or hook 4 becomes engaged inside the upper part of the cavity end 3. Consequently, the fitting cannot detach itself from the panel, unless it is deliberately rotated upwards. In order to insure an effective holding (grasping) action, the attachment portion has a larger width than the exposed (that is, visible) part of the fitting, the latter being shaped in different manners according to user's needs.

It is possible to directly insert the rear edges of plexiglas plates or sheet metal plates inside the small grooves, said plates having an appropriate thickness. In order to insure a better holding (grasping) action, the said edges could also comprise a small hook or tooth.

Due to the small size of the slots, and the correspondingly small amount of material that has to be removed, the panel can be made of plywood without requiring any kind of channel-like element acting as a reinforcement, and moreover its aesthetic appearance is improved. Therefore, all mentioned objects have been achieved. The typologies of fittings, and other inessential constructive details, could also differ from those described only for illustrative purposes, without thereby extending beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Stave-structured panels that may be variously provided with fittings, and their respective fittings, characterised in that said panels (1) are provided with narrow horizontal milling slots (2) that become slightly larger in their inner side (3), the said slots being incapable of appreciably weakening the panel due to their small vertical size, and being hardly visible at a distance, and requiring no reinforcement coating.

2. Stave-structured panels that may be variously provided with fittings, and their respective fittings, according to claim 1, characterised in that the fittings (6) have attachment portions (5) with a curvilinear shape, or a bent shape, so as to allow their insertion in the narrow slots (2), by an upward rotation of the attachment portion, and said attachment portions being further provided with hook-shaped or tooth- shaped ends (4), that insure an appropriate restrained joint of each fitting, by the fact that they are inserted in the enlarged seat (3) of the stave-structured panel.

3. Stave-structured panels that may be variously provided with fittings, and their respective fittings, according to any preceding claim, characterised in that, to improve the holding action, the attachment portion (5) has a larger width than the exposed, visible part of the fitting (6), and the latter may be shaped in various ways depending on the user's necessities.

4. Stave-structured panels that may be variously provided with fittings, and their respective fittings, according to any preceding claim, characterised in that inside the narrow slots (2) there are directly received the rear edges of brackets or shelves made of plexiglas or sheet metal, having a corresponding thickness; and in that, in order to improve the holding action, the said edges could also be provided with a small tooth.