JPS591888B2 - Fastening device for panels - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a display stand (display stand).
), and particularly relates to a display stand member that allows such display stands to be easily assembled and disassembled.

British Patent No. 1,311,761 discloses a prefabricated display stand system having a rectangular panel and pillars.

The posts are provided with slots, while hooks that can engage the slots are attached to the panel so as to extend outwardly from the periphery of the panel.

Although these systems are mainly designed as display panels, it goes without saying that they can also be applied to many other uses such as room partitions.

Such systems have several drawbacks.

That is, the panels are typically constructed from fairly heavy materials, creating problems in terms of handling, loading, and cost. However, fasteners for securing the panels to the support members are expensive to install and unsightly.

Furthermore, it presents the problem that the bond between the structural member and the panel is not rigid.

In order to overcome the various drawbacks of the known prior art, the present invention provides a fastening device for a panel assembly that allows panels to be assembled and disassembled into any desired configuration with respect to their respective support panels while maintaining good appearance. is provided.

The fastening device of the present invention is easy to install and can be secured to the panel after assembly.

When this fastening device is engaged with a column or a structural element, the connection is reliable, so that noise during use and installation is minimized.

In contrast, conventional structures tend to wobble.

In particular, the fastening device has a body that is seated and secured in a groove surrounding the periphery of the panel.

A hook-shaped arm projects from the body and engages a slot on the structural support member.

On either side of the hook is a projection extending beyond the outer limit of the groove.

The edge or surface of the hook adjacent to the groove has a cam shape such that when the hook is engaged with a structural member, the panel and structural member are separated by a cam surface that engages the distal side of the support member. It is integral and held at a slight distance by a protrusion that engages the outer surface of the support member.

The relative compression between the structural elements means that the bias or strength of the force depends on the material used as the fastening device, the shape of the cam surface, and the size and spacing of the protrusions projecting from it relative to the hook-shaped member. be understood.

Preferred embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entire panel 10 supported by a pair of vertical columns 1L12.

The connection of these vertical columns to the panel 10 is achieved by a fastening arrangement which forms the subject of the invention.

Panel 10 has a groove 21 surrounding its periphery.

The fastening device 20 is mounted in the circumferential groove 21 and engaged in the slot 22 on the post 12 in a manner to be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fastening device according to the present invention has a circumferential groove 21.
It has a main body 23 having a width such that it can be slid inside.

The circumferential groove 21 has an outer limiting portion extending in a direction transverse to the opening of the circumferential groove, and this outer limiting portion is formed on the outer surface 121 of the circumferential groove 21 (
3 and 4).

The main body 23 has a central part 24 and two end parts 25, 26,
These ends are spaced from but connected to the central portion 24 to form a pair of screw receiving recesses 27,28.

These recesses 27, 28 are 50.51 and 52.5, respectively.
It has a stepped portion as shown in 3.

These steps serve to lock the screws when they are pushed in.

The interaction between the screw head and the plastic shoulder constrains the screw and prevents it from vibrating loose.

The central body portion 24 has flanges 2 extending laterally on both sides thereof.
9 and from the center of the top surface of the central portion 24 a hook-shaped arm 30 extends upwardly along its main axis.

The remaining two ends 25, 26 have projections 31 and 32, respectively.

The screws used are conventional fixing screws 33, 34 which are seated snugly and correctly in the respective recesses 27, 28.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the groove 21 has a transverse flange (outer limit) adjacent to its top and has a thread 123 formed in its inner vertical wall.

The lateral flanges 29 of the body 24 properly lock onto the uppermost part of the screw with their lower surfaces, so that the upper surface of the body 24 is flush with or flush with the upper outer limit of the groove 21. so that it is slightly lower than the

However, the protrusions 3L 3 on the respective ends 25 and 26
2 projects slightly beyond the upper outer limit of the groove.

The hook-shaped arm 30 has an arm portion 41 that extends substantially planarly or along the main axis of the main body 24 .

This arm 41 has a cam surface 3 on the side adjacent to the groove 21.
9 and has a tightening notch 38 at its innermost end, thereby forming a passageway 140 with a wide mouth 138 of decreasing width.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, parts corresponding to those of the previous embodiment are indicated by corresponding numbers with a dash added.

In this embodiment, the fastening device is secured to the panel by screws 137 passing therethrough and engaging the panel 10.

That is, no grooves are provided. With respect to the embodiment of FIG. 6, the hook-shaped member 41' has a cam surface 39' adjacent the side of the panel.

The protrusions 31', 32' are also similar to the previous embodiment and extend beyond the panel edges.

The fastening device may be stamped from metal or may be formed from plastic.

Typically, display panels and their supports are transported to the site where they are to be assembled and used.

In the case of an assembled type, the fastening means cannot be attached yet for convenience of transportation.

At the assembly site, the fastening means are inserted into the grooves by simply slipping them into place and aligned with the slots of the vertical struts to be engaged.

The fixing screws 33, 34 are then placed in place.

Preferably, body 24 is seated within the groove such that its flange 29 engages the uppermost threaded portion.

When the locking screws 33, 34 are tightened, the knurled teeth on the screws engage the screws on either side of the groove to securely hold the fastening device in place.

At this time, the arm 30 passes through the slot 22 in the vertical column and is pushed downward.

When the arm 30 is depressed, the cam surface 39 engages the underside of the post and forces the post and panel together and unites them.

This action allows for reliable fixation.

At the same time, the protrusions 31,32 engage the outer surface of the column to resist any relative movement between the column and the panel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening device is made of nylon.

However, it will be appreciated that other suitable equivalent materials may be used for the same purpose.

It is also clear that other structural supports can be used instead of hollow columns, such as prismatic columns or slotted plates.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the groove 21 does not have a thread on its side wall, but is instead provided with a pull-out piece 139.

The fastening device 23 has also been modified.

That is, the screws 33, 34 engage internal threads passing through the body of the fastening device.

In this method, the screws are threaded through until they engage the bottom groove wall and cause the fastening device to engage the downwardly facing groove wall.

The interaction of the fastening device of FIG. 6 with respect to the structural element is naturally identical to the fastening devices of some of the embodiments described above.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a panel assembly according to the present invention, showing the relationship between the struts, panels, and the fastening device that is the subject of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a partially exploded fastening device; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the strut, fastening device, and panel to show the correlation between various components; FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the fastening device according to the present invention; A partially cutaway perspective view showing the relationship to the panel; Figure 5 shows another fastening structure for use with a circumferential groove of a different shape; and Figure 6 shows another way to attach it to the panel. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the fastening device according to the present invention. 10... Panel, 11.12... Support, 20...
Fastening device, 21... Groove, 23... Main body, 25, 2
6... End, 30... Arm, 31.32... Protrusion,
39...Cam surface.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A fastening device for fastening a panel having at least a partial circumferential groove with an external restriction to a hollow structural element having a slot and an inner and outer surface, the fastening device comprising: The attachment device is of a unitary structure and includes a panel retaining body portion that can be secured within the circumferential groove, a hook-shaped member, and an outer control portion of the circumferential groove when the body portion is secured within the circumferential groove. two protrusions projecting from said body beyond said body, said protrusions being aligned longitudinally spaced apart on opposite sides of said hook-shaped member, said hook-shaped member having said body portion secured within said circumferential groove; The cam surface has a cam surface that faces the circumferential groove and projects beyond the outer limit of the circumferential groove when the circumferential groove is opened, and the cam surface has a width that decreases inwardly by the outer limit of the circumferential groove. A channel with a wide mouth is formed so that the cam surface is connected between the fastening device and the panel on the one hand and between the fastening device and the structural element after inserting the hook-shaped member into the slot on the other hand. Each protrusion is longitudinally spaced from the cam surface to engage the inner surface of the structural element to draw the body and panel toward the structural element during relative longitudinal clamping motion, and each protrusion is longitudinally spaced from the cam surface and A fastening device capable of being drawn against the outer surface of a structural element during directional fastening movements, thereby providing resistance to relative movement between the panel and the structural element. 2. Fastening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the protrusion is wider than the width of the slot in the hollow structural element. 3. A mounting structure for securing a panel having at least a partial circumferential groove with an external restriction to a hollow structural element having a groove and an inner and outer surface by means of a fastening device, the fastening device being a simple a panel retaining main body part which is of one structure and can be fixed in the circumferential groove; a hook-shaped member; two protrusions projecting from the body portion, the protrusions being aligned longitudinally apart on opposite sides of the hook-shaped member, the hook-shaped member being secured in the circumferential groove when the body portion is secured within the circumferential groove; a cam surface facing the circumferential groove and projecting beyond the outer limit of the circumferential groove, the cam surface having a wide mouth whose width decreases inwardly by the outer limit of the circumferential groove; forming a passageway with which the cam surface forms a longitudinal relative path between the fastening device and the panel on the one hand and between the fastening device and the structural element after inserting the hook-shaped member into the slot on the other hand. Each protrusion is longitudinally spaced from the cam surface to engage the inner surface of the structural element to draw the body and panel toward the structural element during said relative longitudinal clamping movement. said body portion is adjacent to each of said protrusions, said body portion being adapted to be attracted to the outer surface of said structural element, thereby providing resistance to relative movement between said panel and said structural element; A fastening device mounting structure characterized by having a pair of spaced apart recesses.