WO2003047879A1

WO2003047879A1 - Clamping device for surface covers

Info

Publication number: WO2003047879A1
Application number: PCT/BE2002/000167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mariette Vlaeminck
Original assignee: Mariette Vlaeminck
Priority date: 2001-12-07
Filing date: 2002-11-13
Publication date: 2003-06-12
Also published as: BE1014380A6; AU2002339269A1

Abstract

A 'T'-shaped clamping device for tensioning of textiles to cover walls and ceilings. The device is provided with a duct to grip the textile between flexible lips and corresponding grooves on respective arms. The device is used to cover surfaces as well as horizontally as vertically without the need of additional pieces and a minimum loss of space.

Description

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR SURFACE COVERS

The invention concerns the technical field of clamping of cloths, tissues, etc... more particularly textiles to cover surfaces and especially walls en ceilings.

In the state of the art, many solutions are already developed, but always with their limitations. Several devices with clamping properties consist of multiple interacting parts to create the force. Nevertheless, devices made of one piece exist, but they still have the disadvantage that the textile has tot be provided with a gripping element. The preceding prior art is limited because the cover should be made to measure. Some others are limited because of their shape so that a gap, between the piece and the wall is too great. Still, some are not invisible and this is unacceptable from the esthetical point of view. Finally, others are limited in their tensioning properties.

This invention has a solution to overcome the preceding disadvantages. The novelty of the invention exists of a clamping device, made in one piece with an integrated gripping mechanism, without the need of additional pieces and capable of creating a sufficient force, and which is almost invisible when installed.

The invention consists of a "T"-shaped clamping device, provided with two parallel arms, on one side of the leg and creating a gripping force between these arms by the provision of flexible lips on one arm and correspondent grooves on the other arm, to clamp textiles with the goal to cover walls and ceilings.

The flexible lips are preferable in an inclined position. We discovered that three lips are preferable, but it is obvious for the man skilled in the art that already a satisfactory result can be obtained by using two lips. So the invention is not limited by the number of lips or the correspondent grooves. Another characteristic of the invention is that we can work closer to the covering surface and consequently mhiimise the gap between the textile and the surface.

The clamping device, as described above, is made, preferable of a synthetic material such as PVC, by an extrusion technique. This method makes it possible to create a composite clamping device, made in one piece.

The clamping device also allows us to cover surfaces in both directions as well as horizontally as vertically.

We explain the preceding properties by referring to the drawings.

Fig. 1 : a side view of the clamping element

Fig. 2 : a side view of the clamping element provided with textile Fig. 3 : a method to install Figure 1 shows the clamping device, (1) consists of two parallel arms (2,3), both situated on one side of the leg (7), characterised in that one arm (2) is longer than the other arm (3). This allow us to have a better view when inserting the textile. A duct (4) to clamp the textile is created between the two arms (2,3). Arm (3) is provided with flexible lips (5). These lips (5) interact in the correspondent grooves (6) of arm (2). This interaction creates a gripping property for the inserted textile. The number of grooves is related to the number of lips. The extension (8) of the arm (2) in on the opposite side and forms an angle of 90° with the leg (7). T e extension (8) can be provided with a slit (9). The elements (2,3,7 and 8) are preferable curved.

It is obvious that the lips (5) and the grooves (6) referring to drawing 1 are situated respectively on the arms (3) and (4), could be interchanged from position tot respectively arms (4) and (3).

Figure 2 shows the textile (10), tensioned horizontally over the arms (3). The border of the textile (10), located in the duct (4) is clamped between t e lips (5) and the grooves (6). The upwardly inclined position of lips enhance the gripping tension of the textile.

Figure 3 shows an example in which the textile (1) is tensioned over the wall surface (11). A fastener (13) is situated in the slit (9). A tool (12) is used to insert the textile into the duct (4), means between the lips and the correspondent grooves.

Claims

1. A "T"-shaped clamping device for clamping textiles to cover surfaces, characterised by two parallel arms, creating a duct on one side of a leg, which forms an angle of 90° and in which one arm is provided with flexible lips and the other with an equally number of grooves.

2. A "T"-shaped clamping device for clamping textile referring to claim 1, consists of two parallel arms, characterised in that the first arm is provided with a least 2 flexible lips, interacting with the correspondent grooves of the other arm.

3. A "T"-shaped clamping device referring to claims 1 or 2 consist of two parallel arms, characterised in that the flexible lips are in an inclined position.

4. A "T"-shaped clamping device referring to the preceding claims provided with two parallel arms, characterised in that the arm, closest to the surface is larger than the other one.

5. A "T"-shaρed clamping device referring to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the device is made by an extrusion technique.

6. A "T'-shaped clamping device referring to clam 5, characterised in that the device is made of synthetic material.

7. A "T"-shaped clamping device referring to claim 6, characterised in that the extended arm on the opposite side of the leg is provided with a slit.

8. A "T"-shaped clamping device referring tot claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the arms are curved.

9. A "T'-shaped clamping device referring to the preceding claims, characterised in that the device is used to cover surfaces in a horizontally or a vertically direction.

10. A "T"-shaped clamping device referring to claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the surface is a wall or a ceiling.