Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to means for assembling
panels of wall facings or units of partitlons formed from at
least two panels constituted by opaque panel elements, or
perhaps of glazed panel elements, and metallic sections integral
with the opaque panel elements or providing grooves for the
opaque panel elements, sald panels being Joined essentially by
means of a part commonly called a key or clip, preferably o~
plastics material, said part being concealed or hidden by a
cover strip or weather seal which is generally formed in aluminium.
Such keys or clips are certainly already known but they
are of elongate form with a sectional configuration like an
extended H on its side, each of whose flanges which is parallel
to the panel elements to be assembled having on its outside a
large swelling to provide sufficient material to take a slot
which will accept a single inside web of the cover strip.
As the e~ds of the flanges are used for fitting U section
mounting elements whose side members have on their inside faces
protruberances which lock behind corresponding cut-outs in
the key, it is essential for these flanges to be quite springy
which, however, makes it impossible to ensure correct positioning
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of the key with reference to said U section elements nor rigidity
of the whole assemb]y.
On the other hand, if it is required to connect metal
mounting elements, possibly fixed to the floor or held in
compression between floor and ceiling, by means of a jacking
screw, this latter needs to fit into the mounting section
element which, in this case, needs to be specially manufactured.
In addition, the clear space between the flanges of the key
in the known design referred to above is relatively small and
would not allow pipes or electric cables to be installed there
and consequently special provision needs to be made for running
these.
Fixing the cover strip by a single web is not very firm
and such keys of the known design will not allow abutting
engagement with, for instance, the edges of the partition or
panel units owing to the fact that the pressure from said units
on the enlarged part of the key would cause a risk of closing
the slot which has to accommodate the web of the cover strip.
The key or clip means according to the invention can
overcome these difficulties. The device is characterised by
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the fact that said clip or key, having a single face or pair
of identical opposed faces, carries on this face or faces, at
right angles to its central axis, a wide central protruberance
cut out in the centre to form a U shape whose side walls are
grooved on the inside in such a way as ~to grip-correaponding
grooves of two separate webs on a cover strip, the outside walls
of the protruberance being straight and parallel to the central
axis so as to form abutments for the edges of the panels or
partition units, and this face or these faces having in
addition, somewhere on the protruberance, a groove or throat
into which can be slid and attached an intermediate fixing
element for the panels or partition units or even supports for
the key or clip.
The subject of the invention, however, is more particularly
a key or clip as defined above which moreover, in a further
development is further characterised by the factthat the two
identical opposed faces perpendicular to the central axis of the
key or clip are joined by two parallel members, parallel that is
to the central axis, which constitute a body in the form of an
open box for the key or clipJ the symmetrically placed throats
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of these faces forming the retaining notch.
So as to understand the invention better and to bring
out its characteristics and advantages it is described below
in a manner which serves as an example and which is in no way
limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows:
Figure 1 : a sectional view of a key or clip according to
the invention intended for mounting wall cladding panels;
Figure 2 : a sectional view of a key or clip according to
the invention, intended for the assembly of opaque or glazed
panels in a partition;
Figure 3 : a sectional view of an assembly of cladding
panels in which the key or clip shown in Figure 1 is employed;
Figure 4 : a sectional view of another assembly in which
the key or clip shown in Figure 1 is employed;
Figure 5 : a sectional view of an,assembly of opaque and
glazed panels in a partition where the key or clip shown in
Figure 2 is employed;
Figure 6 : a sectional view of another assembly in which
the key or clip shown in Figure 2 is employed;
Figure 7 : a section view of a partition assembly at the
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place where a door is hung and in which the key or clip
ehown in Figure 2 is employed;
Figure 8 : a sectional view of an assembly of opaque and
glazed panels in which the key or clip shown in Figure 2 is
employed, slid on to a channel iron;
Figure 9 : a sectional view at the point of a T junction
of an assembly of glazed panels in which the key or clip shown
in Figure 2 is employed;
Figure 10 : a sectional view at the point of a corner
junction of an assembly of glazed panels in which the key or
clip shown in Figure 2 is employed;
Figure 11 : a sectional view at the point of mounting of
twoidoo~soIn an assemb~yt~o~ gla~ed~p~n~ in which-ithe~keyk~r
clip shown in Figure 9 is employed;
Figure 12 : a sectional view of an assembly making up
a fire-proof partition in which the key or clip!> shown in Figure 2
is employed;
Figure 13 : a variation of the method of use shown in
Figure 10.
Referring to Figure 1 there is shown at 1 an assembly key
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intended to accept, in particular, panels of generally slender
form for use as wall cladding. This key l consists of a face
2 perpendicular to its median axis, a wide protruberance 3
hollowed out in the shape of a U of~wb~ch,~he-~lateralnin~de
walls 4, 4' are grooved and the lateral exterior walls
5, 5' are straight and parallel to the central axis and, moreover,
the key has at some point on the protruberance 3 a slot 6, 6'
into which maybe slid an intermediate part or element.
~eferring to Figure 2 there is shown, marked ~, an assembly
key intended particularly for partitions composed of opaque or
glazed panels which may be used in all circumstances. This
key has two faces 8, 9 perpendicular to the median axis and
on each of the faces 8, 9 a protruberance 10 hollowed out in
U shape of which the inside side walls 11, 11' are grooved and
the side walls 12, 12' are straight and parallel to the central
axis and, moreover, the key has at some point on the protruberance
lO a throat or groove 13, 13' to which an intermediate part
or element may be fixed.
The two faces 8, 9 are joined between each other by cross
members 14, 14' situated at the ends of faces 8, 9 giving the
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body of the key 7 a box form open from place to place, allowing
the key 7 to be slid on to a post (see below) or to pass,
electric or other services therethrough which are thus held
in place.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, there are shown different
possible methods of use of the key 1 (Figure 1) : this latter
is applied and fixed to the wall 15 or to a post by some
known means (not shown). The panels 16, 16' for cladding are
generally thin and in fixed seat down adjacent key 1, the
edges 17, 17' of the panels abutting up against the side walls
5, 5' of the key 1 and either, as in Figure 3, a cover strip
18, generally in aluminium, holds the panels 16, this cover
strip 18 covering the outside edges 19, 19' of the panels 16, 16'
thus holding the, or, as shown in Figure 4, a cover strip 20
merely conceals or hid~ the key 1 distributed from place to
place along the length of a wall 15 or a post; naturally, in the
case of tenons 21, 21' being slid into the throats 6, 6' of the
key 1, the rear faces 22, 22' of the panels 15, 15' are fixed
to these tenons 21, 21'. Obviously in the case of Figure 3
there could equally:well be:provided, as shown, tenons 21, 21'.
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So as to ensure that cover strip 18 or 20 is firmly held it is
provided with two webs 23, 23' formed with grooves or serrations
which match those in key 1.
Referring to Figures 5 to 12, different methods of using
the key 7 (Figure 2) have been shown.
In Figure 5 the key 7 is used to make a self-supporting
partition being an assembly of opaque panels 24, 24' and glazed
panels 25, 25'. The opaque panels 24, 24' are held at the
proper spacing by spacer blocks 26 (these are not absolutely
essential) as well as by intermediate pieces 27, generally of the
same material as keys 1 or 7, which abut against the cross
members 14 of the keys 7 and fit into the throats or grooves
13 of the said keys 7.
In addition, the panels 24, 24' are held in a known manner
by the cover strip 28 of a type with double webs 29, 29' having
grooves, the panels 24, 24' being thus held on their front
faces by the cover strips 28, on their edges which fit up against
the external side face of 12 of keys 7, and on their rear faces by
the intermediate pieces 27 and the spacer blocks 26.
In the case of the glazed panels 25, 25' the intermediate
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pieces 27 are replaced by a metallic glazing section 30 extending
across the whole top edge of the glazing and seating upon the
keys 7 in the same way as the intermediate pieces 27; this
metallic section 3Q hi~des keys 27 completely; the panels 25, 25'
are held in front by the cover stri~ps 28, on their edges by
the outside face 12 of the keys 7, on their rear faces by the
metallic section 30 in a manner already known; nevertheless,
a sealing strip or butt joint (not shown) is used both for the
front face and the rear face of the glazed panels 25, 25'.
In Figure 6, key 7 is used in building up a partition
provided with a central load bearing core, the central panel
31 being particularly intended to ensure sound insulation and
possibly thermal insulation according to the materials chosen
which obviously may be covered or not covered. In such a case
the intermediate pieces 27 engaging keys 7 may for example be
fixed by screws (not shown) on the edge 32 of this panel 31.
Elsewhere, the opaque panels 24, 24' as well as the glazed
panels 25, 25' are firmly held as indicated above by reference
to Figure 5.
Referring to Figure 7, the key 7 is used in building up a
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partition at a place where a door is mounted, this door being
represented schematically by reference 33 and its hinge 34 is
held by a special metal section 35 which has on one side limbs
35' providing a foot 35'' with which the grooves 13, 13' of the
key locate. In addition, as can be seen, the cover strips 28
hold the special metal section 35.
In Figure 7 there is shown on the side opposite the door
an assembly of panels 24, 24' but naturally, glazed panels
could have been used (Figures 5 and 6) or else a partition
with intermediate panel 31 (Figure 6).
Referring to Figure 8, the key 7 is used to produce a
partition fixed to a channel iron 36 which may itself be fixed
by any known means as for example a jacking screw between
ceiling and floor; in this case the keys 7 are slid onto the
channel iron 36 and the opaque panels 24, 24' as well as the
glazed panels 25, 25' are retained as described above in the
reference to Figures 5 and 6.
Referring to Figure 9, the keys are used in the make up of
partions at the point where there is a T junction; they are
fixed by means of the intermediate pieces 27 which are themselves
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screwed to spacer pieces 26 of different sizes placed in
T configuration. On the same principle, L type joints can be
made up. Although metal sections 30 and cover strips 28 such
as those used in the assemblies shown in preceding Figures
are used in some places, in the particular case of the assembly
shown in Figure 9, a special cover strip 37 has been used with
a wider spacing of the holding or support portion at one side
of the protruberance of the key 7.
Referring to Figure 10, keys 7 are used in the make up
of partitions at an angle joint, one series of keys 7 gripping
on or engaging the rear of a special metal section 38, these keys
later being covered in the usual manner with cover strips 28
and metal sections 30, the o*her series of keys 7 then being
connected with the help of a cover strip 28 to the first series
or keys and being engaged with the special metal section 38; the
keys 7 of the second series are supported elsewhere through a
metal section 30 on the cover strip 28 of the first series.
Referring to Figure 11 keys 7 have been shown making up
partitions at a place of mounting two doors which are
represented schematically by 33.
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Starting from a T-shaped assembly of spacer blocks 26,
there have been fixed in parallel on the vertical leg of
the T, two series of keys 7 and thanks to intermediate pieces
27 the whole arrangement is hidden and firmly held by special
door frames 39 holding the hinges 34, a normal cover strip 28,
and a larger one 37. Elsewhere the start of the partition
proper occurs at the horizontal branch of the T on which, with
the aid of intermediate pieces 27 there is fixed a third series
of keys 7 after which the assembly is identical with the
versions previously described.
Referring to Figure 12 the keys 7 are used in the
construction of fire-proof partitions. In such a case, the
keys 7 are fixed with the help of intermediate pieces 27 to
spacer pieces 26 as can be seen; the intermediate pieces 27
are held to the spacers 26 by screws 40.
The end of the spacers 26 does not bear directly on the
rear part of panels 24, 24' as in Figure 5 but on spacing blocks
41 fixed to the rear part of panels 24, 24' these spacer blocks
extending beyond the edges of the panels 24, 24'.
As can be seen, the cover strips 28 (or some sections or
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parts of the cover strips) are entirely covered by a band
or strip 42 of non-flammable material which may, for aesthetic
reasons, be in the same material as the panels 24, 24' in fire-
proof material or material which is only flammable with
difficulty as is obvious for a fire-proof partition. The cover
strips 28 may be in one piece with bands 42 being held by simple
screws 42. The edges of the cover strips 28 rest against the
blocks 41 and the assembly is perfectly solid. In a variant
not shown, the edges of the panels 24, 24' may be cut or rebated,
and in this case the cover strips 28 (or sections of the
cover strips) rest on the cut or rebated edges of the panels.
Referring to Figure 13, the keys 7 have been used in an
angle junction or corner of a partition assembly in which, this
time, an angle support 44 has been used which serves to allow
direct fixing of the keys 7 without intermediate pieces as in
Figure 10; this provides a particularly interesting solution
limiting or reducing the number of different parts required.
While the present invention relates to the characteristics
of the keys 1 and 7 it equally includes also the assemblies of
the different parts which may go with them : intermediate pieces
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27, cover strips 28, special cover strips 37, metal sections
30, 35, 38, 39, 44.
It should be noted that the assemblies shown are equally
valid horizontally as vertically and they demonstrate the value
of the special form of keys, either the single faced kind 1 or
the double faced kind 7 which can be used in all positions and
in all circumstances.
It should be noted that the hollow interior portion of the
key 7 is particularly useful not only to permit, as is shown
in Figure 8, a channel section post to be slid into it but
equally that this part allows services, in particular electric
wiring, to be passed through this hollow space and to be l~eid t~
held there. In addition, because of its shape good rigidity
and relatively slight deformation is ensured except for the
lS protruberance holding the webs which can take a certain amount
of play or movement facilitating the placing of the panels and
permitting subsequent insertion of the cover strip webs.
The invention is not limited to the particular uses
described and shown on the drawings and within its scope
modifications may be made to the keys, or to the complementary
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parts which are used with them, and/or in using the keys
in conjunction with other complementary pieces or metal
sections other than those shown.
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