AU2018263295B2

AU2018263295B2 - Panel systems and components

Info

Publication number: AU2018263295B2
Application number: AU2018263295A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Riley Hodgson; Thomas Hodgson
Original assignee: Tomm Tech Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Tomm Tech Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-04
Filing date: 2018-05-04
Publication date: 2023-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-04
Also published as: WO2018201203A1; AU2018263295A1; NZ759670A

Abstract

In one preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a support (12) comprising: a body (22) providing a first area (24) and a second area (26); the first area (24) providing a mount arrangement (28); the second area (26) being disposed to receive a support connector (18) at an end (30) of the support (12); the support (12) connector allowing a further support (12) to be connected to the support (12), at the end (30) of the support (12), and extend outwardly away from the support (12) to provide an end connector.

Description

"PANEL SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS"

Incorporation by Reference

[0001] This application is directed to an improvement over the system described in International Patent Application PCT/AU2017/050544, now Australian patent number 2017274579, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to panel systems such as fences, gates and balustrades. It is considered to have wider application in doors, windows, picture frames, shelving, furniture, structural building components and the like.

Background to the Invention

[0003] Australian patent number 2017274549 describes a panel assembly formed from three principal elements: frame members, panels, and fastening elements connecting the frame members to the panels.

[0004] The panel assembly is highly effective at providing an assembly with panels projecting perpendicular to frame members, without unsightly joins. It is often desirable to have side frames forming an edge of the assembly. There are some difficulties in achieving this result using the assembly of Australian patent number 2017274549, as the anchoring points for side frames may interfere with the anchoring points for outermost panels.

[0005] Traditionally, joins have been created using self threading screws. These are awkward to use, and are often associated with an unattractive result.

[0006] The present invention has been created in light of this background.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a panel assembly comprising a frame member and a plurality of panels, each panel having corresponding fastening element for connecting the panel to the frame member, the frame member having a plurality of openings spaced along one edge thereof, each opening sized to receive a panel, the frame member having a mating portion oriented towards the said edge; the panels being elongate and being at least partially hollow, the panels having internal walls; the fastening element having a frame engaging portion arranged to engage with the mating portion of the frame member and a panel engaging portion arranged to engage with the internal walls of a panel, wherein the frame member has a first region adjacent the plurality of openings and a second region spaced from the plurality of openings, the mating portion being located within the first region, the second region being arranged to receive a portion of a corner support.

[0008] The panel assembly may be a screen such as a fence, a gate, or a balustrade.

[0009] The frame member preferably includes a longitudinally extending wall which divides the first region from the second region. The longitudinally extending wall is preferably parallel to the said one edge of the frame member. It is preferred that said one edge of the frame member, having the plurality of openings spaced there along, constitutes a first edge of the frame member, and that the frame member has a second edge parallel to and opposed to the first edge, with the longitudinally extending wall located between the first edge and the second edge. The longitudinally extending wall may be about midway between the first edge and the second edge, thereby causing the first region to be about the same size as the second region. Alternatively, the first region may be larger or smaller than the second region, for instance to accommodate a relatively large or small corner stake required by a particular application.

[0010] The mating portion of the frame member may be comprised of longitudinally extending rails extending from the longitudinally extending wall towards the first edge of the frame member.

[0011] The corner support preferably includes two extending portions which are perpendicular to each other. It is preferred that each extending portion has at least two outwardly facing surfaces which are sized such that they engage with the second region in an interference fit. It will be appreciated that corner supports which define a non-perpendicular angle may be used in some applications.

[0012] The panel assembly preferably includes two side members each arranged to engage with a corner support of a first frame member and a corner support of a second frame member. Preferably the side members have internal dimensions similar to that of the second region of each frame member. It will be appreciated that when the panel assembly is in an assembled condition the side members will be parallel to the panels.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

[0014] Figure 1 is a general view of a number of constituent parts of a panel assembly in accordance with the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective of a frame member from within the panel assembly of Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 3 is a perspective of a corner support from within the panel assembly of Figure 1;

[0017] Figure 4 is an end view of theframe member of Figure 2; and

[0018] Figure 5 is a schematic exploded view of a panel formed using a panel assembly in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0019] Referring to the Figures, Figure 1 shows constituent elements of a panel assembly including two frame members 12; a plurality of panels 14; a plurality of fastening elements 24; and two corner supports 18.

[0020] The panels 14 and fastening elements 24 are described in Australian patent number 2017274549.

[0021] Each frame member 12 can be described with reference to Figures 2 and 4.

[0022] Each frame member 12 is generally rectangular in cross section, with the frame member 12 having a first edge 26, a second edge 28 opposed to the first edge 26, and two side walls 30. The first edge 26 includes a plurality of rectangular apertures 32 spaced along its length, sized and shaped to receive panels 14 with a small clearance about each panel in the manner described in Australian patent number 2017274579.

[0023] An internal wall 34 extends longitudinally through the frame member 12. The internal wall 34 is parallel to the first edge 26 and second edge 28, and extends between the two side walls 30. The internal wall 34 is located about halfway between the first edge 26 and the second edge 28. In the embodiment of the drawings the internal wall 34 is located about 45% of the way between the first edge 26 and the second edge 28.

[0024] The internal wall 34 acts to divide an internal cavity of the frame member 12 into two regions: a first region 40 and a second region 42. The first region 40 is bordered by the first edge 26, the internal wall 34, and portions of the side walls 30 near the first edge 26. The second region 42 is bordered by the second edge 28, the internal wall 34, and portions of the side walls 30 near the second edge 28. The first region 40 and the second region 42 are each generally rectangular in cross section, with the first region 40 being slightly smaller in height than the second region 42.

[0025] A first side of the internal wall 34, facing the first edge 26, has a mating portion 44 extending along its surface, oriented towards the first edge 26. The mating portion 44 comprises two longitudinal rails 46, spaced apart from each other. Each of the rails 46 in this embodiment is comprised of an upwardly projecting wall 48 parallel to the side walls 30 of the frame 12, the wall 48 having an elongate indent 50 on an internal side thereof. It will be appreciated that the mating portion 44 operates in the same fashion as the mating portion described in Australian patent number 2017274549. It will be further appreciated that the mating portion 44 is entirely within the first region 40.

[0026] The second region 42 is clear of any internal protrusions.

[0027] A corner support 18 is shown in Figure 3. The corner support 18 has a first arm 56 and a second arm 58. The first arm 56 and the second arm 58 each extend away from a central region 60.

[0028] The first arm 56 extends away from the central region 60 in a first direction 62. The second arm 58 extends away from the central region 60 in a second direction 64. The first direction 62 is perpendicular to the second direction 64, thus creating the 900 angle which is characteristic of the corner support 18.

[0029] The first arm 56 and the second arm 58 are formed in the same way, and thus the following description of the first arm 56 applies equally to the second arm 58.

[0030] The first arm 56 is generally prismatic, with a common cross section between a first side 72 and a second side 74. The first side 72 and second side 74 are each generally flush, and are arranged to locate within the second region 42 of the frame member 12 loosely abutting side walls 30 of the frame member 12. The first arm 56 has an outer surface 76 which extends in the first direction 62, and from an outer edge of the first side 72 to an outer edge of the second side 74. The arrangement is such that the outer surface 76 of first arm 56 extends from an outer corner 78 of the central region 60 to form a continuous outer surface along an outer face of the corner support 18. The outer surface 76 of the first arm 56 is arranged to locate against the second edge 28 of the frame member 12.

[0031] The first arm 56 has an inner surface 80 which is spaced from and parallel to the outer surface 76. The inner surface 80 extends from an inner corner 82 of the central region 60. The inner surface 80 of the first arm 56 is arranged to locate against a second side of the internal wall 34, that is a side facing the second edge 28. The outer surface 76 and the inner surface 80 are spaced apart sufficiently that the first arm 56 can be received within the second region of the frame member 12 in a friction fit or interference fit.

[0032] The outer surface 76 and the inner surface 80 are both ridged, with ridges extending transversely across the outer and inner surfaces 76, 80 from the first side 72 to the second side 74.

[0033] Figure 5 shows a schematic exploded view of a gate 90 which is constructed using a panel assembly as described above. The gate 90 has two frame members 12, a plurality of panels 14 each having two associated fastening elements 24; four corner supports 18 and two side members 92.

[0034] Each of the side members 92 has a hollow internal cavity of the same size as the second region 42 of the frame members 12.

[0035] The frame members 12 and side members 92 are each cut at 450 at their respective ends in order to create a mitre joint.

[0036] The gate 90 is assembled by introducing fastening elements 24 into the apertures 32 of each frame member 12 and connecting them to the mating portion 44 within the first region 40 of the frame member 12. Panels 14 can then be connected using the techniques of Australian patent number 2017274549.

[0037] Meanwhile, the second arms 58 of each corner support 18 can be introduced into an end of a side member 92.

[0038] The first arms 56 of the corner supports 18 can then be introduced into the second regions 42 of the frame members 12. It will be appreciated that this is outside of the panels 14 and fastening elements 24.

[0039] The corner supports 18 can be pushed into position such that the mitre joints between frame members 12 and side members 92 are smooth, thus creating a rigid gate 90.

[0040] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A panel assembly comprising a frame member and a plurality of panels, each panel having a corresponding fastening element for connecting the panel to the frame member, the frame member having a plurality of openings spaced along one edge thereof, each opening sized to receive a panel, the frame member having a mating portion oriented towards the said edge; the panels being elongate and being at least partially hollow, the panels having internal walls; the fastening element having a frame engaging portion arranged to engage with the mating portion of the frame member and a panel engaging portion arranged to engage with the internal walls of a panel, wherein the frame member has a first region adjacent the plurality of openings and a second region spaced from the plurality of openings, the mating portion being located within the first region, the second region being arranged to receive a portion of a corner support.
2. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame member includes a longitudinally extending wall which divides the first region from the second region.
3. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the longitudinally extending wall is parallel to the said one edge of the frame member.
4. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said one edge of the frame member, having the plurality of openings spaced there along, constitutes a first edge of the frame member, and that the frame member has a second edge parallel to and opposed to the first edge, with the longitudinally extending wall located between the first edge and the second edge.
5. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the longitudinally extending wall is about midway between the first edge and the second edge.
6. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the mating portion of the frame member is comprised of longitudinally extending rails extending from the longitudinally extending wall towards the first edge of the frame member.
7. A panel assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the corner support includes two extending portions which are perpendicular to each other.
8. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein each extending portion has at least two outwardly facing surfaces which are sized such that they engage with the second region in an interference fit.
9. A panel assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the panel assembly includes two side members each arranged to engage with a corner support of a first frame member and a corner support of a second frame member.
10. A panel assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the side members have internal dimensions similar to that of the second region of each frame member.

TOMMTECHPTYLTD By its Patent Attorneys ARMOUR IP

P2307AU00