GB2142058A

GB2142058A - Panel securing device

Info

Publication number: GB2142058A
Application number: GB08316846A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Jennings Hepworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-06-21
Filing date: 1983-06-21
Publication date: 1985-01-09
Also published as: GB8316846D0

Abstract

Frame members (11, 12, 13, 14) form a frame (17) to receive a panel, and attachment means (15) secures the frame members (11, 13) of adjacent frames (17, 18) in side- by-side disposition. The frame members (11, 13) comprise hollow tubes into which spigots (19,22) formed on the attachment means (15) are received, and a channel (21) of the attachment means (15) receives the ends of frame members (11, 13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Panel securing devices This invention relates to panel securing devices and in particular to devices for securing panels such as building panels or the like in edge to edge relationship. By building panels it is intended to include glazing panels and panels used in shelves, display constructions, partitions and the like as well as wall panels as used in the construction industry.

The invention provides a panel securing device comprising a plurality of frame members forming a frame, each frame member comprising panel receiving means operable to receive a respective edge of a panel into engagement therewith, and at least one attachment means having a channel formation adapted to receive therein a first frame member of said frame and a first frame member of a like frame in side-by-side disposition, said attachment means and each of said first frame members having cooperable interengaging formation thereon.

The cooperable interengaging formations may comprise a spigot and a recess adapted to receive said spigot therein. Preferably the spigots are formed on the attachment means and a recess provided in each first frame member.

The attachment means may have the interengaging formations formed thereon in spaced disposition lengthwise of said channel formation. Alternatively the attachment means may have a plurality of channel formation extending in directions inclined with each other, with an interengaging formation provided on each channel formation. As a further alternative the attachment means may have a plurality of channel formations hingedly secured to each other with an interengaging formation provided on each channel formation.

The panel securing means may comprise a channel formation extending inwardly of said frame and adapted to receive an edge of a panel therein.

The frame may comprise two first frame members in spaced substantially parallel disposition and a second frame member extending transversely of said first frame members and to which each of said two first frame members is secured. The frame may also comprise a third frame member adapted to be located between the free ends of said first frame members and retained at such location by said attachment means.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of one embodiment and Figures 2 to 4 are perspective views of alternative attachment means for use with the frame of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a panel securing device 10 comprising frame members 11, 12, 1 3 and 14 and attachment means 15. Frame members 11, 12 and 13 each have a channel 1 6 secured thereto or integral therewith and frame member 1 4 comprises a channel. Frame members 11 and 1 3 are substantially parallel and are each secured to frame member 1 2 to form three sides of a rectangular frame 1 7 with channels 1 6 facing inwardly thereof.A rectangular panel (not shown) may be received in the frame 1 7 thus formed and frame member 14 placed in position on the top edge of the panel to complete the frame 1 7. A like frame 1 8 (shown only in part) having a panel therein is placed in edge to edge relationship with frame 1 7 and attachment means 1 5 secures the frames 17, 18 together.Frame members 11 and 1 3 are tubes of rectangular cross-section and attachment means 1 5 has rectangular spigots 1 9 of dimensions so as to be received in the interior 20 of frame member 11 or 1 3. Alternatively frame members 11 and 1 3 may be generally solid but have recesses 20 in each end thereof to receive spigots 19. The attachment means 15 comprise a channel member 21 to which the spigots 1 9 are secured in spaced relationship longitudinally of the channel 21.

The channel 21 receives the ends of frame members 11, 1 3 therein and also serves to retain frame member 14 in position on top of the panel and located between the free ends of frame members 11, 1 3. The attachment means 1 5 also has upwardly extending spigots 22 for insertion in the lower ends of the frame members of frames (not shown) to be placed in edge to edge relationship with and above frames 17, 18. If no frames are to be located above frames 17, 1 8 an attachment means could be used of similar form to attachment means 1 5 but with upwardly extending spigots 22 omitted.

Similarly if no frames are to be located to the left or above frame 1 7 as viewed in Fig. 1 an attachment means 23 as shown in Fig. 2 could be used. The attachment means 23 comprises a channel 24 of half of the length of channel 21 of attachment means 1 5 and having only one spigot 19.

If frames 17, 1 8 are to be disposed in edge to edge relationship but extending at right angles to each other an attachment means 25 as shown in Fig. 3 may be used. Attachment means 25 comprises two channels 26, 27 secured to extend at right angles to each other, each channel 26, 27 having a spigot 1 9 and a spigot 22 attached thereto. Again, if no frames are to be located above frames 17, 1 8 the attachment means 25 could have spigots 22 omitted. The channels 26, 27 may be secured to each other so as to extend at an angle other than 90 if required.

In order that two frames may be secured at any desired angle to each other an attachment means 28 as shown in Fig. 4 may be used. In this case the attachment means 28 comprises two channels 29, 30 attached to each other by means of a hinge 31.

If three ar four frames are to be secured to each other in edge to edge disposition at a single location an attachment means having three ar four channels secured to each other to form a T, Y or X shape in planform as required may be used, each channel having a spigot 1 9 and if required a spigot 22 in the manner of the attachment means 25 shown in Fig. 2. Alternatively the channels may be hingedly secured to each other in the manner of attachment means 28 of Fig. 4.

The frame members 11, 12, 13, 14, chan nels 16 and attachment means 15, 23, 25 and 28 may be of any suitable material dependent upon the type and use of the panels to be asociated therewith. They may be for example of steel, aluminium or a plastics material and the secured parts may be secured to each other by any suitable means such as adhesive or welding. Channels 16 may be secured to or integral with frame members 11, 12, 1 3 and if integral such frame members may conveniently be formed by extrusion. Instead of the rectangular crosssections shown the frame members 11, 12, 1 3 may be of circular cross-section if desired.

If it is desired to attach attachment means 15, 23, 25 or 28 to frame members 11, 13 in a more secure and permanent manner, pins or screws 32 may be passed through apertures 33 in each frame member 11, 13 to engage or extend through spigots 1 9 or 22.

Alternatively, if the assembly is to be permanent, an adhesive may be applied to each spigot 19, 22 on assembly.

If desired, the spigots may be round rather than rectangular.

Claims

1. A panel securing device comprising a plurality of frame members forming a frame, each frame member comprising panel receiving means operable to receive a respective edge of a panel into engagement therewith, and at least one attachment means having a channel formation adapted to receive therein a first frame member of said frame, and a first frame member of a like frame in side-by-side disposition, said attachment means and each of said first frame members having cooperable interengaging formations thereon.

2. A panel securing device according to claim 1 wherein each of said formations comprises a spigot and a recess adapted to receive said spigot therein.

3. A panel securing device according to claim 2 wherein said spigots are formed on said attachment means and said recesses are provided in said first frame members.

4. A panel securing device according to claim 3 wherein said first frame members comprise tubes of substantially rectangular cross-section, and said spigots are of substantially rectangular cross-section.

5. A panel securing device according to claim 3 wherein said first frame members comprise tubes of substantially circular crosssection, and said spigots are of substantially circular cross-section.

6. A panel securing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said attachment means has interengaging formations formed thereon in spaced disposition lengthwise of said channel formation.

7. A panel securing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said attachment means has a plurality of channel formations extending in directions inclined with each other, with an interengaging formation provided on each channel formation.

8. A panel securing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said attachment means has a plurality of channel formations hingedly secured to each other, with an interengaging formation provided on each channel formation.

9. A panel securing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said panel receiving means comprises a channel formation extending inwardly of said frame and adapted to receive an edge of a panel therein.

10. A panel securing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said frame comprises two first frame members in spaced substantially parallel disposition and a second frame member extending transversely of said first frame members and to which each of said first frame members is secured.

11. A panel securing device according to claim 10 wherein said frame comprises a third frame member adapted to be located between free ends of said first frame members and retained at such location by said attachment means.

12. A panel securing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein a respective pin passes through each of said first frame members and the respective attachment means interengaged therewith.

13. A panel securing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 1 as modified by Fig. 2, 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawing.