Abstract:
A set of metal bodies each having a rectilinear axis and constant thickness can be appropriately connected together to form a cross with one, two, three, or four arms, for use in fixing vertical plates in point-supported continuous facades.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is a set of metal bodies with rectilinear axis and constant cross-section for making a member for the fixing and support of contiguous vertical plates in point-supported suspended facades. The present invention further relates to a member for the fixing and support of vertical plates in point-supported suspended facades obtained by putting together the metal bodies with rectilinear axis and constant cross-section. 
   2. The Prior Art 
   For making point-supported suspended facades it is known to use so-called crosses, i.e., members for fixing and supporting vertical plates, comprising a central hole for fixing the cross to a supporting structure (typically an upright) and, according to the number of vertical plates to be supported, from one to four arms provided at their ends with circular holes or slots for insertion of fixed or articulated joints, to which the corners of the plates to be supported are fixed. 
   According to the prior art, the crosses are made of light-alloy castings or by the stamping of steel. 
   In view of the need to have crosses with a variable number of arms and the need to provide both circular holes and slots for insertion of the fasteners, it follows that it would be necessary to have in store a relatively large number of different types of crosses. This would call for a large number of dies and would therefore involve high production costs. In order to reduce the costs, it is preferred to produce only crosses with two or four arms and to cut off the excess arms as required. 
   In addition, it is preferred to make only slotted openings in the arms, which can be subsequently enlarged if required to convert them into circular openings. 
   However, all such subsequent processes have a marked affect on the total processing times, and hence on the final cost of the crosses, as well as on the general appearance of the crosses. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a new system for making crosses for fixing and supporting plates, which is technically simple and which enables a reduction in production costs. The above purpose is achieved by providing a set of metal bodies having a rectilinear axis and constant cross-section. 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides a “cross” for connecting plates in a planar array. The cross includes a “connector” as a main body portion which, in turn, includes an arched portion and at least one pair of flanges extending from the arch portion and defining therebetween a substantially rectangular groove. The groove of the flanges mates with a groove formed across a convex edge of a “connecting element” which may have a generally crescent shape or approximately half of a generally crescent shape. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of one possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a second possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a third possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a fourth possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a fifth possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a sixth possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a seventh possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an eighth possible configuration of the cross of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of a facade made using the crosses of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of connection of corners of plates in the facade of  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the connected plates of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an extruded “connector”; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an extruded “connector”; 
       FIG. 14  is a plan view of a first embodiment of an extruded arm section; 
       FIG. 15  is a plan view of a second embodiment of an extruded arm section; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the extruded arm section illustrated in  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the extruded arm section illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cross; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cross; and 
       FIG. 20  shows the fixing of the cross to a supporting upright. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 12 ,  18  and  20  illustrate a first embodiment of a cross for fixing vertical plates in accordance with the invention comprises a central body, or cross support,  1 , on which at least one arm  20  or  20   a  ( FIGS. 14 and 15 ) is mounted, designed to support a fixed or articulated joint. 
   The central body (“connector”)  1  is a metal body of an appropriate length with a rectilinear axis and constant cross-section and presents a symmetrical profile with respect to an axis of symmetry  2  and has a generally omega shape (FIG.  12 ). 
   Preferably, the central body  1  is made by extrusion. Of course, a person skilled in the art will be able to conceive other processes for making the central body  1 , in particular stamping or pressure casting. 
   According to the first embodiment, the central body  1  has a planar surface  12  in the concave bottom of an arched portion  30 , an axial groove  4  in the convex top of the arched portion  30 , the arched portion  30  having one or more through holes  14  aligned on the axis of symmetry  2  (see FIG.  18 ). Two flanges set on top of one another 5, 6 and 7, 8, are integral with and project from the arched portion  30 . The flanges define two substantially rectangular grooves  9  and  10 . The combination of arched portion  30  and flanges  5 ,  6  and  7 ,  8  has an omega shape. One or more pairs of through holes  15 ,  16  are formed in flanges  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 . 
   Preferably, the through holes  14  have a portion of larger diameter in an area corresponding to the concave side of the arched portion  30  so as to receive the head of a screw. 
   In the embodiment illustrated, the central body  1  has closed cavities  2 ,  3  symmetrically located in the arched portion  30 . Likewise, one of the two through holes  15  or  16  preferably has a widened part designed to receive, at least partially, the head of a screw, while the other of the two through holes of each pair is threaded. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the axial groove  4  is connected to a special foot or base  33 , which is in turn designed to be inserted into an undercut groove of an appropriate supporting upright (not shown). 
   A second embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 19 , has a central body (“connector”) designated by the reference number  1   a  (FIG.  13 ), wherein the omega section is modified in that one of the two pairs of projecting flanges  5 ,  6  or  7 ,  8  and part of the corresponding arched portion are missing. 
   The central body  1   a  will be used in the case where the cross is to support just one vertical plate, or else two plates set on top of one another. 
   In the first embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  16  and  18 , arm or arms  20  (“connecting element”) connected to the central body  1 , are made up of metal bodies with a rectilinear axis and a constant cross-section with a profile that is symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry  21 . According to the preferred embodiment, the arms (“connecting elements”)  20  are extruded; however, a person skilled in the art will be able to conceive other processes such as stamping or pressure casting. 
   According to the first embodiment, the arm  20  is generally crescent-shaped, cut to an appropriate length, one or more through holes  27  parallel to the rectilinear axis, and two eyelets  24 ,  25  one, at either end of the crescent. 
   Preferably a groove  23  is provided in the convex top so as to enable slot-in connection with the omega-shaped central body  1 . 
   In practice, the arm  20  is a double arm which enables insertion of two fixed or articulated joints  34  for fixing and supporting plates  35  (FIG.  11 ). 
   Preferably, the eyelets  24 ,  25  are slots that extend parallel to the axis of symmetry  21 ; alternatively, at least one of the slots can be a circular opening. 
   The second embodiment has arms  20   a  (FIGS.  15  and  17 ), wherein the crescent-shape of the arm  20  of the first embodiment is modified in that it has only one eyelet  24   a  and the shape of the half of a crescent. The single arm  20   a  will be used where the arm does not have to support more than one plate. 
   In fact, with as few as four metal bodies of rectilinear axis and constant cross-section (the central bodies  1  and  1   a  and the arms  20  and  20   a ), it is possible to put together a wide range of crosses, which in effect cover all the types necessary for making a suspended facade of the point-supported type, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 11 . 
   In the embodiment illustrated herein, connecting screws  36  are provided between the arms  20  and the pairs of flanges  5 ,  6  and  7 ,  8  of the omega section (central body  1 ) of the first embodiment. Likewise, in the second embodiment, connecting screws  36   a  are provided between the arms  20   a  and flanges  7   a  and  8   a . Of course, a person skilled in the art will be able to conceive other connecting members.