Clip linkage

A clip linkage is disclosed comprising clips to restrict relative parallel displacement between a panel and a back surface. The clip linkage is set intermediate the panel and the back surface so as to be hidden. The clip linkage is particularly useful for holding a panel to a back surface having a corner such as a corner of a wall or ceiling.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a clip linkage comprising clips to restrict relative parallel displacement between a panel and a back surface. More specifically it relates to a clip linkage set intermediate the panel and the back surface so as to be hidden. The clip linkage is particularly useful for holding a panel to back surface having a corner such as a corner of a wall or ceiling.

BACKGROUND

In construction of a room, shed, cabin, mobile home, elevator, or vehicle having a wall or ceiling there is often a structural back surface. On this surface may be seen boards, beams, poles, wires and so forth. It is desirable to hide the back surface from view with panel having a finished outer surface. A clip linkage intermediate the back surface and the panel holds the panel in place. Since most walls and ceilings include a corner a clip linkage which allows for easy coverage of the back surface with a panel in corner areas and also the planar areas is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect there is a clip linkage to set intermediate a back surface and a panel to restrict their relative parallel displacement, comprising: a first clip comprising a locking arm holder, and a locking arm having a tenon, said locking arm holder attachable to the panel to present a mortice to receive the tenon to restrict displacement of the locking arm parallel to the panel, and said clip linkage comprising a second clip attachable to the back surface to catch the locking arm.

Once the locking arm is caught the by the second clip then the first clip is connected to the second clip. In this way the panel may be prevented or restricted from displacing relative to the back surface.

As the first clip and the second clip may be hidden between the back surface and the panel, the connection between them is tamper resistant.

The locking arm holder may have a first surface by which it is attachable to the panel. The first surface may be an attachment surface in contact with the panel when the locking arm holder is attached to the panel.

The mortice may be presented so as to be accessible by the tenon through a second surface of the locking arm holder. The second surface may face the back surface when the first clip is connected to the second clip so that the clip linkage holds the panel to the back surface. The second surface may be referred to as the back surface facing surface.

According to another aspect there is a clip linkage to set intermediate a back surface and a panel to restrict their relative parallel displacement, comprising: a first clip comprising a locking arm having a tenon and a locking arm holder to attach to the panel to present a mortice in the locking arm holder to receive the tenon and restrict displacement of the locking arm parallel to the panel, and a second clip to attach to the back surface and catch the locking arm.

The locking arm may be prevented or restricted from being pulled out of the locking arm holder. The tenon may conform to the mortice to prevent the locking arm being released from the locking arm holder. Release may be prevented along an elongate and/or longitudinal direction of the locking arm.

The locking arm may be caught by the second arm to prevent the locking arm backing out of the second clip. The second clip may prevent the locking arm from being released by displacement in an elongate and/or longitudinal direction of the locking arm.

The clip linkage may comprise a spacer connectable to the panel and the back surface to permit the panel to move parallel to the back surface as the first clip engages the second clip while holding the panel a distance from the back surface equal the thickness of the first and second clips intermediate the panel and the back surface. The spacer may comprise and insert slidable in a groove or blind hole of the panel. The insert may be connectable to a portion of the panel at an angle or orthogonal to a portion of the panel to which the locking arm holder attaches. The portion of the panel to which the insert attaches may be connected to the portion to which the locking arm holder attaches so that there are two connected panels. The may first panel to which the locking arm holder attaches and a second panel to which the space attaches. The clip linkage may be useful for using orthogonally connected panels to cover a back surface with an orthogonal corner. For example the clip linkage may be used in a room having walls with square corners.

The insert may slidable in a blind cavity of the panel to clamp the first and second clips intermediate the back surface and the panel which screens the insert.

The mortice may have an entrance to receive the tenon opposite to a side of the locking arm holder which attaches to the panel. The locking arm holder is attachable to the panel to direct an entrance to the mortice outward from the panel to drop the tenon into the mortice. Thus the locking arm holder can be attached to the panel before the locking arms are dropped into the locking arm holder. The mortice may have an entrance to receive the locking arm holder normal to the locking arm holder attachment surface so that the tenon does not require bracing by the back surface.

The locking arm may comprise a portion intermediate the first end and the second end which is resilient to bend toward the panel then spring back toward the back surface to engage with the catch. The portion may have a form of a prong or a tine and may extend from the tenon.

The mortice may have converging sides with converge toward an exit for the elongate locking arm. The converging sides restrain the locking arm from being displaced toward the exit. There may be extending from the mortice a first slot in the locking arm holder. The converging sides may merge with sides of the first slot. The sides of the first slot may conform to the locking arm elongate shape. They may conform to a shape of an elongate prong or tine extending from the tenon. This aids the clip linkage to prevent the panel moving relative to the back surface in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm.

The first slot may be elongate to conform to prong tine of the locking arm. The first slot may have sides to prevent lateral deflection of the locking arm parallel to the panel.

This aids the clip linkage to prevent displacement of the panel laterally from the longitudinal direction of the locking arm.

The first slot may have an entrance to receive the locking arm opposite to a side of the locking arm holder which attaches to the panel. The slot may have a depth greater than a thickness of the locking arm save for the tenon to permit the locking arm the held by the tenon in the mortice to bend away from the panel within the slot when the locking arm holder is attached. The tine or prong may protrude from the locking arm holder, and in particular the prong may protrude from the mortice or first slot.

The locking arm holder may comprise an overhang having one of the sides of the elongate slot and/or the mortice. The overhang may protrude form a portion of the locking arm comprising the mortice, and/or the overhang may protrude from portion of the locking arm having an attachment surface to attach the panel.

The second clip may have a cavity entrance to receive the overhang. The overhang may rest on an edge or lip or ledge or crest of the cavity entrance. The edge or lip or ledge or crest may support the overhang. The overhang is part of the locking arm holder which may be attached to the panel. The edge or lip of the cavity entrance is part of the second clip which may be attached to the back surface. Weight of the panel is supported on the edge or lip by the overhang resting on the lip or edge. Since the edge or lip is held in place by the second clip being attached to the back surface, the panel is prevented from dropping away from the back surface.

The locking arm holder may comprise the overhang beside a first slot out of the mortice to receive the locking arm, and the second clip may comprise a ledge, lip or crest for the overhang to rest upon to support weight of the panel. The ledge may be configured to catch the locking arm to prevent longitudinal release. This provides for an uncomplicated and reliable clip linkage in which a ledge, lip, or crest of the second clip prevents longitudinal movement of the panel in the direction of the locking arm and supports the weight of the panel. The ledge, lip, or crest may be of one height or various heights.

The overhang may comprise a weight bearing surface to rest on the cavity entrance intermediate a surface to slide against the back surface and an attachment surface of the locking arm holder to attach to the panel. This aids the overhang to be in the proper position for the clip linkage to clip together without lifting and dropping the panel. Further toward this objective the weight bearing surface may have a height from the attachment surface exceeding a height from a panel facing surface of the second clip of a crest of a cavity entrance to receive the overhang. The crest may be also clip to the locking arm. This aids the locking arm to clip to the second clip without lifting and dropping the panel.

Release of the locking arm from the looking arm holder may be prevented by proximity of the back surface to the locking arm. The locking arm holder presents a mortice in the locking arm holder to receive the tenon through a back surface facing surface when the first clip is connected to the second clip. Release of the locking arm from the second clip may be prevented by proximity of the back surface to an edge or lip or ledge or crest upon which the locking arm is caught.

There may be restricted displacement of the locking arm parallel to the panel when the first and second clip are connected together and when the locking arm holder slides parallel to the back surface to connect the first and second clip together.

The first clip may comprise a second locking arm identical to the first locking arm and a second slot in the locking arm holder aligned parallel to the first slot. The seconds slot may extend from a second mortice in the locking arm holder to hold the locking arms as a fork from the locking arm holder.

The tenon may have a thickness at least a depth of the mortice in locking arm holder to stand the tenon held by the mortice flush or proud of locking arm holder. This braces or clamps the tenon against the back surface. The tenon may a thickness equal to or less than a depth of the mortice. This cradles the tenon within the mortice and allow the locking arm holder to slide along the back surface.

The locking arm may have a second side to slide along the back surface opposite a first side to stand upon the locking arm holder. The second side may be opposite to a first side of the locking arm holder to attach to the panel.

The locking arm may have a thickness less than a depth of a slot into the locking arm holder into which the locking arm is insertable, especially the thickness of a prong extending from the mortice may be less. This allows the locking arm, especially the prong to bend the slot toward the back surface.

The first clip may have a thickness across the locking arm holder and the locking arm substantially equal to a thickness of the second clip to separate the back surface from the panel. The second clip may comprise a first side to attach to the back surface and a second side to slide along the panel.

The locking arm holder and locking arm may have complementary shapes wherein the slot and/or mortice conform to the prong and tenon respectively. The prong by be straight. The locking arm may curve as an arc toward or away from the back surface when the locking arm is clamped between the locking arm holder and back surface or an end of the locking arm his held in the locking arm holder. The locking arm may have a type of L shape cross section, where the base of the L corresponds to the first end. The locking arm may be thickest in the direction standing from the locking arm holder at the first end.

The locking arm may comprise a second end to engage the catch opposite a first end comprising a tenon to prevent the locking arm being displaced from the locking arm holder in a longitudinal direction. Thus the locking arm may comprise a first end to be received and held by the locking arm holder opposite a second end to engage with the catch. The first end may stand under, flush with, or proud of the locking arm holder where the first end is received and held by the locking arm holder.

The first end may comprise the tenon. The locking arm may comprise a second end to engage with the catch distal from where the locking arm is intended to be received and held by the locking arm holder. The locking arm may comprise a barb to engage the catch. The first end and or tenon may be received and held by the locking arm holder distal from a second end comprising a barb to engage with the catch. The barb may be resilient to bend toward a longitudinal portion of the locking arm then spring back to engage with the catch.

The locking arm holder may have a third side for the locking arm to stand upon opposite a first side of the locking arm holder to attach to the panel. The locking arm may stand in a slot to receive the locking arm opposite to the first side of the locking arm holder. The second clip may comprise a catch to catch the locking arm intermediate first and second sides to separate the back surface from the panel.

The catch may comprise a deflector to redirect longitudinal movement of the free end of the locking arm toward the back surface as the clips are connecting. The deflector may have a rim of a catch which the free end may pass over to spring back toward the panel. The deflector may bend the locking arm as the free end is displaced. The deflector may be a ramp sloped to bend the locking arm away from the panel to toward the back surface. The ramp may slope to a rim of a cavity to capture the locking arm. Locking arm holder may hold the locking arm to locate a distal second end the locking arm at a level below the rim with respect to a first side of the locking arm holder to attach to the panel. The catch, deflector, and or ramp may have a leading edge to be set normal to the longitudinal direction of the locking arm and or slot the clips are clipped together. The deflector or ramp may be directed toward the longitudinal direction of the locking arm when attached to the locking arm holder. The a ramp sloped with respect to a second side of the second clip to slide along the panel and a first side to attach to the back surface.

The locking arm may comprise a barb to slide up the ramp as the locking arm bends. The barb may be snapped into the cavity as the locking arm springs back from bending. The first clip may a maximum thickness across the locking arm held in the locking arm holder in a direction to stand from the panel which exceeds a maximum thickness across the rim and a barbed end of the locking arm. The provides a clearance space for the barb between the rim back surface.

According to another aspect there is a panel assembly comprising: the panel and the clip linkage intermediate the back surface, wherein the first clip is attached by the locking arm holder to a hidden surface of the panel facing the back surface, the second clip is attached to the back surface, and the locking arm is held by the locking arm holder and caught be the second clip to restrict to restrict relative parallel displacement of the panel relative to the back surface.

In the panel assembly the clip linkage may comprise a spacer connected to the panel and the back surface to restrict relative displacement between the panel and back surface to parallel displacement. The spacer may comprise an insert slidable in a groove or blind hole of the panel. The panel may comprise a first planar section to which the locking arm holder is attached and a second planar section to which the spacer is slidably connected. The first planar section may be restricted from relative parallel displacement with a portion of the back surface to which the second clip is attached by catchment together of the first clip to the second clip. The second planar section may be restricted from relative parallel displacement with a portion of the back surface parallel to the second portion to which the spacer is connected. The first planar section may be connected to the second planar section by a rigid corner, or the first and second planar sections may be connected by a hinge or other variable angle device. The first planar section may be angled or orthogonal to the second planar section.

According to a another aspect there is a method of setting the clip linkage, comprising: attaching the first clip to the panel by attaching the locking arm holder to the panel to present the mortice in the locking arm holder to receive the tenon, attaching a second clip to the back surface, and displacing the panel parallel to the back surface in a direction from the tenon to a prong of the locking arm to catch the second clip until the second clip catches the locking arm.

According to a another aspect there is a kit of components comprising the clip linkage including the first clip and the second clip. The kit of components may also comprise a spacer connected to the panel and the back surface to restrict relative displacement between the panel and back surface to parallel displacement. The spacer may comprise an insert which is insertable into a groove or blind hole of the panel.

According to another aspect there is a room, shed, cabin, mobile home, elevator, or vehicle having a wall or ceiling comprising a panel assembly.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures there is shown inFIG.1clip linkage1000looking at a side which connects to a back surface.FIG.2shows a perspective view of the clip linkage1000.

The clip linkage comprises a locking arm holder400. The clip linkage inFIG.1andFIG.2is shown comprising two locking arms600,650which are held in the looking arm holder400. However there could be just one locking arm or there could be three or more locking arms and the clip linkage1000would still function. The clip linkage comprises a second clip300.

There is shown inFIG.3a panel assembly100. The panel assembly is located at a corner of a wall. An advantage of the clip linkage1000is its ability to hold a first panel having a corner508,510to a wall or back surface202having a corner.

The panel assembly comprises the first panel500and the clip linkage1000comprising the locking arm holder400, locking arm600, and the second clip300.

To attach the first panel500the back surface the first panel500is shifted in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm600. The first panel500remains parallel to the back surface202and the distance between the first panel500and back surface202does not change. There is no need to lift and drop the first panel500relative to the back surface to clip the locking arm600together to the second clip300. More information on this is described below in a description ofFIGS.8,9, and10.

The panel assembly shown inFIG.3also comprises a second panel550and a spacer700. The second panel550is connected to the first panel500at the corner508,510. The second panel550is orthogonal to the first panel500, although other angles are possible and the clip linkage1000will function.

The clip linkage1000will even function to hold a panel which is an elementary board to ceiling furring or back surface. No corner in the panel is necessary. More information on this is described below inFIGS.11,12, and13.

The panel assembly shown inFIG.3comprises a spacer700which inserts into a blind hole554in the second panel550which is around the corner508.510from the first panel500. The spacer700connects the second panel550to a second back board250. The spacer700displaces straight in the blind hole554. The first panel500only moves parallel to the first back surface200. There is no lift and drop of the first panel500relative to the second panel. The locking arm600of the first clip900and second clip300which clip together by straight displacement in the longitudinal direction of the locking arms600,650.

As can be seen inFIG.3the locking arm holder400, the locking arm600, and the second clip300are intermediate the first panel500and the first back surface202. So the clip linkage is hidden by the panel. Only the finished outwardly facing exposed surface506of the first panel500can be seen. The first clip900is attached by the locking arm holder400to a hidden surface502of the panel500. The hidden surface502is facing the parallel back surface202.

More detail on the locking arms600,650and the locking arm holder400is shown byFIG.4andFIG.5.FIG.4shows the locking arm holder400before the locking arms600,650are inserted into it.FIG.5shows the locking arm holder400after locking arms600,650after the locking arms600,650are inserted. A first clip900is made by the locking arms in the locking arm holder.

FIGS.4and5show three overhangs419beside the slot side wall406of the two slots to receive the locking arms. The overhangs have a weight bearing surface417parallel to the attachment surface418to the panel500and also parallel to the back surface facing surface416. The weight bearing surface417is intermediate the attachment surface418and the back surface facing surface416. The weight bearing surface417height from the attachment surface418is the same or greater by a sliding clearance than the height of the catch lip316of the panel facing surface312of the second clip. This positions the weight bearing surface417of the overhang419to rest on the catch lip316. The overhangs419thus prevent the panel500attached to the locking arm holder400from falling away from the back surface202. More detail is provided below with the description ofFIGS.11,12, and13.

Returning toFIG.3, the locking arm holder400is attached to the panel500by screws31,33,35through holes431,433,435. As can be seen inFIG.4, each locking arm600,650is dropped into a mortice402and elongate slot404,454in the locking arm holder400. Before the locking arms600,650are dropped into the elongate slots404,454, the panel500can be maneuvered into test positions by working persons. The working persons can maneuver the panel500into test position without inconvenience of interference of the locking arms600,650bumping into the second clips and accidently locking the panel500to the back surface202before the working person intended.

As shown inFIG.3and inFIGS.8,9and10, the locking arm600is inserted in the locking arm holder400so that the longitudinal direction of the locking arm600is parallel to the hidden surface502of the panel500and to the back surface202. The locking arm600and held by a tenon608at an end of the locking arm600distal from a connecting end614where the locking arm600clips to the second clip300.

The locking arm600has a prong622which extends in the longitudinal direction from the tenon606to the connecting end614. The prong622comprises a resilient material such as a polymer or alloy. The prong622is free to bend resiliently toward and away from the locking arm holder400while the tenon606is constrained from moving in the mortice402. The mortice402prevents the whole locking arm600from moving longitudinally. The tenon606is thicker than the prong622to encourage the prong622to bend preferentially.

Therefore once the locking arm600bends to displace the connecting end614over the catch306of the second clip300, longitudinal release of the locking arm600is prevented from both the locking arm holder400and the second clip300. The first clip900and the second clip300are clipped together. They cannot be pulled apart in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm600. The first panel500cannot be pulled laterally away from the back surface202because the spacer700does not allow lateral displacement. This way the first panel500and the second panel550are securely clipped in a fixed position covering the first back board200and the second back board250. More explanation is provided by a discussion ofFIGS.8,9, and10below.

FIG.6andFIG.7show the second clip300in detail. There are screw holes341,343,345,347,349through the boundary wall311around a cavity having a cavity entrance over a lip306. Screws41,43,4547,49through the screw holes attach an attachment surface around the cavity except the entrance to the back surface202. This prevents any portion of the boundary wall311from being bent away from the back surface by the weight of the panel500.

The catch306can be seenFIG.6which shows a perspective of the second clip300. The catch306comprises a leading edge318. As can be seen inFIG.3, to connect the looking arm600to the second clip300, the catch is proximate the hidden surface502of the panel500and normal to the longitudinal direction of the locking arms600,650.

As can be seen inFIG.3and inFIG.6there is a ramp308from the leading edge318of the entry to the cavity to a lip306at end edge of the cavity having a floor314. The locking arm600has a complementary connecting end614to fit into and be clipped over the lip306into the cavity. From the connecting end614, there is a slanted surface602to a tip of a barb604. The slanted surface602of the locking arm600is complementary to the ramp308of the second clip300. So the locking arm600is displaced longitudinally toward the ramp308, the slanted surface602slides up the ramp308and over the lip306into the cavity. The action of sliding the slanted surface602up the ramp308bends the resilient prong602away from the attachment surface418of the locking arm holder400and toward the back surface202. The tip604snap over the lip306as the prong622springs back.

FIG.3shows the clip linkage set intermediate a back surface202and a panel500with the locking arm barbed tip604caught by a lip306of a catch of the second clip300. The panel500covers a wall or a ceiling of a room, shed, cabin, mobile home, elevator, or vehicle. The panel500has an exposed surface506which can be seen inside a room, shed, cabin, mobile home, elevator, or vehicle. The exposed surface is polished or has another preparation intended to be seen. The panel500has a hidden surface502which faces the back surface202and cannot be seen.

The clip linkage prevents relative parallel displacement of the panel500past the back surface202. The clip linkage comprises the first clip900comprising two parallel tines600,650as shown inFIG.2. In other embodiments the first clip900has only one locking arm600or has three or more parallel locking arms. The locking arms600,650each have a tenon606. InFIGS.1,2,4and5the locking arms are shown identical in shape size. It is not necessary for the locking arms to have identical shape and size as long at the catch306in the second clip300is configured to catch and hold the connecting end614of each locking arm600individually.

The locking arm holder400attaches to the first panel500to present at least one mortice402,452in the locking arm holder400to receive the tenon606of each of the locking arms600,650. The mortice402has an entrance to receive the tenon606opposite to an attachment surface418of the locking arm holder400which is attached to the panel500by attaching screws31,33,35. Attachment of the locking arm holder400to the panel500directs the entrance to the mortice402,452outward from the first panel500. The locking arms600,650can be dropped simply and quickly into the locking arm holder400when the locking arm holder is attached to the panel500by dropping the tenon606into the mortice402,452.

With the tenon606in the mortice402, longitudinal displacement of the locking arm600parallel to the panel is restricted or prevented depending on the amount of clearance of the tenon606in the mortice. The second clip300attaches to the back surface202and catches a prong622of the locking arm600extending from the tenon606. The catch306,308in the second clip300prevents longitudinal release of the locking arm600from the second clip300. The first clip900and second clip are then clipped together so that the first panel500is prevented displacing parallel to the back surface202in the longitudinal direction of the locking arm.

As shown inFIG.2extending from the mortice is an elongate slot404in the locking arm holder to conform to the locking arm elongate shape. The elongate slot has sides406to prevent lateral deflection of the locking arm600, especially the prong622, parallel to the panel when the locking arm holder is attached. In this way locking arm holder400prevents displacement of the panel500normal to the longitudinal direction of the locking arms the slots404,454also prevent the panel500from rotating parallel to the back surface202. A second slot454for a second locking arm650parallel to the first slot406reinforces this effect.

The slot404has depth from its entrance to its floor greater than a thickness of the locking arm save for the tenon. This is the thickness of the prong622from the slot floor contact surface610to the to the exposed surface612. The depth of the slot404permit the locking arm600the held by the tenon606in the mortice402to bend away from the panel500within the slot406when the locking arm holder400.

The tenon606has a thickness from the mortice floor contacting surface610to the surface608which faces the back surface202equal depth of the mortice402in locking arm holder400. This depth stands the tenon606held by the mortice402flush or proud of locking arm holder.

The first clip900comprising the locking arm holder400with the locking arms600,650inserted as shown inFIG.5has at thickness across the locking arm holder and the locking arm600which is the shortest distance between the exposed portion of the tenon608and the attachment surface418of the locking arm holder400. This thickness of the first clip900is substantially equal to a thickness of the second clip300to separate the back surface200from the panel500. This thickness of the second clip is the shortest distance between the attachment surface310and the sliding surface312. The first clip900has a maximum thickness across the locking arm600held in the locking arm holder400in a direction to stand from the panel500which exceeds a maximum thickness across the rim306and a barbed end604of the locking arm600. This provides space for the barbed end to slide between the rim306and the back wall202into the cavity314.

FIGS.8,9, and10show in three steps how the panel500is connected to the back surface202by the clip linkage1000. The locking arm holder400is attached to the hidden surface502of the panel. The locking arm400holds the tenon606of the locking arm600. This hold prevents displacement of the locking arm600relative to the locking arm holder400in the longitudinal direction of the tine or prong622. The second clip300is attached to the back surface202of the ceiling.

FIG.8shows the positions of the locking arm holder400, locking arm600, and second clip300prior to engagement.

FIG.9shows their positions as they are engaging. The panel500is displaced parallel to the back surface202in the longitudinal direction of the tine622. The locking arm ramp622at the tip of the locking arm600distal from the tenon600bumps into the second clip catch ramp308. The slant of second clip catch ramp308deflects the tip of the locking arm towards the back surface202and away from the panel500. The tip of the locking arm600crests the second catch lip306. Deflection of the tip of locking arm is aided by resilient bending of the locking arm. The tenon surface619distal from the slot floor404is stopped by the back surface202which prevents the locking arm from being pushed out of the locking arm slot.

FIG.10shows positions of the locking arm holder400, locking arm600, and second clip300when they are clipped together. The locking arm barb616has crested over the second catch lip306and caught in the cavity of the second clip. The locking arm barb616cannot escape the cavity by displacement along the longitudinal direction of the tine622because of the catch lip306and because of the wall311of the cavity. The locking arm600is prevented from displacing sideways out of the cavity by locking arm holder slot side wall406. The locking arm is prevented by displacing out towards the back surface202by being trapped between the back surface and slot floor404. The locking arm600is trapped so that panel500cannot move parallel to the back surface202.

FIGS.11,12, and13show a second cross section B-B of the clip linkage1000parallel to the first cross section A-A shown inFIGS.8,9, and10. The positions of the locking arm holder400and the second clip inFIGS.11,12, and13are the same as their positions inFIGS.8,9and10respectively.

The overhang419is displaced over the second catch lip306as the locking arm leading end614is clipped by the second catch lip306. The weight bearing surface417of the overhang slips over the second catch lip306and rests upon the second catch lip306. This prevents the panel500from dropping away from the back surface202. Thus the panel is safe overhead because it cannot slide parallel to the back surface to unclip the locking arm from the second clip and the panel cannot fall.

INDEX OF LABELLED FEATURES IN FIGURES

The invention has been described by way of examples only. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.