A COVERING ELEMENT, JOINTING ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN COVERING PROFILES AND A FASTENING BAR FOR MOUNTING A COVERING ELEMENT

Abstract: A facing panel formed of profiles (1) mounted side by side as to be used as cladding of plane and arching surfaces and as hatch or door constructions, which can be opened and closed. The first edge of profile (1) is formed as an obtused-angled groove (2) and the second opposite one, with the former edge shape jointly acting edge, is an obtuse-angled tip (8), whereat, with the profiles (1) tightened together side by side, tip (8) retains contact with groove bottom (2) on turning adjacent profiles mutually from one extreme position into another.

Description: A COVERING ELEMENT, JOINTING ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN COVERIN G PROFILES AND A FASTENING BAR FOR MOUNTING A COVERING ELEMENT The method relates to a facing panel in accordance with the introductory chapter of patent claim 1, to a jointing system between panel profiles and a panel fixing rail in accordance with the introductory chapter of patent claim 8. Previously known are sliding doors of laminated structure, tilt up doors and pliable folding doors, where the sheets are joined in a manner allowing mutual folding. For this purpose, a swing joint, a pliable joint element, like fabric, and also a sort of mutual butment has been used, allowing a rather small-angled mutual folding range. For wall cladding a lining board element like a laminated facing panel has been used, however having no arching quality, since the adjacent sheets are joined stiffly together. Known arching panels have the disadvantage that the laminated panel is not tight. A slot is formed between the sheets, at least when the panel is arched. The panels lack the function of pressing the sheets against one another. Furthermore, the panels have in no state at all shown any rigidity but have required outward guides for forming a plane or arched surface. The objective of the invention is to eliminate the above presented disadvantages and to produce a versatile facing panel for immobile or mobile assembly. The invention is characteri2- ed in what is presented in the patent claims. The advantage of the invention is the great range of variation of the radius of curvature. The adjacent profiles functioning as sheets can be turned retaining their mutual contact so that even a pillar with a diameter of 80 mm can be cladded with profiles 36 mm in widht. On the other hand, in order to carry out cladding, the adjacent profiles can be folded even in the opposite direction with respect to each other, enabling cladding of an inner corner, for instance. Accordingly, the panel must not be broken off at corners while it yeilds in the inner coner by small radius. The contact face between profiles is shaped in a new way enabling a great mutual angle between profiles, yet retaining, line contact between adjacent profiles. The facing panel comprises connection of profiles by means of a tautening and elastic thread, which makes the line contact complete and improves its advantages. The thread elasticity allows realization of all the radiuses of arching meant for the facing panel, on the other hand, it prevents exceeding of the determined limits. The thread is tied into the groove on the back of the profiles with a fixing component that becomes automatically locked into place. By means of a fixing system as per the invention it is possible to produce facing panels, like profiles, with accurately proper arching, where a rail determing the grade of arching is installed at first. It can be easily folded into proper arching and assembeled on the underlayer. When the profiles are assembled one by one, their lenght can be adjusted to the one wanted and the openings, for instance, can be taken into account. In the following the invention is disclosed with reference to the enclosed drawing, where Fig. 1 shows profiles used in the facing panel side by side. Fig. 2 shows the fixing component of the tightening thread wieved from two directions. Fig. 3 shows the fixing component in position wieved from the end. Fig. 4 shows the profiles folded into another extreme position. Fig. 5 shows an enlargment of the profile contact edge. Fig. 6 shows the facing panel from behind. Fig. 7 shows the facing panel folded into shape. Fig. 8 shows adjacent profiles. Fig. 9 shows a portion of a strip-shaped component by means of which the profiles are joined together. Fig.10 shows a portion of the fixing rail. Fig.11 shows a portion of another strip-shaped component. Fig.12 shows the fixing rail and the strip-shaped component to be attached to it. Fig.13 shows a portion of a two-sided facing panel from above. Fig.14 shows a portion of the facing panel attached to the fixing rail Figure 1 is an advantageous profile shape 1 with an arching upper surface well fit for the facing panel. The back side has a deep groove in the profile direction and also with arching bottom. The profile edges are asymmetric. The first edge has a groove 2 formed of straight sides. Most suitably angle b between the sides is 130° + - 20°. The second profile edge has an acute-angled tip 8 and most suitably angle c is 150° + - 20°. Across the profiles a groove 3 is cut for the tightening thread. Groove 3 reaches half way up to groove 2 lower side and tip 8 lower side. Figure 2 is a fixing component of thin sheet metal, which has in its centre part a groove-shaped guide for the tightening thread. The groove has openings 7 for pulling out the thread and fixing it. This is done only in the farthermost profile edge in the facing panel , otherwise the thread runs straight- lined through the groove. Further, the fixing component has platy parts 4 applied to be bent by pressing them down into profile 1 back-side groove, where they after bending get automatically tightened against the groove walls and locked in place. The locking is secured by sharp tips 6 in the corners of parts 4. Since the tightening threads can be conveyed out through openings 7, the facing panels can be extended and transported in pieces, because the tightening threads can be cut off and fixed, made longer and started from the outside of groove 5. The degree of tightening can also be altered in using different kinds of thread on certain panel portions . In usin these solutions the thread tensions can also be better controlled. The tightening thread can also be conveyed from groove 5 on the line of one thread groove 3 to groove 5 of the adjacent groove 3 through openings 7 and the profile backside groove. This for instance in cases where an opening must be done in the facing panel on the line of the tightening thread. Figure 3 is the fixing component pressed down in place so that tightening thread 9 is in groove 5. Part 4 is sligtly bent in the profile back side groove. Figure 4 shows two adjacent profiles 1 joined together by tightening thread 9 so that tip 8 is not in groove 2 bottom. In the example in this figure the profiles are in another exptre e position with regard to each other and the folding is meantj to end here. The line contact between profiles is shifted over to tip 12 on the line of thread 9. On reaching the extreme position, this tip is as a rocking point with bottom of groove 13. On exceeding the extreme position the rocking point would shift over already to tip 11 in the lower corner of profiles 1. The left profile 1 is foldable also in the other direction as much as angle a from this extrem position. Exceeding also this extreme position would detach tip 8 from groove 2. Angle a is at least 40 c , but most suitably at least 50°. Figure 5 is an enlargement of an extreme position, where the rocking point between profiles is shifted into contact between tip 12 and groove 13. Due to the corner contact, even in this situation the profiles do not attempt to slide with regard to each other. The extreme position becomes constant since exceeding it would indeed require a great force to stretch the thread. In using two rocking points a great total angle a between the extreme positions is achieved and all the time there exists a not-gliding line contact between the profiles. When the tightening thread 9 is running close to the latter rocking point 12,13, on this range of angle there will hardly be any change of elasticity, which is advantageous, a.o. in order to sharpen the arrival at the extreme position. Figure 6 is the edge of facial panel, where thread 9 is conveyed through the opening 7 of the fixing component and in which construction a helical spring 10 is used that retains tension in thread while the spring works as a sliding spring. As pull thread 9 a number of elastic and tightening threads of different materials can be used. It as an advantage if, later on, the thread end could be fixed into proper tautness according to the purpose of use and manner of mounting the facing panel. Non-elastic thread can be used, whereby elasticity must be arranged in the farthermost profile when the thread has come out from opening 7 , for instance in form of a loop that can get bigger or smaller. Most stiff material can be used as a thread that attempts to keep the element straigt. Figure 8 shows, diagonally, two adjacent profiles 1 used for producing a facing panel. Inside the profiles there is a groove 14 with vertical sides. Measure b is the distance between the sides. The profiles are joined by a tongue-and-groove joint or similar, which allows making arching surfaces with the profiles. Figure 9 shows a portion of a thin sheet metal strip die-cut into a profiled strip 15 for joining profiles 1. In strip 15 there are locking portions arranged at grooves 14 as long as measure a, in both ends of which there are brackets 16 functioning as locking tongues when profile 1 is pressed onto the portion. Measure a is greater than measure b, e.g. 0,2 - 0,5 mm greater, whereby the said locking portion becomes slightly arched in groove 14 and tongues 16 take support from and tighten against the groove walls securing the locking. Strip 15 is transversely under the profiles, it is the first Figure 10 shows a portion of the fixing rail, particularly for mounting an arched facing panel. The fixing rail can be, for instance, bent into a ring around a pillar or vertically into arched shapes. In other directions the rail is more rigid and vertically the rail remains also rigid after bending and must not be fixed or braced to the underlayer with shorter distances than 100 - 500 mm from one another. The fixing rail is mounted on the underlayer by means of componentes 18 of side profiles 17 in using a screw to fasten components 18 or, for instance, with a nail machine across the component. The V-form of side profiles 17 is illustrated in figure 12. Figure 11 shows a strip version 19 that has locking portions as long as measure a for profile fixing on both sides of the strip. Figure 12 shows a profile assembly viewed from one end, where profiles 1 are on one side and profiles 22 on the other, both locked to strip 19. This two-sided facing panel can be bent into arching in both directions. Figure 12 is a side view of strip 15 shown in figure 9, whereby tongues 16 are visible as well as triangle-shaped tongues 20 turned downward from the strip. Further, the same strip 15 is still shown in figure 12, whereby the shape of tongues 20 can be observed to be of such kind that strip 15 can be locked by means of them in the fixing rail visible on the underside. This is simply done in pressing strip 15 so that due to their shape tongues 20 get locked into side profiles 17. In this manner a fixing strip for arched facing panels can be built. Then profiles 1 are pressed one by one into strip 15. The strip is a relatively rigid support when produced by this procedure and the fixing rails can be secured in the underlayer 500 mm apart from one another. Figure 13 shows a two-sided strip version 15, on both sides of which profiles are locked by pressing. On the one side profile 1 and on the other a slightly modified profile 22. The panel can be bent in both directions. Figure 14 shows profiles 1 assembled on the fixing rail and on strip 15 illustrated in figure 12. The fixing rail is fastened on the underlayer by screw 21. Components 18 are bent to run substantially below the rail side-profiles 17. The arching shape of profiles 1 can vary and, beside wood, the material can be plastic, aluminium or similar. Proper thread material could be flagella, thin wire or fiberthread. The density of fixing components is chosen according to need.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A facing panel formed of profiles (1) mounted side by side to be used as cladding of plane and arching surfaces and as hatch or door constructions that can be opened and closed, characterized in that the first edge of profile (1) is an obtuse-angled groove (2) with straight sides beside which there is an obtuse-angled tip (12) and the second, with the former edge shape jointly acting opposite edge is an sharp- angled tip (8) beside which there is an obtuse-angled groove (13), whereat, with profiles (1) tightened together side by side, either tip (8) is in contact with groove bottom (2) or tip (12) in contact with groove bottom (13) on folding adjacent profiles mutually from one extreme position into another. 2. A facing panel according to patent claim 1 characterized in that the contact between profiles (1) is formed between tip (8) and groove (2) bottom on the major portion of their mutual angle area (a) and at least, on approaching another extreme position, the contact is shifted over between tip (12) and groove bottom (13). 3. A facing panel according to patent claims 1 and 2 characterized in that profiles (1) are joined togehter with one or several threads (9), which are elastic and maintain tension. 4. A facing panel according to patent claims 1 and 2 characterized in that profiles (1) are joined together with one or several threads (9) with bending stiffness. 5. A facing panel according to any of the above patent claims 1 - 4 characterized in that thread (9) is σonveyed from one profile to another along a line that is directly behind -he line determined, by groove (2) and tip (8) as viewed from t e profile front side. 6. A facing panel according to any of the above patent claims 1 - 4 characterized in that thread (9) is fastened on the back of the profile by a fixing component that includes a thread guide (5) dimensioned to become tightened between the side- walls on the profile backside. 7. A joining arrangement between facing panels, which are oblong profiles (1),(10), at least the one surfache of which is meant to be used as a facade, a cladding or a similar surface and the adjacent profiles are adjusted to form both plane and arching surfaces, characterized in that profiles (1,10) are fixed on a flexible component (15) ,(19) that is arranged crosswise behind the profiles and, substantially, a band-shaped strip while the back of the profiles comprise a profile groove (14), within the sidewalls of which tongues 16, formed and placed with profile spacing in the strip, are fitted to stick and tighten on pressing the profile and strip together in order to lock the strip into the profile. 8. A joining arrangement according to patent claim 7 characterized in that substantially strip (15), (19) is rigid both vertically and longitudinally. 9. A joining arrangement according to patent claims 7 and 8 characterized in that the other surface of strip (15) comprises tongues (16) for assembling profiles (1), whereat there is in the strip opposite surface components (20) for fixing the strip on the underlayer or similar. 10. A joining arrangement according to patent claims 7 and 8 characterized in that strip (19) comprises locking tongues (16) for fixing profiles (1,10), on both sides of the strip. 11. A joining arrangement according to any of the above patent claims 7 - 10 characterized in that tightening of tongues (16) against the side walls of profile groove (14) is effected by an oversize (a) between the strip tongues with respect to width (b) of groove (14). 12. A fixing rail that can be bent and fastened on the underlayer into required arching as a mounting rail for a strip (15) according to patent claim 7 characterized in that the rail is formed of two adjacent side-profiles (17) and components (18) to join them together at certain distances from each other, whereat there is in the side-profiles at least one profile portion turned outward and inward. 13. A fixing rail according to patent claim 12 characterized in that the shape of the rail side is a V-profile.

Inventors: TUOHIMAEKI AULIS, TUOHIMAEKI, AULIS
Applicants: ASATO FINLAND OY
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9