Joint composed of a joining component and four panels in parallel and coplanar pairs

Abstract: In a joint (1) composed of a joining component (2) and four panels (3, 4, 5, 6) in parallel and coplanar pairs, in which the joining component contains a cavity (2c) whose shape is complementary to and houses two shaped projections (32, 42) present on the edges of two (3, 4) of the said panels, the said joining component being connected at its back (2d) to the edges of the other two mutually neighbouring panels (5, 6), the said joining component (2) is made of synthetic resin, has a cross-section of defined width (W) and has on its back (2d) two recesses (7, 8) perpendicular to itself and complementary in shape to two peduncles (5p, 6p) that are formed on at least a portion of the length of the neighbouring edges of the said other two panels (5, 6) and can be pushed elastically into the said recesses (5p, 6p) in which they are reversibly retained.

Description: The present invention relates to building, and in particular to the sector that employs panels, normally of synthetic resins such as polycarbonate and the like, connected together to form walls for covering and/or infilling. More specifically the invention relates to a joint composed of a joining component to which four of the said panels are connected in mutually parallel pairs and coplanar pairs, so as to form a double wall with a dividing space. A joint of this kind is known from European Patent EP 339,216 in the name of Polyù Italiana S.r.l., which in turn is based on the same firm's Italian utility model No. 22284B/80. In the abovementioned European Patent the joint in question consists of a joining component which is internally shaped so as to accommodate two projections, with which it is complementary, on the adjoining edges of two coplanar panels arranged edge to edge. Formed in the sides of the rear of this joining component are two grooves which take shaped extensions of two further panels so that the latter are anchored in the same plane as each other with the joining component between them. The latter component, being a single-walled section, must necessarily be made of metal and have sufficient thickness to give the necessary stiffness and bending strength. In addition, since the joint is prepared as described above, in order to remove one of the two panels with shaped extensions without risking damage to these extensions, basically the entire joint has to be removed, so that part of the assembled wall is dismantled. In order to eliminate these drawbacks the inventor of the present invention has devised a joint of similar construction to the cases described above, but where the joining component is of synthetic resin with a cross-section of defined width, and the two panels connected to its rear are fixed to it by means of projections provided on the adjoining edges of the said panels, from which they project perpendicularly with a profile which is shaped to allow them to be pushed elastically into recesses of complementary shape formed on the back of the joining component, in which they are reversibly connected. Thus, the subject of the present invention consists of a joint composed of a joining component and four panels in parallel and coplanar pairs, in which the joining component contains at a front surface a cavity whose shape is complementary to and houses two shaped first projections present on the edges of two of the coplanar panels, the said joining component being connected at the back surface parallel to to the front surface the edges of the other two mutually neighbouring panels characterized in that the said joining component is made of synthetic resin, has a cross-section of defined width and has on said back surface two recesses perpendicular to itself and complementary in shape to two second projections that are formed on at least a portion of the length of the neighbouring edges of the said other two panels and can be pushed elastically into the said recesses in which they are reversibly retained. A more detailed description will now be given of a preferred embodiment of the joint according to the invention, in which reference will also be made to the appended figures, which show: in Figure 1 the cross-section of the said embodiment of the joint according to the invention; and in Figure 2 the cross-section of the joining component only. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the joint 1 is composed of a joining component 2 running longitudinally along the full length of the panels to be connected and having an internal shaped cavity 2c. This cavity is complementary in shape to two tongues 3r, 4r of two 3, 4 of the panels which are inserted into the cavity to effect the desired connection. It will be observed that the joining component 2 (see Figure 2) is an internally ribbed extruded section of synthetic resin whose width L is relatively great in order to increase to an appropriate degree the moment of inertia of its cross-section, and hence its stiffness and bending strength. In the back 2d of the joining component 2 are two recesses 7, 8 perpendicular to this back, while on the opposing edges of the other two panels 5, 6 are projections 5p, 6p of complementary profile to the said two recesses 7, 8 so that they can be pushed elastically by methods known per se into these recesses 7, 8 and be reversibly retained in them. The result of this is a joint 1 between four panels 3, 4, 5, 6 in parallel and coplanar pairs forming a double wall with a dividing space 9 between them suitable for covering and/or infilling walls, and with a joining component 2 of low weight in itself. The advantage is that it is possible to remove one of the two panels 5, 6 simply by pulling it perpendicularly to the joining component 2, without having to resort to any other dismantling action. Besides all this, the two peduncles 5p, 6p work in conjunction with the cross-section of the joining component 2 to tolerate bending stresses. The projections 5p, 6p may extend along the full length of the edge of the respective panels 5, 6 or only along portions of them, depending on the type of use and the stresses envisaged. The shape, dimensions and relative positioning of the various parts making up the joint according to the invention can be modified in order to produce different embodiments from those described and depicted in the drawings. Such embodiments, if based on the concepts expressed in the accompanying claims, will come within the scope of the protection conferred by the present patent application as defined in the claims.

Claims: Joint (1) composed of a joining component (2) and four panels (3, 4, 5, 6) in parallel and coplanar pairs, in which the joining component contains at a front surface a cavity (2c) whose shape is complementary to and houses two shaped first projections (3r, 4r) present on the edges of two (3, 4) of the coplanar panels (3, 4), the said joining component being connected at the back surface (2d) paralled to said front surface to the edges of the other two mutually neighbouring panels (5, 6), characterized in that the said joining component (2) is made of synthetic resin, has a cross-section of defined width (W) and has on said back surface (2d) two recesses (7, 8) perpendicular to itself and complementary in shape to two second projections (5p, 6p) that are formed on at least a portion of the length of the neighbouring edges of the said other two panels (5, 6) and can be pushed elastically into the said recesses (5p, 6p) in which they are reversibly retained. Joint according to Claim 1, in which the said second projections (5p, 6p) extend along the full length of the respective panels (5, 6). Joint according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its component parts are made of polycarbonate.

Inventors: COSIMO CONTERNO, COSIMO, CONTERNO
Applicants: E M P ESTRUSIONE MATERIALI PLA, E.M.P. ESTRUSIONE MATERIALI PLASTICI SA
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A01G1
IPC codes: E04C2, E04D3