Fitting for walls or panels

Abstract: A fitting for walls or panels (1) comprises a female coupling element (3) which can be mounted on the panel or wall and a support element (4) which can be fixed releasably in the female coupling element (3). Coupling means and complementary coupling means provided for restraining the support element (4) in the female coupling element (3) comprise a pin (11) and a catch seat (20), respectively, and resilient means (14) are also provided for urging the pin (11) into the catch seat (20) so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the coupling means and the complementary coupling means.

Description: The present invention relates to a fitting for walls or panels, according to the preamble to main Claim 1. In the field of display structures, it is known to use modular panels equipped with fittings which comprise female coupling elements mounted firmly on the panels and support elements with male couplings which can be coupled releasably in the corresponding female elements for the suspension thereon of the items to be displayed or for the support of shelves or brackets on which the items are subsequently placed. The support elements are restrained releasably in the female coupling elements by a releasable bayonet coupling. Document DE 9 407 340 discloses one of such fittings. However, these fittings have many disadvantages, amongst which is the fact that the support element may accidentally be disengaged, resulting in its detachment from the panel. A further disadvantage is the displeasing aesthetic effect of the holes in the female coupling elements on the visible face of the panel. The problem upon which the present invention is based is that of providing a fitting for panels or walls equipped with fittings, which is designed structurally and functionally to overcome the limitations described above with reference to the prior art mentioned. This problem is solved by the invention by means of a fitting formed in accordance with the following claims. The characteristics and the advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a panel equipped with fittings formed in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of a first detail of one of the fittings of Figure 1, and Figures 3 and 4 are a section through a second detail of one of the fittings of Figure 1 and a rear elevational view thereof, respectively. In the drawings, a panel, indicated 1, is equipped with fittings 2 formed in accordance with the present invention. Each fitting 2 comprises a female coupling element 3 which can be mounted on the panel 1 and a support element 4 which can be fixed releasably in the female coupling element 3. Coupling means and complementary coupling means are provided on the female coupling element 3 and on the support element 4, respectively, for restraining the support element 4, by means of a bayonet coupling, in the female coupling element 3 when it is fixed therein. The female coupling element 3 comprises a substantially cylindrical bush 5 with an outer curved surface 6 having an axis X and an inner curved surface 7 having an axis Y which is inclined at an angle A of between 0.5 and 5 degrees to the axis X. The bush 5 has a screw thread on an end portion 6a of the outer surface 6 and, at its opposite end, has a flange 8 perpendicular to the axis X. The bush 5 is closed at its axial end remote from the flange 8 by a base 9 in which a flared hole 10 is formed. Each female coupling element 3 is mounted on the panel 1 with the flange 8 in abutment with a visible face of the panel. At the opposite end, the female coupling element 3 is fixed to the panel 1 by means of a ring nut, not shown in the drawings, screwed onto the threaded portion 6a. Two opposed flat areas 5a, 5b are formed axially in the outer surface 6 of the bush 5 and corresponding flat areas are provided in the hole for housing the female coupling element 3 in the panel 1. The flat areas 5a, 5b constitute locating means for the mounting of the female coupling element 3 in a predefined angular position on the panel 1. A pin 11 is fixed in the bush 5 at a predetermined angular point relative to the flat areas 5a, 5b and a short portion of the pin 11 projects radially from the internal surface 7. A cylindrical core 12 having an axis Y is fixed inside the bush 5 and is restrained so as to be coaxial with the inner surface 7 by a screw 13a extending through the hole 10 in the base 9. An end 12a of the core 12 remote from the base 9 is flush with the flange 8. An annular chamber 13 is defined between the inner surface 7 and the core 12. Housed in the annular chamber 13 is a helical spring 14 which extends around the core 12 and is in abutment between the base 9 and the pin 11, a thrust axis and a thrust direction of the spring being indicated by the arrow F in Figure 3. The support element 4 comprises a cylindrical, preferably tubular, body with an axis Z. It has a substantially "J"-shaped slot, indicated 16, at one of its axial ends 15. Identified in the slot 16 are a flared mouth 17, a first portion 18 of predominant axial extent, a second, successive portion 19 extending transversely relative to the first portion 18 and preferably oriented away from the end 15, as well as a third successive, blind portion 20 which is elongate predominantly axially towards the end 15 and defines a catch seat, as will be explained further below. Two or more appendages 21 suitable for supporting, for example, a bracket or a shelf 22, may be provided on the outer surface of the support element 4. The angular positioning of the appendages is predetermined relative to that of the catch seat 20 for the reasons explained below. The coupling means of the above-mentioned bayonet coupling comprise the pin 11 in the female coupling element 3 and the complementary coupling means comprise the slot 16. Naturally, the above-mentioned positioning may be reversed, in wholly equivalent manner, with the pin 11 on the support element 4 and the slot in the female coupling element. When the support element 4 is inserted in the female coupling element 3, the complementary coupling means are housed in the annular chamber 13. At this stage of the engagement of the bayonet coupling, the first and second portions 18 and 19 of the slot 16 are engaged in succession by the pin 11 by means of a first, substantially axial movement in the opposite direction to the direction of thrust F of the spring 14 and a second, rotary movement about the axis Z of the support element 4. When the support element 4 is released, the pin 11 is caught in the catch seat 20 because of the thrust of the spring 14 which is compressed during the previous rotational- translational movement. In this condition, any accidental disengagement is prevented since, in order to disengage the bayonet coupling, it is necessary first of all to press the support element 4 against the female coupling element 3 in opposition to the spring 14 and thus to release the support element and the female coupling element for relative rotation. The coupling is further strengthened by the core 12. The relative arrangement of the inclination of the axis Y and of the locating means defined by the flat areas 5a, 5b is selected in a manner such that the axis Y is inclined upwardly. It is thus possible to compensate for any bending of the support element 4 under load and also as a result of the taking up of the play between the coupling elements. Moreover, the coupling means and the complementary coupling means are positioned relative to one another in a manner such that the appendages 21 advantageously extend upwards in order to support any bracket or shelf correctly when the support element is fixed. The present invention thus solves the problem complained of above with reference to the prior art mentioned, at the same time offering many further advantages, amongst which is a greater load capacity of the support elements and improved security against their accidental disengagement. Moreover, the core of the female coupling element masks its cavity, considerably improving the appearance of the visible face of a panel thus equipped if respective support elements are not fitted in all of the female coupling elements.

Claims: A fitting for walls or panels equipped with fittings, comprising a female coupling element (3) which can be mounted on the panel or wall (1), a support element (4) which can be fixed releasably in the female coupling element (3) in a position such that it projects like a bracket from the panel or wall (1), as well as bayonet coupling means and complementary coupling means provided in the female coupling element (3) and the support element (4) respectively, for restraining the support element in the female coupling element when it is fixed therein, characterized in that the coupling means and the complementary coupling means comprise respectively, a pin (11) and a catch seat (20) for catching the pin (11), and in that resilient means (14) are provided and act between the pin (11) and the catch seat in order to urge the pin (11) into the catch seat (20) so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the coupling means and the complementary coupling means when the support element (4) is fixed in the female coupling element (3). A fitting according to Claim 1 in which the resilient means (14) have a thrust axis and a thrust direction (F), the complementary coupling means comprising a slot (16) which can engage the pin (11) by sliding and which includes a first portion (18) extending with a predominant component parallel to the thrust axis and in the thrust direction, and a second portion (19) extending substantially transverse the thrust axis, the catch seat (20) extending as a continuation of the second portion (19) of the slot (16) with a predominant component extending parallel to the thrust axis and in the opposite direction to the thrust direction. A fitting according to Claim 2 in which the slot (16) and the catch seat (20) are generally "J"-shaped. A fitting according to one or more of the preceding claims in which the coupling means in the female coupling element (3) comprise an annular cavity (13) extending coaxially around a core (12) and the complementary coupling means have a tubular shape in order to fit onto the core (12) when the complementary coupling means are housed in the annular cavity (13). A fitting according to Claim 4 in which the female coupling element (3) has, at one of its ends, a flange (8) which abuts the panel (1), and the core (12) comprises an end (12a) extending substantially flush with the flange (8). A fitting according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which the pin (11) extends radially into the annular cavity (13) . A fitting according to any one of Claims 4, 5 or 6 in which the resilient means comprise a helical spring (14) extending around the core (12) and in abutment between a base (9) of the annular cavity (13) and the pin (11). A fitting according to one or more of Claims 4 to 7 in which a mounting axis (X) substantially perpendicular to a surface of the panel or wall (1) is identified in the female coupling element (3) and the annular cavity (13) has an axis (Y) which is inclined to the mounting axis (X). A fitting according to Claim 8 in which the axis (Y) of the annular cavity (13) is inclined at an angle of between 0.5 degrees and 5 degrees to the mounting axis (X) A fitting according to one or more of the preceding claims in which locating means are provided on the female coupling element (3) for the mounting of the female coupling element (3) in a predetermined angular position on the panel or wall (1). A panel or wall equipped with fittings comprising at least one female coupling element (3) mounted on the panel or wall and respective support elements (4) which can be fixed releasably in the at least one female coupling element (3), the at least one female coupling element (3) and the respective support elements (4) being formed in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims. A panel or wall according to Claim 11 comprising at least one visible face (1a) on which the annular cavity (13) and the core (12) of the at least one female coupling element (3) are visible.

Inventors: MANIEZZO DARIO LUIGI, MANIEZZO, DARIO LUIGI
Applicants: ALU S R L, ALU S.R.L.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47F5
IPC codes: E04B2, A47F5, G09F7