METAL SLEEVE FOR TRANSFERRING STRESSES AND LOADS TO SUPPORTING STRUCTURES LOCATED BEHIND PANELS

Abstract: A metal sleeve (10), to be installed in a coating panel (12), fastened to an underlying supporting structure (14), or directly to a wall, comprises: a cylindrical body (16) having lateral surface provided with a thread (18), a first inside threaded cylindrical recess (20) continued in a restricted through hole (22) provided with a resilient stop (24) radially arranged between the lateral threaded surface (18) and the restricted through hole (22), a cylindrical bushing (32), externally threaded and provided with a disk shaped enlargement (38), suited to engage the first threaded recess (20) of the cylindrical body (16), and a tail member (50) comprising a first central protruding portion (52), a second portion (54) to be housed in the first cylindrical recess (20) of the cylindrical body (16) and a restricted shank (56) suited to be inserted in the restricted through hole (22) of the same cylindrical body (16) where it is fastened by the resilient stop (24) interfering with a recess (58) thereof.

Description: METAL SLEEVE FOR TRANSFERRING STRESSES AND LOADS TO SUPPORTING STRUCTURES LOCATED BEHIND PANELS The present invention pertains to a sleeve having duty as fastening point or rotation pivot of members with respect to coating panels supported by behind located supporting structures or walls. It is usual to fasten to panels of shows and shop-windows some fittings, such as hangers, shelves and wings, to be arranged according to the show requirements of specific products. Presently, a very simple way to carry out the fastening of fittings on the panels is to employ panels of rather strong materials, into which can be pierced holes suited to receive pins or studs integral with the same fittings. The method is safe and efficient at all, however has the drawback to require panels of well sound and stiff materials, such as metal, wood or plastic having sufficient thickness, suited to receive the above mentioned pins or studs. When the materials are of too little stiffness, such as chipboard or sawdust panels, it would be possible to remedy, at least partially their weakness and crushing tendency by inserting in panel holes metal sleeves, giving some toughness to the walls of the holes coupled to the pins or studs. However, this approach can simply transfer the problem from the contact between pins and sleeves to that between sleeves and holes, as it could happen with particularly crumbly panels, as for example plasterboard panels. The above mentioned problem is solved by metal sleeves according to the present invention enclosing a hole through the crumbly panel but, instead to be supported by the panel, are mechanically supported by a structure, such as a frame or a masonry wall, arranged behind the crumbly panel and hidden by the same. The present invention consists of a metal sleeve, to be installed on a coating panel, fastened to a underlying supporting structure, such as a metal frame or a masonry wall, characterized by: - a cylindrical body having lateral surface provided with a thread, a first internally threaded cylindrical recess continued in a restricted through hole provided with a resilient stop radially arranged between the threaded lateral surface and the restricted through hole, - a cylindrical bushing, externally threaded and provided with a disk shaped enlargement, suited to engage the first threaded recess of the cylindrical body, and - a tail member comprising a first central protruding portion, a second portion to be housed in the first cylindrical recess of the cylindrical body and a restricted shank suited to be inserted in the restricted through hole of the same cylindrical body, where it is fastened by the resilient stop interfering with a recess thereof. Preferably, the restricted through hole is of square cross-section and the restricted shank, therein inserted, is of square cross-section too. Further preferably, the resilient stop consists of a cylindrical recess, perpendicularly arranged with respect to the restricted through hole, containing a ball facing the restricted through hole, pressed by a helical spring, in turn pressed by a screw engaged in the same perpendicular cylindrical recess, at the opposed end with respect to the ball, the cylindrical recess ending with an opening having diameter smaller than that of the ball to prevent the ball from exiting from the recess. In particular, the tail member is characterized by a first protruding cylindrical portion operating as a pin or stud to be inserted in a hole of a fitting to be mounted on a panel, by a second cylindrical portion to be housed in the first cylindrical recess of the cylindrical body and by a square shank to be inserted in the square through hole of the same cylindrical body. Alternatively, the tail member is characterized by a first protruding portion integrally manufactured with the fitting to be mounted on the panel, by a second cylindrical portion to be housed in the first cylindrical recess of the cylindrical body and by a square shank to be inserted in the square through hole of the same cylindrical body. Preferably, the cylindrical body is fastened to the metal frame by means of a pair of nuts screwed on the thread of the lateral surface, a nut entering and remaining imprisoned by the frame and the other nut fastening the cylindrical body against the frame. The features of the present invention will result particularly self-evident in the claims appended to the specification. However, other features and advantages will particularly result from the following detailed description of its embodiments, provided with the enclosed drawings, wherein: - fig. 1 is a cross-section view of a metal sleeve embodied according to a first embodiment of the present invention; - fig. 2 is a cross-section view of a cylindrical body used in the sleeve depicted in figure 1; - fig. 3 is a cross-section view of the cylindrical body of figure 2 taken along a 3-3 line crossing the same figure; - fig. 4 is a cross section view of a bushing used in the sleeve of figure 1; - fig. 5 is a front view of the same bushing depicted in figure 4; - fig. 6 is a side view of a tail member to be inserted in the main cylindrical recess of the sleeve according to the present invention; - fig. 7 is a rear view of the same tail member of figure 6; - fig. 8 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of a tail member, suited for reduced size fittings, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and - fig. 9 is a partial rear view of the same tail member of figure 8. Let us consider figures 1 to 7 to completely understand the first embodiment of the present invention. A metal bushing 10, to be installed on a coating panel 12 of crumbly material, and to be fastened to a supporting structure, such as a frame 14, comprises a first cylindrical body 16 having a lateral surface provided with a thread 18 and a cylindrical recess 20, internally threaded, continuing with a square through hole 22 provided with a resilient stop 24 comprising a grub screw 26, a spring 28 and a ball 30 abutting against a recessed edge of a specific seat. A cylindrical bushing 32 comprises a hollow shank 34, provided with an external thread 36 and a disk shaped enlargement or flange 38, the enlargement 38 being suited to cover the hole through the panel 12 and to allow a fastening between the same panel 12 and the sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 is, in turn, fastened to the frame 14 by means a pair of nuts 40 and 42, engaging the thread 18 of the cylindrical body 16, and a seam 44 of elastic or gluing material fastening the nut 42 against the frame 14. A tail member 50, to be inserted in the assembly formed by the cylindrical body 16 and by the bushing 32, comprises a first portion 52, also protruding from the cylindrical body 16, a second portion 54 to be partially housed in the hollow shank 34 of the bushing 32 and partially in the recess 20 of the cylindrical body 16, and a shank 56 of square cross-section to be inserted in the square through hole 22 of the cylindrical body 16 and provided with a recess 58 suited to house the ball 30 of the resilient stop 24. Looking now at figures 8 and 9, it is seen that a tail member 50', suited for reduced size fittings, comprises a first portion 52', protruding from the cylindrical body 16 and incorporated in the fitting, a second portion 54' to be housed partially in the hollow shank 34 of the bushing 32 and partially in the recess 20 of the cylindrical body 16, and a shank 56' of square cross-section to be inserted in the square through hole 22 of the cylindrical body 16 and also provided with a recess 58 suited to house the ball 30 of the resilient stop 24. Of course, all the components of the tail member 50' are similar to the corresponding members of the tail member 50, so that no more description thereof is given. The operation of the present invention is well understood by considering the figures 1 to 7, while that of the second embodiment depicted in the figures 8 and 9 results substantially identical to that of the first embodiment depicted in figures 1 to 7. For using a sleeve 10 in the fastening of particularly delicate and crumbly panels 12, such as plasterboard panels, a cylindrical body 16 of the sleeve, obviously provided with its resilient stop 24 is taken, it is provided with the rear nut 42, at a desired level, and is inserted in a hole of the frame 14 with the fastening seam 44. Then the front nut 40 is screwed on the external thread 18 of the cylindrical body 16 till is tightened against the frame 14, thus fastening the cylindrical body 16 to the frame 14. Subsequently the panel 12 is installed, by passing the cylindrical body 16 in one of its fastening holes, and the threaded bushing 32 is screwed in the threaded cylindrical recess 20 of the body 16, till the disk shaped flange 38 fastens the panel 12 against the nut 40. Of course, the length of the cylindrical body 16 and of the shank 34 of the bushing 32 are so sized to not detrimentally crush the panel 12 when the shank 34 is completely screwed in the cylindrical recess 20. ' Once the panel 12 is properly installed, it is possible to insert in the cylindrical body of every sleeve a tail 50, by entering the square shank 56 in the square hole 22 of the same body 16, till the recess 58 of the shank 56 houses the ball 30 of the resilient stop 24, allowing a firm installation of the tail 50 in the cylindrical body 16. The tail 50 is provided with the first protruding portion 52, in the form of a pin or stud, made to be inserted in a proper coupling hole of a fitting to be mounted near the panel 12. Should the tail 50 to be removed from the sleeve, it would be sufficient to push by means of a proper tool, such as a common screwdriver, the tail 50 out of the cylindrical body 16, by overcoming the engagement of the ball 30 in the recess 58 of the shank 56. Otherwise, in the case of a sleeve 10 fastened by means of some cement to a masonry wall, instead to the frame 14, it would be possible to grip the protruding portion 52 of the tail 50 by means of a puller and pull for overcoming the engagement of the ball 30 in the recess 58. Of course, instead of the tail 50 depicted in the figures 6 and 7, it would be possible to use a tail 50' for reduced size fittings in accordance with the embodiment depicted in the figures 8 and 9. The only difference in this case is that the first portion 52' of the tail 50' is integral with or fastened to the associated fitting so that the tail 50' is inserted in or removed from the cylindrical body 16 of the sleeve 10 together with the fitting. At last, the sleeve 10, instead of being inserted in the frame 14, could be directly fastened in a wall by gluing or cementing. What has been here above disclosed depicts two embodiments of the present invention non to be considered at all as limiting the scope thereof. Consequently, any logically equivalent change must be considered into the coverage scope as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Metal sleeve, to be installed in a coating panel (12), fastened to either an underlying supporting structure (14), such as a metal frame, or directly to a wall, characterized by: - a cylindrical body (16) having a lateral surface provided with a thread (18), a first internally threaded cylindrical recess (20) continued in a restricted through hole (22) provided with a resilient stop (24) radially arranged between the threaded lateral surface (18) and the restricted through hole (22), - a cylindrical bushing (32), externally threaded and provided with a disk shaped enlargement (38), suited to engage the first threaded recess (20) of the cylindrical body (16), and - a tail member (50) comprising a first central protruding portion (52), a second portion (54) to be housed in the first cylindrical recess (20) of the cylindrical body (16) and a restricted shank (56) suited to be inserted in the restricted through hole (22) of the same cylindrical body (16), where it is fastened by the resilient stop (24) interfering with a recess (58) thereof. 2. Metal sleeve, as in claim 1, characterized in that the restricted through hole is of square cross-section and the restricted shank, therein inserted, is of square cross- section too. 3. Metal sleeve, as in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the resilient stop (24) consists of a cylindrical recess, perpendicularly arranged with respect to the restricted through hole (22), containing a ball (30) facing the restricted through hole (22), pressed by a helical spring (28), in turn pressed by a screw (26) engaged in the same perpendicular cylindrical recess, at the opposed end with respect to the ball (30), the cylindrical recess ending with an opening having diameter smaller than that of the ball (30) to prevent the ball from exiting from the recess. 4. Metal sleeve, as in claims 1 to 3, in which the tail member (50) is characterized by a first protruding cylindrical portion (52) operating as a pin or stud to be inserted in a hole of a fitting to be mounted on a panel, by a second cylindrical portion (54) to be housed in the first cylindrical recess (20) of the cylindrical body (16) and by a square shank (56) to be inserted in the square through hole (22) of the same cylindrical body (16). 5. Metal sleeve, as in claims 1 to 3, in which the tail member (50') is characterized by a first protruding portion (52') integrally manufactured with the fitting to be mounted on the panel, by a second cylindrical portion (54') to be housed in the first cylindrical recess of the cylindrical body and by a square shank (56') to be inserted in the square through hole (22) of the same cylindrical body (16). 6. Metal sleeve, as in preceding claims, characterized in that the cylindrical body (16) is fastened to the metal frame (14) by means of a pair of nuts (40, 42) screwed on the thread (18) of its lateral surface, a nut (42) entering and remaining imprisoned by the frame (14) and the other nut (40) fastening the cylindrical body (16) against the frame (14). 7. Metal sleeve, as in claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cylindrical body (16) is fastened to a wall by means of either gluing or direct cementing.

Inventors: FABRIS MARIO, FABRIS, MARIO
Applicants: FABRIS MARIO, LISAR SPA, FABRIS, MARIO
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F16B9
IPC codes: F16B9, F16B21