Patent Publication Number: US-6336302-B1

Title: Panel end connector and locking clip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application corresponds and claims priority to European Application No. 98203081.9 filed Sep. 15, 1998, and European Application No. 98203221.1 filed Sep. 25, 1998. Both applications are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a panel connector or splice for connecting longitudinal ends of elongate wall or ceiling panels in an end-to-end relationship. This invention also relates to a locking clip for increasing the fire and wind resistance of a wall or ceiling paneling assembly and to a method and tool for locking the last panel to be installed in the assembly, as well as for unlocking the first installed panel to be removed from the assembly. 
     b. Background Art 
     In the architectural industry, walls and ceilings have often been covered with arrays of prefabricated longitudinally-elongate panels. Such panels have commonly been of a constant, generally channel-shaped cross-section with a substantially flat central web portion and inturned lateral side flanges or rims. These elongate panels have usually been attached to carrier beams and have been conveniently obtained by quasi endlessly roll-forming sheet metal strip into the required channel shape cross-section. 
     Although such panels can, in theory, be produced in any length to fit a wall or ceiling, the necessary transportation from a manufacturing site to a building site limits the maximum length to about 5 or 6 meters. As a result, end-to-end connections have been required in wall and ceiling installations with dimensions exceeding such maximum transportable lengths of panels. 
     Several ways of connecting longitudinal ends of elongate panels in an end-to-end relationship have been known. One way, described in UK patent specification GB 982 775, has involved cutting panel ends so as to have mating contours with inter-engaging tongues. Although this construction has resulted in a satisfactory alignment of the visible panel surfaces, it has also required the use of elaborate and expensive cutting and shaping tools, in addition to the cutting tools for making conventional straight end cuts. 
     Another way, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,051, has involved connecting longitudinal ends of adjacent panels with a separate sheet metal connector. The connector has had a cross-sectional configuration adapted to that of the panels but has been slightly smaller to permit its insertion into the longitudinal ends of adjacent panels, so as to connect them together. In this arrangement, the longitudinal panel ends have been cut straight and have not differed from regular end cuts at the edges of a wall or ceiling installation. With straight cut ends in abutting relationship, the longitudinal ends of adjacent panels should have been in the same plane, with no visible gap being left between the abutting cut edges. However because of difficulties in achieving such a fit between adjacent panels, it has not always been possible to have a flush and inconspicuous transition between the visible surfaces of adjacent panels. It has also generally been difficult to avoid having shadow lines and visible gaps in every end-to-end panel connection. 
     Also in the architectural industry, wall and ceiling panels have been provided with outwardly directed beads at the free edges of their inturned lateral side flanges. Each bead has been supported by the elongate body of one of a plurality of longitudinally-extending carrier beams. In this regard, the elongate body of each carrier beam has been provided with a plurality of support lugs, spaced along the length of its carrier beam. As described in Swiss patent publication CH 349 398 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,653, each support lug has had a stem portion, connecting the lug to the elongate body, and two support surfaces, spaced from the elongate body and extending in opposite longitudinal directions, so that the outwardly directed beads on the flanges of adjacent panels are received on two confronting support surfaces. 
     It has been easy to install the panels in such paneling systems. It also has been easy to remove the panels in order to gain access to the plenum behind or above the paneling systems. Yet, there has been a demand for a paneling system in which the panels are more securely locked in position and thereby more resistant to being accidentally removed, especially for outdoor installations, for installations in underground railway stations and particularly for installations where fire hazards require that the panels be prevented from falling down too readily during a fire. In this regard, known paneling systems have not always been sufficiently resistant to gusts of wind or maintained their structural integrity long enough during a fire. 
     It has been proposed in EP 0 137 591 (B1) to use additionally locking elements which are inserted through openings in a carrier body of a carrier beam and which have a tab that can be bent downwardly behind a panel bead engaged on a support surface of a support lug, to prevent the panel from being accidentally removed from the carrier beam. However with such locking elements, it has not been possible to lock the last installed panel in the paneling system, because when it has been time for the last panel to be installed, the locking element positioned in the plenum, has no longer been accessible. As a result, the last panel, to be installed, has had to be left unlocked and thus susceptible to being accidentally removed. Also with such locking elements, it has been cumbersome to intentionally remove panels for access behind or above the plenum because of the necessity to remove the panels in sequence starting from the last installed panel and working towards the panel covering the area where access has actually been needed. This has often required the removal of a substantial number of panels, including panels from areas where access to the plenum was not strictly required. It has also not been easy for persons, without knowledge of the original installation of such systems, to locate or recognize the last installed panel. Furthermore, such locking elements, which have to be bent back when installed, have become unsuitable for reuse and have required replacement after having been removed to gain access to the plenum. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a panel connector is provided which improves the appearance of the connection of adjacent longitudinal ends of a pair of longitudinally-extending elongate panels, such as wall or ceiling panels, in an end-to-end relationship, where each panel has a pair of upstanding inturned flanges on opposite lateral sides of a central web portion; the panel connector of the invention comprises: 
     a base member with a first central body having, on laterally opposite sides, a first pair of marginal edges adapted to be engaged between the opposite inturned flanges of each of the elongate panels when the first central body overlies the central web portion of each panel; and 
     a hold down member with a second central body having, on laterally opposite sides, a second pair of marginal edges adapted to be engaged between the opposite inturned flanges of each of the elongate panels when the second central body overlies the first central body; 
     wherein the base member and the hold down member are movable relative to one another. 
     Another embodiment of the panel connector of this invention comprises: 
     the base member; and 
     the hold down member; 
     wherein the second pair of opposite marginal edges are connected to laterally opposite sides of the second central body of the hold down member by a pair of resilient side portions biasing the second pair of opposite marginal edges away from the first pair of opposite marginal edges; and 
     wherein the second pair of opposite marginal edges are spaced away from the first pair of opposite marginal edges. 
     Advantageously, the base member and the hold down member are movable only laterally with respect to one another. Also, the second pair of opposite marginal edges of the hold down member are advantageously adapted to cooperate with the opposite inturned flanges of each of the elongate panels to laterally and vertically center the hold down member on the elongate panel and on the base member, between them, particularly when the opposite inturned flanges have a generally U-shaped cross-section with generally inwardly-directed free end portions, confronting one another. Moreover, the first pair of opposite marginal edges of the base member are adapted to laterally center the base member between the opposite inturned flanges of the pair of elongate panels. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a wall or ceiling paneling assembly is provided, comprising: 
     a plurality of elongate panels, each having a pair of inturned side flanges extending in the same generally perpendicular direction 
     relative to a main panel surface; each flange having an outwardly directed bead at its free edge; and 
     at least two elongate carrier beams, each having an elongate body with a longitudinal axis; the longitudinal axes of the carrier beams being in parallel spaced relationship; the elongate body of each carrier beam being provided with a plurality of support lugs spaced along the length of the carrier beam; each support lug of the elongate body of each carrier beam having a stem portion connecting it to the elongate body and two support surfaces spaced from the elongate body and extending in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis of the carrier beam; and each support lug receiving outwardly directed beads of adjacent panels on confronting support surfaces; and 
     at least one locking clip movably connected to the elongate body of each carrier beam for movement between: i) an inactive position, in which the outwardly directed beads of adjacent panels can be engaged by, and disengaged from, the confronting support lug of the elongate body of the carrier beam, and ii) an active position, in which the outwardly directed beads of adjacent panels are prevented from being disengaged from the confronting support lug of the elongate body of the carrier beam. 
     This paneling assembly does not have the inconveniences of prior paneling assemblies in that its locking clip can be moved between inactive and active positions without bending it. In addition, the locking clip can be hidden but nevertheless reached and activated or deactivated through the closed surface of the completely installed paneling assembly. 
     Also provided is a locking clip for use in this paneling assembly, comprising: a main body; a pair of arms on opposite sides of the main body and extending generally in the plane of the main body away from its opposite sides; a pair of legs on opposite sides of the bottom of the main body and extending generally downwardly in the plane of the main body; a frontally-extending tab located vertically and horizontally between the arms and legs; and a frontally-extending finger grip on top of the main body. Advantageously, a laterally-extending knee portion is provided at about the middle of the length of each leg. It is particularly advantageous that the arms each have a rear arm portion, an inwardly- and frontally-extending front arm portion and a frontally-extending hand portion. It is quite particularly advantageous that each front arm portion have a downwardly depending tongue. 
     Further provided are a method and tool which allow any one of the panels in the completely installed paneling assembly to be locked with the locking clip, so that they cannot be accidentally removed or unlocked. 
     Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description below of particular embodiments and the drawings thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial elevation view of a first ceiling paneling assembly of this invention, from a longitudinal end of a ceiling panel, engaging a panel connector of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above, showing adjacent longitudinal ends of two ceiling panels in a partly exploded assembly and the panel connector of FIG. 1, inserted in one of the longitudinal ends of one of the panels; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above, showing the hold down member of the panel connector of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view from above, showing the base member of the panel connector of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view from above of the assembled panel connector of FIG. 1, using the components of FIGS. 3 and 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of the panel connector of FIG. 1, inserted in the longitudinal end of a single ceiling panel, showing an additional feature of the panel connector; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above of a portion of a second ceiling paneling assembly of this invention, showing the steps of fitting and locking its last panel with locking clips of this invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the second ceiling paneling assembly of FIG. 7, showing different positions of a panel locking clip of this invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the panel locking clip from the same direction as in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the panel locking clip as seen from an opposite direction from that of FIG. 9; and 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 7, but showing the steps of removing a first panel from the fully installed, second ceiling paneling assembly of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a portion of a first ceiling panel assembly  1  having a laterally elongate carrier beam  3  which can hold a plurality of longitudinally elongate ceiling panels, generally  5 , of which only the longitudinal end of one panel  5  is shown. The carrier beam  3  has a plurality of prongs  7  spaced along its length. The prongs  7  each include at least one laterally open recess  9 , preferably two laterally open recesses  9  on laterally opposite sides, to accommodate beads  11  on confronting upstanding inturned flanges, generally  13 , on laterally opposite sides of each panel  5 . 
     The carrier  3  is also preferably provided with regularly spaced slots  15  and/or openings  17  which can be used for mounting the carrier on a building structure (not shown) or provide markings for shortening the carrier  3  at predefined locations. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a panel connector  19  of this invention, which includes a base member  21  and a hold down member  23 , engages the ceiling panel  5 . Laterally opposite sides of the base member  21  have a first pair of upstanding marginal edges  25  held between, and engaging, the opposite inturned flanges  13  of the ceiling panel  5  when the base member  21  lies substantially directly atop a substantially flat, central web portion  27  of the ceiling panel  5 . The first pair of opposite marginal edges  25  is adapted to cooperate with the inturned flanges  13  of the ceiling panel  5  to laterally center the base member  21  on the ceiling panel  5 . As described in detail below, laterally opposite sides of the hold down member  23  have a second pair of upstanding marginal edges  29  that are held between, and engage, the opposite inturned flanges  13  of the ceiling panel  5  and are spaced away above the first pair of opposite marginal edges  25  when the hold down member  23  lies directly atop the base member  21  which lies directly atop the central web portion  27  of the ceiling panel  5 . 
     Each of the second pair of opposite marginal edges  29  is positioned on the free end of an upwardly biased, resilient side portion  37  of the hold down member  23  and is likewise adapted to cooperate with the opposite inturned flanges  13  of the ceiling panel  5  to laterally and vertically center the hold down member  23  on the ceiling panel  5  and on the base member  21 , sandwiched between them. In this regard, the opposite inturned flanges  13  of each ceiling panel  5  preferably have a generally U-shaped cross-section, as shown in FIG. 1, where they engage the upstanding opposite marginal edges  25 ,  29  of the base member  21  and hold down member  23 . The preferred U-shaped cross-section of the opposite inturned flanges  13  provides a generally inwardly-directed free end portion on the flange  13  on each lateral side of the ceiling panel, directed towards the inwardly-directed free end portion of the flange  13  on the other lateral side of the ceiling panel  5 . 
     FIG. 1 also shows that the central body  33  of the base member  21  has a longitudinally- and downwardly-extending central dimple or depression  31 . The depression  31  is urged against the underlying central web portion  27  of the ceiling panel  5  when the upstanding opposite marginal edges  25  of the base member  21  engage the confronting opposite inturned flanges  13  of the ceiling panel  5  as described below with regard to FIGS. 4 and 6. 
     FIG. 2 shows one longitudinal end of the panel connector  19  engaging a longitudinal end of a first ceiling panel SA before the other longitudinal end of the panel connector  19  engages the adjacent longitudinal end of a second ceiling panel  5 B to form a ceiling panel assembly  1  of this invention. The base member  21  of the panel connector  19  has a substantially flat, central body  33  which will overlie the confronting central web portions  27 A,  27 B of the first and second ceiling panels  5 A and  5 B, and the first pair of opposite marginal edges  25  of the base member  21  will thereby be snugly engaged between the most widely separated portions of the confronting upstanding inturned flanges  13 A,  13 B on laterally opposite sides of each ceiling panel  5 A and  5 B. The hold down member  23  also has a substantially flat, central body  35  which overlies the flat central body  33  of the base member  21 . 
     The upstanding second pair of opposite marginal edges  29  of the hold down member  23  are each positioned on the free end of a resilient, upwardly biased, side portion  37  on laterally opposite sides of the central body  35  of the hold down member. The resilient side portions  37  of the hold down member  23  are particularly resilient in an upward direction, so that when the hold down member is held between confronting inwardly-directed U-shaped portions of the opposite inturned, flanges  13 A,  13 B of the adjacent ceiling panels  5 A and  5 B and the central body  33  of the base member  21 , the resilient side portions  37  bias the central body  33  of the base member  21  downwardly against the underlying confronting central web portions  27 A,  27 B of the panels  5 A,  5 B. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the hold down member  23  preferably is directly held on the base member  21  by tabs  39  that are integrally formed in the central body  33  of the base member and that extend through and engage apertures  41  in the central body  35  of the hold down member. Preferably, the apertures  41  are dimensioned to be significantly larger in the lateral direction than are the tabs  39 , so that there can be significant relative movement between the base member  21  and the hold down member  23  in the lateral direction. Preferably, the apertures  41  are also dimensioned to not be significantly larger in the longitudinal direction than are the tabs  39 , so that there cannot be significant relative movement between the base member  21  and the hold down member  23  in the longitudinal direction. It has been found that such relative lateral mobility successfully accommodates and eliminates the negative effects of any inaccuracies or distortions which may be present in the shape or configuration of the inturned flanges  13  of ceiling panels  5 . Such inaccuracies can result from roll-forming the cross-sections of the ceiling panels  5 , and such distortions can result from spring back at the panel ends after cutting, and if not dealt with, they can impair the proper fit of ceiling panels and panel connectors and result in a poor appearance of the end-to-end panel joints in ceiling panel assemblies. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the hold down member  23  preferably has a longitudinal length (parallel to its second pair of opposite marginal edges  29 ) which is smaller than the longitudinal length of the base member  21  (parallel to its first pair of opposite marginal edges  25 ). The hold down member  23  is also preferably provided with upwardly bent tabs  43  to facilitate manual positioning of the panel connector  19 , once it is inserted in the abutting ends and web portions  27 A,  27 B of the adjacent panels  5 A,  5 B. 
     FIG. 3 shows the hold down member  23  of the panel connector  19  of this invention, isolated from the base member  21  (which is shown separately in FIG.  4 ). The hold down member  23  is adapted to accommodate different positions of the base member  21  on the ceiling panel  5  in a ceiling panel assembly  1 , as a result of the shape and size of the apertures  41  in the central body  35  of the hold down member and its resilient side portions  37  carrying its second pair of opposite marginal edges  29 . The hold down member  23  also has upwardly bent tabs  43  for holding and manipulating just the hold down member or the entire panel connector  19 . Alternatively, upwardly bent tabs (not shown) for holding and manipulating the entire panel connector  19  could be provided on the central body  33  of the base member  21 , but there would be a risk of such tabs showing through as a deformation on the visibly exposed side of the central web portion  27  of the ceiling panel  5 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the base member  21  of the panel connector  19  of this invention. Its tabs  39  are shown in an upstanding position, ready to be received in the apertures  41  of the hold down member  23 . Also shown in FIG. 4 is the central depression  31  which projects downwardly from the central body  33  of the base member  21 , so as to be able to engage the web portion  27  of the ceiling panel  5  in the ceiling panel assembly  1  as shown in FIG.  1 . It is preferred that additional longitudinally-extending depressions  45  and  47  are provided on both lateral sides of the central depression  31 . The additional depressions  45  and  47  are preferably somewhat shorter and shallower than the central depression  31 . As explained below in connection with FIG. 6, the single central depression  31  or optionally the several depressions  31 ,  45 ,  47  can assist in vertically aligning the central web portions  27  of the adjacent ceiling panels  5 . Because the additional depressions  45 ,  47  are also generally aligned with the tabs  39  of the base member  21 , the additional depressions can assist in hiding any imperfections that may result from the tabs  39  being formed out of the material of the central body  33  and that could be seen from beneath the ceiling panels  5  when the central body is flush with the central web portion  27  of the ceiling panel  5 . Such imperfections could, for example, be the apertures left in the central body  33  by the tabs  39 , showing through on the visibly exposed side of the central web portion  27  of the ceiling panel  5 . By lifting slightly the central web portion  27 , this phenomenon can be prevented. 
     FIG. 5 shows the base member  21  of FIG. 4 attached to the hold down member  23  of FIG. 3 to form the assembled panel connector  19 . The tabs  39  of the base member  21  have been bent longitudinally through another 90 degrees to engage the inwardly facing edges of the apertures  41  of the hold down member to hold the base member and hold down member together but allow them to slide somewhat laterally relative to one another. As so attached, the flat central bodies  33 ,  35  of the base member  21  of FIG.  4  and the hold down member  23  of FIG. 3 closely overlie one another, although the marginal edges  29  of the hold down member are spaced substantially above the marginal edges  25  of the base member within the inturned flanges  13  of the underlying ceiling panel  5 . 
     FIG. 6 shows the underside of the central web portion  27  of one of the ceiling panels  5  with the panel connector  19  inserted into a longitudinal end thereof. This is the view that would be visible in a room containing the ceiling panel assembly  1 . FIGS. 1 and 6 particularly show the cooperation between the central depression  31  in the central body  33  of the base member  21  of the panel connector  19  and the central web portion  27  of one of the adjacent ceiling panels  5 . The central web portion  27  of each of the adjacent ceiling panels  5  is forced by the central depression  31 , acting on the cut longitudinal end of the central web portion  27 , to curve slightly laterally outwardly. This slight curvature greatly enhances the alignment of the cut longitudinal ends of adjacent ceiling panels  5 , when joined together by the panel connector  19 , and so prevents the formation of shadow lines or gaps between such ends. Alignment of adjacent cut longitudinal ends of ceiling panels  5  is often hampered the so-called “spring back effect” following transverse cutting of roll-formed panels. This “spring back effect” is attributable to a release of inherent tension within the roll-formed shape, and it results in the central web portions  27  of the adjacent ceiling panels  5  becoming slightly concave at their cut longitudinal ends, although most of the remainder of each central web portion  27  retains its intended flat or slightly convex shape. The central depression  31  corrects such distortions at the abutting cut longitudinal ends of the panels  5 . Similarly, the additional depressions  45 ,  47  can provide extra support for the curvature of the abutting cut longitudinal ends of the panels  5 , and accordingly, such depressions  45 ,  47  are preferably smaller than the central depression  31  in accordance with the smaller degree of panel distortion that they resist. 
     FIG. 7 shows a second ceiling paneling assembly, generally  101 , in a somewhat simplified arrangement, with two longitudinally elongate carrier beams  103 . The carrier beams  103  are arranged parallel to one another and, for the purpose of illustration, are shown spaced closer together than they would be in covering an actual ceiling. Transverse to the longitudinal axes of the carrier beams  103  are a plurality of laterally elongate panels, generally  105 , in side-by-side relationship. The panels  105  have in-turned marginal side flanges  107  which are engaged by support lugs (not visible in FIG. 7, but generally referenced  129  in FIG. 8) on the carrier beams  103 . 
     The carrier beams  103  each have an elongate body  109  with at least one downwardly depending flange  111 , preferably two downwardly depending flanges  111 , 112 . A plurality of upstanding locking clips, generally  113 , are slidably attached to an exterior lateral face  114  of one of the depending flanges  111  of each carrier beam  103  in the vicinity of the support lugs ( 129  in FIG. 8) and hold the side-by-side side flanges  107  of a pair of adjacent panels  105 . 
     The one depending flange  111  of each carrier beam  103  is provided with pairs of adjacent vertical slots  115 , in which a pair of arms  117 , 118  on opposite sides of each locking clip  113  are vertically slidable. The configuration and shape of the arms  117 , 118  allow the clips  113  to engage the one depending flange  111  of each carrier beam  103  by hooking one arm  117  into one of a pair of vertical slots  115  while maneuvering its other arm  118  in the other vertical slot  115  of the pair as indicated by arrow A in FIG.  7 . 
     Once a locking clip  113  has been mounted on a depending flange  111  of a carrier beam  103  by having the pair of arms  117 , 118  of the locking clip engage one of the pairs of vertical slots  115  of the carrier beam, the locking clip can be slid downwardly in the slots  115  in the direction of arrow D to engage the side-by-side side flanges  107  of a pair of adjacent panels  105  to securely hold them in position on the carrier beam. 
     FIG. 7 also shows the locking of a last panel  105 A to be installed in the second ceiling panel assembly  101  and the use of a tool  119  for accomplishing this. With the last to-be-installed panel  105 A positioned on all the carrier beams  103  and with all the previously fitted panels  105  locked by sliding downwardly the locking clips  113  above them, the locking clips  113  on the carrier beams for the last to-be-installed panel  105 A can no longer be reached by hand. 
     Locking of the last to-be-installed panel  105 A is effected by first inserting the tool  119  between the abutting side flanges  107  of the last to-be-installed panel  105 A and one of the longitudinally adjacent, previously installed panels  105 B as indicated by arrow B. Then, the tool  119  is slid laterally towards an adjacent carrier beam  103  and a first upstanding locking clip  113  on the exterior lateral face  114  of its depending flange leg  111 , between the two panels  105 A,  105 B to be fastened together first. The first locking clip  113  can then be engaged by means of a tab  121  extending frontally from about the middle of the locking clip, away from the one depending flange  111  of the adjacent carrier beam  103 . The tab  121  is adapted to be accommodated in a recess  123  of the tool  119 . 
     The tool  119  is conveniently formed from a flat metal, preferably steel, strip. The tool  119  is adapted to be moved towards the adjacent carrier beam  103 , with the flat sides and recess  123  of the tool extending laterally, between the somewhat resilient abutting side flanges  107  of the two panels  105 A,  105 B to be fastened together first, without damaging them. After insertion of the tab  121  of the first locking clip  113 , on the exterior lateral face  114  of the one depending flange  111  of the adjacent carrier beam  103 , in the laterally oriented recess  123  of the tool  119 , the tab  121  is moved downwardly in the direction of arrow D by moving the tool downwardly. This downward movement of the tab  121  and thereby the first locking clip  113  positions the abutting side flanges  107  of the two panels  105 A,  105 B, to be fastened together first, between a pair of downwardly-extending legs  125 ,  127  on opposite sides of the bottom of the first locking clip  113 , which is the locking position of the locking clip  113  as described in more detail below with reference to FIG.  8 . 
     After having moved the first locking clip  113  to its locking position relative to the two panels  105 A,  105 B to be fastened together first, the tool  119  is slid laterally away from the locking clip in accordance with arrow E, and the tool can thereafter be retracted by moving it downwardly in accordance with arrow F. 
     The same steps can then be repeated to lock the last to-be-installed panel  105 A to the other longitudinally adjacent, previously installed panel  105 B, using a second locking clip  113  on the adjacent carrier beam  103 , between these two panels  105 A and  105 B to be fastened together second. 
     Thereafter, all of the above steps can be repeated to lock the last to-be-installed panel  105 A to the two longitudinally adjacent, previously installed panels  105 B, using the locking clips  113 , between the panels  105 A,  105 B, on the other carrier beams  103 , to securely hold the last to-be-installed panel  105 A to the two longitudinally adjacent, previously installed panels  105 B. 
     FIG. 8 shows three adjacent panels  105  of the second ceiling paneling assembly  101 . The abutting in-turned side flanges  107  of the panels  105  are engaged by support lugs  129  formed on the depending flange  111  of one of the carrier beams  103 , which flange  111  carries the locking clips  113  on the one carrier beam  103 . The support lugs  129  are spaced along the length of the carrier beam  103 , and each support lug has a stem portion  131  and two oppositely extending, support surfaces  133 ,  135 . The support surfaces  133 ,  135  are each spaced vertically from an adjacent portion of the depending flange  111  and are adapted to receive an outwardly directed bead  137  on the free edge of each of the confronting side flanges  107  of the adjacent panels  105 . 
     FIG. 8 also shows two locking clips  113  on the one carrier beam  103 . The right-hand locking clip  113  is shown in its uppermost or inactive position. The left-hand locking clip is shown in its lowermost or active position with its legs  125 ,  127  adjacent to, and on longitudinally opposite sides of, a pair of outwardly directed beads  137  of the confronting side flanges  107  of adjacent panels  105 , thereby preventing the outwardly directed beads  137  of the adjacent panels  105  from becoming disengaged from the support lug  129 . In this regard, at about the middle of the length of each leg  125 ,  127  is a frontally-extending knee portion  139 . In the active position of the locking clip  113 , each knee portion  139  engages a lower edge  141  of a recess  143  that is in the depending flange  111  of the carrier beam  103  and that surrounds the support lug  129 . The knee portions  139  thereby hold the left-hand locking clip  113  in its lowermost, active position to lot prevent it from being accidentally dislocated from its locking position on the exterior lateral face  114  of the depending flange  111 , holding together two side-by-side side flanges  107  of a pair of adjacent panels  105 . Manual movement of each locking clip  113 , between its inactive and active positions, is facilitated by a frontally-extending finger grip  145  on top of the locking clip. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show the upstanding locking clip  113  in more detail from the front and back. The locking clip  113  has a main body  147 , from which the pair of arms  117 ,  118  and the pair of legs  125 ,  127  extend generally in the plane of the main body. The arms  117 , 118  are on opposite sides of the main body  147  and extend generally away from its opposite sides. The legs  125 , 127  are on opposite sides of the bottom of the main body and extend generally downwardly. Also on the main body  147  is the frontally-extending tab  121 , located vertically and horizontally between its arms  117 ,  118  and legs  125 ,  127 , and on top of the main body portion is the frontally-extending finger grip  145 . The arms  117 ,  118  each have a rear arm portion  149 , an inwardly- and frontally-extending front arm portion  151  and a frontally-extending hand portion  153 . Depending downwardly from the front arm portion  151  is a tongue  155  which is adapted to engage behind the carrier flange  111  at the bottom of the vertical slot  115  when the locking clip  113  is in its lowermost locked position. These tongues  155 , together with the resilient legs  125 ,  17  and knee portions  139 , ensure that the locking clip  113  is firmly held in position on the depending carrier flange  111 , when in its locked position. When slid in the uppermost inactive position, the locking clip  113  is held only by the inwardly- and frontally-extending front arm portions  151 . These front arm portions  151  also provide sufficient guidance to the locking clip  113  during the first portion of its downward sliding movement until its tongues  155  have reached the bottom of the vertical slots  115 . Preferably, the lower end of each tongue  155  is rounded or chamfered to enable engagement with some resilient pressure. The function of the frontally-extending hands  153  is to provide guidance upon initial engagement with the carrier beam  103  as explained in connection with arrow A of FIG.  7 . 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 also show that the finger grip  145  is spaced above the main body portion  147  by a neck  157 . As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the neck  157  spaces the finger grip  145 , so that it is flush with the top of the carrier body  109  so as to allow the unlocked position of the locking clips  113  to be readily recognisable, visually. 
     FIG. 11 shows the demounting of a first panel  105  and the use of the tool  119  for this purpose. The tool  119  is first inserted in the direction of arrow E between the abutting side flanges  107  at the joint of neighboring panels  105 , which will resiliently allow the flat strip-like tool  119  to pass between them. With the tool  119  far enough inserted between the adjacent side flanges  107 , it can be moved in the direction of arrow F towards the adjacent carrier beam  103 , so as to engage the tab  121  of the locking clip  113  in the recess  123  of the tool  119 . With the tab  121  engaged in the recess  123 , the tool  119  is moved further upwardly in the direction of arrow G, and this will then move the particular locking clip  113  to its unlocked position. As shown elsewhere in FIG. 11, retraction of the tool  119  after unlocking one of the locking clips  113  is first in the direction of arrow H to disengage the tab  121  from the recess  123  and thereafter in the direction of arrow I to retract the tool from between the adjacent panel flanges  107 . 
     After the locking clips  113  on one side of the first panel  105  have all been unlocked in this manner, the tool  119  is similarly inserted between the abutting side flanges  107  at the opposite side of this first panel  105 , to be removed. Subsequent to unlocking the locking clips  113  on this other side of the first panel  105 , the tool  119 , while still inserted between the abutting side flanges  107 , is pivoted in the direction of arrow J to free the outwardly directed bead  137  of the panel from engagement with the confronting support lug  129 . With the first panel removed, removing any further panels  105  is straight forward, as the other locking clips  113  can now each be reached manually and unlocked, as required, using their finger grips  145 . 
     Further elements shown in FIGS. 1-11, such as the edge cover profile and the mounting holes in the carrier beams  3 , 103 , which have not been described or referred to above, are conventional. 
     This invention is, of course, not limited to the above-described embodiments which may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its advantages. In this regard, the terms in the foregoing description and the following claims, such as “longitudinal”, “lateral”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upstanding”, “downwardly”, “upwardly”, “beneath”, “bottom”, “top”, “front”, and “rear”, have been used only as relative terms to describe the relationships of the various elements of the panel end connector and locking clip of the invention for a ceiling or wall paneling assembly.