Patent Publication Number: US-9850667-B2

Title: Panel with a fastening device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a fastening device for connecting a panel to a supporting structure, such as a joist. 
     TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
     Fastening devices, such as a clip secured to a joist by a screw or nail, for connecting a panel to the joist are known from e.g. CA 2 792 923. Also known is a clip device which is secured to a joist by bendable legs that are snapped around the joist, see e.g. DE202009007507U1. A drawback with the known fastening devices is that it is time consuming to assemble the panel to the supporting structure. 
     The above description of various known aspects is the applicant&#39;s characterization of such, and is not an admission that any of the above description is considered as prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of certain embodiments of the present disclosure to provide an improvement over the above described techniques and known art. Particularly to reduce the time for assembling and to provide a tool-less assembling. A further object is to provide a fastening device of a small size which may be easy to handle, transport and/or store. 
     At least some of these and other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the description have been achieved by a first aspect of the disclosure that comprises a set comprising a supporting structure, such as a joist, a first panel, a second panel and a fastening device for securing the first panel and the second panel to the supporting structure. The fastening device comprises a top portion, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge portion and a second edge portion. A first leg and a second leg protrude downwardly from the bottom surface. The first panel comprises a first edge groove and the second panel comprises an opposite second edge groove. The first edge portion is configured to be inserted into the first edge groove and the second edge portion is configured to be inserted into the second edge groove. The first leg and the second leg are flexible and bendable towards each other. The first leg comprises a first locking element and the second leg comprises a second locking element. An upper surface of the supporting structure comprises an insertion groove comprising a first undercut groove and an opposite second undercut groove. The first locking element is configured to be snapped into the first undercut groove and the second locking element is configured to be snapped into the second undercut groove to a locked position. 
     The first panel and the second panel are preferably essentially identical. 
     The first edge groove and the second edge groove may be at a first long edge and a second long edge, respectively, of the first panel and the second panel. Two or more of said fastening device may be arranged along the first edge groove and the second edge groove. 
     The fastening element is preferably configured to be inserted into the insertion groove by inserting the first edge portion into the first edge groove of the first panel and angling down the first panel against the upper surface of the supporting structure and pushing the panel vertically downwards such that the first and second legs are bent towards each other. The first locking element and the second locking element are configured to snap into the first undercut groove and the second undercut groove, respectively, when the locking device has reached a locked position. 
     A lower surface of the first locking element and/or the second locking element may comprise a bevelled edge configured to cooperate with a groove edge of the insertion groove during an insertion of the first second leg and the second leg into the insertion groove. 
     The top surface may comprise a top groove, preferably with a curved surface, for receiving an outer edge of the second panel when the second panel is in angled position. The top groove may facilitate insertion of a second of said locking device in a first edge groove of the second panel by angling up the second panel before inserting the second of said locking device in a first edge groove of the second panel. 
     The first locking element and the second locking element may each comprise an upper locking surface. The first and second undercut grooves may each comprise an upper surface. The locking surface of the first locking element may be configured to cooperate with the upper surface of the first undercut groove and the locking surface of the second locking element may be configured to cooperate with an upper surface of the second undercut groove. 
     The locking surface of the first and second locking elements may each comprise a rounded or bevelled surface to enable an angled position of the fastening device while the first and second locking elements may be within the first and second undercut grooves, respectively. 
     A lower surface of the first locking element and a lower surface of the second locking element may each comprise a bevelled edge or a rounded edge which is configured to interact with the supporting structure during an assembling of the set. 
     The first leg may comprise a first outer surface and the second leg may comprise a second outer surface, wherein a distance between the first outer surface and the second outer surface may be essentially the same as a width of an opening of the insertion groove. 
     The first leg may comprise a first outer surface and the second leg may comprise a second outer surface, wherein the first outer surface and/or the second outer surface may comprise a protruding element for a vertical positioning of the fastening device. 
     The top portion may comprise a friction connection, such as protruding parts, configured to cooperate with the first edge groove and/or the second edge groove and to restrain the fastening device from falling out during an assembling of the set. 
     The fastening device may comprise a polymer material, such a polyamide e.g. PA6 or PA11/12, or polypropylene. The fastening device is preferably injection moulded. The material may be reinforced with e.g. glass fibre. 
     A core of the first and second panels may be a wood-based core, such as solid wood or WPC. The core may comprise a polymer, such as a thermoplastic material, PP and PVC, and may comprise further components such as a filler, wood powder or rice husk. The core may also be of MDF, HDF, OSB, plywood, particle board or a metal such as aluminium. The WPC core may be provided with a decorative layer, such as a foil on one or more surfaces. 
     The first and second panels may be decking, roof, wall or ceiling panels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings, which show embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  show an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  show an embodiment of the fastening device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3A-3E  show an embodiment of an assembling of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of an assembling of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the disclosure in an assembled position. 
         FIG. 6A-6C  show embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  show an embodiment of the fastening device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 8A-8C  show embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure is shown in  FIGS. 1A-B .  FIG. 1  shows a supporting structure  2 , such as a joist, and a fastening device  1  for securing first and second panels  31 ,  32 , see  FIG. 1B , to the supporting structure  2 .  FIG. 1B  shows a cross cut CS 1   b  of the  FIG. 1A . The fastening device comprises a top portion  3 , having a top surface  4 , a bottom surface  5 , a first edge portion  16  and a second edge portion  17 , a first leg  6  and a second leg  7  protruding downwardly from the bottom surface. The first panel  31  comprises a first edge groove  33  and the second panel comprises an opposite second edge groove  34 . The first edge portion  16  is configured to be inserted into the first edge groove  33  and the second edge portion  17  is configured to be inserted into the second edge groove  34 . The first leg  6  and the second leg  7  are flexible and bendable towards each other. The first leg  6  comprises a first locking element  10  and the second leg  7  comprises a second locking element  11 . An upper surface  18  of the supporting structure  2  comprises an insertion groove  12  comprising a first undercut groove  13  and an opposite second undercut groove  14 . The first locking element  10  is configured to be snapped into the first undercut groove  13  and the second locking element  11  is configured to be snapped into the second undercut groove  14  to a locked position. The fastening element  1  is preferably configured to be inserted into the insertion groove  12  by inserting the first edge portion  16  into the first edge groove  33  of the first panel  31  and angling down the first panel  31  against the upper surface  18  of the supporting structure  2  and pushing the first panel  31  vertically downwards such that the first and second legs  6 , 7  are bent towards each other. The first and second locking elements  10 ,  11  are configured to snap into the first and second undercut grooves  13 ,  14 , respectively, when the locking device has reached a locked position. 
       FIG. 2A  shows an embodiment of the top portion  3  in a top view of an embodiment of the fastening device. A top surface  4  comprises a top groove  25 , preferably with a curved surface, for receiving an outer edge of the second panel when the second panel is in angled position. The top surface  4  may comprise a friction connection, such as protruding parts  24 , configured to cooperate with the first edge groove and/or the second edge groove and to restrain the fastening device from falling out during an assembling of the fastening device and the supporting structure.  FIG. 2B  shows a first side view and  FIG. 2C  shows a second perpendicular side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A . A lower surface of the first locking element  10  and/or the second locking element  11  may each comprise a bevelled edge  21  configured to cooperate with a groove edge  22  of the insertion groove during an insertion of the first and second legs  6 ,  7  into the insertion groove  12 . The first locking element  10  and the second locking element  11  each comprise an upper locking surface  26 . The locking surface  26  of the first locking element  10  is configured to cooperate with an upper surface of the first undercut groove  13  and the locking surface  26  of the second locking element  11  is configured to cooperate with an upper surface of the second undercut groove  14 . 
     The locking surface  26  of the first and second locking elements  10 ,  11  may each comprise a rounded or bevelled surface to enable an angled position of the fastening device  1 . 
     A lower surface of the first locking element  10  and a lower surface of the second locking element  11  may each comprise a bevelled edge or rounded edge  28  which is configured to interact with the supporting structure during an assembling. The bevelled edge or the rounded edge  28  is configured such that the fastening device remains in the first edge groove during an assembling comprising an angling movement. The lower surface of the first locking element and the second locking element, respectively, may be configured to cooperate with a wall surface of the supporting structure for a vertical positioning of the fastening device  1 . An embodiment of an assembling is shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E . 
     The first leg  6  comprises a first outer surface  8  and the second leg  7  comprises a second outer surface  9 . A distance between the first outer surface and the second outer surface is preferably essentially the same as a width of an opening of the insertion groove. 
     The first outer surface and/or the second outer surface may comprise a protruding element  27  for a vertical positioning of the fastening device  1 . 
     A preferred embodiment of the fastening device comprises a polymer material, such a polyamide, e.g. PA6, PA11/12 or PP. The fastening device is preferably injection moulded. The material may be reinforced with e.g. glass fibre. 
       FIGS. 3A-3E  show an embodiment of an assembling of embodiments of said panels, fastening elements and supporting structure.  FIG. 3A  shows an installed panel  30 , the first panel  31  and the second panel  32 , which are preferably essentially identical. A joint between the installed panel and the first panel and a joint between the first panel and the second panel each comprise at least one of said fastening device  1 . The first groove and the second groove of the installed panel  30 , the first panel  31  and the second panel  32 , are preferably provided at long edges of the installed panel  30 , the first panel  31  and the second panel  32 , respectively. The second groove of the installed panel is connected to the supporting structure by one or more of said fastening device  1 . The first edge portion  16  of one of said fastening device  1  is inserted into the first edge groove of the second panel  32 .  FIGS. 3B-3E  each show an enlargement of a joint during assembling between the panels shown in  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 3B  shows that the first panel  31  is displaced in a horizontal direction  35  towards the installed panel  30  until the first edge portion of the fastening device  1  is inserted into the second edge groove of the first panel  31 .  FIG. 3B  shows that the first panel is angled upward  36  to an angled position to enable insertion of the first edge portion  16  of at least one of said fastening device  1  into the first edge groove of the first panel  31 .  FIG. 3D  shows that the first panel, with the first edge portion  16  of at least one of said fastening device  1  provided in the first edge groove, is angled downward  37 . The first panel  31  is pushed vertically downwards until the fastening device has reached the locked position shown in  FIG. 3E . The second panel  32  is connected to the first panel  31  by displacing the second panel in a horizontal direction until the first edge portion of the fastening device  1  is inserted into the second edge groove of the second panel  31 . 
       FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show an embodiment of replacing an assembled first panel and reassembling the panels. Replacing an assembled panel may be desired if the assembled panel is damaged or if access is required to a space under the assembled panel. The assembled first panel may be cut and removed and replaced by a new first panel  31 . 
     The fastening device  1  may be divided into two halves as indicated by the lines R in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 6B . The fastening device may comprise one or more indentations that facilitate dividing of the fastening device. 
     Another alternative is that replacement fastening devices are provided, which are configured as a left half  1 ′ of the fastening device and a right half  1 ″. An enlargement of the left half is shown in  FIG. 6C . The first and second legs  6 ,  7  may be downwardly narrowing in order to facilitate angling in of the new first panel. The first edge portion  16  of the left half  1 ′ is inserted into the first edge grove of the new first panel  31  and the second edge portion  17  of the right half  1 ″ is inserted into the second edge groove of the second panel  32  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The new first panel is thereafter angled down to the assembled position shown in  FIG. 5 . Oblique edges  72  of the downwardly narrowing first and second legs  6 , 7  may have the effect that a collision with the second panel  32  is avoided. 
       FIG. 6A  shows an embodiment of said supporting structure  2  which may be fixed to a joist, e.g. a wood joist. The supporting structure may be fixed by e.g. a screw or a nail. There is no contact at the lower surface of the first locking element  10  and the lower surface of the second locking element  11 . The protruding elements  27  cooperate with a surface of the supporting structure  2  for vertical positioning of the fastening device  1 . 
       FIG. 6B  shows an embodiment of said fastening device. The first leg  6  and the second leg  7  (not shown) each comprise a dividing groove  15  in order to increase the flexibility of the first leg. The dividing groove may have parallel edges  75  as shown in the figure or non-parallel oblique edges such that the dividing groove is downwardly widening. 
       FIG. 7A-7C  shows an embodiment of the fastening device  1  that may be divided into two halves as indicated by the lines R.  FIG. 7A  shows a top view,  FIG. 7B  shows a first side view and  FIG. 7C  shows a second perpendicular side view of the embodiment. The top portion  3  of fastening device comprises a groove  71  that facilitates dividing of the fastening device into two halves as indicated by the lines R. 
     The first leg  6  and the second leg  7  may each comprise a first securing element  76  and a second securing element  77 . The first securing element  76  and the second securing  77  are configured for securing the fastening device  1  to the first panel and the second panel respectively during assembling. The first and second securing elements preferably protrude from a lower part of the first leg and the second leg. 
     The first leg  6  and the second leg  7  each comprise a dividing groove  15  in order to increase the flexibility of the first leg. The dividing groove may have oblique edges  72  such that the dividing groove is downwardly widening. The first and second locking elements  10 ,  11  each preferably comprise a downwardly sloping locking surface  26 . 
       FIG. 8A  shows an embodiment of the replacing of an assembled first panel and reassembling the panels. The embodiment comprising securing a left half of the fastening device to the first panel  31  and a right half of the fastening device to the second panel  32 . The left half is secured to the first panel by a first securing element  76  and the right half is secured to the second panel by a second securing element  77 , and the first panel is angled downwards  73 . 
       FIG. 8B  shows an embodiment of the fastening device comprising a locking surface  26  sloping downwards. This may facilitate snapping in of the first and second locking elements into the first undercut groove and the second undercut groove, respectively, particularly if the vertical position of the locking surface is not completely correct in relation to the first undercut or the second undercut. 
       FIG. 8C  shows, in a crosscut view, an embodiment of the fastening device comprising a top portion  3  comprising a groove  71  that facilitate dividing of the fastening device into a left half and a right half by turning  74  the right half from the left half. The replacing method shown in  FIG. 8A  may comprise the left half and the right half according to this embodiment. 
     In an embodiment 1, a set comprises a supporting structure  2 , such as a joist, a first panel  31 , a second panel  32  and a fastening device  1  for securing the first and second panels  31 ,  32  to the supporting structure  2 . The fastening device  1  comprises a top portion  3 , having a top surface  4 , a bottom surface  5 , a first edge portion  16  and a second edge portion  17 , a first leg  6  and a second leg  7  protruding downwardly from the bottom surface  5 . The first panel  31  comprises a first edge groove  33 , and the second panel  32  comprises an opposite second edge groove  34 . The first edge portion  16  is configured to be inserted into the first edge groove  33  and the second edge portion  17  is configured to be inserted into the second edge groove  34 . The first leg  6  and the second leg  7  are flexible and bendable towards each other. The first leg  6  comprises a first locking element  10 , and the second leg  7  comprises a second locking element  11 . An upper surface  18  of the supporting structure  2  comprises an insertion groove  12  comprising a first undercut groove  13  and an opposite second undercut groove  14 . The first locking element  10  is configured to be snapped into the first undercut groove  13  and the second locking element  11  is configured to be snapped into the second undercut groove  14  to a locked position. 
     An embodiment 2 includes the set in embodiment 1, wherein a lower surface of the first locking element  10  and/or the second locking element  11  comprises a bevelled edge  21  configured to cooperate with a groove edge  22  of the insertion groove  12  during an insertion of the first leg and the second leg  6 , 7  into the insertion groove  12 . 
     An embodiment 3 includes the set in embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the top surface  4  comprises a top groove  25 , preferably with a curved surface, for receiving an outer edge of the second panel  32  when the second panel  32  is in angled position. 
     An embodiment 4 includes the set in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first locking element  10  and the second locking element  11  each comprise an upper locking surface  26 , and wherein the locking surface  26  of the first locking element  10  is configured to cooperate with an upper surface of the first undercut groove  13 , and the locking surface  26  of the second locking element  11  is configured to cooperate with an upper surface of the second undercut groove  14 . 
     An embodiment 5 includes the set in embodiment 4, wherein the locking surface  26  of the first and second locking elements  10 ,  11  each comprise a rounded or bevelled surface to enable an angled position of the fastening device  1 . 
     An embodiment 6 includes the set in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein a lower surface of the first locking element  10  and a lower surface of the second locking element  11  each comprise a bevelled edge or rounded edge  28  which is configured to interact with the supporting structure during an assembling. 
     An embodiment 7 includes the set in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first leg  10  comprises a first outer surface  8  and the second leg  11  comprises a second outer surface  9 , and wherein a distance between the first outer surface  8  and the second outer surface  9  is essentially the same as a width of an opening of the insertion groove  12 . 
     An embodiment 8 includes the set in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first leg  10  comprises a first outer surface  8  and the second leg  11  comprises a second outer surface  9 , and wherein the first outer surface  8  and/or the second outer surface  9  comprise(s) a protruding element  27  for a vertical positioning of the fastening device  1 . 
     An embodiment 9 includes the set in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the top portion  3  comprises a friction connection, such as protruding parts, configured to cooperate with the first edge groove  33  and/or the second edge groove  34  and to restrain the fastening device  1  from falling out during an assembling of the set. 
     An embodiment 10 includes the set in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the fastening device  1  comprises a polymer material, such a polyamide or polypropylene.