Patent Description:
More particularly, the invention relates to an innovative type of quick snap-like fixing capable of enabling the adjustment of the reciprocal distance between the two surfaces which are connected, therefore an adjustment according to a vertical direction Z.

There has long been known the EP publication <CIT> in the name of Ciacchini Enrico which describes a quick fastening system for connecting a panel to a support surface as well as two panels to each other.

In fact, above all in the nautical field, there is the need to fix covering panel-works to fixed support surfaces according to a method which enables a quick application and above all a quick disassembly.

In fact, panel-works often cover passages of cables or other material which may request an inspection or a maintenance call-out and therefore their removal may be necessary.

Initially, panels were fixed permanently but their removal, for this reason, was often complicated and might cause a damage or a destruction of the panel itself which had to be replaced by a new one.

The solution proposed by the known publication <CIT> resolves such technical drawbacks and therefore it provides two respective fixing elements structured for being engaged reciprocally in a snap-like releasable manner. Both elements have a plain anchoring surface of a discoidal form which enables to connect each one to a surface, for example one of them to a panel and the other one to a fixing wall where to fasten the panel. In this manner, when the first element is connected to the panel and the second element is connected to the wall, it is possible to connect the panel to the wall in a quick and releasable manner through them.

Therefore, structurally, one of the two elements forms a receiving channel of a predetermined axial length and diameter with a generally cylindrical shape and protruding from the disc surface thereof. Internally, the channel has a certain shape described thereinafter. Therefore, it is a female which is constrained to a male element.

The other element, i.e. the male, shapes a penetrating cylindrical body protruding from the discal surface thereof. This penetrating body is formed by a plurality of teeth protruding from the discoidal base and arranged around a circumference so as to form this cylindrical body or a sort of penetrating cup. Such teeth are distanced from one another and are then flexible so as to be able to inflect either towards the central axis of symmetry of the discal body from which they protrude (therefore inwards) or outwards (i.e. the opposite part to the axis of symmetry) to then return elastically to the original position when the force which determines their inflection is released.

Therefore, for example, by fixing the said male element onto a panel and the female element onto a support surface, it is possible to fix the panel onto the surface by pushing the cylindrical penetrating body within the receiving channel.

In this way, during the penetration, the teeth bend inwards (i.e. towards the central axis of symmetry) thanks to the suitable shape of the receiving channel which tightens its diameter to reach a locking position after the penetration where such teeth snap elastically to return to the rest position, thanks to the presence of a diametral broadening on top of the receiving channel (i.e. the cylindrical housing), which broadening forms a locking step. In this simple and functional way, the two elements are locked to each other, thus determining the locking of the relative panel to the surface.

The disassembly is quite quick, since it is sufficient to apply a traction to the panel. In this way, the teeth pulled towards the extraction bend elastically to release the housing where they are housed to return afterwards to the rest position once they have exceeded the locking step.

The discal elements are obviously fitted with holes for the passage of the screws to enable the application of the male and the female to the relative surfaces.

The system described above also enables, thanks to a certain tangential backlash, also a tangential adjustment of the cup of teeth, so as to counterbalance possible inaccuracies and make each panel shift tangentially by some millimeters in order to find the correct position or the best possible position.

This system, available on the market for a long time, is known under the trade name "fit-lock".

A technical drawback of the described system which is particularly felt and unresolved yet concerns the frequent need to adjust the axis Z to the vertical direction.

After the application of the panel to the wall, it may occur that the panels are not perfectly coplanar to each other and the same panels may also have slight deformations. Obviously, the missed coplanarity cannot be accepted aesthetically but the current systems do not enable an easy correction of coplanarity and gaps or steps are often present between a panel and the next one which one can hardly hide.

The publications <CIT> and <CIT> are further known.

Therefore, the aim of the present invention is to provide an innovative solution with a quick attachment, which resolves said technical drawbacks.

In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide an innovative solution of quick attachment capable of enabling the connection of a panel to a surface, as well as of connecting two panels to each other and wherein it is in any case possible to adjust the final distance between the two surfaces which are connected to each other through the said system of quick attachment, thus enabling an adjustment along the vertical axis Z which ensures coplanarity between all the assembled panels.

These and other aims are achieved through the fixing device to enable the reciprocal fixing of two bodies (<NUM>, <NUM>) to each other, for example the fixing of a panel (<NUM>) to a wall (<NUM>) or of two panels (<NUM>) to each other, according to claim <NUM>.

Therefore, this causes the possibility of selecting or adjusting with a certain tolerance the final distance that the connected bodies will have between them, thus compensating possible missing coplanarities.

In fact, it is now possible to adjust the device according to settings such that a final distance along the axis Z between the coupling bodies corresponds to each setting. This adjustability enables to correct possible missing coplanarities.

In the event that after the assembly there are panels which are not coplanar, then it is sufficient to remove the panel by simply drawing it off, thus releasing the male element connected to the panel by the female integral with the body to which the panel is connected and the desired setting of the device is carried out for compensating the millimeters of the missed coplanarity.

In a possible constructive solution, advantageously, the female element (B) may be formed by a first element (B'), forming a central hole, and a second element (B") comprising the receiving channel (<NUM>) within which the engaging element (<NUM>) locks itself and with the said receiving channel (<NUM>) which inserts itself within the said central hole of the first element (B').

According to this constructive solution, the first and the second element (B', B") are coupled to each other in a rotatable manner and such that the reciprocal rotation also determines contextually a shifting along the axis (Z) of the second element (B") with respect to the first element (B') or vice versa.

In this manner, it is sufficient to rotate one element with respect to the other one to adjust the value of the shift which determines the final position afterwards. Therefore, if there is a problem of coplanarity, one acts with this rotation to adjust a shifting along the desired axis Z in the order of a millimeter.

In greater details, advantageously, the first element (B') forms at least one sliding track (14B) with a predetermined inclination, the said second element (B") having at least one appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) which is positioned onto said sliding track (14B) when the said second element (B") is coupled with the said first element (B'). In this manner, in correspondence of the said rotation of a predetermined quantity of the second element with respect to the first element or vice versa, the said appendix moves along the sliding track whose inclination determines contextually to the rotation also said shifting along the axis Z of the second element (B") with respect to the first element (B') or vice versa.

In this manner, the adjustment of position along the axis Z occurs by readily rotating the two elements to each other by a predetermined quantity. A predetermined lowering/raising corresponds to each quantity of rotation which may vary on the overall range in the order of some millimeters, for example from <NUM> to <NUM>.

Obviously, different ranges may be realized.

Advantageously, the first element (B') forms four sliding tracks (14B) in succession to one another so as to delimit a circular path. In this case, each sliding track is produced equal to the other remaining ones and with the same inclination. As a consequence, the said second element (B'') will have four appendixes (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) which extend radially from the cylindrical body forming the receiving channel (<NUM>) and such as to position each one in a respective sliding track (14B).

Advantageously, the said sliding track is in form of a groove with a predetermined inclination.

Advantageously, the/each sliding track comprises a notch (14B') passing through the whole thickness thereof which goes along at least one part of the sliding track in correspondence of the centre-line thereof.

Advantageously, the appendixes have a through hole (11B) for the passage of screws or fixing inserts suitable for enabling the fixing of the female element (B) to the body (<NUM>, <NUM>) to which it is applied.

Advantageously, the said through hole (11B) is aligned with the through notch (14B'), the width of the through notch being such as to enable the passage of the screw or the insert insertable into the relative appendix so that the rotation of the first element with respect to the second element or vice versa can also occur when the screw is inserted into the hole of the appendix.

Advantageously, the engaging element (<NUM>) is formed by a plurality of flexible teeth (<NUM>) which form as a whole a cylindrical cup suitable for inserting and locking itself in snap-like manner inside the receiving channel (<NUM>).

Advantageously, the said cylindrical cup is fixed to the support base so as to have a predetermined tolerance of tangential mobility along the said support base.

Additional features and advantages of the present fixing device, according to the invention, will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given only by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:.

<FIG> depicts in an axonometric view, the device in accordance with the present invention, also depicted in <FIG>, in <FIG> and in <FIG> as well.

It is provided with a male element A suitable for being inserted in a snap-like manner and then for being locked in a releasable manner into a female element B.

Therefore, the said male element A (or fixing male A) is formed by and anchoring base <NUM>, preferably a flat disc <NUM>, which is provided with holes (four holes <NUM> are depicted in the example of <FIG>) which enable the insertion of screws or other similar inserts for fixing this said male element A for example to a panel <NUM> (not depicted in <FIG> for simplicity purposes) or to another body.

More particularly, as depicted in the section of <FIG>, the anchoring base <NUM> is provided with a rear surface (10p) which leans in use onto the body where to connect the said male element A. The front surface (10a), opposite to the rear one, is the one from which an engaging element <NUM> protrudes orthogonally and locks itself in a snap-like manner, as described thereinafter, into a female element substantially in the same manner as described in the prior art <CIT>.

In this way, each panel to be fixed onto a wall, such as covering panels of a wall of a nautical vessel, may be fitted with its relative fixing male A which is coupled to the female element B fixed to the wall, for example.

This male element A, as already present in the prior art and as already described before, is therefore provided with a locking protuberance <NUM> also depicted in section of <FIG> and formed by a series of teeth <NUM> arranged according to a circular shape and which protrude orthogonally from the discal base <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The tooth <NUM>, as better depicted in <FIG>, is then formed by a vertical stem <NUM>' which protrudes orthogonally from the base <NUM> and shaped at the top so as to lock itself in a snap-like manner against the receiving housing of the female element B where it is inserted, exactly as described in the prior art. In particular, still as depicted in <FIG>, the top is provided with a protuberance <NUM>'' which enlarges from the vertical stem <NUM>' towards the outside of the stem itself.

Still with reference to <FIG>, exactly as in the prior art, the protuberance is preferably formed by a first section (12a) which branches off from the stem <NUM>' outwards to enter back in a second section (12b), both sections being inclined of a predetermined angle so that both of them form a chamfering in the phase of coupling/release. Therefore, the two sections (12a) and (12b) form an inverted V.

In particular, as explained thereinafter but also according to the prior art, the second section (12b) forms a chamfering which facilitates the phase of coupling when the tooth <NUM> is penetrating and therefore it bends towards the axis of symmetry Z while the first section (12a) favours the release of the tooth, still causing an inflection towards the axis of symmetry Z.

For this purpose, the female element B is composed by an anchoring base, preferably a discal base 10B as well, and by four holes, (11B) obtained through the said discal base 10B and through which fastening to a surface, for example to the wall <NUM>, this second part B through suitable screws.

As depicted in <FIG>, the discal base 10B is provided with a rear surface (10Bp) which in use is abutting against the body to which this female element B must be fixed, exactly as it occurs and is described for the male element A.

The discal base 10B is holed axially and shapes a cylindrical receiving channel 12B (see for example <FIG>) delimited by a cylindrical wall <NUM> shaped for receiving the circular ring <NUM> formed by the teeth <NUM> of the male component A, so that the teeth lock themselves in a snap-like manner within the cylindrical receiving channel 12B exactly as in the prior art (see for example the section of <FIG> as well).

In fact, as depicted in <FIG>, the shape of the channel 12B is such that the teeth <NUM>, during the penetration, warp inwards, i.e. bending themselves towards the axis Z (vertical central axis of symmetry) and reducing the overall diameter of the circular ring that they form to exceed afterwards a step formed in the receiving channel 12B and return elastically to the rest position.

More particularly, <FIG> depicts that the first part of the channel 12B, delimited by the wall <NUM>, is bulging towards the axis of symmetry Z, thus causing a progressive reduction of the diameter. Therefore, when the ring gear <NUM> inserts itself into the channel of the female component B, the chamfering 12b of each tooth <NUM> forming the ring gear <NUM> favours the penetration by crawling onto the bulging of the channel 12B, thus causing an inflection of each tooth <NUM> of the ring gear which inflects itself towards the central axis Z of symmetry. This bulging ends with a cusp <NUM>'B from which a new broadening <NUM>'L branches off.

Therefore, the cusp forms a sharp angle which, once exceeded by the chamfering 12b, enables the tooth <NUM> to lock itself in a snap-like manner into the housing since the chamfering 12a contrasts this broadening (<NUM>'L) after the elastic return of each tooth to the rest position (uninflected position).

For the unlocking, it is sufficient a traction opposite to that for the coupling, which moves away the body <NUM> from the body <NUM>, thus making the inclined side 12a act as a chamfering in the phase of releasing and readily sliding along the side <NUM>'L, thus causing again an inflection of the whole tooth towards the axis Z. Once exceeded the cusp <NUM>'B, the tooth returns elastically to the rest position.

Anyway, this concept of a snap-like locking/unlocking is prior art as per publication <CIT> to which reference is made.

Therefore, only for clarity purposes, <FIG> depicts how the male element A connects itself through screws or other inserts to the body <NUM> which may be a panel or a wall and, in the same way, with the female body B which connects itself to the body <NUM>, such as a panel or a wall. In that case, the housing which houses the cylindrical part 12B of the female B is obtained into the body <NUM>.

Then, the female element B is built into the body <NUM> with the surface (10Bp) thereof which abuts against the body and with the fixing which occurs through screws and/or inserts in general, as mentioned.

Therefore, if the body <NUM> is a covering panel for a boat wall and <NUM> is the wall, the attachment of the panel <NUM> to the wall <NUM> is quickly made through said system.

Still with reference to <FIG>, and as per the prior art as well, the male component A has a tolerance of tangential adjustment, as highlighted by the double direction of the arrow. This is possible since, structurally, the ring <NUM> gear <NUM> is formed by a circular base <NUM> (substantially a disc <NUM>) from which the stems <NUM>' protrude distanced and separated from one another and which form the teeth <NUM> (see also <FIG>). Therefore, as a whole, the circular or discal base <NUM> is a whole with the teeth, forming a cup-shaped body centrally holed so that the centering pin <NUM>, pin orthogonal to the discal base <NUM>, passes through this hole. The discal body <NUM> is therefore a circular ring gear with a central hole of a predetermined diameter, which, as it is well depicted in <FIG>, enables the passage of the centering pin <NUM> with a certain backlash. Therefore, the cup <NUM>, is fixed in position at the discal base <NUM> through a fixing disc <NUM> locked through nut and screw <NUM>, as also depicted in <FIG>, so that said cup does not move along the axis Z. However, thanks to the said tangential backlash, the whole cup can slide laterally along the plane formed by the discal plane <NUM>, until the perimeter of the central hole relative to the base <NUM> touches the pin <NUM>.

As mentioned, this serves for compensating errors in tangential positioning such that, in the coupling phase, the cup <NUM> is free to move tangentially for centering the channel 12B with tolerances which may be in the order of one millimeter.

According to the invention, as described thereinafter, the described device is now configured for enabling an adjustment along the axis Z as well, i.e., the longitudinal axis of the two elements A and B so as to make possible an adjustment of distance between the two bodies <NUM> and <NUM> which must be connected to each other.

Therefore, this enables to make the created surface of the panels really flat, thus avoiding steps which create a discontinuity.

For this purpose, the female part B is in turn realized in two parts, disjointed and coupled to each other, so as to be reciprocally movable between one another.

The first part B' is formed by a discal body <NUM> holed centrally thus forming a sort of a circular ring. A circular wall <NUM> protrudes orthogonally from the discal body <NUM>, in correspondence of the central hole <NUM>, thus forming a cylindrical channel <NUM>.

Curved paths <NUM> are obtained on the surface of the discal body comprised between the external perimeter thereof and the cylinder <NUM>.

They are arcs of circumference and there are provided preferably four arcs of circumference in succession which draw as a whole discontinuous sections of a circumference comprised between the external perimeter of the disc and the cylinder <NUM>.

These four segments are indicated in <FIG> with the numbers 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d.

As well depicted by the section of <FIG>, the second part B" is in the form of a cylindrical body <NUM> as well which forms the receiving channel 12B of <FIG>, i.e., the one delimited by the wall <NUM> of <FIG>, and from whose base four appendixes (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) extend radially. Each appendix is configured with such a size as to insert itself into the above-mentioned relative curved path (or guide) so as to move along it in a way that will be described thereinafter.

<FIG>, for the purpose of greater clarity of the description, depicts an axonometric view of the two parts B' and B" which compose as a whole the female component B and depicted disjointed from one another.

<FIG> and <FIG>, as well as the above-mentioned <FIG>, well depict such appendixes (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d).

<FIG> still depicts, in front view and section, this female element B formed by this second part B" combined with the first part B' such that such appendixes are positioned into the relative guide.

The coupling of part B'' and part B' is not fixed since the two components B' and B" are movable with respect to one another.

In particular, the second component B" is rotatable with respect to the component B' and/or vice versa.

Therefore, they are not welded to one another but they are rotatable with respect to one another.

In addition to the reciprocal rotation, the coupling is such that it is possible a shifting along the axis Z of the first component B' with respect to the second B", or vice versa.

More particularly, through said rotatable coupling, as described thereinafter, it is possible to vary along the axis Z the position of the component B" with respect to B', thus adjusting de facto in this manner a reciprocal distance along the axis Z between the two panels or surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> which are connected to one another.

Substantially, the channel <NUM> shifts along the axis Z after the said rotation.

In fact, as depicted in <FIG>, each one of such guides (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) has an incision line (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) passing through the whole thickness and which forms a sort of centre-line.

This incision line ends on a part with a broadening (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) from which the relative appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) is visible and overlooks.

The incision has such a width as to enable the passage of the insert or fixing screw and this insert or fixing screw may slide along it.

Therefore, with reference to <FIG> for example, if screws are inserted into the hole 11B, as long as such screws do not penetrate the body <NUM> (therefore, considering the component B free), it is possible to rotate the component B' with respect to B" (or vice versa), since the insert or screw which passes through the holes 11B slides along its own centre-line notch (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d).

Each sliding guide (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) is obtained by digging and removing material from the surface from which it is obtained.

More particularly, as depicted in greater detail in <FIG> but visible in <FIG> as well, the guide is realized by removing material so as to create a path with a certain inclination.

In fact, the figure depicts a removal of material which creates a track with an inclination.

The lateral wall (PL) starts indeed from a starting point which has a height (PL1) greater than that at the end of the said track where the height (PL2) tends to become zero.

The appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) which slides into its relative guide, after the rotation of the component B'' with respect to B', moves from the starting position of <FIG> to the end-stroke position (FC) (still depicted in <FIG>), thus being forced to go up along the inclined track and causing a shifting of B" with respect to B' along the axis Z.

Depending on the direction of rotation B" shifts towards a direction or towards the opposite direction along the axis Z.

The succession of <FIG> and <FIG> depicts in section the movement (dz) which can be obtained through this solution.

In particular, <FIG> depicts the condition highlighted in <FIG> with each appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) arranged at the end of the inclined path.

In this case, the component B'' is at the end-stroke and when the male A is inserted into the female B, the result is that the panel <NUM> is distanced from the wall <NUM> by a quantity (d1+d2) indicated in <FIG>.

When B" is rotated clockwise with respect to B' (or equally B' rotates counterclockwise with respect to B"), each appendix (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) moves to the end-stroke point (FC) of <FIG> or anyway towards any intermediate position which entails a movement along an inclined path which goes up.

This causes a shifting along the axis Z of B" with respect to B' (i.e., a movement of the channel <NUM> along the axis Z) and <FIG> depicts the position where, with reference to <FIG>, the appendix 43a (and the remaining appendices) reaches the end-stroke (FC).

Substantially, the channel <NUM> moves by going up by a certain quantity (dz) such that, as it is inferable from <FIG>, it determines after the coupling a distance between the two panels <NUM> and <NUM> which corresponds to the value (d1+dz+d2) > of the preceding one (d1 +d2).

Therefore, depending on the rotation, a value dz which enables a corrective margin is determined.

The adjustment of the distance between the bodies <NUM> and <NUM> entails equally the adjustment of the distance between the surfaces (10p) and (10Bp) of <FIG>.

The process of adjustment may advantageously occur through the use of an accessory in the form of a knob <NUM> depicted in <FIG>, which is fitted with engaging teeth <NUM> arranged so as to engage themselves with the notches <NUM>' obtained onto the perimeter of the disc B'.

The knob has a cylinder <NUM> which is inserted into the channel <NUM> of the female component B for acting as a guide for the coupling and during the coupling, the teeth <NUM> must fit into the notches <NUM>'. In this way, by means of the knob, the disc B' may be rotated with respect to the component B" clockwise or counterclockwise, thus causing the shifting of B" with respect to B' (or vice versa) as described.

Therefore, in use, the adjustment along the axis Z may occur at any moment of the installation without the need of the whole disassembly of the fixing elements.

As previously described, the adjustment is obtained only by acting onto the component B while the component A is fixed through its own assembly screws and it cannot be adjusted along the axis Z.

Unless the necessity of shifting along the axis Z is already known during the anchoring phase of the component B, the assembly of the element B" within the discal body B' occurs in the fully rotated position so that the radial extensions (or, in other words, appendices 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) are directly in contact onto the surface of the wall without interposition of the inclined sliding guide and then with the shifting along the axis Z to the minimum (position of <FIG>).

Once determined the need to adjust the coplanarity of the panels or anyway the distance between the panel and the anchoring wall (axis Z), an adjustment may be performed, which occurs by acting onto the assembly screws which are to be partially unscrewed of <NUM> maximum <NUM> in order to enable the axial rotation of the body B" (the axial rotation of <NUM>° corresponds to a delta onto the axis Z of <NUM>,<NUM> and may occur by <NUM>° maximum with the maximum movement of <NUM>).

The adjustment has no fixed positions and therefore all the intermediate positions are possible.

The teeth of the knob and the above-described notches are arranged to help the user to determinate the necessary rotation.

By means of the knob, the adjustment of the desired position occurs which determines the achievement of a certain relative position of B' with respect to B" along the axis Z, this position is consolidated by tightening again the screws or the inserts passing through the holes of the appendices 11B'.

Claim 1:
A fixing device for enabling the reciprocal fixing of two bodies (<NUM>, <NUM>) to each other, for example the fixing of a panel (<NUM>) to a wall (<NUM>) or of two panels (<NUM>) to each other, and comprising:
- A male element (A) comprising an anchoring base (<NUM>) and an engaging element (<NUM>), said anchoring base having a rear surface (10p) for leaning and fixing onto one of said two bodies to be connected to each other and a front surface (10a) from which said engaging element (<NUM>) protrudes;
- A female element (B) comprising an anchoring base (10B) having a rear surface (10Bp) for leaning and fixing onto the other body and a receiving channel (<NUM>) configured to receive inside it said engaging element (<NUM>) of the male element (A) so that said engaging element, when inserted into the said receiving channel (<NUM>), is locked in a snap-like manner inside it in a detachable manner thus enabling the releasable coupling of the said two bodies and with the said male element (A) and the said female element (B) comprised between the said two bodies;
- And wherein the said fixing device is configured to enable to select two or more different distances along the axis Z that the rear surface (10p) of the male element (A) and the rear surface (10Bp) of the female element (B) can assume between them once coupled to each other so as to enable to adjust the final distance that the connected bodies have between them;
wherein the female element (B) is formed by a first element (B') forming a central hole and a second element (B") comprising the receiving channel (<NUM>) within which the engaging element (<NUM>) locks in a snap-like manner in use and with the said receiving channel (<NUM>) which inserts itself within the said central hole of the first element (B'), said first and second element (B', B") being coupled to each other in a rotatable manner and such that the reciprocal rotation also determines contextually a shifting along the axis (Z) of the second element (B") with respect to the first element (B') or vice versa.