Patent ID: 12241254

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

All of the figures show at least part of a panel element, denoted1overall, for lining a ceiling and/or wall. The panel element1has a rectangular cover panel2and multiple retaining springs3. The retaining springs3are so-called leg springs, which are also referred to as torsion springs.

To fasten the cover panel2to a ceiling and/or wall in a suspended manner, the retaining springs3can be transferred from their transport positions, shown for example inFIGS.1to4, to a fastening position, in which some retaining springs3are illustrated inFIGS.5and6.

The retaining springs3are fastened to the cover panel2of the panel element1by means of a retaining device4.

FIGS.1to4illustrate that the retaining device4is configured to fix the retaining springs3in their respective transport position. In this way, the retaining springs3are securely immobilized in their transport position on the cover panel2of the panel element1. According to the exemplary embodiment, shown in the figures, of the panel element1, the retaining device4is configured to fix the retaining springs3in their respective transport positions under tension. The retaining device4is designed such that the retaining springs3are fixed in their transport position by their inherent spring force. In this respect, the retaining device4acts as a static counter-bearing for fixing the retaining springs3in their transport position under tension.

A comparison ofFIGS.1to4withFIGS.5and6makes it clear that the retaining springs3, by way of its spring legs5,6, is closer to a side of the cover panel2that is not a visible side26of the mounted panel element1in its transport position than in its fastening position. The side closer to which the retaining springs3are by way of their spring legs5,6in the transport position is a back side7of the cover panel2.

By way of their spring legs5,6, the retaining springs3are aligned approximately parallel to the back side7in the transport position. The spring legs5,6of the at least one retaining spring3are further apart in its fastening position than in its transport position. Consequently, the retaining springs3are under greater tension in the transport position than in the fastening position.

In order to transfer the retaining springs3from their transport position to their fastening position, the retaining springs3can be pivoted on the retaining device4. A pivot axis about which the pivoting movement of the retaining springs3takes place runs along the cover panel2of the panel element1here. Upon viewing the figures, it becomes clear that the pivoting movement constitutes merely one movement component for transferring the retaining springs3from their transport position to their fastening position. Before the retaining springs3can be pivoted on the retaining device4, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures they must be moved by way of a longitudinal movement aligned in the direction of their longitudinal extent and in the direction of an opening angle of their spring legs5,6. For this, the retaining device4provides a combined longitudinal and pivoting guide for the retaining springs3. Thus, the retaining springs3are arranged on the retaining device4also so as to be displaceable from their transport position in their longitudinal direction.

The retaining device4delimits a pivot angle of the retaining springs3between their respective transport position and their respective fastening position to at most 110°. In the exemplary embodiment, shown in the figures, of the panel element1, the pivot angle of the retaining springs3between their transport position and their fastening position is delimited to 90°.

The retaining device4has a respective retaining opening8for each spring leg5,6of the two retaining springs3. The two retaining openings8assigned to one retaining spring3have edges9,10that face away from one another. According to the figures, these edges9,10are aligned at right angles to the back side7of the cover panel2. When the retaining spring3is in the transport position, the spring legs5,6of the retaining springs3bear against these edges9,10. The edges9,10are at a distance from one another which is dimensioned such that the spring legs5,6of the retaining springs3are held tensioned when the retaining springs3are in the transport position. As a result, the retaining springs3are fixed in their transport position under tension. The tension for fixing the retaining springs3is created in this case by the respective retaining spring3by virtue of its inherent spring force itself.

The spring legs5,6of the retaining springs3are hook-shaped at their free ends. The retaining springs3can be hooked into a mount23by way of their hook-shaped ends, as is shown for example in the right-hand half ofFIG.5. This facilitates the mounting of the panel element1.

The retaining device4of the panel element1has insertion openings11adjacent to the retaining openings8. The insertion openings11serve to receive a respective free, hook-shaped, bent end12of the spring legs5,6of the retaining springs3. The hook-shaped ends12, positioned in the insertion openings11, of the spring legs5,6prevent the retaining springs3from being displaced out of their transport position in their direction of longitudinal extent by their spring force, which presses the spring legs5,6apart. This is possible in a particularly reliable manner when the hook-shaped ends12of the spring legs5,6engage behind a respective edge of the insertion openings11in the process. The spring legs5,6may be bent at their hook-shaped ends12by between 100° and 200°, in particular by 180°.

The retaining openings8each comprise a first opening portion13and a second opening portion14. When the retaining spring3is in the transport position, the spring legs5,6are placed in the first opening portion13and, when the retaining spring3is in the fastening position, they are placed in the second opening portion14of the retaining openings8.

The retaining device4has a respective retaining web15between two retaining openings8assigned to one retaining spring3, specifically between two second opening portions14. The retaining web15fixes each of the retaining springs3, in the fastening position, on the retaining device4, and therefore on the cover panel2of the panel element1, by way of an intermediate portion16arranged between the spring legs5,6. The intermediate portion16is in the form of an eye, which consists of turns of a wire from which the retaining springs3are each made.

The respective first opening portion13of the retaining openings8is delimited by an opening edge17in the pivoting direction of the retaining springs3toward their respective fastening position. The opening edge17is provided to secure the spring legs5,6, which are in the first opening portion13in the transport position, of the retaining spring3toward the fastening position of the retaining spring3in a form fit. In the case of the panel element1shown in the figures, the opening edge17is aligned parallel to the back side7of the cover panel2of the panel element1.

The first opening portions13of the retaining openings8are arranged closer to the back side7of the cover panel2than the second opening portions14. Here, the first opening portion13of the retaining opening8spans a larger angle with the back side7of the cover panel2than the second opening portion14, which is aligned parallel to the rear side7of the cover panel2in the exemplary embodiment shown. Here, the angle amounts to 90°. The first opening portion13and the second opening portion14of the retaining openings8are therefore aligned at an angle of less than 180° in relation to one another.

The retaining device4comprises a profile18, which is arranged on an edge of the cover panel2and therefore can be referred to as edge profile. The above-mentioned retaining openings8are formed in the profile18. The profile18comprises a first profile leg19, in which the first opening portions13of the retaining device8are formed. The profile18furthermore also comprises a second profile leg20, in which the second opening portions14of the retaining openings8are formed.

In the exemplary embodiment, shown in the figures, of the panel element1, the profile18is shaped by bending the cover panel2on the back side7of the cover panel2. In an exemplary embodiment which is not shown in the figures, a profile18is fastened or integrally formed on a side of the cover panel2that preferably is not a visible side26of the panel element1.

In one embodiment, not shown in the figures, of the panel element1, it is provided that the respective at least one retaining device4with at least one retaining spring3is arranged on two edges of the cover panel2that face away from one another. In the exemplary embodiment, shown in the figures, of the panel element1, two retaining springs3are arranged on an edge of the cover panel2.

The cover panel2of the panel element1illustrated in the figures consists of metal. The cover panel2can be hooked into a correspondingly formed retaining structure by way of its retaining edge21facing away from the retaining device4for the purpose of fastening the ceiling element1.

On the one side, the panel element1is held on the ceiling by the two retaining springs3, while on the other side it can be fastened at least indirectly to the ceiling or wall with the aid of its retaining edge21.

Now,FIGS.5and6show a lining for a ceiling and/or wall, which lining is denoted22overall. The lining22comprises multiple panel elements1that are shown inFIGS.1to4and at least one mount23fastened to the ceiling and/or wall in the use position. The panel elements1are fastened to the mount23by way of their retaining springs3in their use position. To that end, the retaining springs3are hooked into the mount23by way of their spring legs5,6. The mount23is in the form of a retaining profile and, for the purpose of hooking in the spring legs5,6, has multiple retaining holes24in the form of slots.

FIG.5illustrates the mounting of the panel elements1. First of all, the retaining springs3are pushed out of their respective transport position in the longitudinal direction. Then, the retaining springs3are guided through the retaining holes24of the mount23by way of the hook-shaped ends of their spring legs5,6, and hooked into securing receptacles27, present on either side of the retaining holes24, of the mount23in order to hang up the panel element1. In the process, the back side7of the cover panel3is aligned approximately in or in the direction of gravity (see right-hand half ofFIG.5). After that, the panel element1thus hung up is lifted up by 90°, hooked into a retaining rail, which is fastened to the ceiling, by way of its retaining edge21, and pushed in the direction of the ceiling counter to the direction of gravity. In the process, the spring legs5,6on the one hand enter the second opening portions14of the retaining openings8. On the other hand, the spring legs5,6slip further through the retaining holes24and spread apart owing to the spring force of the retaining springs3, as a result of which the panel element1can be hung up correctly.

The panel elements1can become detached from their intended mounting position if strong vibrations and/or tremors act on them, for example in the event of an earthquake. If the panel elements1inadvertently become detached from their intended mounting position, the panel elements1can be intercepted with the aid of the hook-shaped ends12of the spring legs5,6of their retaining springs3and the securing receptacles27and can be prevented from falling. If the panel elements1become detached, the spring legs5,6slip through the retaining holes24until the hook-shaped ends12of the spring legs5,6of the retaining springs3engage in the securing receptacles27. The hook-shaped ends12remain there, securing the panel element1against falling.

The hook-shaped ends12of the retaining springs3of the right-hand panel element1ofFIG.5engage in the securing receptacles27. It can be seen that the securing receptacles27introduced in the mount23are continuous securing holes.

The panel element1has a stop in the form of a stop leg25, by way of which it can bear against the mount23in the correct position of use. The stop leg25is a third profile leg of the profile18and is aligned at right angles to the back side7of the cover panel2and/or at right angles to the second profile leg20.

The invention is concerned with improvements to the technical field of panel elements for lining ceilings and/or walls. To that end, what is proposed, inter alia, is a panel element1which has a retaining device4, by means of which at least one retaining spring3, which is used to fasten the panel element1to the ceiling and/or wall, can be fixed in its transport position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1Panel element2Cover panel3Retaining spring4Retaining device5Spring leg6Spring leg7Back side of28Retaining opening9Edge of810Edge of811Insertion opening12Hook-shaped end of5,613First opening portion of814Second opening portion of815Retaining web16Intermediate portion17Opening edge of1318Profile19First profile leg20Second profile leg21Retaining edge22Lining23Mount24Retaining hole25Bearing leg26Visible side27Securing receptacle