[0001] The invention relates to a junction device for connecting two coplanar panels, particularly
suitable for being used in the realization of walls of industrial, commercial buildings
and compartmenting in general.
[0002] Construction technical notes of industrial, commercial or other buildings are known,
using metallic self-supporting panels, realized with metallic material, for example
with profiled sheet. They are realized with an insulating interposition giving the
structural resistance needed for their positioning as a wall or covering.
[0003] The use of polyurethane as an insulator, permits, in particular, the use of such
panels at low temperatures to build freezers for alimentary conservation reasons.
It is clear that, in different applications, the insulator could be substituted by
another material, for example polystyrene, fiberglass or other materials, each one
with mechanical resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation characteristics.
[0004] In order to realize the mounting, the panels are fixed to a supporting structure
made, for example, by an iron frame through suitable fixing means, such a through
screw.
[0005] The known technique foresees that the above-mentioned panels are mounted one beside
another, side by side along the lateral edges. Here male-female junction elements,
allowing their joint fixing, are present.
[0006] Such a junction device type is represented in fig. 1 and foresees that the lateral
edge of a first P1 of said panels, commonly named female or mortise M, has a U-profile
suitable for housing the conjugate profile T of the lateral adjacent edge P2, called
male or tenon.
[0007] This allows the panel modular junction and their mechanical and also esthetical continuity
next to the junctions.
[0008] Between the mortise M and the tenon T a gasket G, realizing the continuity of the
insulator C1, C2 of the two panels P1, P2 in order to assure thermal and acoustic
insulation, in normally interposed.
[0009] A disadvantage of such a technique is that the ends M1, M2 of the mortise becomes
larger towards the outside when the time goes on, defining along the junction a protruding
edge from the panel external surfaces.
[0010] Such a phenomenon is due to the deformations which the materials making the panel
are subjugated to. The deformations are caused particularly by the temperature gap
existing between the external and internal surface of the panel itself.
[0011] Such a situation frequently happens at low temperatures, as in the cited case of
the freezers. In this case the difference between the internal and the external environment
can vary from 40°C, during the winter, to 100°C during the summer, with the external
walls exposed to the sun.
[0012] The edge deformation creates slots next to the junctions, determining the decrease
of the mechanical seal and of the thermal insulation.
[0013] Internally to the slots water or dust can also enter, deteriorating the sanitary
conditions inwardly and the esthetical aspect outwardly.
[0014] A known technique solving the cited disadvantage is represented in fig. 2, where
the junction between the adjacent panels P1, P2 is obtained by an elastic junction
device, realized by a couple of elastic protuberances A1, A2.
[0015] The protuberances are overhanging with respect to the edge of a first panel P1, U-shaped
in order to house the suitably shaped edge S of the adjacent panel P2.
[0016] During the mounting the two panels are placed one beside another and are fixed one
with another through a mutual pressure movement.
[0017] A first disadvantage of such a technique is that the overhanging protuberances are
obtained by turning round, in practice 360°, the sheet end.
[0018] In such a way the bending is substantially made by two edges very close, between
which the insulator penetration, during the panel realization, is difficult.
[0019] This determines a decrease of the insulating characteristics of the junction.
[0020] Another disadvantage is that the fixing mounting of such panels is difficult, particularly
when the heights reach values higher than three meters. This is due to the great deformation
power requested in order to telescope the panels one with another.
[0021] In this case the adjacent panels remain spaced, not allowing the perfect adherence
of the junction and determining the decrease of the junction insulating characteristics.
[0022] The present invention is intended to eliminate the cited disadvantages.
[0023] It is a first aim of the invention the realization of a junction device for connecting
two coplanar panels and allows the maintenance, when the time goes on, of the planar
characteristics in the external surfaces.
[0024] It is another aim that the junction device of the invention allows the simplification
of the panel mounting steps with respect to the equivalent solutions of the known
type.
[0025] These and other aims are reached through the realization of a junction device for
connecting two coplanar panels which, according to the main claim subject, is made
by:
- at least one tenon developing for at least one length line of at least a side of the
first of said panels;
- at least one mortise developing for at least one length line of at least a side of
the second of said panels and suitable for receiving the insertion of said tenon;
and is characterized in that it comprises first shaped surfaces joining together
each external surface of said first panel with the lateral surface of the immediately
adjacent tenon. It also comprises second shaped surfaces joining together each external
surface of said second panel with the lateral surface of the immediately adjacent
mortise, at least one of said shaped surfaces defining at least an undercut area with
respect to the belonging panel receiving the correspondent shaped surface of the other
panel.
[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the junction is composed by a unique tenon,
belonging to the first panel, and by a unique mortise belonging to the second panel.
The first and second shaped surfaces are made by connectable curved surfaces characterizing
a substantially S-profile.
[0027] Advantageously, the undercut areas, defined by panel shaped surfaces which they belong
to, allow the constraining of the adjacent panel shaped profiles preventing the retraction.
[0028] Said aims and advantages will be better underlined during the description of preferred
embodiments of the invention, given as an indicative but not limitative title, referring
to the accompanying drawings where:
- figs. 1 and 2 represent different executive variations of the known art;
- fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the junction device of the invention;
- fig. 3a represents an enlarged particular of fig. 3;
- fig. 4 represents an exploded view of fig. 1;
- figs. 5-7 represent executive variations of the particular of fig. 3a.
[0029] The junction device of the invention is represented in fig. 3, indicated as a whole
by 1.
[0030] It comprises a first panel 2 on the side 2a, from which a tenon 4 develops. The tenon
is inserted on the mortise 5, machined on the side 3a of a second panel 3 which is
coplanar with the first panel 2.
[0031] The two lateral surfaces 6, 7 in the first panel 2 and the lateral surfaces 8, 9
of the second panel 3 are substantially made by a couple of profiled parallel sheets,
between which the insulator C is interposed.
[0032] The insulator C is made preferably, but not necessarily, by thermal insulating material,
for example polyurethane.
[0033] Referring to the tenon 4, it is made by a rib protruding from the side 2a of the
first panel 2 and is delimited by lateral surfaces 10, 11 substantially parallel.
[0034] Referring to the mortise 5, it is made by a substantially U-shaped notch, delimited
by lateral surfaces 16, 17.
[0035] Both the tenon 4 and the mortise 5 develop according to the direction defined by
the longitudinal wall axis, which is realized when the panels 2, 3 are coupled.
[0036] Further, the ends defining each panel and bent to define the tenon 4 and the mortise
5 remain spaced, in order to prevent the thermal bridge in correspondence with the
head end 12 of the tenon 4 and of the bottom 13 of the mortise 5.
[0037] Between the head end 12 of the tenon 4 and the bottom 13 of the mortise 5 a seal
gasket 15, placed during the junction operations of the first panel 2 to the second
panel 3.
[0038] According to the invention and as it can be seen in the particular of fig. 3a, the
external lateral surface 6, 7 of the first panel 2 joins together with the respective
lateral surfaces 10, 11 of the tenon 4 through first shaped surfaces, indicated as
a whole by 22.
[0039] In the same way the external lateral surfaces 8, 9 of the second panel 3 join together
with the lateral surfaces 16, 17 of the mortise 5 through second shaped surfaces,
indicated as a whole by 23.
[0040] In particular, the first shaped surfaces 22 and the second shaped surfaces 23 have
a connectable S-shaped profile. As it can be seen in fig. 4, the first shaped surfaces
22 define an undercut area 24 with respect to the lateral surfaces 6, 7 of the first
panel 2.
[0041] When the first panel 2 is joined with the second panel 3, the tenon 4 is housed with
a light interference from the mortise 5, in order to guarantee a good mechanical seal.
[0042] In order to help the coupling, the tenon 4 has a tagging in the final part, as it
can be seen in fig. 3.
[0043] The second shaped surface 23 of the second panel 3 is housed in the undercut area
24 of the first panel 2, so operating the locking of the lateral wall 5a, 5b of the
mortise 5, which are so prevented from deformation, due to thermal expansion, towards
the outside.
[0044] In such a way we have reached the first aim of the invention.
[0045] In fig. 5 a first executive variation of the shaped surfaces, indicated as a whole
by 30, 31, is represented. Each shaped surface is made by a plane inclined with respect
to the external lateral surface 6, 8 of the respective panel 2, 3.
[0046] Fig. 6 represents another executive variation of the shaped surfaces, indicated as
a whole by 40, 41, each one being made by convergent planes individualizing a conjugate,
substantially V-shaped profile.
[0047] Fig. 7 represents a further executive variation of the shaped surfaces, indicated
as a whole by 50, 51. They become different from the previous ones because, in spite
of being insertable one in another, they have different profiles.
[0048] Referring to the panels, which the junction device is realized on, they could foresee,
for example, on one side a tenon and on the opposite side a mortise.
[0049] They could be used for realizing walls through their horizontal alignment.
[0050] In a different embodiment the panels could foresee only tenons or mortises on all
the sides. Therefore, during the mounting step, such panels must be placed alternated
and aligned along the horizontal or vertical direction.
[0051] In case, also different mortise and tenon combinations could be foreseen on the panels.
[0052] It is clear that, according to what has been said, the invention junction reaches
the expected aims in all the embodiments described.
[0053] During the execution of the invention junction, shaped variations could be made to
the first and second shaped surfaces or to the tenons and mortises.
[0054] Further, each junction device could be provided with more tenons and with correspondent
mortises for each panel.
[0055] The cited and other not cited variations, if they take part in the following claims,
are thought to be protected by the present patent.
1. A junction device (1) for connecting two coplanar panels (2, 3) composed by:
- at least a tenon (4) developing for at least a part of the lenght of at least one
side (2a) of the first (2) of said panels (2, 3);
- at least one mortise (5) developing for at least a part of the lenght of at least
one side (3a) of the second (3) of said panels (2, 3) and suitable for receiving the
insertion of said tenon (4),
characterized in that it comprises first shaped surfaces (22; 30; 40; 50) jointing each external surface
(6, 7) of said first panel (2) with the lateral surface (10, 11) of the tenon (4)
immediately adjacent and second shaped surfaces (23; 31; 41; 51) jointing each external
surface (8, 9) of said second panel (3) with the lateral surface (16, 17) of the mortise
(5) immediately adjacent, at least one of said shaped surfaces (22, 23; 30, 31; 40,
41; 50, 51) defining at least one undercut area (24) with respect to the external
surface (6, 7; 8, 9) of the panel (2, 3) which belongs to, housing the correspondent
shaped surface (23, 22; 31, 30; 41, 40; 51, 50) of the other panel (3, 2).
2. The junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that at least one of said shaped surfaces (30) is made by an inclined plane with respect
to the external surface (6, 7) of the panel (2) which they belong to.
3. The junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that at least one of said shaped surfaces (40) is made by two converging planes characterizing a V-profile.
4. The junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that at least one of said first shaped surfaces (22) is made by a curved surface.
5. The junction device (1) according to claim 4), characterized in that said curved surface characterizes a substantially S-profile.
6. The junction device (1) according to claim 4), characterized in that said curved surface characterizes a substantially U-profile.
7. The junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that at least one of said second shaped surfaces (31) is made by an inclined plane with
respect to the external surface (8, 9) of the panel (3) which they belong to.
8. The junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that at least one of said second shaped surfaces (41) is made by two converging planes
which characterize a V-profile.
9. The junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that at least one of said second shaped surfaces (23) is made by a curved surface.
10. The junction device (1) according to claim 9), characterized in that said curved surface characterize a substantially S-profile.
11. The junction device (1) according to claim 9), characterized in that said curved surface characterizes a substantially U-profile.
12. The junction device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made by a unique tenon (4) and by a unique mortise (5).
13. A panel (2, 3) using the junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that it has in at least one side (2a, 3a) said at least one tenon (4).
14. The panel (2, 3) using the junction device (1) according to claim 1) or 13), characterized in that it has in at least one side (2a, 3a) said at least one mortise (5).
15. The panel (2) using the junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that of having in each side said at least one tenon (4).
16. The panel (3) using the junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that it has in each side said at least one mortise (5).
17. The panel (2; 3) using the junction device (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that it is made by two sheets (6, 7; 8, 9) not in touch with another, substantially parallel
and spaced through the interposition of thermal insulating material (C).
18. The panel (2; 3) using the junction device (1) according to claim 17), characterized in that said thermal insulating material (C) is made by polyurethane.