(19)
(11) EP 2 568 095 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
30.07.2014 Bulletin 2014/31

(21) Application number: 12181826.4

(22) Date of filing: 27.08.2012
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E04F 13/08(2006.01)
A47B 95/00(2006.01)

(54)

Perfected device for the wall assembly of coating panels and method for the production thereof

Perfektionierte Vorrichtung für die Wandanordnung von Verkleidungsplatten und Verfahren zur Herstellung davon

Dispositif perfectionné pour ensemble de parois de panneaux de revêtement et son procédé de production


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 07.09.2011 IT MI20111604

(43) Date of publication of application:
13.03.2013 Bulletin 2013/11

(73) Proprietor: LEONARDO S.r.l.
22060 Figino Serenza, CO (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • Cattaneo, Carlo
    22060 Figino Serenza (IT)

(74) Representative: Martegani, Franco et al
via Carlo Alberto, 41
20900 Monza
20900 Monza (IT)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A1- 1 228 720
EP-A2- 0 707 815
EP-A1- 2 199 488
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a perfected device for the wall assembly of coating panels.

    [0002] The invention also relates to a method for the production of said device.

    [0003] Said devices are commonly called "panel brackets" in the field.

    [0004] The invention also relates to a coating panel equipped with a plurality of devices according to the invention.

    [0005] As is known to experts in the field, for the wall assembly of coating panels, for example for the production of "boiseries" or other types of coatings, for various types of environments and/or walls, devices are preferably used which allow not only the fixing of each panel to the wall, but also its vertical regulation.

    [0006] The fixing of coating panels, of the above-mentioned type, to the wall, requires the creation of an interspace, as narrow as possible, in which the panel brackets are housed. In this respect, the devices of the known type, which are relatively cumbersome (in depth), require appropriate seats in the panel, and consequently costly additional processing operations.

    [0007] In order to overcome this drawback, the device object of European patent application EP2199488 has already been proposed, to which reference should be made.

    [0008] Even if the device, object of EP2199488, satisfactorily solves the above problems of encumbrance and costly additional processing operations to be effected on the panel, it only allows its vertical regulation (in height).

    [0009] At present, on the contrary, it is highly desirable to also avail of a device whereby it is possible to effect regulations of the panel, both in height (vertical) and also in depth (horizontal), in addition to its firm assembly to the wall.

    [0010] The general objective of the present invention is to provide a regulation device structured so as to be able to be fixed directly to the surface of the coating panel, without requiring additional processing operations of the same, but at the same time creating a narrow interspace between panel and wall, and which is also capable of allowing both of the above regulations in vertical and horizontal, in an extremely simple manner.

    [0011] The above objective is achieved by a regulation device having the characteristics specified in the enclosed main claim and subclaims.

    [0012] Document EP2 199 488 discloses a device having the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

    [0013] The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed drawings, which show an assembly device produced according to the innovative principles of the invention itself.

    [0014] In the drawings:
    • figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the device of the invention fixed to a panel, and hooked to a supporting plate on the wall;
    • figure 2 is a raised front view of the device of figure 1;
    • figure 3 is a sectional view of a panel assembled to the wall by means of the device of the invention;
    • figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device of the invention; and
    • figures 5 and 6 are two sections illustrating, in two different operative positions, the regulation screw in horizontal (depth) of the device illustrated in the previous figures.


    [0015] With reference first of all to figures 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, the device according to the invention - in one of its illustrative and non-limiting embodiments - is indicated as a whole with 10, and is destined for being contained inside an interspace 32.

    [0016] Said device 10 characteristically comprises a regulation mechanism of the position of the panel in vertical and in horizontal, said mechanism being structurally composed of the combination of four components: a base 11, a slide 12, and two screws 13, 14, for the regulation in vertical and in horizontal respectively, of a panel P on which the device 10 is fixed.

    [0017] The base 11, made of metal for example, can have a rectangular form, and has side holes for the passage of fixing screws 17 of the device 10 to the panel P.

    [0018] More specifically, the base 11 has a central sliding seat 18 (figure 4) of the slide 12.

    [0019] Said seat 18 is equipped with side shaping guides 19 on which the slide 12 translates (in the directions of the arrow F) by means of longitudinal apertures 20 which are slidingly coupled with the guides 19 (figures 1 and 4). As can be clearly seen in the drawings, the slide 12, extends, below, beyond the base 11 with a freely removable coplanar coupling section 21 (hook) to a shaped plate 22 (or section), which is fixed to a wall 23 by means of pegs 24 (figure 3).

    [0020] The coupling system between the hooking section 21 and plate 22 will be explained in greater detail hereunder.

    [0021] The above regulation screws 13, 14, which are equipped with respective manoeuvring heads 15, 16 by means of tools 33 (figure 4), cooperate with the slide 12.

    [0022] The screw 13 serves for regulating the height (vertical) of the panel P, according to the directions of the arrow F. For this purpose, the screw 13 is screwed into corresponding threaded seats 25, 26 of the base 11, abutted with its free end against the upper wall 27 of the slide 12 (figures 1 and 2). The weight of the panel P hooked to the plate 22 always keeps the free end of the screw 13 in contact with the wall 27 of the slide 12.

    [0023] The screw 14 serves for the horizontal regulation (depth) of the panel P, according to the directions of the arrow F1. For this purpose, the screw 14 is screwed into a corresponding partially threaded seat 28 of the slide 12 (figures 1, 5 and 6).

    [0024] As can be clearly seen in figures 5 and 6, the free end of the screw 14 opposite the head 16, is conical, as in 29, and extends outside (beyond) the slide 12, in correspondence with a central window 30 of the hooking section 21.

    [0025] The conical end 29 of the screw 14 cooperates (as a cam) with an upper edge 31 of the plate 22 on which the section 21 of the slide 12 is hooked.

    [0026] The functioning of the assembly device according to the invention is evident from the above description with reference to the figures and is briefly as follows.

    [0027] The vertical regulation of the panel P is obtained by rotating the screw 13 in the directions of the arrow F2, causing the translation of the slide 12 on the guides 19, and consequently a relative movement between the base 11 (fixed to the panel P) and the plate 22 (fixed to the wall).

    [0028] The horizontal regulation of the panel P is obtained by rotating the screw 14 in the directions of the arrow F3, thus causing the conical end 29 of the same screw 14 to move like a cam against the edge 31 of the plate 22. This consequently causes a relative horizontal movement (in the directions of the arrow F1) between the panel P, to which the device 10 is fixed, and the plate 22 fixed to the wall. The thickness of the interspace 32 is thus varied.

    [0029] Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the drawings, with 34 and 35, indicate the ridges radially situated on the leg of the screw 14.

    [0030] As can be clearly seen in figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, these ridges 34, 35 create run-ends in both directions for the screw 14, which can neither be unscrewed from above nor excessively screwed downwards, which would cause the detachment of the section 21 from the plate 22.

    [0031] For this purpose, the ridges 34, 35 are buffered against edges 36, 37 of windows 38, 39 situated at the front and rear in the slide 12.

    [0032] The ridges 34, 35 are characteristically produced by means of a so-called flattening operation of the screw 14 through said windows 38, 39, after the screwing of the screw 14 itself into its seat 28.

    [0033] It should be noted that, according to the invention, the presence of both regulation screws 13, 14 is contained in the same limited thickness of the slide 12.

    [0034] The objective of the invention of providing a device for regulating both the height and depth that can be fixed to the rear surface of the panel without there being any particular seats on the latter, but at the same time creating an extremely narrow interspace 32, has therefore been achieved.

    [0035] The protection scope of the invention is defined by the enclosed claims.


    Claims

    1. A device (10) for the wall assembly (23) of a coating panel (P), which forms, with said wall (23), an interspace (32), said device (10) comprising a base (11), suitable to be fixed on the panel (P), a plate (22) suitable to be fixed to said wall (23) and a mechanism for regulating the height, i.e. the vertical position, of the panel (P) held by a said base (11), said mechanism consisting of a slide (12) and a command screw (13) for the translation of said slide (12), wherein said slide (12) also has a section (21) for hooking the device (10) to a said plate (22), wherein said base (11) and said mechanism for regulating the height are destined to be entirely contained in said interspace (32), characterized in that a second screw (14) for the regulation of the depth, i.e. the horizontal position, of the panel (P), which is destined to be entirely contained in said interspace (32), cooperates with said slide (12), the free end of said second screw (14) having a cam profile (29) acting on an edge (31) of said plate (22), so as to vary the thickness of said interspace (32).
     
    2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said free end of the screw (14) is conical.
     
    3. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said section (21) is coplanar with the slide (12).
     
    4. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said screw (13) is abutted, with one of its free ends, against an upper wall (27) of the slide (12).
     
    5. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second screw (14) has run ends (34, 35) which cooperate with said slide (12) to limit the run of the same screw (14) in both directions.
     
    6. The device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said run ends consist of ridges (34, 35) radially situated on the stem of the screw (14), said ridges (34, 35) cooperate with edges (36, 37) of openings (38, 39) situated on the slide (12).
     
    7. A method for the production of a device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that said ridges (34, 35) are produced through said openings (38, 39) after the screw (14) has been screwed into the seat (28) of the slide (12).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Vorrichtung (10) für die Wandmontage (23) eines Belagpaneels (P), das mit der Wand (23) einen Zwischenraum (32) bildet, wobei die Vorrichtung (10) eine Basis (11), die geeignet ist, an dem Paneel (P) befestigt zu werden, eine Platte (22), die geeignet ist, an der Wand (23) befestigt zu werden, und einen Mechanismus zum Regulieren der Höhe, d.h. der vertikalen Position, des Paneels (P), das durch die Basis (11) gehalten ist, umfasst, wobei der Mechanismus aus einem Schlitten (12) und einer Steuerschraube (13) zur Verschiebung des Schlittens (12) besteht, wobei der Schlitten (12) auch ein Teilstück (21) zum Einhaken der Vorrichtung (10) an der Platte (22) aufweist, wobei die Basis (11) und der Mechanismus zum Regulieren der Höhe dazu bestimmt sind, vollständig in dem Zwischenraum (32) enthalten zu sein, dadurch gekenrtzeichnef, dass eine zweite Schraube (14) für die Regulierung der Tiefe, d.h. der horizontalen Position, des Paneels (P), die dazu bestimmt ist, vollständig in dem Zwischenraum (32) enthalten zu sein, mit dem Schlitten (12) zusammenarbeitet, wobei das freie Ende der zweiten Schraube (14) ein Nockenprofil (29) aufweist, das auf einen Rand (31) der Platte (22) wirkt, um die Dicke des Zwischenraums (32) zu verändern.
     
    2. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das freie Ende der Schraube (14) konisch ist.
     
    3. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Teilstück (21) koplanar mit dem Schlitten (12) ist.
     
    4. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schraube (13) an einem ihrer freien Enden gegen eine obere Wand (27) des Schlittens (12) anschlägt.
     
    5. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gelcennzeichnet, dass die zweite Schraube (14) Verstellwegenden (34, 35) aufweist, die mit dem Schlitten (12) zusammenwirken, um den Verstellweg derselben Schraube (14) in beiden Richtungen zu begrenzen.
     
    6. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Laufenden aus Stegen (34, 35) bestehen, die radial an den Schaft der Schraube (14) gelegen sind, wobei die Stege (34, 35) mit Rändern (36, 37) von Öffnungen (38, 39), die an dem Schlitten (12) gelegen sind, zusammenarbeiten.
     
    7. Verfahren für die Herstellung einer Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Stege (34, 35) durch die Öffnungen (38, 39) hergestellt werden, nachdem die Schraube (14) in den Sitz (28) des Schlitzes (12) geschraubt worden ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Dispositif (10) pour le montage mural (23) d'un panneau de revêtement (P), qui forme, avec ledit mur (23), un espace (32), ledit dispositif (10) comprenant une base (11) adaptée pour être fixée sur le panneau (P), une plaque (22) adaptée pour être fixée audit mur (23) et un mécanisme pour régler la hauteur, c'est-à-dire la position verticale, du panneau (P) tenu par ladite base (11), ledit mécanisme étant constitué d'une coulisse (12) et d'une vis de commande (13) pour la translation de ladite coulisse (12), dans lequel ladite coulisse (12) comporte aussi une section (21) pour accrocher le dispositif (10) sur ladite plaque (22), dans lequel ladite base (11) et ledit mécanisme de réglage de la hauteur sont destinés à être contenus entièrement dans ledit espace (32), caractérisé en ce qu'une deuxième vis (14) pour le réglage de la profondeur, c'est-à-dire de la position horizontale, du panneau P, qui est destinée à être contenue entièrement dans ledit espace (32), coopère avec ladite coulisse (12), l'extrémité libre de ladite deuxième vis (14) ayant un profil de came (29) qui agit sur un bord (31) de ladite plaque (22), afin de faire varier l'épaisseur dudit espace (32).
     
    2. Dispositif (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite extrémité libre de la vis (14) est conique.
     
    3. Dispositif (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite section (21) est coplanaire avec la coulisse (12).
     
    4. Dispositif (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite vis (13) est en butée, avec l'une de ses extrémités libres, contre une paroi supérieure (27) de la coulisse (12).
     
    5. Dispositif (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite deuxième vis (14) a des fins de course (34, 35) qui coopèrent avec ladite coulisse (12) pour limiter la course de cette vis (14) dans les deux directions.
     
    6. Dispositif (10) selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que lesdites fins de course sont constituées par des arêtes (34, 35) situées radialement sur la tige de la vis (14), lesdites arêtes (34, 35) coopèrent avec des bords (36, 37) d'ouvertures (38, 39) situées sur la coulisse (12).
     
    7. Procédé pour la fabrication d'un dispositif (10) selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que lesdites arêtes (34, 35) sont produites à travers lesdites ouvertures (38, 39), après que la vis (14) a été vissée dans le siège (28) de la coulisse (12).
     




    Drawing














    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description