AU2013201578B2 - Securing a panel, post or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

The extrusion 40 has a hollow section 41 and a channel 42 having grooves 43 and 44 and rebates 45, 46, 47 and a return flange 48 in the walls 49 and 50 as shown. A seat 51 is inserted into the channel, the seat has complementary recesses 52, 53 and projections 54, 55 corresponding to the grooves and recesses in the channel. The seat 51 is an extruded strip and L-shaped with a base 56 and six inwardly projecting ribs or barbs 57 that are used to engage spaces in the screen 58. After the screen 58 has been inserted a retainer receiving strip 59 is inserted on the other side of the screen. This retainer receiving strip interacts with the retainer strip with a rectilinear sliding surface to surface engagement of the strips. Strip 29 has a protrusion 60 located in rebate 45. On its inside it has ribs or barbs 61 opposite or slightly offset from the barbs 57. LO) (5 C0) C\J

Description

1 SECURING A PANEL, POST OR THE LIKE TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in or in relation to connections for rails, panels posts or the like including but not limited to connections employing a channel where a rail, panel or the like is to be secured in the channel. The present description will be in relation to securing a panel in a frame but it will be appreciated and understood that the present invention has general application. BACKGROUND [0002] One field of endeavour involving connections of panels to frames is in screening. There have been a multitude of arrangements for securing a screen in a frame. The art may be described as "crowded" or a "developed" art. One specific area is security screening. Problems encountered by other patent owners include the overall requirement for security as reflected by satisfying the prevailing "Official Standards", thus to make sure the screen and frame can withstand the actions of an intruder and as well as this there is the desire for efficient and economic fitting. Some patents utilise fasteners at specific intervals while others are fastenerless utilising a toothed channel in the frame and a corresponding toothed insert holding the marginal edge of the mesh. The fastener arrangement is said to be more secure but it suffers from galvanic corrosion at the fastener due to galvanic current between the aluminium and the stainless steel. Examples of different types of screen assemblies include those shown in the following Australian patent specifications: 2006202858;2007101213;2007216631;2007272305;2008202835;2009266412;2010241512; 2011101076;2011200501;2011218770;2005252260. [0003] In order to alleviate the problem of corrosion there have been a host of frame profiles, insulating strips and tapes used to prevent galvanic current but this means there can be extra components and sometimes rather complex assembly processes with preformed mesh, wedges and special tools all adding the wide variety of solutions. [0004] In some cases the screens may be fabricated on-site in others they are made to measure in a factory.

2 [0005] In recent times in Patent Application AU2011200501 there has been an effort to have the benefits of a secure fastener with an insulator in the form of a toothed plastic strip fitted in a correspondingly toothed channel. The screen and frame are first fitted and assembled with the toothed insulating strip around the screen and this is push fitted into the channel in the frame. [0006] This type of arrangement was used previously without fasteners before but in this latest patent application it is strengthened using spaced discrete fasteners. It tries to have the best of both worlds. The frame, strip and screen are drilled at spaced intervals and then an insulating plug is inserted into each of the drill holes and then a screw fastener is inserted inside the plug. It seems that this has been needed since through various marketing and advertising campaigns homeowners in Australia have to a degree been convinced that security is only available through the use of discrete fasteners. Therefore with products like that described in AU2011200501 there seems to be a trend back to the simple spaced fasteners of the earliest screens. Once fasteners are employed it really makes the toothed strip superfluous other than to provide an insulating function. Moreover, in all these examples it is impossible to get the screen apart without destroying part of the assembly thus any retainer strip type elements are usually adapted against removal. [0007] Even though the fastener version was developed before all the later fastenerless versions and the art has become crowded, the later offerings have not been widely accepted. Consequently, there is a requirement for a fresh look at the general problems and to look "outside the box" through new eyes in an effort to provide an alternative to the efforts made over the last twenty years. It would be desirable to have something that is simple and easy to assemble yet effective and may also be disassembled. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0008] In one broad form there is provided an elongate connection assembly for connecting a rail to a panel, post or the like, the rail having a channel and the connection assembly being a spacer comprising a two piece channel insert operating as a spacer, a first piece insertable in the channel on one side of the channel and a second piece insertable on the other side of the channel with the panel or post between them, a retainer strip insertable into the channel to apply compression to the inserts, preferably the second piece has a slot receiving the retainer strip. In a preferred form there is provided an elongate rail to a panel, post or the like connection assembly, the rail having a 3 channel and the connection assembly being a spacer and a retainer, the spacer forming two slots in the channel, a rail, panel or post slot and a retainer slot, the retainer being force fit insertable into the retainer slot, the channel, spacer, slots and retainer being so dimensioned and arranged that insertion of the retainer produces a compressive force to secure the panel, post or the like in the channel, the retainer and retainer slot having facing load bearing surfaces enabling the retainer to be replaceably and non-connectedly located in the retainer slot. The expression "non-connectedly located" as used herein is not to be considered superfluous but means that the retainer is removably held by forces defined and there is no added connectors or fasteners. [0009] As an example in a prefered form applied to a security screen assembly comprising a rigid security screen held in a surrounding frame by a retainer strip, the frame comprising an extruded section having a channel, the channel having a first side wall and second side wall opposite the first side wall, a spacer comprising a first strip and a second strip with a slot, the strips being located in the channel with the screen between them, the retainer strip being adapted for insertion into the slot in the second strip to secure the assembly. Please note as used herein, when a part is said to be "between" other parts unless specifically stated there may be other intervening parts "between" those parts. [0010] Preferably, the retainer strip includes means to aid removal of the retainer strip without damage. The retainer strip is, in relation to its associated parts of the assembly, dimensioned for tight fitting containment and retention in the assembly by sliding rectilinear movement along sliding surfaces between released and secured positions. Typically, the retainer strip also includes means to aid insertion. In one preferred embodiment the means to aid insertion and removal is the same part, namely a head section that remains outside the channel when the retainer strip is in its operatively retained position, the head being used to enable the retainer strip to be tapped into place and also used to enable a tool to be inserted under the head to enable the retainer strip to be prised free. Preferably, the retainer strip has a high depth to width ratio so that a major portion of the strip is inserted into the channel. More preferably, the retainer strip is generally L-shaped. [0011] The spacer may be of any suitable form used to aid spacing the marginal edge portion of the screen from inside walls of the channel. Typically, the first piece is L-shaped strip and is adapted to cooperate with projections or protrusions on the channel wall. More preferably, the spacer pieces are strips that together form two slots one for the post, panel or screen and one for 4 the retainer strip. Preferably, the slot for the retainer strip has sliding surfaces for the sliding rectilinear movement along these sliding surfaces for the retainer strip moving between released and secured positions. [0012] Preferably, the channel and spacer have co-operating, locating or engaging projections or recesses aiding retention of the spacer in the channel. The spacer may also have means aiding retention of the post, panel or screen between the pieces of the spacer. The spacer may include a section or sections adapted to engage the screen as in teeth or ribs or to conform to the screen when placed under pressure upon insertion of the retainer. This could involve a co-extruded softened section adjacent the screen or double sided tape adapted to yield under pressure. The softened section could be a co-extruded portion of the spacer or a separate part straddling the post, panel or screen. [0013] It should be understood that the insertion of the retainer strip into its operative position gives rise to sideways pressure applied to the marginal edge of the screen inside the channel, so the selection of the relative dimension of the parts and the materials will determine the load applied to the screen by the retainer. Thus the retainer is preferably rigid. The spacer typically includes a sideways displaceable section between the screen and the retainer strip so that as the strip is inserted, the sideways displaceable section is forced toward the screen. Thus the screen is effectively clamped in the channel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Figure 1 is an overall perspective drawing illustrative of a security screen assembly according to the present invention; Figures 2-5 illustrate an embodiment of a screen assembly according to the invention.

5 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0015] Figures 2 to 5 show an alternative embodiment which does not include the action of the but uses teeth or a tape to engage the screen. The teeth are an example only and instead a yieldable softened material may be used as in a co-extrusion or a double side tape or the like that would mould into the screen interstices. Figures 2 to 5 shown the stages in assembly into a frame extrusion 40. The extrusion 40 has a hollow section 41 which takes corner brackets (not shown) in the the usual way to make a mitred rectangular frame. Opposite the hollow section 41 is a channel 42 having grooves 43 and 44 and rebates 45, 46, 47 and a return flange 48 in the walls 49 and 50 as shown. As a first step in the assembly, a medium density PVC seat 51 is inserted into the channel, the seat has complementary recesses 52, 53 and projections 54, 55 corresponding to the grooves and recesses in the channel. [0016] The seat 51 is an extruded strip and L-shaped with a base 56 and six inwardly projecting ribs or barbs 57 that are used to engage spaces in the screen 58. After the screen 58 has been inserted a retainer receiving strip 59 is inserted on the other side of the screen. This retainer receiving strip interacts with the retainer strip with a rectilinear sliding surface to surface engagement of the strips. Strip 59 has a protrusion 60 located in rebate 45. On its inside it has ribs or barbs 61 opposite or slightly offset from the barbs 57. The spacing between the barbs and the number thereof shows a gap that would not in practice be present, it being the case that all these elements are close fitting and upon assembly of the whole frame, the retainer strip 62 is driven into place thereby applying a sideways pressure against the channel walls 49 and 50 thereby forcing the teeth 57 and 61 into intimate holding engagement with the screen 58 as shown in Figure 5. [0017] In the embodiments shown the retainer strip has a head 63 which aids tapping in along the length of the strip but as shown in Figure 5 it has a very slight overhang at 64 so that a tool may be used to prise the strip out the retainer strip receiving strip, the retainer strip and receiver having smooth contacting surfaces for insertion and removal. [0018] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention many variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth set out in the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. An elongate rail to a panel, post or the like connection assembly the rail having a channel and the connection assembly being a spacer and a retainer, the spacer forming two slots in the channel, a rail, panel or post slot and a retainer slot, the retainer being force fit insertable into the retainer slot, the channel, spacer, slots and retainer being so dimensioned and arranged that insertion of the retainer produces a compressive force to secure the panel, post or the like in the channel, the retainer and retainer slot having facing load bearing surfaces enabling the retainer to be replaceably and non-connectedly located in the retainer slot.

2. An elongate connection assembly according to claim 1 when used in a security screen assembly comprising a rigid security screen held in a surrounding frame by a the retainer being in the form of a retainer strip, the frame comprising an extruded section having the channel, the channel having a first side wall and second side wall opposite the first side wall, the spacer comprising a first strip and a second strip with the retainer slot, the strips being located in the channel with the screen between them, the retainer strip being adapted for insertion into the retainer slot in the second strip to secure the assembly.

3. An elongate connection assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the retainer includes means to aid removal of the retainer strip without damage.

4. An elongate connection assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the spacer comprises a separate piece channel insert operating as the spacer, the channel insert having a first piece insertable in the channel on one side of the channel and a second piece insertable on the other side of the channel with the panel or post between them, the retainer slot being in the second piece.

5. An elongate connection assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the retainer also includes a head section that remains outside the channel when the retainer is in its operatively retained position, the head being used to enable the retainer to be tapped into place and also used to enable a tool to be inserted under the head to enable the retainer to be prised free. 7

6. An elongate connection assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the retainer has a high depth to thickness ratio so that a major portion of the retainer is inserted into the channel, the retainer being generally L-shaped.

7. An elongate connection assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the the spacer has strips which together form said slots.

8. An elongate connection assembly according to claim 4 wherein the channel has a side wall and the first piece is an L-shaped strip and is adapted to cooperate with projections or protrusions on the channel side wall.

9. An elongate connection assembly according to any one of claims 4 or 8 wherein the spacer pieces are strips that together form two slots, one for the post, panel or screen and one for the retainer strip.

10. An elongate connection assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second strip has a slot for the retainer strip. DATED this 15th day of March 2013 Bradley Mark Veivers By his Patent Attorneys INTELLEPRO