DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This brief description of several views of the drawings, and the detailed description of the invention refers to different views for specifying the figure numbers and reference numerals to the different parts.
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention as it is used to operatively connect panels together into a substantially fixed relation structure;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the panel in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a panel wall under construction with two panels shown mounted on 2×4″ studs and a third panel being moved into position to be secured to the wall.
FIG. 4 is a horizontal section of a portion of the projection of the panel taken along a line 4-4FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a horizontal section of the recess of the panel taken along a line 5-5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a horizontal section of the projection and the recess areas of two panels being assembled taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a horizontal section of two panels assembled and mounted to a 2×4″ stud taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of two mounted panels with a 2×4″ stud in phantom and showing various mounting details including the serpentine edge expansion and the expansion relief aperture in a relaxed position;
FIG. 8
a is the same as FIG. 8 but in a compressed position showing how the invention accommodates dimensional changes in adjacent wood panels from moisture and temperature fluctuations by allowing for expansion both with the elimination of the gap in the serpentine edge expansion area and with the compression of the expansion relief aperture adjacent to the expansion bulge in the recess of the adjacent panel;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the panel front face of two adjacent panels each having a fastening element on another top side in addition to the other sides of a panel designed for multiple course installation;
FIG. 10 is a similar perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention but showing the panel back face of two adjacent panels each having a fastening element on another top side in addition to the other sides of a panel designed for multiple course installation;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the invention showing a fastening element mounting for installing perimeter trim onto to a panel edge;
FIG. 12 is a cross-section taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11 to reveal details with the fastening element installation onto a panel edge with perimeter trim.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure describes the invention and the manner and process of making and using it to enable any person skilled in the pertinent or most nearly connected technological area of the invention to make and use it. The specific physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention as defined by the claims.
A preferred embodiment the present invention is illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 1 through 12. With specific reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, a fastening element 20 comprises a reveal edge 24 and a serpentine edge 26.
FIG. 1 is a front view of the fastening element 20 on a panel 66 as it is used to operatively connect panels together into a structure. FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the panel 66 in FIG. 1.
An example of a combination of at least two panels 66 in a conventional environment surrounding or associated with a preferred embodiment of the invention is the construction of a wall structure with panels 66 secured to 2×4″ studs 64. FIG. 3 shows a front view of a panel wall under construction with two panels 66 shown mounted on 2×4″ studs 64 and a third panel 66 being moved into position to be secured against the wall.
Reveal edge 24 has a planar shape and is located on the edge of the panel front face 30 of the panel 66 as best seen in FIGS. 4-7. Two adjacent, properly installed wood panels 66 each have a reveal edge 24 close to but not touching each other forming a gap called a reveal expansion 56 as depicted in FIG. 7.
The serpentine edge 26 has a S shape located on the edge of the panel back face 32 of the panel 66. Overall, in FIG. 2 the serpentine edge 26 is shown to extend the entire length of opposing sides of panel 66. Portions of the serpentine edge 26 are shown in FIGS. 4-7, but is best seen in the enlarged view of FIGS. 8 and 8a.
The serpentine edge 26 includes a projection 40. FIG. 4 shows a portion of the projection 40 of the fastening element 20 on the panel 66. The projection 40 extends from the fastening element 20 in a generally outwardly direction relative to the fastening element 20.
The projection 40 defines an aperture, such as an expansion relief aperture 42. The aperture 42 is disposed away from the serpentine edge of the projection as illustrated in the enlarged view of FIGS. 8 and 8a. The aperture 42 extends in a generally parallel direction relative to the serpentine edge 26 of the projection 40. Also, the aperture is configured for receiving a trim fastener 62 that provides a hidden connection from the projection 40 to trim, such as perimeter trim 60. As example, one such trim fastener 62, suitable for use in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disposed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,698 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto. “Klick” fastener is manufactured by Friedrich Knapp Gmbh in Austria.
In addition, the serpentine edge 26 includes a recess 50. FIG. 5 is a horizontal section of the recess of the panel 66. The fastening element 20 defines the recess 50. The recess 50 extends from the fastening element 20 in a generally inwardly direction relative to the fastening element 20 and is configured for receiving a second projection 40 from a second fastening element 20. The projection 40 and the recess 50 are disposed adjacent to each other on the same serpentine edge 26 so that adjacent panels 66 can be operatively connected to each other in a structure.
Furthermore, the fastening element 20 defines a bulge such as an expansion bulge 52. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 8a, the expansion bulge 52 is disposed upon the serpentine edge 26 of the recess 50, and extends in a generally outwardly direction relative to the fastening element 20. The expansion bulge 52 is configured for transferring an expansion force from the fastening element 20 to aperture 42 of the projection 40 of an adjacent panel 66.
FIG. 6 illustrates a horizontal section of the projection 40 and the recess 50 areas of two panels 66 being assembled. FIG. 7 is a horizontal section of two panels 66 assembled and mounted to 2×4″ studs 64. p FIG. 8 shows a rear view of two mounted panels 66 with a 2×4″ stud 64 in phantom and showing various mounting details including the serpentine edge expansion 58 and the expansion relief aperture 42 in a relaxed position. FIG. 8a depicts the same as FIG. 8 but in a compressed position showing how the invention accommodates dimensional changes in adjacent wood panels 66 from moisture and temperature fluctuations by allowing for expansion both with the elimination of the gap of serpentine edge expansion 58 and with the compression of expansion relief aperture 42 adjacent to expansion bulge 52 in the recess 50 of the adjacent panel 66.
FIG. 9 shows the panel front face 30 of two adjacent panels 66 each having a fastening element 20 on a top side in addition to the other left and right sides of a panel 66 for installing a multiple course structure.
FIG. 10 illustrates the panel back face 32 of the two adjacent panels 66 shown in FIG. 9 with each also having a fastening element 20 on top side in addition to the other opposing sides of a panel 66 designed for multiple course installation.
In FIG. 11, a fastening element 20 mounting is depicted for installing perimeter trim 60 onto to a panel 66 edge. FIG. 12 reveals details of the fastening element 20 as used to install onto the panel 66 edge some perimeter trim 60.
In use on a panel 66 to panel 66 construction, a first panel 66 having a fastening element 20 on at least one side may be secured to 2×4 studs 64 of a wall with common fasteners 68, such as screws driven through a countersunk screw hole 48 on the projections 40. As shown in FIGS. 3, 9, and 10, a second panel 66 having a fastening element 20 on at least one side, is placed into the fasting element 20 of the adjacent first panel 66. The projections 40 on right side of the second panel 66 (are inserted into the recesses 50 on the left side of the adjacent first panel 66. Then the projections 40 on the opposing left side of the second panel 66 from the adjacent first panel 66 may be secured to 2×4 studs 64 of the wall. The need to similarly secure the right side of the second panel 66 with fasteners 68 into the stud 64 is eliminated because the recesses 50 on the left side of the first panel 66 supports and secures the projections 40 on the right side of the second panel 66.
In use on a panel 66 to trim 60 construction, the fastening element 20 is included on each side of each panel 66 that will receive the perimeter trim 60 as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 11. A trim fastener 62, such as a Klick fastener is depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. One portion of the trim fastener 62 is inserted into the expansion relief aperture 42 of a projection 40 located on the exposed perimeter of the panel 66 to be framed. The trim, such as perimeter trim 60 is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 to be attached to the exposed other portion of the trim fastener 62 which is inserted into the expansion relief aperture 42 of a projection 40 thereby securing and hiding the formerly the exposed perimeter of the panel 66 with trim 60.
While the fastening system for panels and trim of the present invention has been disclosed in the drawings in a particular way with a given number and shape of left and right projections 40 and recesses 50 on a panel 66, it should be appreciated that the fastening system can be used in other environments with different variations within the same invention. For example, projections 40 and recesses 50 could be spaced further apart such as with 4 left and 3 right projections on opposing panel 66 sides. Other variations in size and shape are understood to be included in the invention such as wider projections 40 and rectangular projections 40.
The present invention provides an improved fastening system for panels and trim to guide and to operatively connect panels 66 together and to connect a panel 66 with trim 60. The same fastening element 20 provides multiple use capabilities for reducing manufacturing and labor costs for eliminating a current need to manufacture, purchase, install and adjust additional specialized panel joining hardware or mounting blocks, and for reducing the time spent laying out the installation.
When hanging a panel 66 with another adjacent panel 66, the fastening element 20 guides and connects adjacent panel front faces 30 into a flush horizontal alignment with each other for eliminating the need to purchase, and the labor cost of installing a separate additional element such as a spline, wood biscuit, dowel, or other mechanical alignment hardware. Also, the fastening element 20 vertically aligns adjacent multiple course panels 66 with each other for reducing dependence on the variable skill of an installer and for eliminating the need of additional mechanical gauges and alignment tools along with the skill to use them.
The present invention provides a way to attach panels 66 closer to and laying flatter against a wall presenting a diminished profile for reducing the size of required finishing trim 60. Also the invention provides an attachment method and means that can be augmented with adhesives for reducing the number of required fasteners 68 and for providing temporary clamping.
Even more importantly, the fastening element 20 securely affixes panels 66 with fasteners 68 such as screws that are hidden by adjacent panels 66 for eliminating exposed fasteners along with the need to conceal fasteners 68 with putty or mechanical covers. See FIGS. 4-7.
The fastening element 20 further provides a means of accommodating dimensional changes in fixedly secured adjacent wood panels 66 from moisture and temperature fluctuations for reducing the possibility of installing the wood panels 66 with insufficient or omitted allowance for expansion and buckling that may result in costly panel 66 damage.
As shown in FIG. 8, expansion bulge 52 of recess 50 on a first panel 66 contacts the web 46 of projection 40 of another panel 66 to create the serpentine edge expansion 58 and consequently the reveal expansion 56 as seen in FIG. 7. Together they gauge reveal spacing between adjacent panels 66 for eliminating the need for separate spacing shims or for depending on the variable skills of different installers.
Finally, the present invention provides an improved fastening system to connect a panel 66 to trim 60 with the fastening element 20. Perimeter trim 60 may be applied with a hidden trim fastener 62 facilitated by the expansion relief aperture 42 onto many structurally different panel 66 designs for eliminating the need to affix trim 60 by additional modification of an exposed panel 66 edge.
The invention described above may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.
Patent Application
20070283658
