Lock for Securing Clips

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a lock for securing clips used to hold a panel to a wall or ceiling. The field of use is mainly in architecture although there are other suitable applications. A purpose of the lock is to prevent the panel from becoming inadvertently detached from the floor, wall, or ceiling.

BACKGROUND

In building rooms, elevator cabins and other spaces there is a structural wall and ceiling. There may be visible nail or screw heads, plastering, cement, insulation, plywood, plumbing, wiring and other structural features which may be desirable to cover with a panel to give a finished appearance.

The panel may be attached to the structural wall or ceiling with clips hidden intermediate the panel and wall or ceiling.

An earthquake, vibration, or impact may suddenly unclip the panel from the structural, floor, wall, or ceiling. Seasonal changes in temperature and humidity may expand and contract the panel and back surface causing the panel to slowly and imperceptibly creep apart or warp until suddenly the panel is released from the structural wall or ceiling as the clips reach a release point. Since the panel is released at an unpredictable moment, it may suddenly fall off a wall or ceiling causing damage or injury.

PRIOR ART

A standard device used in buildings to mitigate damage or injury from an inadvertently released wall or ceiling panel is a cable lanyard. One end of the cable lanyard is fixed to the back surface of the wall or ceiling. The opposite end of the cable lanyard is fixed to the panel. An example of use of a cable lanyard with a ceiling panel attached to a ceiling with clips is disclosed in the abstract of publication US-A1-2006/0101744 (Falbaum et. al).

A falling panel caught by a cable lanyard may be damaged by being suddenly stopped. The clips which held the panel to the wall or ceiling will likely be damaged by whatever force caused them to release the panel. People below the fallen panel may be frightened to see it above their heads dangling from the lanyard. It may not be easy to put the fallen panel back in place since it may be heavy and high above the floor.

In light of the foregoing prior art, there is a need for an improvement in securing panels safely and dependably to walls and ceilings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is a lock for securing clips linked together intermediate a back surface and a panel held to the back surface by the clips. The lock comprises a wedge having a flexible length intermediate first and second connectors. The lock comprises a shim.

The first connector may be arranged to connect the lock to the back surface. The second connector may be arranged to connect the lock to the panel. The second connector may be connectable to the panel.

The shim may be connected to the wedge. The shim may be supplied connectable to the wedge. The shim may be connectable to the first connector. The shim and wedge may be connected so as to be moveable relative to each other. They may be connected by a moveable connection of the first connector.

The wedge may comprise a portion of the first connector. The shim may comprise another portion of the first connector. Both portions of the first connector may be connected together to complete the first connector. The shim and wedge may be connected together to complete the first connector.

When the shim is connected to the wedge it may be moveable with respect to the wedge. The shim may be moveable from a first position where a portion of the shim distal from the first connector extends away from the wedge to a second position where the portion of the shim distal from the first connector is adjacent the wedge. In the same manner the shim may be moveable back from the second position to the first position.

The clips may be locked or may be lockable together by being linked and by being secure with the lock. This prevents the clips from coming apart, and so the panel is prevented from falling loose from the wall or ceiling.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is a panel assembly panel assembly covering a back surface of a ceiling or wall with a panel, comprising: the lock disclosed herein, a first clip attached to the panel, a second clip attached to the back surface, and the panel held face to face with the back surface by a link between the first clip and the second clip, wherein a first configuration of the panel assembly the lock is in the first position to unsecure the link to remove the panel from the back surface, and in a second configuration the lock is in the second position to secure the link hold the panel to the back surface.

The panel assembly may comprise at least a first fastener which connects the wedge to the back surface at a location outside the perimeter of the panel. A portion of wedge may be at the location outside the perimeter of the panel. The portion of the wedge outside the perimeter of the panel may comprise the first connector or a portion of the first connector. The first fastener may go through the first connector to connect the wedge to the back surface.

A second portion of the wedge distal form the first connector may be inside the perimeter the panel. The second portion may comprise the second connector. The second portion of the wedge may comprise the flexible portion of the wedge. The second portion of wedge may be connected to the panel by the second connector or a second fastener through the second connector.

In the first configuration the wedge may be displaced toward the back surface to unsecure the link between the clips. The second portion of the wedge distal from the first connector may displaced to unsecure the link, while the first portion of the wedge may not be displaced or may be displaced less. The lack or lessening of displacement may be due to the first connector being obstructed by the back surface.

In the second configuration the wedge, or second portion of the wedge may be displaced away from the back surface to secure the link.

A person may install and lock the panel to the wall or ceiling by moving the shim from the first position outside the perimeter to the position inside the perimeter because the portion of the shim outside the perimeter is easily graspable. The panel and back surface of the wall or ceiling are typically parallel.

In the first configuration, the shim may be outside the perimeter of the panel to unsecure the link,

The clips may be intermediate the back surface and the surface of the panel fixed to the first clip so that the clips are hidden from view behind the panel. The first clip and the second clip may be attached to the panel and back surface respectively.

Preferably in the second position the shim is pressed into a gap between the back surface and the wedge. The shim is squeezed into the gap, and so there is friction between the shim and the wedge and the shim and the back surface. The wedge is connected to the panel by the first connector. So the panel is also prevented from moving with respect to the back surface. Earthquakes, vibrations, temperature changes and humidity changes cannot move the panel with respect to the back surface. So the panel stays in place. The panel cannot move to strain the link between the clips. Distance between the panel and adjacent panels does not change. So the panel assembly is safe and reliable for a duration of many seasons and events.

The panel assembly is also suitable for covering a back surface of a wall or floor with a panel. Preferably the lock is situatable in a gap intermediate the panel and the back surface.

The thickness of the gap with the shim in the first position may be compressed to a thickness less than the shim in the first position by urging the panel toward the back surface until the panel is blocked by the wedge. The portion of the wedge comprising the second connector may block the panel because the second connector may be connected to the panel. Moving the panel toward the back surface bends the flexible portion of the wedge. The flexible portion may be bent between the panel and the shim where the second connector is located. The thickness of the gap with the shim in first position may be compressed to about half in inch (12 mm) by urging the panel toward the back surface. The thickness of the gap with the shim in second position may be squeezed apart by the shim to about three quarters of an inch (18 mm).

Preferably the panel assembly comprises at least three non-collinear fasteners including the first fastener which connect the wedge to the back surface and to a surface of the panel fixed to the first clip including the first fastener. So the wedge cannot move. Preferably each of the fasteners is received in a corresponding connector of the wedge and/or shim. In the panel assembly, preferably the wedge is fixed to the panel by two of the non-collinear fasteners. Alternatively, the wedge may be fixed to the shim by two of the non-collinear fasteners.

The first connector may be a pivot, a hinge, or other type of swivel connector. The first connector may be a click connector. The first connector may comprise a portion of the wedge and a portion of the shim. These portions may be connected by or at the first connector such that the shim is connected to the wedge by a snap fit, click fit, or interlock fit of the first connector. Thus the first connector may fasten the wedge to the shim.

Since the first connector may be a pivot, hinge or swivel, the shim connected to the wedge may be rotatable with respect to each other around the first connector from/to the first position to/from the second position. The shim may be rotatable either clockwise or counterclockwise.

The first connector may include an aperture or hole to receive a fastener. The first connector may be arranged to receive a fastener to connect the wedge to the back surface. The shim may be held in direct contact with the back surface. The fastener may pass through the aperture or hole to connect the wedge and shim together to the back surface. Thus the shim and wedge may be connectable together to the back surface by the first connector. The first connector works in conjunction with the fastener through the hole or aperture of the first connector.

The aperture or hole may have a central axis coincident with the axis around which shim is rotatable around the first connector from/to the first position to/from the second position.

There may be a lock for securing clips linked together intermediate a back surface and a panel held to the back surface by the clips, comprising: a wedge having a flexible length intermediate first and second connectors; a shim connectable to the first connector to be rotatable from/to a first position where the shim extends radially away from the wedge to/from a second position coincident with the wedge, wherein the second connector is connectable to the panel.

Alternatively the first connector may be a slide or slot in the wedge and/or shim other type of connector permitting linear movement of the shim relative to the wedge.

Preferably the first connector is arranged to hold the shim where the shim is intermediate the wedge and the back surface. The shim may rotate or move in the space intermediate the wedge and the back surface. The shim by be rotatable or moveable adjacent to the back surface. Preferably the first connector's mechanism of rotation or movement guides or aids rotation or movement of the shim this space.

Preferably a portion of the shim which rubs against a portion the wedge to move to/from the second position is smooth and free of ridges or bumps which could restrict rotation or movement of the shim relative to the wedge.

Preferably the wedge is connectable to the back surface by the first connector. The shim may also be connectable to the back surface by the first connector. One of the fasteners may go through the first connector and into the back surface to effect connection of the wedge to the back surface. When the shim is connected to the wedge by a snap fit, click fit, or interlock fit of the first connector, fastener may go through the shim and wedge connected together to the back surface. In this way the shim and wedge may be connected together to the back surface by the first connector.

The second connector may be connectable to a surface of the panel facing the back surface. The second connector may orient the wedge by the geometry of the second connector so that when the wedge is connected to the panel, the first connector is oriented to aid or guide the rotation of shim in the space intermediate the wedge and the back surface. The wedge may comprise the second connector or a portion of it.

The wedge may comprise a third connector. It may connect wedge to the panel, and/or it may connect the wedge to the back surface. So wedge may be connected to the panel by two connectors and to the back surface by one connector. Alternatively, the wedge may be connected to the panel by one connector and to the back surface by two connectors. Preferably the third connector is non-collinear with the first and second connectors. So the wedge is firmly held in place by three connectors in a plane. The wedge may be held in a plane which is parallel to the surface of the panel facing the back surface and also parallel to the back surface.

The second and third connectors may be adjacent to each other. They may both be in an end of the wedge where the wedge is relatively thick. In the second position of the lock, the shim may cover the second and/or third connector. In the panel assembly the shim may also cover fasteners in/through the second and/or third connectors by which the wedge is connected to the panel.

The wedge may have a relatively thin cross section in the region of the flexible length and a relatively thick cross section of the distal ends of wedge. The wedge may comprise resilient material or materials to aid the flexible length to bend. The shim may also comprise resilient material. The resilient material may aid the wedge and shim be squeezed into the space between the panel and the back surface, especially when the shim in the second position. The space between the panel and the back surface may be limited/constrained by the link between the clips.

In the panel assembly with the shim at the first position the wedge is bendable between the shim and panel to unlock the link. At the second position, the shim may obstruct the wedge from bending to lock the link. The shim may obstruct the wedge from bending toward the back surface. So humidity or temperature variations which could warp a portion of the panel cannot unlock the link.

In the second configuration, at least the portion of the shim distal from the first connector may be located intermediate the wedge and the back surface to obstruct displacement of the wedge to secure the link. This portion of the shim is within the perimeter of the panel in the second configuration.

The connectors may be located at the distal ends of the wedge where the cross section is thick. For example, each connector may comprise a ring or other form characterised by a hole to receive a fastener to connect the wedge to the panel or back surface.

Preferably the first connector is located at a distal end of the wedge from the second connector. The wedge may have an elongate form such as a bar or lever or a tubular or rod-like form. The wedge may have a plate-like form. The plate-like form may be approximately triangular with vertex at the first connector or a ring or hole for the first connector. The distal end of the wedge from the vertex may be the base of the triangular plate-like where the wedge is connectable to the panel.

When the wedge is connected to the panel, a portion of the wedge may be over the panel and another portion of the wedge may extend beyond the perimeter of the panel.

The flexible length of the wedge may cross the perimeter. In the panel assembly the wedge may be flexible intermediate the first connector and the panel. So the wedge may be bendable with the shim at the first position to unlock the link. The flexibility of the wedge may be aided by the wedge having a relatively thin cross section intermediate the first connector and the panel and a relatively thick cross section proximate the distal ends where the wedge is connected to the panel and the shim.

The wedge and shim may have substantially the same length between distal ends. Preferably the length of the shim from where it is connectable to the wedge by the first connector to a distal end of the shim is substantially the same as the length of the wedge from the first connector to the second connector. So in the second position the length of the lock may be substantially the same as the distance between the first and second connectors.

The first connector may have a hole in it through portion of the wedge and preferably also the shim. The hole may be configured to receive a fastener. Preferably the first, second and/or third connector is arranged to each receive a fastener to connect the wedge to the panel and/or the back surface.

The first connector may provide a second hole through the shim which aligns with a first hole through the wedge upon connection of the shim to the wedge. The first connector may be arranged to receive a fastener in the aligned holes and connect both the wedge and the shim to the back surface so that the shim can rotate around the fastener from/to the first position to/from the second position. For example, the first connector may comprises rings in the wedge and shim. A fastener though the center of aligned first and second rings may provide an axis for the shim to rotate around from/to the first position to/from the second position. So the fastener and ring(s) may have same central axis.

In the panel assembly the clips may be hook shaped and hook together to form the link. So the panel is hooked to the back surface.

Where the clips are linked a first lip of the first clip may be blocked from moving parallel to the back surface by a second lip the second clip which is attached to the back surface. At the second position the shim may obstructs movement toward the back surface of the wedge, the panel and a first one of the clips attached to the panel.

The shim may be rotatable/linearly movable in a plane parallel to the surface fixed to the first clip from/to the first position to/from the second position.

With the shim at the first position the panel may be moveable toward the back surface and parallel to the back surface to unlock, i.e. unhook, the link and remove the panel from the back surface. So the panel is removable from a wall or ceiling by a person when desired since person can grasp the shim from the perimeter of the panel to move the shim to the first position.

When locked a first of the clips which is attached to the panel may have a first lip further from the back surface than a second lip of a second one of the clips attached to the back surface with the shim located in the second position inside the perimeter where the link is locked.

In the panel assembly, preferably the wedge extends from the panel like a cantilever. Preferably the first connector by which the wedge is connected to the shim is outside the perimeter of the panel. The first connector may be located proximate an end of the wedge distal from the panel. So a fastener may be put through the first connector when the panel is held against the back surface as the first is not hidden in the space intermediate the panel and back surface. Preferably the first connector receives a first fastener to connect the wedge to the shim and the wedge to the back surface.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is a method of securing clips in a linked together configuration to hold a panel to a back surface by use of a lock comprising a wedge and a shim connected together; including: connecting the wedge to the back surface and to a surface of the panel fixed to one of the clips with at least connector for one fastener connecting the wedge to the back surface at a location outside the perimeter of the panel and at least on other connector for one other fastener connecting the wedge to the panel; moving the clips to a locked position by moving the panel to bend the wedge from the shim toward the back surface then moving the panel parallel to the back surface then moving the panel to unbend the wedge; and locking the clips together by placing a first portion of the shim intermediate the back surface and the wedge.

The shim may be positioned outside the perimeter prior to moving the clips to the locked position. The panel may be oriented parallel to the back surface with the clips intermediate the panel and the back surface. Then moving the clips to the locked position may include pressing the shim against the back surface by urging the panel toward the back surface.

Moving the clips to the locked position may include moving the clips past a position where they interlock to a position where they are moveable past each other by moving the panel parallel to the back surface by urging the panel toward the back surface sequentially pressing the shim against the back surface and then bending the wedge until the clips are positioned to move relative to each other parallel to the back surface unobstructed by each other.

Moving the clips to the locked position may include several movements of the panel. It may include moving a first lip of a first one of the clips attached to the panel closer to the back surface than a second lip of second one of the clips attached to the back surface by bending the wedge toward the back surface. It may include moving a first lip of a first one of the clips attached to the panel toward and then past a second lip of a second one of the clips attached to the back surface by moving panel parallel to the back surface. It may include moving a first lip of a first one of the clips attached to the panel further from the back surface than a second lip of a second one of the clips attached to the back surface by bending the wedge away from the back surface.

Preferably locking the clips together includes holding a first lip of a first one of the clips attached to the panel further from the back surface than a second lip of a second one of the clips attached to the back surface by positioning the shim intermediate the wedge and the back surface;

Preferably the method includes connecting the wedge to the back surface and to a surface of the panel fixed to one of the clips with at least three non-collinear connectors including the first and second connectors. Preferably this includes connecting the wedge to the back surface with one of the three non-collinear fasteners through the first fastener connector. The first fastener connector is made accessible by a screwdriver or hammer or drill bit by positioning outside the perimeter of the panel a first portion of the wedge comprising the first fastener connector.

The method of securing the clips may include positioning inside the perimeter of the panel a second portion of the wedge comprising a second fastener connector. This may be followed by connecting the wedge to the surface of the panel connected to one of the clips with one of the three non-collinear fasteners through the second fastener connector.

Securing the clips may include connecting the shim to the wedge. It may include holding the shim and the wedge together with one of the three non-collinear fasteners. It may include holding the shim and the wedge together with the fastener connecting the wedge to the back surface. Connecting the shim to the wedge may be done with a pivot, hinge, swivel, or other rotatable connector. It may include connecting the shim to the back surface with one of the three non-collinear fasteners through a rotation axis of the pivot, hinge, or swivel. It may include connecting the wedge to the back surface with the same fastener.

Locking the clips together may include swiveling or rotating the shim around the pivot hinge or swivel. The pivot, hinge or swivel may aid or accommodate positioning the first portion of the shim intermediate the panel and the back surface. Locking the clips may include positioning the first portion of the shim intermediate the wedge and the back surface by rotating the shim around the pivot, hinge, or swivel.

Locking the clips may be done with a connector that permits linear movement.

The lock may be provided separated including the wedge and the shim and optionally one, two or three fasteners for the connectors. Alternatively the lock may be provided with the wedge and shim connected together as one; the wedge and shim being connected by the first connector.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is a kit of components comprising the lock. Preferably the kit includes a first clip attachable to a back surface. Preferably the kit includes a second clip attachable to a panel and linkable to the first clip.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is a room, shed, cabin, mobile home, elevator box, or vehicle having a wall or ceiling comprising the lock for securing clips linked together and/or a ceiling or wall panel assembly comprising the lock.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling panel attached to a back surface of a ceiling with clips locked by a lock;

FIG. 2 shows a kit of components for attaching a ceiling panel to a back surface of a ceiling or wall;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a lock in a first configuration;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the lock in the second configuration;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a ceiling panel which shows a wedge connected by a swivel connector to a shim in a first position;

FIG. 6 shows side view of a panel oriented with the surface to which a first clip is attached and a shim of a lock is in a first position and contact with a back surface of a ceiling board;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the panel in FIG. 5 pressed toward the back surface to bend a flexible portion of a wedge;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the panel in FIG. 5 with the first clip attached to the panel linked to a second clip attached to the back surface; and

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the panel in FIG. 5 with the shim rotated to a second position to lock the linked clips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 a panel assembly 100. The assembly 100 comprises a panel 500 covering a back surface 202 of a ceiling board 200. The panel 500 is held face to face with the back surface 200.

Attached to the back surface 202 is a second clip 300. Attached to the panel 500 is a first clip 400 which cannot be seen in FIG. 1, but it can be seen in FIG. 5.

The panel 500 is held to the back surface 202 by a link between the first clip 400 which the second clip 300.

Three repetitions of the second clip 391, 392, 393 fastened to the back surface 202 can be seen in FIG. 1. Two of the repetitions of the second clip 391, 392 are located where they could receive corresponding first clips of a second panel. So the panel assembly may comprise a plurality of ceiling panels.

The panel assembly also comprises a lock 900. About half of the lock 900 is visible in FIG. 1 where it extends beyond the perimeter 504 of the panel. The lock 900 comprises a shim 700 connected by pivot 704, 804 to wedge 800. A view of the whole lock 900 is visible in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

The lock 900 secures the second clip 300 and the first clip 400 so that they remain linked together. A sequence of steps in a method of securing the clips 300, 400 in a linked together configuration is illustrated by FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9.

The shim 700 and the wedge 800 may be supplied and stored separately. The shim 700 and wedge 800 are connectable by a first connector 704, 804. The first connector comprises a shim pivot 704 located at an end of the shim 700 and a wedge pivot 804 located at an end of the wedge 800. The shim pivot 704 is connectable to the wedge pivot 804.

Shown in FIG. 2 are components for a kit. The components include: the first clip 400; the second clip 300; the shim 700; the wedge 800; and three fasteners 601, 602, 603. These components may be used in a panel assembly as shown in FIG. 1 to securely hold a panel 500 to a back surface 202 of a ceiling board 200.

As shown in FIG. 2 the shim 700 has a plate 706 which extends radially from the shim pivot 704. The plate 706 joins a block 702 at an end radially distal from the shim pivot 704. The plate 706 and the block 702 are portions of the shim 700 which extends radially from the shim pivot 704. The block 702 and the shim pivot 704 are at radially opposite ends the shim 700 and the plate 706 is intermediate them.

The plate 706 is relatively thin in the axial direction of the shim pivot 704 compared to the thickness of the shim pivot 704 itself the block 702. The shim pivot 704 and the block 702 have the same thickness.

As shown in FIG. 2 the wedge 800 has a similar form to the shim 700. The lock 900 would be operable if the shim 700 and wedge 800 were identical.

The wedge 800 has a second plate 806 which extends radially from the wedge pivot 804. The second plate 806 joins a second block 802 at an end radially distal from the wedge pivot 804. The second plate 806 and the second block 802 are portions of the wedge 800 which extend radially from the wedge pivot 804. The second block 802 and the shim pivot 804 are at radially opposite ends the shim 800 and the second plate 806 is intermediate them.

There are three fasteners 601, 602 and 603 provided in the kit shown in FIG. 2 which are used to connect the lock 900 to the panel 500 and to the back surface 202. The three fasteners 601, 602 and 603 pass through three non-collinear respective holes 810, 812 and 814 in the wedge 800.

FIG. 9 shows how the first fastener 601 is inserted through aligned holes 710, 810 of the connected shim pivot 704 and wedge pivot 804. The fastener is screwed into the ceiling board 200 to connect the wedge to the back surface 202 at a location outside the perimeter 504 of the panel 500. The shim pivot 704 is intermediate the wedge pivot 804 and the back surface 700. So the first fastener 601 also connects the shim to the back surface 202.

The shim 700 is rotatable round the central axis of the lock pivot formed by aligning and connecting the shim pivot 704 and the wedge pivot 804. This may be seen by comparing a first configuration of the lock 900 shown in FIG. 3 to a second configuration of the lock 900 shown in FIG. 4.

In the first configuration of the lock 900 shown in FIG. 3, the shim 700 is rotated to a first position where the portion 702, 706 of the shim 700 which extends radially from the lock pivot 704, 804 is non-coincident with the portion 802, 806 of the wedge 800 with which extends radially from the lock pivot 704, 804.

In the second configuration of the lock 900 shown in FIG. 4, the shim 700 is rotated to a second position where the portion 702, 706 of the shim 700 which extends radially from the lock pivot 704, 804 is coincident and overlaps the portion 802, 806 of the wedge 800 with which extends radially from the lock pivot 704, 804.

FIG. 5 shows the panel 500 prepared for attachment to the ceiling back board 200. The panel 500 has a surface 502 which faces the back surface 202 of the back board 200 when the panel is attached.

The first clip 400 has an attachment plate 402 through which there are holes 404, 405, 406 to receive screws 412, 416, 418 to fasten the attachment plate 402 to the panel 500.

The first clip 400 has a hook shape section 408 extending from the attachment plate 408. At the distal end of the hook shape section 408 from the attachment plate 408 is a lip 410. The lip 410 is at the end of the hook and extends perpendicular to the attachment plate 408. So as shown in FIG. 5, the lip 410 extends toward the panel 500 and perpendicular to the panel 500. There is an opening between the lip 410 and the panel 500. A side view of the first clip 400 can be seen in FIGS. 6 to 9.

The first clip 400 links to the second clip 300. Details of the second clip 300 are shown in FIG. 2. The second clip 300 has an attachment surface 310 around a cavity. There are holes, for example 302, 304 through a wall around the cavity. There is an entrance into the cavity through the wall. The entrance is partially blocked by a lip 306 extending from a floor 308 of the cavity. The wall rises from the attachment surface 310. When the attachment surface 310 is attached to the back surface 202, the entrance is from back surface 202 to the lip 306. The thickness of the second clip 300 from the attachment surface to the most distant external surface of the cavity floor 310 is less than the maximum thickness of the lock through the wedge 800 and shim 700.

FIG. 5 shows the lock 900 in the first configuration of FIG. 3. In FIG. 5 the lock 900 is fastened to the surface 502 of the panel 500 which faces the back surface 202 of the ceiling board 200.

The block 802 at the end of the wedge 800 is a connector to connect the wedge 800 to the panel 500. The block 802 has countersunk through holes 812, 814 through it. The holes 812, 814 receive fasteners 602, 603 by which the block 800 is fastened to the panel 500. The fasteners 602, 603 cannot be seen in FIG. 5 because the fastener heads are sunk into the countersunk holes 812, 814.

As shown in FIG. 5, the relatively thin flexible plate 806 extends from the block 802 over the edge of the perimeter 504 of the panel 500. The plate 806 is held above the panel 500 because the plate 806 extends from the distal surface 808 of the block 802 from the panel. The plate 806 extends over the perimeter of the panel 500. The wedge pivot 804 is at the distal end of the plate 806 from the block 802. The shim plate 706 and holds the shim block 802 away from the perimeter 504. So when the lock 900 is in the first configuration shown in FIG. 5, the entire shim is outside the perimeter of the plate 500.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 the panel assembly in a sequence positions which occur as the panel 500 is clipped to the ceiling board 200 and first clip 400 is linked to the second clip 300 and then the link between the clips is secured by the lock 900.

As shown in FIG. 6 the panel 500 is oriented parallel to the back surface 202 with the clips 300, 400 intermediate the panel 50 and the back surface 202. The lock is in the first configuration. The shim 700 is pressed against the back surface 202.

The thickness of the lock 900 through wedge 800 and the shim 700 is greater than the most distal point of the second clip 300 from the panel 500. So there is clearance between the second clip 300 and the back surface 200.

As shown in FIG. 6, the thickness of the lock 900 through wedge 800 and the shim 700 is greater than the most distal point of the of the first clip 400 from the back surface 202. So there is clearance between the first clip 400 and the panel 500.

After the panel 500 is oriented as shown in FIG. 6, it is urged closer to the back surface 202 of the ceiling board. This is shown by FIG. 7.

The lip 410 of the link 408 of first clip 400 must be inserted through the cavity entrance of the second clip 300 attached to the panel 500. To do this the first lip 410 of the first clip 400 attached to the panel 500 must be moved closer to the back surface 202 than the second lip 306 of the second clip 300 attached to the back surface 202. As shown in FIG. 7 this is done by moving the panel 500 closer to the back surface 202 by bending the wedge flexible portion 806 toward the back surface 202. This positions the first and second clips 300, 400 to move relative to each other parallel to the back surface 202 unobstructed by the lip 306, 410 of the other.

Next, shown in FIG. 8, the first lip 410 is moved past the second lip 306 and into the cavity of the second clip 300 by moving the panel 500 parallel to the back surface. Then the panel 500 is moved away from the back surface 202. As shown in FIG. 8, this positions the lip 410 of the first clip 400 further from the back surface 202 than the lip 306 of the second clip. Moving the panel 500 away from the back surface bends the flexible wedge portion away from the back surface until is it is straight again. In this position the first lip 410 is blocked by the second lip 310 from movement parallel to the back surface 202. The two clips are linked.

To secure the link, the panel 500 must be prevented from moving toward the back surface 200 where the first lip 410 could be clear of the second lip 306 for movement parallel to the back surface.

As shown in FIG. 9, the link is secured by rotating the shim 700 around the lock pivot 704, 804 to a second position where the portion 702, 706 of the shim 700 which extends radially from the lock pivot 704, 804 is coincident and overlaps the portion 802, 806 of the wedge 800 with which extends radially from the lock pivot 704, 804. The overlapping wedge 800 and shim 700 are squeezed into the space intermediate back surface 202 and the panel 500. The panel is prevented from moving toward the back surface 202 and the link between the clips 300, 400 is secured.

Finally and optionally, a fastener screw 601 in inserted into through hole 810 of the wedge pivot, then through aligned hole 710 of the shim pivot and screwed into the ceiling board. The wedge 800 was already fixed to the panel 500 with two fastener screws 601, 602 through two respective holes 812, 814 as shown in FIG. 5. So the wedge 800 is now connected by the three non-collinear fasteners 601, 602, 603 to the panel 500 and back surface 202. This secures the panel directly and it also provides further security to lock the link between the clips 300, 400.

The panel 500 can be clipped and securely locked to the ceiling board using the lock 900 very quickly by a person with an electric screwdriver. They turn the shim 700 to the first position to put the lock 900 into the first configuration; screw in two screws 601, 602 to attach the lock 900 to the panel 500; push the panel 500 up against the ceiling board 200 back surface 202; then slide panel 500 over and let it drop to link the clips 300, 400; then turn the shim 700 to the second position to put the lock 900 in the second configuration; screw in the third screw 603 and the procedure is done.

Index of Labelled Features in FIGS.

Panel assembly
100

Back board of ceiling
200

Back surface of ceiling
202

First clip
300

First clip fastener hole 1
302

First clip fastener hole 2
304

First clip link lip
306

First clip link floor
308

First clip attachment surface
310

First clip repetition 1
391

First clip repetition 2
392

First clip repetition 3
393

Second clip
400

Second clip attachment plate
402

Second clip fastener hole 1
404

Second clip fastener hole 2
406

Second clip link arch
408

Second clip link lip
410

Second clip fastening screws
412, 414, 416

Panel
500

Panel surface fixed to first clip
502

Fastener 1
601

Fastener 2
602

Fastener 3
603

Shim
700

Shim block
702

Shim pivot
704

Shim plate
706

Shim wedge facer
708

Shim pivot fastener hole
710

Shim back surface facing surface
712

Wedge
800

Wedge panel connector (second connector)
802

Wedge pivot (first connector)
804

Wedge flexible portion
806

Wedge panel connector shim facing surface
808

Wedge fastener hole 3
810

Wedge fastener hole 2
812

Wedge fastener hole 1
814

Wedge panel connector attachment surface
816

Lock
900

The invention has been described by way of examples only. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.

Lock for Securing Clips

Information

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Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

CPC

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Abstract

Description

Claims

Provisional Applications (1)