Arrangement for attaching panels to support structures, a construction support structure and fastening means, and their use in modular building elements

Abstract

The invention concerns an arrangement for attaching panels to support structures, a construction support structure, fastening means for panel elements and the use of such panel elements to create modular room building elements, e.g. wet-rooms. The inventive arrangement is based on fastening means having an skillet attachment strip made of a sheet-like material having a first edge and an integral tab having a second edge. The tab is then formed as a clip protruding transversally from the strip and having a first side and a second side and with a generally nose-shaped tab on the first side. In the support structure is provided a notch for receiving the clip in a locking engagement, with a cross-section having a first side and a second side, a waist part that is narrower than the dimension of the clip and including an integral element formed as a tongue on said first side. The panel element is engaged with said support structure by aligning the clip with the notch and by the appliance of force to move the panel element towards the support structure, whereby the nose-shaped tab of the clip is caused to slide over the tongue-shaped element to attach the panel to the support structure with a snap-like action.

1 . An arrangement for attaching panels to support structures including:
 a panel element;   fastening means attached to said panel element comprising at least one elongate attachment strip made of a sheet-like material having a first edge:   said attachment strip having at least one integral tab having a second edge, said tab being formed as a clip protruding transversally from said attachment strip and having a first side and a second side,   a support structure having an elongate receiving means for said clip forming a notch with a cross-section having a first side and a second side, and   said notch being arranged to receive said clip in a locking engagement to fasten the panel element to said support structure,   
       wherein
 the clip has a cross-section including a generally nose-shaped tab on said first side with said first edge being attached to the panel, said second side being slanted and ending at said second edge, 
 the notch has a cross-section having a waist part that is narrower than the dimension of the clip, including an integral element formed as a tongue on said first side, and 
 said panel element being intended to be engaged with said support structure by alignment of said at least one clip with said at least one notch, and by the appliance of force moving the panel element towards the support structure, whereby said nose-shaped tab of the clip is caused to slide over said tongue-shaped element to attach the panel to the support structure with a snap-like action. 
 
     
     
         2 . An arrangement for attaching panels to support structures including:
 a wall-forming panel element;   fastening means attached along the length of at least one vertical side of said panel element and comprising at least one attachment strip made of a sheet-like material having a first edge:   said attachment strip having at least one integral tab having a second edge, said tab being formed as a clip protruding transversally from said attachment strip and having a first side and a second side with a cross-section including a generally nose-shaped tab on said first side, with said first edge being attached to the panel and said second side being slanted and ending at said second edge,   a vertical support structure having a continuous receiving means for said clip forming a notch with a cross-section having a first side and a second side with a waist section that is narrower than the largest width of the clip, including an integral element formed as a tongue on said first side, and   said notch being arranged to receive and to be engaged with said clip in a locking engagement to fasten the wall-forming panel element to said support structure by appliance of force moving the panel element towards the support structure, whereby said nose-shaped tab of the clip is caused to slide over said tongue-shaped element to attach the panel to the vertical support structure with a snap-like action where said second edge will become and remain spring-loaded against the second side of the notch.   
     
     
         3 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the tongue-shaped element on the first side of said notch is at least partly grooved on the upper side in order to increase friction between the contact surfaces of the clip and the notch when assembled. 
     
     
         4 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the said second side of the clip is spring-loaded against said second side of the notch when assembled. 
     
     
         5 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein support structure includes a recess along said elongate receiving means on the side being in contact with said panel element, said recess being adapted to receive a gasket. 
     
     
         6 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , including assembly means for assembling the panel element to the vertical support structure, wherein said assembly means consists of an inflatable tube situated between the second sides of said clip and said notch, whereby the assembly means when being inflated will push the nose-shaped tab of said clip towards said tongue to secure the interlocking engagement between the clip and the notch. 
     
     
         7 . An arrangement according to  claim 1 , including release means for detaching the panel element from the support structure, wherein said release means consists of an inflatable tube situated between the first sides of said clip and said notch, whereby the release means when being inflated will push the nose-shaped tab of said clip off said tongue to release the interlocking engagement between said clip and said notch. 
     
     
         8 . A vertical construction support structure for receiving wall-forming panels provided with clip-like fastening means along at least one edge of the panel, said structure comprising an elongate profile having at least one integral notch extending along the length of the profile for engagement with clip-like fastening means with a snap-like action, and having a cross-section with a first side and a second side, wherein said notch has a waist section formed on the first side by a tongue-shaped element pointing towards the second side. 
     
     
         9 . A construction support structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the tongue-shaped element on the first side of said notch is at least partly grooved on its upper surface for increasing the friction between a fastening means inserted into the notch and the tongue-shaped element. 
     
     
         10 . A construction support structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the support structure includes a recess for a gasket beside and parallel to said notch. 
     
     
         11 . Fastening means for wall-forming panel elements to be attached to vertical support structures by engaging with an elongate notch provided in the support structures with a snap-like action, said fastening means comprising an elongate strip made of a sheet-like material having a first edge and at least one integral tab having a second edge, said tab being formed as a clip protruding transversally from said strip and having a first side and a second side, and wherein the clip has a cross-section including a generally nose-shaped tab on said first side, said second side being slanted and ending at said second edge, and wherein said clip is fastened to a wall-forming panel element at its first edge. 
     
     
         12 . Fastening means for panel elements according to  claim 11 , wherein the elongate strip is fastened to a panel element by having said first edge inserted in a U-shaped bend of a sheet-like material of said panel and by securing the panel material from both sides to said first edge in order to attach said fastening means to said panel.