Spacer and assembly for fixing a facing component to a wall
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022009913
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-09-29
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Spacer device and assembly for fixing a facing component to a wall
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of interior lining of walls or similar supports, for the purpose of improving performance and aesthetics, more particularly the equipment and accessories for fixing insulating layers (thermally, acoustically) and facing layers (providing a smooth interior surface).
[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a spacing device for fixing a facing component to a wall, as well as a composite fixing assembly comprising such a device.
[0003] The interior wall cladding layers (generally formed from plasterboard panels) are fixed to the floor and ceiling by means of rails, but are also held and secured to the walls concerned by fixing assemblies each incorporating a spacer device.
[0004] Such a spacing device is of course intended to provide a support and fixing location for the facing components, but also to guarantee a spacing between the insulation layer pressed against the wall and the facing layer, to allow the passage of cables and conduits and also to compensate for any defects in flatness or verticality of the wall, to have a geometrically and aesthetically acceptable interior visible face. Thus, an important point when producing such linings is to be able to individually adjust each spacing device used, so that together they provide a flat and vertical support surface for the different components over the entire surface area of the facing layer to be formed.
[0005] For this purpose, spacer devices in at least two parts adjustable to each other have already been proposed, one of the parts being secured to the wall at several anchoring points (see WO2019 / 243738) or at a single anchoring point (see EP 2 436 851), which is preferable from the installation point of view.
[0006] A mutual assembly by screwing of the two parts allows a continuous and precise adjustment of the two parts between them. This screw connection can be obtained by means of a threaded rod (see WO2019 / 243738) or a threaded ring or collar (see EP 2 436 851), which is preferable from the point of view of resistance to stresses and distribution of forces.
[0007] In relation to this latter type, and for example in relation to document EP 2 436 851 (see in particular figure 16), a spacing device is known for the fixing of a facing component to a wall or similar support, with an adjustable spacing relative to a reference surface, for example constituted by the face of a layer of insulation, opposite the wall to which it is fixed.
[0008] This known spacing device comprises a first plate-shaped element intended to come into contact and, where appropriate, to be secured to a facing component and a second plate-shaped element configured to cooperate with a screw, the two elements being assembled by a screw connection allowing the adjustment of the spacing between these two elements (and therefore the spacing between the facing and insulation layers) and defining a central screwing axis.
[0009] Although this spacer device is satisfactory, particularly in terms of the possibility of adjusting the spacing, it has a drawback which can become very troublesome when adjusting (often carried out by successive approximations) the spacing. Indeed, if the two elements have been, voluntarily or involuntarily, screwed fully into each other, the screw connection is blocked and the two elements are secured to each other. When the operator then attempts to unscrew the first element relative to the second element, the latter rotates with it around the screw and unblocking is impossible. A blockage of the screwing can also occur for other reasons (i.e. even when the two elements are not screwed fully into each other), for example in the event of momentary jamming (cross-engagement), the presence of impurities or excessive friction.
[0010] The main aim of the present invention is to overcome this drawback resulting from a possible blockage, without however being limited to an embodiment of the spacing device as shown in the aforementioned document.
[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a spacing device for fixing a facing component to a wall or similar support, with an adjustable spacing relative to a reference surface, said device comprising a first plate-shaped element intended to come into contact with and, where appropriate, to be secured to a facing component and a second plate-shaped element configured to cooperate with a screw or formed in one piece with a screw, the two elements being assembled by a screw connection allowing the adjustment of the spacing between these two elements and defining a central screwing axis,
[0012] spacing device characterized in that the first element is provided with at least one, advantageously at least two, opening(s) or cutout(s) allowing the passage with clearance of an elongated body, for example the end part of a tool, and in that the second element is provided with several sites for hooking or receiving the free end of said elongated body, these sites being arranged around the central screwing axis and, for at least one of them, opposite the cutout or opening or one of the openings or cutouts of the first element when the latter is assembled with the second element.
[0013] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:
[0014] [Fig.lA] is a bottom view of a spacer device according to a first embodiment of the invention;
[0015] [Fig.lB] is a sectional view along AA of the object of [Fig.lA];
[0016] [Fig.2A],
[0017] [Fig.2B] and
[0018] [Fig.2C] represent the first element of the spacing device according to the invention shown in figures 1, respectively in top view, in section (along AA of [Fig.2A] and at a different scale) and in perspective from below;
[0019] [Fig.3A],
[0020] [Fig.3B] and
[0021] [Fig.3C] represent the second element of the spacing device according to the invention shown in figures 1, respectively in top view, in section (along AA of [Fig.3A]) and in perspective from below (these last two views at a different scale);
[0022] [Fig.4A],
[0023] [Fig.4B],
[0024] [Fig.4C],
[0025] [Fig.4D],
[0026] [Fig.4E] and
[0027] [Fig.4F] are partial sectional views illustrating the successive steps of a method of securing a component of an insulation layer and a component of a facing layer with a wall by means of a composite fixing assembly according to the invention, comprising a screw with a truncated cone head and a spacing device according to figures 1, formed by the assembly of the first element illustrated in figures 2 and a second element corresponding to a variant of that shown in figures 3;
[0028] [Fig.5] is a view similar to that of [Fig.3B], illustrating the implementation of a flat head screw.
[0029] Figures 1, 4E, 4F, and partially Figures 2 and 3, illustrate a spacer device (1) for fixing a facing component (2) to a wall (3) or a similar support, with an adjustable spacing (ER) relative to a reference surface (SR).
[0030] This device (1) comprises a first element (4) in the form of a plate intended to come into contact and, where appropriate, to be secured to a facing component (2) and a second plate-shaped element (5) configured to cooperate with a screw (6) or formed in one piece with such a screw. These two elements (4 and 5) are assembled together (to form the spacing device) by a screw connection (7) allowing the adjustment of the spacing (er) between these two elements and defining a central screwing axis (AV).
[0031] According to the invention, the first element (4) is provided with at least one, advantageously at least two, opening(s) or cutout(s) (8) allowing the passage with clearance of an elongated body (9), for example the end part of a tool (9'), and the second element (5) is provided with several sites (10) for hooking or receiving the free end of said elongated body (9), these sites (10) being arranged around the central screwing axis (AV) and, for at least one of them, opposite the cutout or opening or one of the openings or cutouts (8) of the first element (4) when the latter is assembled with the second element (5).
[0032] Thanks to the invention, which provides openings (8) larger than the section of the elongated body (9) and sites (10) for the adjusted reception of its end, it is possible to implement such an elongated body to unjam the screw connection when the latter becomes blocked for one of the reasons indicated above. To do this, one can either immobilize the first element and attempt to rotate the second element around the screw axis with the elongated body, or immobilize the second element with the elongated body and rotate the first element around the screw axis.
[0033] Preferably, the openings or cutouts (8), for example three in number, of the first element (4) each have a shape and dimensions allowing a relative movement of the elongated body (9) with respect to said first element (4), advantageously in particular at least a limited relative rotation of one with respect to the other around the screwing axis (AV).
[0034] As shown in Figures 1 to 3 in particular, the openings or cutouts (8) of the first element (4) advantageously consist of slots in the form of circular arcs, and the attachment or reception sites (10) of the second element (5) are arranged on a virtual circle (C2) coinciding with a virtual circle (Cl) supporting said slots in circular arcs (8) of the first element (4), the two circles (Cl and C2) being aligned along the direction of the central screwing axis (AV) in the assembled state of the two elements (4 and 5).
[0035] Thus, the removal of material is reduced at the level of the first element (4), for a maximum useful displacement magnitude of the elongated element (9) relative to said first element (4). In addition, such a shape of the openings or cutouts (8) also provides support and guided displacement of said element when it is received therein in a through manner.
[0036] In order to ensure easy release of the rotational lock between the two elements (often a forced displacement of a few degrees is sufficient), it is favorably provided that each opening or cutout (8), preferably in the form of a slot in the shape of an arc of a circle (8), has an angular extension around the screwing axis (AV) sufficient to allow the elongated body (9) to potentially reach at least two attachment or reception sites (10) of the second element (5) when it extends through the slot (8) concerned in a direction parallel to the central screwing axis (AV).
[0037] As shown in Figures 3 and [Fig.4E], the attachment or reception sites (10) of the second element (5) preferably consist of through perforations, and are configured to receive the elongated body (9) with rotational attachment around the screwing axis (AV), preferably in an adjusted manner.
[0038] In relation to the embodiments of the invention emerging from the appended figures, the second plate-shaped element (5), and preferably also the first plate-shaped element (4), has(have) a circular discoidal conformation.
[0039] In accordance with a preferred embodiment variant, allowing screwing of the second element into the first with a large diameter thread, the second element (5) has a helical thread (11) on its external peripheral edge (5'), advantageously over the height of said edge, and the first plate-shaped element (4) comprises on a lower face a cylindrical end piece (4') which has a helical thread (11') on its internal face, the two aforementioned helical threads (11 and 11') cooperating mutually during the assembly of said first and second elements (4 and 5) to produce the screw connection (7) and the second element (5) being received in the cylindrical end piece (4') of the first element (4).
[0040] Thanks to such a construction, the screw connection (11, 11') is not exposed and is even protected from the outside.
[0041] In accordance with a first variant embodiment, and as shown in [Fig.3B], the second element (5) comprises a site for fitting a countersunk or truncated cone-shaped screw head (6), centered relative to the screwing axis (AV) and extending through a passage in a solid cylindrical end piece formed in one piece with the plate body of said second element (5).
[0042] In accordance with a second variant embodiment, and as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the second plate-shaped element (5) comprises two sites (12, 12') for receiving screw heads (6), with alignment of the screw (6) received on the central screwing axis (AV) in the assembled state of the two elements (4 and 5), namely, on the one hand, a first site (12) in the form of a central passage shaped for the wedged reception of a countersunk or truncated cone-shaped screw head and, on the other hand, a second site (12') in the form of a housing for the wedged reception of a flat screw head, this housing being located under the passage (12) forming the first site (12) and comprising an openwork part allowing lateral introduction of the flat screw head concerned, radially relative to the central screwing axis (AV). The second element (5) can then cooperate indifferently with screws with a countersunk head (figures 4) or with a flat head ( [Fig.5]).
[0043] As for the first variant, the first site (12) extends into a cylindrical end piece formed in one piece with the plate body of said second element (5), the second site (12') being arranged in this end piece.
[0044] In both variants, the end piece serves as a support base for the second element (5) on the dowel (14) intended to receive the screw (6), as shown in Figures 4E and 4F, and the second site (12') is formed in this end piece. The height of the latter is substantially equivalent to or possibly slightly greater than the depth of the hollow cylindrical end piece (4') with internal thread (11') of the first element (4).
[0045] In accordance with an advantageous practical embodiment of the invention, the first and second elements (4 and 5) in the form of discoidal plates are made of a polymer material, for example polyamide 6, the ratio of the diameter of the disc of the first element (4) to the diameter of the disc of the second element (5) being advantageously between 1.5 and 3 and the first element (4) comprising a peripheral circular wing (4”) forming a collar. This collar (4”) advantageously serves as an additional support and fixing site for the facing plate components (2), as shown in [Fig.4F]. The external contour of this collar may optionally have indentations or a wavy profile favoring its locking in position or its rotation by hand.
[0046] In accordance with yet another embodiment, not shown, the second element (5) can be formed in one piece with the screw (6), for example by overmolding on the head of the latter.
[0047] The invention also relates to a composite fixing assembly (13) for the simultaneous joining of a component (2') of an insulation layer and a component (2) of a facing layer with a wall (3) or a similar support.
[0048] This assembly (13) comprises a dowel (14) with a flat head or washer for securing the insulating component (2') to the wall (3), a screw (6) intended to be inserted into the dowel (14) and a spacing device for securing the facing component (2) to the screw (6) and positioning it with a spacing (ER) relative to the insulating component (2'), this spacing device corresponding to a spacing device (1) as described previously.
[0049] A possible method of installing a lining, comprising components (2') forming an insulation layer and components (2) forming a facing layer, on a wall (3) is partially illustrated (for a joining location) in Figures 4A to 4F, the joining of the components being carried out by a composite fixing assembly (13) comprising a spacing device (1) according to the invention.
[0050] The main steps of this method are as follows, indicated in relation to Figures 4A to 4F of the drawings and described for a given fastening location: - [Fig.4A]: positioning the component of the insulation layer (2') against the wall (3) to be covered / lined (exterior wall; foundation wall; ...); drilling a hole passing through the insulation and extending into the wall to a controlled depth; insertion of the dowel (14) serving, with its discoidal head, as a means of holding the insulation against the wall; - [Fig.4B]: assembly of a countersunk head screw (6) with the second element (5) of the spacing device (1) by threading into the first site (12) - in the alternative case of the implementation of a flat head screw (6): lateral insertion of the screw head into the second site (12') ([Fig.5]); - Figures 4C and 4D: introduction of the screw (6) into the dowel (14) until the second element (5) comes into contact with its base with the discoidal head of the dowel (14), this introduction being carried out by screwing with a tip of a shape adapted to the head of the screw; - [Fig.4E]: assembly by screwing the first element (4) onto the second element (5) and adjustment of the spacing (ER) by adjusting the spacing (er) by rotating the first element (4) relative to the second element (5) - in the event of blockage due to screwing in fully, insertion of an elongated element (9), for example the rod of a screwdriver (9'), through a cutout (8), into a site (10), then rotation of the first element (4) with simultaneous blocking of the second element (5) with the elongated element (9); - [Fig.4F]: application of the facing component (2) on the discoidal plate of the first element (4) and securing using screws for example.
[0051] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.
Claims
Claims
1. A spacer device (1) for fixing a facing component (2) to a wall (3) or a similar support, with an adjustable spacing (ER) relative to a reference surface (SR), said device (1) comprising a first plate-shaped element (4) intended to come into contact with and, where appropriate, to be secured to a facing component (2) and a second plate-shaped element (5), having a circular disc-shaped conformation and configured to cooperate with a screw (6) or formed in one piece with a screw, the two elements (4 and 5) being assembled by a screw connection (7) allowing the adjustment of the spacing (er) between these two elements and defining a central screwing axis (AV), the spacer device (1) characterized in that the second element (5) has a helical thread (11) on its external peripheral edge (5'),in that the first plate-shaped element (4) comprises on a lower face a cylindrical end piece (4') which has a helical thread (11') on its internal face, the two aforementioned helical threads (11 and 11') cooperating mutually during the assembly of said first and second elements (4 and 5) to achieve the screw connection (7) and the second element (5) being received in the cylindrical end piece (4') of the first element (4), in that the first element (4) is provided with at least one, advantageously at least two, opening(s) or cutout(s) (8) allowing the passage with clearance of an elongated body (9), for example the end part of a tool (9'), and in that the second element (5) is provided with several sites (10) for hooking or receiving the free end of said elongated body (9), these sites (10) being arranged around the central axis screwing (AV) and, for at least one of them,opposite the cutout or opening or one of the openings or cutouts (8) of the first element (4) when the latter is assembled with the second element (5).,
2. Bracing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the openings or cutouts (8), advantageously three in number, of the first element (4) each have a shape and dimensions allowing relative movement of the elongated body (9) with respect to said first element (4), and advantageously consist of slots in the form of arcs of a circle, and in that the attachment or reception sites (10) of the second element (5) are arranged on a circle virtual (C2) coinciding with a virtual circle (Cl) supporting said arc-shaped slots (8) of the first element (4), the two circles (Cl and C2) being aligned in the direction of the central screwing axis (AV) in the assembled state of the two elements (4 and 5).
3. Spacer device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each opening or cutout (8), preferably in the form of a slot in the shape of an arc of a circle (8), has an angular extension around the screwing axis (AV) sufficient to allow the elongated body (9) to potentially reach at least two attachment or reception sites (10) of the second element (5) when it extends through the slot (8) concerned in a direction parallel to the central screwing axis (AV).
4. Spacer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the attachment or reception sites (10) of the second element (5) consist of through perforations, and are configured to receive the elongated body (9) with rotational fixation around the screwing axis (AV).
5. A spacer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second plate-shaped element (5) and the first plate-shaped element (4) have a circular discoidal conformation, and in that the second element (5) has a helical thread (11) over the height of its external peripheral edge (5').
6. A spacer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second plate-shaped element (5) comprises two sites (12, 12') for receiving screw heads (6), with alignment of the screw (6) received on the central screwing axis (AV) in the assembled state of the two elements (4 and 5), namely, on the one hand, a first site (12) in the form of a central passage shaped for the wedged reception of a countersunk or truncated screw head and, on the other hand, a second site (12') in the form of a housing for the wedged reception of a flat screw head, this housing being located under the passage (12) forming the first site (12) and comprising an openwork part allowing lateral introduction of the flat screw head concerned, radially relative to the central screwing axis (AV).
7. Bracing device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first site (12) is extended by a cylindrical end piece formed in one piece with the plate body of said second element (5), the second site (12') being arranged or formed in this end piece and the latter also serving as a support base for the second element (5) on the dowel (14) intended to receive the screw (6).
8. A spacer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first and second elements (4 and 5) in the form of discoidal plates are made of a polymer material, for example polyamide 6, the ratio of the diameter of the disc of the first element (4) to the diameter of the disc of the second element (5) being advantageously between 1.5 and 3 and the first element (4) comprising a peripheral circular wing (4”) forming a collar.
9. Spacer device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second element (5) is formed in one piece with the screw (6), for example by overmolding on the head of the latter.
10. Composite fixing assembly (13) for the simultaneous securing of a component (2') of an insulation layer and a component (2) of a facing layer with a wall (3) or a similar support, said assembly (13) comprising a dowel (14) with a flat head or washer for securing the insulating component (2') with the wall (3), a screw (6) intended to be inserted into the dowel (14) and a spacing device for securing the facing component (2) with the screw (6) and its positioning with a spacing (ER) relative to the insulating component (2'), fixing assembly (13) characterized in that the spacing device corresponds to a spacing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.