System for fixing a lining to a partition wall

Abstract

System for fixing a lining to a partition wall. The invention relates to a bracing system 1 with longitudinal axis X1, particularly for maintaining a spacing D4 between a wall 4 and a lining 5 for this wall, the system comprising a foot 2 and a head 3, the head and foot comprising means 12, 21 for mutual gripping, the head comprising means 23, 24 for fixing the lining to it, at least indirectly, and the foot comprising a latch 13 for fixing it indirectly to the wall, the latch being designed to engage with fins 25 of a furring strip. Figure for the abstract: Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: System for fixing a lining to a partition wall

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices for fixing a lining to a partition wall. More specifically, it relates to a bracing system between the partition wall and the lining.

[0002] To fix an interior plasterboard lining, for example of the PLACOPLATRE® type, at a distance from a wall, a spacer consisting of a head mounted on a foot can be used. In the case of lining a vertical wall, the spacer is positioned horizontally. The foot is generally clipped onto a first furring strip fixed to the wall, a second furring strip is clipped onto the head, and the lining is fixed to the second furring strip. The head can generally be positioned in several ways on the foot, so the length of the spacer is adjustable.

[0003] However, a spacer is subject to numerous constraints during the installation of the lining. It must also be properly fixed to furring strips with certain manufacturing tolerances. Thus, it can sometimes happen that the function of the spacer is not fully performed; in particular, it can happen that the spacer detaches from the first furring strip.

[0004] The aim of the invention is to provide a bracing system that is more resistant to the constraints of implementing a lining on a partition.

[0005] According to the invention, such a bracing system along a longitudinal axis, particularly designed to maintain a gap between a wall and a wall cladding, this system comprising a foot and a head including means for mutual gripping, the head further comprising means for attaching the cladding thereto, at least indirectly, and the foot further comprising means for attaching it, at least indirectly, to the wall, the foot attachment means comprising a latch designed to engage with fins of a foot furring strip. The foot may include a heel extending along the longitudinal axis from a rear face of the latch and a stem extending from the latch along the longitudinal axis in a direction opposite to that of the heel.

[0006] Preferably, the stem comprises a first thread and the head comprises a first tapped hole, designed to mesh and together ensure length adjustment of the bracing system, this length being measured along the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, the heel may comprise a second thread and the head a second tapped hole designed to mesh and allow coupling of the foot with a second foot, along the longitudinal axis, by means of the head.

[0007] Advantageously, the latch comprises a plate which forms two wings having axial symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis of the foot, this plate fitting within a rectangle, each wing comprising a rounded angle and a right angle adjacent to that rounded angle, the plate being arranged so that each wing is positioned against a respective fin, between that fin and the bottom.

[0008] Advantageously, each wing comprises, on a front face of the plate, a stop extending along its right edge. The stop preferably has a whistle shape, its thickness, measured along the direction of the longitudinal axis, increasing as one moves away from the rounded edge. The stop may comprise a flat inner face parallel to the longitudinal axis and the right edge. The stop may also comprise a convex outer face.

[0009] Advantageously also, each wing includes, on the front face of the plate, a cantilever which extends parallel to the stop, between this stop and the longitudinal axis, a part of the cantilever extending away from the longitudinal axis, overhanging the plate, the overhanging part and the stop forming between them a channel allowing the introduction of the winglet.

[0010] Advantageously also, each wing includes, on the front face of the plate, a ramp which extends parallel to the stop, between the stop and the longitudinal axis, preferably along the stop, and rises away from the rounded corner.

[0011] The foot may further include a cavity, cylindrical around the longitudinal axis, open at a free end of the stem and closed by a transverse wall at an opposite free end of the heel, said wall being pierced with an axial orifice to serve as a passage for a screw. Brief description of the figures

[0012] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] is a schematic and perspective view of a bracing system according to the invention comprising a foot and a head shown separately from each other;

[0014] [Fig.2] is a schematic longitudinal view, of an example of wall lining using the system of [Fig.1];

[0015] [Fig.3] is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the foot of the [Fig.1], mounted and fixed by screwing onto a block;

[0016] [Fig.4] is a schematic perspective view of one end of the foot of the [Fig.1]

[0017] [Fig.5] is a schematic longitudinal view, of the end of the [Fig.4];

[0018] [Fig.6] is a schematic view of detail VI of [Fig.5]; and,

[0019] [Fig.7] is a schematic view along direction VII of [Fig.5]. Detailed description

[0020] Figure 1 illustrates a spacer 1 forming a bracing system according to the invention. This spacer comprises a foot 2 and a head 3. In Figure 1, the foot and the head are shown separated from each other. The foot and the head are each formed in one piece by molding from a plastic material. The foot is designed to be assembled by screwing it to the head.

[0021] Figure 2 illustrates the spacer 1 in a usage situation; the foot 2 and the head 3 are shown assembled. Thus assembled, the spacer is substantially rigid and of revolution about a longitudinal spacer axis XI.

[0022] In the illustrated example, spacer 1 is used to line a wall 4 with a covering 5, here a plasterboard panel. In this mounting configuration, a bottom furring strip 6 and a top furring strip 7 are used, shown here in cross-section. The bottom furring strip 6 is fixed against a surface 8 of the wall 4, the foot 2 engages with the bottom furring strip, and the top furring strip engages with the top furring strip 7 so that the top furring strip is rigidly connected to the wall 4. The covering 5 is fixed to the top furring strip. In a complete configuration, a lining comprises several parallel bottom furring strips, several spacers mounted in each of these furring strips, and several top furring strips mounted on several of the spacers.

[0023] Figure 3 illustrates an alternative method for fixing a spacer according to the invention. In this example, a batten 9 is fixed against the surface 8 of the wall 4; the foot 2 is fixed to the batten 9 by a screw 10.

[0024] As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the foot 2 comprises a heel 11, a stem 12 and a latch 13. The latch extends transversely to the longitudinal axis XI, symmetrically on either side of the axis XL. The heel 11 extends axially from the latch 13; the stem extends axially, from the latch, opposite the heel.

[0025] As particularly illustrated in [Fig.3], the foot further comprises a cavity 14, cylindrical around the longitudinal axis XI, open at a free end 12A of the stem 12 and closed by a transverse wall 15, at an opposite free end 1 IA of the heel 11. The wall 15 is axially pierced by an axial orifice 16, to serve as a passage for the screw 10, in the configuration of [Fig.3].

[0026] The stem is threaded along most of its length. The heel is also threaded; its thread 17 has a diameter greater than the thread 18 of the stem 12.

[0027] The head comprises a neck 21, a collar 22, and a bulb 23. The collar extends in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis XL. The bulb and the neck are arranged axially on either side of the collar. The bulb and the collar form a circular groove 24 between them, designed to engage the fins 25 of the head fur 7. The head further comprises an axial passage, open at each of its axial ends, in the neck and in the bulb. This passage 26 comprises a first threaded hole 27, formed in the bulb 22, and a second threaded hole 28 formed in the neck 21.

[0028] The thread 28 of the neck is narrower than that of the bulb; it is designed to engage with the thread 18 of the rod 12. Depending on whether the rod is screwed more or less into the neck, a distance D4 between the wall 4 and the casing 5 is lengthened or reduced. This allows adaptation to a wall that is not necessarily flat or straight.

[0029] The threaded hole 27 in the bulb is designed to engage with the threaded hole 17 in the heel. Thus, when the distance D4 between the wall and the cladding is large, the spacer can comprise two feet and two heads, one of the heads serving as a connecting piece between the heel of one of the feet and the stem of the other.

[0030] The foot furring strip 6 is made of sheet metal, often galvanized steel. It is roughly U-shaped. The fins 25 are formed by the free edges of the U and extend transversely opposite each other. The fins have a longitudinal ridge 25B, formed by folding one edge of the sheet metal back on itself, towards the bottom 6F of the furring strip 6; it has a thickness approximately twice that of the sheet metal. In the fastening method and position illustrated in [Fig. 2], the fins 25 of the foot furring strip 6 are engaged with the latch 13 and the free end 1IA of the heel 11 is opposite the bottom 6F of the foot furring strip 6.

[0031] We will now describe the latch more precisely, with reference to figures 4 to 7. In this description, the term "anterior" refers to what is arranged on the side of the stem and the term "posterior" refers to what is arranged on the side of the heel.

[0032] In the illustrated example, the latch comprises a plate 31. The plate forms two wings 32 having an axial symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis XI of the foot 2. The plate fits within a rectangle of width denoted LA31 and of length denoted LO31.

[0033] Each wing 32 includes a rounded angle 33 of radius R33 equal to half the width of the plate (R33 = 0.5 x LA31). The angle 34, adjacent to the rounded angle 33, is a right angle. Thus, the plate can be inserted between the wings 25, its length being parallel to these wings; the wings 32 are inserted under the wings 25 by a rotation of the foot 2 by ninety degrees around its longitudinal axis XI, so that each bead 25B rests on a corresponding wing 32.

[0034] The plate comprises a substantially flat rear face 31P, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XL. The plate 31 comprises a front face 31A, carrying additional locking elements 35-37. Among these elements, the latch 13 comprises, on each wing 32:

[0035] - a lateral stop 35;

[0036] - a ramp 36; and,

[0037] - a corbel 37.

[0038] The stop 35 extends along the width of LA31 of the corresponding wing, along its right edge 34. It comprises an inner face 35N, i.e. opposite the axis longitudinal XI, perpendicular to the rear face 31P. It includes a convex outer face 35E. The stop has a whistle shape, its thickness, measured along the direction of the longitudinal axis XI, increasing as one moves away from the rounded edge 33.

[0039] Thus, during the rotation of the foot 2 and the insertion of the wing under the corresponding fin, the stop lifts the bead 25B, taking advantage of the elasticity of the sheet metal from which the furring strip 6 is formed. Once the ninety-degree rotation is complete, each bead falls back beyond its respective stop against the inner wall 35N; the stop makes a reverse rotation more difficult, which would tend to detach the foot 2 from the furring strip 6. Furthermore, the stops maintain the spacing between the bead sections. This prevents, in particular, the foot from slipping out of the furring strip's grip due to the bead section separating from each other.

[0040] The cantilever 37 extends parallel to the stop 35, between this stop and the rod 12. Together with the stop and above the front face 31A, it defines a passage 38 for the bead 25B. A portion 37A of the cantilever extends outwards, that is, away from the longitudinal axis XI, overhanging the passage 38. Between this overhanging portion and the stop, a groove (37B) allows the fin to be inserted below the bead. The overhanging portion 37A ensures that the fin 35 is held in the passage 38; thus, it guarantees a more secure locking of the foot 2 onto the foot furring strip 6.

[0041] In the illustrated example, the cantilever comprises an internal wall 37N at the passage 38, straight and arranged opposite the internal wall 35N of the abutment. The internal wall 35N extends into a curved wall 39, substantially parallel to the rounded angle 33.

[0042] The ramp 36 is arranged along the inner face 35N of the stop 35. It is configured so that as it rises, i.e. as it thickens, it moves away from the free end 1 IA of the heel 11 as it moves away from the rounded edge 33 parallel to the straight edge 34. The ramp allows adaptation to a depth P6 of the furring strip 6, which can vary according to manufacturing tolerances.

[0043] In the illustrated case where the latch 31 includes a cantilever 37, the ramp 36 can ensure that the bead 25B is pinched in the passage 38, between the ramp 36 and the overhanging part 37A; the cantilever is then advantageously designed to be sufficiently elastic to cooperate without breaking during the pinching. It is not necessary for the free end 1 IA of the heel to bear against the bottom 6F of the furring strip, as the latch is held pinched on the wings 25. Furthermore, the ramp ensures that the latch is held on the wings without longitudinal play.

[0044] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the following claims.

[0045] It will indeed appear to the person skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in the light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to him.

Claims

Demands

1. A bracing system (1) having a longitudinal axis (XI), in particular for maintaining a spacing (D4) between a wall (4) and a cladding (5) for that wall, said system comprising a foot (2) and a head (3), the head and the foot comprising means (12, 21; 17, 27) for mutual gripping, the head comprising means (23, 24) for fixing thereto, at least indirectly, said cladding and said foot comprising means (13; 14-16) for fixing it, at least indirectly, to said wall, characterized in that the foot fixing means comprise a latch (13) for engaging with fins (25) of a foot furring strip (6).

2. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the foot comprises a heel (11) which extends along the longitudinal axis (XI) from a rear face (31P) of the latch (31) and a stem (12) which extends from said latch along said longitudinal axis (XI) in a direction opposite to that of said heel.

3. System (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the rod (12) comprises a first thread (18) and in that the head comprises a first tapped hole (28), intended to come into mutual contact, and together ensure a length adjustment of the bracing system, this length being measured along the longitudinal axis (XI).

4. System (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the heel (11) comprises a second thread (17) and in that the head (3) comprises a second tapping (27) intended to come into mutual contact and allow coupling of said foot (2) with a second foot, along the longitudinal axis (XI), by means of said head (3).

5. System (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the latch (13) comprises a plate (31) which forms two wings (32) having axial symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis (XI) of the foot, said plate being inscribed in a rectangle, each wing comprising a rounded angle (33) and a right angle (34) adjacent to said rounded angle (33), said plate being arranged so that each wing (32) is arranged against a respective fin (25), between said fin and a bottom (6F) of the fur (6).

6. System (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that each wing (32) comprises, on a front face (31 A) of the plate, a stop (35) which extends along a width of (LA31) of the corresponding wing, along its right angle (34).

7. System (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the stop has a whistle shape, its thickness measured along the direction of the longitudinal axis (XI) increasing as one moves away from the rounded angle (33).

8. System (1) according to any one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the stop comprises a flat inner face (35N), parallel to the longitudinal axis (XI) and to the right edge (34D).

9. System (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the stop comprises a convex outer face (35E).

10. System (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that each wing (32) comprises, on the front face (31 A), a cantilever (37) which extends parallel to the stop (35), between this stop and the longitudinal axis (XI), a part (37A) of the cantilever extending away from the longitudinal axis XI, overhanging the plate (31), said overhanging part (37A) and said stop forming between them a channel allowing the introduction of the winglet (25).

11. System (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that each wing (32) comprises, on the front face (31 A), a ramp (36) which extends parallel to the stop (35), between the stop and the longitudinal axis, preferably along said stop, and rises away from the rounded corner (33).

12. System (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the foot comprises a cavity (14), cylindrical about the longitudinal axis (XI), open at a free end (12A) of the stem (12) and closed by a transverse wall (15) at an opposite free end (1IA) of the heel (11), said wall being pierced with an axial orifice (16) to serve as a passage for a screw (10).

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