A tool for locating a filler panel

Abstract

This invention relates to a tool for positioning and retaining a filler panel More particularly, but not exclusively, the tool positions and retains a filler panel for a unit, cabinet or cupboard in a kitchen, bedroom or a bathroom or in a showroom or as part of a shop fitting. A tool for temporary retention of a filler panel adjacent an item of furniture comprises: a body with at least one flat surface which abuts an interior surface of the item of furniture. A connector, such as a swivel type clamp, is inserted in a receiving slot in the tool for temporary retention of a filler for demountable connection of the tool to the item of furniture. The clamp has a spring which retains the filler panel in a user selected position so that the filler panel lies flush to the item of furniture. A user is then able to make a fillet or insert or fill a gap with relevant sealant.

Description

[0001] A Tool For Locating A Filler Panel

[0002] Field

[0003] This invention relates to a tool for positioning and retaining a filler panel. More particularly, but not exclusively, the tool positions and retains a filler panel for a unit, cabinet or cupboard in a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or in a showroom or as part of a shop fitting.

[0004] Background

[0005] When fitting a generic sized cabinet into a larger sized aperture, or when fitting a run of cabinets or cupboards along a wall, it is desirable to have a tidy and eye appealing finish along edges, side(s) top and bottom of the cabinet(s), rather than a space or gap with an adjacent wall, ceiling or floor. This is usually achieved using a filler panel.

[0006] Walls and ceilings are often uneven and not always true: that is, they are not always level or square with a floor and may not always be perpendicular in a corner of a room or in a similar space to receive a run of cabinets.

[0007] Careful adjustment of edges is therefore required in order to conceal what is often a tapering gap or reveal between the cabinet and a ceiling, floor or wall and this was often done with a wedge or packing piece. An example of this is shown in Figure 1 .

[0008] Prior Art

[0009] Currently, a skilled carpenter or fitter marks a contour line corresponding to an opening or surface of a wall or cabinet and then closely cuts an infill panel to this line, then ‘shaves’ the infill so that it sits snuggly in a gap or recess and provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance and professional finish to a single or run of cabinets or cupboards. The present invention arose in order to overcome the problem of movement or flexing and aims to provide a batten or in-fill support to which a filler panel is attached and held securely. UK patent application GB 2 420 310 (Crampton) discloses a kit for profile marking which includes a clamp and a scriber. The clamp has a U-shaped channel with a clamping screw passing through a channel wall to engage a workpiece.

[0010] An aim of the invention is to provide a tool which can be deployed quickly and easily and does not require glue or any form of adhesive to assist in preparing and fitting a filler panel.

[0011] A further aim is to provide a set of tools that is lightweight, durable and compact and can be easily carried by a carpenter.

[0012] A yet further aim is to provide a tool set that is capable of being deployed quickly and used with different thicknesses-of cupboards and fittings.

[0013] Summary of the Invention

[0014] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a tool for use with an item of furniture which temporarily retains a filler panel adjacent the item of furniture, comprises: a body with at least one flat surface which in use abuts an interior surface of the item of furniture; a connector for locating the tool to the item of furniture; and a clamp for demountable connection of the filler panel in a user selected position so that the filler panel lies flush to the item of furniture wherein the clamp includes a connection means for a swivel connector.

[0015] The invention therefore enables a carpenter or a kitchen / bedroom installer to work alone and install a unit of furniture, rather than needing two personnel to carry out what are often awkward and time-consuming jobs.

[0016] The invention therefore enables a carpenter to work quicky and accurately and carry out often fiddly operations, enabling the carpenter to mark / inscribe a filler panel in a precise and correct way so that when cut, the panel sits neatly in a space without the need for further ‘shaving’, thus leaving gaps or any untidy or uneven spaces.

[0017] Another advantage of the invention is that little or no caulking is needed because the tool enables the carpenter to cut an edge that precisely matches a profile of a wall or adjacent cabinet or fixture. In one embodiment the tool has at least one dowel which may be a threaded spindle.

[0018] Adjustment is carried done by slackening off one or more lock nuts on one or more threaded spindles. This enables continuous and adjustment so that an available length of threaded spindle can be adjusted to suit a particular thickness of a panel to be inserted.

[0019] Optionally a resiliently deformable retention device, such as a compression spring, is placed around the threaded spindle and in use is pushed against a resilient washer or buffer (not shown) on one end of a spindle. The spindle, which does not have to be threaded, is then able to slide through a bush fitted into an arm of the clamp body. Where a spring is used, it is sufficiently strong to retain and hold the filler panel, irrespective of its thickness.

[0020] In some embodiments the means for receiving the clamp is adjustable and capable of receiving different thicknesses of filler panel. Preferably the clamp is adjustable for thicknesses of filler panel from 12mm to 22mm.

[0021] In some embodiments a connection means includes a swivel connector which allows the clamp to rotate, for example on a boss. The swivel connector may be removable to enable the tool to be used in small or confined spaces or corners. However, when fitted the swivel connector ideally has a releasable connection means, such as a circlip, which is received within a recess of a locating boss of the swivel connector and retains the swivel connector within the body of the tool.

[0022] Preferably the releasable connection means has a cylindrical foot which locates the swivel connector within a circular recess formed in the body of the tool and enables the releasable connection to be rotated so that it can be used on a left-hand facing panel or a right-hand facing panel or to suit the handedness of an operator.

[0023] A catch or over-centre toggle, such as the one shown in Figure 10, may be provided for locking the releasable connection with respect to the body of the tool

[0024] In some embodiments the tool and clamp are supplied as a kit or as separate integers or parts, and one part engages with the other by way of a tongue portion which is received into a slot. Ideally the clamp is lockable and retained within the slot by a lock means. Preferably the lock means is a toggle clamp which locks when an arm is moved beyond a centre lock point so that it when the lock means is moved over-centre.

[0025] In some embodiments the adjustable clamp has a lock means which includes a threaded thumb wheel with a non-marking buffer.

[0026] In some embodiments at least one locator is provided for locating the tool in predefined holes in the item of furniture. The at least one locator ideally includes at least one dowel which is preferably a wooden dowel. It is appreciated that the tool may have different size locators formed thereon or fitted thereto. For example, some pre-drilled holes in prefabricated kitchen units may be 3mm in diameter and others may be 5mm in diameter. The fact that different size locators are available, enables the tool to be used with a wide range of prefabricated furniture units.

[0027] Other devices may be included in the tool, such as for example a spirit level to ensure it is fitted plumb or square to an exterior wall or ceiling.

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, and with reference to the Figures in which:

[0029] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] Figure 1 shows (PRIOR ART);

[0031] Figure 2 shows an overall view of a standard kitchen cabinet door hinge;

[0032] Figure 3 shows an overall view of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is a tool for temporary retention of a filler panel;

[0033] Figure 4 shows an overall view of the tool fitted to a bottom inner corner of a kitchen cupboard;

[0034] Figure 5 illustrates how the tool is temporarily attached to the inner corner of a kitchen cupboard by way of a mechanical or manual screwdriver;

[0035] Figure 6 shows an overall view of the tool for temporary retention of a filler panel and one example of a swivel type clamp; Figure 7 shows a diagrammatical view of two tool fitted to upper and lower corners of the kitchen cupboard each connected to a filler panel;

[0036] Figure 8 is a drawing showing dimensions of the tool for temporary retention of a filler panel;

[0037] Figure 9 shows in detail the swivel / rotating type toggle clamp about to be inserted in a receiving slot in the tool for temporary retention of a filler panel;

[0038] Figure 10 is an overall view of the swivel / rotating type clamp inserted in the receiving slot in the tool for temporary retention of a filler panel;

[0039] Figure 1 1 is an isometric view of the swivel / rotating type clamp inserted in the receiving slot of the tool configured to retain a filler panel adjacent an outer face of the kitchen / bedroom or bathroom cabinet;

[0040] Figures 12A to 12G shows examples of a kit, Figure 12A is an example of an adjustment tool which includes an open jaw spanner, and Figures 12B to 12F are views of shims and location plate-inserts for use with the tool;

[0041] Figure 13 is an overall view of a swivel connector which is rotatable to receive a clamp and present it in opposite directions; and

[0042] Figure 14 is an overall view of another embodiment of the tool showing a circular recess for receiving the swivel connector shown in a clamp.

[0043] Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

[0044] Figure 1 (PRIOR ART) shows how a shim 30 was used to wedge an infill 20 to fill a gap and any tapering edges were whether covered or filled with mastic which left a poor quality or unsightly.

[0045] Referring to Figures, there is shown in Figures 3 and 4, a tool 50 for temporary retention of a filler panel 20 between a wall 10 and an item of furniture, such as a kitchen cabinet 60. The tool 50 has at least one flat surface 53 which abuts an interior face of the kitchen cabinet 60. Figure 6 shows a connector 52 for demountable connection of the tool 50 to the filler panel, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. The connector 52 has a swivel / rotating clamp 55A for retaining the filler panel 20 in a user selected position so that the filler panel lies flush to the item of furniture 60 in readiness for scribing a line marking an edge of a wall or adjacent cabinet.

[0046] One example of the tool 50 is shown in detail in Figure 10 and has two 5 mm wooden or metal dowels or pins 52 and 54 extending from its body 50. A clamp stop 82 is pressed into one end of slot on top of tool.

[0047] A simpler profile in an “L-shape” may be used instead of a “T-shape”. In this arrangement the locating pins are not required and instead a user employs a protruding “L-shape” shoulder to locate the tool 50 in a corner of a cabinet (not shown).

[0048] Figures 6 and 9 show a swivel / rotating type toggle clamp 55 for insertion into a receiving slot in the tool 50. The toggle clamp 55 has a threaded adjustable plunger with at least two lock nuts 59 to allow for various infill panel thicknesses. The base of the toggle clamp 55 enables the tool 50 to be lifted and rotated thereby avoiding the need to remove the tool itself, turn it around and then re-insert it.

[0049] Tool 50 has at least one tongue 56, (shown in detail in Figure 9) which is removably connectable to a slot 69 in the tool 50, as shown in Figure 6. Toggle clamp 55 slides into the slot 69 on top of the tool 50 and butts up against a clamp stop 82. The toggle clamp is removable from the slot 69 which enables it to turn through 180 degrees for reinsertion with its toggle pointed in an opposite direction for example in tight corners.

[0050] The tool will now be briefly described in use with reference to all the Figures and specifically, Figures 5, 7 and 11 .

[0051] Use of the tool has a slot 69 on the end into which a toggle clamp slides. The toggle clamp 55 holds the oversized filler panel 80 against the front edge / face of the cabinet panel and also holds it flush with the datum point / face. The oversized filler panel 80 is now clamped tightly, as shown in Figure 11 .

[0052] To scribe the contour of the wall ©©ceiling, or floor onto the filler panel 80, a user either set up a compass and pencil or any readily available pencil scribe tool to the exact width of the cabinet panel thickness and scribes a mark or an arc in the usual way. The user then run this mark down the wall or along a ceiling, or floor (not shown) and marks a clean line along which a cut can be made once the panel 80 is removed from the clamp 50.

[0053] By cutting accurately right up to the pencil line the infill panel 80 is a perfect fit.

[0054] Step 1

[0055] Referring to Figure 5, the tool 50 is fixed to any inside face of cabinet 60 with a fixing screw 72 using an electric or manual screwdriver 72. When the tool 50 is connected to the cabinet it defines a datum point / face is the inside face of the cabinet 60. The tool 50 can be located in two different ways. Most manufactured kitchen cabinets have at least two pre-drilled 5 mm holes located on inner surfaces and edges faces for receiving door hinge fittings, as shown in Figure 2. The tool 50 has two corresponding 5mm pins, which are ideally made from wooden dowels. These pins temporarily locate the tool into the two holes in the side of the cabinet and hold the tool tight 50 against a datum point / face with a screw.

[0056] Where cabinets are supplied without any pre-drilled holes, or where ceiling fillers or plinths are required, a user turns the tool over, so that the two 5mm pins 52 and 54 face away from a datum face / datum point. In this case the T shaped shoulder part of the tool 50 locates in against a front corner of the cabinet by butting up against adjacent panel. The tool 50 is then temporarily fixed against the datum face / point with a screw (not shown) which passes through the tool and into the cabinet at position P, as seen in Figure 7.

[0057] Step 2

[0058] The tool 50 has a slot on the end into which a toggle clamp slides. The toggle clamp 55 holds the oversized filler panel against the front edge / face of the cabinet panel and also holds it flush with the datum point / face. A clamp plunger 57 (Figure 6) is adjustable by means of a threaded rod and at least one, and preferably two, lock nuts 59 (Figure 10). This allows the tool to accommodate a range of various thicknesses of infill panels and when clamped and locked, ensures that any oversized filler panel is clamped tightly.

[0059] As before to scribe the contour of the wall, ceiling or floor onto the filler panel, the user either sets up a compass and pencil, pencil or scribe tool to the exact width of the cabinet panel thickness and runs this along the wall or ceiling and along the edge of the oversized filler panel 80.

[0060] Below there are described two variations of clamp base: the first is a circular base (an example of which is shown in Figures 13 and 14). A circular base slides into a slot on a top part of a main clamp body and is arrested and retained with a stop in each end. However, the clamp is still able to rotate on its axis. This enables the clamp to be deployed as explained above in step 1 A and 1 B without the need to remove the clamp or turn it around for each different application.

[0061] In another embodiment the clamp does not have a rotatable base but instead a threaded stud bolted through top of tool so the clamp can be moved. This slight modification to the main body of the tool also removes the requirement for a slot as the clamp itself is rotatable.

[0062] In another variation, instead of having to manually adjust the clamp plunger for various infill panel thicknesses, a self-adjusting sprung loaded plunger may be used instead which adjusts to the required thickness of infill panel.

[0063] In a further alternative embodiment, the toggle clamp may have a threaded thumb wheel with a non-marking buffer fixed to the main body to hold the filler panel to the front face of the cabinet panel instead of a toggle clamp.

[0064] Figures 12A to 12G shows examples of a kit which enable the tool to be adjusted to suit a specific depth of infill. Figure 12A is an example of an adjustment tool which includes an open jaw spanner. Figures 12B and 12C show views of shims 1 10 which are formed from steel or synthetic plastics and are wedge shaped. Shims 110 have relatively thin thicknesses 113 and location plates which can be temporarily fitted to the body of the tool to provide a datum for fixing the tool when pre-drilled holes are not available. The shims are wedge shaped for use with the tool as packing to ensure a tight fit. This enables the user to fit two or more tools in perfect alignment and so saves a considerable amount of time as well as enabling the user to work alone.

[0065] Figure 14 is an overall view of a particularly preferred embodiment of the tool showing an opening for receiving a clamp.

[0066] Figures 12A to 12G shows examples of a kit, Figure 12A is an example of an adjustment tool which includes an open jaw spanner, and Figures 12B to 12F are views of shims and location plates for use with the tool;

[0067] Figure 13 is an overall view of a swivel connector 120 which is rotatable on a circular boss 126 within a recess 136 in the body of the tool. A shelf is defined within an upper portion of 125 by a base 122 and lateral rebates or recesses 124. The base 122 and lateral rebates or recesses 124 slidably receive the clamp (as shown for example in Figure 9) and lock and present it in opposite directions.

[0068] Figure 14 is an overall view of another embodiment of the tool 150 showing a circular locating well 135 with recess 136. The locating well 135 and recess 136 receive and locate upper portion of the 125 and circular boss 126 of swivel connector 120. A circlip, E-clip or other retaining device (not shown) sits in circular groove 126 to retain the circular boss 126 within the recess 136 in the body of the tool. A shelf is defined within the swivel connector which receives the clamp.

[0069] The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the aforementioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims1 . A tool for use with an item of furniture which temporarily retains a filler panel adjacent the item of furniture, comprises: a body with at least one flat surface which in use abuts an interior surface of the item of furniture; a connector for locating the tool to the item of furniture; and a clamp for demountable connection of the filler panel in a user selected position so that the filler panel lies flush to the item of furniture wherein the clamp includes a connection means for a swivel connector.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein the body is adapted to receive shims to adjust the tool to receive different thicknesses of filler panel.

3. A tool according to claim 2 wherein the shims are adjustable for thicknesses of filler panel from 12mm to 22mm.

4. A tool according to any preceding claim wherein the clamp rotates on a rotatable boss.

5. A tool according to any preceding claim wherein the clamp is received within a slot.

6. A tool according to claim 5 wherein the clamp is lockable within the slot by a lock device.

7. A tool according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the clamp has an adjustable lock means for locking the clamp at a specific setting.

8. A tool according to claim 7 wherein the lock means includes a threaded thumb wheel.

9. A tool according to claim 7 wherein the lock means includes a toggle clamp.

10. A tool according to any preceding claim includes at least one locator for locating the tool in a hole or recess in the item of furniture.1 1. A tool according to claim 10 wherein the at least one locator includes at least one dowel.

12. A tool according to claim 11 wherein the dowel is a wooden or metal dowel.

13. A tool according to any preceding claim includes a self-adjustment device which has a slotted recess for receiving and locating the clamp.

14. A tool according to claim 13 wherein the slotted recess has an axis of symmetry which is orthogonal to a plane defined by the filler panel.

15. A tool according to any preceding claim includes a resiliently deformable retaining means for holding the filler panel.

16. A tool according to any preceding claim wherein, in use, an outside face of the tool lies flush with an inside face of the item of furniture.

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