System for joining and automatic locking of two panels

Abstract

Described is a system (1) for automatically joining and locking two panels (101, 201) comprising a first panel (101) and a second panel (201) suitable for being mutually coupled. The first panel (101) has a channel (120) that extends along a longitudinal direction (X) and that is suitable for being slidably engaged by a guide head (220) protruding from the second panel (201). A locking and unlocking button (2) is also provided, operable from the outside and suitable for being inserted in a seat (102) defined inside the first panel (101) along a transversal direction (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X). This button (2) is suitable for sliding inside the seat (102), by means of a spring (3), between an initial rest position, in which the two panels (101, 201) are disconnected from each other and a locking configuration in which the two panels (101, 201) are rigidly integral with each other, and vice versa.

Description

[0001] System for joining and automatic locking of two panels DESCRIPTION

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a system for automatically joining and locking two panels and to the method for automatically joining and locking two panels by means of such a system.

[0004] Background art

[0005] With the current state of the art, the mechanical joining of two or more panels is achieved by a variety of solutions, such as screw systems, coupling pins, magnetic elements, dedicated mechanisms and similar devices.

[0006] These solutions invariably require the use of specific tools for the assembly and disassembly of the connected components, therefore sometimes proving inadequate in guaranteeing sufficient mechanical strength for applications subjected to more severe stresses.

[0007] The operational complexity and reduced efficiency due to the need for specific tools slow down the assembly and disassembly phases, limit the versatility of the system and increasing the risk of errors or damage during assembly.

[0008] Moreover, such solutions often do not guarantee adequate mechanical resistance to applications subject to high stresses, thereby compromising structural reliability.

[0009] There are also devices on the market that enable assembly and disassembly of panels without the use of tools, but by using external guides, not integrated into the panel itself.

[0010] However, these are external guides that are inserted or assembled on the panels.

[0011] In this case, the presence of visible mechanical elements may compromise the overall aesthetics of the structure.

[0012] In other words, the negative visual impact deriving from the presence of visible mechanical elements can compromise the aesthetic harmony of thestructure, reducing its elegance and formal cleanliness, especially in contexts where design plays a central role.

[0013] Summary of the invention

[0014] The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of known types of systems for automatic locking and blocking of two panels that allows such coupling without the use of external guides, but with elements integrated into the panel itself.

[0015] In the context of the above-mentioned purpose, one aim of the invention is to create a system for automatic joining and locking of two panels, which provides for the automatic locking of the same panels, through extremely rapid and simplified assembly and disassembly procedures, without the need to resort to external tools.

[0016] Another aim of the invention is to allow the unlocking to take place by means of the operation of a push button.

[0017] This purpose, as well as these and other aims, which are described in more detail below, are achieved by a system for automatic joining and locking of two panels, according to the invention, comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible different embodiments of the invention.

[0018] In particular, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a system for the automatic joining and locking of two panels which comprises a first and a second panel suitable for being mutually coupled. The first panel has a channel that extends along a longitudinal direction and that is suitable for being slidably engaged by a head, protruding from the second panel, which acts as a guide to couple the two panels.

[0019] A locking and unlocking button is also provided, operable from the outside and suitable for being inserted, with its entire body, in a seat defined inside the first panel along a transversal direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction: the two directions, transversal and longitudinal, are oblique to each other, preferably perpendicular.

[0020] The button (and its body) is suitable for sliding inside the seat by means ofa spring that moves it from an initial rest position, in which the two panels are disconnected from each other, and a locking configuration, in which the two panels are, on the other hand, rigidly integral with each other.

[0021] Advantageously, a hole is formed inside the first panel that extends along the transversal direction. This hole is suitable for being engaged by a grub screw or a cylindrical plug, in order to adapt to different mechanical configurations, which therefore acts as an upper and lower limit stop for the button along the transversal direction, by means of a contact surface formed in the body of the button itself.

[0022] In practice, the head is a sort of guide for the second panel with respect to the first panel.

[0023] The spring is advantageously compressed, configured to exert a thrust force on the button, keeping it in the locked position.

[0024] When the operator pushes the button a compression of the spring is exerted that accumulates elastic energy.

[0025] The Applicant has therefore designed the system in such a way that it is completely configured so as to achieve the automatic locking of the panels without the use of external tools, but simply by inserting the guide in the corresponding seat and the automatic action of the locking button.

[0026] Advantageously, the body of the button has a recess defined at the coupling with the guide head, for the mutual fixing of the first and second panels. Advantageously, in order to facilitate the retraction of the button at the recess during its insertion in the seat, the head is provided with chamfers. Advantageously, in order to fit the guide head to the body of the button, it has a pocket.

[0027] Preferably, the head is configured in an inverted "T" shape, so as to facilitate its precise and safe sliding inside the corresponding channel.

[0028] Similarly, the latter preferably has a shape to match the head, so as to achieve a precise and stable coupling.

[0029] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for automatically joining and locking the two panels according to the system described above andwhich comprises the following steps.

[0030] In the channel of the first panel, defined along the longitudinal direction, the guide head protruding from the second panel to be coupled to the first is inserted, in order to form the desired connection.

[0031] The head is slid along the channel until it meets the locking and unlocking button, inserted, by means of the spring, in the seat defined in the first panel. In this condition, the button is in the locking configuration: the spring automatically activates following a pressure from the outside and - at the same time - the head is advanced until the locking position is reached: in this way, the sliding of the head compresses the spring, loading it with elastic energy.

[0032] At this point, the spring exerts a thrust force on the body of the button. In practice, the activation of the spring causes a temporary retraction of the button, without any pressure on it.

[0033] A locking system is therefore achieved that is very simple to use and that allows a quick coupling of the panels and also a fast separation.

[0034] Advantageously, by inserting the grub screw into the appropriate hole defined inside the first panel and inside the contact surface formed in the body of the button, the grub screw itself becomes an upper and lower limit stop for the button itself along the transversal direction. In other words, it prevents the button, on the one hand, from being pushed too far into the first panel by the operator, and, on the other hand, from coming out of the seat pushed by the spring in the other direction.

[0035] Advantageously, releasing the button allows the automatic return to the locking configuration, due to the effect of the spring.

[0036] Advantageously, pressing the button and simultaneously pushing the second panel allows the head to slide along the channel, unlocking the panels.

[0037] The panels can be inserted from both directions: so, when the spring is released, it is possible to disassemble the panel both in the mounting direction and in the other direction.Advantageously, the components are made with machining tolerances such as to ensure smooth sliding without excessive play.

[0038] Advantageously, the sliding surfaces are treated with Teflon-based lubrication or subjected to surface treatments to improve the smoothness.

[0039] Description of the drawings

[0040] Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the system for automatic joining and locking of two panels, illustrated by way of example and without limiting the scope of the invention, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the system 1 for automatic joining and locking of two panels 101 and 201 , with an enlarged detail;

[0042] Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the system 1 of Figure 1 , with an enlarged detail;

[0043] Figure 3A and 3B illustrate a normal section with respect to the panels 101 and 201 of the system 1 , with enlarged details, respectively in the locking configuration and in the initial position;

[0044] Figure 4 illustrates the system 1 with the two panels 101 and 201 not yet coupled and an enlarged detail on the chamfers 220a and the pocket 221 of the guide head 220.

[0045] Detailed description

[0046] With reference to the aforementioned figures, a preferred embodiment of a system for automatic joining and locking of two panels is shown, according to the invention, which is identified in its entirety with reference numeral 1 and which comprises a first 101 and a second panel 201 suitable for being mutually coupled.

[0047] The first panel 101 has a channel 120 defined along a longitudinal direction X, which is the direction of extension of the two panels 101 and 201 themselves. This channel 120 is slidably engaged by a head 220, protruding from the second panel 201 , which guides its insertion into the first panel 101.There is then a locking and unlocking button 2, operable from the outside and suitable for being inserted in a seat 102 defined inside the first panel 101 along a transversal direction Y perpendicular, with respect to the longitudinal direction X.

[0048] The button 2 has a body 20 with which it is associated.

[0049] Sliding in the seat 102, the button 2 moves from an initial position, in which the two panels are loose, to a locking configuration, in which the two panels are interlocked, and vice versa.

[0050] This sliding is achieved thanks to a spring 3, or other elastic means. In the solution described herein, the spring 3 is of the compression type, that is, configured to exert an outward pushing force on the button 2, when it is inside the seat 102, keeping it in the locking position.

[0051] In order not to allow the escape of the button 2 towards the outside, the Applicant has thought of a grub screw 4, or a plug, to stop the button.

[0052] In practice, there is a hole 104 defined inside the first panel 101 that extends along the transversal direction Y. The hole 104 is engaged by the grub screw 4 so as to become an upper and lower limit stop for the button 2 along the transversal direction Y, interfering, when the button 2 moves too much, with the perimeter of the contact surface 24 formed in the body 20 of the button 2 itself.

[0053] In this case, with reference to Figures 3A and 3B, the contact surface 24 is a circumference obtained by making a through hole in the body 20.

[0054] The body 20 of the button 2 also has a recess 22 formed at the coupling with the head 220, when the two panels 101 and 201 are mutually fixed. For this purpose, the head 220 is provided with chamfers 220a to facilitate the retraction of the button 2 during its insertion into the seat 102.

[0055] In order to engage the body 20 of the button 2 with the guide head 220, the latter has a pocket 221 (Figure 4).

[0056] The pocket 221 will, in other words, provide the free space to the button 2 when this, after the advancement of the head 220, pushed by the spring 3, tries to return to its initial position.The head 220 is configured as an inverted "T" and similarly the channel 120 has a complementary shape to the head 220 (positive and negative), to achieve a precise and stable coupling.

[0057] The operation of the system is simple and convenient: the connection of the two panels 101 and 201 is carried out by sliding the second panel 201 , provided with the guide head 220, inside the first panel 101, with the same shape as the guide.

[0058] At a certain point of the slide, the head 220 will meet the button 2 and, thanks to the guide chamfers 220a, the retraction of the button 2 inside the seat 102 is determined sufficiently for the head 220 itself to pass through. The head 220 will then advance until it locks, once the button 2, pushed by the spring 3, returns to its initial position, finding the free space obtained in the pocket 104.

[0059] At this point the two panels 101 and 201 will be mechanically connected and constrained on the Cartesian axes thanks to the "T" shape of the guide head 220 and the coupling formed with the correct tolerances.

[0060] The mechanical lock will ensure that the panel remains in position and does not slip off along the transversal axis Y.

[0061] For reasons of safety, the grub screw 4, or a stop pin, is inserted inside a hole 104 and in order to remain inside the contact surface 24, so as to create an upper and lower limit stop for the button 2 along the transversal direction Y.

[0062] If the user wants to disconnect the two panels 101 and 201 , the operations to be performed are: hold down the outer part of the button 2 and, at the same time, push the second panel 201 , that is, the guide head 220, outwards thus releasing the two components.

[0063] From the above it can therefore be seen how the invention achieves the proposed purpose and aims and in particular the fact that a system for automatic joining and locking of two panels is achieved, which allows the integrated coupling of two panels through extremely fast and simplified assembly and disassembly procedures, without the need to resort toexternal tools.

[0064] In particular, the construction frame of the system contains integrated elements, formed in the sandwich panel, without adding external pieces to have the groove and the guide.

[0065] In addition, since only the simple manual pressing of a button is used to unlock the system, the system is particularly suitable for situations where rapid assembly and disassembly is required.

[0066] Another advantage of the invention is given by the fact that the system is entirely derived from the same structure as the panels, eliminating the need for additional mechanical components and it therefore does not have bulky and unsightly fixings, and is therefore well applicable to sectors such as designer furnishing.

[0067] In addition, thanks to the construction of the panel by means of a frame, it is possible to obtain these mechanisms directly from the structure of the panel itself, guaranteeing solidity, practicality and economy.

[0068] The invention can be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

[0069] Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by other technically equivalent elements.

[0070] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be of any type, depending on requirements, provided that they are consistent with their production purposes.

Claims

CLAIMS1 ) A system (1 ) for automatic joining and locking of two panels (101 , 201 ), comprising:a first panel (101) and a second panel (201) suitable for being mutually coupled;the first panel (101) having a channel (120) extending along a longitudinal direction (X) suitable for being slidably engaged by a guide head (220) protruding from the second panel (201);a locking and unlocking button (2), operable from the outside and suitable for being inserted in a seat (102) defined inside the first panel (101 ) along a transversal direction (Y) oblique, preferably perpendicular, with respect to the longitudinal direction (X);by means of a spring (3), the button (2) being suitable for sliding inside the seat (102) between an initial rest position, in which the two panels (101, 201) are disconnected from each other and a locking configuration in which the two panels (101 , 201 ) are rigidly integral with each other, and vice versa.2) The system (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a hole (104) defined inside the first panel (101) and extending along the transversal direction (Y) is suitable for being engaged by an upper and lower limit grub screw (4) for the button (2) along the transversal direction (Y), by means of a stop surface (24) formed in the body (20) of the button (2) itself.3) The system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the body (20) of the button (2) comprises a recess (22) defined at the coupling with the head (220), for the mutual fixing of the first panel (101) with the second panel (201).4) The system (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the head (220) is provided with chamfers (220a) for retracting the button (2) during its insertion into the seat (102).5) The system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the head (220) comprises a pocket (221) for engagement with the body (20) of the button (2).6) The system (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, wherein the head (220) is configured as an inverted "T".7) The system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the channel (120) has a shape complementary to the head (220), to achieve a precise and stable coupling.8) A furnishing element comprising a system (1) for automatically joining and locking two panels (101 , 201) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, fully and completely integrated into the furnishing element itself.9) A method for automatically joining and locking two panels (101 , 201) according to the system (1), comprising the following steps:- inserting, in the channel (120) defined along a longitudinal direction (X), in a first panel (101), a head (220) protruding from a second panel (201) suitable for being coupled to said first panel (101), so as to form the connection of the first panel (101 ) with the second panel (201 );- sliding the head (220) along the channel (120) until it meets a locking and unlocking button (2), inserted, by means of a spring (3), in a seat (102) defined in the first panel (101);- advancing the head (220) until the locking position is reached,in such a way that, thanks to the sliding of the head (220), a compression of the spring (3) is achieved, loading it with elastic energy that tends to return to its initial position bringing the button (2) into a locking configuration. 10) The method according to claim 9, comprising releasing the button (2) so as to automatically allow it to return to the locking configuration due to the effect of the spring (3).11) The method according to claim 9 or 10, comprising inserting a grub screw (4) into a hole (104) defined inside the first panel (101) and inscribed in a stop surface (24) formed in the body (20) of the button (2), so as to achieve an upper and lower limit for the button (2) itself along the transversal direction (Y).12) The method according to one or more of claims 9 to 11, wherein the unlocking of the panels (101, 201) takes place by pressing the button (2)and simultaneously pushing the second panel (201) so as to allow the sliding of the head (220) along the channel (120).

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