Device for fixing a frame in a through-orifice in a panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10201224-B2
Application number	US-201415127704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2014
Priority date	Mar 20, 2014
Publication date	Feb 12, 2019
Grant date	Feb 12, 2019

Abstract

A device for fixing a frame in a through-hole extending between two opposite faces of a panel the frame including a peripheral wall having an upper and lower edges and configured to cover a structure of the panel delimiting the through-hole the upper edge including an edge configured to rest against a first face of the panel, wherein the device includes a clamping element including an arm integral with a perpendicular tab and an assembly structure configured to secure the tab on the second face of the panel in the vicinity of the through-hole, the arm configured to exert, a force on the peripheral wall adapted to flatten the peripheral wall against the structure of the panel defining the through-hole and to exert a force on a stop of the peripheral wall adapted to flatten the ledge of the frame against the first face of the panel when the tab is fixed on the second face of the panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for fixing a frame in a through-hole extending between two opposite faces of a panel, the frame including a peripheral wall having an upper edge and a lower edge and configured to cover a structure of the panel delimiting the through-hole, the upper edge of the peripheral wall including an edge configured to rest against a first face of the panel around the through-hole, the device comprising:
at least one clamping element comprising at least one arm including a substantially hooked-shaped section integral with a tab extending in a plane perpendicular to the at least one arm and an assembly structure for securing the tab on the second face of the panel in the vicinity of the through-hole, the at least one arm of the clamping element configured to exert a force on the peripheral wall adapted to flatten the peripheral wall against the structure of the panel defining the through-hole and to exert a force on a stop of the peripheral wall adapted to flatten a ledge of the frame against the first face of the panel when the tab is fixed on the second face of the panel.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall of the frame includes a double wall having an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall having at least one cutout extending from the lower edge towards the upper edge of the peripheral wall over a length substantially corresponding to the width of the tab of the clamping element and a height substantially corresponding to the thickness of the tab, the cutout and the space between the outer wall and the inner wall adjacent to the cutout defining a housing for the arm of the clamping element.

3. The device according to claims 1 , wherein the arm includes a substantially rectilinear portion extended by the substantially hook-shaped section.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein an abutment is defined by a ridge extending along the cutout between the outer wall and the inner wall of the peripheral wall, from the lower edge towards the upper edge of the peripheral wall, the length of the ridge corresponding substantially to the length of the substantially straight section of the at least one arm of the clamping element.

5. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the distance between the inner wall and the outer wall of the frame is configured to allow a tight fit of the at least one arm of the clamping element engaged in the housing.

6. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the double wall is reinforced by a series of ridges interconnecting the outer wall and the inner wall and extending between the top edges and bottom edges of the peripheral wall.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the ridges of the double wall are substantially equidistant.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one arm includes two arms extending in a same plane perpendicular to the tab and symmetrical with respect to an axis centered on a side of the tab to which the arms are secured, and wherein each of the two arms includes a substantially hook-shaped section that extends outward.

9. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the second face of the panel comprises a recess of complementary shape to the tab of the clamping element wherein the tab can rest when the at least one arm is engaged in the housing and bearing on the abutment.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly structure for securing the tab against the second face of the panel comprises at least one of a screw, a tail clip, and a rivet.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the tab includes at least one hole allowing the passage of the assembly structure.

12. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the tab comprises stiffening structure.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the underside of the tab is traversed by at least one edge.

14. A method of implementation of a device according to claim 1 for fixing the frame in the through-hole extending between the two opposite faces of the panel, comprising:
inserting the device in the through-hole of the frame;
placing the edge of the frame against the first face of the panel around the through-hole;
positioning the at least one arm secured to the tab of the clamping element in contact with the peripheral wall of the frame and the abutment of the peripheral wall; and
swiveling the at least one arm around the abutment of the peripheral wall so as to bring the tab of the clamping element in contact with the second face of the panel.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein, to move the at least one arm of the clamping element in contact with the peripheral wall of the frame and the ridge the peripheral wall includes, the at least one arm is engaged in a housing formed between an outer wall and an inner wall of the peripheral wall of the frame.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein when the tab of the clamping element is brought in contact with the second face of the panel, the tab is positioned a recess of complementary shape positioned in the second face of the panel.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the tab of the clamping element is secured on the second face of the panel by at least one of a screw, a tail clip and a rivet.

18. A device for fixing a frame in a through-hole extending between two opposite faces of a panel, the frame including a peripheral wall having an upper edge and a lower edge and configured to cover a structure of the panel delimiting the through-hole, the upper edge of the peripheral wall including an edge configured to rest against a first face of the panel around the through-hole, the device comprising:
at least one clamping element comprising at least one arm integral with a tab extending in a plane perpendicular to the at least one arm and an assembly structure for securing the tab on the second face of the panel in the vicinity of the through-hole, the at least one arm of the clamping element configured to exert a force on the peripheral wall adapted to flatten the peripheral wall against the structure of the panel defining the through-hole, to swivel around a stop of the peripheral wall so as to bring the tab of the clamping element towards the second face of the panel, and to exert a force on the stop of the peripheral wall adapted to flatten a ledge of the frame against the first face of the panel when the tab is fixed on the second face of the panel.

Assignees

• Steelcase Inc

Inventors

• Dutertre Daniel

Classifications

• Y10T29/49629

  Panel · CPC title

• Y10T29/49625

  Openwork, e.g., a truss, joist, frame, lattice-type or box beam · CPC title

• Y10T29/49623

  Static structure, e.g., a building component · CPC title

• F16B12/20

  using clamps, clips, wedges, sliding bolts, or the like · CPC title

• A47B2200/0082

  Cable inlet in worktop or desk, e.g. grommet · CPC title