Insert for a Panel

Abstract

Disclosed is an inset for a panel in the form of a pad or disk for holding supporting the weight of the panel and holding it against a back surface without any means of support for the panel being visible. The insert comprises; one or more spiral shape arms which spiral(s) radially inwards from a perimetral rim inwards toward the center of the insert where the arms have a connector to connect to mounting screw, bolt or rivet. Also disclosed is a panel wall assembly covering a back surface with a panel, comprising: the panel held face to face with the back surface by an out-of-sight insert inset in the panel; a mounting screw/bolt/rivet with a head-flange which protrudes from the back surface; and the insert comprising a connector connected to the head-flange of the mounting screw, bolt or rivet.

Claims

1. An insert for holding to a back surface a panel which screens the insert, comprising; two or more spiral shape arms which spiral radially inwards from a perimetral rim toward the center of the insert where the arms have a connector to connect to a head-flange of a mounting screw.

2. The insert according to claim 1 wherein the width of each of the arms tapers from the perimetral rim where the arms are widest to the connector where each of the arms is least wide.

3. The insert according to claim 1 having a direction normal to the plane of the perimetral rim in which the thickness of the arms is substantially the same as thickness of the rim.

4. The insert according to claim 1 wherein the amount of spiral of the arm(s) from the rim to the connector is in a range from at least five degrees to at most two hundred and seventy degrees around the center of the insert.

5. The insert according to claim 1 wherein the all the arms have the same length, spiral in the same direction and spiral the same amount.

6. The insert according to claim 1 wherein the arms comprise resilient material permitting the arms to flex in the spiral plane.

7. The insert according to claim 1 wherein the arms converge to clamp the connector around the mounting screw.

8. The insert according to claim 1 wherein the connector is formed with a socket to receive the head flange, the socket located substantially at the center of the insert where the arms merge.

9. The insert according to claim 1 wherein the connector is arranged to snap connect to the mounting screw inserted normal to the arms and to the rim.

10. A manufactured veneer for covering a back surface, comprising the insert according to claim 1 and the panel.

11. The manufactured veneer according to claim 10 wherein the perimetral rim is fixed to the panel and the spiral arms are able to flex within the perimeter of the rim.

12. The manufactured veneer according to claim 10 wherein the connector is orientated to receive the mounting screw presented perpendicular to the major plane of the panel.

13. The manufactured veneer according to claim 10 comprising an opaque material to screen the insert.

14. The manufactured veneer according to claim 10 wherein the insert is inset in a blind cavity in the panel.

15. The manufactured veneer according to claim 14 wherein the rim of the insert is press fit in the blind cavity.

16. The manufactured veneer according to claim 14 wherein the blind cavity has an opening through a first surface of the panel to be held face to face with the back surface.

17. The manufactured veneer according to claim 16, wherein the panel comprises a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the second surface has a finish for exterior use.

18. A panel wall assembly covering a back surface with a panel held to the back surface by an insert according claim 1, comprising: the insert, the panel, and the mounting screw with the head-flange.

19. The panel wall assembly according to claim 18 wherein the insert is inset in a blind cavity in the panel which has an opening through a first surface held face to face with the back surface, and the insert is disposed intermediate the back surface and a second surface of the panel that is opposite the first surface so that the second surface screens the insert which is connected by the connector to the mounting screw protruding from the back surface.

20. A kit of parts for constructing a panel wall assembly, including: the insert according to claim 1, and the mounting screw with the head-flange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0066] FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view showing a panel wall assembly having a panel including an inset insert according to the invention;

[0067] FIG. 2 is a cutaway cross section view showing a panel wall assembly having a panel including an inset insert according to the invention;

[0068] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an insert according the invention; and

[0069] FIG. 4 is a face on view showing an insert according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0070] Referring to the Figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 a panel wall assembly 100. The panel wall assembly 100 covers a back surface 12 with a panel 14. The back surface 12 is typically an unfinished surface of a floor, wall or ceiling. For example, the back surface 12 could be a surface of a steel wall in an elevator passenger box. Another example of the back surface is a surface of a concrete wall or drywall in a building.

[0071] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the panel wall assembly comprises: the panel 14 held face to face with the back surface 12 by an out-of-sight insert 200 inset in the panel 14. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the insert 200 itself may be seen.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the panel wall assembly 100 includes a mounting screw 16. The mounting screw 16 has a head-flange. The head-flange includes the head 18 of the mounting screw 16. The head-flange also includes a flange 20 around a shank 22 of the mounting screw 16. The flange 20 is located intermediate the thread 24 of the screw 16 and the head 18 of the screw. The head-flange protrudes from the back surface 12.

[0073] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the pad-like insert 200 is disk shaped. The disk-shaped insert has a ring shape perimetral rim 202. The radially outermost side of the perimetral rim 202 is a cylindrical surface 204. There are circumferential ridges 206, 208, 210 on the circumferential cylindrical surface 204. The circumferential ridges are angled to let the insert be pressed easily into a cylindrical blind cavity having a slightly smaller diameter, but the angle makes the ridges strong resist pull out of the insert from the blind cavity.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insert 200 comprises three spiral shaped arms 212, 214, 216. All three arms 212, 214 216 have the same shape. The three arms 212, 214, 216 are each individually joined to the ring shaped perimetral rim 202. The three 212, 214, 216 are joined to the radially facing inward side 218 of the perimetral rim.

[0075] Each arm 212, 214, 216 spirals inwards from the ring shaped perimetral rim 202 of the insert 200. Each arm 212, 214, 216 spirals in the major plane of the of the disk-shaped insert 200 and its ring-shaped perimeter rim 202. Each arm 212, 214, 216 spiral inwards toward the center of the insert 200, but none of the arms reach the center of the disk-shaped insert 200. So, by a pictorial analogy, the inward spiral of the arms 212, 214 216 look like arms of a spiral star galaxy spiraling inwards toward center of the galaxy where there is a black hole.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first arm 212 has a first terminus 220 proximate the center of the perimetral rim 200 and insert 200. The terminus 220 is at the distal end of the first arm 212 from where it is joined to the perimetral rim 200. Since the second arm 214 and the third arm 216 have the same shape as the first arm 212. So, there is an identical second terminus 222 at the distal end of the second arm 214 and an identical third terminus 216 at the distal end of the third arm 216.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, joined to and part of each terminus 220, 222, 224 is a vee shaped connector 222, 224, 226. This is a snap connector which clicks into the space between the head 18 and the flange 20 of the mounting screw 16. In this way the insert 200 is connected to the head-flange of the mounting screw 16. The mounting screw 16 is perpendicular to the spiral arms 212, 214, 216, the perimetral rim 202 and the major plane of the disk-shaped insert 200.

[0078] Between each arm 212, 214, 216 there is a space 232, 234, 236. Each arm is separate from the others. The terminus 220, 222, 224 of each arm presses individually against the head-flange of the mounting screw 16. Consequently, the mounting screw 16 is connected very securely to the insert 200.

[0079] As can be seen in the cross-section view of FIG. 2, the insert 200 has a thickness, t, 238. The perimetral rim 202 has the same thickness, and all three arms 212, 214, 216 have the same thickness. So, when the arms 212, 214, 216 are compressed against the head-flange the arms press from top to bottom across the entire circumferential cross section of the perimetral rim and against the side of the perimetral rim which faces radially inwards.

[0080] As can be seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the panel 14 has a blind cavity 26 which is disk shaped in which the disk-shaped insert 200 is inset. Before the disk-shaped insert 200 inset, it 26 has as diameter larger than the diameter of cavity 26 to provide an interference fit. The insert 200 is comprised of material which is relatively more compliant than the panel 200. So, the insert 200 is squeezed to a smaller diameter to fit into the cavity. Alternatively, or conjunction with this, the insert 200 has circumferential ridges 206, 208, 210 which brush against the cavity cylindrical wall as the insert is inset. The ridges 206, 208, 210 are directed to permit the insert 200 to be inset into the cavity but resist removal.

[0081] As can be seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the panel has a first surface 30 which is the reverse of a second surface 32. The first surface 30 is face to face with the back surface and is covered by the panel 14. The second surface is exposed and visible. The second surface is on an especially nice-looking layer of the panel 14. The blind cavity 26 makes an opening in the first surface 30. It is blind because it does not penetrate through the second surface 32.

[0082] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the blind cavity 26 has a depth d1 28 into the panel 14 which is greater than the thickness of the insert t1 238. The insert 200 is flush in with the panel 14. The perimetral rim 202 and three spiral arms 212, 214, 216 are flush with the first surface. This enables the first surface 30 of the panel 14 to be flush with the back surface 12. The snap connector vee shape 226 connection with the head flange holds the panel 14 securely flush with the back surface 12. It is not necessary, though it is possible, for the vee shape connector 226 to be located on the terminus 220 so that the back surface 12 will be held directly against the first surface 30.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 4, polar coordinates are established from the center 240 of the disk-shaped insert. These consist of a radial distance from the center and a polar angle azimuth around the center.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 4, the first arm 212 has a radially directed outward side 244 and a radially directed inward side 242. The first arm 212 is arcuate as are its outward side 244 and inward side 242. The outward side 244 joins the perimetral rim 202 at a first location (A) 246. The inward side 242 joins the perimetral rim 202 at a second location (B) 248. The inward side 242 joins the connector 226 at the arm terminus denoted third location (C) 250. The outward side 244 joins the connector 226 at the arm terminus denoted fourth location (D) 252.

[0085] The azimuth of the third location 250 is intermediate the azimuth of the first location 246 and second location 248. So, there is an imaginary radial line from the center 240 though the third location 250. The imaginary radial line continues through the first arm 212 to the perimetral rim 202. So, there is a direct path for compressive pressure through the first arm 211 from the perimetral rim to the terminus 220 where first arm joins the connector 226. So, for the purpose of clamping the mounting screw between the connectors, the arms are firm.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 4, each arm 212, 214, 216 spirals about sixty degrees around the center 240 of the perimetral rim 202. The azimuthal difference between first location A 246 where the outward side 244 of the first arm 212 joins the perimetral rim 202 and the first arm terminus at fourth location D 252 on the outward side is about sixty degrees. The azimuthal difference between second location B 248 where the inward side 242 of the first arm 212 joins the perimetral rim 202 and the first arm terminus at third location D 250 on the inward side is about sixty degrees. This makes arm wider proximate the perimetral rim than proximate the terminus.

[0087] As shown FIG. 4 each arm 212, 214, 216 extends as a cantilever from the perimetral rim 202 to the terminus 220, 222, 224 where it has a connector 226, 228, 230. The length of the cantilever increases with the amount of the spiral. So, a radial force applied by the mounting screw 16 to the connectors 226, 228, 230 causes the arms 212, 214, 216 to flex. Since the arms are flexible, they can accommodate displacement of the mounting screw.

INDEX OF LABELLED FEATURES IN FIGURES

[0088] Panel wall assembly . . . 100

[0089] Back surface . . . 12

[0090] Panel . . . 14

[0091] Mounting screw . . . 16

[0092] Head of mounting screw . . . 18

[0093] Flange of mounting screw . . . 20

[0094] Shank of mounting screw . . . 22

[0095] Thread of mounting screw . . . 24

[0096] Blind cavity in panel . . . 26

[0097] Depth of blind cavity . . . 28

[0098] First surface of panel . . . 30

[0099] Second surface of panel . . . 32

[0100] Insert . . . 200

[0101] Perimetral rim . . . 202

[0102] Cylindrical surface of perimetral rim . . . 204

[0103] Circumferential ridges . . . 206, 208, 210

[0104] Spiral arm 1 . . . 212

[0105] Spiral arm 2 . . . 214

[0106] Spiral arm 3 . . . 216

[0107] Perimetral rim radially inward facing side . . . 218

[0108] Terminus of spiral arm 1 . . . 220

[0109] Terminus of spiral arm 2 . . . 222

[0110] Terminus of spiral arm 3 . . . 224

[0111] Vee connector of spiral arm 1 . . . 226

[0112] Vee connector of spiral arm 2 . . . 228

[0113] Vee connector of spiral arm 3 . . . 230

[0114] Space 1 between arms . . . 232

[0115] Space 1 between arms . . . 234

[0116] Space 1 between arms . . . 236

[0117] Thickness of insert . . . 238

[0118] Center of disk-shaped insert . . . 240

[0119] First arm radially facing inward side . . . 242

[0120] First arm radially facing outward side . . . 244

[0121] First arm outward side first location A by rim . . . 246

[0122] First arm inward side second location B by rim . . . 248

[0123] First arm inward side third location C by terminus . . . 250

[0124] First arm outward side fourth location D by terminus . . . 252

[0125] The invention has been described by way of examples. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. All suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.