Abstract
A method for the manufacture of a foldable building plate element by providing a flat plate (1), providing of at least one folding groove (2) in the flat plate, providing a folding profile (6), comprising two side wings (7) and an interposed folding portion (8), and fitting the folding groove into the folding profile in such a way, for example by gluing, that the side wings thereof form a strong connection with the two side faces (5) of the folding groove. The side wings are interconnected with each other through a bridging strip (9), which will be removed when the plate is folded. The wings are further provided with connecting means (10) that snap-connect with each other when the side wings are folded towards each other. If desired, a filler strip (11) can be inserted between the side wings.
Claims
1. A profile, arranged to be used as a folding profile, the profile comprising; two side wings (7, 7a) and an interposed folding portion (8) in cross sectional view, wherein the side wings are arranged to form a strong connection with both side faces of a folding groove (2) and/or with zones of a flat plate (1) located adjacent to the folding groove; wherein the side wings of the folding profile are provided with connecting means (10), which are arranged to detachably interconnect, when the side wings are folded towards each other; wherein the connecting means (10) on the side wings are mutually snap-connectable when the side wines are folded towards each other; wherein during transport or storage of the flat plate (1) the side wings of the folding profile are interconnected by means of a removable bridging strip (9) to maintain the folding profile in an open position, the bridging strip (9) comprises connecting means (13), the connecting means (13) on the bridging strip are snap-connectable and snap-detachable, wherein the connecting means (13) on the bridging strip (9) are the same as the connecting means (10) on the side wings of the folding profile, so that in the open position of the side wings, the snap-connectable means (13) of the bridging strip are snap-connected to the snap-connectable means (10) on both side wings of the profile.
2. The profile according to claim 1, further comprising a filler strip (11) arranged to be fitted between the side wings of the folding profile, after the bridging strip is removed; wherein filler strip connecting means (12) are snap-connectable and snap-detachable, wherein the filler strip connecting means (12) are the same as the connecting means (10) on the side wings (7, 7a) of the folding profile, so that in the folded position of the side wines, the filler strip snap-connectable means (12) are snap-connected to the snap-connectable means (10) on both side wings of the profile.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will be hereinafter further explained by means of the description of the drawing.
(2) FIGS. 1a-e illustrate the method according to the invention and an example of an embodiment of the result thereof;
(3) FIGS. 2a-e show the same method in which, however, use is made of a folding profile with a bridging strip;
(4) FIGS. 3a-c show schematically the method of the FIG. 2, by using an alternative folding profile;
(5) FIGS. 4a-b show a preferred embodiment of a bridging/locking profile, in combination with a folding profile as shown in FIG. 1b-e.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(6) FIGS. 1a-e show schematically the method according to the invention for the manufacture of a foldable building plate element, comprising the steps of: (see FIG. 1a) providing a flat plate 1 and providing, e.g. by means of milling or sawing, of a folding groove 2 into the flat plate 1. In particular, gypsum boards and other boards are envisaged, such as, for example, coated (e.g. plastic-coated) chipboard or plywood, which are (usually on both flat sides) provided with a protective layer 3. The folding groove 2 is so deep milled or sawed into the plate that it (just) does not extend through the opposite protective layer. Optionally, the projecting parts 4 of the protective layer 3 on the side of the folding groove 2 are folded interiorly onto the side faces 5 of the folding groove 2 and glued therein. (see FIG. 1b) providing a folding profile 6, comprising, in cross-sectional view, two side wings 7, and a there between located folding portion 8; (see FIG. 1c) fitting the folding profiles 6 into the folding groove 2 in such a way, that the side wings 7 form a strong connection with both sides faces 5 of the folding groove 2. Preferably, the side wings 7 and any (optional) extensions 7a as lengthening portions, are glued against the side faces of the folding groove and optionally against zones is located adjacent to the folding groove 2. The optional extensions 7a may optionally be attached slightly recessed into the flat plate 1 by providing a shallow recess into the flat plate 1for example by millingin the zones 1a adjacent to the folding groove 2. This ensures that the extensions 7a do not project outside the surface of the flat plate 1, so that the plates 1 can be stacked entirely flat, without being hampered by the material thickness of said extensions 7a. Moreover, the application of the extensions 7a is optional; they are in particular intended for the situation when the adhesion between the wings 7 and the side faces 5 would not be sufficient. In order to indicate that the extensions 7a are optional, they are shown in dotted lines, only in FIG. 1c of FIG. 1.
(7) The side wings 7 of the folding profile 6 are provided with connecting means 10, which are arranged to be detachably interconnect with each other when the side wings 7 are folded towards each other. The connecting means 10 are preferably mutually snap-connectable (clickable) when the wings 7 are folded towards each other. In many cases the opening angle ?, in cross-sectional view, of the folding groove is 90?; however if appropriate, the opening angle ? may be chosen greater than or less than 90?.
(8) The connecting means 10 may be a snap connection like a ball-and-socket arrangement or its equivalent or a click connection like a snap member with ends.
(9) FIG. 1c shows the result of gluing the folding profiles 6 into the folding groove 2. In this wayof which FIG. 1c is an illustrationthe plate elements are made in a factorybeforehand fully customized in sizeand are transported in a flat state to the relevant construction site, and are folded only just there, during their installation, as is depicted in FIG. 1d.
(10) FIG. 1d shows the same plate 1 as shown in FIG. 1c, however, now in the bent or folded over state, e.g. mounted having an angle of 90?. In order to provide a strong corner connection, the side wings 7 are moved towards each otherat the construction siteso that at the end of that movement the side wings 7 are coupled to each other with their snap connections 10.
(11) When an angle other than 90? is desired, while the opening angle ? of the folding groove is 90?, a filler strip 11 may be providedas illustrated by FIG. 1which is arranged to be fitted between the side wings 7 of the folding profile 6. The filler strip 11 and the side wings 7 of the folding profile 6 are provided with connecting means 10 (previously mentioned) and 12, which are arranged to be detachably interconnect with each other when the side wings 7 and the filler strip 11 are folded towards each other. The connecting means 10 and 12 are mutually snap-connectable when the side wings 7 and the filler strip 11 are folded towards each other, so that also here a robust corner connection is formed, corresponding to the embodiment where no filler strip 11 is used.
(12) It should be noted that preferably the (remaining intact) protective layer 3 extends over the folding portion 8 on the side of the folding portion 8, so that the folding portion 8 is not visible from the outside, since it is located under the original protective layer 3 of the plate material.
(13) The installation of a building plate element manufactured as described hereinbefore, and shown in FIGS. 1a-e, therefore comprises the following steps: providing a building plate element as shown in FIG. 1c; folding the flat plate by means of the folding profile 6 or the folding profiles (for the purpose of a building element having more folds) into the desired form; applying, if necessary, a filler strip 11 between the side wings 7 of the folding profiles 6.
(14) FIGS. 2a-e show the same method as the FIGS. 1a-e, now however, use is being made of a folding profile with a bridging strip 9. The bridging strip 9 (preferably) is integral with the rest of the profile 6, which may be entirety (i.e. including the parts 7-10) manufactured by means of extrusion. The bridging strip 9 is connected to the ends of the side wings 7 by means of thin passage bodies 9a. As a result, the bridging strip 9, which closes and bridges the outspread side wings 7 during storage and transport, can be torn away with little effort from between the side wings 7, wherein the passage bodies 9a act as tear grooves. After the bridging strip 9 is removed (see arrow) the folding profile 6 is folded, and thereby the entire plate 1.
(15) FIGS. 3a-c show schematically the method of FIG. 2, but now by using an alternative folding profile 6. This folding profile 6 is intended to provide an improvement with regard to the dimensional stability of the profile, in particular of the click connection. Returning to FIG. 2b, it is clearly shown there that the two parts 10, which form a snap connection, are located within a space that is bounded by the wings 7 and the bridging strip 9. When the profile 6 is manufactured by extrusion, that profile 6, after having been pressed out of the respective extruder head, is passed through a cooling bath, in which it is cooled. The profile shape shown in FIG. 2b may possibly have the disadvantage that the snap members 10 can not optimally be cooled down by the cooling bath, because they are located inside the profile shape and therefore can not be reached directly by the cooling liquid.
(16) The profile 6, shown in FIGS. 3a-c, comprises snap-connectable parts 10, which in particular can be reached from the outside by the coolant of the cooling bath. Thereby is provided that the shape retention of the snap component 10 is improved with respect to the parts 10 in the previous Figures.
(17) FIGS. 4a-b show a preferred embodiment of a bridging/locking profile or strip, in combination with a folding profile as shown in FIGS. 1b-e. In this embodiment the bridging strip 9 comprises snapped-together (FIG. 4a) and snapped-apart (FIG. 4b) connecting means 13, which co-operate with the connecting means 10 on the side wings 7 of the folding profile. The connecting means 13 on the bridging strip 9 are arranged to connect the bridging strip 9 to the side wings 7 of the folding profile, in the opened position of the side wings 7, as long as the plate member 1 is stored or transported. The bridging strip 9 is only then removedby tearing or pulling the bridging strip 9 loose from the space between the side wings 7when the plate member 1 is to be folded (wherein the side wings 7 move towards each other and are interconnected with each other by means of the connecting means 10, orif desiredare connected to a filler strip 11 located between the side wings 7.
