Panel assembly

Claim 1

A panel assembly for surfaces such as walls or ceilings, comprising: a. a plurality of panels each panel comprising a substantially planar portion being elongated with a longitudinally extending profiled portion; b. a plurality of carriers secureable to a surface to hold said panels with their substantially planar portion substantially normal to said surface, each carrier having panel holding means to provide three support contacts for each panel; c. said panel holding means comprising two outwardly extending support members defining a space therebetween having a central axis which extends outwardly between said support memberS and beyond the length of said support members, said space to receive an edge of a profiled panel, a first one of said support members comprising a snap-locking member projecting toward said axis, thereby comprising one of said three contacts, at least a portion of the second of said support members facing towards asid axis to contact a panel, thereby comprising a second of said three contacts, and one of said two support members additionally having another portion facing toward said axis to contact a panel, thereby comprising the third of said three contacts, said snap-locking member engaging the profiled portion of a panel and retaining the panel against movement outward from the panel holding means along the substantially common direction of the planar portion of said panel and the axis of said space, said snap-locking member and profiled portion adapted for disengaging upon the application to said panel of a force substantially greater than the weight of said panel and in said common direction.