Wall construction

Claim 2

A fastening clip for securing a panel having a side edge to a support member comprising: a base portion having a front side, a back side, a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, a leg portion depending from said first edge in a direction generally outwardly from said first side, said leg portion including retaining means to secure said clip to said side edge of said panel, an elongate tongue portion extending generally laterally outwardly and generally centrally from said second edge of said base portion, said tongue portion being narrower in width than said base portion between said third and fourth edges and having a guide surface formed by an extension of said front side, first and second gripping fingers disposed adjacent said back side of said base portion, said tongue portion and said gripping fingers extending in generally opposite directions from one another, and first and second means interconnecting said first and second gripping fingers, respectively, to said second edge, said first and second means being connected to said second edge on opposite sides of said tongue portion, said gripping fingers being resiliently movable away from said back side whereby said support member may be gripped between said back side of said base member and said gripping fingers.

Claim 3

The clip of claim 1 wherein said base portion has a generally flat front side.

Claim 4

The clip of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises at least one prong depending from said leg portion, said prong extending in generally the same direction as said tongue portion and adapted to extend into the marginal side edge of said panel.

Claim 5

The clip of claim 1 wherein each of said gripping fingers has a first section connected to said interconnecting means angled in a direction toward said back side of said base portion and a second section forming the free end of said gripping finger and angled generally away from said back side of said base portion to thereby form a gripping bead intermediate the free end of said gripping finger and said interconnecting means.

Claim 6

The clip of claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a web adjoined to said base portion and said gripping finger.

Claim 7

The clip of claim 5 wherein said web includes formations for increasing the stiffness of said web relative to that of said gripping finger.

Claim 8

The clip of claim 6 wherein said formations comprise ribs formed in said web.

Claim 9

A wall construction comprising: a panel forming at least a portion of a wall section, said panel having a marginal side edge; a support member, a fastening clip for securing said panel to said support member, said clip comprising: a base portion having a front side, a back side, a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, a leg portion depending from said first edge in a direction generally outwardly from said front side and adapted to be engaged with said side edge of said panel, said leg including retaining means to secure said clip to said panel, an elongate tongue portion extending generally laterally outwardly and generally centrally from said second edge of said base portion, said tongue portion being narrower in width than said base portion between said third and fourth edges and having a guide surface formed by an extension of said front side of said base portion, said tongue portion engaging the back face of said panel, first and second gripping fingers disposed adjacent said back side of said base portion, said tongue portion and said gripping fingers extending in generally opposite directions from one another, and first and second means interconnecting said first and second gripping fingers, respectively, to said second edge, said first and second means being connected to said second edge on opposite sides of said tongue portion, said gripping fingers being resiliently movable away from said back side, said support member being gripped between said back side of said face member and said gripping fingers to thereby secure said panel to said support member.

Claim 10

A wall construction comprising: a panel forming at least a portion of a wall section, said panel having a marginal side edge; a support member, a fastening clip for securing said panel to said support member, said clip comprising: a base portion having a front side, a back side, a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge, a leg portion depending from said first edge in a direction generally outwardly from said front side and adapted to be engaged with said side edge of said panel, said leg including retaining means to secure said clip to said panel, an elongate tongue portion extending generally laterally outwardly and generally centrally from said second edge of said base portion, said tongue portion being narrower in width than said base portion between said third and fourth edges and having a guide surface formed by an extension of said front side of said base portion, said tongue portion engaging the back face of said panel, first and second gripping fingers disposed adjacent said back side of said base portion, said tongue portion and said gripping fingers extending in generally opposite directions from one another, and first and second means interconnecting said first and second gripping fingers, respectively, to said second edge, said first and second means being connected to said second edge on opposite sides of said tongue portion, said gripping fingers being resiliently movable away from said back side, said support member being gripped between said back side of said face member and said gripping fingers to thereby secure said panel to said support member.

Claim 11

The wall construction of claim 8 wherein said base portion has a generally flat front side.

Claim 12

The wall construction of claim 8 wherein said retaining means comprises at least one prong depending from said leg portion, said prong extending in generally the same direction as said tongue portion and into the marginal side edge of said panel.

Claim 13

The wall construction of claim 8 wherein each of said gripping fingers has a first section connected to said interconnecting means angled in a direction toward said back side of said base portion and a second section forming the free end of said gripping finger and angled generally away from said back side of said base portion to thereby form a gripping bead intermediate the free end of said gripping finger and said interconnecting means, a portion of said support member being gripped between said bead and said back side of said base portion.

Claim 14

The wall construction of claim 8 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a web adjacent to said base portion and said gripping finger.

Claim 15

The wall construction of claim 12 wherein said web includes formations for increasing the stiffness of said web relative to that of said gripping finger.

Claim 16

The wall construction of claim 13 wherein said formations comprise ribs formed in said web.