Panelling clip and method

Claim 2

A clip for securing tongue and groove panel members to a supporting structure, the structure having a channel with re-entrant flanges, said clip being formed of resilient sheet metal and comprising a main body part to face against the outer faces of the re-entrant flanges of said channel, a plate extending out of the plane of the main body part and joined to the main body part by a central neck enabling the plate to be engaged within the channel with the neck between the re-entrant flanges thereof, said plate being severed from a central portion of said main body part whereby said body part has a pair of generally parallel sides joined at their ends by a cross bar, said sides being spaced to seat against the re-entrant flanges, said plate having tabs, one at each end to engage against the inner faces of the re-entrant flanges, a platform integral with the main body and projecting at right angles thereto in the direction opposite from the plate to extend between the mating edges of two tongue and groove panels, and at least one finger integral with the platform for insertion into the groove of one of the panels and between the tongue and groove of the interengaged panels, said main body part including means offset out of the general plane of the main body part in the same direction as the platform and arranged to be deflected toward the general plane of the main body part by compression between the channel and back surface of a panel for aligning the outer surfaces of two adjacent panels.

Claim 3

A clip for securing tongue and groove interlocking panel-like members to a supporting structure having a C-shaped channel with re-entrant flanges, said clip of resilient sheet metal comprising a main body part for seating against the outer faces of the re-entrant flanges of the channel, a plate integral with and extending out of the plane of the main body part at a substantial angle and of a width to be received between the re-entrant flanges, said plate being severed from a central portion of said main body part whereby said body part has a pair of generally parallel sides joined at their ends by a cross bar, said sides being spaced to seat against the re-entrant flanges, said plate having a tab at each end to engage against the inner faces of the re-entrant flange, a platform integral with the main body and projecting at a right angle thereto oppositely from the plate to seat between the mating edges of two tongue and groove panel members, at least one finger integral with the platform to seat within the groove and between the tongue and groove of a pair of the panel members, said cross bar being offset out of the general plane of the main body part in the same direction as the platform and arranged to be deflected toward the general plane of the main body part by compression between the channel and one of the panel members to positively urge the one panel member to align about its tongue and groove interengagement with an adjacent panel member with which it is engaged whereby the bearing between the outer face of the tongue of one panel member with the outer wall of the groove of the other panel member controls the exterior surface alignment of the panel members.

Claim 4

A clip for securing tongue and groove interlocking panel-like members to a supporting structure having a C-shaped channel with re-entrant flanges, said clip of resilient sheet metal comprising a main body part for seating against the outer faces of the re-entrant flanges of the channel, a plate integral with and extending out of the plane of the main body part at a substantial angle and of a width to be received between the re-entrant flanges, said plate being severed from a central portion of said main body part whereby said body part has a pair of generally parallel sides joined at their ends by a cross bar, said sides being spaced to seat against the re-entrant flanges, said plate having a tab at each end to engage against the inner faces of the re-entrant flange, a platform integral with the main body and projecting at a right angle thereto oppositely from the plate to seat between the mating edges of two tongue and groove panel members, at least one finger integral with the platform to seat within the groove and between the tongue and groove of a pair of the panel members, said cross bar being offset out of the general plane of the main body part in the same direction as the platform and arranged to be deflected toward the general plane of the main body part by compression between the channel and one of the panel members to positively urge the one panel member to align about its tongue and groove interengagement with an adjacent panel member with which it is engaged whereby the bearing between the outer face of the tongue of one panel member with the outer wall of the groove of the other panel member controls the exterior surface alignment of the panel members.

Claim 5

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said offset means is the cross piece convexly bowed.

Claim 6

A clip for securing tongue and groove interlocking panel-like members to a supporting structure having a C-shaped channel with re-entrant flanges, said clip of resilient sheet metal comprising a main body part for seating against the outer faces of the re-entrant flanges of the channel, a T-shaped plate integral with and extending out of the plane of the main body with the leg of the "T" being of a width to be received between the re-entrant flanges, said plate being severed from a central portion of said main body part whereby said body part has a pair of generally parallel sides joined at their ends by a cross bar, said sides being spaced to seat against the re-entrant flanges, said plate having a tab at each end to engage against the inner faces of the re-entrant flange, a platform integral with the main body and projecting at a right angle thereto oppositely from the plate to seat between the mating edges of two tongue and groove panel members, at least one finger integral with the platform to seat within the groove and between the tongue and groove of a pair of the panel members, said cross bar being arched out of the general plane of the main body part in the same direction as the platform and arranged to be deflected toward the general plane of the main body part by compression between the channel and one of the panel members to positively urge the one panel member to align about its tongue and groove interengagement with an adjacent panel member with which it is engaged whereby the bearing between the outer face of the tongue of one panel member with the outer wall of the groove of the other panel member controls the exterior surface alignment of the panel members.

Claim 7

A clip for securing tongue and groove interlocking panel-like members to a supporting structure having a C-shaped channel with re-entrant flanges, said clip of resilient sheet metal comprising a main body part for seating against the outer faces of the re-entrant flanges of the channel, a T-shaped plate integral with and extending out of the plane of the main body with the leg of the "T" being of a width to be received between the re-entrant flanges, said plate being severed from a central portion of said main body part whereby said body part has a pair of generally parallel sides joined at their ends by a cross bar, said sides being spaced to seat against the re-entrant flanges, said plate having a tab at each end to engage against the inner faces of the re-entrant flange, a platform integral with the main body and projecting at a right angle thereto oppositely from the plate to seat between the mating edges of two tongue and groove panel members, at least one finger integral with the platform to seat within the groove and between the tongue and groove of a pair of the panel members, said cross bar being arched out of the general plane of the main body part in the same direction as the platform and arranged to be deflected toward the general plane of the main body part by compression between the channel and one of the panel members to positively urge the one panel member to align about its tongue and groove interengagement with an adjacent panel member with which it is engaged whereby the bearing between the outer face of the tongue of one panel member with the outer wall of the groove of the other panel member controls the exterior surface alignment of the panel members.