DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present invention provides profiles for use with panel elements and partitions employing such profiles.

[0026] The principles and operation of profiles according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

[0027] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one basic form of a profile, generally designated 10, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, for use such as is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B with one or more panel element 12 to form a partition.

[0028] Generally speaking, profile 10 has a ridge 14 for deploying substantially in abutment with the edge of the panel element 12. A substantially planar attachment surface 16 is integrally formed with, and extends from, one side of ridge 14 so as to be adjacent to the rear face of panel element 12. Attachment surface 16 is attached to panel element 12 during assembly of the partition. A substantially planar flange surface 18 is integrally formed with, and extends from, the other side of ridge 14 substantially parallel to attachment surface 16. Flange surface 18 extends primarily away from the panel element so as to form a flange extending for at least about 1 cm beyond the edge of the panel element 12.

[0029] It will immediately be apparent that the present invention provides profound advantages over conventional dry wall construction techniques. Specifically, profile 10 provides an inherent plinth of waterproof material along the edge of the plasterboard, thereby avoiding the additional labor and expense of attaching a supplementary plinth or other sealing precautions. This and other advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the following description.

[0030] Before addressing the features of the present invention in more detail, it should be noted that the invention may be implemented using a wide range of materials with suitable mechanical properties, for the profiles and for the panel elements. Materials suitable for the profiles of the present invention include, but are not limited to, aluminum, steel and polymer materials. The panel elements are typically, although not necessarily, plasterboard. Examples of other sheet materials suitable for implementing the present invention include, but are not limited to, wood and wood-substitute materials. For conciseness of presentation, the invention will be described herein with reference to a non-limiting example employing plasterboard sheets.

[0031] The word “profile” as used herein in the description and claims is used to refer to an elongated structural element which has a substantially constant cross-sectional form along substantially the entirety of its length. Thus, in many cases, profiles will be illustrated by means of a cross-sectional view only. The profiles are typically made to a standard length and then cut to the required size. It should be noted that the cross-section of a profile may in some cases vary along its length with respect to various openings which may be provided to allow passage of electrical cables, to provide ventilation, or may be provided to reduce the quantity of material used in production of the profile.

[0032] On a further matter of terminology, reference will be made to “cladding-type” applications and “wall-type” applications. These terms are used herein to designate, respectively, applications in which only one, or both, sides of the partition are normally visible. Thus, “cladding-type” applications include applications such as soundproofing, thermal and aesthetic cladding, false ceilings and ductwork of all kinds. “Wall-type” applications include walls and space partitions such as are used in homes and offices.

[0033] Turning now to the features of the present invention in more detail, as already mentioned, flange surface 18 inherently provides a flange of at least about 1 cm beyond the edge of the panel element 12. In order to offer effective protection from water damage along the lower edge of the partition, flange surface 18 preferably forms a flange extending at least about 2 cm, and more preferably, at least about 4 cm, beyond the edge of the panel element.

[0034] Flange surface 18 is described herein as both “substantially planar” and “substantially parallel to attachment surface 16”. It should be noted that these descriptions do not exclude the possibility of various aesthetic shaping, sculpturing and/or curvatures which may be applied to the flange surface, so long as the overall functionality of a flange extending beyond the edge of the panel element is preserved.

[0035] Optionally, a small overhang 20 of flange surface 18 may project from ridge 14 parallel to attachment surface 16, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B. In this case, the width W of ridge 14, defined as the width of the recess formed between attachment surface 14 and overhang 20, must be sufficient to accommodate the thickness of panel element 12. Overhang 20 has the advantage of providing positive location of panel element 12 during assembly, and helps to conceal any imperfections along the edge of the panel element such as often result from the cutting of plasterboard. Alternatively, overhang 20 may be omitted. This may simplify production of the profile, and allows an option of matching of the total width of ridge 14 to the thickness of the panel element to provide flush finishing of the two surfaces as illustrated in FIG. 2C. It should be noted, however, that such flush finishing is not a prerequisite of the present invention. To the contrary, the invention may advantageously be employed with thicknesses of plasterboard or other paneling which either are smaller than, or exceed, width W, to offer effects of a projecting or recessed plinth as desired.

[0036] For convenience and quality of finishing, all parts of the profiles of the present invention which are visible after assembly, in this case, flange surface 18, are preferably pre-painted or otherwise finished prior to assembly. The paint is preferably protected during assembly and finishing of the partition by a peel-off layer of polymer material.

[0037] It should be noted that profile 10 may be used to form the edge of a partition adjacent to any available support surface, including floors, ceilings and walls. To facilitate attachment of the profile to a support surface, profile 10 preferably includes an end wall 22, integrally formed with flange surface 18 and extending substantially perpendicular thereto.

[0038] Other than the form of the profiles used, the procedure for constructing a partition according to the present invention generally parallels the conventional procedures used for dry walls. Initially, profiles are deployed along floors, ceilings and walls where the partition is to be located and are attached by any suitable technique. Where required, additional support elements, such as various corner profiles to be described below, are added. Plasterboard sheets or other panels are then attached to the attachment surfaces by any suitable technique. For plasterboard, the most common technique is the use of self-drilling screws which drill themselves through both the plasterboard and the attachment surface. The surface of the sheets may then be finished by painting or the like, as desired.

[0039] Turning now to FIG. 3, there is shown a second profile, generally designated 24, for forming a corner between perpendicular panel elements in cladding-type applications. Corner profile 24 employs the same principles as profile 10 described above, providing a first set of ridge 14a, attachment surface 16a and flange surface 18a configured for receiving a first panel element at a first angle, and a second set of ridge 14b, attachment surface 16b and flange surface 18b configured for receiving a second panel element at a second angle. Flange surfaces 18a and 18b are integrally formed so as to define a corner portion 26. Corner portion 26 may be rounded as shown, or may provide a sharp corner (not shown). Although illustrated her in the typical context of a 90° corner, the profile may readily be adapted to a wide range of other corner angles as required.

[0040] Here too, the advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent. The preformed corner profile avoids the highly skilled task of finishing a corner formed from abutting plasterboard sheets. At the same time, the use of a metallic corner piece offers much greater wear resistance and longer lifetime than can be provided by plasterboard in an exposed corner position.

[0041] Turning now to FIGS. 4-10, these relate to implementations of the present invention for wall-type applications. These applications are essentially similar to those described above, but provide surfaces for attachment of panel elements on both faces of the structure.

[0042] Specifically, turning first to FIGS. 4 and 5, these show a profile, generally designated 30, which may be considered a double version of profile 10 described above. Thus, employing similar reference numerals for equivalent elements, profile 30 includes a second substantially planar flange surface 18′, a second ridge 14′, and a second substantially planar attachment surface 16′, configured for receiving an additional panel element 12′ (see FIG. 5) substantially parallel to the first panel element 12. Second flange surface 18′ is also connected to end wall 22 to form a unitary, typically symmetric, profile structure. In all other respects, the structure and operation of profile 30 is analogous to that of profile 10 described above.

[0043] Turning now to FIG. 6, this shows a profile 32 which is analogous to profile 24 of FIG. 3 but for wall-type applications. In this case, the profile has a closed form, i.e., that its cross-sectional shape is a closed shape. Thus, in addition to the features equivalent to those of FIG. 3 (labeled similarly), the profile 32 also includes rear attachment surfaces 34a and 34b which are angled for attachment to the rear face of correspondingly angled panel elements making up the partition surface on the inside of the corner. The closed form is completed by connecting walls 36a and 36b. In this example, the connecting walls are formed substantially perpendicular to the adjacent attachment surfaces so as to form substantially rectangular projections. This form has advantages of strength and stability when used as an upright corner post, as will be described below with reference to FIG. 8.

[0044] Turning briefly to FIG. 7, this shows a variant of profile 32 designated 38. Profile 38 is structurally and functionally similar to profile 32 except that attachment surfaces 16a and 16b are shortened and the connecting walls 36a′ and 36b′ are formed at an obtuse angle thereto. This reduces the amount of material required to produce the profile, thereby reducing its cost.

[0045] Turning now to FIG. 8, this shows a preferred mode of use in which profile 30 and profile 32 are used together to form, respectively, a base element and a corner post of a support structure for receiving a panel element. Here, profile 32 is deployed with its extensional direction vertical and the rectangular projection formed by connecting wall 36b is wedged into the opening of horizontally deployed profile 30, thereby providing a flange along two adjacent sides of the panel element when attached. The panel element is then attached through both layers of attachment surfaces where they overlap.

[0046] It should be noted that the structure of FIG. 8 is only one example of how the profiles described thus far may used in combination to form support structures for different applications. Thus, by way of a further example (not shown), two profiles 30 may be interlocked at 90° to each other to form part of a support structure at the intersection of a wall and the floor or ceiling. Clearly, similar combinations can also be made using the profiles of FIGS. 1 and 3. Combinations may also be made of the profiles of the present invention together with conventional support brackets, typically for additional support at the edges of panels or sheets in the middle of a partition.

[0047] It should also be noted that the present invention is not limited to profiles for the outer periphery of partitions. By way of example, FIG. 9 shows a profile 40, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, for use around an internal opening of a partition, most typically for a window or the like. In this case, flange surface 18 serves as an inwardly projecting flange against which a window surround may be mounted.

[0048] Turning finally to FIG. 10, this shows a further profile 42, similar to profile 30 but adapted to provide a doorframe. Thus, the flange surfaces and end wall are adapted on one side to provide a recess 44 against which a door closes. On the other side, the frame is optionally rounded as shown. The use of profile 42 to form a doorframe avoids the need for insertion of a separate doorframe, thereby reducing costs.

[0049] It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

List of Nomenclature

[0050] 10 profile

[0051] 12 panel element

[0052] 14 ridge

[0053] 16 substantially planar attachment surface

[0054] 18 substantially planar flange surface

[0055] 20 overhang

[0056] 22 end wall

[0057] 24 corner profile

[0058] 26 corner portion

[0059] 30 two-sided profile

[0060] 32 two-sided corner profile

[0061] 34 rear attachment surfaces

[0062] 36 connecting walls

[0063] 38 variant of profile 32

[0064] 40 internal opening profile

[0065] 42 doorframe profile

[0066] 44 recess