Elongated element for the frame of a panel system comprising a flexible sheet material

Abstract

An elongated element for the frame of a panel system comprising a flexible sheet material includes a main profile to which an auxiliary profile is associated. The auxiliary profile is provided with means for anchoring an edge of the sheet material and it can be moved with respect to the main profile as a result of the driving of position control screws. The main profile is adapted to be fixed on the surface of a wall by connection means engaging a connection portion associated to it. The position control screws have a control formation which can be reached from the outside of the frame, when the main profile of the elongated element is fixed to a wall and the sheet material is anchored to the auxiliary profile.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention refers in general to frames which can be used for supporting and stretching a flexible sheet material, for the purpose of manufacturing a panel system which can be used to carry out a variety of functions, each of which depends on the type of sheet material used and on the surface to which the sheet material is associated. [0002] In the following description, the term frame is used both to indicate a closed structure consisting of a pluraly of elongated elements connected to each other at their ends with the aim of keeping a sheet material stretched, and an open structure including at least an elongated element intended to be associated with an end of the sheet material to be stretched, the opposite end of the sheet material being connected with another elongated element or with a fastening device of a type known per se. [0003] A frame adapted to support and stretch an artistic canvas or similar, is described in the Italian ut...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an elongated element that can be easily fixed to a support surface, such as a wall, and used to support a flexible sheet material of large size. The elongated element can be easily fixed to a wall surface and connected with other elongated elements to form a frame that allows for an even tension on the sheet material without the need for removing the frame from the support surface. The flexible sheet material can be used for a variety of functions such as protecting a wall, decorating a room, or creating a partition wall. The elongated element can be shaped to follow the perimeter of a wall or be used to hide from view defects or fittings mounted on the wall. The invention also includes guide means to prevent the separation of the auxiliary profile from the main profile when stretching the sheet material on the frame. The use of the elongated element provides a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional wall coatings."

Problems solved by technology

The frame of this document is not much fit to be used with sheet materials of large size, in which case also the base frame and the counter-frame should be very large.

However, it is very difficult to assure that an effective mutual sliding may take place between a base frame and a counter-frame having very extended sides and relatively small sections.

Moreover, this frame cannot be used to stretch a sheet material if the frame is fixed to a support surface, such as a wall surface, since it would require to operate from the inside of the base frame for changing the tension of the sheet material.

The main elements of the frame of this solution have however a structure which is not much fit to be fixed on a support surface, owing to the presence of the auxiliary profiles which are hinged at the back.

At any rate, this structure would not allow to obtain in a simple and practical manner the adjustment of the tension of a sheet material supported by the frame when the latter is already fixed on a support surface.

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