Planarizing panel clip and method of use

Abstract

A panel clip is disclosed for aligning precast Terrazzo panels to eliminate “lippage.” The clip comprises a rigid top portion screwed to an adjustable bottom portion, and adjacent panels are fixed therebetween. The rigid top portion fixes the top surfaces of the panels in the same plane, while the adjustable bottom portion automatically conforms to the bottom surfaces of the panels, even where the panels are of differing thicknesses. The bottom portion can be of a unitary flexible plastic design, of a pivoting multi-piece design, or of a thin deformable metal design. One or both of the portions can have a neck region for providing a desired offset between adjacent panels. Once an underlying setting compound has cured, the top portion can be removed, leaving the bottom portion in place to be grouted over. A method of use is also disclosed, as is a kit.

1 . A clip for aligning first and second panel elements, comprising 
 a first portion having a bottom surface configured to engage a top surface of each of the first and second planar panel elements;    a second portion having first and second legs for engaging respective bottom surfaces of the first and second panel elements; and    a connecting member having a first end engaged with the first portion and a second end engaged with the second portion, the connecting member operable to draw the first and second portions together to fix the first and second panel elements between the bottom surface of the first portion and the first and second legs of the second portion;    wherein the first portion is substantially rigid to fix the top surfaces of the first and second panel elements in substantially the same plane, and the first and second legs of the second portion are adjustable to independently conform to the bottom surfaces of the first and second panels.    
   
   
       2 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein -the first and second legs comprise a flexible material.  
   
   
       3 . The clip of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible material comprises a polymer.  
   
   
       4 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises a screw, and the first portion is removable from the second portion by unscrewing the connecting member from the second portion.  
   
   
       5 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion further comprises a first section engageable with the connecting member and a second section engageable with the bottom surfaces of the first and second panel elements, wherein the first and second sections are connected via a pivot joint having a pivot axis oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connecting member.  
   
   
       6 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a neck region disposed between the first and second legs, the neck region extending substantially perpendicularly toward the first portion such that when the first and second panel elements are engaged by the top and bottom portions and common side surfaces of the first and second panel elements contact the neck region, a predetermined lateral offset is provided between the common side surfaces.  
   
   
       7 . The clip of  claim 6 , where the first and second legs each have a raised foot disposed adjacent to a distal end thereof, each raised foot configured to engage the bottom surface of a respective first or second panel element.  
   
   
       8 . The clip of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises a screw, a shank region of the screw being disposed within a hole in the first portion of the clip and a distal threaded region of the screw being disposed within a threaded bore in the second portion of the clip, wherein turning the screw in a first direction draws the first and second portions together, and turning the screw in the opposite direction separates the first and second portions.  
   
   
       9 . The clip of  claim 8 , wherein the hole in the first portion of the clip is smaller than a head of the screw, and is substantially larger than the shank region to allow the first and second clip portions to pivot with respect to each other.  
   
   
       10 . A method for installing pre-cast terrazzo panels, comprising: 
 providing first and second precast terrazzo panels, each panel having top and bottom surfaces and a thickness, wherein the thicknesses of the first and second panels are unequal;    providing a clip having top and bottom portions adjustably connected by a connecting member, the top portion being substantially rigid and configured to engage the top surfaces of the first and second panels; the bottom portion being adjustable and configured to engage the bottom surfaces of the first and second panels;    arranging the first panel on a surface and engaging the top and bottom portions of the clip with the top and bottom surfaces of the first panel;    arranging the second panel adjacent to the first panel on the surface and engaging the top and bottom portions of the clip with the top and bottom surfaces of the second panel; and    adjusting the connecting member to draw the top and bottom portions together such that the top and bottom portions engage the top and bottom surfaces of the first and second panels, thereby fixing the panels together such that the top surfaces of the first and second panels lie in substantially the same plane;    wherein during the adjusting step the first and second legs automatically adjust to engage the bottom surfaces of the first and second panels, respectively.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom portion of the clip further comprises a neck region extending perpendicularly from a top surface of the bottom portion, and wherein the engaging step further comprising contacting common edges of the first and second panels with the neck region to provide a predetermined offset between the panels, the offset being equal to a thickness of the neck region and forming a joint between the panels.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the arranging step further comprises providing an adhesive layer between the first and second panels and the surface to fix the panels to the surface, the method further comprising the step of separating the top portion of the clip and the connecting member from the bottom portion of the clip subsequent to curing of the adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising filling the joint with a grouting compound, the grout covering the bottom portion of the clip.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a release layer is provided on the top surfaces of each of the first and second precast Terrazzo panels, the release layer configured to protect the top surfaces of the panels, the method further comprising the step of removing the release layer subsequent to filling the joint with grouting compound.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second legs automatically adjust engage the bottom surfaces of the first and second panels by flexing, pivoting, or a combination of the two.  
   
   
       16 . A kit for installing pre-cast terrazzo panels, comprising: 
 a plurality of top pieces;    a plurality of bottom pieces; and    a plurality of connecting members;    wherein the top pieces are substantially rigid and are connectable to respective bottom pieces using the plurality of connecting members, the bottom pieces further being flexible or pivotable with respect to the associated top piece to allow the top and bottom pieces to engage a pair of adjacent panels to fix the top surfaces of the panels in a substantially coplanar relation.    
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the any one of the plurality of top pieces is removeably engageable with any one of the plurality of bottom pieces via one of the plurality of connecting members.  
   
   
       18 . The kit of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of pre-cast terrazzo panels, each panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thickness;    a quantity of setting compound for adhering the panels to a surface; and    a quantity of grouting compound for filling joints between the plurality of panels.    
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of top or the plurality of bottom pieces further comprise a neck portion extending substantially perpendicularly from a top or bottom surface of the respective piece, the neck portion further having a thickness configured to provide a predetermined offset between a pair of adjacent panels when common side surfaces of the pair of adjacent panels contact opposite surfaces of the neck portion.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of bottom pieces comprise the neck portion, and the thickness of the neck portion of at least first and second of the plurality of bottom pieces is unequal.