Method for Mounting Blades on a Supporting Structure and Improved Fixing Element

Abstract

The invention relates to an element for fixing ( 3 ) at least one modular coating blade ( 1 ) to a supporting structure ( 2 ), said element comprising: a base provided with a plane support face ( 6 ) to be fixed onto the supporting structure ( 2 ), and a fixing face ( 7 ) from which at least one protruding part ( 8 ) extends orthogonally, said protruding part to be engaged in a corresponding recess ( 4 ) in the blade ( 1 ). The projecting part ( 8 ) comprises tenons ( 10 ) on one free end ( 8 c ), said tenons progressively enlarging towards the fixing face ( 7 ) and facing an internal edge ( 19 ) of the recess ( 4 ), preventing the blade ( 1 ) from being removed. According to the invention, the protruding part ( 8 ) comprises a full tongue ( 8 a ) provided with means for rigidifying the same with the fixing face ( 7 ), the free end ( 8 c ) of said tongue being formed with the front ends of the tenons ( 10 ) joining at an acute angle, and the tenons ( 10 ) being separated from the full tongue ( 8 a ) adjacent to the rear ends thereof opposing those forming the acute angle.

1 . Element for fastening at least one modular covering board on a support structure having
 a base with a flat support face designed to be attached to the support structure of the joist or strip type,   a fastening face from which extends orthogonally at least one projecting part designed to engage in a corresponding recess provided in the board that ends at the lower face of said board,   the projecting part having at one free end tenons oriented in oblique directions and widening gradually in the direction of the fastening face starting from the free end, whereby the material of which the fastening element is made ensures elastic deformation of the projecting part when board engages said projecting part ( 8 ),   tenons designed to be positioned facing an inside edge of the recess once the board is completely engaged on the projecting part, which resumes its original shape when not being stressed by board, thus preventing the board from pulling back,   wherein the projecting part has a full tongue provided with stiffening means with the fastening face, the free end of which is formed with the front ends of the tenons meeting at an acute angle, the tenons being separated from the full tongue in the vicinity of their rear ends opposite those forming the acute angle, said rear ends being elastically deformable in a favored direction because of their slope, in order to move closer to the full tongue when the board is engaged on the projecting part.   
   
   
       2 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening face constituting the support face of board has longitudinally, on either side of each projecting part, a substantially concave shape, obtained by adjusting the thickness of the base. 
   
   
       3 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , wherein having means for adjusting its longitudinal position on the support structure, said adjusting means being stressable and activatable once the fastening element has been attached to the support structure. 
   
   
       4 . Fastening element according to  claim 3 , wherein the adjustment means have local areas of smaller thickness that are oblong at the base, and are designed each to be traversed by a fastening screw of said fastening element, said thickness being chosen such as to allow displacement in the lengthwise direction of the fastening element under the effect of a lengthwise stress exerted on the projecting parts because of the material creep between the base and the fastening screw or screws. 
   
   
       5 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , comprising the stiffening means being comprised of a widening of the lower part of the full tongue. 
   
   
       6 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening means are comprised of reinforcements that are orthogonal to the fastening face and integral with the full tongue at the longitudinal or lateral ends of the latter, the dimensions of the reinforcements being chosen to enable the projecting part to engage in the corresponding recess. 
   
   
       7 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , wherein having several projecting parts. 
   
   
       8 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , wherein the base has, at its lengthwise ends, a dovetail shape for assembly with an adjacent fastening element. 
   
   
       9 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , wherein having a millimetric scale, for example from 1 to 592 mm. 
   
   
       10 . Fastening element according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening element is made in a single piece by injection or molding of a synthetic material. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus for mounting and assembling a covering comprising boards made of wood for example, for making a deck or floor, and fastening elements according to  claim 1 , the boards each having at least one recess in the shape of a lengthwise cavity, the shape of which at least partly matches that of the projecting parts of the fastening elements. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein, the apparatus forms, once assembled, a deck, a balcony, a floor, a vertical wall, or a ceiling. 
   
   
       13 . Method for mounting modular covering boards on a support structure, comprising:
 using fastening elements according to  claim 1 ,   positioning the boards such that the recesses face the projecting parts,   and applying a pressure to an upper face of the boards in a single direction orthogonal to the support structure to move and engage the boards irreversibly on the projecting parts.   
   
   
       14 . Mounting method according to  claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the positioning of the boards by sliding in the lengthwise direction of the recesses.