Panel Fastener

Abstract

The panel fastener has two components, each of which is mounted on an end piece of a wall panel and which are slid together to secure adjacent wall panels together. The two components have mating shapes that cause the components to move towards each other as components slide together in order to move and secure the pair of panels together in a tightened manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel fastener comprising a first component having a back wall including at least one opening for passage of a mounting element therethrough and a front wall having a longitudinally disposed slot aligned with said opening in said back wall, said front wall being spaced from said back wall to define a cavity therewith; and
 a second component having a cross-sectional shape for slidably mounting in said slot and said cavity of said first component, said second component having a body of U-shaped cross-section received in and extending through said slot of said first component and a pair of flanges extending outwardly from said body and received in said cavity of said first component.   
     
     
         2 . A panel fastener as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said U-shaped body of said second component tapers from one end to an opposite end whereby said second component has one end larger than an opposite end. 
     
     
         3 . A panel fastener as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said front wall of said first component tapers at an angle relative to said back wall of said first component and said cavity is of smaller height at one end than at an opposite end thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A wall comprising
 a pair of panels, each said panel having a vertically disposed end piece facing a vertically disposed end piece of the other of said pair of panels; and   at least one panel fastener securing said pair of panels together, said panel fastener having a first component having a back wall secured to said end piece of one of said pair of panels and a front wall spaced from said back wall to define a cavity therewith, said front wall having a longitudinally disposed slot therein; and a second component slidably mounted in said first component and having a body of U-shaped cross-section received in and extending through said slot of said first component and a pair of flanges extending outwardly from said body and received in said cavity of said first component.   
     
     
         5 . A wall as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said first component and said second component have mating shapes that cause said first component and said second component to move towards each other as said components slide together to move said pair of panels together in a tightened manner. 
     
     
         6 . A wall as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said front wall of said first component tapers at an angle relative to said back wall of said first component and said cavity is of smaller height at one end than at an opposite end thereof and said second component has one end larger than an opposite end thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A wall as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said U-shaped body of said second component tapers from one end to an opposite end and said front wall of said first component tapers at an angle relative to said back wall of said first component and said cavity is of smaller height at one end than at an opposite end thereof.