Improved system and method for securing elements to a surface

Abstract

A system and a method are provided for securing an element (50) to a support surface (70). The system comprises at least one rail member (10), a mounting part (20) and the element. The rail member comprises a lower face (11) at least partially contacting the support surface, opposed to an upper face (12) and connected thereto by opposed lateral walls (14, 15) thereby to define a box section. Each lateral wall projects above the upper surface and an edge portion thereof forms an inward flange to define a substantially C-profiled rail with the upper surface. The mounting part (20) comprises a base plate, is substantially rectangular, made at least partially of a resilient material and dimensioned complementarily with the rail member, such that a width of the base plate corresponds at least to a distance intermediate the opposed lateral walls and a thickness of the base plate corresponds at least to a distance intermediate the upper face of the rail member and an underside of the flange, the at least partial resiliency of the base plate causing the mounting part to compress for sliding between the opposed rails and to decompress for achieving an interference fit. The base plate of the mounting part (20) comprises a topside (22) bearing at least a pair of upward feet (26A, 26B), each foot being configured on a same face with at least one tenon projecting orthogonally thereto. The or each element (50) has a lower face configured with at least two recesses (56A, 56B), each recess comprising a groove dimensioned for engagement with the or each tenon of a respective foot in use.

1 . A system for securing an element to a support surface, comprising
 at least one rail member ( 10 ) comprising a lower face ( 11 ) opposed to an upper face ( 12 ) and connected thereto by opposed lateral walls ( 14 ,  15 ) so as to define a box section,
 wherein at least a portion ( 16 ) of the lower face contacts the support surface ( 70 ) in use, and 
 wherein each lateral wall projects above the upper surface and an edge portion ( 17 ) thereof is configured as a flange to define a substantially C-profiled rail with the upper surface; 
   at least one substantially rectangular mounting part ( 20 ), having at least a longitudinal portion made of a resilient material, the mounting part comprising a base plate having an underside ( 21 ) and a topside ( 22 ), the topside comprising at least a pair of feet ( 26 A,  26 B),
 wherein each foot extends substantially orthogonally to the topside and is located proximate a respective end ( 23 A,  23 B) thereof, and 
 wherein each foot is configured on a same face ( 29 ) with at least one tenon ( 30 ) projecting orthogonally thereto; and 
   at least one element ( 50 ) having a lower face ( 51 ) configured with at least two recesses ( 56 A,  56 B), each recess comprising a groove ( 57 B) dimensioned for engagement with the or each tenon of a respective foot in use;   characterised in that   the rail member ( 10 ) and the mounting part ( 20 ) are dimensioned complementarily, such that a width (W) of the base plate corresponds at least to a distance (D) intermediate the opposed lateral walls and a thickness (T) of the base plate corresponds at least to a distance (d) intermediate the upper face of the rail member and an underside of the flange, the at least partial resiliency of the base plate causing the mounting part to compress for sliding between the opposed rails and to decompress for achieving an interference fit; and   the mounting part ( 20 ) and the grooved recess ( 56 A,  56 B) are configured complementarily, such that the element ( 50 ) is secured to the mounting part by engaging each foot ( 26 A,  26 B) in a respective recess without the or each tenon ( 30 ) penetrating the respective groove in a first movement, then by displacing the element to engage the or each tenon in the respective groove in a second movement orthogonal to the first.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the topside of each flange is covered with an elastomeric joint ( 140 ). 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate and substantially rigid cross-member ( 90 ) having opposed ends ( 91 ,  92 ), wherein each lateral wall of the rail member further comprises engagement means ( 80 ), and wherein each end of the cross-member is configured complementarily with the engagement means to securely and releasably engage same. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the engagement means ( 80 ) comprises a substantially L-profiled rail on a face of the rail member lateral wall opposed to the box section, with a web portion ( 82 ) of the L-shaped rail distal the lateral wall and a flange portion ( 84 ) intermediate the web and the lateral wall, the cross-member being slotted adjacent each end at a distance corresponding to a dimension (w) of the flange portion, for lodging the web portion. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the rail member and/or the cross-member is/are produced by extrusion of an aluminium alloy or a composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a foot member configured as the support surface contacted by the portion of the rail member lower face. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein a topside of the foot member comprises anchoring means ( 170 ) configured complementarily with the lower face portion of the rail member to achieve a snap fit therewith. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each element is substantially rectangular and comprises a tongue ( 54 ) at a first end and, at a second end opposite the first, a groove ( 55 ) configured for receiving the tongue of an adjacent element. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting part is moulded in a single piece from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the mounting part is printed with an additive printing device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for securing an element to a support surface based on an arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 securing at least a first rail member ( 10 ) to the support surface ( 70 );   securing at least one mounting part ( 20 ) to the or each rail member, by
 exerting a compressing force upon the or each mounting part, 
 sliding the or each compressed mounting part atop the upper face ( 12 ) and between the opposed rails, and 
 releasing the compressing force upon the or each compressed mounting part to cause an interference fit with the opposed rails; and 
   securing the element ( 50 ) on the or each mounting part, by
 engaging each foot ( 26 A,  26 B) of the mounting part into a respective recess ( 56 A,  56 B) in the lower face ( 51 ) of the element, in a first movement, and 
 displacing the element towards the tenons ( 30 ) to push each tenon into a respective groove ( 57 B), in a second movement orthogonal to the first. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 securing a plurality of mounting parts to each rail member of a plurality thereof; and   securing the or each element on the plurality of mounting parts by
 engaging each foot of the plurality of mounting parts that is aligned with the element, into a respective recess in the lower face of the element, in a first movement; and 
 displacing the element towards the tenons of the plurality of mounting parts that is aligned with the element, to push each tenon into a respective groove, in a second movement orthogonal to the first. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , comprising the further steps of
 providing each rail member with engagement means ( 80 );   locating at least a second rail member atop the support surface, adjacent the first rail member so that respective engagement means of the first and second rails are opposed to each other;   providing at least one cross-member ( 90 ), opposed ends ( 91 ,  92 ) of which are configured complementarily with the engagement means to securely and releasably engage same; and   engaging opposed ends of the or each cross-member with respective engagement means of adjacent rail members.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein each engagement means is a rail extending from a lateral wall ( 14 , 15 ) of the rail member and comprising a web portion ( 82 ), and   wherein the cross-member is substantially U-shaped and is configured complementarily with the engagement means by partially slotting the cross-member adjacent each end thereof,   the step of engaging further comprising locating the cross-member so that each slot stands above a respective web portion, then lowering the cross-member relative to the adjacent rail members.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of fastening the or each rail member to the support surface comprises the further steps of
 providing a plurality of foot members ( 160 ) by way of support surface, each foot member having a top surface ( 162 ) configured with anchoring means ( 170 ), wherein the anchoring means is configured complementarily with the lower face of the rail member to provide a snap fit therewith; and   fastening the lower face of the or each rail member to one or more foot members with the anchoring means.