Clamp for connecting panels in surface coating structure, and manufacturing method

A clamp for connecting panels in a surface coating structure to a base frame (T), the clamp (51) comprising:

• a fixable element (100), that is rectangular prismatic, to be fixed to the base frame (T), having long sides (14), a top surface (16), a central longitudinal axis (x), an upper hole (101) and a lower hole (111), both communicating and concentric along an axis (y) perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis (x);
• a rotatable element (200) rotating with respect to the fixable element (100) about the axis (y), the rotatable element (200) having
• an upper part (220) that projects from the fixable element (100) after its rotation, and is provided with ends (21, 22) engaging lateral grooves of panels (P) that are adjacent,
• an intermediate part (280), which is formed by a first disc and housed in the upper hole (101) of the fixable element (100), and
• a lower part (290), which is formed by a second disc, having a diameter larger than the disc of the intermediate part (280), and being housed in the lower hole (111) of the fixable element (100) with a clearance fit, in order to enable the rotation of the rotatable element (200) with respect to the fixable element (100),
• wherein the upper hole (101) of the fixable element (100) is tapered downwardly and the lower hole (111) of the fixable element (100) is cylindrical,
• wherein the first disc of the intermediate part (280) of the rotatable element (200) is cylindrical and the second disc of the lower part (290) of the rotatable element (200) is tapered downwardly, and
• wherein the fixable element (100) has two blind holes (13) on its bottom surface;
• and
• a support plate (3) having a cross-shaped plan, consisting of
• a rectangular body having a plan like that of the fixable element (100) and provided with through holes (32) concentric to the through holes (12) of the fixable element (100) and to the central hexagonal hole (26) of the rotatable element (200), and
• opposite lateral arms (34) radiused to the rectangular plan of the support plate (3) on its long sides, the support plate (3) having two pins (33) that can be inserted into the two blind holes (13) of the fixable element (100).