Panel mounting system and method

A clipping device for use in mounting a panel having a pair of substantially parallel, facing engagement surfaces on its back side, to a channel member having rearwardly extending flanges adjacent its lateral edges, wherein the clipping device comprises:

• a pair of opposed, rearwardly extending engagement means for engaging the channel member flanges;
• a pair of facing, forwardly extending gripping flanges adapted to engage the engagement surfaces;
• flexion means for flexing said gripping flanges toward each other to grip the engagement surfaces;
• and
• lever means for releasing the engagement flexing of said flexion means, said lever means extending outwardly from each side of the device adjacent one of said gripping flanges, then in a direction which is substantially parallel to the channel member for a distance sufficient to permit frontal operation of said lever means when a panel is engaged by the device, so that a rearward pressing of said lever members displaces said one gripping flange away from the other gripping flange, thereby releasing the panel engagement surfaces.

A method of removably and alignably mounting a plurality of narrow panels to a stationary wall wherein each of the panels has a pair of opposed engagement surfaces, comprising the following steps:

• mounting a plurality of parallel channel members to the wall, said channel members having opposed, rearwardly extending flanges, said flanges each defining spaced clip engagement notches which oppose like notches in the opposing flange;
• alignably clipping a clipping device to each said channel member, said clipping devices each having a pair of rearwardly extending fingers for engaging said clip engagement notches, a pair of forwardly extending gripping flanges, and a pair of lever members, one of which extends outwardly from each lateral edge of said device and along a lateral edge of the channel member to which said device is mounted, said lever members being at least about half as long as the width of the panels being mounted;
• aligning the engagement surfaces of a panel with said gripping flanges of said devices;
• and
• pressing the panel rearwardly so that said gripping flanges of each of said devices engage the engagement surfaces of the panel, while leaving a portion of each of said lever members exposed so that rearward pressing of said lever members of any one clipping device releases the panel from that one device.

A paneling system comprising:

• a plurality of substantially parallel channel members;
• a plurality of clipping devices adapted to be mounted to each said channel member, each said clipping device including opposing, rearwardly extending engagement means for engaging said channel members, a pair of facing, forwardly and transversely extending gripping flanges, flexion means for flexing said gripping flanges toward each, and lever means for releasing the flexing force of said gripping flanges;
• and
• a plurality of aligned panels, each of which includes a pair of substantially parallel, facing engagement surfaces on its back side adapted to receive said gripping flanges and be engaged thereby;
• wherein said lever means of each said clipping device extends outwardly beyond a lateral edge of the panel engaged by that clipping device, to permit operation of said lever means from a frontal position to release the flexing force of said gripping flanges and thereby permit removal of said panel.