JPS6263795A - Double partition wall body - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a movable wall or partition, and more particularly to a movable wall or partition, which runs on a ceiling track and is used to divide a large room, such as a conference room or a ballroom, into smaller rooms. It relates to walls, that is, partitions.

Single panel movable partitions are well known in the industry. These partitions typically include a plurality of individual panels arranged in vertically side-by-side relationship. The panels can be moved along a ceiling track that spans the room being divided, and can be stored at one end of the track or at a remote location when the room is not being divided.

Double panel movable partitions are also known in the industry. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 3.979.861 and 4.
See No. 027.714. The double partition wall described in the Konera patent is accordion style and requires a complex connection mechanism between adjacent panels.

Furthermore, when panels are arranged side by side to form a partition, the joints between the panels in one row are directly opposite the joints between the panels in the other row. This results in unsatisfactory acoustic and fire protection performance.

The present invention includes a plurality of first panels, each having substantially vertical opposite end surfaces, and a plurality of second panels, each having substantially vertical opposite ends, wherein the first panels are arranged vertically. extending in relation to each other, the second panel extending in longitudinally side-by-side relation with the first panel in generally parallel and generally opposing relation, such that each first panel generally faces each second panel; position.

The partition also includes a pair of hinge devices extending between each pair of parallel panels to form a parallelogram. Preferably, each hinge device includes an elongated linkage having opposite ends and a generally vertical pivot axis intermediate between the ends. The hinge device also includes a first member fixedly connected to the associated first panel and a second member fixedly connected to the associated panel. One end of the elongated linkage is pivotally connected to the first member for rotation relative thereto about a generally vertical axis.

The other end is pivotally connected to a second member for rotation relative to the second member about a generally vertical axis.

Thus, one end of the elongate linkage is pivotally connected to the associated first panel and the other end of the elongate linkage is pivotally connected to the associated second panel.

The hinge device also has an upper end movably connected to the track means along which the partition moves and pivots on the elongated linkage for rotating the elongated linkage relative to the track means about said vertical axis. It includes a pivot linkage having a fixed lower end.

In the first position, the elongated linkage is approximately perpendicular to the panel and the panels are separated into rings by a distance approximately equal to the length of the linkage. In the second position, the elongated linkage is about 900 mm relative to the first position.
(-! or parallel to the panels) j-7 The twining panels are separated by a distance (C) approximately equal to the width of the linkage. Therefore, the hinge system is connected and the panels are rotated relative to each other. is moved over a range of motion, and the spacing between the strands is varied between a maximum determined by the length of the elongated linkage and a minimum determined by the width of this linkage, and the panels are moved parallel to each other over this range of motion. Furthermore, when the first and second pairs of panels of a number of pairs are aligned vertically, the hinge device brings the first and second panels together in vertical relationship over a range of motion. Move over this range to change the spacing between them.

When the panels are aligned vertically to form a partition, it is preferred that the elongated linkage be in a first position to maximize the spacing between the first and second panels. When the panels are stacked for storage, the elongated linkage is placed in the second position to minimize the spacing between the links.

Furthermore, panels are arranged vertically to form partitions,
Additionally, placing the elongated linkages in the first position to maximize spacing between panels causes the joints between adjacent first panels to be offset horizontally in the direction of the panels from the joints between adjacent second panels. Preferably, the hinge device is connected to the panel. This exhibits improved fire protection and acoustic performance.

One major feature of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple double partition wall with variable spacing between rows of panels and non-aligned joints between adjacent panels.

Other principal features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the following detailed description, accompanying drawings, and claims.

Before describing one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts that are described below or shown in the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being carried out in various ways.

It is also to be understood that the terms used are for purposes of description and not limitation.

A double partition wall 10 embodying the invention is illustrated. As shown in detail in FIGS. 2-4, the partition wall 10 has a plurality of first or left side walls each having substantially vertical ends 14 and each having a substantially vertical end surface 18. Second or right panel 16 of Koji number
It is equipped with In this preferred embodiment, panels 1.4, 16 include four tongue and groove joints 20, as shown in detail in FIG.

, 6 channels 12, 16 are connected vertically to form this joint 4.
Steps 20 connect adjacent ends 14 or 18 of panels 12 or 16 to the pan. The four tongue-and-groove joints 20 serve to line up adjacent panels and to ensure that the end faces of the panels are accurate (if not abutting, then close the spacing between adjacent) ξ-nels.

Partition wall 1. Mt first or left ζ channel 12
Means is also provided for supporting a second or right-hand panel 16 vertically and substantially parallel to and opposite the first panel 12.

This relationship is shown in detail in FIG. The support means extends between the left and right panels 12, 16 such that these panels move over a range relative to each other to change the spacing between the left and right panels from a maximum determined by the connecting means 22 to a selected smaller spacing. Support means 22 are included so that panels 12, 16 maintain a generally parallel longitudinal relationship over a range of motion.

The support means also supports the panels 12, 1f5 for movement along a generally horizontal trajectory 2JIC as is known in the art. The track 24 and the means for supporting the partition wall on the track will be described in detail later.

In this preferred embodiment, the support means includes each pair of left and right opposite panels 12, as shown in detail in FIG.
, 16 at spaced locations along these panels, and thus facing each pair of support means 22.
2 and 16 approximately form a parallelogram. In this preferred embodiment, the support means also includes connection means (not shown) between the lower ends of each pair of opposing panels.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting means 22 includes an elongated linkage 28 having opposed first and second or left and right ends and a generally vertical pivot axis 30 intermediate therebetween. Hinging device 2 equipped with
6 is preferably included. The hinge system also includes a first or left side member 32 fixedly connected to the associated left side panel 16 and a second or right side member 34 fixedly connected to the associated second or right side panel 16. There is. The left end of the elongated link mechanism 28 is connected to the left side member 32
The right end of the elongated linkage 28 is pivoted to the right side member for rotation relative to the left side member 32 and the left side panel 12 about a substantially vertical first pivot axis 36, and the right end of the elongated linkage 28 is pivoted to the right side member and rotates relative to the left side member 32 and the left side panel 12 about a substantially vertical first pivot axis 36. Right side member 34 centered on the axis
and the right side panel 16.

Thus, in the first position (shown in solid line in FIG. 2), the elongated linkage 28 is approximately perpendicular to the panels 12, 16 and the panels are separated from each other by a distance approximately equal to the length of the elongated linkage 28. . In a second position (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2), the elongated linkage 28 is rotated approximately 90° relative to the first position, and the panels 12, 16 are rotated approximately 90 degrees from the elongated linkage 28. separated from each other by a distance equal to .

Hinging device 28 also includes means for mounting elongated linkage 28 for horizontal movement therealong and for rotation relative to track 24 about a pivot axis 30. Although any suitable attachment means may be used, in this preferred embodiment the attachment means includes an elongated linkage 28 whose upper end is movably connected to the track 24 and whose lower end is movably connected to the track 24.
includes a pivot linkage 40 connected to the pivot linkage 40 for rotating the elongated linkage 28 about a pivot axis 30 relative to the track 24. The track 24 and pivot linkage 40 are described in U.S. Pat.
．． Preferably, it is a component of a multidirectional suspension system such as that described in US Pat. No. 879,799. However, any suitable track or suspension system is within the scope of the invention.

In this preferred embodiment, the fixing device 26 is)
If the spacing between these panels is at its maximum (the preferred spacing when arranging the panels as a partition) as shown in FIG. (vertical in FIG. 3) from the joint between the end surfaces 18 of the right panel 16. In this way, the sound and fire will be separated by two panels.
It always follows staggered paths through the joints in the row, providing improved acoustic and fire performance. One exception is the end panels near the walls of the section. In that case, the ends are directly opposite the wall and respectively abut the wall. When the spacing between panels is minimal, and when the panels are arranged in a vertical relationship, the joint between the ends 14 of the left panel 12 is positioned almost directly opposite the joint between the ends 18 of the right panel 12. sf]-ru. This state is shown in FIG. Alternatively, the maximum spacing between the panels positions the end face 14 of the left panel 12 of the panels in each pair directly opposite the end 18 of the right panel 16 of that pair. This state is shown in FIG. 5 as 1-1.

be.

Due to the fact that the joints between the panels are staggered as shown in FIG. It should be noted that one panel (the upper memorandum in Figure 3) is shorter than the remaining memorabilia.

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the hinge device 50 is connected within a recess 52 provided in the opposing memo panel, so that the panels can be folded with no spacing between them.

Various other features of the invention are set out in the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a double partition wall embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2. Similar but smaller scale drawings showing the entire partition; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the partition panels folded for storage; Figure 5 is a top view of a pair of panels folded for storage; FIG. 6 is a top view of a pair of panels showing a modification of the present invention. 10... Partition walls 12, 16... First and second panels 14, 1
．． 8... Ends of the first and second panels 22... Connection means 24... Track means 26, 50...
Hinging device 28... Link mechanism 3o... Pivot axis line 3
2, 34... First and second component procedure amendments Showa 61 (f: October / 11 11) 1 Wa 61 (1 patent addition 16771/1 No. 2) Title of the invention 2 (F spacing desired Body 3, Famous events for making amendments (Relationship with 'I'1Mf Applicant's address Name: Back Manufacture 1 Alling Corporation 1, Agent's address: 2-2-1 Hitote-cho, 111-ku, Chiyo, Tokyo Shin) Otemachi Building 206 Room 5, subject to correction

Claims (1)

Claims: 1) first and second generally two-dimensional panels and means for supporting the panels in a generally parallel and generally facing relationship, the support means extending between the panels and holding the panels together. connection means for providing a range of relative movement to vary the spacing between the panels from a maximum determined by the connection means to a selected spacing less than the maximum, such that the panels remain substantially parallel over the range of movement; A double partition wall characterized by containing. 2) A double partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means includes a plurality of the connecting means extending between the panels at spaced apart locations along the panels, and the adjacent panels form a parallelogram. 3) A double partition wall according to claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises an elongated linkage having first and second ends and a pivot axis intermediate between the ends; a first panel pivotably mounted relative thereto for rotation about an axis parallel to the pivot axis; and a second end relative thereto about a second axis parallel to the pivot axis. Connected to rotate around a center. 4) A double partition wall according to claim 3, wherein said support means includes a pair of said hinge devices extending at spaced apart locations therebetween between said panels, thereby The device and the panel form a parallelogram. 5) A double partition wall according to claim 3, wherein said hinge device also moves said elongate linkage along track means transversely to said pivot axis and about said pivot axis. It is provided with mounting means for rotation relative to the means. 6) A double partition wall according to claim 5, characterized in that the elongated linkage has a first end movably connected to the track means and the elongated linkage has a linkage. including a pivot linkage having a second end connected to rotate the track means about the pivot axis. 7) A double wall partition according to claim 7, wherein the hinge device is further fixed to a first member fixedly connected to the first panel and to the second panel. a second member connected to the elongated linkage, a first end of the elongate linkage being pivotally connected to the first member for rotation about the first axis relative to the first member; a second end of the elongated linkage is pivotally connected to the second member for rotation about the second axis relative thereto; 8) a pair of substantially two-dimensional, substantially parallel panels spaced apart from one another, and a hinge device, the hinge device having a first member secured to one of the panels and a first member fixed to the other panel; a fixed second member, opposed first and second ends, a pivot axis intermediate the first and second ends and parallel to the panel, from the first end to the second end; a first end having a length and width of up to 100 mm, and a first end pivotally connected to the first member for rotation therewith about a first axis parallel to the pivot axis; an elongated linkage pivotally connected to said second member for rotation relative thereto about a second axis parallel to said pivot axis; and a track means therealong in a direction transverse to said pivot axis; a first end movably connected for movement and a pivot linkage connected to the elongated linkage to rotate it about the pivot axis relative to the track, thereby in the position, the elongated linkages extend generally perpendicular to the panels and the panels are separated from each other by a distance approximately equal to the length of the elongated linkages, and in the second position the elongated linkages extend approximately 90 degrees relative to the first position. Double partition wall characterized in that it is rotated so that the panels are separated from each other by a distance approximately equal to the width of the elongated linkage. 9) supporting a plurality of first panels, each having substantially vertical end faces, a plurality of second panels, each having substantially vertical end faces, and a first panel in a vertically aligned relationship; A second panel is arranged vertically and supported substantially parallel and generally opposite the first panel, and extends between the first and second panels and extends between the first and second panels relative to each other. including connecting means for causing a range of movement and varying the spacing between them from a maximum determined by the connecting means to a selected smaller spacing, so that over the range of movement of the panels the panels maintain a substantially parallel longitudinal relationship; A double partition wall body characterized by the fact that 10) In the double partition wall body according to claim 9, when the distance between the first and second panels is maximum, the joint between the end faces of the first panel is the second in the direction of the panels. horizontally offset from the joint between the end faces of the panel, and the first
and that the joint between the end faces of the first panel is positioned substantially directly opposite the joint between the end faces of the second panel when the spacing between the second panels is minimal. 11) A double partition wall according to claim 9, wherein the connecting means extends between opposing pairs of first and second panels to move the paired panels relative to each other. thing. 12) In the double partition wall body according to claim 12, when the distance between the panels of the pair is maximum, the end face of the first panel of the pair is opposite to the second panel of the pair in the direction of the panels. The end face of the first panel of the pair is positioned substantially directly opposite the end face of the second panel of the pair when horizontally offset from the end face of the panels and the spacing between the panels of the pair is minimal. 13) A double partition wall according to claim 9, wherein the support means has opposite first and second ends, a length, a width and a pivot axis between the ends. a plurality of elongated linkages, a first end pivotally connected to one of the first panels relative thereto about a first axis parallel to the pivot axis; a second panel opposite one of the first panels for rotation about a second axis parallel to the pivot axis, such that the second panel is in the first position; and the elongated linkage extends substantially perpendicular to the panels, the panels are separated from each other by a distance approximately equal to the length of the elongated linkage, and the joint between the end faces of the first panel extends in the direction of the panels between the end faces of the second panel. horizontally offset from the joint of the linkage, in the second position, the elongate linkage is rotated approximately 90 degrees relative to the first panel, the panels are separated from each other by a distance equal to the width of the linkage, and the first panel The joint between the end faces of the second panel is positioned substantially directly opposite the joint between the end faces of the second panel. 14) A double partition wall according to claim 9, wherein the first panel includes a tongue-and-groove joint connecting its adjacent end surfaces to each other, and the second panel includes a tongue and groove joint connecting its adjacent end surfaces to each other. Contains connecting tongue and groove joints. 15) having opposite first and second ends and a pivot axis therebetween, the first end being pivoted to the first panel for rotation about the pivot axis relative thereto; an elongated linkage having a second end pivotally connected to a second panel relative to the second panel for rotation about the pivot axis; means for mounting for transverse movement and rotation relative to track means about the pivot axis. 16) A hinge device for a double partition wall as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first linkage mounting means is movably connected to track means.
and a second end connected to an elongate linkage for rotation thereof about the pivot axis relative to the track means. 17) In the hinge device for a double partition wall according to claim 15, the first member is fixedly connected to the first panel and fixed to the second panel. a second member adapted to be connected to the elongate linkage, the first end of the elongate linkage being pivotally connected to the first member for rotation about the first axis relative to the first member; and a second end thereof is pivotally connected to the second member so as to rotate about the second axis relative to the second member.