Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~6~7~72
1 This invention relates to a structure which can
be telescoped into a small bulk when not in use and can
be drawn or extended when in use to provide a partition
between two compartments of a room, a sllding door or a
window shutter.
Various types of partitions have been proposed
hitherto. Known partitions include the panel type parti-
tion in which a plurality of partitioning panels divided
into suitable lengths are morably fitted between guides
fixed to the ceiling and floor to partition a room in-to
two compartments. ~he folding screen type partition is
also kno~.~ in which an accordion-like folded partition
member is used to partition a room into two compartments.
~hile the panel type partition has a satisfactory sound
insulation effect, it is defective in that it occupies a
- considerably large space when not in use and it is not so ~ `
easily handled. On the other hand, the folding screen
type partition is advantageous in that it does not occupy
a large space when not in use and it can be very easily
handled. However, -the folding screen type partition is
.
defective in that its sour~d insulation effect is little
as it is formed of a web of vinyl chloride resin, fabric
or the like.
It is therefore a primary object of the present
inventior to provide a novel structure which does not
occupy a large space when not in use, which can be
easily hand'ed, which can exhibit an improvcd so~md
insulation cf.^ect when used cLS a partition betwcen two
COmpaf'trllentS 0~ a room, arld which be easily manufactured
by virtue of sirnple con..truction.
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In accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, a telescopable partition structure is provided
which comprises: a plurality of partition members all of
substantially the same size and configuration and each made
from sheet material and each having a spaced opposing partition
; faces joined together along one respective side of each and
~mjoined at their other sides, each said partition mer~er
having the spacing between its opposed faces increasing
gradually from its joined edges toward its unconnected edges
to thereby permit telescoping of one of said member into the
next, guide means for supporting said partition m~nbers and
permitting movement of said mernbers between a first drawn
position in which the j~ined sides of one said member lie
adjacent to the unconnected sides of an adjoining member to
a second telescoped position in which said joined sides of said
one member lie adjacent to said joined sides of said adjoining
member, and means for limiting the distance between said
joined sides of a pair of adjoining members to a predetermined
amount when said members are telescoped one into the other.
In a preferred embodiment, a lining of resilient
material having a low coefficient of friction is provided
at said non-connected side of each said partition mer~ber to
establish intimate engagement between the inner and outer
ones of said partition members at said side when drawn to
provide the continuous partition faces. According to another
~: .
preferred embodiment, each said par~ition member is composed
of a single sheet which is bent at its middle part to form
the width of said connected side.
tn accordance with a still further feature of
the present invention, each said partition member is
cornposed of a pair of partition plates disposed opposite
to each other to provide said p ætition faces, said partition
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plates being bent at one of their confronting ends toward
each other in a direction suhstantiallv normal to said
partition faces to provide said connected side, and connecting
means is provided in the bent portions to connect said partition
plates together. The structure as reci~ed above may further
comprise flexible linear linking means extending between said
connected side of each said partition member and that of
another, said linear linking means having a sufficient length
such that at least a part of said connected side of thP inne~
partition member is situated within said non-connected side
of the outer partition member in the fully drawn state
According to a still further feature of the
present inven~ion, each said partition member is provided
with first interconnecting means protruding diagonallv inward
from said non-connected side and second interconnecting means r
protruding diagonally outward from said connected side, sa~d
first interconnecting means of the outer partition member
engaging with said second interconnecting means of the inner
.
partition member to draw the inner partition member therewith
during drawing. In a still further preferred embodiment,
said partition members are supported by said guide means at
~ said en~ located in parallel with the moving direction thereof,
- and holding means comprising a pair of holding elements extending
in the moving direckion of said partition members is provided
to hold the other end of said partition members, said holding
elements being parted by the leading partition member to hold
the other end of said partition members during drawing from
the telescoped state and be~ng joined to be substantially
flattened by the leading partition member during grouping
into the telescoped state again.
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It is to be noted that the structure according
to the present invention can also be used as a sliding
entrance door of a house or a room or as a window shutter
when the individual partition members are movably
supported at both ends thereof by the guide means.
Other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in
which like reference numerals are used to denote like
parts.
~ In the drawing:
;~ Fig. 1 is a schematic front elevational view
showing some of partition members in a preferred
embodiment in a drawn state when the structure according
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1 to the present invention is applied to a partition between
two compartrr.ents of a room;
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing
a manner of guiding one of the partition members by
guide means,
~ ig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of
the partition member shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective -view showing
; three of the partition members grouped into a telescoped
assembly;
Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing
the three partition members fully drawn from the state
shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view with
15 part cut-away to show some of partition members in a
- second preferred embodiment of the present invention in
a fully drawn sta-te;
Fig. 7 is a schematic cross~sectional vicu of
; one of the partition members shown in Fig. 6;
- 20 Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view with
part cut-away to show part of one o~ partition members
in a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a schema-tic perspective view with
part cut-away to show part of one of partition members
?5 in a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
~ig. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing
some of the partition members in the fourth embodiment in
a telescoped state togcther with c~:ide mc.ms g~iding
these partil;ion rnembers;
Fig. 11 is a scher~.atic cross-section.ll vicw of
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1 the outermost one of the partition rnembers shown in
Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of
the innermost one of the partition members sho~ in
Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view with
part cut-away to show part of partition members ln a
fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 14 is a schematic plan view of a resilient
- 10 restraining element employed in the fifth embodiment;
Fig. 15 is a schematic plan view showing the '
relation between the resilient restraining element and the
partition members in a partly drawn state;
~ Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15, but showing
- 15 the relation between the resilient restraining elemen-t ;~
-~ and the partition members in a fully dra~m state; ~`
Fig. 17 is a schematic front elevational view
showing holding means used for holding the lower end of
partition members in a sixth preferred embodiment of the
~0 present invention, in which the partition members are
shown in a partly dra~m state;
Fig. 1~ is a schematic front elevational view
with part cut-away to show how strips of the holding
means are parted by the leading partition member;
Fig. 19 is a schematic vertical sectional view
showing the strips OI the holding rneans in the parted
state; and
Fig. 20 is a schemrtic veYtical sec-tional view
showing the strips of thc holding rneans in a joined and
~0 flattened state.
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1 Referring now to the drawing, ~ig. 1 shows a
first preferred embodiment of the structure according to
the present invention when applied to a partition used
for partitioning a room into two compartments. The
partition is composed of, for example, ten partition
; members 1 to 10 which are movably su ported at the upper
end thereof by a guide member 12 fixed to the ceiling 11. ~r
The construction of these partition members 1
to 10 will be described in detail with reference to Fig.
2 in which the partition member 2 is only shown.
~eferring to ~ig. 2, the partition member 2 is formed by
bending into shape a sheet of metal such as aluminum or ~ ;
steel having an outer face coated in color to bear a
~ pattern resembling the grain pattern of wood. The metal
- 15 sheet is bent as by a press -to provide a one-piece
~ structure of substantially U-like cross-sec-tional shape
,
consisting of a side portion 13 and a pair of partition
portions 14 and 15. ~he side portion 13 of shortest
length provides a side face, and the two partition
portions 14 and 15 extend from the side portion 13 with .
a gradually increasing relative distance therebetween
to provide a pair of partition faces. An inwardly
protruding stepped section 16 is formed at the boundary
between the partition portion 14 and the side portion 13,
and an outwardly protruding stepped section 17 is formed
adjacent to the open side of the partition portion 14.
The terminal edge of this stepped section 17 is bent
outward to eY~tend in substantially parallel relation
with the side portion 13. ~1 interconnecting element
1~ is mounted on the top of the outwardly bent terminal
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1 edge of the stepped section 17 of the partition portion
14 to clamp this terminal edge at one end thereof while
protruding~ diagonally inward at the other end thereof.
A lining 19 of resilient material having a low coe-fficient
of friction, such as rubber or ela~tic synthetic resin,
is fixed to the terminal edge of the s-tepped section 17 ~ .
of the partition por-tion 14 and ex1ends from the lower ~ -
end of the interconnecting element 18 to the lower end
of the partition portion 14. This lining 19 has a cross-
sectional shape as best sho~n in Fig. 3 so as to cover
the terminal edge of the stepped section ]7 of the
partition portion 14 at one end thereof while protruding
diagonally inward at the other end thereof. The partition
-~ portion 15 is similarly provided with such stepped
- 15 sections 16 and 17, interconnecting element 18 and
ining 19
Another interconnecting element 20 is fixed ;~
at its middle part to an upper end of the side portion
13 of the partition member 2 and has both ends thereof
bent diagonally out~ard to be directed toward the
associated stepped sections 16. Another lining 21 of .
resilient material ha~Jing a low coefficient of friction,
such as rubber or elastic synthe-tic resin, is fiYed at
its middle part to the stepped section 16 to extend rom
the lo~ler end of the interconnecting element 20 to the
lo~7er end of the side portion 13 and has both ends
thereof bent di.agonally out~ard to be directed also to~1ard
the associated stepped sections 16, as shown in Figs. 2
and 3.
~loles 27 are bored in the upper cnd of thc
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1 side portion 13 and those of the stepped sections 17 of
the partition portions 14 and 15 to be respectively
engaged by hooks 26 of slidin~r pieces 25 movably received
in guide rails 22, 23 and 24 such as curtain-rods.
Thereore, a three-point suspension arrangement is
provided in which the side portion 13, partition portions
14 and 15 of the partition member 2 are respectively
suspended or supported by the sliding pieces 25 received
, - in thLe guide rails 23, 22 and 24. A cover 28 covers the
guide rails 22, 23 and 24.
The partition member 1 is anchored to a pillar
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or wall 29 of a room at its side portion 13. Therefore,
the interconnecting element 20 and lining 21 provided on
the slde portion 13 of the partition member 2 are
unr~ecessary in the case of the partition member 1.
Except for the above difference, the parti-tion member 1
is entirely the same as the partition member 2 in shape
and construction. The partition member 10 is detachably
-fixed to another ~all of the room at the open side
thereof. Therefore, the interconnecting elements 18 and
linings 19 provided on the partition member 2 are
unnecessary in the case OI the partition member 10.
Except for the above difference, the partition member 10
is entirely the same as the partition member 2 in shape
and construction. In the case of the parti-tion member
10, there~ore, a plate (not shown) of the same material
as that of the partition plates or of synthetic resin
may be mounted on the open side to close the same. r~eans
for joining the par-tition members 1 and 10 to the pillars
~0 or walls of the room may be the s.Lmc as those
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1 conventionally used for folding screens and will not be
specifically described nor illustrated. ;~
The remaining partition members 3 to 9 are
entirely the same as the partition member 2 in shape and
construction and are similarly movably supported by the
three guide rails 22, 23 and 24.
; ~ig. 4 shows a telescopically grouped state of
three of these partition members wllen not in use. These
three partition members 1, 2 and 3 are drawn from the
telescoped state shown in Fig. ~ to a fully drawn state
as sho~in in Fig. 5. At first, the user grasps the open~
æide terminal edge of the par-tition mer~ber 3 with his
hand to draw the same rightward in ~ig. ~. The inter~
connecting element 20 on the side portion 13 of the
partition member 3 engages with the interconnecting
elements 18 on the open-side terminal edge of the
partition member 2 and with further rightward drawing
movement of the partition member 3, the partitlon member
2 is drawn out of the internal space of the partition
Inember 1 which is anchored at its side portion 13 to the
wall 29 of the room. Thus, the drawing movement is
completed when the interconnecting element 20 of the
par-tition member 2 engages ~lith the interconnecting
elements 18 of the partition member 1. In the fully ~ ;
drawn state, -the lining 21 on the partition member 3
engages ~ith the linings 19 on the partition member 2,
and the lining 21 on the partition member 2 engages with
the lini~.gs 19 on the partition r.lember 1 to close -the gap
between these partition meMbers. Thus, a completely
~0 double-w 11ed structure is provided which improvcs thc
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1 sound insulation effect.
When not in use, the partition members 2 and 3
are telec~.coped into -the internal space of the partition
member 1 again. In this case, the user gras,ps the open-
side terminal edge of the par-tition member 3 with his
hand to move the same letward in Fig. 5. At first, the
partition member 3 is received in the internal space of
the partition member 2, and then, the partition members
and 2 are received in the internal space of the
partition member 1. During this operatlon, the inter-
connecting elements 18 and linings 19 on the partition
members 1 and 2 are pressed inward by the partition
portions 1~ and 15 of the partition members 2 and 3.
However, due to the fact that the outwardly protruding
stepped sections 17 are provided at the open-side terminal
edge of the individual pa,rtition members 9 these inter
connecting elements 18 and linings 19 are pressed to be
snugly received in the spaces defined by the stepped
sections 17. The interconnecting elements 20 and linings
21 on the side portions 13 of the partition members 2 and
3 are also pressed to be snugly received in the spaces
defined by the in~lardly protruding stepped sections 16
of the respective partition members. The lining 21 on
the outer partition member engages with the stepped
sections 16 of the inner partition member to prevent
excessive insertion of the inner par-tition mernber into
the internal space of the ou1;er partition member.
As above described, it is neccssary to cause
inward bending of the interconnecting elemen-ts 1~ and
20 when they are engaged by the partition portions during
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1 the telescopic grouping of the partition members 1 to ~.
~estraining means (not shown) is preferably provided to
restrain outward bending of the interconnecting elements
I8. That is, the interconnected elements 18 must be
,5 restrained from bending outward in order that those of
the inner partition member can engage with the in-ter-
connecting element 20 o~ the outer partition member to ,
permit drawing of the successive partition members f'rom
the telescopically grouped state. The~interconnecting
elements 18 and 20 need not possess a high mechanica]
strength when the sliding pieces 25 are arranged to slide
along the guide rails 22, 23 and 24 with a low coefficient
of friction. The moving directlon of the partition
members is limited by the guide rails 22, 23 and 24.
l'herefore, outer face of the inner partition member being
telescoped into the outer partition member would not
make rubbing engagement with the inner face of the outer
partition member. A material such as polytetrafluoro-
ethylene resins having a low coefficient of friction is
preferably coated on the entire area or selected portions
of the inner face of the partition portions of the
partition members to reduce the frictional contact.
Figs. 6 and 7 show a second preferred embodiment`
,of the present invention which is actually a modification
of the first embod:iment. Referring to Fig. 6, -the
interconnecting elements 1~ and 20 are replaced by a
flexible linear linking element 31 such as a strap or
string of stee] balls which extends between the side plates
]~ of the adjoining partition mcmbers. This linear
linklnr,g element ~1 is suf,'f`iciently ]ong so that a-l leas-t
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, 1 a part of the closed side of the partition portions of '~
the inner partition member can be situated within the
open side of the outer partition member in the fully
drawn state. Referring to Fig. 7, a lining 33 of
resilient material having a low coefficient of friction
extends from the top to the bottom of each of the terminal
edges of the stepped portions 17 of the partition members. -
- Each lining 33 covers the terminal edge of the associated
stepped section 17 of the parti-tion portion and is formed ~; '''
with an inwardly'protruding hollow projection 32. These
projections 32 have a sufficient height so that those -'~
on the outer partition member can engage with the ~ '
' partition portions on the closed side of the inner ''
partition member in the fully drawn state. Further, ~ '
these projections 32 are hollow so that those on the
outer partition member can be easily deformed or flattened -~
by being pressed by the partition portions of the inner
partition member in the telescoped state. In this second
embodiment, therefore, the stepped sections 16 and linings
21 provided ln the first embodiment are unnecessary.
A stopper 34 of resilient material such as rubber or
elastic synthetic resin is shown in Fig. 7 and has a
sufficient -thickness so that the inner parti-tion member
being telescoped may not be forced into the outer parti-
tion member more than is required. This stopper 34 actsalso as a cushion for the inner partition member being
telescoped into the outer partition member. This stopper
34 is provided on a]l the partition mcMbers except that
~hich is the innerrnost onc in the tc]cscoped assclnbly.
The stopper 3fi nee~d not cxtent froln the top to the bottorn
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" 1 of the si~e portion of each'of these partition members. ';
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' A single stopper 34 may be mounted on the middle portion ~'
; of the inner face of the side portion, or a plurality of
;, such stoppers 34 may be mounted in suitably vertically
5 spaced relation. In lieu of the a~ove position, such
; stopper or stoppers may be mounted on the outer face of
the side portion.
~ig. 8 shows a third preferred embodiment of the -~ '
present invention in which each partition member is
; 10 composed of a pair of independent partition plates 41 ana
42 which are connected together in the area of the side '
portion 13 of the partition members employed in the first
and second embodiments. ~;
' Referring to Fig. 8, the partition plates 41 ,~ ~
15 and 42 are bent at one end thereof substantially normal '
to their partition face -to provide a pair of side portions
43 and 44 respectively, and a stepped section 17 (not
shown) similar -to that in the first embodiment is formed
at the other end of each of the partition plates 41 and
42. The side portions 43 and 44 have such an angle
r~lative to the partitioning direction that the relative
distance between the partition faces of the partition
plates 41 and 42 increases gradually from the position
of their side portions 43 and 44. The parti-tion plates
41 and 42 are formed in -the area of their side portions
43 and 44 ~ith holding portions 46 which hold a hanger
45 suspended frorn a guide rail 23 of the kind as .sho~m
in Fig. 2. These holding portions 46 are forrned by
suitabl~ cutting a -~ertical slit in the conLronting end
edge sections of the side portions 43 and 4~, cutting -to
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7~4'72
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1 remov~ -the middle par-t of the slitted portions, and
bending the remaining slitted portions. The hanger 45
is supported by being held between the inner face of the
side portions 43, 44 and the holding portions 46. ~hen
so required, the hanger 45 may be welded or otherwise
fixed to the holding portions 46 or the inner face of the ~.
side plates 43 and 44. A resilient element 48 may be
provided to engage at both ends thereof with the inner
face of the partition plates 41 and 42 and at one side
thereof with the inrier face of the side portions 43 and
44 so as to cushion inwardly directed pressure imparted
to the partition plates 41 and 42.
In the third embodiment above described, a
pair of independent plates are used to consti-tute a
partition member unlike the firs-t and second embodiments.
Thus, the partition member can be more easily manufactured.
Further, the`independent plates can be assembled on the
site of construction to facilitate handling of the
partition member. This third embodiment is therefore
suitable for an application where each partition member
has a large surface area. In Fig. 8, only one supporting
point is provided at the side face of the partition
member as in the first embodiment. ~Iowever, the hanger
45 may rnerely be used as a connecting means for the
plates 41 and 42, and holes may be bored in the upper
end of the partition portions and side portions to
provide four supporting points to be supported by four
support or guide rails.
It will be undcrstood -from thc abovc descrip-
tion that each o the partition members in thc first,
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1 second and third embodiments comprises a plate or plates
providing one side face and a pair of opposite partition
faces e~tending substantially normal to the side -face
~1ith a relative distance therebetween gradually increasing
toward the other side. The other side opposite to the
~losed side is open to receive the adjoining partition
member therein so that the inner partition member can be
~elescoped into the outer partition member -to provide a
t~lescoped assembly of small bulk. The pla-tes
constituting the partition members are preferably as
thin as possible so that a plurality of these partition
members can be telescoped to provide a telescoped
assembly having a s~all assembled angle and a small bulk
which facilitates transportion and storage.
Figs. 9 to 12 show a fourth embodiment of the
present invention in which each partition member is
composed of a pair of independent plates as in the third
embodiment.
Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, a partition
member 2 is composed o~ a pair of partition plates 51 and
52 which are each formed at one end thereof with an
inwardly protruding stepped section 53 and at the other
end thereof with an outwardly protruding stepped section
54. The plate portion 55 of each stepped section 53
bent in parallel with the parti-tion face is provided at
an upper part thereof with a ~ertical]y extending slot
57 for receiving therein onc end of a hanger 56 of
substantially inverted-T shape, and a-t a midd]e part
thereof rli1,h another vertically extending slot 59 for
~0 recei~ing t~lerein one end of a resilient connecting
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1 element 5~. This plate portion 55 is also provided at
a lo~er part thereof with another vertically extending
slot 62 for receiving therein one end of an interconnecting
element 61 of substantially inverted-T shape to which
one end of a flexible linear linking element 31 such as
a strap or string of steel balls is fixed for inter-
connection between the adjoining partition members.
- A cutout 63 is provided at an upper central
part of the hanger 56 of substantially inverted-T shape,
and a vertically extending slot 64 is provided beneath
this cutout 63. The hanger 56 comprises a pair of
horizontal wings 65 and 66 which are received loosely in
the slots 57 of the partition plates 51 and 52
respectively.
The resilient connecting element 58 is formed
of a resilient material such as rubber or elastic
synthetic resin. The main body 67 of the connecting
element 58 determines the space between the stepped
sections 53 of the partition~plates 51 and 52 connected
together at this side, and a pair of wings 68 and 69
extend hori~ontally in directions opposite to each other
~rom the main body 67 to be received loosely in the slots
59 of the partition plates 51 and 52 respectively.
These ~ings 68 and 69 are shaped to have a suitable
25 cross-section such as a substantially flat-oval cross-
section so as to normally resiliently bias the other or
open side of the partition plates 51 and 52 toward each
other in a closing dircction.
A cu-tout 70 is provided at an upper cen-tral
part o~ thc lnterconnecting eleMent 61 of sub~-tantially
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1 inverted-T shape, and one end of the linking element ~1 is
fi~edly received in this cutout 70. The interconnccting
element 61 comprises a pair of ho~izontally ex-tending
r
wings 71 and 72 which are received loosely in the slots
:~ 5 62 of the partition plates 51 and 52 respectively.
The end edge of the stepped section 54 of each
of the partition pla-tes 51 and 52 is bent at a suitable
angle within the stepped section 54 as shown in Fig. 9. ~ ~;
` A cutout 74 is provided at an upper central par-t of the
plate portion 73 of the stepped section 54 bent in
parallel with the partition face, and a vertically e~tending
slot 75 is provided beneath this cutout 74. A lining 76
of resilient material having a low coefficient of
friction, such as rubber or elastic syn-thatic resin, is
fitted in the stepped section 54 and protrudes at its top
end beyond the upper end of the associated partition
plate. A rod 77 of metal extends vertically through ;
this lining 7~ to serve as a reinforcement which prevents
vertical bending of the associated partition plate.
Another connecting element 78 of resilient
material having forked ends is provided to hold the
lo~1er part of the plate portions 7~ of the stepped
sections 54 of the partition members 51 and 52 between
the fork. This resilient connecting element 78 is
arranged to have its upper face located beneath the
lower end of the partition plates 51 and 52 so as not
to obstruct insertion of the adjoining partition members
relative to each other.
~s shown in Fig. 10, a hook 79 of substantially
~0 8-like shape engages at its lower -ring with the cutout
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] 63 and slot 6~ of each of the hangers 56. Such a hook
'' 79 is also shown engaging with the cutout 74 and slot 75
of each o~ the stepped sections 54. The uppe:r link of
each hook 79 is engaged by a suspending link 83 of a
sliding piece 82. The hook 79 engaging with the s-tepped
section 54 of the partition plate 51 is supported by
;~ the sliding piece 82 recei,ved in a guide rail 22, and the
hook 79 engaging with the hanger 56 is suppor-ted by the
sliding piece 82 received in another guide rail 23,
- 10 while the hook 79 engaging with the stepped section 54
~, of the partition plate 52 is supported by the sliding
piece 82 received in ano-ther guide rail 24. Thus, each
partition rnember is movably supported at three points as
in the first embodiment.
Referring to ~igs. 10 and 11, a cover member
84 covers the stepped sections 55 of a partition member
1 and serves as a grip to be engaged by the hand during
drawing. The partition member 1 is entirely the same in
shape and construction as the partition member 2 except
the above difference.
Referring to '~ig. 12, a cover member 85 covers
the open side of a partition member 10 and serves to
join the partition member 10 -to a pillar or wall 29 of a
room. ~eans for joining the partition member 10 -to the
pillar or wall 29 may be the same as -that conventionally
used for a folding screen and will not be specifically
described nor illustrated. This part:ition member 10 is
also enti-rely the sarne in shape and cons-truction as the
partiti,on membcr 2 cxcept the above difference. The
remaining partitiGn Members 3 to G~ are also e~ntirely
~,
- 17 -
~6~7~7Z
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: . 1 the same in shape and construction as the partition
member 2.
In -the fourth embodiment, -the partition plates
51 and 52 of each of the partition members 1 to 10 are
~; 5 biased at their stepped sections 54 toward each other
by the wings 68 and 69 of the resilient connecting
element 5~. Thus, the stepped sections 54 of 7 for example,
the partition member 1 are brought into intimate contac-t
~: with the par-tition plates 51 and 52 of the partition .
10 member 2 in the fully drawn state, and -the linings 76 ~
cooperate with then to provide a completely double-walled
structure which improves the sound insulation effectO
The width of the main body 67 of the resilient connecting
element 58 in a direction normal to -the partition faces
determines the space between the stepped sections 53 of
the partition plates 51 and 52. Therefore, when this
width is suitably selected to establish a substantially
parallel relationship between the partition plates 51 and
52 of each partition member in the fully dra~ state, the
20 partition faces of the partition thus completed are :~
substantially flat except the stepped sections 5~ and
will not impair the beautiful appearance of the partition.
~ Ihen telescoped together, the partition members
2 to 10 ~re received in the interval space of the
partition member 1. The outward expansion of the
partition member 1 in this telescoped state is resi.liently
absorbcd by the wings 6~ and 69 of the resilient
connecting element 5~. In -thc fourth ernbodimcnt, the
resi.lient connectlng elerncnt 7~ additionally provided for
connect:ing thc lower ends oL the parti.tion pl.tltes 5:1 and
- 1~
47Z
.
1 52 cooperates with the cover member ~4 so as to also
restrain such outward expansion of the partition plates
51 and 52 in the fully drawn state in addition to the
telescoped state.
In the present embodiment, the string of steel
balls as the linking element 31 is used to connect one
partition member to the adjoining one and extends between
the interconnecting elements 61 with a length corresponding
to the maximurn drawn distance each partition member.
This string of steel balls can be easily fixed to the
associated interconnecting element 61 by fitting the same
in the cutout 70 at the portion intermediate the balls. ;~
~igs. 13 to 16 show a fifth embodiment of the
present invention which is actually a modification of the
fourth embodiment. In this embodiment 3 a resilient
restraining element 101 is additionally provided in the
fourth embodiment so as to restrain outward expansion of
the partition plates 51 and 52 in the area of the stepped
sections 54 in the fully drawn state.
Referring to Fig. 13, a pair of vertically
extending slots 102 are provided in the respective plate
portions 55 of the stepped sections 53 of the parti-tion
plates 51 and 52 for receiving therein the resilient
restraining element lOlo Referring to Fig. 14, the
resilient restraining element 101 comprises a main body
103 which determines the space between the stepped
sections 53 of the partition plates 51 and 52 connected
together at this side. A pair of wings 104 and 105
exte-nd hori~ontally in d:irections opposite to each o-ther
fror.~ this main body 103 to be recelved loosely in the
- 19 ~
7~.~ a7~ ~
.~ .
1 slots 102 of the partition plates 51 and 52 respectively.
~ach of these wings 104 and 105 comprises a thin-thickness
portion 106 formed adjacen-t to the main body 103 and an
engaging portion 107 of substantially flat-~val shape
5 formed adjacent to the thin-thickness por-tion 106 for ~ ;
engagement with the associated stepped section 54. The
length between the ends of the engaging portlons 107 is
selected to be greater than the distance between the
- p~rtition plates 51 and 52. This resilien-t restraining
element 101 is a one-piece structure of a resilient
material such as rubber, polypropyrene, Vinylon or like
elastic synthetic resin.
As shown in ~igs. 1~ and 15, the resilient
restraining element 101 extends between the partition
plates 51 and 52 while being bent in a pair of openings
108 provided in the portion plates 51 and 52 in the
vicinity of the slots 102 OI -the plate por-tions 55 of ;;
their stepped sections 53. There-fore, the engaging
;-portions 107 of the resilient restraining element 101
20 mounted in, for example, the partition member 2 engage
at their outer face resiliently wi-th the inner face of -the
partition plates 51 and 52 of the partition member 1.
The resilient biasing force imparted by the engaging
portions 107 of the resilient restraining element 101
25 is selected to be less than the inward biasing force of
the resilient connecting element 5~. The engaging
portions 107 engaging with the par-tition plates 51 and
52 are preferably trcated ak their outer face with a
suitable rnaterial providing a low coefflcient of friction.
~0 In thls ernbodiment, the cnd edge of each of the
- 20 ~
~07~L~7~
1 stepped sections 54 is bent in parallel with the
partition face as shown by 109 in Fig. 13, and the
associated engaging portion 107 of the resilient res-train-
ing element 101 engages with -this bent portion 109.
When, for example, -the partition member 2 is
telescoped into the internal space of the partition
member 1, the resilient restraining element 101 in the
inner partition member 2 is bent at its thin-thickness
portions 106 by the parti-tion plates 51 and 52 of the
outer partition member 1. ~he resilient restraining
element 101 in the inner partition member 2 engages at
its engaging portions 107 with the inner face of the
partition plates 51 and 52 of the outer partition member
1 through the openings 108 as seen in Figs. 13 and 15.
In this case the par-tition plates 51 and 52 of the outer
partition member 1 would not be urged away from each
other, since the outward biasing force imparted by the
engaging portions 107 of the resilient restraining
element 101 to the inner face of the partition plates 51
and 52 of the outer partition member 1 is less than the
inward biasing force imparted by the wings 68 and 69 of
the resilient connecting element 58.
~Ihen the partition member 1 is moved leftward
- from the position sho~n in Figs. 1~ and 15, the diagonally
outward pressure having been imparted by the thin-thickness
portions 106 of the resilient restraining member 101 and
the vertical pressure having been imparted by the engaging
portions 107 of the resilient restraining mcmber 101 in
Fig. 15 are replaced by the pressure which :is dirccted
~0 diagonally rear~lard relative to the moving direction.
- 21 -
- ~7~'72
The win~s 10~ and 105 of the resilient restraining member
101 in the partition member 2 are permitted to extend
into the stepped sections 54 of the partition member 1
when the bent portion 109 of the stepped sections 54
of the partition member 1 register with the openings 108
of the partition member 2. With further leftward movement ;
of the partition member 1 in Fig. 15, the engaging
portions 107 of the resilient restraining element 101
engage finally with the inner face of the stepped sections
54 of the partition member 1 as shown in Fig. 16. The
fully extended length of the wings 104 and 105 of the
resilient restraining element 101 is selected so as not
to urge the stepped sec-tions 54 away f~om each other.
Therefore, no outward pressure is imparted to the stepped
sections 54 of the partition member 1 in the fully drawn
state, although the stepped sections 54 are engaged by
the resilient restrainin~ element 101 of the partltion
member 2.
In each individual partition member fully
drawn to constitute the partition, the wings 68 and 69
of the resilient connecting element 58 ac-t to bias the
stepped sections 5~ toward each other. Thus, the stepped
sections 54 of, for example, the partition member 1 are
brought into intimate contact with the partition plates
51 and 52 of the par-tition member 2, and the partition
members provide a completely double-walled struc-ture
which iMproves the sound insulation effect. The
dimensions oY the main bodies 103 and 67 of the rcstrain-
in~r elcrncnt 101 and connectin~r elernent 58 respective]y
deterrni.ne the space bet~een thc stepped sections 53 of thc~
.~
- ~2 -
107~'7Z
1 partition member. Therefore, these dimensions are
preferably selected to establish a substantially parallel
relationship between the partition faces provided by -the
partition plates 51 and 52 of the individual partition
members in the fully drawn state, so that -the overall
partition faces can be rendered substantially flat, except
the protruding stepped sections 54, without imparting
the beautiful appearance of the partition.
Figs. 17 to 20 show one form of holding means
used for holding the lower end of partition members in
a six-th preferred embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, four partition members 121, 122, 123
and 124 as sho~m in Fig. 17 constitute a partition
partitioning a room in-to two compar-tments 9 and the
outermost partition member 121 is initially drawn to
complete the partition.
A holder 125 extends on a floor 126 in parallel
with an upper guide member 120 This holder 125 comprises
a base 127 fixed to the floor 126 and having a width
larger than the thickness of the partition members 121
to 12~, a pair of upper covers 128 fixed at one end
thereof to the base 127 and adapted to be releasably
brought into abutment with each other at the other end
thereof on the longitudinal centerline of the base 127,
and a pair of tapes 129 extending subs-tantially bodily
along the lower face of the respec-tive upper covers 12~.
Teeth 130 of a slide fastener are rnounted on the other
end of each of the tapes 129 to be releasab1y brought into
meshing eng,lgement by a sliding elemen-t 131 of the slide
Iastener. ~lhen the teeth 130 are brought into ~leshing
, - 23 -
~7~
1 engagement by the sliding element 131, the upper covers
128 are brough-t into abutmcnt with each other to be
substantially flattened on the base 1270 A pair of
pliable restraining strips 132 are interposed between the
5 base 127 and the upper covers 128 so as to restrain the
amount of parting movement of the upper covers 128 which
are forced away -from each other with the movement of the
partition members 121 to 124. The restraining strips 132
are ~olded in a manner as shown in ~ig. 20 when the tee-th - -
130 of the slide fastener are brought into meshing
engagement. The sliding element 131 is mounted on one
end of a carrier 133 which is fixed at the other end
thereof to a cover member 84 for the leadi,ng partition
~ember 121. A longitudinal central groove 134 is provided
on the base 127 to receive the upper covers 128 thereir
when the upper covers 128 are flattened wi-th the movement
of the sliding element 131 carried by the carrier 133.
As the leading partition member ]21 is drawn
to constitute -the partition between the two compartmen-ts
of the room, the sliding element 131 releases the meshing
engagement between the teeth 130 as shown in ~ig. 18.
The tapes 129 and upper covers 128 are forced upward by
the cover member 8~ to hold therebetween -the lower
partition face por-tions of the partition member 121
thereby preventing rolling of the lower par-t of the
partition member 121. The parti-tion member,s 122, 123
and ]24 successively drawn ~ith further drawing movement
of the partition membcr 121 can also be held a-t their
lo~Jer part by -the holder 125 a~ainst ro]ling. Thus, all
the partition mcmbers 121 to 12~ are preventcd -f`rom
- 21~ -
~1~7~7;~
1 rolling in the course of drawing movement to complete
the partition.
The partition members ]21 to 12~ constituting
the partition are moved rightward in Fig. 17 to be
grouped into the telescoped assembly. With rightward
movement of the partition member 121, the sliding element
1~1 brings the teeth 130 into meshing engagement again,
and the upper covers 128 are substantially -flattened as '~
shown in ~ig. 20. Therefore, when the partition members
121 to 12~ are grouped into the telescoped assembly, the
holder 125 is substantially bodily flattened to leave a
slight thickness on the floor 126 as seen in Fig. 20.
The transverse end ed~es of the holder 125 may be suitably
tapered as illustrated to prevent stumbling or other
trouble. The holder 125 may be def,achably mo~mted on
the floor 126, and -the sliding-element carrier 133 may
be detachably mou-nted on the cover member 84 of the
leadlng partition rnember 121 so as to permit removal of
the entire holder 125 when the partition members 121 to
124 are grouped i,nto the telescoped assembly.
, , Although the holder in the,si~th ernbodiment is
~ illustrated to include a slide fastener to releasably
- hold the lower part of the partition members, those
skilled in the are will readily understand that the slide
fastener may be réplaced by a nylon tape fastener or a
so-called vinyl fastener comprising a male elernent
adapted to be fitted in a continuous groove.
The embodiments above dcscribed have referred
to an anplication of the struct;ure according to the
~0 prescnt invention to a partition uscd for part:itioning
25 - '
- ~7~
1 a room in-to two compartments. It is apparent that the
structure according to the present invention is applicable
to a sliding entrance door of a house or room and also
to a sliding shutter mounted outside of a door or window
to protect against wind or rain, due to the fact tha-t
the partition members of double-walled structure exhibit
the open-air shutting effect as well as the sound ~;
insulation effect. When the structure according to the
present invention is used as such a sliding door or
- 10 slidin~ shutter, the drawing ends of the partition members
are fixed to guide members or the partition members are
held as shown in Figs. 17 to 20 and are reinforced in a
direction normal to the partition ~aces so as to
withstand the wind or like pressure in the fully drawn
state.
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