Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1~87B9
The present invention relates to wall elements,
and in particular to interior walls for buildings.
It is the object of the invention to provide
wall elements which are prefabricated and offer a
possibility of adaptation to the space dimensions up to
a predetermined order of magnitude without assembly at
the builZing site. The main aim is the dry erection of
partitions in the interior walling of buildings at a
minimum of technical knowledge ("Do-it-Yourself-Method")
and minimum requirements of tools. Moreover', the facings
are to be eliminated so as to encounter no obstacles in
the interior finishing work.
The invention relates to a wall element', in
particular for the interior walling of buildings', comprising
a frame structure on both sides of which a cover plate having
sufficient inherent stiffness is attached. The improvement
comprises the frame structure which has at least two frame
parts which are mutually adjustable one to the other and
are formed symmetrically in relation to the central plane
of the wall. The cover plates are fixedly attached to one
of the frame parts and connectable to the other frame part
after adaptation of the frame part to the dimension of
the room.
This embodiment permits a precise adaptation
to the actual dimensions within the building by cutting
off the excess portions of the cover plates from the
prefabricated element. A further advantage of the object
of the invention resides in the fact that due to the
appropriate dimensioning of the maximum cutoff area, convcyor
line production is possible', since the wall elements can
now be produced
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in just one size corresponding to this cutoff measure, so
that the accompanying advantages over single-part production
or small series production conventional up to now can be
achieved and stock-keeping becomes possible, with the result
that wall elements of this type may be offered by any
building material merchant like any other building material.
The invention is described in the following under reference
to embodiments shown in the drawings~
Fig. 1 and 2 are partial views of embodiments of a wall
element according to the invention partially cut 9
Fig. 3 is a view of the adjusting screw and nut for
height adjustment of the wall element in enlarged scale;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the nut of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the nut of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 to 10 are views of the lower rim of the wall
element at various room heights;
Fig. 11 shows the adjustment of the wall element to
door and/or window openings;
Fig. 12 shows a horizontal section through another
embodiment of a wall element according to the invention;
Fig. 13 shows the section according to Fig. 12, but at
changed room height;
Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the interlocking frame
parts;
Fig. 15 is a reduced-scale view of an embodiment
having frame parts with offset separating line;
Fig. 16 is a view of frame parts having pivotable legs;
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Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic, partially opened view of a
wall element according to the invention having frame parts
of wood and an intermediary part and
Fig. 18 is a representation accordi~g to Fig. 17 at
changed room dimension.
According to Fig. 1 and 2, the wall element generally
bearing the reference number 1 consists of a wooden supporting
frame having edge uprights 2 and crossbars 3. The figures
each show only a cutaway portion with one upright 2 and the
lower crossbar 3. On these frames composed of the uprights
and crossbars, cover plates 4 and 5, for instance plaster-
board plates having adequate inherent stiffness are attached
on both sides in a suitable manner, such as by means of
screws, nails, adhesive or the like. In the embodiment shown
in Fig. 1 and 2, cutting off in height is made possible by
arranging the lower crossbar 3 offset backwards in relation
to the edge of the plates 4 and 5 by a maximum cutting extent
into the interior of the element 1. The ca~ity thus formed
in the edge zone of the element 1 is filled up by a squared
timber 6 which is only slid into the element 1 or fixed
thereto in an easily relOE~able manner. In this zone, the
two cover plates 4 and 5 are attached only to the crossbar
3. It is thus easily possible to adjust the height of the
element to the dimensions of the room in which it is to be
installed by cutting the element 1 on its lower rim without
impairing its properties as a stressed structure. In addition,
the element 1 may be provided with leveling supports 10 so as
to compensate for any unevenness of the floor. In the embodiment
shown, the leveling supports 10 consist of a plate 11 releasably
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attached to, in particular slipped onto, a crossbar 3,
the plate 11 being provided with a threaded hole into
which an adjusting screw 12 with supporting head 13 is
screwed. The crossbar 3 and the squared timber 6 arranged
underneath it are pro~ided with corresponding bores for
recei~ing the adjusting screw 12.
Fig. 2 shows two further possibilities, in addition
to those described in connection with the height adjustment
by means of the squared timber 6 in Fig. 1, for an adjust-
ment in width of the element. The possibility of adjust~ent
or cutting off in width can be provided in the same manner
as for the adjustment in height, by offsetting the upright
2 rearward into the interior of the eLement 1 from its rim
and mounting a packing block 7 similar to the squared timber
6.
The second possibility for cutting off consists in the
upright 2 being attached to crossbars 3 adjustably on its
two ends. For this purpose, for instance, a U-shaped rail
element 8 protruding transversally from the upright 2 and
resting on the crossbar 3 could be attached to the front
face of the upright 2. For connection with the crossbar,
the embodiment shown is provided on the crossbar with a
U-shaped profile 9 enclosing the U-rail 8 siladbly therein.
The connection between the two U-shaped parts 8 and 9 can
be effected in the spots indicated by means of dots by means
of self-tapping screws or the like piercing the plates 4, 5.
Th~ wall element shown in Fig. 1 and 2 is pro~ided with
a filling 18' or thermic or sound însulating material which
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also possesses flame-retarding properties, such as,
for instance,~mineral wool. The filling 18' is compressible
and can be cut along its edges for adjustment of the wall
e~ement.
In Fig. 3 to 5, the adjusting screw 12 and the nut 11
are shown in detail in enlarged scale. The adjusting screw
12 has a hexagonal head with collar 16 on which a wrench
can be placed for adjustment of the screw in the threaded
bore of the nut ll. The head part 17 of the adjusting screw
12 is provided with a centering projection 18 extending
coaxially in relation to the axis of the screw and insertable
into the floor. The nut ll has the shape of a rectangular
plate which is provided in each of its corner zones with
a prong-like projection l9 for the selective attachment
of the nut ll onto the frame 2, 3 or the levelin~ part 6
Fig. 6 to ll show the extent of the adjustability of
the element l to the premises.
In the position shown in Fig. 6, the minimum position,
the building element l is cut off to its maximum cutting
extent, namely, down to the bottom edge of the crossbar
3, with the height adjustment 10 not yet in action and
the crossbar 3 immediately abutting the subfloor level A,
The floor level bears the reference symbol B.
Fig. lO shows the maximum height adjustme~t of the
uncut element in relation to the subfloor level A of the
room. The adjusting screw 12 is shown in the farthest
possible projecting supporting position, which means that
it is screwed out to project by the distance value a in
relation to the bottom edge of the element. The gap thus
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created between the bottom edge of the element and the
subfloor lev~l A is covered up by the floor construction
applied later on. The floor level bears the reference
symbol B. It i9 evident that no cover strips are required
in walling, since the cover plates reach down below this
floor level.
Fig. 7 to 9 show various intermediary positions. According
to Fig. 7, the leveling part 6 is not yet put into place,
while the adjusting screw is already in place, completely
screwed into the wall element. Fig. 8 shows no leveling
part in place, but the adjusting screw 12 screwed as far
as possible out of the nut 11. According to Fig. 9, the
leveling part 6 is now used with the passage bore 15 for
the adjusting screw 12 which is screwed as far as possible
into the wall element.
Fig. 11 shows the adaptation of the wall element to
door or window openings 20.
In Fig, 12, 13, the frame parts 2, 3 are shown as U-shaped
profiles of metal or plastic material and mutually displaceable.
The displaceability is assured by one of the U-shaped profiles
having a reduced dimension in its one end portion (Fig. 14).
For passing the adjusting screw 12 through the frame parts
2, 3, one of these is pro~ided with an oblong hole 14 pierced
by the adjusting screw (Fig, 12, 13).
The frame parts 2, 3 are mainly of symmetrical shape.
For providing an offset separating line, however, it is
possible, according to Fig. 15, to pro~ide legs 2~, 3' and
2", 3" of different lengths of the frame parts 2, 3.
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In order to simplify, and save space in, transport
and storage,_ Fig. 16 shows that the legs 2IV, 2 of the
frame parts could also be articulated or rotatable. The
axis of rotation 16 in this case is provided in the corner
zone of the wall element and extends essentially vertically
in relatian to the plane of the cover plate.
In the embodiment according to Fig. 17 and 18~ the
frame consists of uprights 22 and crossbars 23. By providing
a pin 24 projecting on the front end of the adjustable frame
part, i.e. the crossbar 23, and engaging a slot 25 in the
adjacent frame part 22, the one frame part (crossbar 23)
is adjustable up to the inner end of the slot 25. If the
pin 24, as shown in Fig. 17, is longer than the thickness
of the frame part (upright 22), an adjustment of the other
dimension of the element is possible at the same time.
If additional uprights 26 are provided, they can be
fastened on the crossbar 23 by means of a pin-slot-connection,
the pin 27 of the additional upright 26 engaging a slot 28
of the crossbar 23 having to be of a length corresponding
to the oblong hole on the edge upright 22. The pin 27 is
attached to the crossbar 23 after the element has been c~t,
for instance by means of a fastening screw penetrating from
the outside. In the embodiments according to Fig. 17 and 18,
the cover plates 4 and 5 are fixedly connected in prefabric-
ation to the frame parts (uprights 22 and crossbars 23) only
in those zones where no adjustment of the frame parts for
cutting is provided for.
The frame parts of the element 1 need not consist of
wood, but could also be made of metal or plastic material,
~ 1~87B9
for instance in the shape of U-profiles, the adjustment
of the frame parts in relation to one another made possible
by connections of a shape similar to that of the U-rails
8 and 9 shown in Fig. 2.
The embodiment of the building element 1 according to
the invention permits a major rationalization in stock-keeping,
as all building height and widths can be covered by a minimum
number of dimensions. It had proven practical, for instance,
to provide height graduations of 15 cm and width graduations
of about 30 cm, so that cutting of the individual elements
iR possihle to that extent.
The invention allows an adjustment of the wall elements
to the naturally different room heights of 2.45 m to 2.60 m.
The invention permits a height adjustment of the element,
taking into consideration the removal of the lower threshold,
precisely to the millimeter up to 12 cm. ~or an even greater
adjustment in height, 3 more centimeters can be gained by
removing the ad~usting screw, so that a total height adjust-
ment of 15 cm is possible without impairing the ~tructural
and static part of the wall element.
Particular attention is paid to the fact that the wallpaper
in building and apartment construction is hung down to the
upper edge of the floor and that the required height adjust-
ment of the elements does not necessitate covering up the
free spaces thus created by means of facings or other types
of covering as in other types of partitioning systems. In the
present height adjustment, care was taken of the fact that
the minimum floor construction height, including insertion
of insulating materials, floors and floor coverings, amounts
to about 8 centimeters, so that even at a height adjustment
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of ~ centimeters, covering and perfect sound insulation
of the bottom edge is still assured. The gaps between the
floor construction and the bottom edge of the element are
filled up exclusively with concrete mortar, as conventional
in prefabricated building construction, with the static
preconditions for stressed interior walls provided in this
case, as well. The use of these wall elements is also possible
to allow for later dismantling, in which case no concrete is
filled in and the walls can have no static function.
It is understood that the various connections for the
adjustment of individual frame parts as shown are only
examples for possible embodiments of the invention. On
principle, any given suitable connection for the frame parts
can be used.
It is also possible to provide the wall elements, as
known Per se. with openings for doors, windows~ hatches
or the like.
Although the wall element according to the invention
i5 intended mainly for the interior walling of buildings,
it could also be used for exterior walls, for instance in
prefabricated building construction.
This application is a division of application Serial
No. 399,726 filed March 30, 1982.
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