CA 02259059 2001-06-19
This invention relates to a modular building system
for freest~~nding scmeens or room dividers. Especially
the invention relates to a modular building system for
freestanding screen> of the type used to partition space
into discrete areas such as, for example, screens used
for partition office space into typing bays and other
work areas.
Freestanding screens or room dividers are frequently
formed by integral T~rerti_cal panels supported vertically
by a stand. Such panels may either be solid, for example
particle board panels or they may comprise a front panel
and a back panel ha~,~ing air spa<:.e or filling such as
insulation between them. Whether the panels are solid or
spaced apaz-t panels it is u~;ual1_y neces sa:ry for aesthetic
purposes to provide an edging around the screen.
Sometimes :such edging may incorporate linking means to
link adjacent panel:;. The front. and back surfaces of
such panel~~ may be decorated by any convenient. means,
frequently by fabrics coverir~g.
Although screerns of different= heights and widths may
be provided by ut-ilizing parcels of different sizes, it is
not possib7.e to adjmst the heights of any one particular
screen. Moreover, although a wide variety of decorative
finishing ~~urfaces a:m.d side edging may be used, the
provision of such finishes adds considerably to the cost
of the article. Le}s important~_y, if such screens are to
be stored, they takc:~ up considerable storage space unless
they may be disassembled frc>rn their stands. Even if it
is possible to disa~asemble the panels from the stands,
the panels must be either st.<~cked vertically against a
wall or flat on the floor. In e_i_ther case considerable
floor spacE~ or wall space i~; required for storage.
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The present inventor has at:t~empted to provide a
versatile building ~:~ystem for screens, especially those
to be used to partit..ion spacve, which screens may be
adjustable in height and easily disassembled for
reconfiguration.
According to the invention there is provided a
modular bu__l.ding sy.tem to form at least. one
dissassemb7able, freestanding screen, the system
comprising at least two elongate supports each having an
upper end and a lower end, a foots for each of the support
members to hold the support member stably in a vertical
position, t=he lower end of each support member being
engagable with one c~f the feet; a plurality of building
blocks stackable once upon another to form a screen. The
stacked blocks to bcthreaded in vertical progression on
the support. members, each building block comprising a
rectangular box hav:i.ng an open bottom and an open top.
Preferably the buildinct blacks engage one with
another by means of members upstanding from opposed inner
surfaces of one bui~..ding block to project into and fit
against opposed inm:~r surfaces c>f another building block
stacked on it. The upstanding members may conveniently
be formed by prof:il i..ng uppezw anc~ lower margins to form
interengag=_mg steps. Alternat=ively inner lining walls
may be provided aga_i.nst opposed _inner wall surfaces of
each build=_zug block. Inner .Lin_~ng walls fixed to opposed
inner end wall surfaces may be provided with handles to
aid manipu=_~,tic>n of the bui7.din~~ blocks.
The sy~~tem may include an uppermost capping member
comprising a rectan<:fular box having an open bottom and a
closed top the dimera.sions of: the capping member being
such as to latch int:.o the build=ing block immediately
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below it. Preferab:l.y, the upper surface of each building
block is bevelled dc:wnwardly and inwardly. When a
capping member is u~;ed above one of these building
blocks, the dimensicons of the capping member may be such
that the dipping merriber nests in the building block
supported by the bevelled surface.
The support members may be t=elescopic so that their
height may be a.djust:able.
Transirerse strut members may be provided within the
building b7.ocks to ~arovide them with some rigidity. The
building b7_ocks may also be provided with open ended
sockets fro~~ top to butt:om for ~>liding fit about the
support members.
When ussemblinc~ a building :system according to the
invention into a fre~estamdirlg screen the steps may
generally be as follows:
1) The lower ends of two ~>uppor_t~ members are engaged
into corre~~ponding feet;
2) If the height caf the support: members is adjustable
these are now adjusted t:o the height required;
3) A lowermost building block is threaded onto the
support members thrcau.gln the sockets in the building block
provided for that piixpose and the building block is
lowered to rest om the fEeet;
4) A further builcii.ng block is threaded onto the
support members and l.~wer_ed onto the lowermost building
block;
5) Further building block~~ are added until the screen
has nearly reached t:he desired height;
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6) The sv~acked building b:Locks are retained in the
stack by means of engagement, means between the uppermost
building b:Lock and (each of t=he supports;
7) Final:Ly a capping member is placed over the top end
of the support to n<est. on tine uppermost building block.
Embodiments of the inventi~:~n will now be described
with reference to tUe drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a rocma dividing partition screen made up
from a syst=em accor<aing to t; he invention;
Figure 2 shows the r:~oom div-;_dinc3 partition screen of
Figure 1 a:~ an expl~~ded view showing details of the
bui:Lding b=Locks;
Figure 3 is a view of a foot. in <~ building system
according t=o the invention;
Figure 4 shows the interior of a stacking building unit
according t=o the invention; and
Figures 5 and 6 are en.gineei,ing drawings of an embodiment
of the invention shr:>wing preferrced features.
The drawings sLlow a room d:..~,riding partition screen
10 made up of build~.ng blocks la? and vertical supports
14. The screen 10 ~s a freestanding single unit as shown
in Figure 7_. The partition screen 10 comprises building
blocks 12 ~~tacked tai any de:; ir-ec~ height .
As mar be best seen from F'-lure 2 t;he system may
comprise, f_or each ~~creen 10, a ~~air of elongate support
members 14 to be he7_d in a vent=c~a1 position by feet 16.
Usually a pair of sl.zppor_t: membe~v> 14 with feet 16 is
sufficient for any r:>ne screen. For example a pair of
feet 16 wi7_1 support: a screen of up to 8 feet in width.
If a very wide screen is de:;irec~, it may sometime be
desirable t:o have more than two support members.
CA 02259059 2001-06-19
Feet 7_6, illustrated in Figure 3, may be of any
convenient shape anti size but generally extend
horizontal7_y at right. angle~~ to 1=he plane of screen 10 to
give it st~rbility in the vexvtica=L plane. Conveniently,
the feet m~iy have trre form illustrated in Figure 3 being
generally elliptical. in plan view having a flat lower
surface with the ma or axis of t=he ellipse extending
hor=izontal7_y at. rigOt angle; to t=he plane of the screen.
The elliptical base 18 may nave a separate round or
elliptical neck 20 haaving a socket 22 in an upper
surface. Alternatively the base may be one piece with
the neck merging into :it,. The socket: 22 is designed to
mate with ~r lower egad of onEe of the supports 14. Thus,
if the support is of round cros:~ section, then the socket
will be of round crr;ss section having a similar diameter.
If t=he support is of square or o= other cross section the
socket wil7_ have a shape corresponding t=o it.
The supports 19, themselve:~, have a length generally
corresponding t.o the: desired height of the screen 10. In
order that the suppc:~rt members 14 lodge securely in
sockets of building units 12 in a manner to be
hereinafter describE~d, it i:; des=Lrable t=hat the outer
surface of supports 1.4 be cc>ntirmous. Thus, supports 14
may be supplied in different. lengths according to
cust=omer requirements. Alternat=:ivel.y, supports 14 may be
supplied in lengths considered adequate for most purposes
and may be cut to shorter lengtlu:~ by the customer if
required. Alternati..vely, support=s 14 may be made
telescopic but when telescopic supports are provided it
may be difficult to provide a continuous outer surface of
constant diameter.
Each building block 12 may comprise a rectangular
box having an open trop and an open bottom. Each box may
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be formed of fibre board, chip board, pressed wood, wood
or any other convenient material. The boxes or building
units 12 may be assembled into the final screen 10 by
stacking one box upon another sc that the lower edge of
one box rests on the upper box of the other. Engagement
means should be prcvided between the boxes to prevent: or
inhibit relative movement. between them. The engagement
means may be any convenient means but preferably should
be provided inwardly of the boxes so as not to present
any unsightly appearance on the outside. For example, as
may be seen from Fi:_~ur_es 2 and 4, the engagement means
may be a rigid liner 24 upstanding from an inner surface
of a lower box 12 t::~ project into and position an upper
box 12 immediately above it. As shown, liners 24 extend
fully along both lone; walls 26 of the box 12. The liner
24 may only extend ~::wer one pair of opposed walls as
shown. Alternatively the liner 24 may extend over long
side walls 26 and ov,r~~r shor-~ end walls 28.
Alternatively, a series of positioning pegs may extend
upwardly from the inner sur:Eace of a lower box to
position an upper b~::~x upon _Lt .
The liner; 24 may conveniently comprise elongate
boards to rest on lfec:ges 30 projecting inwardly from
inner surf,~ces of l~.~rq wall:~ 26. The liners fit loosely
against the inner s~ir_faces of 1«ng walls 26 and may be
prevented f rom t ipp i.r~.g .inwa=idly by rectangular spacer'
plates 32 extending across each box 12 between the liners
24. Each ;pacer pla:~t=e 32 ors the lowermost. box 12 rests
on the top edge of deck 20 of foot. 16. Each spacer plate
32 of boxe;~ 12 abovE:> the lowermost box rest on the spacer
plate 32 immediately be=Low it.
Each :pacer pla:~t:e 32 has an extension 36 having an
axially ve=~tical socvket t=herethrough for the passage o.f
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elongate vertical supports 14. Conveniently each extension 36 is a
horizontal plate extending from the spacer plate 32, the horizontal plate
36 having an aperture 34 therethrough, the aperture corresponding in
shape to the perimeter of the corresponding support 14.
When the liner 24 is a full liner or when it is over opposed short
walls 28, it may be convenient to provide it with handles for easy
manipulation of the building units or boxes 12. These handles may
1o conveniently be formed of apertures in the liner. The liner 24 itself, may
be formed from a similar material, i.e. fibre board, chip board, wood, etc,
as the outer structure of box 12 or it may be formed of other rigid
material capable of locating one box on top of another. Other possible
materials are metal sheet, plastic sheet, etc.
IS
Alternatively as may be seen from Figure S, an upper margin of the
outer surface of a building block 12 may be profiled by a right angled
elongate groove to provide an inwardly stepped, upwardly directed flange
50. Similarly, a lower margin of a building block 12 may be profiled with
20 an elongate right angled groove to provide a downwardly directed flange
or skirt 52 to fit over flange 50. The arrangement of notches and flanges
may be such that the groove and tongue engagement between building
units is achieved.
25 In assembly, lower ends of supports 14 are nested into sockets 22 of feet
16 and fixed firmly therein. Sockets 22 may be made of distortable
plastic material screwed onto foot base 18 by screws 40. As screws 40
are tightened, neck 20 tends to tighten about support 14.
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Thereafter, a lowermost building unit or box 12 is slotted onto
supports 14 through sockets 34 of plates 36. The lowermost box 12 is
slid down the supports 14 to rest on the upper surface of neck 20 of foot
16. The dimensions of the upper surface of neck 20 should be sufficiently
great to allow box 12 to rest thereon. Spacer plates 32 and liners 24 are
placed in position with socket 34 of extension plate 36 about support 14.
Thereafter a further box 12 is slotted onto supports 14 and slid
down them to rest on the upper edge of the lowermost box 12. Further
liners and spacer plates are added, followed by further boxes 12 as
required. When the structure (partition screen 10) has nearly sufficient
desired height, locking clamps 44 are placed on supports 14 and
tightened to hold the boxes 12 in position.
IS
Finally, a cap member is placed over the upper most box 12 to hide
the top of supports 14 and the locking clamps 44. The cap member is
generally similar in shape to the boxes 12 but may have a closed top
surface 46.
Conveniently, each of the boxes 12 may have a bevelled upper edge
48, the bevel extending downwardly and inwardly. The dimension of cap
member 46 may be such that the cap member rests on the bevel to nest
slightly within uppermost box 12. This member cap member 46, although
it rests loosely on the uppermost box 12, may be retained stably in
position by means of this slight nesting.
The boxes may be painted or otherwise finished according to customer
requirements. When not in use they
CA 02259059 2001-06-19
may be stored in any convenient: format. If stored on
their sides they nnay even provide convenient storage
capacity for other smal=L item: .
