Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DEMOUNTABLE WALL SYSTEM
[0001]
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a wall panel system.
More
specifically, the present disclosure relates to a demountable wall system
(DWS) that uses
tempered or laminated glass as the primary exposed surface and the primary
structural
element.
[0003] Panel-type wall systems are commonly used to divide space in an
open-plan
office environment. In a typical modular panel-type wall system, a number of
wall panels are
interconnected together in a configuration suitable for the intended use of
the space. Each wall
panel typically includes a structural frame to which a pair of tiles are
mounted. The tiles may
be broadly classified as either decorative tiles or functional tiles.
Decorative tiles have an
acoustic insulating material covered by an appropriate finishing material such
as fabric, metal
or wood and are designed to provide sound proofing and aesthetic appearance.
Functional
tiles generally have a tile frame that supports functional components, such as
a tool rail, one
or more hooks, an opening, a window, a shelf, a marker board, paper management
components, etc.
[0004] The large number of panel-type wall systems currently available
allow a
business owner to divide an open space into a series of enclosed areas.
Although panel-type
wall systems are commonly available, the solid surfaces used in most panel
systems create an
enclosed area that may not have any exterior windows or any other types of
glass areas open
to allow light to enter into the enclosed area.
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[0005] Presently, modular wall systems have been developed that include
glass panels
as the structural elements rather than just as windows within a typical panel
system. The
demountable wall systems that use tempered or laminated glass as the primary
exposed
surface increase the amount of light that reaches into the enclosed area
defined by the wall
panel. However, utilizing glass panels instead of solid, structural panels
creates certain
challenges since structural components of the panel systems are viewable
through the glass
panel members.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure generally relates to a wall panel system
that includes a
series of glass wall panels that can be selectively oriented in a desired
configuration. The
demountable modular wall system includes a series of individual components
that allow the
wall panel system to be configured and reconfigured as desired.
[0007] The demountable modular wall system includes a series of
individual glass
panels that each have a top end, a bottom end and a pair of spaced side edges.
Each of the
individual glass panels is configured to extend between a floor and a ceiling
of a building that
is divided into areas or sections by the wall system.
[0008] Each of the individual glass panels includes a panel height
adjustment
mechanism that is positioned between the bottom end of each panel and the
floor. Preferably,
each panel height adjustment mechanism is positioned on each of the spaced
sides of the wall
panel. Each of the panel height adjustment mechanisms can be independently
adjusted to
adjust the orientation and height of the individual glass panels.
[0009] One embodiment of the present disclosure generally relates to a
demountable
modular wall system for use in a building having a floor and a ceiling. The
system includes a
series of individual panels each having a first side, a second side, a top
end, and a bottom end.
A movement direction is defined perpendicularly from the bottom end to the top
end. A
height adjustment mechanism is positioned between the bottom end of one of the
individual
panels and the floor. The height adjustment mechanism has a mounting bracket
with a first
member flange and a second member flange that together sandwich the bottom end
of the one
of the individual panels. The height adjustment mechanism includes a receiving
cylinder that
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threadingly engages with a first member. The first member also threadingly
engages with a
second member positioned between the first member and the floor. The first
member is
moveable relative to the receiving cylinder in the movement direction such
that rotation of the
first member selectively adjusts the height of the one of the individual
panels. An upper trim
is positioned between the top end of each of the individual panels and the
ceiling and a lower
trim positioned between the bottom end of each of the individual panels and
the floor. The
upper and lower trim are stationary relative to the individual panels.
[0010] Another embodiment of the present disclosure generally relates to
a
demountable modular wall system for use in a building having a floor and a
ceiling. The
system includes a series of individual panels each having a first side, a
second side, a top end,
and a bottom end. A movement direction is defined perpendicularly from the
bottom end to
the top end. A pair of height adjustment mechanisms is provided for each of
the individual
panels with each of the height adjustment mechanisms being positioned between
the bottom
end of one of the individual panels and the floor. Each of the height
adjustment mechanisms
has a mounting bracket with a first member flange and a second member flange
that together
sandwich the bottom end of the one of the individual panels. Each of the
height adjustment
mechanisms includes a receiving cylinder that threadingly engages with a first
member. The
first member also threadingly engages with a second member positioned between
the first
member and the floor. The first member is moveable relative to the receiving
cylinder in the
movement direction such that rotation of the first member selectively adjusts
the height of the
one of the individual panels, where each of the height adjustment mechanisms
is
independently adjustable. An upper trim is positioned between the top end of
each of the
individual panels and the ceiling, and a lower trim positioned between the
bottom end of each
of the individual panels and the floor. The upper and lower trim are
stationary relative to the
individual panels.
[0011] Another embodiment of the present disclosure generally relates to
a
demountable modular wall system for use in a building having a floor and a
ceiling. The
system includes two individual panels each having a first side, a second side,
a top end, and a
bottom end. A movement direction is defined perpendicularly from the bottom
end to the top
end and a plane is defined to be parallel to the first side. The system
includes four height
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adjustment mechanism with two of the fourth height adjustment mechanisms being
positioned
between the bottom end of a first of the two individual panels and the floor.
The two of the
four height adjustment mechanisms each have a mounting bracket with a first
member flange
and a second member flange that together sandwich the bottom end of the first
of the two
individual panels. The four height adjustment mechanisms each include a double
jack screw
having a first member threadedly engaged with a second member that is
coaxially aligned
with the first member such that the double jack screw is extendable parallel
to the movement
direction by rotation of the first member to selectively adjust the height of
one of the two
individual panels. An upper trim is positioned between the top end of each of
the two
individual panels and the ceiling and a lower trim is positioned between the
bottom end of
each of the two individual panels and the floor. The upper and lower trim are
stationary
relative to the two individual panels. Each of the four adjustment mechanisms
is
independently adjustable, and the height of each of the two individual panels
is independently
adjustable.
[0012] Another embodiment of the present disclosure generally relates to
a
demountable modular wall system for use in a building having a floor and a
ceiling. The
system includes a plurality of panels each having a top end and a bottom end.
A top
channel guide defines an open passageway for receiving the top end of one of
the panels to be
securely attached thereto, where the top channel guide comprises a first
portion and a second
portion that are rotatable coupled via a rotatable locking feature to define
the open
passageway therebetween. The top channel guide is rotatable between an open
state and a
closed state in which the open passageway is narrower than in the open state.
The top channel
guide is securely attached to the one of the panels when the one of the panels
is received
within the open passageway and the top channel guide is in the closed state.
[0013] Various other features, objects and advantages of the invention
will be made
apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of
carrying out
the disclosure. In the drawings:
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,
[0015] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a demountable wall system of the
present
disclosure;
[0016] Fig. 2 is a magnified view of one of the panel height adjustment
mechanisms
used to adjust the height of the wall panel from a floor;
[0017] Fig. 3 is a partial section view of the panel height adjustment
mechanism
shown in Fig. 2;
[0018] Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of the adjustment of adjacent
panels through
utilization of the panel height adjustment mechanism;
[0019] Fig. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
[0020] Fig. 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4;
[0021] Fig. 7 is a section view illustrating one type of vertical trim
attachment
between adjacent glass wall panels;
[0022] Fig. 8 is a section view illustrating the use of panel stiffening
members
between adjacent glass panels;
[0023] Fig. 9 is a section view illustrating another tile stiffening
arrangement between
glass panels;
[0024] Fig. 10 is a section view illustrating the attachment of a sliding
door track to
the top trim section;
[0025] Fig. 11 is another view of an alternate embodiment of a sliding
door track;
[0026] Figs. 12-13 are section views of an alternate embodiment of the
panel height
adjustment mechanism shown positioned at two heights, similar to Figs. 5-6;
[0027] Fig. 14 is an isometric view of the panel height adjustment
mechanism from
Figs. 12-13 with the glass wall panel removed;
[0028] Fig. 15 is a partially exploded view of the panel height
adjustment mechanism
shown in Fig. 14; and
[0029] Figs. 16-17 depict an alternate embodiment of a top channel guide
for securing
the top end of a panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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[0030] Fig. 1 illustrates a demountable wall system (DWS) 10 constructed
in
accordance with the present disclosure. The wall system 10 shown in Fig. 1
includes multiple
glass panels 12 that can be used with conventional solid wall panels or with
each other to
create multiple rooms 14.
[0031] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the wall system 10 includes a
sliding door
16 that can be used to selectively expose a doorway to enter into one of the
rooms 14. In the
embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the adjacent wall panels 12 abut each other to
create a panel
joint 18. In the embodiment illustrated, the panel joint is a butt-glazed
joint in which one of
the side edges 20 of the adjacent wall panels 12 includes a bulb seal that
creates a seal
between the pair of adjacent wall panels at the panel joint 18. In addition,
one of the pair of
wall panels 12 that define the comer 22 also include a bulb seal to create the
joint between the
pair of walls positioned at a 90 angle relative to each other.
[0032] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the demountable wall system 10 includes
a lower trim
24 and an upper trim 26 that enhance the overall aesthetic appearance of the
demountable wall
system 10. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, both the lower trim 24 and the
upper trim 26
are continuous sections that extend across multiple glass wall panels 12. The
upper and lower
trim sections 24, 26 are installed after the construction of the demountable
wall system and
provide a visually appealing appearance for the wall system 10.
[0033] Referring now to Fig. 2, each of the glass wall panels 12 includes
a bottom end
28 and a pair of side edges 20, only one of which is shown in Fig. 2. The
bottom end 28 of
each wall panel 12 is received within a bottom rail 30. The bottom rail 30
includes a pair of
vertical support flanges 32 that are joined to each other by a bottom wall 34
to define an open
receiving cavity 36 sized to receive the glass wall panel 12. The support
flanges 32 contact
one of the two face surfaces 38, 40 of the glass wall panel 12. In the
embodiment shown in
Fig. 2, the bottom rail 30 is clamped onto the bottom end 28 of the glass wall
panel 12
through a series of fasteners 42.
[0034] As illustrated in Fig. 2, a floor channel 44 is used as part of
the demountable
wall system 10 and is securely attached to the floor of a building. The floor
channel 44
includes a generally flat base 46 and a pair of upstanding sidewalls 48. The
floor channel 44 is
mounted to the floor of a building and provides a secure point of attachment
and stability for
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the individual glass panels 12. The floor channel 44 is a continuous component
that extends
beneath a single wall panel. A series of floor channels can be connected
together to generally
define the configuration of the walls to be constructed utilizing the multiple
glass panels.
[0035] Since the floor of a building may not be level, the wall panel
system of the
present disclosure includes a series of panel height adjustment mechanisms 50
that allow the
height of each of the glass wall panels 12 to be independently adjusted to
create an even wall.
A panel height adjustment mechanism 50 is positioned at each side of the wall
panel such that
the opposite sides of the wall panel can be independently adjusted to
compensate for an
uneven floor. Each of the panel height adjustment mechanisms 50 includes a
mounting
bracket 52 that is securely held within the bottom rail 30 by the series of
fasteners 42. The
mounting bracket 52 includes an attachment bar 54 attached to a receiving
cylinder 56. The
receiving cylinder 56 extends between a top end 58 and a bottom end 60. As
best shown in
Fig. 3, the receiving cylinder 56 includes an internally threaded open
interior 62.
[0036] The panel height adjustment mechanism 50 shown in Fig. 2 is
essentially a
double jack screw that allows the overall height of the wall panel 12 to be
adjusted while
minimizing the fully retracted sides of the adjustment mechanism 50. The
double jack screw
includes a stud 64 that is stationary and attached to the floor channel 44 by
fastener 66. As
illustrated in Fig. 3, the fastener 66 prevents the stud 64 from rotating. The
stud 64 includes a
shaft 68 having external threads. The external threads of the shaft 68 are
received within an
internally threaded open interior of an upper jack screw 70. The upper jack
screw 70 also
includes an externally threaded shaft 72 that is threaded in the opposite hand
from the stud 64.
The shaft 72 is received by the internally threaded open interior 62 of the
receiving cylinder
56.
[0037] As can be understood in Fig. 3, the height of the bottom end 28 of
the wall
panel 12 above the floor 74 can be modified by rotating the upper jack screw
70. Because the
threads on the stud 64 and the upper jack screw 70 are opposite handed,
rotation of the upper
jack screw 70 results in both the movement of the upper jack screw 70 along
the shaft 68 of
the threaded stud 64 and the movement of the receiving cylinder 56 along the
shaft 72 of the
upper jack screw 70. This double threaded arrangement of the panel height
adjustment
mechanism 50 creates a total stroke that is greater than twice the height of
the adjustment
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mechanism when completely retracted. This configuration allows for a greater
range of
motion while minimizing the size of the panel height adjustment mechanism 50.
[0038] Fig. 4 illustrates the independent adjustment of a first wall
panel 12a relative to
a second wall panel 12b. The independent adjustment between the two wall
panels 12a, 12b
allows the demountable wall system of the present disclosure to be
independently adjusted
when the floor of a building is not level. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4,
the bottom ends
28 of the adjacent wall panels 12a, 12b do not align with each other after
each of the pair of
panel adjustment mechanisms 50 have been adjusted.
[0039] As is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower trim 24 and the
upper trim 26 create
an overall smooth appearance for the trim sections. As illustrated in Figs. 5
and 6, the lower
trim 24 includes a first section 76 and a second section 78 that are each
stationary and
mounted to the floor channel 44. Each of the first and second sections 76, 78
includes a
horizontal flange 79 that supports wiper 77 that contacts one of the faces of
the wall panel 12.
[0040] Since the lower trim 24 covers the panel height adjustment
mechanism 50, the
panel height adjustment mechanism 50 is used to adjust the height of each of
the panels 12
prior to the attachment of the lower trim 24.
[0041] In addition to the lower trim 24, each of the wall panels includes
an upper trim
26 that also allows for movement of the top end 84 of the glass wall panel 12
relative to the
stationary top trim 26. As shown in Fig. 5, a ceiling channel 86 is securely
mounted to the
ceiling of the building. The ceiling channel 86 may be mounted to the ceiling
of a building
utilizing various different attachment techniques, such as screws or other
types of fasteners.
The ceiling channel 86 is thus stationary relative to the adjustable glass
wall panel 12. The
ceiling channel 86 includes a pair of depending flanges 88. The flanges 88 are
spaced by an
open passageway 90 that can receive a portion of the top end 84 of the wall
panel 12 during
the adjustment of the wall panel 12.
[0042] The wall panel 12 further includes a top guide channel 92 that is
securely
attached to the top end 84 of the wall panel 12 utilizing various different
types of attachment
techniques. In the embodiment shown, a fastener 94 is used to clamp the top
guide channel 92
in place. A flexible material or adhesive can be positioned between the top
guide channel 92
and the top end 84 to further aid in attachment of the top guide channel 92 to
the wall panel
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12. The top guide channel 92 includes a pair of vertically extending side arms
96 that each
move along the vertical flanges 88 of the ceiling channel 86. As can be
understood in the
comparison of Figs. 5 and 6, the movement of the side arms 96 along the
flanges 88 allow for
vertical movement of the wall panel 12 while preventing separation of the
panel from the
ceiling channel 86.
[00431 As illustrated in Fig. 5, the upper trim 26 is attached to the
stationary ceiling
channel 86 to cover both the ceiling channel 86 and the moving top guide
channel 92. The
upper trim 26 includes a top wall 160 and a flange 162 that combine to receive
and entrap a
resilient mounting member 164. The mounting member 164 is supported along a
support
extrusion 166 that is spaced away from the vertical flange 88 of the ceiling
channel 86 by a
support arm 167. The combination of the top wall 160 and the flange 162
securely support the
top trim 26, as illustrated.
[00441 Sidewall 168 of the top trim extends downward past the top guide
channel 92
and is joined to a bottom wall 170. The bottom wall 170 extends horizontally
and includes an
open end 172 that receives and supports a resilient wiper 174. The wiper 174
contacts the
outer face of the glass wall panel 12. As can be understood in Figs. 5 and 6,
as the height of
the glass wall panel 12 is adjusted, the wiper 174 moves along the wall panel
12 since the
upper trim 26 is stationary. In this manner, the wall panel 12 floats within
the upper trim 26.
In the preferred embodiment disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, the upper trim 26 is
formed from an
extruded metal material, such as aluminum.
[00451 Fig. 7 illustrates a first embodiment for attaching a section of
vertical trim
between adjacent glass wall panels 12a and 12b. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the
side edges 20 of
the adjacent wall panels 12a, 12b define a panel joint. As illustrated in Fig.
7, a vertical trim
section 100 can be positioned on both sides of each of the glass wall panels
12a, 12b to cover
the panel joint 18. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, a mounting bracket 102
is positioned
on each side of the panel joint 18. Each of the mounting brackets 102 includes
an attachment
flange 104 and a center section 106. The center sections 106 extend into the
panel joint 18 and
includes a series of internal threads. The internal threads of each center
section 106 receive a
fastener 108. The fastener 108 is used to secure the pair of mounting brackets
102 on opposite
sides of the wall panels 12a, 12b.
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[0046] The outer edge of the attachment flange 104 for each of the
mounting brackets
102 includes an attachment area 110. The attachment area 110 allows the
vertical trim section
100 to snap into place along the mounting brackets, as illustrated. Several
mounting brackets
can be positioned along the height of the wall panels to provide spaced points
of attachment
for the vertical trim 100. The frictional fit between the vertical trim
section 100 and the
mounting bracket 102 allows the vertical trim section 100 to be easily
positioned to cover the
panel joint 18.
[0047] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, each of the wall panels 12a,
12b has a
thickness of approximately V2 inch. Based upon this thickness of the glass
wall panel 12a, 12b,
the vertical trim sections 100 simply cover the panel joint.
[0048] However, it is contemplated that the wall panel system could be
utilized
including wall panels 112a and 112b that have a reduced thickness, such as
shown in Fig. 8.
In Fig. 8, each of the wall panels 112a, 112b have a thickness of only 'A inch
thick glass. The
use of thinner glass results in a cost savings but results in a glass panel
that is typically not
stiff enough to provide the required resistance to bending to transverse
loads.
[0049] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, a stiffening channel 114 is
attached to each
of the vertical side edges 20 of the respective wall panel 12a, 12b. The
stiffening channels 114
are connected only to the vertical side edges of the glass panels 112 to
provide additional
vertical strength for the thin wall panels 112a, 112b.
[0050] In the embodiment illustrated, each of the stiffening channels 114
is formed
from a metallic material, such as steel or extruded aluminum.
[0051] Once the stiffening channels 114 are attached to each of the wall
panels 112a,
112b, the mounting brackets 102 are used to provide a point of attachment for
the vertical trim
sections 100, as was the case in the embodiment of Fig. 7. Thus, the use of
the stiffening
channels 114 allow for the use of wall panels 112a and 112b that have a
reduced thickness as
compared to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7.
[0052] Fig. 9 illustrates yet another embodiment of a stiffening channel
that can be
used. In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the stiffening channels 116 are each
attached to one of the
wall panels 112a, 112b to provide a point of attachment for the vertical trim
section 118. In
the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, each of the stiffening channels 116 includes a
notch 120 that
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can receive a protruding bulb 122 to allow the trim section 118 to snap into
place. The
embodiment of Fig. 9 eliminates the requirement to utilize a separate mounting
bracket, as in
the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In both of the embodiments shown in
Figs. 8 and 9,
the stiffening channels 114, 116 provide additional strength and rigidity for
the 1/4 inch glass
wall panels 112.
[0053] As stated in the description of Fig. 1, the demountable wall
system 10 of the
present disclosure can include a sliding door in addition to typical doors
that mount on a pivot
assembly. Fig. 10 illustrates one embodiment of mounting the sliding door 16
to cover an
opening between two adjacent glass wall panels. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the
top end 84 of
the wall panel 12 includes a sliding door header 124 that extends between a
pair of the wall
panels 12. The sliding door header 124 receives and supports a sliding door
track 126. The
sliding door track 126 rests on the header 124 and is interlocked through an
attachment slot
128. The sliding door track 126 defines a roller channel 130 that extends
along the entire
length of the sliding door track 126. Preferably, the sliding door track 126
extends both across
the opening between adjacent wall panels as well as along one of the two
adjacent panels to
support the sliding door 16 in its open position. The roller channel 130 has
an overall height
that is greater than an opening 132 to the roller channel. The smaller opening
132 allows the
roller channel 130 to entrap a series of rollers 134 within the roller channel
130.
[0054] As illustrated in Fig. 10, the roller 134 is supported along a
shaft 136 which
passes through an opening 138 formed near the top end of the sliding door 16.
The shaft 136
is held within the opening 138 by an attachment member 140, which is
surrounded by a trim
piece 142. In the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the sliding door
track 126 is formed
from an extruded metal, such as aluminum. The extruded metal sliding door
track 126 allows
the sliding door 16 to move between open and closed positions relative to the
stationary wall
panel.
[0055] As illustrated in Fig. 10, a lower door track 143 can be mounted
to the floor to
help retain and guide the bottom end 144.
[0056] Fig. 11 illustrates another, alternate embodiment of the sliding
door track 146.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, the sliding door 16 includes a trolley 148
that includes a
pair of rollers 150 and 152. The pair of rollers are each received within a
separate roller
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channel 154, 156, respectively. As with the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the
sliding door
track 126 is formed from an extruded metal material, such as aluminum.
[0057] Although the siding door shown in Fig. 1 does not extend to the
full height of
the wall panel, it is contemplated that sliding doors could be utilized that
extends the full
height of the wall panel 12. The reduced height sliding door 16 and the full
height door (not
shown) are supported by a similar sliding door track to allow the door to move
between open
and closed positions.
[0058] Additional embodiments according to the present disclosure are
shown in Figs.
12-15. The present inventors have identified that, in certain circumstances,
it is advantageous
for the panel height adjustment mechanisms 250 corresponding to a particular
panel 12 to
remain independent. The embodiment shown in Figs. 12-15 depicts a demountable
modular
wall system 210 having a panel 12 that is mounted to one or more panel height
adjustment
mechanisms 250 directly, without integration of a separate bottom rail 30 as
previously
discussed. In this regard, Figs. 12-15 disclose an alternative embodiment of a
height
adjustment mechanism 250 incorporated within a demountable modular wall system
210.
[0059] The embodiment of demountable modular wall system shown in Figs.
12-15
includes a series of individual panels 12, as previously described. A movement
direction is
defined perpendicularly from the bottom end 28 to the top end 84 of the panel
12. A height
adjustment mechanism 250 according to the present disclosure is positioned
between the
bottom end 28 of one of the individual panels 12 and the floor. The height
adjustment
mechanism 250 in certain embodiments is coupled to the floor via a floor
channel 44, which
was discussed above.
[0060] The height adjustment mechanism 250 has a mounting bracket 252
comprised
of two separable halves 253A and 253B. In certain embodiments, these halves
253A and
253B are identical to one another. However, other embodiments provide halves
253A and
253B that are different from each other, for example having only one or the
other of the
halves 253A and 253B define fastener receivers 243 that are threaded for
engaging with a
fastener 242 to couple the halves 253A and 253B together. It should be
recognized that the
present disclosure anticipates many different types of fasteners known in the
art, and further
includes configurations in which the fastener receiver 243 is not threaded
(for example,
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incorporating a nut to engage a bolt as the fastener 242, after the fastener
has extended
through both halves 253A and 253B of the mount bracket 252).
[00611 The mounting bracket 252 has support flanges 232 and a bottom wall
234 that
together form an open receiving cavity 236. In this manner, the mounting
bracket 252,
particularly the support flanges 232, sandwich the bottom end 28 of the panel
12. In certain
embodiments, the mounting bracket 252 becomes rigidly coupled to the bottom
end 28 of the
panel 12 when the halves 253A and 253B are coupled together. In this manner,
adjusting the
height of the panel 12 in the presently disclosed system also results in
adjusting the height of
the mounting bracket 252. In further embodiments, seals or elements providing
friction
between the panel 12 and the support flanges 232 are also provided. The
mounting bracket
252 further defines a receiving cylinder 256 configured for coupling the
mounting bracket 252
with a height adjustment mechanism 250, which is discussed further below.
100621 The height adjustment mechanism 250 incorporates a double jack
screw 280.
In certain embodiments, the double jack screw 280 is the same double jack
screw discussed
above (for example with respect to the system shown in Fig. 2). The double
jack screw 280
allows the overall height of the panel 12 to be adjusted, while also
minimizing the height of
the double jack screw 280 when fully retracted. In the embodiment shown, the
double jack
screw 280 includes a stud, also referred to as a second member 264, that is
stationary and
attached to the floor (such as via floor channel 44) by a fastener. In further
embodiments, the
fastener 66 prevents the second member 264 from rotating. However, other
techniques for
coupling or otherwise fixating the height adjustment mechanism 250 relative to
the floor are
also anticipated by the present disclosure.
100631 Similar to the system shown in Fig. 2 and discussed above, the
height
adjustment mechanism includes a second member 264 with a shaft 268 that, in
the present
embodiment, has external threads. The external threads of the shaft 268 are
received within an
internally threaded open interior of an upper jack screw, also referred to as
the first member
270. The first member 270 also includes an externally threaded shaft 272 that
is threaded in
the opposite hand from the second member 264. The shaft 272 of the first
member 270 is
received by the internally threaded open interior 262 of the receiving
cylinder 256, which as
previously described is defined within the mounting bracket 252. In this
manner, the height
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between the bottom end 28 of the panel 12 and the floor can be modified by
rotating the first
member 270, such as via the hexagonal exterior surface 273. While other shapes
are also
anticipated by the present disclosure, the hexagonal exterior surface 273 can
be easily
engaged with a common wrench to adjust the height of the panel 12 with the
height
adjustment mechanism 250. Moreover, the present inventors have identified that
the design of
the height adjustment mechanism 250 is simplified by configuring the first
member 270 to be
rotatable about an axis parallel to the movement direction of the panel 12.
[0064] By threading the second member 264 and the shaft 272 of the first
member 270
to be opposite handed, rotation of the first member 270 results in both
movement of the first
member 270 relative to the floor (via engagement between the first member 270
and the shaft
268 of the threaded second member 264), and movement of the mounting bracket
252 relative
to the first member 270 (via engagement between the receiving cylinder 256 and
the shaft 272
of the first member 270). Therefore, this double threaded arrangement of the
height
adjustment mechanism 250 creates a total stroke that is greater than twice the
height of the
height adjustment mechanism 250 when completely retracted. This configuration
allows for a
greater range of motion, simply adjustment, and simplified construction, all
while minimizing
the size of the height adjustment mechanism 250.
[0065] As best shown in Fig. 13, the panel 12 further defines a central
plane CP
between the first side and the second side that is parallel to the first side.
Likewise, the first
member 270 and the shaft 268 define shaft axes SA1 and SA2, respectively. In
certain
embodiments, the shaft axis SA1 and the shaft axis SA2 are coaxial, such as
that shown in
Fig. 13. Moreover, in certain embodiments, one or both of the shaft axis SA1
and shaft axis
SA2 are within the central plane CP.
[0066] In certain embodiments, the demountable modular wall system 210
incorporates two height adjustment mechanisms 250 for each individual panel
12. These two
height adjustment mechanisms 250 are not directly coupled together, allowing
each to be
independently adjusted as necessary to support the panel 12. For example, an
uneven floor
may require one of the two height adjustment mechanisms 250 to be adjusted or
set higher
than the other to provide a level panel 12 (i.e, a level bottom end 28).
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[0067] It should be recognized that other numbers of height adjustment
mechanisms
250 per panel 12 (both greater and fewer) are also anticipated by the present
disclosure. For
example, certain panels 12 may be sufficiently supported from below by a
single height
adjustment mechanism 250, which in certain cases would be located centrally.
This may
particularly apply where adjacent panels 12 are coupled by other means, such
as with vertical
trim sections 100 as previously described. In contrast, other panels 12,
particular those having
great weight, may require more than two height adjustment mechanisms 250 to
safely support
and immobilize the panel 12. In each case, the height adjustment mechanisms
250 are
configured to permit independent adjustment, both before and after the
respective mounting
brackets 252 are securely coupled to the corresponding panel 12.
[0068] Further embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to
alternative top
channel guides 92 for supporting the top end of a panel 12. A previous
embodiment of top
channel guide 92 was shown and discussed with respect to Figs. 5 and 6. In the
present
embodiment, which is now shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the top channel guide 92
once again
defines an open passageway 90 for receiving a top end of one of the panels to
be securely
attached thereto. In the present embodiment, the top channel guide 92
comprises a first
portion 97A and a second portion 97B that are rotatably coupled via rotatable
locking feature
200. The top channel guide 92 is rotatable between an open state shown in Fig.
16 and a
closed state shown in Fig. 17, whereby in the closed state the open passageway
90 is narrower
than in the open state. In this manner, the top channel guide 92 is securely
attached to one of
the panels 12 when the panel 12 is received within the open passageway 90, and
the top
channel guide 92 is rotated into the closed state. It will be recognized that
engagement
between the top channel guide 92 and the ceiling channel 86 (see Figs. 5-6)
prevents the top
channel guide 92 from rotating out of the closed state, thereby locking the
top guide channel
92 onto the panel 12.
[0069] In certain embodiments, additional materials are provided between
the panel
12 and the top channel guide 92, as also discussed above. For example, Figs.
16 and 17 depict
the incorporation of a material 206 positioned on the top end of the panel 12,
whereby the top
channel guide 92 rests upon this material 206. As previously discussed, the
material 206 may
be a flexible material or an adhesive, which may assist in the process of
coupling the top
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channel guide 92 to the panel 12, provide cushioning therebetween, and/or
offer other
benefits. Fig. 17 further includes materials 207 between the vertically
extending side arms 96
of the top guide channel 92 and the flanges 88 of the ceiling channel 86. The
materials 207
may be the same or different than the material 206, and likewise may offer the
same or
different benefits.
[0070] Likewise, the embodiment depicted in Figs. 16 and 17 includes a
material 208
that is coupled to the top channel guide 92 and configured to contact the
panel 12 received
within the open passageway 90 when the top channel guide 92 is in the closed
state. In the
present embodiment, the material 208 is an adhesive material that assists in
securely coupling
the top channel guide 92 to the panel 12.
[0071] Figs. 16 and 17 further depict an embodiment of the top channel
guide 92 in
which the rotatable locking feature 200 comprises an exterior component 202
that is rigidly
coupled to the first portion 97A, and an interior component 204 that is
rigidly coupled to the
second portion 97B. These may be integrally formed, or subsequently coupled
through
methods known in the art. As shown, the interior component 204 is rotatably
received within
the exterior component 202 to provide rotation of the rotatable locking
feature 200. In the
present example, the exterior component 202 and interior component 204 each
comprise a
"C" shape, though other configurations are also anticipated, including the
interior component
204 being of circular cross sectional shape. In this manner, the interior
component 204 is
nestable within the exterior component 202 by insertion in the axial
direction, whereby the
exterior component 202 then limits the rotation of the interior component 204
therein, also
restricting any other lateral movement therebetween.
[0072] It should be recognized that the top channel guide 92 shown in
Figs. 16 and 17
may be used to support the top end of a wide variety of panels 12, and may be
used with or
without the addition of a panel height adjustment mechanism. Moreover, the
presently
disclosed top channel guide 92 is usable with a wide variety of panel height
adjustment
mechanisms, including the panel height adjustment mechanisms 50 shown in Figs.
2-6, and/or
the panel height adjustment mechanisms 250 shown in Figs. 12-15.
[0073] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including the
best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use
the invention. The
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patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples
that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be
within the scope
of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the
literal language of the
claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial
differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
'
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