Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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DUAL WALL PARTITION
~ACKGROUND OF THE IN~ENTION
~ he invention eelate to movable walls
or partitions, and more particularly to movable
walls or partitions of the type running on overhead
tracks and used to divide large rooms such as
conference rooms or ballrooms into smaller rooms.
Single panel movable partitions are
well known in the art. These partitions typically
include a plurality of individual panels aligned in
end-to-end relationship. The panels are movable
along an overhead track spanning the room to be
divided and can be stored either at one end of the
track or in a remote area when the room is not
divided.
~ ual panel movable partitions are also
known in the art. For example, see U.S. Fromme
Patent No. 3, 979; 861, and U.S. Dixon Patent No.
4,027,714. The dual wall partitions disclosed in
these patents are of the accordian type and require
complicated connecting mechanisms between adjacent
panels. Also, when the panels are arranged to form a
partition, the joints between the panels of one row
are directly opposite the joints between the panels
-of the other row. This can result in unsatisfactory
acoustical and fire proofing performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a dual wall
partition comprising a plurality of first panels each
having opposite generally vertical end surfaces, and
a plurality of second panels each having opposite
generally vertical end surfaces, with the
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first panels extending in aLigned, end-to-end
relationship, and with the second panels extending in
aligned, end-to-end relationship and in generally
parallel, generally opposed relationship with the
first panels, so that each of the first panels is
positioned generally opposite one of the second
panels.
The partition also compcises a pair of
hinge apparatus extending between each of the pairs
of parallel panels to form a parallelogram. Each
hinge apparatus preferably includes an elongated
linkage having opposite ends and a generally vertical
pivot axis intermediate the opposite ends. The hinge
apparatus further includes a first member fixedly
connected to the associated first panel, and a second
member fixedly connected to the associated second
panel. One end o~ the elongated linkage is pivotally
connected to the first member fo~ rotation relative
thereto about a generally vertical axis, and the
opposite end of the elongated linkage is pivotally
connected to the second member for rotation relative
thereto about a generally vertical axis. Thus, one
end of the elongated lin~age is pivotally connected
to the associated first panel, and the other end of
the elongated linkage is pivotally connected to the
associated second panel.
The hinge apparatus further includes a
pivot linkage having an upper end adapted to be
movably connected to track means along which the
partition moves, and a lower end pivotally connected
to the elongated linkage for rotation of the
elongated linkage relative to the track means a~out
the above-mentioned vertical pivot axis.
In a first position, the elongated
linkage ex~ends generally perpendicularly to the
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panels and the panels are separated by a distance
approximately equal to the length oE the linkage~ In
a second position, the elongated lin~age is rotated
approximately 90 relative to the first position ~or
parallel to the panels) and the panels are separated
by a distance approximately equal to the width of the
lin~agen Thus, the hinge apparatus permits a range
of movement of the connected panels relative to each
other to vary the spacing therebetween from a maximum
determined by the length of the elongated linkage to
a minimum determined by the width of the elongated
linkage and so that the panels remain substantially
parallel throughout the range of movement.
E'urthermore, when a plurality of pairs of first and
second panels are arranged end-to-end, the hinge
apparatus permits this range of movement of the first
and second panels to vary the spacing therebetween
with the panels remaining in end-to-end relationship
throughout the range of movement.
Preferably, when the panels are
arranged end-to-end to form a partltion, the
elongated linkages are in the first position so that
the spacing between the first and second panels is at
- a maximum. When the panels ~re stacked up for
storage, the elongated linkages are in the second
- position so that the spacing between the panels is at
a minimum.
Furthermore, the hinge apparatus are
preferably connected to the panels so that when the
panels are arranged end-to-end to form a partition
and when the elongated linkages are in the first
position to maximize the spacing between the panels,
the joints.between adjacent first panels are
horizontally offset in the direction of the panels
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from the joints between adjacent second panel5. This
provides improved fireproofing and acoustical
~ performance.
A principal feature of the invention is
the provision of a relatively simple dual wall
partition which allow5 variation of the spacing
between the rows of panels and which has nonaligned
joints between adjacent panels.
Other principal features and advantages
of the invention will become apparent to those
skilled in the art upon review of the following
detailed description, claims, and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
_ _ __
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional
view of a dual wall partition embodying the
invention.
Fig~ 2 is a cross-sectional view taken
-along line 2-2 in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a reduced view similar to
Fig. 2 showing the entire partition.
Fig. 4 is a perspective vlew of the
panels of the partition being stacked for storage~
- - Fig. 5 is a top view of a pair of -
panels collapsed for storage.
Fig. 6 is a top view of a pair of
panels showing an alternative embodiment of the
invention.
Before one embodiment of the invention
is explained in detail, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited in its application to
the details of construction and the arrangements of
components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
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or being carried out in various ways. Also, it i9 to
be understood that the pnraseology and terminology
used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting.
DESCRIPTION_OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIME~T
A dual wall partition 10 embodying the
invention is illustrated in the drawings. As best
shown in Figs. 2 through 4, the partition 10
comprises a plurality of first or left panels 12 each
having opposite, generally vertical end surfaces 14,
--- and a plurality of second or right panels 16 each
having opposite, generally vertical end surfaces 18.
Ln the preferred embodiment, as best shown in Fig. 2,
the panels 12 and 16 include tongue and groove means
15 20 which, when the panels 12 or 16 are aligned
end-to-end, interconnects adjacent end surfaces 14 or
18 of the panels 12 or 16. The tongue and groove
means 23 serves both to align adjacent panels and to
close the space between adjacent panels when the end
surfaces of the panels are not in exact abutment.
The partition 10 also comprises means
for supporting the first or left panels 12 in
aligned, end-to-end relationship, and for supporting
the second or right panels 16 in aligned, end-to~end
relationship and in generally parallel, generally
opposed relationship with tne first panels 12. This
relationship is best shown in Fig. 3. Tne supporting
means preferably includes connecting means 22
extending between the left and right panels 12 and 16
for permitting a range of movement of the left and
right panels relative to each other to vary the
spacing therebetween from a maximum determined by the
connecting means 22 to selected spacings which are
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less than the maximum and so that the panel9 12 and
16 remain substantially parallel and in end-to-end
relationship throughout the range of movement~ The
supporting means also supports the panels 12 and 16
S for movement along a generally horizontal trac~ 24,
as is known in the art. The t-rac~ 24 and the means
by which the partition 10 is supported on the track
24 is explained in greater detail hereinafter.
In the preferred embodiment, as best
shown in Fig~ 3, the supporting means includes a pair
of ~he connecting means 22 extending between each
pair of opposed left and right panels 12 and 16 at
spaced points on the panels so that the pair of
connecting means 22 and the opposed panels 12 and 16
generally form a parallelogram. In the preferred
embodiment, the supporting means also includes an
additional pair or pairs of connecting means (not
shown) ~etween the lower ends of each pair of opposed
panels.
Preferably, as best shown in Figs. 1
and 2, the connecting means 22 includes a hinge
apparatus 26 comprising an elonga~ed linkage 28
having opposite first and second or left and right
ends, and a generally vertical pivot axis 30
intermediate the opposite ends. The hinge apparatus
26 preferably also comprises a first or left member
32 fixedly connected to the associated left panel 12,
and a second or right member 34 fixedly connected to
the associated second or right panel 16. The left
end of the elongated linkage 28 is pivotally
connected to the left member 32 for rotation relative
to the left member 32 and to the left panel 12 about
a first generally vertical pivot axis 36, and the
right end of the elongated linkage 28 is pivotally
connected to the right member 34 for rotation
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relative ko the right member 34 and to th~ right panel 16 abollt
a second generally vertical pivot axis 38.
~ hus, in a first position (illustrated in solid lines
in Fig. ~), the elongated linkage 28 extends generally
perpendicularly to the pan~ls 12 and 16 and the panels are
separated by a distance approximately equal to the length of
the elongated linkage 28. In a second position (illustrated
in dotted lines in Fig. 2), the elongated linkage 28 is rotated
approximately 90 relative to the first position, or parallel
to the panels 12 and 16, and the panels are separated by a
distance approximately equal to the width of the elongated
linkage 28.
The hinge apparatus 26 also comprises means for
mounting the elongated linkage 28 on the track 24 for
horizontal movement along tha track 24 and for rotation
relative to the track 24 about the pivot axis 30. While
various suitable mounting means can be employed, in the
preferred embodiment, the mounting means includes a pivot
lin]cage 40 having an upper end movably connected to the track
24, and a lower end connected to th~ elongated linkage 28 for
rotation of the elongated linkage 28 relative to the track 24
about the pivot axis 30. Preferably, the track 24 and the
pi~ot linkage 40 are part of a multidirectional suspension
system such as disclosed in U.S. Williams Patent No. 3,879,799.
However, any suitable track or suspension system is within the
scope of the invention.
In the preferred embodiment, the hinge apparatus 26
are connected to the panels 12 and 16 as shown in Fig. 3, such
that when the spacing between the panels is at the maximum (the
preferred spacing
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when the panels aee arranged as a partition), khe
joints between the end surfaces 1~ o~ the Leet panels
12 are horizontally offset in the direction of the
panels (vertically in Fig. 3) from the joints between
the end surfaces 18 of the right panels 16. This
provides improved acoustical and fireproofing
performance, since sound and fire must follow a
staggered path throu~h the joints in the two rows of
panels. One exception to this is the end paneLs
adjacsnt a room wall. There the end surfaces are
directly opposite and each a~uts the wall. When the
spacing between the panels is at a minimum, and when
the panels are arranged in end-to-end relationship,
the joints between the end surfaces 14 of the left
panels 12 are positioned generalLy directly opposite
the joints between the end surfaces 18 of the right
panels 16. This is shown in Fig. 2. Stated
alternatively, when the spacing between the panels is
at a minimum, the end surfaces 14 of the left panel
12 of any pair of panels are positioned generally
directly opposite the end surfaces 18 of the right
panel 16 of that pair. This is shown in Fig. 5~
It should be noted that, as shown in
Fig. 3, due to the offset of the joints between the
panels, one of the end panels (the lower panel in
- Fig. 3) of the row of left panels 12 and one of the
end panels (the upper panel in Fig. 3) of the row of
right panels 16 is shorter than the remaining panels.
An alternatiYe embodiment of the
invention is illustrated in Fig. 6. In the
alternative embodiment, the hinge apparatus 50 are
connected within recesses 52 in opposed panels so
that the panels can be collapsed with no space in
between.
Various other features of the invention
are set forth in the following claims.
