GB2157336A - Partitions - Google Patents

Abstract

A demountable partition wall 10 comprises wall units 12, 14, 16, etc., each comprising an assembly of components having a mounting member 50 extending lengthwise along the edge of the wall unit to secure together the components. The mounting member 50 comprises a plastics extrusion defining two channel sections having mounting elements 64 to 70 projecting inwardly into the channels for engagement with a complementary mounting member such as a glazing support section 82, 84 which is a snap fit between said mounting elements in the channel sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Partitions This invention relates to partitions and partition walls and a method of assembling such partitions and walls. The invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to partition walls of the kind used in factories and offices.

Such walls and partitions are used for converting the open shell of a factory or office building into offices and/or factory units.

Such partitions and walls may be provided on a temporary or semi-permanent or permanent basis. The invention is particularly but not exclusively concerned with such walls which can be disassembled or de-mounted in order to change the arrangement or layout of the partitioning or walling.

Various systems of such partitioning are presently available for assembly on-site from stock materials and although such existing systems can be assembled to provide a partitioning system which is visually satisfactory, these systems have significant shortcomings with regard to ease of assembly and disassembly, stringency of their requirements for accurate cutting to size of parts (and hence consequential wastage of inaccurately cut parts), and adaptation to meet the requirements of British and foreign standards in relation to fire resistance and sound proofing.

With regard to fire resistance, the standard tests which are applied to partitioning systems and panels require structural integrity at high temperatures over a relatively long period of time. These times and temperatures are such that systems based on aluminium structural members cannot meet the test and it is necessary to provide internal steel structural members which are pressed or friction-fitted together to provide a non-buckling structural frame or the like which will support the partitioning system even under high temperature fire conditions.

It will be appreciated that where such fire rating requirements are to be met, the assembly of partition wall units on-site from plasterboard, mild steel channel sections and the like, and mounting members for the partition wall units represents a complex structural operation and one aspect of the present invention is concerned with providing means whereby such assembly of partition panels and indeed whole partition walls may be more easily effected.

A previously proposed partitioning system providing aluminium mounting members which serve to connect the plasterboard and steel sections to form a coherent assembly suffers from the disadvantages that the component parts of the mounting members, particularly those which are cut to length on site, are all visible in the finished product and thus imperfections in measurement and cutting to size are particularly visible and hence the wastage rate tends to be high. Moreover, the design of the mounting members is such that assembly itself is a difficult operation. In addition, the assembly of a complete partition wall from a series of partition panels is necessarily carried out in a progressive manner. That is to say, starting at one portion of the wall, successive partition panels are added edge-toedge until the end of the wall is reached.This necessity arises from the nature of the means whereby the partition panels are secured to their supports. As a result, disassembly of the partition wall necessarily has to be carried out in a similar progressive manner. Therefore, if one particular panel is to be replaced (for example if it has been damaged) then depending on the location of the damaged panel, it may be necessary to dismount a major portion of the wall. Obviously, this is a major shortcoming.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby an improved partition or partition walling system or the like may be provided and/or such a system offering improvements in relation to one or more of the shortcomings of the prior art as discussed above.

According to the invention there is provided a mounting member for a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like. The mounting member may comprise a channel shaped section. The section is preferably double-sided so as to provide two channel shaped sections.

The mounting member may be of generally Hshaped cross-section. One of the channel sections is preferably deeper than the other.

The channel section preferably has inwardly projecting mounting elements. The mounting elements may project inwardly in the lengthwise direction with respect to the partition wall when assembled (or towards the crossbar of said generally H-shaped cross-section). The mounting elements are preferably shaped so as to engage and grip complementary mounting members which can be assembled therewith for the purpose of attaching sheets of glass or the like to the partition panel or the like. The mounting elements may be shaped to provide a rounded gripping element. They may also be shaped to provide a generally rectangular stop element. The mounting elements are preferably arranged to permit insertion of steel or the like structural members between them.

The invention also provides a partition panel or unit, or partitioning comprising a mounting member as defined above.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a fastener for securing partition or wall units or the like to support therefor, the faster being adapted to be pressfitted to such supports by movement in a lateral direction with respect to a wall or partition unit to which it has been previously secured.

The invention also provides a method of assembly of a wall or partition unit or the like comprising the step of securing wall or partition elements to supports therefor the method comprising the step of engaging fasteners with said supports by press-fitting the fasteners in the lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wall or partition.

Preferably, said fasteners are adapted to be press-fitted to the ends of panel units prior to attachment to said supports. For this purpose, the fasteners may be provided with securing elements insertable into the ends of plasterboard sheets or the like. The fasteners themselves may be provided with laterally projecting fastener members. The fastener members may be shaped to complement corresponding recesses formed in the supports. The fastener members may be generally of tapering form and resiliently deformable. Complementary studs or the like may be provided on the supports or the fastener members to secure the latter in position after insertion.

The invention also provides a mounting member and/or a partition or wall unit, and a method of assembling same, comprising any novel feature or step or novel combination of features or steps disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a frqnt elevation view of assembled partitioning according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through a mounting member according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a section through an alternative mounting member similar to that of Fig. 2 but incorporating a T-bar for glazing purposes, Fig. 3 also showing, in single line outline only, the assembly of the mounting member with a glazing bar on one side and a sheet of glass and associated glazing support sections on the other side; Figures 4 to 8 show, in views similar to that of Fig. 3, and sub-assembly of the mounting member of Fig. 3 with alternative components of the system;; Figures 9, 10 and 11 show sections through further mounting members corresponding to those of Figs. 2 and 3 but constructed for special purposes; Figures 12 and 13 show sections through corner mounting members which can be assembled together; Figures 14 to 22 show sections through various mounting members which can be subassembled with the mounting members of Figs. 2, 3 and 9 to 11 for particular purposes; Figure 23 shows two partition wall panels ready to be inserted into and secured to an upright steel support; Figure 24 shows, diagrammatically, the assembly of Fig. 23 secured together and showing also details of the attachment of the end of the partition wall to a structural wall of a building; and Figures 25 and 26 show, diagrammatically, cross sections through a prior proposal and one embodiment of the present invention illustrating some differences between the two systems.

As shown in Fig. 1, a partition wall 10 comprises wall units 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22. Wall unit 1 2 comprises a door 24, two upright window panels 26, 28 and an upper window panel 30.

Wall unit 14 comprises a uniform surfacefinished plasterboard panel 32.

Wall unit 1 6 comprises two upright window panels 34 and 36.

Wall unit 1 8 comprises upper and lower rectangular window panels 38, 40.

Wall units 20 and 22 are similar in construction, comprising upper window panels 42, 44 and lower plasterboard panels 46, 48.

The wall units of Fig. 1 each comprise an assembly of components provided with a mounting member 50 extending lengthwise along the edges of the wall unit, serving to secure together the components thereof and providing structural integrity. The mounting members will be more fully described below.

It is particularly to be noted in Fig. 1 that (referring now by way of example only to wall unit 12) the window panels 26, 28 and 30 are secured to the mounting member 50 in such a manner that the only component visible in addition to the mounting member 50 itself is a glazing support section 52. The latter is constructed as a plastics extrusion and is easily cut to length, flexed, and readily assembled with the mounting member 50.

Figs. 2 and 3 show sections through alternative forms of the mounting member 50.

That of Fig. 3 has a T-section glazing bar 54 for glass-mounting purposes. That of Fig. 2 omits the glazing bar for alternative uses such as securing the mounting member to a structural wall of a building. Moreover, mounting member 56 of Fig. 2 is single-sided in construction whereas mounting member 50 of Fig. 3 is double-sided for a purpose to be described. It is to be understood that for the purpose of the invention, the mounting member may have various forms in accordance with the requirements of a particular assembly situation. Some of these are shown in Figs. 2 and 9, 10 and 11.

As shown in Fig. 3, mounting member 50 is of generally H-shaped cross-section and is formed as an aluminium extrusion comprising side walls 58, 60, a cross bar 62 and inwardly projecting mounting elements 64, 66, 68 and 70-all these components of the mounting member extending lengthwise thereof throughout its length. Cross bar 62 has the T-section glazing bar 54 formed integrally therewith. Mounting elements 64 and 66 have a rectangular stop portion 72 and a rounded gripping portion 74 for a purpose to be described. Likewise, mounting elements 68, 70 have an inner rectangular stop portion 76 and a rounded gripping portion 78.

Cross bar 62 and slide walls 58, 60 define two channel sections into which the mounting elements 64 to 70 inwardly project. It will be appreciated that the proportions of the mounting elements and the portions of the side walls 58, 60 to which they are attached, are such that since these structures are formed as aluminium extrusions deflection of these parts during assembly is possible to the degree required for insertion of complementary mounting structures.

The assembly of the mounting member 50 with corresponding sub-structures is shown in Figs. 3 to 8.

In Fig. 3 a glass pane 80 is secured by means of two glazing support sections 82, 84 which themselves have inwardly projecting mounting elements shaped to complement and co-operate with the mounting elements 64 and 66 of mounting member 50. The exact structure of the glazing support sections 82, 84 is shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 16 shows a corresponding glazing support section 86 of slightly different proportions. In both cases the sections have a rounded bead 88, a rectangular stop 90, and, on the other limb of the channel-shaped section, a flared retaining lip 92. These glazing support sections may be formed as extrusions of plastics or aluminium and finished in a variety of ways according to the aesthetic requirements of the particular situation. The same applies to the other sections shown in Figs. 1 4 to 22.

Also shown in Fig. 3 (but only indicated in outline) is a glazing bar 94 which is snapfitted into mounting elements 68, 70 on the other side of mounting member 50 from glass panel 80. The glazing bar fits against the rectangular stop portions 76 on mounting elements 68, 70. These latter can deflect slightly to permit insertion of the glazing bar and it is then held as a tight fit and can have mounted thereon a further glass panel and glazing support sections corresponding to items 80, 82 and 84 as described above.

Details of the structure of glazing bar 94 are shown in Fig. 14 including its stop formations 96 and its T-section bar 98.

Also insertable into mounting member 50 to co-operate with the mounting elements 64 to 70 thereof are a range of further attachments shown in Figs. 18 to 22. The glazing support section 100 shown in Fig. 1 8 has a plastic feather 102 extending lengthwise of it to flexibly seal against a sheet of glass. The feather is in the form of a plastic strip of tapering section which accommodates tolerances in the system and provides a finished result. Figs. 19, 20 and 21 show attachments for specialist purposes, those of Figs. 20 and 21 having channels 104 and 106 to receive sliding glass panels. In each case the attachment has a pair of beads 108 mounted on a stiff but flexible strip 110 of plastics material which can be elastically deformed during the attachment process.The strip or section 11 2 of Fig. 22 attachs in a manner similar to the glazing bar of Fig. 14.

Fig. 4 shows how the system accommodates double glazing using the section 11 2 of Fig. 22 to provide two additional T-section bars 114 and 11 6 to accommodate two sheets of glass 11 8nly one shown.

Fig. 5 shows a double-sided glazing assembly utilizing glazing bar 94 and four glazing support sections 82. The glass (not shown) is to be inserted between the feathers 102 of the sections 82-in the manner of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows the assembly of mounting member 50 with a door stop section 120, as shown in Fig. 1 9 and, on the other side, a mild steel channel section support member 1 22 sandwiched between plasterboard panels 124, 1 26 is received between mounting elements 68 and 70 which, in this instance, serve merely to frictionally grip the plasterboard panels and thereby connect the assembly together.

Projection 1 28 on door stop section 1 20 serves to define the closed position of a door supported on hinges in the usual way at the other side of the door frame.

In Fig. 7 a pair of steel channel sections 1 30, 1 32 are fitted together to form a box section which is held in position in mounting member 50 by means of a glazing bar 94.

The steel channel sections serve to provide structure integrity for fire rating purposes.

Fig. 8 shows the assembly of mounting member 50 with two finishing strips 134, 1 36 of the kind shown in Fig. 1 5. The neat non-projecting surface thus provided enables the end of a panel to be conveniently and quickly finished where it does not terminate at a wall or the like.

Fig. 9 shows a triple mounting member 1 38 enabling the connection together of three panel edges into the channels 140, 1 42 and 1 44. This fitting may be provided at the junction between a lateral wall and a longitudinal wall. The mounting member is formed as an aluminium or plastics extrusion and the mounting elements 1 46 thereof are similar in structure to those described above in relation to mounting element 50.

Fig. 10 shows a corresponding mounting member 148 for use in a corner situation which is constructed in a similar manner to mounting member 138, and no further comment is deemed necessary. Likewise, the mounting member 1 50 of Fig. 11 is constructed similarly but for a situation where the included angle between two panel or wall elements is greater than 90 degrees.

Figs. 12 and 1 3 show a corner mounting assembly. Angle strip 1 54 is secured to a structural wall and corner strip 1 56 is press fitted to the bisecting strip 1 58 thereof so as to provide a support corner 1 60 to accommodate mounting members 50 or their counterparts.

Fig. 23 illustrates the assembly of two plasterboard panels 1 62, 1 64 with a steel support section 164 by means of press-fit fasteners 166, 1 68. The fasteners have plates or limbs 170, 172, the latter being pushed into the structure of the plasterboard and the former lying face to face therewith. These plates serve to mount a wedge-shaped fastener element 1 74 which, in one case is offset from the end of the plasterboard panel and in the other case is in-line with it-for assembly purposes.The fastener elements are of spring steel and are a push-fit laterally into recesses 176, 1 78 in steel section 1 64. Studs 1 80 in the recesses are a snap fit into dimples 182 in the fastener elements to secure same in position.

On assembly, fasteners 166, 1 68 are pressed into the ends of the plasterboard panels (in the lengthwise direction of the panels) and are then press fitted (laterally with respect to the panels) into recesses 176, 1 78.

Fig. 28 shows the assembly of Fig. 23 together with two further plasterboard panels 184, 186 secured to a building wall 188 by means of a mounting member 190 corresponding to mounting member 56 of Fig. 2.

The latter is secured to wall 1 88 by screws or other conventional fasteners.

Sandwiched between the ends of plasterboard panels 184, 186 is a steel channel section 192, the assembly being frictionally held together by the profiled mounting elements of mounting member 1 90.

Figs. 25 and 26 serve to provide a comparison between an embodiment of the present invention and a proposal of the prior art. Fig.

25 corresponds on one side with the door stop arrangement of Fig. 6, and on the other side there is provided a glazing bar 1 94 as shown, for example, in Fig. 7.

In the prior art arrangement of Fig. 26 the door stop section 1 96 attaches to a pair of flanges 1 98 and is located wholly outside the flanges. The same method of attachment is provided at the other side of the mounting member 200 of Fig. 26, where a glazing bar 202 is attached to a pair of flanges 204 in a similar manner so as to be located wholly outside the flanges. The contrast between the two systems is particularly evident from a comparison of Figs 25 and 26. The glazing bar 202 and the door stop section 1 96 in Fig.

26 are fully exposed and must be cut perfectly to length without any joins or errors if an acceptable appearance is to be achieved.

On the other hand, the door stop section 206 in Fig. 25 together with the glazing bar 1 94 are located almost entirely within the mounting member itself and are thus largely hidden, particularly when glass and associated glazing support sections are mounted thereon.

In the above embodiments, by providing inwardly extending mounting elements which not only provide stops but may also frictionally grip structures mounted thereon, it is possible to assemble the partitioning system with a minimum of exposed parts, whereby joins are largely hidden.

In addition, the flexibility in the mounting elements and in the sides of the mounting member sections enables sufficient resilience to be provided for easy snap fit assembly. It will be seen from Fig. 26 that the inherent stiffness at one side of the prior art section largely precludes this.

In the embodiments of Figs. 23 and 24, it can be seen that the attachment of the panels to the steel supports by a lateral fastening movement enables individual panels to be quickly and easily detached if necessary without disturbing their adjacent panels.

Many modifications can be made in the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention including modifications to the detailed shape and form of the mounting member sections and their mounting elements.

Claims (21)

1. A mounting member for a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like comprising a channel shaped section having mounting elements projecting inwardly into said channel section for engagement with one or more complementary mounting member or other structure, received in said channel section.

2. A mounting member according to claim 1 wherein said mounting elements are shaped so as to engage and grip said complementary mounting member.

3. A mounting member according to claim 2 wherein said mounting elements are shaped to provide a rounded gripping element to engage said complementary mounting member.

4. A mounting member according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said mounting elements are shaped to provide a generally rectangular stop element.

5. A mounting member according to any one of the preceding claims constructed to be double-sided so as to provide two channel shaped sections.

6. A mounting member according to claim 5 wherein said mounting member is of generally H-shaped cross section.

7. A mounting member according to claim 6 wherein one of said channel sections is deeper than the other.

8. A mounting member substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 1 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A mounting member according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a complementary mounting member adapted to engage one or more of said mounting elements.

10. A mounting member according to claim 9 wherein said complementary mounting member is formed with a T-section bar thereon.

11. A mounting member according to claim 9 wherein said complementary mounting member defines a channel to receive said partitioning or like materials.

1 2. A mounting member for a system of partitioning or partition walling or the like in combination with a complementary mounting member substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 14 to 22 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A partition or partition wall comprising a mounting member and/or a complementary mounting member as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

14. A fastener for securing a partition or wall unit or the like to a support therefor, comprising means to secure the fastener to said partition or wall unit, the fastener further comprising a fastener member adapted to extend laterally with respect to said partition or wall unit and adapted to be press-fitted in said lateral direction into a complementary recess formed in said support.

15. A fastener according to claim 14 comprising a securing element adapted to be press-fitted into the end of a plaster board sheet or the like.

1 6. A fastener according to claim 1 4 or claim 1 5 wherein said fastener member extending laterally with respect to said wall or partition is resiliently deformable.

17.. A fastener according to any one of claims 14 to 1 6 wherein said fastener member extending laterally with respect to said partition or wall is of generally tapering form.

18. A fastener according to claim 1 6 or claim 1 7 comprising stud and recess means whereby said fastener member may be secured in its attached position.

1 9. A fastener for securing partition or wall units or the like to a support therefor, substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 23 and 24 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A partition or partition wall comprising a fastener according to any one of claims 14to 19.

21. A method of assembly of a wall or partition unit or the like comprising the step of securing wall or partition elements to supports therefor, the method comprising the step of engaging fasteners with said supports by press-fitting the fasteners in the lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wall or partition.