Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Intersection of wall to floor – ceiling – roof – or another wall – Sustainer coextensive with junction of panels or modules
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-23
2002-06-04
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Intersection of wall to floor, ceiling, roof, or another wall
Sustainer coextensive with junction of panels or modules
C403S170000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06397537
ABSTRACT:
The present invention concerns a partition wall according to the generic portion of claim
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. It thus particularly concerns a partition wall, comprising at least one wall element connected with a column via a connecting element, with the column having a number of grooves, distributed on locations around its circumference, suitable for interacting with the connecting element.
There is an almost incalculable abundance of different partition walls which can be assembled from premanufactured components (wall elements and columns). The large number of different systems is hereby primarily a consequence of these types of partition walls being intended for use in greatly differing applications. A typical field of application is the subdivision of large area offices into individual zones, whether they are open regions or closed cells, for example conference rooms. These types of partition walls are also used for the shielding of individual workplaces, for example against visibility, sound, and/or the undesired incidence of light. In addition, the use of these types of partition walls in the field of exhibitions and shows is widespread.
For partition walls, great value is placed on a flexible design. This is exhibited particularly in that the wall elements can be attached at various angles to the columns. In order to fulfill this requirement, the connection between wall elements and columns can occur in various ways. Particularly well-known are connections by means of hook-and-loop materials (e.g. CH 632034 A5), by means of magnetic forces (e.g. CH 662601 A5), by means of hooks provided on the wall elements which engage in ring grooves of the columns (e.g. DE 7222826 U1), or by means of mechanical connecting elements (e.g. clamping or locking elements) which are provided on the edges of the wall elements and which engage in longitudinal grooves of the columns (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,300, DE 2931026 A1, EP 0118411 A2, EP 0552647 A1).
Furthermore, for the attachment of two wall elements to one another, the use of connecting elements having two clamping flanges, which are parallel to one another and are connected with one another via a connecting link, with one of the flanges accommodated in a groove of an edge profile of each of the linked wall elements, is known. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,724 A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,777 A, FR 2479306 A1, GB 2051916 A, and WO 95/28532 form a relevant prior art in relation to the latter mentioned type of connection of two wall elements with one another.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,539 A, which forms the most similar prior art and from which a partition wall according to the generic portion of claim
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can be derived, every wall element is rigidly connected with the assigned column via a connecting element. The column hereby has four grooves, so that wall elements can be connected to it in four different positions which are orthogonal to one another. Furthermore, the possibility of connecting two wall elements with one another so that they are articulated, in that a specific connecting element includes a film hinge, can be inferred from this document.
A problem of known partition walls is the competition between flexibility and strength in the completely assembled partition wall. To improve the flexibility, i.e. to increase the possible positions of the wall elements and columns relative to one another, the number of grooves in the columns is, according to the prior art, increased. However, beyond a certain number of grooves, this results in a weakening of the ribs which border them.
The present invention is designed, for partition walls of the type according to the generic portion, in which wall elements are connected with columns by the use of connecting elements, to improve the flexibility with regard to design and possibilities of use, without simultaneously reducing the strength of the completely assembled partition wall.
To solve this task according to the present invention, it is provided that one of the two clamping flanges of the connecting element is accommodated in the groove assigned so that the flange can be pivoted around its longitudinal axis within a predetermined angular range.
The present invention thus distinguishes itself in that the connection between wall elements and columns is produced via a connecting element which is connected with both the relevant wall element and the relevant column in an essentially identical way, namely in that a clamping flange of the connecting element is accommodated in a groove of the column or of the wall element, respectively. It is hereby characteristic of the partition wall according to the invention that one of the two clamping flanges of the connecting element is non-rotatably accommodated in the groove (of the wall element or the column, respectively) assigned, while in contrast, the other clamping flange is accommodated in the groove (of the column or the wall element, respectively) assigned so that it can pivot around its longitudinal axis within a predetermined angular range. In other words, the connecting element is rigidly connected with one of the two components (wall element or column, respectively), while, in contrast, it has a flexible connection with the other component (column or wall element, respectively). In this way, a certain asymmetry, which is significant for solving the tasks further stated above, is characteristic of the connection of wall elements and columns used in the course of the present invention. In regard to design and usage possibilities, a degree of flexibility of the partition walls previously unknown for partition walls according to the generic portion results via a continuous adjustability due to the articulated connection of the connecting element with one of the components. The column manages with a relatively small number of grooves, in order to cover all typical angular positions, so that the ribs bordering the grooves can be implemented with relatively thick walls. This, like the non-rotatable connection of the connecting element with the other components, ensures that the strength of the completely assembled partition wall is not diminished.
In the framework of the present invention, the accommodation of a clamping flange in the assigned groove so that it can pivot within a predetermined angular range can be assigned to the edge profile of the wall element; in this case, the connecting element is rigidly connected with the column. However, in the same way, it is also possible that the accommodation of a clamping flange so that it can pivot within a predetermined angular range can be assigned to the assigned groove in the column; in this case, the connecting element is rigidly connected with the wall element. Both of the two alternatives are connected with specific advantages, so that one or the other development is preferable depending on the area of application. If, according to the first alternative, the accommodation of a clamping flange in the assigned groove so that it can pivot within a predetermined angular range is assigned to the edge profile of the wall element, the openings of the grooves in the column can be implemented as particularly narrow. In this case, the column is distinguished by a largely closed surface, which is of equal advantage from both structural and aesthetic viewpoints.
The connecting element used in the course of the present invention can be, but does not have to be, designed as symmetrical. In this sense, the two clamping flanges can preferably have an identical cross-section; however, this is not imperative, as will be described below in more detail. At least one of the two clamping flanges preferably has a cross-section which is at least partially circular. This is practical for ensuring the ability of the clamping flange to pivot around its longitudinal axis, with the arrangement of the clamping flange in the assigned groove having the largest possible area.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a locking element is provided, by means of which the angular position of the conn
Auer Karl-Heinz
Liebrich Nicole
Katten Muchin Zavis & Rosenman
Perform Holding D.O.O.
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