Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Wall – ceiling – or floor designed for utilities – Partition type
Patent
1998-03-16
2000-08-01
Canfield, Robert
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Wall, ceiling, or floor designed for utilities
Partition type
522381, 52242, 521263, E04B 274
Patent
active
060948752
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a removable wall assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to such a removable wall assembly where the assembled product is equivalent to a standard wall, but which has the advantage of being easily removable and which integrates horizontal and vertical dispatching of utility services such as electricity, telephone services and computer communication services.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
When separating a large room in order to delineate offices or office space, two traditional approaches exist: permanently building walls or using divider panels.
Permanent walls require a rigid frame structure upon which panels are fastened and through which various utility services are integrated. This has two major disadvantages, the first being that should a reorganization of the space be required, it is necessary to tear down the existing structure at great cost, and rebuild according to the new specifications; and the second being that once the utility services are installed, it is almost impossible to relocate them without tearing down a portion of a wall, which requires expense and inconvenience (i.e. rebuilding, repainting, etc.) The advantage of building a permanent wall structure is that it provides great soundproofing and that is has an improved aesthetic quality.
Divider panels, or acoustic panels, are well known in the field, and come in various designs, shapes, etc. Some of the panels may extend from floor to ceiling, but most are of a standard height of approximately seven feet, or a little over two meters. Most of these assemblies are not aesthetically pleasing, do not provide for adequate privacy, and some, if not most, are relatively complicated to assemble and require specific components. Their advantage is that, more recently, most are "pre-wired" for utility services, rendering such services easily accessible. Another advantage is that they are modular. and usually can be reorganized with a minimum of inconvenience and cost.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a removable wall assembly which combines the soundproofing qualities of a permanent wall and the modularity and ease of installation of divider panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved with a modular wall assembly for mounting between a ceiling and a floor. The modular wall assembly includes an elongated top runner having a longitudinal axis, two opposite sides, a top surface, a bottom surface and a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section. The top runner has a groove parallel to the longitudinal axis on each opposite side opening towards the floor and is compatible with the ceiling for attachment thereto.
The modular wall assembly also includes at least two vertical beams each having an adjustable foot at the bottom thereof, each of the vertical beams having a plurality of longitudinal partitions for vertical dispatching of utility services. Each of the vertical beams has a length corresponding generally to the height of the ceiling and each is provided with support means extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top runner at the bottom of the vertical beams.
Each of the vertical beams further includes means for extending each of the adjustable foot to account for variations in the height of the ceiling.
A bottom runner having two opposite sides, two opposite ends, a top surface, a bottom surface, a generally U-shaped cross-section and a groove parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top runner on each opposite side defining an opening on the top surface thereof is inserted between two adjacent vertical beams. Each end of the bottom runner rests on a corresponding one of the support means.
A first pair of panels having a horizontal longitudinal axis, has a bottom longitudinal edge resting in one of the grooves of the bottom runner and a top longitudinal edge.
Lower and upper mid-height runners are also provided, the mid-height runners being mirror images of each other along a longitudinal axis, and b
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Burkiss Inc.
Canfield Robert
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