AU2002302076A1 - Concertina panel wall - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Applications: MONARCH GROUP PTY LIMITED STEPHEN RODNEY JONES HODGKINSON OLD McINNES Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 3, 20 Alfred Street MILSONS POINT NSW 2061 "CONCERTINA PANEL WALL" PR 8990 dated 20 November 2001 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 3159B FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to glass curtain walls. Such walls find particular application in retail premises where a large entrance in a shopping centre or like building is able to be opened and closed by means of the glass panels. In the closed position, a glass wall is presented to the public through which "window shopping" may be conducted whilst the retail premises is closed. However, when open, the glass wall is completely retracted so that a very large access is available to shoppers. The glass panels are stacked or folded away in a storage area. It will be appreciated in this connection that the term "glass" as used herein, should be understood as including polycarbonate, Perspex and like transparent plastics materials which are substitutes for glass.

BACKGROUND ART Such glass curtain walls are suspended from a track which extends in a straight line across the opening and which is bifurcated at one end which defines the storage area. Each of the panels has a top beam which is connected to the track by means of two trolleys which run along the track. European patent application No. 0 679 788 exemplifies such trolleys. In addition, the glass panels are generally also provided with a bottom beam which inter-engages a floor track by means of a guide. European patent No. 1 043 469 discloses such track and floor guides.

The glass panels are not hinged and are moved individually from the stack to the "closed wall" position one at a time.

The floor track has hitherto been thought essential in order to secure the lower reaches of the glass curtain when the wall is in its closed position. This is not only to stop both the wall and individual panels swinging in a direction perpendicular to the track, but also to secure the retail premises against theft, break and enter, etc. However, two fundamental problems with such tracks is that they are firstly unsightly, and secondly, accumulate grit and other debris which eventually interferes with the smooth guiding of the lower edges of the panels.

In addition, concertina or bifold walls are known. For such walls the individual panels are hinged together at the sides of the panels. Each individual panel is centrally pivoted and 2 supported on a single overhead track. When folded up, the panels extended equally to either side of the track. A floor track is normally used to constrain the wall and stop it "floating about" especially during movement of the wall between the folded up, or "concertina compressed" configuration and the extended "wall" configuration.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a structure for a retractable concertina glass curtain wall which enables the floor track to be eliminated, if desired. This in turn enables the lower beam on the glass panel to be eliminated, if desired, and thus a wall having enhanced aesthetic features is possible. It will be appreciated in this connection that the new structure can be used either with, or without, a floor track. Thus the invention is not restricted to those arrangements which do not have a floor track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a retractable concertina glass curtain wall comprising a plurality of glass panels each of substantially the same height and having an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, a corresponding top beam secured to the upper edge of each panel, a pair of tracks secured to an overhead support above said wall and being closely adjacent and overlying the locus occupied by the wall in its extended position, said pair of tracks being bifurcated at one end of said locus to define a wall storage bay, a plurality of hinges each interconnecting each adjacent pair of panels at the side edges thereof to permit each adjacent pair of panels to pivot in opposite directions, a first plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting said top beams of every alternate panel and one of said tracks, and a second plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting one of the hinges of each said alternate panel and the other of said tracks to permit said wall panels to reciprocally move along said tracks between said extended position and said storage bay.

In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a retractable concertina glass curtain wall comprising a plurality of glass panels each of substantially the same height and having an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, a pair of tracks secured to the ceiling above said wall and being closely adjacent and overlying the locus occupied by the wall in its extended position and being bifurcated at one end of said locus to define a wall storage bay, a plurality of hinges each interconnecting each adjacent pair of panels at the side edges thereof to permit each adjacent pair of panels to pivot in opposite directions and a first plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting said one member of the hinges of every even numbered panel and one of said tracks and a second plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting the other member of the hinges of each odd numbered panel and the others of said tracks to permit said wall panels to reciprocally move along said tracks between said extended position and said storage bay.

In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a method of assembly of a retractable concertina glass curtain wall, said method comprising the steps of:assemblying each odd member panel of said wall with a top beam having a corresponding trolley and a part hinge at each side; assemblying each even numbered panel with a part hinge at one side and a part hinge with trolley at the other side; securing a pair of bifurcated tracks to an overhead support and providing an opening leading into each track; for each even numbered panel, raising the panel, securing a first part hinge to the preceding odd numbered panel to form a completed hinge, and pivoting said even numbered panel to locate said trolley of its said part hinge in a first one of said tracks; for each odd numbered panel, raising the panel, securing a first hinge part to the preceding even numbered panel to form a completed hinge, and pivoting said odd numbered panel to locate the trolley thereof in the second one of said tracks, and repeating steps and as necessary until all panels are inter-connected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the glass curtain wall of a first embodiment in its closed position, FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view showing the glass curtain wall being retracted from, or extended into, its open position, FIG. 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1 but showing a glass curtain wall of a second embodiment which follows a curved locus, some of the panels being narrower than others, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the detailed storage area of the walls of Figs. 1-3, FIGS. 5 -7 are each schematic plan views of the tracks supporting the glass curtain wall in the vicinity of the storage area and illustrating the stacking mechanism, FIGS. 8 and 9 are each schematic horizontal cross-sectional views of the hinge interconnecting adjacent panels in respectively the open and closed positions, FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the interconnections of the hinges, a panel and the trolleys, FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a top beam and its associated trolley, FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a hinge and its associated trolley, FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one half of the two part track, FIG. 14 is a similar perspective view of a double track fabricated in a single piece, FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the interconnection of two single tracks to form a double track, FIGS. 16 and 17 are schematic plan views of an alternative hinge arrangement illustrated in extended and folded configurations respectively and having a substantially symmetrical appearance, FIG 18 is a side elevation of two of the panels of FIGS 16 and 17, FIG. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but of an alternate arrangement of the storage area, and FIG. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 but of a still further arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a retail premises 1 has a large entrance 2 which is able to be closed by a retractable concertina glass curtain wall 3 formed from a number of individual panels 4.

In the closed configuration illustrated in Fig. 1, the panels 4 are aligned edge to edge and extend across the entrance 2. However, in the open configuration illustrated in Fig. 2, the panels 4 have been slid together to one side of the entrance 2 where they are able to be folded into a concertina configuration 5 and held within a relatively small storage area 6. The panels 4 have a rectangular frame 7, preferably formed from an aluminium extrusion.

It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 2 that there is no track extending along the floor across the entrance 2. Thus, the locus 8 over the floor, being the path over which the panels 4 move, is also unencumbered.

In Fig. 2, as will become more apparent from the discussion to follow in relation to Figs. 5 7, the wall 3 can be opened or closed by a single person either pulling or pushing the leading panel 4. Alternatively, in a small electric motor can be employed for this task.

Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the wall 3 in which the wall 3 follows a curved path or locus 8 which includes an S-bend 9. In addition, the wall 3 can include some panels 4 of a relatively narrow width which are therefore able to accommodate relatively small radii of curvature in the locus 8.

In Fig. 4, more detail of the storage area 6 is illustrated. It will be seen that the panels 4 are supported from above by means of a pair of tracks 11 which, on the right-hand side follow the locus 8 of the wall 3 in its closed configuration but on the left-hand side are forked or bifurcated at 12 which enables the panels 4 to be swung into the storage configuration illustrated in the left-hand side of Fig. 4.

As seen in Fig. 4, each of the panels 4 has a hinge 14 extending along each of its side edges.

Every second hinge 14 is provided at waist height with a locking handle 15 which enables a locking bolt (not illustrated) to be inserted into a locking ring 16 let into a carpeted floor or similar. This arrangement enables the panels 4 to be securely locked in the open configuration against forces acting perpendicular to the locus 8. The locking handles 15 are preferably able to be secured with a conventional tumbler lock (not illustrated) so that the wall 3 is able to be securely locked and thus secure the retail premises.

The concertina action of the various panels 4 is illustrated schematically in Figs. 5 7 from which it will be seen that one of the tracks 11 is completely straight whereas the other track 11 is curved at 12 in order to produce the desired bifurcation. In addition, the odd numbered panels 401, 403, 405, etc. are each provided with a central trolley 18 (FIG 10) numbered as 181, 182, etc in FIGS 5-7 whilst the even numbered panels 402, 404, etc. have no central trolley. The odd numbered hinges 141, 143, 145, etc. are supported by the straight track 11 whilst the even numbered hinges 142, 144, etc. are not connected to either track. The odd 7 numbered hinges 141, 143, etc. are also each provided with a hinge trolley 18 (not illustrated in Figs. 5 These run in the straight track 11. Every alternate panel 401, 403, etc. is provided with a corresponding central trolley 181, 182, etc. each of which runs in the curved track 12.

In the sequence of events illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the wall 3 is moved from its closed configuration to its concertina configuration by first pushing on the panel 408 furthest from the bifurcation portion 12 and storage area 6. The track at 12 is so shaped that the trolley 181 pushes sideways on first panel 401 so as to cause the wall to "kink". As a consequence of this action, the first trolley 181 runs along the bifurcated portion 12 as seen in Fig. 6 whilst the third hinge 143 and the remainder of the wall 3 approach the bifurcated portion 12. The odd numbered hinges 143, 145, etc. maintain their straight path along the straight track 11 and permit their adjacent panels 4 to pivot like the pages of a book having its spine on the straight track 11. Simultaneously, the even hinges 142, 144, etc. move away from the straight track 11 and permit their adjacent panels 4 to pivot whilst facing in the opposite direction. All the trolleys 181, 182, etc. in turn move along the bifurcated portion 12 so as to stack together as illustrated in Fig. 7.

In the event that the distance between the wall and the bifurcation 12 exceeds the width of the panels 4, the first trolley 181 is eliminated. Similarly, the first hinge 141 need not include a trolley 18 but can instead be fixed to the wall (or rail 11).

The detail of the hinges 14 is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 with the hinge being formed from a tubular base 21 which to either side includes a C-shaped pivot 22. The panels 4 are retained in an edge strip 23 having an arcuate arm 24 which is able to be engaged with the C-shaped pivot 22. Thereafter, a hollow box member 25 can be snap-engaged with the tubular base 21 to lock the arcuate arm 24 in place. The box member 25 houses the locking handle 15 illustrated in Fig. 4.

The hinge 14 is able to be pivoted between a curved, partially open position illustrated in Fig.

8 in which the panels 4 lie at more than 180* relative to each other, and a closed position illustrated in Fig. 9 where the panels 4 are essentially parallel to each other. The configuration illustrated in Fig. 8 enables S-bends 9 to be accommodated in the locus 8 whereas the closed configuration illustrated in Fig. 9 enables the panels 4 to be stored in the storage area 6.

Turning now to Fig. 10, it will be seen that the odd numbered hinges 141 and the even numbered hinges 142 are able to be fabricated from the same components. In each instance the edge strips 23 are maintained with the arcuate arm 24 engaged with the corresponding Cshaped pivot 22 by means of a locking plate 27 which is held in position by means of two screws (not illustrated) the self-tapping shanks of which pass into the interior of the C-shaped pivots 22. Each of the glass panels 4 is provided with an extruded metal top beam 29 which extends between the corresponding edges of the panel 4. Both the odd numbered hinges 141, 143, etc. and the odd numbered panels 401, 403, 405, etc. are provided with a trolley 18. As seen in Fig. 10, the trolleys 18 irrespective of whether used centrally or above a hinge are essentially identical save for their method of interconnection to the wall 3. Each of the trolleys 18 has a body 31, a main wheel 32 which rotates about a horizontal stub axle and a pair of guide wheels 33 which each rotate about a corresponding vertical axle extending from the trolley body 31.

The (hinge) trolley 18 for connection to an odd numbered hinge 141 is provided with an elongate connecting rod 35 which passes into the tubular base 21 and is secured thereto by means of screws 36 (Fig. 12).

The (central) trolley 18 intended to be mounted on the top beam 29 is provided with a short connecting arm 37 which terminates in a glide body 38 fabricated from nylon, brass (or similar).

Illustrated in Fig. 11 is the detail of the interconnection of the (central) trolley 18 with the top beam 29. It will be seen that the glide body 38 is retained within a cavity formed in the top beam 29 and the end of the connecting arm 37 is preferably threaded so as to permit some adjustment between the top beam 29 and the track which will eventually be bifurcated at 12.

Similarly, in Fig. 12 is illustrated the interconnection of the (hinge) trolley 18 with the hinge 141. In both Figs. 11 and 12, it will be seen that the main wheel 32 is supported by a horizontal flange on the tracks 11 and the guide wheels 33 are located within an inverted Ushaped channel also formed in the tracks 11. Each of the tracks 11 is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 13 and their interconnection so as to face each other and lie parallel is indicated in Fig.

From Figs. 11 and 15, it will be seen that the tracks 11 are joined together by means of a top plate 40 and screws 42 (Fig. 11) which pass into clamping blocks 41. A bolt 43 permits the top plate 40 to be secured to the ceiling (or like support not illustrated).

Also illustrated in Figs. 12 and 15 are connecting plates 44, 45 which enable adjacent lengths of the extruded track 11 to be joined in end to end relationship. As seen in Fig. 12, screws 46 pass through the upper connecting plates 44 and into the tracks 11, 12 whilst the lower connecting plates 45 merely provide alignment by insertion in the inverted U-shaped channels which carry the guide wheels 33.

Fig. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment in the form of a double track 110 which is advantageous in that the top plate 40 and screws 42 are not required. However, where the locus 8 is curved, it is necessary to roll the track and therefore the use of two single tracks 11 is to be preferred since this form of track is easier to roll than the double track 110 of Fig. 14.

It will be appreciated that because the glass panels are relatively heavy, it is desirable to assemble the wall in a particular order so that each panel is installed in turn. Thus only one panel is lifted into the vertical position at a time. Essentially the track 11, 12 is installed first.

Immediately adjacent the bifurcation 12 a portion of each track 11, 12 is left open to permit the insertion of trolleys 18 into the tracks.

Each panel is pre-assembled with its frame 7 and top beam 29. The odd numbered panels 401, 403 etc have the (central) trolley 181, 182 etc already assembled and slidingly mounted within the top beam 29. Each of the odd numbered half hinges 141,143, 145 etc is provided with its (hinge) trolley 18 having its connecting rod 35 secured in position by screws 36.

Then the first panel 401 is raised into a vertical position and the trolley 18 of hinge 141 slid into the opening in track 11 whilst the trolley 181 is slid into the opening of track 12. This enables the panel 401 to be supported by the trolleys 181, 141. Then the second panel 402 is raised into a vertical position. The arcuate arm 23 on one side of panel 402 is engaged with the C-shaped pivot 22 of panel 401 to form hinge 142. These engaged hinge parts are then maintained so engaged by snap engaging the hollow box member 25 to complete the hinge 142.

Next the panel 402 is pivoted so the trolley 18 above part hinge 143 can be passed into track 11. This enables panel 402 to be fully supported whilst part hinge 143 is moved along track 11 towards hinge 141.

Next panel 403 is raised. Its side edge is then engaged with that of panel 402 to form hinge 143. Then the panel 403 is pivoted so that trolley 182 can be passed into the opening in track 12. This enables panel 403 to be fully supported. Then the procedure for panel 402 is repeated with panel 404. Then the procedure for panel 403 is repeated with panel 405, and so on until all panels are inter-engaged at the hinges and all trolleys are in the tracks. Then the openings in the tracks 11, 12 are closed by inserting a short length of track into the opening to completely fill same.

Turning now to Figs. 16 18, illustrated therein is an alternative form of hinge 14 which is provided with a dummy cylindrical protrusion 54 so that the panels 4 have a symmetrical appearance when the wall 3 is in the extended configuration illustrated in Fig. 16. In this connection, it will be appreciated that in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10, the provision of the box member 25 means that when seen on one side of the wall 3 the alternate hinges 141, 143, etc. have one appearance whereas the interleaving hinges 142, 144, etc. have an alternative appearance. The protrusion 54 on every binge 14 has a blind hole 55 which receives the connecting rod 35 (FIG 10) of the trolley 18. This arrangement results in the hinge axis being slightly off-set relative to the support for the panels 4. However, any moments so created are relatively small.

In particular, as best appreciated in FIG 18, the hinges 54 are secured to the glass of the panels 4 directly (by means of a fastener passing directly through the glass, for example). This means that the frame 7 can be entirely elimidnated. In this arrangement, the spacing between the track 11 and the track 12 should be equal to the distance between the blind holes 55 in Fig. 17.

Various geometrical relationships are possible at the storage end of the wall. In the situation illustrated in Fig. 19 it is desirable not to connect the first panel 401 to the track 12 at all.

Instead, the panel 401 is provided with an offset lug 501 at its upper edge which swings into the open bight 502 formed between the pair of arms 503, 504 of a locking bracket 505 mounted at the same height as the tracks 11, 12. As the panel 401 is moved from its storage position the lug 501 engages the arm 503. However, as the panel 401 is moved into its storage position, the lug 501 bumps into the arm 504 which provides the necessary "kinking" force to cause the initial pivoting of the first panel 401. In this arrangement, hinge 141 of panel 401 is able to slide along the track 11. There is also a short length of track on the floor immediately below the track I11 to support the panel 40 1. An L-shaped trim 5 10 conceals the travel of the panel 401 from the wall whilst the bracket 505 arrests movement of the panel 401 and maintains panel 401 in a uniform plane with the other panels when the panels are in the extended configuration.

An alternative arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 20. Here an additional length of curved track 12A is provided between tracks I11 and 12 as illustrated. The first panel 401 is provided with a central trolley 18 which follows the track 12A which therefore provides the necessary guiding laterally directed forces during the opening and closing procedures. A stop 511 is provided at the end of the track 12A further from the wall.

12 The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term "comprising" as used herein is used in the sense of "including" or "having" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

Claims (19)

1. A retractable concertina glass curtain wall comprising a plurality of glass panels each of substantially the same height and having an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, a corresponding top beam secured to the upper edge of each panel, a pair of tracks secured to the ceiling above said wall and being closely adjacent and overlying the locus occupied by the wall in its extended position and being bifurcated at one end of said locus to define a wall storage bay, a plurality of hinges each interconnecting each adjacent pair of panels at the side edges thereof to permit each adjacent pair of panels to pivot in opposite directions and a first plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting said top beams of every alternate panel and one of said tracks and a second plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting one of the hinges of each said alternate panel and the other of said tracks to permit said wall panels to reciprocally move along said tracks between said extended position and said storage bay.

2. The wall as defined in claim 1 wherein each panel has a peripheral frame.

3. The wall as defined in claim 1 wherein the lower edge of each said panel is bare.

4. The wall as defined in claim 3 wherein all edges of each panel are bare. The wall as defined in any one of claims 1-4 wherein said locus is free of any track formed in the floor below said wall.

6. The wall as defined in any one of claims 1-5 wherein said panels are not all of equal width.

7. The wall as defined in claim 6 wherein said locus is curved and said panels of smaller width correspond to portions of said locus with smaller radii of curvature.

8. The wall as defined in claim 7 wherein said locus is curved in opposite directions to include at least one S-bend portion.

9. The wall as defined in any one of claims 1 8 wherein said hinges can pivot through more than 1800. The wall as defined in any one of claims 1 9 wherein said hinges are fabricated from metal extrusions and include snap engageable components.

11. The wall as defined in any one of claims 1-10 wherein said hinges are shaped to have a symmetrical appearance whereby all hinges viewed from either side of the wall have substantially the same appearance.

12. A retractable concertina glass curtain wall comprising a plurality of glass panels each of substantially the same height and having an upper edge, a lower edge and a pair of side edges, a pair of tracks secured to the ceiling above said wall and being closely adjacent and overlying the locus occupied by the wall in its extended position and being bifurcated at one end of said locus to define a wall storage bay, a plurality of hinges each interconnecting each adjacent pair of panels at the side edges thereof to permit each adjacent pair of panels to pivot in opposite directions and a first plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting said one member of the hinges of every even numbered panel and one of said tracks and a second plurality of wheeled trolleys each interconnecting the other member of the hinges of each odd numbered panel and the others of said tracks to permit said wall panels to reciprocally move along said tacks between said extended position and said storage bay.

13. The wall as defined in claim 12 wherein all edges of each panel are bare.

14. The wall as defined in claim 12 or 13 wherein said locus is free of any track formed in the floor below said wall. The wall as defined in any one of claims 12- 14 wherein said panels are not all of equal width.

16. The wall as defined in claim 15 wherein said locus is curved and said panels of smaller width correspond to portions of said locus with smaller radii of curvature.

17. The wall as defined in claim 16 wherein said locus is curved in opposite directions to include at least one S-bend portion.

18. The wall as defined in any one of claims 12 17 wherein said hinges can pivot through more than 1800.

19. The wall as defined in any one of claims 12 18 wherein said hinges are shaped to have a symmetrical appearance whereby all hinges viewed from either side of the wall have substantially the same appearance.

20. A retractable concertina glass curtain wall substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figs. 1 15 or Figs. 16 18 or Fig. 19 or Fig. 20 of the drawings.

21. A method of assembly of a retractable concertina glass curtain wall, said method comprising the steps of:- assemblying each odd member panel of said wall with a top beam having a corresponding trolley and a part hinge at each side; assemblying each even numbered panel with a part hinge at one side and a part hinge with trolley at the other side; securing a pair of bifurcated tracks to an overhead support and providing an opening leading into each track; for each even numbered panel, raising the panel, securing a first part hinge to the preceding odd numbered panel to form a completed hinge, and pivoting said even numbered panel to locate said trolley of its said part hinge in a first one of said tracks; for each odd numbered panel, raising the panel, securing a first hinge part to the preceding even numbered panel to form a completed hinge, and pivoting said odd numbered panel to locate the trolley thereof in the second one of said tracks, and repeating steps and as necessary until all panels are inter-connected.

22. A method of assembly of a retractable concertina glass curtain wall, said method being substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 2 0 ih day of November 2002 MONARCH GROUP PTY LIMITED HODGKINSON OLD McINNES Patent Attorneys for the Applicant