CA2259059C - Modular wall system - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular building system is disclosed for forming at least one dissassemblable, freestanding screen, the system comprising at least two elongate supports each having an upper end and a lower end, a foot for each of the support members to hole the support members stably in a vertical position and plurality of building blocks adapted to be threaded in vertical progression on the support members, stackable one upon another to form a screen. There is thereby provided a versatile building system for screens, particularly those to be used to partition room space, which are adjustable in height and easily disassembled for reconfiguration.

Description

This invention relates to a modular building system for freest~~nding scmeens or room dividers. Especially the invention relates to a modular building system for freestanding screen> of the type used to partition space into discrete areas such as, for example, screens used for partition office space into typing bays and other work areas.
Freestanding screens or room dividers are frequently formed by integral T~rerti_cal panels supported vertically by a stand. Such panels may either be solid, for example particle board panels or they may comprise a front panel and a back panel ha~,~ing air spa<:.e or filling such as insulation between them. Whether the panels are solid or spaced apaz-t panels it is u~;ual1_y neces sa:ry for aesthetic purposes to provide an edging around the screen.
Sometimes :such edging may incorporate linking means to link adjacent panel:;. The front. and back surfaces of such panel~~ may be decorated by any convenient. means, frequently by fabrics coverir~g.
Although screerns of different= heights and widths may be provided by ut-ilizing parcels of different sizes, it is not possib7.e to adjmst the heights of any one particular screen. Moreover, although a wide variety of decorative finishing ~~urfaces a:m.d side edging may be used, the provision of such finishes adds considerably to the cost of the article. Le}s important~_y, if such screens are to be stored, they takc:~ up considerable storage space unless they may be disassembled frc>rn their stands. Even if it is possible to disa~asemble the panels from the stands, the panels must be either st.<~cked vertically against a wall or flat on the floor. In e_i_ther case considerable floor spacE~ or wall space i~; required for storage.

The present inventor has at:t~empted to provide a versatile building ~:~ystem for screens, especially those to be used to partit..ion spacve, which screens may be adjustable in height and easily disassembled for reconfiguration.
According to the invention there is provided a modular bu__l.ding sy.tem to form at least. one dissassemb7able, freestanding screen, the system comprising at least two elongate supports each having an upper end and a lower end, a foots for each of the support members to hold the support member stably in a vertical position, t=he lower end of each support member being engagable with one c~f the feet; a plurality of building blocks stackable once upon another to form a screen. The stacked blocks to bcthreaded in vertical progression on the support. members, each building block comprising a rectangular box hav:i.ng an open bottom and an open top.
Preferably the buildinct blacks engage one with another by means of members upstanding from opposed inner surfaces of one bui~..ding block to project into and fit against opposed inm:~r surfaces c>f another building block stacked on it. The upstanding members may conveniently be formed by prof:il i..ng uppezw anc~ lower margins to form interengag=_mg steps. Alternat=ively inner lining walls may be provided aga_i.nst opposed _inner wall surfaces of each build=_zug block. Inner .Lin_~ng walls fixed to opposed inner end wall surfaces may be provided with handles to aid manipu=_~,tic>n of the bui7.din~~ blocks.
The sy~~tem may include an uppermost capping member comprising a rectan<:fular box having an open bottom and a closed top the dimera.sions of: the capping member being such as to latch int:.o the build=ing block immediately below it. Preferab:l.y, the upper surface of each building block is bevelled dc:wnwardly and inwardly. When a capping member is u~;ed above one of these building blocks, the dimensicons of the capping member may be such that the dipping merriber nests in the building block supported by the bevelled surface.
The support members may be t=elescopic so that their height may be a.djust:able.
Transirerse strut members may be provided within the building b7.ocks to ~arovide them with some rigidity. The building b7_ocks may also be provided with open ended sockets fro~~ top to butt:om for ~>liding fit about the support members.
When ussemblinc~ a building :system according to the invention into a fre~estamdirlg screen the steps may generally be as follows:
1) The lower ends of two ~>uppor_t~ members are engaged into corre~~ponding feet;
2) If the height caf the support: members is adjustable these are now adjusted t:o the height required;
3) A lowermost building block is threaded onto the support members thrcau.gln the sockets in the building block provided for that piixpose and the building block is lowered to rest om the fEeet;

4) A further builcii.ng block is threaded onto the support members and l.~wer_ed onto the lowermost building block;

5) Further building block~~ are added until the screen has nearly reached t:he desired height;

6) The sv~acked building b:Locks are retained in the stack by means of engagement, means between the uppermost building b:Lock and (each of t=he supports;

7) Final:Ly a capping member is placed over the top end of the support to n<est. on tine uppermost building block.
Embodiments of the inventi~:~n will now be described with reference to tUe drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a rocma dividing partition screen made up from a syst=em accor<aing to t; he invention;
Figure 2 shows the r:~oom div-;_dinc3 partition screen of Figure 1 a:~ an expl~~ded view showing details of the bui:Lding b=Locks;
Figure 3 is a view of a foot. in <~ building system according t=o the invention;
Figure 4 shows the interior of a stacking building unit according t=o the invention; and Figures 5 and 6 are en.gineei,ing drawings of an embodiment of the invention shr:>wing preferrced features.
The drawings sLlow a room d:..~,riding partition screen 10 made up of build~.ng blocks la? and vertical supports 14. The screen 10 ~s a freestanding single unit as shown in Figure 7_. The partition screen 10 comprises building blocks 12 ~~tacked tai any de:; ir-ec~ height .
As mar be best seen from F'-lure 2 t;he system may comprise, f_or each ~~creen 10, a ~~air of elongate support members 14 to be he7_d in a vent=c~a1 position by feet 16.
Usually a pair of sl.zppor_t: membe~v> 14 with feet 16 is sufficient for any r:>ne screen. For example a pair of feet 16 wi7_1 support: a screen of up to 8 feet in width.
If a very wide screen is de:;irec~, it may sometime be desirable t:o have more than two support members.

Feet 7_6, illustrated in Figure 3, may be of any convenient shape anti size but generally extend horizontal7_y at right. angle~~ to 1=he plane of screen 10 to give it st~rbility in the vexvtica=L plane. Conveniently, the feet m~iy have trre form illustrated in Figure 3 being generally elliptical. in plan view having a flat lower surface with the ma or axis of t=he ellipse extending hor=izontal7_y at. rigOt angle; to t=he plane of the screen.
The elliptical base 18 may nave a separate round or elliptical neck 20 haaving a socket 22 in an upper surface. Alternatively the base may be one piece with the neck merging into :it,. The socket: 22 is designed to mate with ~r lower egad of onEe of the supports 14. Thus, if the support is of round cros:~ section, then the socket will be of round crr;ss section having a similar diameter.
If t=he support is of square or o= other cross section the socket wil7_ have a shape corresponding t=o it.
The supports 19, themselve:~, have a length generally corresponding t.o the: desired height of the screen 10. In order that the suppc:~rt members 14 lodge securely in sockets of building units 12 in a manner to be hereinafter describE~d, it i:; des=Lrable t=hat the outer surface of supports 1.4 be cc>ntirmous. Thus, supports 14 may be supplied in different. lengths according to cust=omer requirements. Alternat=:ivel.y, supports 14 may be supplied in lengths considered adequate for most purposes and may be cut to shorter lengtlu:~ by the customer if required. Alternati..vely, support=s 14 may be made telescopic but when telescopic supports are provided it may be difficult to provide a continuous outer surface of constant diameter.
Each building block 12 may comprise a rectangular box having an open trop and an open bottom. Each box may be formed of fibre board, chip board, pressed wood, wood or any other convenient material. The boxes or building units 12 may be assembled into the final screen 10 by stacking one box upon another sc that the lower edge of one box rests on the upper box of the other. Engagement means should be prcvided between the boxes to prevent: or inhibit relative movement. between them. The engagement means may be any convenient means but preferably should be provided inwardly of the boxes so as not to present any unsightly appearance on the outside. For example, as may be seen from Fi:_~ur_es 2 and 4, the engagement means may be a rigid liner 24 upstanding from an inner surface of a lower box 12 t::~ project into and position an upper box 12 immediately above it. As shown, liners 24 extend fully along both lone; walls 26 of the box 12. The liner 24 may only extend ~::wer one pair of opposed walls as shown. Alternatively the liner 24 may extend over long side walls 26 and ov,r~~r shor-~ end walls 28.
Alternatively, a series of positioning pegs may extend upwardly from the inner sur:Eace of a lower box to position an upper b~::~x upon _Lt .
The liner; 24 may conveniently comprise elongate boards to rest on lfec:ges 30 projecting inwardly from inner surf,~ces of l~.~rq wall:~ 26. The liners fit loosely against the inner s~ir_faces of 1«ng walls 26 and may be prevented f rom t ipp i.r~.g .inwa=idly by rectangular spacer' plates 32 extending across each box 12 between the liners 24. Each ;pacer pla:~t=e 32 ors the lowermost. box 12 rests on the top edge of deck 20 of foot. 16. Each spacer plate 32 of boxe;~ 12 abovE:> the lowermost box rest on the spacer plate 32 immediately be=Low it.
Each :pacer pla:~t:e 32 has an extension 36 having an axially ve=~tical socvket t=herethrough for the passage o.f _ 7_ elongate vertical supports 14. Conveniently each extension 36 is a horizontal plate extending from the spacer plate 32, the horizontal plate 36 having an aperture 34 therethrough, the aperture corresponding in shape to the perimeter of the corresponding support 14.
When the liner 24 is a full liner or when it is over opposed short walls 28, it may be convenient to provide it with handles for easy manipulation of the building units or boxes 12. These handles may 1o conveniently be formed of apertures in the liner. The liner 24 itself, may be formed from a similar material, i.e. fibre board, chip board, wood, etc, as the outer structure of box 12 or it may be formed of other rigid material capable of locating one box on top of another. Other possible materials are metal sheet, plastic sheet, etc.
IS
Alternatively as may be seen from Figure S, an upper margin of the outer surface of a building block 12 may be profiled by a right angled elongate groove to provide an inwardly stepped, upwardly directed flange 50. Similarly, a lower margin of a building block 12 may be profiled with 20 an elongate right angled groove to provide a downwardly directed flange or skirt 52 to fit over flange 50. The arrangement of notches and flanges may be such that the groove and tongue engagement between building units is achieved.
25 In assembly, lower ends of supports 14 are nested into sockets 22 of feet 16 and fixed firmly therein. Sockets 22 may be made of distortable plastic material screwed onto foot base 18 by screws 40. As screws 40 are tightened, neck 20 tends to tighten about support 14.

_8_ Thereafter, a lowermost building unit or box 12 is slotted onto supports 14 through sockets 34 of plates 36. The lowermost box 12 is slid down the supports 14 to rest on the upper surface of neck 20 of foot 16. The dimensions of the upper surface of neck 20 should be sufficiently great to allow box 12 to rest thereon. Spacer plates 32 and liners 24 are placed in position with socket 34 of extension plate 36 about support 14.
Thereafter a further box 12 is slotted onto supports 14 and slid down them to rest on the upper edge of the lowermost box 12. Further liners and spacer plates are added, followed by further boxes 12 as required. When the structure (partition screen 10) has nearly sufficient desired height, locking clamps 44 are placed on supports 14 and tightened to hold the boxes 12 in position.
IS
Finally, a cap member is placed over the upper most box 12 to hide the top of supports 14 and the locking clamps 44. The cap member is generally similar in shape to the boxes 12 but may have a closed top surface 46.
Conveniently, each of the boxes 12 may have a bevelled upper edge 48, the bevel extending downwardly and inwardly. The dimension of cap member 46 may be such that the cap member rests on the bevel to nest slightly within uppermost box 12. This member cap member 46, although it rests loosely on the uppermost box 12, may be retained stably in position by means of this slight nesting.
The boxes may be painted or otherwise finished according to customer requirements. When not in use they may be stored in any convenient: format. If stored on their sides they nnay even provide convenient storage capacity for other smal=L item: .

Claims (8)

1. Dissassemblable free standing partition screen, comprising:
at least two elongate support members, each said support member having an upper end and a lower end;
a foot for each of said support members, each said foot being adapted to engage the lower end of one support member and to hold said one support erect in vertical orientation; and a plurality of vertically stackable building block members, each said building block member being a rectangular box open at the bottom and top thereof and comprising a front wall, a rear wall and a horizontal bracing means, each said building block member including socket means for receiving respective upper ends of the support members through apertures in said horizontal bracing means when said support member are placed in a predetermined transverse alignment, each said building block member including integral engagement means at the top and bottom thereof for engagement with the building block members immediately above and below said building block member in a vertical stack on the support members for resisting relative lateral movement of the building block members in the stack.

2. A partition screen according to claim 1, further comprising means for reversibly locking a building block member to said support members following placement of said building block member in its position in said vertical stack, whereby the complete assembly of building block members in the stack can be lifted and transported as a unit.

3. A partition screen according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said engagement means comprise linear panels extending between opposed facing surfaces of said front and rear walls for mating engagement against the facing surfaces of the corresponding front and rear walls of an overlying building block in a vertical stack.

4. A partition screen according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said engagement means comprise positioning pegs projecting upwardly from upper edge surfaces of each rectangular box and mating holes recessed into lower edge surfaces of each box for engagement between abutting box edge surfaces in the vertical stack.

5. A partition screen according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said engagement means comprise matingly bevelled upper and lower edge surfaces on said building block members for nesting engagement of the bottom portion of a box in a vertical stack with the top portion of the box immediately therebelow.

6. A partition screen according to claim 3, wherein the facing wall surfaces of each box include integral ledges positioned for abutment against top edge surfaces of the linear panels of the underlined box in vertical stack.

7. A partition screen according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said horizontal bracing means comprise a rectangular spacer plate extending horizontally across the interior of each building block between the front and rear walls thereof.

8. A partition screen according to claim 7, wherein said socket means comprise holes through said spacer plate positioned and dimensioned for accommodation of said vertical supports, to permit sliding movement of a box therealong while preventing lateral movement.