EP0439984A1 - System of demountable and modular partitions - Google Patents

Abstract

Standard assembly of elements for making dismountable partitions which can be varied as desired in terms of sizes and in terms of configurations, characterised in that it comprises: - a framing sectional profile (1) which can be used for framing all types of panels (46) (47) which are intended to constitute the said partitions, regardless of the nature, size and configuration of these panels; and - a sectional profile (14) for assembling and locking in place, by a clipping mechanism, the said panels onto the said framing sectional profiles.

Description

The present invention relates to demountable partition systems widely used in particular for delimiting workspaces in large premises delivered empty, so as to be subdivided according to the needs of the user.
Currently the systems offered, although qualified as modular at will, can only be adapted to real needs when said premises and said spaces respect relatively limited dimensions and configurations.
Thus, while modern architecture is diversified by the multiplication of polygonal shapes with short and numerous facets, that is to say of very variable dimensions and different opening angles and in any case greater than 90 °, the panels currently marketed are small and only assemble at 90 °, so that it is common to create partitions by folding assembly elements, this folding is rarely of correct precision, and by combining several elements to achieve a non-standard size, with expensive and unattractive fittings.
The invention overcomes these drawbacks, thanks to a new structure of partitions using a limited number of simple standard elements allowing, by their association, the creation of partitions of unlimited sizes and configurations.

• un profilé unique universel constituant l'encadrement de tous les types de panneaux constituant les cloisons, quelles que soient la taille et la configuration desdits panneaux,
• un profilé unique universel constituant l'élément d'assemblage et d'immobilisation par clipsage desdits panneaux sur lesdits encadrements,
• un profilé d'obturation de la face latérale d'une cloison, adapté à la mise en place de panneaux de verre,
• un profilé d'obturation de la face latérale d'une cloison, adapté notamment à la mise en place d'une huisserie,
• et un profilé destiné à servir de couvre-joint entre deux panneaux contigus réunis par un montant d'assemblage.

According to the invention, these standard elements are:

• a single universal profile constituting the frame for all types of panels constituting the partitions, whatever the size and configuration of said panels,
• a single universal profile constituting the assembly and immobilization element by clipping of said panels onto said frames,
• a shutter profile on the side face of a partition, suitable for fitting glass panels,
• a shutter profile of the lateral face of a partition, suitable in particular for the installation of a frame,
• and a profile intended to serve as a joint cover between two adjoining panels joined by an assembly post.

More specifically, said framing profile is a U-shaped section, each branch of which carries an outer wing intended to receive a panel, this wing itself comprising a finger oriented towards the rear so as to constitute a lateral housing for the assembly element of said panel, the facets facing said housing and said assembly element having recessed notches and lugs ensuring by their cooperation their mutual clipping, said branches extending backwards, beyond the base of said U so as to form a flattened U oriented towards the rear.

Likewise, said assembly profile is a profile, the section of which has a wing intended to cover the corresponding panel after its installation, and a heel intended to be received by clipping into the lateral housing of the frame profile, immobilizing then said panel.

Similarly, said closure profile is a generally flattened U-shaped profile, each branch of which carries on its inner face a lug intended to cooperate with a corresponding notch on the outer face of the front end of each branch of the profile d 'frame, to ensure their mutual clipping, these profiles may also include at least one outer side wing to create at the same time, in cooperation with the corresponding assembly element, a housing for a panel possibly of non-standard dimensions, such as 'a glass panel.

Similarly, the other closure profile is a generally U-shaped profile whose mouth is narrowed to fit on the inner faces of the branches of the frame profile, then flares creating a shoulder intended to be covered by the wing with an assembly profile, the base of the U being arranged to receive a fixed frame element, such as hinges.

Finally, the assembly of the panels on the upright with joint cover uses a sectional profile in the general shape of a T, the foot of this T coming to be inserted in a corresponding slot of an amount of assembly of shaped panels. double T, and be immobilized there by clipping between notches and corresponding pins, the spaces defined between the respective bars of said T constituting housings for contiguous panels, and said bars forming joint cover for said spaces from one panel to the next.

All these sections are part of the present invention, whether used alone or in any possible combination, as will be illustrated by the examples below.

The invention therefore covers not only these profiles and their combinations, but also the process for producing partitions using these profiles, in combinations with one another and with the architectural elements already existing. Thus, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, two partitions can be assembled at any opening angle, thanks to the configuration of the framing elements with double U section, the rear vertical space with cross section A flattened U adaptable to the curvature of a round vertical post, in any desired angular orientation.

The invention will therefore be illustrated by means of several illustrative examples which do not have any limiting character, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the section of a frame profile.

Figures 2 a and 2 b show the section of an assembly and immobilization profile according to its two possible orientations.

Figures 3 a and 3 b show in section two variants of a shutter profile adapted to the establishment of panels.

Figure 4 shows the section of a shutter profile adapted to the establishment of a frame.

Figure 5 shows the section of an amount of assembly of adjoining panels.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show in section two variants of joint covers usable with the upright of FIG. 5.

Figure 7 shows in section an intermediate assembly between solid panels and glass panels.

Figure 8 shows in section an intermediate assembly between solid panels and a frame.

FIG. 9 illustrates in perspective a fragment of a partition conforming to FIG. 8.

Figures 10 and 11 are respectively views similar to Figures 7 and 8, the assembly being done on a round post, allowing the creation of any angle between two consecutive partitions.

FIG. 12 illustrates in perspective a fragment of an assembly according to FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 represents in horizontal section the assembly of two contiguous panels of the same partition on a vertical upright, with joint covers, and

FIG. 14 illustrates in perspective a fragment of the partition of FIG. 13.

In all the figures, the corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, as they appear in Figures 1 to 6.

If we first consider Figure 1, there is shown the section of a framing profile 1, which is one of the two basic standard elements according to the invention.

This section is in the form of a U of which each branch, 2 a , 2 b carries an external lateral wing, 3 a, 3 b against which the field of a panel disposed along the external face 4 a will abut, 4 b from the front of the branches 2 a , 2 b. Each wing 3 a , 3 b itself has a finger 5 a , 5 b oriented towards the rear so as to constitute a lateral housing 6 a , 6 b for the assembly and immobilization element of said panel, the facets facing said housing and said connecting element having notches (7 a , 7 b on the profile 1 and 8 a , 8 b on the connecting elements) and lugs (9 a , 9 b on the profile 1 and 10 a , 10 b on the assembly element) ensuring by their cooperation their mutual clipping, said branches 2 a , 2 b extending rearwards along 1 1 a 11 b beyond the base 12 so as to form a flattened U 13, oriented towards the rear.

Referring to Figures 2 a, 2 b , there is also shown the section of the assembly and immobilization profiles 1 4 a , 14 b which are the other basic standard elements according to the invention, and which cooperate with the framing elements 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12.

The sections 14 a and 14 b are identical, except that they are oriented symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry of the partition in which they participate.

Each consists on the one hand of a wing 15 a , 15 b intended to cover the panel placed along the face 4 a , 4 b and against the wing 3 a , 3 b of the profile 1, and on the other part of a U-shaped heel 16 a , 16 b intended to be locked in the housing 6 a , 6 b of the profile 1, by clipping the lugs 9 a , 9 b into the notches 8 a , 8 b , and lugs 10 a , 10 b in the notches 7 a , 7 b .

Referring to FIGS. 3 a , 3 b and 4, there are shown shutter sections of the open face of the sections 1, according to various configurations:

In the case of FIGS. 3 a , 3 b, the sections 17 a and 17 b respectively have a flattened U section of which each branch 18 a , 19 a and 18 b , 19 b carries on its internal face a lug 20 a , 21 a and 20 b , 21 b intended to cooperate with a corresponding notch 22 a , 22 b of the front end 4 a , 4 b of each branch of the framing profile 1, to ensure their mutual clipping. In the case of the section 17 b of FIG. 3 b , in addition, each branch 18 b , 19 b also has a lateral wing 23 a , 23 b intended to create, at the same time, in cooperation with the element corresponding assembly 14 a , 14 b a housing for a panel which may not have the standard dimensions, for example a glass panel, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10.

In the case of FIG. 4, the profile 24 also has a U-shaped section but the mouth of which is narrowed along front branches 25 a , 25 b so as to be able to adapt to the internal faces 26 a , 26 b of the framing profile 1, while the rear portion of the U flares creating a shoulder 27 a , 27 b intended to be covered by the wing 15 a , 15 b with an assembly profile 14 a , 14 b , the base 28 of the U being suitably arranged (not shown) to receive a fixed frame element, for example an upright carrying a series of hinges.

Finally, if we consider Figures 5, 6 a and 6 b , there is shown in section a set of elements intended to ensure the assembly of contiguous panels together forming a partition of particular dimensions, to avoid interposition of framing profiles 1.

The first element (FIG. 5) is a profile 29 with a double T section comprising a foot 30 and two perpendicular symmetrical bars 31 a , 31 b . In the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the leg 30 are made slots 32 a , 32 b , and in the outer faces of the bars 31 a , 31 b are made notches 33 a , 33 b and 34 a , 34 b .

The second element 35 (Figure 6 a ) or 36 (Figure 6 b ) is T-shaped, the foot 37 (or 38) being intended to be inserted in a slot 32 a (or 32 b ) where it is clipped by a lug 39 (or 40) cooperating with notches shown in 41 a , 41 b , formed in said slots 32 a , 32 b . The bar 42 of the T 36 is flat, while the bar 43 of the T 35 is curved, as will be explained with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, to serve as seals between said contiguous panels.

The various standard elements according to the invention having thus been described, we will now illustrate how they can be used according to very diverse combinations for the production of partitions.

By first referring to FIG. 7, there is shown the intermediate assembly of a first partition 44 and a second partition 45.

The first partition, 44, consists of two solid panels 46 a , 46 b assembled and held in place by the cooperation of a first profile 14 a , 14 b , that is to say between the outer faces 22 a , 22 b of profile 1 A and the wings 15 a , 15 b of profiles 14 a , 14 b , the profiles 14 a , 14 b being themselves locked in the housings 6 a , 6 b of profile 1 A , as explained more top about Figures 1, 2 a and 2 b .

The second partition 45 is composed of two glass panels 47 a , 47 b assembled to the profile 1 B by means of a closure profile 17 b , and seals 48 a , 48 b compensating for the difference in thickness of the glass panels 47 a , 47 b .

There is thus obtained the rectilinear succession of two partitions 44, 45, the rear legs 11 a, 11 b respectively of the two sections 1A, 1B are connected about an amount 49 consisting of a standard rectangular section profile.

In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the partition 44 is assembled, no longer with another partition 45, but with a frame.

For this purpose, instead of the closure element 17 b , the closure element 24 is used, as it has been described with reference to FIG. 4. Thus the faces external 25 a , 25 b of the mouth of the profile 24 adapt to the internal faces 26 a , 26 b of the front branches 4 a , 4 b of the profile 1 B , and the fields of the wings 15 a , 15 b of the elements d assembly 14 a, 14 b are supported on the shoulders 27a, 27b of the element 24.

In the latter case, the element 24 can constitute a fixed vertical upright for a frame (suggested in broken lines at 50 in FIG. 2).

Figure 9 provides a better understanding of the method of assembling the elements 1 A , 1 B , 14 a , 14 b and 24, it being understood that for greater clarity, the panels 46 a , 46 b have been omitted, thus than the central upright 49.

If we now consider Figures 10, 11 and 12, they are comparable to Figures 7, 8 and 9, with the difference that the assemblies are no longer made on either side of an amount 49, imposing a straight alignment, but around a round post 51.

It follows that, the position of each partition being defined (in section) by the three contact points 52, 53, 54, of the branches 11 a , 11 b and of the base 12 of the flat U-shaped portion 13 of the profile 1 A (and 1 B ), it is possible to orient the partition 45 or the frame 24 from any angle relative to the partition 44, as illustrated in 55 in broken lines in FIG. 10, where l he alpha angle between the partition 44 and the partition 45 is 120 °, which corresponds to the constitution of hexagonal partitions, very widespread today.

If one finally refers to Figures 13 and 14, there is illustrated a method of assembling two contiguous panels 56, 57, without the interposition of framing elements, with the objective of forming a continuous partition of large dimensions.

The panel 56 consists of two solid panels 58 a , 58 b and the panel 57 consists of two glass panels 59 a , 59 b by means of a closure element 17 b and compensating joints 48 a , 48 b .

In this assembly, an upright 29 in accordance with FIG. 5 is used and two joint covers 35, 36 in accordance with FIGS. 6 a , 6 b . The feet 37, 38 of the joint covers 35, 36 are immobilized in the slots 32 a , 32 b of the upright 29, as described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 a , 6 b . The bars 42, 43 press on the external faces 60 a , 60 b of the solid panels 58 a , 58 b and on the external faces 61 a , 61 b of the glass panels 59 a , 59 b , pressing them against the faces external horizontal bars 62 a , 62 b du upright 29. Despite the empty space 63 a , 63 b , remaining between the various assembled elements, the seal of the assembly is perfectly ensured by these joints, which, of small dimensions, do not harm the aesthetics of said assembly .

Figure 14 allows, in perspective, to better understand the relative arrangement of a framing element, 1, an upright 29, an assembly element 14 a and a joint cover 36, the panels 60 b and 61 b , being omitted for clarity.

Of course, the examples of associations illustrated by FIGS. 7 to 14 have no limiting character, and the present patent covers all the elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 and all the modes of association of these elements for the purpose of constitution of partitions of all configurations and all dimensions.

Claims (11)

Set of standard elements for the production of demountable partitions that can be adjusted at will in dimensions and configurations, characterized in that it comprises: - a framing profile usable for framing all types of panels intended to constitute said partitions, whatever the nature, size and configuration of these panels; and - An assembly and immobilization profile by clipping said panels onto said framing profiles. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises: - at least one obturation profile of the lateral face of a partition, suitable for the installation of panels of different dimensions and / or configurations: - And / or at least one shutter profile of the side face of a partition, suitable for the installation of a frame; - And / or at least one profile intended to serve as a holding element in place forming a joint cover between two adjoining panels joined by an assembly post, in the absence of a framing profile. Assembly according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the framing profile is a U-section profile, each branch of which carries an outer wing intended to receive a panel, this wing itself comprising a finger oriented towards the rear so as to constitute a lateral housing for the assembly element of said panel, the facets facing said housing and said assembly element having notches and lugs ensuring by their cooperation their mutual clipping; said branches extending rearwards, beyond the base of said U, so as to form a flattened U oriented towards the rear. Assembly according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the assembly and immobilization profile is a profile whose section has a wing intended to cover the panel corresponding after its installation, and a heel intended to be blocked by clipping into the lateral housing of the framing profile, thereby immobilizing said panel. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the closure profile is a sectional profile of generally flattened U shape, each branch of which carries on its inner face a lug intended to cooperate with a corresponding notch on the outer face of the end before each branch of the framing profile, to ensure their mutual clipping, these profiles may also include at least one external lateral wing to create at the same time, in cooperation with the corresponding assembly element, a housing for a panel, if necessary non-standard dimensions, such as a glass panel. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the closure profile is a profile with a generally U-shaped section, the mouth of which is narrowed to fit on the inner faces of the branches of the frame profile, then s flares by creating a shoulder intended to be covered by the wing with an assembly profile, the base of the U being arranged to receive a fixed frame element, such as hinges. An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the profile in place for contiguous panels in the absence of a framing profile is a profile with a cross section in the general shape of a T, the foot of this T coming to be inserted in a corresponding slot of an assembly amount of panels in the form of a double T and to be immobilized therein by clipping between notches and corresponding lugs, the spaces defined between the respective bars of said T constituting housings for contiguous panels, and said bars forming covers -joints for said spaces from one panel to the next. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assembly of the two contiguous panels takes place in a rectilinear direction on an upright in the form of a standard profile with rectangular section, housed in the space defined by the two flattened U of the two successive framing elements. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the assembly of the two adjoining panels is done at an angle chosen at will around a round post on which the surfaces defining the spaces defined by the two flat U's of the two successive framing elements are supported. Method for producing partitions which can be dismantled and modular at will according to all dimensions and configurations, in particular angular, characterized in that it consists in assembling standard elements according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Partitioning which can be dismantled and modular at will according to all dimensions and configurations, in particular angular, characterized in that it is obtained from an assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and / or according to the method according to claim 10.

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