EP0826842B1 - New partition wall - Google Patents

Abstract

Partition wall for office furniture of the type intended to form landscaped units, comprising a central panel (1) coated on each side with a piece of lateral fabric (T1, T2) stretched over said face, said central panel (1) being surrounded by an outer peripheral frame (3) bordering the fabric-covered surfaces, characterized in that it comprises between the central panel (1) and the outer frame (3) a peripheral profile (2) fixed to said panel (1 ) and comprising an external profile provided with means for tensioning and fixing the lateral pieces of fabric (T1, T2) and means for fixing the peripheral frame. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to usable partitions especially for the delimitation of spaces in sets landscape office furniture.

• La légèreté, de manière à pouvoir reconfigurer le mobilier au gré des utilisateurs,
• Une sensation agréable au toucher, évitant par exemple des bruits de type tôle, voire permettant une légère absorption acoustique,
• L'écologie des produits, et
• La punaisabilité, car lorsque ces cloisons délimitent des espaces individualisés, elles servent de support à des affichages pouvant être indifféremment soit décoratifs, soit fonctionnels. L'usage s'est en effet répandu de garnir les parois verticales bordant un espace de travail de notes indiquant notamment les priorités à venir, et que l'on ajoute au fur et à mesure de l'arrivée des tâches, par exemple sur un espace réservé à cet usage.

Among the characteristics that such partitions must include, the main that can be cited are:

• Lightness, so as to be able to reconfigure the furniture at the option of users,
• A pleasant feeling to the touch, avoiding for example sheet metal noises, or even allowing a slight acoustic absorption,
• Product ecology, and
• Punnability, because when these partitions delimit individualized spaces, they serve as a support for displays that can be either decorative or functional. The practice has indeed spread to garnish the vertical walls bordering a workspace with notes indicating in particular the priorities to come, and which are added as and when the tasks arrive, for example on a space reserved for this use.

Most of the partitions known for this type of use are schematically composed of a central core coated on each side of fabric giving an aesthetic appearance suitable for side walls, and they are often surrounded a framework that can play a role that is both aesthetic and functional. In most cases, the fabric is glued to each vertical side the central panel, which must therefore be made of a suitable material, that is to say on the one hand compatible with the use of glue, and on the other hand without surface defects. However, if it is tackable, and therefore soft, the sign central should not be dug under the effect of accidental blows. The choice of materials meeting these requirements is then limited considerably, especially since it is often necessary to add fire classification constraints. Furthermore, such a manufacturing process is expensive.

This is why, according to a known variant, partitions were built using a method of stretching the fabric over a frame provided for this effect, at the level of which is moreover the fixing of the pieces of fabric side. Thus, we know a panel whose core is based on cement and the raw aluminum peripheral frame, and the fabric fixing process is based on a stapling system after tensioning said fabric. The frame has two external side edges folded in on themselves so as to ability to accommodate wooden slats along edges of panel, to which stapled the periphery of the piece of fabric covering each facade.

Laying on a frame has many advantages, and can particular generate in most cases a production cost lower than the abovementioned bonding technology. In addition, the choice of materials suitable for the central panel itself is no longer determined by technical criteria of compatibility with the glued installation (surface finish, collage ...), which necessarily restrict the possible selection. Conversely, the absence of glue, implying a wide opening of choice, allows focus on materials with more specific properties, such as tackability. More generally, this choice meets needs mentioned above with great flexibility. A wise choice can even allow to meet all of these needs.

In the partition of this type known from the prior art, the aluminum of the frame however has a difference in color with the panel or core central, which can be seen through the tissue and needs to be remedied for obvious aesthetic reasons. The solution used was to place a flexible undercoat under the fabric, standardizing said shade.

In addition, these partitions, due to the need for peripheral stapling, involve manufacturing constraints that complicate the industrial process production (see, for example, US-A-5,086,606).

The invention which is the subject of the present application makes it possible to remedy these disadvantages.

Thus, one of the objectives that this invention proposes to solve is to offer a structure that lowers production costs as much as possible, and facilitating the manufacture of each panel.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the drawback associated with the color difference between the metal frame and the core panel center of the partition.

Another objective is to make the initial tensioning operation easier. fabrics covering both sides of each partition, and guaranteeing the sustainability of said tension.

Finally, the invention proposes a technique using elements which can be chosen only from recyclable materials.

These objectives are achieved by a partition comprising the features of claim 1.

The advantage of adding an intermediate profile between the central panel and the peripheral frame is multiple. Thus, the material used for said profile can be a synthetic material whose shade can be chosen according to panels, thereby eliminating the above-mentioned drawback. The choice of the color precedes the production of the profile itself, which is example extruded in the shade in which it will be used. In addition, materials like PVC are extremely easy to work with and you can design specific shapes, applied to special panels, with great flexibility and with great ease of implementation.

In the case at least where one of the edges of the partition is curved, we have use of an intermediate profile in metal, painted aluminum or steel curved prepainted. In such a configuration, the structure is obviously less cost-effective, although it remains competitive by compared to the use of collage.

Finally, as will be seen below, the use of an intermediate profile placed between the peripheral frame and the central panel of the partition allows to get rid of any process of tension and fixation of tissues difficult to enforce. This profile is combined with said frame, which participates in aforementioned functions.

Thus, the means for tensioning and fixing the lateral pieces of fabric include adhesive means fixed to the external profile of the profile and cooperate with the means for fixing the peripheral frame, which is fitted into said external profile by wedging the peripheral ends of the side fabric pieces.

This structure improves the fixation made by the actual adhesive means, which are therefore doubled with jamming due to the peripheral frame.

More specifically, the external profile mentioned is advantageously in the form of a slide. peripheral whose edges located on either side of the central lumen are planes and have double-sided adhesive strips for sticking the lateral pieces of fabric, the peripheral ends of which are inserted in said slide via the central light, and trapped by the frame peripheral adjusting in said light.

Preferably, the efficiency of fixing the lateral pieces of fabric is further enhanced. by the fact that the peripheral frame comprises, on either side of the part fitting into the slide, flat areas coming into contact with the edges slide plans, by fabric and interposed adhesive strips.

• moyens adhésifs spécifiques,
• deux profilés s'adaptant l'un à l'autre sur toute la largeur du chant des cloisons.

In short, in order to ensure optimal tension and fixation of the lateral pieces of fabric, there is cooperation of the following elements:

• specific adhesive means,
• two profiles adapting to each other over the entire width of the edge of the partitions.

In reality, the various aforementioned means interact, and this is their effect which gives an optimal result.

The intermediate profile preferably further comprises, on the central panel side, a profile U-shaped in which fits at least a central part of said panel. According to the cases, the central panel can indeed be mono or multilayer.

Thus, it may include a core forming an acoustic barrier, located between two facings forming acoustic absorbers.

As we said, the lack of bonding between the central panel and the side fabrics allow great freedom in the choice of material (s) of the panel. This is further reinforced by the existence of the intermediate profile, whose flexibility of design and manufacturing makes it possible to envisage a considerable variety of combinations.

In addition, this structure allows easy separation of the different components of the partition especially during its recycling at the end of the product: the peripheral frame can indeed slide out of the rest easily of the partition. The fabric is also easily separated from the central panel. Finally, the intermediate profile, wedged on the central panel, can be removed without difficulty.

The components are better individualized than in the realizations anterior, in particular the fabric which is neither glued nor stapled.

• La figure 1 est une vue en coupe de l'ensemble des éléments formant une cloison, en cours de montage ;
• La figure 2 représente la même vue en coupe, lesdits éléments étant assemblés ;
• La figure 3 est une vue partielle, en perspective, d'une cloison dépourvue des pièces de tissu latérales, en cours de montage, et
• La figure 4 reprend la figure 1, avec une variante de panneau central.

We will now proceed to a more detailed description of an embodiment of partitions according to the invention, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• Figure 1 is a sectional view of all of the elements forming a partition, during assembly;
• Figure 2 shows the same sectional view, said elements being assembled;
• FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a partition devoid of the lateral pieces of fabric, during assembly, and
• Figure 4 reproduces Figure 1, with a variant of the central panel.

The preceding figures describe a particular configuration of partition, with the variant of FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 1, said partition is essentially consists of a central panel or core (1) surmounted by a profile (2), in turn covered by a peripheral frame (3).

The profile has two channels (4, 5) respectively looking towards inside and out. The channel (4) is intended to be fixed on the panel central (1) and takes the form of a U. The outer channel (5) is a slide with two planar outer edges (6, 7) and a central light (8).

On each of said edges (6, 7) is fixed a double-sided adhesive strip (9, 10) occupying practically the entire width of the rim (6, 7), and allowing tension - fixing of lateral fabric pieces (T1, T2), including ends are inserted inside the channel (5) via the lumen (8).

The whole is covered by the frame (3), which adjusts in the light (8) and, simultaneously, rest on the edges (6, 7), themselves covered adhesive strips (9, 10) and peripheral ends of the parts stretched tissue (T1, T2). The direction of assembly of the frame (3) is signified by the white arrows.

Figure 2 shows the aforementioned elements in the assembled position, i.e. in contact with each other. For the clarity of the drawing, however, preserved a space between the pieces of fabric (T1, T2) and the profile (2) or the frame (3), when in reality, the adjustment tolerance of said frame (3) in the slide is much tighter, as are the pieces of fabric (T1, T2) directly in contact with the profile (2).

Figure 3 gives a more precise idea of the elements composing the partition, except the pieces of fabric (T1, T2), in three dimensions. It is observed in particular that the adhesive means are strips of adhesive double-sided (9, 10) simply unwound along the edges (6, 7) of the profile (2). The lateral surfaces of the profile (2) are a direct extension of the large areas of the central panel (1). Therefore, even when there is cover by a fabric, it is clear that if the hues of these two elements are different, it will appear in most cases.

Hence the need to paint the aluminum frames of the glued devices of the prior art. With the system of the invention, we are content in the most cases of extruding material already in the correct shade.

Among the other advantages of the invention, it is necessary to return to the configuration of the frame which covers all the edges (6, 7): unlike panels of prior art, the adhesive is no longer accessible, and cannot be seen through the fabric. However, it is known that said adhesive tapes undergo aging due to for example ultraviolet radiation or successive cleanings, and may change color and then become visible over time. With the system of the invention, the adhesive is better protected, and it is not anyway more visible. In addition, it cannot come into contact with cleaning agents, nor be accessible to radiation.

The partition of the invention does not require an additional layer between fabric and central panel, and no expensive fastening method of the type stapling.

The particular configuration of the facing profiles on the frame (3) and on the profile (2) moreover leads to an aid in laying the fabrics, since the assembly is maintained as soon as said frame (3) is installed.

Finally, the installation of the adhesive is much faster than in the past, the made of the structure of the profile which lends itself particularly well to laying linear of a strip on its two lateral edges (6, 7). In fact, the laying of the adhesive takes place at the exit of the extrusion, hence an optimization of the process industrial.

Furthermore, the frame 3 can still be applied to a conventional structure with two side panels (in sheet metal or conventional panels) on which the fabric is glued, said facings then being applied on either side of the vertical portion of said frame 3, and joined for example by a honeycomb network intermediate allowing their assembly.

As such, it should be noted that the two aforementioned techniques, namely laying stretched and glued, give identical results when viewed from the outside, hence a possibility of combining them, in particular usable for shapes non-rectangular panels. Indeed, stretched laying is not possible with straight edges, due to the existence of the extruded profile in plastic, practically impossible to bend. For curved partitions curved upper, so we use the old technique with glued fabrics, unless using an intermediate profile 2 in painted aluminum or steel curved prepainted, which also allows the use of stretch laying, as indicated before, but does not have all the advantages of plastic.

The variant in Figure 4 shows one of the multiple combinations possible, with a core (11) forming an acoustic barrier and two facings (12, 13) lateral absorbing acoustic waves. This version requires also a variant to the profile (2 ').

With the same frame 3, it is still possible to install only one translucent plate, glass or plastic, or a plate magnetic material (not shown), installed directly on the frame 3, without using an intermediate profile 2.

Of course, the variants of form and structure, insofar as they are covered by the The appended claims form part of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. Separating partition for office furniture of the type intended to form open-plan assemblies, comprising a central panel (1) covered on each face by a lateral piece of fabric (T1, T2) stretched on the said face, the said central panel (1) being surrounded by an outer peripheral frame (3) bordering the surfaces covered with fabric, the said partition including between the central panel (1) and the outer frame (3) a peripheral profile bar (2) fixed to the said panel (1), the said peripheral profile bar (2) including an outer profile provided with means to stretch and fix the lateral pieces of fabric (T1, T2) and with means to fix the outer peripheral frame (3), characterised by the fact that the means for stretching and fixing the lateral pieces of fabric (T1, T2) comprise adhesive means (9, 10) fixed on the outer profile of the profile bar (2) and co-operate with the means for fixing the peripheral frame (3), which is fitted into the said outer profile wedging the peripheral extremities of the lateral pieces of fabric (T1, T2).
2. Separating partition as described in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the outer profile is in the form of a peripheral groove (5) of which the flanges(6, 7) situated on either side of the central aperture (8) are flat and include double-sided adhesive strips (9, 10) permitting adhesion of the lateral pieces of fabric (T1, T2), the peripheral extremities of which are inserted in the said groove (5) through the central aperture (8) and wedged by the peripheral frame (3) fitting into the said aperture (8).
3. Separating partition as described in claim 2, characterised by the fact that the peripheral frame (3) includes, on either side of the part fitting into the groove (5), flat zones coming into contact with the flat flanges (6, 7) of the groove (5), through interposed fabric (T1, T2) and adhesive strips (9, 10).
4. Separating partition as described in one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that the profile bar (2) includes, on the central panel (1) side, a U-shaped profile (4) into which fits at least a central part of the said central panel (1).
5. Separating partition as described in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the central panel (1) includes a core (11) forming an acoustic barrier, situated between two facings (12, 13) forming acoustic absorbers.
6. Separating partition as described in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the profile bar (2) is made of synthetic material of the PVC type.
7. Separating partition as describe in any one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the frame (3) is made of metal.

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