GB1587053A - Demountable partition - Google Patents

Description

(54) DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION (71) We, SMP (LOCKWALL) LI MITED, a British company of Ferry Lane, Hythe End, Wraysbury, Staines, Middlesex, and ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL, of County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex., do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be- performed, to be particularly described iri and by the following statement: This invention relates to demountable partitions of the general form comprising a main panel having a spring loaded clamping member along the upper edge or lower edge of the panel.

Such partitions are placed in their desired positions within an open area inside a building by holding the clamping member retracted against its springs, placing the partition in position. and then releasing the spring forces so that the clamping member is pressed firmly against the adjacent ceiling or floor. To demount the partition, its clamping member is simply retracted against the spring forces acting on it.

As far as we are aware. all demountable partitions of the general form in question and which have been marketed have incorporated the mechanism necessarv for retraction of the clamping member against its springs. and for holding it retracted during manoeuvering of the partition.

The present invention provides a simplified and more economical form of partition, in which a separate retraction device is supplied so as to be usable for an indefinite number of partitions. It is thus unnecessary to provide retraction mechanism in each partition.

In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. each demountable partition is without any form of mechanism for retracting its clamping member, which has an external recess or aperture for engagement by part of a retraction tool.

The invention provides a manually operable retraction tool having two arms removably engageable with the clamping member and some other part of the panel, the arms being pivotally interconnected by an overcentre locking mechanism.

The nature of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a perspective view of one form of partition and retraction tool in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a corresponding view showing a second form of partition and of retraction tool, also in accordance with the invention.

In each of the embodiments illustrated, the demountable partition comprises a main panel 1 having a clamping member 2 at its upper edge, urged upwardly by coil compression springs 3. The clamping member takes the form of a box, open at its under side and fitting like a cup over the upper edge of the panel. The springs are supported at their lower ends by abutments fast with the panel and their extension is preferably limited by suitable stops within the panel.

The clamping member 2 has a hole 4 and in the case of the partition shown in Figure 1. a second hole 6 is formed at the foot of the panel.

The retraction tool shown in Figure 1 comprises two cranked arms 7 each pivotally connected at its inner end to an eccentric 8 which has fast with it a second eccentric 9 fitted with a double handle 1(). The arms are formed at their free. outer ends with laterally projecting fingers 11 for engagement in the holes 4 and 6. With the fingers thus engaged. clockwise rotation of the cccentrics. i.e. in the direction indicated in Figure 1 will draw inwardly the free ends of the arms. thereby retracting the clamping member 2. The cranking of the arms permits the eccentrics to go over-centre, so that the complete assembly of partition and retraction tool is safely locked against the restoring action of the springs to facilitate handling of the panel into position.When the clamping member is to be released, either to place it in its desired position between floor and ceiling, or for storage, it is merely necessary to rotate the eccentrics in the opposite direction.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the panel has a hole provided in its upper half, and the retraction tool can be made more compact. In this case, the tool comprises a vertical arm 13 having a projecting pin or finger to engage in the hole 4, the arm being slightly cranked towards its lower end. The second arm 14 extends generally horizontally in its position of use, being pivotally connected near its left hand or inner end to the lower end of arm 13 by a pivot pin 16. At its inner end the arm carries a pin 15 which is engaged, in use, in the panel hole, and its right hand, or outer end extends a substantial distance to provide a good mechanical advantage.

In use, with the tool engaged as shown, the user simply pulls down on the right hand end of lever arm 14, pivoting on the pin 15 to pull the pivotal connection 16, and thus the arm 13, downwardly to retract the clamping member. Rotation of the arm 14 is checked when the pin 15 is encountered by the elbow of-the cranked arm 13, at which position the linkage has gone over-centre to provide a spring toggle locking action.

Reverse rotation of the arm 14 will, of course, effect release of the clamping member.

It is normal practice to provide a sprung clamping member at the upper edge only, but it could, if desired be mounted at the foot of the panel without affecting the construction and operation of the retraction tools described.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A demountable room partitioning panel having a spring loaded clamping member at its upper or lower edge and a separate retraction tool releasably engageable with the clamping member and some other part of the panel, the tool being operable when so engaged to retract the clamping member and to hold it retracted.

2. A panel and retraction tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool includes a pair of arms engageable with the clamping member and the said other part, respectively, the arms being interconnected by an overcentre locking mechanism which locks the clamping member in the retracted position without external forces being maintained on the tool.

3. A panel and retraction tool according to claim 2 wherein the tool comprises a pair of cranked arms pivotally connected at their inner ends to spaced points on an eccentric and a handle to facilitate rotation of the eccentric.

4. A panel and retraction tool according to claim 2, wherein the tool comprises a first arm engageable with the clamping member at one end and pivotably connected at its opposite end to a second arm, intermediate the ends thereof, the second arm being engageable at one end with the said other part of the panel and manually engage able by its other end to cause the arms to pivot and the first said ends of the two arms to approach each other, and to permit the pivotal connection to pass over centre with respect to a straight line passing through the first said ends before the arms interengage to prevent further pivotal movement.

5. A panel and tool according to claim 3, wherein the tool is substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A panel and tool according to claim 4, wherein the tool is substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. eccentrics to go over-centre, so that the complete assembly of partition and retraction tool is safely locked against the restoring action of the springs to facilitate handling of the panel into position. When the clamping member is to be released, either to place it in its desired position between floor and ceiling, or for storage, it is merely necessary to rotate the eccentrics in the opposite direction. In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the panel has a hole provided in its upper half, and the retraction tool can be made more compact. In this case, the tool comprises a vertical arm 13 having a projecting pin or finger to engage in the hole 4, the arm being slightly cranked towards its lower end. The second arm 14 extends generally horizontally in its position of use, being pivotally connected near its left hand or inner end to the lower end of arm 13 by a pivot pin 16. At its inner end the arm carries a pin 15 which is engaged, in use, in the panel hole, and its right hand, or outer end extends a substantial distance to provide a good mechanical advantage. In use, with the tool engaged as shown, the user simply pulls down on the right hand end of lever arm 14, pivoting on the pin 15 to pull the pivotal connection 16, and thus the arm 13, downwardly to retract the clamping member. Rotation of the arm 14 is checked when the pin 15 is encountered by the elbow of-the cranked arm 13, at which position the linkage has gone over-centre to provide a spring toggle locking action. Reverse rotation of the arm 14 will, of course, effect release of the clamping member. It is normal practice to provide a sprung clamping member at the upper edge only, but it could, if desired be mounted at the foot of the panel without affecting the construction and operation of the retraction tools described. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A demountable room partitioning panel having a spring loaded clamping member at its upper or lower edge and a separate retraction tool releasably engageable with the clamping member and some other part of the panel, the tool being operable when so engaged to retract the clamping member and to hold it retracted.

2. A panel and retraction tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool includes a pair of arms engageable with the clamping member and the said other part, respectively, the arms being interconnected by an overcentre locking mechanism which locks the clamping member in the retracted position without external forces being maintained on the tool.

3. A panel and retraction tool according to claim 2 wherein the tool comprises a pair of cranked arms pivotally connected at their inner ends to spaced points on an eccentric and a handle to facilitate rotation of the eccentric.

4. A panel and retraction tool according to claim 2, wherein the tool comprises a first arm engageable with the clamping member at one end and pivotably connected at its opposite end to a second arm, intermediate the ends thereof, the second arm being engageable at one end with the said other part of the panel and manually engage able by its other end to cause the arms to pivot and the first said ends of the two arms to approach each other, and to permit the pivotal connection to pass over centre with respect to a straight line passing through the first said ends before the arms interengage to prevent further pivotal movement.

5. A panel and tool according to claim 3, wherein the tool is substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A panel and tool according to claim 4, wherein the tool is substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.