GB2204891A

GB2204891A - A method of fitting out a room

Info

Publication number: GB2204891A
Application number: GB08811625A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Boden; Jean-Michel Gathy
Original assignee: DENNISTON Ltd
Current assignee: DENNISTON Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-18
Filing date: 1988-05-17
Publication date: 1988-11-23
Also published as: GB8711649D0; GB8811625D0; AU1638188A

Abstract

The method comprises securing a plurality of elongate horizontal support members 10, 11 and 12 to a wall of a room, supporting inverted L-shaped base members 14 between the lowermost support member 12 and the floor of the room, hanging a plurality of posts 21 from the upper support members 10 and 11, hanging panels 24 from the support members 10 and 11 so as to overlap the posts and mounting pelmet members 29 between post caps 25. An alternative or complementary system is also disclosed in which panels (40, Fig 11) are mounted on upper and lower support members (41 and 42, Figs 10 and 11). <IMAGE>

Description

A room and a method of fitting out a room This invention relates to a room and a method of fitting out a room.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fitting out a room, comprising the steps of: (a) securing a plurality of elongate horizontal support members to a wall of a room, the support members including a lower elongate support member and at least one upper elongate support member; (b) supporting base members between the lower elongate support member and the floor of the room; (c) mounting a plurality of vertical posts on the at least one upper elongate support member; and (d) mounting panels on the at least one upper elongate support member and between said vertical posts, the panels and posts overlapping.

With this arrangement a room can be fitted out quickly with the minimum of noise and mess. It also provides flexibility of design. The overlapping nature of the posts and panels provides for tolerances.

Preferably pelmet members are mounted on the vertical posts. The pelmet members can hide uneven ceiling planes 'and concealed lighting can be provided behind these pelmet members.

The horizontal support members may be channel-shaped for receiving electrical wiring. At least some of the vertical posts also may be channel-shaped for receiving electrical wiring.

Advantageously, the base members are of inverted L-shape and are provided with adjustable skirting boards to allow for floors which are not precisely horizontal.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of fitting out a room, comprising the steps of: (a) securing upper and lower elongate horizontal support members to a wall of a room, the upper and lower elongate support members including horizontally extending support strips having upper support surfaces inclined downwardly towards the wall, and (b) mounting panels on the upper and lower elongate support members, the panels having upper and lower horizontally extending support strips fixed to the rear face thereof, the lower surfaces of the upper and lower support strips fixed to the panels being inclined downwardly in a direction away from the panel for co-operation with the upper surfaces of the support strips of the upper and lower elongate support members.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a room fitted out according to a method as set forth in the first or second aspects of the invention.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figures 1 to 5 show five stages in the fitting out of a room, Figure 6 is a vertical section taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5, Figures 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views of three different connecting members used, Figures 10 and 11 are vertical sections through the upper and lower ends, respectively, of an alternative panel mounting arrangement, Figure 12 is a horizontal section through two adjacent panels mounted according to the arrangement shown in Figures 11 and 12, and Figure 13 is a horizontal section through a corner member for use with the arrangement shown in Figures 10 to 12.

One method of fitting out a room in accordance with the invention will now be described. All component parts are pre-fabricated and delivered to the site.

Initially, a datum and three dimensional grid is set up. This grid forms the basis for establishing the location of the component parts. Thereafter, at least two and preferably three elongate horizontal support members 10, 11 and 12 are secured to the walls of the room (Figure 1). The support members 10, 11 and 12 are channel members with slotted walls, open at their upper ends, and serve to locate electrical wiring. The members 10, 11 and 12 may be secured to the walls by adhesive if the walls are not plastered. If the walls are plastered the members 10, 11 and 12 are secured to the walls by screw fasteners 13 (see Figure 6). Electrical wiring is laid in these horizontal channel members 10, 11 and 12.

Inverted L-shaped base members 14 are then supported between the horizontal support member 12 and the floor (Figure 2). The base members 14 each have a vertically adjustable skirting board 15 which, as shown in Figure 6, is slidable in a recess 16 provided between an inwardly stepped rear face portion 17 of the vertical part of the base member 14 and a slotted metal strip 18 secured to the base member. The skirting board 15 is secured to metal floor brackets 19 and the adjustable nature of the skirting board 15 allows for floors which are not precisely horizontal.

Brackets 19 (see Figures 6 and 7) are secured to the rear underside portions of the horizontal parts of the base members 14 by threaded fasteners 20 and these brackets hook over the sides of the support members 12 remote from the wall.

Vertical posts 21 are then mounted on the horizontal support members 10 and 11 and the lower ends of the posts sit on upper surfaces of the base members 14.

Some posts may be in the form of panels, as for example shown by post 21a in Figure 3, although many of the posts are of lazy Z-shape and inverted lazy Z-shape (having two spaced parallel limbs joined by a third limb extending at an obtuse angle to each of the parallel limbs) as shown by posts 21b and 21c respectively in Figure 3. These posts 21b and 21e are mounted in pairs, except at corners of the room, to define vertical channels for receiving electrical wiring. The posts 21 are mounted on the horizontal support members 10 and 11 by brackets 22 (see Figures 6 and 9) which are secured to the posts 21, in the case of posts 21b and 21e to the rearmost limbs thereof, by screw fasteners 23 and which hook over the sides of the support members 10 and 11 remote from the wall.

Panels 24 are then mounted on the support members 10 and 11, using brackets similar to brackets 22, between the posts 21, the panels overlapping the posts 21a and the rearmost limbs of the posts 21b and 2lc. Spacers are provided between the panels 24 and their respective brackets.

Post caps 25 are then mounted on the posts 21b and 21c as shown in Figure 5, the post caps 25 having therein metal inserts 26 (see Figures 6 and 9) provided with inverted key-hole shaped openings which receive heads 27 of studs 28 secured to the foremost limbs of the posts 21b and 21c.

Pelmet members 29 are mounted between adjacent post caps 25 as shown in Figure 5 to hide uneven ceiling planes, the pelmet members 29 having headed studs at either end which slot into brackets on the post caps 25. Concealed lighting can be provided behind these pelmet members.

Built-in furniture is placed between the other components. For example, a desk top 30 may be mounted on base members 14 and connected to adjacent post caps 25, in a manner similar to the aforesaid connections between the pelmet members 29 and the post caps 25. Finally, loose items, fittings and accessories are installed. For example, wall lights can be fixed to posts 21b and 21c. The room is then ready for occupation.

Preferably, all components have dimensions which are multiples of the grid set up originally. An llem grid is favoured.

The support members 10, 11 and 12, brackets 19 and 22, and inserts 26 are preferably of metal, or other non deformable material, whereas, the base members 14, posts 21, panels 24 and pelmet members 29 may be of wood or other appropriate material.

If desired cornice members 31 could be provided along the upper edge of the walls (see Figure 6).

As will be appreciated a room (such as an hotel room or an office) can be fitted out in the above described manner quickly and with the minimum of noise and mess, practically no wet work being required. All exposed parts such as posts 21, post caps 25, panels 24, and pelmet members 29 are appropriately finished so that no decoration on site is necessary. Damaged parts can also be easily replaced. The overlapping nature of the posts and panels provides for tolerances.

For corridors and other areas where base members 14 are not required, panels 40 are mounted on upper and lower elongate horizontal support members 41 and 42, respectively, as shown in Figures 10 to 13, inclusive.

The upper support member 41 comprises an upper component 43 fixed by screws to a wall 44 at a position adjacent to a ceiling, a cornice member 45 fixed in situ to the component 43 by screws and a support strip 46 fixed in situ to the component 43 also by screws. The upper surface of the support strip 46 is inclined rearwardly and downwardly towards the component 43 to define an undercut.

The lower support member 42 comprises a lower component 47 fixed to the wall 44 by screws at a position adjacent to a floor, the component 47 including a factory fitted ledge strip 48, a skirting member 49 with pre-drilled fixing strip 50 for fixing the skirting member 49 to the ledge strip 48, and a support strip 51 fixed in situ to the lower component 47 by screws. The upper surface of the support strip 51 is inclined rearwardly and downwardly towards the component 47 to define an undercut.

Packing wedges 52 may be provided between the components 43 and 47 and the wall 44.

Wall panels 40 have upper and lower factory fitted support strips 53 and 54, respectively, provided with rearwardly and downwardly inclined lower surfaces 55 and 56, respectively, for co-operating with the upper surfaces of the support strips 46 and 51.

An alignment tongue 57 (see Figure 12) is provided along one end of each panel 40 and a corresponding recess 58 ,is provided along an opposite edge for receiving an alignment tongue 57 of an adjacent panel. The panels also have vertical factory fitted stiffeners 59.

Initially, datum lines are set up and then the upper and lower components 43 and 47, respectively, are fixed to the wall. The cornice member 45 and the upper support strip 46 are then fixed to the component 43 at predetermined vertical positions.

The skirting member 49 is fixed to the lower component 47 and the lower support strip 51 is fixed to the component 47 at a predetermined vertical position which ensures that the spacing between the upper surfaces of the support strips 46 and 51 is equal to the spacing between the lower surfaces of the factory fitted support strips 53 and 54 on the wall panels 40.

The panels 40 are then suspended on the support strips 46 and 51 by moving the panels towards the wall 44 so that the support strips 53 and 54 are disposed above the support strips 46 and 51, respectively, and then lowering the panels 40 until the lower inclined surfaces of the strips 53 and 54 engage the upper inclined surfaces of the support strips 46 and 51, respectively.

Adjacent panels 40 are mounted on the strips 46 and 51 a small distance apart and are then slid towards one another so that the alignment tongues 57 enter into respective recesses 58.

Vertically extending angled members 60 (see Figure 13) can be suspended from the strips 46 and 51 at the corners and other appropriate finishing members can be used around doors and windows.

The support members 41 and 42 and the panels 40 are conveniently of wood.

The arrangement described with reference to Figures 10 to 13 is primarily intended for use in conjunction with the arrangement described with reference to Figures 1 to 9, but it could, if desired be used independently of the latter arrangement. Moreover the posts 21 and panels 24 of the arrangement described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 could be mounted on the wall in similar manner to the panels 40 of the arrangement of Figures 10 to 13 instead of using channel members 10, 11 and 12 and brackets 22. The methods described above are given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of fitting out a room, comprising the steps of: (a) securing a plurality of elongate horizontal support members to a wall of a room, the support members including a lower elongate support member and at least one upper elongate support member; (b) supporting base members between the lower elongate support member and the floor of the roomy (c) mounting a plurality of vertical posts on the at least one upper elongate support member; (d) mounting panels on the at least one upper elongate support member and between said vertical posts, the panels and posts overlapping.

2. A method as claimed in claim I, comprising the further step of mounting pelmet members on said vertical posts.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein lighting is concealed behind the pelmet members.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the horizontal support members are channel-shaped and open at an upper end and wherein electrical wiring is laid in at least one of said channel-shaped members.

5. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least some of the vertical posts are channel-shaped for receiving electrical wiring.

6. A method as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein items of furniture are supported by the base members.

7. A method as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the base members are of inverted L-shape.

8. A method as claimed in anyone. of the preceding claims, wherein the base members are provided with vertically adjustable skirting boards.

9. A method as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the lower ends of the posts sit on upper surfaces of the base members.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein other panels are mounted on upper and lower elongate horizontal support members secured to a wall.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said upper support member is secured to the wall adjacent to a ceiling of the room and the lower support member is secured to the wall adjacent to a floor of the room.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lower support member includes a skirting member.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the upper support member includes a cornice member.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the upper and lower elongate support members include horizontally extending support strips having upper support surfaces inclined downwardly towards the wall and upper and lower horizontally extending support strips are fixed to the rear face of the panels, thel lower surfaces of the upper and lower support strips fixed to the panels being inclined downwardly in a direction away from the panel, for co-operation with the upper surfaces of the support strips of the upper and lower elongate support members.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the panels have means for aligning the vertical edge of one panel with an adjacent vertical edge of an adjacent panel.

16. A method of fitting out a room, comprising the steps of: (a) securing upper and lower elongate horizontal support members to a wall of a room, the upper and lower elongate support members including horizontally extending support strips having upper support surfaces inclined downwardly towards the wall, and (b) mounting panels on the upper and lower elongate support members, the panels having upper and lower horizontally extending support strips fixed to the rear face thereof, the lower surfaces of the upper and lower support strips fixed to the panels being inclined downwardly in a direction away from the panel for co-operation with the upper surfaces of the support strips of the upper and lower elongate support members.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said upper support member is secured to the wall adjacent to a ceiling of the room and the lower support member is secured to the wall adjacent to a floor of the room.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lower support member includes a skirting member.

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the upper support member includes a cornice member.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the panels have means for aligning the vertical edge of one panel with an adjacent vertical edge of an adjacent panel.

21. A method of fitting out a room, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A room fitted out according to the method claimed in any one of the preceding claims.