GB2237043A - Wall structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A wall structure (10) has wall elements (12) disposed side by side and connected together by joint elements (14). The elements (12, 14) are constructed from cardboard or plastics sheets. The joint element has line slots which grip folded back edges (50, 52) of adjacent wall elements, while dovetail slots (a, b, c, d) in the wall element edges retain the joint elements in position, once the latter have been opened out after insertion. <IMAGE>

Description

Wall Structure This invention relates to a wall structure and particularly to temporary or artificial walls popularly employed at exhibitions or conferences or in shops to give a back-drop to displays and stands of various kinds.

Particularly in the exhibition environment, there is extensive use of partitions and the like to divide open spaces into compact units where individual exhibitors can display their wares. There is consequently a thriving market for artificial walls and partitions, but hitherto these have generally taken the shape of a frame in various configurations, and constructed from various strong materials such as aluminium, and panels, which are fitted in or otherwise secured to the frame.

There is little wrong with such arrangements other than the capital cost involved in their manufacture and hence the high cost of hiring them for an exhibition or the like. Moreover, they tend to be fairly heavy which, although good from the structural strength and integrity aspect, means that transportation and assembly can be arduous and expensive.

It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a wall structure which is easy to make, easy to assemble, light and above ai I inexpensive.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a wall structure comprising wall elements of substantially rectangular sheets of cardboard or like material folded along an axis adjacent two opposite edges thereof and joined to adjacent similarly constructed sheets by joint elements adapted to fit in dovetail slots cut in the edge of each wall element.

Preferably several of said wall elements are joined together to form a continuous wall and said joint element extends through the dovetail slots of said several wall elements.

Preferably more than one of said dovetail slots is provided on each edge, vertically spaced from one another so that more than one joint element may be employed to improve the stability of the wall structure.

Preferably said joint element comprises a sheet of said cardboard or like material folded along its length, said element having line slots cut into its edges on either side of said fold line of a. width approximately the same as two thicknesses of said wall element and said dovetail slot has an opening at least as wide as two thicknesses of said joint element, the joint element being adapted to be inserted through the openings of an adjacent pair of said dovetail slots, engaging said line slots about the base of said dovetail slots so as to secure the edges of the wall elements together and unfolding said joint element as far as said dovetail slots permit to secure said joint element in the dovetail slots.

Preferably the depth of each line slot is such that the distance between the base of each line slot and the fold line is substantially the same as the depth of each dovetail slot and said dovetail slot has an opening width at least as much as two thicknesses of said joint element. Preferably the openings of the dovetail slots are cut perpendicular to said edge of each wall element, wider than said two thicknesses, before expanding to the dovetail shape, so as to assist insertion, and holding during insertion, of the joint elements.

Preferably each of the two corners of each dovetail slot is provided with a dimple to receive and retain the base edge of respective line slots of the joint elements when they are inserted and opened in said dovetail slots.

Preferably the edges of the joint elements are provided with thumb slots to facilitate opening of each joint element after insertion through the dovetail openings.

Preferably there are at least three and ideally four dovetail slots in each wall element edge. If four, these are preferably arranged in two pairs near the top and bottom of each wall element so that when several wall elements are joined by a plurality of joint elements, each joint element joining at least three wall elements together, the disposition of said joint elements in each pair of slots can be staggered with respect to one another so that each joint between adjacent wall elements is stabilised by a joint element also joining wall elements on either side of said adjacent wall elements.

Preferably each joint element joins five wall elements. Needless to say, joint elements may be shortened where a wall ends or is formed into a corner. The ends of walls may be finished in any appropriate manner or by special wall end elements.

Corners present no problems for, whereas where a wall is flat and each wall element is folded back at right angles, at a corner one wall element will not be folded back at right angles but at some greater angle; for example at 1800 where a perpendicular joint between walls is required or at an even larger angle when an acute angle is required between adjoining walls.

Said special wall end elements may consist of gussets, each gusset comprising a sheet of material having two support edges at an angle to each other corresponding to the angle desired between adjacent wall surfaces, and tongues disposed on two joint edges of the gusset which respectively are at right angles to each support edge, and a wall element as defined above, which wall element is further provided with a central longitudinal fold line and a plurality of closed slots adjacent its edges, the wall element being adapted to be folded on said central fold line about said desired angle and at least one of said gussets supporting the wall element in said angle by its support edges abutting the surface of the wall element on either side of the fold line, and the tongues being inserted in said closed slots to retain each said gusset in place.

Preferably each of said support edges of each gusset is provided with tabs which are adapted to be folded up and/or down and to lie against the surface of the wall element. This strengthens the support edges and spreads the loading on the wall elements1 particularly during erection of a corner.

Where internal right angle corners are required between adjacent wall surfaces, said angle between the support edges is 90 , whereas an external right angle corner requires said angle to be 2700.

It will be apparent that a wide variety of wall structures are achievable by the present invention which is nevertheless very inexpensive to manufacture. An appropriate material is three ply cardboard having a quality finish on one face. For most exhibitors the cardboard will require treatment to render it fire retardant in order to meet regulations. Various plastics laminates could also be employed.

Thus a wall structure according to the present invention is very simple and consequently light and inexpensive. It has the necessary rigidity for most purposes although obviously not for permanent structural applications. Moreover, being of cardboard and relatively inexpensive a wall structure according to the present invention is very adaptable for exhibition type purposes, the only tool required for this being a sharp knife. Thus apertures can be cut for installing flush mounted monitors or other displays, or for cabling etc. Although a wall according to the invention has a thickness probably greater than existing partitions or the like this can be turned to advantage because the space behind can be employed for numerous purposes out of view of the front of the wall.

Preferably each wall element is provided with a number of holes positioned adjacent its edges and by means of which wire or other fastenings can be attached to tie the wall to other structures or to support wiring etc.

The invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a perspective rear view of a wall structure according to the present invention; Fig 2 is a perspective front view of a wall structure as shown in Fig 1; Fig 3 is a plan view of a blank for a wall element forming part of the wall structure of Fig 1; Fig 4 is a plan view of a blank for a joint element forming part of the wall structure of Fig 1; Fig 5 is a top plan view of part of a wall structure as shown in Fig 1; Fig 6 is a section on the line A-A in Fig 5; Fig 7 is a rear view of a multi-element wall according to the present invention; Fig 8 is a top view of a typical corner joint; Fig 9 is a plan view of a gusset for an internal corner of a wall structure according to the present invention;; Fig 10 is a rear perspective view an internal corner joint using the gusset of Fig 9; Fig 11 is a plan view of a gusset for an external corner of a wall structure according to the present invention; and, Fig 12 is a rear perspective view an external corner joint using the gusset of Fig 11.

In the drawings a wall structure 10 comprises a plurality of wall elements 12 joined together by joint elements 14.

Each element 12,14 is constructed from a sheet of three ply cardboard or like material, preferably with a quality finish on one face and rendered fire retardant by appropriate treatment.

Alternatively appropriate plastics laminates or like material may be employed.

Each wall and joint element is cut to blanks as shown in Figs 3 and 4 respectively. Each wall element 12 is provided with fold lines 16 adjacent each long side 18,20. Four dovetail slots 22,24,a,b,c,d are cut in the edge of each side 18,20 at corresponding positions in two pairs a,b and c,d adjacent each end of the wall element.

Each joint element 14 is provided with a central pair of longitudinal fold lines 30 which allow it to be folded flat in half. Each long edge 32,34 is provided with line slots 36,38,a,b,c,d separated by a distance corresponding to the separation between the fold lines 16 on the wall elements 12.

With reference also to Fig 6, the distance x between the base of each line slot 36,38 and the central fold line 30 is arranged to be approximately the same as the depth y of the dovetail slots 22,24.

Moreover the depth w of the line slots 36,38 is arranged to be approximately the same as the radial distance z from the edges of the dovetail slots 22,24 to the adjacent fold lines 16.

The width r of the line slots 36,38 is arranged to be approximately the same as two thicknesses of the wall elements 12. Also, the width s of the opening to each dovetail slot 22,24 is arranged to be larger than two thicknesses of the joint element 14 (basically the separation, t of the fold line pair 30), by virtue of parallel cuts 33 at the opening of each dovetail slot.

The purpose of these dimensions is explained in the following description although it should be understood that these dimensions are merely preferable and not absolutely essential for the satisfactory operation of a wall structure according to the invention.

To assemble a wall structure 10 as shown in Figs 1 and 2 four wall elements 12 are first folded along the fold lines 16 so that sides 50,52 thereof are substantially at right angles to face 54.

The edge 18 of one element 12 is then aligned with the edge 20 of the next element so that the dovetail slots 22a,b,c,d and 24a,b,c,d of adjacent wall elements are aligned with one another in pairs.

Then a joint element 14 is folded flat along its longitudinal fold line pair 30 and inserted in the mouths 33 formed by adjacent dovetail slot pairs 22,24a and similarly further joint elements may be inserted in slot pairs 22,24,b,c and d. Hence the relative dimensions s and t.

Each joint element 14 is inserted so that each line slot 36, now paired with adjacent line slots 38, are engaged with the base of each dovetail slot pair until the edges 32,34 abut the back face 54 of each wall element 12. The mouths 35 of the line slots 36,38 may be chamfered to ease insertion. The joint element 14 can then be opened within the confines of the dovetail while being coaxed into further engagement against the end face 54 and until the position shown in the drawings is achieved. Thumb slots 37 are cut in the edges of the joint element to ease this opening of the joint element in the dovetail slots. With the dimensions given as above, this results in the fold lines 30 lying flush with the edges 18,20 of adjacent wall elements.

As shown in Figs 5 and 6, each joint element 14 is retained in position by the dovetail slots 22,24. They can only be withdrawn by folding the joint element which is resisted by virtue of the selected dimensions w,x referred to above. That is, by slight deformation of the joint element and dovetail slot. In other words, for most practical purposes the joint elements are held firmly in place. This is additionally aided by dimples 39, which are provided in each corner of the dovetail slots 22,24 and which catch and locate the base of each line slot 36,38 when the joint elements 14 are opened. More importantly however, each wall element 12 is now locked to the next by the line slots 36,38 in each joint element gripping adjoining edges 50,52 of adjacent wall elements. Hence the relative dimension r and thicknesses of two wall elements.

The result is a wall structure 10 which has a satisfactory frontal appearance and which can be extended by as many wall elements 12 as required.

Where more than four wall elements are used such as illustrated in Fig 7, further joint elements 60,62,64,66 are employed and these are disposed in staggered relation with respect to one another so that each wall element 12 is joined to one on either side by at least two joint elements. This ensures that the resulting wall has the necessary stability. If desired, a modified wall element (80, Fig 8) may be employed at strategic points and which has a central fold line 82 and an overall width between fold lines 16 greater than the separation between line slots 36,38 in the joint elements. When these modified wall elements 80 are employed, the face of the wall element projects from the surface of the wall increasing the depth of the wall and thus its stability.

Fig 8 also illustrates a joint between two walls which is easily achieved by the joining method of the present invention and which further improves the stability of the wall. The joint elements 14 are provided with lines of weakness 17 which enable the joint elements to be shortened as required at the end of a wall structure.

However, Figs 9 to 12 show special corner units 112,112' reinforced by gussets SO,100. With reference first to Figs 9 and 10, the gusset 90 comprises a sheet of cardboard or like material having two support edges 92,93 at an angle A with respect to one another. In this case the angle A is a right angle. The support edges 92,93 are themselves supported by tab pairs 94,96 whose function is explained further below. At an angle B (which is always substantially a right angle) to the support edges 92,93, are abutment edges 95,98 which are each provided with tongues 97. The tongues 97 have press-out tabs 99 disposed in them.

A wall element 12 is then folded centrally about a fold line 17 (see Fig 3) provided for this purpose. In Fig 10 the element is folded internally at the angle A. The tab pairs 94,96 are then folded1 one up, one down, on each of four gussets 90. These are offered up to the folded wall element and the tongues 97 are pressed through closed slots 23 provided for this purpose adjacent each edge 18,20 of the wall elements 12. The length m of the slots 23 is very slightly less than the width of the tongues 97 so that barbs 101 on the tongues catch and engage the edges of the slots 23 after being pushed through them. Moreover, after insertion of the tongues 97 in the slots 23, the tabs 99 may be bent down to further ensure that the tongues remain firmly engaged in the slots 23.

The purpose of the tabs 94,96 can now be appreciated since they bear against and support the rear surface of the wall element 12.

Further-more, they serve to keep the surface of the gussets perpendicular to the wall element 12, and so that the wall element is constrained to the angle A, which is of course the angle between the support edges 92,93.

It will also be appreciated that a corner unit 112 so-formed can easily be connected to the end of a wall structure 12'. This is achieved by pushing the tongues 97 through the corresponding slots 23 of the adjacent wall structure element 12'. For this purpose the separation d of the barbs 101 and the tabs 99 from the respective abutment edges 95,98 of the gussets 90 are arranged to be twice the thickness of the material of the wall elements 12. In any event, the dovetail slots of the corner unit 112 and adjacent wall element 12' are of course aligned so the joint elements 14 (not shown) could also secure the two components together as described above.

With reference to Figs 11 and 12, the same reference numerals identify corresponding components from Figs 9 and 10. The gusset 100 in Fig 11 is identical in all respects to the gusset 90 of Fig 9 with the single exception that the angle A' between the support surfaces 92,93 is 270O instead of right angles. Needless to say, this fundamentally alters its shape, but otherwise does not affect the operation of the gusset 100 in reinforcing a corner unit, in this case the corner unit 112' of Fig 12. Moreover, the angle A' determines that the corner unit 112' forms an external right angle corner.

It will thus be understood that gussets having any angle A could be provided to give any angle between adjacent wall structures.

Finally, the width n (see Fig 3) of the slots 23 in the wall- elements 12, is arranged to be substantially the same as two thicknesses of the material of the gussets 90,100. This means that with the gusset 100, for example, square pillars (not shown) can be fashioned using four corner units 112', with two tongues 97 from adjacent units being fed through the same slots 23, one above the other.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific elements and combinations of elements, it is envisaged that each element may be combined with any other or any combination of other elements. It is not intended to limit the invention to the particular combinations of elements suggested. Furthermore, the foregoing description is not intended to suggest that any element mentioned is indispensable to the invention, or that alternatives may not be employed. What is defined as the invention should not be construed as limiting the extent of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims (16)

1. A wall structure comprising wall elements of substantially rectangular sheets of cardboard or like material folded along an axis adjacent two opposite edges thereof and joined to adjacent similarly constructed sheets by joint elements adapted to fit in dovetail slots cut in the edge of each wall element.

2. A wall structure as claimed in claim 1 in which several of said wall elements are joined together to form a continuous wall and said joint element extends through the dovetail slots of said several wall elements.

3. A wall structure as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which more than one of said dovetail slots is provided on each edge, vertically spaced from one another so that more than one joint element may be employed join two adjacent wall elements.

4. A wall structure as claimed in any preceding claim in which said joint element comprises a sheet of said cardboard or like material folded along its length, said element having line slots cut into its edges on either side of said fold line of a width approximately the same as two thicknesses of said wall element and said dovetail slot has an opening at least as wide as two thicknesses of said joint element, the joint element being adapted to be inserted through the openings of an adjacent pair of said dovetail slots, engaging said line slots about the base of said dovetail slots so as to secure the edges of the wall elements together and unfolding said joint element as far as said dovetail slots permit to secure said joint element in the dovetail slots.

5. A wall structure as claimed in claim 4 in which the depth of each line slot is such that the distance between the base of each line slot and the fold line is substantially the same as the depth of each dovetail slot, and said dovetail slot has an opening width at least as much as two thicknesses of said joint element.

6. A wall structure as claimed in claim 5 in which the openings of the dovetail slots are cut perpendicular to said edge of each wall element, wider than said two thicknesses, before expanding to the dovetail shape.

7. A wall structure as claimed in any preceding claim in which each of the two corners of each dovetail slot is provided with a dimple to receive and retain the base edge of respective line slots of the joint elements when they are inserted and opened in said dovetail slots.

8. A wall structure as claimed in any preceding claim in which the edges of the joint elements are provided with thumb slots to facilitate opening of each joint element after insertion through the dovetail openings.

9. A wall structure as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8 in which there are four dovetail slots in each wall element edge, arranged in two pairs near the top and bottom of each wall element.

10. A wall structure as claimed in any preceding claim in which each joint element joins five wall elements.

11. A wall structure as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising special wall end elements in the form of gussets, each gusset comprising a sheet of material having two support edges at an angle to each other corresponding to the angle desired between adjacent wall surfaces, and tongues disposed on two joint edges of the gusset which respectively are at right angles to each support edge, and a wall element as defined above, which wall element is further provided with a central longitudinal fold line and a plurality of closed slots adjacent its edges, the wall element being adapted to be folded on said central fold line about said desired angle and at least one of said gussets supporting the wall element in said angle by its support edges abutting the surface of the wall element on either side of the fold line, and the tongues being inserted in said closed slots to retain each said gusset in place.

12. A wall structure as claimed in claim 11 in which each of said support edges of each gusset is provided with tabs adapted to be folded up and/or down and to lie against the surface of the wall element.

13. A wall structure as claimed in any preceding claim in which each wall element is provided with a number of holes positioned adjacent its edges.

14. A wall structure as claimed in preceding claim dependent on claim 4 in which the line slots are chamfered at their mouths.

15. A wall structure as claimed in any preceding claim in which the joint element has thumb slots along its edges.

16. A wall structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.