GB2267915A - Channel-section mounting member and fittings for partition walling - Google Patents

Abstract

A system of partitioning or partition walling comprises a channel section mounting member 120, 122. Provided on the inner wall of the channel section are inner and outer mounting elements capable of mounting, for example, a glazing bar 150 and associated glazing beads 154, 156 simultaneously. The arrangement is such that the glazing bar is located wholly within the channel section and thus does not add to the cumulative space requirements of the partition walling system. The mounting elements, viz. stops 132, 134, are provided directly on the side walls 120, 122 of the channel section thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the need for low tolerances in manufacture; the camming surface 136 and stop 134 act as shown in fig. 9 to retain the mounting elements. <IMAGE>

Description

PARTITION WALLING This invention relates to partition walling and systems of partitioning or partition walling.

In my prior British patent GB 2157336 I have disclosed a system of partitioning and partition walling having important advantages over previous systems, notably that by provision of what may be termed, for the sake of brevity, a "double clipping action", a proper positional relationship can be established between the main channel section mounting members and the associated mounting members, such as glazing barsr together with the glazing materials themselves and the panels of the partition walling itself, so that cumulative space requirements do not build up as successive panels in a system of partition walling are assembled.In one embodiment of the system disclosed in my prior British patent, the glazing bars, for example, are located entirely within one side of the channel section of a main mounting member so as to be unseen in use (which therefore permits offcuts of the glazing bars to be used), and this positional relationship with the channel section likewise establishing the aforesaid proper positional relationship with panels and glazing materials.

However, the structure of the channel sections disclosed in my prior British patent, though establishing the above - identified important advantages in terms of ease of practical assembly of the partition walling and economy of materials, nevertheless have themselves certain shortcomings which it would be desirable to ameliorate.

These include production costs and associated production difficulties including a tendency for a relatively high wastage rate to prevail in the extrusion of the channel sections. Moreover, there is a requirement for relatively low tolerances in the production of the channel sections, and this somewhat aggravates the above mentioned factors.

It will be understood that the need for low tolerances is associated with the fact that the channel section and the associated glazing bars and other structures fit together in a clipping action, and for this action to be effective and easily carried out, the tolerances need to be within quite carefully defined limits.

Accordingly, I have identified a requirement for improvements in relation to my aforesaid prior partition walling system, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system of partitioning or partition walling and equipment for use therein offering one or more improvements in relation thereto, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a system of partition or partitioning walling, as follows. The system comprises a channel section mounting member. This mounting member may, for example, comprise a generally H-section member, having two channel sections back-to-back, or may have alternative structures with one, two or more channel sections in various relationships. The system further comprises a complementary mounting member, such as a glazing bar to be mounted on or in the channel section mounting member. A further complementary mounting member or members are provided, such as glazing beads, to be mounted on the channel section simultaneously with the complementary mounting member.The channel section has inner and outer mounting elements capable of mounting the complementary and further complementary mounting members simultaneously so that the former of these has a proper positional relationship with the channel section and does not add to the cumulative space requirements of the partition walling system. The system is characterised by the feature that the inner and outer mounting elements of the channel section are formed at and in the inner sides of the walls of the channel section which actually define the channel section itself.

By providing the mounting elements in the actual walls which define the channel section, as opposed to providing the mounting elements in the inner portion of a double-wall strtucture defining the channel section, as disclosed in my prior Bristish patent, the overall structure is greatly simplified and the shortcomings identified above are largely overcome.

In one preferred embodiment, the mounting elements have a particularly simple form, comprising two inwardly (or laterally) projecting stop members, spaced apart in the direction of the depth of the channel section. Between the two stop members there is located a profiled portion providing a camming or guide action to facilitate insertion and release of the complementary mounting member (such as a glazing bar) which is inserted first.

The spacing of the inner and outer mounting elements (in the direction of the depth of the channel section) is such that the similtaneous mounting of the complementary and further complementary mounting members is permited.

Moreover, the profile of the profiled portion between them is such as to provide a gripping action on a corresponding complementary mating formation on the further complementary member or members (eg glazing beads) which are mounted on the outer mounting members.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference ot the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a section through a three-way channel section mounting member; Fig 2 shows a corresponding section through an inclined two way channel section mounting member; Fig 3 shows a complementary mounting member; Fig 4 shows, on a larger scale; a detail of the complementary member of Fig 3; Fig 5 shows a further alternative right - angle two-way mounting member; Fig 6 shows a single channel section mounting member; Fig 7 shows a door stop forming a complementary mounting member; and Figs 8, 9 and 10 show complemenatary and further complementary mounting members actually inserted into and mounted on the main mounting member of one of the preceding embodiments.

It is first to be noted that reference is specifically directed to the disclosure in my prior British Patent GB 2157336. That specification contains a full disclosure of a system of partitioning and partition walling of the kind with which the present invention is concerned. I have already highlighted above the distinctions between the present invention and the disclosure in my prior specification. I now hereby direct attention to the prior specification for a more complete disclosure of the mode of use of the partitioning and the partition walling, and reserve the right to import into the present application disclosure from the prior specification if necessary.

As shown in Fig 1, a system of partitioning or partition walling comprises a channel section mounting member 10. Member 10 provides three channel sections 12, 14 and 16 which are disposed at right angles relative to each other at three sides of a rectangular structural member 18.

The channel section mounting member 10 permits three partition walls, or related structures, to be interconnected at right angles.

The channel section 12 has side walls 20, 22 likewise, channel section 16 has side walls 24, 26, and thus channel section 14 shares the side walls 22, 24.

At or in the region of the outer end of each side wall 20, 22, 24 and 26 there are provided mounting elements to permit the mounting of complementary mounting members in the manner illustrated in Figs 8, 9 and 10. Thus, channel section 12 has mounting elements 28 and 30, channel section 14 has mounting elements 32 and 34, and channel section 16 has mounting elements 36 and 38. The details of the structure of the mounting elements will be described below with reference to Figs 8, 9 and 10.

It will be noted that in the case of the shared channel section side walls 22 and 24, these are provided with dual inwardly facing (with respect to the channel sections concerned) mounting elements disposed at right angles at their outer ends. This is unnecessary for the side walls 20 and 26.

Turning now to Fig 2, this shows a channel section mounting member 40 having two channel sections 42, 44 disposed at a 45 degree inclination with respect to each other as defined by the walls 46, 48, 50 of a triangular section structural member 52, corresponding to member 18 in the embodiment of Fig 1.

The walls 46 and 48 form base walls of the channel sections 42 and 44 and share a common base wall portion 54.

The channel sections have side walls 56, 58 and 60, 62.

Each of the side walls has its own inwardly-facing mounting elements , 66 and 68, 70, these being constructed as in the preceding embodiment. The mounting elements are thus formed at the inner sides of the walls and face inwardly for engagement with the complementary mounting members, to be described below.

Figs 3 and 4 show a complementary mounting member 60 and an enlarged end portion thereof respectively. This complementary mounting member is adapted to be snap-fitted into any one of the channel sections in the embodiments of Figs 1 and 2 in the manner illustrated in Figs 9 and 10. It will be seen that the main body 62 will, in its assembled condition, extend across and close the channel section while its own end or side mounting elements 64 (extending lengthwise of member 60 so as to form with main body 62 a generally shallow channel-section member) are positioned to snap fit into the channel sections. A profiled end face 66 on each mounting member 64 engages the mounting elements in the channel sections to exert a camming effect to permit snap-fitting into the channel section so that the outer mounting element thereof can enter the recessed region 68 as shown in Figs 8,9 and 10.

The embodiment of Fig 5 corresponds very much with the embodiments of Figs 1 and 2 so far as concerns general priniples. Therefore,it -will be described briefly. It comprises channel sections 70 and 72 disposed at right angles to each other. Mounting elements 74, 76, 78 and 80 are provided for each of the channel sections in a manner analogous to that of the embodiment of Fig 1.

In the embodiment of Fig 6, a channel section mounting member 90 provides a single channel section 92 having mounting elements 94 and 96 located on side walls 98, 100 respectively.

In this embodiment, as in the preceeding embodiments, the channel section member is formed as an extrusion of aluminium. The complementary mounting members which cooperate therewith are formed as extrusions of a suitable plastics material of the kind commonly employed in the art for this kind of purpose.

Figs 7 and 7A show a further complementary mounting member corresponding to member 60 of Figs 3 and 4. In this case, the complementary mounting member 110 provides a door stop 112 projecting from the main body 114 of the complementary mounting member. Side (or end) mounting elements 116, 118 are provided and are constructed and arranged as described previously with reference to Figs 3 and 4, and function likewise.

Turning now to the structures illustrated in Figs 8, 9 and 10, it will be seen that these figures illustrate best, perhaps, the mode of use of the invention in relation to the complementary mounting members.

In Figs 8, 9 and 10 there has been shown, in each case, the outer end of a channel section side wall 120, 122. This represents any of the channel section side walls described above with reference to Figs 6, 5, 2 and 1.

Located at the region of the outer ends of the side walls are the mounting elements 124 and 126. Each mounting element is formed in its own channel section side wall and faces inwardly thereof. Each mounting element comprises an outer mounting element 128 and an inner mounting element 130. Each of these provides its own stop or ledge 132 and 134 respectively.

Between the stops 132 and 134, there is provided, a profiled portion 136 as shown in Fig 8A. The profiled portion serves as a ramp to assist removal of the complementary mounting members during disassembly, and likewise serves to complement and engage the mounting elements thereof, as described above.

It can now be seen from Figs 8, 9 and 10 how the complementary mounting members 150 and 152 are employed in association with further complementary mounting members 154 and 156. The glazing bar or T-section 150 is snap fitted into the channel section so as to be lodged on the stop 134 of inner mounting elements 130. In this position the T-rail 158 itself is located wholly within the channel section to receive and support a sheet of glazing material. Then, the further complementary mounting members 154 and 156, in the form of glazing beads with lips 160, 162 to engage the glazing material, are inserted. They have inner mounting elements 164 which are profiled to fit round the T-rail 158 itself.At their outer edges the glazing beads have mounting elements 166 which are profiled to fit around portion 136 of the outer mounting elements 128, and which also has a stop or ledge 168 to engage on the stop face 132.

This defines the assembled position of the beads.

Use of the system will now be self evident, taken in association with the description in my aforesaid prior British specification.

In the embodiment of Fig 10 the complementary mounting member 152 itself has mounting elements 170 which are shaped and profiled so that the main body 172 thereof lodges on the stop face 132 of the outer mounting elements 128, thereby providing a door stop 174, as described previously in connection with Fig 7.

Modifications which could be made in connection with the above embodiments include changes to the profile of the inner and outer mounting elements on the channel sections and the corresponding complementary shapes of the complementary mounting members which engage them.

Attention is drawn to the spacing between the outer and inner mounting elements 128 and 130 in the above emobodiments. This spacing serves to permit the necessary mounting of the complementary mounting members in the manner illustrated in Fig 9, while retaining the desirable proper positional relationship with the channel section itself.

Claims (11)

1 A system of partitioning or partition walling comprising a channel section mounting member, a complementary mounting member to be mounted on or in the channel section mounting member, a further complementary mounting member or members, to be mounted on the channel section simultaneously with the complementary mounting member, the channel section having inner and outer mounting elements capable of mounting the complementary and further complementary mounting members simultaneously so that the former of these has a proper positional relationship with the channel section and does not add to the cumulative space requirements of the partition walling system, characterised by the feature that said inner and outer mounting elements of the channel section are provided at the inner sides of the walls of the channel section which actually define the channel section itself.

2 A system according to claim 1 characterised by said mounting elements comprising two inwardly or laterally projecting stop members, said stop members being spaced apart in the direction of the depth of the channel section.

3 A system according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by a profiled portion being provided between said inner and outer mounting elements to provide a camming or guide action to facilitate insertion and release of the complementary mounting member.

4 A system according to claim 3 characterised by the profile of said profiled portion being such as to provide a gripping action on a corresponding complementary mating formation on the further complementary member or members.

5 A system according to claim 4 characterised by said profile being substantially as shown in Fig 8A of the accompanying drawings.

6 A system according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by said mounting member comprising a generally H-section member having two channel sections disposed back-to-back

7 A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised by said mounting member comprising two channel sections disposed in an annular relationship otherwise than back-to-back.

8 A system according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by said complementary -mounting member comprising a glazing bar.

9 A system according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by said further complementary mounting member comprising a glazing bead.

10 A system of partitioning or partition walling substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11 An installation of partitioning or partition walling comprising a system according to any one of the preceding claims.