GB2275941A

GB2275941A - A partition assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2275941A
Application number: GB9305102A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Nigel Moon; Roy Witherington
Original assignee: Tenon Partition Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Tenon Partition Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-12
Filing date: 1993-03-12
Publication date: 1994-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-12
Also published as: GB2275941B; GB9305102D0

Abstract

A partition assembly has a timber head channel 26 and timber uprights 24. The head channel 26 has grooves 32 and 34 to receive respective edges of glazing panels. The uprights 24 have rebates 28 and 30 to receive respective edges of the panels of the glazing panels 40. A bracket secures the uprights 24 to the head channel 26. The bracket has an apertured base flange 10 which engages the base of the respective groove 32, 34 in the head channel 26. The bracket also has a pair of mutually parallel pertured arms 12 and 14 which extend from the apertured base flange 10 and which are disposed in a common plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the appertured base flange. The arms 12 and 14 engage in the rebates 28, 30 of the uprights 24. Similar brackets are used to connect the uprights to a base member and to transoms. <IMAGE>

Description

A PARTITION ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a partition assembly and is more particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with a demountable partition assembly, and also to a multipurpose bracket for use therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a particularly convenient form of glazed partitioning.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a partition assembly comprising: (1) a plurality of partition members, said partition members including a first partition member having a glazing recess therein, and a second recess member having a pair of mutually parallel glazing recesses therein; (2) a plurality of brackets securing the partition members together, said plurality of brackets including a bracket comprising an apertured base flange and a pair of laterally spaced apertured arms integral with and extending from said apertured base flange, said apertured arms being disposed in a common plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the apertured base flange, said base flange being disposed in the glazing recess in the first partition member and being secured to the latter, and each arm being disposed in a respective one of the recesses in the second partition member and being secured thereto, whereby the first and second partition members are held together in mutual abutment with the recesses in the second partition member being aligned with and extending perpendicular to the recess in the first partition member; and (3) a plurality of glazing panels including (a) a first glazing panel having a side edge engaged in the recess in the first partition member and an adjacent side edge engaged in one of the recesses in the second partition member, and (b) a second glazing panel having a side edge engaged in the recess in the first partition member and an adjacent side edge engaged in the other of the recesses in the second partition member.

In a preferred embodiment, at least the first and second partition members are of timber construction.

Preferably, the partition assembly includes at least two further second partition members which abut against and extend perpendicular to the first-mentioned second partition member and which are secured thereto by means of respective brackets which are identical with the first-mentioned bracket.

Preferably, the arms of said bracket are of substantially the same width and length. Most preferably, the width of the arms is the same as or marginally less than the width of the base flange. Most preferably, the arms extend from the base flange at opposite end regions of the latter, the base flange being apertured at an intermediate, preferably central, location.

The partition assembly is preferably a double glazed partition assembly wherein: (a) said first partition member has a further glazing recess therein which extends parallel to the first glazing recess; (b) said second partition member has a further pair of mutually parallel glazing recesses therein which are aligned with and extend perpendicular to the further recess in the first partition member so as to receive respectively first and second double glazing panels which are disposed parallel to the first and second glazing panels; and (c) a further bracket identical to the first-mentioned bracket is disposed with its base flange in the further glazing recess of the first partition member and with its arms disposed in respective ones of the further recesses in the second partition member.

The recess(es) in the first partition member preferably takes the form of a groove, whilst each of the recesses in the second partition member preferably takes the form of a rebate in a respective edge of the member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a partition assembly including a component (preferably an elongate wooden section) to be fixed to a suspended ceiling member having a downwardly projecting web portion and a lower flange extending on each side of the web, said partition assembly further including a plurality of ceiling brackets, each ceiling bracket comprising a pair of mutually parallel flange members and an intermediate web extending between said flange members so that the flange members extend on opposite sides of the intermediate web, the arrangement being such that, in use, one of the flange members of the ceiling brackets is engaged with said component whilst the other flange member is engaged with one of the lower flanges of the suspended ceiling member.

Also according to the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising a plurality of partition members including at least one first partition member and at least one second partition member, and a plurality of brackets including at least one bracket of the type defined hereinabove in accordance with either or both aspects of the present invention, said kit of parts being adapted to be assembled to form a partition assembly according to either or both aspects of the present invention. The invention further resides per se in a bracket or ceiling bracket of the type defined hereinabove.

An embodiment incorporating both aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs 1 to 3 are respectively front, plan and side elevations of a bracket for use in a partition assembly according to the present invention; Figs 4 to 6 are perspective views showing use of the bracket of Figs 1 to 3 in the glazed partition assembly; Figs 7 and 8 are cross-sectional and plan views respectively of a ceiling bracket forming part of a partition assembly according to said second aspect of the present invention; and Fig 9 is a schematic view showing one way of using the bracket of Figs 7 and 8 in the partition assembly of Figs 4 to 6.

Referring now to Figs 1 to 3 of the drawings, the bracket illustrated therein is formed of 18 gauge steel sheet and comprises a rectangular planar base flange 10 and a pair of planar arms 12 and 14 integrally formed with the base flange 10 by means of a stamping and folding operation.

The arms 12 and 14 extend in mutually parallel, spacedapart relationship in the same direction from opposite end regions of one of the side edges of the base flange 10. The arms 12 and 14 lie in a common plane which is perpendicular to the plane in which the base flange 10 lies.

Each of the arms 12 and 14 has a respective aperture 16, 18 therethrough adjacent its free end. The base flange 10 has a pair of apertures 20 and 22 therethrough in alignment with the respective arms 12 and 14.

Referring now to Fig. 4, two of the brackets (only one shown) are used to secure the top of a timber upright 24 to a timber head channel 26. The upright 24 has two pairs of mutually parallel rebates 28 and 30 therein to receive the respective side edges of four double glazing panels (not shown) which are also to engage in respective grooves 32 and 34 in the head channel 26. The base flange 10 each bracket is of a size to fit within either of the grooves 32 and 34 and is secured thereto by means of screws (not shown) which pass through the respective apertures 20 and 22 to engage in the base of the respective groove 32, 34.

Each of the arms 12 and 14 abuts against a surface of the respective rebate 28, 30 in the upright 24 and is secured thereto by screws (also not shown). The upright 24 can be simply square-cut at its top for abutment against the head channel 26.

The arms 12 and 14 have the same width which is slightly less than that of the surface of the rebate 28, 30 with which they engage so as to ensure that they are hidden from view in the fully assembled partition. The width of the base flange 10 is marginally greater than that of the arms 12 and 14 and is slightly less than the width of the base of the groove 32, 34.

After the glazing panels have been inserted, a flexible glazing bead foam (not shown) is applied along each side edge of each panel and this hides the brackets from sight to the casual observer.

The bracket removes the need for a skilled joiner on site, reduces the installation time on site and enables the framework joints to retain the structural integrity required to pass a 30 minutes fire rating to the required standard.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the brackets are shown serving the function of securing square-cut timber transoms 36 and 38 to upright 24. Glazing panels 40 and 42 illustrated in part for engaging in the rebates 28 of the upright 24 and in rebates 37 in transoms 36. The transoms 36 and 38 can be of identical section to the upright 24.

In Fig. 6, the bracket is shown securing the square-cut lower end of upright 24 to a double glazing base 44 secured in turn to a softwood base 46.

The various parts illustrated in Figs 4 to 6 constitute parts of a double glazed partition assembly. During erection, the base 46 and head channel 26 are secured by any suitable means (eg screws) to the floor and ceiling, respectively, of a building space to be divided by the partition, whilst partition side members (which may be similar to channel 26) are secured to respective walls of the building space. It will be appreciated that the partition can be easily erected, de-mounted and reerected because of the design of the bracket.

Referring now to Fig 9, there is shown a preferred way of securing the above-described partition assembly to a suspended ceiling of the type wherein a suspended ceiling grid indicated generally by arrow 100 is provided for supporting a multiplicity of suspended ceiling tiles 104.

The ceiling grid 100 is defined by an intersecting elongate main T-section members 102 (only one shown) and elongate cross T-section members (not shown) which are secured to the ceiling above in known manner.

Each main member 102 has a downwardly projecting web portion 106 and lower flanges 108 and 109 integral with the web portion 106 and extending respectively from each side of the lower edge of the latter.

As illustrated in Fig 9, each of the head channels 26 of the previously described partition assembly is secured to a respective one of the main members 102 using a plurality of ceiling brackets 110 which are shown in greater detail in Figs 7 and 8 to which reference is now drawn. Each bracket 110 comprises a pair of flanges 112 and 114 which are planar and mutually parallel. The flanges 112 and 114 are integral with a central web portion 116 and extend on opposite sides of the latter.

In the embodiment shown, the lower surface of flange 112 is co-planar with the upper surface of flange 114. The flange 114 has a pair of fixing holes 118 for receiving fixing screws to secure the bracket 110 to the head channel 26. The longitudinal side edge of the flange 112 which is remote from the web portion 116 is chamfered at 120, the chamfer 120 being on the lower surface of the flange 112.

In use, when the design and location of the partition assembly is such that the head channel 26 to be fixed to the suspended ceiling is co-extensive with one of the main members 102 as illustrated in Fig 9 (or indeed with one of the cross T-section members), the required number of spaced brackets 110 are fixed to the head channel 26 by screws through the apertures 118 in the flanges 114 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the channel 26 so that all of the flanges 112 face in one direction.

The head channel 26 is then slid into position so that such flanges 112 all engage, say, flange 108 of main member 102. Then two further brackets 110 per head channel 26 are fixed to the head channel 26 in the opposite direction to the previously fitted bracket 110 to lock the head channel 26 in position by engaging with the flange 109.

When the location and design of the partition assembly is such that the head channel 26 to be secured is to extend at 900 relative to the main members 102 at locations which are intermediate the cross T-section members, the brackets 110 can be fixed to the head channel 26 so as to extend transversely thereto and to face in the same direction, with the brackets 110 being spaced apart by a pitch which corresponds to the spacing between the main members 102 to which they are to be attached. The head channel 26 with the brackets 110 attached in this manner can then be slid into position so as to engage with the appropriate flanges 108 or 109 of the main members 102, and then locked in place using one or more further brackets 110 which face in the opposite direction and which are engaged against the other flanges 109 or 108 of the main members 102 and then be secured in place using screws.

In both modes of use, the chamfers 120 assist the flanges 112 engaging with the respective flanges of the T-section members.

Claims

1. A partition assembly comprising: (1) a plurality of partition members, said partition members including a first partition member having a glazing recess therein, and a second recess member having a pair of mutually parallel glazing recesses therein; (2) a plurality of brackets securing the partition members together, said plurality of brackets including a bracket comprising an apertured base flange and a pair of laterally spaced apertured arms integral with and extending from said apertured base flange, said apertured arms being disposed in a common plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the apertured base flange, said base flange being disposed in the glazing recess in the first partition member and being secured to the platter, and each arm being disposed in a respective one of the recesses in the second partition member and being secured thereto, whereby the first and second partition members are held together in mutual abutment with the recesses in the second partition member being aligned with and extending perpendicular to the recess in the first partition member; and (3) a plurality of glazing panels including (a) a first glazing panel having a side edge engaged in the recess in the first partition member and an adjacent side edge engaged in one of the recesses in the second partition member, and (b) a second glazing panel having a side edge engaged in the recess in the first partition member and an adjacent side edge engaged in the other of the recesses in the second partition member.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the first and second partition members are of timber construction.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including at least two further second partition members which abut against and extend perpendicular to the first-mentioned second partition member and which are secured thereto by means of respective brackets which are identical with the first-mentioned bracket.

4. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arms of said bracket are of substantially the same width and length.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the width of the arms is the same as or marginally less than the width of the base flange.

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the arms extend from the base flange at opposite end regions of the latter, and the base flange is apertured at an intermediate location.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, which is a double glazed partition assembly wherein: (a) said first partition member has a further glazing recess therein which extends parallel to the first glazing recess; (b) said second partition member has a further pair of mutually parallel glazing recesses therein which are aligned with and extend perpendicular to the further recess in the first partition member so as to receive respectively first and second double glazing panels which are disposed parallel to the first and second glazing panels; and (c) a further bracket identical to the first-mentioned bracket is disposed with its base flange in the further glazing recess of the first partition member and with its arms disposed in respective ones of the further recesses in the second partition member.

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recess(es) in the first partition member take(s) the form of a groove, whilst each of the recesses in the second partition member takes the form of a rebate in a respective edge of the member.

9. A partition assembly including a component to be fixed to a suspended ceiling member having a downwardly projecting web portion and a lower flange extending on each side of the web, said partition assembly further including a plurality of ceiling brackets, each ceiling bracket comprising a pair of mutually parallel flange members and an intermediate web extending between said flange members so that the flange members extend on opposite sides of the intermediate web, the arrangement being such that, in use, one of the flange members of the ceiling brackets is engaged with said component whilst the other flange member is engaged with one of the lower flanges of the suspended ceiling member.

10. A kit of parts comprising a plurality of partition members including at least one first partition member and at least one second partition member, and a plurality of brackets including at least one bracket as defined in any one of claims 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9, said kit of parts being adapted to be assembled to form a partition assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or claim 9.

11. A bracket as defined in any one of claims 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9.