GB2286006A

GB2286006A - Door frame stile

Info

Publication number: GB2286006A
Application number: GB9401706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Bradley
Original assignee: KOMFORT SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: KOMFORT SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-01-29
Filing date: 1994-01-29
Publication date: 1995-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2014-01-29
Also published as: GB2286006B; GB9401706D0

Abstract

Partition apparatus includes a door frame stile 15 formed with a lengthwise extending open-sided channel 18 into which a locking mechanism can locate. A channel-shaped elongate filler strip 25 locates within the open-sided channel with its base either within the open-sided channel 18 so that a locking mechanism can be accommodated or defining a closure therefor with the slot 27 serving to locate a butt hinge. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in and relating to Partition Apparatus This invention relates to partition apparatus for dividing an area into two or more discrete rooms or spaces.

According to the present invention in one aspect, there is provided partition apparatus comprising a head channel and a base channel for receiving and supporting the upper and lower edges of at least one panel whose height is greater than the distance between the margins of the front walls of the channels and an upright post of channelsection which is open on one side to receive a side edge of a panel and includes a vertical web bordered by side walls, the post being formed in two detachable sections and comprising one side wall and an overlapping web section, and means for selectively attaching and detaching the detachable sections together.

In another aspect, the invention provides partition apparatus including a head channel and a base channel for receiving and supporting the upper and lower edges of at least one panel, and a tapered elongate bead shaped for positioning between adjoining faces of the base channel and said at least one panel.

The elongate bead is preferably produced from a plastics material.

In a further aspect, the invention provides partition apparatus including a door frame stile formed with a lengthwise extending open-sided channel into which a locking mechanism can locate, and a channel-shaped elongate filler strip adapted to locate within the open-sided channel with its base either within the open-sided channel or defining a closure therefor.

The open-sided channel may be formed with lengthwise extending ribs or grooves capable of cooperating with lengthwise extending grooves or ribs formed in the filler strip.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides partition apparatus~ which includes an upstanding post formed on at least one of its outer faces with a plurality of lengthwise extending grooves and a channel-shaped adaptor to receive and support a side edge of a panel and including on its outer face a plurality of lengthwise extending ribs which cooperate with the grooves of the post for location purposes.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation in section of a typical assembly of partition apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation in section of an alternative typical assembly of partition apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a plan view in section of a typical assembly of partition apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figures 4 to 13 are profile sections of partition apparatus in accordance with the invention.

The assembled partition apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a glass panel 1 supported between an elongate head channel 2 within which is located an elongate chair 3 and glazing adaptor 4 and an elongate base channel 6 of a room to be divided. The head and base channels extend along substantially the full length of the area to be divided. The head channel 2 is secured to a ceiling and the base channel 6-to a floor. An elongate chair 3 and adaptor 4 are also located within the base channel. The head and base channels are preferably extruded from a metallic material, for example aluminium. The adaptors and chairs are preferably extruded from a plastics material.

The apparatus illustrated in Figure 2 comprises a nominally two inch thick panel component 8 of a partition supported between head channel 2 and base channel 6.

Elongate panel beads 7 are positioned between the adjoining wall surfaces of the base channel andior head channel and the panel 8. The panel beads 7 are preferably extruded from a plastics material. Two glass panels 9 are supported between metallic transoms 11 and double glazing chairs 12.

Glazing beads 13 are provided between the panels 9 and the adjacent chair surfaces. The double glazing chairs and beads are preferably extruded from a plastics material.

Turning now to Figure 3, the assembled partition apparatus comprises a pair of doors 14 each supported between a pair of upstanding door frame stiles 15 which are in turn each supported on one side by a central 90" corner post 16 and on their other side by a 135 corner post 17.

The stiles and corner posts are preferably-extruded from a metallic material, e.g. aluminium. The stiles 15 abut against and are supported by the corner posts 16, 17, and include a central vertical channel 18 to receive a catch and/or locking mechanism for the respective door. The sides of the corner posts 17 remote from the doors 14 receive double glazed chairs 19 which support glass panels 21. Glazing beads-13 are positioned between the adjoining surfaces of the glass panels 21 and the corner posts 17.

The stiles and corner posts are described below in greater detail with reference to Figures 4, 10 and 11 respectively of the drawings.

The exposed face of the corner post 16 is formed with two spaced vertical grooves 22 (see Figure 10) into which can seat complementary vertical ribs 23 formed on the outer face of the adaptor channel 4. One side edge of panel 8 protrudes into the channel of the adaptor 4.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3 is simply exemplary of apparatus in accordance with the invention and that changes can readily be made as and when required by, for example, replacing double glazing chairs with single glazing chairs, changing the elevations to include a solid elevation, a solid elevation with upper glazing, a solid elevation with mid glazing, and a solid elevation which is glazed above.

The individual elements of the partition apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 13 which show to an enlarged scale cross sectional profiles of the individual elements. All of these elements are, as referred to above, preferably extruded from a metallic or plastics material and can readily be cut to length.

As mentioned above, the central channel 18 of the door frame stile 15 illustrated in Figure 4 extends along the entire height of the stile and is open on one side to receive a latch and/or locking mechanism for a door. For this purpose the channel 18 is provided with vertically extending grooves 24 into which can locate complementary ribs 26 of a channel section filler strip 25. Those lengths of the channel 18 not containing a latching/locking system are closed by the filler strips 25 with the ribs 26 located within the grooves 24, the base of the channel section filler strips 25 lying adjacent the mouth of the channel 18 effectively to close the channel. For those lengths of channel 18 in which latching/locking mechanisms are located, equivalent lengths of filler strips are inserted with the base of each filler strip lying adjacent the base of the channel 18. The filler strips are preferably extruded from a plastics material. Each stile also includes a groove 27 for locating a hinge for connection to a door, and a stop 28. Rearwardly extending stile pieces 29 include shaped ends 30 including channels 31 which either abut against or interengage with similar shaped ends of other partition elements during assembly.

By virtue of its shaping, no factory machining is necessary to accommodate hinges, latch/lock keeps or corner mitring. Thus, the stile section is square cut on site to abut a doorframe transom and the latching recess is inbuilt within the aluminium extrusion. Location of the door to the door frame is simplified by virtue of a raking feed into the locating slot 27 to locate a butt hinge. The hinge includes in-line screw holes to suit a desired drilling location within the frame stile. The section of the door frame transom differs from that of the stile to avoid mitres. This section can also be employed as a framing section.

In use, the base and top of the stile 15 abut the adjoining ends of the base and head channels 6,2 respectively.

Figure 5 illustrates an upright centre post of H" section having a generally vertical web 32 and side members 33 between which can be received the side edges of panels 8 or glazing chairs 3 and beads 13. The inner surfaces of the side members 33 include vertical ribs 34 formed with projecting beads 34A which act to latch glazing chairs in position. The ends of the upright central posts protrude into the channels of the head and base channels 2, 6 with their upper and lower ends abutting against lengthwise extending projections formed on the inner surfaces of each side member of the channels 2 and 6. These are illustrated in Figures 8 and 13 of the drawings.

Figure 6 illustrates a box post 36 which can double as a switch post. This post is employed to support adjoining solid panels or glass panels and includes a central box section 37 from which extend outwardly side members 38 similar to the side members 33. The outer faces of the box section 37 are formed with vertical grooves 39 which can receive complementary ribs 23 of an adaptor panel 4. The adaptor channel includes shaped side members 42 for retaining a solid or glass panel. The box post 36 can by itself function to support two panels or with the addition of an adaptor channel 4, three panels. Thus, the box-post can be employed as a three-way junction if used in tandem with an adapter channel 4. As a switch post, the box-post can be used in tandem with an aluminium extruded back box to house electrical switches, the back box communicating with the centre of the box-post through holes for the passage of cabling introduced into the box-post from above or. below. The edges of the holes (particularly if drilled) may be covered by grommets. The back box is introduced essentially to avoid factory preparation while minimising on-site wiring installation.

Figure 7 is a profile section of a transom 44 for a door frame and includes a base 45 including a channel 46 for receiving a brush seal and a pair of side members 47 for receiving a panel positioned over the door frame. A fixing location is provided immediately above the channel 46.

A head channel 2 is shown in Figure 8, this including a central elongate channel defined between a roof member 48 and two side members 49. Each side member 49 includes an inwardly extending projection 51 against which the upper end of an upright post can locate. Also, the internal surface of the roof member 48 is formed with inwardly extending beads 52. The beads 52 assist accurate location of drilling.

Figure 9 illustrates the section of the panel beads 7.

As will be seen, each bead includes a head 53 and a tapered shank 54.

Figure 10 illustrates a 90" corner post 16 which is of closed section and is designed to support adjoining panels set at right angles to one another. The external face 55 of the post is formed with two vertical grooves 22 to receive the ribs 23 of an adaptor channel 4. The post 16 can therefore function as a two-way or three-way supporting post. The sides 57 are extended to cloak ends of adjoining head and base channels and to provide an aesthetically appealing finish to an assembled partition system.

Figure 11 shows a 135 corner post 17, this also having a front face 58 formed with vertical grooves 59 to receive ribs 23 of an adaptor channel 4.

Figure 12 illustrates the profile of a vertical bipost 61 which is positioned, in use, at one end of an assembly of panels with its upper and lower ends in contact with the ends of the respective head and base channels.

The post 61 includes a vertical web 62 and a pair of side members. The bi-post 61 is formed in two separable heightwise extending parts 63, 64 each of which defines one side member of the bi-post and overlapping sections which define the web 62. The part 63 includes a stepped section 65 which enables the overlapping section of part 64 to lie flush with the overlapping section of part 63. The stepped section 65 includes a groove 66 into which locates a barb carried by part 64. The part 64 is releasably connected to part 63 by removing the barb from groove 66.

Part 63 is formed with a locating groove 69 into which locates a spring steel plate, this being secured in place by a screw fixing. --~ Finally, Figure 13 illustrates a base channel 6 including two upstanding side members 69 from which extend ledges 71 onto which seat the lower ends of upright posts.

The channel 6 includes a base 72 formed with two upwardly protruding ribs 73. The base and side members define a base channel 74 for receiving electrical cabling and the like.

On assembly, the head and base channels 2, 6 are secured in place and the appropriate corner posts 16, 17 positioned as required. The corner posts 16,17 extend the full height between floor and ceiling.

The vertical posts, box posts and bi-posts are secured in place where required with their upper and lower ends located within the head and base channels respectively, to enhance stability of the assembly and to hide unsightly cut ends. Partitions are introduced into the channels of the head and base channels 2, 6 and slid into place. If a glazing panel is required, adapter channels and chairs 3 are suitably positioned within the head and base channels.

Panel beads are introduced between the adjacent edges of the base channel, glazing chairs and/or solid panels. With the final panel in place, the part 64 of the bi-post 61 is latched into place, this removable part 64 being necessary to enable the final solid panel to be introduced into the assembly. Upright adapter channels may be employed to act as cloaking sections for cross-run walls, the previously described grooves and ribs assisting location.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is exemplary of partition apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Partition apparatus including a door frame stile formed with a lengthwise extending open-sided channel into which a locking mechanism can locate, and a channel-shaped elongate filler strip adapted to locate within the open-sided channel with its base either within the open-sided channel or defining a closure therefor.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the open-sided channel is formed with lengthwise extending ribs or grooves capable of cooperating with lengthwise extending grooves or ribs formed in the filler strip.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising an upstanding post formed on at least one of its outer faces with a plurality of lengthwise extending grooves and a channel-shaped adaptor to receive and support a side edge of a panel and including on its outer face a plurality of lengthwise extending ribs which cooperate with the grooves of the post for location purposes.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 further comprising a head channel and a base channel for receiving and supporting the upper and lower edges of at least one panel whose height is greater than the distance between the margins of the front walls of the channels and an upright post of channel section which is open on one side to receive a side edge of a panel and includes a vertical web bordered by side walls, the post being formed in two detachable sections and comprising one side wall and an overlapping web section, and means for selectively attaching and detaching the detachable sections together.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 further comprising a head channel and a base channel for receiving and supporting the upper and lower edges of at least one panel, and a tapered elongate bead shaped for positioning between adjoining faces of the base channel and said at least one panel.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the elongate bead is produced from a plastics material.

7. Partition apparatus substantially as herein described and as described with reference to Figures 1 to 13 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.