GB2404207A

GB2404207A - Room divider panel

Info

Publication number: GB2404207A
Application number: GB0423644A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Eccleshall
Original assignee: Komfort Office Environments PLC
Current assignee: Komfort Office Environments PLC
Priority date: 2001-07-17
Filing date: 2001-07-17
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-17
Also published as: GB2404207B; GB2377714A; GB2377714B; GB0423644D0; GB0117317D0

Abstract

A room divider panel comprises an elongate front surface 21 for forming a partition wherein at at least one edge the panel extends from the front surface 21 at an angle extending from and acute to the rear of the front surface 21 to form a planar angled edge 22 which provides depth to the panel. A mounting portion 23 further extends from the planar edge 22 along at least part of its length to provide one or more mounting surfaces parallel to the rear of the front surface 21 of the panel. Two opposing planar edges 22 may be provided, each at less than 90 degrees to the rear of the front surface 21 of the panel. The angle between the planar edge and the rear of the front surface of the panel may be between 45 and 85 degrees inclusive. The angle may be 75 degrees.

Description

FLEXIBLE ROOM DIVIDER ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a room divider assembly which can be easily assembled and reconfigured to meet varying requirements for room division. The invention is particularly applicable to, but not strictly limited to, the assembly of a clean room which meets requirements of cleanliness of the electronics and/or pharmaceutical industries.

Room dividers of the prior art typically comprise frames of fixed sizes to which panels are bolted or bracketed to provide a dividing wall.

Whilst effective as room dividers, these prior art arrangements are awkward and time consuming to assemble. Also, any adjustments to the desired set-up require disassembly and re-assembly, rendering such arrangements inflexible. In the particular case of clean rooms, the assembly further requires applying a top layer of "clean room finish", typically in the form of a layer of plastics material such as PVC sheeting.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a room divider assembly that is simple to assemble and relatively quick and simple to adjust. A further aim of the present invention is to provide a divider assembly which is suitable for use in a clean room environment.

The present invention provides dividing panel for a room divider assembly, the room divider assembly comprising; e . e..

at least one stud assembly and at least one pair of dividing panels, : the stud assembly comprising a pair of elongate elements, each element À lo: having a front face and two side limbs depending substantially perpendicularly from the front face, and at least one connector plate for connecting the two elongate elements, means for releasably hanging a Àe pair of adjoining dividing panels to a surface of an elongate element and means for connecting a pair of elongate elements by at least one connector plate.

The dividing panels of the invention comprise; an elongate front surface which will form a dividing wall, at least one, and in most cases two, opposing, edges, the panel extending from the front surface at an angle extending towards the rear of the front face and at less than 90 degrees to the rear of the front surface forming a planar, angled edge which provides depth to the dividing panel and means for releasably attaching the dividing panel to a stud. The angle is preferably between about 45 to about 85 degrees to the rear of the front surface, and more desirably about 75 degrees. The planar edge further extends along at least part of its length to provide one or more mounting surfaces substantially parallel to the rear of the front surface of the panel and at each edge thereof. The mounting surfaces are provided with suitable means for cooperating with other components of a means for releasably hanging the dividing panels provided on the front surface of the elongate elements of the stud assembly.

The dividing panels may be planar panels or may be cornered or curved to provide a shape to a divided area within a room. The dividing panels are preferably provided in a number standard sizes which may be positioned edge to edge to extend the desired length or breadth of the divider required.

À The dividing panels of the invention may be provided with a surface . layer of a "clean room finish". .

:. The clean room finish is desirably a plastic coating and may ale: optionally comprise a surface film of PVC. À: .. À: À.

Optionally, the means for releasably hanging the dividing panels comprises one or more pairs of hooks provided on the front face of an elongate element, each pair aligned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the elongate element and each pair arranged in parallel with any other pair. The dividing panels may be provided with suitably positioned slots for receiving the hooks. Alternatively, the dividing panels may be provided with hooks arranged at an angle substantially perpendicular to the hooks of the front face of the elongate element such that the two hooks may be fastened in an interwoven arrangement.

Alternatively, the hooks provided on the front face of the elongate element may be replaced with slots and suitably positioned hooks provided on the dividing panels. In a further option each of the front face of the elongate element and the dividing panel may be provided with one slot and one hook suitably configured such that each of the slots in one component receives a hook from the other component. Various other suitable hanging arrangements will no doubt occur to the skilled addressee without departing from the true scope of the invention.

The connection between the stud assembly and a dividing panel may be made more secure by incorporation of additional keying arrangements between the stud assembly and the side panel. Such keying arrangements may take the simple form of a slot in one component configured to cooperate with a similarly proportioned protrusion provided on the other component. further improvements in security may, optionally be provided in the form of brackets or bonding layers between the components.

Preferably, the side limbs incorporate the means for receiving at : least one connector plate. To form a stud, each of a pair of elongate :' elements are positioned back to back, each having their side limbs extending towards and in parallel with the side limbs of the other. A connector plate is then optionally positioned across one side limb of each elongate element on each side of the pair. The depth of the stud can be varied by moving the two rear ends of the pair of elongate elements closer or further apart and repositioning using a suitably sized connector plates. Alternatively, a single connector plate in the form of a section having three orthogonal sides, is bracketed or otherwise secured to the rear of the front face of two elongate elements arranged in parallel to provide a frame of substantially I-shaped cross-section.

The connector plate and means for receiving the connector plate are desirably configured to facilitate the easy separation or moving closer together of the pair of elongate elements connected by the plates. The means for receiving the connector plates may, optionally, comprise one or more pairs of hooks, each pair aligned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the elongate element and each pair arranged in parallel with any other pair. The hooks being suitably proportioned to receive the connector plates, in a manner similar to a door latch. Hooks are desirably positioned towards the free end of the limb of the elongate element so as to permit separation of the pair of elongate elements to a maximal distance without loss of the connection provided by the connector plate. If more than two pairs of hooks are present, each pair may be arranged to hook in an opposing direction to the other pair, the connector plate being configured to be slideable between opposingly hooked pairs.

The means for receiving the connector plates may be provided on the inner or outer surfaces of the side limbs, or on the rear of the front . lo. faces of the elongate elements as previously described. In an alternative

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option, the hooks may be replaced with loop shaped members À proportioned to receive the connector plates which can be slotted through :. the loop shaped members. Other suitable, flexible connecting arrangements will no doubt occur to the skilled addressee without e departing from the true scope of the invention.

The dividing panels comprise an elongate front surface which will form a dividing wall, at at least one, and in most cases two, opposing, edges, the panel extends from the front surface at an angle extending towards the rear of the front face and at less than 90 degrees to the rear of the front surface forming a planar, angled edge which provides depth to the dividing panel. The angle is preferably between about 45 to about 85 degrees to the rear of the front surface, and more desirably about 75 degrees. The planar edge further extends along at least part of its length to provide one or more mounting surfaces substantially parallel to the rear of the front surface of the panel and at each edge thereof. The mounting surfaces are provided with suitable means for cooperating with other components of a means for releasably hanging the dividing panels provided on the front surface of the elongate elements of the stud assembly.

The connecting plates are flat plates with a maximum dimension in one direction which does not exceed the gap between two rear faces of two dividing panels mounted on a stud assembly where the two elongate components of the stud assembly are positioned with their rear ends

J

. abutting. Preferably, the maximum dimension in the aforesaid direction is

-

not significantly greater than the separation of the front surfaces of two :. À elongate elements positioned with their rear ends abutting. The stud À: assembly may be configured such that a plurality of connecting plates may be mounted to connect the limbs of a pair of elongate elements. À. À. À À

A dividing wall assembled from the assembly of the invention will typically comprise one or more stud assemblies spaced apart across a room to provide two outwardly facing front faces facing in opposite directions. The edges of two dividing panels are hung to each front face of each upstanding element of each of the stud assemblies with their ends in close alignment with one another. The opposing edges of a dividing panel being hung on adjacent stud assemblies, and pairs of dividing panels being aligned in parallel with their front surfaces facing in opposing directions away from each other.

Optionally, the ends of two adjacent dividing panels are arranged to abut each other to provide a substantially continuous wall surface.

Alternatively, a small gap may be provided between the two adjacent edges, the gap, optionally being filled with a seal, such as a suitably configured rubber strip seal or sealant such as an extrudable plastics material extruded into the gap. In other options the gap may be hot seam welded, or joined by a gasket joint.

It is to be understood that an arrangement similar to that described for a dividing wall above my equally be used to provide a walk-on ceiling divider, The ceiling divider being arranged in a plane perpendicular to a wall divider. In the case of a ceiling divider, the stud assembly is provided with means for mounting the stud assembly in a horizontal configuration with respect to the floor of the room to be divided. Such means may incorporate a girder of substantially square cross section of dimensions slightly less than the internal dimensions of the elongate element. A pair of elongate elements may then be mounted over opposing sides of the girder which holds them in position. The strength of a ceiling divider e comprising the assembly of the invention may optionally be improved by - .e À providing connector plates in the form of substantially U-shaped channels À having parallel sections extending perpendicularly from the main e connecting surface of the connecting plate. Alternatively a connector plate in the form of any hollow section having the three orthogonal sides in common with the aforementioned U-shaped channel may serve the same purpose.

Optionally, the dividers provided by the assembly of the invention may be filled with a heat or sound insulating material.

Where gaps occurs between the divider assembly of the invention and adjacent wall, floor or ceiling surfaces, the cleanliness of the assembly may be improved by the fixing or bonding of radiused surfaces across the offending gaps. The radiused surfaces may comprise rigid, prefabricated pieces or may be formable from flexible sheet materials. Any remaining small gaps where the radiused surfaces adjoin the dividing surfaces of the divider assembly may be sealed in a similar manner as previously mentioned with respect to adjoining dividing panels.

Optionally, specialized dividing panels may be provided with a side edge that is adapted for the attachment of a door or a glazed panel. For example, a planar edge may extend substantially perpendicularly from the front surface. Two adjoining such planar edges providing a flat surface the mounting of a bracket to which a pair of opposing glazed panels are fixed Such an arrangement may be needed to accommodate the weight of a glazed panel relative to a dividing panel as previously described.

Alternatively, the planar edge may extend at an angle greater than 90 degrees to accommodate fitting of a panel having a chamfered edge. i: e

For improved cleanliness, for example where the dividing assembly is to be used to provide a clean room area, say in a pharmaceutical or : electronics manufacturing facility, any or all corners in the component :' parts of the assembly may be radiused to prevent contaminates accumulating. Any or all locations where two panels adjoin or where a . . panel adjoins a floor, wall, or ceiling or a radiused surface positioned i.

across a corner, may be sealed by any suitable means to prevent contaminants from entering or escaping the clean area.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a stud assembly for a room divider assembly, the stud assembly comprising: a pair of elongate elements, each element having a front face and two side limbs depending substantially perpendicularly from the front face, and at least one connector plate for connecting the two elongate elements, means for releasably hanging a pair of adjoining dividing panels to the front face of an elongate element and means for connecting a pair of elongate elements by at least one connector plate.

Preferably the side limbs of the elongate member incorporate the means for receiving at least one connector plate. The connector plate and means for receiving the connector plate are desirably configured to facilitate the easy separation or moving closer together of the pair of elongate elements connected by the plates. The means for receiving the connector plates may, optionally, comprise one or more pairs of hooks, each pair aligned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the elongate element and each pair arranged in parallel with any other pair. The hooks being suitably proportioned to receive the connector plates, in a manner similar to a door latch. Hooks are desirably positioned towards the free end of the limb of the elongate element so as to permit separation of the pair of elongate elements to a maximal distance without loss of the connection provided by the connector plate. If more than two À pairs of hooks are present, each pair may be arranged to hook in an opposing direction to the other pair, the connector plate being configured to be slideable between opposingly hooked pairs. :"

:. The means for receiving the connector plates may be provided on Àthe inner or outer surfaces of the side limbs, or on the rear of the front faces of the elongate elements as previously described. In an alternative option, the hooks may be replaced with loop shaped members proportioned to receive the connector plates which can be slotted through the loop shaped members. Other suitable, flexible connecting arrangements will no doubt occur to the skilled addressee without departing from the true scope of the invention.

For the purposes of exemplification, some embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the following Figures in which Figure 1 shows an elongate element of one embodiment of a stud assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 shows one embodiment of an assembled dividing wall made from an embodiment of the dividing assembly of the invention; Figure 3 shows one embodiment of a walk on ceiling made an embodiment of the dividing assembly of the invention; Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the invention, incorporating a radiused surface at a corner of a ceiling of a clean room.

Figure 5 shows in detail a radiused surface incorporated at a corner of a floor of a clean room comprised of dividing assemblies according to the invention a: ^. Figure 6 shows some examples of seals which may be used to seal gaps between adjoining diving panels of an embodiment of an assembled I: divider assembly of the invention; À:'6e Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the À dividing panels have been modified for attachment to a glazed panel. . .

Figure 8 illustrates some room divider arrangements comprising various embodiments of the divider panels of the invention.

As can be seen from Figure 1, an elongate element 1 of a stud assembly of the invention comprises a substantially U-shaped channel section having a front face 2 and side limbs 3a, 3b. The front face 2, is provided with two pairs of hooks 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b on which suitably configured dividing panels may be hung. Also visible from the front face 2 are slots 6a and 6b to which brackets may be mounted from the inner surface of the channel section to connect to elongate elements together.

For example, a single elongate element from a stud assembly may be secured to an additional structure such as a steel stud or a brick wall of the room to be divided to provide a single side (liner) partition. On the surface of the side limbs 3a and 3b are provided additional hooks 7 and 8 into which connector plates (not shown) may be slotted so as to connect a pair of elongate elements 1.

Figure 2 shows assembled stud assembly comprising two elongate elements 1 and 1- connected by connector plates 9 and 9- fitted in slots 7, 7-. Divider panels 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d are hung on hooks 4a, 4b, 4a- and 4bwith a small gap 24 between the ends of adjacent panels.

Each panel comprises a front surface 21 a planar edge 22 at an angle alpha to surface 21, alpha being 70 in the embodiment shown, and a À mounting surface 23 which incorporates slots for receiving hook 4a, 4b, 4a- and 4b-.

À e..e À: Figure 3 shows a walk-on ceiling assembly which has a broadly À similar construction to the wall assembly of Figure 2 but incorporates an a alternative arrangement of the stud assembly. Elongate elements 1 and À À.

1- are mounted on a girder 35 of square cross section with their orientation at 90 with respect to the dividing panels 30, Job, 30c and À 30d compared to 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d in the wall arrangement illustrated in Figure 2. They are further connected to load bearing channels 2 and 2-. Suitable, known, core materials may be inserted into the cavity to improve load bearing, thermal insulation, and/or fire resistance. Such a core material is desirably bonded to the rear surfaces of the dividing panels. The dividing panels 30a, Bob, 30c and 30d are mounted on the hooks of the side limbs of the elongate elements and connector channels 39 replace connector plates 9 and are positioned across the front face of each elongate element to provide reinforcement to the walk-on ceiling. Panels 30a and 30c are connected via slots in their rear faces which engage with e hooks or lugs provided on the side edges of the elongate elements 1 and 1-. as the panels are slid together in a horizontal plane to form the ceiling, a box section is inserted into the open faces of elongate elements 1 and 1- which further increase the load bearing capacity of the ceiling. The hollow section provides a convenient conduit for carrying utilities services such as electrical cables or fluid pipes.

Figure 4 shows a more detailed corner arrangement between an adjoining side wall and ceiling arrangement defined by panels 20 and 30.

As can be seen closure of the panel arrangement is provided in the form of facie or capping 42 covering the end of ceiling divider and adjoining with wall divider panel 20. On the insider corner, the closure is provided À.

: in the form of a radiused surface 41 which in this case comprises a PVC Àee.

soft seal. The radiused surface 41 is mounted to the planar edge of a dividing panel 20 by means of a mounting frame 41b and screw 41a. The radiused surface is also provided with an overhanging rim 41c which Àce.e À overlaps with the top of panel 20 thereby providing a barrier against À: À contamination. À ...

. Figure 5 shows a corner arrangement between wall panels 20 and a À À floor. In each corner there is provided a rigid radiused surface 51 over which is laid an extension of vinyl flooring 51a. The vinyl flooring is À.

secured to the surface of panels 20 by seals; hot seam weld 53 and a gasket seal 54.

Figure 6 shows three optional forms of sealing arrangement for use in sealing the gap 24 between dividing panels. The figure shows a hot seam weld 63 a gasket seal 64 and a rubber tube seal 65 in a pencil line joint. Gasket seal 64 may either be of push in fit as illustrated or can be pushed in with the addition of a chemical solvent to provide a cold seam weld.

Figure 7 illustrates an arrangement incorporating a glazed panel.

As can be seen, the arrangement incorporates a pair of dividing panels 70 which have modified square planar edges 72. A mounting frame 73 is fastened by studs 76 to the planar edges 72 of the dividing panel 70. A pair of glass panels 75 are mounted on the mounting frame 73 and the gaps between dividing panel 70 and glass panel 75 are filled by silicone seals 74.

Figure 8 shows a T section and corner arrangement made up of dividing assemblies according to the invention.

These arrangements are made possible by dividing panels 80 which are essentially L-shaped. As can be seen, the basic arrangement of the L À.

:shaped panels 80 in combination with flat dividing panels 20 corner and T À.

shaped arrangements can easily be provided. As is shown in the figure, the corners of the panels 80 may optionally be radiused to improve À In...

cleanliness. Àe À

: It is to be understood that the foregoing represents just some À.e embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting on the À À true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. À.

Claims

Claims 1. A dividing panel for a room divider assembly comprising an

elongate front surface which will form a partition, wherein at at least one edge, the panel extends from the front surface at an angle extending towards the rear of the front surface and at less than 90 degrees to the rear of the front surface forming a planar, angled edge which provides depth to the dividing panel, the planar edge further extending along at least part of its length to provide one or more mounting surfaces substantially parallel to the rear of the front surface of the panel.
2. A dividing panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein two opposing planar edges are provided each at an angle of less than 90 deg rees.
3. A dividing panel as claimed in claim 2 wherein the angle is between 45 and 85 degrees (inclusive) to the rear of the front surface.
4. A dividing panel as claimed in claim 3 wherein the angle is 75 degrees.
5. A dividing panel room divider assembly substantially as À .. described herein with reference to figures 1 to 8. Àe.. À.e. À Àe

À ee... À

À e.... À À. . À.. Àe À . À À.