GB2520279A

GB2520279A - Room divider system

Info

Publication number: GB2520279A
Application number: GB1320051.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Crispin James Rex Hardy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-13
Filing date: 2013-11-13
Publication date: 2015-05-20
Also published as: GB201320051D0

Abstract

A room divider system 1 comprises a plurality of base assemblies 3, columns 5 and panels 7. Each base assembly 3 has a base portion 9 and a column receiving portion 11 extending from the base portion 9 for cooperating with an end portion of the column 5. Each column 5 has a number of panel receiving slots 19 for receiving the panels 7. Each panel 7 is made of a substantially rigid sheet material and has a uniform thickness which is similar to, but preferably less than, the width of the panel receiving slot 19. In some versions the panel is made from resiliently compressible cardboard which is deformed upon insertion into its slot for gripping the panel in the slot. The slots may have ridges on both walls. The panel may be twin walled fluted or corrugated polymer sheet.

Description

ROOM DIVIDER SYSTEM

This invention relates to a room divider system.

When producing films and television programmes, it is often necessary to shoot scenes outside studios and backlots. These on location' shoots typically require the transfer of large amounts of equipment to the site where the film will be shot. In addition, at such locations it is necessary to provide facilities for the actors who will are to be filmed. These facilities include areas where actors can change into and out of their costumes. Where the production uses a large number of actors, including background actors or extras, one of the logistical hurdles to be overcome by location managers is to provide suitable segmented changing facilities for these actors which provide privacy. Space is often scarce at these locations, therefore changing facilities should be as compact as feasible. In addition, since the cost of hiring a location is proportional to the length of time that the location is used, it is important to use locations as efficiently as possible in order to keep costs to a minimum. Therefore, it is desirable that the changing facilities have a small footprint and can be set up and taken apart flexibly, quickly and easily.

The present invention aims to address this need and provides an improved room divider system for use, for example, on film and television filming locations.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a free-standing room divider system comprising: a plurality of base assemblies, each base assembly having a base portion and a column receiving portion extending from the base portion; a plurality of columns, each column having a plurality of panel receiving slots and a column end portion which cooperates with the column receiving portion of the base assembly so that said column can be removably mounted on said base assembly; and a plurality of panels, each panel being made of a substantially rigid sheet material and having a uniform thickness such that the panel is removably insertable into the panel receiving slot.

The panel may be resiliently compressible and the width of the panel receiving slot may be less than the thickness of the panel so that when said panel is disposed in said slot said panel is gripped between opposed walls of said slot.

The panel receiving slots maybe formed by a pair of parallel waHs with ridges on one or both of the walls.

A mouth of the panel receiving slots may be flared to assist insertion of the panel into the slot.

The colunm may have a generally circular body and the panel receiving slots may be U-shaped channels extending into the body with a mouth of each slot being aligned with a circumference of the body.

The column may comprise a cylindrical body and each panel receiving slot may extend radially from the cylindrical body and be formed by parallel flanges.

The column may comprise eight equally-spaced panel receiving slots and may have a uniform longitudinal profile.

he base portion of the base assembly may be a substantially flat plate. he base portion may have an aperture for use as a carrying handle.

A profile of the column receiving portion may correspond to an inner or an outer profile of the column.

The column receiving portion may be a tube, one end of which is attached to the base portion. Tube may be circular and may have a diameter which corresponds to an inner or an outer diameter of the column.

The panel may be frameless. The panel may have a thickness of less than 10 mm and a mass of less than 2 kg per square meter or a thickness of less than 6 mm and a mass of less than 1,200 g per square meter.

The panel may be a twin-walled fluted or corrugated polymer sheet. The panel may be made of Correx (RTM) or cardboard.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provide a method of assembling a free-standing room divider comprising a plurality of base assemblies, a plurality of columns and a plurality of panels each as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: mounting a plurality of columns to respective base assemblies; and inserting at least one panel into a pair of panel receiving slots of a plurality of columns.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a room divider system forming an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base assembly forming part of the room divider system of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an end view of a column forming part of the room divider system of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is an end view of an alternative column for use with the room divider system of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a room divider system I forming an embodiment of the invention. The system I comprises a plurality of base assemblies 3, a plurality of columns 5 and a plurality of panels 7. The free-standing room divider system 1 is a modular construction system wherein the component parts 3, 5, 7 can be arranged in a plurality of positions and configurations to accommodate flexible requirements. As shown in Figure 1, the divider system I can be assembled with the panels 7 arranged along grid lines, i.e., where a panel is parallel or perpendicular to other panels, or panels can be placed at non-perpendicular angles, as will be explained below with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base assembly 3 forming a part of the room divider system I of Figure 1 The base assembly 3 is comprised of a base portion 9 and a column receiving portion 11, which is attached to the base portion 9 at one of its ends 17. The base portion 9 is a substantially flat plate having outer dimensions of around 400 mm by 400 mm and a thickness of around 5 mm. An aperture 13 is formed towards an edge 15 of the base portion 9. The aperture 13 is dimensioned so that a hand of a user can be inserted through the aperture 13 in order to provide a carry handle for the base assembly 3.

The column receiving portion 11 is a tube having a height of approximately 200 mm, a diameter of approximately 50 mm and a wall thickness of around S mm. In this embodiment the base portion 9 and the column receiving portion 11 are both made of aluminium and the end 17 of the colunm receiving portion 11 is welded to the centre of the base portion 9.

Figure 3 is an end view of a column 5 forming part of the room divider system 1 of Figure 1. Column 5 has a generally circular body and a plurality of panel receiving slots 19. The panel receiving slots 19 are generally U-shaped channels which extend radially into the body. A mouth 21 of each slot is flared and aligned with a circumference 23 of the body. The flaring of the mouth 21 by bevelling the lip 22 of each slot 19 where it meets the circumference 23 assists insertion of the panels 7 into the slots 19. The column 5 shown in Figure 3 has eight panel receiving slots 19 which are equally spaced around the column 5, to give the column 5 eight degrees of rotational symmetry. In other words, each panel receiving slot 19 is circumferentially separated from its neighbouring panel receiving slot 19 byan angle of 45 degrees.

The walls 25 of each panel receiving slot 19 are parallel and there are ridges 27 on the opposed walls 25. The cross-sectional profile of the column S as shown in Figure 3 is uniform along its length. This enables the column 3 to be formed by extrusion, thereby simplifring and reducing the cost of manufacture of this unitary component.

S

The column S is made of aluminium. The profile of the column S provides the column with structural rigidity whilst the fact that the column 5 is hollow on its inside 27 makes the column lightweight. The outer diameter of the column S is around 45 ruin and the distance between the peaks of the ridges 31 on the parallel walls 25 of each panel receiving slot 19 is around 3.5 mm. The wall thickness at the circumference 23 is around 2.3 mm. The depth of the slot 19 from the inner edge of the lip 22 to a root of the slot 19 is around 11.6 mm.

The panels 7 are made of a sheet of Correx (RTM). Correx (RTM) has a twin-walled fluted construction and is made of polypropylene. This makes the material lightweight and durable. Due to its twin-walled structure Correx (RTM) is substantially rigid. Due to its fluted structure Correx (RTM) has a greater degree of structural rigidity in the direction of the flutes. The hollow structure of Corrcx (RTM) makes it resiliently compressible. The widespread availability of Correx (RTM) and other materials having the same structure and the low cost per unit makes this material well suited for this temporary use.

Sheets of Correx (RTM) come in a range of thicknesses, and each sheet has a uniform thickness. In a preferred embodiment the Correx (RTM) panel has a thickness of 5.4 mm, which is similar to the width of the panel receiving slot 19. The sheet 7 has major dimensions of 1200 mm by 2000 mm. The mass of a sheet of this grade is 1 lSOgsm, which means that multiple sheets of panel 7 can be easily carried, thereby easing its manual transportation. As is apparent, a sheet of Correx (RTM) is used as a frameless panel, which is a more simple unitary structure than a framed panel having a plurality of parts.

Tn order to assemble the free-standing room divider system I, a plurality of base assemblies 3 arc placed on the ground or floor at a separation which is roughly equivalent to the length of the panels 7 which are to be mounted between the columns 5. A colunm S is then placed onto the column receiving portion 11 of each base assembly 9 so that each column S is substantially vertical. A panel 7 is then inserted between a pair of columns S by sliding the panel 7 from the top of the columns 5 downwards towards thc base of the columns 5. Alternatively, the edges of the panel 7 can be pushed into the panel rcceiving slots 19 of the columns 5.

Since Correx (RTM) is compressible, one end of a 5.4mm sheet of Correx (RIM) can be inserted into one of the panel receiving slots 19 having a distance between the peaks of the ridges 31 on the parallel walls 25 of around 3.5 mm. In so doing the Correx (RTM) sheet is compressed by the ridges 31 on insertion and the ridges 31 subsequently grip the panel 7 to hold it in place in the panel receiying slot. By disposing the Correx (RTM) sheet with its flutes horizontal, the rigidity of the column 5 supplements the rigidity of the pancls 7 about the axis of thc flutes, which is less than the rigidity of the panel 7 in the perpendicular direction.

Sincc the column 5 has cight panel recciving slots 19, the panels 7 can be illsertcd into an appropriate slot 19 in a flcxible configuration to suit thc location whcrc thc systcm 1 is deployed. To disassemble the room divider system 1 the above process is reversed.

Since the colunm receiving portion 11 is disposed, in use, within the column 5, the panel can be inserted all the way to the bottom of its associated panel receiving slot 19.

Figure 4 is an end view of an alternative colunm 5 for use with the room divider system 1 of Figure 1. The column 5' comprises a cylindrical body 33 and eight panel receiving slots 35 which extend radially from the body 33. Each panel receiving slot 35 is formcd by a pair of parallel flanges 37, 39 which extend outward from the outer surface 41 of the cylindrical body 33 of the column 5'. Like the panel receiving slots 19 of the column 5 of Figure 3, the panel receiving slots 35 of the column 5' of Figure 4 havc ridgcs 43 on opposed inner walls of thc flanges 37, 39. Thc inncr diamcter of the cylindrical body 33 is set so that it is greater than the outer diameter of the column receiving portion 11 of Figure 2. For example, the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 33 is approximately 55 mm. As with the column 5 of Figure 3, a mouth 21 of each slot 35 is flared to assist insertion of the panels 7 into the slots 35.

Various modifications will be apparent to those in the art and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within thc scope of the accompanying claims.

For example, in the above described embodiments the base assembly 3 and the column 5 are made of aluminium. In other embodiments these parts 3, 5 can be made of other materials such as steel, other metals, or plastics. The base assembly 3 and column 5 can also be manufactured by other methods, such as moulding.

In the above described embodiments the base portion 9 of the base assembly 3 is made of a flat piece of metal. In other embodiments the basc assembly 3 may have a flat lower surface and a domed upper face and the column receiving portion may be sunken into the upper surface of the base assembly.

In the above described crnbodimcnts thc basc portion 9 of the base assembly 3 is square. In other embodiments the base portioll may have a different shape.

In the above described embodiments there are ridges on both opposed walls of the panel receiving slots. In other embodiments the panel receiving slot 19, 35 may have a flat face on one wall and ridges 31, 43 on the other wall.

In the above described embodiments the panels are made of Correx (RTM) having a thickness of 5.4 mm. In other embodiments the panels may be made of Correx (RTM) and sheet material having a similar structure which has a greater or lesser thickness than 5.4 mm. Whatever thickness is used, the dimensions of the panel receiving slots are set to be similar to and preferably less than the thickness of the sheet material, in order to be able to adequately grip the sheet material. Similarly the grade of sheet used may vary, for example, sheet having a mass of less than 2 kg per square meter may be uscd.

In other embodiments the sheet material used for panels may be corrugated (rather than fluted) or solid. Other materials may be used for the sheets, such as cardboard, high and medium density fibreboard, other wood-based sheeting, other plastics (such as Perspex (RTM)) or metals.

S

In other embodiments the columns 5, 5' may have more or fewer than eight panel receiving slots 19, 35.

Claims

C LA I MS1. A free-standing room divider system comprising: a plurality of base assemblies, each base assembly having a base portion and a column receiving portion extending from the base portion; a plurality of columns, each column having a plurality of panel receiving slots and a colunm end portion which cooperates with the column receiving portion of the base assembly so that said column can be removably mounted on said base assembly; and a plurality of panels, each panel being made of a substantially rigid sheet material and having a uniform thickness such that the panel is removably insertable into the panel receiving slot.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel is resiliently compressible and the width of the panel receiving slot is less than the thickness of the panel so that when said panel is disposed in said slot said panel is gripped between opposed walls of said slot.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the panel receiving slots are formed by a pair of parallel walls with ridges on one or both of the walls.
4. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a mouth of the panel receiving slots is flared to assist insertion of the panel into the slot.
5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the column has generally circular body and the panel receiving slots are U-shaped channels extending into the body with a mouth of each slot being aligned with a circumference of the body.
6. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the column comprises a cylindrical body and each panel receiving slot extends radially from the cylindrical body and is formed by parallel flanges.
7. A system as elaimcd in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the column comprises eight equally-spaced panel receiving slots.
8. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the column has a uniform longitudinal profile.
9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion of the base assembly is a substantially flat plate.
10. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion has an aperture for use as a carrying handle.
11. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a profile of the column receiving portion corresponds to an inner or an outer profile of the column.
12. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the column receiving portion is a tube, one end of which is attached to the base portion.
13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tube is circular and has a diameter which corresponds to an inner or an outer diameter of the column.
14. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is frameless.
15. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel has a thickness of less than 10 mm and a mass of less than 2kg per square meter.
16 A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel has a thickness of less than 6 mm and a mass of less than 1,200 g per square meter.
17. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is a twin-walled fluted or corrugated polymer sheet.
18. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, whcrein thc panci is made of Correx (RTM) or cardboard.
19. A method of assembling a free-standing room divider comprising a plurality of base assemblies, a plurality of columns and a plurality of panels each as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: mounting a plurality of columns to respective base assemblies; and inserting at least one panel into a pair of panel receiving slots of a plurality of columns.
20. A room divider system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.