US1833496A - Folding partition - Google Patents

Description

'5 Sheets-Shut 1 OTRUS Nov. 24, 1931. E. J. G. PHILLIPS FOLDING PARTITION Filed July 5. 192s F RN N kh wmf m Mw Nav. 24, 1931.

E. J' G'. PHILLIPS FOLDING PARTITION Filed July 5. 1928 3 Sheetssheet 2 ffy . j, Wis/53%;

Cfr om? Nov. 24, 1931. E. J. G. PHILLIPS 1,833,496

' FOLDING PARTITION Filed July 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv ELLIS J' G. PHILLIPS, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 RICHARDS-WILCOX MANU- 'FACTURING COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FOLDING PARTITION Application led July 5, 1928.

The present invention relates to improvements in folding partitions or doors of the type frequently employed as a temporary dividing wall in large rooms, or as a closure or door for large entrances. These devices are usualiy made up of doors or units hinged together in pairs, each pair forming a section of the partition. The several sections are usually mounted to slide or roll along upper and lower guideways, with the doors of each section free to pivot or swing transversely of said guideways, so as to be capable of being moved to one side of the room or doorway and there folded together at right angles to their former position for leaving the major portion of the doorway clear.

It is the general object of my invention to provide new and improved means for holding the sections normally at the side of the doorway when folded back, such means being yadapted topermit a free movement of the sections again into operative closing position in the doorway when the door units of the section are given an unfolding movement to bring them again into alignment in the doorway. Y j

More specifically, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide improved holding means for this purpose associated with the upper edges of the sections and with the upper guideway, which holding means is entirely concealed in the guideway, and is in the form of a single plate which provides a pre- 'determined accurate spacing of the stop shoulders for theseveral sections, so that in the installation of the folding partition, it is not necessary for the carpenter to measure the exact location of these shoulders.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved holding or locking means for this same purpose, associated with the lower edges of the sections. This latter locking means has an improved adjustable mount-ing on the castor wheel supporting means so that it can be given any desired vertical adjustment to correspond with the height of the lower track or guideway and the height of the lower stop shoulder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable form of joining vbar on each Serial No. 290,435.

castor wheel support, which joining bar is adapted to form a part of the rabbet joint between the edges ofadjacent sections.

The ability to remove or replace the joining bar serves to adapt a single type of castor wheel support to all door panels, irrespective of rwhich half of the rabbet joint is formed on the edge of the panel, i. e., by removing the joining bar, the castor wheel support isl In the drawings accompanying such description:

Figure l is a horizontal sectional view through the partition, showing the sections in extended or closed position in full lines, and showing the folded or open position of the sections in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper guideway, showing the locking means associated therewith and with the door sections.

Figure 3 is an edge view of one of the door units, illustrating the upper and lower guideways in cross section;

Figure 4 isa fragmentary side view of one of the door panels, portions of the upper guideway and of the castor wheel support being broken away;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through one of the castor wheel supports;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken at rightv angles to Figure 5, on the plane of the line 66 thereof;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 7 7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view ofthe joining bar which is associated with each castor wheel support.

Referring to Figures l and 2, the partition is composed of a plurality of independent sections A, B, C, D, etc., four of such sections being shown, although it will be evident that a greater or less number may be provided, depending upon the width of the room or doorway. Each of these `sections consists of two panels or door units 10 and 11, having their adjoining edges hinged together' by hinge brackets 12 which are suitably lsecured to the panels. Such hinge connection permits each section to be folded withv the A`twofpanels substantially linparallelism with Teach Iother, 'as shown iniFigure .2, or permits each section to be extended with all of the panels disposed in alignment across-the* rdoor way, as illustrated in Figure 1. The

weight of each section, A,"B', 'et'c.,'is`carrie`d on. castor. wheels 13, which are mountedat the lower corners of the oppositel or free edges of theV panels 10-11. The castor wheelsvroll alonga lower ,track or rail 14 disposed :the ioorVand each `panel has pivotal mounting on-its associated castor wheel', "so asl to permit thepanel tov swing angularly relative thereto, whenV the sections zklare being folded, as willdbeI presently de- Vfreeedges ofthe panels 10.-11. have guided scribed. f The upper corners of these same restraint in an upper guidewayl. Rollers 16v-extend upwardly from eachof these cor- Yners and engagein said guideway, for holding the sections upright. The axis-of the upper roller 16 is vertically aligned with the swivellingaxis of ythe'lower castor. wheel 13,

therebyprovidingvertical pivot axes adjacent'to each free edge ofthesection, around which the panels'of the section can Swingin the foldingmovement of the section. The

.panel 10v of the first section.A isxusually mounted on a fixed pivotal axisf20 adjacent tothe jamb. Y l

' The construction thusfarvdescribed .is old and well known,it being understood'that Vwhen it is desired to open the doorway, the

several sections of the partition are folded 'together in parallel relationadjacent'to one side-.of the doorway as-illustrated indotted lines in Figures 1.1#

Referring, now, to the improvementsof the vpresent invention, it will be seen, froln Figure 3, that theupper guideway 15 comprises a channel rail 17 having bars 18 secured to the" inner sides ofl thel sidey iianges thereof.

` The roller 16 at the outer corner of each section is guided in the slot-like area deiinedbevtweenthe bars 18. The channel rail 17 is `lsupported, at spaced points along its length,

by inverted U-shaped clips-19, which embrace the rail. Bolts 21 passupwardly through the top of thechannel rail 17 and anchor the latte'r tof'an overhead beam or like supporting member 22. The channel 17 is enclosedv in a suitable box-:like frame comprising wood side plates 23,'which'are externally iinished by anysuitable arrangement of molding strips V24.' Secured to the lower ledges oftheseplates and extending inwardly-,therefrom areplates or bars 25, the opposing edges of which constitute a lower portion 15 of the horizontal guideway 15. Molding strips 24a and 24b are secured to the lower sides o the plates 25 by the screws 26, which secure the horizontal plates 25 to the vertical plates 23, such molding strips embracing -the upper edges' of the panels on both sides when the door is closed and concealing the lower portion 15 of the zguideway.. 'Asshown inFigure'2, .the several sections', A, B; Grand .Difolditogethe'r tof-project laterally in one direction from the doorway.- The molding or stop strip 24h is cut away or omitted at this edge of the doorway inthe foldingzone'of the door (see Figures o and a), so that the upper edges of the panels can swing out of the plane of the doorway inmoving tok folded position.

The other stop strip 24a, along the opposite edge of the doorway is preferably extended to the very end of the doorway. Additional guide/or registration means for each section is, preferably, provided in the form of a pin 27 which is mountedon the panel 10 of each section, such pins being Yspaced at varying c distances from the hinge edgesof the-panels (seeFigure 2). These pins are adapted to have guidedy movement in the lower narrow portion 15 of the upper guideway 15. As the sections are broughtto the folding side of the doorway, the pins 27 are permitted to swing ,outl of the narrow guideway 15 through an intercepting passageway 30 igure y2), which opens outwardly thereform through the upper guide frame structure. As soon as each pin 27 is freed from the guiding restraint of theguidewayy 15, the panels of vsuch section are free to be folded, the section at this time beingdis'posed in the folding zone where the stop strip 21-bis omitted.

'The roller 16 is pivotally mounted on a vertical spindle or bearing pin28, which extends upwardly from a bracket 29 mounted on the.door panel. As shown in Figure 3,

such bracket has depending side lates which plane of the door panel as the spindle 28, but

being disposed in closer proximity to the edge of the panel. It will be understood that this lug is only provided onthe panels 10 of each partition section, these being theV panels which lie in proximity to the adjacent side wall of the room, when thepartition is folded. The Vcompanion panels or doors 11l are pro- `vided with brackets 29.having rollersy 16 pivotally supported thereon forengaging in the upper guideway 15,- butin the caseof these latter panels 11, the lug 33 is omitted from the bracket 29.

Such lugs cooperate with a locking plate or .bar 34 which is mounted in the upper guideway at the side of the doorway where the sections are folded. Attention is directed to the fact that the mounting of the bracket 29 on the door requires a predetermined notching of the corner of the door. Since each door panel 11 swings about the axis of the roller 16, which is set inward from the edge of the panel, it follows that the corner of the panel must be notched out so that this corner will clear the molding or stop strip 24a, when the panels are swung to folded position. Carpenters do not always understand that this notching is necessary, or they frequently make the notch of the wrong size or shape. To avoid this difliculty, I have constructed the bracket casting 29 with a notch-like depression 29V 'formed integrally in the corner thereof, which depression or angle is properly proportioned to clear the stop strip 24, when the door is swung to folded position. It will, therefore, be seen that in order to place the bracket 29 with its lateral' and upper edges flush with the corresponding edges of the door panel it is essential that the carpenter cut the required notch in the panel. Vith reference to the locking lug 33, it isv advantageous to construct and arrange the lug symmetrically with respect to the bracket and to the roller 16, as shown, because the bracket 29 is thereby made reversible for right or left hand doors, viz., it is applicable to panels folding to the right hand side of the doorway or to panels foldin@ to the left hand side of the doorway.

lReferring again to the stop plate 34 with which these locking lugs 33 cooperate, it will be observed from Figure 3 that the stop plate is recessed into the under side of one of the horizontal plates 25, being held therein by the screws 26. The inner edge of the plate 34 is formed with spaced notches 35, one end of each notch defining a locking shoulder 36 for cooperation with a companion lug 33. The inner edge of the plate r25 is cut back to the depth of these notches throughout the length of the stop plate 34, so as to permit the lugs 33 to enter the notches 35 when the panels are folded together, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The two panels of each section occupy a definite width or space at the side of the doorway, when folded together, and the several lshoulders 36 are spaced a predetermined distance apart, so that when the panels of adj acent sections are substantially in contacting relation, the lug 33 of each, section will be engaging its associated shoulder 36. Thus, when the several sections are folded together, the upper corner of each panel 10 will be locked in stationary relation in the guideway so that the sections cannot tilt or become bound in the guideway. It will be noted that the two panels of each section cannot be folded together until the section has been moved endwise along the guideways to a point where the lug 33 is in position to enter one of the notches 35. That is to say, the width of the lower portion 15 of the guideway is such as to preclude lateral swinging movement of the panel 10, except when the lug 33 is in the transverse plane of one of the notches 35. Another reason why the two panels of each section cannot be folded together until the stop lug 33 is in registry with its proper notch 35 lies in the interlocking relation between the pin 27 and the guideway 15. This is to say the panel 10 is not free to lbe swung to a folded position until the pin 27 lies in registry with the intercepting passageway 30, free to pass out through said passageway, at which time the lug 33 is in registry with its appropriate notch 35. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the pins 27 on the several sections have a. staggered relation with respect to their distances from the hinge edges of their respective panels, so that the registry of each pin 27 with the intercepting passageway 30 will accurately position each stop lug 33 with reference to its individual notch 35. If desired, two or more intercepting passageways 30 may be provided for permitting the pins 27 to pass out of the guideway 15,

rparticularly when the door comprises a large number of sections.

lt will be noted that the sides of the brackets 29 are formed with laterally projecting bosses or protuberances 77, which Contact with each other between sections and serve to maintain adequate spacing between the panels when the latter are folded together, so that there is no possibility of the edges of the panels striking and jamming with each other in the folding or unfolding movements of the sections. When one pair of panels has been folded and the next pair of panels has been brought up so that the edge of the near panel strikes the adjacent projection 77 the latter pair of panels is in position for folding, with its locking lug 33 properly aligned with the appropriate notch 35. The notches 35 can be made comparatively long, because it is only the shoulder 36 at the inner end of each notch which holds the folded sections against relative separating movement, in a direction toward the center of the doorway, movement of the sections in the other direction being prevented by the contacting of the opposing projections 77 on the folded panels.

By forming all of the shoulders 36 on a single plate 34, the proper spacing between adjacent shoulders is always assured, without the necessity of the carpenter accurately measuring to determine the locations thereof. It will also be noted that by disposing the sofit plate 34 at an elevated point in the guideway, with t-he molding or facing strip 24a disposed below the same, this plate is sub- VYstantially concealed/'so that itV does -not vdieitwill be observed fromI Figs: 3 to 7, incluvsive,-that veach castor wheel has swivelled 47', whichy I shall hereinafter describe.

mounting inv a support which is recessed in thewlower corner-of thevpan'el.

F3 Such support, which is ldesignated 38 in its entirety, comprises two side plates 39, an end oredge plate 41, and a box-like frame 42 which'is supported between theside plates 39. The -rameior bracket 42' is set into a notch cut outzot'the lower corner of thelpanel, and the side plates 39 close the sides of such notch and'th'e'lsides of the frame 42. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the plates 39have bosses 43 extend-ing inwardly therefrom and recessed in thesides of the panel, screws 44 passing between such bosses and securing the side plates 'to the door;` The end plate 4l is secured between-theedges of the side plates 39 by screws 45, which .pass through, the side vplates and tap into threaded openings in the end plate 41. The outer face of the plate 4lis formed with a vertically extending groove 4G, in which is'mounted the' removable joining bar rhe frame or bracket 42.is secured to the inner sidelotheend plate 41 by screws 4S which pass through openings in the plate and tap into: threaded holes in the vertical wall ofthe bracketv42. As clearly shown in Figure '5,

"saidbracke't comprises two vertically extending side walls 49 yand horizont-ally eX- tendingcross walls 5l and'52'. Screws 53k may besextended through the inner vertical wall of thebracket into the panel, if desired,

such screws being` inserted through openingsv in the oppositel or outer wall, is will be hereinafter described.

The castor wheel 13 has ball bearing. support on a pivot pink which extends ybetween thesides of-a oke-sha )ed housing 5G which straddles the wheel 13.' As shown in Figure 6thelower rail or track 14 is of U-shaped cross vsectioin'and the castor wheel has a central liangej or annulus .which travels lin the groove portionof'the track, the weight ot thedoor being borne on thelaterally extending side portions of the wheel which roll along the upper portion ci' thetrack oneach side of the downward ly exten ding groove.

The provision of the central flange on the wheel, engaging inthe grooved center Vofthe track, maintains the castorwheel in mentA with the track, preventing' the wheel from swinging with the folding movement ot the'panels As an addition al means for holdingthe castor wheel in proper alignment with respect to the track, a Vlng-or linger 57 may beextended down' from the housing'56, so

fas to,` be disposedv in'fthegroove of the track -insadvanceggof thefwheeh 13. f Such lug extends down slightlyfbelow the v intermediate flange of the wheel, so as to clear-trom the groove any foreign matter which inightin The yoke-shaped housing 'member v56 of the Icastor `wheel is rigidly? secured to a shank y59-which lhas rotatablefand slidable bearing support'in thelower wall '52er the bracket 142'. The-upper end of said shank is threaded for screwing through the threadedbore of a collar 61 which is rotatably mounted in an opening in the upper wall 5l'.- The collar the upper and'lower sides of the wall 51,

sozthatitcan carry the downward thrust acting throughl the bracket 42 and-imposed The latter is lprovided with-suitable ceive'a spanner wrench or the like,-by which ter-tere' with thefreeand easymovement Vof the wheel along the track.d

l6l has shouldered or flanged engagement with the. collar; may be rotated Ifor adjusting the castor wheelA vertically with respectv tothe door. 'With thelcastor mountedupon--the door, such adjustment isellected by the removal :of either one yor both of the si'deplates the 1shank 59 either upwardly or downwardly.

tf :will be observed from .Figure 5, that the bracket 42 is formed with a depending lug G4extendingdown from the inner side wall `39,;and'then rotatingthe collarl to screw thereof. rlhis lug will be struck by the dependingi'inger portion 57 of the castor wheel housing 56, if it is attempted-.to revolve. such housing. through a half'revolution for disposing thenger portion 57-on the opposite or inner' side of the'. wheel. vision of .this lug prevents any. possibility of erroneous assembly of the device with the finger 571- projecting toward thehinges l2 instead ofitoward the reeedge of the panel.

Thus, the prorlhe lower corner ofeach panel 10 is provided with locking means which cooperates tion at one sideiof the doorway. Such locklwith thelOcking lug 33 on .the upper corner for holding they section in its' folded posi ing means comprises a bar. 65fwhich is adjustably mountedin the castor wheel support-'38,"and whichfhas its lower end projectingfdownwardly beyond the lower edge ofthe doorzfor co-operating with a stop plate 66-secured tothe floor (Figures l3 and. 4).

'lphe'stopl shoulder afforded by the plate 6:3 is so related to the upper stop shoulder 36 that vwhenthe-.panel'l() swingslaterally in a folding movement of the section, the lower locking 'bar 65--willengage the plate 66 substantially at thev same time` thatrthe lug 33 atfthevupper edge of the panel. engages the locking shoulder 36; Thus, the upper and lower 1edges ofthe panel'areboth locked; and unlocked'simultaneously inthe -folding and unfolding mov'ementso heldoorsection'. .If

yliza or rearrangement.

desired, the lower locking shoulders 66 for i the several sections may all be formed in a single plate, similarly to the construction of the upper plate 34, but I find it preferable to employ separate plates at the lower edge of the door.

yIt is desirable that each plate 66 be of a relatively low height, so that it will not be obtrusive in appearance, and so that it will not constitute a projection which might be stumbled over in passing through the doorway. Hence, it is desirable that the bar 65 be vertically adjustable to accommodate vertical adjustment of the panel with reference to the castor wheel, whereby the bar will not drag on the track, nor on the floor, but will still effect firm locking engagement with the plate 66. Referring to Figures 5 and 7, it will be seen that the bar is disposed between the end plate 41 and the bracket 42, and has vertical sliding adjustment in a groove 67 which is Vformed in the inner face of the end plate 41. The bar is clamped in any predetermined adjustment by screws 68 which pass through aligned holes in the joining bar 47 andv in the end plate 41. The locking bar is provided with vertically extending slots 69, through which such screws pass, said slots permitting vertical adjustment of the bar relative to the screws. As shown in Figure 6, the inner ends of the screws 68 extend into relatively large openings 71 formed in the outer wall 49 of the bracket 42 and receive nuts 72, which engage non-rotat ably in the openings 71. Lock washers 73 may be interposed between the nuts 72 and the inner side of the locking bar 65. It will be evident that, by loosening the two screws 68, the heads of which are readily accessible at the edge of the panel for such operation, the clamping pressure exerted against the locking bar 65 through the nuts 72 and washers 73 will be removed, thereby permitting the bar to be adjusted upwardly or downwardly, with reference to the castor wheel support. By again tightening the screws 68, the locking bar 65 will be rigidly secured in its desired adjustment.

It will be noted that the wood screws 53 can be inserted through the openings 71 before the end plate 4l has been mountedv between the side plates 39. The above described construction of castor wheel unit can be employed at the lower cornerrof the other panel 11, without any material modification In such use of the unit, the locking bar 65is removed from the assembly, or is merely adjusted to a raised point where it will not interfere with the operation of the section. i

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the abutting edges of all of the panelsv making up the partition are provided with cooperating tongue and groove formations, so that a rabbet joint is established between each pair of adjoining panels, when the panels are in alignment. It is desirable that such rabbet joint be extended down to the lower edge of each panel, and such is provided for by the removable joining bar 47 which is mounted in the end plate 41. As shown in Figure 8, said bar is of hexagonal cross sect-ion correspondng to a rabbet joint having sloping side surfaces. The vertical groove 46 which the bar fits is of like formation, corresponding to the groove portion of the joint. The outer side of the bar 47 is formed with countersunk seats 7 for receiving the heads of the screws 68, and similarl the inner side of the groove 46 is formed with countersunk seats 76 for receiving the heads of the screws when the `bar 47 is removed. 'When the castor wheel unit is mounted on a panel, the corresponding edge of which is provided with the tongue portion 47 of the 8 joint, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the joining bar 47 will be seated in the groove 46 and will be secured therein by passing the screws 68 therethrough. In such position, the joining bar forms a continuation of'the tongue 47. 9

If, on the other hand, the edge of the panel is provided with the groove port-ion of the joint, the bar 47 will be removed, and the screws 68' will be moved inwardly to have their heads engage in the countersunk seats 9 76. In such relation of the parts, the groove 46 will constitutea continuation of the groove portion of the joint. 'Ihe parts are so proportioned that, when the screws 68 are thus moved inwardly, the lower screw will not 1 strike nor interfere with the rotation of the castor wheel shank 59. To replace the nuts 72 and lock washers 73 after the screws 68 have been withdrawn in the operation of replacing or removing the joining bar, either 1 or both of the side plates 39 are removed, thereby affording convenient access to the interior of the bracket 42. It will be evident that the foregoing construction readily adapts a single type of castor wheel support 1 to panels on which either the tongue or groove portion of the rabbetjoint is formed. The side plates 39 are formed with laterally projectingprotuberances 77, which assist the similar protuberances on the upper brackets 1 29 in serving to maintain adequate spacing between the panels when the latter are folded together,y so that there is no possibility of the edges of the panels striking and jamming with each other in the folding or unfolding 1 movements 'of the panels, and in serving to assist the upper protuberances in effecting registry between the stop devices.

I claims:

1. Ina folding partition, the combination 1 of upper and lower guideways, a plurality of folding partition sections movable in their extended positions along said guideways and comprising hingedly connected panels, spindles mounted on said panels, rollers carried 1 voo ' by said spindlesand.engaging 'in the upper guideway, a1 stop lugjrigidly secured toand projecting from one of said panels into said upperrjguideway,.therside margins of said y latter guideway being spaced vrelatively close together .throughout thesmajor portion of said, guideway.y to Yprevent swinging movement of said stoplug and hence folding movement of saidz sectionabout the .axis of its spindle when-.the sect-ionis disposed inthe l latterportionof said'guideway, and a single whenfthe panels. of` saidsection.v are-foldedtogether and each notchl only effecting lockingy engagement with. an individual one of said partition sections. Y

` 2.. 4In. a foldingpartition, thecombination,y

of upper and-lower guideways, a pluralityof .y folding `partition sections each comprising twohingedlyconnected. panels, each of said parti-tion, sections Y .being movable in its extended.,pos1tion. along said guideways, spindles,secured tothe upper edgeszof said panels g and .extending into ,the upper guideway, a

channel .member of gthe inverted U-shaped cross section disposed in said .upper guideway, rollers mounted'on saidtspindle and en-,

gaging.. Abetween 'the sides of said channel j member, a. stoplug projecting upwardly into; said guidewayfrom one of the Ypanelsof each` section,rsaid.stop lug being spaced from the spindle of the correspondingpanel and being rigidlysecuredto. said1 panel and adapted to swing transversely of'said upper guideway when said panel is swunglaterallyabout the axis off-said .spindle 'in the operation'of folding the partition section, themajor portion of said .upper'iguideway being relativelyl narrow V.in width toiprevent such lateral swing-V ing movement,r ofzsaid-.stop flug and thereby prevent folding Amovement lof said:` partition sections: when'V the .lattenl are .engaging in the latter. portion roffsaid upper.v guidew-ay, and

afsingle .stop .plate lmounted insaid guideway.

ononly oneside thereof and having relativelylong notchesr thereininto= which said stop lugs can swing when saidpartition sections are :disposed at. the latter. end of `said. .upper guideway, one e'ndnoffeachV of saidi notches forming. a locking shoulder/'for cooperating with .one of said-stoplugs for preventing sliding movement .ofsaid sections when-the latter are folded, each notch only effecting flock-ing engagement with an individual one ofsaid-.stop lugsysaidcstop-plate being recessed in said guideway so as. to be substantiallyconcealed therein. y

f3. In a folding partition, the' combination ofupperandlower guideways, a folding partition-.section movable in its extended -position along said guideways andcomprising hingedly connected panels, means for supporting said panels vfor sliding'movement along said guideways and for swingingfmove-v nected panels,l a iixedastop associated. withsaid lower gu'ideway, a cooperating f stop mountedonuone of-said panels for `engaging said fixed stopv to limit the Vsliding movement of the section when said panels are folded, said cooperating stop .beingve'rtically adjustable withreference tothe panel on which it is mounted, and -means for rig-idly securingV said latter stop to thepanelin any `of its adjusted positions.

5. .In a. folding-partition, the combination of alower guideway, a folding partition sectionymovable in; its extended position along said g'uideway and comprising hingedly connected. panels adapted'to be folded together at one end of said guideway, a castor wheel support-.secured toone ofsaid vpanels for supporting said `section on said lower guideway, a fixed stop associated withl said guideway, a cooperatingstop carried by said castor wheel support for engaging said fixed stop to limit the-sliding movement of the section when said-panels are folded, said cooperating stop having vertically adjustable movement insaid castor wheel support and relatively to said castor wheel, and means for securing said latter'stop in any of Vits adjusted positions. jt 6. In a folding partition, the combination of a lower guideway, a foldin'gpartition section movable in its extended position along saidguideway and comprising hingedly connected-panels, a castor wheel for movably support-ing one of said panelson said lower guideway, a support for securing said castor wheelv to vsaid latter panel, said support comprising a bracket recessed in said panel and side andI end platesy enclosingsaidfbraeket, said castor wheel'having a swivelled mountingin said bracket, averticalA groove deiined between said bracket :and said end plate, a fixed stop associated with said guideway.v a cooperatingstop carried by said panel for engaging said fixed stop to limit the sliding movement .of the section when the panels are folded, saidcooperating stop having a vertically adjustable movement in said groove relatively to said castor wheel, and means for fiXedly securing said latter' stop in any of its adjusted positions. 4

7. ln a folding partition, the combination with a lower guideway and a folding partition section comprising two hingedly connected panels, of a castor wheel for movably supporting one of said panels on said lower guideway, a bracket recessed into said panel, said castor wheel having swivelled mounting in said bracket, side and end plates enclosing said bracket, a. Xed stop associated with said guideway, a cooperating stop carried by said panel for engaging said fixed stop to limit the sliding movement of the section when said panels are folded, a vertically extending guide groove defined between said bracket and said end plate, said cooperating stop having vertically adjustable movement in said groove relatively to said castor wheel, and screw means actuatable from the edge of said panel for securing said latter stop in its different adjusted positions.v

8. In a folding partition, the combination with a lower guideway and a partition section comprising two hingedly connected panels, of castor wheels rolling along said guideway and supporting said panels for sliding and folding movement, a fixed stop associated with said guideway, a cooperating stop mounted on one of said panels for engaging said fixed stop to limit the sliding movement of the section when said panels are folded, said cooperating stop being` vertically adjustable relative to the panel on which it is mounted, and means actuatable from the edge of said latter panel for securing or releasing said cooperating stop.

L9. In a. folding partition, the combination of upper and lower guideways, a plurality of folding partition sections movably` supported in said guideways, the adjoining edges of said sections being oppositely formed with tongues and grooves to form lap joints between the sections when the edges of the sections are in abutting relation, a castor wheel support on each of said sections for engaging said lower guideway, said castor wheel support having a vertical groove therein along the edge of the section, and a joming bar removably mounted in said groove, the removal of said bar adapting said castor wheel support to the edge of a section wherein the grooved portion of the lap joint is formed, and the replacing of said bar in said groove adapting said castor wheel support to a section on which the tongue portion of the joint is formed.

l0. In a folding partition, the combination of upper and lower guideways, a plurality of folding partition sections movable along said guideways, each of said sections comprising two panels having their adjacent edges hingedly connected together, the opposite edges of said panels being formed alternatively with tongues and grooves to form ralohet joints between the sections when the edges thereof are in abutting relation, castor wheels mounted at the lower opposite corners of said panels for movably supporting said panels on said lower guideway, each of said castor wheels comprising a support for mounting the same on its respective panel, a vertically extending groove in the edge portion of one of said castor wheel supports, a joining bar removably mounted in said groove, the removal of said bar adapting said castor wheel support to mounting on a panel wherein the groove portion of the rabbet joint is formed, and the replacing of said joining bar in said groove adapting said support to mounting on a panel on which the tongue portion of said rabbet joint is formed and means for removably securing said joining` bar in said groove. i

ll. A castor wheel support for mounting on the panel of a folding partition, comprising a castor wheel, a bracket in which said castor wheel has swivclled adjustable mounting, side and end plates enclosing said bracket, a vertical guide ,groove defined between said bracket and said end plate, a stop bar adjustably mounted in said guide groove and adapted to cooperate with a fixed stop associated with the partition, a vertical groove formed in the outer face of said end plate, removable joining bar adapted for mounting in said latter groove, the presence or absence of said joining bar adaptingl said castor wheel support alternatively to panels which are tongued or grooved for forming the rabbet joint between adjacent sections, and screw means for clamping said stop bar in any of its vertically adjustel positions, said screw means also passing through said rcm vable joining bar and serving to hold the latter in place.

l2. The combination with a folding partition section and a grooved track relative to which said partition section has sliding and swinging' movement, of means for movably supporting said section on said grooved track comprising a easter wheel, a bearing member on which said wheel is supported, a shank eX- tending from said bearing member,Y a bracket adapted to be secured to the section and in which said shank has swivelled mounting, a finger extending downward from said bearing member into the groove of said track for holding said bearing` member in proper position with respect to the track, said castor wheel bein of adapted to be assembled on said section with said finger facing in a predetermined direction with respect to said seetion, and a stop on said bracket adapted to be engaged by said liearing member to prevent erroneous assembly of the castor wheel on the section with said linger facing in the opposite direction.

'f 131 In a. folding ,v partition, the. combina-r alongzsaid 'guideways, astop plate disposed:

in said iupper Vgui-deway adj acentfto v.one end thereof, said stopf platehaving a pluralityof" relatively long'vnotches formed therein,

o each notch onlyeifecting locking. engagement lug holding said section against movement` toward the center of the doorway, and pro- With anindividual one vof said partition sectionsfoner-end of each notchforming a'locking f shoulder, vlocking lugs V:stationarily mounted on 4sa'idpartition sections adapted to engagesaid lock-ing shoulders when the sections are folder together, for vholdingsaid sections against :movement towards the center `iof. the doorway, Aand spacing vproj ections onv the sides of said. sections adapted to contact with `each other betweenthe folded sections' for preventing Vmovement of saidsections in a directiontowards the'side of. the` doorway.

w14. :In a folding-partitiom'the combination-fof upperand lower guideways, axplu-vy rality Aof, folding partitionlsections movable along-said guideways, spindles projecting from the :upper edges of said sections, rollers mounted on said spindlesand engagingy inthe upper guideway, a stop :platerdisposed in :said upper guideway adjacent to. one end thereof, sa'idistopl plate being substantially concealed in said guideway and having a plurality of relatively long notches formed therein 'individual to the folded position of reach partition'section, one endfonlyof each notch forming a locking shoulder, a looking lug .proj ecting Yupwardly from and yxedly mounted on each of vsaid partition ysectionsl adj acont `to the respective spindles forengaging an individual one of said `locking shoulders when said partition sections are folded together, thel engagement between said shoulderand said tuberances projecting laterally fromeach of said partition sections-'and adapte-d tocontact with each other betweenthe folded sections for preventing movement yof said sections in a directionl towards the side 'of' the :doorway'when the sections are-folded.

yl5. In: affoldingspartition, the `combinationV of upper x and 'loweriguideways a plurality of folding partition sections 'movable along saidy guideways, rollers ,carried by said sections andr engaging in the upper guideway, brackets secured-to said sections and on which said rollers are mounted, said brackets havingangular depressions at-their corners'req'uiring the-ffnotching of'said partition sections to lpermit the brackets to be mounted thereon, so that the notched corners of the sections vwill 'clear one side of the upper guideway when the sections vare folded together.

`16. :In a folding partition, the combination of upper and lower guidewaysfsai-d upper guideway comprising astop stripeXtending along one side thereof, a plurality of folding partitiony sections, each comprising two 'hingedly connected panels, brackets y*secured to the upper outer corners of said panels, spindles extending upwardly from said brackets, and rollers mounted on said spindles-and engaging in the upper guideway, said brackets being formed with angular depressions `at their corners requiring thecorners ofsaid panels to be notched out correspondingly to permit the brackets to-be, mounted thereon, whereby said panels are necessarily provided with the required form of notch to clear said stop strip when said, sections are folded together.

17.*A castor wheel support for mounting on the panel of a folding partition, comprising a castor wheel, a bracket'in which said castor wheel has swivelled mounting, said brackethaving a vertical guide groove, a stop bar adjustably mounted inY said guide groove and adapted to cooperate'with a fixed stop associated with-the partition, a removable joining bar adapted. for mounting on said bracket, the presence or absence. ofsaid join.- ing. bar adapting said castor wheel support alternately ltoupanels which are tongued or grooved for forming the rabbet: joint between adjacent sections, and screw means for clamp-y ing said stop bar in any-.of its. vertically adjusted positions, said screw means. also passing through said removable joining bar and serving to hold the latter in place.

l8.-A castor wheel support for mounting' on the panel of a folding partition, comprising a castor wheel, a bracketin whichsaid castor wheeln has swivelle-d mounting, afstop bar carried by said bracket and being vertically adjustable to cooperate with a fixed stop associated with the partition, a removable joining bar adapted for mounting on said bracket, the presence or absence of said joining bar adaptingsaid castor wheel-'support alternately to panels which are tongued or-V grooved for forming the rabbet joint between adjacent sections, and meansV for securing said stop bar and said joining barv to said bracket. K i

19. A castor wheel support for mounting'on the pan-el of a folding partition, comprising a castor wheel, a bracket in which said castor wheel has swivelled adjustable mounting, side and end plates enclosing said bracket, a vertical guide groove defined between said bracket and said end plate, a Astop bar adjustably mounted in said guide groove and adapted lto cooperate with a fixed stop associated with, the partition, a `vertical groove formed Vin the outer face of said end-plate,

' and a removable joining bar adapted for mounting in said latter groove', the'presence or absence of said joining bar adapting saidl castor wheel support alternatelyvtolpanelsi fio izo

n so

which are tongued or grooved for forming the rabbet joint between adjacent sections.

20. The combination with a folding partition section and a grooved track relative to which said section has sliding and swinging movement, of means adapted for movably supporting said section on said track comprising a castor wheel, a bearing member on which said wheel is supported comprising an inverted U-shaped structure, said wheel mounted on an axle extending between the vertical sides of said inverted structure, a shank extending upwardly from said bearing member, a bracket adapted to be secured to the partition section and in which said shank has a swivelled vertically adjustable mounting, said castor wheel having a peripheral flange projecting centrally therefrom whereby laterally extending shoulders are formed on either side of the flange, said flange being adapted to extend into the groove of said track, the shoulders of the wheel being adapted to rest on the track on either side of the groove thereof, a finger extending downwardly from said bearing member and adapted to extend into the groove. of said track for holding said bearing member in proper position when said partition section is supported on said track, said castor wheel being adapted to be assembled on said partition section with said finger facing in a predetermined direction with respect to said section, an-d a stop on said bracket adapted to be engaged by said bearing member to prevent erroneous assembly of the castor wheel on the section with said finger facing in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day of June, 1928.

ELLIS J. G. PHILLIPS.

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