US3303612A

US3303612A - Folding partition and hanger therefor

Info

Publication number: US3303612A
Application number: US449523A
Authority: US
Inventors: John C Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-04-20
Filing date: 1965-04-20
Publication date: 1967-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-14

Description

Feb. 14, 1967 J. c. BAKER 3,303,612

FOLDING PARTITION AND HANGER THEREFOR Filed April 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J0 29 Za 27 25 f4 f4 /7 f4 /4 1/ 1f l/ /r/ 1 T- -T 111- 3 I 3 I g l l' 2/ i 2/ Z/ l A Y' lf2; L 2f :wif /2 4f /5 L I 1 l I l I l *A I I :n g Y M E l I EE -T l i /f /y /f i 22 s 2MP( fowl# e l V44 l' l l 1 l I 1 u BY @WM Mw Feb. 14, 1967 J1 c. BAKER 3,303,612

FOLDING PARTITION AND HANGER THEREFOR Filed April 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6/

INVENTOR. JH/V C. BAKER ATTO/@V57 United States Patent O 3,303,612 FLDING PARTITIN AND HANGER THEREFOR John C. Baker, 16 Anchor Drive, Massapequa, N.Y. 11758 Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 449,523 15 Claims. (Cl. 49-127) This invention relates to a folding partition or wall and to an improved hanger fitting therefor.

More particularly, the partition with which the invention is concerned is of the type formed by a plurality of separate rigid upright partition sections or pane-ls whic'h in operative position are held in vertical, aligned, edge- `abutting position between a iioor guide and a ceiling guide. The engagement between the partition sections and their upper and lower guides is such that a first panel section, such as one adjacent an end wall, may be turned to folded position and the remaining partition sections may be successively thrust toward such first folded sections and folded to overlie it. The improved partition section hanger of the invention includes in combination a ceiling guide rail sub-section for each of the slidable and swingable panel sections, and a fitting for each of such slidable and swingable partition sections coopera-ting with the ceiling guide sub-sections.

Prior folding walls or partitions of the general type with which the invention is concerned have been provided with upper hangers therefor to permit the slidable and swingable partition sections to be folded as described. The hangers for su-ch partitions, however, have been rather complicated and expensive to make and install, and have also been prone to damage by mishandling of the partition during its folding and unfolding. The hanger of the present invention, including the ceiling guide sub-sections and the fitting cooperating therewit-h and mounted on the upper edge of each slidable and foldable partition section are simple, rugged, economical to make, and substantially maintenance free.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a novel hanger for the upper edge of the -slidable and swingable partition sections of a folding wall.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel hanger of the type described, including a ceiling guide sub-section mounted at the location of folding of each of the partition sections, said guide sub-section and the hanger functioning automatically to tend to turn the partition section somewhat in the direction to which it is to be folded.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel hanger, the ceiling guide sub-section of which functions as a shock absorber to slow down the travel of the partition sections as they are thrust toward the position at which they are to be folded.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of the combination of a folding partition or wall having slidable and swingable sections wtih the novel upper partition section hangers or guides of the present invention.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention wil-l more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, yand are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. l is a fragmentary view in side elevation of an end portion of a folding partition or wall in accordance with the invention, the sections of such partition being shown in extended, edge-abutting position;

FIG. 2v is a fragmentary view in perspective of the leading edge portion of a partition section which is shown in phantom lines, the partition section being foreshortened in a vertical direction, the view showing a fit-ting secured to the upper leading edge of the partition section about to enter a sub-section of the ceiling guide;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken through a portion of the fitting of the hanger of the invention with the slider member of such fitting about to enter a ceiling guide sub-section, the section being taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. l looking upward, is indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the fitting having traveled further to the left so that the slider member thereof is located within the angularly disposed seat in the subsection, the partition section to which the fitting is attached being turned clockwise (when viewed from below) through a small angle, when the lower trailing guide device is on such partition section is freed from the floor guide and the folding of such partition section has begun;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic view in perspective showing t'he four partition sections shown in FIG. l lying in substantially fully folded position at the end of a room;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in plan of the three slidable and swingable partition sections shown in FIGS. l and 5 in fully folded, superimposed position, portions of the main sealing guide and of the guide sub-sections cooperating With the fittings ofthe slidable and folding partition sections being shown in phantom lines; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary somewhat schematic view in side elevation illustrating the manner in which the guide at the lower trailing edge of a partition section is freed from the floor guide preparatory to the turning of such partition section into its folded position.

Turning now to the drawings, four

partition sections

10, 11, 12, and 13 are shown in FIG. l in their aligned, edgeabutting position in which they form `a partition. Such partition sections are mounted between the ceiling 14 and the lioor 15 of a room, there being a partition section guiding track 16 in the lioor and a ceiling guide composed of a main guide 17, and ceiling guide sub-sections to be described, mounted on the ceiling above the floor guide 16. The partition section 10 is adapted to be swung into retracted position against the end wall 18 of the room adjacent which it is mounted. The remaining partition sections, typiiied by

sections

11, 12, and 13, are adapted to be s-lid in turn to the left, after the folding of section 10, following which

sections

11, 12, and 13 are folded against section 10 and against sections 11 and 12, as the case may be.

To permit such manipulation of each of the second section and the sections following the second section, that is,

sections

11, 12, 13, etc., each of such sections is provided with a lower guide 19 at the lower left hand corner thereof, here called the leading bottom corner of such sections, and a lower guide 26, connected to such sections adjacent its other trailing corner. Both of

guides

19 and 20 cooperate with the lioor guide, guide 19 remaining in contact therewith at all times and guide 20 being selectively removable from the floor guide to permit

sections

11, 12, 13, and similar following sections (not shown) to be folded in the manner to be described. The partition section 10 remains fixed against sliding, being pivoted to the iioor at its leading edge by a pivot pin 22 and to the ceiling by a pivot pin 24. When extended in the manner shown in FIG. l, the partition sec-tions 10-13, inclusive, in the embodiment shown interiit along joints 25 provided by projecting formations on the leading edges of

sections

11, 12, and 13 which tit within vertically extending grooves 25a in the trailing edges of

partition sections

10, 11, 12, 13, etc.

It will be assumed that the partition of the invention is' made up of six sections, there being two further slidable and swingable sections (not shown) to the right of section 13. Thus in the assumed partition there are five sections, of which three, those designated 11, 12, and 13 are shown, which are slidable and swingable. The novel hangers for the upper ends of the partition sections each includes a fitting including a slider member attached to each of the slidable and swingable partition sections adjacent the upper leading corner thereof and a ceiling guide sub-section mounted in alignment with the mainjceiling guide 17.

Five ceiling guide sub-sections designated 26-30, inclusive, are shown in FIG. 1. Such subsections are disposed in end abutting relationship and thus in effect form prolongations of the main ceiling guide 17. As will appear hereinafter, each ceiling guide sub-section is disposed to receive the fitting of a particular partition `section when such section is in position for being folded, so as to turn such section somewhat `to facilitate its folding, as shown in FIGS. and 6. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, in the folded position of the partition sections, the slider member of the fitting secured to section 11 lies within the ceiling guide sub-section 30, the slider member of the fitting secured to section 12 lies within guide sub-section 29, and the slider member of the fitting secured to'section 13 of the partition lies within the ceiling guide sub-section 28. The constructions of the ceiling guide sub-sections and of the fittings on the partition sections cooperating therewith are such that each of the slider members may be pushed through those ceiling guide sub-sections lying rearwardly of the guide sub-section at which the partition section bearing such slider member is to be folded.

The lower leading guide 19, which is of conventional construction, has a body 31 which is generally in the form of an inverted U. Such body is mounted with a recess in the lower edge of the partition section adjacent the yleading corner thereof. Body 31 has an upper cross member 34, and an intermediate cross member 32. A vertical rod having a larger diametered lowered section 35 and a smaller diametered section 36 is mounted for vertical and rotatable movement in holes in members 32 and 34, respectively. Secured to the lower end of rod section V35 is an inverted U-shaped bracket 37 which carries a guide roller 39 mounted on a horizontal axle extending through its legs as shown. One of such legs is extended as shown at 40 so as to be slidably received within a longitudinally extending groove 41 inthe floor track 15. As noted above, the guide device 19 remains in cooperation with the floor .guide 15 at all times.

The trailing lower guide device 20, which likewise may be of conventional construction, is here shown as havingV an invertedYU-shaped body non-rotatably mounted in a recess in the lower edge of the partition section adjacent the trailing corner thereof. A roller 42 is rotatably mounted between the legs of the body of guide device 20. One of the legs of the body of such guide device 20 is provided with a depending extension or tang 44 which is slidably received in the groove 41 of floor track 15. As will be more particularly described in connection with FIG. 7, the guide device 20 may beV lifted with theV trailing end of the partition section to remove device 20 from the floor guide, whereby the partition section may be swung to folded position about the common pivotal axis of guide device 19 and of the hanger device 21 on the upper edge of the partition section. f

The constructions of the hangers 21 and of the ceiling guide sub-sections, and the manner of their cooperation Will be more readily apparent upon consideration of FIGS. 2 6, inclusive. As shown in FIG. 2, each hanger 21 has a fitting with a first part, generally designated 45, which is secured to a slidable and foldable partition section, here designated 11. Part 45, which is of elongated strap-like form with a forward thicker portion 46, is shown mounted in a recess in the upper edge of the partition section and Y respect to member 45 by two

vertical rods

51 and 52 spaced longitudinally of the partition section. Such rods are affixed to block 50 and are slidably received in vertical holes 47 and 49, respectively, in the portion 46 of member 45. As shown, the rear rod 52 terminates flush with the upper surface of block 50; rod 51, however, extends a substantial distance above block 50, and carries on its upper end a slider member 54. Member 54, which is generally of rectangular shape, is journalled for rotation about the axis of rod 51 by a bearing 55 which retains the slider member from movement lengthwise of the rod.

The slider member 54 is of such width as to be slidably but non-rotatably received within the main ceiling guide portion 17, which in the embodiment shown is in the form of a anged channel member Ihaving parallel spaced side flanges 57 and laterally inwardly directed flanges 59 which with the upper body of the channel member dene a downwardly centrally open space 56 within Iwhich the slider member 54 is received. it will be understood the upper end of rod 51 passes between the confronting edges of flanges 59, and that the opposite side surfaces and 96 of the slider member cooperate with the inner surfaces of flanges 57 which they confront.

As will appear, each of the ceiling guide sub-sections also presents a channel through which the slider member 54 may pass. The guiding surfaces of the slider member receiving channel of each sub-section, however, are so constructed and -arranged that when the slider member reaches an intermediate position in the sub-section the slider member may be turned somewhat in the partition section folding direction in a manner to be described, :from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4. Such turning of the slider member is possible when its partition section, and thus the fitting 45, 50, are turned in the partition folding direction. This may be done when the guide device 2t) is removed from the floor guide, as follows.

A depending finger 60 is disposed on the slider member adjacent the forward end thereofrand offset somewhat from the longitudinal axis o-f the slider member on the side of such portion of the slider member which trails when the slider member is turned as above described. Disposed on the leading end of block 50 opposite finger 60 is an upstanding abutment rod 61 which is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of block Sil in a direction opposite from finger 60. An adjustable horizontal abutment screw 62 is threaded into finger 66, as shown.

The s-crew 62 is adjusted so its inner end substantially contacts the abutment rod 61 when the longitudinal axes of the slider member-54 and of the block 5d lie parallel, as shownV in FIGS. 2 and 3. If the partition section to whi-ch the particular fitting which is under discussion is attached is not to be folded at the guide sub-section, but is merely to be pushed through 4it in theV direction from right to left, the abutment rod 61 maintains the slider member S4 of such fitting in longitudinal alignment against the thrust of spring 89 Iacting through the presser member 84. If the partition section, however, is partially folded at such guide sub-section, the turning of the abutment rod 61 with its block 50 permits the slider member 54 to turn,ras shown vin FIG. 4. The partition section may then be turned further in the folding direction, since such further swinging of the partition section causes the abutment rod 61 to be retracted from finger 60, as shown in FIG. 6.

The construction of each of ceiling guide sub-sections 26-30, inclusive, is Vthe same; sub-section 26 will be described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, it will be seen that sub-section 26 has a top plate 64 which is adapted to be secured against the ceiling 14 by screws (not shown) passing upwardly through holes 65 in such plate. On opposite sides of the Isub-section are filler blocks 66 'and 67. The body of the sub-section is completed `by separate lower cover plates 69 and 70, which underlie filler blocks 66 and 67, respectively. The top plate, filler blocks, and bottom plates are secured together by machine screws 71 adjacent the corners of the subsection, as shown.

The filler blocks 66 and 67 have short flat parallel surfaces 72 and 74, respectively, at their rear ends, such surfaces in effect forming prolongations of the inner surfaces of side flanges 57 of the -main ceiling guide portion 17. Forwardly of the surface 72 on the same side of the channel through the sub-section 26 (at the left in FIG. 2, and at the top in FIGS. 3 and 4), there is a flat guide surface 7,5 on the inner face of filler block 66. Surface 75 Iis inclined in a forward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main ceiling guide portion 17 and of the sub-section 26. The rear end of inclined guide surface 75 is joined to the forward end of guide surface 72 by a shoulder 76 which is steeply inclined in a laterally outwardly and longitudinally forwardly direction. The forward end of the inclined guide surface 75 is designated 77; forwardly of such end 77 and merging therewith there is a forward or exit guide surface 79 on filler block 66. Surface 79 lies in the plane of the rear guide surface 72. The inclined gu-ide surface 75 and the shoulder 76 are of such lengths and are so disposed that when the rear surface 98 of slider member 54 lies in contact with the inner edge of shoulder 76, as shown in FIG. 4, the entire flat or straight edge 95 of the slider member lies in contact with the inclined guide surface 75. The plate 69 which underlies filler block 66 has portions which project laterally inwardly of the guide surfaces 72, 75, and 79. Such laterally inwardly projecting portions of plate 69 are designated 78, S0, and 81, respectively.

intermediate the length thereof the filler block 67 has an elongated laterally inwardly open recess 82. The plate 70 which underlies the filler block 67 has a laterally inner straight edge portion S3 which projects inwardly of the block 67. Together the

portions

78, 80, and 81 of plate 69 and the portion 83 of plate 70 lie beneath the edge portions of slider member 54 t0 retain the slider member within the guide sub-section 26. Forwardly of recess 32 the filler block 67 has a flat guide surface 8S lying in the plane of surface 74.

Mounted in the recess 82 in the filler block 6'7 is a trigger or presser member 84. Member 84 is pivoted at its forward end on a vertical pivot pin S5 which extends through member 84 into the filler Iblock 67. Member 84 is guided at its rear end and is limited Iin the extent of its oscillation by a guide pin 86 which projects there-from at the upper and lower surfaces of the 'member 84. The upper end ofthe pin projects into a short arcuate slot 87 in the upper plate 64, the slot 87 being coaxial of the pivot pin 85. A similar arcuate slot (not shown) in plate 7) receives the lower end of pin 36. Abutrnent of the ends of pin 86 with the inner and outer ends of such arcuate slots stops the presser member 84 in its inner and outer terminal positions. l

The presser member 84 is constantly urged toward its inner terminal pc-sition by a coil compression spring 89, the outer end of the spring being received w-ithin a socket or spring seat 9@ in the outer wall of the block 67 at the recess 82, and the inner end of the spring being received within a socket or spring seat 91 in `the laterally outer wall of the presser member 84 adjacent the rear end thereof.

The laterally inner surface 92 of the trigger or presser member 84 is flat from a location adjacent the pivot pin 85 rearwardly for a ldistance generally equal to that of the straight edge surface 96 of the slider member 54 which it confronts. The rear laterally inner end surface of member 54 is smoothly rounded at 94 on a large radius. in the inner terminal position of lmember 84, the rear nose portion thereof projects la substantial distance inwardly of the plane of the edge 96 of the slider member 54 when such member is positioned in the main ceil-ing guide portion 17, as shown in FIG. 3, or when such slider member has its forward end disposed between the guiding surfaces 72 and 74.

As above explained, the slider member 54 has opposite flat side surfaces and 96, and a rear surface 98 which is flat in its central extent. The side surface 95 is somewhat longer than surface 96. The surface 95 is joined to the forward and rear surfaces of the slider member by rounded surfaces 97. The surface 96 is joined to the forward and rear surfaces of `the slider member by rounded `surfaces 99 which are of somewhat longer radius than surfaces 97.

When the partition section to which a hanger 21 is attached is thrust to the left into the ceiling sub-section 26, upon leaving the gu-ide surfaces 72 and 74 the forward end of the slider member 54 enters between the inner edge of the shoulder 76 and the rounded nose 94 of the presser member 84. As a result, the presser member is thrust counterclockwise (FIG. 3) against the action of spring 89 to permit the passage of the slider member. When the trailing edge of surface 95 of the slider member passes the inner edge -of the shoulder, the presser member 84 tends strongly to thrust the slider member 54 into the angular recess presented by the inclined guide surface 75, as shown in FIG. 4; such turning of the slider member 54, if the partition section is disposed in longitudinal alignment, by reason of the above-described engagement between the abutment rod 61 affixed to block 50 and the abutment screw 62 affixed to member 69 on the slider member.

If the sub-section of the ceiling guide is that positioned at the location of folding of the particular partition section, the section is then folded after its rear floor guide device 20 has been freed from the floor guide, in a manner to be described. If the ceiling guide sub-section is one which is located rearwardly of the position of folding of the partition section, further thrusting of the partition sectionv to the left causes its slider member 54, which is now in longitudinally aligned position, to pass to the left through the guide sub-section. During such passage the presser member S4 is momentarily deflected outwardly by the Ilongitudinally aligned slider member. The slider member may then be introduced into the entering guide portion of the next ceiling guide sub-section.

The described action of the hanger 21 and o-f the ceiling guide sub-sections provides a shock absorbing action against the thrusting of the partition sections with too high a speed toward their retracted positions. Such action also facilitates the freeing of the trailing lower guide 20 from the floor guide. Thus when a partition section is thrust to the left, and upwardly directed force is applied to its trailing vertical edge, as shown in FIG. 7, when the fitting 21 of such section has reached the ceiling guide subsection 30 at the folding position of the section, the lower trailing guide device may be Ilifted from the floor guide 15. Such action may be aided by providing `a stop stud 101 on the side of the now folded prior section 10 of the partition. Preferably the slider members 54 of each of the hangers is provided with an adjustable stop stud 100 which is threaded into the rear edge of the slider member, as shown. The head of the stud 100 engages the forward end surface of the next succeeding slider member, `as shown in FIG. 6, to locate the partition sections at the desired distance from each other when they are folded, as shown in FIG. 6.

Upon the unfolding of the partition sections, each such section, in turn, is swung into extended position and its right-hand edge is lifted to engage the guide device in the floor guide 15. Such swinging of the partition section causes the abutment rod 61 to engage finger 60, thereby restoring the slider member 54 to its aligned longitudinal position against the opposition of the spring 89 acting through the presser member 84. Thus the slider member may now enter a next adjacent ceiling guide sub-section or the main ceiling guide portion 17, as the case may be.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be especially understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as Well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a folding and sliding partition having a plurality of independently slidable, swingable, and foldable rigid partition sections, a ceiling guide rail, a floor guide rail disposed beneath said ceiling guide rail, guide means on the partition sections adjacent the lower leading and trailing corners thereof for guiding engagement with the floor guide rail, and hanger means on the upper edge of the partition secti-ons in vertical alignment with the leading lower guide means, tipping of the partition sections in their planes, when the partition sections reach the retracted position at which they are to be folded, permitting the lower trailing guide means on the partition sections to be removed from the floor guide means whereby the partition sections may be swung to folded position about the common axis of the hanger means and the lower leading guide means, the improvement in the combination of the hanger means and the ceiling guide rail which compri-ses: the ceiling guide rail having a main, elongated portion and sub-sections thereof aligned with the main portion of and forming a part of the ceiling guide rail, there being a ceiling guide rail sub-section for each of the said partition sections, the ceiling guide rail sub-sections each having a body mounted at the location at which each of the said partition sections is to be folded, the hanger means each having a fitting with a body mounted on the upper edge of a partition section at the leading corner thereof, said fitting having a slider member projecting above the body thereof, means mounting the slider member for pivotal movement with respect to the body of the fitting about said vertical axis containing the lower leading guidel member, said slider member being slidably received in longitudinally aligned position within the ceiling guide rail land being non-rotatable with respect to the main .portion of such ceiling guide rail, the ceiling guide rail sub-sections each having means for permitting the turning of a slider member received therein through a` limited angle in a partition section folding direction from its longitudinally aligned position, each ceiling guide rail sub-section having means to receive and guide therethrough the slider members in their longitudinally aligned positions when the partition sections in unfolded longitudinally aligned p osition are thrust toward their partition folding positions, Iand cooperating stop means on the slider member and the body of the fitting for retaining the slider memberin longitudinally aligned position when its partition section is in longitudinally aligned position, for permitting the turning of the slider member by said slider member turning means of a guide sub-section, upon`the initial folding of the partition sub-section, and for restoring the slider member to its longitudinally aligned position upon the unfolding of the partition section to its longitudinally aligned position.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the sub-sections Iof the ceiling rail guide has a guide portion which has opposite'guide surfaces adapted to receive the slider member therebetween, said guide portion being inclined ata substantial angle with respect to the 1longitudinal extent of the main elongated portion of 'the ceiling guide. Y

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, wherein a first one of the opposite guide surfaces of the guide portion of the ceiling guide sub-section is rigid, and comprising a resiliently laterally inwardly thrust guide member having the other of the opposite guide surfaces on its laterally inner surface. i Y

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, wherein the first one of the opposite guide surfaces of the ceiling guide sub-Setolls haS ,2 1 ,SCCP laterally outwardly directed shoulder adjacent `the entrance end thereof, and :an inclined portion following the shoulder and adapted to receive one side surface of the slider member, the laterally inner surface of the laterally inwardly thrust guide member being generally flat, and means mounting such guide member so that its laterally inner surface normally lies generally parallel to the inclined portion of the first opposed guide surface and separated therefrom by a distance generally equal to the width Iof the slider member.

5. The combination claimed in claim 4, comprising means pivotally mounting the exit end of the laterally inwardly thrust guide member -on the body of the subsection, and a spring constantly urging ythe entrance end of such guide member laterally inwardly.

6. The combination claimed in claim 5, wherein the entering end of the laterally inner surface of the guide member is convexly curved in a laterally inward direction, :and wherein the portion of such Ilaterally inner surface of the guide member transversely opposite the shoulder on the first guide surface lies a distance from the entering edge of the shoulder which is less than the width of the slider member, whereby upon in passing the entering end of the shoulder the slider member thrusts the said guide member laterally outwardly.

7. The combination claimed in claim 6, comprising further entering and exit guide portions in the ceiling guide sub-section for guidingly cooperating with the opposite sides of the slider member, said further guide portions being disposed, respectively, in advance of the entering edge of the shoulder and of the entering end of the resiliently thrust guide member, and the exit end of the inclined portion of the first guide surface and the pivoted exit end of the laterally inwardly thrust guide member.

8. A mounting device adapted to be used with a folding and sliding partition having a plurality of independ- V ently slidable, yswinga-ble, and -foldable rigid partition sections, said partition having a ceiling lguide rai-l, a floor guide rail therein disposed beneath said ceiling guide rail, guide means on the lower edges of the partition sections for guiding engagement with the floor guide rail, and hanger means on the upper edge of the partition sections, the mounting device Vcomprising a ceiling guide rail subsection adapted to be aligned with and to for-m a part of the ceiling rail, the ceiling guide rail sub-section having a body adapted to be mounted at the location at which its respective partition ysection is to be folded, the hanger means including a fitting having a Vbody adapted to be mounted on the upper edge of the partition section at the -leading corner thereof, said fitting having a slider member projecting above the body thereof, means mounting the slider member for pivotal movement with respect to the body of the fit-ting about said vertical axis, said slider member being adapted to be slidablyre-ceived in longitudinally aligned position'within a ceiling guide rail Iand being non-rotatable with respect to the main portion of such ceiling guide rail, the `ceiling guide rail subsection having means for permitting the turning of the slider member, 'when the slider member is received there- `Vin, through a limited angle in a partition section folding direction from its longitudinally aligned position, the ceiling guide rai-l sub-section having means to receive and guide therethrough the-slider member in its longitudinally aligned position when its partition section in unfolded longitudinally aligned position is thrust toward its partition folding position, and cooperating stop means on the slider member and the body of the fitting for retaining the slider member in longitudinally aligned position when its partition section is in longitudinally aligned position, for permitting the turning of the slider member by said slider member turning means of the guide subsection, upon the initial folding of the partition subsection, and for restoring the slider member to its longitudinally aligned position upon the unfolding of the partion section to its longitudinally aligned position.

9. The mounting device claimed in claim 8, wherein the sub-section of ceiling guide rail has longitudinally disposed entrance guide portions and an intermediate guide portion which has opposite guide surfaces adapted to receive the sli-der member therebetween, said intermediate guide portion being inc-lined at a substantial angle `with respect to said entrance and exit guide portions of the sub-section.

10. The mounting device claimed in claim 9, wherein a first one of the opposite guide surfaces of the intermediate guide portion of the sub-section is rigid, and comprising a resiliently laterally inwardly thrust guide member having the other of the opposite guide surfaces on its laterally inner surface.

11. The mounting device claimed in claim 10, wherein the first one of the opposite guide surfaces of the subsection has a steep laterally outwardly directed shoulder at the end thereof longitudinally rearwardly of the entrance guide portion, and an inclined portion rearwardly of the shoulder and adapted to receive one side surface of the slider member, the laterally inner surface of the laterally inwardly thrust guide member being generally flat, and means mounting such guide member so that its laterally inner surface normally 'lies parallel to the inclined portion of the first opposed guide surface and separated therefrom by a distance generally equal to the width of the slider member.

12. The mounting device claimed in claim 11, comprising means pivotally mounting the exit end of the laterally inwardly thrust guide member on the body of the subsection, and a spring constantly urging the entrance end of such guide member laterally inwardly.

13. The mounting device claimed in claim 12, wherein the entering end of the laterally inner surface of the guide member is convex-ly curved in a `laterally inward direction, and wherein the portion of such laterally inner surface of the guide member transversely opposite the shoulder on the first guide surface `lies a distance from the entering edge of the shoulder which is less than the width of the slider member, whereby in passing the entering end of the shoulder the slider member thrusts the said guide member laterally outwardly.

14. A mounting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cooperating stop means comprises a depending linger on the s-lider member and an upstanding finger on the body of fitting, said lingers being disposed to abut when the slider member and the body of the fitting are substantially longitudinally aligned.

15. A mounting device as claimed in claim 14, comprising adjustable means on one of said lingers adapted to abut the other of said lingers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,299 11/1933 Fairhurst 49-127 2,052,089 8/1936 Fairhurst 49-127 2,976,582 3/1961 Rosenthal 49-127 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

K. DOWNEY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A FOLDING AND SLIDING PARTITION HAVING A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENTLY SLIDABLE, SWINGABLE, AND FOLDABLE RIGID PARTITION SECTIONS, A CEILING GUIDE RAIL, A FLOOR GUIDE RAIL DISPOSED BENEATH SAID CEILING GUIDE RAIL, GUIDE MEANS ON THE PARTITION SECTIONS ADJACENT THE LOWER LEADING AND TRAILING CORNERS THEREOF FOR GUIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLOOR GUIDE RAIL, AND HANGER MEANS ON THE UPPER EDGE OF THE PARTITION SECTIONS IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE LEADING LOWER GUIDE MEANS, TIPPING OF THE PARTITION SECTIONS IN THEIR PLANES, WHEN THE PARTITION SECTIONS REACH THE RETRACTED POSITION AT WHICH THEY ARE TO BE FOLDED, PERMITTING THE LOWER TRAILING GUIDE MEANS ON THE PARTITION SECTIONS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE FLOOR GUIDE MEANS WHEREBY THE PARTITION SECTIONS MAY BE SWUNG TO FOLDED POSITION ABOUT THE COMMON AXIS OF THE HANGER MEANS AND THE LOWER LEADING GUIDE MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE COMBINATION OF THE HANGER MEANS AND THE CEILING GUIDE RAIL WHICH COMPRISES: THE CEILING GUIDE RAIL HAVING A MAIN, ELONGATED PORTION AND SUB-SECTIONS THEREOF ALIGNED WITH THE MAIN PORTION OF AND FORMING A PART OF THE CEILING GUIDE RAIL, THERE BEING A CEILING GUIDE RAIL SUB-SECTION FOR EACH OF THE SAID PARTITION SECTIONS, THE CEILING GUIDE RAIL SUB-SECTIONS EACH HAVING A BODY MOUNTED AT THE LOCATION AT WHICH EACH OF THE SAID PARTITION SECTIONS IS TO BE FOLDED, THE HANGER MEANS EACH HAVING A FITTING WITH A BODY MOUNTED ON THE UPPER EDGE OF A PARTITION SECTION AT THE LEADING CORNER THEREOF, SAID FITTING HAVING A SLIDER MEMBER PROJECTING ABOVE THE BODY THEREOF, MEANS MOUNTING THE SLIDER MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE BODY OF THE FITTING ABOUT SAID VERTICAL AXIS CONTAINING THE LOWER LEADING GUIDE MEMBER, SAID SLIDER MEMBER BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITION WITHIN THE CEILING GUIDE RAIL AND BEING NON-ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE MAIN PORTION OF SUCH CEILING GUIDE RAIL, THE CEILING GUIDE RAIL SUB-SECTIONS EACH HAVING MEANS FOR PERMITTING THE TURNING OF A SLIDER MEMBER RECEIVED THEREIN THROUGH A LIMITED ANGLE IN A PARTITION SECTION FOLDING DIRECTION FROM ITS LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITION, EACH CEILING GUIDE RAIL SUB-SECTION HAVING MEANS TO RECEIVE AND GUIDE THERETHROUGH THE SLIDER MEMBERS IN THEIR LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITIONS WHEN THE PARTITION SECTIONS IN UNFOLDED LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITION ARE THRUST TOWARD THEIR PARTITION FOLDING POSITIONS, AND COOPERATING STOP MEANS ON THE SLIDER MEMBER AND THE BODY OF THE FITTING FOR RETAINING THE SLIDER MEMBER IN LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITION WHEN ITS PARTITION SECTION IS IN LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITION, FOR PERMITTING THE TURNING OF THE SLIDER MEMBER BY SAID SLIDER MEMBER TURNING MEANS OF A GUIDE SUB-SECTION, UPON THE INITIAL FOLDING OF THE PARTITION SUB-SECTION, AND FOR RESTORING THE SLIDER MEMBER TO ITS LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITION UPON THE UNFOLDING OF THE PARTITION SECTION TO ITS LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED POSITION.