US3757480A

US3757480A - Partitions

Info

Publication number: US3757480A
Application number: US00196576A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Young
Original assignee: Redpath Dorman Long Ltd
Current assignee: Redpath Dorman Long Ltd
Priority date: 1970-11-12
Filing date: 1971-11-08
Publication date: 1973-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-11

Abstract

A building panel for a walling or partitioning system, the panel comprising a metal sheet, a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet; and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looped sprung sections for engaging adjacent members of the system.

Description

mite States Patent 11 1 1 11 3,7514% Young Sept. 11, 1973 I 1 PARTITIONS 2,822,898 2/1958 Richards 52 464 x 3,320,710 5 1967 Byssing ,.52 241x [75] lnvemor- Charles Trev" Ymmg 2,739,677 3 1956 Greulich 52/615 x DagenhamrEflglafld 3,034,609 5 1962 Young ..52/241 3,406,491 10/1968 Harding... 52 5s4x [73] Asslgnee' Redpath Donna Long 3,535,342 10/1970 Karn 52 241 London, England 22] Filed: Nov.8, 1971 Primary ExaminerPrice C. Faw, Jr. Attorney-Bacon & Thomas [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 5 ABSTRACT Nov. 12, 1970 Great Britain 53,952/70 A bu1ld1ng panel for a walling or partmomng system, [52] Cl H 52/24l 52/285 52/464 the panel comprising a metal sheet, a board of theru 52/48 mally and acoustically insulating material adhering to [5 H Int. Cl I A I i E0) 2/28 the sheet; and metal strips which additionally support [58] Field 0 Search 285 275 the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looped [56} References Cited sprung sections for engaging adjacent members of the UNITED STATES PATENTS system 3,420,029 1/1969 Martin 52/584 X 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 7 2 72F? Xxy /2 74 14 73- PATENTED SEP1 1 I973 SHEET 3 OF 4 30 31 FIG. 4. 3

PARTITIONS This invention relates to building panels and more particularly relates to panels which may be used, for example in partitions, such as composite metallic partition walls used for schools, offices, etc.

In one aspect of the invention there is provided a building panel for a walling or partitioning system, the panel comprising a metal sheet; a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet; and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looped sprung sections for engaging adjacent members of the system.

The looped sprung sections may be defined by the metal strips.

The edges of the metal sheet may be rearwardly displaced and define flanges which are disposed within the loops of the looped sprung sections.

The metal strips may be crimped around the flanges.

Preferably the board is plasterboard.

The building panels may form part of a walling or partitioning system including upper and lower track members adapted to locate and support the building panels side by side, connectors for connecting neighbouring building panels together and joint cover strips for covering the connections between neighbouring building panels, the joint cover strips comprising means to engage adjacent looped sprung sections of the neighbouring panels.

There may be abutment columns adapted to be fixed to an existing wall or stanchion, each column having a cavity adapted to receive a looped spring section of a building panel, the cavity being positioned so that a face of the column then is aligned with the front surface of the panel.

The abutment columns each may be constituted by a metal skin formed around a supporting post.

The upper and lower track members may be adapted to locate and support two spaced apart parallel sets of building panels in back-to-back relationship.

There may be a plurality of bracing members each adapted to be inserted between the board and a said metal strip of a building panel of one set and to extend across the space between the sets of building panels into contact with a panel of the other set.

Alternatively or in addition there may be a plurality of bracing members each adapted to engage with a said connector of one set of building panels and to extend across the space between the sets of building panels into engagement with a said connector of the other set of building panels.

Corners may be formed by folding" the panel with the backing board being constituted in, e.g., two parts, one for each side of the corner. Internal corners may alternatively be constructed by locating two of the aforesaid abutment columns diagonally adjacent one another with their adjacent corners in mutual contact, the two columns each being secured to a rectangular supporting post, e.g., a wooden post, lying in contact with them internally of the corner.

Exposed ends of a wall or partition may be terminated by a stop end comprising a metal strip having a backing member to which a channelled sheet section is secured, the configuration of the-backing member and the sheet section being such as to accommodate the edges of the exposed end panels securely between them. Again, this backing member may be made from wood.

The upper and lower tracks may comprise U-section members to which outer channel sections are secured, supporting shoulders being provided in the channel section of the lower track for supporting the two sets of panels.

The supporting shoulders may be strips of wood.

Further boards of thermally and acoustically insulat ing material may be provided, the upper and lower tracks being adapted to locate and support the further boards between the two sets of panels.

An assembled partition or wall comprising two sets of panels may accommodate services such as water and electricity within the space between the sets of panels. The thickness of the wall or partition is determined by the width of the central U-shaped portion of the tracks.

In order that the invention may be fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view through part ofa partition embodying building panels in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section along Il-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a panel-to-panel connector;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view through an exposed end termination of the partition; and

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the acoustic properties of the partition.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, a double skinned partition is shown outstanding from a wall 1 and comprising a variety of different components, namely, abutment columns 2, plain rectangular building panels 3, a folded external corner panel 4, joint cover strips 5 and an internal corner embodying two abutment columns.

All these components are mounted between upper and

lower tracks

6, 7 each comprising

outer sections

8, 9 to which a central U-shaped section 10 is secured by snap fixing. The" lower track additionally embodies wooden strips 11 which lie in the outer sections and provide supporting shoulders for the components referred to, these components being frictionally supported at the top in the outer section of the upper track 6.

In a typical arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower track 7 is laid out on the floor of a building and mitred at the corners on the outer track section whilst the inner section is terminated by a wooden post 28. The track is then pinned or screwed to the floor and a similar operation is performed on the top track secured to the ceiling.

Two of the abutment columns 2 stand upright on the shoulders of the track 7 formed by the wooden strips and are secured to a wall 1 of the building whilst being urged against the vertically aligned central sections of both the upper and lower tracks. These columns comprise rectangular-section wooden posts 12 around which a metal skin 13 is formed, the inner sides of the skin being spaced from the post so as to define a cavity 14.

Mounted adjacent to, and locked in contact with, these two columns are two of the building panels 3. Each panel comprises a roll-formed metal sheet 15 on to which a plasterboard backing panel 16 has been adhered, e.g., by a polyvinyl acetate or like resinous glue. Additional support for the panel is provided by two metal strips 17 which are roll-formed sections providing in addition, stiffening for flanged edges 17a of the sheet; these sections are crimped tightly around the flanged edges in a continuous roll-forming operation and define, at their ends, a looped sprung section 18. The flanged edges 17a are rearwardly displaced from the front surface of the panel to accommodate a joint cover strip (discussed later).

As shown, the crimped edge or flange 17a of the building panel is push fitted into the cavity 14 in each of the two columns and the two panels rest on the shoulders on the lower tracks in the same manner as the columns. The cavity 14 is positioned so that the exposed surfaces of the abutment columns and the panels 3 are coplanar.

For purposes of simplicity only one such building panel has been shown on each side of the partition, but it will be appreciated that two sets are provided in back-to back relationship.

The corner panel 4 is erected on the outer side of the partition, again resting on the shoulder of the lower track. The corner panel is essentially the same as the plain building panels 3 except that it has been bent at right-angles and the plasterboard backing is in two

portions

19, 20.

Neighbouring panels 3 (or 3 and 4) are connected together by a number of small flanged connector plates 21 (FIG. 3) which engage around the adjacent side edge flanges 17a of the panels. Each plate 21 has a tongue 22 which enters between the flanges 17a to maintain the panels 3 a predetermined distance apart. The connector plate is clamped around the flanges 17a by means of a clamping plate 22a which is disposed against the front faces of the flanges 17a and secured to the connector plate 21 by a screw 22b. Each plate 21 has a dishing 23 at its top edge for stiffening and also to provide a recess for accommodating an end of an inverted U-shaped bracing piece (not shown). These bracing pieces (which are optional) extend between the sets of panels 3, and their downwardly-depending ends are received by aligned clamping plates 21 of each set of panels 3.

Alternative or additional bracing may be provided between the sets of panels3 by bracing members 24 (FIG. 1 Each bracing member 24 is inserted between the plasterboard l6 and the metal strip 17 of a building panel 3 and extends across the space between the sets of panels 3 into contact with a building panel 3 of the other set. A foot 24a is provided to prevent the bracing member digging into the plasterboard, and a clip 24b is provided at the other end of the bracing member to ensure secure engagement with the strip 17. The bracing member is omitted from FIG. 2 for clarity.

Clipped over each joint between neighbouring panels so as to conceal it and present a planar wall surface with the panels is a cover strip 25 which has sprung sides 26 to mate with the corresponding looped sprung sections 18 of the adjacent panels. These cover strips are of the same height as the panels and like the latter are backed by a plasterboard strip 27.

On the inner side of the partition an internal comer is formed consisting of two standard abutment columns 2 as already described which are diagonally mounted in respect with one another on the shoulders of the lower tracks 7 with their adjacent corners in mutual contact.

The rectangular section wooden post 28 nestles against the corners formed by the central portions of the upper and lower tracks and the end columns 2 are secured, e.g., by screws, to this post so as to provide a firm composite structure.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 optional skirting/ coving strips 29a 29b are driven into position along the top and bottom of the partition and are retained by clips 29c 29d. The skirting strips are provided with convex sprung strips 29e which fit inside the

outer track channels

8, 9 and pull the skirting strip hard against the panels 3. The coving and skirting strips offer additional cover to the coving and skirting areas to meet a wide range of customer requirements these strips have been omitted in FIG. 1 for clarity.

As mentioned above the partition is terminated by a specially formed stop end. One such stop end is shown in FIG. 4 and this comprises a composite wooden backing board including an elongated panel 30 to which are secured two rectangular section posts 31. A metal skin 32 is formed around the outside of the backing board and a channelled steel sheet 33 is secured on its inside, this being foreshortened to avoid fouling the shoulders of the track 7.

The strip 33 has inturned flanges 34 along its edges and is spaced at its sides from the wooden sections 3] so as to accommodate the edges of the adjacent panels 3, the flanges 34 tending to grip these panels in position. Sealing gaskets 35 are secured along the edges of the metal skin 32 and abut the panels. Again, the skirting strips have been omitted for clarity. Exposed corner joints between skirting or coving strips may be finished off by slipped a plastics moulding over them and metal fishplates may be located beneath straight-run jointsv Each of the exposed metal sheets or skins may be surfaced with a P.V.C. composition so as to present a pleasing appearance; plastic coated sheet steel known under the British Steel Corporation trademark CO- LOURCOAT is particularly suitable for this purpose.

All the metal components may be roll-formed and they may be coated with a protective coloured plastic so as to present a pleasing appearance on external faces after assembly, other internal sections being protected by, e.g., galvanizing.

The component design is such that all the metal surfaces are backed by an insulating body so that a high level of sound insulation is maintained. Furthermore, the plaster-board backing on the panels and the cover strips is fire resistant which is of particular significance in providing an adequate safety factor in regard to fire hazards. In addition, all the components mentioned are reversible end-to-end thereby eliminating handling and facilitating assembly, and once erected they may easily be de-mounted and re-arranged.

The dimensions of all these components may be metricated" and the panels may be constructed in a variety of standard widths so as to suit a wide range of design layouts.

With a typical partition of the type described, i.e., with say a 4 inch wide double skin and one-half inch wide plasterboard backings a sound reduction of about 37 db may be attained across it at a frequency of 500 Hz a typical graph of sound reduction index v. frequency for such a partition as shown in FIG. 5. A fire resistance of the order of 30 minutes can be obtained under standard test conditions, e.g., B8476 Part: I 1959.

Even better sound insulation and fire resistance can be obtained by providing further plasterboard in the space between the two sets of panels 3. This further plasterboard conveniently can be mounted in U-section members welded or spot welded onto the bases of the central members of the upper and lower tracks. If bracing is employed between the sets of panels 3, suitable cut-outs should be provided in the central plasterboard lamina.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiment illustrated, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the insulating material employed may not be plasterboard and alternatively expanded plastics compositions could readily be used. Further, the various timber sections shown could be replaced by other members, e.g., extruded or rolled metal or plastics sections. Moreover, the spacing between the partition skins may readily be enlarged by arranging for the top and bottom tracks to be constructed in such a manner that each side of the track is defined by the outer section shown, together with an associated U-section and utilising a trough-shaped bridging strip of any convenient width having snap fixing ends to which these new sections are then secured. Clearly, the width of the terminal strip will then differ from that shown in the illustrated embodiment.

I claim:

1. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels, the edges of which define looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together edge-to-edge, each connector comprising a member adapted to engage around, adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having means adapted to be disposed in between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; and cover strips to cover the connections be tween neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means engageable by the said adjacent looped sprung sections to retain the cover strips in position; and abutment columns adapted to be fixed to an existing wall or stanchion, each column having a cavity adapted to receive a looped sprung sction of a building panel, the cavity being positioned so that a face of the column then is aligned with the front surface of the panel.

2. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels each of which comprise a metal sheet, a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet, and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together, each connector comprising a flanged member to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having a tongue adapted to be disposed between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means to engage the said adjacent looped sprung sections; and at least one abutment column adapted to be fixed to an existing wall or stanchion, the column having a cavity adapted to receive a looped sprung section of a building panel, the cavity being positioned so that a face of the column then is aligned with the front surface of the panel.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the abutment columns each are constituted by a metal skin formed around a supporting post.

4. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels each of which comprise a metal sheet, a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet, and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together, each connector comprising a flanged member to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having a tongue adapted to be disposed between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strip comprising means to engage the said adjacent looped sprung sections; upper and lower track members comprising means to support and locate the building panels backto-back in two parallel spaced apart sets; and a plurality of bracing members each adapted to be inserted between the board and a said metal strip of a building panel of one set and to extend across the space between the sets of building panels into contact with a panel of the other set.

5. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels each of which comprise a metal sheet, a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet, and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together, each connector comprising a flanged member to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having a tongue adapted to be disposed between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means to engage said adjacent looped sprung sections; upper and lower track members comprising means to support and locate the building panels backto-back in two parallel spaced apart sets; and a stop end for closing an exposed end of a wall or partition formed of said two sets of building panels, the stop end comprising a metal strip having a backing member to which a channeled sheet section is secured, the configuration of the backing member and the sheet section being such as to accommodate the edges of the exposed end panels between them.

6. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels each of which comprises a metal sheet; a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet; the edges of the metal sheet being rearwardly displaced and defining flanges, and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips extending along the flanged edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the metal strips defining looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together edge-to-edge, each connector comprising a member adapted to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having means adapted to be disposed in between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; and cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means engageable by the said adjacent looped sprung sections to retain the cover strips in position,

7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the metal strips are crimped around the flanges.

8. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels the edges of which define looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together edge-to-edge, each connector comprising a member adapted to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the

connectors each also having means adapted to be disposed in between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means engageable by the said adjacent looped sprung sections to retain the cover strips in position; upper and lower track members adapted to support and locate said building panels, the track members comprising means to locate and support two spaced apart parallel sets of building panels in back-to-back relationship; and a stop end for closing an exposed end of a wall or partition formed of said two sets of building panels, the stop end comprising a metal strip having a backing member to which a channeled sheet section is secured, the configuration of the backing member and the sheet section being such as to accommodate the edges of the exposed end panels between them.

Claims

1. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels, the edges of which define looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together edge-to-edge, each connector comprising a member adapted to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having means adapted to be disposed in between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; and cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means engageable by the said adjacent looped sprung sections to retain the cover strips in position; and abutment columns adapted to be fixed to an existing wall or stanchion, each column having a cavity adapted to receive a looped sprung sction of a building panel, the cavity being positioned so that a face of the column then is aligned with the front surface of the panel.

4. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels each of which comprise a metal sheet, a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet, and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together, each connector comprising a flanged member to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having a tongue adapted to be disposed between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strip comprising means to engage the said adjacent looped sprung sections; upper and lower track members comprising means to support and locate the building panels back-to-back in two parallel spaced apart sets; and a plurality of bracing members each adapted to be inserted between the board and a said metal strip of a building panel of one set and to extend across the space between the sets of building panels into contact with a panel of the other set.

5. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels each of which comprise a metal sheet, a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet, and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips being secured along the edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the edges of the panel defining looPed sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together, each connector comprising a flanged member to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having a tongue adapted to be disposed between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means to engage said adjacent looped sprung sections; upper and lower track members comprising means to support and locate the building panels back-to-back in two parallel spaced apart sets; and a stop end for closing an exposed end of a wall or partition formed of said two sets of building panels, the stop end comprising a metal strip having a backing member to which a channeled sheet section is secured, the configuration of the backing member and the sheet section being such as to accommodate the edges of the exposed end panels between them.

6. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels each of which comprises a metal sheet; a board of thermally and acoustically insulating material adhering to the sheet; the edges of the metal sheet being rearwardly displaced and defining flanges, and metal strips which additionally support the board, the strips extending along the flanged edges of the sheet adjacent the ends of the board and overlapping said ends, the metal strips defining looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together edge-to-edge, each connector comprising a member adapted to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having means adapted to be disposed in between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; and cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means engageable by the said adjacent looped sprung sections to retain the cover strips in position.

8. A walling or partitioning system including: building panels the edges of which define looped sprung sections; connectors to connect neighboring building panels together edge-to-edge, each connector comprising a member adapted to engage around adjacent looped sprung sections of neighboring building panels, the connectors each also having means adapted to be disposed in between the adjacent looped sprung sections to maintain a predetermined spacing between them; cover strips to cover the connections between neighboring panels, said cover strips comprising means engageable by the said adjacent looped sprung sections to retain the cover strips in position; upper and lower track members adapted to support and locate said building panels, the track members comprising means to locate and support two spaced apart parallel sets of building panels in back-to-back relationship; and a stop end for closing an exposed end of a wall or partition formed of said two sets of building panels, the stop end comprising a metal strip having a backing member to which a channeled sheet section is secured, the configuration of the backing member and the sheet section being such as to accommodate the edges of the exposed end panels between them.