US3827196A - Mobile room dividing structure - Google Patents

Mobile room dividing structure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3827196A
US3827196A US00300380A US30038072A US3827196A US 3827196 A US3827196 A US 3827196A US 00300380 A US00300380 A US 00300380A US 30038072 A US30038072 A US 30038072A US 3827196 A US3827196 A US 3827196A
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United States
Prior art keywords
partition
sealing
combination
sealing unit
wall
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00300380A
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English (en)
Inventor
E Voegeli
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FALTAG AG
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FALTAG AG
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Publication date
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B7/00—Special arrangements or measures in connection with doors or windows
    • E06B7/16—Sealing arrangements on wings or parts co-operating with the wings
    • E06B7/18—Sealing arrangements on wings or parts co-operating with the wings by means of movable edgings, e.g. draught sealings additionally used for bolting, e.g. by spring force or with operating lever
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
    • E04B2/74—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge
    • E04B2/82—Removable non-load-bearing partitions; Partitions with a free upper edge characterised by the manner in which edges are connected to the building; Means therefor; Special details of easily-removable partitions as far as related to the connection with other parts of the building
    • E04B2/827—Partitions constituted of sliding panels
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
    • E06B3/92—Doors or windows extensible when set in position

Definitions

  • the beam carries two sealing strips and is movable by a motor or by a manually operated device, with and relative to the partition, between an uppermost position in which the bottom end face of the partition: is lifted off the floor, an intermediate position in which the bottom end face of the partition rests on the floor, and a lowermost position in which it urges the sealing strips against the upper end face of the partition as well as against two panels which flank the groove in the ceiling.
  • the present invention relates to room dividing structures in general, and more particularly to improvements in room dividing structures which employ one or more shiftable partitions.
  • a drawback of presently known mobile partitions or analogous room dividers is that they are incapable of properly sealing the spaces at the opposite sides thereof against the penetration or propagation of fire, sound, odor and/or smoke.
  • stringent laws regulating fire prevention, soundproofing and/or other other characteristics of walls in dwellings or in public or commercial establishments prevent the builders from using mobile partitions because the presently known partitions cannot guarantee full compliance with such regulations.
  • presently known room dividers employ partitions which are slidable along the floor and/or along the ceiling to assume a selected position.
  • Such mounting invariably entails the provision of at least some clearances between a slidable partition on the one hand the ceiling and/or floor on the other hand.
  • the clearances permit the propagation of sound as well as the penetration of odors and smoke from a chamber at the one side to a chamber at the other side of the installed partition, or vice versa.
  • Attempts to eliminate such clearances include the utilization of flexible sealing strips consisting of rubber or other elastomeric material which are secured to the partition in deformed condition so as to bear against the ceiling and/or against the floor.
  • Sealing strips are rather inexpensive and can constitute reasonably satisfactory proofing means against the passage of odors or smoke; however, their soundproofing characteristics are quite unsatisfactory, especially if they consist of relatively thin and hence readily flexible elastomeric material which can follow the outline of a ceiling or floor. It was found that flexible elastomeric strips are only capable of interrupting the propagation of a very narrow range of highest sound frequencies so that their qualities regarding the proofing against speech sounds are practically. nil.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved room dividing structure which utilizes one or more mobile partitions and whose soundproofing characteristics are far superior to those or presently known room dividers.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a room dividing structure which is capable of reliably preventing the penetration of smoke and/or odors from the one side to the other side of a properly installed partition.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a room dividing structure which does not adversely affect the appearance of the enclosure wherein the structure is being put to use, which can be manipulated by hand or by a motor, which can properly seal along the. ceiling as well as along the floor, and which can be installed in newly erected buildings as well as in existing dwellings.
  • An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for soundproofing the region between the ceiling and/or floor and a mobile partition.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for guiding and supporting a mobile partition which forms part of the improved room dividing structure.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for establishing or terminating a sound-, smokeand odor-proof connection between a partition and the ceiling and/or floor of a dwelling or the like.
  • the invention is embodied in a room or an analogous enclosure in a private, commercial or public building which includes a first wall member constituting the ceiling, a second wall member constituting the floor, a partition extending between the first and second wall members and registering with an elongated groove pro vided in one of the walls, an elongated sealing unit provided in the groove of the one wall for up-and-down movement therein, coupling means for connecting the sealing unit with the partition so as to allow for up-anddown movement of the sealing unit with and relative to the partition, and means for moving the sealing unit up and down between a first position in which the partition is spaced apart from the other wall and is movable relative to the sealing unit in the longitudinal direction of the groove, a second position in which the partition sealingly engages the other wall, and a third position in which the partition continues to sealingly engage the other wall while the sealing unit bears against the partition and preferably also against the one wall.
  • the sealing unit may include an elongated beamlike carrier which loosely supports two rigid or deformable sealing strips and is coupled to the moving means to disengage the sealing strips from the partition and from the one wall in the first position of the sealing unit.
  • the carrier causes or allows the partition to sealingly engage the other wall while the sealing strips may but need not sealingly engage the partition and/or the other wall.
  • the partition is not only biased into positive sealing engagement with the other wall (e.g., with the floor) but the sealing strips are simultaneously urged into sealing engagement with the paneling flanking the groove in the one wall as well as against the adjacent end face of the partition.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a partition and a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the wall members in a room dividing structure which embodies the invention, the partition being shown in a position corresponding to the first position of the sealing unit;
  • FIG. la is a transverse vertical sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line II of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the partition in that position which corresponds to the second position of the sealing unit;
  • FIG. 2a is a transverse vertical sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line IIII of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the partition in that position which corresponds to the third position of the sealing unit;
  • FIG. 3a is a transverse vertical sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line IIIIII of FIG.
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the structure shown in the upper portion of FIG. la;
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the structure shown in the upper portion of FIG. 3a.
  • FIG. 6 is a smaller-scale view of the mechanism for moving the sealing unit up and down relative to the ceiling, the view of FIG. 6 being taken in the direction of arrows as seen from the line VIVI of FIG. 5.
  • FIGS. 1-10, 2-2a and 3-3a illustrate a partition 1, having a thickness of between 2 /2 and 7 inch, preferably 4 inch, in two different positions relative to a bottom wall member or floor A and a top wall member or ceiling B.
  • the upper end portion la which is vertically movable and elastically fixed in the partition 1 is connected with a coupling device here shown as a runner 2 which can travel lengthwise of guide rails 8 (FIG. 4) provided in a vertically movable carrier beam 3.
  • a coupling device here shown as a runner 2 which can travel lengthwise of guide rails 8 (FIG. 4) provided in a vertically movable carrier beam 3.
  • the carrier beam 3 can descend to thereby displace and stress two elongated sealing strips 4, made preferably of wood and/or aluminum profile.
  • the ceiling B is formed with a groove D for the carrier beam 3 and sealing strips 4, and the ceiling includes panels 5 which flank the groove D.
  • the floor A is also formed with a groove, shown at 6, and the lower end portion of the partition 1 has one or more projections 7 which extend into the groove 6.
  • FIGS. 1 and 1a the partition 1 is shown in a lifted position in which it can be readily shifted in the longitudinal direction of the grooves D and 6.
  • a scaling lines 10a which is recessed into the lower end face of the partition 1 is thereby lifted above the surface of the floor A.
  • the carrier beam 3 has been caused to descend relative to the lowered partition 1 whereby the beam urges the sealing strips 4 against sealing strips 9, made preferably of felt, (FIG. 4) on the panels 5 and also against a sealing liner 10 (FIGS. 4, 5) which is recessed into the upper end face of the partition 1.
  • the pairs of sealing strips 4 and 9 are mirror symmetrical to each other with referecne to the central longitudinal vertical plane of the partition 1.
  • the sealing liners 10, 10a may consist of elastomeric material or felt and their width preferably equals or is only slightly less than the thickness of the partition 1.
  • FIG. 4 shows in detail the structure at the uper end of the partition 1 and in the groove D of the ceiling B.
  • the carrier beam 3 supports the guide rails 8 which can be secured thereto by screws or by analogous fasteners.
  • the coupling device or runner 2 of the partition 1 has wheels 2a which can roll along the upper end faces of the guide rails 8.
  • the carrier beam 3 further supports the sealing strips 4 which may but need not adhere to inclined biasing plates 11 having a T-shaped profile and secured to the beam 3 by screws 12 or like fasteners.
  • the biasing plates 11 preferably make an angle of 45 with a horizontal plane which is normal to the general plane of the partition 1.
  • the sealing strips 9 flank the sealing strips 4 and are secured to adjoining panels 5 of the ceiling B at the open lower end of the groove D.
  • the sealing strips 4 are loosely coupled to the beam 3 only by the shanks of the connecting screws 12.
  • a movement of the carrier beam 3 from the uppermost position shown in FIGS. 1, 1a and 4 to the lowermost position shown in FIGS. 3, 3a and 5 takes place in two stages.
  • the first stage is terminated when the sealing lines 10a of the partition 1 rests on the floor A (this is the sealing or lowermost position of the partition).
  • the second state ends when the carrier beam has completed its downward movement relative to the partition 1 whereby the strips 4 bear against the adjacent strips 9 as well as against the adjacent portions of the sealing liner 10, assisted by the elastic force of the upper end portion 1a.
  • the plates 11 subject the two sealing strips 4 to identical stresses (see FIG. 5) so that the strips 4 abut against the entire inner surfaces of the adjacent strips 9 and that the entire bottom surfaces of the strips 4 bear against the adjacent portions of the liner 10 on the partition 1.
  • the thus obtained acoustic barrier is represented by the arrows l3, l4, l5 and 16.
  • the arrow 13 shows the lowermost 'part of the barrier which is formed by all layers of the partition 1 below the sealing liner 10.
  • the next higher part of the barrier (arrow 14) is formed by the two sealing strips 4. This part of the barrier is just as impermeable to sound as the part formed by the partition 1.
  • the width of this second part differs from the width of the first part only by the width of the clearance which is provided between the sealing strips 4 to accommodate the coupling device or runner 2.
  • the next higher part (arrow 15) of the acoustic barrier is formed by the sealing strips 4 and plates 11.
  • the uppermost part of the barrier bypasses the sealing strips 4 but must extend through the panels 5 flanking the sealing strips 9 in the groove D of the ceiling B.
  • the width of all portions of the acoustic barrier equals or-at least approximates the thickness of the partition 1. This insures that the noise-suppressing action in the region above the sealing liner 10 is just as satisfactory as the noise-suppressing action of the partition 1.
  • the sealing elements 4, 9 and 10 prevent the penetration of sound into the spaces between the layers of the partition 1 as well as into the end faces of such layers below the sealing liner 10. Also, the seal ing elements prevent the propagation of sound from layer to layer by creating what may be termed an internal short circuit. Such internal short circuit is especially important if a relatively thin layer of the partition 1 (see the layer 17 in FIG. 4) blocks sound at a certain frequency but can be bypassed along its edges by sound which is transmitted by air.
  • FIG. 4 shows that, when the carrier beam is in the fully lifted position, the bottom surfaces of the sealing strips 4 are flush or substantially flush with the underside of the ceiling B.
  • the sealing strips 4 conceal the strips 9 while the outer layers of the partition 1 conceal the sealing liner 10 which latter is preferably recessed into the upper end face of the partition.
  • the material of the sealing strips 4 may be the same as that of the panels 5. This insures that, when the partition 1 is moved lengthwise from a first position to a second position, the ceiling B exhibits only a relatively narrow portion of the groove B, namely, the portion between the sealing strips 4 for the runner 2. Since the strips 4 can be machined or otherwise finished to have an eye-pleasing appearance, the unfilled portion of the groove D does not adversely affect the appearance of the room wherein the partition 1 is put to use.
  • FIGS. 4 and 6 The means for moving the partition 1 and the carrier beam 3 relative to the floor A and ceiling B is shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
  • the uppermost part of the groove D receives a U-shaped supporting rail 20 for a series of horizontal pivot members 19 carrying one-armed levers 18.
  • the levers 18 are further pivotably connected to horizontal rods 21, coupled the one to the other by means of bows, to a feed screw 22 which can be rotated by a handwheel 22a (or a motor, not shown) to move the rod 21 lengthwise in or counter to the direction indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 6.
  • the carrier beam 3 has motion receiving projections 23 which can be received in notches 18a of the levers 18.
  • the levers 18 can be pivoted to such an extent that the carier beam 3 moves between the positions of FIGS.
  • the carrier beam 3 with a number of equidistant projections 23 and to provide an equal number of levers 18 so that the beam 3 can receive lifting forces at a number of points.
  • the carrier beam 3 can be raised and lowered by other lifting or displacing means, for example, by wedge-like cams (not shown) slidably mounted on the supporting rail 20 to engage the projections 23 from below whereby the projections 23 act not unlike followers which track the inclined faces of the respective cams.
  • each of the projections 23 can be provided with a vertical feed screw mating with a discrete spindle nut, and all of the spindle nuts can be rotated simultaneously through the intermediary of an endles chain or the like.
  • the circuit of the motor preferably includes limit switches which are actuated by the partition 1 and/or carrier beam 3 to arrest the motor when the beam reaches the position of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.
  • the control means for the motor may further include a set of pushbuttons or switches which are actuatable to set the motor in motion, either to move the carrier beam 3 from the position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5 or vice versa.
  • the extent to which the sealing unit can move relative to the partition 1 depends on the deformability of sealing strips 4 and also on the height of the runner 2.
  • the partition 1 may be provided with one or more layers of fireproofing material, and such layers can extend all the way between the underside of the ceiling B and the upper side of the floor A.
  • the room dividing structure is relatively simple and eye-pleasing, and the partition and the carrier beam can be moved up and down by means of a simple, compact and rugged mechanism.
  • Such mechanism can be used for simultaneous lifting or lowering of two or more coplanar partitions and of the associated carrier beam.
  • a single handwheel or a single motor can be used to change the position of a single partition or of two or more partitions which together constitute a mobile dividing wall.
  • sealing unit comprises an elongated carrier having at least one elongated guide member, said coupling means being movable with said partition lengthwise of said guide member in said first position of said sealing unit.
  • said sealing unit comprises an elongated carrier and two sealing strips mounted on said carrier and each having a thickness at least substantially approximating half the thickness of said partition.
  • said one wall includes two panels flanking said groove and said sealing unit includes an elongated carrier and two elongated sealing strips mounted on said carrier and each adjacent to one of said panels, said carrier including two plate-like biasing elements each making an acute angle with the plane of said partition and each arranged to urge one of said sealing strips against the neighboring panel of said one wall in response to movement of said sealing unit from said second to said third position thereof.
  • said sealing unit comprises an elongated carrier, two sealing strips and means for movably connecting said sealing strips to said carrier so as to allow for sidewise movement of said sealing strips against said one wall in response to movement of said sealing unit to said third position thereof.
  • said partition has first and second end faces, respectively, adjacent to said first and second wall members and further comprising sealing liner means provided on at least one of said end faces and having a width at least approximating the thickness of said partition.
  • sealing liner means consists of elastomeric sound-proofing material.
  • said means for moving said sealing unit comprises a plurality of levers pivotably mounted on said one wall and coupled to said sealing unit, and means for pivoting said levers.
  • said means for pivoting said levers comprises an elongated rod coupled to said levers and means for moving said rod lengthwise to thereby pivot said levers.
  • said means for moving said sealing unit comprises motor means and means for controlling the operation of said motor means.
  • said motor means includes a reversible electric motor and said means for controlling includes limit switches actuatable in response to movement of said sealing unit to said first and third positions.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Specific Sealing Or Ventilating Devices For Doors And Windows (AREA)
  • Building Environments (AREA)
US00300380A 1971-11-15 1972-10-24 Mobile room dividing structure Expired - Lifetime US3827196A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1667971A CH534270A (de) 1971-11-15 1971-11-15 Mobile Trennwand

Publications (1)

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US3827196A true US3827196A (en) 1974-08-06

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US00300380A Expired - Lifetime US3827196A (en) 1971-11-15 1972-10-24 Mobile room dividing structure

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US (1) US3827196A (xx)
AT (1) AT322160B (xx)
CA (1) CA967325A (xx)
CH (1) CH534270A (xx)
DE (1) DE2251463A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR2160395B1 (xx)
GB (1) GB1411984A (xx)
IT (1) IT972208B (xx)
NL (1) NL7214317A (xx)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4481743A (en) * 1982-01-07 1984-11-13 Jellen Stephen F System and method for constructing walls and foundations employing structural components

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3685223A (en) * 1970-09-28 1972-08-22 Sher Walls Inc Operable wall panel

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3072975A (en) * 1958-12-08 1963-01-15 Richards Wilcox Mfg Co Sealing mechanism for movable partition panels, doors and the like

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3685223A (en) * 1970-09-28 1972-08-22 Sher Walls Inc Operable wall panel

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4481743A (en) * 1982-01-07 1984-11-13 Jellen Stephen F System and method for constructing walls and foundations employing structural components

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2251463A1 (de) 1973-05-30
IT972208B (it) 1974-05-20
FR2160395A1 (xx) 1973-06-29
CH534270A (de) 1973-02-28
NL7214317A (xx) 1973-05-17
AT322160B (de) 1975-05-12
CA967325A (en) 1975-05-13
GB1411984A (en) 1975-10-29
FR2160395B1 (xx) 1976-08-20

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