WO2015145243A2

WO2015145243A2 - Enhanced dividing wall

Info

Publication number: WO2015145243A2
Application number: PCT/IB2015/000392
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ennio VENTURI
Original assignee: Edil Opera Di Venturi Ennio
Priority date: 2014-03-27
Filing date: 2015-03-24
Publication date: 2015-10-01
Also published as: ITMI20140120U1; WO2015145243A3

Abstract

There is provided an enhanced dividing wall (1) adapted to divide a space (10) into two rooms (11); the space (10) being delimited by walls; the enhanced dividing wall (1) comprising a partition (2) adapted to divide the space (10) into said rooms (1 1); a moving member (3) adapted to roto- translate the partition (2) with respect to the walls (12) thus changing the distance between the partition (2) and the walls (1) and defining a proximal position in which the partition (2) is adjacent and parallel to a wall (12) and a distal position in which the partition (2) is distal and transversal with respect to said wall (12).

Description

DESCRIPTION

ENHANCED DIVIDING WALL

The present invention relates to an enhanced dividing wall of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.

In particular, the invention relates to a dividing wall such as a cladding dividing the interior from the exterior in buildings supported by a framed structure or a partition dividing an indoor environment into two rooms.

As known, the dividing wall is a building infrastructure with no static functions and consisting of a vertical wall which serves the function of dividing the spaces delimited by the supporting walls of a building into rooms.

The dividing walls are made of blown or lightened concrete, plaster, plasterboard, prefabricated sandwich panels. Alternatively, the dividing walls are made of hollow or blown concrete bricks. The above-mentioned prior art has some important drawbacks.

A first important drawback is the high cost of a dividing wall, especially if made of bricks.

Another typical drawback of plasterboard, plaster or concrete dividing walls is in that quality and, in particular, the aesthetic value are so low as to favor the use of bricks or other more valuable materials despite their much higher cost.

An important drawback is represented by the high cost to bear whenever a change in the division of space is desired.

Such a drawback is determined by the need to demolish the dividing wall and then build a new one.

The cost of such a change is also increased by the fact that often, at a dividing wall, there is no flooring and, therefore, there is the requirement to both floor at the previous dividing wall and to remove the moving mechanism at the new dividing wall.

In this situation, the technical task at the base of the present invention is devising an enhanced dividing wall capable of substantially obviating the drawbacks mentioned above.

Within the scope of said technical task, it is an important object of the invention to provide a dividing wall of low cost and high aesthetic appeal.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a dividing wall that allows the division of the room to be changed in a quick and cost-effective manner.

The technical task and the above objects are achieved by an enhanced dividing wall as claimed in appended Claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an enhanced dividing wall according to the invention;

Figs. 2a and 2b show the dividing wall in two different positions;

Fig. 3 shows an assembly of the dividing wall according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows another assembly of the enhanced dividing wall;

Fig. 5 shows a subassembly of Fig. 4.

With reference to the above Figures, the enhanced dividing wall according to the invention is indicated by reference numeral 1 as a whole.

It is adapted to divide a space 10, such as a room for residential use (such as a living room or a sitting room) or an office, into at least two and preferably into two rooms 11.

Space 10 comprises, in addition to at least one dividing wall 1, a plurality of walls 12 delimiting at least one portion and, preferably, almost the entire space 10; a ceiling 13 and a floor 14.

Summarily, the enhanced dividing wall 1 comprises a partition 2 adapted to divide space 10 into two rooms 11; and a moving member 3 adapted to roto-translate partition 2 with respect to the walls 12 by varying the distance between the partition 2 itself and the walls 12.

Partition 2 comprises two panels 21 defining the exposed surfaces of partition 2; and a frame 22 arranged between the two panels 21 so as to define an inner partition volume 2 in which, as described below, cables and the like may be arranged and thus concealed.

Each panel 21 is substantially flat and made of wooden material (chipboard, plywood, high quality wood) or polymeric material.

One or more housings 21 1 are obtained on the panels 21 to arrange books and decorative objects therein and are suitably provided with plugs for electrical appliances such as lights, televisions, telephones, computers or household appliances.

The moving member 3 is adapted to roto-translate partition 2, i.e. to simultaneously or sequentially translate and rotate partition 2 with respect to the walls 12 so as to vary the distance and/or inclination thereof with respect to the walls 12 themselves.

It is adapted to translate partition 2 along a horizontal translation axis 3a, i.e. substantially perpendicular to the gravitational gradient, and/or rotate it about a vertical rotation axis 3b, i.e. substantially parallel to the gravitational gradient, and therefore almost perpendicular to the translation axis 3 a. Preferably, the translation axis 3 a is substantially perpendicular to one of the walls 12.

In particular, member 3 is adapted to move partition 2 thus defining at least one proximal position (Fig. 2b) in which partition 2 is substantially adjacent and parallel to a wall 12, i.e. has an exposed surface almost parallel and in contact with wall 12; and at least one distal position (Fig. 2a) in which partition 2 is transversal and preferably distal with respect to said wall 12 and has the exposed surfaces transversal and, in particular, substantially perpendicular to said wall 12.

The moving member 3 comprises a rail 31 defining the translation axis 3a; a carriage 32 associated with partition 2 and adapted to slide along rail 31 thus translating partition 2; rotation means 33 defining the rotation axis 3b; and rolling bodies 34 interposed between partition 2 and floor 14 and adapted to support partition 2 thus allowing the movement thereof.

Rail 31 is almost completely accommodated in ceiling 13 and comprises two abutment plates 31 1 having preferred development directions substantially parallel to each other and to the translation axis 3a; and, in some cases, lighting means, such as LEDs, integrated in ceiling 13 and arranged between the abutment plates 311.

The abutment plates 311 are adapted to abut, on opposite sides, against carriage 32 so as to enclose it and allow carriage 32 to slide only along said translation axis 3a.

Carriage 32, as shown in Fig. 4, is hollow and in particular comprises a hollow section bar with prevailing extension axis almost coinciding with the rotation axis 3b.

The rotation means 32 are identifiable in a bearing,^" a bushing or other similar element interposed between carriage 32 and partition 2 so that partition 2 is able to rotate with respect to carriage 32 about the rotation axis 3b.

The moving member 3 is adapted to perform the roto-translation of partition 2 automatically, i.e. without the user needing to push partition 2.

Therefore, it includes, accommodated in partition 2, a driving wheel 35, i.e. a wheel in contact with floor 14 and provided with an electric motor adapted to control the rotation of the wheel itself; a steering mechanism 36 adapted to control the rotation of wheel 35 with respect to an additional rotation axis 36a substantially parallel to and distinct from the rotation axis 3b; a control unit adapted to control mechanism 36 and wheel 35; and a command 37 through which the operator controls the control unit and thus the driving wheel 35 and the steering mechanism 36.

Mechanism 36 (Fig. 3) comprises a fork 361 adapted to support the driving wheel 35 by hinging it to partition 2 so as to define said additional axis 36a; and a preferably electrical actuator 362 adapted to control the rotation of fork 361, and thus of the driving wheel 35 about the additional rotation axis 36a.

Command 37 comprises one or more buttons associated with partition 2 and/or a remote control to implement a wireless connection (e.g. Bluetooth, infrared, WIFI) with the control unit.

In order to power the electric utilities and member 3, the enhanced dividing wall 1 comprises a supply apparatus 4, shown in Fig. 4, adapted to connect partition 2 and member 3 to an external power supply network.

The supply apparatus 4 comprises at least one cable 41 adapted to transmit electricity from the external network to the sockets and to the moving member 3; a hollow body 42, preferably a U- shaped section bar, integrated in ceiling 13 and associated with an abutment plate 31 1 so as to define a box-like body 42a; and a tensioner assembly 43 accommodated in the box-like body 42a and adapted to keep cable 41 tensioned thus preventing it from kinking.

Cable 41 has a first part accommodated in the box-like body 42a from which it protrudes so as to reach the inside of partition 2 through carriage 32, and thus be moved by means of carriage 32 during the translation of partition 2 and remain almost stationary during the rotation of partition 2. It is worth noting that the part of cable 41 accommodated in body 42a has a length at least equal to the stroke of partition 2 along the rail 31.

The tensioner assembly 43 comprises a sliding guide 431 defining a sliding axis substantially parallel to the translation axis 3 a; a movable idler pulley 432 comprising at least one groove for said cable 41 ; a slider 433 adapted to support pulley 432 and to slide along the sliding guide 431 thus translating pulley 432; and elastic means 434, preferably of tractive type, adapted to control the separation of slider 433 and thus of pulley 432 from carriage 32, so as to keep cable 41 tensioned.

The elastic means 434 preferably include an elastic cable having one end integral with slider 433 and the other end integral with the hollow body 42.

More preferably, the tensioner assembly 43 comprises a fixed idler pulley 435, arranged on the side opposite to carriage 32 with respect to the movable pulley 432 and having a groove for the elastic means 434.

In order to allow sinks, dishwashers or other similar household appliances to be arranged on partition 2, the supply apparatus 4 may include an inlet tube adapted to carry a fluid, such as water, to said household appliances or other fluid to said household appliances; an outlet tube for said fluid; and a pump adapted to move the fluid in said tubes.

Finally, it is worth noting that in this case the outlet and inlet tubes follow the same path described above for cable 41 so that the tensioner assembly 43 is adapted to control also the tensioning of the inlet and outlet tubes.

The operation of an enhanced dividing wall as described above from the structural point of view is as follows.

First, partition 2 is in a proximal position, i.e. adjacent to a wall 12 (Fig.) and, therefore, space 10 is not divided into separate rooms 11.

When the operator wants to divide space 10 into two separate rooms 1 1 , by means of command 37, he/she moves partition 2 in the distal position, i.e. he/she roto-translates partition 2 thus arranging it almost perpendicular to said wall 12 and substantially in the middle of space 10. This roto-translation consists in a first translation motion and then in a second rotation motion. During the first motion, the driving wheel 35 is almost parallel to the translation axis 3a and controls a feeding motion of the partition along the rail 31.

When partition 2 is arranged between the walls 12, the control unit forces the steering mechanism 36, and in particular actuator 362, to rotate the fork 361 and the driving wheel 35 by an angle substantially equal to 90°, thus arranging it substantially perpendicular to the translation axis 3a and therefore to the rail 31.

At this point, the second motion begins, in which the driving wheel 35 rotates partition 2 thus arranging it perpendicular to wall 12.

The invention allows important advantages.

In fact, due to the possibility of roto-translating partition 2 with respect to the walls, the dividing wall 1 allows the division of space 10 in rooms 1 1 to be changed as desired.

Such an advantage is increased by the moving member 3 which is capable of controlling the roto- translation of partition 2 automatically, thus making this operation simple and fast.

It is also worth noting that by presetting and storing multiple distal and/or proximal positions of partition 2 on the control unit, the desired division of space 10 may be obtained by simply selecting the desired position and then allowing the control unit to roto-translate partition 2 to such a position.

Moreover, the possibility to rotate the partition even by 360° allows the partition itself to be brought next to a wall 12, thus concealing household appliances or other objects which would otherwise degrade the aesthetics of space 10.

An important advantage is given by the presence of the supply apparatus 4 which allows making electricity, water and/or other fluids available to the utilities arranged on partition 2 and therefore arranging any type of household appliance thereon.

Another advantage is given by the presence of the particular tensioner assembly 43 which, by keeping the cables 41 or the tubes always tensioned, avoids knotting or other similar problems which could damage the cables themselves.

Such an aspect is achieved by means of carriage 32 which, being hollow, defines a space through which the cables 41 and the tubes are able to reach partition 2 from the box-like body 42a.

Claims

1. An enhanced dividing wall (1) adapted to divide a space (10) in at least two rooms (11); said space (10) being delimited by walls; said enhanced dividing wall (1) comprising a partition (2) adapted to divide said space (10) into said rooms (11); characterized in that it comprises a moving member (3) adapted to roto-translate said partition (2) with respect to said walls (12) thus changing the distance between said partition (2) and said walls (1) and defining at least one proximal position in which said partition (2) is substantially adjacent and parallel to one of said walls (12) and at least one distal position in which said partition (2) is transversal with respect to said wall (12).

2. An enhanced dividing wall (1) according to claim 1, said moving member (3) comprises a rail (31) defining a translation axis (3a); a carriage (32) associated with said partition (2) and adapted to slide along said rail (31) while translating said partition (2); and rotation means (33) of said partition (2) defining a rotation axis (3b).

3. An enhanced dividing wall (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said rotation means (32) are interposed between said carriage (32) and said partition (2) so that said partition (2) is able to rotate with respect to said carriage (32).

4. An enhanced dividing wall (1) according to one or more of claims 2-3, wherein said translation axis (3 a) is substantially perpendicular to the gravitational gradient; wherein said rotation axis (3 b) is substantially parallel to said gravitational gradient, and substantially perpendicular to said translation axis (3a).

5. An enhanced dividing wall (1) according to one or more of claims 2-4, wherein said moving member (3) comprises a driving wheel (35); a steering mechanism (36) adapted to control the rotation of said driving wheel (35) with respect to an additional rotation axis (36a) substantially parallel to and separate from said rotation axis (3b).

6. An enhanced dividing wall (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a supply apparatus (4) adapted to connect at least said partition (2) and said moving member (3) to an external power supply network.

7. An enhanced dividing wall (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said supply apparatus (4) comprises at least one cable (41) adapted to transmit electricity from said external network to said partition (2) and to said moving member (3); and a tensioner assembly (43) adapted to keep said cable (41) tensioned.

8. An enhanced dividing wall (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said carriage (32) is hollow and has a prevailing extension axis substantially coinciding with said rotation axis (3b); and wherein said cable is at least partially accommodated in said carriage (32).