WO2024175527A1

WO2024175527A1 - Partition wall system or office wall system

Info

Publication number: WO2024175527A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/054116
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claus Nielsen
Original assignee: Tonax A/S
Priority date: 2023-02-20
Filing date: 2024-02-19
Publication date: 2024-08-29
Also published as: DK202300144A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a partition wall system or office wall system constructed of panels. The panels are either tilted relative to a vertical, or horizontal axis of the wall.

Description

Partition wall system or office wall system

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a partition wall system or wall system constructed of panels, panels used to construct a partition wall or wall, and a combination of panels and fixing elements used to build a wall or a partition wall.

Background of the invention

At the end of the last century, cellular offices were more and more superseded by open space offices, where employees could work together, without being separated. The basic idea was to easily share knowledge, and to save square meters. The open space office also invites to flexible specialized working groups that are easy to reorganize.

In the beginning, these open spaces suffered from poor acoustics, with little or no acoustic damping in the ceilings and the walls. This led to a lot of noise, based on a mixture of voices (telephones and other communication), computers (more silent today), and printers.

New building regulation up to present time has eliminated some of these noise problems, by giving precise instructions on how to provide acoustic absorption to sufficiently dampen the room acoustically.

This has led to new room-acoustic experiences, with less noise and quite silent offices.

Despite of better acoustics in newer office buildings, new sound problems have arisen and led to new challenges. These quieter environments absorb normal noise and background noise. Without background noise, normal speech (people speaking to each other and on the phone in the open office) will stand out very clearly to employees in the office, thus disturbing everyone who’s trying to concentrate on work. It is a well-known problem - even in completely new or renovated office buildings - that these irrelevant disturbances will lower productivity. The consequences are big: less efficient employees, lower productivity, employees who prefer to work from home, employees who suffer from headache and stress, etc. In open spaces, people are generally disturbed every 15th minute and it can take up to 20 minutes to fully concentrate again.

To minimize these problems, parts of the open space offices are often divided by glass constructions, to divide the noise sources and to keep the transparency in and between offices, meeting rooms etc.

These glass walls have normally been put up in parallel configurations, causing standing waves (resonance) and flutter echoes. Unbalanced frequency response is undesirable in human communication. These acoustic problems disrupt good speech intelligibility and create poor working environments.

US2009000750 discloses a portable wall-partition that includes a plurality of panels and at least one hinge that connects each of the plurality of panels to a neighboring panel. A foot is positioned on a lower edge of each of the plurality of panels. The foot includes a first extension and a second extension. Each of the extensions includes a distal end thereof. The first and the second extensions are connected to each other at a proximal end (opposite the end having a wheel) to form a vertex. The foot also includes a spring located at or near the vertex. The spring biases the first and the second extensions toward each other.

CN204081151 U discloses a combined indoor partition wall with heat insulating and sound insulating functions. The combined partition wall is used for partitioning indoor space and comprises longitudinal profiles (1 ), transverse profiles (2), and a panel (3). The longitudinal profiles (1) are respectively positioned on two sides of the transverse profiles (2) and are mutually fixed with the transverse profiles (2). The combined partition wall further comprises a heat insulating and sound insulating board (4), which is arranged in mounting grooves (5) formed in the transverse profiles (2). A plurality of mounting fasteners (6), which are used for mounting the panel (3), are distributed in parallel and arranged on the longitudinal profiles (1 ). The panel (3) is formed by combining a plurality of fixing plates (7) that are respectively fastened on the longitudinal profiles (1) on two sides of the transverse profiles (2) through the mounting fasteners (6). The combined partition wall disclosed by the utility model has the advantages of simpleness and convenience for assembly, high efficiency and good sealing, sound insulating and heat insulating properties.

Description of the invention

Hence, it is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least alleviate, the above-mentioned problems.

The idea to have transparent dividers (glass walls) to keep the togetherness-feeling, while at the same time separating people a bit more, at the open office spaces is, however worth holding on to, if possible, to construct them in a way that will improve the acoustic environment instead of destroying it.

It has been found by the inventors of the present invention that non-parallel walls may be the key solution to remove unbalanced frequency response. A wall according to the present invention’s non-parallel walls may be with integrated acoustic absorption. Hence, the present invention may provide working spaces with reduced noise and an improved acoustic environment. A further advantage is that a relatively thin wall construct can be made to avoid losing too many square meters of the office area.

A first aspect relates to a partition wall system or office wall system comprising one or more panel units, each panel unit comprising a first panel, and a second panel joined by a joining element; wherein:

- each first and second panel is a flat, preferably rectangular, piece of construction material made to form part of a wall surface; and

- each first and second panel comprises two opposite surfaces, a first surface, and a second surface; wherein both the first surface and the second surface of each panel in a panel unit, after mounting of the wall system, is either tilted relative to a vertical axis of said wall system, or relative to a horizontal axis of said wall system.

This aspect makes it possible for a single wall in a wall system according to the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem for two neighboring office spaces separated by the disclosed (partition) wall, as each side of an individual panel are operating/functioning on each office space.

A second aspect relates to a partition wall system or office wall system comprising one or more panel units, each panel unit comprising a first panel, and a second panel joined by a joining element; wherein:

- each first and second panel comprises two opposite surfaces, a first surface, and a second surface; wherein either the first surface and/or the second surface of each panel in a panel unit, after mounting of the wall system, is either tilted relative to a vertical axis of said wall system, or relative to a horizontal axis of said wall system.

In the present context, the term “flat” means that the dimensions defining the first and second surfaces are significantly larger, i.e. , at least 5 to 10 times larger, than the dimension defining the thickness i.e. , the maximum distance between the first and the second surfaces. The term “flat” does not necessitate that the first and second surfaces are parallel. The surfaces may in some embodiments be corrugated, frosted, or rough, preferably to scatter or diffuse incoming sound waves.

The partition wall system or office wall system of the present invention is created to solve acoustic problems in open offices, divided offices, and meeting rooms, where a great degree of transparency is required, while at the same time securing privacy.

The partition wall system or office wall system is thought to alleviate the problem of low productivity, stress, unfocused work, etc., that is caused by standing waves (resonance) and flutter echoes, by using two acoustic principles that have not previously been connected to glass walls - namely scattering/diffusion and absorption.

The partition wall system or office wall system is preferably adapted to divide a room while keeping the transparent advantages of a normal glass wall, although the wall system also may be made in a nontransparent material. In the present context, the term “transparent” is to be understood as having a transmission of at least 50% of incident visible light.

In one or more embodiments, the panels are transparent, e.g., preferably made of glass, or a polymeric material, such as polycarbonate. In some embodiments, the panels may sound proofing, such as comprising two or more sheets (e.g., of different thickness), e.g., of glass, with a gas (e.g., air, helium, or xenon) filled void therebetween.

The originally used glass is substituted by a one or more panel units, each comprising a first panel, and a second panel joined by a joining element. The panel unit is preferably constructed as a repetitive pattern of panels and joining elements, e.g., a first panel, a first joining element, a second panel, a second joining element, a third panel, a third joining element, a fourth panel, a fourth joining element, etc. Each panel in a panel unit, after mounting of the wall system, is tilted relative to a vertical axis of said wall system, or relative to a horizontal axis of said wall system. When e.g., speech (sound waves) hits the tilted glass, the sound will be scattered, thereby preventing flutter echoes and resonance/standing waves that would have occurred on parallel glass walls.

Both the first surface and the second surface of each panel in a panel unit, after mounting of the wall system, is preferably tilted at an acute angle relative to a vertical axis of said wall system, or relative to a horizontal axis of said wall system. The acute angle is preferably within the range of 2-25 degrees, e.g., within the range of 5-20 degrees.

In one or more embodiments, both the first surface and the second surface of each panel in a panel unit, after mounting of the wall system, is tilted relative to a vertical axis of said wall system and wherein said joining element extends parallel to said vertical axis. Preferably, all panels in a panel unit are parallel to one another. Alternatively, each second panel may be mutually parallel.

In one or more embodiments, both the first surface and the second surface of each panel in a panel unit, after mounting of the wall system, is tilted relative to a horizontal axis of said wall system and wherein said joining element extends parallel to said horizontal axis. Preferably, all panels in a panel unit are parallel to one another. Alternatively, each second panel may be mutually parallel.

In a preferred embodiment, the panels are elongate. Such panels may be placed such that they extend in the horizontal direction of the wall system. Alternatively, such panels may be placed to extend in the vertical direction of the wall system.

The panels preferably have a width within the range of 10-400 cm, and a length within the range of 10-400 cm. Preferably, each panel is shaped as a rectangular prism, more preferably shaped as a cuboid prism, although cubic prism shaped panels may be used. The thickness of the panels is preferably within the range of 2-30 mm, such as within the range of 3-25 mm, e.g., within the range of 4-20 mm, such as within the range of 5-15 mm, e.g., within the range of 5-10 mm. The panels preferably have a width within the range of 10-400 cm, such as within the range of 15-350 cm, e.g., within the range of 20-300 cm, such as within the range of 30-250 cm, e.g., within the range of 40-200 cm, such as within the range of 50-150 cm, e.g., within the range of 75-100 cm. The panels preferably have a length within the range of 10-400 cm, such as within the range of 15-350 cm, e.g., within the range of 20-300 cm, such as within the range of 30-250 cm, e.g., within the range of 40-200 cm, such as within the range of 50-150 cm, e.g., within the range of 75-100 cm. The length, width, and thickness of the panels may be varied within the above-described ranges.

The joining element may be of many different configurations. Its primary function is to be adapted to support the first and second panels in their tilted position. Secondary functions may be to absorb and/or scatter the sound waves.

In one or more embodiments, the joining element comprises a profile, preferably an arcuated profile, e.g., made of metal, a polymeric material, or wood. The profile, or joining element in general, may be configured to separate the panels in either the horizontal or vertical direction, e.g., to form part of the wall surface together with the panels. The profile, or joining element in general, may be configured to separate the first panel from the second panel within the range of 1-20 cm, such as within the range of 2-18 cm, e.g., within the range of 3-16, such as within the range of 4-15 cm, preferably within the range of 5-10 cm in either the horizontal or vertical direction.

In one or more embodiments, the joining element comprises a cavity at least partly filled with a material suitable for absorbing sound waves, such as stone wool, felt, or a polymeric foam material, and wherein said profile is perforated, thereby allowing sound waves to pass therethrough and into said cavity. The perforations may e.g., be holes or slots. The sound (e.g., speech) that enter the perforated profile comes either directly from the source of the sound or hits the tilted panels first, and then gets scattered whereafter some of the sound waves enter the perforated profile.

In one or more embodiments, the joining element comprises a first recess adapted for receiving an edge of the first panel, and a second recess adapted for receiving the second panel. The first and second recesses are preferably parallel relative to one another. Preferably, the first and second recesses extend along the entire length of the joining element. Preferably, the length of the joining element corresponds to the length of the first and second panels. Different joining elements for the same wall system may be used, such as adapted for providing varying degrees of tilted panels in the same wall. In one or more embodiments, wall system comprises a kit of joining elements, each adapted for providing different degrees of tilt to the panels, e.g., one joining elements may provide a tilt to a panel of a first angle, such as 7 degrees, and another joining element may provide a tilt to the same panel of a second angle, such as 10 degrees. This may, if both types of joining elements are used for the same wall, e.g., make it possible to construct a curved wall system.

In one or more embodiments, the joining element extends along an entire top face, bottom face, or side face of said first and second panels, thereby closing the space between said first and second panels.

In one or more embodiments, each panel unit is mounted, preferably releasably mounted, between a pair of supporting beams (e.g., if the panels are elongate and extend in the vertical direction relative to the wall) and/or posts (e.g., if the panels are elongate and extend in the horizontal direction relative to the wall). The joining element may comprise one or more channels in each side/end, each channel adapted for receiving a screw or a bolt. Corresponding channels may be formed in each supporting beam and/or post. Thereby, each panel unit may be releasably mounted between a pair of supporting beams and/or posts by screws or bolts.

In one or more embodiments, the first surface, and the second surface in each panel are parallel relative to one another.

In one or more embodiments, the joining element is releasably fastened to both said first and second panels.

A third aspect relates to an office comprising walls made from a wall system according to the present invention.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of an office made from wall systems in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. Figure 2 shows a closeup view of a part of the office shown in Figure 1 .

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a panel unit in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to Figure 1 , the general scheme of the invention is shown. Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of an office with two office spaces, each made from wall systems 100 in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. Each wall system 100 comprises one or more panel units 200, depending on how each panel unit is defined. In principle, a panel unit comprises alternating panels and joining elements. The simplest panel unit 200A comprises a first panel 210, and a second panel 220 joined by a joining element 230, and the next in size comprises a first panel 210, and a second panel 220 joined by a first joining element 230, while the second panel is further joined to a third panel 240 via a second joining element 250. The two panel units 200A, 200B are here shown (see Figure 2) joined together via a third joining element 260, by joining the second panel 220 of the first panel unit 200A to the first panel 210 of the second panel unit 200B. In principle, the first 200A and second 200B panel units may together be seen as a single relatively larger panel unit with five panels and four joining elements.

Each panel 210, 220, 240 are here shown as a flat rectangular piece of transparent construction material made to form part of a wall surface. As best seen in Figure 3, each panel 210, 220 comprises two opposite surfaces, a first surface 212, 222, and a second surface 214, 224.

In this embodiment (see Figures 2 and 3), both the first surface 212, 222 and the second surface 214, 224 of each panel 210, 220, after mounting of the wall system, is either tilted at an acute angle relative to a vertical axis “A” of the wall system, or relative to a horizontal axis “B” of the wall system, depending on which type of wall system 100 they are a part of. Figure 2 shows examples of both types of wall systems. In the first example, the joining element 230 also extends parallel to the vertical axis “A”, and in the second example, the joining element 230 extends parallel to the horizontal axis “B”. Each joining element 230, 250, 260 extends along an entire top face, bottom face, or side face of a respective panel, thereby closing the space between “neighboring” panels.

Each panel unit 100 is releasably mounted between a pair of supporting beams 270 or posts 280. This may e.g., be done by bolting the joining elements 230 to the beams 270 or posts 280. In such an embodiment, the joining elements may be provided with bolt holes 239, as shown in Figure 3.

In this specific embodiment, the joining elements 230, 250, 260 each comprise an arcuated profile 234, e.g., made of metal, a polymeric material, or wood. The joining element may comprise a cavity (see Figure 3) filled with a material 236 suitable for absorbing sound waves. Such a material may e.g., be stone wool, felt, or a polymeric foam material. Preferably, the profile 234 is perforated (not shown), thereby allowing sound waves to pass through these perforations and into the cavity. The sound (e.g., speech) that enter the perforated profile 234 comes either directly from the source of the sound or hits the tilted panels 210, 220 first, and then gets scattered whereafter some of the sound waves enter the perforated profile 234.

The joining element 230 is here shown comprising a first recess 232 adapted for receiving an edge of the first panel 210, and a second recess 238 adapted for receiving an edge of the second panel 220. The first and second recesses 232, 238 are parallel relative to one another and each extend along the entire length of the joining element 230. In Figure 3, the length of the joining element 230 corresponds to the length of the first 210 and second 220 panels. References

100 Wall system

200 Panel unit

210 First panel

212 First Surface

214 Second surface

220 Second panel

222 First Surface

224 Second surface

230 Joining element

232 First recess

234 Profile

236 Material suitable for absorbing sound waves

238 Second recess

239 Bolt hole

240 Third panel

250 Joining element

260 Joining element

270 Supporting beam

280 Supporting post

Claims

1 . A partition wall system or office wall system (100) comprising one or more panel units (200), each panel unit (200) comprising: i) a first panel (210); ii) a second panel (220); and iii) a joining element (230) adapted for joining said first (210) and second (220) panels; wherein:

- each first (210) and second panel (220) is a flat, preferably rectangular, piece of construction material made to form part of a wall surface; and

- each first (210) and second (220) panel comprises two opposite surfaces, a first surface (212, 222), and a second surface (214, 224); wherein the joining element (230) extends along an entire top face, bottom face, or side face of said first and second panels (210, 220), thereby closing the space between said first and second panels (210, 220); characterized in that both the first surface (214, 224) and the second surface (212, 222) of each panel (210, 220) in a panel unit (200), after mounting of the partition wall or office wall system (100), is tilted at an acute angle of within the range of 2-25 degrees relative to a vertical axis (A) of said partition wall or office wall system (100), or relative to a horizontal axis (B) of said partition wall or office wall system (100) .

2. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to claim 1 , wherein both the first surface and the second surface (212, 222) of each panel (210, 220) in a panel unit (200), after mounting of the wall system (100), is tilted relative to a vertical axis (A) of said wall system (100) and wherein said joining element (230) extends parallel to said vertical axis (A).

3. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to claim 1 , wherein both the first surface and the second surface (212, 222) of each panel (210, 220) in a panel unit (200), after mounting of the wall system (100), is tilted relative to a horizontal axis (B) of said wall system (100) and wherein said joining element (230) extends parallel to said horizontal axis (B).

4. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-2, wherein both the first surface and the second surface (212, 222) of each panel (210, 220) in a panel unit (200), after mounting of the wall system (100), is tilted at an acute angle relative to a vertical axis (A) of said wall system, or relative to a horizontal axis (B) of said wall system (100).

5. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-4, wherein each panel unit (200) is mounted, preferably releasably mounted, between a pair of supporting beams (270) and/or posts (280).

6. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-5, wherein each panel (210, 220) in a panel unit (200) are parallel to one another.

7. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein the joining element (230) comprises a profile (234), preferably an arcuated profile (234), e.g., made of metal, a polymeric material, or wood, wherein the joining element (230) further comprises a cavity at least partly filled with a material (236) suitable for absorbing sound waves, such as stone wool, felt, or a polymeric foam material, and wherein said profile is perforated, thereby allowing sound waves to pass therethrough and into said cavity.

8. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-7, wherein the panels (210, 220) are transparent, e.g., preferably made of glass, or a polymeric material, such as polycarbonate.

9. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1 -8, wherein the panels (210, 220) are of a thickness within the range of 5 to 15 mm.

10. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-9, wherein the panels (210, 220) have a width within the range of 10-400 cm, and a length within the range of 10-400 cm, and wherein each panel (210, 220) is shaped as a rectangular prism.

11 . The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the panel unit is constructed as a repetitive pattern of panels (210,220) and joining elements (230).

12. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-11 , wherein the first surface (212, 222), and the second surface (214, 224) in each panel (210, 220) are parallel relative to one another.

13. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-12, wherein the joining element (230) is releasably fastened to both said first (210) and second (220) panels.

14. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1 -13, wherein the joining element (230) comprises a first recess (232) adapted for receiving an edge of the first panel (210), and a second recess (238) adapted for receiving an edge of the second panel (220).

15. The partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to claim 14, wherein the first and second recesses (232, 238) are parallel relative to one another, and each extend along the entire length of the joining element (230).

16. An office comprising walls made from the partition wall system or office wall system (100) according to any one of the claims 1-15.