U.S. patent application number 12/997553 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-07 for partitioning wall consisting of transparent wall elements.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dorma GmbH + Co. KG. Invention is credited to Olaf Luttmann.
Application Number | 20110078960 12/997553 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41317697 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110078960 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luttmann; Olaf |
April 7, 2011 |
Partitioning Wall Consisting of Transparent Wall Elements
Abstract
A partitioning wall with several wall elements which are movably
accommodated via a guiding assembly. The wall elements have two
transparent pane elements which are disposed parallel to and spaced
apart from each other, and wherein the wall elements have a profile
frame for accommodating the pane elements and furthermore for
accommodating a sound insulation device therein in order to
sound-proof the wall element at least at a floor and at a
ceiling.
Inventors: |
Luttmann; Olaf; (Bad
Zwischenahn, DE) |
Assignee: |
Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
Ennepetal
DE
|
Family ID: |
41317697 |
Appl. No.: |
12/997553 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
May 29, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2009/003854 |
371 Date: |
December 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 3/4609 20130101;
E06B 3/025 20130101; E04B 2/827 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/64 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/343 20060101
E04B001/343 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 027 821.1 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A partitioning wall with a plurality of wall elements that are
configured to be movably accommodated via a guiding assembly, each
wall element comprising: two transparent pane elements that are
disposed parallel to and spaced apart from each other; a sound
insulation device configured to sound-proof the wall element at
least at a floor and at a ceiling; and a profile frame for
accommodating the pane elements and furthermore for accommodating
the sound insulation device therein.
17. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein a lateral
surface of the wall element is predominantly formed by the pane
elements, and the profile frame configured to surround and enclose
the pane elements only at respective borders of the panes.
18. The partitioning wall according to claim 17, wherein the pane
elements are glass pane, and at least one of the two glass panes is
one of a single-glazed pane and a double-glazed pane.
19. The partitioning wall according to claim 18, wherein the two
glass panes are configured as single-glazed panes accommodated in
the profile frame, a combined glass pane thicknesses of one of
approximately 6 mm each, and approximately 10 mm and approximately
8 mm respectively.
20. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein the two
glass panes are accommodated in the profile frame at a distance
with respect to each other of at least about 50 mm.
21. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein the
profile frame is a rectangular frame that comprises: two vertically
extending lateral frame parts; a horizontally extending head beam
on the ceiling-side; and a horizontally extending lower beam on the
floor side.
22. The partitioning wall according to claim 21, wherein the sound
insulation system comprises respective sealing elements arranged in
at least one of the head beam and the lower beam that are
configured to be driven out of the at least one of the head beam
against the ceiling and the lower beam against the floor.
23. The partitioning wall according to claim 22, wherein, at least
one of the plural wall elements further comprises: at least one of:
a first drive unit arranged in the head beam and a second drive
unit in the lower beam, wherein the sealing element arranged in the
one of the head beam and the lower beam are displaceable against
the ceiling and against the floor by the respective drive unit.
24. The partitioning wall according to claim 17, wherein the
profile frame has a width less than about 200 mm measured from the
enclosed pane element to a border of the wall element, to
substantially form the lateral surface of the wall element by the
pane element.
25. The partitioning wall according to claim 21, wherein at least
one clip strip is arranged to accommodate a respective one of the
pane elements in the profile frame.
26. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein each clip
strip is disposed at an exterior side at the profile frame and in
that both pane elements are held against the profile frame by the
respective clip strip by elastic pressure.
27. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein a lateral
height dimension of the clip strip across the pane element that
contributes to the thickness of the wall element is less than a
thickness of a pane element.
28. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein a
respective at least one of the clip strips disposed at one of the
head beam and the lower beam and is configured as a part of the
profile frame, wherein a respective insertable sealing is provided
that is configured to be insertable between the clip strip and the
pane element to generate a pre-pressure of the pane element at the
profile frame.
29. The partitioning wall according to claim 25, wherein the clip
strips that are disposed at the vertically extending lateral frame
parts and at the head beam have a U-shaped extruded profile,
wherein a first U-leg engages positively in the lateral frame part,
respectively in the head beam and a second U-leg generates a
pressure of the pane element at the profile frame.
30. The partitioning wall according to claim 16, wherein the wall
element has a thickness dimension less than about 120 mm.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This is a U.S. national stage of Application No.
PCT/EP2009/003854, filed on May 29, 2009, which claims priority to
German Application No: 10 2008 027 821.1, filed: Jun. 11, 2008, the
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a partitioning wall
comprising several wall elements movably accommodated via a guiding
assembly. The lateral plane surfaces of the wall elements are
formed by transparent pane elements to create a translucent mobile
partitioning wall comprising of several wall elements.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Such wall elements for forming a mobile partitioning wall
with transparent pane elements find their application in spaces
such as shop premises as a mobile fenestrated facade, in businesses
for variably creating customer areas, in public buildings, and in
particular in banks, where, after business hours, an interior space
of the customer area is separated from an exterior space. The
transparent pane elements have fittings to which guiding assemblies
are mounted in order to accommodate the wall elements for example
in a ceiling rail system and to guide them therein. The pane
elements are very often individually disposed and form the actual
body of the wall element. In this case, the fittings are disposed
at the top side and the bottom side of the pane element such that,
in the event several wall elements are disposed next to each other
for forming the partitioning wall, the pane elements made from
glass directly adjoin each other.
[0006] Such partitioning walls with several glass elements, which
are configured with transparent pane elements, have the
disadvantage of lacking sound insulation, because, on the one hand,
the pane elements are only single-walled and not double-walled and,
on the other hand, the border area of the pane elements has no
sound proofing. In fact, wall elements are known for forming
partitioning walls which have sound insulation devices, such
devices are however not known for wall elements consisting of
transparent pane elements. Incorporating a sound insulation device
into the fittings which enclose the pane elements at least at the
top side and at the bottom side, already poses a problem.
[0007] Furthermore, partitioning walls with several wall elements
are known, wherein the wall elements have a frame structure in
which boards are inserted which are cut to size and consist of
MDF-boards, solid wood boards or of plastic material boards. Such
wall elements have sound insulation devices in order to provide a
sound-proof mobile partitioning wall. Furthermore, wall elements
with windows are known which, in the shape of a cut-out, are
incorporated into the lateral boards. The window opening within the
lateral boards does not interfere with incorporating the sound
insulation device, which usually takes up a considerable structural
space and is based on a spindle system by which the sealing
elements are moved against both the floor and the ceiling of the
room.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
partitioning wall with several wall elements which includes an
enhanced range of functions.
[0009] The inventive partitioning wall according to one embodiment
has several wall elements movably accommodated via a guiding
assembly. The wall elements have two transparent pane elements
disposed parallel to and spaced apart from each other. The wall
elements have a profile frame for accommodating the pane elements
and furthermore for accommodating a sound insulation device
therein, to sound-proof the wall elements at least at a floor and
at a ceiling.
[0010] The inventive partitioning wall combines the characteristics
of a transparent partitioning wall with the advantages of sound
insulation. It is the inventive reception of the pane elements in a
profile frame, which constitutes the prerequisite for incorporating
a sound insulation device into the wall elements. On the one hand,
the sound insulation is provided by proofing the wall elements in a
sound-insulating manner at the floor and at the ceiling of the
room. On the other hand, the plane-parallel disposition of two
transparent pane elements spaced apart from each other contributes
to the sound insulation. This is only possible by the profile
frame, which, in combination with the transparent pane elements,
forms the wall element. The given distance of the two transparent
pane elements with regard to each other increases the effect of the
sound insulation, wherein a wider distance between the pane
elements results in better sound insulation values.
[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, the lateral
surfaces of the wall element are mainly formed by the pane
elements, wherein the profile frame only surrounds the borders of
the pane elements and encloses them. Thereby a distinct
differentiation of the inventive wall element from known wall
elements is provided, which have enclosed non-transparent boards as
the lateral surfaces and have a window opening. Such conventional
wall elements have lateral surfaces which are mainly formed by
non-transparent lateral boards. In this case however, the inventive
wall element has just a profile frame which is so narrow that it
only shows in the border area and encloses the pane elements in the
profile frame. The ratio between the lateral surface, which is
formed by the profile frame, compared to the lateral surface, which
is formed by the pane element, can be compared to the one of a
window leaf of a building. A window frame of a window leaf encloses
the window pane only at the border such that the window frame
represents a negligible portion of the lateral surface of the
window.
[0012] The pane elements of the inventive wall element may consist
of all known transparent materials, which can be utilized as such
pane elements. Consequently, the pane elements can be manufactured
from plastic material, which has transparent features, such as
given for example with acrylic glass (PMMA). However, the pane
elements are preferably made from glass panes, wherein at least one
of the two pane elements may be a single-glazed pane or also a
double-glazed pane. In addition to improved sound insulation also
thermal insulation is made possible by utilizing double-glazed
panes, as long as the inventive partitioning wall needs to fulfil
the function of thermal insulation. Furthermore, in this case the
profile frame may have a thermal barrier in that it includes for
example both an interior and an exterior aluminium profile, which
on the inside, are held together via plastic webs. A barrier
against heat flow from a warm side to a cold side is thereby
created, which sides are separated by the partitioning wall. It may
be sufficient in this case to execute at least one of the two pane
elements as a double-glazed pane, wherein the second glass pane may
be a single-glazed pane.
[0013] It is furthermore possible to configure the glass panes as
single-glazed panes and to either combine them with a pane of
identical or of different thickness. It is advantageous for example
to combine glass pane thicknesses of 6 mm and 6 mm, wherein also a
combination of 8mm and 10 mm is possible which allows for an
improved sound insulation. Combining different glass pane
thicknesses results in reduced resonance effects, whereby again the
sound insulation can be further increased.
[0014] The wider the distance of the pane elements with regard to
each other, the better the sound insulation effect. However, the
wall element should not exceed a given width dimension, it is
therefore advantageous to dispose the pane elements in the wall
element if possible on the outside. Therefore, the profile frame
should not protrude significantly beyond the exterior surfaces of
the pane elements. Advantageously the distance of the two glass
panes accommodated in the profile frame has a value of at least 50
mm, preferably a value of at least 60 mm and particularly preferred
a value of at least 80 mm, wherein the wall element altogether does
not exceed a thickness of 100 mm.
[0015] In one embodiment, the profile frame has vertically
extending lateral frame parts which are combined according to a
tongue-and-groove connection such that several wall elements can be
disposed next to each other and form a positive engagement.
Consequently, a wall element has a first, vertically extending
lateral frame part on a first side, which part comprises a groove,
wherein the opposite second, vertically extending frame part on the
second side has a tongue geometry. Again sealing elements for
improving the sound insulation may be provided in the
tongue-and-groove joining geometry. On the upper side, the profile
frame consists of a horizontally extending head beam and on the
floor side, of a horizontally extending lower beam. As a result, a
mostly rectangular profile frame is formed wherein the vertically
extending lateral frame parts are connected to the respective head
and lower beams. The connection may be done by angle sections,
wherein those may be made from a tougher material, for example from
a steel material, because the weight of the pane elements is
carried via the angle sections, since the wall elements are mostly
accommodated with a guiding assembly, which is mounted to the
ceiling of the room. Such wall elements may include heights of more
than four metres such that two thicker glass panes inserted into a
profile frame total up to a considerable weight which is initially
absorbed by the lower beam and, via the angle sections, is
introduced into the vertically extending lateral frame parts.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
partitioning wall has a sound insulation device disposed in the
head beam and/or in the lower beam. The sound insulation device has
sealing elements which respectively are movable out of the head
beam against the ceiling and out of the lower beam against the
floor. The sealing elements have to be displaceably disposed in the
head and lower beams, because the sealing elements are only
displaced towards the ceiling and the floor once the wall element
has reached its terminal position in the partitioning wall.
Consequently, the wall element can be moved within the guiding
assembly without the sealing elements sealing at the ceiling and at
the floor.
[0017] For displacing the sealing elements it is intended,
according to the invention that, in one wall element, a first drive
unit is provided in the head beam and a second drive unit in the
lower beam, which units, independently from each other, displace a
respective sealing element both against the ceiling and against the
floor. Unlike conventional wall elements, in which a single drive
unit displaces both a first sealing element against the ceiling and
a second sealing element against the floor, in the inventive wall
element, the sealing elements have separate drive units for sealing
at the ceiling and at the floor. For creating the inventive
embodiment of the wall element with a profile frame in which the
drive units are incorporated at the top and at the bottom, the
drive units need to be adapted to the available structural space
within the head beam and the lower beam. An alternatively embodied
drive unit may include a spindle system, which has only one drive
which is incorporated in one of the vertically extending lateral
frame parts and cooperates with both sealing elements, the one on
the ceiling side and the one on the floor side. It is only in this
way that the drive for the sealing elements on the top side and on
the bottom side can be reduced to just one drive unit.
Independently from disposing the drive unit in the lateral frame
parts or in the head beam and the lower beam, the former is at
least located away from the centre of the wall element.
Consequently, the disposition of the drive unit does not interfere
with the transparency of the wall elements.
[0018] Preferably the profile frame is defined by a width which
does not exceed a value of 200 mm, preferably a value of 150 mm and
particularly preferred a value of 120 mm. It is guaranteed in this
way that the lateral surface of the wall element is predominantly
formed by the pane element. In particular the breast height from
the floor to the upper edge of the profile frame in the area of the
lower beam is limited to a value of 120 mm, wherein a smaller width
of the profile frame contributes to a desired filigree appearance
of the partitioning wall.
[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment, clip strips
are provided by which the pane elements are accommodated in the
profile frame. The clip strips are disposed on the outside at the
profile frame such that both pane elements are held at the profile
frame by the clip strips by elastic pressure. The clip strip, on
the side of the lower beam, may be configured integrally with the
lower beam such that the pane elements can be inserted,
respectively placed at first into the lower clip strip.
Subsequently, the clip strips are inserted in the lateral frame
parts as well as in the head beam in order to affix the pane
element in the profile frame. The clip strips disposed at the
vertically extending lateral frame parts as well as at the head
beam, have a U-shaped extruded profile. With a first U-leg, the
U-shaped extruded profile achieves a positive engagement in the
lateral frame part and, with a second U-leg, generates a pressure
urging the pane elements against the profile frame. Compared to the
first U-leg, this second U-leg is configured longer and extends
over portions of the pane element. In order to allow for
elastically accommodating the pane elements in the profile frame,
insertable sealings are provided which cooperate with the clip
strips. Over the entire circumference of the profile frame, the
insertable sealings are pressed in between the second leg of the
clip strip and the pane element and they are able to latch with the
clip strips. The insertable sealings may consist of a rubber-like
material for both providing a sealing against contamination, which
might get between the pane elements, and allowing for resilience
between the profile frame and the pane element, for example to
compensate for thermal expansion.
[0020] Altogether the wall element has a thickness of approximately
100 mm. The stacking height of the wall elements in a parking
position is thereby reduced. Furthermore, a smaller thickness of
the wall element contributes to a filigree appearance, wherein at
the same time it is desired to accommodate the pane elements at a
large distance with regard to each other in the profile frame.
Consequently, the clip strips only have a small height above the
pane element, which is less than the thickness of the pane element,
in order to avoid an unnecessary increase in the overall thickness
of the wall elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] Hereinafter, further measures enhancing the invention will
be illustrated in detail in conjunction with the description of one
preferred embodiment of the invention based on the Figures, in
which:
[0022] FIG. 1: is a perspective view of an inventive wall element
for forming a mobile partitioning wall;
[0023] FIG. 2: is a cross-sectional view in the cross-sectional
plane which is identified by II-II in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3: is a detailed view of how the clip strip is arranged
at the profile frame with an associated insertable sealing
according to the detail III which is shown in FIG. 2;
[0025] FIG. 4a: is a cross-sectional view of the profile frame in
the area of a vertically extending lateral frame part which is
configured as a groove;
[0026] FIG. 4b: is a cross-sectional view through a vertically
extending lateral frame part, which is configured as a tongue,
and
[0027] FIG. 5: is a detailed view of a clip strip arranged with an
insertable sealing in the area of a lateral frame part according to
the detail IV of FIG. 4a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a wall element 1.
Several such wall elements 1 may be disposed bordering each other
in a room, such as to form a partitioning wall. For displacing the
wall elements 1, they have a guiding assembly 2 via which the wall
elements 1 are displaceable in a rail system, which is incorporated
for example in the ceiling of a room. The guiding assembly 2 has a
plurality of rollers which either only roll in the rail system for
guiding the wall element 1 or they may be driven in order to form
an automatically displaceable partitioning wall. Essentially the
wall element 1 has two transparent pane elements 3 which are
disposed parallel at a distance to each other and are accommodated
in a profile frame 4. The profile frame 4 has a rectangular shape
and surrounds the pane elements 3. As shown in the perspective view
of the wall element 1, the profile frame 4 just forms a small
portion of the lateral surface of the wall element 1 such that the
width B of the profile frame 4 amounts to only a small portion of
the lateral overall dimensions of the wall element 1. The profile
frame 4 has two vertically extending lateral frame parts 4a and 4b,
which are connected via a head beam 4c at the upper side, and a
lower beam 4d at the lower side of the wall element 1. FIG. 2 is a
cross-sectional view in the cross-sectional plane II-II through the
lower beam 4d.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows the cross-sectional view through the wall
element 1 in the area of the lower beam 4d according to the section
II-II of FIG. 1. The pane elements 3 are visible in this
cross-section, wherein a narrow pane element 3 is inserted on the
left hand side and a thicker pane element 3 on the right hand side,
which panes are disposed at a distance with regard to each other.
The distance of the pane elements 3 with regard to each other is
determined by the width of the profile frame 4. In this case, the
pane elements 3 are accommodated at the widest possible distance
with regard to each other within a profile frame 4, which distance
is even more increased by a glazing tape 10 in order to compensate
for the smaller thickness of the pane element 3 on the left hand
side.
[0030] A sound insulating device 5 is incorporated into the lower
beam 4d of the profile frame 4 and has at least one sealing element
8, which is displaceable against a floor 11 by a drive unit 9. The
sealing element 8 consists of at least one rubber lip which, in
addition to other sealing elements 12, extends across the entire
width of the wall element 1. The sealing elements 8 and 12 are
accommodated in a reception frame 13 which is vertically movable
against the floor by the drive unit 9.
[0031] The lower beam 4d has exterior clip strips 6 which are
integrally configured with the lower beam 4d. The clip strips 6
have a U-shaped cross-section, such that the pane elements 3 can be
initially inserted into the clip strips 6. As the clip strips 6 are
disposed at the underside, the pane elements 3 are held therein by
their gravity and an insertable sealing 7 can be subsequently
inserted between the clip strip 6 and the pane elements 3 in order
to finally accommodate the pane element 3 in the profile frame 4. A
detailed view of an insertable sealing 7 disposed in the clip strip
6 is illustrated in more detail according to the detail III in FIG.
3.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the detail III of FIG. 2.
The clip strip 6 is a structural component of the lower beam 4d and
has a leg which extends on the exterior side across the pane
element 3. At the end side, the clip strip 6 has a latching
geometry 14 by which the insertable sealing 7 can be held in place.
The sealing has a depression 15 into which the nose-like latching
geometry 14 of the clip strip 6 can engage. Consequently, there is
the possibility of pressing the insertable sealing 7 in between the
clip strip 6 and the pane element 3, wherein the insertable sealing
7 is shown in the non-deformed condition, and the insertable
sealing 7 is deformed by pressing it against the surface of the
pane element 3.
[0033] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a cross-sectional view of the profile
frame 4 in the area of the lateral frame parts 4a and 4b. A
cross-section of a lateral frame part 4a disposed on the left hand
side is shown in FIG. 4a and a cross-sectional view of the lateral
frame part 4b of the profile frame 4 is shown in FIG. 4b. The
lateral frame part 4a is configured as a groove element, whereas
the lateral frame part 4b forms a tongue element which is intended
to engage in the groove element 4a of a neighbouring wall element.
Further sealing elements 16 and 17 are disposed in the
tongue-and-groove geometry in order to likewise configure the
proper joint between the wall elements to be sound-proof.
[0034] Furthermore, the view shows two pane elements 3, which are
accommodated at a distance with regard to each other in the lateral
frame part 4a and 4b. The reception is realized via clip strips 6
which cooperate with an insertable sealing 7 in the same way as
already described for the reception of the pane element 3 in the
area of the lower beam according to FIG. 3. The clip strips 6 in
the area of the lateral frame parts 4a and 4b are however
configured as individual parts and have a U-shaped form with a
short and a long U-leg. The short U-leg engages positively in the
geometry of the lateral frame part 4a and 4b such that the long
U-leg extends along a portion across the pane element 3. An
insertable sealing 7, which is configured in the same way as the
insertable sealing 7 in the area of the lower beam, is again
inserted at the end side of the long U-leg of the clip strip 6.
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the clip strip 6 disposed at
the lateral frame part 4a according to the detail IV of FIG. 4a.
The pane element 3 shown in this case is configured to be thinner
such that a glazing tape 10 is inserted into the reception geometry
of the lateral frame part 4a in order to compensate for the width
of the reception opening for accommodating the pane element 3.
[0036] The connection between the insertable sealing 7 and the clip
strip 6 is accomplished in the same way via a latching geometry 14,
which is configured at the clip strip 6 and positively engages in a
depression 15 provided in the insertable sealing 7. The insertable
sealing 7 has an elastic material like a rubber band and the like
such that it can deform and, on account of the deformation,
generates a pressure of the pane element 3 against the glazing tape
10, respectively against the profile frame 4.
[0037] The invention in its configuration is not limited to the
above presented preferred embodiment. On the contrary, a number of
variants are conceivable, which make use of the presented solution,
likewise with basically different types of executions. In
particular, the pane elements 3 may be made from polarized glass in
order to temporarily rescind the transparency of the pane elements
by means of appropriate electric circuitry. Furthermore, special
gas may be introduced between the two pane elements 3, which will
allow for improved insulation features for sound insulation. The
material of the profile frame 4 may be an aluminium extruded
profile, which may have a split execution and comprise a plastic
bridge in order to provide thermal insulation between the two
exterior surfaces of the wall element 1.
[0038] Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out
fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a
preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various
omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of
the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all
combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform
substantially the same function in substantially the same way to
achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.
Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements
and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any
disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated
in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment
as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention,
therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the
claims appended hereto.
* * * * *