Wall Structure

Abstract

A wall structure adapted to be built into a wall, the wall having service conduits passing therewithin, having a framework made up of a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members, and a console having a plurality of outlets therein, the console being mounted to the framework, and the outlets being connected to the service conduits, whereby they become service outlets.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wall construction, and more particularly to a portion of a wall which has fixed thereto service outlets.

It has been found that, during the time from the original designing of a hospital to its actual construction, a large amount of medical advancement takes place. New services may be available for use in hospital rooms which were not available a short while earlier. Furthermore, the problem is a continuing one, since perhaps a few years after the hospital is built, further changes might be desired. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a wall of a hospital room which allows service outlets thereon to be altered in a convenient manner.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wall structure having service outlets therein, the wall structure being a part of the wall and allowing changes to be made to the service outlets easily and conveniently. It is a further object of this invention to provide a wall structure which combines with the rest of the wall of which it is a part to provide a neat and attractive wall appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly stated, the wall structure forms part of a wall, the wall having service conduits passing therewithin. The wall structure comprises a framework having a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members, each interconnecting the horizontal members. Included are outlet means fixed to the framework and connected to the service conduits, whereby the outlet means act as service outlets. The wall structure affords service outlets to both sides, so the common wall permits service to two rooms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wall structure built into a wall;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wall structure;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 is shown a wall structure 10 which forms part of a wall 12 of a hospital room. This wall structure 10 is built as part of the wall 12 as the hospital is constructed. The remainder portion 14 of the wall 12 may be of any well-known construction to complement and blend with the wall structure 10. Preferably, the wall structure 10 is strategically placed so that beds 16 and 18 may be placed on either side thereof.

Referring to FIG. 2, the wall structure 10 is shown in detail. It is made up generally of a framework 20 having upper and lower horizontal members 22 and 24, and vertical members 26 and 28 each interconnecting the horizontal members 22 and 24.

Disposed between the vertical members 26, 28 are a pair of consoles 30, 32 juxtaposed one above the other. The console 30 has a plurality of outlets 34 therein. As will be seen in FIG. 1, the outlets 34 are disposed on one side of the wall 12 when the structure 10 becomes part of the wall 12, and are then accessible from one room of the hospital.

The console 32 has a plurality of outlets therein (not shown). The console 32 is mounted with its outlets disposed on the opposite side of wall 12. Those outlets are thus accessible from the hospital room on the opposite side of wall 12. A similar assembly including consoles 36 and 38 may be included adjacent the bottom of the framework 20 to add more outlets in each room, if needed.

Built into the wall 12 and passing therewithin are a plurality of conduits 40. These conduits 40 may provide any of a variety of services, such as oxygen, intercommunication, telephone, electricity, and the like. These conduits connect to the outlets in consoles 30, 32, 36, 38 and these outlets act as service outlets, supplying electricity, oxygen, and so forth.

Panels, as 50, 52, 54, are mounted to the framework 20 by means best sown in FIG. 3. As will be seen therein, vertical member 26 has a pair of longitudinal ribs 26A, 26B formed thereon running from the bottom to the top thereof and extending inwardly of the framework 20. Vertical member 28 has a pair of longitudinal ribs 28A, 28B formed thereon along the length thereof and extending inwardly of the framework 20. Similarly (FIG. 2), horizontal member 22 has longitudinal ribs 22A, 22B formed thereon which extend inwardly of the framework 20, and consoles 30, 32 have longitudinal ribs 32A, 32B associated therewith which extend toward horizontal member 22. The ribs 26A, 28A, 22A, 32A cooperate to form a surface against which panel 50 is fitted. The panel 50 has U-shaped members 62, 64 mounted adjacent those edges thereof which are adapted to seat against ribs 26A, 28A. The U-shaped members 62, 64 are of width sufficient to receive the ribs 26A, 28A respectively, having holding edges 62A, 64A. These holding edges 62A, 64A set on the ribs 26A, 28A to hold the panel 50 to the frame 20 when the panel 50 is substantially centered thereon. However, the U-shaped members 62, 64 are of sufficient depth to allow the panel 50 to be moved a certain extent to the left or right of center (FIG. 3), and when the panel 50 is moved, for example, to the right, holding edge 62A moves to the right and no longer holds rib 26A therein, allowing that edge of the panel 50 to be swung outward. It thus results that as long as the panel 50 is held substantially centered, it will be held in place on the framework 20. If it is moved left or right, it may be removed from the framework.

Acting to keep the panel 50 substantially entered are resilient strips 66, 68 adhesively mounted to the members 26, 28, respectively, between the edges of the panel 50 and the members 26, 28. Under normal conditions, the panel 50 is held in a central position thereby. If it is desired to remove panel 50, it may, for example, be forced to the right (FIG. 3) against the resiliency of strip 68 until the holding edge 62A is past the end of rib 26A, whereby that edge of the panel 50, and thus the whole panel 50, may be removed. Replacement thereof is the opposite of these steps.

Additional resilient strips (not shown) may be mounted to the frame 20 along the upper and lower edges of the panel 50 to provide a neat and uniform appearance.

Ribs 26B, 28B, 22B, 32B cooperate to form a surface against which panel 52 is fitted. Panel 52 is substantially the same structurally as panel 50. Thus panel 52 is removably mounted to frame 20. Panel 54, and others, are similarly mounted, and are thus removable from the frame 20.

It will be seen that herein is provided a wall structure which is part of a wall and which has service outlets therein. Because of the panels thereon being removably mounted, access can be easily gained to the conduits within B Because of the panels being removably mounted, access can be easily gained to the conduits within the wall structure, and changes and repairs can be made thereto easily and conveniently. Furthermore, the wall structure combines with the remainder portion of the wall to provide a neat and attractive appearance.

Claims

I claim:

1. A wall structure forming part of a wall, said wall having service conduits passing therewithin, comprising:

a. framework having a pair of horizontal members and a pair of vertical members each interconnecting the horizontal members;

b. a first console fixed to and extending between said pair of vertical members of said framework;

c. a first plurality of outlets disposed in the first console on a side of the wall;

d. a second console fixed to and extending between said pair of vertical members of said framework; and

e. a second plurality of outlets disposed in the second console on the opposite side of the wall, the first and second pluralities of outlets being connected to the service conduits, whereby the outlets act as service outlets.

2. A wall structure according to claim 1 wherein are included panels and means for removably mounting the panels to the framework.

3. A wall structure according to claim 2 wherein the means for removably mounting a panel to the framework comprises:

a. a first U-shaped member fitted to an edge of the panel;

b. a first rib formed on the framework and extending toward the panel, the first U-shaped member being disposed with its open end toward the first rib to receive it therein;

c. a second U-shaped member fitted to an opposite edge of the panel;

d. a second rib formed on the framework opposite the first rib and extending toward the panel, the second U-shaped member being disposed with its open end toward the second rib to receive it therein when the first rib is received in the first U-shaped member whereby the panel is mounted to the framework, the closed ends of the first and second U-shaped members being spaced to allow movement of the first rib further into the first U-shaped member and simultaneous movement of the second rib from within the second U-shaped member, whereby the panel may be removed from the framework.

4. A wall structure according to claim 3 wherein are included a pair of spaced channel members each interconnecting the vertical members, the console being disposed therebetween.