Two-sectional Partition

Abstract

A displaceable partition, especially for business and office buildings and factories, which comprises oppositely located spaced boards with supporting post means therebetween which post means have longitudinally extending profiled portions resiliently and detachably engaged by resilient snap-on means connected to the inside of said board means.

Description

The present invention relates to a two-sectional displaceable inner partition the sections of which are connected to supports. Two-sectional lightweight structural walls are known. With these known walls, the two sections or forms have their edges connected to each other by strong bars or ledges. This has the drawback that such structure greatly favors the transmission of sound.

A two-sectional sound-absorbing wall has become known according to which the two sections are held in spaced relationship to each other by a frame. This frame also serves for connection between the ceiling and the floor. The sections are tightly pressed into the frame whereby between the sections and the frame a good sound transfer is made possible. Furthermore, a good fit is required between the frame and the sections which fit can be obtained only at relatively high costs. The assembly and disassembly of such walls is relatively complicated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a two-sectional inner partition which will have only relatively few parts and which can be assembled and disassembled in a particularly short time.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an inner partition as set forth above which has a good sound and, if desired, also heat-insulating effect and has considerable strength while using only nonburnable parts or elements.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing diagrammatically illustrating a section through a two-sectional partition according to the present invention.

The two-sectional displaceable inner partition according to the present invention, the sections of which are connected to supports arranged in spaced relationship to each other, is characterized primarily in that to the inner sides of said sections in the vicinity of the end portions thereof spring elements are connected which easily detachably engage longitudinal profiles of supports. The sheathinglike wall elements may be connected, with the inner partition according to the invention, by simply pressing the spring elements against the profiled portions of the supports whereby the spring elements snap into or lock with the said profiled portions. The dimensions and the spring properties of the spring elements may be so selected that the sheathinglike wall elements can without great physical effort be mounted by the construction workers by exerting a pressure along their surfaces. Consequently, the wall elements may with the inner partition according to the invention be assembled and disassembled in a minimum of time so that a fast putting up and relocation of the entire wall is possible.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the springs consist of sheet metal strips, especially steel sheet metal strips which are cranked several times or are bent to form tongues which protrude from the sheathing. Such springs, in addition to having excellent spring characteristics, have a long life and are resistant against the rough handling on the building lots. Moreover, such spring elements which preferably have their surfaces protected, are relatively easily and inexpensively to produce by cold rolling. If steel sheet metal strips are employed, it is suggested to use spring steel for such sheet metal strips inasmuch as the spring steel in addition to having good spring characteristics also is corrosion resistant.

According to a further feature of the invention, the supports are designed as hollow profiled beams which in the longitudinal direction of the wall on diametrically oppositely located sides are provided with two longitudinal profiles each which are arranged in spaced relationship to each other and form ribs. It is onto these longitudinal profiles that complementary groovelike or beadlike parts of the spring elements may resiliently snap. Such hollow profiled beams which are of a polygonal cross section or have their outsides provided with protruding profiles have excellent strength properties and a low weight and permit a fast but safe mounting of the wall sheathing. Since in addition to the profiles of the hollow profiled beams or the spring elements fixedly connected to the walls no loose parts, such as screws, clamps, cotter pins, wedges, bolts or rivets, are required for connecting the wall elements, the individual parts cannot get lost on the building lot and do not have to be kept in stock.

The protrusions of the supports and the notches or the like of the spring elements may be of triangular cross section. Such notches, beads, or the like can with a minimum of effort safely be brought into locking engagement with the profiles of the supports and can at any time be disconnected therefrom without the employment of special tools.

According to a further feature of the invention the gap between two adjacent outer sections is within the area of said supports covered by a cover strip on both longitudinal edges of the inner side which cover strip may have a likewise metallic spring element, for instance of steel sheet metal strips, which may be resiliently interlocked with the spring elements of the sections.

In this connection it is particularly advantageous that the spring elements of the cover strips by means of tonguelike protrusions act upon the spring elements of the sections on that side which faces away from the supports and press against the supports. When disassembling the wall, the cover strip is withdrawn by a force directed away from the wall and can again be used as can the sections.

It is particularly advantageous to make the wall elements in the form of plasterboard or asbestos cement plates. Experience has proved that an inner partition according to the invention equipped in this way also possesses excellent heat-insulating properties. Tests have also proved a considerable fire resistance in conformity with the fire standards. They also permit any type of surface covering.

Although as a rule it is advantageous to employ steel sheet metal strips for the spring elements of the sections or cover strips, it may be advantageous in some instances to produce such spring elements of rubber and/or synthetic material with corresponding profiles which are adapted resiliently to lock into profiles of the supports. As synthetic material in this connection there may be used polyamides or polyurethanes with a correspondingly high Shore hardness, high aging resistance, good heat resistance and a high spring constant. Such spring elements may be connected to the wall elements by suitable adhesives, for instance, adhesives on the basis of a synthetic material. In addition to good sound-absorbing properties, such materials also have the necessary mechanical strength.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the wall sheaths or wall sections are designated with the reference numerals 1a, 1b and 2a, 2b. These wall sections are preferably made in the form of gypsum board plates. The sheaths 1a, 1b and 2a, 2b are arranged in spaced relationship to each other and transverse to the longitudinal direction x-y of the wall while defining a chamber 3 therebetween which is filled with insulating material connected to the inner sides of the sheaths 1a, 1b and 2a, 2b. The insulating material consists with the particular embodiment shown in the drawing of mineral wool which in the manner of a fleece or mat is connected to the sheaths by cementing. The gap between the sheaths 1a, 2a and 1b, 2b is covered by cover strips 5, 6 which likewise may be formed as gypsum board plates and which may have the same strength and surface as the sheaths. The arrangement furthermore comprises a hollow profiled beam 7 which forms a support of a polygonal cross section. The support 7 has diametrically oppositely located sides--seen in the longitudinal direction x-y of the wall--provided with ribs of triangular shape 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d.

Fixedly connected to the sheaths 1a, 1b; 2a, 2b are respectively spring elements 8, 9; 10, 11. This connection may be effected by means of staples 12 applied by stapling guns. The spring elements 8-11 consist of cranked steel sheet metal strips bent a plurality of times which spring like tongues into the space 3 between the sheaths 1 and 2 and the cover strips 5 and 6. In the vicinity of their free edges, the spring elements 8-11 have groovelike or beadlike parts 8a, 9a, 10a, 11a which are designed in conformity with the protrusions 7a-7d. The spring elements 8-11 are so designed and arranged that their groovelike or beadlike parts 8a, 9a, 10a, 11a are adapted detachably to snap onto the ribs 7a-7d when the wall sections 1a, 1b; 2a, 2b are pressed in a direction toward the support 7, i.e. toward the interior of the wall.

In addition thereto there are further provided spring elements 13, 14; 15, 16 which are fixedly connected to the cover strips 5, 6 in the same manner as the spring elements 8-11 which means likewise by means of staples 17 shot in by a stapling gun. The spring elements 13-16 likewise consist of steel sheet metal strips which are bent or cranked a plurality of times and have a tongue-shaped extension by means of which they extend or spring into the space 3 between the sections and the cover strips. In the vicinity of their edge portions, the said spring elements 13-16 have an angular extension 13a, 14a; 15a, 16a made by bending. The spring elements 13-16 when in assembled condition spring by means of said angular extensions 13a-16a behind the end sections of the respective associated spring elements 8-11 of the sections 1a, 1b; 2a, 2b. Such a design and arrangement of the angular extensions 13a-16a are provided so that in response to the cover strips 6, 7 being pressed on by a force directed toward the interior of the walls, they will snap behind the end portions of the spring elements 8-11.

The arrangement further comprises a sound insulating intermediate layer 17, 18 which may be of rubber or felt.

As will be seen from the above, a particular advantage of the inner partition according to the invention is seen in the fact that the supports and the sections contact each other only through the intervention of the spring elements whereby a particularly beneficial sound insulation is obtained. This applies in particular when the spring elements and the profiled members contact each other only over relatively narrow strip-shaped surface portions. Therefore, walls according to the present invention are particularly suitable for business establishments and machine shops.

Claims

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A displaceable partition, especially for business and office buildings and factories, which includes: first and second board means arranged in spaced substantially parallel relationship to each other, supporting post means arranged between and extending in the direction of the height of said first and second board means, said post means having profiled portions extending in the longitudinal direction of said post means, resilient connecting means arranged on and connected to the inside of said first and second board means and detachably snapped onto said profiled portions of said post means, adjacent first board means and adjacent second board means in the longitudinal direction of said partition being separated from each other by a first gap and a second gap respectively within the area of said supporting post means, and first and second cover strip means respectively substantially filling said first and second gap and provided with resilient snap means detachably snapping onto the respective adjacent resilient connecting means of said first and second board means.

2. A partition according to claim 1, in which said resilient connecting means and said profiled portions extend at least over the major length of said post means.

3. A partition according to claim 1, in which said resilient connecting means are formed by sheet metal strips having a plurality of cranked portions.

4. A partition according to claim 3, in which said resilient connecting means consist of steel strips.

5. A partition according to claim 1, in which said supporting post means are hollow, and in which said profiled portions are formed by two pair of ribs, said pairs of ribs being located opposite to each other with the ribs of each pair pointing in the longitudinal direction of said partition, the ribs of one pair of ribs forming the image of the other pair of ribs.

6. A partition according to claim 1, in which said ribs have a substantially triangular cross section.

7. A partition according to claim 1, in which said resilient connecting means have their outer ends folded away from the respective adjacent posts means, and in which said resilient snap means have tongue-shaped end portions resiliently engaging said folded away ends of said first and second cover strip means while respectively additionally pressing said resilient connecting means against the pertaining post means.

8. A partition according to claim 7, in which the resilient connecting means connected to said first board means are spaced from the resilient connecting means connected to said second board means in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of said partition, said spacing being at least partially filled by sound-absorbing means.

9. A partition according to claim 8, which includes heat-insulating means between said first and second board means.

10. A partition according to claim 8, in which the inside of said first and second board means is covered by sound-insulating material.

11. A partition according to claim 8, in which said board means are formed by plates selected from the group consisting of gypsum plates, asbestos plates, and plywood plates.

12. A partition according to claim 8, in which said resilient connecting means are stapled to the pertaining board means.

13. A partition according to claim 1, in which said resilient snap means are stapled to the pertaining cover strip means.