U.S. patent number 3,745,732 [Application Number 05/169,409] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-17 for demountable partition system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Superior Industries Inc.. Invention is credited to Myron Furman, Harry W. Pritchard.
United States Patent |
3,745,732 |
Pritchard , et al. |
July 17, 1973 |
DEMOUNTABLE PARTITION SYSTEM
Abstract
A demountable partition system consists of metal shapes such as
aluminum extrusions and wall board panels forming closed and open
base rail height and cornice height and ceiling height partitions
wherein the wall board panels are supported and retained by the
metal shapes so as to be held in spaced relation with their edges
enclosed in attractively configured trim. Certain of the metal
shapes employed as trim incorporate glazing grooves simplifying
glass installation and others include door stops forming door
frames and the like.
Inventors: |
Pritchard; Harry W.
(Youngstown, OH), Furman; Myron (Pittsford, NY) |
Assignee: |
Superior Industries Inc.
(Youngstown, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
22615556 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/169,409 |
Filed: |
August 5, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/239; 52/481.2;
52/241 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
2/7455 (20130101); E04B 2/7435 (20130101); E04B
2/78 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
2/74 (20060101); E04B 2/76 (20060101); E04B
2/78 (20060101); E04b 002/74 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/238,239,243,241,481,495,122 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Faw, Jr.; Price C.
Claims
We claim:
1. A demountable wall partition comprising a base means, means
securing the base means to a floor, an upright, substantially
U-shaped post floor anchor secured to said base means and extending
vertically upwardly therefrom, a vertical, elongated, hollow,
tubular post means telescopically engaged at one end thereof on
said upright post floor anchor, horizontally disposed partition
carrier channels extending between spaced apart, adjacent, hollow
tubular post means and secured at their ends to said hollow,
tubular post means above said base means, a pair of vertical,
parallel, spaced apart, facing wall board panels having opposed
facing surfaces, said wall board panels positioned on opposite
sides of said post means and engaged therewith at their opposed
facing surfaces and maintained in said spaced apart relationship by
said post means, lower edges of said wall board panels positioned
and supported on said carrier channels, and an inverted
channel-shaped rail engaged over the upper edges of said spaced
wall board panels holding the same against said post means.
2. A demountable partition as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said
hollow, tubular post means includes a pair of channel shaped
elongated members nested with one another and each elongate member
having a web and oppositely disposed inturned flanges thereon
longitudinally of the edges thereof engaged with one another and
with said post floor anchor, the webs of said nested elongate
members in spaced, confronting relationship.
3. A demountable partition as set forth in claim 1 and wherein said
channel shaped rail has an elongated groove therein, a glazing
section and elongated splines therefor, said elongated splines and
an edge of said glazing section received and retained in said
groove.
4. A demountable partition set forth in claim 1 and wherein the
ends of said carrier channels are detachably secured to said post
means.
5. A demountable partition as set forth in claim 1 and wherein
upright, U-shaped glazing post anchors are attached to said channel
shaped rail in spaced relation to one another, and a hollow tubular
glazing post is telescopically engaged on each said glazing post
anchor, glazing sections and splines on said glazing post, said
glazing post having longitudinally extending grooves therein
receiving and holding said splines and glazing sections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to partitions of the type normally employed
to sub-divide rooms and other areas into partially enclosed or
wholly enclosed areas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior structures of this type usually employ permanent steel stud
partitions with more or less conventional window frames and glazing
units and door frames and door units. This invention eliminates the
specific window frame and framing devices and utilizes
interchangeable demountable metal shapes and inexpensive wall board
panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A demountable partition system includes a plurality of
interchangeable metal shapes such as aluminum extrusions and wall
board panels to which glazing sections may be added. The metal
shapes position and support the wall board panels in on the floor
relation or off the floor relation together with a plurality of
posts which are hidden between the wall board panels. Channels in
some of the metal shapes provide for the reception of snap-in trim
and/or glass holding splines when glazing units are added to the
partition or windows formed therein. The plurality of metal shapes
may be reused with the wall board panels in forming partitions of
different heights and different lengths and the wall rigidity of
the assembled partition system compares favorably with that of a
permanent steel stud partition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a rail height open base partition
with a glazing screen.
FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a rail height open base
partition.
FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross section on line 3--3 of FIG. 1 with
parts broken away.
FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross section on line 4--4 of FIG. 1 with
parts broken away.
FIG. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 with parts
broken away.
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section on line 6--6 of FIG. 2 with
parts broken away.
FIG. 7 is a perspective elevation detailing the center floor post
as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings and with parts broken away.
FIG. 8 is a horizontal section of a corner construction of the
partition system.
FIG. 9 is a front elevation of a ceiling height partition.
FIG. 10 is a horizontal cross-section on line 10--10 of FIG. 9 with
parts broken away.
FIG. 11 is a horizontal section on line 11--11 of FIG. 9 with parts
broken away.
FIG. 12 is a horizontal section on line 12--12 of FIG. 9 with parts
broken away.
FIG. 13 is a vertical section on line 13--13 of FIG. 9 with parts
broken away.
FIG. 14 is a vertical section on line 14--14 of FIG. 9 with parts
broken away and
FIG. 15 is a horizontal section on line 15--15 of FIG. 9 with parts
broken away and in enlarged detail.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
By referring to the drawings and FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 it will be
seen that a demountable partition system comprises outer and inner
wall board panels 10 and 11 which as seen in FIG. 1 are supported
and positioned above a floor F with the left end of the partition
of FIG. 1 supported on a wall W.
By referring to the left end of the partition of FIG. 1 as
illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be seen that wooden strip 12 has
been applied to the wall W above the outer and inner wall board
panels 10 and 11 and that a channel shaped post 13 has been applied
to the wall W in the area therebelow and corresponding with the end
portions of the wall board panels 10 and 11. Similar channel shaped
posts 14 are positioned at intervals between the wall board panels
10 and 11 and some of these are reinforced by the application of a
telescopically positioned secondary channel shaped posts 15 between
the wall board panels where post floor anchors 16 are
necessary.
In FIG. 7 a detail of the post floor anchor 16 may be seen to
include a base 17 which is fastened to the floor and it will be
observed that the upper end of the post floor anchor 16 is of
inverted U shape and of an overall size fitting snugly within the
lower end of the telescopic channel shaped post formed of the
channels 14 and 15. Horizontally disposed carrier channels 18 are
fastened at their ends to the channel shaped post members 14 and 15
and space the wall board panels 10 and 11 which are fastened
thereto. Two part post covers 19 and 20 respectively snap together
and attractively enclose the floor anchor 16 and the lower portions
of the channel shaped posts formed of the members 14 and 15. The
post covers terminate below the carrier channels 18 and the wall
board panels 10 and 11.
By referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings it will be seen that the
spaced wall board panels 10 and 11 abut the flanges of the carrier
channel 18 and the opposite sides of the channel shaped posts 13
and/or 14 and 15 respectively and they are fastened thereto by
conventional fasteners as will be understood by those skilled in
the art.
Still referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that batten retainers 21
are applied to the outer surfaces of the wall board panels 10 and
11 as for example adjacent the wall W and in covering relation to
joints between adjacent wall board panels. Battens 22 are snapped
over the batten retainers 21 and may include vinyl inserts 23 if
desired and act as attractive trim for the wall board panels 10 and
11. Still referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings and to the right end
thereof, it will be seen that a flush rail shape 24 is applied to
the end of the partition so as to form an attractive casing with
respect thereto. The flush rail shape 24 is of channel shape and
the flanges thereof overly the ends of the wall board panels 10 and
11 and form an attractive casing therefor.
By referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings and the right end thereof,
it will be observed that where the flush rail shape 24 extends
above the wall board panels 10 and 11, a flush rail cover 25 is
applied thereto and that the flush rail cover includes a glazing
groove 26.
Still referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, it will be seen that a glazing
rail 27 is positioned horizontally on the upper edges of the wall
board panels 10 and 11 and between the glazing rail cover 25 and a
vertical section of the glazing rail 27 A which is positioned over
the wood strip 12 and against the wall W so as to form an
attractive casing at the wall end of the partition.
It will be observed that the exterior configuration of the flush
rail shape 24 and the glazing rail 27 are similar so that the
appearance of the upper longitudinal edge of the wall board panels
and the vertical extensions thereabove which carry the glass parts
of the partition are of uniformly attractiv appearance.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings, a glazing post
28 is positioned on a glazing rail 27 and extends vertically
thereabove a distance slightly greater than that of the glass
portions of the partition which are indicated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2
of the drawings by the numeral 29. The upper end of the glazing
post 28 is provided with a cap 30 and similar caps 31 and 32 are
applied to the upper ends of the vertical section of the glazing
rail 27 and the flush rail shape 24 heretofore referred to.
In FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 of the drawings a base trim strip 33 is
applied along the lower edges of the outer and inner wall board
panels 10 and 11 and in FIG. 5 it will be seen that the base trim
strip 33 is mounted in snap on engagement with a trim mounting
strip 34.
By referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings, it will be
observed that the glass sections 29 are secured in position on the
glazing rail 27 and between the glazing post 28 and the glazing
rail cover 25 by interengaging vinyl splines 35 and 36 respectively
which, engage the longitudinal channels in the glazing rail 27,
both the vertical channels in the glazing post 28 as well as the
vertical channel in the glazing rail cover 25 and the vertical
channel in the glazing rail 27A. Thus, the glass sections of the
partition are securely positioned in and attached to the remainder
of the partition and in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings it will be
seen that the glazing post 28 is secured to the glazing rail 27 by
a glazing post anchor 37 which is fastened to the glazing rail 27
and which extends upwardly into the glazing post 28 to frictionally
engage the same.
It will thus be seen that an attractive, sturdy and easily
assembled rail height open base glass topped partition has been
disclosed which may be easily and quickly assembled and equaly,
easily and quickly disassembled for use in another location.
In FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings a modification of the partition
just described may be seen and which partition is the same as that
just described with the exception that it does not include the
glass extension on the upper edge thereof. In FIGS. 2 and 6 the
inner and outer wall board panels 10 and 11 are employed the free
standing left end of the partition comprises the same assembly as
seen in the right end of FIG. 4 of the drawings heretofore
described, namely: the floor anchor 16, the post formed of the
parts 14 and 15, the flush rail shape 24 and a flush rail 38 which
is similar to the glazing rail 27 except for the longitudinal
channel thereof and which is positioned on the upper horizontal
edges of the outer and inner wall board panels 10 and 11 as best
seen in the cross-section of FIG. 6 of the drawings.
It will thus seen that the same components with one exception are
used to form the rail height open base partition of FIG. 2 of the
drawings wherein the vertical glass extension portion is
omitted.
Those skilled in the art will observe that the demountable
partition system disclosed herein may be used to form demountable
partitions of other heights and configurations than those
heretofore described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 of the
drawings etc.
By referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings a ceiling height partition
may be seen and it is hereinafter described. In FIG. 9 of the
drawings the ceiling height partition illustrated includes a floor
length window 40, several unbroken wall board panels 41, a door
opening and door 42 and 43 respectively and a conventional height
window 44 in addition to several wall board panels above and below
the door and window openings.
It will be understood that the ceiling height partition illustrated
in FIG. 9 may alternately be formed as cornice height and that when
so formed the space between such a partition and a ceiling may be
filled with glass panels if desired.
In FIG. 10 of the drawings a horizontal section through the
partition of FIG. 9 may be seen and it will observed that the
partition includes a plurality of channel shaped posts 45 which may
be roll formed steel shapes, one of which, the one at the left of
FIG. 10 is secured to a wall W. Outer and inner wall board panels
41 and 47 are positioned vertically against the exterior surfaces
of the posts 45 and secured thereto with their lower edges resting
on an elongated member positioned on the floor and which member may
comprise an inverted channel 48 (See FIG. 13) or a wooden member as
desired. Batten strips 49 may be applied by fasteners to the wall
board panels 41 and 47 and the same secured to the post 45 thereby
or alternately batten strip retainers 50 may be applied to also
serve as fasteners and which retainers 50 receive and retain snap
on battens 51. Both are illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings.
The right end of the partition seen in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 is free
standing and is finished by the application of a flush rail shape
52 and by again referring to FIGS. 9 and 13 of the drawings, it
will be seen that a base trim 53 is secured to the lower edge of
the partition as for example by snap on engagement with trim
engaging strips 54 which are attached to either the lower ends of
the wall board panels and/or the inverted channel 48 or wooden
member positioned therein.
By referring now to FIG. 11 of the drawings a section through the
flooor window 40 of the partition seen in FIG. 9 of the drawings
may be seen and it will be observed that wood strip 55 has been
attached to the wall W in the area of the window 40 and that a
vertical section of glazing rail 56 (like 27A in FIG. 3) has been
positioned thereover and interlocking resilient splines 57 and 58
positioned in channels therein so as to receive the window 40. The
right hand side of the window 40 is engaged in a similar
construction including the splines 57, 58 and the glazing rail 27
which, in this instance, is positioned over the ends of the outer
and inner wall board panels 41 and 47 respectively.
By referring to FIGS. 9, 11 and 13 it will be observed that the
upper and lower edges of the window 40 are engaged in sections of
the splines 57 and 58 which are in turn positioned in horizontally
disposed sections of glazing rail 56.
In FIGS. 9, 12 and 14 of the drawings a similar arrangement
mounting the window 44 may be seen and it will be observed that
vertical and horizontal sections of the glazing rail 56, the glass
receiving splines 57 and 58 are arranged to hold the window 44
while at the same time forming frames with respect to the lower and
upper edges of the wall board panels above and below the window 44
and the vertical edges of the window 44 at the sides thereof seen
in horizontal cross-section of FIG. 12 and the vertical
cross-section of FIG. 14. The uppermost edge of the partition seen
in front elevation in FIG. 9 and in vertical section in FIGS. 13
and 14 is finished with longitudinal sections of a ceiling trim
channel 59. An inverted channel 60 or wood strip may be applied to
the ceiling between the outer and inner wall board panels 41 and 47
if desired.
In FIGS. 9 and 15 of the drawings a doorway 42 and a door 43 are
illustrated and in FIG. 15 an enlarged cross-sectional detail of a
portion of the door casing is illustrated and it will be observed
that the ends of the wall board panels 41 and 47 are spaced by a
two part post 61 and secured thereto and the ends thereof and the
post 61 enclosed in a casing 62 which includes a door stop 63
against which the door 43 is engaged. The casing 62 has inturned
flanges on its ends as at 64 and the same are engaged in trim
strips 65 which abut the surfaces of the wall board panels 41 and
47.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is sometimes
desirable to form right angle corners in partitions and by
referring to FIG. 8 such a corner construction may be seen wherein
the ends of wall board panels 66 and 67 respectively are joined to
the ends of right angularly disposed wall board panels 68 and 69
respectively. A channel shaped post 70 is positioned between the
ends of the panels 66 and 67 and a composite two part post 71 is
positioned between the panels 68 and 69 so as to space the
respective panels with respect to one another. Modified U shaped
clips 72 and 73 are positioned on the ends of the wall board panels
66 and 67 respectively and extend longitudinally thereof with the
clip 72 engaging the side of the wall board panel 68 and the clip
73 forming the outer corner.
From the foregoing it will be seen that with the various parts in
assembled position the demountable partition system creates a
simple efficient highly practical partition which may be varied
with respect to floor engagement or off the floor arrangement and
which may be varied as to various heights and which may include
glass extensions on the upper surfaces if desired. It will be noted
that relatively few metal shapes such as aluminum extrusions are
utilized for the various members holding the wall boards in spaced
position and that the use of inexpensive conventional wall board
makes the overall cost of the demountable partition system quite
reasonable.
Fasteners are referred to in the foregoing specification and may
comprise blind rivets, metal screws or similar metal fasteners
positioned through the parts being joined to insure retention of
the assembled shape of the partition. It will be noted in this
connection that each of the metal shapes are so designed as to
engage the opposite sides of the wall boards and thus hold them in
position against the channel shaped posts which space them and thus
a minimum of actual fasteners are necessary.
While only three variations of the demountable partition system are
shown in the drawings and described it will be obvious to those
skilled in the art that many variations in style with respect to
height, floor clearance and corporation of windows, doors, solid
panels, etc. may be readily formed from the standard component
parts.
The above described structure provides relatively easy and fast
assembly of the partitions from the system parts and equally easy
disassembly in demounting the partition as in removing the same so
that it can be erected elsewhere. The structure is versatile in
that it can be used in any situation wherein partitions are
desired.
Although but three embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *