Partition mounting

Abstract

A runner structure is formed by a continuous member cooperating with a plurality of discrete locking members to form a base of a partition. The panels of the partition overlie the elongated runner member and the discrete locking means are snapped into position to hold the panel. No other tools or fasteners are required to lock the elements in position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to runners, more particularly the present invention relates to a floor or ceiling runner for accommodating panels of movable gypsum partitions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Conventional gypsum partitions are erected using a ceiling runner which is normally a channel-shaped member into which the top end of the gypsum panel forming the partition is inserted and a floor runner which is a channel member that embraces the bottom of the partition panel. With these types of runners, it is necessary to insert the panel into a top runner and then drop it in the bottom runner necessitating that the top runner have flanges longer than those of the bottom runner so that the board may be inserted and dropped and still be retained by the top runner. This inherently means that the panel must be considerably shorter than the spacing between the ceiling and floor to permit erection.

It has also been proposed to use a two-piece floor runner so that the partition panels can be substantially the same height as the floor to ceiling dimension. Such runners are substantially channel shape but one flange is considerably shorter than the other so that the panel may be pivoted over the top of the shorter flange into abutment with the longer flange. This particular type of construction requires a filler strip to be inserted into the bottom channel to occupy the height of the shorter flange. After the panel is erected a closing strip is secured to the short flange to retain the panel. This type of construction requires extra filler strips and a further time consuming operation of securing the closing strip to the short flange of the runner. Such an arrangement is shown for example in Canadian Patent 670,417, issued Sept. 10, 1963, to Kaari and Canadian Patent 713,248 issued July 13, 1965, to McGill.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple runner structure permitting the use of substantially full height panels while facilitating erection and locking of the panel in position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly the present invention comprises a runner structure formed of an elongated L-shaped member one arm of which has gripping means adjacent its free end, a plurality of cooperating L-shaped locking elements each having one arm provided with a gripping means adapted to cooperate with the gripping means on the elongated L-shaped member cooperate with the elongated member to secure a panel in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a floor or ceiling runner incorporating the present invention and illustrating a panel secured therein in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a short length of the continuous runner member;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the cooperation between the continuous runner and discrete locking element;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view between the continuous runner and a discrete locking element illustrating the cooperation between the gripping sections, and

FIG. 5 is a partial section view through a partition incorporating the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the runner structure 10 basically includes a continuous runner member 12 which generally will be sold in 8 or 10 foot lengths together with discrete locking elements 14 which normally will be less than 1 foot and preferably about 2 to 4 inches in length and will be provided on the average about every 1 to 3 feet. More or fewer elements may be provided as required.

The continuous runner 12 is provided with a holding flange 16 and a base flange 18. The flange 16 adjacent its connection to the basic flange 18 is preferably provided with a curved section 20 which curves inwardly toward the longitudinal axes of the panel. This section 20 is adapted to resiliently press against the face of the panel to better hold the panel in position. A curved projecting section 22 curves outwardly from the section 20 and terminates at the free end of the flange 16 and is adapted to cooperate with a base board or the like member as will be described further hereinbelow.

The base flange 18 preferably has a pair of spaced parallel ridges 24 and 26 located on opposite sides of the longitudinal centre line of the partition and extending through the flange 18 are a plurality of apertures 28 which are adapted to receive fastening means for securing the continuous runner member 12 to thie floor or ceiling. The free end of the base flange 18 of the continuous runner member 12 is reverse folded so that the free edge 19 of the flange 18 faces toward the centre line of the partition and is located on the side of flange 18 remote from flange 16 thereby to provide a gripping section 30. This gripping section 30 is bent upwardly out of the plane of the flange 18 in the same direction as the ridges 24 and 26 but does not extend above the height of the ridges 24 and 26.

The discrete locking elements 14 each comprise a folding flange 32 formed with curvatures 20 and 22 equivalent to those described hereinabove with respect to the flange 16 (see FIG. 3) and with a locking flange 34 having a mating gripping section 36 adapted to cooperate with the gripping section 30 on the flange 18. Gripping section 36 in the illustrated arrangement simply takes the form of a reverse fold adjacent the free edge of the flange 34 so that the free edge 37 of the flange 34 faces the flange 32 and is located between the flange 32 and 34.

In operation the elongated runner members 12 are first secured in position by fastener elements 38 extending through the apertures 28 and then wall panels 40 are moved laterally into position (see FIG. 5). The panels 40 may be mounted in the conventional manner at the top or at the bottom or both the top and bottom ends of the panel may be mounted using the present invention. When the panel has been positioned the locking elements 14 are moved into position and the locking flange is forced under the panel 40 whereby the gripping section 36 moves under the gripping section 30 until the free ends 19 and 37 snap into position in face-to-face relationship as shown in FIG. 4.

In the preferred embodiment the holding flanges 16 and 32 are resiliently deflected, i.e. the curved sections 20 engage the opposite faces of the panel 40 and thus resiliently hold the panel in position. This resilient engagement between the curved sections 20 and the faces of the panel 40 is not absolutely essential to the operation particularly if a sealant such as that indicated at 42 is provided in the runner member 12 (see FIG. 5).

After the locking elements 14 have been positioned in the manner above described, suitable molding members such as the baseboards 50 are applied. As shown, each of the baseboards 50 is provided with a downwardly projecting flange 52 that is received between the curved sections 22 and the panels 40 and is resiliently held in this position by the sections 22.

As above indicated, the ridges 24 and 26 are not absolutely essential to the operation of the device but are preferred. In some cases, depending on the thickness of the metal from which the wall holder is made and the location of the screws 38, these ridges 24 and 26 may be omitted. Similarly, as above indicated, the curved sections 20 are not absolutely essential. If desired, one could replace the curved projecting section 22 with other suitable means for mounting the baseboard or other molding.

The locking sections 30 and 36 have been shown as the reverse folded sections adjacent the free ends of the flanges 18 and 34. It will be apparent that one of these reverse folded sections 36 need not be closed tightly, i.e. the bent-over flange could extend at an acute angle from the flange 18 or 32 rather than being substantially parallel thereto. It is believed to be important that at least one of the gripping sections 30 or 36 be formed with a tight fold so that the bent-over flange is in face-to-face relationship with its respective flange 18 or 32.

Should it be necessary to dismantle the wall for one reason or another, it is a relatively simple matter. First, the baseboard 50 held in position by the locking elements 14 is removed and then the locking elements 14 are removed by simply inserting a screwdriver or the like under the locking section 30 on the flange 18 and lifting the section 30 so that the free edge 19 thereof clears at least the adjacent corner of the free edge 37 of the section 36 so that the element 14 may be twisted on a vertical and pulled out. In some cases, it may be possible to lift the flange 18 and thus the locking element 30 sufficiently to completely free the edges 19 and 37 and permit the element 14 to be withdrawn perpendicular to the wall but normally it will be removed by a twisting action. After the elements 14 have been removed the panels is free and may be easily removed.

While the description has primarily dealt with a bottom runner, obviously the structure could equally well apply to a top runner. When used as the bottom runner the weight of the panel may press on the locking sections 30 and 36 and help to maintain the lock.

Modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A runner structure for demountable walls comprising an elongated L-shaped runner member having a pair of substantially mutually perpendicular flanges, gripping means adjacent the free end of one of said flanges of said runner member, a plurality of L-shaped locking elements each having a pair of substantially mutually perpendicular flanges, second gripping means adjacent the free end of one of said flanges of each of said locking elements, said second gripping means adapted to cooperate with said gripping means on said first runner member to connect each of said locking elements with said runner member, said gripping means and said second gripping means being formed by reversed folded sections at the free ends of said one flange of said runner member and of said one flange of said locking elements respectively and said reverse fold sections of at least one of said runner member of said locking element is in face to face relationship with its respective one of said flanges, each of said locking elements being less than one foot long, adjacent of said locking elements being spaced apart to permit access for a decoupling tool.

2. A runner structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said one flange of said runner member has a pair of ridges projecting into the space between said pair of flanges of said runner member.

3. A runner structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the free edge of said one flange of said runner member is located on the opposite side of said other flange relative to said one flange of said L-shaped member.

4. A runner structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said reverse folded sections forming said gripping means and said second gripping means are in face-to-face relationship with their adjacent of said flanges.

5. A runner structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the free edges of said one flange of said runner member and said locking elements are in face-to-face relationship wherein said gripping means and said second gripping means are in gripping position.

6. A runner structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the other flanges of said runner member and said locking elements are each provided with a curved section adjacent the junction of said one flange and said other flange of each said runner member and said locking elements, said curved section facilitating flexing of said other flanges.