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(11) | EP 2 192 246 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Modular and multipurpose wall device |
| (57) Modular wall device comprising a plurality of vertical uprights (2) and horizontal
crossbars (3) mutually fixed to form a reticular structure (4), panels (5,6,7,8),
said panels having at their opposing sides longitudinal rib means (15) which protrude
of a predetermined length and hooking means (10) for supporting the panels (5,6,7,8).
The hooking means (10) comprise a connection means (16) for connecting to the uprights
(2) or crossbars (3), a spacer means (17) between said connection means (16) and first
(18) and second flap means (19), the flap means (18,19) being mutually parallel and
protruding perpendicularly from the spacer means (17), one of them of a length approximately
equal to the protruding predetermined length of the panels rib means (15), the other
protruding in the opposite direction with respect to the first means (18) and of half
the length of the first means (18).
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[0001] The present invention relates to furnishings and building and refers to a modular and multipurpose wall device fit to carry out walls, separators, ceilings and building elements and furniture in general, also demountable, using panels made with usual materials derived from wood or the like, single and culpable transparent panels and fireproof panels.
[0002] There are known partition walls which can be demountable essentially made with a metallic reticular frame, comprising uprights and crossbars, and made with covering or closing panels, usually carried out with wooden materials, eventually decorated and/or faced, removably fixable to said structure. Hooking means, for example of bayonet or other type, are applied on a face of the panels of said known walls
[0003] The main drawbacks of said known walls are the following:
- they do not allow an easy and simple assembly of transparent or fire-resistant panels, single or in combination between themselves and with the panels made of wooden or similar materials;
- one of the two main faces of the panel has the hooking means and therefore it's not possible to turn the panel, for example to change colour or to hide defects or wearing signs on the visible face;
- the panel weight is supported by the hooking means which must be adequately sized;
- the alignment of the joints, that is of the interstices between adjacent panels, can be unsatisfactory;
- the assembly and the disassembly of the panels requires ability, a lot of time, special tools and/or suckers and it is necessary to raise the panel, if this can be fixable by hooking means elements;
- the presence of the hooking means inside the interspace delimited by two opposite panels defines a shape to the eventual plates of insulating material interposed between said panels;
- the presence of the hooking means on a face of the panels creates encumbrances, storage difficulty and risks of damages during the transport.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to propose a modular and multipurpose wall device which allows an easy, quick and safe assembly of panels made of traditional and/or transparent and/or fire-resistant materials with or without perimetrical frame.
[0005] A further object is to propose a device equipped with hooking means of the panels to the uprights and crossbars, which are reliable, economical and which can be carried out easily by cutting and bending a normal metallic plate.
[0006] Another object is to propose a wall device which can be easily demountable and without hooking means fixed onto their main face.
[0007] Another object is to propose a wall device with hooking elements associable to uprights, crossbars, long and/or short, vertical and/or horizontal sides, for example to avoid bulging in rectangular panels mounted with the long sides horizontally positioned.
[0008] The characteristics of the invention are evidenced as follows with particular reference to the attached drawings, in which:
- figure 1 shows a schematic, front and partial view of the modular and multipurpose wall device, object of the present invention, in a partially assembled condition in which a reticular structure consisting of uprights and crossbars has hooking means for two opaque panels next to their assembly position;
- figure 2 shows a sectioned view at a vertical plane of the wall device of figure 1;
- figure 3 shows a partial sectioned view by an horizontal plane of a wall carried out with the device of figure 1 and in which a panel is in the assembly phase;
- figures 4 and 5 show respectively partial vertical sectioned view and horizontal of an upper panel and of a lateral panel in the device assembly phase;
- figure 6 shows a partial and horizontal sectioned view of the device comprising transparent framed panels fixed to both faces of the reticular structure and an interposed transparent plate blocked by the panel frames;
- figure 7 shows a partial view sectioned by an horizontal plane of a wall carried out by panels of figure 6 and in which a panel is in the assembly phase;
- figures from 8 to 12 show side and sectioned views of an hooking means with two flaps of figure 1;
- figures from 13 to 17 show side and sectioned views of an hooking means with a flap of figure 4;
- figures from18 to 22 show side and sectioned views of a supporting means of figure 1;
- figure 23 shows a schematic, front and partial view of a variant of the modular and multipurpose wall device of figure 1 in a partially assembled condition in which a reticular structure consisting of uprights and crossbars has hooking means for two fire-resistant panels next to their assembly position;
- figure 24 shows a sectioned view at a vertical plane of the wall device of figure 23;
- figure 25 shows a partial sectioned view at a horizontal plane of a wall carried out with the device of figure 23 and in which a fire-resistant panel is in the assembly phase;
- figure 26 shows two modular elements for a fire-resistant panel;
- figures 27 and 28 show partial vertical and horizontal sectioned views respectively of an upper panel and a side fire-resistant panel at the assembly phase on the device of figure 23;
- figures from 29 to 33 show sectioned side views of a variant of the hooking means with two flaps;
- figures from 34 to 38 show sectioned side views of a hooking means with a flap of figure 27.
[0009] With reference to figures from 1 to 38, numeral 1 indicates the modular and multipurpose wall device, object of the present invention, comprising, in an assembly condition, a plurality of vertical uprights 2 and horizontal crossbars 3 mutually fixed in a known but not shown manner, to carry out a reticular structure 4, whose main faces are fit to support infilling panels 5, 6, 7, 8.
[0010] Each upright 2 and crossbar 3 is made by the same kind of section bar or similar and at least the opposite, front and back sides thereof has respectively plurality of longitudinal and central holes or slots 9. The panels 5, 6, 7, 8 are opaque, for example made by wooden material and eventually transparent coated or faced, for example comprising a glass plate supported by a frame made of shaped section bars of fire-resistant aluminium or other metal, comprising a shaped metal sheet to form a shield, with bended rib shaped or stiffening rib edges, containing fire-resistant material such as monolayer or multilayer plasterboard. At least two opposite sides of each panel are equipped with respective longitudinal rib means 15, laying in a geometric plane parallel to the panel and protruding from a predetermined length D from the side of the respective panel and fit to engage the hooking means 10 connected to the uprights 2 or crossbars 3 to support panels 5, 6, 7, 8 and to carry out a wall in an assembly condition.
[0011] The edges of the opaque panels can have, as shown in figures 2 and 3, two parallel longitudinal stiffening rib means 15 and separated by a groove, for example carried out by fine milling of the longitudinal median portions of the corresponding perimetrical sides. In alternative, it is provided that it can be removed, still by milling, a whole side longitudinal portion of the perimetrical face to carry out a single stiffening rib means 15 having protruding shelf shape.
[0012] Each hooking means 10 comprises a connection means 16, for example simple or double hook, fit for hooking and fixing itself removably into the longitudinal slots 9 of the uprights 2 and of the crossbars 3.
[0013] Each hooking means 10 further comprises a spacer means 17 having an end fixed to the connection means 16 and the other end fixed to a first flap means 18 and to a second flap means 19. Said flap means 18, 19 are mutually parallel and the first flap means 18 protrudes perpendicularly from the spacer means 17 of a length approximately equal to the predetermined protrusion length D. The other flap means 19 protrudes in the opposite direction with respect to the first flap means 18 of a length approximately equal to half of said predetermined protrusion length D. In the engaging condition of a hooking means to a slot of an upright or crossbar face, the spacer means 17 perpendicularly protrudes from said face and the flap means 18, 19 are almost parallel with respect to this face. In said assembly condition the distance between the first flap means 18 and the second flap means 19 of two adjacent hooking means 10 is approximately equal to the maximum size between said opposite sides of the panel 5, 6, 7, 8 fixed thereto minus the predetermined protrusion length.
[0014] In this manner it is possible, maintaining the panel slightly inclined, to insert completely a respective stiffening rib means 15 between the face of the upright or crossbar and the first flap means 18 of an hooking means. Aligning the panel to the reticular structure 4 and translating it in such a manner that a stiffening rib means 15 opposite to that engaged is inserted under the second flap means 19 of an adjacent hooking means, the removable block of the panel is achieved.
[0015] Each connection means 16 has a thickness which is equal to or a little bit smaller than the thickness of the slots 9, the spacer means 17 is on the same plane with a side face of the connection means 16 and therefore it is fixed thereto in an asymmetric manner. The free and opposite ends of the first flap means 18 and of the second flap means 19 are positioned symmetrically in respect with the symmetry or median plane S of the connection means 16.
[0016] The length of each spacer means 17 is approximately equal to or a little bit longer than the thickness of the longitudinal stiffening rib means 15 to form a housing for said stiffening rib means 15. Said housing is formed by a first flap means 18 or a second flap means 19 by said spacer means 17 and at least by a portion of an upright 2 or a crossbar 3.
[0017] It is provided that the device can comprise an elastic seal, for example sheet made of rubbery or spongy material, to be inserted between the reticular structure 4 and the panels; in this manner, the length of the spacer means 17 is increased at a size which is approximately equal to the seal thickness.
[0018] As shown in figure 6, the longitudinal rib means 15 of the transparent panel 6 is carried out with a shaped section bar which forms a frame means 12 of said transparent panel 6.
[0019] As shown in figure 25, the longitudinal stiffening rib means 15 of the fire-resistant panel 7 is obtained by a fold formed in the external metallic protection, containing fire-resistant material, of said panel 7.
[0020] To adapt the wall carried out with the device to the installation dimensions, the invention provides a set of upper and side panels 8. A longitudinal edge of each side or upper panel 8 is fixed to the reticular structure 4 by means of a set of edge means 20 fixed to the upper and side edges of this reticular structure forming housings for said panels 8.
[0021] The remaining longitudinal edge of the upper or side panels 8 are fixed by means of the hooking means 10 having first flap means 18 and second flap means 19 or by means of a hooking element 26 having a single flap means for a rib or groove made in said longitudinal edges.
[0022] The fire-resistant upper or side panels 8 comprise modular elements of different widths and mutually fixable, for example by means of screws.
[0023] At least one of these modular elements has the sizes smaller than the sizes of the housing to be hidden inside to the edge means 20.
[0024] The device comprises a plurality of support means 25 each of them is equipped with a hooking portion suitable to be engaged into the slot 9 and fit to support a lower edge of a panel or to be fixed to the reticular structure between two panels to block them.
[0025] The operation of the device allows to carry out multipurpose walls in a simple and fast manner, for example, for building structures, for low walls of partial separation in rooms, for furnishings, to carry out rooms or to define expositive areas or to carry out fire-resistant walls.
[0026] An advantage of the present invention is to provide a modular and multipurpose wall device which allows an easy, fast and safe assembly of panels in traditional and/or transparent materials, with or without perimetrical frame, and/or fireproof material to carry out divider, opaque walls, transparent walls or equipped with windows and walls or also fire-resistant bulkheads at class REI 120.
[0027] A further advantage is to provide a device equipped with hooking means of the panels to the uprights and crossbars, which are reliable, economic and easily made by means of cutting and bending of a normal metal sheet.
1. Modular and multipurpose wall device comprising, in an assembled condition, a plurality
of vertical uprights (2) and horizontal crossbars (3) mutually fixed for realising
a reticular structure (4) supporting panels (5, 6, 7, 8) each having at least two
opposed sides equipped with respective longitudinal rib means (15) laying on a geometrical
plane parallel to the panel and protruding of a predetermined length from the side
of the respective panel and engaging hooking means (10) connected to the uprights
(2) or crossbars (3) for supporting the panels (5, 6, 7, 8) and for carrying out the
wall; said device being characterized in that each hooking means (10) comprises a connection means (16) connected, in said assembled
condition, to an upright (2) or crossbar (3), a spacer means (17) having an end fixed
to the connection means (16) and the other end fixed to a first flap means (18) and
to a second flap means (19); said flap means (18, 19) are mutually parallel and one
of them (18) protrudes perpendicularly from spacer means (17) of a length approximately
equal to the protruding predetermined length, the other flap means (19) protrudes
in the opposite direction of the first (18) of a length approximately equal to half
of said protruding predetermined length; in said assembled condition the distance
between the first flap means (18) and the second flap means (19) of two adjacent hooking
means (10) being approximately equal to the maximum dimension between said opposed
sides of the panel (5, 6, 7, 8) fixed to them minus the protruding predetermined length.
2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that each upright (2) and crossbar (3) is made of the same or similar kind of the section
bars, each having at least a plurality of longitudinal slots (9) fit for housing in
a removable manner the connection means (16) of the hooking means (10).
3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that each connection means (16) has a thickness equal or slightly smaller than the thickness
of the slots (9), the spacer means (17) is fixed asymmetrically to the connection
means (16) being coplanar with a side face of the latter; the opposite free ends of
the flap means, first (18) and second (19), being symmetrically placed in respect
to the symmetry plane (S) of the connection means (16).
4. Device according to anyone of the preceding claims characterized in that the length of each spacer means (17) is approximately equal or slightly bigger than
the thickness of the longitudinal stiffening rib means (15) to form an housing at
least for said rib means (15); said housing including a flap means first (18) or second
(19), said spacer means (17) and at least a portions of an upright (2) or crossbar
(3).
5. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the panels (5, 6, 7, 8) are fixable at one or both the main faces and consist in
at least one among opaque panels (5), transparent panels (6), fireproof panels (7),
upper or lateral panels (8).
6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that each longitudinal rib means (15) of the opaque panel (5) is obtained by means of
a score or grooving made in lateral sides.
7. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that each longitudinal rib means (15) of the transparent panels (6) is obtained with a
shaped section bar forming a frame means (12) of said transparent panels (6).
8. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that each longitudinal rib means (15) of the fireproof panel (7) is made by bending and
forming an external metal shield containing fireproof material.
9. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that a longitudinal edge of each upper or lateral panels (8) is fixed to the reticular
structure (4) by a number of edge means (20) fixed to the upper and lateral edges
thereof, the remaining longitudinal edge of said upper or lateral panel (8) is fixed
by means of a hooking means (10) having flap means a first (18) and second (19) or
by means of a hooking element (26) having a single flap means for a rib or score made
in said longitudinal edges; the fireproof upper or lateral panels (8) includes modular
element having different width and mutually fixable, at least one of said element
can be hidden inside the edge means (20).
10. Device according to anyone of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a plurality of support means (25) each provided with a hooking portion
fit for engaging a slot (9) and fit to support a lower edge of a panel or to be engaged
between two panels.