GB2326171A

GB2326171A - Partition assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2326171A
Application number: GB9708465A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Douglas Gill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-28
Filing date: 1997-04-28
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-28
Also published as: GB9708465D0; GB2326171B

Abstract

A partition assembly (10) comprises first and second rigid members (11a, 11b) arranged side by side, a retention member (12a, 12b) arranged to extend transversely relative to a separation line which extends longitudinally between confronting edges of said rigid members and to interlock with said rigid members, and a tension member (24) arranged to extend longitudinally, substantially parallel with said separation line, to hold the retention member in a position in which it is interlocked with said first and second rigid members.

Description

PARTITION ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a partition assembly and in particular, though not exclusively, to a partition assembly comprising a plurality of members interlocked with one another.

The partition assembly, whether or not of interlocked members, may comprise at least one member in the form of a panel, the term "panel" being used herein to embrace an elongate type panel in the form of a plank.

A structure of interlocking members may be adapted for use as a partition member, e.g. as a wall of a building. A structure for use as a partition typically will comprise a plurality of panels provided in an arrangement in which two or more of the panels are interlocked by an interposed connection member, or in which successive panels are directly interconnected with one another.

In a structure as aforedescribed it is known to employ an auxiliary retention member arranged to extend transversely relative to said first and second members and to interlock with an end, or edge, of each of said first and second members. In an arrangement of this type, an example of which is described in more detail in the specification of my intemational patent application PCT1GB95101794 (Publication No. WO 96106241), successive members are held in an alignment with one another in a first relative position at which they are interlocked with one another and are prevented from moving , e.g. rotating, relative to one another to a second relative position at which they would be freely separable.

The present invention seeks to provide a partition assembly which comprises a plurality of rigid members and improved means for holding said rigid members in a predetermined relationship relative to one another.

According to one aspect of the present invention a partition assembly comprises first and second rigid members arranged to lie side by side, retention member arranged to extend transversely relative to a separation line which extends longitudinally between confronting edges of said rigid members and to interlock with said rigid members, and a tension member arranged to extend longitudinally, substantially parallel with said separation line, to hold the retention member in a position in which it is interlocked with said first and second rigid members.

The tension member may be comprised by one of the rigid members, but in a preferred embodiment it is additional to one of said members. The tension member may be substantially rigid but in a further preferred embodiment it is flexible, for example in the form of a wire, cord or cable and may be of steel, a textile material or other material such as Kevlar.

One of the rigid members may be of a hollow or channel type shape as considered in a cross-section and the tension member may extend longitudinally through a channel or passage defined by said cross-section.

The invention envisages that the partition assembly may comprise a plurality of hollow first and second rigid members, which may be of a hollow, elongate form, and that a tension member is positioned in the cavity or channel of only some of said rigid members.

The partition assembly may comprise two retention members arranged spaced apart with the first and second rigid members therebetween. The tension member may be secured to each of said retention members and cause said members thereby to be held firmly against the rigid members.

Alternatively, the tension member it may have one end region secured to a ground anchor position so that the rigid members are held firmly between a distal retention member and said ground anchor position ( or a second retention member interposed between the ground anchor and proximal region of the rigid members).

The retention member may have a channel type cross-section and edge/end regions of the first and second rigid members may be located in an interlocked manner in the channel, preferably as a close fit, so that they are positively retained, for example so that they cannot rotate relative to one another about an axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the tension member. Other interlock configurations are encompassed by the scope of the present invention. For example, a retention member may comprise a series of projections which interengage with a channel or cavity defined by each of the first and second rigid members.

A rigid first or second member may be of a type having a channel or cavity filled with sound or thermal insulation material and a tension member may extend through said insulation material. Alternatively insulation may be omitted from rigid members through which a tension member extends and may be provided only in other rigid members of the partition assembly.

The partition assembly may comprise a rigid corner member to lie between two substantially planar partition members arranged to form two walls. The rigid corner member may comprise a cavity or channel and a tension member may extend therethrough.

Where the partition member is part of a larger structure, the tension member may extend to other parts of the structure. If the partition member forms a wall of a roofed building the tension member may extend through the roof space, or roof panels, and may structurally inter-connect with another partition member which forms another wall of the building.

The first and second rigid members may be of a kind which can be interlocked with one another. A first rigid member may have a first rectilinear location edge for lying interlocked with a second rectilinear location edge of a second rigid member. The first location edge may comprise a pair of elongate flange formations which define an elongate recess therebetween, and the second location edge may have a tongue formation adapted to be located in said elongate recess by relative movement of the members in a direction substantially perpendicular to length of said elongate recess, and said members comprising means to resist separation of the interlocked location edges in at least a first direction of separation.

Thus the first and second rigid members may be interlocked by relative movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the elongate recess, i.e. the length directions of the location edges, and thereby avoid the need for any relative lengthwise sliding movement. A partition assembly structure can therefore be assembled in a confined space.

It is envisaged that said direction of relative movement may be an angular movement comprising rotation about an axis or axes parallel with the length directions of the location edges. Thus during that relative rotation at least a part of the location edge of one member (as viewed in transverse crosssection) will move relative to the other location edge in a direction which comprises a component that is substantially perpendicular to the length of the recess. When rotated to an interlocked position, the elongate recess and tongue formation may interengage to resist direct separation of the members, at least in a first rectilinear direction which is perpendicular to the length of the recess, and which is in the length direction of a retention member.

Other arrangements of interlockable rigid members are described for example in the specification of my aforementioned international patent publication. Said and other arrangements of interlockable rigid members may be used in combination with the interlock feature of a partition assembly the subject of the present invention.

The partition assembly of the present invention may be in the form of a wall.

It may comprise an opening into which a door or window frame may be fitted.

A frame, or a plurality of side pieces for forming a frame, may be adapted for fitting into an opening from one side of a wall and may be locatable from the other side by means of a locking strip. The locking strip may comprise a locking member which may be of a cantilever action type that can be cantilevered to a locking position.

Similarly a retention member of a channel type may, for example, comprise an L section member and a locking member which can be cantilevered into position so that the L section and locking member co-operate to define a channel member with ends of the first and second members sandwiched therebetween.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are exploded perspective views of examples of partition assemblies in accordance with the present invention, and which may form part of a building; Figure 3 is a transverse section of interlocking members of a structure in accordance with the invention; Figure 3a shows one of the members of Figure 3 in more detail; Figures 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sections of interlocking members for use in accordance with other embodiments of the invention; Figure 7 is a cross - section of a cantilever type frame edge or retention member, and Figure 8 shows in cross-section a building structure in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a first embodiment of a partition assembly in accordance with the invention comprises a wall 10 and has a plurality of interlocking rigid members in the form of panels, some of which are indicated at 1 1 ~ - 1 Ip and some of which are hollow.

The panels 11a-11p are interconnected edge to edge as hereinafter described when they are in alignment, alignment being maintained in the present example by interlock with a pair of battens 12a and 12h that serve as retention members. In the drawing, batten 12a is shown separated from the remainder of the structure, from which it can be seen that each batten I 2a, 12h is of a channel configuration, each receiving a respective top or bottom end edge, 13, 14 of each of the panels 11a-1 1g.

Upper and lower battens 12ia and 12t are each secured in an interlocked relationship against ends of the panels by tension means in the form of cables 24 which extend between the battens through the cavities of some of the hollow type panels.

In Figure 1, a window opening 15 is shown provided in the wall, the window opening 15 being bounded by four channel-shaped members ( of for example a C or L shape cross section) 16,17,18 and 19, each of which receives an edge of one or more of the panels 11 1 Ii to define the window opening 15. The manner in which the four edges are locked in position is described in more detail below.

In Figure 2, another structure comprising another wall is shown but instead of a window opening 15, a door opening 20 is provided in the wall, bounded by three channel shaped members 21, 22 and 23 which receive the edges of one or more of the panels to define the door opening 20.

Referring now to Figure 3, panels 70 of identical construction and each having two identical location edges 71 are held together in an interlocked assembly by interposed connection members 72.

Each panel has an outer skin which provides a pair of faces 73, 74 and the location edges 71 are each of the type having an elongate recess 75 defined by the space between a pair of flange formations 76, 76' of identical shape.

Each flange formation 76, 76' comprises a convex pivot shape formation 77 and an undercut zone 78.

Each connection member 72 ( see Figure 3 ) has a pair of tongue formations 79 which depend from a central zone 80, each tongue formation being adapted to be received in and to interlock with a panel location edge 71. For that purpose each tongue formation comprises a concave pivot bearing surface 81 for pivotal sliding movement over the convex pivot surface formation 77 of a panel edge 71, and an elongate protrusion 82 which is received in the undercut zone 78 of a panel edge 71.

In the assembled condition shown in Figure 3 one of the pair of undercut zones 78, in flange formation 76, at a panel edge 71 is occupied by an elongate protrusion 82 whereas the other undercut zone 78, in flange formation 76', is unoccupied, leaving a small space identified by reference 83.

The connection member 72 is hollow and can be used to locate a captive fixing device 85 ( see Figure 4 ) by means of which the member 72 may be secured to a support structure 84. That fixing arrangement may serve also as auxiliary retention means to assist the battens 12a, 12ts to maintain successive panels aligned in a co-planar configuration. The member 72 has a tubular side cavity 86 which is circular and can be closed as shown in Figure 3 or may be slit as indicated in Figure 4 to receive the support web 87 of a decorative cover strip 88.

In the alternative construction of Figure 5 a connection member 90 is of a narrow construction such that in the assembled condition confronting panel flange formations 91 come into abutting contact and the member 90 is concealed.

Figure 6 shows a panel 100 of a construction which differs from that of Figure 3 but can be interconnected in a similar manner by connection members 72.

The panel 100 differs in that it has a filling of polyurethane insulation foam 101 that is bonded to the outer skin material of the panel. The outer skin material is in two sections 102,103 and these are spaced apart at the recess base regions 104. In consequence even if the skin sections are of a material that is a good conductor, the transfer of heat between opposite panel faces is advantageously impeded by the gaps 105 between the skin sections 102, 103.

The tension members 24 can extend through hollow members such as the connection members 72 or 90, or panel 70, or through a filled type panel 100 having a cavity which is filled with an insulation material.

Figure 7 shows a frame edge member ( 17,18,19,20 or 21,22,23 ) which has an L section part 110 suitable for moving towards a panel side 112 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of that panel side so as to cover an edge 113 of the panel 114, and a locking section part 115. The locking section part 115 has a head portion 116 rotatable in a groove 117 at an edge of the L section part 110. Figure 7 shows the locking section part in position after it has been cantilevered by rotation in the direction of arrow A to a locking position in which it lies against the opposite side 118 of the panel.

The groove 117 and head portion 116 are arranged so as to co-operate to provide an over-centre action whereby the locking member inherently tends to bear against the panel side 118 when moved to that position on assembly.

Figure 8 shows in cross-section a part of a building structure 120 having two side wall sections 121 and two roof sections 122 that form a peaked roof.

Each or at least some of the wall and roof sections may be in the form of a partition assembly of the present invention. A tension member 123 such as a steel hawser may extend between upper and lower edges of each side wall and either directly between the upper edges of the walls through the roof space, as shown by route 124, or via the line of the roof section. All or part of the length of the hawser cable123 may lie in any cavity or channel of a wall or roof section component.

The hawser may be terminated at a ground anchor position or at a lower channel shaped retention member 125.

Claims

1. A partition assembly comprising first and second rigid members arranged side by side, a retention member arranged to extend transversely relative to a separation line which extends longitudinally between confronting edges of said rigid members and to interlock with said rigid members, and a tension member arranged to extend longitudinally, substantially parallel with said separation line, to hold the retention member in a position in which it is interlocked with said first and second rigid members.

2. A partition assembly according to claim 1 wherein the tension member is additional to one of said rigid members.

3. A partition assembly according to claim 2, wherein the tension member is flexible.

4. A partition assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a rigid member is of a hollow or channel shape in cross-section and the tension member extends through a channel or passage defined by said cross-section.

5. A partition assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of hollow members and a tension member is positioned in the cavity or channel of only some of said rigid members.

6. A partition assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly comprises two retention members arranged spaced apart with the first and second members therebetween.

7. A partition assembly according to claim 6, wherein the tension member is secured to each of said retention members.

8. A partition assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tension member has an end region secured to a ground anchor position.

9. A partition assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a retention member has a channel type cross-section in which edge/end regions of the first and second members are located in an interlocked manner whereby they are inhibited from rotation relative to one another about an axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the tension member.

10. A partition assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a retention member comprises a series of projections which interengage with a channel or cavity defined by each of the first and second members.

11. A partition assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a rigid member is of a type having a channel or cavity filled with sound or thermal insulation material and a tension member extends through said insulation material.

12. A partition assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein some rigid members are of a type having a channel or cavity filled with insulation material and the or each tension member extends only in a rigid member from which the insulation is omitted.

13. A partition assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly comprises a rigid corner member positioned between two substantially planar partition members arranged to form two walls, said corner member comprising a cavity or channel through which a tension member extends.

14. A partition assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first rigid member has a first rectilinear location edge for lying interlocked with a second rectilinear location edge of a second rigid member.

15, A partition assembly according to claim 14, wherein the first location edge comprises a pair of elongate flange formations which define an elongate recess therebetween, and the second location edge comprises a tongue formation adapted to be located in said elongate recess by relative movement of the members in a direction substantially perpendicular to length of said elongate recess, and said members comprising means to resist separation of the interlocked location edges in at least a first direction of separation.

16. A partition assembly according to claim 1 and substantially as herein before described.

17. A wall comprising a partition assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

18. A wall according to claim 17, wherein the wall comprises an opening into which a door or window frame may be fitted, said frame, or a plurality of side pieces for forming a frame, being adapted for fitting into said opening from one side of the wall and being locatable from the other side by means of a locking strip.

19. A wall according to claim 18, wherein the locking strip comprises a locking member having a cantilever type action whereby it may be cantilevered to a locking position.

20. A wall according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein a retention member of a channel type comprise an L section member and a locking member which may be cantilevered into a position whereby the L section and locking member co-operate to define a channel member with ends of the first and second members sandwiched therebetween.

21. A building comprising a partition assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 16 or a wall according to any one of claims 17 to 20.

22. A building according to claim 21 and having a roof portion and two partition assemblies, wherein a tension member extends through the roof space, or roof panels, to structurally interconnect between said two partition assemblies.