US3195191A

US3195191A - Temporary wall construction

Info

Publication number: US3195191A
Application number: US172204A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray H Neisewander
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-02-09
Filing date: 1962-02-09
Publication date: 1965-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-20

Description

R. H. NElsEwANbER TEMPORARY WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 9. 1962 United States Patent O 3,195,191 TEMPGRARY WALL CGNSTRUCTION Ray H. Neisewander, 101i) E. Edwards St., Springfield, Ill. Filed Feb. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 172,204 7 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-4) This invention relates to temporary wall construction, and more specilically, to a mountable and removable wall partition particularly suitable for use in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and the like.

While temporary wall partitions are not new, prior structures have been generally unsatisfactory and at best have achieved only very limited use. Earlier partition structures have usually been difficult and time consuming to install and remove. Also, special permanent littings have been required for their installation and, even with the use of such ttings, a secure and tight connection between ceilings and floors has often been lacking.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present inyention to provide a temporary wall partition which ove-rcomes the defects and disadvantages of prior structures. Specifically, it is an object to provide a partition which may be easily and quickly installed and removed. A further object is to provide a temporary wall partition which may be installed any place in a room where the floor and ceiling are substantially parallel and which will provide a secure and tight connection despite slight deviations from that parallel relationship.

Other objects will appear from the speciiication and drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a broken side elevational view taken partly in section and showing a partition embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged broken vertical section of the partition (and a portion of a grooved ceiling) taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE I;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cam means for adjusting tension of the partition when it is installed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View similar to the upper portion of FIGURE 1 but illustrating action of the tension equalization bar when the door and ceiling are not parallel.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral generally designates a temporary partition having an inner frame 11 and

outer covering lpanels

12 and 13. The frame consists essentially of upper and lower rails 14 and 15, vertical stiles 16, and an internal horizontal rail 17. The internal rail 17 provides large side surfaces in engagement Wtih the inner surfaces of panels 12 and I3 and, as shown in FIGURE l, is spaced above and below the lower and upper rails and 14 respectively.

FIGURE 2 indicates that the

side panels

12 and 13 are formed from plywood although it is to be understood that other sheet materials such as metal sheeting, composition board, fiberglass sheeting and plastic sheet materials might be used. It will be noted that the side panels project well above the top of rail 14 and dene therebetween a channel 18 for slidably receiving a vertically extendable and retractable load equalization bar or member 19.

The horizontally elongated load equalization bar 19 is of substantially the same length as rail 14 and, except for its upper longitudinal edge portion, is almost entirely concealed by the upper extensions of

side panels

12 and 13. When the bar is formed -of wood, as in the illustration given, its sides may be veneered to provide smooth vertical surfaces engageable with the inner surfaces of the side panels and to improve the strength and appearance of the bar. Along the top of the bar is a longitudinal groove 20 which carries an elongated cushion element 21.

ice

The cushion element my be formed from rubber or any other resilient and elastic material and, as shown in FIG- URE 2, projects above the top of the bar to make contact with a ceiling 22.

The bar 19 is supported intermediate its end upon a vertical push rod 23. Referring to FIGURES l, 2 and 4, it will be observed that the upper end of the push rod is received within a centrally-disposed socket 24 along the undersidevof the load equalization bar and that the horizontal dimensions of the socket are slightly greater than the cross sectional dimensions of the rod. In other words, the bar 19 lits loosely upon the upper end of rod 23 and is capable of limited tipping -or rocking movement upon the rods upper end. Retention springs 25 extend vertically between the bar 19 and top rail 14 at opposite ends of the respective parts and perform the dual functions of retaining the bar within channel 18 and of maintaining the bar in horizontal position (spaced uniformly from rail 14) in the absence of tipping forces.

The push rod 23 is slidably sheathed in a guide tube 26 which extends through rail 14 and into inner rail 17. If desired, the tube may be encased within a reinforcing verticalV member 27 which bridges the space between the upper and inner rails.

The upward force exerted upon the push rod 23 is controlled by cam 28 and compression spring 29. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the cam is disposed within a recess 36 provided in the inner rail 17 and is mounted for rotational movement in a vertical plane upon a horizontal spindle 31. The spindle is journaled in

side panels

12 and 13 and its externally-exposed ends are shaped so that it may be rotated by a suitable tool. In the illustration given, the ends of the spindle are provided with hexagonal recesses 32 to permit the insertion of an Allen wrench therein.

The cam surface 33 is of gradually increasing radius and is provided with a series of indentations adapted to receive the roller 34 of a cam rider 35. The rider is provided with an upstanding portion 36 slidably received within the guide tube 26 and the compression spring 29 extends between the upper end of the rider and the lower end of the push rod. Thus, as the rider is urged upwardly upon clockwise rotation of the cam (when viewed as in FIGURES 1 and 3), an upward force .is transmitted to the push rod and load equalization bar by the compression spring 29. The strength of the spring and the resiliency of the cushion 21 control the maximum amount of force which may be exerted by the bar against a ceiling upon rotation of cam 2S. It is to be understood that the strength of the spring may be selected to prevent ceiling damage even under maximum compressive force. In certain cases, as where a ceiling has been reinforced to withstand substantially greater upward force, spring 29 may be omitted and the push rod 23 may be connected directly to the cam rider.

The tiltable mounting of the load equalization bar also contributes signiticantly in providing a secure mounting of the partition. As indicated above, the bar is selfadjustable and will tip within its channel to exert a uniform upward force along the bars full length in those instances where a floor and ceiling are not precisely parallel. By providing a large area of substantially uniform surface contact, the equalization bar will hold the partition firmly in place without the danger of ceiling damage even though the same force if localized or unequalized might cause cracking of other ceiling damage.

In the illustration given, the ceiling 22 is shown with a recess 37 for receiving the upper portion of the equalization bar. Where such a recess is used, the upper edges of the bar may be beveled as shown at '3S (FIG- URE 2). However, it is to be understood that a ceiling recess is unnecessary and that a secure mounting of the partition may be obtained by engagement with a flat ceilingV be understood that, if desired, the telescoping relationship may be reversed and that the bar may tit over and slide upon (rather than between) the panels. Also, the equalization bar (and its associated elements) may be oriented vertically rather than horizontally, thereby providing a partitionwhich is capable of expanding laterally and being anchored between iixed side walls.

While in the foregoing I have disclosedv an embodiment of the invention in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that many of these details may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1.V In a temporary wall partition having an inner frame and side panels secured-thereto, a single vertical push rod slidably carried by said frame and projecting upwardly therethrough, a horizontal load equalization bar extending along the top of said frameand supported substantially equidistant its ends upon the upper end of said rod for limited tipping movement thereon, aV cam rotatably mountedI within said partition, an ,ups-tanding rider venupwardly and slidable vertically through the central portion of said frame substantially equidistant between the vertical ends of said partition, a substantially horizontal load equalization bar extendingalong the top of said frame and supported substantially equidistant its ends upon the upper end of said rod, said bar being mounted for limited longitudinal tipping movement upon said rod, and Ymeans within said partition for urging said rod upwardly to force said bar against a ceiling.

6. The structure of claimS in which tension springs are secured to said frame and said bar adjacent opposite vertical ends of said partition and substantially equidistant l from said'rod, said springs exerting substantially uniform forces at opposite ends of said bar toV urge the same downwardly into firm contact with said rod and to maintain said bar in substantially horizontal condition in the absence of tipping forces.

7. A temporary wall partition comprising a rigid inner frame'adapted to rest upon a oor surface, side panels secured to said frame, a single vertical push rod slidably mounted withinV said frame and projecting upwardly thereabove, a substantially horizontal load equalization bar extending along the top of said frame, said bar being provided with a downwardly facing socket located subgagingsaid cam and movable into different vertical positions as said cam is rotated, said riderbeing disposed beneath said push rod, and a compression spring disposed between the lower end of said push rod and the upper end of said rider.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said bar is provided intermediate its ends with a downwardly opening socket of greaterv cross sectional dimensions than the ot said rod beingV -a `cam surface of Vprogressively increasing radius, said cam surface having a series of indentations, and said rider providing a roller adapted to seat in said identations.

y 5. In aY temporary wall partition having a rigid inner frame adapted to rest upon Va floor surface and having side panels concealingsaid frame and secured to opposite sides thereof, a'single vertical push rod projecting stantially equidistant from the ends of said bar and loosely receiving the upper endof said rod, and means within said partitionfor urging said rod upwardly to force saidv bar against a ceiling, said load equalization bar being supported uponthe' upper end of said rod for limited longitudinal tipping movement thereon, whereby, as said rod is vurged upwardly the force applied by said bar Vagainst a ceiling isequalized along the entire length thereof.

. References Citedby the Examiner v UNITEDV STATES PATENTS 1,752,472 4/730 whitney V 248-354 X 1,758,489 5,/30l Wheat 20-4 2,107,624 2/38 VBerger 20-4 2,443,548 6/48 Wilson? '20-4 2,947,041' 8/6() Imbrecht Y 20-4 FOREIGN PATENTS -1,178,632 12/58 France.V

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM S. MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiners.

Claims

5. IN A TEMPORARY WALL PARTITION HAVING A RIGID INNER FRAME ADAPTED TO REST UPON A FLOOR SURFACE AND HAVING SIDE PANELS CONCEALING SAID FRAME AND SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, A SINGLE VERTICAL PUSH ROD PROJECTING UPWARDLY AND SLIDABLE VERTICALLY THROUGH THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID FRAME SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT BETWEEN THE VERTICAL ENDS OF SAID PARTITION, A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LOAD EQUALIZATION BAR EXTENDING ALONG THE TOP OF SAID FRAME AND SUPPORTED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT ITS ENDS UPON THE UPPER END OF SAID ROD, SAID BAR BEING MOUNTED FOR LIMITED LONGITUDINAL TIPPING MOVEMENT UPON SAID ROD, AND MEANS WITHIN SAID PARTITION FOR URGING SAID ROD UPWARDLY TO FORCE SAID BAR AGAINST A CEILING.