Patent Application
20060032186
The preset invention relates to an adjustable wall system. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a freestanding adjustable wall and area partitioning system that can be assembled and disassembled.
Free standing and self-supporting adjustable walls are known in the art. These walls can include wan dividers and to be used to partition space in offices for example. These walls are built by assembling horizontal runners to standing vertical standards in order to form a frame and then mounting panels to this frame.
Prior art wall constructions have been proven to be difficult to assemble and disassemble especially adding or removing panels. Many of these constructions are also difficult to add auxiliary display shelves and other hardware to.
There thus remains a need for an improved adjustable wall system.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjustable wall system.
More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an adjustable wall system comprising.
a plurality of longitudinal horizontal members;
a plurality of longitudinal vertical members, each of the vertical members comprising a mounting side being mountable to the horizontal members, and an opposite panel-receiving side; and
a plurality of panels, each the panel comprising a decorative face and an opposite mounting face, the mounting face comprising mounting elements for removably mounting the panel to the panel-receiving side of the vertical members,
whereby when mounting the vertical members to the horizontal members and the panels to the vertical members a wall is thus formed.
In an embodiment, the mounting elements comprise clipping elements for being clipped to the panel-receiving side of the vertical members.
In an embodiment, the clipping elements are provided near the lateral edges of the panels.
In an embodiment, the mounting elements comprise gripping elements for gripping the panel-receiving side of the vertical members.
In an embodiment, the panel gripping members comprise a resilient member and another adjacent surface.
In an embodiment, the vertical member panel-receiving side comprises a protrusion, the resilient member and the surface configured to grip the protrusion therebetween by way of the resilient member acting against the protrusion and the surface.
In an embodiment, the vertical member panel-receiving side comprises a lateral protrusion, the panel mounting face being recessed with respect to the panel decorative face exposing a backside portion of the decorative face, the exposed backside portion and a the mounting element gripping the lateral protrusion therebetween when a the panel is mounted to a the vertical member,
In an embodiment, the mounting element comprises a resilient body.
In an embodiment, the mounting element extends from the panel and comprises a free end forming a shouter, the shoulder gripping the lateral protrusion against the exposed backside portion when the panel is mounted to a the vertical member.
In an embodiment, the recessed panel mounting face comprises an intrusion adjacent to the exposed backside portion, the mounting element comprising a tail end being fitted into the intrusion and an opposite free end forming a shoulder, the shoulder gripping the lateral protrusion against the exposed backside portion when the panel is mounted to a the vertical member.
In an embodiment the panel mounting face is recessed near both opposite lateral edges of a the panel, a the panel comprising mounting elements at both lateral edges thereof for being mounted to two adjacent the vertical members.
In an embodiment the panel lateral edges comprise top and bottom portions comprising restive mounting elements.
In an embodiment, the vertical member panel-receiving side comprises two opposite lateral protrusions and a central portion therebetween.
In an embodiment, the vertical member panel mounting side comprises an extension extending from the mounting side and contiguous with the two opposite lateral protrusions.
In an embodiment, a given panel is mountable to the lateral protrusions of two adjacent vertical members mounted on at least one given horizontal member.
In an embodiment, the vertical members are mounted to the horizontal members forming a frame, the panels being mounted to the vertical members in a side by side fashion thus forming a wall, each the vertical member central portion being exposed between two laterally adjacent the panels.
In an embodiment, the central portion comprises auxiliary-member-mounting elements for mounting display members thereto.
In an embodiment, the central portion comprises adjacent extending walls defining an opening therebetween, an insert being mounted within the opening, the insert comprising the auxiliary-member-mounting elements.
In an embodiment, the two lateral protrusions form a vertical channel therebetween contiguous with the central portion opening, the insert being a longitudinal member snugly fitted within the vertical channel.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary-member-mounting elements comprise sockets formed in the inserts.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary members comprise mounting elements being fitted into the sockets via the central portion opening.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary members are selected from the group consisting of display members, merchandising hardware, shelves, decorative fixtures, lights, beams, construction members and combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the central portion comprises a closed configuration to act as a strip-spacer between adjacent panels.
In an embodiment, the adjustable wall system further comprises a leveler member for supporting the formed wall on a floor surface.
In an embodiment, the vertical members comprise respective top and bottom ends, the horizontal members comprising opposite rides and wherein when forming the wall, the bottom ends of the vertical members are mounted to both the opposite sides of a given bottom the horizontal member, the given bottom horizontal member comprising a leveler member mounting element for mounting the leveler member thereto.
In an embodiment, the leveler member comprises a pedestal and stem extending therefrom, the leveler member mounting element comprising an aperture for receiving the stem therethrough.
In an embodiment, the pedestal protrudes further than the vertical member bottom portions mounted an the both sides of the given bottom horizontal member.
In an embodiment, the protruding pedestal comprises apertures so as to be bolted to the floor surface.
In an embodiment, when the vertical members, the horizontal members, and the panels are assembled to form the wall, the wall comprises a top most horizontal member and bottom most horizontal member, horizontal rows of side by side panels, and wall-edge vertical members at each lateral end of the wall.
In an embodiment, the adjustable wall system further comprises a longitudinal top cap covering the top most horizontal member.
In an embodiment, the adjustable wall system according further comprises a baseboard cover for covering space between the floor surface and the bottom most the row of panels.
In an embodiment, the adjustable wall system further comprises longitudinal end caps for covering the and wall-edge vertical members at each lateral end of the wall.
In an embodiment, the horizontal members comprise longitudinal ends configured to receive corner bracket members for forming a corner between one assembled wall and another assembled wall.
In an embodiment, the corner brackets comprise a curved configuration.
In an embodiment, the corner brackets comprise an angular configuration.
In an embodiment, the panels comprise corner panels, the corner panels comprising a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the corner brackets.
In an embodiment, a given vertical member mounting side comprises laterally extending leg members comprising fastening elements. In an embodiment these fastening elements comprise apertures.
In an embodiment, a given horizontal member comprises corresponding fasteners corresponding to the vertical member fastening elements. In an embodiment, these corresponding fasteners comprise apertures.
In an embodiment, the vertical member mounting side comprises locators.
In an embodiment, the horizontal members comprise corresponding-locators for corresponding to the vertical member mounting side locators.
In an embodiment, the horizontal member comprises a tab extending therefrom for mounting another the horizontal member thereto thus providing for building a divider wall on a formed wall.
In an embodiment, the tab is substantially perpendicular to the length of the given horizontal member.
In an embodiment the horizontal members comprise respective longitudinal ends configured to be mounted to similarly constructed horizontal members.
In an embodiment, the vertical members comprise respective top and bottom end configured to be mounted to similarly constructed horizontal members.
In an embodiment, when the panels are mounted to the vertical members forming a wall run, a region of the panel-receiving face is exposed between two adjacent panels.
In an embodiment, this region comprises auxiliary-member mounting elements for receiving auxiliary members.
In an embodiment, this region comprises a spacer.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable wall system comprising:
a frame Comprising plurality of free standing vertical members mounted along their longitudinal lengths to a plurality of horizontal members along both sides of the longitudinal lengths of the horizontal members; and
wall-runs comprising a plurality of panels mounted to the frame, the panels comprising mounting elements near the lateral edges thereof for being mounted on two adjacent the vertical members,
wherein when the panels are mounted to the vertical members they expose a region of a the vertical member between two adjacent panels.
In an embodiment, the exposed region comprises auxiliary-member mounting elements for mounting auxiliary members thereto
In an embodiment, the auxiliary members are selected from the group consisting of display members merchandising hardware, shelves, decorative fixtures, lights, beams, construction members and combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, this exposed region comprises a spacer.
In an embodiment, the adjustable wall system further comprised a plurality of wall runs.
In an embodiment, this at least one the wall run is in a substantially perpendicular relationship to another the wall run.
In an embodiment, the wall run comprises a straight configuration.
In an embodiment, the wall run comprises an angular configuration.
In an embodiment the wall run comprises a curved configuration.
In an embodiment, the horizontal members and the vertical members comprise respective mutually mating locators.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable wall system comprising:
a plurality of longitudinal horizontal members,
a plurality of longitudinal vertical members for being mounted to the horizontal members, each of the vertical members comprising a panel-receiving members; and
a plurality of panels, each the panel comprising a gripping elements near the edge thereof for being removably mounted to the panel-receiving elements of two adjacent the vertical members.
In an embodiment, the panel gripping members compose a resilient member and another adjacent surface.
In an embodiment, the vertical member panel-receiving members compise a protrusion the resilient member and the surface configured to grip the protrusion therebetween by way of the resilient member acting against the protrusion and the surface.
In an embodiment, when the panels are mounted to the vertical members a region defined by the vertical members is exposed between to adjacent panels.
In an embodiment, them exposed region comprises auxiliary-member mounting elements for mounting auxiliary members thereto.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary members are selected from the group consisting of display members merchandising hardware, shelves, decorative fixtures, lights, beams, construction members and combinations thereof,
In an embodiment, the exposed region comprises a spacer.
In an embodiment, horizontal members and the vertical members comprise respective mutually mating locators
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable wall system comprising:
a plurality of longitudinal vertical members, each of the vertical members comprising a mounting side for being mountable to a surface and an opposite panel-receiving side; and
a plurality of panels, each the panel comprising comprising mounting elements for removably mounting the panel to the panel-receiving side of the vertical members,
whereby when mounting the vertical members to the horizontal members and the panels to the vertical members a wall is thus formed.
In an embodiment, the adjustable wall system further comprises surface-mounting elements mountable to a surface, the vertical members mountable to the surface mounting elements.
In an embodiment, the vertical member comprises a mounting side for mounting to the surface-mounting elements, a the vertical member mounting side and a the surface mounting element comprising respective mutually mating locators.
In an embodiment, the surface mounting element comprises a Z-formed clip comprising a surface mounting portion and a vertical member mounting portion.
In an embodiment, the vertical members comprising a panel-receiving members.
In an embodiment, the panel-receiving members comprise protrusions.
In an embodiment, the panel mounting elements comprise a resilient member and another adjacent surface for fitting therebetween a the panel-receiving member when the panel is mounted to a the vertical member, the resilient member being biased against the panel-receiving member and towards the adjacent surface.
In an embodiment, the adjacent-surface is a shoulder formed by the panel and the panel-receiving members comprise lateral protrusions.
In an embodiment, the panel mounting elements comprise an element selected from the group consisting of clipping elements and gripping elements.
In an embodiment, when the panels are mounted to the vertical members a region defined by the vertical members is exposed between two adjacent panels.
In an embodiment, the exposed region comprises auxiliary-mounting elements for mounting auxiliary members thereto.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary members are selected from the group consisting of display members merchandising hardware, shelves, decorative fixtures, lights, beams, construction members and combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the exposed region comprises a spacer.
In an embodiment, the surface being mounted by the vertical member comprises a wall surface.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a longitudinal vertical member for an adjustable wall system comprising a backing surface for mounting the vertical member thereto and panels mountable to the vertical members for forming a wall when assembled, the vertical member comprising:
a mounting side for being mounted to the backing surface; and
a panel-receiving side opposite the mounting side comprising panel-receiving protrusions and a central portion therebetween.
In an embodiment, the panel-receiving protrusions is opposite lateral protrusion extending from a main body of the vertical member.
In an embodiment, the main body extends from the mounting side.
In an embodiment, the protrusions receive respective panels.
In an embodiment, the central portion is exposed when the respective panels are mounted thereto.
In an embodiment, the exposed central portion comprises auxiliary-member receiving elements for receiving an auxiliary member.
In an embodiment, the exposed central portion comprises a spacer.
In an embodiment, the backing surface comprises a surface selected from the group consisting of a wall, a horizontal member, a surface-mounting element and a combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the vertical member further comprises locators for being mounted a predetermined area of the backing surface.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention there is provided a panel for mounting to an adjustable wall system comprising a frame comprising vertical members mounted to a backing surface the panel comprising:
opposite faces, ateral edges and top and bottom ends:
at least one mounting element mounted to one the face near at least one the later edge;
a surface formed at the one face and being adjacent to the mounting element;
wherein the mounting element is so biased towards the adjacent surface as to wedge a portion of the frame therebetween when mounting the panel to the frame.
In an embodiment, this portion of the frame is a portion of the vertical member.
In an embodiment, the vertical member portion comprises a protrusion.
In an embodiment, the mounting element extends from the panel and comprises a free end forming a shoulder.
In an embodiment the panel further comprises an intrusion, the mounting element comprising a tail end being fitted into the intrusion.
In an embodiment, the panel further comprises mounting elements at both the lateral edges thereof.
In an embodiment, the panel further comprises mounting elements near both the top and bottom ends.
In an embodiment, the backing surface comprises a surface selected from the group consisting of a wall, a horizontal member, a surface-mounting element and a combination thereof.
Other objects advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the appended drawings where like elements are referenced by like reference numerals and in which:
With reference to the appended drawings an embodiment of the invention will be herein described so as to exemplify the invention and not limit its scope.
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Furthermore, the adjustable wall system 20 includes longitudinal end caps 92 and 94 for covering the vertical members 24 that are near the edges of the wall and a portion of the horizontal runners 22 which protrude beyond the vertical standards at the ends of the frame 26. In this respect horizontal runners 22 can be provided with longitudinal end cap connectors 96.
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In operation, the vertical standards 24 will be mounted on both sides 28 and 30 of the horizontal runners 22. Hence, vertical standards 24 are mounted along the longitudinal length of the horizontal runners 22, and horizontal runners 22 are mounted along the longitudinal length of the vertical standards 24, thus forming the frame 26.
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Therefore, the adjustable wall system can be used to provide a variety of partitions, wall spaces for office areas or walls for displaying merchandise, and the like.
Using the surface mounting element 134 a wall can be built on a wall surface 133.
These walls are freestanding and can be extended, rearranged or adjusted in any way, as described hereinabove.
Having now described an embodiment of the present invention, various other embodiments, which are within the scope of the invention, will be described herein without limitation thereto, and only to further exemplify the present invention and not limit the scope thereof.
The horizontal members 22 may be in a variety of forms. They may be made by a series of shorter longitudinal runners that can be mounted to each other or a variety of telescoping runners that can be locked at certain lengths.
The vertical members 24 can be mounted to the horizontal members 22 by a variety of ways known to the skilled artisan. In the embodiment of an open vertical member 24, such as vertical member 24A, the apertures 112 for receiving auxiliary elements of a variety of sorts can be directly built within the vertical standard. Of course, the vertical member 24 need not have a central portion that protrudes outwardly in order to be used either as an auxiliary member mounting element or a spacer, as described hereinabove, and as such, the laterally protruding elements 54 may flank a flat central region 56 that is not exposed when panels 44 are mounted thereto. In this case, the lateral edges of two adjacent panels 44 will abut each other. The lateral protrusions 24 may be provided in a variety of suitable configurations in order to provide for a panel to be mounted thereto, as described herein.
A variety of locators 39 and 41, known to one having skill in the art, to facilitate mating the horizontal members with the vertical members can be provided within the scope of the present invention.
The horizontal and vertical members 22 and 24 and a frame 26 can be provided in a variety of suitable materials, as will be understood by one having skill in the art.
The horizontal members 22 can also be mounted to another surface such as a wall 133 and hence comprise surface mount elements. In this regard, the surface mounting elements 134 comprise any element that can be mounted to a surface and that can receive the vertical members 24 of the present invention.
Panels 44 can be provided in a variety of shapes and configurations for designing various wall runs, as is known in the art. Of course, the decorative faces 46 can be provided in a variety of colours and allures depending on the taste and preferences of the user. Panels 44 can also be provided in a variety of suitable materials such as wood, plastic, various cushion materials, metal, and the like. Again, this will depend on the taste and preferences of the user. A variety of mounting elements can be used in order to mount the panels 44 onto adjacent vertical members 24. Such mounting elements include magnets or various resilient members that may grip or clip the vertical member 24 with the aid of a shoulder created by the panel members, as described herein. Of course, in another embodiment, the lateral protrusions may include sockets, and the panels may include hook members to be connected to these sockets.
Therefore, the adjustable wall system described herein and claimed in the appended claims provides a variety of adjustable wall runs for partitioning spaces such as offices, or using the walls for merchandising or displaying other display members. The adjustable wall can therefore be assembled and disassembled or adjusted according to need by extending or shortening it horizontally and/or vertically by adding or removing auxiliary members, by adding or removing divider walls by adding or removing corners.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.
