The present invention relates to a divider assembly, for example particularly, but not exclusively, a divider assembly for dividing an area of space.
Social distancing is currently the new norm. It is against human nature but necessary to avoid spread of diseases. Surgical masks are recommended in public places but may not be mandatory. Some jobs are by nature more exposed to disease as they involve higher exposure to other people. It may not be possible to force others to wear a surgical mask, in particular in places such as restaurants which is a confined area with limited space for eating and drinking. It would not be possible to maintain safe distances between all people when surgical mask is removed. It would not be practical for workers in the restaurant to maintain safe distance from all customers.
Conventional partition assemblies have long been available to form partially isolated spaces which should be useful in acting as barriers against spread of diseases. However, their assembling requires professional support. They are intended for relatively long-term usage and are generally more complex in construction. Couplings between different parts of the assembly usually involve relatively heavy-duty connectors and are intended for long-term if not permanent connection. Disassembling of the partition assembly is simply not intended. The costs for purchasing and assembling the partitions are relatively high and storage of unused partitions would add to the overall costs.
Another problem with conventional partition assemblies is that it does not offer flexibility that allows user to change the configuration of the built assembly according to needs.
The invention seeks to eliminate or at least to mitigate such shortcomings.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a divider assembly for dividing a space into physically separated sub-spaces, comprising a support structure for fixing a divider in an upstanding orientation thereby dividing said space in which said divider is placed, the support structure includes a body defining a main axis, a holder provided on first side of the main axis and along length of the body for holding the divider in said upstanding orientation, and a coupler provided on second side of the main axis and along length of the body for direct coupling with another said support structure, such that said divider assembly is expandable into adjacent space for creating further separated sub-spaces; Preferably, the holder of the support structure extends in a direction from the body; More preferably, the holder of the support structure includes a groove configured to hold, by friction, said divider in said upstanding orientation; yet more preferably, the holder includes a pair of lips that defines the groove for holding said divider. It is preferable that the holder includes a friction enhancement structure. More preferably, the friction enhancement structure comprises a deformable tongue; preferably, the holder of the support structure elongates lengthwise in a direction parallel to the main axis, and preferably the direction is a radial direction.
Advantageously, the coupler of the support structure extends in a direction from the body; more advantageously, the direction is a radial direction; Yet more advantageously, the coupler of the support structure elongates lengthwise in a direction parallel to the main axis; it is advantageous that the coupler of the support structure includes an abutment surface which is transversely oriented relative to the radial direction; more advantageously, the coupler comprises an arm that extends from the body of the support structure, the arm includes the abutment surface for abutting an arm of said another support structure. Preferably, the abutment surface includes an auxiliary abutment surface that extends transversely to the abutment surface.
Advantageously, the arm has a L-shaped configuration and is integrally formed with the body of the support structure;
In an embodiment, the coupler and the holder of the support structure are structurally identical; preferably, the coupler and the holder include respective grooves configured to hold a divider and to directly couple with a coupler of said another support structure respectively; more preferably, the coupler and the holder each comprises a pair of lips configured to hold a divider and to directly couple with a coupler of said another support structure respectively; yet more preferably, the coupler and the holder each comprises an arm which is integrally formed with and is extended in a direction from the body of the support structure.
Advantageously, the holder and the coupler extend from the body of the support structure and are integrally formed thereto.
It is advantageously that the support structure includes first and second holders provided on first and third sides of the main axis for holding respective dividers in said upstanding orientation, and a coupler provided on a second side of the main axis for direct coupling with said another support structure, wherein an auxiliary holder is provided on the body and between the first and second holders, which when in use assists the holding of said divider; preferably, the first holder is at right angle to the second holder; more preferably, the coupler is provided opposite to the auxiliary holder.
In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a divider assembly for dividing an area into a physically separated sub-space, comprising a first support structure having a body defining a main axis, first and second holders provided on first and third sides of the main axis and along length of the body for holding the divider in said upstanding orientation, and a coupler provided on second side of the main axis and along length of the body for direct coupling with another said support structure, such that said divider assembly is is expandable into adjacent space for creating further separated sub-spaces, a second support structure which is structurally identical to the first support structure, a first divider held by the first holder, a second divider held by the second holder of the first support structure at one end and the first holder of the second support structure at another end, and a third divider held by the second holder of the second support structure to thereby physically delimits and isolates a sub-space in at least three sides from said area.
In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a divider assembly, comprising a first support structure having a body defining a main axis, first and second holders provided on first and third sides of the main axis and along length of the body for holding the divider in said upstanding orientation, and a coupler provided on second side of the main axis and along length of the body for direct coupling with another said support structure, such that said divider assembly is expandable into adjacent space for creating further separated sub-spaces, an auxiliary holder is provided between the first and second holders, a first divider held by the first holder, and a second divider held by the second holder, to thereby define a sub-space in at least two sides and isolate the subspace from said area by the first and second dividers; Preferably, the divider assembly further comprises a second support structure which is structurally identical to the first support structure and is directly coupled to the first support structure by inter-engagement of the couplers on the first and second support structures to form a first support structure assembly, and third and fourth dividers held by the first and second holders of the second support structure respectively, to thereby define four sub-spaces around the main axis, each sub-space is isolated in at least two sides; More preferably, an auxiliary holder is provided between the first and second holder of the first and second support structures respectively; Yet more preferably, the body of the first and second support structures together form two opposite further auxiliary holders positioned between the first holders of the first and second support structures as well as the second holders of the first and second support structures; It is preferable that the divider assembly further comprises third and fourth support structures which are structurally identical to the first and second support structures, the third and fourth support structures are directly coupled to each other by inter-engagement of the couplers on the third and fourth support structures to form a second support structure assembly, the first support structure assembly is arranged on top of the second support structure assembly and the two are in staggered orientation, such that when the auxiliary holder of the first support structure is aligned with the second holder of the third support structure, the auxiliary holder of the second support structure is aligned with the first holder of the fourth support structure; It is more preferable that the first and second support structure assemblies are maintained in staggered orientation by the first divider which spans across the auxiliary holder of the first support structure and the second holder of the third support structure.
The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
An embodiment of the support structure 101 is shown in
As a possible alternative embodiment, the support structure 200 may include one or more holders 203/204 and such holder 203/204 may run at interval along length of the body 201 or may run along part length of the body 201 at or adjacent two opposite ends of the body 201.
As another possible alternative embodiment, the support structure 200 may include one or more couplers 205 and such coupler 205 may run at interval along length of the body 201 or may run along part length of the body 201 at or adjacent two opposite ends of the body 201.
In more detail, first and second holders 203, 204 extends in different directions from the body 201 and the directions are a radial direction. The holders 203, 204 includes respective grooves 211 configured to hold, by friction, the divider in the upstanding orientation. Each groove 211 includes friction enhancement structure such as a flexible deformable tongue made of plastic or rubber 210 to enhance the frictional engagement between the respective holders 203, 204 and the divider 300. The groove 210 is about 32.1 mm long and 2.1 mm wide. More specifically, each first or second holder 203, 204 includes a pair of lips 203A and 203B, 204A and 204B that delimits the respective grooves 211. Each pair of lips 203A and 203B, 204A and 204B are connected at one end and run substantially parallel to one another such that the first and second holders 203 and, 204 have U-shaped configuration. The connected end of the lips 203A, 203B, 204A, 204B are integrally formed with the body 201 of the support structure 200. As each pair of lips 203A and 203B, 204A and 204B functions as a clip to frictionally hold an edge of the divider 300, these lips 203A and 203B, 204A and 204B may be configured to be slightly converging towards one another or includes friction enhancing features such as the deformable tongue 210 that extends from the lip 203A as shown in
The coupler 205 extends in a direction, more specifically a radial direction from the body 201. It is in the form of an arm 208 in an L-shaped configuration that extends from the body 201 of the support structure 200. The arm 208 includes an abutment surface 208A for abutting the abutment surface 208A of the arm of another support structure 200 such that the two support structures 200 can be in direct coupling as illustrated in
In this embodiment, the coupler 205 and the holders 203 and 204 are of different configurations. However it is possible that the coupler 205 and the holders 203 and 204 are of the same configuration as long as their function can be performed.
With reference to
In the preferred embodiment, the holders 203, 204, the coupler 205 as well as the auxiliary holder 207 are integrally formed with the body 201 of the support structure 200.
With reference to
As shown in
A step 209 is provided between the L-shaped coupler 205 and the first holder 203. When the two support structures 200A and 200B are coupled, the step 209 of the first support structure 200 together with a side of the first holder 203 of the second support structure 200 form a further auxiliary holder 207. When the two support structures 200 are coupled, there are two further auxiliary holders 207 in addition to the auxiliary holders 207 provided between each pair of first and second holders 203 and 204. In total, four auxiliary holders 207 are provided at right angle to one another and each auxiliary holder 208 is positioned between respective pairs of holders 203, 204.
The dividers 300 are preferably made of transparent material such as glass or plastic. The support structure are preferably made of aluminum or plastic. All plastic components are preferably made from extrusion.
In
A third configuration of the divider assembly 100 is shown in
The fourth configuration of the divider assembly 100 is shown in
With reference to
The first and second support structure assemblies 400A and 400B are in staggered arrangement such that when the auxiliary holder 207 between the first and second holders 203 and 204 of the first support structure 200A is aligned with the second holder 204 of the third support structure 200C, the auxiliary holder 207 between the first and second holders 203 and 204 of the second support structure 200B is aligned with the first holder 203 of the fourth support structure 200D. The further auxiliary holder 207 between the first holders 203 of the first and second support structures 200A and 200B is aligned with the first holder of the third support structure 200C. The further auxiliary holder 207 between the second holders 204 of the first and second support structures 200A and 200B is aligned with the second holder of the fourth support structure 200D. Similarly, the auxiliary holder 207 between the first and second holders 203 and 204 of the third support structure 200C is aligned with the first holder of the first support structure 200A. The auxiliary holder 207 between the first and second holders 203 and 204 of the fourth support structure 200D is aligned with the second holder of the second support structure 200B. The further auxiliary holder 207 between the first holders of the third and fourth support structures 200C and 200D is aligned with the first holder 203 of the second support structure 200B. The auxiliary holder 207 between second holders of the third and fourth support structures 200C and 200D is aligned with the second holder 204 of the first support structure 200A. Referring to
Either the support structures in this assembly is half as short as those in the embodiments as shown in
In each of these divider 300 assemblies, the connections of dividers 300 to holders 203, 204 as well as the couplings between the support structures 200 are intact to an extent that no gap is present between the dividers 300 or the support structures 200 that will permit transmission of material between sub-spaces therethrough.
Although in the provided embodiments, the holders 203, 204 and the coupler 205 extend outwardly from the body 201 of the support structure 200, in an alternative embodiment, the holder may be extending inwardly into the body 201. In a further alternative embodiment, the holders 203, 204 and the coupler 205 may be of identical structural configuration.
The support structure 200 and its relevant parts as well as the divider 300 may be of any dimension depending on needs.
The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment or configuration may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.