Embodiments of the present invention are directed to the field of movable partitions used for one or more of partitioning space, as sound barriers, fire barriers, security barriers, or for various other applications.
Movable partitions are utilized in numerous situations and environments for a variety of purposes. Such partitions may include, for example, a movable partition comprising foldable or collapsible doors configured to enclose or subdivide a room or other area. Often such partitions may be utilized simply for purposes of versatility in being able to subdivide a single large room into multiple smaller rooms. The subdivision of a larger area may be desired, for example, to accommodate multiple groups or meetings simultaneously. In other applications, such partitions may be utilized for noise control depending, for example, on the activities taking place in a given room or portion thereof.
Movable partitions may also be used to provide a security barrier, a fire barrier, or both a security barrier and a fire barrier. In such a case, the partition barrier may be configured to automatically close upon the occurrence of a predetermined event such as the actuation of an associated alarm. For example, one or more accordion or similar folding-type partitions may be used as a security barrier, a fire barrier, or both a security barrier and a fire barrier wherein each partition is formed with a plurality of panels connected to one another with hinges. The hinged connection of the panels allows the partition to fold and collapse into a compact unit for purposes of storage when not deployed. The partition may be stored in a pocket formed in the wall of a building when in a retracted or folded state. When the partition is deployed to subdivide a single large room into multiple smaller rooms, secure an area during a fire, or for any other specified reason, the partition may be extended along an overhead track, which is often located above the movable partition in a header assembly, until the partition extends a desired distance across the room.
When deployed, a leading end of the movable partition, often defined by a component known as a lead post, complementarily engages another structure, such as a wall, a post, or a lead post of another door.
Automatic extension and retraction of the movable partition may be accomplished through the use of a motor located in a pocket formed in the wall of a building in which the movable partition is stored when in a retracted or folded state. The motor, which remains fixed in place within the pocket, may be used to drive extension and retraction of the movable partition. A motor for automatically extending and retracting a movable partition may also be mounted within the movable partition itself, such that the motor travels with the movable partition as the movable partition is extended and retracted using the motor.
In some cases, the lower edge of the movable partition, including the lower edge of the movable partition's lead post, may be laterally displaced relative to the top edge of the movable partition, which may be relatively fixed in a lateral sense due to engagement with an overhead track and header. Such lateral displacement of the movable partition's lower edge may be caused, for example, by a fire-induced draft, by an improperly balanced heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, by smoke evacuation systems, building air pressure systems, or simply from an occupant of a room pushing against the movable partition while it is being deployed. If the lower end of the lead post is laterally displaced relative to its upper end as the leading edge of the movable partition approaches the mating receptacle, the lead post may not be properly aligned with the mating receptacle and an appropriate seal may not be formed. In other words, the mating receptacle is conventionally installed to be substantially plumb. If the lower end of a lead post of a movable partition is laterally displaced relative to its upper end, the lead post is not plumb (or substantially vertically oriented) and, thus, may not properly engage the substantially plumb receptacle.
As noted above, the failure of the lead post to properly engage the receptacle may have significant consequences when, for example, the movable partition is being used as a fire or security barrier. One approach to preventing or controlling the lateral displacement of a lower end of the movable partition has included forming a guide track within the floor of a room, and then causing the movable partition or barrier to engage the track as it is deployed and retracted such that both the top and the bottom of the movable partition is laterally constrained. However, the placement of a track in the floor of a room is not an ideal solution for all applications. For example, such a track provides a place for collection of dust and debris and may, thereby, become an unsightly feature of the room. In some cases, the collection of debris may affect the proper operation of the movable partition itself. Furthermore, the existence of a track in the floor may act as a hazard or potential source of injury depending, for example, on the intended use of the area and the actual location of the floor track within that area.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a movable partition system is provided. The movable partition system includes a movable partition configured to extend across a space within a building when the movable partition system is installed within a building. At least one track is configured to be coupled to an overhead structure of the building and to extend across the space when the movable partition is installed within the building. The movable partition is configured to be suspended from the at least one track when the movable partition is installed within the building. A strike plate is configured to be mounted to a wall within the building when the movable partition system is installed within the building, the strike plate being configured to engage the leading end of the movable partition when the movable partition is extended across the space within the building to an extended, closed configuration. A vertical alignment structure is coupled to the movable partition proximate a leading end of the movable partition, which comprises at least one roller element located laterally beyond a lateral side of the movable partition and at least one structural frame member coupling the at least one roller element to the movable partition, the at least one structural frame member coupled to the at least one roller element and to at least one component of the movable partition. At least one ramp is configured to be coupled to the overhead structure of the building when the movable partition system is installed within the building. The at least one ramp has at least one ramp surface configured to be orientated at an acute angle greater than zero relative to the horizontal plane. The at least one ramp surface is configured to abut against the at least one roller element as the movable partition is caused to extend across the space within the building to the extended, closed configuration and to cause the leading end of the movable partition to be aligned with the strike plate as the leading end of the movable partition engages the strike plate.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for vertically aligning an automatic door is provided. The system comprises a movable partition configured to extend across a space within a building when the movable partition system is installed within a building. A drive is configured to motivate the movable partition along at least one track configured to be coupled to an overhead structure of the building. The movable partition is configured to be suspended from the at least one track. A vertical alignment structure comprising at least one roller element is coupled to an upper portion of the at least one component of the movable partition and at least one ramp is configured to be coupled to the overhead structure of the building. The at least one ramp has at least one ramp surface configured to be orientated at an acute angle greater than zero relative to the horizontal plane, the at least one ramp surface is configured to abut against the at least one roller element as the drive motivates the movable partition along the at least one track and causes the leading end of the movable partition to be at least substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming a movable partition system is provided. The method includes installing at least one track to an overhead structure of a building with the at least one track extending across a space within the building. A movable partition comprising a leading end is suspended from the at least one track. A strike plate is mounted to a wall within the building and is configured to engage the leading end of the movable partition. At least one vertical alignment structure is coupled to the movable partition that includes coupling at least one structural frame member to at least one component of the movable partition and coupling at least one roller element to the at least one structural frame member such that the at least one roller element is located laterally beyond a lateral side of the movable partition. At least one ramp is installed to the overhead structure of the building when the movable partition system is installed within the building. The at least one ramp has at least one ramp surface that is orientated at an acute angle greater than zero relative to the horizontal plane. The at least one ramp is configured to abut the at least one roller element and align the leading end of the movable partition with the strike plate when the movable partition is extended across the space within the building.
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming what are regarded as embodiments of the present invention, the advantages of the embodiments of the invention may be more readily ascertained from the description of embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
When it is desired to deploy the door 102 to an extended position, for example, to secure an area such as an elevator lobby 112 during a fire, the door 102 is driven along at least one track 114 across the space to provide an appropriate barrier. The at least one track 114 may be configured to be coupled to an overhead structure of the building and to extend across the space when the movable partition system 100 is installed within the building. The door 102 may be configured to be suspended from the at least one track 114. When in a deployed or an extended state, a leading edge of the door 102, shown to include a male lead post 116, complementarily or matingly engages with a door post or strike plate 118 that may be formed in a wall 110B of a building. The strike plate 118 may be configured to be mounted to the wall 110B of a building when the movable partition system 100 is installed within the building. As can be seen in
A drive device, which may include, for example, a motor 124 and a drive belt or chain 125 (
It is noted that, while the exemplary embodiment shown and described with respect to
Referring still to
It is noted that, while embodiments of the present invention are generally discussed with respect to correcting a section of the door 102 or other partition that has deviated from a substantially plumb or vertical orientation through use of a vertical alignment system 129, embodiments of the present invention more broadly contemplate positioning a section of the door 102 to a selected or specified orientation.
For example, an existing or previously installed door 102 may be retrofitted or modified to include a vertical alignment system 129. In certain installations, the strike plate 118, with which a lead post 116 will engage, may have been improperly or carelessly installed such that it is out of plumb by a determined magnitude. In such a case, the vertical alignment system 129 may be configured to guide the lead post 116 of the door 102 such that it is also out of plumb by the same magnitude, and in a corresponding direction, thereby enabling the lead post 116 to engage with the strike plate 118 and effect a desired coupling or seal therebetween.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the structural frame member 202 may be coupled to a rear surface 208b of an upper portion of the lead post 116. The rear surface 208b of the lead post 116 is also coupled to the door 102 (
The structural frame member 202 includes at least one roller assembly 204 coupled therewith. In one embodiment, at least one structural frame member 202 may have a generally triangular shape and the at least one roller assembly 204 may be coupled to a corner of a structural frame member 202 opposite the lead post 116. The at least one roller assembly 204 may include a bracket 220 configured to attach at least one roller element 216 to the at least one structural frame member 202. The at least one roller element 216 may comprise, for example, a wheel configured to rotate or roll about a first axis or a rolling axis, which may be defined by a hub or axle 218 that extends through the roller element 216 and secures the roller element 216 to the bracket 220. While each roller assembly 204 is illustrated in
In some embodiments, the at least one roller assembly 204 is adjustably coupled to the at least one structural frame member 202. For example, as shown in
The horizontal distance from a center of the lead post 116 to the at least one roller assembly 204 may be about one-half (½) foot to about three (3) feet. In one embodiment, the horizontal distance may be about eight (8) inches long. In another embodiment, the vertical alignment structure 130 includes at least two roller assemblies 204 disposed substantially symmetrically about a vertical centerline of the lead post 116. The at least two roller elements 216 may have a distance D204 (
In some embodiments, the at least one ramp 131 includes a beveled portion 224 where the at least one roller assembly 204 first engages the at least one ramp 131 upon closing of the door 102. The at least one ramp 131 includes a ramp surface 226 configured to be orientated at an acute angle α greater than zero relative to the horizontal plane. As used herein, the phrase “the horizontal plane” refers to a plane perpendicular to earth's gravitational field. For example, the angle α may be between about five degrees (5°) and about 30 degrees (30°).
In one embodiment, the at least one ramp 131 may be generally triangular such that the at least one ramp 131 is flush with the ceiling 222. In another embodiment, at least one shim 228 may be optionally placed between a generally planar at least one ramp 131′ and the ceiling 222 causing the generally planar at least one ramp 131′ to gradually slope downward toward the wall 110B. The thickest portion of the shim 228 may have a thickness of, for example, about one-quarter (¼) inch.
The at least one ramp 131 may have a total length L1 such that when the vertical alignment structure 130 engages the at least one ramp 131, a gradually increasing downward pressure is applied from the at least one ramp 131 to the vertical alignment structure 130.
In one embodiment, the length L1 of the at least one ramp 131 may be at least about three (3) ft. The beveled portion 224 of the at least one ramp 131 may have a length L2 of about one (1) inch to about twelve (12) inches. A maximum height h2 of the at least one ramp 131 may be from about one-quarter (¼) inch to about five (5) inches. The generally planar at least one ramp 131′, excluding the beveled portion 224, may have a height h1 of about one-tenth ( 1/10) inch to about three (3) inches. Thus, a maximum height h2 from a ramp surface 226 of the at least one ramp 131 to the ceiling 222 may be from about one-quarter (¼) inch to about five (5) inches.
In some embodiments, when the at least one ramp 131 is installed and mounted to the ceiling 222, the ramp surface 226 may have a pitch (i.e., the ratio of change in height to change in length, Δ/ΔL) of between about one-sixteenth inch per foot ( 1/16 in./ft.) and about two inches per foot (2 in./ft.).
The at least one roller assembly 204 of the vertical alignment structure 130 (
As shown in
The vertical alignment system 129, as illustrated in
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120037323 A1 | Feb 2012 | US |