The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for improved adjustment of partitions.
Wall partitions are used around the world as a means for dividing rooms. The classic application of a wall partition is the stall dividers in a restroom, other uses are also common.
Stall dividers generally do not rest on the floor of the restroom. Accordingly, to install a stall divider, a mechanic may wish to have at least the stall divider itself, one or more brackets, one or more pilasters, and a door. The stall divider rests on a bracket mounted to the wall, and a bracket mounted to the pilaster.
Once a mechanic has mounted the stall divider to these brackets, it can be very difficult to adjust the height of the divider. Examples of previous methods known in the art to adjust the height of the divider include positioning a rigid object underneath the divider and applying leverage to lift the divider. However, this method has the potential to damage the divider or the wall, and is difficult for a single mechanic or other user to execute. The price of a divider can range from $500-$1500; labor costs for multiple personnel are significant and the damage to a user's back can be unquantifiable. Thus, the existing method may be very costly.
Similarly, while basic jacks are, of course, known in the art, they may be difficult to position when installing restroom partitions. Typically, partitions are installed only after the toilets are installed. Known tools may have some difficulty in navigating the usual small amount of space between installed toilets.
Accordingly, the present invention provides methods and an apparatus for improved adjustment of partitions that provides consistent, efficient and more simple installation and may reduce a potential of installation mistakes or injuries to installation personnel.
The present invention utilizes a Foot Controlled Elevator Device to simply and safely raise the height of a partition or other building component. Throughout the present disclosure, restroom stall dividers will be cited as a chief example, but the present disclosure is not limited to such a narrow subset of dividers. For example, the present disclosure may also be useful in one or more of: cabinet installation; decorative panels; sheet rock; hardy board; prefabricated paneling and the like.
And, a plurality of Foot Controlled Elevator Devices may be linked to allow for simultaneous lifting of the partition from a plurality of fulcra. The Foot Controlled Elevator Devices may rise in tandem or separately, to achieve the desired horizontal leveling of the partition.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure:
The present disclosure provides generally for a method and apparatus for improved adjustment of partitions. According to the present disclosure, a Foot Controlled Elevator Device is inserted beneath a partition. By applying downward force from a user's foot against a Vertical Height Control, the Foot Controlled Elevator Device rises up to increase the height of the partition.
In the following sections, detailed descriptions of examples and methods of the disclosure will be given. The description of both preferred and alternative examples though through are exemplary only, and it is understood that to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications, and alterations may be apparent. It is therefore to be understood that the examples do not limit the broadness of the aspects of the underlying disclosure as defined by the claims.
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The Vertical Height Actuator 104 sits on top of or is proximate to the Center Support Platform 106b. The Vertical Height Actuator 104 may be hydraulic, a screw ratchet, or a lever. In some embodiments, the Vertical Height Actuator 104 may include an electric power source, such as a motor driving a lift or a pump providing hydraulic pressure. Other embodiments include a foot pump providing hydraulic or rack and pinion or scissor jack action thereby providing elevation. The Vertical Height Actuator 104 is controlled by the Vertical Height Control 105, which comprises a foot pedal. In some embodiments, the Vertical Height Control 105 further comprises a back brace, to assist in user safety. In the initial, compressed position of the Vertical Height Actuator 104, the Vertical Height Control 105 may sit roughly level with a Saddle 107. A mechanic or other user wishing to engage the Vertical Height Actuator 104 may simply push down on the Vertical Height Control 105.
The Saddle 107 sits on top of the Vertical Height Actuator 104 to provide a cushion, support, and a contact point for the Divider Panel 101. In some embodiments, the Saddle 107 may comprise a Saddle Base 107A and Saddle Support 107B. The Saddle Base 107A sits on top of the Vertical Height Actuator 104 and provides a contact between the Vertical Height Actuator 104 and the object to be moved (such as the Divider Panel 101 in
Once the Vertical Height Control 105 has been engaged, the Vertical Height Actuator 104 may decompress, moving the Saddle 107 in a direction to provide upwards force roughly parallel to the Wall Support 103 and Vertical Support 102. Once the Saddle 107 contacts the Divider Panel 101, the Divider Panel 101 may move upward until it reaches the desired height, or until the Vertical Height Actuator 104 fully decompresses or extends. In some embodiments, the Divider Panel 101 may be placed on the Saddle 107 prior to positioning the Foot Controlled Elevator Device 100 in the desired position. The Foot Controlled Elevator Device 100 may then, in some embodiments, be rolled on wheels or other movement mechanism to the desired position. Additionally, in some embodiments, the Foot Controlled Elevator Device may further comprise a photometer or other device capable of detecting lasers.
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Additionally, a Balance Assist Apparatus 806 is provided. The Balance Assist Apparatus 806 may comprise a rope connected to the Foot Controlled Elevator Device 100 on one end at 808, with a handle on the distal end. In some embodiments, the Balance Assist Apparatus 806 may also serve as an Elevation Release.
In some embodiments, the Stabilization Base 105 may have Wheels 814 affixed thereto. The remainder of the apparatus functions similarly to that described in
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The Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100 may be connected by one or more Pairing Control Rods 901 that may connect the Stabilization Base of one or more Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100 with the Stabilization Base of one or more other Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100. A Pairing Control Rod 901 may comprise a rigid or flexible tube, through which may run electrical wires or hydraulic fluid. In some embodiments, a Pairing Control Rod 901 may further comprise a valve. In some embodiments, a Pairing Control Rod 901 may be adjustable, such as by a clevis pin or ratchet. In some embodiments, a Switch 904 may be located on one or more of the Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100. A Switch 904 may include one or more of: a button switch, a toggle switch, a spring loaded switch, a joy con, CCD device or other type of control.
Once activated, the Switch 904 allows a user to control a plurality of the Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100 simultaneously using a smaller number of Vertical Height Controls 105. In some embodiments, one or more of the Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100 may further comprise a level. This combined apparatus may be useful where the floor is not level, as is the case in many restrooms. This may also be useful when installing piano hinge doors.
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Alternatively, at 1110B, one or more of the Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100 may be raised using the Vertical Height Control 105 until the one or more Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100 reaches a desired height. For example, if a restroom floor is uneven (as many are); a first Foot Controlled Elevator Device 100 closest to the Wall Support 103 may be have a higher Z-coordinate than a second Foot Controlled Elevator Device 100 closer to the Vertical Support 102. Accordingly, it may be desirable to raise the second Foot Controlled Elevator Device 100 to a height level with the first Foot Controlled Elevator Device 100. However, step 1110B should not be construed to require such a height adjustment. It may be that the “desired height” is the initial height.
At 1115B, the Switch 904 is toggled. The Switch 904 enables simultaneous control of all Foot Controlled Elevator Devices 100 across the Combined Foot Controlled elevator Device 900 using only one of the Vertical Height Controls 105 on one of the Foot Controlled Elevator Devices.
At 1120B, downward force is applied to the controlling Vertical Height Control 105 until either the Divider Panel 101 reaches the desired height, or the Vertical Height Actuators 104 fully extend or decompress.
A number of embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. While this specification contains many specific implementation details, there should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any disclosures or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the present disclosure. While embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein by way of example using several illustrative drawings, those skilled in the art will recognize the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood the drawings and the detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modification, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
In particular, although the present disclosure is explicitly directed to adjusting restroom stall dividers, it should not be limited to such dividers and may instead apply to a variety of partitions situated above the ground.
The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures.
The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.
The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted the terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.
Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in combination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Similarly, while method steps may be depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in combination in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.
Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order show, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed disclosure.
The present application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/691,781 filed Jun. 29, 2018, entitled METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED ADJUSTMENT OF PARTITIONS.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200002142 A1 | Jan 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62691781 | Jun 2018 | US |