The present invention relates to a modular wall unit for a modular wall system. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a modular wall unit having an internal reinforcement member giving strength to the unit and allowing the modular wall unit to connect to further wall units to form an overall wall.
Typically, known systems for building a temporary wall involve blocks each having one or more holes running through the block and being configured to receive a rod such that multiple blocks are held together by the rod.
For example, one known system (U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,714 B1) comprises a foundation of poured, levelled concrete having regularly spaced holes for vertical block assembly rods, a plurality of walls blocks where each block has one or more vertical block assembly holes running entirely though the blocks, and a plurality of block assembly rods. When a column of one or more wall blocks is placed on the foundation with the foundation and block holes aligned, one or more block assembly rods can be run through the block column and into the foundation. This enables an assembly of a temporary wall with blocks, rods, and foundation that does not require mortar and is easy to disassemble.
A problem with the above-described system is that the block assembly rod that is run through each block of a column is subject to bending and therefore likely to be damaged easily and require frequent replacement. Another problem is that the block assembly rod provides vertical structural support only, which means the temporary wall can be prone to toppling and instability.
The present invention aims to overcome or at least partly mitigate one or more of the above problems.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular wall unit for a modular wall system, the modular wall unit comprising a body having first and second outer wall faces, first and second joining faces that each extend between the first and second outer wall faces, at least one of the first and second joining faces for facing a joining face of a further modular wall unit of the modular wall system, and a first through-hole extending between the first and second joining faces. The modular wall unit further comprises a first elongate reinforcement member extending between the first joining face and the second joining face and within the first through hole, the first elongate reinforcement member having at least one tubular portion proximal to a terminating end of the first elongate reinforcement member. The first aspect may be modified according to any suitable teaching described herein, including, but not limited to, any one or more of the following optional features.
The modular wall unit may further comprise a second through hole, spaced apart from the first through hole and extending between the first and second joining faces. The modular wall unit may further comprise a second elongate reinforcement member extending between the first face and the second face and within the second through hole, the second elongate reinforcement member having at least one tubular portion proximal to a terminating end of the second elongate reinforcement member.
The modular wall unit may be configured such that the body further comprises an internal recess extending away from and adjoining the first through hole. The modular wall unit may further comprise a third elongate reinforcement member that resides in the recess, and is connected to the first elongate reinforcement member.
The modular wall unit may be configured such that the internal recess extends at least between the first through hole and the second through hole, and the second elongate reinforcement member further connects to the third elongate support member.
The body portion may comprise a foam material.
The part of the body portion surrounding the reinforcement members may be unitary.
Any of the said elongate reinforcement members may comprise Aluminium.
Any one or more of the said elongate reinforcing members may comprise a tubular portion proximal at both terminating ends.
Any one or more of the one or more of the elongate reinforcement members may comprise a tube running the entire length of the respective reinforcement member.
The modular wall unit may further comprise one or more supporting members extending outwardly from an outer wall face.
The one or more support members may comprise an elongate portion and a head portion terminating the one or more support members at a distal end away from the modular wall unit.
The elongate portion may have a maximum diameter that is smaller than the maximum diameter of the head portion.
The modular wall unit may further comprise a further support member extending from the second reinforcement member.
The support member may extend substantially perpendicular from the first or second reinforcement members.
The first and second joining faces may be planar.
Alternatively, the first and second joining faces may be parallel.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising a modular wall unit as described above in respect of the first aspect of the present invention, and one or more plugs for assembling a plurality of modular wall units.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular wall system comprising a plurality of modular wall units.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a modular wall unit for a modular wall system, the modular wall unit comprising a first elongate reinforcement member comprising at least one tubular portion for connecting the modular wall unit to a further modular wall unit of the modular wall system. The modular wall unit further comprises a body at least partially surrounding the first elongate reinforcement member along its elongate length. The fourth aspect may be modified according to any suitable teaching described herein, including but not limited to, any one or more of the technical features describing the first aspect, and/or any one or more of the following optional features.
The body may be a block that houses the first elongate reinforcement member.
The body may comprise foam.
The first elongate reinforcement member may form part of a reinforcement frame comprising a plurality of elongate reinforcement members, the plurality of elongate reinforcement members at least partially surrounding the body along their respective elongate lengths.
The frame may comprise an H-shaped frame.
At least the first elongate reinforcement member may extend between first and second outer faces of the body.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for forming a modular wall unit, the method comprising inserting a first elongate reinforcement member into a mold, and filling the mold, at least partially with material. The fifth aspect may be modified according to any suitable teaching described herein, including but not limited to any one or more of the following optional features.
Inserting a first elongate reinforcement member into a mold may include inserting a reinforcement frame into the mold, the frame comprising a plurality of elongate reinforcement members, and filling the mold at least partially with material may include filling the mold with a liquid foam material.
Inserting the reinforcement frame into the mold may comprise inserting an H-shaped frame into the mold, the mold being configured to hold the H-shaped frame in a predetermined position.
Filling the mold may comprise filling the mold at least partially with foam material.
Filling the mold may comprise filling the mold completely with foam material.
Filling the mold may comprise filling the mold completely with liquid foam material.
The method may further comprise the foam material self-expanding to fill voids within the mold to form the body portion of the modular wall unit. the body portion surrounding the H-shaped frame.
The method may include any one or more of the following steps (in any order): setting the liquid foam material, for example by an external treatment or by allowing the foam to set; and plugging any open tubular ends of the reinforcement members.
The method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention may be for forming the modular wall unit as described above in respect of the first aspect or fourth aspect of the present invention.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hanging device for supporting a frame; the hanging device comprising a main body comprising an engagement region (81) for engaging a headed fixing that passes through the main body; spaced apart first and second arms connected to, and arranged with, the main body to form respective first and second hook portions for supporting the frame; the engagement region being at least partially between the first and second hook portions. The sixth aspect may be modified according to any suitable teaching described herein, including but not limited to, any one or more of the following optional features.
The first and second hook portions may form a channel extending at least: from, and including, the first hook portion; to, and including, the second hook portion; the engagement region faces the channel.
The engagement region may be recessed inwardly from a wall of the main body forming the channel.
The engagement region may be located about a portion of the said main body channel wall that is proximal to the base of the channel.
The frame may comprise a first bar perpendicularly extending to and connected to a second bar; the said channel is for supporting the first bar; the main body comprises a recessed second channel at least partially accommodating the second bar.
At least part of the engagement region may be aligned along the length of second channel.
At least one of the arms may comprise a through hole; the main body comprising a fixing recess, the through hole and the fixing recess being aligned such that a further fixing may be inserted through the through hole and at least partially into the fixing recess.
Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, examples, and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all examples and/or features of any example can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Modular Wall Unit
There is presented a modular wall unit for a modular wall system. It should be noted that features of the different examples of the modular wall unit and the method for making a modular wall unit may also be used in other examples of the same, either as an addition or as a replacement of a technical feature or step.
There is presented a modular wall unit 2 for a modular wall system 4. The modular wall unit 2 comprises a body 6. The body 6 has first 8 and second 10 outer wall faces. The body 6 also has first 12 and second 14 joining faces that each extend between the first 8 and second 10 outer wall faces. At least one of the first 12 and second 14 joining faces are for facing a joining face of a further modular wall unit 16 of the modular wall system 4. The body 6 also has a first through-hole 18 extending between the first 12 and second 14 joining faces. The modular wall unit 2 further comprises a first elongate reinforcement member 20 extending between the first joining face 12 and the second joining face 14 and within the first through hole 18. The first elongate reinforcement member 20 also has at least one tubular portion 22 proximal to a terminating end of the first elongate reinforcement member 20.
For purposes of discussing the modular wall system, the modular wall unit described above may be referred to as the ‘first modular wall unit’ or ‘first unit’ hereinafter. Likewise, the further modular wall unit may be referred to as the further unit. The modular wall system may be referred to as the ‘wall system’ or ‘system’ and may have a plurality of units wherein the system forms a ‘wall’. The further units may also be referred to a first, second third units etc. when discussing examples of the system.
The modular wall unit 2 therefore has an internal reinforcement member 20 giving strength to the unit 2 but that allows for a connecting element to be inserted into the through hole 18 and engage with the tubular end portion 22, for example by an interference fit. The connecting element may be used to connect with other portions of the wall system 4, for example with further wall units or other units such as a base unit. The further adjacent modular wall unit abutting the first unit along respective joining faces may have its terminating tubular portion at the joining surface facing the first unit. This allows the wall system to be interconnected via the internal reinforcement members. The connecting element may for example be a connecting plug, pin or other suitable means as described elsewhere herein.
Modular Wall System and Uses
When multiple units are engaged with each other via one or more connecting elements, the outer wall faces of the adjoined units may form the overall wall wherein each face of the wall is continuous apart from the unit joining lines.
The wall may be free standing or may be attached to a base unit. The base unit, in use, resides on the floor, platform or other supporting area that the wall sits on and provides stability to the wall to help stop the wall falling over.
The wall may be used to support further objects. These further objects may be directly mounted on a wall outer surface, such as a poster, or may be supported by a support member extending outwardly from an outer wall face. A wall unit may have, none, one or a plurality of support members. For example, some wall units in a wall may have no support member whilst other wall units have one or more support members. The number and position of the support members of a wall unit or wall may depend on the end use of the wall. The support members are discussed in greater detail elsewhere herein.
The support member may be attached directly to the outer wall or may pass into a hole in the outer wall surface and connect to one or more of the reinforcing members internal to the body. An example of a further object that may be supported by the support members may be a frame for hanging or otherwise further supporting other objects. The frame may directly connect or hang upon the support members. Additionally, or alternatively, the support member may be coupled to a hook that in turn is used to hang the frame upon. The hook may be integrally formed with the support member, for example forming the end of the support member distal from the wall outer face. The hook may also be a separately formed object that attaches (preferably mechanically engages) with the said distal end of the support member.
The frame may be a grid frame. The grid frame may have a first set of spaced apart parallel rods that intersect and rigidly connect with a second set of parallel rods, the first set of the rods running perpendicular with the second set of parallel rods.
The face of the wall is continuous apart from the unit joining lines 32. Frames 26a, 26b and 26c are supported on the wall shown in
The wall unit will now be described in more detail with reference to
The first elongate reinforcement member 20a and the second elongate reinforcement member 20b have tubular portions 22a, 22b proximal to terminating ends of the first elongate reinforcement member 20a and the second elongate reinforcement member 20b.
The modular wall unit shown in
H-Shaped Frame
The body 6 further comprises a third elongate reinforcement member 20c that resides in the internal recess 34 and is connected to the first elongate reinforcement member 20a. The third elongate reinforcement member 20c, which resides in the internal recess 34, is also connected to the second elongate reinforcement member 20b. The first elongate reinforcement member 20a, the second elongate reinforcement member 20b, and the third elongate reinforcement member 20c thereby form an H-shaped frame residing within internal recesses formed by the first through-hole 18a, the second through-hole 18b and the internal recess 34. The third elongate reinforcement member 20c may be connected to the first elongate reinforcement member 20a and the second elongate reinforcement member 20b by welding if the reinforcement members 20a, 20b, 20c are made from a metal, e.g., Aluminium. Alternatively, the first, second, and third elongate reinforcement members 20a, 20b, 20c may be a unitary piece. For example, the unitary piece may be molded from plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
The first elongate reinforcement member 20a and the second elongate reinforcement member 20b have tubular portions 22a, 22b proximal to terminating ends of the first elongate reinforcement member 20a and the second elongate reinforcement member 20b. A connecting element can be inserted into the through-holes 18a, 18b and engage with the tubular end portions 22a, 22b.
A plurality of modular wall units can be assembled by placing the lower joining face of a first modular wall unit adjacent to the upper joining face of a second modular wall unit and aligning the through-holes of the first modular wall unit with the through-holes of the second modular wall unit, such that a connecting element can be inserted into each of the through-holes. The first and second internal reinforcement members may comprise a tubular end portion at each terminating end of the reinforcement member. When a connecting element is inserted into one of the through-holes of the first modular wall unit, it engages with the corresponding tubular end portion within the internal reinforcement member of the first modular wall unit. The same connecting element can then be interested into one of the through-holes of the second modular wall unit, thereby engaging with the corresponding tubular end portion within the internal reinforcement member of the second modular wall unit.
Advantageously, the connecting elements provide structural support to the modular wall system formed by the assembly of multiple modular wall units whilst enabling the modular wall system to be assembled in a modular fashion, one modular wall unit at a time. In contrast to prior art systems, the modular wall units need not be assembled into a column before being connected by a connecting element. In addition, the connecting element is not required to run all the way through the through-hole of the modular wall unit. The modular wall therefore requires less material to form the connecting elements required for assembling the modular wall system. Furthermore, the connecting elements can engage with the tubular end portions by an interference fit and do not require any bolts or screws.
The modular wall unit further provides not only vertical structural support, but also horizontal structural support by way of the H-shaped frame residing within internal recesses formed by the first through-hole 18a, the second through-hole 18b and the internal recess 34. The provision of an H-shaped frame within each modular wall unit provides structural support to the unit itself as well a modular wall system formed from a plurality of modular wall units. The internal reinforcement members 20a, 20b, 20c, which form the H-shaped frame of the modular wall unit shown in
Furthermore, the H-shaped frame, in comparison to several unconnected poles or reinforcement members, enables the modular wall unit to be manufactured more efficiently. The body portion of the modular wall unit may be unitary in structure and surround the reinforcement members. For example, the body portion may comprise a foam material and be prepared using insert molding techniques. Advantageously, inserting the unitary H-shaped frame into a mold is faster and easier in comparison to inserting several unconnected elements into a mold. In addition, the relative position of the reinforcement members and the outer holes of the reinforcement members are fixed, which enables the modular wall system to be assembled more efficiently and with ease.
A third elongate reinforcement member 20c resides between the first and second elongate reinforcement members 20a, 20b. The third elongate reinforcement member 20c is connected to the first elongate reinforcement member 20a at approximately halfway between the ends of the first elongate reinforcement member 20a. The third elongate reinforcement member 20c may have a length of about 300-900 millimetres and a diameter of about 20-60 millimetres. Preferably, the third elongate reinforcement member 20c may each have a length of between 500-700 millimetres and a diameter of between 40-50 millimetres. The third elongate reinforcement member 20c may have a length of about 600 millimetres and a diameter of about 44.5 millimetres.
Similarly, the third elongate reinforcement member 20c is connected to the second elongate reinforcement member 20b at approximately halfway between the ends of the second elongate reinforcement member 20b. The H-shaped frame 500 further comprises a fixing mechanism 36 located on each of the first and second elongate reinforcement members 20a, 20b for securing the H-shaped frame within a modular wall unit. Although an H-shaped frame is preferable, the third elongate reinforcement member may be connected to the first elongate reinforcement member at other positions along the length of the first elongate reinforcement member and the second elongate reinforcement member.
The wall formed using the modular wall unit 600 may be used to support further objects that may be supported by a support member extending outwardly from an outer wall face. The modular wall unit 600 has two support members 39. Each support member passes into a hole in the outer wall surface and connects to one or more of the reinforcing members internal to the body. The support members connect to one or more of the reinforcing members forming the H-shaped frame 500 via the fixing mechanism 36 (shown in
This fixing mechanism in this example is a screw hole configured to receive a complementary threaded end of the support member. The support members may be attached in other ways including, but not limited to, being welded or attached via an adhesive, e.g., glue. The support members are discussed in greater detail below with reference to
Connecting Element
The connecting element 700 may be used to connect with further wall units or other units such as a base unit. The connecting element 700 shown in
Further examples of modular wall systems will now be described with reference to
The base units 58a, 58b are rectangular in shape with a total surface area that is larger than the total surface area of the modular wall units facing the base units 58a, 58b. Alternatively, the base unit may be made of a single unit with a size corresponding to the total surface area of the modular wall units facing the base unit.
Body Material and Formation
The body 6 or body portion of the modular wall unit 2 may be formed of any material. The body 6 preferably comprises a rigid material. The body portion may comprise a foam material, e.g., polyurethane foam. The body portion may comprise steel, timber, other sheet materials, stone and/or concrete. The part of the body portion surrounding the reinforcement members may be unitary. The body portion may therefore be unitary in its structure and may be manufactured using insert molding techniques. Polyurethane foam material comprised in the body portion is formed by reacting a polyol (an alcohol with more than two reactive hydroxyl groups per molecule) with a diisocyanate or a polymeric isocyanate in the presence of suitable catalysts and additives. In an example of manufacturing the modular wall unit, the H-shaped frame is surrounded by a mold that holds the H-shaped frame in a specific position. The foam material is then poured into the mold. The foam material then self-expands to fill all voids within the mold, to form the body portion of the modular wall unit whereby the body portion surrounds the H-shaped frame. Alternatively, the body may be formed from multiple parts that are attached to each other.
Where the body portion comprises a foam material, the foam material may be a polymeric foam such as but not limited to any one or more of: Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, polyethylene-vinyl acetate (PEVA), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foam, first grade of polyethylene (PE), Nitrile rubber (NBR) foam, the copolymers of acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene, Polychloroprene foam or Neoprene, Polyimide foam, Polypropylene (PP) foam, expanded polypropylene (EPP), polypropylene paper (PPP), Polystyrene (PS) foam, expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), polystyrene paper (PSP), Styrofoam, extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) expanded polystyrene (EPS), Polyurethane (PU) foam, LRPu low-resilience polyurethane, Memory foam, Sorbothane, Polyethylene foam, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam, closed-cell PVC foamboard, Silicone foam, or Microcellular foam. Typically, PU foam is comprised within the body portion due to the lightweight nature of PU. PE may be preferable in some instances due to its strength and low water absorption. Some examples may comprise two or more polymeric foam materials mixed into the same body portion.
The shape of the body may be any suitable shape. The body shape may be substantially box-like. One of the outer wall faces may have a single planar face whilst the opposing outer wall face may have a generally overall rectangular shape but have several surfaces joined at apex lines.
Tubes
The elongate reinforcement members, e.g., the first elongate reinforcement member 20a and the second elongate reinforcement member 20b, comprised within the body 6 may be formed of any suitable material. Any of the elongate reinforcement members may comprise a metal, for example Aluminium. Any of the elongate reinforcement members may comprise a plastic, for example ABS plastic. In the examples discussed above with reference to
In alternative configurations, any one or more of the elongate reinforcement members may comprise a tube running the entire length of the respective reinforcement member. In one example, the reinforcement members running between the joining faces are tubes. In the examples given above with two spaced apart reinforcement members running between the joining faces and another one running between these two spaced apart members, the first and third reinforcement members are tubes. The second reinforcement member may also be a tube.
The elongate reinforcement members, particularly the ones interfacing the one or more faces of the body that are for facing an adjacent wall unit, may have a male end connector for engaging with the tubular portion of another wall unit. The connector may be one as described above and shown in
Support Members
As described above, the wall unit may further comprise one or more support members extending outwardly from an outer wall face. The one or more support members may be used to support further objects, such as a frame for hanging or otherwise further supporting other objects.
The support members 76, 78 shown in
The support members 76, 78 comprise an elongate portion 76a, 78a and a head portion 76b, 78b terminating each support member 76, 78 at a distal end away from the modular wall unit. The elongate portions 76a, 78a have a smaller maximum diameter than the maximum diameter of the respective head portions 76b, 78b.
In this example, the order in which the support members 76, 78 are engaged with the hook 74 is important in securing an object to the wall unit. The first support member 76 is passed through a hole in the wall portion 74a of the hook and into a hole in the outer wall surface (not shown) to connect to one or more of the reinforcing members internal to the body. The first support member 76 thereby initially secures the hook 74 to the outer wall surface and in turn the one or more of the reinforcing members. A frame 80 can be hung upon the hook 74. An example of such a frame is discussed above with reference to
A plurality of hooks 74 may be attached to the outer wall surface of the wall in the manner described above and at appropriate distances apart to accommodate the required frame 80. Alternative objects may be hung upon the hook.
The modular wall unit may further comprise a further support member extending from the second reinforcement member. The support member may extend substantially perpendicular from the first or second reinforcement members.
Hanging Device
There is presented a hanging device 74 for supporting a frame 80. The hanging device comprises a main body 74a comprising an engagement region 81 for engaging a headed fixing 76 that passes through the main body 74a. The hanging device also comprises spaced apart first and second arms 74b connected to, and arranged with, the main body 74a to form respective first and second hook portions 74b for supporting the frame 80. The engagement region 81 being at least partially between the first and second hook portions.
An example of the hanging device is shown in
The hanging device may therefore support the frame by allowing it to hang from the first and second hook portions whilst allowing a portion of the frame to extend vertically in between the first and second hook portions. Having the engagement region at least partially between the first and second hook portions allows a user to access the engagement region (for example attach/insert the headed fixing) without the hook portions being in the way. The device may be formed from separate components that are attached to each other, for example the arms may be formed separately and attached to the main body. Alternatively, the device may be unitary wherein the main body and arms are integrally formed with each other. The device may be formed from any suitable material, preferably a rigid material such as a metal or hard plastic. The device may be formed by molding or other manufacturing process.
The first and second hook portions may form a channel extending at least: A) from, and including, the first hook portion; B) to, and including, the second hook portion, wherein the engagement region faces the channel.
The section of the main body that forms the channel (with the arms) may have the engagement region. The channel may be described as ‘segmented’ because the main body has a wall forming one continuous side of the channel where the other side of the channel is discontinuous and formed by respective walls of the separated arms that form the hooks portions. The separation of the arms ‘segmenting’ at least along one of the channels side and optionally the channel base.
The side of the main body opposite to the side forming the channel may be shaped to lie adjacent to an external wall, for example an outer wall of a modular wall unit as described elsewhere herein. This side of the device may be substantially planar. The main body may have a substantially rectangular block-like shape.
The arms 74b may initially extend outwardly, preferably perpendicularly away, from the main body 74a to form the base of the channel and then turn upwardly to form the hook portions and hence a side of the channel. The point where the arms extend outwardly from the main body may be from a peripheral portion of the main body.
The channel may be open at the top proximal to where the unconnected free ends of the arms terminate. The channel may have any suitable cross-sectional channel shape, including but not limited to a J-shape, U-shape, or V-shape.
The engagement region may be recessed inwardly from a wall of the main body forming the channel. This allows the heading fixing 76, when engaged with the device, to not obstruct the frame 80 when located in the channel.
The engagement region may face the lower half of the channel. Furthermore, the engagement region may be located about a portion of the said main body channel wall that is proximal to the base of the channel.
The engagement region 81 may comprise a passage extending through the main body away from the channel. The passage may be counterbored or countersunk to accommodate the head 76b of the headed fixing 76 such that the head does not obstruct the frame 80 when located in the channel. The passage may be a through hole or through bore that allows the fixing 76 to pass through the main body 74a and engage with an external feature. The bore hole may have a longitudinal axis aligned with the bottom portion of the channel such that the headed fixing has at least a portion that is in line with, and faces, the base of the channel. When the frame is located in the channel, the frame may at least partially cover the head of the fixing, helping to prevent access to the head of the fixing. This helps prevent the unwanted removal of the device 74 from the external feature by hindering the removal of the headed fixing. The head 76b of the said fixing may have an outer diameter larger than the through hole thus only allowing the fixing to be removed from the device and external feature by pulling it out through the channel, in between the two arms 74b.
The headed fixing 76 that engages with the hanging device 74 may be a screw or a bolt. The headed fixing may act as a support member 76 (as described elsewhere herein) wherein, in
When the headed fixing is a headed screw/bolt, the external feature may be a hole having an internal thread complementary to that of the screw. The external feature may be, for example, the ‘fixing mechanism’ 36 as described elsewhere herein.
The frame may comprise a first bar perpendicularly extending to and connected to a second bar wherein the said channel is for supporting the first bar. The main body may comprise a recessed second channel 83 at least partially accommodating the second bar. The recess may take the form of an elongate recess with a curved cross section shaped to flushly accommodate the vertical bar of the frame.
The wall of the main body forming part of the channel (i.e., the wall of the main body 74a facing the legs 74b) may be divided into two portions. A first portion opposing the first arm 74b and a second portion opposing the second arm 74b. The recessed second channel 83 may be located between the two said wall portions of the main body 74a. These two wall portions may be inclined to help form a V shape of the channel formed by the hook portions of the device. Likewise, the arms 74b may have an opposing inclined to the incline of the two said wall portions of the main body 74a so that the channel cross section (formed by the hook portions) resembles a narrowing taper extending from the open top of the channel towards the channel base.
The frame may be a grid frame as described elsewhere herein having a set or one or more first bars perpendicularly extending to and connected to a second set of one or more bars. The recessed second channel 83 may have its elongate length in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the channel formed by the hook portions.
A vertical bar of the frame may therefore, when accommodated by the device, be located in the recessed second channel 83 whilst a horizontal bar of the frame may sit in the bottom/base of the channel formed by the hook portions. When the frame 80 is in this final resting position in the device, the frame may be obstructing and/or at least partially covering the engagement region and headed fixing. Hence, at least part of the engagement region may be aligned along the length of second channel.
The engagement region may also be inwardly recessed into the main body from the second channel. This again allows the headed fixing to not obstruct the frame 80 when located in the device 74.
At least one of the arms may comprise a through hole 87. The main body 74a may comprise a fixing recess 85. The through hole 87 and the fixing recess 85 may be aligned such that a further fixing 78 may be inserted through the through hole 87 and at least partially into the fixing recess 85.
The through hole 87 may be proximal to the terminating free end of the said arm 74b. The further fixing 78, when engaged into the fixing recess 85 and extending across the top of the channel, may therefore secure the frame 80 to the device 74 and prevent the frame being lifted out from the channel. The further fixing 78 may be similar to the headed fixing described above in that it may be a bolt or a screw. The further fixing 78 is akin to the support member 78 described above. The fixing recess 85 may be a through hole through the main body 74a or may be a bottomed recess within the main body 74a. Correspondingly the further fixing 78 may pass through the main body and optionally into a further external fixing recess (for example in a wall behind the device 74 that the device backs onto and is affixed to), or may only protrude partially into the main body 74a. The fixing recess 85 may have an internal thread complementary to an external thread of the further fixing.
The hanging device 74 and the headed fixing may form part of a kit. The kit may also comprise any of the elements of the modular wall unit or modular wall system described elsewhere herein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1917503.3 | Nov 2019 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2020/053051 | 11/27/2020 | WO | 00 |