PARTITION FOR ROOMS

Abstract

Partition for rooms comprising a perimetral profile which can be rigidly secured by means of screws to the masonry work of the section inside which the partition is to be inserted and a base profile which can be fixed inside a seat of the perimetral profile. This base profile is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal mid-plane and has at least two longitudinal channels arranged in mirror symmetry. Several accessory profiles are envisaged, said profiles being provided with feet which can be inserted into the longitudinal channels and can be fixed to the base profile by means of screws. The retaining portions of two profiles joined together define a central groove inside which a panel is fixed.

Description

The present invention relates to a partition for rooms.

The invention in question falls within the sector of the interior furnishings industry and in particular the sector for the production of partitions for rooms of any kind in both office and home environments.

At present, as is known, on the market there exist numerous designs of partitions composed of panels which are made with different forms and materials, typically wood or glass, usually with an aluminium frame, and which may be connected mechanically to leaf doors or sliding doors, etc.

The design of these panels is such as to require the installation of support frames which, on the one hand, must ensure the functional features and safe supporting of the panels and the doors and, on the other hand, must satisfy increasingly demanding architectural requirements.

The partitions known hitherto and present on the market are excessively limited in terms of their applicational possibilities by the technical constraints which in fact do not allow versatile use of the doors and the windows which form them.

This situation represents a limitation for the architectural design of interiors; there exist on the market partitions which have proved in practice difficult to install, requiring specialized personnel and installation times which are so long that they negatively affect the overall cost of the partitions.

The problem forming the basis of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks encountered in the solutions of the known type mentioned above by providing a partition for rooms which allows a reduction in the time required for installation thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a partition which is constructionally inexpensive to produce, simple to install and operationally entirely reliable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a partition which allows a high degree of versatility as regards the architectural design of interiors.

The technical features of the invention, in accordance with the abovementioned objects, may be determined from the contents of the claims indicated below and the advantages thereof will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some purely exemplary and non-limiting embodiments thereof in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of the partition according to the present invention, relating to a perimetral profile;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the perimetral profile during fixing to the wall;

FIG. 3 shows a frame obtained by fixing to the wall the perimetral profile along the prechosen dividing section;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of the partition according to the present invention, relating to a connecting joint during assembly;

FIG. 5 shows the connecting joint according to FIG. 4 in the assembled condition;

FIG. 6 illustrates connection of the connecting joint according to FIG. 5 to the perimetral profile according to FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show three perspective views of a detail of the partition according to the present invention, relating to a base profile;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the base profile according to FIGS. 7-9 inserted at varying depths inside the perimetral profile of the floor and the ceiling;

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view during connection of a first accessory profile to the base profile in order to form the partition according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view during positioning of a glass panel on the first accessory profile according to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the panel according to FIG. 12 supported by the base profile;

FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view during connection of a second accessory profile to the base profile in order to retain the glass panel and form the partition according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 shows three horizontal cross-sectional views of three different partitions according to the present invention composed of different examples of accessory profiles;

FIGS. 16 to 20 relate to five different walls formed with different accessory profiles;

FIG. 21 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of a different partition according to the present invention composed of a further different example of an accessory profile;

FIGS. 21 a and 21b show two enlarged details of FIG. 21;

FIG. 22 shows a detail of a partition according to the present invention, relating to the connection of the bottom wheels of a panel to an accessory profile;

FIGS. 22 and 23 show a detail of a partition according to the present invention, relating to the connection of an upper wheel of a panel to an accessory profile, in an assembly position and in a final operating position;

FIG. 25 shows an exploded detail of an upper wheel of a panel;

FIGS. 26 to 28 shows the stages of assembly of panels in order to form a closed wall above a frame formed with accessory profiles;

FIGS. 29 to 32 shows the stages of assembly of a hinge for supporting a leaf door in a partition according to the present invention;

FIG. 33 shows a vertically sectioned view of a leaf door which is involved in formation of a partition according to the present invention.

In accordance with the figures of the accompanying drawings, PA denotes overall a partition according to the present invention.

The partition PA may be used equally well to separate spaces in living areas or in order to conceal a cupboard, a bookcase or the like, as will become clear from the examples shown in the accompanying figures and referred to in the description which follows.

The partition PA comprises a metal perimetral profile 1, in particular made of aluminium, which can be rigidly secured, via fixing means 2, along the perimeter of the section inside which the partition PA is to be inserted.

This perimetral profile 1 follows the progression of the walls, the ceiling and the floor, together with any unevenness which they have, forming a frame CO. Said profile advantageously has a form with a C-shaped cross-section and defines a first seat 5 by means of a bottom 3 and two side edges 4.

The fixing means 2 are preferably composed of screws V which are inserted into through-holes provided at fixed intervals along the bottom 3 of the perimetral profile 1.

The holes in the perimetral profile 1 face the holes formed in the masonry wall and in the floor along the section of the room inside which the partition PA is to be inserted.

A shaped base profile 6, provided with sides 7 which are arranged adjacent to the side edges 4, is inserted inside the first seat 5 of the perimetral profile 1.

This base profile 6 has a longitudinal extension which is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal mid-plane and is arranged continuously with connecting joints 8 mounted in each corner of the perimetral profile 18 and formed with two parts 8′ which are rigidly connected together at an angle by means of brackets 9 having their sides at 90° and able to be inserted inside second central seats 19 provided longitudinally on the base profile 6.

Preferably, the connecting joints 8 may be prepared at the factory and then brought already assembled to the location for installation of the partition PA.

The angle brackets 9 are fixed by means of first grub screws 12 in the base profile 6 and are followed inside the seats by straight brackets 11 able to connect rigidly the base profile 6 to the connecting joints 8 by means of second grub screws 12′.

The base profiles 6 are cut to size and remain rigidly connected to the angle pieces 8 by means of the straight brackets 11. Second fixing means may also be envisaged for fixing the base profile to the perimetral profile 1 or to the masonry walls.

It is possible to vary, by means of adjusting means, the amount by which the base profile 6 projects from the perimetral profile 1 fixed to the perimetral wall, in order to overcome problems of lack of evenness of the walls.

These adjusting means are for example composed of third grub screws 13 which can be inserted inside through-holes formed at fixed distances along the base profile 6. The inner end of the grub screws 13 bears against the perimetral profile 1 and allows variation in the penetration of the base profile 6 inside the first seat 5 as indicated in FIG. 10, where it can be clearly seen that the base profile on the ceiling projects much more from the perimetral profile than the base profile on the floor. The travel range of each base profile 6 due to the adjustment of the grub screws 13 is in the region of 8 mm.

Once the base profile 6 has been arranged on the perimetral profile 1 so as to form a frame which is perfectly level, the accessory profiles and the other components are fitted, these being designed to allow personalisation of the architecture of the partition in accordance with functional and aesthetic requirements.

A first retaining accessory profile A is designed to support centrally partitions made of wood, glass or other material and denoted overall by the number 30 in the accompanying drawings. This central panel 30 is arranged centrally with respect to the base profile 6 and has preferably a thickness of about 1 cm.

This first profile A, which is preferably made of aluminium obtained by means of extrusion, is suitably shaped and has a foot 16 intended to be inserted inside a first longitudinal channel 17 at least partly shaped so as to match the foot and provided in the vicinity of the two sides 7 of the base profile 6.

From this foot 16 there extends perpendicularly at an angle a flat covering portion 18 from which there projects a substantially vertical retaining portion 19 which has a contact head 20 for resting against and peripherally retaining the central panel 30. The head 20 has a longitudinal recess 21 with, inserted, a seal 22 for perfect adherence of the central panel 30.

The base of the retaining portion 19 forming a continuation of the covering portion 18 is provided with a fixing portion 31 having through-holes at predetermined distances able to receive self-tapping screws 23 which engage inside fourth seats 24 formed in the base profile 6.

Each panel 30 made of glass or other material rests on said fixing portion 31 and is retained and situated in between the first accessory profile A, of the type described above, and a second accessory profile B, which is similar to the first profile, but without the fixing portion 31.

This second accessory profile B is inserted with the respective foot 16′ inside the respective second longitudinal channel 17′ parallel to the first one 17, by causing the foot to perform a slight rotation as shown in FIG. 14.

This profile B is fixed to the base profile 6 by means of self-tapping screws 23′ which can be inserted inside through-holes arranged at predetermined distances in the flat covering portion 18′ and engaging in fourth seats 24′ formed in the base profile 6. Differently from the screws 23, the screws 23′ remain visible, as can be seen in FIG. 13.

Preferably, a support strip 25 able to receive the bottom edge of the panel 30 and preferably consisting of plastic is provided on top of the fixing profile 31.

So as to support the panel P while it is arranged to rest only on the first accessory profile A, advantageously removable panel-stop retaining parts 26 are provided, these being removed when the second accessory profile B is inserted or preferably they remain seated between the two profiles A and B, as shown in the accompanying figures.

The first and the second profiles A, B described above are furthermore provided at the joining corner of the foot 16, 16′ and the covering portion 18, 18′ with a rail 40, 40′, which preferably projects vertically and has a rounded form and is able to receive and guide wheels 41 which are provided with an annular channel shaped so as to match the profile of the rail and are rotatably mounted on a sliding panel 300 arranged parallel to the panel 30.

Advantageously, the central panel 30 will be made of glass or transparent material, while the sliding panel will be made of opaque material such as wood, although they may also be made of any material without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present patent.

Advantageously the first and second profiles A, B may also be provided without the presence of this rail 40, 40′ and will therefore be distinguished by a covering portion 18″ which is completely flat, as shown in FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 19 where these new profiles are indicated by the symbols C and D.

The profiles A, B, C and D therefore have the function of keeping the panels 30 in a central position with respect to the width of the frame with the base inserted sealingly inside a longitudinal groove between the retaining portions 19.

FIGS. 18 and 20 shows the cross-sections of two further accessory profiles, i.e. a third accessory profile E and a fourth accessory profile F, which are without the portions for retaining the panels 30 and are provided with a covering portion 18′″ which extends with the two feet between the two channels 17, 17′ in the base profile 6.

In greater detail, the third accessory E is provided with a single rail 40′″, while the fourth accessory is provided with two rails 40′″ arranged raised from the corners like the ones above.

Each panel 300 is constrained both at the top and at the bottom by means of wheels 41 to the rails 40, 40′, 40′″.

The accompanying figures show different combinations of the accessory profiles A, B, C, D, E, F mentioned above in order to create passages, sliding doors or continuous panels in accordance with the possibility of versatile use according to the present invention. The panels or sliding doors 300 may be mounted on the two parallel rails of a same frame and are advantageously free to slide along the entire length of the rails remaining parallel to any central glass panel, covering it entirely or partly depending on the position assumed along the rail.

A further fifth accessory G, illustrated in FIG. 21a, is also envisaged, said accessory being provided with a covering portion 18″″ which extends with the two feet between the two channels 17, 17′ and which is without both retaining portions 19 and rails 40.

Said accessory in particular is arranged in the vertical and lateral uprights of the walls when the base envisages correspondingly the presence of sliding panels, passages or leaf doors, or generally in all those cases where it is not envisaged starting from the upright with a central panel 30.

Considering in detail the sliding system, it can be seen from FIG. 24 that the bottom side of the sliding panel has, formed therein, a second seat 50 inside which a first carriage 51 provided with two wheels 41 can be inserted. The first carriage 51 advantageously consists of a simple overturned L-shaped (or U-shaped) profile with the horizontal side resting on the bottom of the second seat and being fixed thereto by means of screws and with the vertical side (or sides) with the wheels 41 pivotably mounted thereon (or defining a fork member for supporting the pins for rotation of the wheels 41).

The top side of the panel 300, as can be seen in FIG. 25, is provided with a third seat 52 for receiving, inserted therein, a second carriage 53 comprising a single or double fork member able to support rotatably a wheel 41 and connected by means of a bracket 54 to a ratchet-type levelling device 55 which is provided with a part fixed to the frame of the panel and a part with an adjustable height connected by means of the bracket to the fork member of the wheel so as to vary the vertical position thereof following operation of a screw/female thread mechanism operated by rotation of a visible nut which is accessible laterally with respect to the mouth of the seat 52.

In this way, by adjusting the nut with a spanner, it is possible to position the wheel 41 so that its annular channel engages with the rail 40. Advantageously the fork member is connected to the bracket by means of resiliently yielding means so as to adjust the pressure of the wheel 41 on the rail 40, ensuring that it adheres thereto.

The sliding panel or door 300 may be advantageously made of wood, as indicated in FIG. 24 or formed by an aluminium frame supporting a glass panel as indicated in FIG. 25.

The base profile 6 is moreover suitable for the installation of leaf doors 3000 also.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 29 to 33, the accessory profiles C and D are provided so as to have, fixed thereon, support bodies 60 formed by two facing plates 61, 62, a first one 61 of which has a flat form and is inserted between the retaining portions 19″ of the profiles and the second one 62 of which has a T-shape arranged to rest on the first plate and fixed to the latter by means of screws.

This support body has fixed on top, by means of screws, a shaped plate 63 carrying the pin 64 by means of an arm 65 projecting from the frame, so as to form the hinge for rotation of the leaf door 3000.

Advantageously the pin 64 of the hinge carries coaxially a washer and has a bush arranged on top.

It is then envisaged providing (see FIGS. 26 to 28) a further accessory profile H which can be fixed by means of screws to the retaining portion 19″ of one of the two accessory profiles C or D and provided with a top part covering the gap between the retaining portions of the two profiles C and D and with a side part having a seal 66 for contact against the leaf door 3000.

On the same accessory profiles A and B or C and D it is possible to arrange uprights 80 having at their ends chasing 81 for receiving the corresponding retaining portions and forming double-panel closed walls.

The uprights 80 are joined rigidly together by means of a framework formed by horizontal crosspieces 81 which are fixed between the uprights 80 also by means of simple insertion of their ends into shaped openings 82 formed at predetermined heights along the uprights 80.

The latter are provided with engaging pins 83 able to engage with clips 84 provided on closing panels 85 so as to allow rapid frontal fixing by means of simple pressure.

In this way it is possible to provide a fixed partition rapidly and in a very easy and practical manner.

As a result of the present invention it is possible to divide off into several areas the space within a room, allowing the areas thus divided up to be used for the most widely varying purposes, for example in order to separate a living area from another living area or conceal a bookcase or also a cupboard behind a sliding door.

The invention thus conceived therefore achieves the predetermined objects.

Obviously it may also assume, in its practical embodiment, also forms and configurations which are different from that illustrated above, without thereby departing from the present scope of protection. Moreover, all the details may be replaced by technically equivalent parts and the forms, the dimensions and the materials used may be of any nature in accordance with requirements.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. Partition for rooms, comprising: a perimetral profile, defining a seat, which can be rigidly secured via fixing means to masonry work of a section inside which the partition is to be inserted;a base profile which can be fixed inside said seat, is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal mid-plane and has at least two longitudinal channels arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to said longitudinal mid-plane; andat least one accessory profile provided with a foot which can be inserted in at least one of said longitudinal channels and can be fixed to said base profile via second fixing means.

17. Partition according to claim 16, further comprising adjusting means for varying the amount by which the base profile projects from the perimetral profile.

18. Partition according to claim 16, further comprising two accessory profiles defining by means of their retaining portions a central groove inside which a panel is fixed.

19. Partition according to claim 16, further comprising a first shaped accessory profile having: a foot which can be inserted inside a said longitudinal channel; a flat covering portion; anda retaining portion which projects substantially vertically from said covering portion with a contact head for resting against and peripherally retaining said panel.

20. Partition according to claim 19, wherein said first accessory profile is provided with a fixing portion extending from the base of the retaining portion and forming a continuation of the covering portion.

21. Partition according to claim 16, further comprising a second accessory profile which is similar to the first one but is without said fixing portion.

22. Partition according to claim 16, wherein said accessory profile is provided with a rail which preferably projects vertically and has a rounded form and is able to receive and guide wheels rotatably mounted on a sliding panel.

23. Partition according to claim 19 wherein said accessory profile is provided with a rail which preferably projects vertically and has a rounded form and is able to receive and guide wheels rotatably mounted on a sliding panel and said rail is provided above said covering portion at the joining corner of the foot and the covering portion.

24. Partition according to claim 16, further comprising a third accessory profile provided with a covering portion which extends with two feet between the two channels of the base profile.

25. Partition according to claim 24, wherein said third accessory, profile is provided with at least one rail which preferably projects vertically and has a rounded form and which is able to receive and guide wheels rotatably mounted on a sliding panel.

26. Partition according to claim 25, further comprising a second seat formed along the bottom side of said sliding panel and able to receive, inserted therein a first carriage with at least one wheel.

27. Partition according to claim 26, further comprising a third seat provided along the top side of said sliding panel and able to receive, inserted therein, a second carriage connected by means of a ratchet-type leveling device to said panel.

28. Partition according to claim 18, further comprising a support body for a shaped plate carrying a pin of a hinge for rotation of a leaf door is mounted in said central groove.

29. Partition according to claim 28, further comprising a further accessory profile which can be fixed to the retaining portion of one of said accessory profiles and provided with a top part covering the groove between the retaining portions of the two profiles and a side part with a seal for contact against the leaf door.

30. Partition according to claim 18, further comprising uprights provided at the ends with chasing for receiving the abovementioned retaining portions and engaging pins able to engage with clips provided on closing panels for forming closed walls.